"Bloody infernal woman!" Killian hissed when he sat down with Graham in the tavern with a tankard of ale in his hand. He had hoped when he decided to stay in the castle to wait to speak to the lass that he would be able to reason with her and come to some sort of détente.
"It was just some water," Graham offered. "At least she didn't try to kill you."
"It was bloody freezing!" Killian yelled.
Graham tried to stifle a laugh with the back of his hand. Remembering a vision of a naked Killian yelling at the lady safely ensconced behind a closed door had caused him much mirth first thing in the morning.
He knew Killian wouldn't appreciate the humor in the situation so he tamped it down.
"I tried reasoning with the lass but she seems determined to attack me like some raving lunatic," Killian complained.
"Maybe you should just give her some space to accept the situation," Graham said. "And I could start holding her attention by using some of my charms."
"Please do that! I could only wish you good luck because she might carve you up into little pieces if she is peeved at you," Killian stated.
Graham never thought Killian would be this over dramatic.
"I've been sailing with her remember?" Graham said. "She might be spirited but she is harmless."
"By the way, what's her name?"
"She goes by Miss Swan and refuses to say her given name," Graham answered.
"Interesting," Killian pondered. "She desires to hide her identity and she was in the Dark One's castle. Seems she is a mystery that needs to be unraveled."
Graham was uncomfortable with the slight interest Killian took in Miss Swan.
"I made some investments in other merchant vessels' voyage," Graham announced. "Hopefully I could make enough to settle down."
"With the shrewish Miss Swan?"
"I'll see what my return will be and yeah, maybe."
Killian knew that Graham was quite the ladies man himself and could be quite a fierce pirate. Time would tell if the swan could tame the wolf.
They finished their meal and went back to work getting the ship out of the water for repairs and to keep it from ice damage. His ship was made of enchanted wood and probably could withstand any ice but Killian wasn't taking any chances. Killian visited the agent to get back the difference from the rents. He had only mildly threatened the man before he gave Killian back the money and then some. Killian left Graham in charge of his ship, the Jolly Roger, while he traveled back to the castle. He didn't want to leave Miss Swan alone to her own devices for too long.
Killian slowly approached the door of the rotting castle not sure what he would expect when he opened it. He cracked it open a smidge and peaked inside looking upwards to see if there was any unsuspecting pail of water ready to fall and drench him. What he saw instead didn't really surprise him all that much considering the lass's penchant for trouble.
Smee and Fitch were trussed up and lying on the floor of the hall. Killian walked toward them.
When Smee and Fitch saw the Captain, they started talking all at once on how Miss Swan was a veritable ninja and surprised them with a frying pan. She bound and left them there.
"Relax, you buffoons. How long ago did she leave?" Killian asked them as he was cutting away the rope that bound them.
"Almost two hours ago, Captain," Fitch answered.
"Did she say anything else?" Killian asked looking for any clues to what direction she would be headed. He didn't encounter anyone on the road into town so she must be headed the opposite way.
"She said she was sorry but she needed to go," Smee informed him.
"Did she say where?"
"No, Cap'n."
The only place she could have headed was Arendelle which was five days trek away with no other towns or small villages in between. In this weather; she might perish from the cold and starve to death. Silly fool, Killian thought.
On the one hand he would probably be able to sleep better and not worry about being harassed if she was gone but then again, his conscience would bother him if he were to learn that she perished on her travels to Arendelle. Most likely she would die of exposure. He realized what he needed to do.
He knew that his horse, Titan, was the fastest among the horses that were purchased. Her plodding nag wouldn't be able to outrun Titan so he had a chance of catching up to her before nightfall.
There was only one road that led to Arendelle so it would be easy to spot her. He kicked Titan into a full gallop and would give at least a good hour and a half before he would have to turn back since the sun would be setting and nightfall would come upon them.
He rode for a good hour until it started to rain. It made the conditions on the road icy and cold. He hoped she would have enough sense to turn around and go back to the castle before she froze to death. He spotted some smoke beyond the turn in the road and he figured she had stopped somewhere to get warm.
He came upon an old house that was clearly abandoned. A light had illuminated from inside of the run-down house. When he tied up his horse to the broke down stable he found, he spotted the nag Emma used. Clearly she was here.
Emma whirled around when she heard someone enter the old abandoned house. Her eyes widened when they alighted on Killian's wet form.
"Not you again," Emma groaned.
"Miss me, love?" Killian asked with a cheeky grin.
"Have you come here to torment me?" Emma inquired with arms akimbo.
"No darling, I thought that was your job," Killian answered. "I've come here to save you from a horrible, freezing death."
"I was fine until you showed up!"
"Sure you were," Killian said as he took off his wet cloak and laid it to dry in front of the fire next to her own wet cloak. "Now there are certain things that puzzle me."
"I'm sure with that lackluster brain of yours there is a lot that puzzles you."
Killian ignored the gibe and continued, "I'm puzzled as to why you were at the Dark One's castle."
"Still brooding over Milah and playing over and over in your head what went wrong, Captain?" Emma teased.
Killian recognized the misdirection tactic but it wouldn't deter him.
"I'm wondering if you, like so many dim-witted people, tried to make a deal with the Dark One. Deals with the Dark One don't always go well."
Emma felt insulted since she was one of those dim-witted people he spoke of that tried to make a deal with the Dark One.
"It is not as dim-witted as someone who tried to abduct the Dark One's wife!"
"So you are one of those dim-witted people," Killian surmised.
"I did not make a deal with the Dark One," Emma stated. It was true; she never signed a contract since she was interrupted by his untimely diversion.
"Maybe I actually saved you," Killian mused. "And you should be thanking me."
"Don't think you can try to weasel your way out of my bad graces," Emma said shrewdly.
"I didn't think it would be that easy," Killian joked.
"Why couldn't you just leave me be," Emma whined.
"You may not think me a gentleman so I can only try to prove to you that I am one," Killian announced. "A gentleman would never let a lady go unescorted especially in these climes."
"A gentleman wouldn't abduct a lady!"
"You haven't given anyone your first name which is another mystery," Killian pondered. "You must be hiding your identity for a reason and considering the simple yet pricey, quality fabric of your gown you must come from money. Perhaps you are an important personage who wouldn't want to be known to pirates for fear of being held for ransom."
"A gentleman pirate is quite the paradox, isn't it?"
"I just have some good business sense."
Emma tried to evaluate her situation. She was frustrated staying in the keep when she was out of her mind with worry about her father and mother. She felt her only option was to travel to Arendelle to ask for Queen Elsa or her sister Anna for help to either get back to the Enchanted Forest or to assist her in breaking her father out of the Evil Queen's prison. The trip would be an arduous one. She knew how to set traps and hunt for game but the harsh weather was a problem. Most animals would be hibernating for the winter so it would be difficult to hunt for food.
She looked at Captain Jones in a new light when he mentioned the word ransom. He was a pirate and pirates have an eye for gold. What if she were to enlist his aid in return for payment of a fortune in gold? The only problem was pirates couldn't be trusted. Considering her predicament, she didn't have much to lose anyway. She would still need to be cautious.
"Let's see if your good business sense will allow you to accept my proposal," Emma finally relented.
Killian smiled knowing he finally was able to solve the mystery that was Miss Swan and would hopefully come out ahead with a substantial profit.
"I'm all ears, Miss Swan."
"I will pay you 3,000 gold coins to take me to Arendelle, to Queen Elsa's palace," Emma offered.
"I take it you are familiar with the Queen?" Killian asked.
"Yes, we are good friends."
"And you are good friends because…"
"That's none of your concern."
"You have 3,000 gold coins on your person currently?" Killian said with his gaze going over her body looking for where she would stash the money on her. He started noticing for the first time that she had a rather fine figure.
"No, I don't have it currently but Queen Elsa will lend me the money until I am able to repay her," Emma stated.
"You could be lying to me to get you to Arendelle only to have me clapped in irons for piracy," Killian questioned.
"Do you have an outstanding warrant in Arendelle?" Emma asked.
"No."
"Then there is no need to worry about that," Emma reasoned.
"But I am worried that you might raise the alarm and tell authorities you have been kidnapped," Killian surmised. "I need something more. I need to know the truth about who you are, what you were doing in the Dark One's castle and what you plan to do when you get to Arendelle."
Emma wasn't planning on disclosing everything to the pirate. She decided it was safe to tell half the story.
"I have been separated from my family by villains and I came upon the Dark One's castle to ask for aid which is when your henchmen abducted me," Emma said.
"How about telling me your first name," Killian asked.
"Fine, it's Emma."
"Emma," Killian let her name roll off his lips. "Lovely name."
Emma felt a bit warm and fuzzy when he said her name but she shook it off.
"What do you plan to do in Arendelle?"
"Ask Queen Elsa for help and let her decide what she can do," Emma said.
"How does your family know Queen Elsa?" Killian asked.
"My father was a shepherd when her sister Anna came by his farm and asked him for help," Emma told him. "He was friends with her husband, Kristoff."
"You are from a family of shepherds?" Killian questioned suspiciously.
"Yes, we own flocks of sheep and other animals," Emma said. They did own lots of sheep and other animals; enough for a whole kingdom.
"Is your family rich enough to pay 3,000 gold coins for your safe passage to Arendelle?" Killian eyed her dubiously.
She had been telling the truth so far without revealing she was of royal blood but this was where Emma was stumped. Until her parents' took back the kingdom, they had no fortune.
"Queen Elsa knows we are good for the money," Emma decided to say. Even if they weren't able to overcome Regina, the Evil Queen, Emma would pay back the money she owed to Elsa.
"It's a deal then," Killian acquiesced. He was satisfied with her answers though he still felt there was more to ferret out but he still had time. He held out his hand to shake on it. Emma shook his hand and was quite satisfied that she was able to gain the upper hand by not revealing all. Killian was happy to gain the upper hand by being 3000 gold coins richer when he got to Arendelle and got more information from the lovely Emma.
"Since it is too late and too dark to head back to the castle, we might as well make ourselves comfortable here," Killian announced.
"It's not like there is much of a difference," Emma said cheekily.
Killian ignored her sass. They found pallets from the supplies that Killian pointedly mentioned Emma stole from them. She just shrugged and said considering what she was put through she should have taken more as recompense but couldn't carry it on her horse.
They both lay down hoping neither would try any funny business while each was asleep.
After a while Killian heard the steady sounds of breathing which signaled to him that Emma was asleep. He chanced to look at her.
Her soft, full lips were slightly parted in slumber. Her breathing was very light that she hardly made a sound which was much different than Milah. Milah snored so loud she could keep the whole crew awake and everyone needed earplugs to fall asleep.
Her hair tumbled over her arm she used as a pillow forming a blonde halo. He allowed his gaze to linger on her face. She was exquisite. Killian began to see why Graham was enamored of the lass.
In sleep the lass seemed harmless and innocent. She possessed an uncommon, regal beauty that turned men's heads in a crowd. He studied her for several moments more drinking in her delicate features.
Killian went back to the fireplace to add some more logs.
He let his mind wander to more agreeable thoughts. His mind tried to picture Milah, grasping for images of her gray eyes, dark hair wavy hair and fine curves. The visions were vague and blurry. The memories of her stirred nothing in his heart or in his loins. Instead those visions turned to one with blonde hair and flashing green eyes, with lips drawn tight in anger then softly parted in slumber. He grew frustrated with himself when he realized visions of Miss Swan started to interfere with where he wanted his thoughts to go.
"It was because she is a comely lass and happens to be at hand" Killian reasoned.
He set his mind to try to envision Milah again but kept getting images of Emma. This won't do, he thought.
Killian knew that Graham was interested in Miss Swan so it would be bad form to pursue her. The direction of his imaginings was headed towards trouble.