Darkness Before The Dawn

The King sank to his knees looking out over what was Aaralyn, his subjects slaughtered, his navy ships alight drifting into the horizon as the flames engulfed them, the seaside town now reduced to rubble with fires throughout, menacing smoke billowing into the evening sky like black ink clumsily spilt over parchment, bleeding and swirling in every direction . He'd lost everything of his past life, his broken kingdom entrusted to him by his father, brother, and ultimately his King, the King he had already failed. It was his responsibility to repair it, to honour King David and Queen Mary Margaret of Misthaven after being unable to protect their daughter all those years ago; there was no chance of reconciliation now. The emptiness inside him echoed his insecurities; it taunted him, the King with no kingdom, the orphan with no family, the man with no heart. The darkness seeping into every corner of his mind clouded his surroundings, he didn't hear Emma hesitantly approach him but his whole body tensed the moment she gently laid her hand on his shoulder.

"Killian?" she whispered, unsure of what to say.

He didn't reply, how could he? She was just another person who trusted him that he'd let down.

"Killian" her voice was stronger this time. "Killian…I…I'm so sorry…I promise we'll make it right…"

"How Emma? How will we make this right?" he hissed lifting his hand, signalling to the burning ruins below them.

She swallowed trying to think of what to say. "We will…we have to!"

"What's the point" he spat, "All is lost now; it's over."

"Look around" She pointed to the destruction below. "They came for us and we made it out! Hundreds of your subjects and their families are safe because of Granny's bravery"

"And what of the thousands that perished?"

Emma sighed, it was true, the Dark One had been merciless in wiping out Aaralyn; they hadn't anticipated the lengths he would go to. She refused to believe this was it; she didn't know how to quit, all her life she had fought and that's what she would do now; starting with fighting to make Killian see his people needed him now more than ever! She cupped his face in her hands forcing him to look at her.

"Look around" She began again. "We are lucky to be alive! The very air we breathe is testament to his failure, not yours! We survived an attack by the most dangerous man in all the realms, against the odds we survived and there must be a reason for that, you can't give up hope! We'll find a way to fix it by regrouping and coming up with a plan together! Your people need you Killian…I need you…"

The look he gave her sent chills down her spine. His eyes were black and narrowed; he spoke in a gruff voice. "This isn't one of the fairy tales you'll find in the castle library Emma, tales of old where the facts have been contorted into no more than whimsical fables; this is reality, harsh cruel reality. Sometimes you lose; sometimes there is no more hope."

She refused to believe it; refused to believe that Killain had outlived everyone in his family just to be condemned to a life of misery, refused to believe that this past year spent slowly rebuilding the kingdom was just for it to be destroyed. But most of all she refused that Killian came into her life, saved her neck, literally, and cherished her son just for them to live out the rest of their days grieving a life that could have been. She needed him to believe. "Your story isn't finished yet, Killian isn't it in the darkest times when the protagonist has to summon all the fight they have left within them and overcome the evil they face. It's in those moments when they are tested beyond belief that they discover the true measure of the person they are! Let this be that moment in your story; let this be the chapter when you decide to fight back, to face your demons, to put your heart back and release your full potential; the return of the King!"

"My story started a tragedy and will end a tragedy, it is my curse Emma!" He pulled away and turned his face from her. It was too painful to look in her eyes; to see her lightness and the possibility of what they could have been; happy. Her life had taken a turn for the worst from the moment she entered his damned kingdom. He was supposed to protect her, to provide for her and Henry. Henry! What of his son, what future could he possibly have if he and Emma stayed, they'd already been put in danger just by being associated with him, it was only a matter of time before they were added to the list of casualties, he knew now more than ever that he was cursed to a life of loneliness and misery. "I'm no use to you now, or to anyone else for that matter, don't you see, there is nothing left…for any of us, there is no fixing."

She stood her ground, "That's not true, I do need you, I…"

"Do you revel being a poor man's wife?" He snapped. Why was she being so stubborn? "I have nothing now, I can't offer you the fortune or protection you…"

"I revel being your wife; I don't care about the rest!" she cried earnestly.

"Why? We had a deal; a contract and I can't keep up my end of it, that makes it null and void." He shook his head angrily.

She reached out to him again stroking his cheek, perhaps now was the time to tell him, she'd put it off ever since their kiss but she knew it, she'd felt it down to her bones, maybe this was the encouragement he needed to put that damn heart of his back where it belonged and accept his destiny, accept her. "Don't you know, Killian? I love you!"

"No Emma!" He gasped, pulling back abruptly causing her hands to drop down to her sides. "How could you?" He said, feeling betrayed and angry "I told you not to fall in love with me! It is the only thing I have ever asked of you, begged of you! Can't you see I already have enough guilt for my failings and now you add this to it?" He had worked himself up so that he was shouting now. "I do not love you Emma, I will not love you! I cannot love you! I thought you understood that!"

She chewed on her bottom lip nervously, "but tonight…"

"Really Emma, one kiss and you can't control your emotions? I knew it was a mistake, I thought you were stronger than this!" he spat the words out, then instantly regretted it when he saw her face, riddled with pain and rejection. "Emma…I didn't mean…"

"Actually, I think you did." She interrupted him, tears stinging the corners of her eyes, "when will you realise Killian that the pain you feel has nothing to do with the Dark One, you inflict it on yourself!" She was up in his face now, anger fuelling her tongue.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he sneered.

"Instead of facing your problems you just used magic to have your heart removed so you couldn't feel, at the expense of your humanity, you wallow in loneliness and self-hatred so you'll forget what it feels like to love and be loved, that way you won't miss it and be tempted to go back to how you were. You complain about being a broken King of a broken kingdom but you're too blind to see the only person to blame for that is you! You're so scared of what your enemies will do to you but you're the only enemy you're losing to here! There are people who love you, who believe in you, you have the chance to have a real family and you push us away because you've decided somewhere down the line that you don't deserve it, well it's time you forgave yourself Killian! It's time to put your heart back in, face up to your past demons and become the man you were destined to be, the King you were destined to be!"

She knew she was repeating herself and she would keep repeating herself until she finally got through to him. She was shouting and suddenly aware they'd attracted the attention of the remaining survivors who were now gathered round watching their King and Queen fighting. She lowered her voice, "you once told me you needed me because you needed a heart you could trust…my heart tells me we're destined to be together and that we can rebuild this kingdom and defeat The Dark One together."

"The only person I was destined to be with died 21 years ago"

The truth was he did care about her, and he did trust her but Baelfire was right, he couldn't love her the way she deserved to be loved, not without his heart and he wasn't going to put it back, he was past that. She would be better without him now, their fortunes had changed, and she was in a position to care of herself and her son without him being a burden. The Dark One was relentless, he had to send her and Henry away for their own safety, that was all he could do for them now, how could he convince her? His voice was calm and cold; she wouldn't leave him willingly unless he made her hate him.

"Your ship is still docked here unharmed, your crew are on board in need of a captain; take your boy, you have a chance at a future. There is no future here. I don't love you, I don't want you and I never will. Leave, Emma."

His words cut her deeper than any blade ever had, if she couldn't convince him she'd have to trust someone else could. She wiped the tears from her cheeks, nodded her head sadly and simply replied, "As you wish" before heading back to take her son from Ruby's arms and carry him towards the docks. Killian watched Emma and Henry leave, despising himself more with each step she took further away from him, he stood his ground as the only light in his life eventually faded away from view. He turned to his huntsman, Graham, "follow them and make sure they safely board her ship and leave this wretched place."

"Her ship?" Graham asked.

"Just do as I say!" Killian shouted.

"Yes, your majesty!"

Killian stormed off.

Her heart skipped a beat when she heard fast approaching footsteps behind her. Thinking Killian had changed his mind she spun around, ready to forgive every word he said if it meant that she had finally gotten through to him.

"Queen Emma!"

Her shoulders dropped when she heard the voice. She stopped and turned around to face him. "Graham"

"Queen Emma, your husband asked me to see you got on your ship safely."

She blinked back the tears. "He is no longer my husband and I am no longer your Queen, so please, call me Emma." She was determined to stay strong for Henry who was sleeping, wrapped in a sling around her front.

She started walking again and Graham hurried to fall into step with her. "What the King said, your highness…" Emma shot him a dirty look. "I mean, Emma…I'm sure he didn't mean it! Everyone knows the King adores you!"

Emma breathed out a sarcastic chuckle and smiled wryly. "Our marriage was a farce; he needed to get married to become King and I was a prisoner in the castle cells facing a death sentence. It was nothing but a business transaction that mutually benefitted us. At best he saw me as a friend."

Graham slowed his step as he processed Emma's revelation. "But…you both seemed so happy; the kingdom was starting to thrive for the first time since it was established. You were making a difference, you have a child, and the King…the way he looked at you…"

Telling Graham the marriage was a sham was one thing but admitting that Henry was not Killian's son was another, she wasn't ready to open that can of worms. "Things are not always as they appear."

He realised she didn't want to talk about her marriage anymore, looking to change the subject he said. "So, you have a ship?"

Emma smiled. "I was…I guess I still am…a pirate. Emma Swan, Captain of the Jolly Roger, the fastest ship in all the realms!" She couldn't help but sound a little proud. "I suppose the only good thing to come out of this is that I will get to sail again, I have missed her terribly!"

"Her?" Graham asked.

"Why the Jolly of course!"

"Of course" Graham rolled his eyes. "What will you do now?"

Emma shrugged. "I'll return to my crew, convince them to take me back and go back to what I do best while raising this little first mate!" She nodded towards Henry.

"A life of piracy with an infant on board?" Graham seemed sceptical.

"It's all I can do" She insisted.

They approached the dock, all the King's navy and the merchant ships in the dock had been burnt to nothing. Only the Jolly Roger stood untouched. "How did she survive the fire?" Graham asked.

"She is built from enchanted wood, it cannot burn." Emma answered.

"Where did you find enchanted wood?"

"I didn't. When I came across her she'd already had many previous Captains. I know very little of her beginning…" Emma stopped and held up her hand to Graham signalling him to be quiet. She heard voices on board. She recognised one, it was her first mate Smee, but the other was new to her. She couldn't make out what they were saying but the tones of their voices sounded off, something was wrong. "Here!" Emma unwrapped her sling and handed Henry to Graham, quickly wrapping the sling around him, being careful not to wake the sleeping boy. "Stay here with Henry. Let me make sure everything is ok, if I come into trouble don't try to help me, take Henry back to the King, he will keep him safe. Do you understand?" She whispered. Graham nodded. She took a silver chain from her neck and placed it in Graham's hand. "If anything happens to me, this is for Henry; it is the only thing I have left of my parents." Graham opened his mouth to speak but Emma closed his fingers around the necklace, nodded, then hurried off.

She moved out of the shadows and slowly walked up the gangplank. "It…It's not possible my Lord, she…d…d…died over a year ago, so she did…" She heard Smee stuttering. She was finally high enough she could look over into her ship, she saw her crew staring back at her in horror. "C…c….Capt'n…h…h…how?" Smee stammered.

"Captain Swan! Nice of you to join us!" The sinister voice belonged to a man, if you could call him that. He was short of stature, his skin had a greyish tint to it and glowed, no, more like sparkled, it appeared to be rough and scaly; his eyes were a yellowish green and wide with wicked delight. He let out a shrill squeal of glee that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand to attention. Emma had never seen a man like it in all her travels; a glance at her crew, who were all shaking in their boots, confirmed her deepest fear; this imp was The Dark One. He was twirling her crown in the air with his skinny discoloured finger. "I believe this belongs to you!" He held up the crown. "Though now you're here and I know who you really are, I don't need this anymore!" He tossed the crown carelessly away like it was a mere trinket instead of the most valuable jewel in the realm.

The crown landed at Graham's feet with a soft thud, he looked down and his eyes widened. "The middlemist crown?" he whispered to himself, picked it up and tucked it into Emma's bag he had taken for her, he was desperately straining to hear what was going on up on deck. He looked over his shoulder, unable to shake the feeling that someone was watching him but when his glance revealed no one he returned his attention back to Emma. He crept closer to the ship making sure he kept to the shadows so he could hear without being seen.

"So you know I'm a pirate, what of it?" Emma asked him defiantly.

The creature filled the air with its shrill squeal again. "No dearie, a pirate is just something you became because you needed to feed yourself; I'm talking about who you really are, a Royal!"

Emma shook her head. "I am no longer Queen, the King sent me away, that was never who I really was!" She tried to mask the pain in her voice.

He snickered. "Ha! That is what you think!" He began to pace back and forth on the ship's deck, the boards creaking beneath his feet. "So he sent you away did he?" The beast giggled uncontrollably. "Oh this is too good! After all those years he tormented himself he finally had you and then sent you away, he's a bigger fool than I ever could have hoped for!"

Emma's brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean all those years?"

"Enough chit chat!" He shouted then clicked his fingers and Emma collapsed in a heap onto the ships deck accompanied by the horrified gasps of her crew members.

Graham looked down at his hand and opened it to look at the necklace Emma gave him, holding the pendant up to inspect it closer. "It can't be…" He squeezed Henry tighter and ran into the forest; he had to get back to the King; too many lives depended on it! He ran as fast as his legs would allow, dodging tree branches and jumping over roots sticking out of the ground. Years as a huntsman served him well navigating his way through the dense forest. The snap of a twig made him stop in his tracks, before he could reach back for his bow a figure immerged from the shadows holding a bow and arrow fully drawn.

"Don't even think about it!" The man warned. "Give me the boy and I'll let you live!"

Graham slowly backed up. "I can't let you take him. Lower your weapon! If you shoot me you may harm him as well!"

Baelfire stood his ground. "Then you better hope I'm a good shot!" He raised the bow higher. "Now give me my son!"

Ruby watched from behind a crate on the docks. She'd decided to follow Graham, just to make sure Emma and Henry got away safely. It didn't take her long to track them down once she was in wolf form. She could make out the conversation on the boat clearly with her heightened sense of hearing. Emma was in trouble! She saw the crown being thrown off the ship and landing at Graham's feet. She had to go back and tell the King before it was too late and Emma was gone forever. She ran through the forest, to the clearing. "Wolf!" She could hear one of the villagers scream.

"Wait!" Granny came running out from the tents with a red hooded cape in hand and threw it over the wolf. Ruby stood up "Thanks Granny! I must see the King Immediately, get Robin and Will and come join us!" She ran towards the cliff where Killian remained looking out over his kingdom. "Your Majesty!" She called out to him.

"I wish to be left alone" He replied without turning around.

"It's about the Queen…"

He turned around, fury burning in his eyes. "Since when was it permitted to defy your King, I said leave me alone!" his voice a booming crescendo.

Ruby walked up to him fearlessly, her eyes still shone in their wolf form. "Emma was ambushed on her ship by the Dark One. I thought you'd want to know, perhaps I was mistaken…"

As she turned Killian reached out and grabbed her arm tightly, she spun around and flashed him a warning glare making him loosen his grip. "Where is Henry?" His voice immediately changed to desperation. At that moment Granny, Robin, and Will joined them.

"Henry is safe with Graham, I'm going to go now and escort them back safely to us. The Dark One didn't want the crown, threw it away in fact, it was the Queen that he wanted! Last I saw of Emma, he had done something, some kind of magic and she was passed out on the deck of her ship."

Killian's jaw clenched, his hands fisted by his side. "Go to Graham, bring my son home safe!" She nodded and started towards the forest, transforming into wolf mid-run. He turned to the others. "Granny, you're in charge here! Make sure Henry is ok when he returns!" The older woman nodded. "Robin, Will, grab the horses; we ride to the Jolly Roger now!"

Ruby followed Graham's scent until she smelt something else, another man. She slowed down, hearing voices in the distance and crept in their direction.

"…Give me my son!" The man demanded.

Ruby sneered as she slowly and calculatedly approached the man from behind. Graham caught a glimpse of her in the shadows behind Baelfire. "I wouldn't do that if I were you! There are others in this forest who care for the boy and who would kill to protect him.

Baelfire ginned, "There are no others here. I'm not a fool! I do not wish to harm him, he is my son and I will be taking him now!"

"His mother has given me instructions regarding the boy, and I will follow her orders, I won't warn you again, drop your bow if you wish to live!"

"Wrong answer!" Baelfire pulled back his arrow as Ruby leapt onto her prey. Graham ducked out of the way of the arrow and started running back towards the camp, Baelfire's screams echoing through the woods.

The three men raced their horses to the docks, ashes still falling from the sky stung their eyes and the stench of burning buildings chocked them. When they reached the docks Killian slid off his horse and ran along the jetty, for a moment Will and Robin were worried he'd throw himself off the end but he stopped frozen in despair at what he saw. The Jolly Roger stood proud on the horizon just slipping from view. They were too late. He'd sent Emma to her doom.

He couldn't process what he was feeling, his head dropped and tears started flowing, his breathing was staggered as his body convulsed as if it was fighting to express the devastation that his emotions couldn't. The King was shaking violently and began to collapse just as Robin got there in time to break his fall. He propped him up against a wooden crate wracking his brain for what to do to help him. The shaking worsened and eventually Will walked up.

"What do we do?" Robin asked frantically.

Will kneeled down before the King. "Forgive me, your highness" Robin jumped at the cracking sound that came from Will punching the King as hard as he could. The shaking stopped, Killian was slumped unconscious.

"Really?" Robin hissed. "That was your idea?"

Will shrugged, "thought it would calm him down." He saw a bucket on the ground and dipped it down into the sea, then bringing it back up threw it on the King, who began spluttering.

"Emma!" Killian tried to get up.

"Whoa, whoa, your highness, just sit for a moment!" Robin held him down.

"The Queen is gone; we don't know where he is taking her." Will said hopelessly.

Killian shook his head. "Emma always told me to have hope, that is all she has left now, I won't let her hope be in vain!"

"What do you suggest we do?" Robin asked.

Killian exhaled, "What Emma has been telling me to do all along, and I'm such a fool, why didn't I listen to her?"

Will and Robin looked at each other. "Killian?" Robin asked his friend, leaving formalities aside.

"It's time Robin, we need to go back to Merlin, I have been incomplete for too long. I need my heart back, and we need to pray to the gods that it is enough to save her!"

Robin stared at his best friend in disbelief then his face broke into a smile and he stood and helped his friend up. "It's about bloody time, your highness!"

"Will, go get Graham and Ruby and bring them to Merlin, once I am whole again we will leave from there to go find Emma, I will need my best people with me!"

"Yes your majesty!"

When Graham, Ruby and Henry arrived at the campsite Granny ran out to greet them with Ruby's hooded cloak.

"Henry!" She shouted.

"Here!" Graham whispered "He's asleep" He gently handed the boy to her. "It is of the utmost importance that I speak to the King, it's about Queen Emma!"

"He left with Robin to seek Merlin to return his heart" Will interrupted, just arriving from the docks "He wants me to bring you and Ruby to him"

"Then we must go, there is no time to lose!" Graham insisted.

Robin and Killian rode all night into the next kingdom of Camelot not stopping or slowing until they reached the familiar cabin in the middle of the woods. The morning sunlight washed over them, covering their surroundings with a warm golden glow and for the first time in years Killain felt a determination and drive pulsing through his veins. He knew what he had to face next but the need to save Emma overrode any fear lingering. They dismounted their horses and tied them outside; wisps of smoke floating up from the chimney indicated that Merlin was awake. Killian raised his hand to the door but before he could knock it was opened by an elderly man with a long white beard wearing a floor length burgundy gown slightly tarnished with ash. Merlin smiled at the king "I've been expecting you, so she finally convinced you to replace your heart? I was hoping she would."

Killian's mouth dropped open "Do you know Emma?"

The wizard shook his head, "I know of her, I know she is of great importance and holds the fate of us all in her hands."

"I don't understand."

Merlin grinned and led the king and Robin inside his house, "Why don't we start by you telling me why you're here."

"Emma has been taken by the Dark One and I need to go after her but I'll need your help. It's my fault, I sent her away, I was informed the Dark One was in search of the Middlemist crown, he had one of his pawns steal it, I thought it was me and my kingdom he was after, that sending Emma away would keep her safe, especially since he had the crown…but it was Emma he wanted all along, once he had her he threw the crown away…it just doesn't make sense; why go after the crown in the first place when he wanted the Queen?" Killian asked, frustrated.

"Because he didn't know he wanted the Queen, not until he had the crown…of course…so it is true!" Realisation dawned on the old man's face. "You will find your wife Killian; you already have everything you need to find her; your heart and her crown!"

Killian dropped his head, "I don't have the crown…I don't even know where it is!"

"Why don't we begin by returning your heart? I have faith the rest will fall into place. Love is a powerful thing, but true love is the most powerful magic of all, once you have your heart nothing will keep you from finding your Queen!" The wizard smiled at the king.

"How do you know I love her? What if it doesn't work?"

"I didn't know until you arrived here, but you know, why else would you come back for your heart?"

"But…how? Without my heart…"

"Yes, it's true, without your heart you haven't had the passion or the pull that draws you to her like a magnetic force but you still have your soul and your soul longs for her, it's more subtle than the heart but a part of your being and an vital part at that! The urge to protect her, to make her happy, to spend time with her; that was your soul trying to tell you what your heart couldn't."

"So what, you're saying Emma and I are soulmates?"

"Something like that!" He answered ambiguously.

Robin cleared his throat, reminding the two men he was still standing there. "With all due respect I think time is of the essence and we should really be getting on with this!"

"Ok, I'm ready!" Killian said determinedly.

Merlin walked over to an old padlocked chest. He slid a wand out from his sleeve and whispered something over it, the lock popped open and the man heaved the heavy lid up and reached in pulling out a small wooden box with an intricate design carved into the sides, he whispered over it waving his wand again then opened the box. Killian saw his heart lying there glowing red. Merlin lifted it out and stood before Killian, "Now I have to warn you, this is going to hurt, in more ways than one!"

Killian gritted his teeth, bracing himself. "Do it!"