DISCLAIMER: Alas, I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean! Sob! Adrian and the drunk, Herb, are mine, however. Do not touch the drunk!
Adrian walked down a street in Port Royal, where she had been for two days. Her destination was no where important, and it did not matter when she returned to the inn. Adrian liked it that way. She didn't have her grandparents there to watch her every move and tell her what she could and could not do. It was pure, joyous freedom! Port Royal was very different from Tortuga. First of all, there were no drunks staggering about the streets in broad daylight. Nor were there barmaids hanging out of the upstairs windows, enticing the men below to come up for a bit of fun. Port Royal was, shall we say, much more proper and orderly. Adrian liked it very much. Soon she got bored and decided to return to her room.
" Good day, Miss!" the innkeeper greeted her.
" Good day," she replied with a soft smile as she walked up the stairs. Her room was spacious, with a table in the middle of the floor and a bed off to one side. Adrian walked over to her trunk and began rummaging through her socks. She selected one and pulled it out. There was an object stashed in the toe of it. Adrian turned the sock upside down over her open hand. A gold coin tumbled out and landed in her palm. A skull was engraved on both sides of it. This coin was the reason that Adrian was who she was. It was the coin that she stole from the treasure chest as a child when no one was looking. This was the coin that had cursed her. She stared at it, then moved to put it back into the sock. Something stopped her, and she decided to put it on a chain and keep it around her neck, hidden in her dress. It was an easy thing to do and soon Adrian could feel it's cold gold surface against her skin. A knock on her door startled her and caused her to leap to her feet.
" Miss?" said the innkeeper's voice, somewhat muffled by the door.
" Yes?" Adrian responded, her voice shaking slightly,
" There is a visitor for you," he said.
" I'll be right down," Adrian yelled. She moved over to a small mirror and looked at her reflection. Her hair was down and fell a little below her shoulders. Her dress was a creamy off white color with a light flowered pattern over it. It was slightly wrinkled, but still presentable. Adrian began to walk out of her room, then stopped. What if my grandparents have found me, she thought. It was a possibility. They could have found Captain Briggs and asked him if she had been on his ship and where he had taken her. With this thought in mind, Adrian slowly crept to the top of the stairs.
" Oh, there you are!" came a young woman's voice. Adrian let out a sigh of relief. It was Meg!
" Hello, Meg!" Adrian said happily as she tromped down the stairs.
" Oh, I am so sorry I could not visit sooner, but I have been so busy!" Meg said as the two girls hugged.
" Meg, we have both been in Port Royal for only two days! There is no way you could have come sooner. Now, come, tell me of your duties!" Adrian said as she linked arms with Meg and walked into the street.
" Oh, it was mostly as you predicted. I have to do some washing, cleaning, and occasionally help the cook," Meg said.
" Is the governor nice?" Adrian asked as she deftly dodged a chicken that ran out in front of her.
" He is very kind! So is his daughter, Elizabeth," Meg said as she tried to keep her balance as Adrian dodged the chicken.
" That is good," Adrian said.
" What are you going to do here in Port Royal, Adrian?" Meg asked.
" I really don't know," Adrian replied simply, " all I have been doing so far is enjoying myself!" Both girls laughed.
" It is beautiful here," Meg sighed. Adrian nodded in agreement.
" I know what you can do! One of the other maids in the governor's house just had a baby and had to quit! They are looking for a new one right now! You could apply for the job!" Meg said excitedly, her eyes shining.
" I do know how to clean" Adrian trailed off.
" Come, let's go right now!" Meg said as she proceeded to drag Adrian to the governor's house.
" How do I look?" Adrian asked Meg as they waited for Governor Swann in the foyer of his house.
" You looka bit of a mess. Here, hold still," Meg said as she began arranging Adrian's hair.
" Whose fault is that, might I ask? You practically drove me here like a cow!" Adrian exclaimed softly. Meg stifled a giggle.
" There, much better," she whispered and moved back to where she had been standing at Adrian's side. The governor walked in. Adrian tried not to stare at his very large wig.
" Ladies," he said with a little bow.
" Governor," Adrian and Meg said with an elegant curtsy.
" I hear that you have come to apply for an open maid position," he said as he turned his gaze to Adrian.
" Yes, sir," she said.
" What is your name?" he asked.
" Adrian Smith," Adrian responded with confidence. Although Captain Briggs may have had his doubts about that being her true name, the governor apparently believed her.
" Come this way to my office, Miss Smith, and we shall proceed with the interview. Adrian followed, glancing back at Meg as she did. Her friend winked at her right before Adrian disappeared into the governor's office.
" I can't believe you got it!" Meg squealed outside the governor's house.
" Did you have any doubts?" Adrian asked.
" I had some, but not many," Meg said quickly. Adrian laughed. She had gotten the job in the governor's house and was to begin the very next day.
" So, were you scared?" Meg asked.
" No, I was not!" Adrian replied indignantly. Meg looked at her with one eyebrow raised.
" Oh, maybe a little!" Adrian admitted with a laugh. Meg joined her. They chatted for a few more minutes, and then Meg excused herself.
" It's getting late, you must get going and I need to get inside to help with supper," she remarked.
" Late? Oh, it is!" Adrian cried as she whirled so see the sun half way down into the ocean.
" What's wrong?" Meg asked worriedly.
" I must get back to the inn!" Adrian said, trying to keep calm.
" I'll be seeing you tomorrow then," Meg said.
" Yes, tomorrow! Goodbye!" Adrian said as she walked down the drive. Once she was around the corner, she broke into a fast jog. It got darker with every step she took. Adrian was furious with herself. How could you dilly - dally so when you knew there was a full moon tonight she berated herself as she ran. Adrian slowed down a bit once she got into the streets. She was passing by a tavern when an arm reached out and grabbed her.
" Wot's a pretty little thing like you doing out at this time?" a man grinned down at her. Adrian recoiled, for his breath stank of rum.
" Let me go!" she demanded as she tried to pull free.
" Why don't you come on in and we can have a bit o' fun, eh?" he said as he grabbed her other arm and began to drag her into the tavern. Adrian struggled to get herself free, but it was no use. Although the man was drunk, he was still much stronger than she was. Her attempts at escape only made him laugh. Some of his friends had joined him.
" Get her inside, Herb!" one of them said.
" Come on, sweetheart!" Herb said as they goaded him on. Adrian's blood began to boil.
" Hey, let her go!" another man yelled. He was too late to save the drunk. Adrian slammed her heeled shoe down on the drunk's foot. He howled in pain and let one of her arms loose. She then turned and grabbed a stout walking stick from where it had been resting on one of the barrels. With a wild cry, Adrian whirled and slammed the stick into the Herb's stomach. Her arm was instantly released as Herb crumpled to the ground, the wind knocked from his lungs. Adrian wasted no time. Another man grabbed for her, but Adrian threw a swift, hard punch to the side of his face, stunning him. She made a frightful sight, standing in the circle of men, her hair wildly framing her face.
" Who is next?" she snarled dangerously, brandishing her stick. One man was stupid enough to grab for her. She kicked him between the legs. His scream could be heard all over Port Royal. This caused all the other men to retreat into the tavern and leave her alone. Adrian turned and began to walk quickly down the street, still gripping the stick.
" Miss, are you alright?" a young man asked her. Adrian looked at his face. He was handsome.
" Yes, I am alright," she responded.
" I am Will Turner. Let me walk you home. It isn't safe for women as beautiful as yourself to be out at this time of night," he said as he offered her his arm. Adrian spun around and looked up at the sky. To her horror, the full moon was hiding behind clouds, threatening to peek out at any time.
" No, I must leave quickly! Thank you!" she yelled as she ran down a side street that she knew would take her to the inn. Will watched her run, then shook his head and went to the blacksmith shop were he worked.
Adrian sat on her bed in the inn. She had made it without changing. As she lay in her bed, only one thought ran through her head: he called me beautiful.
Oh, I love a good fight scene! Makes me feel invigorated! And I love Will Turner. Makes me feel lightheaded (swoons)! But don't worry, this isn't going to be a silly Adrian - falls - in - love - with - Will story. For those of you who have read my other stories, you know that I don't like to make my characters fall in love with main movie characters. I just don't.
Elf with a Lightsaber: I am glad you feel sorry for Adrian! At this point in the story, you are supposed to! And may I say this: I love your author name!
That is my one reviewer for now, besides Pandagrrl. So for those of you reading this, go review!