Troubled Water

8. ship

ship : a large boat used for traveling long distances over the sea

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A few days passed in which Emma and Killian saw each other a few times. Once, Killian knocked at Emma's door, asking for the directions to that special place and an other day, Emma would go in town, planning to steal something because she was, as usual, desperate and poor, but Killian spotted her before and gave her some food. She could never thank him enough for this.

The day came that Killian had to leave with the rest of the crew. Duty called. Emma got to the town and watched from afar the man working to prepare the journey. She looked at Killian, being so serious and professional, ordering other sailors around while Liam wasn't there. She smiled and even laughed as he took one's bottle of rum and told him it was bad form. He did not know she was there. Soon enough, Liam gor back to the ship and everyone got in place. It's just when the ship sailed and they left the docks that Killian saw Emma. He waved at her and she replied with the same gesture and waited until she couldn't see him anymore to leave.

When she came back home, she met Red who teased her about the handsome man with dark jay hair and piercing blue eyes. Emma would, as always, reply by talking of Peter.

During the days that Killian was gone, it's like everything got back to normal, except with one little twist, she was always thinking of him. Oh, and there was her little family problem that she avoided most of the time. However, she had talked with David after a little while and she liked him, but he still wasn't a part of her family.

Emma would practice shooting arrows a lot in those days, trying to get Killian out of her head. Her mother also gave her a few tips. She was getting a lot better. She also kept stealing some food and at least, never got caught like on the Jewel of the Realm.

A week passed and Emma started to go to town everyday. A day, two, three and no one saw the royal vessel come
back at its place at the docks. Emma remembered Killian saying they would be late if something went wrong and she started to worry. She thought she was making a fuss for nothing. Killian was a her friend, or was he? Maybe he did not think that way of her. It's not like they were that close, right?

On the fourth day, she arrived and saw a lot more people on the docks. A smile grew on her face when she saw the Jewel of the Realm. As she started to look around for that one single person she had been waiting for all this time, someone tapped on her shoulder. She thought it would be Killian, but unfortunately it was another sailor in uniform.

"I'm sorry miss, but you can't be right now." the man told her.

"Uh, yes, sure." she mumbled. "Wait, uh, would you know where I could find Lieutenant Jones." she asked.

"I don't know, miss. Now, please leave." he said and she simply shook her head to walk away a little farther.

"Wait!" she heard. "It's okay she's with me." she heard and turned around once more to see Liam.

"If you say so, Captain." the man replied and left. Liam came to Emma.

"Killian's in the ship, come with me." he said and she smiled.

"Thank you." she replied.

"So, are you two-" Killian's brother started asking as they were making their way to the ship.

"Friends." Emma finished for him.

"Well then very good friends, indeed." Liam added. "I guess it was a very good thing to bring my brother to the Moonlight Dance. It seems you both found something in each other."

"He's a friend." she repeated. They got on the boat and Liam stopped.

"He is in the cabins. I have to go, we still have some work to go and I need to report to the king. It was nice to see you, Emma." he replied with a smile.

"It was very nice to see you too and thank you." she said.

"No problem. I have to go, duty calls." he told her before leaving.

Emma directly went to the cabins in the lower part of the ship and guessed that he would be right where they first met, but he wasn't. As she got out of the cabin, she bumbed into someone.

"Oh, hey!" she said as she looked up to see who he was.

"Emma, what are you doing here?" he asked with a smile on his face.

"Your brother told me where you were." she declared. "How was the mission?"

"Great!" he told her. "Let's go in the cabin. I have a little time right now, but I still have some work to do."

"Okay, sure."

They got in the cabin and Killian closed the door behind them. Emma sat on a chair as he sat in front of her.

"So, we found some remains of a vessel. We were mostly looking for coins and gold to bring to the kingdom and I also found this." he said and got a ring out of his pockets that he put in Emma's hands. It looked old but was also damaged by the water of the sea. There was an insciption that she read.

No tengo más que darte.

"What does it mean?" Emma asked Killian.

"I have nothing more to give, thee." he replied. "A member of our crew told me."

"And why are you telling me about this?" she asked him. She was a little confused.

"I just... thought you would like the ring, that's why I kept it." he said and a knock on the door was heard.

"Yes?" Killian said and another sailor opened the door.

"Lieutenant, our Captain needs you." he declared.

"I'm on my way." Killian replied and turned to Emma.

"I'm sorry I have to go, but I will see you soon." he told her.

"Yes, sure." she smiled.

She followed him out of the ship and left in a different direction. She put the ring around her finger and grinned when she looked at it. She started to imagine a ton of stories about the one that owned it. She would imagine a young couple that did not have much expect their love that was stronger than ever.

And then, she realized it was one of the most beautiful gifts she ever recieved.

Hey!
So about the ring, it does exist xd I took it from a preperation booklet in a practice exam in english about shipwrecks, any here's what the ring looks like :

I hope you enjoyed that chapter! More coming soon! :)
• believe__inmagic •