They spot land on the morning of the fifth day, the kingdom of Misthaven finally coming into view. It's a new record for the Jolly Roger, and Killian would certainly be excited about it, if it were not for the possibility of him being close to a cure. He is one hell of a captain, though, and the Jolly Roger is the fastest ship in all the realms, uncontested.
His crew is thrilled and Killian feels their excitement mix with his own. For the first time in forever, he feels hope. "All right, men. Let's bring her to port!"
Answering yells resound across the deck and the men scatter quickly to their designated positions, each performing their duties seamlessly. Nodding to Jamison, Killian heads for his cabin, knowing his first mate has got the message. And true enough, Jamison knocks on his door a short time later.
"Captain, you wanted to see me?" he says as he enters the captain's quarters.
"Yes. When we get to port, I want you to start gathering as much information as you can, as soon as possible. I want to know every little detail about the royal family. Everything, no matter how insignificant."
"Of course", the man heartily agrees.
When Jamison makes no move to leave, Killian raises one eyebrow in question. "Yes?"
"You really think it might be her?"
Killian takes a deep breath and releases it after a few seconds. "I don't know, Peter. But it's the best lead I've got", he answer truthfully. Some time ago Killian would never have confided in someone who wasn't his brother, but after Jamison had stood by him when his crew was close to mutiny, things had somewhat changed. Also, it was Jamison who had convinced his crew to stick by him, when they found out about the curse. Since then, Peter Jamison had proven his worth as his second in command.
"Don't worry, Captain. I'll find out everything there is to know about her", the man vows and then closes the door behind him.
True to his word, Jamison reports back to his captain as soon as possible. It's the following morning when he does it - they had arrived in port at sundown and Killian had not risked going out at such a time.
It turns out it's harder than either of them had thought, to discover anything helpful. The villagers know little, but Killian uses the information gathered to paint an image of this kingdom. Princess Emma is the eldest daughter of Queen Snow and King David, and up until a few years ago, when her brother Leopold was born, she was the sole heir of the two regents. She is considered a beauty, more beautiful than even her mother, who had been known as "the fairest of them all" in her youth. And she's kind. The whole family is, apparently, very well loved by their subjects. But Killian doubts this - he knows, from personal experience, that royals and kindness are two words that can't be mixed.
They get confirmation though that what they'd heard in Arendelle is correct: the Princess hasn't been seen by day in almost two years. If not for his own curse, Kilian might have dismissed it as the whims of a frivolous princess, one that would rather spend her nights doing gods know what, instead of actually taking care of her subjects. As it is, Killian cannot do it so easily.
It takes them a few days to infiltrate Henry in the palace. The royal guards are weary of newcomers, Killian has seen it for himself several times in the days since they docked, but Henry is still a child, and innocent enough that he doesn't raise their suspicions.
They catch a break soon, because of Henry. The boy, being his usual self, helps an old woman gather her scattered fruit in the market. He comes across the same woman several times in the next few days and each time he ends up helping her with one thing or another. It turns out Granny (as everyone seems to call her) is in charge of the royal kitchens. She grows fond of the boy, so she asks Henry to leave the employ of his captain and work for her. Killian doesn't hesitate. Henry has a family in the Jolly Roger crew, but that's not relevant at the moment. What matters is that they have a way in the castle and a reliable source for more information about the princess.
So the young boy starts his apprenticeship in the kitchens. Eager to gather as much information as he can, he's always quick to help out Granny and go on errands for her. It takes him two days to learn the layout of the castle this way and to make friends with some guards. By the end of his first week, he knows all the help, and while not all guards like him, at least the ones that don't, pay him no mind. And while he's seen the king and queen from afar, he has yet to catch a glimpse of the princess.
He's a bit eager to see her and finally report back to his captain. His stay is by no means unpleasant, but he longs for the sea and for the familiar faces of his crewmates. He had snuck out of the castle on the first night, eager to deliver his report, but Jamison had chastised him and ordered him not to leave without anything concrete, lest he risk exposing himself. So hasn't left the castle grounds since then, but it's the longest he's been away from the water.
It's on one of the days he misses the sea the most, that he sees it. It's a magnificent hawk, soaring high up in the sky. It glides so elegantly in the air, he thinks it's the most beautiful bird he has ever seen.
The hawk circles the highest tower a few times and then, with a shriek it lands on the highest spire. Henry keeps his eyes glued to the bird, envying it for its freedom.
"It's quite beautiful, isn't it?" Granny's grave timber comes from behind him and he drops his utensils in surprise.
"Yes, I've never seen such a beautiful bird", says Henry.
"It belongs to the Princess, so make sure you never hurt her." Granny warns him in a stern voice.
The boy turns his attention to the hawk sitting on the spires. He swallows hard, as he sees the bird watching him carefully. He must be imagining things though. Hawks might be an intelligent, but it can't know what he's thinking or that they're talking about it.
"Why does the Princess have such a bird?" he can't help but ask. Killian had taught him to always pay attention to what was unusual around him, and a princess owning a hawk qualified in his mind as something quite unusual.
"You ask such curious questions, boy", Granny snickers. "You'd better get back to your chores, now, and forget about it. Be mindful of what I told you."
Henry knows a dismissal when he hears one and he decides not to press the issue. It would not do to make Granny suspicious - his captain would be pretty upset with him if he botched this up.
He decides to start asking around about the hawk. That's how he learns that the bird had appeared suddenly two years ago – the servants don't know from where, but they think it's a gift for the princess; her royal highness had received many a strange gift during the years. The most intriguing thing he hears is that no one is allowed in the princess' room anymore – Granny's granddaughter, Ruby, is the one taking care of the princess now, and the only one apart her parents and Granny, allowed in her chambers.
That night he can't wait for everyone to fall asleep so he can sneak out to the Jolly Roger. It's not much, but he has a feeling his captain would want to know what he's recently learnt. He waits until the clock strikes midnight then he heads out the back door and towards the gardens. He had discovered a secret passage in the greenery, one he's not sure anyone else knows about. He barely fits - it would be virtually impossible for a medium sized man to pass through.
Just as he's about to make it past the last undergrowth, he hears something to his left. He freezes on the spot and turns towards the sound, trying to be as silent as possible. There's nothing to see at first, and just as he's about to give up, a shadow moves. Intrigued, Henry decides to follow the figure. He can barely see - it's a night with mostly clear skies, but at the moment the moon is hidden behind a cloud.
The shadow moves gracefully through the rose bushes, hand sometimes caressing the blooms. Step by step, Henry follows the figure further away from the back of the garden, and towards the front. By the time he realizes it, they have reached an area that is softly lit by torches, just in front of the grand ballroom lined with French doors along its length.
The figure bends to smell one of the roses and, as if on cue, the moon comes out of the clouds, bathing her in light. The hood falls on the woman's shoulders, liberating long tresses of hair that shine like silver in the moonlight.
The light is dim and she's a bit far, but her beauty takes the boy's breath away and he almost reveals himself. Henry is sure this is the princess he's supposed to find - no one else can be as graceful or as beautiful as she is.
"Emma, come back inside", a voice booms from the terrace entrance and Henry tries to make himself smaller, by hiding in the bushes. Chances are slim that he can be seen from his position, but he'd rather not take any chances.
The princess sighs and gets up slowly. There's weariness in her movements that can't be dissimulated even at this distance. "I'm coming, father."
With heart racing in confirmation, Henry watches the Princess disappear behind the large French doors. He sits motionless for a few more moments, trying to calm his heart and wrap his head around the idea that he's found the Princess. The very one his Captain has sent him to find.
Suddenly, he feels an urgency to get back to the ship as soon as possible. Careful to not make any suspicious noises, the lad backtracks to the secret hole in the undergrowth. It takes him double the time it took him before, but his only focus now is not to get caught. At least not before he has a chance to report back to the Captain.
He makes it to the Jolly Roger close to 3 in the morning. The first mate is asleep, but it's enough for the guard on duty to see him, and he's allowed passage to Jamison's quarters. He tells him everything he's discovered these past few days: how he's never seen the Princess during the day, but he saw her tonight so she is around the castle; how he's never been able to enter her room because it's heavily guarded all the time; and about the hawk that flies around the castle in the daytime, that everyone has orders to nurture because it's the Princess'; how the most trusted servants are highly protective of their princess and everything about her… He knows it's not much, but he hopes it might be worth something. If she is indeed their cursed princess, Henry is sure the curse affects her during the daytime, because he's seen her by night.
He leaves soon after that, under orders to return later in the afternoon and talk to the Captain.
To say that Killian is excited is putting it mildly. As soon as he hears Jamison's report, he feels a surge of purpose: not since he and his brother had joined the Royal Navy has he felt thus. Like then, he feels that his life is about to change. Then, he had believed the change would be for the better, but he had been a naive youth. Now he feels the same excitement and the same urge to believe in a better tomorrow; but he knows better. As much as he can, he tries to tamper these feelings down.
"It's settled then, Jamison", he says smashing his hand on the table with passion.
Jamison winces and eyes the other man skeptically. "What is, Captain?"
"Why, we're going to steal ourselves a princess!" he grins.
Jamison stares in disbelief, unable to utter anything for a few seconds. He's painfully aware his mouth is hanging open, but of all the ludicrous ideas his captain has spewed over the years, this has to top them all. Still, going against Killian Jones' orders is not something he wants to do. Or, something that is advisable for his health.
Killian bursts into a joyous laughter, finding great satisfaction in his first mate's reaction; Jamison is known among his crew as the unperturbed one, so rattling him is an unexpected turn of events. "Stop staring, man. Are you a bloody pirate or not? This is no different than stealing a treasure."
"But…" he stops when Killian pats him on the back.
"I'm feeling generous today, so I'm going to let your lack of faith slide for now." Killian says winking at the shaken sailor. And he really must be, because Captain Jones is not known for forgiving anyone who questions his orders.
"Now go and start making preparations for our departure. As soon as we have the Princess, we set sail. And when Henry arrives, bring him to my quarters."
With a slight nod, Jamison leaves his captain, intent on carrying out his orders as soon as possible.
When Henry arrives in the afternoon, he finds the ship bustling with activity. Sailors carry barrels after barrels of provisions and water, different other supplies one would need on a cruise and he instantly knows something is up.
Jamison joins him near the plank and together they head below deck. "Come, Henry, the captain wants to see you."
An hour later, Henry leaves once again in awe of his Captain's genius. Two hours later, the Jolly Roger raises the anchor and sets sail towards the north. Early evening on the third day, Henry steps back on board with a drugged and tied up hawk in his bag. He's been in the saddle all day and he's pushed his horse to the limits, in order to make it to the rendezvous point south of the castle. He's so tired he barely manages to pass the cargo in his captain's arms before he collapses on the deck. He's happy though - the princess is now on the ship and Captain Jones might actually have a chance at breaking his curse.
Killian stares at the bag for a few seconds, at the creature carefully nestled inside. It's a beautiful bird of prey, one meant for the soaring winds and freedom - much like him - and for one second his heart aches for what he's about to do. But it can't be helped, he's waited too long for this chance to let it pass because he might feel sorry for a bird, princess or not. He gives the orders to raise the anchor and head towards the open seas as fast as the winds can carry them.
He leaves the navigation to Jamison and goes back to his quarters. The princess will have the best his ship can offer, for as long as she'll be on board. He places the hawk carefully on the bed, then double checks the windows - it wouldn't do for the bird to fly away. He's not sure what will happen once the sun will set, but he carries on with his plans: he sets a set of clothes for the princess (the best the small port had to offer) on his desk, next to a small note he has prepared for this occasion.
With one last look at the bird, he leaves his quarters and heads towards Jamison's quarters. For the time being, his first mate's quarters will be his own; Killian sighs as he feels the sun sink below the horizon. He busies himself with tying the shackles around his hands and ankles, while his thoughts drift back to the hawk in his quarters and he prays they were right and she is the princess they'd been seeking.
He feels the first stirrings of his transformation and sighs again. "Bloody hell, how are we supposed to fall in love if we can't meet?"