A/N: Sorry for the unannounced hiatus! I just got pretty down about my home life, and annoyed with all the spoilers for the new season, and I kinda gave up momentarily on this fanfiction. But I came around, and I'm trying to write some more. New chapters are going to be a bit sporadic for a while, while I work some things out, but rest assured that I know where this fic is going and I will post updates at some point. Also, the extras I talked about are on their way, eventually. Sorry again for being such an inconsistent writer, and if you're reading this then thanks for bearing with me. You guys are the best! Cheers, and enjoy!
Tl;dr: more to come, sorry for the delay!
CHAPTER 12
THE NEXT FEW days passed in a blur for Emma. The river had left her a parting gift; Grumpy said it was just a cold, but Emma would have called it pneumonia's evil twin. She spent the whole night and most of the day unconscious, as the boys dragged her and the supplies out from under the mountain. She woke only briefly that night, long enough to scoff down some of their soggy bread and cheese and drink some water.
Once she thought she heard angry voices, a whispered argument between Grumpy and Killian, but she couldn't concentrate long enough to hear the words. Another time she could have sworn she heard a woman's voice, singing. The voice was familiar, as were the lyrics, but sleep dragged her back under.
She woke up late on the second day, Killian shaking her shoulder and the last notes of a melody drifting through her mind. "We need to move, lass. Can you stand?"
"I think so." Emma got groggily to her feet, but she seemed to be remaining upright. She took that as a good sign.
They walked for a while, deeper into the forest, the mountains looming behind them. Eventually Emma got back into the rhythm of their fast march, warming up her muscles and freeing up her mind to ponder their journey.
"Where exactly are we going to now?" She asked.
"Anywhere but here. The queen's guard is doing its sweep." Grumpy informed her, walking past her to take the lead.
"We'll buy passage on a ship to Arendelle from Wilhelmshaven, it's just up the river." Killian added.
"And through the infinite forest!" Emma protested. "Were you planning on walking through it?"
"No, we're going to take the river ferry. Skirt the edge of the forest."
They walked silently for a while, and Emma began humming to pass the time. It was the tune from her dream, and when Grumpy started singing the words Emma stopped walking.
"Wha- Where did you hear that?" She stammered, amazed.
"It's an old lullaby, from the palace. The King and Queen started singing it to the Princess, and the rest of the court picked it up. It's catchy." Grumpy said over his shoulder, but he halted when he turned and saw her face. "Why, what is it?"
"It's probably nothing. I just… thought I heard it somewhere, in a dream. I must have heard it at the palace. How does it go again?" Emma walked up to Grumpy, and they moved on.
"On the wind, cross the sea,
Hear this song and remember," Grumpy began, in a gruff baritone. Emma joined in, to finish the song.
"Soon you'll be home with me,
Once upon a December."
"I remember now." Emma said, and she smiled.
"Could be, you heard your parents sing it to you. Could be that you're the one the song was written for." Grumpy nudged her, and Emma laughed.
"Could be."
REGINA SCREAMED HER rage, and with a flick of her wrist Jefferson was standing in front of her, utterly bewildered.
"This is what you call results?!" She raged at him. "They're all still alive! And the brat is remembering things. How is this a part of your plan?"
"All in time, Your Majesty. Remember, the closer they get, the more it will pain Snow White and Charming. Kill them now, and it's all too easy." Jefferson's voice was calm and even, not betraying the panic he was feeling.
"But they're getting too close, too fast. If they make it to Arendelle before my men do, they actually have a chance of breaking my curse." The Queen's voice was just as level, but dangerously so.
"I can slow them down further. I have plans-"
"No. It's my turn to cause some havoc, and I have the perfect thing in mind. Something more enticing. Something really… cruel."
SNOW WHITE WAS elated. She had sent Emma a message, even if it was a small one, and she had heard her. Sure, Emma had been in a comatose state at the time, but it still meant that contact was possible! She would try Charming next, because surely they were both comatose, and in a dream world to boot. It would work, and then they could start planning. They would defeat Regina. They had to, if they ever wanted to see Emma get her happily ever after.