Disclaimer: POTC is owned by Disney, but I'm hoping to keep Norrington in my closet.

Chapter 16: Pru Cometh Before a Fall

Pru's uncle insisted that she rest in bed for the remainder of the day. That was fine. Pru personally needed time to think about the events that had happened.

Where does he get the idea that he can dictate who I associate with, Pru fumed, How is it that I fight with him half the time and yet I still enjoy talking to him? Am I really that much of a glutton for punishment? Why, of all gentlemen, does he make me feel so safe and so infuriatingly coddled at the same time? Why…

Pru's mind continued to come up with questions and no answers. It got so frustrating that Pru had to find a way to relax, immediately. After the evening meal, when it had grown quite dark, Pru prepared for another jaunt through Port Royal, this time avoiding The Vinter's Mark. No need to have another row with James, Pru thought, He'll no doubt be looking for me at the tavern, but I'll be on the beach with a small glass of rum…

Pru quietly opened the door to the servants' quarters and crept out. Keeping to the shadows, she tiptoed through the gravel pathway to the grass. Suddenly, a hand covered her mouth and an arm wound itself around her waist. As she was dragged off into the bushes, Pru tried to scream, but the sound was muffled.

Arching her body, Pru tried to wrench her self from the assailant's grasp. He held fast as he dragged her further away from the house. Simultaneously, Pru bit his hand as she stomped on his foot's inset. With a pained curse, the man hit the ground.

"HOW DARE YOU?" Pru hissed.

Pru kicked him in the stomach hard. He groaned and curled into the fetal position. She began the motion to hit him between the legs and run away. As her leg lifted away from her in preparation, the man made a defensive motion with his hands.

"Stop, Pru! For God's sake!"

Pru froze. It couldn't be…

"JAMES?" she whispered in amazement.

"Will you stop attacking me if I say yes?" he sardonically asked.

"Possibly…I haven't decided yet…What did you think you were doing?" she indignantly asked.

"Teaching you a lesson." He dryly commented.

"Teaching me a lesson?"

"Indeed, butit seems that it was I who learned a lesson. A very physical one."

"Oh dear," Pru forgot her indignation and tried not to laugh as she assessed his injuries, "Did I hurt you too much? Not that you didn't deserve it, of course…"

"I'm not irreparably harmed. I think most of the bruises will be hidden by clothing. The bite mark, however, will take some explaining…" he said wryly.

Pru really tried hard not to laugh. She really did. Intentions were wonderful, really…Her shoulders began shaking as she laughed silently.

"What…" Pru paused. "What are you doing here?"

"Go on, laugh about it." he dared her. "I'm here to be your escort, as promised."

"I thought you weren't going to condone my nocturnal outings…"

"I still don't, but I happen to know you're stubborn and would do it anyway. Hence, my presence here tonight. I had thought that I could end your excursions by teaching you a lesson. It seems I over calculated…"

"You mean, YOU were WRONG?" Pru asked sarcastically. Then she noticed his clothing. "Are you going on a spy mission or is black and no wig the new uniform of the navy?"

In the dark, James smiled. "Not quite. I thought it appropriate."

"Appropriate for what?"

"Tell me, did you have a particular destination tonight?" he averred.

"A tavern perhaps…obviously not The Vintner's Mark…" Pru began.

"I thought we might do something a bit different. How about a horseback ride on the beach and we enjoy a glass of rum while watching the waves?"

"Really?"

"Yes, when I can't sleep I often take a ride and then gaze out to the ocean. Shall we go?"

"I accept. Can I help you up?" Pru grinned.

"My hero. It's the least you can do, you know…"

"Come on my Commodore in Distress. Let's get the horses."

Together they crept away from the mansion's grounds.

The moonlight ride proved to be an experience Pru would never forget. Everything was bathed in blue: the sand, the ocean and its waves, the deep blue sky. The wind whipped into her face and their horses' hooves thundered onto the beach. James reined in and Pru followed suit after they'd ridden down the length of the beach some way from the town.

He smiled at her in a daring way.

"What?" Pru asked suspiciously.

"How about a race to that outcropping, Pru? If you think you can match me…"

"I can't resist a challenge…" Pru immediately set her horse into motion.

The air was filled with her laughter. Pru was a fine horsewoman to be sure, but James was better. Right at the last second, his horse passed her.

He was smugly smiling by the time she reined in. James led her to a comfortable spot in the sand and they sat. He took out the rum out of his pack and poured it into the two glasses he'd packed as well.

"Well, I do believe I deserve a forfeit…" James commented.

Pru arched her eyebrow. "Oh really? I don't recall making a bet…"

"But we did race. I won that race, therefore I demand a forfeit." he declared.

"and if I don't agree?"

"You will…don't forget I know quite a few things…"

Pru laughed. "Blackmail?"

"Indeed." he teased.

Pru rolled her eyes. "Very Well. I suppose I must. What is my forfeit?"

James turned serious. "Tell me something I don't know about you."

"and not be allowed the same privilege?"

"Perhaps…if you tell me three things about yourself that I don't know."

"Two," Pru bargained.

"Deal. Now tell me." he demanded.

Pru thought for a moment. "As it happens, two memories came back to me during our ride…"

"Go on."

"I used to ride sidesaddle when I could get away with it. There's nothing like riding as fast as you can in the moonlight. There's a beautiful reckless freedom in it…I'm probably romanticizing it…"

"No, you're not."

"Thank you." Pru smiled, "Tonight reminded me so much of my horse. It was a russet colored mare that could run like the wind. She and I shared our secret rides. I called her Libby, short for Liberty. I loved that horse…"

"What happened to her?" James asked.

"I rode her to Rhode Island and I had to sell her. Not many ships would be willing to take a horse to Georgia and beyond…I bid her farewell. It's not like I'm still thinking she'll appear one day, but I miss her from time to time…"

"I'm sorry, Pru. It's obvious you loved the horse." James became serious again. "Now, the second admission, please."

"Since you said please…I don't think you're as stuffy as I thought you were when we first met."

"Thank You for that. That doesn't count."

"Yes, it does. It was something about me that you didn't know and I told you. Now it's your turn. Tell me…why you love the sea so much…I know you do. I could see it in your eyes every time we were on deck." Pru stated.

James lay back against the sand. "I don't really know…"

"Not nearly good enough James…"

"Really? YOU don't APPROVE of my answer?" he teased. "I suppose that the ocean is so beautiful and yet so willful. It's a monumental challenge to think any man is capable of controlling it, yet I'm one of them that wants to try.

But it's not just that challenge that draws me. It's the vastness of it all that makes you feel so small, so insignificant. I think that's what draws me: the challenge it throws out…the challenge of…"

"Freedom." they said simultaneously.

"Exactly." James breathed.

Pru smiled. "I feel the same way. I love being on land, but every once in awhile I feel the pull…"

"Yes."

They sipped their rum in silence, having forgotten its existence until that moment. The waves continued beating against the shore and the moonlight made everything seem unreal. Pru felt his stare.

"What?" she asked quizzically.

"The moonlight becomes you, Pru." he said softly.

Pru wasn't sure she knew quite what to make of that. "Th…Thank…You."

James withdrew his pocket watch. "It's time I get you back."

"Has that much time passed?"

He packed up the rum and the glasses. They mounted their horses and rode off. All too soon, in both their opinions, they arrived within the confines of the mansion's gardens. They paused a few feet from the back door.

"Despite the somewhat painful beginning, I had a very enjoyable evening." James smiled.

"I did as well…despite your, ahem, lesson earlier." She grinned.

"You…don't have another appointment with a gentleman, do you?"

"No, I've agreed to a picnic with Elizabeth."

"Good. You've agreed to my advice then."

Pru laughed softly. "No. I had agreed to the picnic last week. It would take a lot more persuasion if I were to agree…not that I would ever change my mind…"

"Pru." James warned.

"James," she parried back,"…We'll discuss this later…let's not end the truce right now…Will I see you at the Wilson's ball…they're holding it in I believe three days?"

"I'll be there…that is, if you'll save a dance…?"

"Absolutely…although I shall regret that it won't be a waltz…"

"Sadly no." he commented.

Pru looked up at him. "I really should go in now…"

James stepped back. "Sleep well then."

Pru reached up and lightly kissed his cheek. Inwardly, she was shrieking in mortification that she kissed him, but outwardly she softly smiled. "Sleep Well James."

She disappeared and James turned to begin his way back to his rooms. He felt the imprint of her kiss for hours. He finally fell asleep to dreams…dreams he had no right to dream…dreams that he knew would never be realized…

AN: Thanks for the reviews! They are always welcome. Stay tuned, faithful readers and Norrians!