Chapter VI
"You are so beautiful," Robin tells Regina, his voice barely a whisper, his blue eyes heated as they rove over her naked flesh.
"I thought we came down here to change," grins the queen, her own eyes tracing a path across the planes of Robin's bare chest.
"That was the plan I believe. But I became distracted by you in your undergarments."
"Oh, is that so?" the brunette asks coyly before reaching out for her love, her lips crashing on to his.
"I love you," he proclaims as his lips kiss her neck, nibbling gently on her collarbone.
"Take me."
"It would be my pleasure, Your Majesty."
Regina rakes her nails down his chest and roughly tugs free the belt holding up his jeans. Meanwhile Robin's hands are occupied tracing over her arms and down the curve of her back, pulling her ever closer to him.
"I think you quite enjoyed that music," whispers his queen.
"No, that is all for you," he promises as her hand wraps around his hardening length. "The one thing truly wondrous in the other world is how much easier such garments are removed," Robin tells her as he manages to unclasp her bra, freeing her breasts to be fondled by his rough calloused hands.
"That feels wonderful. I've missed you Robin."
Robin pauses his ministrations and looks down at the suddenly fragile woman stood before him. Tears shimmer in her dark eyes, but she holds them back. He gently strokes her cheeks and smiles so that his eyes crease in the way she loves.
"I'm never going anywhere from your side again. And you know you don't have to be so strong with me."
"I know. It's just hard given how long I've spent building these walls. If I was to let them all crumble and then lose you…" Regina drifts off, spinning around so her back is to the outlaw and he cannot see the tears she can no longer hold back.
"You're not going to lose me, Regina. I'm right here my love," he murmurs before leaving a series of soft kisses across her shoulders and neck.
"I love you, Robin."
"And I love you," he tells her as she turns.
The couple throw themselves at one another. Their tongues entangle and dance as fingers card through the other's hair and drift down to clench at the skin of their back, pulling and tugging them even closer to one another. A sudden swell launches the lovebirds off their feet and on to the mattress in their berth. The two gaze around at their new surroundings before laughing quietly.
"Perhaps the ship is attempting to show it's own encouragement," suggests Robin making Regina freeze beneath him.
"Perhaps it is that exactly," she bites out, glaring at the ceiling.
"What do you mean?"
Regina pauses. "Never mind," she smiles up at the blonde man still atop her as she raises herself up to kiss him once more and wraps her legs around his hips.
"Never mind indeed," the outlaw gasps as he slowly enters his queen.
"Looking for something, David?" Freya hails to the blonde man as he bends over the side of the ship.
The prince glances back at the young woman. "There was a sudden swell appeared from nowhere. Just making sure it wasn't mermaids or whales."
"Oh? Well the waves seem to have returned to what they were. Perhaps it was a sudden wind," smiles the redhead coyly.
David frowns in confusion. "It was you. Why?"
"For my friend," she replies as she joins him in his leaning on the thick wood. "Night comes quick. You should get some rest. I believe that is what Killian is doing now that food is ready for anyone who wants it."
"Who's steering the ship then?"
"The Jolly Roger needs no steering in such waters with me aboard her," she replies, her gaze fixed on the sky that is turning an inky blue.
A piercing cry shatters the night, Freya's only warning along with a whoosh of feathers as Navarre swoops down from the sky and finds his perch upon her shoulder. The redhead smiles at her falcon as she gently pets the orange-tinted with heavy streaks of reddish brown feathers on the underpart of the bird with the back of her hand.
"Such a beauty. You never did introduce us," comments the prince.
"Navarre meet Prince David. Prince David it's my honour to introduce you to Navarre. He's been with me a very long time."
"He's not just a simple falcon, is he? What type is he?"
"And there's those brains I heard tell you had. So far I've only seen you be rather brutish. He's a merlin," Freya tells him, her lips twitching with mirth. "As to your other question: yes, he's not merely a simple tamed falcon. In the other world did you ever hear tell of their myths about witches?"
"Is that an insult? As to the other, I vaguely have a memory of it but what does that have to do with anything?"
"Witches, it was believed, had familiars. Animals that assisted them with their sorcery. It isn't done in our world with only one exception: the Lady of Lake Avalon. When the Lake Ceremony occurs and the reins are passed on, the new Lady of the Lake is gifted an animal from within the pools. That animal is her familiar and remains with her until her death. That is what Navarre is."
"He's a beautiful bird. You didn't answer my other question."
"I thought it rhetorical. My meaning was merely that you should not be so quick to act sometimes. Think first Prince Charming, and don't judge that which you do not understand."
David turns his head and gazes out into the darkening sky. His jaw clenches and he fists his hands upon the siding of the ship.
"I feel so useless, not being able to do anything. I'll take First Watch."
"Killian is truly out of sorts. His crew never takes Watch when I am here."
"And what of your sleep?"
"I do not. Not for any longer than two hours at a time and only in the brightest of daylight."
"I won't pry -"
"But you are intrigued. I dream of things in the dark and only when I wake to the light do I know it is but a dream and that they are not there. As simple as a child needing a night light."
Freya glances to her left and tilts her head to catch the prince's eyes when she sees his forehead has deeper furrows than before.
"I was thinking about Emma, and wondering if she ever needed a night light."
David shakes his head at the redhead when her shock shows but his frown returns when the woman's eyes gaze unseeingly behind him. A glance at the main deck shows them to be alone.
"Freya?"
"A little fish comes to visit. How quaint. But what is this? She brings no blade to quell me. Oh poor little fishy. You haven't learnt the lessons of your predecessors very well," the blonde woman grins maliciously with her face pressed between the bars of the cell, her hands clamped around them so tight her knuckles are whitening.
The redhead does not flinch or blink at the words spat so viciously, nor at the cold evil emanating from the blue eyes. She continues walking closer, her head held high and her back as straight as possible. Only when she is but three paces before the cell does she stop. The young woman raises her right hand, carefully unfolding her fingers and then quickly blowing upon the powder she had clasped in her palm.
"Sleep," she murmurs, remaining emotionless as she watches the blonde collapse to the floor.
Emma gasps suddenly and bolts upright. Her frightened gaze flickers around the cell before falling to the woman still standing three paces back from the bars. Emma flinches as the light hurts her eyes and sends a shard of pain through her head, reverberating in her skull.
"Shut the curtains, would you? I've a killer hangover. Wait, why am I in jail? Who are you?" the blonde woman yells as she jumps to her feet.
"Calm yourself Ms Swan. That powder whilst potent will not remain strong enough to reign in the evil inhabiting you if you do not remain calm. It will also grow stronger should it be given more light."
"Evil?" frowns Emma before fear spreads thick across her face. "It wasn't a nightmare."
"I'm sorry."
"Then you're Hook's -"
"I suppose I'm what you'd call an ex of Killian's," interrupts Freya. "The Darkness will try to use that to take control."
"Use Killian?"
"Use the fact that whilst you've opened your heart to him, you feel even more fragile than ever and you're just waiting for it all to fall apart."
"How can you know that?"
"Killian is very good at watching people. He sees more than most. I saw his thoughts of you Ms Swan and so in turn can see much of you."
"Who exactly are you?" questions Emma. "The Darkness it...I remember it feeling glee when it, we, appeared before you."
"Have you heard of the Arthurian Legends of Old; of Camelot and the knights?"
"Vaguely. Seen a few movies about it."
"Richard Gere a good Lancelot does not make," sighs Freya with a small smile.
"How do you know that?"
"I wasn't brought to this town with the First Curse. I lived in England, and have done so all these years. I learnt much of this world during the twenty-nine years that have passed since that day."
"Are you an ally?"
"Your parents asked a similar question of me. They at first believed me untrustworthy because of my friendship with Killian, Regina and Maleficent. All the so-called villains. I am a balancer Ms Swan, and I help wherever it is asked of me."
"So what does Camelot and the legend of Arthur have to do with you? Don't tell me you're Queen Guinevere?"
"Hardly," laughs Freya. "I am Freya, the current Lady of Lake Avalon."
"Ow!" cries out Emma as she clutches her chest.
"Even in a dormant state it can hear and feel the power of that place. The Darkness wants it for it's own. But the lake was created so that only the Lady and her successor, her apprentice, may tap into the power of that place. The Darkness would have to claim both their lives and then perform a ritual to gain entrance to such power as dwells in Avalon. None that the Darkness has inhabited have managed to do so. Now however, I have no apprentice. Hence it's glee."
"Isn't it dangerous then for you to be here?"
"Very. But Killian asked me for my help. He asked that I return his love to him, and I shall. No matter the cost. The reason for my being here now though is that the Darkness has grown even more powerful since being cast into the hat by the apprentice. The power of the blade holds it here now, but such as it's growing abilities it could soon learn how to get around the commands I made with the blade."
"I can feel it's wants and desires. I've seen things. It showed me images of my Mom and Dad, Killian...Henry. All dead and their blood dripping from my hands. Their hearts ash beneath my feet. You have to stop it and look after everyone. Please."
"I will. As I said, no matter the cost, you will be able to be with Killian again. But I need you to fight it Emma Swan. You are the saviour of this town, not only once but twice. And now I have to ask you for a third time to save all that live here. You have to fight the Darkness. Do not let it's power take you over again. Fighting it will buy us enough time to do what is necessary. Suffuse yourself in the light."
"There's something you're not telling me."
"Using your power of lie detection?" smiles Freya before the smile falls and her eyes drop to the ground. "The cost will likely be a high one. But I will have my friends safe and happy. So too will their loved ones be."
"Thank you."
"Freya!"
"Sorry, I was remembering my talk with your daughter. Didn't mean to frighten you David."
"What do you mean your talk with Emma? When?"
"After visiting Jefferson. She is a strong woman. Though you and Snow may not have raised her you have helped her learn many values during the time you both have been in her life. She'll be alright. You'll see."
David grabs Freya's wrist to prevent her from leaving. "What did you talk with Emma about?"
"I put the Darkness to sleep inside of her and told her that once it wakes she needs to fight it with everything she's got so as to give us enough time to do what we need to do. She is a wonderful woman. Be proud of her."
"I am, and always will be," smiles David gently.
"She is fortunate to -" replies Freya only to be interrupted by a roaring that echoes up to the two and fills the night air with laughter.
"Who the hell is rocking my ship?!" shouts Killian from his cabin having felt a very slight lurch to the ship's normal sailing at the same time as noises and bangs can be heard through the walls.