Wonderstruck
Book II: What Makes a Desert Beautiful? It Hides an Oasis
Chapter 31
Author's Notes: Well this took an unexpected turn but I'm attempting to get us back on track sooner rather than later. Things can't ever be easy I swear. As always I hope you enjoy this chapter and if you feel inclined to do so please let me know. It really does motivate me to keep writing. Until next time! ~ Scarlette
"You may want to change." Melody muttered looking over Regina's white dress. "You stand out too much. You look like royalty."
"What should I wear?" Regina asked, cocking her head to one side as her wife rubbed at back of her neck.
Emma cut her eyes at Melody who scoffed before looking at her wife with a soft smile. "As much as it pains me to say it's true. You will stand out which is the last thing we want."
"What about Lancelot?"
"The armor has got to go. It's too nice."
"I'll speak with him." Regina offered.
"Grumpy is good. He looks like he belongs in a tavern." The blonde shrugged.
"Smells like it too."
"That's my godfather." Emma snapped.
"And that matters how?" Melody arched a dark brow.
"What should I wear Princess Melody." Regina interrupted the argument. "Emma, will you call Josie again and ask for her help?"
"Of course."
"I should have a plainer dress in my room. You'll look like one of the tavern wenches so best to stay close."
"My wife won't be mistaken for a whore will she?" Emma asked, eyes wide with alarm.
"She might but we'll keep her covered up as much as possible and hope for the best. It'll be better if she stays close to Lancelot. He looks pretty scary with that big scar and all that. Not like anyone would want to mess with him to get to her. Even those desperate to get ahold of a pretty piece of shiny won't want to tangle with that kracken." Melody shrugged. "I pity those that would think to try." She added.
"You rang for me your highness?" Josie dipped into a curtsy eyes darting between the three Princesses before settling on Emma's form.
"Yes, will you help my wife dress once again?"
"I'll go get the dress." Melody stepped away and through the thick jade wood doors.
"Of course your highness?"
"Thank you Josie." Regina smiled and moved behind the screen once again as Emma moved around and dug through her trunks for a looser shirt that looked more worn than others. There was no way to disguise the finer fabrics and cuts but if it looked a bit worn it may look like it had been pirated from a merchant's ship or at least she hoped.
The Iron Harpoon was exactly what one would expect in a tavern near the docks in a not so great area of Il Mira. For the most part the capital city of Sunfaire was a beautiful place, filled with sunshine and beautiful buildings and homes but the closer one got to the docks, the more run down from the sea and the underbelly of every capital city. For every positive there was a negative. People looking to make money off the misfortunes of others was nothing out of the ordinary; it existed in every city, the fortunes of men swelled like the tides and faded away just as quickly.
The tavern itself was rundown; it's sign hanging half cocked on its rusted hinges as they approached.
Melody seemed perfectly comfortable. If anything, she seemed to come even more alive being in the lower parts of the city. She smirked as the small party made their way through the streets and into the grimy bowels of the tavern where oil lamps and a large fireplace offered low lighting to the beaten up old tables and the general greasy atmosphere of the tavern. A few seedy looking characters sat around the tables and at the bar, each turning to face the open door as though the sunlight was invading on their personal space.
"Isn't everyone supposed to like sunshine here?" Grumpy muttered and eyed Emma who was tense and ready for the fight she wasn't sure would break out from just their presence. Her hand rested on the pommel of her sword. He noted Lancelot was doing the same. The two stuck out though Regina's tense little figure beside her guard was also standing out. He rolled his eyes and shouldered his way past them to get to the bar. The man-attending bar was large and gruff looking man with dark hair and honeyed eyes, perfectly reflective of those that were born of Sunfaire.
"Ale," He muttered and then man dipped his head, providing a large tankard, which he gladly grabbed and took a healthy swig from.
"I'll have the same," A swarmy looking man dressed in all leather stepped toward the dwarf and the bar. "Put his on my tab."
Grumpy took a large sip and grinned, idiot didn't know how much a dwarf could drink clearly.
"Killian, what are you playing at." Melody muttered making her way over.
"Having a drink with my new friend Pirate Princess." Killian grinned at her as she stopped behind Grumpy.
"This the guy we looking for?" Grumpy asked.
"You're looking for me?" Killian laid a hand on his chest. "I feel all warm and fuzzy."
"Cut the shit Killian."
"What shit? I'm quite flattered." He turned spotting Emma and the others. "Even more so now." His eyes lingered on the blonde's pretty frame and he smirked brightly.
"Hello love. Captain Killian Jones at your service."
"She's married Killian, to the girl. She's way out of your league too." Melody muttered smirking when Emma merely stepped closer to Regina and pulled her into her side with an arm around her tiny waist.
"Well a man can always hope. What can I do for you?"
"We need a Privateer."
"I'm a Pirate love not a Privateer."
"We shouldn't talk here. Do you have a room?" Melody cut in before Emma could continue.
"Upstairs, shall we?"
"Melody," Charles' voice cut them short as they stopped on the stairs leading up the rooms above the tavern.
"Brother," Melody groaned as she flipped around on the stairs and stared down at her older, more serious sibling. Charles was everything a Prince should be. Dashing, charming, smart, and kind. He was also a stickler for the rules, which didn't sit well with his more-free spirited sister.
"What do you think you're doing? Are you trying to send Father to an early grave?"
"I'm offended," Melody laid a hand against her chest and rolled her eyes.
"Consorting with Pirates and their friends." He glanced around before his eyes stopped on Emma. "Emma? What are you doing here?"
"Hello Charles, it's been a long time."
"Not that long. I was at the ball held on your name day."
"Emma is in need of assistance Brother. I'm merely overseeing the proceedings to ensure that Sunfaire's needs are being met."
"Sunfaire's or your own selfish need for adventure?"
"Careful there love. That one has a sharp mind and an even sharper tongue than you do." Killian offered with a smarmy grin decorating his roguish face.
Melody cut her eyes at the pirate who merely smirked harder at her dark look before turning back to her brother.
"Shall we proceed upstairs while these two um enjoy a little bare knuckled boxing out back?"
"Shut up Killian." Melody muttered, taking the three steps she stood above her older, broader brother and stopping at his feet. "I thought you and Father were inspecting the new ships?"
"We did so imagine our surprise when we got home and found out that our Mother had sent my sister on some secret mission. You should know Mother doesn't keep anything from Father."
"And you just magically found your way here?"
"I know the places you frequent and I figured this would be a place to check. If Prince Stefan finds out…"
"He won't because you won't tell him. My engagement is none of your business Brother."
"Upstairs, they'll be at it a while I do believe." Regina muttered to her wife, who nodded and turned to the pirate. A tilt of her head and they were slowly ascending the creaking wooden stairs. Pushing open the third door on the right of the plain hallway with it's hanging oil lamps, they settled at a large scuffed table, the fireplace sitting on the far wall unlit and offering no light though the windows shudders had been opened to allow light and the smell of sea salt and unwashed bodies in through the window.
"So what was it the Princess of Wintersend wished to discuss with me a lowly pirate lord?"
"You know who I am?"
"Your bearing gives it away…as does that platinum wedding bracelet locked to your wrist. Not many of those around here. The only one with access to those mines is Wintersend. Didn't take a large leap to figure out who you were." Killan sat forward, resting his bejeweled hand on the tabletop as he plopped down in the creaking chair. He sat back and kicking his black leather booted feet up, propping his hand up behind his head as he leaned back on the two back legs of the old chair.
Emma moved forward as her godfather flanked her. Carefully, she drew out a chair and motioned for her wife to sit before she took her own. Without a single thought, she reached out grabbing her wife's hand and giving it a small squeeze. It was answered with the same and she felt fortified in a way she hadn't until then. They were in this together and they would see it through in the end.
"We need a Pirate since we don't believe King Eric will agree to sending his men to help us." Emma offered.
"So this is illegal then? Well I'm always up for breaking a few laws in the name of fortune. What are you offering?"
"Platinum, three bags of it."
"And?"
"You haven't heard what we want you to do?"
"I like to prepare to up my price at a moment's notice."
Regina rolled her eyes and sat forward, "Captain,"
"Oh I like this one, respectful yet cutting. I approve." He grinned at her and she rolled her eyes.
"We need your assistance with a matter of bringing a group of sell swords from the Abyss back to Wintersend."
Killian eyed her for a moment before dropping forward with a loud crack. He leaned against the table eyeing the two in front of him and the men at the door. "What you're asking is for me to sail from Sunfaire to the Empty Bay so that you can discuss terms with a group of sell swords?" He made a motion with his bejeweled hand and shook his head. The hook on his hand gleamed in the pale light.
"I believe three bags of platinum aren't sufficient payment for such a dangerous task."
"What do you want then?" Emma asked; she resisted the urge to roll her eyes when the man's eyes swept her frame. She all but growled when her wife received the same treatment. Ogling her was one thing, but Regina was completely off limits.
"Your wife; she's from SpringFall isn't she?"
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"Your Mother is a powerful witch by all accounts."
Emma tensed and Regina sat forward, "What would you know about my Mother pirate?"
"Plenty, I am a pirate after all and one comes across all sorts of interesting information when one is in my line of work." His eyes sparkled as he studied the small twitch underneath the blonde's wife's eye. "I heard about your wedding, and if your wife is Emma of Wintersend then that makes you Regina of SpringFall; again not difficult to figure out. Your Mother is in possession of something, something I want back."
"I can't help you with that. If you know anything about my Mother you know that much."
"I believe you can Princess Regina."
"What is it you want then? As your payment?"
"A map, your Mother has a map that I require. That's my payment Princess. You get me that map and I'll get you to the Abyss and back unharmed."
"And my wife, our entire party? To the Abyss and back unharmed?" Regina demanded.
"You've negotiated with pirates before?" He grinned at her.
"Your lot doesn't do anything that isn't specifically stated. You won't go above and beyond unless expressly stated to."
"Indeed."
"If we get this map that you want? You'll get us there then?" Emma clarified and he nodded with another grin.
"Unless of course you'd rather pay me in other…assets."
Emma glared at him, "No," her voice was flat.
"As a gesture of good will…"
"No no, this was going so well." Killian shook a finger at Emma. "I don't do good will gestures. I will only agree to get you to the Abyss and back once I've received payment."
"You won't receive payment until we're back safely in Sunfaire Captain," The winter princess declared. "You would be more than tempted to leave us in the Abyss with no way back home."
Killian smirked, "Now you're catching on Princess Emma."
"What are you thinking about?" Emma asked softly as they climbed into bed that night after enduring a rather stunted dinner with the royal family. Melody sulked the whole time and Eric was quiet as usual. Kind and gentle yes, but quiet none the less. His more outgoing wife had taken it upon herself to keep the conversation flowing and her son had chimed in every once in a while but for the most part it had been awkward and uncomfortable.
"How we're going to get this map the Pirate demanded." Regina answered softly, twisting so she was lying on her side facing her wife.
The blonde lay down and sighed as she shifted so that she faced her wife. The bed was softer than theirs back at home but so far more comfortable than the beds they'd stayed in so far.
"So it is true then? Your Mother is a sorceress?"
Regina blinked and looked down before nodding, "Yes, it is true."
"There were rumors before we got married, I never really believed them."
"My Mother wasn't born with magicks. She manifested it herself."
"By the Valaar she did that?" Emerald eyes widened and Regina nodded.
"Yes, she is…very determined when it comes to getting what she believes she is owed." They fell into silence for a moment before the Spring Princess spoke again. "She wanted power and she saw this as a way to get it. I know the North is untrusting of those that possess magicks…"
"It's not just the North. Every Kingdom in the Enchanted Forest is against humes having magicks."
"Yes, I suppose that is true. It would surely explain why until recently SpringFall never held any other alliance than that of the Sultanna and Sultan of Agrabah."
"They don't mind magicks in Agrabah?"
"It isn't frowned upon, but it isn't discouraged either." Regina shook her head. "Emma, there's something else."
"You possess magicks too?"
Regina's pretty lips parted as her eyes widened in shock; "How did you know?"
"I am my Father's daughter Regina. I've known all along you had them. The magicite wouldn't have reacted like that to you if you didn't. I may not appear to be the sharpest tool in the mine but…"
"But you knew that I had the same magicks and you still wanted to marry me?"
"A long time ago, magick users weren't all that rare. They weren't common but they weren't as rare as they are now. They were celebrated and lauded as special. It wasn't until the suncryst was discovered and Raithewell did what he did…"
"That's when the persecution started and those magic users that were known were rounded up and burned alive." Regina offered.
"I never agreed with that cruelty even though I've heard it was necessary from all my tutors."
"Not all of them were burned Emma. There were a few that survived, those too strong to be purged like that."
"Rumplest…"
"Don't say his name, it summons him." Regina laid her finger across her wife's thin pink lips. "But yes he was one."
"And your Mother is from that blood line? One of the few that survived?"
"I don't know but I do know the reason I'm like this…is because of what she did."
"What do you mean?"
"I was born too early, I'll always have problems because of it. They believe it was because of the magicks my Mother liked to use. She doesn't do anything by half Emma. She doesn't do little spells, they're big…life altering in fact. She didn't pay for that...I did with my body. Hers wasn't able to nurture me as a Mother's body should its babe."
"Do you think that's why magic users were purged?"
"I think people were afraid and when people are afraid…well being proactive rather than reactive always seems like the safer bet when you're frightened of something."