Saving The Saviour || OUAT || CS - complete

Chapter 14

3rd persons POV

Today marks three weeks since Emma's kidnapping.

The whole family was torn apart. The only person snow confided in now was her husband, and he the same. Regina barely left her castle, too busy trying to find anyway to make a locator spell work. Henry has spent the last week aboard the jolly Rodger with Killian, both as miserable as each other.

The jolly Rodger has yet to leave the port as Killian couldn't bare to leave this family behind, despite the anger he felt that none of the kings men had located Emma, on his own search and he had come to his own conclusion that as soon as they got the note he would begin his search with his crew.

Snow White was in the gardens of her castle. Her son had come tottering out the doors to be with her, only to be ushered back inside by the maids as it was dangerous.

Snow was back to practising with her bow and arrows. She fired the arrows to the other end of the garden, aiming for a bullseye. She never managed to hit her target, she was too emotional.

Her every waking thought was about what suffering her daughter was enduring. Worry consumes her and left her body trembling from her sobs late at night.

And as for the time she wasn't awake, they were filled with nightmares of the possible torment, scenarios were blown way out of proportion and she had theories that would never happen outside of Storybrooke. But, that was Snow White. She worried, about everything. To the point where she needn't worry further.

This time, however, her worry was warranted. Emma was indeed enduring torture. But the extent of said torture - this wasn't known.

"Your majesty - everyone has gathered, as you requested" Snow's handmaiden said as she walked to her in the garden.

For a moment, snow didn't hear her. She had the quiver pulled tight with her arrow aimed. She starred at the target that was many yards away from her, trying to concentrate on getting her arrow to hit its target. Just as she released the arrow, her husband placed his hand softly on her shoulder from behind. The touch made her body jump, in fear something bad might happen to her just as it did her daughter.

"Snow, everyone's here. Come on" David said calmingly to his wife. She looked away from the the place the arrow had landed - which was far from its target - and looked at her husband.

"Okay" she said bluntly before slinging her bow over her body and taking her husbands hand. David lead them both back into the castle, neither making an effort to speak. They both knew nothing they could say would prepare them for what they were about to read.

The walk to the familiar room felt longer than before. Everyone was instructed to meet in the large room, often referred to as the Tabled Room, where they met in dire times or ones of great need. It was the place they had met and strategised in before the dark curse had hit.

Snow hated returning to that room, it brought back memories of giving up her daughter that she had long since tried to block out.

And as she was consumed by these thoughts, her husband lead her to sit at the table, pulling out her chair for her.

"What did you want us gathered here for?" Zelena said, being the first to break the deafening silence.

"This morning, a bird arrived with a note addressed to the 'loved ones of Emma Swan' so we sent for you so we could read the note together" David said, leading the meeting as snow was too nervous.

"Well, get on with it" Killian said, his voice rushed and blunt.

David took the note from the centre of the table and opened it. He took a few deep breathes before reading it aloud.

"To the family of the princess,

As you are probably aware by now, I have taken your daughter. You needn't worry, she's not dead. And she will remain that way as long as you comply with my demands.

It's obvious she has been taken as a ransom, that much is clear. And as a ransom, I would like gold. Not just any amount of gold, I want enough gold for me to live the rest of my life in luxury and I don't care if it leaves your kingdom bankrupt.

You shall bring this gold to the port of Dellhollow in four months. And if the gold is received, your princess shall be returned. Soiled, damaged, but returned"

David finished reading the note, his voice growing more and more angry as he read on. He refolded the note and slammed it onto the table.

"I thought we were going to find out who took her?" Henry asked, picking his head up from his hands. His elbows were resting on the table holding his head. Killian reached over from his position next to Henry and put his hand on his shoulder comfortingly.

"Don't worry lad, this note gave us all we need to know" Killian said, his voice confident.

"If you know something, please feel free to share with the group" charming said, growing agitated.

"Well, if you look at the paper for instance" he snatched the note from the centre of the table and unfolded it at a surprising speed considering he had a hook for a hand. "The paper isn't the kind that tears easy like the paper from the villagers, but it's not the quality you have at the castle. So, it's someone of importance. Someone who has the power to get what they want" he stated firmly.

"You got all that from a piece of paper?" Regina asked the captain, a questioning tone in her voice.

"Being a pirate for a few hundred years taught me a few things. Things you have no idea about" he gritted his teeth and hardened his tone. "If all that's going to happen is me being disrespected then I'll take my information, take my crew and sail my ship until I find her" he dropped the note on the table and stormed out of room, leaving everyone else dumbfounded.

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