Amidst the melee of the battle, Emma's eye's landed on one of the pirates. He had just thrown one of her men off the edge of the railing and into the sea. He turned and met her gazes, a dastardly grin crossing his face, one, though she didn't know it now, she would come to be familiar with. All handsomeness, leather, scruff, and swagger. He invited her to cross swords with him with a little bow.
"Ah milady, I've waited a long time to meet the princess- or should I call you Captain Swan? You've quite the…reputation." He said with a slightly flirtatious tone. He looked her over. Beautiful. Stunning actually. To be sure. She long golden hair hung loose about her red leather jacket. And, underneath the hostility and determination,-was that the guarded look of a lost one in her eyes? Interesting. Suddenly those eyes gained a look of perplexity.
"You're- ," her eyes flicked to the attachment at the end of his left arm, "…Captain Hook?"
"Ah, so you've heard of me," he sounded pleased.
They clashed swords. He was surprised at her skill, but refused to give ground yet. She had lured his ship in with two merchant ships sailing, seemingly alone on the waters. After dealing with them, the Jolly had been in no condition to outrun the Andersen. She'd make a heck of a pirate.
Their swords clashed again, and held, grating against each other's strength. "Good form," he leaned, complimenting. He caught her ankle with his hook. "But not good enough." Heaving his hook upward, Emma fell with a grunt onto the hard deck – but surprised him by just as quickly using her leg to sweep his feet out from under him – he crashed to the deck too. By the seven seas, most women weren't as strong as her. They both got up – circling each other. The princess suddenly stopped focusing on him, staring over his shoulder. He took the opportunity to catch her sword between his hook and his sword and trapping her against the railing of the Jolly Roger. "I had no idea princesses were so good at fight close quarters." He spoke through gritted teeth. Apparently the princess was unimpressed by his comment – "Stow it Hook, we've got bigger problems. " Nodding to what she had been looking at over his shoulder. Keeping her sword locked, just in case this was some sort of diversion, he looked behind him. Queen Anne's Revenge stood floating – not two kilometers away, baring down on them with her red sails.
"I'll make you a deal Captain," Emma said, breathing hard, blowing the hair out of her face. "Blackbeard means business. I was actually after him, rather than you – but since we've nearly blown each other out of the water neither of us stand a chance against him. We call a truce, defeat Blackbeard together. I get his ship and any captured crew, you can have all the booty on his ship and we go our separate ways."
Hook saw the sense in her plan, she'd make a heck of a pirate indeed – he grinned, stepped back, bowed again, looked up at her from the bow still smirking – "As you wish, my lady."
Hook was a man – a pirate – with a code. Harming women didn't sit easy with him. So when he'd been engaged to fight the princess, a corner of his mind had been occupied trying to figure out how to defeat her without hurting her. That corner though was soon replaced with trying to protect her in the battle with Blackbeard's crew. They had each marshalled their own crews quickly informed them of the truce and had at Blackbeard - The Andersen stole around Queen Anne's port side while the Jolly drew her fire. They boarded the vessel from both sides and made surprisingly short work of Blackbeard's crew. Hook soon saw that the blonde could handle herself fighting alongside him - he had heard rumors that the princess had returned from a land without magic after breaking the curse that had sent her parents there – and that land had certainly made her tough, she was a mystery indeed. Blackbeard's crew were taken prisoner – they threw down their weapons after a while and Hook had proudly and personally subdued his rival Blackbeard. As the captive pirates were loaded onto the Andersen Hook and Emma stood on the deck of Queen Anne's, surveying the damage.
"I don't mean to upset you Emma but I think we make quite the team." He smiled – testing her to see if she would take the use of her first name as impudent – as many princesses would. Emma didn't even blink. Instead she lunged forward at him, grabbing his hook, pulling him towards her, and even putting an arm around his waist. "Woah, woah, woah!" she said.
The captain promptly fitted his arms around her, grinning smugly down at her. "It's about bloody time." Oh, he could get used to having her in his ar-
Emma grunted, putting her hands on his shoulders and pushed him off her. She then pointed behind him – "The railing got blown off. You'd have taken quite the fall – and swim."
Hook turned around – sure enough – she had saved him from a fall and possible serious injury. He turned back, pursing his lips just a bit. "Well, that's a plausible excuse for grabbing me- but next time don't stand on ceremony." He fixed one of the golden waves on her shoulder. She had really fine hair….
"Let's find your treasure – and get out of here." She said shortly.
Hook poked his cheek with his tongue. She wasn't easily won. One of his eyebrows rose. "You know most men might take your pragmatism as off-putting but, " he leaned in and spoke confidentially, " I love a challenge."
She was about to reply – probably with more pragmatism. But she was cut off by a member of his crew shouting – "Captain! Get off there! The mast!"
The mast too – it seemed had been damaged in the fight. It was teetering, falling towards them. What's more the Queen Anne was slowly sinking. Thinking fast to stop them from being crushed or drowned – Hook picked Emma up bridal style and lept from the Queen Anne's deck to the Jolly Roger. The crashing sound of the mast and the sound of rushing water behind them told him that they had gotten off just in time. Emma was slightly less aware. "Put. Me. Down." She said, squirming.
"If you insist." He said, putting her back on her feet. They looked back at the sinking ship.
"There goes your treasure." She said.
"There goes your captured pirate ship – and no you can't have mine."
"I guess we're still even then. If you'll just, uh, return me to the Andersen, I'll be on my way."
"Sure you won't stay Swan? " he asked teasingly " We could have so much fun , you and I."
"Keep smiling buddy." And she stalked off to get onto her own ship as soon as possible.
Captain Hook stared after her –truly an intriguing encounter. Little did he know that it was not to be their last.
Captain Hook and Captain Swan (although he called her simply 'S wan' most of the time). Would end up becoming practically partners. He was still a pirate – but his adherence to his honorable code made him a tolerable assistant in Captain Swan's many adventures. They not only fought pirates, but subdued a rampaging giant together, found a cure for King Midas' dreamshade poisoning, rooted out the slave traders in the kingdoms. Of course he continued to flirt and she continued to dissuade him – but she did become easier around him – laughing with him often – she came to trust him – understand his code – and think of him as a friend. Of course he reaped handsome rewards for his services at the princess' side – he was still a pirate. Their latest conquest – rescuing Emma's baby sister from a witch who had kidnapped her was particularly rewarding – King David (who had slowly and grudgingly come to accept and even like Killian Jones a little bit) offered him a princess' ransom as a reward. He could have a fiefdom, 10,000 pieces of gold, or any one rare and/or magical item from the palace's vast treasury – in addition to becoming a privateer for the kingdom (which is basically a pirate with license from the king as Hook saw it). Smee, who came along to help him decide, was like a little kid in a candy store as soon as he entered the treasury. Killian had to stop him from taking anything out in his pockets or hidden in his red cap – he had a relationship with the royal family to maintain after all.
That night at the celebratory ball - for little Eva being returned home and turning one – Hook -almost forgotten navy uniform – was talking with David when Snow and Emma entered. Hook was caught by Emma's appearance. Not her usual brown and white tunic, pants, and boots – but in a blue dress. Royal blue, with a full princess skirt, elegant three quarter sleeves, studded all over with tiny sequins, and a light diamond tiara in her hair, which was swept up except for a few curls which hung down to frame her face . She seemed to glide rather than walk.
"Mercy, Swan, " he said, taking her hand before she could protest and kissing it lightly, " What does a man have to do to get you to dress like this more often?"
Emma looked uncomfortable. "Uh – Captain Jones"
Captain Jones? He thought, she had never called him that before. He didn't like it so much, It was strangely distant and formal.
– this is Prince Valemon – Prince Valemon - Captain Jones." Emma introduced the small man who had escorted her in.
There was a clenching in Killian's stomach that he couldn't give a name to (or rather refused to admit). So, this was the man Swan was to marry…he was smaller than he had expected. Fluttering about, the man wiped his spectacles with his kerchief "Ah, Jones..yes…absoluted pleased to meet you…Em-her lady-the princess speaks quite highly of you." Killian only nodded in reply. Awkward silence ensued.
"You're a lucky man," Killian said, though the word threatened to catch in his throat. "To be one to fulfill the old contract."
One of Snow's ancestors had pledged to unite their kingdom with another king's by uniting their children – unfortuntately they didn't have an eligible child at the time – so the merger had been put off until there were two eligible royal children from both kingdoms. Once both sides had been reminded of the contract it was unavoidable – otherwise war might ensue.
"Ah..yes…I agree..couldn't be more-well-you know how it goes-pleased – fortunate – Princess Emma is quite the –uh – catch….-if you pardon the –ah- expression."
"It's fine." Emma said. Killian had seen how she had accepted her fate gracefully, for her family. "Excuse me." She said and stepped away to greet Ruby who had just entered the ball.
Killian looked after her – he really had no interest in sticking around Prince Valemon – and he was hoping to get Emma to dance with him at least once before….
"So Jones," David said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Made your decision?"
"Uh, what?" He said turning.
"Your prize. You and your first mate were in there for hours. I thought you might have chosen by now and we could formally present it to you tonight."
"Oh, sorry mate. I'm still deciding – I didn't realize that…"
"Not to worry, we can always give it to you when we see you off first thing tomorrow. Right before we leave with Emma to go to Valemon's kingdom."
Killian's stomach clenched again – Emma's bridal journey – something that he had been ignoring, pushing out of his head as if that would make it go away instead of approach.
"So eager to be rid of me your Magesty?" Killian asked. He swiped a drink from a passing tray – it wasn't rum, but it would do. "Don't worry I'll be back soon enough. For your anniversary, every other Christmas, when you name your first born son after me…"
David scoffed at the last one, but recovered himself. "I don't suppose you'll be able make it for Emma's wedding?"
Killian gaze dropped to the floor, "No, I suppose I won't."
Two more chapters already written – I accept reviews as bribery to release the next chapter ASAP rather than waiting longer.