Of Pirates and Princesses
Chaptre Five: Riding the Waves
By nightfall they had indeed landed at port and as Regina was lead off the board, she had no idea that she had finally gotten her heart's desire and was about to end up going on the adventure of a life time.
...
"The princess still does not even know the true extent of her situation," August said once they were on deck of their newly acquired ship. It was large and more cumbersome to maneuver, but it had canons and lower decks where they could store goods and treasures they came across. And most importantly, it held cells where they could lock the princess up if needed. So far, it was turning out not to be needed.
Emma stared straight ahead, steering the ship during the night and right until dawn. The waters were calm, just how she liked it. And now, fully garbed in her pirating attire, she felt like she had been blasted to the past days of her youth. Even her outfit was the same. Black tight trousers, long boots with a flare on top, a swanky belt that held space for her flintlock pistol, cutlass, and a secondary blade of her choosing. A puffy white shirt rested on her upper half as did a vest with her trademark red overcoat on it, glowing as brightly as the crimson life force in their veins. And on her head rested her captain's hat, complete with a skull and bones.
"Then that is good. Her naive nature will render this easier because we won't have to worry about fighting her, or her drawing unnecessary attention to us."
"She even believed my flimsy excuse of why we're dressed as pirates. Because it's 'our cover' and 'no one will think to look for us this way'." He chuckled, leaning against the railing and taking a sip of his rum from a hip flask.
"And I think she fancies you too," he added on and Emma let out a grunt at this. She hadn't missed the way the princess had looked at her upon their first meeting. That wide eyed stare, rapt in wonder and adoration, and the lovely flush on her pale cheeks. No doubt the princess had been locked up and barely seen another soul. Emma knew she was good looking and that many found her enchanting and charming, so it was not much of a shock the princess would think so too. But whether the princess would either get over it or not would remain to be seen.
What had been unexpected was when Emma had found herself captured by the princess's looks herself. The rumors about her beauty had merit and Emma had momentarily forgotten what she was doing. There, in all white, sat an angel of dark. With big dark brown eyes and long brown hair that was plaited down her back, she was lovely. Pink lips and cheeks tinged by pink, and skin unblemished by scars or dirt.
She was pristine, so much so that she almost seemed to glow. And Emma found herself almost wanting to worship the princess, but she did not, regaining her senses a second later and resuming her speech.
But the image of the princess did not escape Emma's mind all night long, even as the princess slumbered below deck on the finest hammock. Emma did not know why this was- or maybe she did. All she knew, was that whenever she had seen a woman she so much as so fancied in the slightest, she went after her. But she could not do that to the princess. No, because she was their ransom. And that made Emma all the more interested in her, in knowing Regina was forbidden to her.
"How could she not?" Emma throws back a cocky answer. "I am probably such a puzzle to her. A woman who commands a ship in this day and age. I'm more woman than she has ever met."
"And more man than she has ever met too," August tipped his brow up as he looked pointedly at Emma's crotch.
Not many knew of her condition. Only her close friends and crew, such as him, Ruby, Sabine, Neal and Leroy. She didn't trust anyone else to know.
The hired crew ran down along the board, fixing up rigging, or chatting and playing games by lamp light. This was the third night of their journey and Regina was adjusting surprisingly well to life on board in the three days they had been at sea. The woman had found her sea legs astoundingly well for someone whose only seen the ocean in books. And she was curious about everything, so much so that Neal had to be assigned to babysit her or else she could unintentionally hurt herself. And he had the joyous task of answering everything she had asked about.
Though she had a bit of a hiccup when it came to Leroy's cooking. The princess was too kind to refuse his food and since she'd never had rum before, she did not know how to act when she ingested it. Sabine pulled out an accordion, Leroy, a guitar and everyone else hooted and hollered along to dancing songs.
Regina's eyes had drooped from the drink infused food, and she had gone all giggly and happy, swirling around on the deck and asking for someone to dance with her. Neal had happily gone up, and then Ruby, and then August, but the princess did not stop until she had danced with Emma.
Sabine, started playing the accordion more slowly and Emma scowled at her, for there was no need for a slow dance with Regina. But the princess did not mind, coming closer to Emma and leaning her head on her shoulder. "You look just like them," she slurred drowsily.
"Like who?" Emma could not help from asking when the princess did not elaborate.
"Like a princess. And a hero. All put into one woman," she sighed out dramatically as her body became heavier in Emma's respectful hold.
Her simple words made Emma feel warm inside though they should not. Emma was a pirate. And she wasn't necessarily a good person, so why should the princess think that? Before she could laugh away the words, Regina stopped dancing and Emma looked down to see the woman had fallen asleep on her feet.
It was adorable. And cute. And Emma swept her up in her arms gently.
"Going somewhere Swan?" Neal wagged his brows and Emma shook her head.
"I'm only taking her to get some rest. The poor thing can't hold her drink," Emma said, because despite how her crew teased, she knew this was one woman she could not sleep with, even if she was beguiled by her beauty and kind innocent nature.
She placed Regina softly onto the hammock and watched as the princess settled in, snuggling into the blankets there, lashes so long against her pale cheeks.
No wonder her mother had kept her locked up for so long. Emma could imagine many hearts and minds going awry because of fighting for her hand. Emma would have to make sure none of the hired crew got any ideas like that too. She knew her close friends wouldn't, but she would need someone to guard Regina just in case. She hadn't missed the lecherous stares sent at Regina, though Regina had.
Emma wanted to push back a lock of hair that crept onto Regina's face but held herself back. Regina was such an innocent girl and it was clear she had never done any wrong. Was it...was it fair for Emma to kidnap her like this? To hold her as ransom? Suddenly her plan did not seem as great as it had before.
She shook her head, scowling at herself.
Ten years had made her go soft. Had made her a bit rusty with the ways of pirating. She would keep Regina safe and in one piece is all, until Cora gave them the money and stepped down from her throne.
She went upstairs, deciding she should pen a letter right away that she could send to the Queen's court when they set foot down for supplies in the port town a week from now.
"Swan, are you there?" a rough knock on her head brought her back to the future.
She swatted August's hand away. "I am here."
"You may be in body but not in mind. What's got you looking so dewy eyed? Is it the princess? I must admit she is a sight to see."
She frowned at him. "Even if she did, I would not make a move on her. She is ransom, and not here for entertainment."
August made a gasped and pained expression, placing a hand over his heart. "Well, shiver me timbers. The captain not raising her mast towards such a fine lady? What has gone wrong?"
"I'll have you know I still enjoy many fine ladies, like one does with fine wine. But this is a mission and not a time for me to spread my legs," she said seriously, not wanting to belie that she did not want to touch the princess because she felt about her in a way she had never felt for another woman. Not even Lily. With Lily it had been a hate and love relationship. A give and take.
But the way Emma felt for Regina, it was like she would fight to the ends of the world for her. To protect her. And it wasn't because she wanted to lay claim to her, though she did, but because simply Regina was too pure for this world and the world didn't deserve her. She knew no evil, had heard of no evil, and Emma didn't want Regina to have to learn the nasty dealings of the world, though she supposed it would make sense for Regina to know because it was about time.
"I feel there is more than you speak, Swan," he said, but did not press further because he knew with time that she would confide in him.
Then he stumbled over to his bunk, for it would be his turn to steer the ship when morning arose. And Emma was left alone with the calm waters and her unrelenting thoughts about the princess.
Once dawn broke, she decided to go downstairs out of whim, just to see if perhaps Neal needed anything. And not at all because she wanted to see the princess. Nope, not at all for her. At least that was what she told herself.
But as she went down the stairs she found that there came a noise from the cabins. A noise she did not much like. She placed a hand on her sword and opened the door, shedding light on the scene unfolding. The princess was on her hammock, surrounded by three men. The three men that had been staring the most at the princess during Emma's observations. One stood at one end, holding Regina's hands, the other was holding her legs to prevent them from kicking, and the last had a hand over her mouth, shushing her as he leered down with a dirty grin.
Emma knew what this was. A pirate initiation. They had seen Regina's delicate status and decided she needed to be roughed up, which meant bruises and maybe scarring, and a lot of terrorizing.
They stopped as soon as Emma came in.
"Captain," the man holding Regina's arms faltered. "We were just-"
She didn't wait for an explanation. "I will not tolerate this sort of behavior towards one of our esteemed guests. Get your hands off of her and now." She pulled out a sword and held it menacingly in front of her. They let go, holding up their hands and not quite sure what to do. Regina gave a muffled cry and scrambled from the hammock, coming around to cling to Emma. She was shaking and her shirt had been ripped open at the top. Emma's anger boiled inside her. How dare anyone try to hurt such a delicate and precious person? Regina had done nothing to deserve their advances.
It didn't matter that they didn't know she was a princess. Emma had explicitly told them all when they joined the crew that Regina was special and to be treated as such. And they had disregarded her rules.
It was at that moment Neal came in, eyes going wide as he took in the scene before him. "What is going on here?"
"Neal, why were you not at your post?" Emma snapped out, angry at him too. He was supposed to be guarding Regina.
"I went out to take a leak. I was but gone for a minute," he explained, also pulling out his cutlass.
"While you were gone, these men took to trying to take advantage of Regina."
"It was him!" one of the men pointed at the man in striped pants that had covered Regina's mouth. "He told us to do it."
Striped pants glared angrily at his comrade but said nothing.
"And you followed him blindly?" Emma asked, voice low with anger. The men didn't answer at this. Emma took a step forward, throwing her shoulders back. "You follow only my instructions on this vessel. If I tell you to not touch her, and to respect her, than you will. Am I clear?"
They all slowly nodded their heads, though Striped Pants did so with a begrudging look. Despite their faked compliance, it was too late. They had broken the pirating rules. And as such, they needed to be dealt with properly. She sheathed her sword. "Neal, take them upstairs. We will figure things out properly up there. Regina, come with me."
"Aye aye, captain," Neal said, pointing his sword at them. "You heard her. Up the stairs and make no fuss or else my cold steel is the last thing you will feel."
Emma left with Regina, taking her to her own quarters. This place was nicer than the rest. She had a full bed and some space for her personal trinkets and maps. "From now on, you can sleep in my quarters. This way, no one can harm you."
Regina was still shaking and her eyes looked haunted. "What were those men going to do?" she asked, lips quivering. "They looked so scary."
Emma knelt in front of Regina on the bed. "Do not worry. They will not harm you ever again. I will make sure of it. Stay here for now. Regain your strengths. I will send Leroy with some rum to calm your nerves."
And Emma left, locking the door behind her.
It was time to deal with those assholes who had dared to try to hurt Regina. To even think of it!
She was so fuming at this slight, that she could only see one solution to this.
"Walk the plank," she snarled out when Neal brought the three of them back up, arms bound behind their backs.
A crowd had been called forth by her so that they could watch what would happen to those who disobeyed her orders. She did not take mutiny or rebellion lightly.
"Have you lost your mind?" hollered out pin stripe and he began to fight against his restraints when Neal's cold blade kissed the back of his neck.
"This is my ship. And my crew, asshole," she grit out, as she paced in front of the plank of wood that was prepared for them. "And I do not take kindly to being disobeyed. Now walk the plank yourself like a man, or I'll drag you to it like a babe."
All three men exchanged looks, dreading this. But with Neal behind them with his sword, and Sabine and August standing close by with the crowd behind them, hungry for entertainment, they had no choice.
"I am a man. More than you can be though you aim for it," spat out pin stripes and Emma scoffed.
"If you knew the truth you wouldn't be saying that about me," she jeered and her crew laughed because they all knew her reputation well given August and Sabine telling tales of her accolades and adventures on the first night the crew had been hired.
Pin strip muttered curses under his breath but marched first, holding his head up proud.
"I'll met you in Davy Jones' locker, Captain, count on it," he promised and then jumped off. He fell in with a splash and because his arms were tied, he could not swim. He would sink straight down.
She turned to the remaining two men. "And just like you followed him in his vile actions, so shall you follow to your death," she added and watched with delight as they slowly trudged up and jumped off, one by one.
The water foamed around them and bubbles burst, but after that, no one surfaced.
Emma felt better having done that. She felt like her anger had melted off, and that she had just assured Regina would never be hurt by anyone on her ship ever again.
She decided not to share the news with Regina, however, because she knew the princess would not understand their customs.
The crowds dispersed as Emma made way back to her chambers. She found Leroy inside, patting Regina on the back as she drank small sips from a hip flask.
"Is she better?" she asked softly.
"She's quieted down a bit," he said, getting up. "I should attend to the soup for the evening."
"Thank you, Leroy." Emma took his spot on the bed, rubbing her hands together and not quite sure what to say. "Princess-"
"I want to learn how to fight. Like you and Neal do."
The request was unexpected from Regina but not at the same time. She never thought Regina would want to get physical. After all, princesses were fragile. But given the recent turn of events it made sense. Still, Emma was not prone to wanting to teach her.
"You are weak, princess."
"Then teach me how to be strong. I want to protect myself in this world. I know I do not know much and I wish this was not the case but I will remedy it as best and quickly as I can. I want to learn how to fight."
Emma shook her head. "I do not want you coming to harm. I do not want you to lose the kindness in your heart. That purity. Because so many have lost it by now but you have not yet."
"I won't lose it. And I will not be harmed. If I learn to fight, will I not be safer?" Regina's eyes blazed determination and it turned out she had a stubborn streak the size of the ocean.
"No."
"Then I will ask someone else to help me."
She turned to leave. Emma placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her. She let out a sigh as she looked into Regina's now eager eyes. "Fine, I shall teach you. But remember, those who pick up a sword must be ready to die by the sword."
Emma didn't know if Regina would truly understand the meaning of this, but the princess nodded her head solemnly. "Of course."
And so they practiced each day. Emma went easy on Regina, teaching her the foundations and the basics. She taught her how to sheathe and unsheathe the blade. How to hold it steady. How to par, how to land blows, how to disarm someone, and how to tell where an opponent's blade was going to go judging by their muscle movements and their eyes.
"The eyes are the window to the soul and they tell you everything you need to know about someone. That is why, pay attention to the blade but also pay attention to the eyes."
Emma taught Regina the importance of footwork in maintaining balance and in not tripping up on environmental factors. And she also taught Regina how to care for her blade. "The blade is an extension of you. So care for it, as you would for your own hand."
Regina was an eager and fast learner and she often was knocked down to the floor with wooden swords that Emma used for their sparring lessons. No need for real swords until Regina could get a handle on things. Under the pace of their training and the hot sun beating down on them, they practiced until Regina was sore, sweating, and aching. But she was happy when she would make the slightest bit of progress. Still, there would be a ways to go until she was even competent with the blade and Emma instructed her to challenge Sabine or Neal to a duel in her spare time.
No doubt Regina would want to learn how to use a gun next, but not until she learned the trade of steel.
"I feel like a real adventurer now," Regina had gushed with excitement despite her sore muscles.
"You crave to be an adventurer?" Emma had been confused by that.
"I do. Locked up in the castle all I could ever do was but read books on all these marvelous journeys and the characters that took them. But now, I can become just like them. Brave and skilled and well traveled."
"I'm afraid journeying is not all fun and games. There are all too real perils and monsters in the way. And when I say monsters, I do not mean actual monsters, but men who are as terrible if not worse than them."
"I know that," Regina nodded her head. "But with you and the crew helping me and protecting me, I do not feel afraid." She looked up so trustingly into Emma's eyes that the blonde woman had to turn away before she was consumed by guilt.
Emma found herself spending more and more time with Regina, for even at night she could not escape her. They shared a bed since the incident with those three men and to be respectful Emma would put up pillows between their divides of the bed. And somehow, each night, the pillows would end up on the floor and Emma would find Regina cuddled up to her, sighing happily in her sleep.
That did not bond well for Emma's friend down there, and she had to shift several times in order to avoid poking the princess.
She did not want to reveal her secret to her.
And they had long conversations until the break of dawn. Regina would stay up, listening to Emma talk about the oceans. She told her everything there was to know on it, and on how ships ran and worked. Regina soaked everything up like a sponge, and always at the end, she had more questions.
Emma adored that, the way her eyes sparkled with new information and the way she paid rapt attention to everything Emma said. She stared a lot at Emma. And she did a bad job of hiding it. Emma wondered, what ran through the princess's mind. She knew she was being appraised by her, but for what means? Was it simple curiosity or because Emma looked like someone from one of those many books Regina had read?
For Emma asked Regina about her life too. And it was disheartening to hear it. She could only imagine how terrible it must be to be kept locked up, only let out on wedding day.
"I actually must thank the people who set off those explosives, though you must think me insane to do so," Regina had admitted one time, a bit shamefully. "Because I did not want to marry that man."
"I wouldn't either, from the way you describe him," Emma chuckled.
"I want to marry someone I love. And I know that will only ever be a dream, because royalty does not have that choice."
This sobered Emma, seeing the bright princess so down, fiddling with her hands. "Perhaps you will get a chance to do that. Maybe, you don't have to return to the castle. Maybe you can run away?"
Regina's head jerked up at the suggestion and a smile almost crossed her lips before she censored it and shook her head. "I dreamed of running away and I tried so many times. But, I was young then and did not realize my duty. I have responsibilities back home. I have to go back and marry Leopold. When it is safe again, of course."
"That sounds horrid," Emma commented, not hiding her true thoughts now.
"It is the life of a noble. You should be happy you do not have it. How did you grow up?"
And Emma had launched into a watered down version of her youth, skipping out on the pirating part. But she did talk a lot about Henry. She missed him, and she wondered how he was doing. She had sent a letter but it would be a while before she could hear back from him.
"I did not know you had a son. He sounds marvelous," Regina said.
"Aye he is," Emma could not keep a smile from crossing her lips on thinking of him. "Have you thought of having kids?" she asked.
Regina shrugged, quite an unladylike thing to do. It seemed she was picking up the habits of pirates more and more often. Her appearance once so stiff and stilted becoming looser and less flourished over the days on the ship. Like she was physically relaxing from her strict childhood. "I know it is my duty to do so. But I think I would like to have some. Would you ever have more than just Henry?"
"Henry is my whole world right now...but perhaps if I had the chance to have a proper family, I might consider adding more to it. Sadly, his other parent was killed not long ago, and the loss has hurt the both of us."
"I am sorry to hear that," Regina said, placing a gentle hand on Emma's bicep. The touch sent a bolt of electricity down Emma's spine and she shifted on her legs, trying to control the sudden emotion it evoked in her.
"It is fine. We will deal with it how we must," Emma responded with brusquely.
"Tell me more about them, if you do not mind," Regina asked. "I do love a good story. Especially a tragically romantic one."
Emma decided to indulge her. In this way, it would get some of Lily's death off of her chest. Maybe loosen up her lungs. But she wouldn't mention Lily was a woman; she wasn't sure how the princess would look upon that. It might be too scandalous for her delicate tastes. "We weren't always on the right foot," Emma started, eyes unfocusing as she looked back to her thoughts. "We hated each other at first, but as time went on, we came to trust each other and work together..." and Emma launched into a quick mostly innocent tale, one of her more famous ones, of how she and Lily had drunkenly broken into a navy commander's house, stolen his coins, wrecked his house and then hung him from the roof without his trousers so the villagers could laugh at him.
Emma's voice carried the story and though the princess's head began to bob up and down with slumber, she fought valiantly to keep it up. In the end, sleep claimed her and she nodded off, sitting against the mast behind Emma before the dawn could even rise. If Emma knew anything about Regina's family, it was that they had probably tucked her into bed at eight on the dot and that this was the latest the princess had ever stayed up.
Emma bent down to pick the princess up, carrying her bridal style down to her chamber where she laid her softly on the covers. She was smiling, even in her sleep. It was like the princess could not stop smiling, even at the mundane things that happened on ship.
When Emma had seen her at the wedding, her face had been smooth, a fake smile dying on her lips, like she was pushing back on her fears for the day. But now, each expression was so genuine. She wondered if perhaps the princess would be happier like this, living like a simple pirate. But no, the idea was absurd. Who would give up being rich and royal for a ship and being hunted down by many?
Shaking her head, Emma went back up to her post.
The rest of the week on sea was also smooth sailing. No storms and not a single cloud in the sky. The princess's skin became red before turning darker and the complexion looked fitting on her, going along with her dark hair and eyes, and it looked like she came from the night though her soul only bore light.
They were able to reach port on Sunday. This would be where Emma mailed the letter and resupplied. They would wait here for a week or two, while they waited for a response from the Queen. In the meantime they would sleep on board in order not to pay rent in a tavern.
Regina was curious, and she wanted to see another town and how the people here lived. And who was Emma to say no to her. The poor girl was starved for worldly sights and Emma was only too glad to enlighten her.
She employed Sabine and Ruby to join her, leaving Neal and August in charge of the crew in her stead.
And such 'wonders' Regina experienced. Emma took her to try candy, to try freshly smoked meats, and to even watch a jester perform on the streets for a pretty penny. It was all so new to her. How could one not even taste candy?
"Mother never let me have it. Said it would rot my teeth," Regina explained to Ruby's questions.
"You poor girl," she sighed and shook her head before shoving all her candy to Regina. "Here. Eat to your heart's content. You have years of repression to make up for."
Regina gladly took them.
Each night the four of them would wander town, and see what it would hold. And then one night gypsies came to town. They always brought intrigue and pagan magics with them and Emma believed it would interest Regina so to see them in action.
So they ventured out into the woods where the gypsies made camp. The sound of accordions and balalaika's filled the air as did the smell of roasting meats and fire. Many townsfolk were already there, laughing and loud, drinks in their hands.
"Where shall we go to first?" Emma asked Regina who looked on in excitement.
"I do not know. What can we do here?" She was practically vibrating with repressed excitement.
"We can get our hands read. That will tell us what awaits in the future," Emma said, pulling Regina towards a tent with an old crone sitting inside it. It was quieter and cooler in the tent and it smelled of incense.
"We would like two palm readings," Emma said, fishing out some coin. Though Emma didn't believe in palm readings and in them being actually accurate, they were fun to listen in on, to see what the fortune tellers could come up with.
"Come in, come in," breathed out the woman when she accepted the coin. She had many wrinkles on her face and wore odd garbs with sequins and bangles on them. There was a table in the middle where there were cards on one side and an orb on the other. "Who first?" she asked and Emma stepped forward so that Regina could be more certain of what the activity entailed and how to act during it.
Emma held out her palm and the old woman snatched it up, peering down in concentration. She ran her knobby fingers over Emma's life, love, and health lines, muttering to herself in her language as she analyzed.
She sat back when she was done and began to speak, her beady eyes boring into Emma. "You have much anger in you. Much anger. Against one whose heart is not in the right place. You also mourn the loss of someone close to you. Someone you once loved." Huh, well that information could oddly be placed onto Emma's current situation. "But not to worry. You will meet new love, and it will take crossing many oceans to find them. And they will be your true love."
Okay, Emma wasn't sure about that part. There were many oceans. The odds of running into a finding her true love were slim. She stood up and now it was Regina's turn.
The fortune teller took her hand in her's, this time only taking a minute to deduce a reading. "You do not work much. Your life has been soft up until now. But it will become harder. And you will learn much. Much about yourself, about your mother. And not all of it will be good. Because you will be betrayed by someone you have grown to trust. Sleep with one eye open, princess."
Emma felt the breath in her lungs freeze. How—how the hell did this fortune teller know Regina was a princess? And betrayal...was she implying Emma selling Regina off, implying that Regina would soon find out that she had been kidnapped for ransom rather than be saved?
Her heart thudded in her chest but Regina seemed to not think too much on this. "Thank you," she said and walked out, beaming to Emma on how cool the whole experience had been. "She knew I was a princess. How did she know? And me being betrayed? Who will betray me?"
Emma shook her head, back pedaling to find a way to explain this. "They often make up things, throw out phrases that sound amazing and prophetic but aren't. She knew you were a princess because your hands were so soft. Only royalty has hands these smooth. And thus now that you are out in the real world, you will learn much. It doesn't take a genius to figure this out."
"Oh," Regina's face drooped. "So it's not true."
Emma let out a relieved internal sigh. "No. But it's fun to see what they come up with. Now, lets get some smoked boar. I heard they cook it well."
At long last came the Queen's response and it was filled to the brim with ire as was expected.
In it she did not back down from Emma's demands and instead told her to come face to face with her, naming her a coward for using such methods. The navy would be looking for them now without a doubt.
"So, captain, where are we going to keep the princess?" Sabine asked. "The Queen has gotten her note and she has sent her navy upon us. Where shall we weather the storm out?"
"The one place the Queen and her huntsman cannot legally reach us. The Pirate Cove," Emma said.
