Disclaimer: I do not own PotC

Chapter 4- The Duel

The next morning, my fiancé spotted the gold coin Jack had given me resting on the dresser table. He picked it up and inspected it curiously. "Is this Mr Sparrow's?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder at me.

I nodded meekly. "Stolen I suppose," Edward said mostly to himself. "But how did it get here?"

"He gave it to me," I admitted. "Yesterday."

Edward turned now to look at me properly. It was an uncomfortable moment, although I knew I had no real reason to be nervous. "Why?" he frowned thoughtfully.

I searched my mind for a response that wouldn't sound ridiculous to him. To say it was only one coin found from a whole hoard of hidden treasure would be foolish to his ears. So I decided to take the easier option. "It was mine," I dismissed his question with a simple shrug of my shoulders. "Jack was just returning it to me."

"It's quite unusual, isn't it?" Edward said, handing it to me.

I gave him an awkward smile, remaining silent. Unfortunately the expression upon my face must have given me away, for my fiancé's face changed then to one of suspicion. "Emily, this isn't what Mr Sparrow would call 'treasure', is it?" he asked.

Opting to keep quiet was of no use, as realization dawned across Edward's face. "I don't want you spending anymore time with that man than what you must," he reprimanded me with a disapproving look.

"Edward," I pleaded with him for understanding. "You agreed that you would be fair on Jack whilst we are here. This is just a trinket."

"Perhaps, but the agreement did not include the absurdity of hidden treasure," Edward insisted.

"It took a very long time to find this gold," I argued. "And if I had wanted, Jack would have gladly taken me to see the rest of it."

Edward stared. "You declined?" he sounded surprised.

"I did."

There followed an awkward silence. "I knew you wouldn't want me to," I said quietly. "And my mother needs me more than I need to see any treasure."

My fiancé smiled slightly at this and then took my hand in his. "I'm sorry, honey," he said softly. "I overreacted."

I leant in to give him a quick kiss, accepting his apology. "Now go," I pushed him away in a friendly manner. "You were supposed to be up on deck an hour ago."

I watched Edward depart and then began to change out of my night clothes, so I too, could join him. I didn't want to reflect on the offer Jack had made me on my arrival, but it was almost impossible not to. If I had still been with Jack…I sighed…if I had still been with him so many things would have been different. I would have been living my ideal life on the high seas.

It was too late, though, to ponder what could have been. Reminding myself that in the near future I would be marrying Edward, I left the room. The bright sunlight, in contrast with the darkness of my sleeping quarters, momentarily blinded me.

The sound of metal on metal could be heard, and as I held up a hand to block out the intense rays, the image of two crew members duelling swam into view. Tomas and Mervyn were crossing blades and the rest of the crew were standing well back, cheering them on. At one time, I would have joined in, but now, due to etiquette, it was not proper for me to do any such thing. Not to mention Edward being well and truly appalled if he saw me.

So instead of watching the extravagant battle of skill and will power, I hurried on past them, scanning the deck for Edward. When I couldn't find him, I headed for the helm to ask Jack, although he too was observing the showdown. "Who do ye think will win?" he asked me on arrival.

I watched the two fight for a moment before answering, "Tom has the skill, but Mervyn has the stamina."

"I wonder, then, why Mervyn is the one slowin' down?" he stated, rather than asked, with a devious smirk in my direction.

To my annoyance, Jack was right. Tomas cornered Mervyn and was declared the winner of the contest. "Emily!" Mr Gibbs called to me. "Ye remember how to fight don't ye?"

The crew and the pirate Captainlooked at me, awaiting my answer expectantly. "Of course," I managed. "But I..."

"Don't be shy, love," Jack nudged me with an all too knowing expression. He predicted my fiancé would be none too happy about the situation.

"You too, Cap'n!" Tomas yelled up at him. "Maybe Ed would like to see the smashin' display the both of ye put on?"

I wanted to tell them that Edward would probably prefer to be locked up alone in a room with Jack rather than see me fight in an unladylike fashion, but I was ushered down to the quarterdeck with Jack. It was then I spotted my fiancé. Down on his hands and knees, Jack had given him the lowliest chore possible; scrubbing the deck. I would have had something to say about that to the pirate Captain if Edward hadn't risen from the ground with bewilderment and displeasure written on his face.

Despite the amusement I had always found in crossing swords with the crew, I could not do it in front of my fiancé. He was a genteel man who would be horrified by the notion I had learnt how to wield a blade. I turned to Jack, holding up a hand. "This is not suitable for a lady," I argued.

His eyes were shining as he answered, "Lucky yer not a lady then."

"Jack!" I whispered urgently. "Edward will be furious!"

As Mervyn handed me his sword and backed away to join the circle the crew had made around us, Jack looked over at my fiancé. "So that's his angry face is it," he said thoughtfully.

At that, I narrowed my blue eyes and pointed the blade at him. Given I now had to do this, I was going to do it on my own terms. "If I win, you have to promise me you'll stop taunting him," I challenged.

"Deal," he replied. "But when I win m'lady, ye must accompany me onesies to a drink...without the angry gentlemen over there."

"Fine." With that, I threw my sword forward, testing the pirate Captain, but Jack parried easily. We crossed blades, with Jack forcing me back across the deck. The clashing sound of metal on metal was almost mesmerizing, and I was delighted to see I hadn't lost my skill, despite not laying a hand on a sword for years.

Jack took a swipe at my neck, but I dropped to my knees quickly, giving myself a clear shot at his exposed legs. He jumped up and out of reach as my sword cut though the air. I scurried to my feet, hurrying to untangle the navy skirts from around my legs. Jack patiently waited, a move that made me smile inwardly. That was, until he said, "Ye've still got a lot to learn, I see."

"You try fighting in this dress," I growled at him.

It was then I saw Jack steal a smug glance at Edward, opening up the perfect opportunity. Letting go of my skirts to grip my blade tightly, I ran with all determination towards him. He attempted to raise his sword to block, but the distraction cost him, and the sword flew from his grasp, clattering to the wooden deck.

Jack glanced down at it, at me, pulled a face, then with all haste, scampered away behind the masts pole. I stepped between the loose blade and the mast. Jack peeked out from behind it. "It's a wonder why you wanted to put yourself through the shame of losing to me, Jack," I mocked him, but, to be fair, I bent down to scoop up his sword.

Unfortunately, I hadn't foreseen the action would entice the pirate Captain out of his place of safety. Just as my fingers were enclosing around the hilt, it slid away from me, and the point thrust under my chin making me gasp. I stood slowly to see Jack grinning triumphantly. "I thought this was supposed to be a fair fight?" I asked.

Jack put on his best confused face. "Who told ye that?" he asked, bemused. "Never trust a pirate, darlin'."

I rolled my eyes, something I hadn't done in a long time. "I don't," I muttered under my breath.

Jack meandered closer to me, so close in fact, he was almost brushing against me. He easily removed the blade from my grasp. "Looks like I'll be gettin' that drink after all," he whispered in my ear.

I turned away in disgust as he grinned devilishly at me. Edward looked on in curiosity and I dreaded confessing to him what I had just agreed to. Privately, I knew I should never have bantered with the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow; he always won.

Jack was declared winner and he sauntered back to the helm, an extra swagger in his step. Edward was quickly by my side. "Are you alright?" he questioned, concern creasing his forehead.

I shrugged his worry off, saying, "I'm fine."

Edward looked me over. I knew I was a mess; my hair was sweaty and clung to my neck and my clothes were dirty beyond respect. "Where did you learn to fight like that?"

"I spent a long time with these men, honey," I reminded him, combing fingers through my hair.

Edward stiffened and his gaze became hard. Feeling flustered, I cared only slightly my fiancé wasn't too happy with my carefree response. "It is not a women's place to fight," he claimed.

I sighed heavily, still breathing hard from the exhertion. "The crew werent' going to take no for an answer," I said. "This is just a sport to them."

I had, of course, initially declined the offer, but the crew still hoped and expected that I was the same girl whom they had come to know and care for. The only difference was, to their eyes that Jack and I were no longer together. Unfortunately half of me still longed to be apart of the crew and join in the old fun and games. This could not be if I wanted to keep Edward happy. I hung my head in submission, not wanting to argue with him. "I promise I won't let them force me into something like this again."

"Thankyou, Emily," he said much more softly, squeezing my hand in gratitude. "You gave me quite a fright."

I returned a small smile, before glancing down at the ruffled dress I was wearing; black dirt marks now scarred the fabric. "I think I'll change," I told Edward

Needing a reason to be alone, I headed for our room. Closing the creaky, wooden door, I slumped against it. Edward and I did not often fight, and I wished to keep it that way. Secretly I had once considered the reason for that worry was the fear I would lose another man I loved. The first time with Jack was hard enough, but if Edward was to ever break off the engagement, I would be devastated.

Deciding it was best for my fiancé and I to lie low for a while, I turned to the lone cupboard in the room to search for a new dress. We needed to avoid conflict, and the only way that could be achievable was by evading the pirate Captain by all means possible.

Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed the chapter, and if you did, feel free to review :)