Troubled Water

1. lieutenant

lieu·ten·ant : an official empowered to act for a higher official

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She looked around for the third time. No one was looking. It was now or never. She came out of her hiding place and ran to the boat, where she quiclky hid again, behind a big wooden box. She took a few deep breaths and looked around once more. The guard was far, she hoped he would not see her. She then ran to the ladder leading to the lower part of the boat and finally got to the little hallway connecting the few cabins of the Jewel of the Realm. She saw the man she spotted just before, coming out of one of the cabins, so quickly she hid in another one. She waited until she his footsteps faded away and being cautious, she got to the room. She spotted the box of rations he had just brought and grabbed a loaf of bread. She took a bite. Oh, how it felt good! However, she was only halfway done. She had to go back without being noticed and bring this little piece of food to her mother.

"Stop right there." she heard behing and she jumped because of surprise, while dropping the bread. She slowly turned around to see a man in a uniform, pointing his sword towards her. She removed her hood, revealing her golden curls and mesmerizing green eyes. "Who are you?" the man asked.

"M-My name is Emma. I-I was just looking for food." she mumbled.

"Ah, so you're a theif." the man said aa he took a few steps forward, coming out of the dark corner of the room. She could see him better. Dark hair, blue eyes and most of all a serious and frightening look on his face. She had just been caught. She could only think about what would come next, prison probably? And her mother, she would be alone. They already were in a bad situation both of them, what would happen to her now?

"I... uh. It's the only way I can get food for my mother and I." she confessed. "I'm very, very sorry."

He put his sword back in its scabbard and got even closer. The way he looked at her, it's like he scanned her, probably trying to decide if what she'd just told could be true. Given her old clothers and her desperate look, he thought she was no liar, so he grabbed another loaf of bread and gave it to her.

"Come with me. Guards might not be as understanding as I am." he told her and started walking towards the door.

"Y-You're not-" she started to say, but he stopped her.

"Come before I change my mind." he said. She followed him, hiding the bread in her hood. They got back on deck and to the docks. Passing a few guards and other sailors like him, she looked down and tried to avoid their looks, but rethinking about this, it might have looked suspicious. So, she lifted her head to look at the stranger who just helped her and thought she should probably talk to him. Maybe just ask him his name, at least. He just helped her, more than he could think. However, just as she was going to ask him his name, someone stopped him.

"Lieutenant Jones." the man said. "I just recieved the information that our voyage on the sea is postponed. Orders from the King."

"Thank you. I'll go have a talk with the captain, but please inform the rest of the crew." he replied on a serious tone.

"Sure, lieutenant Jones." the small man replied and then left to go see other sailors. He continued his walk and she followed.

"Can I ask you your name?" she asked, shyly.

"Killian Jones." he declared and she smiled.

"Emma Swan." she then told him. "Thank you so much for what you did."

"Welcome." he simply replied, but looked at her and she could see that was he did really was not out of obligation. He really wanted to help her.

"Can I ask you where we're going?"

"Just someplace where there's less people. Like I said, you don't want to be seen because not everyone will be understanding. Then, you can simply return home." he explained.

"Okay." she said and the silence came back once more. They walked, as he said, until they were alone and he simply told her goodbye, but she thanked him once more.

She watched him leave and talk to another man in uniform. Emma sighed and left, going back to her little home, happy to have food for her and her mother.

However, when she came back home, her mother was not there, which was unusual. Emma let the bread on the table and sat down, waiting for her mother. She thought again about those blue eyes and that beautiful smile that belonged to the man that had saved her.