At first, he thought it was a dream. Henry had never been so terrified in all of his life.
The shrieks of the demons continued to howl from the tree line. As night had fallen, they had appeared. One by one, surrounding Storybrooke on all sides, pinning the townspeople in their homes.
Henry had been on the docks when they started to show up. He fled to the treeline, and into the darkness, hoping his grandfather David was still there on his long patrol.
Henry closed his eyes while running. He stumbled and rolled and stood up again. Sticks gnashed at his hands, tearing his skin. He felt tears flood his eyes, from pain and fear. Oh, how he wished for a soft place to fall. His bed, tomorrow morning, late to get ready for school. His mother shouting from the kitchen for him to hurry up or he will miss the bus.
He ran straight into a pair of arms. Henry's mind went white and black in a flash of lightning terror that was instantly appeased. The arms picked him up, and swept him behind the shape of a man. It took Henry a beat to realize that he wasn't being restrained by anyone, but rather shielded. A hand remained extended toward him. The other brandished a sword. One that licked up and spit dragon's fire into the night.
"Did you see their faces?" Arthur's eyes scanned the treeline, blind. Henry panted, regaining his mind.
"No, they were too fast." Henry felt his throat close. He looked up into the man's eyes, which he could now see in the glow from the magic blade, and was surprised by the calm he saw there.
"Aren't...aren't you scared?" Henry couldn't keep the question down, even though his voice twisted and squeaked around it.
"Oh, I am, little one. Probably more than you." The man nodded. Then, he clasped his shoulder, and leaned in as if he was about to tell him a secret.
"This sword was forged in Dragon's fire. It kills those things. Stay close to me. You can distract some of them, while I pick them off, one by one. It's the only way to beat them, you understand?" He tilted his chin up and studied Henry. Henry felt his breaths coming in tiny gasps, but he nodded and squared his shoulders. Arthur reached up and thumbed his tears away. Henry had forgotten he'd even been crying and laughed a little, a bit embarrassed to cry because he was afraid.
Arthur studied him for a second, with an expression that was empathetic, as if he remembered vaguely being small and scared.
"Steady...You've more courage in you than you think. Now is the time to test it." Arthur reached into his belt and handed him a little golden dagger.
"It won't hurt them, but you can defend yourself long enough to distract them. Then, I will come in for the kill." Arthur looked up, eyes gone owl wide. A demonic scream sounded in the night.
"Pendraaaagon!" It screamed.
"We know you are here...We know you are protecting the Savior. Give her to us, and perish!" A demon screamed.
"The Savior? Do you know what that means?" Arthur looked at Henry in earnest.
"My..My Mom...They've come to hurt my Mom...She's the protector of this town-she has magic."Henry felt his face flush in righteous anger, now that he knew why the demons were here.
Arthur studied him and nodded.
"Stay close, little one. We are this city's defenders. This will be a long night." Arthur motioned that Henry should follow him and they crept into the dark.