A/N: Pardon the delay, real life set in on both me and my beta reader's lives. The last four chapters should be up in fairly quick succession, so worry not we will get to the end of this adventure. It's been a fun journey, and super happy to have been part of the CSSNS even this year again.
Enjoy.
Chapter 10Emma helped Henry to the dragon deck, she looked around at the place she'd never imagined she'd ever be, Rum Island. The place was a surprisingly cozy little village by the ocean and further inland she'd seen fields of crops being grown.
Killian was already on the back of his dragon, the crate holding the Phoenix Flower tied behind Toothless' wings.
"Will he be able to carry it himself?" Emma asked.
"Aye for the short trip up to our home, he'll be just fine," Killian assured her with a smile.
Emma helped Henry onto Pearl's back and got into the saddle behind him. "Hold on kid."
Despite being slightly under the weather due to the poison still roaming in his arm, Henry still whooped in delight when Pearl took off to the sky.
Emma followed Killian and took in the quaint village below her and watched them head for a large structure, not a grand castle, like her own home, more a large estate built of stone and large timber logs. The eaves were carved in intricate designs, but from the sky, it was hard to tell what it looked like.
The two dragons landed on a platform built on top of the estate. Killian patted the two dragons, "Now Toothless why don't you show your mate her new home?"
Toothless grunted in reply and waited for Pearl to join him, Emma gave her dragon a smile, "Go on girl, go fly with him, we're safe here."
The two dragons took off towards a large meadow behind them that ended in a forest.
"Can you walk?" Killian asked Henry, as he hoisted the crate to his chest, letting it rest on his hooked arm.
"I'm good," Henry whispered and leaned into Emma.
"Be careful, okay," Emma said and wrapped her arm around her son's shoulders supporting him the best she could as she maneuvered through the hallways with Killian. When the first people began spotting them the estate became a flurry of activity, servants rushed to deliver messages and Killian made orders for a guest room to be prepared for Emma and Henry.
"Take the room opposite mine." Killian barked out as he pushed further down the corridor, he used his elbow to press down on the handle to one of the rooms and looked over his shoulder at Emma, "Wait out here for a second. If they show you to the room just down there, let them, there'll be a bed for the boy to rest in."
"Thank you." Emma held on to her son as she watched Killian slip into the room.
There was a cry of surprise and a thumping sound of the crate being dropped to the floor before the door slammed shut behind him.
"Miss?" A mousy young woman said beside her, "Let me take you to your room."
Emma followed the girl down the hallway and into a room with a large double bed in its centre. It was built out of solid wood, dark gleaming in the firelight from the fireplace.
"Thank you," Emma said and urged Henry to the bed. "You need to rest."
"I know mother, I'm just so curious to see where we are." He huffed as he sat down on the soft bed.
"That curiosity which took us on this damn adventure." Emma admonished gently pushing away his fringe from his pale brow, "You need a haircut kid." '
Henry shook his head as he pushed back, slipping up to rest on the large pillow resting against the carved-out headboard. It had a design with a flying dragon soaring over a village.
"Will you be needing anything else miss?" The maid asked from the door, startling Emma she'd almost forgotten the girl. "There's food by the fire and water."
"Thank you." Emma smiled and walked over to the table by the fireplace and filled a goblet with water. She made sure that Henry got some food as well while they waited for Killian to return.
She had no idea how long it took before there was a knock on her door and Killian's voice called from the hallway, "May I come in?."
"Yes." Emma rose from the chair she'd been resting in, Henry had fallen asleep a little while ago.
Killian slipped inside, "How's he doing?"
"Sleeping for now." Emma rubbed over her arms, "How is your brother? Did Merlin manage to save him?" She felt a stone settle in her stomach as she waited for his answer, what if they'd been too late?
"Merlin is working on my brother as we speak, he's positive that we got here just in time. It might be a few more days of bed rest for my brother." Killian walked up to her and cupped her face, "He'll come with the potion for Henry as soon as he's finished with my brother." His thumb brushed over her cheek.
"Thank you." Emma gulped down, suddenly overwhelmed with feelings. Killian seemed to notice her change in mood and pulled her closer and wrapped his hooked arm around her waist holding her close.
"It's okay, love, your boy will live." Killian kissed her temple and Emma felt the heat of his breath wash over her making her heart leap in her throat. What this man did to her sanity was a little overwhelming. But she knew deep down that this pirate was her soul mate, just as she'd proclaimed to August after Blackbeard's attack.
"What are you thinking about in that pretty little head of yours?" He gently urged her to look up at him.
"What makes you say that?" She asked in defiance.
"Well love, you're somewhat of an open book to me." He smirked.
"So you know what I feel right now, what I feel for you?"
Killian lifted an eyebrow in surprise, "Uh?"
Emma whispered, "I love you."
His blue eyes became an even darker shade of blue when her words seemed to register in him. "What?"
"I realized I can't live my life without you Killian Jones, Captain Hook of Rum Island." She glanced around the grand splendor of the room, "I guess you're the prince of Rum Island, right?" She smoothed her hands over his chest, his heart hammered under her touch.
"Aye, I'm the prince, my brother took the King card in this deal." He shook his head ruefully.
"Guess what I am?" Emma pressed closer to him, inhaling his intoxicating scent.
"What?"
"A princess, looking for a prince." Emma pressed her lips to his, ignoring the grunt of surprise from him, she only slipped her tongue between his parted lips.
"Emma." Killian gasped, "Bloody hell, what are you saying?"
"I love you."
"Aye, and by gods do I love you too, you have to know that." Killian pleaded.
"I know it as well as I know that you're my soulmate." Emma proclaimed.
"But I'm a bloody pirate." He mumbled, "I'm not so certain that your aunt will be too pleased with you bringing home a pirate prince as your king consort." His eyes blew wide at his own revelation. "Bloody hell, I'll be your…"
"Hmm, my prince, whom I'd very much like to marry."
Killian spluttered and stumbled over his words, "I never dared hope or dream about finding a woman who could love me as you do, I got to be dreaming." He rubbed over his face.
"Marry me, Killian Jones."
Killian blinked at her for several moments and she felt her heart drop, what if he said no?
"I think the word you're looking for is, yes!" Henry's groggy voice sounded from the bed, making the two adults jump apart, turning around and seeing Henry rub his eyes from sleep.
"Bloody hell."
"How much of that did you hear?" Emma couldn't really be mad at her son, it was her own fault for blubbering all her feelings out like that without thinking.
"Enough to know that it will be quite interesting getting back home to Misthaven with a pirate prince in tow." Henry chuckled but began coughing, making Emma rush to the bed and help him get a drink from the goblet.
"I'll go see how far along Merlin is," Killian said and rushed to the door.
"Are you okay?" Emma asked, placing her hand on Henry's forehead, he felt a little bit warmer than before he'd fallen asleep. She pulled up his sleeve and gasped as the poison seemed to have spread a little further up his little arm. "No No No…" Emma mumbled as she collected her thoughts and wrapped her hands around his arm, focusing all her magic on the wound.
The door was opened and when she glanced up she saw Killian stride in followed by a dark-skinned man in a long gown.
"Emma, this is Merlin." Killian rushed out, "Is the lad okay?"
"The poison spread a bit more." Emma sobbed as she felt her focus slip and her magic fizzle out. "Please help my son." She looked up at the sorcerer with pleading eyes.
"I got the potion here that will help your son." Merlin soothed and stepped closer, "I see your magic did contain the poison so it didn't spread through his tiny body. That has saved him, it usually spreads faster in younger children."
Emma sighed in relief and Merlin administered the potion to Henry, she slumped back into Killian's embrace as he wrapped his arms around her.
"He'll be alright," Killian whispered into her ear while making shushing noises.
Emma hadn't noticed the tears streaming down her face until Killian gently whipped them away with his thumb.
"Thank you." She turned around in his embrace, "Thank you."
"You're welcome, love." He pressed a kiss to her temple, "I thank you too, you assisted me on the quest to find the Phoenix Flower, had I failed my brother would be dead in a matter of weeks."
"You'd have become your people's new king, wouldn't you?"
"Aye, our rules of succession are a bit more straightforward than yours." Killian chuckled, "But I'd rather be your King Consort. Your Highness."
Emma felt a laugh bubble out of her at his words. This was a crazy moment to be laughing at, but this man was her soul mate and she planned to live the rest of her life with him by her side.
Merlin finished his work and stepped back, "Let the boy rest, he should regain his appetite and strength within a few days."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, Your Highness." Merlin bowed his head and nodded when Emma gasped in surprise, "Killian has revealed it all to his brother while I helped him."
"Oh."
"No worries love, Liam is anxious to meet you, the woman who managed to steal my heart."
Emma gulped down, "I've never met a Pirate king before."
"Don't worry he's a fair king." Killian smoothed his hand down her cheek, "You'll charm him right on the first meeting I'm sure."
"How is he?"
"He is resting and so should you and your boy."
"Yeah, it's been a long day." Emma glanced back at Henry who looked less pale than only moments before. Her son gave her a big grin, as he looked between her and Killian.
"Sleep well, lad." Killian said and whispered to Emma, "Sweet dreams princess." He kissed her cheek and slipped out of the room, leaving Emma behind with her all too nosy kid.
"Don't even start on anything," Emma warned.
"Not saying a peep." Henry tilted her head, "You look happy Mother."
"I am."
"That's good." He nestled down under the cover and turned on his side, slipping easily into a deep sleep.
Emma got ready for bed while wondering how the news of her return was received in Misthaven. The fact that she and Henry had had to take a detour to Rum Island certainly wouldn't help.
Killian smiled when Emma glanced at him nervously, "Why so jittery, love?"
"I'm going to meet your brother, the pirate King." Emma huffed and tucked at the tunic she wore, she'd opted for the more practical approach to her wardrobe while waiting for her son to recover.
Killian knocked on the door to Liam's study, the king refusing to meet Emma before he'd been able to walk on his own and feed himself as he'd grumbled when Killian had suggested an earlier meeting.
Henry had recovered faster since the poison hadn't taken hold of him as much as it had done his brother.
"Enter."
Killian pushed the door open with his hooked arm, wrapping Emma's hand in his, gently urging her to follow him.
"Brother, you have a visitor," Killian said with a smile. It was good seeing his brother looking far healthier than he'd done for months now.
"I see." Liam rose from his chair and walked around the large desk, "Welcome Emma, princess of Misthaven." He bowed his head in greeting.
"Thank you. You've been very kind, letting us stay here while my son recovers."
"I understand you helped in the quest to find the Phoenix Flower?"
"Yeah, while I do think you might send that gratitude along to my far too curious son," Emma said with a smile.
"Aye, Killian did mention something about your boy hiding on the Jolly Roger." Liam chuckled, "You'll bring him for the evening meal? I'd love to meet the lad, he sounds like quite an adventurous lad."
"Oh, you have no idea, King Liam."
"Since we're going to be family, I think Liam will suffice. Aye?"
Emma glanced back at Killian who gave her a small sheepish smile, "Thought he best knows that I'm spoken for and a princess has stolen my heart."
Emma shook her head, then returned her focus to Liam, "I do love your brother very much."
Even now the words of her love for him send a bolt of lightning through him and a big smile spread over his face as he watched his brother ask Emma more about their adventure. The trio ended up taking a walk to the gardens behind the royal estate and Killian had never felt more happy or alive than this moment shared between him and Emma alongside his brother.
As they headed inside a flapping of wings was heard above them and a voice called out, "Ahoy down there, captain, we're back." It was Ruby calling down from her dragon and to Killian's surprise a woman with strikingly blond hair sat behind his trusted shipmate. From the distance, he couldn't pinpoint if he'd ever seen her before.
"Elsa?" Emma shouted in surprise waving her hands to the blonde-haired woman. She took hold of his arm, "That is my friend Elsa."
The dragons landed nearby, showing the group of four riders, Ruby and Graham alongside Emma's friend Elsa and not surprisingly the group also included August, now decked out in official Mishaven Royal guard gear.
He watched Emma greet her friends and he called out to a servant nearby, "Better let the cook know we're having four more at the table tonight." The servant scoured off to deliver the message.
It was a flurry of hugs and greetings and an official introduction of him to Emma's friend, who eyed him wearily, but she did give him a friendly smile, "Nice to meet you, Prince Killian Jones."
"Wellcome friend of Emma."
"Elsa I'd like you to meet King Liam, ruler of Rum Island." Emma gently pushed Elsa closer to Liam.
Killian watched in curious interest how his brother seemed to lose his usual royal cool when he greeted the other blonde woman.
"Welcome." Liam took Elsa's hand and bowed over her fingers, "It's a pleasure to welcome you to our realm. Any friend of Emma and Henry is a friend of Rum Island."
"Thank you," Elsa said with a timid voice, her eyes shifting between Liam and their still clasped hands.
Killian chuckled when it took a few short moments before his dofus brother realized he was still holding the lass' hand.
"Pardon." Liam mumbled stepped back and proclaimed in a much firmer voice, "I'm happy to have you all join us for the evening meal. Welcome to Rum Island."
Emma walked over to Killian and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, "I'll show Elsa around, alright?"
"Hmm," Killian rubbed over his cheek as his eyes followed the retreating form of the two women. Emma called out to Henry who'd been playing with a few of the village kids, the boy had fallen right into a small group of lads. Henry waved at them and continued his game with the group.
"You're still smitten I see," August mumbled beside him and when Killian glanced to the side he saw August follow the two women with his eyes.
"Aye, we're going to be married," Killian revealed casually, keeping his eyes on the royal guard. He had to give it to the man, it was only a slight flinch near the other man's eye that showed how the news unsettled him. "Don't worry mate, I won't steal her away from Misthaven."
August blinked back at him, "What?"
"We'll marry in Misthaven, I'll become King Consort." He shrugged, "Well that is what Emma calls it."
"You'll make her happy."
Killian wasn't sure if it was meant as a question or not, but he only nodded in response and offered the man to join him for a late afternoon drink before the evening meal. He turned to his brother and asked, "Are you joining us, brother."
"Oh, what?" Liam looked slightly confused and shook his head before his gaze shifted to where Emma had slipped away with her friend Elsa.
"A drink?" Killian lifted a curious eyebrow, "Perhaps you'd rather be accompanied by the lovely Miss Elsa Winters?"
"Bloody hell, little brother, what are you saying?"
"It's younger brother." Killian rolled his eyes, "You seemed to lose your usual stoic facade when you greeted the woman." Killian shrugged and clapped his brother's shoulder.
"I… I would never…" Liam stumbled over his words and ended up throwing his hands in the air, "Oh bugger off will ya." He strode towards the castle while mumbling something to himself.
Killian chuckled and turned to the Misthaven royal guard, "I guess it's just you and me mate."
August only grunted in response but did follow Killian to the tavern for an afternoon pint before the evening meal was to take place. Killian and Emma still had so much to sort out in regard to her and Henry's return to Misthaven. He hoped that she saw it wise for him to follow them on this journey.