The Guard (CS/Merlin Crossover)

9- The Revelation

"Shit," Emma cursed as she snapped a twig. She hopped and hid between the brush. Soon, an exasperated Killian ran past her.

"Emma!! I heard you! Come on, do we have to do this today?" His voice faded as he ran the other way. The blonde snickered, stepped out from her hiding place, and dusted off her trousers. She walked off in another direction, toward some hills.

Earlier that day, the princess had suggested they go swimming in the lake that was about a hour from the Swan Village. Killian had reasoned that it was too far away, and maybe it was better to just swim in the river that passed through the edge of the village. But Emma insisted and even started to pack a small bag, saying she'd go alone. So he did as always and just followed her.

Emma, now having mislead her guard, was able to explore. Back when she still lived with her mother and father, they took her to this lake every two weeks as a family outing. They would camp, pretending they were just passing villagers with only two guard accompanying them in case they were recognized. On their last outing here, they were attacked by the Evil Queen (well she was evil back then). Although six year old Emma had witnessed her attack the castle a few times before, she hadn't  faced the queen in a frontal assault. Her mother took her and ran while her father and the two young guards fought off at least half a dozen dark knights. The queen laughed, threatening that one day she would get her revenge.

Snow ran, hoping Regina wouldn't come after them, which she didn't. After a while, Charming found them (like he always did). He was bruised, wounded, and alone. They walked for maybe half an hour, the sky starting to become a lazy pink. Finally, they came upon a quaint village where they were welcomed by the villagers into their homes.

The Charmings stayed with the lovely Odette and Derek Swan, where they discussed the Queen's threat and made an arrangement. Emma would live with the Swan couple until either the threat had passed or until she was fifteen years old (whichever came first). In the beginning, the little princess felt abandoned, but she soon came to understand she was their for her safety and loved the Swans. And of course there was Graham.

Emma was thinking about all of this while walking, not really paying attention to where she was going anymore. Until she found herself at the mouth of an underground cave, that is. Intrigued, she wandered inside.

###

If she hadn't been the stubborn, obnoxious, and beautiful princess that she was, Killian might've strangled her. Today of all days, the blonde decided to run off. He thought, oh maybe today might not go so badly. Maybe she just wants to have a nice calm day by the lake. But no!

In the end, he turned around and headed toward the campsite again thinking she'd have to show up at some point. However, before he could get very far he heard screaming- real, utterly terrified, high pitched screaming. The sailor ran as quickly as possible toward the noise, not daring to think who it might be, but hoping they would keep on screaming. Once quiet hit... That wasn't an alternative. So he ran.

###

"Emma!" Killian yelled as he unsheathed his sword. She turned to look at him in the dark. Her face was flushed and her eyes full of fear, she stood face to face with two great dark beasts. The princess had unwittingly walked into a Wyvern nest. "Bloody hell..."

"Killian..." She whispered, the blonde's eyes enlarging in fear and staring over his should. Another one had come up behind him, blocking the exit. The captain turned, whacking the creature with his sword as the Wyvern cornering Emma ditched her for the more scandalous meal.

"Swan, use your magic!" The sailor said, struggling to fight off all three beasts.

"I can't!"

"Emma, please!" For a moment, everything was in slow motion as one of the Wyvern bit the guard's forearm and another tore at his shoulder. All she could hear was Graham's voice. That plea. Emma, please! She hadn't done anything. She couldn't. She didn't know what. But she wouldn't let it happen again.

Time sped up again and the princess conjured up a spell, any spell to throw at the beasts. Thankfully it was a fire ball. She kept on throwing whatever she could at them to keep the things off the captain. They bit at her, one even struck her hand, but even as fast as Killian stabbed at them, more were coming. He got close enough to grab the girl and pull her toward the exit as she threw her magic at them. The beasts didn't bother chasing them once they'd realized it was too much work.

Once outside, the pair ran in case they were followed. They made their way back to the campsite and dropped on the beach.

"You..." Killian murmured as they caught their breaths.

"God, I am so sor-"

"What the bloody hell is wrong with you!?" He yelled. Emma froze. Killian had never, never yelled at her. He had never been genuinely angry with her. Sure, he'd been annoyed when she ran off sometimes, but never like this. "Who do you think you are Your bloody Royal Highness!? What makes you think you can saunter off into the wilderness and get hurt without any fucking regard for anyone who might care about you!? You could have died today! What am I supposed to tell your parents if you die!? Have you ever thought of how your parents might feel? Of how Odette and Derek might feel? What the fuck am I supposed to say to them? Do you realize how incredibly selfish that was? You don't have to like me, Emma. I'm only here because your parents want the best for you. So you can carry on your ridiculous vendetta, but I'll be damned if you endanger yourself like that again while doing so because hell if you think that I will ever let your parents feel like I felt when I lost my brother!"

Emma stood in shock at his confession. Cursing himself for telling her, the sailor turned back to the tent they'd set up. Before he could, the princess grabbed his arm. "Killian," she said gently, "I am so very sorry with all of my heart and soul. I am so so sorry." He looked at back at her, eyes brimmed red and lips pressed as if not to cry.

"My brother was going to get married. A wonderful girl from the five kingdoms. He had been offered a position in the Enchanted Forest in the Royal Navy. Everything was going so well for him. But first, our king sent us on a quest my brother could not refuse. He wanted us to retrieve a healing herb from a place called Neverland. There was a boy who said it was a trick. My brother tested the plant after I insisted we listen to the boy. He was so stubborn. Much like you." He glanced at her and saw how she absorbed his every word. "And it was a trick," his voice started to crack, "A trick that took his life. I couldn't stand to be under that man's rule a second longer. So I left."

"My guard, the first one," she whispered after a bout of silence, "there are so many rumors about who he was. Some say he was my lover. Some say he was some strong knight from realm. But he was just a boy. My childhood playmate. My best friend. We had so many adventures together here and my parents let him come back with me when I returned to the palace. He was with me there for four years. He died to protect me, but I couldn't protect him," tears rolled down her red cheeks and her voice broke, " I couldn't do anything!" She sobbed. Killian held her and they shared their grief for a moment.

"I was so angry for so long," she whispered after they'd calmed down.

"I could tell." The captain held her at arms length, "Promise me this will stop Emma, please."

"I promise," a small smile spread across her lips. She wiped her eyes and laughed a little at herself for being so dramatic, although somewhere inside herself she knew she needed to let all of it out.

"Hey wait," Killian caught her hand, "your hand is bleeding."

"It's nothing," she waved it off as he yanked a part of his shirt sleeve off and wrapped it around her hand. She shook her head as he tried to tied it, but his false hand got stuck. "It's fine really," she reassured him as he blushed. Finally he just tied it with his mouth, causing Emma to blush in turn. He smiled at her so softly and fondly, a soft look she'd never seen before (because she usually wasn't looking when he made it). He held her hand for a minute while they stared at each other intensely, as if they wanted to stay in that moment forever.

Shit

Am I falling for her ?

He's so brave and smart and...

Oh God

I'm so screwed