Pirate Princess

I found myself seated in the library back at the palace in Slovenia. I was in a flowing royal blue gown, my wavy hair in a tight bun as I looked around the enclosure. Why was I here? And where was everyone else?

Just then the doors opened and in walked a smiling Viktor.

"Viktor?" I asked in surprise as his nervous smile came into place.

"Hello again love." I jerked up as he neared me and placed a tentative kiss on my lips. I sunk into the back of my chair thoroughly confused.

"What's happening?" I murmured to myself as he raised an eyebrow wearily.

"Are you alright dearest wife?" I stared up at him shocked.

"Wife?" I croaked as he nodded.

"Yes we've been married almost a year now." I gasped and looked down at my left ring finger to find two bands on it. The sparkly diamond engagement ring and the golden band of marriage. I was married. To Viktor. No longer was I Irena Toman.

I was Irena Kosir.

It can't be. It just can't! How did I get here? Where are my friends? Where's Jack and Elizabeth and…Will? The wooden doors opened again as a maid came waltzing in holding a squirming bundle in her arms.

"There you are your majesty; your son is quite hungry." Son? I had a son? I numbly stood up and walked hesitantly to the maid as she placed the hungry baby in my arms. He was a small boy, only a month or two old. He had large blue eyes like mine, and the reddish hair of Viktor. His round face and features resembled Viktor as I looked down at the wailing infant.

"Adorable isn't he?" Viktor asked proudly as he came to stand beside me. I could only nod as Viktor leaned down and kissed my cheek.

"Such a wonderful life we have together." A lone tear escaped down my cheek as I was thrown from that scene and into another.

No longer was I in the library of the palace, I was on a ship. The warm rays on the sun hit me as I breathed in the salty familiar air. I looked down to find myself dressed comfortably in sailor's clothes a far cry from the restricting gown I had worn earlier.

I smiled because I was more at ease on the sea. I was in my element and enjoying every moment of it. Just then a pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around me as I tensed. Light kisses attacked my neck as I turned quickly around to come face to face with…

"Will?" I asked my voice going up an octave or two. What was he doing? He smiled wrapping his arms around me pulling me to him. In my confusion I didn't resist him.

"Hello darling." He whispered into my ear before leaning down and lightly kissed me on the mouth. I froze and pulled away as he looked perplexed down at me.

"Will what's going on? Where's everyone? Where's Elizabeth?" He looked mighty confused as he answered.

"What's going on is that I am kissing you. Everyone else is gone for the moment and Elizabeth is with Jack on the Black Pearl. You know that silly." Before I could answer he disappeared leaving me stranded on the mystery ship. I turned and gasped for now standing in front of me was…me.

It was the me from the library scene, looking elegant in a gown. She stood before me staring right through me it seemed. A voice carried by the wind remarked.

"You must make a choice Irena Toman. Between who you are and who you're meant to be."

Everything went black.

I sat up gasping as I rocked hazardously in my hammock. I was covered in sweat as I placed a hand on my racing heart. That had to be the clearest dream I had ever had, I could still remember all of it perfectly. From my gown to my baby and to Will's kisses. I blushed crimson thinking of the kisses he had given me.

What had prompted him to do that? Was it just my mind playing with me for it knew Will's kisses were what I wanted most? And the last part of the dream, the last sentence. Chose between who I am and who I'm meant to be. What does that mean? Shaking my head and clearing my thoughts I looked over to the next hammock hoping I hadn't woken up Elizabeth.

I breathed in a sigh of relief to find that the hammock was empty. At least I didn't bother her with my outrageous dream. Slowly I slipped out of the hammock and walked up to the deck. The sea air was comforting to me as I stretched my aching muscles. I looked over and smiled slightly seeing Norrington swapping the deck on his hands and knees. I spotted Elizabeth, Jack and Gibbs standing together looking over some slips of papers. I walked over as Gibbs angrily exclaimed.

"Beckett!" I froze and gulped. It seems now Jack knew who wanted his compass. Jack only groaned.

"Agh."

"Will was working fro Beckett, and never said a word." Gibbs flashed a small smile to me as I stood with the trio. Jack only repeated.

"Agh."

"Beckett wants the compass. Only one reason for that." Jack nodded.

"Of course. He wants the chest." It made sense now; if Beckett got his hands on the chest he could control the sea.

"Yes, he did say something about a chest." Elizabeth admitted still not fully getting what was going on.

"If the company controls the chest, they control the sea." I said quickly as Jack nodded to me.

"A truly discomforting notion, darling." He said to Elizabeth as Gibbs interjected.

"And bad. Bad for every mother's son who calls himself a pirate. I think there's a bit more speed to be coaxed from these sails. Brace the foreyard!" Gibbs bellowed hurrying away from us. Jack turned to Elizabeth and eyed her curiously.

"Might I inquire as to how you came by these." He held the letters up as I eyed the carefully. Letters of marque. Ah so that's how Beckett was playing his game, crafty.

"Persuasion." Elizabeth answered as Jack smirked and said flirtatiously.

"Friendly?" Elizabeth glared.

"Decidedly not."

"Will strikes a deal for these and upholds it with honor. Yet you're the one standing here with the prize. Full pardon, commission as a privateer on behalf of England and the East India Trading Company. As if I could be bought for such a low price." Jack tucked the letters in his coat and started walking away but Elizabeth stopped him.

"Jack, the letters, give them back." She held her hand out as Jack only smiled his trademark smile.

"No. Persuade me." I watched the interaction curiously. Jack and Elizabeth were acting odd. Elizabeth walked close to Jack so she was nearly pressed up against him.

"You do know Will taught me how to handle a sword." She challenged as he eyed her body before answering slyly.

"As I said…persuade me." She huffed frustrated and grabbed my arm leading me to the railing. She glared out to the sea as Norrington strutted up to us. Even though he lost his commission he still acted like a Commodore.

"It's a curious thing. There was a time when I would've given anything for you to look like that while thinking about me." Elizabeth looked at him surprised as he nodded to Jack. Her eyes went wide as she hastily replied.

"I don't know what you mean." Norrington smirked.

"Oh, I think you do." What where they talking about? Elizabeth and…Jack? No way! Elizabeth loves Will not Jack! Who could she want Jack when she has a great fiancée facing life and death for her right now?

"Oh, don't be absurd. I trust him that's all." Norrington nodded unconvinced.

"So you never wondered how your latest fiancée ended up on the Flying Dutchman in the first place?" He walked away before she could answer. She looked at his retreating form before huffing and turning to me.

"I don't know what that was about." I nodded slowly and rested my hands on the railing. Elizabeth's eyes widened as she reached for me left hand and gawked down at my engagement ring.

"You're engaged?" She squealed excitedly as I nodded plastering a fake smile onto my face.

"Oh Irena that's great! Who is he?"

"Just head of the Slovenian Royal Navy, his name is Viktor Kosir." She nodded.

"Handsome?" I shrugged.

"In his own nervous way."

"Personality?" I smiled slightly.

"Let's just say him and Norrington would get along greatly." We laughed as Norrington's voice rang out.

"I heard that!" We giggled and finally quieted down as Elizabeth exclaimed.

"You must be excited!" I shook my head looking out at the sea.

"No, not really. It is my duty to marry Viktor, but it is not what my heart wants."

"Then why don't you listen to your heart?" I smiled sadly up at her.

"Because what my heart wants it will never have, so why dwell on it?" We stood in silence for a long time as I weakly laughed trying to brighten up the situation.

"I'll have to invite you to the wedding! It will be a grand affair; I think my wedding gown is the puffiest one in the world." Instead of smiling or giggling Elizabeth just looked down.

"Wedding." She whispered as I sighed, great now I made her upset by making her remember her ruined wedding.

"I think I am going to sit down." Elizabeth said as I nodded. I watched as she sat down on the steps leading to the main deck. I turned away from the sight of my miserable friend to stare out at the sea. If only I could sail forever and not return and marry Viktor, but I cannot. It is my duty as princess to find a prince and Viktor is my prince…as much as I wished he wasn't.

Besides if that dream was any indication of my life with Viktor we would be happy…or at least he would be. I will grace him with a baby boy not even one year into our marriage and he will be proud. But maybe the dream is wrong, it said I might be with Will and that is an impossible thought.

How could I be with him when he in madly in love with Elizabeth?

"Too much thinking and your head might explode." I looked to see Norrington now standing beside me. I gave him a nod of greeting as I looked back out at the sea.

"You know Irena," I was surprised he called me by my first name, never had he done so before. "You and I are very much alike." I snorted and turned to face him.

"Yeah and how so?" He gave a small half smile as he answered.

"We're both in love with people we can't have."

"I…I don't…d-don't know what you…speak of." I stuttered and cursed under my breath. Great way to give yourself away, Irena!

"Really, so you're saying your feelings for Turner are just nonexistent?" Damn it! Did everyone know of my love for Will? Was I that blatantly obvious? Even Anton knew and he hasn't bloody met Will! Instead of fighting Norrington's accusations I just turned and stared out at the calming sea.

"Ah so you do love Turner. You're not the first in a long line of girls to; if my memory serves correctly he was quite the catch among the young woman of Port Royal when I was stationed there." I narrowed my eyes; he's not making me feel any better.

"You're not helping." He chuckled at me expanse.

"Who said I had to? What's bothering me though is why haven't you made a move on the blacksmith?" I froze and looked up at him.

"Excuse me?" He continued on.

"Why haven't you told him of your feelings? Why are you hiding them inside yourself?"

"Because…because he has Elizabeth!" Norrington looked away from me for a second as a ghost of a smile graced his lips.

"Not for long." I quirked an eyebrow bewildered as Norrington nodded to the other side of the ship. I looked and my breath caught in my throat. Jack and Elizabeth were standing close together, she was pressed up against him and their faces were only inches away from each other. Jack was leaning down as if to kiss her and Elizabeth wasn't stopping him at all. What's going on!?

How could she do this? She loves Will! She has to! He loves her! Just as Jack's lips almost touched hers he pulled back suddenly.

"Land ho!" Gibbs called as I was pulled from my trance. Norrington leaned down and whispered into my ear.

"Maybe you should tell him of your feelings. You never know he might feel the same way." He pulled back before I could answer and scurried away leaving me to myself. I glanced at Elizabeth to see her having a finger on her lips, her eyes closed as is she were imagining the kiss that had almost transpired between her and Jack.

I turned away and looked at the island not too far ahead. On it was the Dead Man's Chest. In it was Davy Jones's heart. With the heart we can free Will. Just think of freeing Will, Irena. Nothing else matters except freeing him…and allowing him to be with Elizabeth.

Nothing else matters…not even my hearts desire.

(Please R and R! I do not own Pirates!)