After dinner was finished Emma took her place in the bed, while Hook began to dim the light in the room.
"Where are we heading toward now?" Emma inquired as she pulled the sheets to her chest as she watched him.
"We shall head north towards the Marsh of the Damn. We are in need of a feather," Hook stated as he slowly turns off the lamps leaving all of except for one.
"A feather? Can't you just pluck one from a seagull?" Emma asked jokingly, not knowing what the marsh was. She stared with seemingly little interest at the loosely dressed pirate as he stretched onto the couch.
Hook chuckled before taking a drink of rum as he relaxed into the couch, "Not just any kind of feather, love. A harpy's feather."
"And a harpy would be…?" Emma questioned.
"You have really never been out of your own kingdom, have you?" Hook questioned casually, standing up from the couch and making his way to Emma.
"Only the royal occasions, and I was always in a carriage though," Emma responded quietly, "And never alone."
"What a shame, love. I've been on many adventures," Hook stated as he takes a seat on the end of the bed.
"You're a pirate, that is what you do. Go on adventures, plunder, and drink!" Emma stated the obvious while throwing her hands forward. "That is nothing surprising" She huffed.
Emma knew her parent's story and how they met. Everything was different for her mother. Snow was labeled as a criminal and force to survive because of her stepmother, Regina. Because of that, Snow was allowed to go on adventures and meet all kinds of creatures or people.
When Emma was younger, Snow would tell her bed time stories on her adventures with her father, the seven dwarves, and all the types of people she had met.
However, Snow didn't want Emma to do the same. Snow wanted Emma to have a different life. A life that was safe and away from any possible dangers. And Emma was more like her mother than Snow hoped for.
"And I am a princess, meant to go to balls, rule a kingdom, get married..." She finished as stared away from the pirate.
"Don't forget the part about having an heir." Killian said watching her face closely.
When she didn't respond, he pressed further, "That is why you haven't married, isn't it? Your son."
"Any man I would marry would become the King. He would want his son to be the heir to the throne, not Henry. Whoever I would marry would no quicker than have my son killed to save his own son's position," Emma spat bitterly.
"It is one of the reasons I never married any of the suitors. I would set up a story to tell them, about a princess that I know in another kingdom. I would gossip that she had a child born out of wedlock. I would tell them that she was trying to marry, but worried for her child's safety." Emma continued.
"All would laugh and say how they would just kill the child and be done with it..." Emma whispered heatedly, her hands gripping the sheets until her knuckles turned white. "As if that is suppose to entertain a woman somehow!" Emma snapped.
Killian eyed her. Slowly he leaned forward and placed his hand softly on Emma's.
"Aye, you think all men are that cruel, to kill a child?" He asked staring up at her.
Emma nodded her head. "Gold can do that to people. Power does that to people. You know the story of my mom and Regina, the Evil Queen, right?" Emma asked quietly.
"Aye, there isn't a soul in the entire kingdom who doesn't; the rightful Queen starting a war to over throw the heartless woman who killed her father. And when the Evil Queen had been captured, the kind-hearted Queen spared her life…much to her fiancé's dismay." Killian stated plainly, his hand never moving from the princess in front of him.
"My mother never once talked about how cruel she had been. She always said Regina had been molded to be how she is—molded by power. My mother isn't bitter. Regina nearly took her life—on multiple times—and my mother doesn't have one grudge against her." Emma said almost in awe.
"Ah, your mother sounds like a soft-hearted woman. Most would have gone through with her execution," Hook stated bluntly and removed his hand from Emma's.
"Maybe," Emma sighed shaking her head. "Anyway," She began, changing to a lighter topic, "What do we need with a harpy father?"
"It is said that a harpy's feather make the best quills." Killian said mischievously, winking at her as he stood up making his way back to the couch.
Emma watched Killian with confusion in her eyes but says nothing.
Killian gave her a grin. "Goodnight, Emma, love. We have a long day tomorrow." Hook said abruptly as he plops down into the couch.
"Can't you ju—"
"Sleep, blasted woman," Hook interrupted her as he blew out the last candle.
Emma woke up in the room alone. Food was prepared and left on the table for her to eat along with a note from Killian: Hope you haven't lost your sea legs, love. Eat, and then come up onto deck.
Emma read quickly over the note before helping herself to the dried fruit and pickled vegetables.
After she finished eating, Emma changed into different clothing before making her way up to the deck.
The wind was blowing strong as Emma made her way to the helm of the ship.
"Emma, love!" Killian shouted over the wind, "Nice for you to join us!"
"Like-wise, Captain!" Emma grinned as Killian walks over to the railing.
"With this wind, if it stays in our favor, we will reach the Marsh by sunset," Killian stated as he points across the horizon towards the location of the Marsh.
"Will we be attacking the harpies at night, then?" Emma asked as she shielded her eyes from the reflection of the sunny waters.
"Perhaps. We may," Killian looked over at her before chuckling his eyes glittering with excitement.
"You may have your sea legs, lass, but you haven't the faintest idea of being out at sea." He joked as he reaches into his pocket.
"I am princess, not a pirate!" Emma snapped as she tries to glare up at him, "Experience is limited!" she muttered
"Come here, princess." Killian said as he reaches for her face.
"No," Emma shouted, taking a step back. "What is that?" She asked defensively, glaring at the pirate.
"It will help protect your eyes, princess..." Killian paused, stepping closer to her, "Unless, of course, you want to be blind by the time we reach the Marsh."
Emma glared at him warily. "What is it?" She asked as her eyes move from his eyes to the dark object in his hand.
"It will protect your eyes from the sun reflecting off the water," he stated.
Emma gave him a hard stare; not letting him put the dark object near her eyes.
"Really, love?" Killian sighed, "The crew wears it as well, and so do I," Killian pointed to his charcoal lined eyes. "It is not going to blind your pretty blue eyes," he said sarcastically.
Emma holds out her hand, "I'll do the honors of lining my eyes."
"But Emma, love!" Killian protested with a grin, "Where is the fun in that! Plus," he winked, "I'm more skilled in the act of applying…protection."
"No. Hand it over, Hook." Emma demanded.
"Well, Princess," Hook grinned as he places the dark, charcoal wax in her hand, "You win…this time."
It iwas dusk when the crew arrives at the Marsh of the Damn. The whimsical cries of the harpies, and of the tortured souls can be heard from the ship.
"What is the sound? It sounds…sad." Emma asked looking at the shoreline of the Marsh.
"Love, it isn't called the Marsh of the Damn for no reason," Killian frowned. "Many men have come here. Many do not leave."
"Why?" Emma asked, her eyes never leaving the horizon.
"They do not live to do so," Killian answered her.
"So…" Emma hummed, " we are going to shore to a land where most men do not live to leave?"
"Aye, love. That is right."
"That is just stupid!" Emma hollered, "Why would anyone risk their life to go onto that island?"
"You wanted to see what adventure was, love? This is it," Killian grinned. "By any means, we only need to sneak up on one harpy. We need one feather."
"Something tells me that there is a catch to that one feather…" Emma glared at Killian who is grinning back.
"It has to be plucked from a live harpy—one in particular."
"Let me guess," Emma said starkly. "It happens to be the feather of the most powerful—or the strongest—or the leader of the harpies!"
"The one harpy who has killed the most men…Kasimir the Heart-Taker."
"Lovely name," Emma sighed in frustration.
"Well, time to go pluck a feather from Kasimir the Heart-Taker!" Emma said bitterly as she storms off the deck.
It was nearly twilight, and Killian, Emma and a few of the most capable crewmembers had been quietly searching for the needed harpy.
"Harpies sleep in caves at night. The prefer the cold of the rock than to the warm breeze in the trees," Killian whispered, "We need to find the entrance to his cave. He will not be with the group. He will have some female harpies with him."
"Why would he not be with the group?" Emma asked as she steps into a pothole of wet mud.
"Ask him when we meet him, aye?" Killian grinned sarcastically.
"That isn't funny." Emma muttered as she kicks off the mud.
The rest of the hike had been filled with silences, expect for the few ordered given by Killian. He said that they were nearing the caves.
The group had arrived at gray-cliffs that were miles upon miles high. Although, to the untrained eye, the cliffs look normal, rock was actually spotted with clusters of caves. Small glimmers of light shined in a few that look only like moonlight reflection off of wet rock.
"Night-watch," Hook stated, "Looking out for intruders while the pack sleep"
"The glittering rocks? How do we get by them?" Emma asked as she stares up at the cliffs.
"We don't. Kasimir should be away from the village. It is to show that he does not fear intruders," Killian grinned as he pulled to the left of the ridge, where the small glimmering moonlight rocks did not shine.
The group traveled farther and farther down the wall, until they came to a cave that had men handing by their necks and limbs missing.
"That will be the cave of Kasimir the Heart-Taker," Killian pointed to the foul-smelling cave.
The group stealthy approached the cave and entered it. They made their way deep into the cave with only the sound of rolling skulls being kicked around from their movement.
"This is wrong," Emma said quietly, "This…this…this doesn't feel right."
"He is here," Killian insisted.
"Killian…" Emma muttered looking around, "I t-think this is a trick…"
A deep rumble filled the cavern causing the earth to tremble beneath their feet. A dark voice filled the room, and the shadowed of the caved moved around the pirate fleet.
"Humans…" the voice muttered, "Always think they are sooo…" The voice sighed before pausing. "Clever…" the voice chuckled.
The pirate fleet had their swords drawn, and some helpless stabbed the shadows. The cave filled with a fog-like cloud that was laced in a sleeping potion.
"Time to sleep, huuuumans."