The carriage ride back to the inn was suffocating. What had started out as a happy evening of celebration had deteriorated to stiff awkward silence. The ball only lasted until a short time after midnight. Apparently, the inn did have a set curfew that had Liam excusing their party from the extended activities. For that Emma was grateful as she didn't feel much for staying at the palace after the awkward dinner.

The inn was dead silent as their carriage halted outside. Emma wondered to herself if all taverns would be like this in this world but didn't ask it aloud as she crept up the staircase to their rooms. Killian, only a step behind her.

"I'm going to be drafting some last-minute reports to send to our officers tonight, if either of you have need of me." Liam finally spoke up. An invitation to the both of them, that if they needed him, he would be right next door. His silence along the way back was almost just as unbearable. Usually so calm and relaxed, Emma thought he almost looked nervous for them.

"Thank you, brother." Killian nodded politely, opening the door for her to the room. "I think we just need some time to ourselves."

How differently that phrase turned from alone time to celebrate their marriage, to now alone to discuss what happened. As reflex, Emma lifted a hand to her neck to twiddle her locket, only finding it gone that she dug her hand into her pocket. Clutching it so tightly in her fist as Killian closed the door behind them.

"Tell me what you are thinking Swan." He whispered, though his back remained to her. His focus solely on the door he closed. She wetted her lips, looking down to her skirt.

"I wish we never got invited to the ball if this is how the night would have ended."

"You still had a pleasant evening, didn't you?"

"You know what I mean by it Killian." Her voice took on a colder tone. "What are we going to do? We'll be separated!"

His tongue ran over his lip, blue eyes concentrated in thought. A muscle in his cheek twitching rapidly, the way it did when he was angry or was holding back something to say. He stepped closer, his arms hung open for her, invitation for an embrace that both needed. She waited only a moment, before rising and entering the reassuring arms. Falling into the warmth and safety that they always provided and enjoying the momentary reprieve of anxiety that soothed over the bond.

It will be fine. She thought to herself. We will find a way to be together, and nothing will change this.

"We'll find another way." She said aloud, sighing contently into his jacket. Considering how to suggest they should talk more about this in the morning when she felt the bond grow tense.

Nervous. Afraid. Hopeful.

"Emma…I know this can be…terrifying for you. But maybe you just need to get comfortable with the idea."

She moved away from his hold then. Backing up and studying his face until her jaw dropped open. It was a good thing she was standing by the bed so she could lower down onto it. Her green eyes going wide.

"You can't say that you agree to it." It was a brief second that his blue eyes flickered away from hers that confirmed it. "You do!"

"I'm not saying that I like it!" He immediately protested, holding up a hand to her. "I could never be happy separated from you, darling. But Emma, haven't you thought about the stability you could have living here? It would be much safer for you, and you wouldn't be forced into such confining quarters. You could make friends and settle down into a life here."

"But it would be a life without you." She shook her head at him. "I don't care about any danger or how small the living space is. I just want to stay with you."

Killian's mouth twitched up in a pained smile, his hand moving up to cup her cheek. His fingers gently combing the side of her hair.

"You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that my love. No idea." His other hand took hold of hers, bringing it to his lips in a reassuring kiss. "But you wouldn't be left on your own. Others will look out for you while I'm gone. You could have female companionship here. The king even mentioned you being a possible lady's maid to his daughter." Fear flickered across her eyes, and she knew he felt it across the bond.

Disgust. Fear. Distrust.

She moved away from him, standing up and pacing the small room. She needed to move. Needed to do something to curb the urge to run.

"I want to stay with you. Not be here with other women and especially not in court but with you! You are my family, family stays together."

"Emma it is not that simple. I cannot disobey my king. I'm only a lieutenant and technically I shouldn't even be allowed to have my wife on ship, I'm not a Captain. Besides there is nothing wrong with going to court, you did so well tonight, you heard Liam people assume you are a princess. The king said he would welcome you there for company for his daughter."

She paused at that, shooting him a glowering look.

"Really? By the way he held me tonight he seemed he would be happy to want me there as company for him!" She hissed, mindful for keeping her voice down but unwilling to tell him the truth. "Something doesn't seem right about the king, and I don't trust to be around him."

This time it was Killian who was blinking at her in surprise and concern. His gaze drifted away, over to something on the wall that took the full brunt of his disapproving glower in her place.

"Careful Emma, that sounds like treason."

She was glad that she was able to school her reaction from flinching back at his statement. Instead, her emerald eyes hardened at him. Resolved to make him listen to what she had to say.

"I'm only speaking the truth of what happened Killian. I didn't like the way he looked at me or the way he was touching me. Admit it! You were uncomfortable by it too!"

"I don't deny that it was an uncomfortable evening. You do not have to accept his offer on going to court, you just cannot be on The Jewel."

"And how long until he insists Killian? What will I do then? Surely you don't think he'll just let that go! What if he tries to do something to us?" He spun on his heel, holding a finger up to her accusingly. This time his cold gaze did not drift from her, those blue eyes colder than ice as they bore into her. For a split second, she felt the fear that this man was able to intimidate the crew with.

"I will not speak ill of the king, and you will do the same." His voice turning icy cold. "Regardless, The Jewel is his vessel. The king has voiced his concerns and as part of his navy Liam and I must listen. We will see about finding a place for you to stay in the morning."

He turned away expecting that to be the final word. Emma found her heart pounding in her ears, part of her wanted to move closer to him, to fight and make him see what she was seeing. But she knew he was loyal. His loyalty just extended to the king over her. She turned away, striding to the door and pausing. Salt burned at her eyes as her hand tightened around the knob.

Hurt. Anger. Sorrow.

"You vowed that you wouldn't hurt me. That you wouldn't abandon me. Not like my parents when I was a baby. Or the other families. You said that as long as I was in this realm you would stay by my side. Leaving me here to wait for your return, not knowing if I'll ever see you again. Is even worse."

Before he could even say anything else, she bolted from the room. Unable to hear him defend a king over her. With the curfew of the inn, she didn't go out the front door but snuck to the side door leading into the kitchen. Dead embers and clean counters a display that the cook had went to bed sometime ago. She went out the side door, pausing to take up a stone to place in the door to keep herself from being locked out.

It was a small courtyard, stables holding the inn's cows and goats, fenced off from the rest of the street by a small wooden fence. With the animals sleeping or grazing silently, sitting by them she didn't feel completely alone. Even though it was easier for her to cry away from others, she didn't want to be alone. Not now, as her gasps shuttered, and she found herself clutching her arms together as if to hold her raging emotions in.

He's going to send me away. He's going to keep me here and sail away. To leave me behind. It was the story of her life, people were always sending her back because they thought she caused trouble.

Maybe if you were a quiet little girl, we could find you a good family.

Maybe if you didn't wander off they would want you.

Maybe if you just smiled more Emma. It isn't that hard.

No one wants a troublemaker, Emma. No one wants someone who stirs the pot.

Maybe not even Killian. She thought with a quiet sniffle. Another hot tear rolled down her cheek, as she stifled a sob. Otherwise, he would come after me.

He loved her. She knew he did, even now across the bond despite the frustration she could feel it all.

Frustration. Hurt. Love. Sorrow. Regret. Love. Love. Anger. Fear. Love. Guilt.

He felt much more passionately than she did. So many things at once, he was conflicted about it. Rationally, she knew he didn't want this anymore than she did. Already the thought of being separated by leagues of sea made her want to stop breathing. But he was giving in to the idea of it already. Not pleading the king to make an exception. No offers for her to join the crew, hell knows the amount of work she already provided the ship and would gladly do for free just to stay with the only family she knew. Not even an idea of running away together so they wouldn't have to be separated.

She would take anything over just telling her she would stay here. Not even asking if this kingdom was where she wanted to stay.

I'd rather take being marooned on an island all by myself. She thought bitterly. Anything over being forced to stay in the same kingdom as that king. Maybe I am being a little unfair. Maybe I am ignoring Killian's view on it. He just wants to keep everyone happy, and here I am making him feel guilty for listening to his king. Even if he is a sleaze.

With a heavy sigh, Emma scooted her legs up to her chest in a very unladylike position. The layers of her dress making it difficult, but thankfully adding to her warmth on the brisk evening. Quietly just listening across the bond that Killian was missing her. A sign that he was ready for her to come back to him.

A 'clang' of the door caught her attention from her thoughts. Standing up from her seat, she walked around the corner of the stable and narrowed her eyes at the swinging hinge of the courtyard gate. Open just a bit and clanging in the wind as opposed to it being closed when she came out here. Warning bells of fear shot down her spine, she turned to the kitchen door, ready to run inside when something crashed down against her head. A strike of fear gripping her before she only felt darkness.

.

.

For the first time in countless days, Killian wanted to get drunk. Not the giddy enjoyable drunk he had with Emma the night in Misthaven. He wanted the drunk that made staring at the bottom of a bottle blurry. Made all the thoughts and worries in his head idle away. Made everything but a pounding hangover seem inconsequential. But he was without any form of drink, and unless he intended on sneaking away to some lowlife part of town to find some late drinks, he wouldn't find it. Instead, he contended with smashing his hand against a wooden pillar in the room. A few times that just resulted in light bruising but helped ease his own anger and pain.

Gasping a moment of his breath, he rested his forehead against the dark wood. He was glad that his Emma left the room. Glad that she went somewhere else to find a few minutes of solace that he at the moment didn't know how to give her. Not when he himself was so mad and confused. It didn't help feeling the hurt across the bond, and unable to do anything to ease it.

Hurt. Betrayal. Hurt. Each emotion that passed over her was another stab to his heart. It fueled his anger, making him slam his fist again into the wood. This time hard enough to split the skin.

"Damn!" He cursed, flexing his hand to try and ease the sting. The door swung open, as hopeful as he was that it was Emma, he knew it wasn't with the bond stretching further away. Instead, his brother walked in, his clothing loosened around him.

"Everything alright?" Liam asked, glancing around the room to Killian's fist. "What did you do?"

"Needed to take some edge off." Killian gritted. "Go on back to bed, brother."

"You're lucky you don't break your hand smashing it against the wall like that."

"If it breaks, would I get to stay with Emma?" He huffed it as a joke, though part of him pondered on the idea.

"No, and you know better. Crippling yourself is not the way to do this. Could you live with yourself doing that?" Liam readied a bowl from the water cabinet and dampened a rag to pass over to him.

"I could, and I would if I was desperate enough." Killian huffed. "Staying with Emma, keeping her safe. Would make me desperate enough."

"What happened?" Liam asked, raising a brow.

"What do you think happened Liam?" He scoffed. "We immediately tried talking about what the king said. If he says she cannot go on the ship, she can't."

"Aye," Liam huffed, raising a hand to bite at his thumb in thought. "I've been trying to think around that."

"There is no way around it Liam. The king's orders go."

"Is that it then? You're giving up on it altogether?" Liam raised a thick brow at his younger brother. "Since when do you give up so easily?"

"We're sailors brother, I know when the wind is against me and this is it."

"No wonder Emma stormed off on you." Liam sneered. "You give up on this you don't deserve her."

Very rarely had the Jones brothers ever had squabbles. Even rarer were the physical fights they only got into when facing their adolescent years. In the first time in over five years Killian found himself rushing across the room to grab at the collar of his older brother. Liam was taken aback by the anger his brother's eyes reflected. Killian had been prone to quick temper before, but his look was on the border of cruel. Completely cold and bottomless in a fury that he was trying to bury. Killian's gaze flickered over his face a few moments more before releasing him and stumbling away, almost in a daze.

"Please leave me right now Liam…I'm not myself." He sighed, turning away to pick up the damp cloth that dropped to the floor in his rush.

Liam straightened up, refusing to leave his brother.

"Internalizing your emotions will only make you brash, brother. You need to talk to her over this. Why don't you go after her? Comfort her so that it will bring comfort to you! She's your wife."

"She is, and don't think I don't want to. But I also know Emma. She needs time to herself. If she wants to be alone, I'll give her some time to be alone." Killian sighed, rubbing at the back of his neck. "I don't even know what to say Liam. I can't comfort her; I can't promise her anything I can't keep. There is nothing you or I could do to change the king's mind. Even if we addressed our superiors as a plea. What case could we make? It breaks my heart."

His voice cracked and he found himself burying his face in his hands. Unable to bear his older brother seeing him like this.

"It breaks my heart that I must tell her the same thing that everyone else has. That I must leave her like so many others have. She'll go crazy over it. I'll go crazy over it. I can't stand it." Killian ran his hands through his scalp, tugging at the strands. "I can't-"

He froze when a sickening feeling tugged at the bond. A different kind of dread than what she had over the night.

Fear. Fear. Fear.

"Emma." He gasped, not sparing another look to his brother before bolting out the bedroom door. He was hustling down the stairs, following the trail of the bond that was now silent. He was bursting into the doors of the kitchen, Liam shouting after him when something hard slammed into his forehead leaving him collapsed onto the floor.

.

.

A sudden jolt of her body had Emma blinking to consciousness bringing two things to her attention. The first was a hollow pain in her chest that had her gritting her teeth together. Like the feeling of an uncomfortable stretch being pulled to far then usual. The next thing was that her hands were tied. Clouded in darkness, she tried to move only to find her hands were bound together and strung above her. It was too dark to see how well it was done, but with a tug she could tell it was well tied. Panic started crawling up her throat, pinned in darkness she started thinking over the worst-case scenarios of what could be done to her. Rape. Murder. Slavery. Human Trafficking. Who knew what enchanted worlds did to abducted women. The thought of all the possible ideas had her inhaling air in fast hiccups.

You must be calm Emma. She tried to reason with herself. Forcing her to then hold in a breath for three beats. Just like Killian taught.

'You have to keep collected, love' Killian grinned to her, his sword pointing to her forehead. He knocked her aside with such ease when he wasn't holding back in their practice. Not to mention his goading about her balance, her swings, and today the small tells that told him what she would do next. Her aggravation was starting to make her see red. 'Anger and fear are the surest way in losing any fight. It makes you brash. You need to control it to think, wait for your opportune moment, and win.

It settled her enough to calm down, but only slightly.

Opportune moment. She huffed. Let's see if it works. Another jolt of what she was in, she assumed some sort of carriage. She got as close to the wall that her hands were tied to and began feeling around for some sort of nail that might be loose in the wood. She cursed under her breath when her attempt was worthless as the rope holding her didn't extend very far. It gave her little time to be actively be mad about it when the carriage came to an immediate stop. Emma held her breath and listened, male voices drifted closer, grunting to each other in discernable banter as heavy footsteps drifted closer. The sound of a lock being clicked open and before a door opened. With how she still could only see black, it made her realize that they had placed a bag over her head, hiding their identies and where they were.

"Up girl." A voice grunted, leaning in enough to loosen the hold of the rope that tied her hands above her. She refused to move until he gave a forward yank to practically drag her body across the wagon bed. She fumbled onto her knees and hoped he felt the glare through the sack barrier of her anger.

"There you two are." A low bored voice greeted. "I thought you would be back sooner. Did you have to wait until the end of the ball?"

"She had too much attention on her. We had to wait til it was safe. Watch your step now girl." A different voice warned with an impish giggle right before she tripped over the edge of her ballgown and lay sprawled in hard rocks. Thousands of little pebbles and stones biting at her skin. Were they in the mountains? Or a type of quarry?

"Be careful with her." The bored one warned. "Just because the king doesn't want her anymore doesn't mean that there are no buyers."

The king? She thought, unsure of what they meant. Considering how creepy he was tonight I doubt the problem is not wanting me.

A tug on the rope and they were leading her down a steep incline, every step further sending a deeper jolt of pain in her chest. Occasionally their hands gripping her elbow too tightly as if she could wander over a precarious edge. It didn't take long of a descent until a pair of hands shoved her on her knees.

"Now then…" The bored voice hummed. "Let's get a look at our guest. I'm sure Her Highness has several questions."

Highness? Emma thought to herself before with a rough jerk of her head the bag was snatched off. She blinked at the bright torchlight and then found herself looking up to three figures. One a large burly man that was sneering down at her. Another, ramrod thin with clothes hanging off him uncomfortably. And the third, a smaller man in his late forties with a short grey beard. Considering his posture, she knew this was the leader and his bored face turned furious looking down at her.

"You idiots!" He snarled turning on the other two. "This isn't the princess!"

"Everyone at the ball said she was." The skinnier one said. "She sat next to the king and everything!"

"She fit the description too." The other nodded, looking to her. "Blonde hair, green eyes, real pretty. How you know she ain't the princess?"

"Where did you find her then?"

"At an inn close to the docks."

"That should have told you then! What princess returns to an inn as opposed to staying at the palace!"

"I thought it was because she was married." The skinnier one grinned sheepishly.

"Told you." The larger one huffed. "Sides, I heard the princess looks more albino then gold. They say her hair looks like silver, that ain't silver."

"You both are idiots! You got the wrong one! Went through all this trouble just to kidnap some pretty peasant girl."

The leader looked down at her, before a cruel shrewd smile stretched across his face.

"Well, at least it won't be a total loss." His sneer sent a sick feeling down her spine. Gingerly, he grasped her chin within his two meaty fingers. "A beauty like yourself, you will fetch a good price on the market. The question is," his tongue roamed out between his lips in a disgusting provocative insinuation. "How experienced are you?"

The moment his finger drifted closer to her mouth; Emma wasted no time in biting hard until she tasted blood. Distracting him enough she made a lunge in the opposite direction, hoping to find a way out until he backhanded her with his uninjured hand.

"You stupid bitch" He snapped in pain, clutching at his bitten finger. "I'll see you get death labor for that. A pity, I know a brothel or two that would have paid handsomely for you. Maybe a month or two and you'd be wishing you behaved with me.

"Fuck off creep!" She snarled. Emma could care less if her anger was loose, she wasn't going to sit idle while some filthy jackass touched her.

"We'll see how long that fire lasts before I have you begging for your life! Fuck the gold, you'll do for an excellent decoy for the princess, at least until I kill you." He hissed, his anger lashing out at the others. "Get her in the cell! Then get back to the palace and steal the real princess! You've wasted enough time as it is! "

One of the bandits yanked up on her forearm, squeezing tightly as he dragged her away down the dank hallway and to a door that was dark save for a small lamp high above the ceiling.

"Here are your quarters lady!" He guffawed, tossing her in. Emma landed in the hard dirt, immediately spinning up to turn and bolt for the door until it slammed closed in her face. She glared through the peep hole at the guard just gawking at her.

"My husband will come for me." She snapped, pounding on the door in aggravation. "You'll regret this."

"I doubt it wench." He sneered. "I didna see any husband coming after me when we snatched yous. Yous all alone. All alone crying."

His mocks struck her but she didn't dare display it. Not to him. Leaning closer he snarled to her.

"No one is going to come for you here. You's alone. Cry some more wench, no one will care."

He turned away, laughing as he walked down the hall. Emma kicked at the door in anger, before walking around the stone room. Scouring for some sort of sharp edge in the rock that would be able to cut the bonds. None of them being able to fold between the coils of rope to free her. Letting out a shrill scream of aggravation, she ended up dropping to the ground. She was trying to not panic, trying to not worry, and trying to not think over the thug's words to her.

Killian was mad at her. The bond was silent and dull pain that she didn't know why she couldn't feel. She wondered if he felt it. If he noticed something was wrong. Laying in the dirt she found herself alone once again, doing everything in her power to not think about dying alone too.

.

.

Killian came to with a heavy groan, a pain in his chest rivaling the ache on the back of his skull. His hand went up, rubbing the back of his skull, wincing at a tender bump as he looked around. Everything was hazy for a moment before he suddenly remembered.

The spike of fear from the bond. Emma! He bolted up, stumbling up his balance teetering as he went to the side door that was going to lead to his wife.

"Emma? Emma!" He yelled, careless if his voice would wake anyone up. He checked every stall, ran around the perimeter on the stables, the gardens, the sheds. Nothing of her. Bolting to the yard gate he threw it open and looked up and down the streets, fear closing around his throat. "Swan!"

No sign of her. No sign of her abductors, or anything that would lead him to her. Gods knew how long he was passed out. How long he had already allowed abductors to terrorize or do worse to his wife. His precious Emma.

The bond was taunt around his chest, an uncomfortable burning eating away at him enough that he had to press his hand to his chest as if it would provide some form of relief. He headed back in through the inn, pausing when at the stairs he noticed another body collapsed.

Bloody hell, Liam! He realized, remembering vaguely hearing his brother coming after him. Apparently, his attacker caught him too just as he came down the stairwell. Crouching beside him, Killian lightly shook his brother's shoulders.

"Liam! Liam can you hear me? Wake up!" His movements became a little rougher when his brother stirred. His eyes blinking open with a hard annoyance.

"What the hell was that?" He growled. Killian had rarely heard his brother curse, this obviously showing how pissed he was. To him this was good, they would need two angry and determined Joneses in order to find Emma.

"Emma's gone. I think her abductors heard us coming and ambushed us to buy time for their escape."

"Cowards hit me as I was coming down too." Liam groaned, raising a hand to the red welt on the corner of his forehead, tensing at the touch before blinking up to Killian. "Wait, Emma's gone?"

"Yes, that's why I came down here. I sensed she was in trouble."

"Sensed?" Liam echoed, his blue eyes appraising him, fixating on the word before rising up. "Never mind on that now, it's still the rainy season, they surely left tracks."

"Aye," Killian nodded. His worry etched on his face as he glanced towards the door. "We have no time to lose."

The two spared only a moment to retrieving their swords upstairs before wrestling out the side door again. Killian crouched down by the gate, following a series of tracks that were attempted to be hidden on the cobblestone. The abductors didn't count on the mud of the courtyard as it led around to the alley between buildings.

"The prints end here." Liam huffed. "Great."

"Wait," Killian held a hand and knelt. He ran his hands over the stone, noticing two parallel streaks about the span of the bed of a wagon. His finger brushed against the stone holding it up for a closer view. "There seemed to have been a carriage or wagon here they must have climbed into. But this isn't just any sort of dirt, its mine dust."

"There aren't any working mines around here." Liam noted. "And that could be from any supplier who trades coal."

"There might not be many mines, but we aren't looking for mine workers. We're looking for thieves. And thieves usually go for abandoned and dangerous places."

Liam thought it over for a moment before his eyes widened.

"Whippsmill. It's a short distance from here, and the tunnels in those mines are dangerous, no one in their right mind would go in there."

"No one except no good bandits." Killian corrected with a snarl. "And I'm willing to bet that is where these lowlifes took Emma."

"We'll commander some horses since it is an emergency and go then." Liam nodded, shooting his brother a smirk. "Well done, Killian, you really will make a fine Captain one day."

"I just want to make a decent husband today."

"You will, we will save her. Have faith little brother." Killian didn't even bother to correct him, his brow furrowing.

"I just don't understand, why Emma? She's beautiful to be sure but there is no money in ransom, she hasn't been in the city long enough to be followed, and she's just married to a simple lieutenant in the navy. Why did they come for her?"

"I don't know," Liam nodded, the two rushing to a nearby stable and finding two horses to saddle. "But we aren't going to waste time finding out.

.

.

"In you go!" The guards voice snapped Emma from her nap. She found herself drifting to sleep after crying and gave in to resting her strength. She pushed herself up, heading to the door of the cell. The moment it opened she was prepared to run out when another body smashed into her, sending them both to the ground. The guards howled with laughter.

"That's what you get!" He guffawed. "Nows you be quiet! I want some sleep and if you start screaming I'll cut out your tongues!" The door slammed shut, leaving Emma cursing beneath the body that was pinning her to the ground.

She leaned her head up seeing that the figure was squirming frantically, trying to roll off of her. It probably would be easier if they didn't have a sack over their head.

"Hey! Hold still a second!" Emma grunted, bucking her hips and rolling the stranger off her. Even landing in the dirt, the figure was kicking in all directions, smacking Emma in the ribs. "Calm down! I'm not with them! If you stop moving a moment then I can get this off of you."

Emma lowered her back next to the head, grasping the edge with her fingers and then rolling away for the brown sack to come free. Turning her head over her shoulder, Emma eyed the girl that was now frantically looking around the dim cell. She was beautiful, pale golden hair in a long braid down her back that was sure to be as wavy as her own. A beautiful pale face with even features along with two teal eyes that locked onto Emma with a scrutinizing look.

"Where are we?" She demanded coldly without even a word of thanks. Emma scrunched her brow at her calm reaction and only readjusted herself on the ground.

"I have no idea." She huffed, dropping the bag. "And I'm guessing you didn't see a thing when you were kidnapped here."

"Obviously." The girl answered, rocking herself up to a sitting position. "Who are you?"

"Emma, Emma Jones. Are you the princess?"

The girl immediately narrowed her eyes at her, clearly distrusting. Not that Emma could personally blame her.

"How do you know that?"

"They thought I was you, that's how I got here. After that…their head honcho sent them to get you."

The princess rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Fools. I'm Princess Arianna, and I guess it's to your misfortune that we do look a little similar." She huffed with a small grin spreading on her face.

"Sure, in the way all blondes do. Either way highness, we need to get out of here, I know what they have planned for me, and I doubt its going to be much different for you."

"Right." The princess nodded, looking around. "Is there any other way out?"

"No, nothing sharp either that I could use to cut my bonds."

"Then we're in luck, they didn't take my ring." The princess grinned.

"How is your ring going to get us out?" In answer, the princess smirked and showed her hands, twisting the ring she found a clasp that bolted out to show a small needle size blade. Not enough to do serious damage, but surely able to cut their binds.

"Come here and I'll cut yours."

Emma lowered down, placing her back against the princess's and holding out the ropes as far from her skin as possible to avoid getting cut.

"So, you're the Mrs. Jones that I've heard so much about. Already the maids at the palace were gushing about your display with the king."

Emma narrowed her eyes, wondering if the princess wasn't pleased to hear that her father was flirting with a woman her own age.

"It was interesting, but I don't think balls are going to be my thing for long."

"At least you got to go. The king always says I'm ill to keep me away from everyone."

"Which is why these bandits thought I was you, since the king paid so much attention to me."

"Clearly, they don't make the best kidnappers. At least in finding their target. Though they certainly use more than enough rope for their binds."

"As long as most of its weakened, then maybe I can snap out of it." Emma grinned. "It's a good thing you have that."

"Well, when you're the rightful heir for the kingdom, you make sure that you're prepared." Arianna moved her finger in careful movements along the edge of the rope. Emma blinked at that statement and looked to her again over her shoulder.

"Why do I get the feeling that this isn't your first time in a situation like this?"

"Well, no, this is the first time being kidnapped I'll admit. But there have been a few close accidents. Maid's who hold a knife to my throat, guards that conveniently 'loose me' when I do my work with the misfortunate. It's probably just in my head sometimes, but I have started to keep something as a form of concealed weapon. There! Give that a try."

Emma tugged at the bonds, pulling her arms apart with rough jerks until the ropes gave way and released her. She huffed a sigh of relief and stretched out her arms, relieving them of the stiffness they held from being locked behind her back for some time.

"Thanks, now let's do you." She wiggled the ring from the princess's finger and set about releasing her much faster than the girl was able to from behind. "So uh, ff you suspect something…why not tell your father? Couldn't he do something about it."

Arianna blinked at her. Her brow twisting in confusion.

"My father?"

"Yeah, you know, the king." Emma glanced to her. The princess only shook her head, looking at her as if she was stupid.

"He isn't my father. My father is dead. That is my uncle."

"What?" Emma blinked at her in confusion. "But…he called you his daughter."

"He has?" Arianna blinked. "Why would he lie like that?"

Emma opened her mouth, before closing it again. This was the princess; it probably wasn't the best time to tell her that her uncle was claiming her as her daughter and creepy with those who looked like his lost love. For now, her focus had to remain on getting out of the current situation. Sawing faster, the bonds came loose on the princess's wrist. Arianna rubbed at the chaffed skin and nodded her thanks.

"Now how are we going to get out of the door?" The princess asked. Emma walked over and knelt, looking into the keyhole when an idea struck her. Lifting her free hands up to her hair, she dug inside the coils and pulled out two of the well-hidden pins. Bending them until they resembled an angle to fit inside the lock together.

"You know how to pick locks?" The princess asked, leaning over to watch over her shoulder.

"It's a long story, but it was a necessary skill when I was a kid." Emma murmured, her focus solely on clicking it open. "Almost got them all, there!" She whispered gleefully. The door swung open gently revealing the hall.

"Let's go!" Arianna was about to run out the door before Emma caught hold of her wrist to stop her. She was out of the room and tripped over a pair of legs stretched out in sleep. Emma cursed under her breath as the large guard blinked awake from the sudden jerk of his legs and glared down at the princess.

"How'd you get out?" He lumbered to his feet. Emma just glanced around, wishing for some form of weapon something to use against him when she recalled the bag. Grabbing it she lunged out the door and with a leap against his back pulled it straight over his face and holding it tight to block his sight.

"Run!" She called to Arianna, holding the bag tight as the princess stumbled to her feet. The guard lashed out thrashing until she lost her balance and was sent tumbling to the ground. He barely managed to get the sack over his head, beady eyes glaring at her when a lump of coal the size of an apple slammed into his head. Sending him sprawled to the ground.

Emma's gaze drifted from him to the princess who had another rock this time the size of coconut prepared. Obviously incase the smaller one didn't do anything and considering the annoyed groans coming from him in only bought them a few minutes.

"Go! Go!" Emma cried, pushing herself up with the princess at her side just as the guard began shouting.

"The girls at out! Help! They're escaping!" His voice carrying through the mines to draw voices and more footsteps towards them. Emma looked around determined to find another way out when she spotted a narrow dark path.

"This way." She nodded. Arianna just glanced from her and into the darkness.

"It might be a dead end!"

"Would you prefer to run into them again?" The princess huffed in annoyance but squeezed through the small pitch dark path, with Emma following after and hoping she wasn't leading them to certain death.

.

.

"There it is." Liam nodded to the front of the mine. Killian lowered beside him to look at it, the pain in his chest taut as a wire though more relieved than when they left the inn. Looking at the crumbling foreman building being the sign that it was a no longer working mine, however he could see how bandits would choose to use it. He knew she had to be close.

"Let's go." Liam nodded, ready to move forward when Killian lashed his hand out, grabbing hold of his brother's jacket.

"Wait," He whispered. Something was pulling him a different way, urging him around the other side of the mountain. Blindly he followed, the familiar urge in his stomach to the bond, leading her

"Killian, we don't have any time to lose! Dawn is only a few hours away."

"I know, but I have this feeling that there is another way."

"We don't have time for bloody feelings now!" Liam hissed. "If we have any chance of saving Emma, we go down now."

Killian grimaced, closing his eyes to collect his thoughts before turning to his brother.

"It not just a feeling. Emma and I…we share a type of bond that connects us."

Liam blinked at this, his blue eyes hovering over his brother.

"What?"

"I don't know really, its hard to explain, but we are connected. Our souls are connected." Killian stressed. "I can feel what she feels if we are close enough, and she can feel the same. We've never been parted for long before, and this feeling I sense is her. Its leading me back to her. I must trust it."

Killian headed on, making his way along the side of the mountain, the only thing confirming Liam was behind him. It pulled at him, leading the way through the brush until they were clear from sight until they heard a rushing of water.

"Sounds like a waterfall." Liam spoke up behind him. Killian nodded and stepped closer with a grin blooming across his face. It was a small waterfall, but from the angle that they were at he could make out the posts of a mine opening.

"A hidden mine entrance!" Killian laughed loudly. "I knew there would be something this way!"

"They must have dug out this way as an…evacuation method. Anyone could find it as long as they heard the waterfall."

"Then let's see if it can help us find Emma."

Carefully scaling the slippery rock, they leaned their way past the roaring waterfall and slipped into the mines. Only stopping a moment once inside to quickly build a torch to light their way. Running through, Liam held an arm out to stop Killian from rushing blindly around a corner.

"Wait! Do you hear that?" He whispered, lowering the torch as to suppress the light as much as possible. Killian paused and strained his ears, listening to the sound of running footsteps that were drawing closer. He paid no attention to the reprieve glowing in his chest. Instead, slowly drifting his hand went to the hilt of his blade, ready to draw it from the sheath when from around the corner a running figure collided right into him. The torch light the second figure held illuminating enough of the golden hair for him to choke in relief. Killian's hands raised up to catch onto Emma's elbows, trying to steady their balance until she started thrashing in his hold.

"Run! I'll distract them!" She shouted to her companion. It would have made him proud had she not raised her knee to him that he narrowly evaded.

"Emma wait! It's me! It's me!" Killian explained quickly. "Brother the torch!" Liam immediately held up the light, illuminating them all. Her emerald eyes seized on him, frozen in realization while her pink lips fell open in surprise.

"Killian!" She whispered. He nodded with a reassuring smile, scanning over her, and relieved she had no display of injuries.

"Are you hurt at all, love?" He whispered, feeling over her. She shook her head before throwing her arms around his neck pulling him tightly close to her.

"You came for me." She whispered, clinging closely to him. "You came."

He was too relieved in finding her, too busy running his hand over her hair in hopes to calm the both of them when her words registered. As if she was surprised to have found him coming to her rescue. The bond, slowly seeming to click back into place from their proximity, was a distant echo of her emotions. Weak, but enough to display one primary feeling.

Relief. He pulled back a moment, much to the confusion on her face and looked over her face.

"Emma…did you think I would just leave you to kidnappers because of our disagreement?" When she didn't immediately respond, he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. The warmth of their lips passed between them in a passionate rage, while the bond snapped into place once again. Flooding the two with overwhelming love that had consumed them in the fear of being apart. "Darling, nothing will make me stop fighting for us. It was just a fight; it doesn't change anything between us my love."

She smiled to him, her eyes turning glassy as a tear slipped from the corner in happiness. With a brush of his thumb, he caught it, holding her face in hers he lowered his forehead to her.

"I'm here, love. I'll always be right here. I'm not going anywhere."

It was enough to be said. She pulled him in for another kiss before a loud throat cough pulled her attention to the other two that were still with them. With a red blush she stepped away, though not before grabbing hold of her husband's hand.

"Arianna, this is my husband, Lieutenant Jones and Captain Jones. Killian, Liam, this is Princess Arianna." She motioned towards the two. Killian looked to the girl and practically gawked at the familiar face. In the dark, she held a close resemblance to Emma if not for a few minor differences. And the young princess of the kingdom that had yet to see.

"Princess!" Liam stiffened and lowered in a bow. "How did you get here?"

"I suppose the same way that Emma got here." The princess sighed. "By kidnapping. On that note we really should be going."

A loud yell of anger had them all glancing down the path, angry shouts rising up and growing louder.

"It seems that is the best course of action then milady." Liam huffed, taking hold of her arm and throwing her down the way. "Run!"

Killian caught Emma's hand, following his brother and the princess the way they came. It was a short distance back to the entrance and sound of the waterfall, the princess stopped right at the entrance with Liam at her side.

"What's wrong?" Emma asked, coming up next to them when she finally noticed. More bandits, leering and tossing their weapons threateningly on the side of the cliff. Waiting for them to cross over and meet them. She glanced around to the water rushing before them, down to the open rapids the current created. It was a fifteen-foot drop, maybe more and the water looked deep. "We should jump."

"What?" Both Jones brothers looked to her, their brows knitted together with the same judgmental expression.

"We are outnumbered and you two are the only ones with swords. They catch the princess, and they'll threaten to kill her to make us surrender, and from what I've gathered that's what their paid to do in the first place." Before Killian could even open his mouth to question it she shook her head at him. "There's no time in that now. If we jump in the water its an escape path. I'm willing to bet this water flows downstream."

"It turns into a river that drifts close to the kingdom." The princess grinned nodding. "It's our best chance."

The princess didn't waste any other time thinking about it and with a great leap plummeted into the water. Liam let out and audible gasp before diving after her, clearly concerned with her safety.

"Do you have a dagger on you?" Emma asked. He dug in his boot, pulling out his hidden dagger to see her fumbling with something in her pocket. Killian looked to her in confusion, before smiling at seeing her pull the locket from her dress, fastening it around her neck where it truly belonged just before using the knife to rip up the tulle of the dress.

"What are you doing?" He asked, flushing red and trying to stand in the way of anyone else seeing her in her underclothes. She didn't look up to him until she had all the lovely lavender tulle in ribbons around her, only leaving in her in her shift.

"I have no intention of being dragged down." She moved, ready to jump when he caught hold of her hand. Bewildered, her emerald eyes met his, lingering on the pools of blue that looked at her as if she was out of reach. She squeezed his hand back in reassurance. A promise that she was right there.

"Together." He whispered, with a small nod. She found her head nodding to him in acceptance with a small smile. And even without the bond she recognized the promise it held as they both leapt into the waters below.