All I can say is thank you so much for your patience!
All her life Emma had heard stories of Misthaven, the cursed land that defied the Dark One and paid the price for it. As a pirate captain she had steered clear of its shores, believed to still be under a magical spell, since any sea captain worth their salt knew it was foolish to take superstitions lightly. The atmosphere aboard The Jolly Roger significantly changed once the mountains of Misthaven came into view, Emma could sense the anxiousness rippling across her ship making its way round each crew member but despite their nervous whispers she still found comfort in the fact they were willing to have their captain's back whatever danger they faced.
The only person on board who seemed happy as the ship sailed towards the mist cloaked forest was Killian Jones. After all these years he was coming home and bringing the Swan Princess with him, he couldn't wipe the smile off his face.
"Drop anchor" Emma cried, before flinging a bag on her back and making her way down the rope ladder to the row boat followed closely behind by Killian, Graham, Will, and Ruby.
As they rowed closer to shore Emma, and the other passengers became acutely aware of the eerie silence facing them in the forest. Not a single bird call, croaking toad, or chirping cricket greeted them. The trees themselves seemed to be deep in slumber standing lifeless without even the tiniest flicker of a breeze tickling their leaves. Graham and Ruby exchanged a cautious glance, anxious, along with the others about what exactly they were about to encounter. The band of friends wasted no time in their journey, Killian led the way through the dense woods, thick with undergrowth untouched for years and left to grow wild and thick. They drew their swords hacking through the low vines, trudging through the carpet of ferns trying to create a path for themselves.
Hours went by, not one of them daring to speak and break the silence, however the occasional look was shared between his friends as they watched Killian speed ahead, his pace was relentless fuelled with a new motivation now his lifelong mission was edging closer to completion with each step.
It wasn't until the sun was beginning to set and the already dark forest was nearing pitch black when Killian eased up his pace and turned to face the others bringing up the rear.
"We should make camp for tonight, there is a river close by where we can get fresh water then tomorrow we finish our hike to the castle." He dropped his bag on the ground and began pulling out its contents rolling out his bed then looking through his maps planning the quickest route to the castle.
Emma left him to his work and walked in the direction Killian had pointed out the river was. She'd experienced an overwhelming sense of unease since stepping on Misthaven's soil and needed a quiet moment to collect her thoughts. While Killian became happier with each step closer they came to her cursed parents she just became more anxious; so much came down to her and breaking the curse, the decades-long hopes and dreams of a kingdom depended on her and the weight that realisation carried was monumental.
As soon as the glistening water of the river came into view she relaxed, the water always calmed her whether it be the ocean, a lake, or even a mountain stream. She dropped to her knees, scooping the crystal liquid in her hands and washing her face, the icy cold water revitalising her. She was shaking the excess water from her fingers when she heard someone approaching.
"Is everything alright my Queen?" Will sat beside her on the riverbank.
"Will, you know you can call me Emma..." she teased, already feeling more like herself.
He shook his head, "Despite your previous occupation you are the Swan Princess, you will always be my Queen" he watched her shoulders sag. "…even if you're not thrilled at the prospect." he added.
"Did you know my parents?" Emma asked, still staring at the river gently flowing in front of her.
Will shook his head, "Not really, I knew who they were but I'm a couple years younger than King Killian and didn't spend time with them personally so my memories are not as vivid as his." He looked thoughtfully at her "They always seemed warm and kind to me though, even as a child I was aware that the Queen was beautiful and gracious...you know if you wanted to learn more of your parents Killian would be a much better source, he was very close to them."
Emma rolled her eyes, "I know...it's just..." she released a sigh, skimming a stone across the river. "He has them up on this pedestal, and I want to believe him but what if I break the curse and finally meet them and..."
"And they don't live up to the hype?"
"What if they do? I've imagined the moment I finally meet them so many times, every possible scenario. What if they are every bit as loving and kind and perfect as he describes them and they see me...what if they're disappointed..?"
Will thought for a moment before speaking.
"You were separated from Henry for almost a year, what if it had been longer, what if, god forbid, you had to wait 21 years to see him...would you care what mistakes he may have made in those 21 years without you? Would you be disappointed in any way by his appearance or stature, could any misadventure you heard of his make you love him any less?"
"No" she whispered finally understanding his point.
One by one their friends made their excuses and retired for the night leaving Killian and Emma alone watching the embers glow, dancing amongst the remains of the wooden logs that fuelled their campfire. The occasional pop of wood or hiss of steam from the fire was a welcome relief from the deafening silence engulfing them since leaving The Jolly Roger.
Emma edged closer to Killian and he reached his hand out for her to take as she adjusted her position to sit in front of him, reclining back into his arms. Her head slowly rose and fell with his chest, the quietness of the forest giving the stage to her favourite sound, the beating of his heart. For the first time that day Emma felt content.
She could feel him smiling into the kiss he planted on the back of her head as he buried his nose in her hair. "You know we never really had a proper honeymoon, Swan."
She lifted his hand to kiss the back of it then turned it over running her fingers lightly around his palm. "We'll get there...when this is all over..."
"Aye" he sighed. He'd almost forgotten what they faced ahead of them, breaking the curse and then the final battle against The Dark One.
"Can you tell me about my parents?"
Her request surprised him, since she had discovered her true identity she'd not once asked to learn more of them; he knew she'd struggled to accept their decision to send her away and the great responsibility that decision had landed her with. Relieved that she finally wanted to learn about them he smiled as his reminisced.
"Your mother was beautiful, the fairest in the land. She had raven hair, lips red like roses and her skin was like alabaster. Kindness poured from her, she had an uncanny ability to calm and assure anyone addressing her. She moved with the grace of a swan but was also as strong as an Ox and incredibly wise, not to mention a champion archer. She could probably challenge Robin!"
Emma chuckled and snuggled in tighter as she listened.
"Your mother had a gift with animals, she loved them and any creature she came across seemed to take to her too, birds in particular. She was fair yet compassionate, everything a Queen should be. She paid special attention to me after my mother died, she insisted my family move into the castle so Liam and I could be looked after, schooled, and trained in royal ways. Liam was a diligent student, took all his lessons very seriously. I however...was more mischievous, a trait your mother seemed particularly fond of. She would often catch me stealing cakes from the kitchen but instead of exposing me to Granny she'd cover for me saying she'd asked me to fetch them, things like that."
"You sound like you were quite the handful!" Emma giggled.
"Yes but I was cute so I got away with it."
"So my mother also fell prey to those deep blue eyes of yours..."
"Perhaps you are more like her than you think" he teased.
Emma snorted then once their laughter subsided asked "and my father?"
The question sobered Killian up instantly. "Your father was brave and strong, he wasn't born royal, but you'd never have known, he made it look easy, he was a natural leader."
"Sounds like someone else I know." Emma squeezed his hand.
His head shook in disbelief. "I could only dream of being a fraction of the king he was"
"Tell me about him" encouraged Emma.
"He had fair hair like yours, you share his eyes too. He was a man of action with little time for politics, he fearlessly faced his foes head on and hated sitting around doing nothing."
Emma smiled; it was strange to hear her own characteristics used to describe her parents.
"Now I'm older and have experienced having the title of King thrust upon me I wonder if he felt the need to prove himself because of his humble beginnings. He was always on the front line constantly laying his life down for his Queen and country. His bravery earned him the love and respect of the people; he was one of them and served them well. He treated all he came in contact with the same level of respect and attention whether they were noblemen or farmers. Everyone except you Emma, you were the light of his life, and he always looked at your mother with pure love and you with awe and wonderment. I remember the day he sent you away with us; I'd never seen a man look more broken."
They were quiet for a while; Killian allowed Emma to get lost in her thoughts while he held her and watched the last of the embers fading.
Finally Emma spoke again, "When I handed Henry over to Graham I knew something was off, I knew that I was in danger and that would be the last I'd see of him, at least for a while, each time you came to visit me in that cave and I told you not to bring him with you it killed me, my heart ached for him but I had to give him his best chance and that meant being far from me and here we are separated from him again, trying to make his world a safer place, to give him a future. My parents made the same choice; they gave me my best chance. It wasn't the life they wanted for me but because of it I'm alive. I understand that now."
They'd been walking for what seemed like hours, time passed slowly since they decided it was safer to travel mimicking the quiet of their surroundings. This land had lay untouched for decades and there was no telling what precautions the Dark One had left to prevent anyone returning to Misthaven, they had to be on high alert.
Emma's mind had been on her parents all morning, everything Killian had told her last night replayed on a loop until she memorised each detail. She was just on the part about her mother being a skilled archer for the hundredth time when she was jerked out of her thoughts by Ruby's vice like grip on her arm pulling her back.
"Ow" she cried.
"Wait everyone!" Ruby whispered.
"Something isn't right" Graham agreed.
Killian, Emma, and Will looked around them for any clue of what could have the wolf and the huntsman so on edge. Emma's eyes swept the forest in front of her, everything seemed as it should. There were the same low hanging vines, the carpet of ferns they would have to cut into to make their path, moss covered oaks, blue pines towering to the heavens, and not a creature in sight. It was exactly as they had seen since they stepped foot on this land.
"What do you see?" Ruby asked the group
"The same trees and overgrown plants we've seen since we started." Will muttered under his breath.
"Exactly" Graham exclaimed, realising what Ruby meant. "Look at that orchid hanging there" he pointed to a white bloom behind Emma, "See right there, a couple metres in front of it there is the exact same flower. And there…" he pointed to a berry bush next to Will, "Look, in front of us the same bush again, exactly the same distance apart as the flowers."
"And?" came the exasperated voice of Will, "We're in a bloody forest; of course there will be similar flowers and plants?"
Killian narrowed his eyes, comparing the scene behind him with that in front of him. "They're right; it's a mirror image, just without us."
"What?" Emma looked back and forth trying to see what they saw. Without another word Graham drew an arrow and pulled back on it releasing his grip, sending it soaring through the air. No one was expecting what happened next; the arrow flew in a straight line for 5 yards and then disappeared, sending a ripple effect across the forest in front of them revealing an invisible barrier.
"What the hell?" Emma exclaimed, staring in the direction the arrow was fired and vanished before their eyes.
"It's enchanted" Ruby replied, "it appears to be a mirror imagine, disguising itself as the forest but stepping through would send us god knows where! Wherever Graham's arrow ended up."
Graham instinctively pulled another arrow from his quiver and fired again into the forest. The arrow disappeared a second time, again causing a ripple effect across the barrier before disappearing in front of them. This time they followed the ripples which stretched on both side as far as they could see.
"We will have to go around it" Killian concluded "unless anyone knows a way to break the enchantment?"
His request was met with silence. After a few moments Ruby spoke up, "let me see how far this stretches while you all think about that, I'm the fastest one here, I'll be back in no time."
"Be careful" Graham warned.
Ruby smiled, walking over to him and leaning in to place a soft kiss on his cheek. "Of course" she whispered and gave him a small smile before turning to the others. "It shouldn't take me long"
Emma hugged her friend while Killian gave an approving nod, "we'll be right here Ruby." He promised.
Graham looked around nervously for what seemed like the millionth time to Emma. In the dense forest it was hard to find the sun making it immensely difficult to keep track of time but hours had definitely passed since Ruby left to scout out the magical perimeter around the castle.
Graham began to pace, "it's been too long, something must have happened to her."
"It's Ruby, she is no stranger to danger, I'm sure she will be back soon." Killian assured his huntsman, it wasn't like Graham to worry like this. He was well aware of Ruby's strength and capability.
"We don't know how big the barrier is, it could be taking her longer than we first thought." Emma added.
"Perhaps it's time we start to consider other options" suggested Will.
"Any ideas?" Graham huffed.
"Maybe we could dig under it?" Will suggested.
"With what? Our bare hands?" Graham was becoming increasingly agitated, "that would take days at best!"
"I don't know it was just off the top of my head, I don't see you offering any better suggestions!"
Killian quickly jumped up and positioned himself between the bickering men. "Arguing amongst ourselves won't help our situation, we've come this far, we will not be defeated by an invisible wall.
They were immediately silenced with the rustling of leaves near them, each head snapping to attention, Graham simultaneously raising his bow and arrow, Will, Killian, and Emma drew their swords instinctively.
"At ease, it's just me" a familiar voice called out.
"Ruby!" Graham rushed to her side.
"I'm fine, I'm fine" she dismissed his fussing giving him a look Emma couldn't quite translate. "It just took longer than I thought, it was as we feared, the wall completely surrounds the castle, and there is no way around it."
"So that's it? This ends here?" Will's shoulders slumped, "I assumed we'd go down in a blaze of glory on the battlefield."
"Nice to know you thought we wouldn't survive the fight" Emma rolled her eyes.
Frustrated at their apparent stalemate Killian stormed over to the barrier staring intently into what seemed like more forest though they knew better. The mirror image void of himself taunted him. The forest scene looked so welcoming, the lush plants and moss covered trees provided shelter and comfort but if he walked through there was no telling where it would lead him, or even if he would survive at all. 'Of course' he thought 'it was too easy to assume we could just walk up to the castle and break the spell, this is the Dark One we're dealing with' Being thwarted when they were so close to their goal was almost too much to bear. In anger he picked up a large rock and hurled it towards the barrier.
"Do that again" Emma's soft voice broke through his furious thoughts.
"What?"
"Throw something again"
"Emma, if this is you gearing up for a hope speech to try and make me feel better I'm really not in the mood-"
"Just throw the damn stone" she insisted and Killian humoured her, picking up a smaller stone and launching it causing the all too familiar ripples. "See there! At the top." She shouted, pointing to the tree tops.
"Wait I think I saw it too" Will chimed in; "Everyone watch the top" He picked up another stone and threw it just as Killian had. The group watched as the ripples danced up to the tree tops and stopped just shy of the tallest branches.
"We can't go around the wall or under it…" Emma began.
"…but we could climb over it!" Killian finished her sentence.
"So all we have to do is climb 30+ feet over the wall and safely down the other side without touching it." Will summarized. His eyes travelled up the trunk of the closest tree to the wall forcing his neck back at a 90 degree angle, he swallowed loudly, "easy…right?"
"You're not telling me you're scared of heights are you?" Ruby smiled mischievously, "didn't you climb trees when you were a kid?"
"sure…just not ones that big" he replied.
"You'll be fine, just don't look down" Emma assured him.
"I'll go first and see what it looks like on the other side." Graham stepped up to the base on the tree, flung his bag over his shoulder along with his bow leaving his hands free to grab onto the lowest branch and lift himself up. They watched as his nimbly scaled the tree making it look easy; in just a matter of minutes he was high enough to see over their elusive barrier. "It's incredible" He shouted, "I can see the other side, the trees are different, and I can see the castle in the distance, it's just about an hour's hike northeast!"
"Is there a way across the top of the wall?" Killian shouted up at the huntsman.
Graham looked around before replying, "If I climb a bit higher I can fire rope across onto another tree and create a zip line."
"That doesn't sound very safe" Will muttered.
"I think we're past 'safe' at this point, it's our only way. Once one person makes it across they can help hold the rope so it is more secure." Emma pointed out.
Ruby looked nervously up at Graham, it was a dangerous move but if he thought it was their best shot she trusted his judgement, she silently watched him balance on the high branch teetering slightly under his weight as he tied rope securely to the end of an arrow and fired it over to the other side. They all watched him give it a tug showing it had stuck to its target then tying the other end to the branch above his head. "OK I'm going to jump…see you guys on the other side" he shouted down to the wary onlookers.
Graham picked a stone from his pocket and tossed it down at the giant enchanted mirror; it immediately caused ripples in the wall below, showing him exactly how much distance he had to keep. Tugging the rope again testing its security he seemed confident enough and laying his bow over top of the rope and using it as a grip to protect his hands from friction burns he jumped, lifting his feet high in the air to avoid brushing against the top of the wall as he slid out of sight at break neck speed. Suddenly they heard a thud following by a loud cry of pain.
"Graham!" Ruby cried out, racing towards the direction of his voice.
Killian quickly grabbed her as she struggled in his arms calling for her love. "Ruby, that way won't lead you to him." He panted, still trying to keep her fighting body in his grasp. "The only way we can get to him is over the wall."
Ruby relaxed, realising her near fatal mistake. "You're right, sorry, I just…I need to know he is ok"
"I'll go next" Will offered, "I have medical supplies, I'll call down to you as soon as I spot him."
They watched Will climb the same route Graham just had until he was perched in the same place, his friend being in peril turned out to be the perfect cure to any fear of heights he'd been experiencing. "I can see him!" He shouted, "He's hurt his arm but he seems fine apart from that" He tugged the rope, now slacker from taking Graham's weight. "Graham, can you hear me? I need you to tighten the rope on your end."
He watched Graham wincing in agony as he used his good arm to pull himself up to where his arrow had planted itself in the tree trunk. He let out a roar of pain as he pulled the arrow out with all his might. Once it was released of the tree's tough bark he untied the rope and quickly retied it to a branch making it more secure. Will gave his end another tug and then pulled out a piece of cloth to strap around the rope and hold onto as he glided over shouting "Watch out" to Graham.
Graham ducked out of the way just in time as Will collided into the tree with a similar thud but no injury to himself.
"So this is what it's like on the other side" he smiled at Graham. "What's the damage then you eejit." He prodded his friend's arm with his finger.
"Ow! Stop it! I think I've dislocated my shoulder"
Will glanced at Grahams arm bent in an awkward position, sweat poured from his friend's face, it was obviously he was putting on a brave face, it had to be excruciating. "Ok, mate, this is going to hurt…I'm going to count to three and then push your shoulder back into place, alright?"
"Just get on with it" Graham grimaced.
"One…" in a swift move he popped the shoulder back.
"Ahhhh, what the hell happened to counting to three?!"
"Thought it'd be better to do it when you were distracted, here have a swig of this" he handed him a flask of ale and wrapped Graham's arm in a sling while he drank. "Not a bad fix if I say so myself!" he boasted, proud of his work. "I'm going to help you down to the ground then climb back up to assist the others, there is a certain young woman very keen to make sure you're ok." He winked at Graham.
"Then it'd be rude to keep her waiting" he replied.
Once Graham was safely back on solid ground and Will retuned to hold onto the rope he called over for the other's to make their way over. Ruby came first, Will caught her as she landed, next was Emma and lastly Killian. By the time they had all reached the forest floor Graham felt rested enough to continue on. "If we keep going we will reach the castle before nightfall and at least have a comfortable bed to sleep on tonight!" he told them.
They all agreed and following Killian's lead once again they hiked with quiet determination.
They may have only dropped anchor 48 hours earlier but Emma felt as though she had walked through that forest for days and was more than ready for the view that stood before her, the view she had been so hesitant to pursue since learning of her beginnings. She stopped as the others walked on, unaware of their Queen's absence. For the first time since the day she was taken away as an infant she was looking onto the impressive skyline of Misthaven, its crowning glory the impressive castle sitting higher than the rest of the city on a hill overlooking the kingdom eclipsing the sun setting behind it casting a vibrant pink glow, giving the castle a spectacular finish.
"Wow" she whispered.
"Are you ready to go home Emma?" Killian was standing a few feet ahead of her with his hand outstretched. She smiled and joined him as he showed her around the home of her people"
It was strange walking down the cobbled streets of such a large city and seeing no movement and hearing no sounds, the famous city had been reduced to a ghost town.
It was only when she reached the castle gate that she could appreciate how vast a structure her home was. Thick stone walls with intricate carvings decorating them seemed to reach to the heavens. The castle gates lay open; as they tentatively walked through them they noticed the body of a man was slumped inside by the gatehouse door. He looked to be about in his 30's; he wore the attire of a guard, spear still in hand as he lay there. Emma suddenly noticed his body moving subtly, just the steady rise and fall of his chest. "He's alive!" she exclaimed.
"Phillip, I remember him, he's not aged a day!" Killian stated in surprise. "I hadn't thought about it, they must not have aged under the curse…"
"He's sleeping?" Emma asked.
"The whole kingdom is sleeping, get ready to see some familiar faces everyone. We should make haste to find the King and Queen, the sooner we can break this curse the better!" He rolled Phillip into a more comfortable position, not that it mattered after being in that one for years. Killian led them through the castle, littered with sleeping bodies; the lullaby of their soft peaceful breathing made the hairs on the back of the group's necks stand to attention, it was almost eerie especially after the days they had just spent in silence.
Emma looked around her while they followed Killian down huge stone and marble corridors, the interior of the castle was grand yet tasteful however the tapestries looked withered and worn, a thick layer of dust covered every surface in the building and the smell of dampness drifted up to their nostrils. Despite the crumbling stonework and obvious neglect Emma could easily imagine how majestic this castle would have been before the curse.
Finally they approached a large oak door with a woodland scene carved masterfully on it with gold accents. "Here we are" Killian announced, "Are you ready to meet your parents, luv?"
Emma swallowed and nodded; her heart rate quickened as she reached out and turned the gold handle on the door pushing it open with a loud creaking wail. The others waited in the hall to give Emma a moment alone with her parents. The room was what she would imagine a royal bedchamber to look like; beautiful wooden and gold furniture was dotted around the room, a large wardrobe, a writing desk and a table big enough for two to dine comfortably in front of the large fireplace. In the corner were two chairs next to some book shelves. Once beautiful carpets, now grey with age, were scattered around the floor giving the grand room a cosy feel; but the main feature of the room was the massive four poster bed situated against the far wall, above it hung a large portrait of the King and Queen holding a baby. Below the painting laid the King and Queen, wrapped in each other's arms sleeping peacefully.
The knowledge that they would be there didn't prevent the sharp inhale of breath filling Emma's lungs the moment her eyes fell on them. After all these years she was looking at her parents. At first she was struck by their appearance, they looked no older than 30. Then she remembered Killian saying those under the curse didn't age. She stood there for a while watching them sleep, reassuring herself that this wasn't a dream, those were her parent's right in front of her. Taking a deep breath she walked towards them.
"Well I guess this is it. Only true loves kiss can break the spell…no pressure Emma"
She looked at her mother's face, she was just as Killian had described. Emma leaned over planting a soft kiss on her mother's forehead.