A/N: I will be posting the last chapter of my Modern A/U story Magic of the Game a little later, but I wanted to go ahead and get this posted since I'm going out of town for a few days. This is my first time writing Lieutenant Duckling fic, but I'm hopeful that you will enjoy it.

The light from the morning sun had just broken through the trees of the thickly wooded forest as the royal carriage entered its second hour of its journey. Prince David rested comfortably on the seat next to his wife, Snow, consolingly touching her hand as the time with their daughter grew smaller. Time was a precious thing, he surmised as he watched his daughter's pensive face from across the way. She was clearly distressed about the turn of events, feeling both unwanted and abandoned as the carriage took her away from the only home she had known to a new future.

"I've heard that it is a lovely ship," Snow said, breaking the silence with the simple statement. "And I have heard that the Southern Isles are quite a wonderful kingdom." Tears were a constant in the corners of her eyes and she dabbed at them constantly with her handkerchief.

"I'm sure that they are, Mother," Emma said softly. Her delicate fingers ran along the lace edge of her dress's bodice. "I'll be happy there."

David cleared his throat and looked sadly at his daughter's forlorn expression. It was not his first choice to send her away, as that meant he might never see her again. However, danger was imminent and try as they might, he saw no other option if their daughter was to survive. He'd commissioned the best of the naval ships to carry her to the land where none of the danger could touch her, arranging that after her passage she should be married to one of the princes of that land to ensure that she would be well provided for if the worst were to happen to their own kingdom.

"You know that…" he said, feeling that they should fill these last moments with explanations and conversation rather than let the thoughts of what if overtake them.

"I know," she said, turning her face to the window. "There is no choice."

"I wanted so much for you," he said. "I wanted you to find your true love and rule this kingdom and your mother and I had hoped to do. You were to give me grandchildren and grace our dinner table with your beautiful family."

Emma faced the man and smiled sweetly. "It would have been a wonderful life," she commented. Everything in her was screaming, every part of her body seeking escape from that carriage. Perhaps if she opened the door and jumped, she could run away from this approaching curse and…That's where the fantasy ended. She did not know where she would go or what she would do. Her mother had survived in the woods as a bandit. Her father had slayed dragons. She had done needlepoint. She was not a hero like them. She was a pampered princess who had only just begun to explore her life outside the confines of the palace walls.

The road was narrow and rough, jostling them as the horses strained to reach the port before nightfall. David had worried over the route they should take, knowing that the dangers of the forest were far more than he wanted to admit to his wife and daughter. He wanted to say something to her, give her more fatherly advice that he might not ever get to say again. None of the words seemed right though.

"You'll be a beautiful bride," her mother commented, looking wistful for a moment. "I wish…"

Emma looked down at her hands. "I don't want to do this," she said finally. "I…"

"If there was any other way," David told her. "We would do it, but you must stay safe. All of our advisors have warned that this curse is unstoppable. We won't remember ourselves or you. But someday you'll…"

"I will do my best, Father," she said, giving up the last look at the forest to rest her head on the seat back. The sound of distant cannon fire was unnerving, but she tried to put it out of her mind along with the thoughts of what would become of her parents.

A princess was not supposed to know about the affairs of state that her father described the night he told her of their plan for her escape. She was supposed to practice her needlework, dancing, and musical talents. Her sole job was to become the dutiful and loving wife of some far off prince who would protect her land and family through diplomatic efforts. She did not know anything of curses and threats.

At 22, Emma was a beautiful and thoughtful woman, though her parents both admitted a bit too independent. She was practically an old maid in many circles, as she had refused or scared off many of the men who had attempted to pursue her in such fashion. Her mother complained that she must want to be alone. With no other children, Emma was their one shot as an heir. Her survival and eventual children were their focus. As even if there was no curse or war to contend with, she would have to produce an heir to keep their legacy going.

It was late afternoon by the time they arrived at the portside town at the edge of Mist Haven. Though they had stopped briefly for lunch sometime earlier, Emma's stomach felt unsettled as she saw the tall white sails of the ships docked nearby and stranger still when her father pointed to one with great pride.

"She's called the Jewel of the Realm," he explained, having already told her that the ship was quite coveted and one of the recent acquisitions by their kingdom. "You won't find a finer vessel anywhere."

"It seems a bit smaller than I imagined," Snow said, cupping her hands over her eyes from the late afternoon sun. "I thought that such a ship would be twice as big."

Emma fell in line behind her parents, her features shielded from the glare by one of the attendants carrying a silk parasol for her as she walked. Many of the locals watched in fascination as the royal family disembarked from the carriage and began the walk toward the ship. Three groomsmen followed with Emma's trunks and another carried her wrap since she refused to wear it in the unseasonably warm temperatures.

A tall dark haired captain bowed to her parents and waved his arm magnanimously to welcome them aboard the ship that she had to admit seemed too small for it to be so coveted. She followed along and stood next to her mother as her father and the captain continued to speak of the state of affairs in the navy. He also introduced them to his lieutenant, a younger man with the same blue eyes and dark thatch of hair under his hat.

"I'd like to present my daughter, Emma," David said to the captain, sweeping his arm to indicate the blonde daughter who had not yet spoken to the men lined up in respectful greeting. She dipped her head in response as the blue eyed man gave a short bow to her and smiled warmly.

"Welcome aboard, your highness," he said. "I am Captain Liam Jones. We aren't used to transporting royalty, but I trust that you will be comfortable during your journey."

"Thank you, Captain Jones," Emma said, blinking as she realized that her time with her parents was drawing to a close. Turning to her mother, she simply placed a small kiss to her cheek. "Mother, I shall miss you," she said. Her mother nodded and stepped back to allow her husband a chance to say goodbye.

"Father," she said, wishing she could rush at his arms and let him hold her tight. She'd done that so many times as a child, scared of storms and nightmares. His arms had seemed so solid and protective, wrapping her in a safe cocoon. It was not an appropriate action for a woman of her age, but she longed for that safety again.

"Emma," he said. "We will be together soon." He kissed her forehead and turned abruptly to leave her.

Standing there as her belongings were taken below, she could feel the eyes of the crew upon her. Taking the captain's offered arm, she walked away from her retreating parents and let herself be led by him on a quick tour of the ship. He seemed to ignore the tears that stung in her eyes and the broken tone as she complimented the ship's accommodations.

"I should see to us getting off safely," he told her as he led her to the room that would be hers. "My lieutenant will see to you shortly. If there is anything we can provide for you, please don't hesitate to request it, your highness."

"I'm grateful to you, captain," she said, dipping herself in to a curtsey. "Please don't let me keep you from your work."

***AAA***

Emma and her belongings were well out of harm's way as the final preparations were made to set sail immediately. She had been removed from the deck as her parents departed for their carriage, knowing that she could not stand the sight of them growing distant as she waited to be taken to a new life in another land.

As Captain Jones had informed them, the Jewel of the Realm was not a ship meant for transporting royal family members or dignitaries. He had moved his own belongings to the smaller cabin, leaving her with the largest of the private quarters. However, it was far from the accommodations she had back at the palace. A narrow bed stood in one corner of the room with drawers underneath to hold some of her belongings. Shelves of books and journals lined another wall and a table with two chairs sat in the middle of the room, the table bolted to the floor to avoid shifting in rougher seas.

She knew she should unpack, as there was no way she would allow a naval officer to touch her most intimate and delicate possessions. However, she was not motivated to do much but sit and think of her situation. The sounds of the men hustling about, sails raising and orders shouted seemed almost a comfort from the doubts in her head.

A sharp knock interrupted her and she granted the unknown person permission to enter. "Lieutenant," she said, nodding to the younger of the men she assumed to be related. "Is there some news I should know?"

"No, your highness," he said, stepping into the room with a small basket. "Your mother left this for you and I thought it might bring you some comfort as we set sail. I believe it is a bit of food."

She nodded to the table for him to place it there. "Thank you," she said. "You're very kind to take time away from the duties on deck to deliver this to me, Lieutenant."

He settled the covered basket at the center of the table and smiled warmly. "Your comfort and security is to be our priority on this voyage, your highness," he explained. "Each of the officers have been instructed to do whatever we can to ensure that you are well taken care of during this time."

She raised an eyebrow of interest toward him. "I'm afraid I don't know anything other than your rank, sir," she said, eyeing the stiffly pressed uniform that he wore. "You have a name?"

"Killian Jones," he said, dipping his head toward her. "I apologize that I did not offer it sooner."

"No need," she said, waving off his regret. "As your brother – I take it – has said, you and the crew are not used to having a passenger aboard. And I can assure you that I'm not typically addressed in any formal way or with any stateliness unless we are at an official state function. So please spread the word not to trouble yourselves trying to be so formal with me."

"I'm afraid that we, or at least I, would not feel right about addressing you in any familiar way, your highness." Killian smiled as a rosy red blush formed on his face. He made move to go, but stopped himself in front of her. "You recognized that the captain is my brother?"

She grinned back at him. "Yes, the two of your look quite a bit alike and share a name." She approached the basket and pulled back the soft cloth covering the items. "Thank you for delivering this, Lieutenant Jones. I am a bit hungry."

"I do apologize," he said. "We regularly take our meals about this time, but with our…"

"You're busy," she concluded. "I fully understand, Lieutenant."

She nodded at him as he took his leave and removed himself from the room, leaving her with the distinct feeling that he was not all that comfortable in her presence. She'd seen the way his hands shook as he delivered the basket to her table and the way he could not meet her eyes. It's just the title, she thought as she bit into the bread and pulled out the note her mother had left in the basket. He's intimidated by her rank and title as most men were around her.

***AAA***

Above deck, the men continued their duties and the port town became less discernible in their wake. Killian stepped up toward his brother to report that he had fulfilled the duty of delivering the basket to the princess. Hands behind their backs, the brothers looked toward the horizon and the familiar glow of the setting sun that illuminated the scattered clouds in bright glows of oranges and pinks.

"Her parents are fools for sending her away," Liam told his younger brother.

"Then why are we assisting in this?" Killian asked, unsure of his brother's blatant disregard for the crown's wishes. "She's not too desirous to go either."

"Our orders are to remove her from Mist Haven and the dangers that are imminent." Liam accepted a map from one of the junior officers with a nod. "I'm merely stating that this is not as cut and dry of a mission as one would hope. Prince David has high hopes that his daughter will be safe in another land."

Killian surveyed the work of the men pushing a cannon into place. "And you do not agree, brother?" he asked.

"No, I don't," Liam admitted. "Princess Emma is going to be in great danger wherever she goes, including the Southern Isles. I should think that she is more likely to be once she marries and ascends to the throne there." He clucked his tongue at the roof of his mouth. "Such a shame as she is a beautiful woman."

"That she is," Killian agreed distractedly. "She's…"

Liam nudged his brother with his shoulder. "Don't get any ideas, Killian," he said forebodingly. "She's still a royal and our duty is her protection."

"Of course," Killian answered. "She is not the sort I should aspire to anyhow."

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