Chapter 3
In his little boat, the boatman
Is seized with a savage woe,
He'd rather look up at the mountain
Than down at the rocks below.
Lorelei– Heinrich Heine
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A/N: Sorry for the delay with this chapter, it has been the most difficult for me to write for some reason. As usual, endless thanks to my amazing beta and editor Hilary, bby you are so talented and good to me I really can't thank you enough, this story comes to life after you work your magic on it. I love you!
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Killian stood near the stern of the Jolly Roger, gazing at the luminous night sky of Neverland. He thought he could see Emma's eyes in the shimmering curtain of lights, and sighed heavily. He did not fear what must come; he would do anything to save her. But he couldn't help the dread that had been strangling him for hours now, and found himself replaying the events of the afternoon in his mind…
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The trek to Mermaid's Lagoon had been bloody exhausting. The pain in his chest was steadily increasing, but he kept silent, not wanting to worry Snow and Charming further. However, when they were halfway there, he suddenly fell to his knees again, gasping for breath. He felt as if an icy hand was crushing his heart, a furious coldness engulfing him.
Snow darted to his side. "Killian? What's wrong? Is Emma in danger? Is she…?"
"It's nothing, Your Majesty. Emma is alive, and I will find her."
The prince caught up. "But you're in pain again, and that means she is too. Tell us. We need any clue as to what Emma is going through."
Killian hesitated. What would they do if he told them? That he thought her heart was turning to ice?
"I… I feel a terrible cold," he admitted, hanging his head in shame. It seemed as if this was somehow his fault. He heard Snow's gasp, and then her quiet sobs.
"This connection between you two is still new, and you're not used to it yet. Maybe it's just residual pain from when she first fell into the curse," Regina suggested, trying to calm her estranged step-daughter, once more to Killian's surprise. But then he glanced at the crocodile, who was giving her a look that pointed out very clearly that this was no such thing.
Killian felt his blood freeze again, yet managed to get up, not without great difficulty. "No matter. We need to keep going. Hopefully Ariel will give us the information we seek." He flashed a reassuring smile at Snow and Charming. Clearly the latter was not convinced, but he didn't say anything, comforting his wife as they kept moving.
They reached Mermaid's Lagoon an hour later, well into the afternoon, and the crocodile approached the water and cast some sort of spell that made it ripple. A few moments later, a young and beautiful redheaded girl broke the surface, her breasts covered in deep purple scales but the rest of her body bare. Killian couldn't help but envision how Emma would look in such a state of undress, his treacherous body reacting instantly to the pictures painted by his all-too-helpful imagination, and cursed himself for thinking about that when his only focus should be on saving her. He forced his brain back to the moment.
"Well, if it isn't the Dark One in the flesh. Slightly less frightening flesh than usual, but that's a low standard. How very not nice to see you." Ariel flashed a sarcastic smile.
"Now, now, dearie. You weren't nearly so pert with me when I freed you from your sisters. I deserve at least a bit of gratitude."
"Oh, believe me, I'm more than grateful. That doesn't mean I have to like you, does it?" Nonetheless, she swam to a large rock and boosted herself up on it, the tip of her purple tail playing with the water. "So, what brings you to Neverland again, Dark One? Seeking more of our treasures for your backstabbing little purposes?"
"Have you seen another mermaid lately? Blonde hair and green eyes?" Killian interjected, before the crocodile could retort.
The redheaded lass turned to him, and a seductive smile replaced the sarcastic one. She let her gaze travel lingeringly across his body, finally coming to rest at the end of his left arm. "You must be the infamous pirate, Captain Hook. Yes, I've heard so much about you. But the stories always left out the handsomeness."
The crocodile looked as if he was about to be sick. "Yes, he is such a dashing rogue, but can you stop staring at him and answer our question, please?"
Ariel appeared none too pleased by this order. "I haven't seen any mermaid since you were last here. I never returned to that cave after you killed my sisters, have lived happily in this lagoon, not a care in the world. You should know that it isn't possible for there to be more mermaids, aside from me, here in Neverland."
Killian moved closer, crouched down at the water's edge, and opened his palm, revealing the golden flower. "Emma touched this. You know what it means. She is a princess from the Enchanted Forest, but has lived in a world without magic all her life. I… I felt it when she fell under the curse, and we need your help to save her."
Ariel's eyes went wide. "She is your True Love? And she has fallen under the Maighdeana curse? But I thought there was only one True Love couple to have such a connection, and you are certainly not Prince Charming."
"But I am." The prince spoke for the first time. "And this is Snow White. Emma is our daughter."
Ariel's mouth dropped in shock, and she made a hesitant bow. "Your Majesties, it is an honor to finally meet you. The tale of your love is legendary indeed, as well as the prophecy of the Savior, your daughter. I am so sorry that this has become of her. But I imagine she did break the Evil Queen's curse?"
"Yes, she did," Regina answered, with more than a little resentment.
Ariel turned to the other woman. "And you are the Evil Queen. This is… surreal. How is it that the Evil Queen and Rumplestiltskin are working alongside Snow White and Prince Charming now? And by Triton's trident, how is it possible that Captain Hook is the Savior's True Love?" Confusion and awe were clear in her face as she added to Killian, "I thought you hated the Dark One. You were looking for a way to kill him when you were last here."
"Bit of a long story, lass. In brief, two people from the world without magic took Emma's son, who is also the Evil Queen's adopted son and the crocodile's grandson, and brought him to Neverland. I offered my ship and my help to rescue the lad, but today, the first day of our search, Emma came near this wretched flower. She touched it, and the curse claimed her." Killian's voice faltered, and he cast his gaze down again, determined not to let the crocodile see him so vulnerable.
"That's terrible. But I'm afraid there's little that can be done for this sort of a curse."
"True Love's kiss can break it," Killian insisted. "I only need you to tell me what to do to find her."
Ariel looked at him with sympathy and admiration. "Indeed, Captain, that should work. But there are many complications. This curse will turn her heart to ice, and she will forget everything about her previous life, including you. Not to mention the impossibility of any human surviving underwater long enough to reach the mermaid's cave at the bottom of the ocean."
"You must have something. A plant, a potion, anything!" Killian was getting desperate.
"Actually, I do." There was mirth in her eyes, directed at the Dark One.
"I doubt you acquired it by honest means, dearie?" Gold asked accusingly.
"Well, we mermaids do like to steal, you know? And I needed some kind of leverage, in case you decided to back off our deal." She smiled sweetly. "I am so glad you didn't need that extra vial to get back."
"You underestimate me. I knew you stole it, and I was counting on you still having it."
Killian growled aloud. "You bloody pestilential reptile! Why didn't you tell us from the start that it was your potion she'd give us?"
"Why, Captain, are you not going to use it, now that you know I made it? I used that potion on myself. I can assure you it is safe, and most definitely will work."
"All right, you two. Spare me." Ariel rolled her eyes. "I do have it, and will gladly give it to you. However, there's something else." The mermaid bit her lip, looking at Snow and Charming. "I don't know if I should say."
"Well? What is it? Please tell us," Snow pleaded.
"Since this curse was designed to turn a woman into a true mermaid, she will develop the killer instinct my late sisters had. Meaning, she will search for a man from the surface, drag him down to her cave, and drown him. If she succeeds… not even True Love's Kiss can bring her back to who she was."
At that, Killian felt another sharp pain, not connected to Emma but at the terror of losing her to such a fate. But he regained his composure quickly and declared, "Then I'll make sure I'm the man she takes. And I don't plan to die, because you'll give me that potion. I will not let her go, ever."
Ariel smiled at him. "You are very brave, Captain. I admire that, and the devotion you have for your Emma. I'll go get that potion for you."
She disappeared below the water, then soon emerged again, holding out a vial containing a sparkling blue liquid. "The effects will only last a few hours. Twelve at the most. I don't need to stress the importance of breaking the curse within that time, and you will need to save some of it for Emma to get back to the surface. I'll give you directions to Mermaid's Cave, as it is highly likely that she will search for her victim near the place she feels the safest."
Killian took the vial from Ariel, and she explained where he needed to steer the Jolly Roger. "One more thing. When you get to the right spot, you need to be on the deck, facing the water. Make sure you are alone, so Emma will focus on you and take you with her. Her song will be very powerful and lure you in immediately, but you should be strong enough to drink the potion before she pulls you down."
"Thank you, lass."
"No need to thank me, Captain. Go save your love. She's very lucky to have you."
"One more thing," Regina interrupted. "Have you by any chance seen a man and a dark-skinned woman around here somewhere? With a ten-year-old boy? He has brown eyes and hair, a sweet face and a kind smile."
Ariel blinked. "You mean Emma's son?"
"He is my son too!"
Ariel looked confused, and Snow quickly intervened. "Regina is Henry's adoptive mother. Have you seen him?"
"No, I haven't seen any of them. If they are here, they must be in another part of Neverland, for they have never been near Mermaid's Lagoon. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry, Ariel, you've helped us enough. We will concentrate on saving Emma at the moment," David reassured her.
Ariel gave him a thankful smile, but her tone was businesslike. "You had best get going. It will be night soon, and mermaids prefer to look for their victims after dark. You still need to get to the spot where the cave lies."
"She is right." Killian had already turned back toward his ship. "We need to hurry."
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He looked back into the sea, and his heart almost stopped. For just there, atop a rock, he saw Emma, golden hair flying in the wind, legs replaced by a blue-green tail, and he couldn't suppress a sharp intake of breath. Nothing could have prepared him for such a sight. He had never thought she could look more beautiful than she already was, but she did, and although he wanted his Emma back, he reacted to her as a taunting mermaid instantly.
She gazed back at him, and a wide smile graced her dark red lips. She slid seductively into the water, and glided toward the Jolly Roger, floating just a few feet away. Then she started to sing, the most beautiful sound he had ever heard, and he could only stare at her, as enchanted and endangered as any other poor fool who'd stumbled unknowing into mermaid waters. He snapped out of his trance long enough to drink half the potion, before stoppering the vial again and placing it in the pouch at his belt. Then he muttered a half-forgotten prayer, jumped overboard, and splashed into the waves, where Emma took him by the hand and began their descent into darkness, quickly disappearing from sight.
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The dark pirate captain had turned to her at last, and she was pleased to see that she affected him immediately. Yet she too was entranced by him; he was even more beautiful than she had imagined. She closed her eyes, enjoying the familiar yet strange tune coming from her lips, and when she opened them again, he was plunging into the water beside her. She took hold of him, possessed him, and dragged him down and down and down.
They reached the cave, and she yanked him forcefully to the wall, tying him into place. Then she got quite a start. His eyes were closed, but she could see the rise and fall of his chest. He was breathing! How was it possible? She gave him a sharp slap, and he opened them, murmuring her name.
"Emma…"
"No! You're not supposed to be alive! You should have drowned already! Are you some kind of sorcerer?" Emma backstroked violently, putting some space between them. "Talk, pirate! How did you survive? Who are you?"
He glanced at his bonds, and a playful smile quirked his lips. "You're still into this, aren't you?"
She felt a warmth in her chest, and flinched. It hurt, and she didn't like it. "I don't know what you're talking about. You are not a merman, you're a human. Just. How. Did. You. Survive?" She punctuated each word with a blow.
The pirate struggled to get away from them, uselessly. "Emma, please. Look at me. You don't belong here. Your parents are waiting for you. Your son, Henry… he is lost somewhere in Neverland. You need to remember them. Remember me."
"And who exactly are you?"
"My name is Killian Jones, though I'm also known by my more colorful moniker, Captain Hook. I'm helping you and your family find your son, and I… I love you."
Emma, startled, fluked back again. She could see the sincerity in his eyes and knew he wasn't lying, but couldn't understand where that conviction came from. Yet then her heart gave another painful pang, and she clutched at it. At the exact same moment, the pirate – Killian – uttered a sharp cry.
"Did you… did you feel that too?" She stared at him. "But how?"
"You're my True Love, Emma. I can feel your pain. It happened because you're remembering. I know it's hard, but you can't fight it. It's the only way this will work."
Emma regained her composure and drew closer. "It's the only way for what to work?"
Her voice was low and seductive. If in fact she had ever known him, she didn't remember him, but she felt drawn to him nonetheless. His eyes were the same color as her precious sapphires; her hand clutched the pouch at her neck instinctively. His voice was low too, caressing.
"True Love's Kiss."
With that, he closed the distance between them and kissed her, tender at first and then harder and much more passionately. An image of him bandaging her hand flashed into her mind and a sharp pain, stronger than before, crackled through her like a lightning strike, making her jerk away. He must be a sorcerer, trying to kill her. Why else would she feel this agony every time she got close to him?
"No! You're trying to lure me in with your kisses and your lies. I can't be your true love! I don't even know who you are!" She snatched up the golden mirror from the chest, and smashed it into the side of his head.
His eyes jerked shut again, this time due to the fact that he was unconscious, but the pain didn't ebb away. It only grew stronger, and his voice reverberated in her skull, flashes of him appearing in a dizzying swirl of colors and sounds. She covered her ears, trying to drown them out, but couldn't. They overwhelmed her, and she sank into them against her will.
They were climbing a strange kind of plant, and he was teasing her.
"You know, most men would take your silence as off-putting, but I love a challenge."
"Love has been all too rare in your life, hasn't it? Tell me, have you ever even been in love?"
Next they were in a dark castle, signs of battle and struggle and death all around. He was bandaging her hand with his mouth, and gave her a bright smile.
"Point taken… Oh, you're a tough lass, you'd make one hell of a pirate."
Now they were inside the castle, she was helping him out from under the rubble and he was laughing.
"You're bloody brilliant, amazing…"
Then she was walking back from him, leaving him chained to the wall.
"Swan… Swan!"
Now they were fighting by a lake – he had flipped her on her back and she was sprawled on the sand, breathing hard from the exertion of the swordfight.
"When I jab you with my sword, you'll feel it…"
Then he was lying on a road, rain falling hard around them. His face was contorted in a grimace of agony, but he smiled when he saw her nonetheless, as she reached down for him, wincing in empathy when she felt his broken ribs.
"Hey, beautiful! Here I didn't think you noticed…"
Now she was at the hospital watching him sleep, waiting for him to wake up.
"You look good, I must say. All Where's Cora? in a commanding voice. Chills."
Next they were in a strange place, a tavern perhaps – she was asking, begging him to become a part of something, to give her the bean back. He looked at her, his gaze softening, and placed the little pouch in her hand.
"Quite passionate, Swan…"
Then they were at the docks. She was heartbroken after seeing Greg and Tamara take Henry through the portal, until she saw the ship coming back. Saw Killian coming back.
"I thought you didn't care about anyone but yourself."
"Maybe I just needed reminding that I could."
Lastly, they were on the deck of the Jolly Roger at night, and she – she had –
"You… you said my name. Say it again. It has been so long since I last heard it spoken, it almost sounds foreign."
"Killian…" She saw him smile again, felt his arms around her. And then he laughed, a carefree and joyous laugh, and her heart simply melted.
"Thank you, Emma. I want to hear it from your lips every day from now on."
Her head was almost exploding with the memories. The pain in her heart was almost unbearable, and she welcomed the darkness one more time.
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Killian opened his eyes. His head bloody hurt like the hangover he hadn't had in a hundred years; he felt blood trickling from his temple where Emma had hit him, and couldn't suppress a chuckle. Tough lass, indeed. Then he saw her unconscious on the floor, and began to struggle twice as hard. "Emma! Emma, please wake up! Wake up, love!"
Emma stirred, then opened her eyes at last, and he swore that she recognized him. For a moment, he was giddily certain that the kiss had indeed worked, but then registered with dismay that she was still a mermaid. Yet she swam over and hastily untied him, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears as she brushed light fingers over his injury. "I'm sorry, Killian. I'm so sorry."
He winced. "Don't worry, lass. The important thing is that you remember now. You do, don't you?"
"Yes, I do. But I'm still a freaking mermaid!"
"I do believe there's a remedy for that." He brought his hand to the back of her neck, and kissed her passionately. A pulse of light and magic shook the cave, enveloping them in warmth.
Emma felt her legs move again as the tail melted away, but she also felt the overwhelming sensation of drowning, and panic lanced deep in her heart. But before it could strangle her, Killian took a small vial from the pouch at his belt and opened it with his teeth. "Quick, love. Drink this."
She obeyed, and the horrible sensation stopped immediately. "Thank you."
Breathing difficulties sorted, she felt Killian's gaze burning into her skin, and it struck her, to her absolute mortification, that she was completely naked. A fierce blush boiled up her cheeks, and she swam at the approximate speed of an Olympian to hide behind one of the chests. "Oh my God! Why didn't you say something?"
"Well darling, first I was more worried with getting you the potion so you wouldn't drown. And then… in my defense, the sight was more than distracting." His infuriating smirk was firmly back in place.
She rolled her eyes. Curse or no curse, some things would never change. "Still, I can't go to the surface looking like this, and I somehow doubt the mermaids have a dress down here."
Killian peeled his long leather jacket off and swam up next to her, pulling her close and covering her with it. "You can wear this, and I hope I won't have another unpleasant encounter with your father's fist because of it. Now, let's go. The potion only lasts for twelve hours, and I don't know how much time has passed since I took it."
They left the cave and headed into the open sea, the ascent quite a bit slower than the descent had been. But they finally broke the surface, and Emma, sucking in a ragged gasp of sultry Neverland night air, her first in God knew how long, called for her parents. Snow and David immediately tossed the ropes and helped both of them aboard the Roger, Snow crushing her daughter in a tight hug and David anxiously examining her for any injuries.
Killian watched the reunion with a smile. But then, as he tried to get to his feet, his head reeled sickeningly, and his hand fluttered to the cut at his temple. Blood was staining his fingers, and he felt his vision going dark.
Emma heard a thud, and whirled around to see Killian unconscious on the deck.
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