The One They Call Dark One

11) Listen To Me

Emma had been carried by her own son for quite some time, and had drifted off to sleep. That is, until she felt the sudden pain of her head hitting the cold dirt grounds. We all groaned, but Neal cried, "Ow! Liam, careful! You could break my back with magic like that!" Liam laid tiredly on the ground, his breathe white as snow from the low temperatures of the night. "Oh, sorry that I carried you for over ten yards of land? Why don't you try? Besides, this ain't my magic, it's my father's. You know, it's passed down?"

Neal nodded, still laying on the ground, "Yeah, yeah I know. One question! Where are we...?" Eric looked up to the sky, the stars as bright as ever, "I know this path. We're almost there, only twenty yards to go we can make it." Liam pouted, in a high childish voice, "Twenty more yards? I carried all you guys for over four hours and I only got though ten!"
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"What do you mean you fight for family only? The Dark One is angry, and if you don't obey him he'll kill me!" Samuel begged, "Come on, we have to get you guys out ready to fight!" The knight with the red sword spoke again, "We do not follow orders to you unless you know why we are fighting." He yelled, "I don't know! Alright?! I don't know! I'm just a boy who works for him!"

The knight answered, "You really don't know, do you?" He shook his head, "No, I don't know..." A knight in the back chuckled, "Told ya! This lad ain't know noth'in of our code!" The one in charge of the whole army shushed, "Enough! Now listen boy, what I'm about to say is important to the Dark One, more precious than his life."

"Six years ago, was the first time in centuries the Dark One left his castle. That day, was Princess Emma Swan's birthday. He traded the kingdom's princess in exchange of protection during a war. The longer he kept the princess, the closer they grew..." The knight spoke careingly, but he baffled.

"Skipping detail, they fell in love and the princess gave birth to a young boy named Liam. We knights were created on the boy's second birthday as a gift. A gift, that the Dark One said extraordinary. We would protect the Dark One and his family for as long as they lived. Not long ago, the king had found his daughter here living happily in this kingdom. He was furious, and took his daughter back."

A knight beside Samuel spoke up, interfering the lead knight's story, "Because of that one day, all hell broke lose. The once Dark Kingdom glowing with happiness of a single family, was darker than ever. To make it worse, that painful day was only recent, maybe even eight days ago." Samuel's eyes widened, full of pity. "Oh, I-I didn't know..."

"That's normal, you're not supposed to know anyway. So tell me boy, now that you know the truth, does the Dark One really want to us to kill for sport?" The knight asked once more. "I don't think so...I'm guessing the kingdom he wants destroyed is responsible for taking away his family. Is that right?" The knight nodded, "Yes, now this shows that you're worthy. We'll gladly destroy the kingdom, if it means getting the princess and her son back."

"Good! Now hurry! I don't want him to strangle me!" He exclaimed, running up the steps and out to the front of the castle, "Your knights are coming, Dark One. Anything else you need assistance?" The Dark One scowled, "Shut up! That damned crow just came back telling me more information." The thundering sound of heavy steel armour came to the ground as the Knights one by one emerged from bellow the castle.

The lead knight, bowed, "Dark One, 'tis what do you wish of us to do?" He smirked, "Destroy the kingdom that robbed me of my princess and son. Do it now, or forever hold your heads on platters." The knight obeyed, standing back up unsheathing his flamed red sword, "You heard our master's orders! Let us seek out that his commands are met!" The knight bowed once more, but asked, "Dark One, what is to happen if we cross paths with the princess?" He smirked, "Do what she says and bring her back here of course. You were created not to just follow my orders, but hers as well. Now go!"