CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE – In the Library (Leif and Future Emma and Killian's Point of View)
The future Emma and Killian watched Leif walk into the library, not entirely sure what the young prince wanted to talk about. Killian kept one hand rested upon his sword, the other holding Emma's hand. Emma thought she had a pretty good idea of what Leif wanted to ask, but she wasn't sure how to convince Killian to agree. They had left everyone else out in the hallway, and as they closed the Library doors behind her, she could hear her daughter trying to explain everything to Neal.
"So, what do you want to talk about mate?" Killian asked, leaning casually up against one of the tables. Emma walked up and joined him there, both facing the young prince.
Leif started pacing in front of him and ran his hands through his ginger hair. "Well, um, you see, I had come to ask you, that is, the both of you, if I could – I mean I want to – court your daughter. I just really, really like her. I have for quite some time actually, I was just afraid of asking you, with the Captain's reputation n' everything. But I really lo-like her! A lot. A lot a lot. I mean she's great, and adventurous, and she's very pretty, and beautiful, and sometimes I really just want to kiss her, and - wait, what?" The prince had gotten ahead of himself and just started rambling on everything that was going through his head. He thanked his lucky stars he managed to not do this often around Kendra. However, glancing over at the almost murderous rage in her father's eyes, this wasn't the time for letting things like that slip.
Killian immediately went for his sword, but Emma stopped him from running the poor boy through. She had been around Anna and Kristoff to know that this was just a nervous habit of both of his parents, and she had observed him enough around their daughter to know that that his intentions were genuine.
Killian was not at all pleased though. He sneered at the boy while Emma blocked him. No one, not even this fool of a prince in his opinion, was even close to worthy for courting his pirate princess. "You want to take away my daughter? Lock her up in a palace and have her paraded in front of the court? Take away her freedom on the seas? If so mate, this sword is soon going to go through that pretty uniform you have on." And once again he tried to thrust his sword at the boy.
Leif, however did not back down. "Captain, I have no such intentions. If anything, I would rather accompany Kendra on the sea instead of keeping her away from it. Why on earth would I try to keep her away from sailing? It's like trying to keep Aunt Elsa away from ice, or my mother away from chocolate. It just can't be done! And whatever rules or restrictions you have, I'll follow them completely. But believe me, my intentions are sincere, and I will be a perfect gentleman to your daughter."
Killian stared him down. Emma also stared at him, but weighing his words instead of non-verbally threatening him like her husband was. She turned to Killian.
"Killian, he's telling the truth. Trust me, okay?" She knew he trusted her superpower more than most magic, and hopefully this may sway him just a little bit.
Killian kept glaring at Leif, but he put his sword away, and Emma stopped blocking him.
"Alright, mate, I'll let you have a chance. But you must have a chaperone at all times. You're never to be alone with her, got it? She will have her sword on her at all times, and she will be instructed to use it against you for anything. And she has to be back in the castle before sundown, no exceptions. And if I find out you've laid a finger on her, I'll-"
"Thank you Killian, that's enough now. You have my permission as well, Leif. I have one requirement, got it?"
Leif couldn't believe his luck. "Yes, ma'am, of course!"
"She has to be okay with this too. We're not going to force her into anything she doesn't want. If she doesn't want you to court you, I'm sorry to break it to you, but that's it. Okay?"
"Yes, yes, you got it!" Leif was so excited, he felt as if he could literally jump for joy. However, he just stuck with smiling from ear to ear and bouncing on the balls of his heels.
Killian gave him one last withering glance, and then strode over to the doors. He opened them, and said out into the hallway "Kendra, can you come in here love? This concerns you too. But you don't have to do anything you don't want to. Ever. And make sure to bring your sword. If you don't like what we have to ask you, feel free to run this landlubber through."