When Killian had told her that they were expected to make port sometime the next day, Emma was on deck before dawn. After being at sea for over a month, she was desperate to see land. She was tired of being seasick, tired of the rocking, and tired of being confined to the same area day after day. It wasn't that bad, but she was excited to see what life on land was like in the world.
And of course, to start trying to find a way home. That was obviously the most important thing. Even if a part of her was not so sure she was ready to say goodbye yet. But she didn't think about that now. Instead, she was smiling and pacing around on deck, occasionally looking up to the crow's nest in hope the lookout could see the starting lines of land.
"Pacing around up here will not make us go any faster Miss Swan." Liam sighed to her, approaching from behind. She offered him a polite smile but looked out to the horizon again.
"Aren't you eager at all to see land again?"
"Of course, I am. Just not like you are." He smiled kindly down to her. "Our home has always been at sea."
She didn't ask who the other party of that statement was. Glancing over to Killian who was manning the helm, he too was looking out to the horizon, although she could still feel the heat of his gaze watching her with his brother.
"I can see how you like it so much. It's your home."
"It's true. This ship has become my home for some time now. It feels strange staying anywhere else. But home is much more than that. Killian and I have grown up with little, we had to work ourselves up to being on The Jewel together. There have been few times I haven't thought of home without thinking of him. It leads me to believe that as long as we are together that's where I belong." He smiled, glancing over to his younger brother. Looking at him like more as a proud father than a beloved brother. But just as quickly he was looking back to her with a peculiar look. "In your world...do you have...such a place?"
Unexpecting the conversation to turn towards her in that sense she just blinked in shock. She told Killian so much, she assumed he just proceeded to tell Liam bits in pieces, but he didn't. He respected her privacy, even from his own brother. That thought warmed her up.
"Uh...no. Not in the sense that you have Killian." She stated dejectedly. "I have no one back in my world."
Liam offered a small smile before clamping his large hand on her shoulder.
"I am positive you will find it one day milady. You just have to be open to where you look for it."
His smile turned into a cocky grin as he tilted his head to the side in motion to his brother. Emma's mouth dropped open at that before she found herself laughing aloud.
"Smooth, but with all due respect Captain don't you have a ship to run?"
Liam's only response was a laugh before turning to head up to the quarter deck where his brother was.
If Emma had been ecstatic and impatient for their arrival to land, Killian had to say he was the complete opposite. He wished it would never come. He cursed the fact that they didn't restock on supplies during their last stay in port and were forced to stop again, leading to the ultimate departure of the beautiful Swan girl. If the ship were his, he would set course in the opposite direction, back to the open waters solely to keep things as they are now. To keep the golden-haired maiden smiling and excitedly pacing around on deck on ship forever. Or at least long enough for him to convince her to possibly stay.
But he knew that wouldn't be good form.
He promised her he would help her. As much as he hated the thought of saying goodbye forever, he would. If it was what she wanted.
"How is she today little brother?" Liam teased as he approached. Killian only watched Emma once again resume her perch atop one of the barrels and looked out to sea. The soft breeze teasing around her golden hair. It was loose today and blowing with the wind like a golden flag in the sky.
"Beautiful." He sighed. "As always."
"I meant the ship you lovesick git." Liam whispered into his ear low enough that no one else would have heard. That brought Killian back to the present as he seemed to just remember how unprofessional it was of him to be fantasizing over the girl like that.
"Apologies brother, The Jewel is splendid as well. I have Matthews assisting below in double checking stores and the bosun checking coffers. It should only take two days to get the supplies we need to resume our journey provided the merchants have what we need."
"Excellent." He nodded and cast a glance around. "And as for Miss Swan...I would advise you to tell her."
"Tell her what?" Liam's eye roll foretold of the lecture he was about to receive, and he instantly regretted asking.
"Tell her you love her. Ask her to stay. Preferably doing something that makes you act less like a shy schoolboy. Anything like that would do."
"I...wha.." Killian cleared his throat and turned his gaze back out to the horizon. "I don't know what you mean."
"Please, we both know it's true. You've been acting strange since she's arrived on this ship. You always find a way to talk about her, you follow her around like a shadow, and you never stop smiling now because I gather, you're always thinking of her."
Killian had no arguments there as everything his brother said was true. Emma Swan had woven herself tightly into his very soul, there was rarely a moment he could go without somehow at least thinking back to her. Other than focusing on his work at hand usually that is.
"She wants to go home brother; I'm helping her with that. My feelings have nothing to do with it."
"She might think differently if she knew that herself." Liam whispered. "How do you know that you confessing might not entice her to stay."
"Because I will not make her want to stay out of obligation. I refuse to have her stay out of pity."
"She might want to stay if she knew a little of what you felt. She must be the only one on the ship that hasn't figured out that you are at least half in love with her. She might think differently if there was a reason to stay."
"Well, she won't." Killian decided firmly. "If she wants to stay, that is her decision. I will not play a part in her choice."
Liam sighed heavily and slapped him on the back. Hard enough that Killian grunted.
"You have much to learn about love little brother. It always plays apart in our choices. I have a feeling that they are a part of Miss Swan's most of all."
His brother just turned and left him with that bit of information, shouting orders to several of the others on the ship. The lieutenant just looked from his brother on one side to Emma on the other, catching her turning her head to look elsewhere as he did. It brought a smile to his face, knowing that she stole glances at him too. Though not half as many as the ones he stole from her. He knew there was something between them, something that grew every passing day.
I can see your soulmate will fill you with immense joy, happiness, and love. She will fill you with life and passion.
He didn't give any more credit to the words the one girl told him in the previous port. Not after Liam's disbelief in it. But being around Emma made him want to believe in that once again. She made him feel things he never felt before, acceptance and understanding. He knew he always had Liam, and Liam would always love him, but there were so many differences he had from his brother. He could only hope to be a man like his brother and follow in his footsteps. But Liam never seemed to understand the struggle of morality as he had. Liam seemed to be above everything and in control of everything. Killian decidedly was not.
But what he shared with Emma was different. She understood, she struggled, and he could tell that there was a darkness and difficulty in her past he had yet to learn about. She was everything wild and free. Adventurous and rebellious. She had the same wildness that lived in him just waiting to get out if she didn't hold herself back. They were the same, and he craved a kindred ship like that.
He sighed heavily, confused, and conflicted over his own emotions. And whenever he had been confused or worried over the past month, he would go to the same person to feel better. Calling over the helmsman, he passed over control of the ship, knowing they had well over an hour before he would be needed to sail into port. He walked down the quarter deck and stepped right up behind Miss Swan, hands clasped behind his back.
"Any sign of it yet Miss Swan?" He teased. She glanced back up at him with a friendly smile, understanding his joke.
"I think you would be able to tell if I already saw it." Her smile melted him as her emerald eyes twinkled in amusement. "Besides isn't it the job of the crow's nest to look for it."
"Well yes, but not exclusively." He whispered hushly to her. "If you saw it first I would make sure you would get credit."
She snorted at that and took a step closer to him looking up at him from beneath those downy eyelashes.
"And what would I get for it?"
He felt his whole face turn red from that. He knew he wasn't the best flirt, and heaven knows that with Emma he always fumbled and ended up saying foolish things in the hopes of being flirtatious. He knew and she knew it, yet he felt his tongue flicking out over his bottom lip slowly. That seemed to catch her attention, as her eyes seemed to focus on his lips.
"I guess we'll just have to wait and see." He whispered back. She cleared her throat and turned away from him.
"What did you do back in your world Miss Swan?" He asked, wanting to keep the conversation going between them. She turned and looked up at him in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"What did you do?"
"Like for fun?" She asked with a quirked brow. He just nodded at that. "Wouldn't you like to know."
He knew she was saying that sarcastically, but he saw it for what it was. Deflection and a way for her to hide. To not talk about herself. During many of their conversations he found that was the hardest topic for her to talk about. If he asked about her world and what life was like, she could go on for hours about different things like her "movies" or "poptarts". But the moment he wanted to get to know her better, she turned away, shut him out. Hid.
"I would like to." He whispered to her softly and leaned against a barrel. "It's just a question. Tell me. What did you enjoy?"
Silence passed between them, and he knew it was the type of silence that indicated she was thinking. It tore at him to know that she had to think on an answer of what she enjoyed doing.
"I…" Her voice was soft and scared. Like a shy child. "I think...I liked to paint."
This perked his attention. He didn't paint artistically but he did enjoy his sketches. He loved making detailed drawings of the lands and places they had seen on their journeys.
"I take it that you didn't have time to do it often?" He asked, hoping to make it easier for her if she only wanted to give a one-worded response. She smiled at him for that.
"You would be right. They...we never had a whole lot in foster homes to begin with. Maybe just a few things that could be shared. I remember this one group home I was in... the lady running it...she really liked crafts and art. She would encourage us to use some supplies and one day I did. I took some paint and a canvas and sat on her porch and painted for a few hours. And for just once I didn't feel...lonely."
He just looked down on her, amazed at the strength behind this beautiful young girl.
"Have you done it since then?" He asked. She just shook her head, the blonde curls swishing around her.
"No, I haven't had the time or money. It was just that one day and I was moved to another home shortly after that. I couldn't even take the painting with me."
"Maybe one day soon you could try it again."
"Maybe." She tried to smile at him. "Painting is kind of a stationary thing to do anyways. I like to keep on my toes. I can always do it if I ever decide to settle somewhere."
"I sketch." He found himself blurting out to her. Her brows raised at that in amused shock.
"Is that so? You might have to let me see them sometime."
"Anytime." Killian promised, his hand gravitating closer to where hers rested on the barrel, like it was being drawn closer to it.
"Land Ho!" A voice called down from the crow's nest. There was a scramble of footsteps, as Emma was not the only one who was excited to see land again. She stood up and leaned as far over the railing as possible, squinting her eyes to detect the vague shape of land.
Killian coughed behind her, and she looked back to him in confusion. With a warm smile, he withdrew his spyglass from his waist coat and held it out to her.
"Try this milady." She eyed it and then up to him wearily, before slowly she took it from his offered hand.
"Thanks." She murmured and gently unfurled it to its full length to gaze out at. Her small gasp of shock surprised him.
"What is it?"
"So many mountains and forests. It's all there is."
"Well, that is usually what land is made up of other than the ports." He chuckled. "Besides, it is called the Enchanted Forest for a reason."
"Yeah right, there's that." The tone of voice told him she was grinning. He just watched her looking through the glass, scanning the horizon. When they began to get closer, he excused himself to then assist in guiding the ship to port. While he and Liam moved about, shouting orders he would spend an occasional moment watching her awe. The shock on her face as she watched as they drifted closer and closer to the harbor until they were docked safely. The sails were tied up while others swung down to the dock to moor the boat properly. Making sure everything was set for the boat to be secure, he walked back over to her.
"Welcome to Misthaven Miss Swan." He declared looking out over the bustling and welcoming village.
.
.
Emma paced around on deck impatiently. She was itching to go out into town. Itching to explore and finally be back on land again. Killian left half an hour ago to both speak to the harbormaster, whatever that was, and he was going to ask if there was anyone around who would know about travel between worlds.
'Traveling between realms isn't the problem necessarily, the problem is finding the realm without magic.' He had explained to her at some point. 'We've never heard of it and it might not be like traveling to realms with magic.'
She couldn't fault him there. From his stories, they traveled between realms on the ship and got back the same way. He was being precautious, and she couldn't ask him to help her get home if it possibly meant he was trapped in another world too.
She wouldn't mind that though.
No. Not going there. She shook her head of the thoughts even if Liam's words from earlier were starting to get into her head. The thought of leaving Killian behind to never see him again made her ache. Ache in a way she wasn't familiar with and thus was shoving aside. She couldn't focus on her feelings right now. Right now, her primary objective was to see if it was even possible, and if it was how to do it. And if not...if not she would think about later.
"I have good news Miss Swan!" Killian called as he walked back aboard deck with a beaming grin. She had taken to sweeping the deck when she turned to him. Her blonde hair blowing softly in the wind as she wiped at her brow.
"Hopefully it has something to do with passage home." She meant it as a teasing joke, but for a moment she saw something unfamiliar flicker in his eyes. Almost hurt by the mention of it. It was gone as quickly as it came.
"Well, it's something to help you." He conveniently left out the mention of her leaving. "I spoke with the harbor master to see if there was somewhere nearby to acquire information. It turns out there is a monastery located in this town!"
"A monastery." Emma repeated slowly. "Is that like a portal shop or something?"
She could tell he was trying to refrain from laughing at her although he let out an exhale of what would be described as a chuckle.
"No, I'm afraid not. It's a gathering of monks, they are spiritual leaders if the world and have a knack for collecting knowledge. So, they have one of the greatest things we can use, a library."
"What is a library going to do?" She asked, trying to reign in her sarcasm about it. She trusted Killian to have a plan regarding it, next to his brother he was very tactful and strategic.
"Well, the best thing we can do is find information. We can see if there are any chronicles of people traveling to your world before. Then investigate other means of travel. The only way I have heard of travel between realms is with a magic bean, and those can be hard to come by."
"So, if I can't find another way home...I might be stuck here...forever."
A silence passed between them before he took hold of her hand in his.
"Let's not lose hope before we even try."
"Right." She nodded. "So which way is this monastery? Point me in the direction and I'll find it and start looking."
"No need Miss Swan. I'm coming with you myself."
She blinked up at him in amazement.
"Don't you have better things to do? More important things than spending the day in a library going through books?"
A serious look crossed over his features, his playfulness all but gone.
"Helping you is important, Miss Swan. I promised you I would do all in my power to help you get home and I will do that. My brother has assured me he will handle the ship, so you don't need to fear in me shirking my duties. Besides, spending a day with you in the library involves two of my favorite things." He added with a wink. Emma cracked a grin at that and turned away to hide her blush.
"I never would have pegged you as much of a reader." She looked back up at him casually to see him still smirking at her, enjoying this game between them.
"I'm always happy to surprise you then Miss Swan." His whisper soft before his tongue flicked out between those perfect pink lips. He was starting to get more confident with flirting with her and damn if she wasn't getting a small thrill from it as well. What girl wouldn't from a handsome British naval officer.
"Well then, there's a saying in my world, let's go hit the books."
That snapped him out of looking at her so sinfully. He went back to looking adorably confused once again as he always was whenever she talked of her time.
"They won't take kindly to us if we abuse the material Miss Swan."
He really was too adorable.
Stop it! She commanded herself.
"It's an expression, it means you are going to do a lot of reading or studying."
"Then what does the aforementioned hitting institute?" She blinked and thought it over.
"I don't really know. I guess it means that you might read so much you fall asleep doing it."
He nodded in thought before he grinned mischievously. He lowered down closer to whisper along his ear.
"If you find yourself drowsy then Miss Swan, I won't object you leaning against me for rest."
She blinked. Purely baffled he would say that. Considering he was always practically blushing around her. It was to her relief that he was turning away without meeting her gaze with a red flush as he went over to Liam. She placed a hand to her cheek and felt her own mortification of how hot it felt.
Damn him!
"Well then, let's go!" She clapped her hands together and motioned to the gangplank. He smiled at her before taking up his hat and going along with her, when they neared the end, he immediately hopped off the edge to land on the deck in a crouch then holding his hand out to her as if to help her down.
"It can be a little bit of an adjustment getting back on land again."
Emma snorted at that and took a resounding step onto the dock followed by another until she felt her knees wobble and she unexpectedly felt herself beginning to lean over. Killian stepped forward and caught her by the shoulders, holding her steady as her body seemed to gravitate closer towards him while she gained her footing.
"You weren't kidding." She gasped, feeling a sting of embarrassment in looking so weak. Falling into him like this was definitely more embarrassing than needing to take his hand down. She pushed herself away and nervously met his eyes. "Thanks."
"Of course." His voice seemed to croak before holding out an arm. "Shall we?"
"Lead the way." He looked a little dejected again but clapped his hat atop his head and began the way down the dock.
Emma was trying to soak up everything she could on her way to the monastery. They had to pass through the heart of the lively village to get there. Shops, markets, vendors. She probably slowed them down as she turned about to take in all the sights. To her it was like stepping into history or at least an intricate movie set. The style of clothing, women clad in long skirts and corsets, some fancier than others. Men varied between plain dirty tunics, to leathers and even suits of armor. Though all of them carried a form of weapon, ranging from daggers to axes strapped to their backs, swords at their waist or a bow. Horses and cattle moving carts about the cobblestones. Wanted signs were nailed to posts or hung in shop windows. Odd smelling food assaulted her senses, things like manticore or dragon. She smiled at the novelty of it all.
Little was she aware of the odd looks people shot her in return. No one was shocked at her appraisal of their town, after all it could be understood that the girl was obviously not from there. Most of the odd looks directed her way were predominately how she dressed. The mix matched men's clothing that looked as if it could fall off her was scandalous. Yet the other looks were in the amazement of beauty she had. Emma Swan had to without a doubt been the prettiest girl to ever had stepped foot into their kingdom that was not a princess. Even in men's clothing people starred after her for that.
Killian was enjoying her amusement of everything. Smiling and pointing things out to her. She soaked it all up with a rewarding smile to him that set him aglow. They finally reached the monastery in the heart of the town. Emma looked up at it in amazement. It was a plain building, plainer than any of the others that made it seem made of solid stone, but it was large, taking up the majority of the street.
She stepped up onto the curb with Killian as he took off his hat politely and knocked on the heavy door. They waited patiently until finally it opened to reveal a stout older man. He had a thin beard at his chin, and a large unfortunate nose, but he still looked at them both with a kind expression.
"Good morning." Killian nodded politely. "The lady and I are on a quest searching for information regarding another world. I heard that you had a library here and we were hoping to look if your library had any information on it."
The man beamed wildly at the mention of that.
"Oh yes, we do have a magnificent collection. You two are most welcome here." He stepped aside from the doorway and gestured them in most excitedly. "Come in, come in."
Killian indicated her to step in first which she obliged as she looked around the dimly lit entrance. It was dark other than a few candles and she swore she could have heard chanting coming from somewhere. The sound of the door closing snapped her out of her observations as the man turned to her. He looked her up and down, and oddly circled around her. His hand went beneath his chin, in thought.
"I beg your pardon, miss, but you look awfully familiar."
"Oh, well I don't know how that would be possible." She chuckled awkwardly and looked to Killian for assistance. He stepped forward, his arm brushing against hers and sending a warm comforting jolt through her body.
"The lady is actually on a quest to journey home. She is not from these lands."
"Oh, I see." The man hummed and began walking down a corridor, motioning for them to follow him. "Let's see then, are you from Arendelle?"
"No." Emma said slowly looking to her friend in question. He just shrugged at her.
"Really? Lot of fair skin and blonde hair that way. Let me think, Burk? That would explain your clothing choices. Hmmmm, there's something about you that's familiar, I can't put my finger on it but I'm sure it's right under my nose."
"I'm sorry sir, I am really not from here."
"Tell me sir, how long has this monastery been here?" Killian helpful changed the conversation.
"Oh! Excellent question! It's been here for at least a hundred years! The royal family built it after the first Ogre's War."
"Ogre's War?" Emma felt herself blurting out.
"Oh yes, you two are probably too young to have remembered that time. Awful and horrible. And the second one is turning just as worse. Its farther away from us, but we just had a battalion leave last week. Some of those men won't make it back alive."
"They are fighting for their lives and those they love. That is all a man can really ask for in life." Killian nodded.
Emma just was focused on the fact that these people talked about wars with ogres as if they were the World Wars. She figured ogres couldn't be that bad and just shrugged it out of mind.
"Wise words young man. You must be brave yourself serving in the navy."
Killian's ears tinted pink at that kind of praise and Emma couldn't help but nudging him with her shoulder showing her agreement.
"You two are just in luck that it's me serving in the library today! Colinger is a grump and would hover over you two, thinking you would be spoiling the books." The man turned to them with a waggled brow. "I don't have to worry about that with you two ehh?"
"No!"
"Of course not!"
Their responses of refusal were cut off by each other before the old man began laughing.
"I only joke, though I can't say I would blame you both. Spending a beautiful day like this inside with the dusty old books. I'm going to make certain you both leave here early enough tonight to go have some merriment."
"This is important work sir." Killian cast a glance to her.
"So is youth, take it from someone who knows." He nodded. "Don't get old without enjoying your life. But I enjoyed my life here and with books, so it was a life well spent."
The door swung open for Emma to gape at it all. She was thinking of something smaller, a small room of books or maybe just one bookshelf. The large room with floor to ceiling bookshelves would put Belle's library from Beauty and the Beast to shame. All of them old, with ladders leading up to the top. It was hard to believe that this was inside a monastery. She stepped inside and spun around taking it all in. Sure, there were huge libraries back in her world, but she had never been inside one. Most of the ones she went to were small and barely had the money to get new books.
"What do you think of the library dear?" The old man chuckled. She spun around and faced them with an amazed smile.
"There are so many! I've never seen so many books! Have you Killian?" The lieutenant's mouth gaped open and closed as if he wanted to speak but was uncertain of what to say. "I never had, and I expected it to be small."
"Well then, I'm glad to have disappointed you." He clapped his large meaty hands together. "Now, we have it all organized by category. If you are looking for things like maps and travel journals the best place to start would be the second aisle and to the left. We have several chronicles there. And if you need any help, don't hesitate to call for me, just start shouting for Erasmus! I don't mind helping, especially with the work I have cut out for me. Good luck!"
He hobbled off happily humming to himself as Killian and Emma just looked to each other.
"What a strange monk." Killian murmured.
"I'm glad I'm not the only one." Emma added with a giggle and the two made their way to the directed stacks. Prepared for the hours of work that they were to have sorting through dusty books.
.
.
It was sometime later in the afternoon that Killian ventured off to go find them some lunch. They had spent much of the daylight in the dark library searching through the books by candlelight. So far there was nothing on a realm without magic, but he refused to give up hope.
He stopped at a few different stalls, getting some bread and cheese to eat and some fresh fruit. The peaches looked ripe and juicy and would be a welcome \sweetness they haven't had for some time. A part of him felt guilty that he lingered outside a dress shop. Emma didn't seem to have any of the vanity of other women and granted she might not be staying long in this realm, it would be inevitable that she would need a change of clothes.
"I must admit I've never seen a naval officer looking into a dress shop before." A soft voice cooed. His gaze drifted from the window over to the opening of a small alley. A girl sat perched on some old looking crates, a bucket upside down as a footrest as she worked on sewing something. "Is there something you're looking for sir?"
She looked like a young girl, fourteen or so, dark black hair tied in a braid down her back and almond shaped eyes focusing on her needle work instead of looking up at him.
"Well...I'm...not sure." He cleared his throat.
"Are you in need of women's clothing?" He felt his face heat up in embarrassment.
"I was….looking...for a...friend."
"A friend?" She repeated in a cooing voice. "Or a companion? Or is she a lover?"
"Madam, you have no right to be so crass in your assumptions."
"My apologies, I suppose that means that she is your lady love." Her pink lips turned up in a smile. "I can tell. I think it's awfully sweet of you."
"Well, regardless I wouldn't know what to get."
"Then I can help you there." The girl flung out the fabric she was sewing, and Killian suddenly was entranced by the brightness of the fabric. A rich purple the color of plums that he could have sworn was previously a pale brown. He blinked at it in confusion, but it was a gown, just as good as the ones inside the shop. The girl smiled up at him in a cocky expression. "I am after all a talented tailor."
"I would have to agree with you there." He nodded, looking over the fine garment.
"Thank you. Now tell me about the woman it would be for. What's her name?"
Killian hesitated a moment but took a step closer.
"Her name is Emma."
"That's a lovely name. It is derivative of meaning "whole". Someone one captures attention and affection. Her parents must have named her that because she was to be their whole world." She grinned at him. "I can see that she is already yours."
Killian cleared his throat awkwardly. He didn't feel like rebutting anything anymore because he could see it too. He could see getting closer to Emma and having his life slowly revolve around hers. He always thought his world would be the sea, but he suddenly didn't mind one day leaving that to live on land if it meant being with her.
"You can make her a dress then?"
"Of course, I can. I will even do three for her. If she is the girl with you from earlier, she definitely will need some better fitting clothes. I will just need three things in return." Her gaze drifted back down to her work, between her fast stitches Killian could make out an intricate embroidery.
"What would that be?" The girl didn't even spare him a glance. Her needle moved over the cloth.
"A bowl of stew from the tavern, a loaf of bread from the baker, and a hot sweet bun. Yes, that will do nicely."
"Those hardly seem to amount to the cost of three dresses." He argued, his brow crinkling in confusion. He wouldn't say no to a bargain, but only if it was a fair trade. He was no cheat.
"You're right, but I only request what I need from those that can easily provide it. I ask you for my dinner tonight, while tomorrow I might ask the owner of this dress for enough money to buy my own carriage. It's only right considering how much she can afford it. Fair is fair to me. Besides, I wouldn't mind having a beauty like that wearing my dresses, people will come to me more."
"Only food then?" He double checked. She gave a shallow nod of her head. Killian only gave a small nod and turned to head to the tavern before the girl held a hand up.
"Not yet. The dresses will be ready an hour before sunset. You can bring it then."
"Today?"
"Don't you want them ready by then? I am the fastest tailor in the land. While it would take weeks for a team of seamstresses to fill this order, it will take me only an afternoon. Do we have a deal?"
"Aye, we do." He nodded.
"Perfect!" She clapped her hands together and stuffed the plum-colored gown into an open basket beside her before pulling out some plain beige fabric. "Now tell me, what color should I make them? I can do anything!"
Color. Killian thought of. He knew she would look well in anything; it was hard to think about.
"Colors of the sea." He decided. Emma reminded him of the sea. Beautiful and deep, strong and vast. "Blue as the deepest ocean, sea green as the shallows, and white for sea foam."
"Or as a swan." The girl laughed merrily. "You are very poetic sir, she is a lucky girl. Very well, three fine gowns, and I will see you with my supper."
From her satchel, she pulled out a familiar glinting golden tool that had Killian frozen as she directed it to glide across the fabric. The familiar glint and markings that he had seen before. At the fortune teller.
"Lass, where did you get those scissors?"
She quirked a brow at him and smiled another knowing smile.
"These old things? A treasured family heirloom you could say. Why?"
He frowned at them and looked at her, unsure if he wanted to ask any other questions at the moment.
"No reason." He decided on and turned away with a slight bow of his head. He had to get back to Emma.