A/N: I hope you are enjoying these updates. My muse is a crazy woman today so they are coming quickly. Thank you for your feedback you darling cupcakes .I really appreciate hearing from you and I hope you enjoy this chapter. I got a little choked up with this one.
Ch. 15
Killian closed his eyes. He was fearful of what he might say to the king so he bit back his words and just held her close and tried to comfort her. He looked up to see Charming staring at them. He looked so forlorn.
"Emma." Said Charming.
She refused to look at him. She suffered greatly at the hands of Neal and he pushed her there. He took away her choice and made it her duty to marry that cruel man. He knew she was cursed and he chose not to tell her. She could have had a different life if only he told her. She needed to get away from him. She wasn't ready to talk to him.
"Killian, I'm going to be in the back bedroom. Come and get me when you are ready to leave." She said.
"Ok Love. Let me walk back with you to make sure we don't have any more unwanted guests lurking about. Not that you couldn't handle yourself." He said.
"Oh, right better hand me a sword." Said Emma.
"Love, I meant your magic." Said Killian.
"Right, but I'd still like a sword. I don't know how to control it." Said Emma.
Killian bent and picked up the sword that belonged to the passed out man. Charming was standing there with sadness in his eyes watching his daughter ignore his gaze.
"Come on Love." said Killian.
He walked her to the back of the house, checked the small rooms and secured the door. She lay back on the bed and cuddled into the pillow.
"Are you alright Love?" he asked.
He brushed her hair back and sat down on the bed next to her.
"I'll be fine once we leave this place. Would you please let him know what's going on and then we can go back to the ship." She said.
"I'll do anything you wish Love but you might regret not talking with your father." he said.
"I just can't right now. You don't know what I've been through Killian. He could have helped me. He knew I was cursed. "she said.
She was getting choked up again. He bent and kissed her on her head.
"Love, if you need anything call for Me." he said.
"Thank you Killian." She said.
She looked so pitiful laying there huddled against that pillow. It was worse than she'd looked the first night she came to him on his ship. She dealt with pain for a long time but this was different. This was betrayal by someone she loves.
He walked into the room and the King stood.
"Is she alright?" he asked.
"Mate, you look as though you could use a drink. Sit down please." Said Killian.
Charming nodded.
He'd decided to lose all formalities since he'd just fought beside the man and decided against punching him in the face for what he'd allowed his little girl to go through. He pulled his flask from his jacket and handed it to him. He took a swig and sat down as he continued to drink it.
"Easy Mate." Said Killian.
Charming shook his head after knocking back a long swig and handed the flask back to him. Killian took a long swig and then put it back into his coat.
"You know we really thought we were doing the right thing by her and keeping the curse a secret. She was just four years old when Regina stormed our castle the first time looking for her. She tried to rip our little girls' heart out and she was rebounded back by a blast of magic. Snow and I were powerless. We were pinned to the wall by a magical force and we couldn't move. When the magic blast came out of Emma's chest Regina was shocked. We fell to the floor and Regina disappeared in a puff of smoke." Said Charming.
"So she was that young when you discovered her magic. " asked Killian.
"Yes, that was the first time we saw it. The second time we saw it she was playing with what we thought were butterflies in the yard. When we approached her further we saw they were magical stars dancing above her head. She was spinning her hands to make them move." Said Charming.
"Her magic has the power to heal. It's full of light and love. It's white magic." Said Killian.
"She was so little. We were scared. We kept her magical capabilities to ourselves. We didn't want to alarm anyone. When Regina came back the next time it was the last time we saw Emma's magic. She was in the courtyard petting my horse. She loved horses. Regina came up behind her and we were powerless again. She brought a lollipop and handed it to Emma. We couldn't tell her not to taste it. When she licked it her magic leapt from her body. Regina told us that she cursed Emma and that she would only get her magic back if she found her true love. A kiss from her true love would break the curse." Said Charming.
"I see." Said Killian rubbing his chin.
He remembered how wonderful it was the first time he kissed her. It felt like he was floating.
"Regina tried to steal her heart again but was rebounded back once more, even without her magic. Regina vowed to return if Emma ever got her magic back and that she wouldn't fail to kill her. That was the last time we saw her. Emma grew up like any other normal girl. Then she left the castle to marry Neal. " Said Charming.
"You had to realize that she just wasn't herself anymore after she lost her magic." Said Killian.
"She liked to keep to herself. She wasn't like other princesses. I just thought she liked to spend time with me. I felt happy to be with my little girl." Said Charming.
He began to choke up and he had tears in the corner of his eyes.
"Snow and I were so scared that Regina would come back to kill her that we didn't want her to learn about the curse. When we were approached about the marriage we thought it would be the right choice. She would be safe and live a normal life." Said Charming.
"Mate, her life has been far from normal. She was trapped there, abused and beaten by that man. She felt alone and scared." Said Killian.
Charming broke down. He began sobbing full tears. Killian never saw a sober man cry like that. He didn't know what to do. Emma came rushing into the room.
"Papa, please don't cry." Said Emma.
She rushed to him and sat next to him. She put her hand on her father's shoulder. He was so relieved to see her. He pulled his flask from his jacket and took a swig.
Charming turned and hugged her.
"I'll leave you two alone." said Killian.
He kissed Emma on her head and walked to the back of the house.
"Emma, I'm so sorry. We thought we were doing the right thing. We had no idea how bad it was for you. We didn't know he'd been mistreating you. We knew he didn't like visitors but we had no idea the kind of life you were living." Said Charming.
He held his daughter's hand. She looked into his eyes and she could feel the tears pooling. He was breaking her heart.
"Papa, I heard what you said. I did like to spend time with you. It wasn't because I didn't have magic. I was different. I didn't want to be a Princess. I wanted to be a knight like you." She said.
"What about Henry? Is he mistreated too?" asked Charming.
"Oh No, Papa, Neal loves Henry. Henry doesn't know about the bruises or the mistreatment. He is quite perceptive though and is aware that Neal and I live in separate wings of the castle." Said Emma.
"Emma, I think this will kill your mother when she finds out." Said Charming.
"Papa, I don't think I can tell her." Said Emma.
"I'll talk to her. She needs to know what the cost of our decision was for our little girl." Said Charming.
"It's my fault too Papa. I was afraid to tell you. I wanted to tell you but something forced me to stay alone. Something held me back and made me stay with Neal. If it weren't for Killian's men stealing me I would be stuck in that life forever." Said Emma.
"I don't know whether I want to hang them or thank them." Said Charming.
"I know that the circumstances of our meeting are unusual. His men didn't hurt me, well except a bump on the head, but they did rescue me too. If it weren't for them I never would have found my True Love. My Killian." Said Emma.
Charming laughed.
"My daughter's True Love is Captain Hook." Said Charming.
"Father, Killian Jones is a good and honorable man. I trust him with my life and he's treated me with more kindness than the ten years I lived with Neal." Said Emma.
Charming began to cry again. She hugged her father tight.
"It's ok Papa, I'm happy. I'm free. I'm alive. I'm never going back to Neal. I want to stay with Killian. I love being on the ship and being out on the water." Said Emma.
"Can you come back with me to see your mother?" asked Charming.
The man she knocked out was starting to come too. She heard him groaning.
"Killian!" called Emma.
He came rushing into the room.
"Are you alright Love?" he asked.
She pointed to the man on the floor. Killian unsheathed his dagger and wacked the man on the head with the butt of it knocking him out once more.
"I suggest that we should leave this place since someone has found out about our meeting." Said Killian.
"Did you tell anyone about our meeting?"asked Charming.
"I told no one. It was written in that letter and that was the last time I thought about it until I arrived at the shoreline and told Emma." Said Killian.
"Perhaps it was someone at the castle but your mother and I were the only people to read the letter." Said Charming.
"Papa, there could be magic involved. I've been learning a lot these past few days. I feel like I've been awakened to a world that I didn't know existed. I have so much to learn about my gift. I do see it as a gift." Said Emma.
"What about the inn?" asked Killian.
"We could go to Granny's inn. I'll ask Ruby to send for your mother to come for a visit to take her mind off of your death. Your mother is continuing to hold vigil for you at the castle and playing to the rumors." Said Charming.
"That's a good plan Mate. We don't know what we are up against. August said that Granny's was a reliable place. "said Killian.
"Ok, it's settled then. We head to the Inn." Said Charming.
"What about your friend's place?" asked Emma.
"The old salt won't mind. I'm sure he's seen a lot worse." Said Killian.
She reached out her hand and he took it pulling her to her feet and holding her on his arm.
"Shall we go?" he asked.
"Emma, why don't you ride on horseback. It's a long way on foot." Said Charming.
"Papa, I'd like to walk for awhile if that's ok. I've been on a ship and I'd like to stretch my legs." Said Emma.
She wanted to be next to Killian. She needed him right now. This was not what she expected to find when she met her father.
"OK Emma. It's nice to see your fire hasn't completely burned out." Said Charming.
"She's got plenty of that." Said Killian smiling.
Emma swatted him on the arm.
"Come along Pirate." She said.
It was the first time he saw her smile since they left the Jolly.
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They walked in silence for awhile through the forest and avoided the main roads. They weren't sure who the henchmen belonged to and didn't want to take any chances by meeting them on the road again.
Emma cuddled into his side as they walked. It didn't allow for optimum speed but it made her feel better. She needed to be comforted after all the events today and after finding out what happened with her parents. He was more than happy to oblige her that.
"Love would you like a drink?" he asked pulling the flask from his pocket.
"Yes, I would." She said.
They stopped and she took a long swig. The liquid burned going down her throat but she wanted to numb the dull ache that she had in her chest. She knew her parents were trying to protect her from Regina but she wasn't sure she could forgive them. They took away her choice to find her True Love and rid herself of the curse. She lived the last ten years in fear and in pain. The only positive thing that came from her match with Neal was Henry. That was the reason why she felt that she could forgive them eventually, just not today.
"The inn is just a short distance this way." Said Charming.
Emma walked up and brushed her hand down the horse's mane.
"She's scared you know. She's been through quite a lot. The magic just started to manifest a few days ago." Said Killian.
"I'm still trying to digest that my daughter's true love is a pirate." said Charming.
"I wasn't always a pirate. I once served a King in the Royal Navy. It was his corruption that forced me to be this way and the loss of my brother in his battle for darkness. I would give my life for her if it meant she was protected and safe." Said Killian.
"You really care for her; I can see it when you look at her." Said Charming.
"Aye, she's the best person I've ever met. She's done nothing but bring me light, life, and joy since I've met her. How anyone can't love her is beyond me. If I ever get my hands on her despicable husband I'm afraid I might kill him." said Killian.
"You'll have to stand in line behind me. The no good bastard lied to my face. He told me he would protect her and care for her. He stole my little girl from me and tortured her. If it weren't for his promise and being able to avoid his father's threats to take over our people I never would have let her go. She seemed happy at first and when we noticed the change it was too late." Said Charming.
"You're not going to get all soppy on me again are you?" he asked.
"No, I'm embarrassed that you saw that." Said Charming.
"Don't be. If you would have reacted any other way I might have kicked your arse, King or not. Her happiness means everything to me. I'm happy to know that the King has a heart and that he loves his daughter." said Killian.
He pulled his flask and handed it to him. He could see that he'd probably stepped over the line with that last comment but where Emma was concerned he would do anything and her father needed to know it.
David took a swig and then they heard the thumping of horses coming towards them.
"Quick Love, over here." Said Killian.
David pulled the horse by the reigns and Killian shielded Emma behind some bushes.
The Evil Queen's carriage when whirred by them with a team of black knights traveling ahead of her. Somehow they escaped her.
"Papa, was that the Evil Queen?" asked Emma.
Charming nodded.
"Looks like we've found out who sent the henchmen." Said Killian.
Emma felt her magic begin prickling over her skin. She looked down at her hands with a look of alarm on her face. She looked up to see Killian watching her. He pulled her close and softly caressed her back to help her calm down. The magic started to dissipate back and the prickling stopped.
"It's not safe for Emma to be here with that threat looming over her from the Evil Queen. Somehow she must have found out about Emma getting her magic back." Said Killian.
"What should we do? She has no right to be here in this realm." asked Charming.
"I think the only logical thing would be for me to take Emma back to my ship and get her out of here until we can come up with a plan." Said Killian.
"Where will you go?" asked Charming.
"I can take her back to Tortuga. Now that we know more about what happened I can ask some friends about how to help Emma with her magic. She's going to need to learn how to fight." Said Killian.
"I wish your mother could see you." Said Charming.
"Tell mother I love her and please find a way to get Henry a message about me. I need him to know I'm alive and I'm safe without alerting Neal." Said Emma.
"The rumors of your death are running wild through the realm. I'll use that to get Neal to bring Henry to the castle. It may be best for me to tell him rather than send him a letter. I will find a way to tell him. I won't fail you again." Said Charming.
He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. He didn't want to let her go. He'd lost her too many times now and he wouldn't let her go so easily again.
"Your Highness, we must go. I will take care of Emma and I will keep her safe." Said Killian.
Charming nodded and shook his hand.
"Thank you Killian. Please take care of my little girl." Said Charming.
"Count on it." Said Killian.
"Take my horse, I'll find him by the pier." Said Charming.
"Thank you Papa." Said Emma.
"You ever ride a horse?" asked Emma.
"Love, there are many talents I've yet to reveal to you." He said.
He helped her onto the horse and then climbed up behind her. They hurried back the way they came and went much faster this time since they were on horseback. They reached the dock in no time. Killian signaled Smee to come pick them up. They got back to the ship without finding any more trouble.
Relief washed over her as they stepped back onto the ship. She needed to let out all of the emotions she'd been holding in. She remained stoic for as long as she could. She didn't want the crew to see how weak she was. She ran down to the Captain's Quarters and threw herself onto the bed. She sobbed into a pillow for a long while.
Killian was finally able to come down to her after they had the Jolly back out in open water. He had to help the crew so they could quickly get out of harm's way. He had no idea if someone would come after them and they needed to move fast. His heart was breaking for her as he knew how hard it was for her to see her father and hear all of those things. He would take her to see Nairobi and hopefully she could help them with some answers.