The Return of Captain Swan
Before Emma could process what was happening and react Robin had Baelfire restrained. "You're under arrest by order of the King for piracy, theft, and treason" Robin shouted gruffly.
"Treason?!" Baelfire practically squealed, breaking his eye contact with Emma to look at his captor, "When did I commit treason?"
"You assaulted the Queen when you stole the crown jewels!" Robin replied.
"The Queen?!" Baelfire's eyes shot back to Emma in disbelief, the commotion had woken Henry who turned in Emma's arms and looked up in the direction of the noise. Baelfire's gaze was drawn to the infant, his own eyes staring back at him, his brow began to furrow and panic struck Emma that he would realise he was looking at his son.
She grabbed Robin's arm, "maybe we could drop the treason charge, after all he didn't assault me, I tripped and technically I wasn't the Queen at the time!" she could feel Baelfire glaring at her but she refused to look at him, he knew her too well, he'd seen all her cons, knew each one of her tells, she couldn't risk him looking in her eyes and seeing the truth.
"You'll have to take that up with the King!" Robin said before pushing Baelfire towards a royal guard who was standing watch at the port. "Take this prisoner to the castle immediately; I'm going to escort the Queen back." Emma watched Baelfire struggle as he was hauled into a carriage; the driver pulled the reigns and drove off in the direction of the castle. The shock of seeing him was only just beginning to wear off; she turned around and looked up at her ship longingly then started to walk towards it feeling the pull of the ocean tugging at her heart.
"Your highness" she stopped, realisation set in that she wasn't going to be able to board her ship, she could hear it in Robin's voice, "I think it best I took you back, and let the King know about our guest." She felt her heart pulling her in two different directions, her eyes darting back and forth from her ship to her child who was happily playing with her silver pendant necklace she was wearing. Perhaps Killian would come back with her and let her see The Jolly Roger again. She sighed, kissed Henry on the forehead and reluctantly turned to follow Robin.
The carriage ride back to the castle was uncomfortably quiet, Robin was Killian's best friend and the fact he didn't try to stop him marrying the pirate didn't mean that he trusted her. So far she had proven herself to be a good Queen but how long could she pretend? It was obvious to him that Killian had feelings for her; he had hoped the feelings would have been strong enough to perhaps make him return his heart but something seemed to still be holding him back. Did she return his feelings? She played the role of loving wife convincingly, much to Robin's surprise, and they did have a child together. But then there was Baelfire, Killian had believed she was in love with the thief, perhaps she still held a torch for him, there was no telling how she would react to her former lover now being locked in the castle cells. It was Robin's job to protect the King even if that meant protecting him from his own wife.
Emma could feel Robin's eyes on her but she refused to look up, he must have questions for her about Baelfire, she was relieved he knew better than to ask. His lack of trust in her was written all over his face each time she found the courage to glance his way. She didn't blame him; he was Killian's friend and the only other person in the kingdom who knew who she really was. Killian had trusted him with Emma's secret; she had no choice but to trust him too and hope that his loyalty to his King would overflow onto his Queen. An anxious pit formed in her stomach as she thought about what Killian's reaction would be to Baelfire's capture, countless scenarios ran through her mind from Baelfire being fed to the palace pigs or beheaded in the town square. What the hell was he playing at coming back? They never hit the same target twice; that was pirating 101; never return to the scene of the crime! She nervously twirled her wedding ring around her finger, there must be something bigger at play here, something worth Bae returning and not even trying to sneak into town. Realisation washed over her making the colour drain from her face, "being caught was all part of Baelfire's plan, he wants to be inside the castle!" It didn't make sense but something was going down and she needed people to trust her instincts, she needed more than just Killian on her side, she had to make Robin understand where her loyalties lie.
"I can't begin to imagine what you must be thinking right now but I need you to understand that I am as shocked as you are that he showed up here!" she gathered the courage to look up at him and he slowly turned his head to meet her stare.
"I believe you; you've not stopped shaking since you laid eyes on him." He pointed out, and then hesitantly added, "You loved him, didn't you?"
"Yes" she admitted making him raise his eyebrow in surprise at her honesty. She shook her head and looked down at her boy, "but not anymore…my loyalty is with the King, I care deeply for my husband, he's my friend and I couldn't bear to hurt him after everything he has done for me!"
Robin thought he saw it; a flicker of something behind her eyes, an emotion she was trying her damned hardest to supress. It was fleeting but he recognised it nonetheless. "Do you love him?"
Emma was taken aback by his forwardness. "I…I mean…he asked me to promise him that I would never fall in love with him, he was very adamant!"
A half smile danced on the reformed thief's lips, "And did you?"
"Did I what?"
"Did you promise him you wouldn't fall in love with him?"
"Well…I…no, not exactly…" Emma had completely lost control of the conversation; she could feel her cheeks turning pink.
"Well that's a relief, it'd be a shame to have to arrest you for treason because you couldn't keep a promise you made your King!" his eyes twinkled, "So she does love him, well I'll be damned!" he thought to himself.
She huffed in frustration, "I do believe you've forgotten that you are talking to your Queen!"
"Forgive me, your highness!" he held up his hands chuckling ,then after a moment of silence his voice dropped to a whisper, "Emma" when she looked up she saw his face had grown deadly serious, "The sooner Killian returns his heart the better, he lacks the passion and drive to build his kingdom, to defend her against our foes, and to find a way to save our brothers in Misthaven, the future of two kingdoms rests in him accepting his destiny and he can't do that without his heart!"
She looked out the window for a moment then replied in a small voice, "I've already tried, I tried to convince him yesterday but he wouldn't listen." Her shoulders slumped at a loss of what to do.
Robin sighed, "Then it's worse than I thought, you have to find a way to make him embrace love again Emma, because if you can't convince him, then god knows no one else can!" They spent the rest of the ride home in silence, the weight on their situation resting heavy on their shoulders.
As soon as they reached the castle Robin and Emma rushed to Killian's throne room. They found him trying to settle a dispute between two farmers over land, he was sitting hunched over with his eyes closed and finger and thumb pinching the top of his nose as the two men before him screamed every name under the sun at each other.
"Your Highness!" Robin called out, Killian's head shot up, eager for a distraction from the two idiots in front of him. His excitement soon turned to confusion when he saw Emma standing beside Robin, still holding Henry in her arms.
"Is everything ok?" He jumped up and walked towards them, oblivious of the two men who were now rolling around on the floor wrestling each other. He leaned over to kiss Emma's forehead and then leaned down to do the same to Henry who giggled at the feel of his stubble against his soft skin.
"It is of the upmost importance that we speak to you immediately!" Robin told the King in a hush tone. Killian nodded, "we can talk in the library". They bumped into Percival in the dark stone hallway. "Ah Percival, there are two men fighting in the throne room, would you kindly get Granny to go and deal with them?"
"Yes your majesty!" The Knight quickly hurried off.
"Are you sure Granny can handle those two?" Emma asked unaware that breaking up brawls was in the old woman's job description.
Killian smiled, "She's broken up worse fights between Liam and I, trust me, there is no one in this kingdom scarier than Granny when she is angry!"
They walked into the library and Robin closed the door behind them, Killian turned to face them, "So what is this about?"
Emma and Robin exchanged glances anxiously then Robin took the lead, "The Jolly Roger was in port when we arrived today, Baelfire was stepping off the ship and I arrested him."
Killian looked over to Emma trying to gauge her reaction to all this. "You saw him?" she looked down and nodded. Killian could feel a pang of jealousy in his gut. "Did he come back here for you?"
She raised her eyes back at her husband, surprised by his line of thought. "No. I was the last person he expected to see, he was genuinely shocked that I was alive." She chewed her bottom lip and subconsciously held Henry tighter, an action that wasn't missed by Killian, Baelfire had seen his son, he couldn't talk about it now in front of Robin but his jaw instinctively clenched thinking of that man wanting to claim the prince.
Killian tried to focus on the problem at hand. "Where is he now?"
"In the castle cells" Robin replied, he wasn't enjoying the atmosphere in the room at the moment. The tension radiating from the King and Queen was unbearable and he knew Baelfire being back and in the same building as them wasn't helping their already shaky relationship. He could see Killian's jealousy and insecurity rearing its ugly head but until Emma and Killian admitted to each other how they felt that beast wasn't going anywhere. He would think of a way to knock sense into his friend's thick skull later, right now they had to deal with their prisoner.
"Baelfire will have to pay for his crimes, like any prisoner." The King said coldly.
"There is a bigger problem here!" Emma spoke up; both men turned their attention to the Queen. "Baelfire would never come back to a place he robbed, it's too risky! Unless he wanted to be caught, there is a reason that he wants to be in this castle and that is what we should be worried about! I've survived though a lot and I've done so by trusting my gut and right now my gut is telling me that there is something big about to happen, something Baelfire needs to be on the inside for."
"But he is restrained in our cells, what use is he there?" Robin asked.
Emma walked up to Killian and looked him in the eyes imploringly, "There is no restraint that Baelfire can't escape from; it's a talent of his! Something is going down and that is why he is here, the only problem he has now is me, he wasn't counting on me being here and I know all his plays, I know how he operates; he's an open book to me and that is why you have to trust me on this!"
Killian thought over her words carefully, her eyes looked honest but he needed to speak to her alone first. Without taking his eyes off hers he instructed Robin, "Go to the prisoner, if what Emma says is true and he can escape his chains he needs to be under constant supervision until we figure out what is going on. Don't engage him, just keep watch, do you understand?"
"Yes your highness" Robin bowed and left the King and Queen alone.
Henry started to wriggle in Emma's arms making her break her eye contact with Killian.
"Here" the King offered and took the boy in his own arms, Henry giggled, clinging to his step-father and rubbing his face into his shoulder. He smiled at his son and kissed his head before looking back at Emma trying to decide the best way to discuss their current situation. Emma continued to chew on her lip nervously while her brain ran a hundred miles per hour. "Are you ok?" he asked gently, not knowing how else to start.
Emma realised she was still shaking, the shock had worn off but the feeling of dread which replaced it had adrenaline pumping through her veins. She folded her arms to try and calm herself, "It was a bit of a shock, I didn't think I'd ever see him again…I wish he hadn't seen Henry…I think he suspects…"
Killian sighed. "Did he say anything?"
"No, thankfully, I don't know how I would have explained that to Robin!"
"Robin isn't the problem, it's whoever else he might tell while he is here, he could tell people the truth about you too Emma! As long as he is alive you are both in danger,"
Emma's eyes widened, "Please…promise you won't have him killed!"
Killian raised his eyebrows in surprise at her request, his mind instantly taking him to a dark place. "So after everything he's done you still care for him?" His words dripped from his lips like poison, "how could she love him after the way he's treated her" There was no hiding the jealousy and distain on the King's face.
Emma shook her head, "no, I don't 'care' for him at all, but I do care about you and Henry. What happens one day when Henry finds out you're not his father? Don't you think it will be hard enough without also discovering you had his biological father killed?! I won't let you do something that puts yours and Henry's relationship at risk, you're too important to him!"
The Kings's face softened, a stab of guilt struck his chest, it seemed every time he doubted Emma she surprised him again. He held the boy tighter, "Henry's and my relationship really means that much to you?" he asked in a hoarse voice.
A tear fell from Emma's eye, "Of course it does! As far as I'm concerned you are his father, and just look at him Killian!" she pointed to her boy who was snuggling into the king, "He loves you so much!" "We both do!" she left the last part unspoken.
The King felt his eyes begin to burn, it was the closest he'd come to crying since removing his heart. He felt unworthy of the child's love but cherished it nonetheless. He felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude to Emma for allowing him to be a part of Henry's life, one day he would find a way to show her how grateful he was but at the moment there were more pressing matters. "So you think he is part of an attack on the castle?"
Emma furrowed her brows, "I don't know for sure but if I was planning an attack I would strike during a royal ball when everyone has their guard down and I could assure the King and Queen would be there! "
"Aye, it would make sense! There have been rumours of an attack form the Dark One for months now; does Baelfire have any history with him?"
"Not that I know of, but who knows what he's gotten himself into this past year! Perhaps I could find out some information…if you let me talk to him?" she asked hesitantly.
"Absolutely not!"
"Killian, I know him better than anyone, I can tell when he's lying!"
"Can you though?" Killian challenged.
"And what is that supposed to mean?!" Her eyes flared at the accusation.
"I'm just saying you thought he cared for you when he obviously didn't!" Killian regretted the harshness of his words as soon as they left his lips.
It was a low blow but she had to shake it off and convince him, there was too much at stake. "I still know him better than you, I know how he works; yours wasn't the first castle we hit!"
She had a point, Emma was possibly their best chance at getting through to Baelfire but he didn't trust him alone with her for a moment. "Ok, but I come with you!"
"Only if you let me do all the talking!" she counter-challenged.
"Ok" he agreed. "There is another problem though; Henry! If something is planned to happen tonight then he is in danger here."
Emma agreed. "We have to get him far away from here, somewhere safe!"
"Are you sure?" He knew she was right, though Killian hated to admit it, the thought of sending the infant away to safety brought back painful memories; he couldn't help but remember the baby girl who his father was trying to save when she was taken. He was unable to protect the Swan Princess, could he protect the boy? He looked into Henry's eyes and it suddenly struck him how King David must have felt that night he had to say goodbye to his daughter and entrust her with another. His very soul fought against the idea.
"We can't keep him here, what if there is an attack?! He is leverage, and vulnerable, he'll be the first person they go for! We have to make sure he is safe, we're a step ahead of them, we can send him away now and it will give him a head start, if I'm wrong and nothing happens then we can send word to bring him back! Is there someone you can trust with protecting him?" Emma asked.
Killian didn't hesitate, "Ruby!"
"Ruby?" Emma wasn't sure who she expected him to say but her lady's maid was the last person on her mind. "Ruby is great with him but I was thinking someone who could protect him as well as care for him..."Killian's face broke into a grin "she hasn't told you has she?"
"Told me what?" Emma demanded.
"Ruby isn't your average woman…in fact she is extra-ordinary, special, if you like."
Emma could feel jealousy prickling inside her, she folded her arms over her chest and huffed, "And you know that how?"
Killian chuckled, "Do I detect a hint of jealousy there, Swan?" Emma glared at him causing him to bite back his smile and explain. "Well you have no reason to be! Ruby has a gift, though some consider it a curse, she can change into a wolf, a particularly vicious one in fact, for a long time she didn't have any control over it, partly because she didn't know, she would black out when she turned and had no memory of it once she returned to her human form. Her red hooded cloak prevents her from changing, as soon as it is placed on her she returns to her human form. Her grandmother took her from her village when she was 16 after she unintentionally killed her boyfriend. Ruby was heartbroken and an outcast, if it weren't for Granny who knows where she'd be now!"
"Wait…Granny is Ruby's…granny?" Emma's eyes widened. "And …you gave me a lady's maid who is a wolf? Our child has been with a wolf this whole time…?"
"She is mostly human!" Killian said in defence.
Emma paced the floor wringing her hands together as she tried to wrap her head around this new information. "Ok…we know we can trust Ruby with Henry and she can put up a fight but who protects Henry when she is in wolf mode…who makes sure she doesn't accidently hurt him?"
Killian was thoughtful, he walked to the door and opened it, and he spoke in hushed tones to the squire outside that Emma couldn't quite make out. When he returned he simply replied, "I have a solution." He handed Henry back to Emma and kissed her forehead again, "They'll be here soon; it's going to be ok Emma, I would never leave Henry in the hands of someone I didn't trust implicitly, it kills me to send him away, but you're right, we have to give him his best chance!"
Emma couldn't stop kissing her son's head, as if she felt she needed to compensate for the time she wouldn't be there to kiss him, she didn't even try to stop the tears starting to fall from her pink raw eyes. She hated Baelfire for being here, his presence the cause of their family being torn apart, but then perhaps his arrival was the warning they needed to be able to save their son's life. The door swung open and Ruby entered with a large bag filled with supplies for Henry followed by Graham, the Kings huntsman. The two looked expectantly at the King, "What is this about, your majesty?" Graham asked, looking over to Emma and Henry.
Killian cleared his throat, "We have reason to believe there could be an attack on the castle tonight, and I need you and Ruby to take Prince Henry to a safe house as a matter of precaution. We're entrusting you with our son's life, his safety is your number one priority; you must leave immediately and tell no one about this, understand?"
"Yes your majesty" they both said in unison. Ruby carefully took Henry from Emma, "Don't worry, my Queen, I will guard him with my life!"
Emma nodded, "I know you will."
Killian turned and faced the fireplace, jaw clenched, it was too much for him, he'd lived this scenario before and it didn't end well, Ruby's words echoed his own promise he made King David all those years ago, a promise he failed to keep. The thought of anything happening to Henry made him feel physically sick. He couldn't watch him leave, he waited until he heard the door close behind Graham, Ruby and Henry, and he assumed Emma had left too to see her son off. So many years later and he still felt helpless and in no control of his circumstances, he was a husband, to possibly the most incredible woman he'd ever met, unable to love and a father unable to protect. Emma and Henry in danger was a painful reminder that everyone he'd ever cared about had been taken from him. His self-loathing bubbled up inside him until it was unbearable and he let out an angry roar and swiped his fist along the fireplace mantle sending books, frames, and vases toppling down to the floor in a crash. He fell to his knees and breathing heavily until he felt her hand on his shoulder.
She hated seeing him like this, so broken and hopeless, she kneeled next to him on the floor and wrapped her arms around him hugging him so tightly she hoped he could feel her love. She eventually felt his body relax and his breathing steady.
"Emma" He said in a husky voice, "I…I'm sorry luv…I thought you left…I didn't mean for you to…"
"Shhh, it's ok, I'm here, everything is going to be ok" she soothed him, gently combing her fingers through his hair. Her heart ached for Henry too but she knew she had to be strong for Killian; they had to keep their heads if they were going to get through this.
He faced her, eyes dark and whispered, "You don't know that!"
"Maybe not, but I told you before, whatever was planned, they didn't count on me being here, I'm not a pirate you want to cross on the best of days but now I am more motivated than ever, my family is at risk and I will do whatever it takes for my family…" she cupped his face in her hands and looked him straight in the eye to emphasis her meaning. "…for you!"
He sighed. This woman! He shook his head baffled at what he ever did to deserve her; that would be a mystery to solve another day, her speech ignited a fire in his belly and if she was ready to take his enemies head on then he would be right there beside her. "It would appear Captain Swan that now I find myself in need of a pirate, not a princess."
Emma grinned, "I know just the girl!"
Emma swiftly moved around the castle armoury grabbing various daggers and short blades shoving them into a satchel while Killian looked on with amusement. "Darling, don't you think you'll attract a bit of attention carrying all those to the ball tonight?"
"Oh don't you worry…you'll like what I have in mind for that" She winked at him then turned to look at some bags of gunpowder before stuffing a few of them into her bag along with some thin rope. "Besides some of this will be for you…oh and we'll need to hide our swords somewhere in the ballroom"
"That's doable"
She placed one last blade in her bag and spun to look at him. "Ok, that should do it! Now Killian, I need to know who you trust here in the castle, who do you know without a shadow of a doubt wouldn't betray you?"
"You think someone betrayed me?"
"Baelfire is here on the inside, unarmed and waiting. Someone has definitely betrayed you! Now tell me who you trust, we need more people involved tonight."
"Well you and Robin, Graham and Ruby, but they're with Henry…Granny for definite and Will, he's the spy who alerted us about the Dark One in the first place! Then there is King Arthur and his Knights, we share an army…"
"No, that's too many. We keep this small; we need to get Granny, Will, and Robin together before tonight to let them in on the plan!"
"And what exactly is the plan?" he asked.
"Right now, you and I go speak to Baelfire and try to get some information from him, and then we fill in Granny and the others. If the castle is going to be attacked, and my gut tells me it will, then we need Granny to try and help evacuate as many people as possible from the kingdom, she will need to be careful not to attract attention from the Dark Ones army; you, Will, Robin, and I will attend the ball as planned, only armed, and we will be first defence before the castle knights and your military can intervene, you are the King, you'll be their target so we use that to our advantage and we can draw them away from the other guests, they'll not be expecting us to be armed so we can put up a fight. What we can't do is defeat the Dark One himself…not yet, we need time to study him and find his weakness. I know you want him dead but we aren't ready Killain, we just need an escape plan…"
"There are old tunnels under the castle, Liam and I found them when we first moved here, no one knows about them."
"Perfect!" She took his hand and squeezed it. "See Killian, we have advance warning, we have weapons, we have a plan, and most of all we have each other! I think you'll find we make quite a team!"
His eyes twinkled, "I never doubted it for a second, luv!"