I see you from a different point of view
Fleur/Tonks
Princess Fleur has the perfect life back in her kingdom. She has everything she desires, but her future is already planned out for her. When she's taken captive by pirates, she starts to see what freedom truly is.
The kingdom of Beaubaxtons is beautiful, and Fleur stands on the balcony of her castle, looking out at the country that she'll rule one day. A guard stands near the door, but they don't talk. The man never offers much in the way of conversation, and Fleur doesn't know what to say, because whilst he works in the castle, they seem worlds apart.
The Kingdom is busy. Businesses are closing for the day, bards are playing their songs in the taverns. People walk the streets, laughing or heading home, or… well, Fleur doesn't really know what else people in the city do, except for working and visiting the tavern. They don't have to worry about the same sort of duties that Fleur has to. Whilst they're her people, and she will rule them one day, she knows nothing about their lives, and that bothers her.
There's a lot that bothers her in the castle. She loves her life here. She loves the beautiful dresses made with the finest materials and at the height of fashion, making all of the other women in court jealous. She loves the balls and the parties and the compliments.
She doesn't like the male attention all that much, but that's just an annoyance. They may ask for a dance and chat to her, but save for an occasional drunken fool who is dealt with by the guards, they know that the princess will be having a marriage arranged for her. One day she'll be introduced to her betrothed. They'll marry and he will rule the kingdom, Fleur at his side to help him.
That bothers her too. Fleur doesn't understand why there will be anyone telling her what to do. Why she'll come second to her future husband? She doesn't understand why someone will be allowed to come into the kingdom - her kingdom - and take it from her, and she will have to be his shadow. He's going to arrive in just a few days and she doesn't even know his name. She knows nothing about the man that will soon become her husband.
Her mum reminds her that it's her duty as a princess, and will be her duty as a wife. But Fleur hates this. She looks down at the people in the city and wonders why they all seem so care-free and she wishes to be like them, without this weight on her shoulders.
She only has a few days left, and she wants to make them count.
"Guard?" she says, and he glances over, grey eyes meeting hers. "What is the city like?"
"Even more beautiful down there than this view," he says, his eyes darting across what they can see of Beaubaxtons. "Your parents won't allow you to go, Princess."
She glances out again. The monument in the middle of town looks splendid. She'd love to walk the streets near it, and admire it as other people can freely do.
"But they need not know?" she suggests. "Perhaps…" Her lips curve into a smile and she sweeps across the balcony and towards her jewellery box. She takes out a diamond necklace. It's worth a small fortune, but she never wears it and she's sure it's more than the guard makes in a year.
"You can have this," she says. "If we are caught, you can tell them that I snuck out of my own accord and you followed. If you're worried about your job, you do not need to worry."
The man's gaze follows the pendant as it swings. "My job is to protect you, not restrain you," he offers, and she holds out the gem. He accepts it, slipping it around his neck and hiding it underneath his clothes.
"What is your name?" she asks.
"Sirius," he offers, a quirk to his lips as he does so. "But best not to let these people know that you're a princess… Fleur."
She nods in understanding. They will drop her title for tonight. "Tonight," she insists. "Can you get us out of the castle?"
"Easy," Sirius tells her.
"And back in?"
"Oh, Princess, no need to worry about that," he tells her.
He leaves her room so she can change her clothes, returning an hour later so they can set out.
Fleur wants to fit in, so wears something that is a little less obvious than her usual dresses.
Sirius has changed into casual clothes and he takes them to what he insists is a safe tavern. She sticks close to his side as the noise overwhelms. People are loud, shouting to each other. Undignified. It's a fast change of pace than life in the castle, and Fleur loves it!
Sirius gets her a drink. He talks to the musicians and hands them a couple of gold pieces and they turn the noise down ever so slightly, playing something upbeat and that has Fleur tapping her feet along. Then Sirius starts conversations at the bar, and it takes minutes, but Fleur and Sirius join a group of sailors for a chat.
Sirius sits a little too close to a man with amber eyes and is quickly lost in conversation wtih him, and Fleur looks around, her gaze falling on a woman wearing men's clothing of all things, and cropped, colourful hair.
This woman is the opposite of her, and Fleur is quite captivated at the sight of her. She looks wild, she looks free, and Fleur is envious.
"Wotcher, I'm Tonks," the woman says, her gaze drifting over Fleur's face for a moment, and when her eyes move to Fleur's earrings and down to her necklace. For a moment, Fleur wonders if she's overdressed, but Tonks' lips curve into a smile.
"The boys are talking," she says, gesturing to the pair. "Come and dance with me!"
"But… I don't know this song? I don't know how to dance to it," Fleur insists.
"That's the fun of it. You make it up as you go along." She takes Fleur's hand and pulls her to the dance-floor. Fleur looks back towards Sirius.
He gives her a thumbs up, before grabbing the man's hand and pulling him onto the dance-floor too, and Fleur trusts that she's safe with her guard. He wouldn't let her come to harm.
"You've never been on a boat? You should come and see ours!"
Fleur went along with the suggestion. Sirius seemed to think it was safe, and he seemed very taken with the sailor. She didn't want to drag him away from whatever was happening. It was nice to see other people having happy moments.
What she didn't expect, however, was for the anchor to rise the second she was on board. For the gangplank to be removed. For the ship to set sail.
Fleur opens her mouth to shout, to call for help, because she realises that this shouldn't be happening, but Sirius is at her side.
"You're safe," he says. "I won't let them hurt you. But they might if you scream."
She listens to him. She stays silent, hoping he can bargain with them for her release. It's not until they're out of shouting distance does he walk away from her. He takes a hat that's offered to him, and he turns back, a wide grin on his face.
"Luv, welcome to The Marauder," he says, lifting his arms and gesturing to the ship. "We hope you enjoy your stay on our ship. Tonks, make sure she's comfortable and set up guards. And you, my love," he turns to the man that he had been talking to in the tavern, and Fleur notes with growing horror that he knew this man and this was a set-up, "meet me in our room in ten minutes? Life at the castle was so dull, and I've dreamt about being in your arms again."
There are some wolf-whistles and the man smiles.
"No flirting in front of the prisoner," he orders. The amber-eyed man approaches Fleur, a gentle smile on his lips.
"Pirates have a reputation," he says. "But as long as you listen to our orders, we won't let you come to harm. Trust us."
"Trust you?" she asks. "Trust you? I trusted my guard, and that is why I'm here. I trusted you all, and now I am a prisoner." She points at Sirius angrily and then points to Tonks, who looks a little offended. Who cares at this point if pointing is rude. "I will not trust you any further. I will retire to my room now."
"We've got a cell," another man begins, a little uncertain. "We didn't expect you back so soon, Captain. We may need a bit of time for the room…"
"Now," Sirius orders, frowning as he looks around. "Is this what happens when I'm not aboard? You all slack on me?" Again, his gaze turns to the other man. "Aside from you, my darling."
Tonks approaches. "Hands out."
Fleur sees no alternative. She holds her hands up and Tonks binds them.
Fleur scrubs the deck, hating the manual labour. Tonks talks to fill the silence, and it's nice. It's probably like having a friend. A beautiful friend who makes Fleur feel butterflies in her stomach.
"If I am a prisoner, I should not be doing this," she grumbles. She hates doing this work, and she's had to accept the men's clothes that Tonks has provided her with. They're more comfortable than her dress, but so unfamiliar. Thankfully she's been allowed to keep her necklace, which was a gift from her grandmother. But the rest of her valuables have been taken. The diamond necklace that she offered to Sirius to be her guard, is now hanging from Tonks' neck. It looks beautiful there, Fleur notes.
"We all do our share," Tonks explains. "Sirius wants the ship clean and shiny. We got good loot from the other ship. We're having a party. He's having a private one right now with Remus."
Fleur pauses, dropping her rag into the bucket. "And that is allowed?"
Tonks shrugs. "The beauty of where we are. Who is going to stop two men from being in love out here?" she asks. "Or two women." She drops her own rag into the bucket and stands up, the knees of her trousers wet from the deck. Fleur follows.
"Come on, we'll get a bath run for you and we found some chests of clothes and I grabbed you out some dresses. Party tonight, and I'm hoping to get another dance. If I can."
Fleur smiles. She can't help herself. One day she's going to have to go back to her life, one day she'll end up married and second in command of running a kingdom.
But… Fleur doesn't like to think about that future. She just wants to think about the one on the ship, where the sun shines on the ocean, making it sparkle. She wants to continue seeing more of the world, because she's never seen it before. She wants to have an adventure before she goes back, like the ones in the books.
She wants a life where she can be herself, and not a life where her future is decided for her.
Maybe these tasks aren't so bad after all. To earn a place on the ship, maybe she'll make a habit of this?
She's never been to a party like this before. Tonks has her up dancing once more, and Fleur lets lose. She doesn't feel like a prisoner.
"We should keep you," Tonks says.
"You're already keeping me," Fleur points out.
"I mean, we should keep you for longer. Forget the ransom. You want adventure, you want freedom. Maybe that's something we can offer?"
"Will the captain agree?" Fleur can't help but ask.
"He can't say no to his favourite cousin," Tonks says with a grin. "He just wants everyone to be happy."
And Fleur realises with a start that even though she's a captive, she's been happier on the ship than ever before.
2000 words