Of Pirates and Princesses
Chaptre Six: Pirate Cove
"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.
...
The Pirate Cove: Home to all sea scoundrels. And the only safe place for pirates to legally walk around. The whole place had been founded by pirates on the island of Nassau and sometime in the past a treaty had been made between the Cove and sovereign governments that lead the Cove being recognized as it's own nation, free from other government influences.
That didn't mean every nation was happy with this, but they knew better than to sail around the waters of the Pirate Cove if they wanted to keep their ships and their lives.
"And you say I will be safer there?" Regina asked once Emma explained to her the location's history.
"Aye, you shall."
"But I am not a pirate! Surely they will be able to tell-"
Emma waved away her concerns. "Stay close to us, speak none, and you shall be fine. We will only stay there until it is safe to come back out."
"And how long will that be?"
"However long it takes," Emma replied with as they pulled the ship up to dock.
The docks were crowded with all sorts of shindigs and boats and ships. And the shores were crowded with pirates as well, either on their third bottle of drink, or cooking something up on a spit.
The stench on these islands never seemed to clear. It was one that stank of alcohol, sweat, and smoke, as if the very island was made from them.
Regina could not help but linger closely to Captain Swan. Even though the blonde had finally awarded Regina her own steel cutlass which she had pinned to her hip, she did not have confidence in her own abilities just yet. And neither did she really want to hurt someone with it.
"Walk with a swagger," Emma said, noting Regina's small body language. "If they smell weakness on you, they will come for your throat."
Regina nodded her head and swallowed nervously. She needed to be braver. Hadn't she wanted adventure just like in the books? If she wanted to succeed she needed to be a cunning and resourceful heroine.
She pulled her back upright and spread her legs so that she could walk with a more confident gait, mimicking Swan's own movements. Once the ship was anchored and the sails pulled closed, the crew walked off, Emma leading the way and Regina sticking close by her.
As she walked she took in everything, noting the squalor and filth the island was covered in. It almost made her stomach riot because of all the smells so she kept her breathing light. So, this was peak pirate culture it seemed. The epicenter of it all.
She was intrigued by it, but now that she had seen it, she'd rather not see it again.
"We will be staying at an inn out of the way of the main street," Emma said, pulling her hat down low over her face as if to hide it. Regina wondered why she was doing this, when her face was so pretty.
They had not walked more than twenty paces when a loud voice called for them. Regina swiveled to look but Emma's hand clamping her shoulder stopped her from doing so. The message was clear: keep walking.
But the voice did not stop calling. "Oi, Swan. Swan, have you gone deaf?"
Reluctantly and with a huge groan, Emma was forced to stop when a man ran up to her. He was wearing a heavy leather overcoat and mud splattered boats. His hair was cut short and he had dark stubble on his handsome face. And where one hand should be, was a hook. It gleamed menacingly in the sun.
"Swan, sink me, I thought you had given up this life style," he said, reaching out his hand. Emma clasped his in a tight grip and he winced at the pressure she put behind it. He words were slurred with drink and he did not seem at all that steady on his feet.
Regina watched the exchange curiously. Had Emma done this before; taken people she needed to protect to the Cove?
"The sea is a tempting mistress. And I could not resist her call for too long," she smiled stiffly at him. "Now, if ye don't mind, I'll be on my way. I'm here on business."
"Too much business, that ye cannot even splice the mainbrace- your crew and mine?" he asked, his eyes landing on Regina. "Aye, I see you've got yourself a pretty fine bird on crew," he smiled, leering down at her and Regina felt disgust coil in her stomach. She instinctively stepped closer to Emma. She shouldn't have, for Emma protectively stepped in front of her, anger marring her features. "What I do with her is on my own terms. Best keep your nose out of it, savvy?"
He kept the smile plastered on his face. "You must excuse me then, because she looks stunningly similar to someone." He placed his hook over the hilt of his cutlass, a smug look on his face. "I heard the princess was missing. Stolen away by some ruffians."
Regina's heart stops in her chest. Does he know? Will she no longer be safe here?
Emma laughs it off. "How could the princess be stolen away when she lives behind locked doors."
"Did ye not hear of the wedding? Of how the princess was kidnapped then?"
Her, kidnapped? No, but she had been rescued, right? Unease fluttered into her stomach.
"Killian, you tell such high tales. You must be three sheets to the wind. Do yourself a favor and lie down before the drink tips you over."
She patted him condescendingly on the shoulder as she stepped past him. His face darkened at her distaste. As Regina walked past him on shaking feet, he glared at her and she gulped nervously. She raced to catch up to Emma, wanting clarification. The gypsy woman had said something about betrayal...Regina hoped she was wrong.
"What was he talking about?"
"Ah, don't listen to him. He's drunk on rum and rumors." Emma waved it off.
"But he had some of the facts correct, so then what could that mean?" Regina pressed, wanting to be wrong about this feeling coiling inside her. Emma's face did not falter, though her voice did get tighter.
"Fake word, no doubt put out by your enemies hoping to lure you in when all they want to do is hurt you. We will stay put until the Queen sends word for us."
Regina nodded her head in acquiescence and wordlessly followed Emma, two unnamed crew members walking behind her.
And thus, they began their stay in the Pirate Cove. Emma and Regina shared a bed and a room, so that Emma could look over her and keep her safe. Emma's close crew stayed in the tavern as well while the rest of the crew were free to do as they pleased on the island until time came for them to board once more.
In the meantime they did nothing more than spend coin on food and drink and attend barbaric pirate rituals.
"I'm heading over to cracked Jenny's tea cup," August said, clasping Emma on her back. "You coming with me?"
"They have a tea shop here? Can I come?" Regina had asked for it had been a while since she'd had tea and she missed that aspect of her home life.
August had only given her an odd look along with Emma before the two of them burst out laughing, making Regina's cheeks go pink.
"You say the darnedest things, princess," August chortled, wiping away a tear.
"What did I say wrong?" she mumbled under her breath in shame, not understanding.
"I'll have to reject your gracious offer," Emma told August. "I don't like paying for women with coin."
"Aye, see you once my mast is done, captain," he winked and strode off in the direction of the tea house.
Emma then turned to Regina, whose eyes were wide in confusion.
They pleaded wordlessly for Emma to explain and she did so in a delicate manner. "It is a place for men to enjoy loose women."
"Oh!" And Regina's cheeks flushed even more. She had no desire to go to such a place. And why had August propositioned Emma to go there as well? Did Emma also enjoy women? The thought made Regina's cheeks burn even brighter and something pleasurable twist inside her stomach almost taking her breath away with it's intensity. She shook her head to clear her thoughts and feelings on this away.
"Come, let us go somewhere else. I know of a little show that might garner your interests," and Emma had steered them in the direction of a bonfire on the sandy dunes of a beach. Many men were already gathered here and they were drunk by the smells of it.
As Regina passed them by, they all leered at her, a few whistling at her.
"Young lass, why don't you sit on me lap?" called out, followed by the laughter of his crew as he waved her over in what was meant to be an enticing manner. She felt revulsion crawl down her spine as she shrunk into herself, but the warm hand on her shoulder stopped her.
"Don't listen to them. They're not worth it," Emma grunted out, though her eyes screamed ferociousness at those men. Screamed daggers to their throat. She would kill them if they so much as raised a finger towards the princess. Regina nodded her head and clutched the pommel of her hilt hard.
They got to a lesser crowded part of the beach, where Ruby was standing with two cut coconuts in half, filled with liquor. "Took you a while to get here," she said, handing them each one. "I almost drank myself to death from boredom."
"We didn't take that long."
"Sorry for keeping you waiting," Regina and Emma said at the same time, Ruby arching a brow at Regina's manners. "Well, someone knows how to apologize to a lady," she said, turning pointedly to Emma.
Emma rolled her eyes. "Last time I checked, you're not a lady. You swear too much to be one."
"You're fucking wrong," Ruby said, laughing and bumping shoulders with Emma in good taste.
The three of them stood around the fire, waiting for the musicians to assemble themselves.
There was a man on the accordion, one on the drums, and one on the guitar. "For ye listening pleasure, we bring you the singing tale of a sea hero, a captain by the name of Long John."
Emma knew the story well, every pirate did, but Regina did not. "Listen well, this is a part of pirating history."
And Regina did.
A hush fell over the crowd and they listen in rapt attention as the story was told in a combination of singing and music that chronicled his many adventures over the seas and land and even air. It was a fantasy tale but also a moral code, a tale of caution, and when it was over, Regina felt like she had learned something she wouldn't have in any book.
"Did you like it," Emma asked and Regina nodded her head fervently.
"I did. It was refreshing."
"I think a nap would be refreshing right now," Ruby said, swaying slightly on her feet. The night had grown colder around them and Regina shivered slightly. Emma slipped her red coat around Regina's shoulders. It was warm and smelled like her; a combination of sea and vanilla.
She felt warmer already in it.
"We shall walk you to your bed, wolf, and then I may stay up for another drink, if Regina will accompany me."
"I am not too tired." Regina had barely touched her drink because she did not want to embarrass herself again like she had with Leroy's dinners. Emma had drank hers but had only had one so she was fine. Ruby had kept drinking throughout the story.
They walked Ruby to the tavern, the path dark and muddy, barely lit by gaslight. Loud voices came from up ahead and Emma's face fell into a deep frown. "That does not sound good," she noted and hurried her step. Regina and Ruby kept pace, the former recognizing Neal's voice, clearly agitated.
"Bugger off!" he growled out and Regina could see him under a lamp post sputtering feebly. His sword was out and he was surrounded by six men, all looking hungry for blood.
"Stay back with Ruby," Emma warned Regina.
Ruby spoke up. "I can fight-"
"In your state, you'll only get yourself hurt," Emma hissed at Ruby who scowled but did as asked. Regina pulled her aside to stand by some bushes where they would be partially hidden. Her heart was thudding in her chest and she felt nervous. But she wanted to see what was happening.
"Tell us where the girl is!" growled out one of the offenders. "And we won't need to harm ya."
"I have no idea of whom you speak off," Neal said, his voice steady despite the danger around him. Emma was walking quietly up behind them, and if he noticed her he did not give anything away. He just kept his grip steady on the sword as Emma pulled her's out.
"Gentlemen, I suggest backing away from my boatswain least you find a hole in you," she threatened and they spun on their heel to face her, giving Neal the chance to step forward and run his sword right through the man who had been standing right in front of him.
A gurgle died on his lips as he dropped to the ground, the sword exiting smoothly, tip red. Regina's eyes opened wide and she felt like she was going to be sick. "Oh god," she groaned out and spun away, bending over, trying to catch her breath.
She had just seen a man killed in front of her. And by Neal too.
"First time seeing a kill?" Ruby taunted in an unhelpful manner.
Shouts erupted behind her, and swords clanged on swords. Several heavy thumps fell to the ground. They sounded just like the first body falling had and she felt sick to her stomach, it coiling and boiling with disgust until she finally retched.
Ruby watched her coolly before shaking her head and sighing heavily. She crouched down next to her, rubbing soothing circles on her back, until Regina could finally stand back up, feeling shaky on her limbs.
A couple moments later silence fell and Emma and Neal approached the bushes they were in, spots of drying blood on their shirts and blades bloody.
"Ruby, did you throw up?" Emma asked.
"No, I didn't drink that much," Ruby said.
"Did you...did you kill them?" Regina stammered out, looking pale like a ghost. Shaking like a leaf in the wind.
"'Course we did," Neal answered without hesitation. "If we didn't, they would kill us."
"Princess," Emma reached out a hand but Regina stepped back, frightened.
"No. Don't touch me."
Emma's hand dropped and she felt hurt but she tried not to show it.
"Ruby, take me home," Regina said, sharply looking away. She couldn't believe it. They had killed someone. They didn't have to. They didn't.
Ruby nodded her head, shrugging to Emma and Neal in a 'what can I do?' manner before taking Regina back to her room. There the princess sat down on the bed, tossing the captain's red coat onto the chair by the window.
She didn't know how to feel. Except betrayed. She had thought the captain a gentle creature. But...
She had not been on the bed long before Emma strode into the room. Regina did not bother to turn around to look at her.
"Regina, I cannot fathom why you are upset. This sort of behavior is all too common in the world. You have been locked up for ages, you do not know the true horrors of men. To be fair I wished to spare you from them, and I am sorry you had to see it. I told you to look away, but you did not listen. You only have but yourself to blame for seeing this." Emma said this quickly and from the other side of the bed, not making any action to step closer.
"What difference does it make. I merely would have been blind to knowing you are a killer. Both you and Neal."
"Nay, we are all killers on the crew Regina. All of us. And we do it to protect you, do not mistake that. Those men were after you and they were going to kill my crew if I did not help out. I truly had not wished you to see such horrors, but atlas you have and there is nothing more I can do about it. If you need time and space I shall give it to you. I merely wish to change out of my clothes."
"The clothes of a murderer," spat Regina, hoping to hurt Emma. Hoping to hurt her like she had been hurt.
Emma did not say anything to this, merely took her change of clothes and her jacket, before leaving silently.
Two weeks passed in this manner. Regina kept to her room, her food being delivered by Emma to her door each day. When she would bring it up, all she would do is softly knock and call out the name of the meal. Regina would wait until she was gone before opening the door and eating what was offered. Regina now slept on an empty bed and it felt odd to do so, given how full it had been before with Emma's warm form. The captain kept her word and gave Regina space while the princess grappled with moral dilemmas.
What would she do with this new information? She had thought them all good people, and they killed.
But do not the heroes in your stories kill as well? Men and monsters of evil who threaten good? An inner voice asked and she sighed, torn on how to feel. She wanted to keep liking them but how could she be friends with killers?
Just like how you can like heroes who kill.
Regina rubbed her forehead and sighed out heavily. Reality and fantasy were two different things.
Regina found herself growing bored from staying inside the room all day. Never again could she do such a thing; let herself to be allowed to be kept confined to four walls. Not when she had tasted the outside world. And already she had wasted too much time. So when Emma was gone one day, out to get breakfast for them, Regina decided to go out on a bit of a walk. Just to stretch her legs. She knew this island was full of unsavory characters and she didn't want to run into any trouble so she would be brief. And she would take her sword with her. Emma and the others had trained her but she still had a long ways to go before she would be of any use with the blade.
She didn't want to harm anyone with it, just scare them away.
She left the tavern in her pirate disguise, passing by some sleeping drunks on the stoops. Everyone here drank like a fish, even Emma, and Regina could never get on board with that. Drink was such a foul thing and it made her head spin and hurt. The first time she had gotten drunk she hadn't even know she had. She had eaten Leroy's soup which contained rum. Sabine had told Regina the next day that she had danced with all of them, and then fallen asleep in Captain Emma's arms, before having to be carried to bed.
Regina had flushed in embarrassment at that. The captain must think her a lady of no class for doing such a thing. But Sabine had laughed and waved it away, saying that they didn't mind because they all lacked half the class that Regina held in simply the pinky finger on her body.
That had made Regina feel a mite better. But it hadn't stopped her from thinking over how the captain must be so strong for a woman as to carry Regina over herself to the bunk. It only made Regina's admiration and adoration of the captain stronger, inciting feelings deep inside her belly that she could not yet name.
And when that horrid incident had happened aboard ship to Regina, and Emma had come to save her, Regina couldn't be more grateful. She only wondered what had happened to those men afterwards. She had never seen them after all that transpired. And now with knowledge of Emma's killing abilities, she feared they were dead for that infraction. And she felt terrible over it, but she knew it was too late now to do anything. How many had the captain killed to keep Regina safe? Was it, in fact Regina's fault? Was she the root of all evil here? Driving others to kill?
Conflict rested uneasily in her head and heart and she knew she needed to make sense of it and soon for she could not live torn in half life this.
However, a good thing did come from the incident on the ship. Sharing the bed with the Captain. Regina had shared the bed before with her handmaidens and female servants but never with an adult woman who she barely knew. It was both an exhilarating and nerve wracking experience. Yet she wanted to do it, because she wanted to do new things. She wanted to experience a world unlike the one she had been raised in. And so she had slid under the covers, though the captain had pushed pillows between them so as to give them both some modesty and space. Emma had been the first to fall asleep, Regina only feigning it. Due to her nerves she was a bit unable to sleep and when she turned around she could see the captain's noble features bathed in moonlight coming in through the window. Her features were soft and harsh at the same time, giving her a rugged yet feminine appearance. Her nose was strong and her jawline cut. And her lips were nearly always a straight line unless they were lifted in humor or drink with her friends.
And her curls. So golden and perfect, even with the sea wind and harsh sun on board the ship. Regina longed to reach out and touch them. Regina knew many said she was the prettiest woman in the world, with her auburn hair and caramel eyes and lovely figure. But she didn't much care for her own looks for they had only made her be locked away like some treasure, never to see the light of day.
Regina looked on at Emma's slumbering face before she finally drifted off into sleep. From then on the nights were easier as she grew accustomed to having the captain in the same bed as her.
Emma had never done her harm. Had been kind to her and taught her many things. As had her close crew. Could a person who hurt in the name of good truly be a good person? She wasn't a scoundrel by any means. Her personality was nice.
Deep in her thoughts of the past's journey on ship, Regina did not notice the man following her for a good twenty paces. He had been hiding before behind the pillar of the tavern she had been staying in, and now he took his chance to trail her, beady eyes glowing under the hat obscuring his face with shadows.
Regina's growling stomach brought her out of her thoughts. She looked around her and saw a tavern close by. She had some coin in her pocket and she would eat there. She sat down in a rickety chair and ignored some cat calls sent her way. She ordered some breakfast and waited for it to arrive, but she did not have to wait alone for the man who had been following her, took the spare seat in front of her.
"There you are darling," he winked at her, taking off his hat. "I was hoping to find you."
Him, she'd seen him before. Emma had called him Killian. Regina wasn't sure she liked him and she'd like to leave but her food had just come and she was hungry.
"Why were you looking for me?" she asked, watching that hook of his. It looked sharp. He noticed her discomfort at it.
"This. I lost me hand to a croc with a nasty bite," he explained, though he did hide it away under the table. That made her feel a bit more at ease. "And I had some talking to do with you. But, do eat your breakfast in peace. We are in no rush."
Regina wasn't sure if she could trust him, so she warily watched him as she ate her meal. The food was horrid but she was hungry. She missed the castle kitchens. They had amazing food.
"What may I call such a wondrous creature like you?" he asked, eyeing her.
"Regina," she said. "And what may I call you?"
"My name is Killian but I prefer to go by Captain Hook when on land and sea," he smiled at her in a crooked manner like his name was supposed to mean something to her. It did not. "I was wondering what you were doing on Captain Red Baroness's crew."
"Who?"
"Ah!" he popped his brow. "I see you do not know her by that name. Perhaps she has discarded it. But I speak of Emma. We call her that because of her red trademark jacket. And because of her kind treatment of enemies."
"She's merely protecting me," Regina answered, not wanting to give too much away.
"From who?"
"Evil men who are coming after me."
"What evil men?" he peered in, closer.
She leaned back, further. "Why do you wish to know?" she asked suspiciously.
"Because I care. Emma and I were close once upon a time. But aye, the seas drew us apart. And now that we are back on the same isle, I wish to help you, as a favor to her. So tell me more about these men who wish to harm you, Regina. Tell me about yourself and I can add men to help you on your safe travels."
That sounded good. "If you send extra men, will Emma no longer have to kill?"
"No longer have to...?" His lips clamped tight here as if he was holding back something, like laughter. His eyes shone in amusement. "Yes, she won't."
Regina sighed in relief. "I have quite the dilemma," she admitted. "I like Captain Swan and her crew. They were all so kind to me to take me from the castle, but then they had to kill some men and I don't like that. I wish they wouldn't have to do it. Not for my sake." In this moment understanding flooded her. So that was why she felt so wrong about this. She knew the taking of life was wrong, but justifiable under the right circumstances. But what bothered her more was the fact that it had been to protect her. She didn't want them to have to do that anymore.
Her eyes widened and she let out a loud gasp. "I don't wish to be protected or hunted down by these people any more."
Killian watched her with sharp eyes. "I can help you," he said calmly. "Let us go speak to Swan right away to get this matter settled."
"Oh but I cannot," she said as he stood up eagerly. "I am not on the best of terms with her."
He looked frustrated at that, but it quickly flitted away. "Then we shall make things right. Come," he held his hand flat out, offering to help her up.
She rather not quarrel with the captain and she figured two weeks was a long enough silence. She wanted to converse easily with her once more.
She took his hand. They walked out past some dilapidated rows of houses and stores, before winding down some revolting alleyway. As they neared the end, a man with a dirty face entered, grinning with a leer at Regina.
" 'Ello, girlie," he said and she had just managed to place a hand on her hilt when she was grabbed roughly behind. "Killian!" she spurted out but the man had vacated her and was watching all this happen from the sidelines.
She was hit hard in the back of her head, hard enough for it to make her lull forwards as the man in front held onto her.
A dark bag went over her head as rough hands continued grabbing her and the next thing she knew, she was out like a light.
A/N: Definitions for pirate lingo
Three Sheets to the Wind: Very, very drunk.
Savvy: Do you understand?
Splice the mainbrace: Give the crew an alcoholic drink, sort of like a reward/ party.
Cracked Jenny's Tea Cup: a brothel where people would spend the night.
Sink Me: an expression of surprise.
