Chapter Twenty-Eight
What's Mine

- Outside the Gates, Atlantis -
- Day One of Triton's War -

"-I don't want you getting out there fighting because the Queen told you so." She said, taking a step off of the rock that she had been leaning against. The admiral stood at attention when she walked past him, twirling the sword she was holding in her right hand as she walked in front of the sea of gold and blue uniforms that were lined up in front of her. She didn't look off towards her right, because she knew who hadn't taken his eyes off of her since she'd began talking moments ago. "I want you you to fight for your kingdom." She tossed the sword to one of the men standing in front of her. She found herself glancing foward to see that, sure enough, Will was watching her closely.

She tore her gaze off of him momentarily, and said to them, "After the war brought upon the kingdom due to my rash actions months ago, I know that we lost alot of men." She glanced over at Rupert who gave her a nod, "You may not think that we're strong enough-" She looked back at the men before her as she said, "-but I do."

"Your Majesty?" Lila tore her eyes off of them, and looked behind her to see a naval officer standing behind her. He sighed and said, "They're coming."

With that, Lila turned to Jack. He turned his kohl-lined eyes to her, and said, "Love-"

"-Jack, you, Saphira and Ana make your way into the back entrance of the palace. Once Rupert leads a group into the palace, and takes down the guards there, they'll be inside for backup should something go wrong." Jack's face changed as when Lila said that. Somehow, he knew that this time wasn't like last time. They'd cheated things for too long. Lila took one of his hands, ignoring the look that Will shot over at them, and said, "Jack, whatever happens, don't come back out once you're inside."

"Lila-"

"-Will and I will go for Triton." Jack glanced down at their entwined hands. Then he raised his chocolate eyes to meet her emeralds. She smiled and said, "I'm fine. I'm a Sparrow after all." Jack smirked at her, one that let her know that she had made his ego even more bigger. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, "Careful, darlin'."

"Always am, Jacob." She said, mockingly, before walking in the direction of where Will was waiting. Jack smirked over at her, walking back over to where Saphira and Ana were. Lila and Saphira's gazes met briefly, before Lila gave Saph a nod. Saphie smiled at her, before turning on her heels, and following Jack and Ana into the city. Lila stopped when she got in front of where hers and Will's horses were. She put a hand on the gold-lined saddle, before glancing up at her husband, whom she hadn't talked to since their argument a few days earlier.

Lila's gaze locked with Will's for a moment. In that second, neither of them said a word. Lila dropped her gaze first, and pulled herself on to the horse. Will did the same to his and said, "You know what you're doing?" Lila glanced back at him and smirked as she made her way towards the gate. Will followed after her, with the hundreds of her army behind her on horse as well.

"Of course not." She glanced back at Will. "I make it up as I go along."

- Triton's Palace -

The king walked out of the palace, his long, brown curls blowing behind him. He focused his dark eyes on the hundreds of men riding towards his palace. Glancing to the other side, he saw Mercer doing the same on the east docks. He heard someone walk up behind him, and at seeing that it was his own admiral, he said, "Prepare for battle."

The young man nodded, and ran back inside the palace. Running down the stairs, he yelled the commands for all men to prepare for battle. Triton remained on the balcony, watching his own men ride through the city, ordering the residents to remain inside, not flee. As it was too late for that. Trition put his sword back into place, and walked down the stone steps. As he walked towards where his own horse was waiting, his eyes fell on the statue that rested in the middle of the city in memory of his wife. Closing his eyes, he remembered who killed him. He remembered what family had betrayed him.

And as the three kingdoms came together at that very moment, he promised himself that he would get revenge for what was done to his wife. Triton pulled himself on the horse, and watched as smoke filled the air. He could make out the golden flag with the sparrow in flight over the sun being held up by one of the men riding towards them. Glancing to the other side, he could see the EITC's flag flying just as high and as proudly as the sparrow's was.

As his men lined up behind him, Triton stared at the statue of Athena. Closing his eyes, he knew he would keep that silent vow he made himself.

"Lila." Will whispered to her, in a warning tone as they approached the palace. Lila glanced over to see that a flare had gone off somewhere from behind the palace, which of course meant that Rupert, Jack, Ana and Saphie had sucessfully made it into the palace. Lila looked over at Will, getting over the fact that she was still mad at him. Will had a look of concern on his face, and opened his mouth to speak, when a voice called out, "Your Grace."

Lila and Will turned to see Mercer riding up to meet them. Lila glanced down, before meeting Mercer's eerie gaze once more. He was twirling the metal used for branding pirates in one of his hands as he rode up in front of them. His thin lips curved into that twisted smile as he said to her, "You were never marked,Sparrow." Lila didn't seem phased at all by the fact that he had called her that. If anything else, it made her smirk more as she said, "Fancy that."

Triton and his men rode up to the right of them. Neither groups knowing just what to expect in the next few minutes. Will rode up closer so that he was just a little in front of Lila. Mercer saw this and said, "You won't always be there to protect her."

"I will be." Will said, in a toneless voice. "Count on that."

The first move came out of nowhere. As if ignoring the engagement of a fair fight, Mercer had his men charge as soon as will uttered those words. The quick movement caught Lila off guard, forcing her to ride back. Will, after disarming one of Mercer's men, turned around and yelled, "Lila!"

"Will, just go! I'm fine!" He heard her, but he didn't see her. Will turned his horse around, and began riding through the crowd, trying to find her. He finally did. "Lila." He jumped off of his horse, and kneeled down beside her, "Lila..." She opened her eyes, a small trail of blood was running down her face.

"Damned idiot did that on purpose." Lila mumbled as Will pulled her up. Will, once again, was about to say something, but multiple swords pointed at them as Mercer's chilling voice rang out, "By order of the King of England, I claim this city for England." When Lila looked up from Will, Mercer smirked and said, "You're all under arrest."

"You can't do that!" Will said, keeping his grip on Lila. "She's bloody Queen. Hell, you can't even arrest me either! I rule-" He froze when he saw what seemed like millions of men sailing under British flags capturing Triton's men and the people of his city. Will glanced up at Mercer who held out a piece of parchment, "If any royal convicted of piracy is found guilty of just that, he or she is subject to hanging 'till dead." Will's grip on Lila tightened as Mercer continued, "Any treaty or document signed by said convicted royal is automatically void. Now, tell me something, Your Highness. Were you not found guilty of piracy?"

"Yes." Lila replied without hesitation.

"Did you not sign the document letting Triton regain his control over Atlantis when you became Queen?" Mercer spat at her.

"Yes." She said, again without any hesitation.

"Then everything you've signed has gone void, Your Highness." Will and Lila stared up at him as he got off of his horse and said, "Atlantis and your kingdom, are mine."