Of Pirates and Princesses

Chaptre Seven: Hooked

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.

Two Days Ago~

Emma found Killian sitting in a bar as usual, a lager in his only hand and a wench on his lap as he chortled loudly at something the six crew members around him said.

"Killian, a word," she said as she swaggered up to him, brimming with anger and injustice. The men who had attacked her and Neal that day not too long ago, were men he had hired. Common scoundrels that would kill for a crooked doubloon.

"I'm a bit busy right now, come back later," he shooed her away without even looking at her, turning to nuzzle his mouth into the wench's throat who pretended she liked this by laughing obscenely.

Emma was not pleased. She parked herself in front of his table, hands on hips. "You will make time," she insisted.

The crew laughed at her. So did Killian. "You hear that. She demands a man make time for her. She orders a man around!"

Anger burned in her veins. She ground her teeth. "You must excuse us," Emma spoke to the woman on Killian's lap and the woman, seeing the fires burning in Emma's eyes, knew she would be fool to stay. She picked her skirts up and left.

"Where you going, lass," he called after her and made to get up when Emma placed a boot between his open legs, pressed right over his crotch in silent threat as one hand dug into the front of his open shirt.

Immediately swords and pistols were pulled out on her by his crew as chairs scrapped back. She barely flinched at the knowledge. Killian raised his hand and hook in a placating gesture. "Why, come to take me up on my offer of slipping into bed with me?" he grinned disgustingly up at her. He had tried to bed her many a time but always she had turned him down with a bullet through his captain's hat. Sadly he was not wearing it now, so she could not have the pleasure of ruining it again. She did, however, press her foot down harder until she could see his brow twitch in pain. Still, that annoying grin was upon his face.

"Why did you hire those men to come after my boatswain, Neal?" she growled out, shaking him a bit. He calmly took a sip of his drink.

"I know not what you speak of."

"Yes, you do. Why hire them? What was the point of it all?"

"Do not flatter yourself," he said, suddenly dropping his smarmy grin as he was getting pissed off at her ruining his evening. "Not everything on this island revolves around you. Neal could have been targeted because he was drunk and they thought they could rob him. You know how this island works."

"Except the men were spouting on about 'where the girl is'."

He shrugged. "And what does that have to do with me? They could have been bloody mistaken. Pirates aren't the brightest bunch. Ye would know," and he smugly smirked at her, insulting her intelligence. She let him go with an annoyed sigh. He wasn't admitting to anything, but she knew he had something to do with it.

She would have to keep her eyes open, until she could link him to something.

She turned on her heel and left the bar, his crew following her directions with her in the sights of their guns. She left out into the chill evening air, malcontent. Ever since Regina had seen the way Emma and Neal had sliced those men down, she had refused to see Emma. Had refused to talk to her. And it was very concerning.

Emma felt like a failure. Like she had failed to protect Regina's innocence. She had sworn to do it, to spare the princess from the evils of this world but it could not be done. And now she was hated for it.

And worst of all, she missed talking to Regina. Missed their conversations and the sharing of the bed. But she knew there was no way to apologize for this. Emma was who she was and she could not change it. Either the princess accepted that or she did not. Either way, what should it matter. She was their hostage, not Emma's friend.

Still, the hole gaped in her chest and she sought to fill it the only way she knew. By sleeping with someone. So she went to the bar, and started chatting up the bar tender. Once her shift was over, the two of them found themselves in the bar tender's bed, enjoying themselves until the sun rose. Once the pretty blonde was slumbering, worn out by their activities, Emma left, feeling a bit better.

~Present~

But things would quickly prove to go downhill when she heard news that navy ships were sighted off the coast of the islands. As per rules, they could not dock and they maintained their distance. But what the hell were they doing here? They had no jurisdiction or power here. Still, it would be best to set sail to avoid any troubles that might come with them.

"Ruby, go get Regina. Everyone else, prepare the ship for sail," Emma ordered when news came around. She packed her things from the tavern as Ruby raced down the stairs, distraught. "Regina's not there!"

Ice froze in Emma's veins. "What do you mean she's not there?"

"She's gone. Her scent is stale, meaning she's been gone for several days."

"Gone?!" Emma cried out, panicking. They hadn't come this far only for their prize to run away. "Where?"

"I don't know. I can't scent that well to track her down after all this time. But she's been gone a week now."

And Emma hadn't noticed. She had felt like such an idiot. Then who had been taking the trays of food she left outside for Regina to eat? That didn't matter anymore now. She needed to find Regina. And something told her that the princess's disappearance had a lot to do with the Royal Navy being here.

"Killian," she growled out, smashing her fist into the wooden table. "He must have spirited her away. I knew he was too suspect of her. He must have know the princess was stolen for he sits in the Queen's pocket."

Ruby paled at this. "Then what must we do?"

"We have to find him and then we can find Regina."

"Aye." Ruby nodded her head solemnly. "I'll get the crew." And they separated ways.


Regina was upset. No, she was more than that. She was fearful and tired and cold. Killian had betrayed her trust- perhaps it was he whom the fortune teller had been warning about. And she had been foolish to think him of any use. Of any good heart. He was a pirate. Filthy and no good. He and his men had towed her away and stashed her in some cold cell while they bid their time.

For what, Regina did not know, and she lamented the fact that she was useless. And where was Emma? Had the captain noticed? Was she out worrying about where Regina had went?

Surely, she had to be, right?

And if she was, she was taking a really long time to do so.

Regina had lost track of how long she was in this dark place for there were no windows to tell the passage of time. But she was cold and her body ached from sleeping on hard floors. And egad, it smelled terrible. But what was worse was the men. They would come downstairs and talk about how they'd love to show Regina what a real man felt like.

Those were vile words. And she hated every moment of them. This must be why her mother had locked her up. Her beauty could cause men to say such things, and once more she wished she had not been this pretty because then she wouldn't be as bothered.

She had cried herself to sleep several times but when Killian finally came around, she put on a brave face. She was going to find out why she was here.

"Finally showing your face? After you locked me up like an animal."

"I'm trying to help you," he explained, not apologetic.

"Then why tie me up? Why imprison me?"

"So that you don't get the wrong idea and try to run away. Also, to keep you safe from my men and any others out there. You are too tempting, princess," he said, touching her chin and she jerked away in distaste.

How did he know who she was? Was he part of the group that had attacked her wedding ceremony? Where was he going to take her? She did not believe anything he spoke anymore. Emma had been right in disliking him.

"I do not trust a word from your cursed mouth, pirate," she spat as unkindly as she could which was not much. "Emma was right about you."

He guffawed. "Funny how you think she is the righteous in this case, when I am the one actually helping you to get home."

Again, Regina did not believe his words. He saw that and shook his head sadly, playing with one of the many rings on his fingers. "Do as you wish, but in the end, you will be kneeling in front of me when you learn the truth, begging my forgiveness." And then he left, leaving her in the dark damp cell.


Regina knew she was being moved because the cell was opened and she was grabbed by unfriendly hands. Regina was blindfolded and her hands tied in front of her. Her sword had been taken away and she was defenseless with no idea where she was being taken. Strange voices surrounded her and she was frightened. Scared. Where was she being taken? Why had she been kidnapped?

Her heart pounded in her chest and she wished to be rescued by Emma and her crew.

"Relax, lovely," Killian's voice oozed close to her right ear. "Soon you'll be on the right direction heading home and this nightmare will be over."

She was too scared to even use her voice, her tears having stained the blindfold on her face. She was being lead roughly to the sea for she could smell the salt, or perhaps that was because of the tears. A moment later she was placed into a rickety boat. They were floating her out somewhere. But where? On sea she would truly have no chance of rescue. The oars splashed into the water and she listened intently, hoping a clue might be offered to where she was being taken. But the boat was quiet with barely some throw away comments being made, only the grunting of men as they rowed on.

And then all of a sudden a strong hand pulled her over board.


Killian was an idiot. Neal had knocked out one of his men and taken his spot without the captain noticing. Neal knew he wore the other man's clothing and eye patch but still, his face was recognizable for the most part.

Either Killian was an idiot or he didn't care for this crew. No, it was both. And he was a traitor to his own kind to boot. Neal scowled as he shuffled quietly behind Killian and three other men who were shielding the princess as they walked to a small rowboat that would take them to the naval ships. No doubt, Killian was the one who had alerted the navy to them and was now going to send Regina back to the Queen for a hard lump of cash.

Neal kept his head down and sat on the other end of the boat, away from Regina, focusing on rowing. From the corner of his eye he could spot the Clipper his captain had stolen from some vagrant entering the water ways, heading towards the middle of the sea, between the row boat and the navy.

As soon as they were close, he would strike.

All he had to wait on was Ruby.

The woman was the strongest swimmer out of them all, and she could hold her breath the longest. It was up to her to actually get the princess across the salty brine. His job was to hold the pirates off.

"What is that Clipper doing?" grunted out one of the men, annoyed. Killian hadn't noticed it because his back was to the ships and he was admiring his face in the glint of his hook.

Neal kept his eyes peeled to the waters, watching for any ripples. Ruby would already be in the water. It was only a moment now.

As if drawn by his thoughts, with a splash she erupted from the water, and pulled Regina by the back into the water. The princess didn't even have a moment to scream.

Immediately Neal was on his feet as the men blinked in shock, Killian sitting up to look over the edge where bubbles rose from where Regina had entered. "What the blimey hell-!"

Neal raised the oar he had been using and cracked it right across the man who had been sat in front of him. The tip splintered against his head, causing him to rock back to his knees and hit his head on the side of the boat.

This left the oar with a nice sharp tip which went right through the second man's back and out his chest before he could so much as pull out his gun and turn on Neal. The third man had more time and his sword was out, but Neal was ready, pulling out his own cutlass and parrying the blow coming his way. The sword went flying through the air and into the water and Neal's cutlass went through the man's gut with a sickening sound before he kicked him off the blade with his boot and knocked him into the water.

The first man whom he had hurt had risen to his feet, blinking rapidly, and so Neal turned to deal with him, while Killian finally turned on Neal, his flintlock pointing into his back. He had been stripping to dive into the waters to save the princess, but had stopped now when the intruder on his boat became too much of a threat to ignore.

"Who are you?" he growled out and Neal stood frozen, unsure what to do. A gun to his back and a blade to his front. Could he make it out?

He shouldn't have worried.

With a grunt, Ruby splashed out of the water, and sunk her small blade into the back of Killian's leg. He let out a roar and his aim went awry. Neal moved to the left just in time for the bullet to hit the man in front of him and then dove into the cold water too as Ruby slid back in.


The sea was warm yet cold at the same time and her screams died in her throat as water flooded her lungs. She thrashed, desperately trying to breathe, to breach the surface. Her body filled with panic and all she could think of was that she was going to die here and that no one would know.

Water flooded her lungs and she choked, inhaling in hopes it would help, only to draw more water in. Something grabbed onto her under the water and then she was being tugged and tugged. Maybe it was some sea monster, come to eat her. She tried to wail in horror but it was silent and then she broke to the surface, coughing and sputtering and choking still.

Whatever was carrying her was pulling her somewhere else and she could do nothing but let it take her away as she desperately tried to breathe past all the water in her lungs. And then strong hands and voices were on her as they pulled her up somewhere. Somewhere devoid of water and dry.

"Give me room, she's got water in her lungs!" A familiar voice called out and Regina would have cried in joy in she wasn't so busy being close to the edge of blacking out. Strong hands pushed to her wet clothes, pressing down on her chest and pushing out the water. Regina groaned in pain as it came spurting out from her, salty gushers that hurt as they came up.

But Emma didn't stop pumping, going until Regina finally coughed free the last amount and turned onto her side, inhaling greedily and almost half retching. A hand ran through her hair, soothing her.

"Ruby, Neal, Sabine, get this Clipper running! Leroy, get August out of the water. We need to move before the navy comes around," Emma ordered out, taking out a sharp small blade and cutting through the restraints on Regina's wrists and then sliding off the blindfold.

"You're going to be okay," she soothed as Regina sat up and wrapped her arms in a vise like grip around Emma and started crying.

"I was so scared. And worried," she blubbered, not caring how badly this reflected on her to cry. A lady was always to be composed. But Regina didn't feel like much of a lady right now, but a scared teen.

"It'll be fine. Everything's going to be okay," Emma said, tugging Regina's wet and shaking body closer to hers. They had recovered the princess. And she was in one piece thankfully.

"Captain, the ship's running, but we've got an issue!" Ruby's voice called out. She too was sopping wet but had no time to change from her clothes. Emma had to relent holding Regina and went to the front of the ship to see what was happening. The two naval ships had started turning inwards towards them, like making a tight passageway to block them from leaving. And the Clipper was too close to successfully make a turn from the situation. All they could do was continue onwards.

"Straight ahead," she directed.

"Are you sure?"

"Open all the sails. Let's get to maximum speed!" she roared out. Unfortunately they had left the rest of the paid crew on the other ship, so they were only manning this with less than ten people. But they would have to make it work.

She flung off her semi wet jacket and rushed towards some rigging, as her crew ran back and forth, even Leroy untying and tying ropes frantically.

All of the sails unfurled and the ship shot forwards, rushing closer to the two massive ships. The water chopped around them and the wind howled. Regina rose to her unsteady feet, chest still burning from salt water and eyes stinging with tears. She clung onto the railing for balance and her eyes opened wide. Were they really heading for the naval ships? Would they make it?

They were only ten seconds away, now five, and the gap between the two loomed smaller and smaller. Regina sucked in a breath and closed her eyes as everyone else on deck braced themselves for impact. Only Emma stood tall, now behind the wheel as she forced the ship into a straight line, gritting her teeth with the effort of holding it steady.

And then they were in the tight channel, shadows of the naval ships looming over them. The navy jeered down at them, and some shots were fired but all missed. The Clipper was two thirds in when a crunch erupted from the back. The end of the Clipper had scrapped on the naval ships and wood creaked and groaned as bits splintered off. For a terrifying second the pirate crew all believed they would get stuck here.

And then they were through, the front of the naval ships crushing together as they failed to impede the Clipper.

"We did it!" Leroy shouted out and the whole crew let out wild cheers as they flipped off the navy behind them, their boat still skipping over the waves happily.

It would take far too long for the naval ships to turn their bulking forms around. The Clipper would be many waves away by then.

As Emma stepped down from behind the wheel she was clapped on the back at her success. She waved it off, saying it was nothing, before she came up to Regina. "I have a spare pair of clothes for you, if you'd like." She smiled tentatively, as if unsure of their status because of what had happened days before. But Regina couldn't care any longer. She was glad to be among friends. To be rescued. She lept into Emma's arms once more, hugging her. "Thank you for rescuing me," she said and Emma looked pained by this word choice. Regina clung on a second too long for propriety for a woman but Emma was warm and safe and she smelled just like fresh vanilla, sunlight, and a hint of sea salt.

Regina relented her hold on the woman when she realized she was soaking her clothes. Emma cleared her throat, a hint of red on the edges of her ears.

"It was no problem, princess. I will save you as many times as it takes." Those words, paired with the soft look in Captain Swan's eyes made Regina swoon a little. How utterly romantic, just like in the stories she had read. Her cheeks flushed and before she could respond, Emma had moved on, shrugging off this interaction like it hadn't just entirely inflamed her heart.

Her voice was close to steady when she said, "now, let us all relax. We deserve it."