#marajade4sff

Emma was to ask an audience with the Queen, but he’d asked Jamison to accompany her everywhere and protect her with his life, if needed. And if Peter felt she was not safe leaving the ship, he was to take a contingent of men with him, if he could not convince Emma to stay on board. And he’d had a strong feeling she would not have stayed on the Jolly anyway, no matter how dangerous Jamison might have deemed the situation to be. She had that much faith in her friend.

Fortunately, his precautions had been for naught. As soon as they had docked and been boarded by the Queen’s men, Emma had sent her friend a message. He hadn’t asked what she’d written, but whatever it had been, it had brought the Queen on board their ship in less than an hour.

Jamison had later told him the reunion had been warm and heartfelt, the two friends sharing a long embrace. They had retired to the captain’s quarters after the young queen had given orders that they receive all the help they needed. After more than an hour, during which Killian imagined Emma had brought her friend up to date with their predicament, the two royals had come up on deck again.

After that, he and Emma had more or less spent their days and nights in the castle, as hosts of the Queen. He’d felt awkward at first, especially waking up in a strange bed, much softer than anything he’d ever experienced, but Emma’s message had soothed some of his worries. Elsa had insisted they stay in the castle, close to all the resources they needed for their quest, and it didn’t seem relevant to her that Killian had been - was - a pirate. And the same courtesy had extended to his crew as well.

He’d been shocked to meet Elsa - the young queen was definitely not what he’d imagined when Emma had told him stories of her friend. She was a quiet young woman, quite shy, but with an inner strength that exuded through all her pores. She’d accepted them into her home and into her kingdom no questions asked, and had put at their disposal anything he had asked of her. She’d even asked Maartins, the court’s former astronomer, to come out of retirement and lend them some help.

His crew were welcomed in town and the folks were kind to them. Of course, he’d given the pirates very strict instructions to be on their best behaviour, under threat of very explicit consequences, which no one would dare disobey. He suspected he may have done without it, though; his crew had demonstrated time and time again in the last couple of years that they were as eager as he was to see the curse lifted.

Coming back to the present, Killian lets himself acknowledge the sense of obligation he now feels towards Elsa. It’s strange for him to feel gratitude towards a royal, but he does. Notably so. At times he actually wonders how come he hasn’t suffered from apoplexy yet, with all these positive feelings he now feels for royalty.

But Emma and Elsa are the exception. Anna, too. Elsa’s younger sister is often a pain in his ass with her endless questions and chattering, but she has a gentle heart and a warm personality. The two sisters are genuinely good people, and have proven quite passionate about helping them find a way to break the curse. So, five months after coming to Arendelle, Killian is amazed, and yet not, to know he has found help among royalty, that he’s become friends of sorts with them.

And then there’s Emma. In the short time they’ve been in Arendelle, she’s become happier. Being close to her friends and seeing actual progress in their endeavour has made her sound lighter in her letters to him. She’d been optimistic most of the time they’d spent together, but now that she has company and more than a ship to roam on, she seems more carefree. And her attitude inexorably extends to him. Waking up to her bright messages every day give him bursts of energy and determinations that carry him into the late afternoon. So it’s no wonder he attributes their success to her demeanor. What’s more, he now believes her constant optimism has made the universe take her desires into account and mold them into action.

~~~~~~~~~~

Rumplestilskin isn’t one to concern himself with the fate of his victims. Especially not the ones he casts the most dire of curses on. And not when the only way to brake said curses is through True Love’s Kiss. As much as people would want to believe True Love is easy to find, and that each of them has it, he knows the truth. True Love is the rarest thing of all. And only the most fortuitous of beings have the good fortune to encounter it in their lifetimes.

He should know. Abandoned by both his parents while still a child, then by the wife he’d thought had cared for him, he’s learnt that love is fickle and short-lived. The years he’s spent as the Dark One have only cemented this belief. He could barely keep track of the number of times lovers had turned on one another when faced with his dark magic. How easily they give up their mates when threatened with harm, he snickers.

In all his years, he’s only encountered one couple that could boast of sharing True Love: Queen Snow of Misthaven and her consort, Prince David. But as far as he’s concerned, they haven’t been truly tested yet. Once the proper assessment would be devised for them, they would prove to be just as unreliable as all the rest.

As for the daughter, she would have served him well. A being born of True Love was supposed to carry great magic within her. Magic that he could have harnessed: a baby born out her union with Baelfire would have been the best apprentice he could ever have hoped for. After all, his own son had too much of a soft heart to have what it took to wield the darkest magic in all the realms.

But all that is moot now. The Princess is cursed to be an animal during the day and she’ll never see the light of the sun. He snickers again. Such a fitting punishment for a princess who is rumored to have loved the nature and the warmth of the sun. He hopes she is truly miserable by now. The absence of the things one loves most would make anyone depressed, so he imagines she’s no different.

Now that is an intriguing thought. Maybe the years spent under the shadows of the moon have mellowed her adversity towards Baelfire and she is now open to negotiations. After all, while he cannot lift the curse he cast on her, he can recreate the sun and the impression of day with magic. By now she’s surely so desperate for the sun’s rays, she’ll agree to anything to feel its warmth.

He chuckles at the trail his thoughts take. Maybe he will have his grandson after all. Ultimately, the princess is human half the day and that is enough for Baelfire to beget a child on her. Pleased with himself, Rumplestilskin erupts into manic laughter. He really is devious at times, he thinks with a trace of pride.

Now that he’s thought of a new use for the princess of Misthaven, he decides to check up on her. He’ll have to retrieve her soon; but that shouldn’t be too difficult. He opens his cabinet and pulls out the crystall ball he’s enchanted for this very thing. Summoning the powers of darkness, he casts the spell required to show him the princess’ whereabouts without even thinking about it consciously.

The crystal ball turns opaque, swirls of grey smoke soon twirling inside, rushing to do their master’s bidding. A few seconds later, the smoke starts to dissipate and Rumplestilskin starts to make out shapes. He stumbles back in surprise when the images coalesce into something he had not expected, revealing a place he mostly kept away from. The princess is in Arendelle, with the young Queen Elsa.

He feels annoyance creeping up on him. If she thinks the Queen’s magic can help her, she’ll have to think again. No one can lift that curse from her, not even him, he muses in satisfaction. Glowering at the scene in front of him, Rumplestilskin notices the princess bending down towards something. Following the movement with his eyes, he sees a wolf laying low besides the princess’ chair, head on her feet and he curses. Annoyance turns into anger at the sight and its meaning, and Rumplestilskin overturns his desk. “No!”, he yells in displeasure.

He knows they can’t break the curse without True Love’s Kiss, which he’d made impossible for them, but how did they find each other? They weren’t supposed to do that! Rage courses through him and he decides to put an end to this. He’ll send three of his minions to kill the wolf and be done with it! He’d love to do it himself, but the annoying trolls that protect the northern realm would feel his presence the minute he stepped on their soil and they’d find a wait to thwart his plans.

No, the best way to do this is to send some of his best men. They are seasoned warriors that had faced countless armies and knights, so a mere wolf should pose no problem to them. And capturing a hawk and delivering her to his castle should equally be a piece of cake.

Still seething, Rumplestilskin puts the crystal ball away in the cabinet, cleans his desk with a wave of his hand, then summons his chieftain. The sooner his men can leave, the better. He’s never been one for patience anyway.

~~~~~~~~~~

Unlike most nights, and never since they had decided to share a room, this time Emma wakes in her chamber in Elsa’s palace, all alone. She feels a twinge of worry, but that’s also become a normal occurrence for her whenever they are apart. Whenever it happens, Emma tries to pinpoint whether it’s because she is truly worried that something might have happened to Killian, or if it’s just because she’s grown so accustomed to having the wolf by her side that his absence unsettles her so.

Trying to dampen the feeling of dread she suddenly feels, Emma dresses as fast as she can, intent on finding the wolf’s whereabouts. She may be plagued by an irrational fear, although if she is honest with herself what she’s experiencing right now is sharper than the usual feelings of separation, but she’s going to put her mind at ease and find Killian. If it turns out to be nonsense, she’ll be happy to laugh at herself later.

A few questions here and there, and Emma discovers that Killian had gone to the Jolly Roger an hour before sunset. He had left word he’d be back soon, but none of the guards had seen him return. Seeing the princess’ distress, the guards on duty tell her he might have come back during the changing of the guard. They offer to inquire for her, but Emma tells them it’s alright. She’ll go to the Jolly Roger first.

The two guards exchange a look and one of them offers to accompany her on her trip across the bay. It’s night and, as winter approaches, some portions of the sea have frozen over, making for a rather perilous journey into town. But it’s a night of festivities in Arendelle, with guards spread out everywhere, so Emma declines. They are needed at the palace and there seems to be enough light throughout the land to make the journey a safe one. Besides, with so many guards spread out across the terrain, Emma thinks she’s bound to meet one every 5 minutes from here to port.

She’s two thirds into her journey when she hears it. It’s an indistinct sound at first, like cracks breaking under pressure. She’s used to the sounds of the night by now, so it doesn’t worry her at first. One of the first things she’d gotten used to after the curse was the way sounds seemed more ominous at night compared to daylight. As if the absence of light amplified everything, but most importantly the feelings of fear and insecurity. Once faced though, most often than not, ominous noises turned out to have a rather innocent source, in fact.

Keeping that in mind, Emma stops and focuses on the sounds. They seem to come from the thicket to her left, indiscernible at first, then coalescing into three voices after a while. It’s apparent to Emma the men are moving towards her, but when she distinguishes the first words of their conversation, slabs of ice seem to pour down her spine. They’re talking about her, she’s sure. Words like “grab the princess”, “she’s close” and “Dark One” dispel any possibility that they might refer to someone else.   

They’re coming from behind her and to the left, so she can only go forward. She starts running, hoping that she’ll be far enough by the time they make it out of the thicket and they won’t see her go across the bend. She’s not that lucky though. She’s almost across the corner when the strange men clear the shrubbery and one of them notices her. She starts running faster, while angry cries follow her across the field.

The silhouette of the Jolly Roger looms in the distance once she takes the bend, but it’s still a good distance away. Her lungs start to burn from lack of oxygen, but she pushes on. Her left side starts throbbing, and she still pushes on. She’ll rest once she’s safe and Killian’s men have captured the three cronies after her. Eyes on the ship, Emma misses the upturned stone in her path. Her foot catches on it and she goes down hard.  

Sharp pain erupts in her right elbow and chin as she falls on the hard ice. She’d managed to cushion her fall by thrusting her hands forward, but apparently she hadn’t been quick enough. Emma tries to get up, and more pain shoots in her ankle.

The thugs are drawing nearer and nearer and she starts to panic. If she’s injured, she won’t make it to the ship. They’ll get her and Killian will never find out what happened to her. Not to mention he’ll never be able to break the curse by himself. She won’t let that happened to him!

She gets up and makes her way further. Every step is agonizing, but she won’t stop. A sprained ankle won’t be what gets her captured. Not tonight! She pushes forward, and when she hears the goons taking the bend after her, Emma yells for help and prays that someone on the Jolly Roger sees her or hears her even above the chaos of the festivities.

~~~~~~~~~~

Due to his young age, Henry finds himself consigned to the ship on this night of celebrations, on guard duty. Not that he minds. His mates love such feasts, but Henry has never seen their appeal. Women, drinking and gaming seem such trifling occupations when one could draw or read. And by general consensus, the other men do not make fun of him, so it’s a win-win situation, Henry reckons. But sometimes he wonders if that’s due to his age or if his captain has had a word with the others about it.

Speaking of the captain, Henry raises his eyes from his book to look at the wolf again. The animal has been pacing restlessly across the deck for the past hour, and he’s starting to get nervous himself. Glancing up, he catches master Jamison’s worried expression. Their gazes follow the silhouette of the beast to the side of the ship. The wolf has his muzzle up in the air and his ears twitch on the wind as if trying to listen to something.

In the next instant, he lets out a feral growl, then dashes across the plank. Henry is up on his feet in an instant, book falling by his side. He’s the first to make it to the plank, eyes scanning the dark expanse for a glimpse of the wolf. He notices it to the left of their ship, running across the frozen sea. His eyes trail the path ahead and he notices a slender figure making its way towards the ship, hobbling in obvious pain, and three larger ones behind it.

Horror grips his heart when he recognizes the figure. “Master Jamison,” he yells at the first mate, “the princess is under attack!” He doesn’t wait to see if his superior officer hears him, but makes his way across the plank, hot on the wolf’s heels. He needs to help them anyway he can. He’s barely makes it down the plank, when heavy footsteps come after him.

“Henry, grab this cutlass!” yells Jamison after him. The boy stops long enough to catch the weapon thrown at him by the older man, then the two pirates start running in earnest, ready to defend their masters.

~~~~~~~~~~

Emma makes it a few more feet before the thugs are on her, one of them grabbing her hair and pulling her backwards. The movement is so sudden, she loses her balance and falls on her back. The man pulls her up by her hair, then grabs her right arm and twists it behind her. Pain is radiating throughout her entire body by now.      

A loud growl catches their attention and all of them direct their eyes towards the source. A large shadow moves across the ice from the direction of the ship and Emma knows at once it’s the wolf. He’s heard her and he’s coming to her rescue!

But the tiny hope is extinguished when one of the thugs pulls out a bow from behind his back. “The wolf our master told us about. Shoot him dead!”, barks the man holding her captive.

“No!”, Emma screams and squirms against the thug, desperate to break free and save her beloved. The man pulls her closer and tightens his hold on her. “Easy, princess, we have our orders!” he grumbles low in her ear.

Emma watches in horror as the other man follows the wolf’s movements across the ice, letting go of the arrow when the beast is close enough. As the projectile flies towards its target, Emma cries in anguish. At the last minute, the wolf jumps high in the air, and the arrow misses him by a good distance.

“Damnation!”, cries the man with the bow as he extends his arm to grab another arrow. Seeing that the men are all focused on the wolf, Emma takes this opportunity and kicks the archer hard in the ass with her foot. He drops the bow as he tries to recover his balance, while the man holding her captive hits her across the head.

“Bitch! The master said we had to bring you back alive, but he never said you were to be unharmed,” he spits at her in anger. She’s in pain and scared, but she raises eyes full of loathing on him. She won’t go quietly!

The third man pulls out his sword and the scrape of the metal against the sheath draws her attention back to the situation at hand, eyes wide. The archer is still trying to get his bearings and pull out another arrow, but the wolf is almost upon them by now.

“Killian, be careful!” she yells, hoping the wolf will understand her warning. The thug is almost ready to let the second arrow loose, the third man making his way to his companion, sword at the ready, when the wolf jumps high in the air again and bites at the man’s hand. The bandit screams in pain and drops his bow, swinging his arm up and down in hopes of prying the wolf’s teeth loose. It holds on tight, though, the two figures clenched in a tight battle.

The third man runs to his crony’s aid, but before he can make a pass at the wolf with his sword, the ice under them gives and they fall in the sea. Emma screams and starts towards the wolf. The thug holding her pulls her back hard, laughing hard. “This is perfect”, he snickers. “The wolf dies as ordered and you are mine to take back to the master.”

Horrified, Emma thrashes in his grip. The man sneers at her and jars her into submission. “Hold still, w...” He doesn’t get to finish because a loud crack interrupts him. When the man slumps in front of her, Emma realises he’s dead, shot in the head. She raises her eyes in the direction of the shot and sees Jamison, smoking pistol in his hand. Henry is there too, running towards them.

“Killian”, Emma screams for her lover and scans the desolate terrain. The hole they’ve fallen through is there, but the waters are calm, a sign the struggle below has ended in the meantime. His name is torn from her lips again, panic rising through her.

Without thinking, she hobbles towards the crack in the ice and jumps in before Jamison can even open his mouth to stop her. The water is so cold and it feels like thousands of knives are piercing her skin, but she’s too desperate to pay any attention to these sensations. She opens her eyes and tries to scan the water. It’s too dark underneath and she can’t really see anything, but anguish pushes her forward.

She starts swimming down, hands and feet moving in arcs as wide as possible, hoping to touch the wolf somehow. Her lungs soon starts screaming for air, but she’s loathe to go up. Just as she feels she may have no other option, her foot catches on something. She turns around and sees two shapes tangled together.

Her muscles burning and almost out of air, she swims towards them and pries the wolf loose from the dead man’s hold. Grabbing the animal beneath the front paws, she shoots upwards. Horror starts to replace her relief at finding Killian, when they make it to the icy border and she can’t find the crack. Her strength is dwindling, as the last reserves of oxygen in her lungs run out.

She’s about to lose consciousness when her eyes land on a flicker of light and the contour of a hand. Jamison’s, she realizes in gratitude. With renewed determination, she swims in that direction; the hole is there and she shoots out, gasping for air as soon as she’s outside.

She feels the pirate’s strong arms grabbing the wolf and she lets go of her precious cargo. She’s still gulping the air, when smaller hands wrap around her upper arms and pull her out. Feeling a little better, she helps Henry drag her out on the frozen landscape.

She coughs a bit, then sees Jamison’s form huddled above the wolf. The animal is eerily quiet and her heart clenches. He can’t be dead, she thinks. Not like this! She crawls to him and takes the wolf’s head in her hands. “Please” she cries, “come back to me.”

As if he hears her, the wolf whines in a small voice, water gushing out of his mouth. The breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding rushes out of her and Emma kisses the wolf’s head, eyes closed in relief. When she feels him shudder, the reality of their situation comes crashing down. They’re not out of this yet. They’re soaked wet and they’re out in the cold. The Jolly Roger is closer, but they have no heat source. And making a fire on board is complicated and dangerous.

Emma is unsure how many minutes pass before her heart feels calm again and she lets go of him. The wolf is watching her closely when she lets go, and this time, the intense blue stare makes shivers run down her spine. She now knows for a fact they’re his eyes she sees every time she watches the wolf and that thought makes her heart leap in her chest again.

He’s beautiful, more beautiful she ever would have thought. But it’s his eyes that have her mesmerized. They were opened wide in shock, and despite the lack of time, she did catch a glimpse of more in his gaze: there was also kindness, care, and so much pain. He was a man accustomed to loss and that was present in his gaze, fleeting as the encounter was.

She realizes then that something like this should not have happened. The curse should not have allowed them to see each other, not matter how short the meeting. So why did it happen? How? These are questions she does not have an answer to, questions she doesn’t even know where to start answering. But maybe Killian will know! With this thought formed, Emma rushes to the desk to write a message for him. She sees his note and while she’s curious to see what he’s sharing with her, her excitement is too great to put a lid on. Only after she pens her own message to Killian, does she pick up his note again.

“My dearest princess,

You certainly are a brave one, aren’t you? I confess I didn’t believe you would accept this arrangement, but I suppose I should not find it so unbelievable since few things have gone to plan since I’ve met you.

If at any time you feel uncomfortable about this, you need only say the word and things will go back to the way they were until now. It is a bit odd, is it not, to take such a step without having seen each other yet?

Today is the autumn equinox, one of the two moments a year when the day and night have equal length. It means nothing to our current predicament, but it is something I believe you will enjoy knowing.

Do you know you’ve been with us for almost 3 months now? Would you consider having dinner with me in celebration of our anniversary?

Yours, Killian

P.S. Please say yes!

Just like that, Emma is stunned into speechlessness again. If she’s surprising him, he certainly manages to keep up with her on that front. An equinox! And an anniversary dinner! How does he think they could manage it? But after today, maybe there’s a way. She never would have thought she’d see him while still cursed, but maybe it was the equinox that helped them beat those particular odds. So why not dinner, she thinks.

~~~~~~~~~~

Killian wakes up to a familiar lull. It takes him a few seconds to recognize it as his own bed, in his own quarters, and even longer to realize why that might be odd. As he opens his eyes, his gaze falls upon a hawk - his princess, his True Love. She shrieks and opens her wings wide, the gesture one Killian is familiar with by now. It’s the sort of greeting she bestows on him and he can’t help the smile forming on his lips. She’s magnificent.

That’s when the memory hits him. He’s seen her last night! For barely a moment, but he caught a glimpse of her and it was enough for the image of her to imprint itself on his retinas and senses. The Princess Emma from Henry's drawing had been beautiful, but the woman in front of him had been nothing short of magnificent. Chuckling to himself, Killian thinks the adjective is an apt description for her in either form, human or beast.

And her eyes, that’s what he mostly remembers. Green as the lushest forest or the colour of the seas after a storm, it was the look in them that spoke to him. He’d started to care for her in the weeks since she’d come aboard, but one look in her eyes and he’s hooked for good. If he’d been lured in by her personality, bravery, determination, and stubbornness, he’s definitely aware now he’s fallen in love with her.

Remembering all of a sudden the question he’d asked the day before, he turns towards his desk, eager to discover what her response is. His heart starts beating wildly in his chest; it’s ridiculous, he knows, but he can’t help wanting for this to happen. So what if they can’t meet face to face yet (for more that a glimpse, apparently), he can still woo her. And on that thought, how did they see each other?

The question remains unanswered, though. Emma’s answer is yes and it blots out any other train of thought. She wants to have dinner with him, to celebrate their anniversary, and he wants to make it memorable for her. He won’t be able to be there with her, but he will plan this dinner to the best of his abilities. Thoughts on how they met are pushed aside for now; he has a meal to prepare for.

It takes him the rest of the day to get everything done. He’s careful to choose the dishes he knows or suspects she likes; he even helps the cook prepare some of them in his quest for perfection. He asks Henry to create some paper flowers for his princess, and then he hovers over the boy’s shoulder to make sure they’re the right hue and shape.

An hour before sunset, he goes to the bow of the ship to make the last preparations for the picnic. He’s so caught up with the finishing touches, he barely realizes it when the sun sinks below the horizon. Sighing, he moves the pot of flowers a little bit more to the left, then goes downstairs. The time is up; he just hopes Princess Emma will like it.

~~~~~~~~~~

The moment she comes to, Emma notices there’s something different about the room, although the wolf is in his usual place, head resting calmly over his forward paws. It takes her a few minutes to pinpoint exactly what it is. He’s a neat freak on the best of days, but he’s obviously made an extra effort today. The change is subtle, but it’s there: the room is spotless clean, more so than usual, a single white envelope sitting in the middle of the immaculate desk. She recognizes immediately Killian’s flourished handwriting and she can’t help but smile. If these subtle changes are any indication, then Killian has put an extra effort into making this dinner a pleasant affair for her.

The thought warms her heart. They cannot be face to face on this occasion, but she’s sure he’s prepared something special for her. The realization makes her feel giddy like a little girl, again. How many times in the last few weeks has he made her feel this way? She’d lost her heart to him long before she’d seen him in the flesh yesterday. Emma’s grin broadens. She’s found her True Love and fallen in love with him. The thought alone makes her feel hopeful beyond belief; the night she’d discovered about the curse she had felt as if the world had come crashing down on her, but now she’s ready to take on the entire universe.  

So, because he’s apparently made an extra effort, Emma dons her best dress and takes extra care to arrange her hair in an elaborate braid, one that circles her head as a crown. Finished, she twirls a bit around the room and looks at herself in the small mirror hung up on one of the beams by the door. She may have worn more elaborate gowns and may have had more intricate hairstyles, but she can’t remember a time when she’s felt more desirable. She hasn’t even seen what he’s prepared for dinner yet, but somehow she knows he won’t disappoint on that front either.

Pleased with her looks, Emma steps closer to the desk and picks up the letter.

“My dearest Emma,

After I lost Liam, I never thought I would have someone else to care for in my life again. But then I found you. I don’t care how we’ve come to find each other, only that we did. And to be perfectly honest, I’m grateful for the circumstance that has brought you to my life, be it as it is.

I would love nothing more than to join you at the moment you’re reading this, but alas, we’ll have to wait a bit more. I do hope, once the curse is broken, that you will agree to accompany me on another dinner. Until then, a small feast awaits you, my lady, at the bow of the ship. Henry will tend to your needs tonight, but the others will leave you be, should you so wish it.

Killian”

Eager, and with a huge smile plastered on her face, Emma extends her hand towards the quiet wolf still in the corner. He hadn’t moved an inch since her transformation, silently watching her find her bearings and get ready. “Come on, now, let us go above stairs”, she beckons. He’s up on all fours and by her side in a couple of seconds. Emma opens the door of their quarters a bit forcefully, very much determined to make it up on deck as soon as possible, and stumbles her way through the narrow passage.

True to Killian’s word, Emma finds a skeleton crew of the night shift on deck. Jamison is there, manning the helm, and so is Henry. The lad smiles brightly as he notices her and scrambles across the deck to join her. He makes an exaggerated bow, more like the type of bow he thinks she expects, than the real thing, but it doesn’t bother her. It’s a sweet gesture, and it warms her heart to know that they’re all trying to make this night memorable for her.

“Good evening, Sir Henry”, she greets the boy as she hooks her hand through his arm. Henry blushes profusely and stammers a response in kind, which makes her grin wider. “What is Killian up to,” she asks the question still smiling. The boy seems to catch up on her light mood, because he’s smiling too. “If you will allow me to escort you, you will find out soon, Your Highness.”

It’s a bit too saucy a reply for Henry, so Emma raises one of her eyebrows in turn. It’s such a Killian Jones thing to say, it’s endearing really to see it on his young charge; but she cannot let Henry get away with it so easily, hence the raised brow.

Henry gets a bit flustered, but recovers himself quickly and motions Emma towards the bow. She stops mid-step a few feet before she reaches it, stunned. While she knew he would prepare something grand, the end result is so romantic and sweet, she never would have imagined something quite like this from Killian Jones. Not in the middle of the high seas, at any rate.

There’s a woollen blanket draped across the floor, a few covered pots in a corner and a bottle of wine beside it. But what draws her attention next is a bottle turned into a vase - there are paper flowers in it, a dozen by the looks of it. Confused, she looks at Henry. The lad blushes again and scratches at something behind his right ear.

She picks one up and looks at the craftsmanship - it’s beautiful, almost real. Were it not for its texture, she would have thought it a true rose. After all, from afar, it had looked like a small bouquet of roses.

“The Captain asked me to make these for you, Your Highness”, Henry supplies in explanation. “He wanted you to have some flowers, but since we’re in the middle of the sea, this was the only solution he came up with.”

Not wanting Henry to see how touched she is by this seemingly inconsequential gesture, Emma cradles the flower to her chest, head lowered. Her pirate is definitely a romantic, much as he would probably deny it even under threat of torture.

“The Captain has also prepared something special for you. He and the cook have spent most of the afternoon working on this”, adds the lad with a satisfied smile on his lips.

Bowing, with one hand extended towards her, Henry continues: “If you would, milady.” Emma places her hand in the lad’s and he helps her sit on the blanket. He bows again before retreating a bit to the side. “Enjoy the meal, Your Highness. If you need anything, I’ll be here.”

Alone, Emma stares again at all the things laid out on the blanket beside her: the pots of food, the bottle of wine on the side, the roses carefully crafted by Henry. And, at the side, another scroll - a message from Killian, no doubt. She takes a moment to calm her racing heart - no one, ever, had gone to so much effort for her. The feast isn’t luxurious by any stretch of the word, but the care that went into preparing everything, makes it all invaluable. She may have received countless presents more expensive than this, but this dinner will forever be one of her most cherished memories.

She stretches her hand to grab the foolscap and it’s only then she realizes that her hands are trembling. She takes a few deep breathes and tries again. The message is indeed from Killian, and this one is much longer that the letters he usually leaves for her. It’s soon clear why: most of this letter contains details about the constellations she’s going to see in front of her as the hours will pass. His letter is full of tales of woe and love stories and it once again surprises her just how much the lonesome pirate knows. And she can’t help but wonder how good at storytelling he actually is.

She’s going to spend the evening as he’s wished it: eating the meals they’ve prepared for her, drinking some wine and enjoying the clear sky with all those constellations making an appearance tonight. There’s only one thing that puts a pall on the evening: his parting words - “Wishing I were there with you”. It’s a statement that has a claim more and more profound on her heart, one that makes her soul hurt more and more each day.

~~~~~~~~~~

Two months later, Killian feels frustration and hopelessness engulf him. He’s not made any progress in weeks, and while he’s narrowed down the location of the next possible eclipse, he’s nowhere near knowing where exactly it will be. And the fact that time is running out for them weighs heavily on his mind. On Emma’s too, he knows, but she’s too gracious to say anything about it. He can feel it though, and it’s enough to choke him on the best of days. But today, he’s downright depressed.

There’s less than half an hour to dusk so he doesn’t bother going back on deck. He’ll just wait there for the transformation to occur. Maybe this is what his life is destined to be like for the rest of his days: half man, half wolf, in love with a woman he can never touch in human form, but condemned to long for her forever.

“Bloody hell”, he yells in frustration, throwing the book he’d been reading at the door. Sighing, Killian passes a tired hand through his hair and picks up his pen.

“Emma,”

He stares at her name for several minutes. Where should he start in telling her it’s hopeless. That the eclipse could happen a day’s length away, but he has no idea in which direction? That he feels they’re so close, yet so far away from a solution?

I haven’t made any breakthrough today, either. I do not know where to go from here. Forgive me.

He feels tears welling in his eyes and he swats angrily at his eyes. He leaves the letter unsigned; he should say more, but the feels there’s nothing more to add.

~~~~~~~~~

Emma becomes aware of her surroundings shortly after the sun has set. She’s a tad confused at first, as usual, but her bewilderment disappears as soon as she sees the wolf. He’s sitting down in front of their shared desk, head on his front paws. It’s his usual position, but something feels off. He barely lifts his head in acknowledgement and she knows something’s happened. While different beings, Emma knows by now that the wolf usually acts in tune with his human counterpart.

Besides, she’d known Killian was getting despondent. The few lines she finds from him heighten her worries. Because they are a sign of more than that. He seems to have lost his hope and Emma knows that is dangerous. She knows how debilitating not believing can be, so she wants to do for him what he did for her when he kidnapped her: give him some hope.

She crouches low besides him and threads her head through the wolf’s mane, in a soothing gesture. He barely reacts.  

The question is how to cheer him up. What could she possibly say to him that wouldn’t sound pathetic? What could she help him with? While she’d learnt everything he’d told her, and read every book on navigation and astronomy in his possession, she’s aware her input is mildly helpful at best. And right now, nothing short of concrete steps forward will help him. So what could she do?

She peruses his notes again, then the letters where he’d taught her something about the movement of stars. She’s barely aware when Henry brings her some food, but she’s happy for the interruption. She’s starving. She tries to feed the wolf as well, but he’s still not paying attention to her and that just makes her more determined to find a way to get his hopes up. They’re close, she knows it.

It’s some time later, after she’s gone through his notes for a second time, that she notices his maps. She may not know much about navigation, but she can read maps. Picking up the first of the bunch strewn across a corner of the desk, obviously the one Killian is currently focused on, Emma peers at it to study the several lines drawn across the upper half. They mean nothing though; they’re just curved lines from one side of the map to the other.

Emma sighs wistfully. She really wishes she were able to know what he was doing there… Were those the boundaries for the solar eclipse? She does remember Killian telling her solar eclipses are to be found within certain areas. Emma can’t ask him right away to clarify, but she does intend to do so in her next letter.

Then something draws her attention to the upper right corner of the map and Emma gasps. It’s Arendelle, her friend Elsa’s kingdom! It’s been so long since she’s been there, since she’s talked to Elsa and Anna. Those first few months after Elsa had lost her parents, Emma had been with her friend in Arendelle, helping her cope with taking leadership of her realm. Those moments spent together had only reinforced their friendship.

She misses Elsa and her clear head and Emma feels a stab of guilt. Elsa is her best friend, yet, since the curse, she’s never told her what she was going through. She’d written to her, of course, albeit sporadically, but she’d never confided in her friend. And she’d refused any invitation to visit Arendelle. Yet now, as she thinks about everything, Emma feels an idea taking shape.

Killian’s been upset because he couldn’t get any more useful information from his books. But Elsa has books. Plenty of books, to be honest! Emma has no idea where the Jolly Roger is at the moment, but maybe they can go to Arendelle next. Elsa would help them. She may be distrustful of a pirate ship in her port, but Emma knows Elsa trusts her, and she trusts Elsa to help them. The queen of Arendelle will keep them safe. Determined, and feeling much better, Emma starts writing her message to Killian.

My dear Captain,

Remember it is always darkest before dawn! Have hope!

I went through all our notes, but I cannot give you any insight at the moment. I did notice the map, though. Those lines, what are they? Do we have to be within their perimeter in order to see the eclipse?

I don’t know where we are currently, but I’d like to make a suggestion. Elsa, the Queen of Arendelle, is my dearest friend. She will aid us, if we were to ask for her help. And she would allow us to make use of her vast library if we so desired.

I would like to ask for her help, Killian. I know you don’t trust royals, but I am asking you to trust me, again. Elsa will not betray us. And if you do agree to go to Arendelle, we must arrive at night. I must talk to her first.

Yours, Emma

P.S. I miss the sun so much. Sometimes, I don’t even believe I recall what its warmth feels like. Shall we go on picnics when the curse is broken?

~~~~~~~~~~

The next night, things feel a bit different. The wolf seems to be a bit more animated than before and that gives Emma confidence that Killian’s found some hope in her letter. And when she reads his message, she knows she had the right idea.

Emma,

It will be as you wish, my lady. We are close to the Arendelle border, and I’ve set the Jolly on a course towards the capital. If the weather holds, we should be there in two days time.

Yours, Killian

P.S. It would be my pleasure, Your Highness. Shall we go on picnics at night, too? I would love to show you the stars myself. It’s been so long since I’ve seen them last...

~~~~~~~~~~

It’s oddly quiet on deck once she makes her way upstairs. Jamison’s the only crew member she can see, so Emma heads towards the helm. It’s easy enough; although the moon’s waning, it casts enough light that she can proceed without any additional lighting.

The first mate nods to her when she’s within reach, and Emma can’t help but respond with a small smile of her own. “Good morning, Master Jamison.”

The man chuckles; there’s no “morning” about it, but it’s their private ritual and he likes to indulge the princess. When he’d first came on board, to serve in the royal navy, he’d never have believed that one day he would forsake all that and follow his captain into mutiny to become a pirate. Or that he’d follow him a second time, now in a mad attempt to break a horrible curse, and end up harboring royalty on board. But Princess Emma is unlike any royal he’s ever seen; any woman, to be more precise. She’s been with them for a few months only, but already she’s become an important member of the crew.

He’d do anything for her and the captain, Jamison muses. And he’s sure the rest of the crew would, too. Since the curse, they’ve become a tight-knit family, so what affects one of them, affects them all. He glances at the Princess beside him, watching her in silence. She’s quietly gazing at the sea, lost deep in thought. She’s been like this ever since the captain found out about the freedom the wolf has been enjoying, and Jamison feels the need to do something to cheer her up.

He’s got no ideas though, besides the small flask in his waistcoat pocket. But maybe that’s enough. “Have a drink, milady. It will help ease some of your nerves,” he tells her, handing her the decanter.

“What is it?” Emma eyes the flask suspiciously.

The man breaks into a small laugh. “This is the Captain’s favourite drink, milady, and I assure you it’s perfectly safe. It contains a special blend, made by me. The captain likes it better than most drinks found in ports, so I make sure there’s always enough on board.”

Tentatively, and eyeing him sideways, Emma takes a sip. The alcohol burns down her throat, but it has a unique aroma that makes it quite palatable after a few seconds. She can feel the fire spread through her veins and it’s suddenly clear why Killian Jones prefers it. This beverage is better than anything to be found in her parents’ wine cellar, to be certain.

“Hmmm, it’s very good, Master Jamison,” she tells him, licking her lips.

The man’s eyes twinkle a bit at the praise and he bows his head to her. “I’m glad you like it, Your Highness.”

They’re silent again, and the man wonders if he should tell her what he’s thinking. It’s not his story to reveal, but maybe it’s the right thing to do in light of recent events. Deciding to follow his gut, Jamison adds: “Please be patient with him, Your Highness.”

She jumps a bit at the sound of his voice, clearly startled. “I beg your pardon?”

“The Captain, milady. I know he can be rough sometimes, but he means well. He’s been terrified of hurting someone ever since it became clear he was cursed. He tried to hide in the beginning, lock himself away. When it became apparent that we knew and we’d be by his side through this, we spent few nights in port. And always, always, the captain chains himself below deck at sundown.”

“I know, Master Jamison,” Emma sighs. She had deduced all this; she’d also seen it. “But the wolf isn’t a threat to you. To any of you. And it’s not fair to keep him locked up.”

Now it’s his turn to sigh. He knows all this, but he also knows Killian Jones. “I’ve been with him for many years. He’s always been a good lad, milady. He’s lost his way for a while, when his brother Liam died.” Emma turns sharply to look at the man, taken aback. “Liam was all Killian had. But for all his years, Liam was a stubborn lad, just as bullheaded as his younger brother is. He died of poisoning; there was nothing Killian could have done, but he blames himself to this day for not saving his brother. You see, Your Highness, when Liam died, Killian lost his way completely.”

Emma’s heart breaks a little. She’d known he’d had a relative - some of the books in her quarters had belonged to a Liam Jones, but she never would have thought he’d had a brother. Or that he’d lost him so tragically. “What happened?”

“It’s not my story to tell, milady, I’ve already said too much. But please believe me when I say that the captain only wants to keep all of us safe. He’s never forgiven himself for not pushing the issue with his brother, so this is not a matter he will easily let go of.”

Emma takes a deep breath and holds it in for a few seconds, eyes closed, trying to process everything she’s learnt from Jamison. She thinks she understands Killian a bit better now, but she still won’t let him have his way. The wolf deserves better and she’ll make him see it.

~~~~~~~~~~

“My dear captain,

I gather you’re upset with me for taking the wolf outside, but I didn’t do it out of any desire to go against your wishes.

I know the wolf won’t hurt me, Killian. I’ve felt it in my heart the first night I saw you in animal form. So far, the wolf has never been anything but accommodating. It knows me, too. Even in that form, it - you know me. How could I let you stay in the dark, chained to a pole, when I’ve enjoyed nothing but freedom on your ship? And let me remind you that a hawk can be just as deadly as a wolf.

I hope you’ll find it in yourself to accept this.

Sincerely,

Emma”

Killian can’t believe what he’s reading. The wolf, accommodating? A hawk just as dangerous as a wolf? Has she lost her mind? But it’s hard to deny the logic of her words when Henry’s drawing is seared into his brain. If he hadn’t known any better, he would have thought that that was one of the gentlest beasts ever. But appearances can be deceiving and he knows even the most docile of beings can be deadly under the right circumstances.

He sighs heavily. He misses her, too much apparently. Since Emma’s come aboard, they’ve never spent so long without talking to each other. But he is worried; and upset. And terrified that she might get hurt because of him. And that is not something he would ever want to be responsible for. He sighs again. Maybe Emma is right - he does have an uncanny link to the hawk; maybe it feels the same for her.

His brain wants to tell him it’s not the same, but he knows it’s not really true anymore. He’s seen the wolf around the princess, and he’s sure Jamison would not have allowed it, had he thought it to be too dangerous.

Killian’s confused. There’s also an odd feeling in his heart. It’s like he can’t help the warmth spreading through him whenever he thinks of it: Emma is comfortable around him in his animal form. And though he loathes the thought of her in any danger, he’s also unbearably pleased to know she’s accepted him, all of him.

Maybe he should take a leap of faith. After all, she’s done it several times where he is concerned. It would be good form to return the favour.

~~~~~~~~~~

To say she’s surprised, is putting it mildly. She had hoped to get a reply from him, but she had not expected it. So to see a white envelope on their desk the following night, makes her heart beat wildly in her chest. She chuckles a little; not since her early days on board this ship, has she been so excited for one of Killian’s letters. It’s amusing really, she hasn’t even met the man yet and he gets these reactions from her.

She practically tears through the seal, such is her hurry to read what Killian has to say. And it leaves her speechless.

“My dear Emma,

Please believe I have nothing but your wellbeing at heart, love. That being said, I have given serious thought to your letter. Maybe you are right. You’ve taken a leap of faith in trusting me, now it is my turn to prove that I do trust you. If it is your wish that I should roam the ship by your side, then so be it, milady.

To that end, I have a proposition. We should share quarters - it’s not as if we will ever meet. I hope we do one day, certainly, but you know what I mean. If you are amenable, then I do have one request, love, and that is you allow me the use of chains. I am not entirely sure how the transformation works and I would feel better knowing that you are not in harm’s way, albeit inadvertently.

Yours,

Killian Jones”

It’s a short letter, to be sure, but its contents couldn’t have said more. Not only has he given up on his plan to keep the wolf chained up, but he’s also taken one step ahead. And now that he’s mentioned it, she’s not sure why they haven’t done this sooner. It makes perfect sense to share the same quarters.

It’s a few seconds later that it hits her - this is a whole new level of intimacy he’s proposing. Killian might have been using the quarters during the day to study, but the room had been hers alone. This arrangement he lays before her, although it doesn’t actually change anything of what’s already happening, makes her feel like they’re heading into uncharted territory, advancing their relationship to a new stage.

She blushes a little at the direction her thoughts take next. She would actually share a room with this man; and not any man, but her True Love. A true love she hasn’t even met yet. One she doesn’t even know how he looks like. If the curse were to be lifted tomorrow, they might as well meet on the street, she would be none the wiser.

Maybe she could ask Henry to draw a picture of the captain. She’s seen the boy’s sketches and he’s a very talented artist, capable of rendering very life-like depictions. Yes, that’s what she’s going to do. But first, she must tell the captain she’s amenable to his proposal. If he thought to scare her away with it, well, the joke’s on him.

~~~~~~~~~~

When he’d thrown it out there, sure she’d dismiss it, Killian hadn’t imagined the Princess would agree to his proposal. Once again, she’s taken him by surprise. Not that he’s sorry, mind you. Such a move would make things easier, especially for him, and he’s oddly thrilled at the prospect.

In a way, it’s comforting to know that tonight he’ll sleep in his own quarters again. It’s been so long, now that the possibility is here again, he’s actually eager for the day to pass and night to fall. It’s not until midday that he realizes what day it is - the winter equinox, when the day and night are equal in length. They’ve been sailing the south seas for so long, he’d become complacent in the warm weather.

It doesn’t actually mean anything for them, but it’s something he knows Emma would like to learn. So he tells her about it and he adds facts about the movement of the stars and sun, everything he can think of even remotely related to this phenomenon. Emma has grown to love astronomy and she’s eating up any data he’s willing to share with her. She’s like a sponge and he couldn’t feel more proud of her.

That evening, when he heads back to his quarters, he feels suddenly shy. The sun is low on the horizon, its last rays casting long shadows in the darkened room. The hawk is there, too, sitting perched up on the windowsill. For a second, Killian is unsure what he should do; for months, his evening routine had consisted of getting himself tied up and making sure the chains were secure. But he’d promised Emma. And although the hawk isn’t conscious of Emma’s desires, he can’t look the damned bird in the eye and not keep his word.   

The sun finally sets, the last traces of light still pouring in. He feels the first stirrings of the transformation in him, and a soft light emanates from his skin - what he’s come to refer to as the glow of the change. He’s gotten used to it by now; but what draws his attention from it, is the source of light by his cot. He raises his eyes to see what’s happening and he’s stunned.

There, on the bed, is a similar shape of light. One that is slowly growing to take the form of a human being. It doesn’t last long - merely one or two seconds - but it’s enough to catch a glimpse of her.

There’s no turning back from this point. He’d known he was falling for the princess for a while, but seeing her in front of him actually makes him acutely aware of it. Everything that’s good and pure about her, things he’d glimpsed in her letters, is clearly written in her features. And her eyes… There’s not much he’ll remember about her beyond her face, and it’s not relevant. Everything he needs to know about Emma, he already knows. And the guileless way she had looked at him tells him the rest. She’s so untarnished, he’s not sure why he ever thought it was a good idea to bring her on a vile pirate ship. With a liberating feeling, Killian realizes he’s willing to do anything to spare her any more pain, that he would go to the end of the world for her. And that’s when he knows he’s fallen head over heels for her.

~~~~~~~~~~

Killian takes a deep breath and releases it after a few seconds. “I don’t know, Peter. But it’s the best lead I’ve got”, he answer truthfully. Some time ago Killian would never have confided in someone who wasn’t his brother, but after Jamison had stood by him when his crew was close to mutiny, things had somewhat changed. Also, it was Jamison who had convinced his crew to stick by him, when they found out about the curse. Since then, Peter Jamison had proven his worth as his second in command.  

“Don’t worry, Captain. I’ll find out everything there is to know about her”, the man vows and then closes the door behind him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

True to his word, Jamison reports back to his captain as soon as possible. It’s the following morning when he does it - they had arrived in port at sundown and Killian had not risked going out at such a time.

 It turns out it’s harder than either of them had thought, to discover anything helpful. The villagers know little, but Killian uses the information gathered to paint an image of this kingdom. Princess Emma is the eldest daughter of Queen Snow and King David, and up until a few years ago, when her brother Leopold was born, she was the sole heir of the two regents. She is considered a beauty, more beautiful than even her mother, who had been known as “the fairest of them all” in her youth. And she’s kind. The whole family is, apparently, very well loved by their subjects. But Killian doubts this - he knows, from personal experience, that royals and kindness are two words that can’t be mixed.

They get confirmation though that what they’d heard in Arendelle is correct: the Princess hasn’t been seen by day in almost two years. If not for his own curse, Kilian might have dismissed it as the whims of a frivolous princess, one that would rather spend her nights doing gods know what, instead of actually taking care of her subjects. As it is, Killian cannot do it so easily.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It takes them a few days to infiltrate Henry in the palace. The royal guards are weary of newcomers, Killian has seen it for himself several times in the days since they docked, but Henry is still a child, and innocent enough that he doesn’t raise their suspicions.

They catch a break soon, because of Henry. The boy, being his usual self, helps an old woman gather her scattered fruit in the market. He comes across the same woman several times in the next few days and each time he ends up helping her with one thing or another. It turns out Granny (as everyone seems to call her) is in charge of the royal kitchens. She grows fond of the boy, so she asks Henry to leave the employ of his captain and work for her. Killian doesn’t hesitate. Henry has a family in the Jolly Roger crew, but that’s not relevant at the moment. What matters is that they have a way in the castle and a reliable source for more information about the princess.

So the young boy starts his apprenticeship in the kitchens. Eager to gather as much information as he can, he’s always quick to help out Granny and go on errands for her. It takes him two days to learn the layout of the castle this way and to make friends with some guards. By the end of his first week, he knows all the help, and while not all guards like him, at least the ones that don’t, pay him no mind. And while he’s seen the king and queen from afar, he has yet to catch a glimpse of the princess.

He’s a bit eager to see her and finally report back to his captain. His stay is by no means unpleasant, but he longs for the sea and for the familiar faces of his crewmates. He had snuck out of the castle on the first night, eager to deliver his report, but Jamison had chastised him and ordered him not to leave without anything concrete, lest he risk exposing himself. So hasn’t left the castle grounds since then, but it’s the longest he’s been away from the water.

It’s on one of the days he misses the sea the most, that he sees it. It’s a magnificent hawk, soaring high up in the sky. It glides so elegantly in the air, he thinks it’s the most beautiful bird he has ever seen.

The hawk circles the highest tower a few times and then, with a shriek it lands on the highest spire. Henry keeps his eyes glued to the bird, envying it for its freedom.

“It’s quite beautiful, isn’t it?” Granny’s grave timber comes from behind him and he drops his utensils in surprise.

“Yes, I’ve never seen such a beautiful bird”, says Henry.

“It belongs to the Princess, so make sure you never hurt her.” Granny warns him in a stern voice.

The boy turns his attention to the hawk sitting on the spires. He swallows hard, as he sees the bird watching him carefully. He must be imagining things though. Hawks might be an intelligent, but it can’t know what he’s thinking or that they’re talking about it.

“Why does the Princess have such a bird?” he can’t help but ask. Killian had taught him to always pay attention to what was unusual around him, and a princess owning a hawk qualified in his mind as something quite unusual.

“You ask such curious questions, boy”, Granny snickers. “You’d better get back to your chores, now, and forget about it. Be mindful of what I told you.”

Henry knows a dismissal when he hears one and he decides not to press the issue. It would not do to make Granny suspicious - his captain would be pretty upset with him if he botched this up.

He decides to start asking around about the hawk. That’s how he learns that the bird had appeared suddenly two years ago – the servants don’t know from where, but they think it’s a gift for the princess; her royal highness had received many a strange gift during the years. The most intriguing thing he hears is that no one is allowed in the princess’ room anymore – Granny’s granddaughter, Ruby, is the one taking care of the princess now, and the only one apart her parents and Granny, allowed in her chambers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That night he can’t wait for everyone to fall asleep so he can sneak out to the Jolly Roger. It’s not much, but he has a feeling his captain would want to know what he’s recently learnt. He waits until the clock strikes midnight then he heads out the back door and towards the gardens. He had discovered a secret passage in the greenery, one he’s not sure anyone else knows about. He barely fits - it would be virtually impossible for a medium sized man to pass through.

Just as he’s about to make it past the last undergrowth, he hears something to his left. He freezes on the spot and turns towards the sound, trying to be as silent as possible. There’s nothing to see at first, and just as he’s about to give up, a shadow moves. Intrigued, Henry decides to follow the figure. He can barely see - it’s a night with mostly clear skies, but at the moment the moon is hidden behind a cloud.

The shadow moves gracefully through the rose bushes, hand sometimes caressing the blooms. Step by step, Henry follows the figure further away from the back of the garden, and towards the front. By the time he realizes it, they have reached an area that is softly lit by torches, just in front of the grand ballroom lined with French doors along its length.

The figure bends to smell one of the roses and, as if on cue, the moon comes out of the clouds, bathing her in light. The hood falls on the woman’s shoulders, liberating long tresses of hair that shine like silver in the moonlight.

The light is dim and she’s a bit far, but her beauty takes the boy’s breath away and he almost reveals himself. Henry is sure this is the princess he’s supposed to find - no one else can be as graceful or as beautiful as she is.

“Emma, come back inside”, a voice booms from the terrace entrance and Henry tries to make himself smaller, by hiding in the bushes. Chances are slim that he can be seen from his position, but he’d rather not take any chances.

The princess sighs and gets up slowly. There’s weariness in her movements that can’t be dissimulated even at this distance. “I’m coming, father.”

With heart racing in confirmation, Henry watches the Princess disappear behind the large French doors. He sits motionless for a few more moments, trying to calm his heart and wrap his head around the idea that he’s found the Princess. The very one his Captain has sent him to find.

Suddenly, he feels an urgency to get back to the ship as soon as possible. Careful to not make any suspicious noises, the lad backtracks to the secret hole in the undergrowth. It takes him double the time it took him before, but his only focus now is not to get caught. At least not before he has a chance to report back to the Captain.

He makes it to the Jolly Roger close to 3 in the morning. The first mate is asleep, but it’s enough for the guard on duty to see him, and he’s allowed passage to Jamison’s quarters. He tells him everything he’s discovered these past few days: how he’s never seen the Princess during the day, but he saw her tonight so she is around the castle; how he’s never been able to enter her room because it’s heavily guarded all the time; and about the hawk that flies around the castle in the daytime, that everyone has orders to nurture because it’s the Princess’; how the most trusted servants are highly protective of their princess and everything about her… He knows it’s not much, but he hopes it might be worth something. If she is indeed their cursed princess, Henry is sure the curse affects her during the daytime, because he’s seen her by night.  

He leaves soon after that, under orders to return later in the afternoon and talk to the Captain.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To say that Killian is excited is putting it mildly. As soon as he hears Jamison’s report, he feels a surge of purpose: not since he and his brother had joined the Royal Navy has he felt thus. Like then, he feels that his life is about to change. Then, he had believed the change would be for the better, but he had been a naive youth. Now he feels the same excitement and the same urge to believe in a better tomorrow; but he knows better. As much as he can, he tries to tamper these feelings down.

“It’s settled then, Jamison”, he says smashing his hand on the table with passion.

Jamison winces and eyes the other man skeptically. “What is, Captain?”

“Why, we’re going to steal ourselves a princess!” he grins.

Jamison stares in disbelief, unable to utter anything for a few seconds. He’s painfully aware his mouth is hanging open, but of all the ludicrous ideas his captain has spewed over the years, this has to top them all. Still, going against Killian Jones’ orders is not something he wants to do. Or, something that is advisable for his health.

Killian bursts into a joyous laughter, finding great satisfaction in his first mate’s reaction; Jamison is known among his crew as the unperturbed one, so rattling him is an unexpected turn of events. “Stop staring, man. Are you a bloody pirate or not? This is no different than stealing a treasure.”

“But…” he stops when Killian pats him on the back.

“I’m feeling generous today, so I’m going to let your lack of faith slide for now.” Killian says winking at the shaken sailor. And he really must be, because Captain Jones is not known for forgiving anyone who questions his orders.

“Now go and start making preparations for our departure. As soon as we have the Princess, we set sail. And when Henry arrives, bring him to my quarters.”

With a slight nod, Jamison leaves his captain, intent on carrying out his orders as soon as possible.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Henry arrives in the afternoon, he finds the ship bustling with activity. Sailors carry barrels after barrels of provisions and water, different other supplies one would need on a cruise and he instantly knows something is up.

Jamison joins him near the plank and together they head below deck. “Come, Henry, the captain wants to see you.”

An hour later, Henry leaves once again in awe of his Captain’s genius. Two hours later, the Jolly Roger raises the anchor and sets sail towards the north. Early evening on the third day, Henry steps back on board with a drugged and tied up hawk in his bag. He’s been in the saddle all day and he’s pushed his horse to the limits, in order to make it to the rendezvous point south of the castle. He’s so tired he barely manages to pass the cargo in his captain’s arms before he collapses on the deck. He’s happy though - the princess is now on the ship and Captain Jones might actually have a chance at breaking his curse.

Killian stares at the bag for a few seconds, at the creature carefully nestled inside. It’s a beautiful bird of prey, one meant for the soaring winds and freedom - much like him - and for one second his heart aches for what he’s about to do. But it can’t be helped, he’s waited too long for this chance to let it pass because he might feel sorry for a bird, princess or not. He gives the orders to raise the anchor and head towards the open seas as fast as the winds can carry them.

He leaves the navigation to Jamison and goes back to his quarters. The princess will have the best his ship can offer, for as long as she’ll be on board. He places the hawk carefully on the bed, then double checks the windows - it wouldn’t do for the bird to fly away. He’s not sure what will happen once the sun will set, but he carries on with his plans: he sets a set of clothes for the princess (the best the small port had to offer) on his desk, next to a small note he has prepared for this occasion.

With one last look at the bird, he leaves his quarters and heads towards Jamison’s quarters. For the time being, his first mate’s quarters will be his own; Killian sighs as he feels the sun sink below the horizon. He busies himself with tying the shackles around his hands and ankles, while his thoughts drift back to the hawk in his quarters and he prays they were right and she is the princess they’d been seeking.

He feels the first stirrings of his transformation and sighs again. “Bloody hell, how are we supposed to fall in love if we can’t meet?”

~~~~~~~~~~

That also meant both of them were cursed; because of him. And he could not imagine how his true love could fall in love with him now, knowing that her life was ruined because of him. After all, there was no question that it must have been his dark deeds to get them into this mess.

 And yet he has not heard of anyone else afflicted by such a dark curse. Not that it proves anything; after all, save for his trusted crew members, nobody else knows about this. Luckily for him, his crew is a loyal bunch - all former crewmates since before Liam’s death and who had followed him into a life of piracy afterwards. Strange enough, they have become oddly protective of him since his curse and were constantly trying to help, each in their own way.

 That’s why the Jolly Roger has not spent more than a night moored to land in over 18 months. Usually they are docked long enough to restock and ask the locals about magic, magical beings and curses.

 He had almost lost hope by the time they came across the old witch and the information that there is another, afflicted by the same curse. He’s paid the old hag a small fortune (one that could keep a small kingdom afloat for years), but if the information proves to be correct, it will be money well spent. The only other thing the witch had told him was that his true love was royalty.

 Bloody hilarious that is. If his situation were not so dire and he not so desperate for any kind of lead, he would have laughed out loud and punished the woman – witch or not – for making fun of him. As it is, all Killian can do is hope that the information is true and that that he’ll find her soon.

 His crew receives the news with elation, spending the afternoon drinking and celebrating this break. He is reticent to join them at first, but then Killian realizes that his men need this. For better or worse, they are his family and are just as invested as he is in breaking the curse. That’s why he doesn’t say anything to his first mate, Jamison, when he teases him about the Gods shackling him to a bloody princess.

 He can’t blame him though. Jamison is the closest he has to a best friend. And he’s had the same thought play in his mind over and over, ever since the witch had uttered the fateful words. What could he, a pirate of the high seas, the most cut-throat out there, have in common with a dainty princess, one that probably would faint at the sight of him or his crew members. Not to mention the fact that he hates all bloody royals. Corrupt, the lot of them. So how could he fall in love with one of them?

 Maybe he should just admit defeat and get used to the idea that he’ll spend the rest of his life half-man, half-creature. But defeat is not in the nature of Killian Jones, so he’ll be damned if he does not track this elusive princess and make her fall in love with him.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 It’s another 4 months until he finally hears something relevant. They’re docked in a small town on the western border of Arendelle. The village is small enough that he’s decided to keep the ship berthed until the morrow and allow the crew to go outside and have some fun.

 With three hours left till sunset, Killian and Jamison decide to make their own visit to the town tavern. He could use a beer right now and Jamison will stay long into the night to ask the questions he won’t be able to. His first mate is reliable and he’s more than capable of asking the right questions in order to get the most information, without giving anything away.

 The tavern is filled with more women than men, although it’s late afternoon. After two hours of incessant talk about gowns and balls, rather than magic and curses, his eyes are actually hurting in his sockets from all the eye-rolling he’s done. He’s about to leave, when he hears it. He sits back down, signaling Jamison to buy more drinks and studies the group of young women carefully.

 There are three of them, clearly of noble birth by the way they speak and the clothes they wear. One is younger, about 17 if he were to guess, while the other two are slightly older.  

 The discussion turns back to balls for a minute, but then Killian hears the young woman speak. “There’s something odd in Misthaven, I tell you. I haven’t received an invitation to a ball in two years. Have you?”

 The other women shake their heads in denial. “It doesn’t mean anything.” One of them, the redhead, says.

 “True. In itself, it’s nothing. But my maid just came back from Misthaven. She went there to visit her sister and you know what she told me?”

 The young woman pauses for effect and Killian might have laughed at her oratory skills if he were not so interested in the answer himself. Only after her friends shake their heads and aske her to continue, does she do it.

 “My maid told me the princess hasn’t been seen at any royal functions in almost two years. And not only that, she’s rarely seen outside the palace during the night. And never by day. She must be so hideous no one can bear the sight of her.”  

 A chill runs through Killian and even Jamison stops with the tankard halfway to his mouth. A princess who is never seen during the day, but only by night? Could it actually be that this is the royal he’s looking for? He shifts on the bench trying to get closer to the three women.

 “You’re just being mean, Lydia. Princess Emma is known for her beauty,” the second one says. The young woman named Lydia is not deterred. “I’m not; I’m just stating the facts. If she were not hideous, why would she hide? And if she’s really that pretty, then maybe she’s cursed.”

 The two women look at her strangely, clearly not amused. “Come on, Lydia,” the redhead says. “You know how rumors work. You shouldn’t believe everything you hear.”

 The conversation veers towards clothing next and that’s Killian’s cue to tune them out. He’s likely to have heard everything he can hope to get from the ladies. He downs the rest of his drink and throws a few coins on the table. “Jamison, you know what to do.” he tells his mate as he gets up.

 “Aye, Captain. I’ll try to find out more about the Princess. I’ll report in the morning.”

 He nods in gratitude and then he’s out the door as fast as he can without drawing too much attention to himself. The sun is close to setting and he can already feel the curse boiling in his blood. He needs to be back on the Jolly Roger, and as he weaves through the narrow streets, his thoughts are in turmoil. This might be the break he is hoping for.

 The only thing that gives him pause is the fact that the princess has not seen during the day – if she were cursed the same as him, shouldn’t she be seen during the day, but not by night? But he can’t dwell much on that at the moment. It’s the best lead he’s got, so he’s willing to steer the Jolly Roger towards the Enchanted Forest on the off chance that Princess Emma is the one he’s looking for.

 There are only two men on the ship when he gets there – the ones on guard duty and they nod to their captain as Killian passes by. As he chains himself to his desk, a name slips past his lips. “Emma…” The last conscious thought that grazes his mind before the beat takes over is that it has a nice ring to it, when spoken out loud.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 As soon as he’s conscious again, he summons Jamison to his quarters. His first mate doesn’t have a lot of information for him, except that there might me some truth to what that girl, Lydia, had said. Princess Emma used to be a good friend of this kingdom’s crown princess and up until two years ago, she had been a frequent visitor to Arendelle. But something must have happened two years ago, because since then, it’s always been Elsa to visit her friend in the Enchanted Forest. And that was quite the feat, since the princess had a well-known aversion to travelling by sea after her parents’ death.

 It’s all circumstantial evidence at its best and Killian knows this, but it’s the best he’s got. So he orders Jamison to summon the crew and be ready to set sail within the hour. He has a princess to meet.

~~~~~~~~~~