On Stranger Tides

Chapter 14

Emma's heart was beating out of her chest as she waited, praying that the Misthaven guards wouldn't find her. She wasn't done with her adventure yet, it couldn't be over, not so soon. It was quiet, dark and smelled of salt and Killian. The hard wood was hitting her back and was rather uncomfortable, but she refused to move. Emma was scared that she would have to say goodbye to him forever, she was beginning to trust him and even love him. She was scared that she was getting into things too quickly again, but this felt different than before. She felt something different with Killian, more true.  A dozen different thoughts were racing through her head all at once, it was quite overwhelming. All of a sudden there was a crash above deck and Emma about jumped out of her skin. Someone was coming down the ladder that leads into the Captain's Quarters, loudly. Emma held her breath hoping that they wouldn't check under the bed. She heard footsteps pacing wildly around the room along with objects hitting the floor. The drawer beneath her began to move, she almost cried out but the guard beat her to it. 

"It's her. It's the Princess!"

~

"It's her. It's the Princess!" Yelled a crewman from the ship Emma had boarded after leaving her newborn on the front steps of a stranger. She hadn't written to her parents in a while and they were probably worried about her, but it was for them that she didn't want them to know about what happened. Emma sat near the edge of the ship and looked out to the setting sun. The sky turned a beautiful shade of orange, yellow and even a tinge of pink around the white sun that was slowly barreling into the water. As the darkness came she looked up to the sky and saw not one single star. She remembered there used to be hundreds of stars that she could see. Maybe she was just blinded by loss, or the stars really had disappeared, at least that's what she hoped. The darkness that swallowed up the sun began to take her with it.

~

The guard grabbed Emma roughly and pulled her to her feet before dragging her up above deck. She was looking around for Killian only to see him being held back by two guards. Emma saw the look on his face, watching her and saying sorry with his eyes. Killian was trying to escape their grip but it only made matters worse, he stumbled and fell onto the damp wood boards where they jumped on him to stop his movement.

"Take him away!" Yelled Emma's father, David, as he began to walk off the ship. She started to break herself free as well.

"Leave him alone!" She called out. "He had nothing to do with this father! I told him to take me with him!" Charming stopped in his tracks and looked back to face his daughter. 

"You mean you willingly went with these pirates!" He said pointing to the crew who looked down to their feet, every single one of them was being held back by a knight.

"Yes. father I did. They are not bad people, they helped me find out what I can really do and what I want to be. I don't want to go back home and marry someone I don't love, I don't want to be locked up in a palace my whole life when all I've wanted to do is adventure. You can't take that away from me." Emma told her father, spilling out everything she had been holding from him for so long.

"Trust me, Emma, I never wanted to do that to you - but life isn't always fair, you sometimes have to sacrifice things for the sake of others." He said, Emma could tell that he meant it, but it wasn't enough. Tears began to fall from her emerald eyes, she looked over to where Killian lied, being pinned to the ground, unable to move. Emma thought of what could have been, a lovely adventure filled with love and mystery but like everything else, it was being torn away from her. 

"Let them go, father." She said wholeheartedly as more tears began to fall.

"What? Emma, they took you away put you in a drawer to hide you." Her father rebutted.

"Yes, by my wish father. I care for them and I know they would do nothing to harm me. Let them go and I'll go with you."

"Emma no!" Killian yelled from behind. She turned back to look at him, his eyes pleading with her not to. Emma wanted to stay with all of her being, but she thought that her father was right. A sacrifice needed to be made for the sake of others.

~

"Where have you been young lady!?" Her mother yelled as soon as she returned home. 

"I was visiting Elsa mother. It's been a very long time. I've even made some new friends." Emma lied.

"For 9 months, you had to visit for 9 months!" Snow paused and took a deep breath. " You only sent a few letters barely giving us any information and you expect us to be okay with that answer. I was worried sick about you!"

"I'm sorry, mother, it was just another adventure. You know how much I love it," Emma told her honestly. Suddenly the large doors that led to her father's office opened slamming into the walls behind them. Her father came storming out. She was expecting a reaction much like her mothers but instead, her father came up and brought Emma into his arms. 

"Emma, I'm so glad you're back." He whispered. 

"So, you're not going to yell at me?" She questioned. 

"Not yet." He said pulling away before giving her the worst news of her life. "I can't believe you went so long without telling us where you were, Emma. Your mother an I have given you so much freedom and we think you have overused it. You have grown up Emma, you have to start thinking about the future and not the next place you want to visit. Some day you will be Queen and you have to start preparing for that, that's why your mother and I are not letting you go out and travel anymore. You are to stay in the palace and continue your royal duties and prepare for what is ahead."

"Father no, you can't," Emma said, tears threatening to fall.

"Yes, I can." He paused and looked back up at his daughter. "Sometimes sacrifice is necessary."

~

As the guards started to let go of the crew and Killian, Emma ran into Killian's arms. His grip on her was tight but not too tight. Emma about melted into his hold, never wanting to leave. They were both savoring this moment for as long as they could. 

"Please tell me I'll see you again." Killian whispered into her ear.

"I hope so," Emma said before placing a quick kiss on his cheek. They looked into each other's eyes, deep green, and sea blue. 

"Emma I-" Hook started but Emma quickly stopped him. 

"Don't, not yet. Maybe another time." She said a tear falling from her sparkling eyes. 

"Here," he said as he took off a chain from around his neck, one that was holding the ring. A quite large silver band with a red glittering gem. "This ring has kept me alive, my lucky charm. It means a great deal to me and I want you to have it." He placed the chain around her neck and fixed her hair. "Now Swan, don't want to keep your father waiting. He's starting to glare."

"Always a gentleman aren't you. Kicking me off your ship now are we?" Emma smiled, playing with him one last time.

"Never, you're welcome any time. I've yet to see you fail, Emma." He said giving her his signature smirk before she ran into his arms again, quickly pulling away and walking to her father. She didn't want to get too attached. Emma linked arms with her father as they walked onto the dock and out to the Misthaven army ship. It seemed to Emma that they started sailing instantly. She ran to the edge of the boat looking back out to the Jolly Roger and out to him. He stood there at the helm looking straight back at her. Emma could see his blue eyes from the distance, and she kept looking until facial features could hardly be seen. His blue eyes, or perhaps the color never seemed to fade, because that's all she wanted to see. The blue that brought back the stars and that brought her home.