Hi everyone! This is my first fanfic story for Pirates of the Caribbean. Please excuse me if I don't write about the characters in the way they should be. James is a difficult one to write about so it was no easy task for me.
Disclaimer: I don't own the original characters or the references that exist in the movies. Whatever and whoever is not found in the series belong to me.
Robyn's scream was muffled by the man's hand and tears rushed down her face from the throbbing pain in her arm. She felt blood gushing out of the wound and she shuddered when her guardian lifted the dagger over her stomach. A sudden adrenaline rush filled her and Robyn wrenched her hands out of his painful grip and she pushed him off of her with all her might.
"You wretch!" he bellowed and his voice echoed in the dark manor.
"I'm tired of you!" Robyn screamed, blind with pain and anger. She snatched the dagger from his hand and she buried it deep in his stomach. The older man's eyes widened from the shock and blood dribbled out from the corner of his mouth. The young woman sobbed when he fell sideways. Her knees gave way and she sat on the floor, crying her heart out from fear, relief and despair.
She stood up clumsily and she ran to her bedroom, throwing her tattered dress away before washing the blood off her skin. She bandaged her new wounds carefully and then pulled on a crisp white shirt tucked into dark blue breeches and black boots that reached up to her knees. She wore a brown vest over her shirt with a black coat on top. She strapped the dagger to her belt and gathering her courage, she ran out of Havenshire in the middle of the cool night, determined to never come back again.
It was only a week later that Robyn was once again on the run.
She had been going back to her new home when she came across a picture of herself glued to several walls. What made her take off like a rabbit was that the poster said she was wanted -dead or alive- for attempted murder. There was a hefty reward for the one who would bring her back to her guardian.
The young woman pinned her raven black hair up underneath her three-cornered hat and she set off, buying a wig with short brown hair on her way to the docks where she exchanged the lasts of her coins for a passage to wherever the ship was heading. Once in the tiny room she was given, Robyn donned the wig and she was pleasantly surprised to find that it gave her a new boyish look. She expertly used make up to hide the beauty spot on the right side of her upper lip and she calmed her nerves, convincing herself that no one would recognize her.
Two months later
"Rob! Take this to the old widow, will you?"
Robyn looked up at the plump lady who handed her a packet. With a curt nod, she took off her apron and left with the packet in hand. She smiled at people who looked at her and greeted those she was acquainted with. It had been only two months since she settled in Port Royal and she was already quite familiar with the town and the people. She was thankful that no one could recognize her from under the boyish appearance. Sure, many of them had said that she looked rather girly and she was quite short for a 23 years old man. Robyn had told them that she took after her mother in every way possible, and that was enough to explain her height and girly looking face.
The funniest part was that girls found her very attractive and some of them tried to get her to court them but Robyn had politely declined.
She turned round a corner and entered the first door on her left after knocking briefly. "It's Robyn, Mrs. Patrick!" she announced on entering the household. She heard a creaking sound in the living room and she hurriedly closed the door, and went through the doorway on her right. The living room was heavily furnished with paintings almost hiding the faded wallpaper. There was the faint smell of flowers and Robyn saw bright red and pink flowers sitting in a transparent vase on the low table in the middle of the room. In front of the large window was a rocking chair where an old frail looking woman was previously sitting. Her snow white hair was drawn back in a low bun and her glasses sat on the tip of her nose.
"Oh, please sit back, Mrs. Patrick", Robyn said and she motioned to the packet in her hand. "Mrs. Harrison sent a few loaves of bread for you. I'll put them in the basket in the kitchen".
"That would be really nice of you, dear Robbie", she replied with a beaming smile and she sat back, letting the chair rock her a bit. Just like the other times, Robyn headed to the kitchen and she arranged the loaves of bread in the basket on the table. She went back to the old lady and she bowed low in front of her.
"All done, Mrs. Patrick", she said and then smiled brightly.
"Thank you, Robbie", Mrs. Patrick replied and she crossed her hands over her lap. "You still haven't found yourself a little Miss, have you?"
"I'm still too young", Robyn said with a chuckle. "You'll be the first to know if I ever get myself one".
They exchanged a few more pleasant words and then Robyn went back to the bakery where she continued working until the sun had set. She wished her employer a good night before cleaning the place up. She was about to close the place when the bell over the door rang. "We're closing- Oh, Will!" A smile graced her face when the blacksmith entered the shop.
"I'm sorry for coming in so late", he apologized as he shifted on his feet.
"That's fine", she replied and waved it off, wiping her flour-covered hands on her apron. "What can I do for you?"
"Actually, I'm not here to buy anything", Will said and he held his hands behind his back. "My wife, Elizabeth, wants to have you over for dinner".
Robyn was surprised by the offer. She had known Elizabeth ever since she stepped in Port Royal and the two of them had become fast friends. Robyn had been introduced to Will through the blonde haired woman and the three of them had formed a quiet circle of friends. Robyn knew about their adventures with Captain Jack Sparrow and Commodore Norrington, two men she couldn't wait to meet. In fact, she could very well go see the Commodore at the docks or in his office but she was not willing to do so without any purpose.
"That's really generous of you but I could not impose on you", she replied with a sheepish smile.
"I insist, Robyn", Will pressed on with a quiet smile. He was ready to shoot down any excuse the newest addition of the town had. "The Commodore would be there as well", he baited. He nearly laughed when it took only this little piece of information to have Robyn nodding at him.
"Let me just close the place and we'll head out", she said.
Will nodded and he stood by the side, watching Robyn taking the apron off and he did one last check around the place. The former pirate noticed a subtle female aura around him and he shook his head, knowing that Robyn naturally looked this feminine. They left the shop and in fifteen minutes, Will was leading Robyn inside his home.
Elizabeth welcomed her inside warmly and Robyn kissed her cheek politely. "That's a beautiful place you have here", she complimented with a look at the posh living room.
"Thanks", Elizabeth replied. "Come on, James is already waiting for you two".
She ushered her husband and friend inside where James was sitting with a glass of wine in his hand. He stood up when the rest of the party joined him and he shook hands with Will, exchanging greetings.
"James, this is Robyn North", Will introduced. "Rob, this is Commodore James Norrington".
At first, no words was exchanged between the two who studied each other. The naval officer raised an eyebrow at the blush settling on the younger man's face but he extended his hand. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person", he said politely. "Elizabeth has told me a lot about you".
"The pleasure is all mine, Commodore", Robyn replied and shook hands with him firmly but she deflated when she noticed that her hand looked small in his. "I have heard a lot about you too".
"May I inquire as to why you look embarrassed?"
The blush on her face deepened from the attention she suddenly got and Robyn rubbed the back of her neck with a guilty look. "I think I've just realized that I'm really too small for a man of my age", she admitted with her gaze averted, trying to push the blush away.
"That's part of your charm, Rob", Elizabeth comforted her and Robyn smiled bashfully. "Come on, let's settle for dinner now".
The four of them sat at the laden table and they started eating silently until the Commodore broke the silence. "Where do you come from?" He asked Robyn.
The raven haired woman swallowed the food in her mouth and she dabbed at her lips before replying, "I'm from Havenshire. It's south of Port Royal".
"And how did you get the idea to settle here?" James asked casually.
Robyn hoped that no one saw the blood draining from her face and she drank some wine. "My mother died giving birth to me and my father, who was a sailor, died at sea when I was fourteen years old", she replied truthfully. That was when her guardian came in and her life became a nightmare. "My guardian died a year back and I sold the house to get away and start anew. Then I came upon Port Royal and it got me trapped in its charm".
Her lie was so smooth that Robyn was disgusted with herself.
"I'm sorry for your loss", Elizabeth said, reaching over to squeeze her hand.
"That's totally fine", Robyn continued. "I'm here to have a different life and all I want is to leave my past behind".
"You don't look like you hold fond memories of your past", James remarked. He ignored the glare Elizabeth sent him. He was partly amused and partly curious to see the baffled look on Robyn's face morph into anger and then it settled on a carefully blank look.
"My past is mine to divulge and right now, I'm not particularly fond of you to say anything", she retorted.
"I have something for you both", Elizabeth cut in firmly to prevent a verbal fight from breaking out.
"What is it?" James asked as if nothing had occurred.
"You know I worry myself over you", she started and then paused when the Commodore sighed, knowing what was coming. He looked at Robyn who was looking at him questioningly.
"You wouldn't want to know", he mouthed and Robyn raised her eyebrows, feeling that she should be careful of what Elizabeth was going to say.
"There's going to be a formal party at my father's place in a week's time and for that evening, I'm going to introduce you two, to two cousins of mine", the blonde woman said.
Robyn choked on her wine and Will had to rub her back so she wouldn't choke to death. "No", she said hoarsely and then coughed a few times to be able to talk normally. "I'm not going to have a woman dancing around me".
"Rob, you are of age! And James too!" Elizabeth persisted, putting her fork and knife down. "Nothing would make me happier than seeing the two of you settled down with a family each".
"Don't you dare play that card", Norrington warned her, leaning forward with his green eyes narrowed. Will shrugged helplessly when his guests were being assaulted by his wife.
"James, Robyn, I care for both of you and it hurts me to see you alone", the woman said softly with her gaze lowered in a dejected look. "Neither of you are trying to find someone and there is no one other than me who would be willing to push you both into this. Please do this for me".
"Don't make that face", Robyn said calmly. "It doesn't work on us, right, Commodore?"
She was annoyed to find that the man had a hard time holding back from consenting to Elizabeth's decision. She kicked him under the table to get his attention and they exchanged a look.
"Do as you please", James said, ignoring Robyn who was trying very hard not to yell at him.
"Rob?" Elizabeth called with a worried frown.
"He's in as well", James decided with his head high and he looked down his nose at the grey eyed man. The latter was trapped when Elizabeth exclaimed happily.
What the hell did she get into?!
Thanks for reading the first chapter! Please review, I would like that very much
~IcedLady~
