The Dark Princess {OUAT AU}

Chapter 5

"You have made good progress tonight. You may go home." He dismisses her and leaves a second later, leaving nothing but the smell of herbs.

~~~

Two days later Valerie is up early to get ready for her next date. Killian told her to dress comfortably and don't bother to think of being ladylike. She dresses in her some of her classiest pants, brown in colour,  her black lace up boots, a dark blue blouse and a black belt. She gets the maid to do her hair in a messy braid, her side bangs falling free. Simple eyeliner and mascara is the only make-up she puts on and she wears a pair of black diamond earrings and necklace set. 

Valerie meets Killian down at the front door and he leads her out to the stables. 

"The stable? Are we going for a ride?" She asks and he looks back at her.

"Well I'd like to take you for a ride." He winks and she gasps slightly.

"Killian!" She scolds him and he laughs.

"I'm joking love. We are going to ride to our destination but the ride isn't exactly what I have planned." He tells her. She lets the stable boy tack up her horse for show and watches Killian do his own. After they're done Valerie gets on her horse and Killian gets on his and he leads her away from the castle grounds. She notices the guards following from a distance and hoped the guards that were with her and Robin the other night didn't see their kissing. 

"Are you going to tell me where we're going?" Valerie asks once they are side by side. 

"It's going to be a surprise." He smiles, his accent lilting in the most delightful way. 

"Well I do like surprises." She shrugs, offering him a light smile. He gives her a sultry look and her stomach does a pleasant flip-flop, just like the first night they met. 

"Excellent." They spend the rest of the ride in silence, enjoying the scenery of her kingdom. They ride through a field and back into a forest, eventually coming upon a small glade with a waterfall.

"I've never seen this before." Valerie breathes, the beauty and peace of this gorgeous place catching her by surprise. "How did you find it?"

"I went exploring while you were with the other boys. I'm not the type to sit in a library like Neal or work on my swordsmen skills like Robin. My swordsmen skills are already perfect." He winks again and the innuendo doesn't fly by Valerie. She hits his arm with a giggle before sliding off her horse and following Killian's lead and ties the horse to a tree.

"You're terrible." She scolds him and he just shrugs with a dopey grin.

"Can't help it." He takes a bag out of the pack saddle on his horse and then grabs her hand. He takes her over to sit beside the pool at the bottom of the little waterfall and lays out a blanket for them to sit on. Once seated he takes food out of the bag and lays it on the blanket. 

"A waterfall-side picnic with a lovely lady." Killian smiles, tossing the bag aside. He has sandwiches, fruit, salad, and sweets. 

"Well thank you. It looks like the cooks did a good job." 

"How do you know I didn't make this?" He pouts and she laughs.

"Oh please, as if you cook." She teases.

"You're right, I don't. I'm a little to busy to be cooking or baking." Killian laughs. 

"I am too but I try to learn a little something here and there." Valerie says, grabbing a sandwich. They eat lunch together, the sun high in the sky but the tall trees somewhat shading them.