We're getting closer to the climax of our story, I'm planning on this fic being 20 chapters long so just 6 more to go! Thank you for all the wonderful feedback I've gotten, this has gotten the least attention of all my fics even though it is probably my favourite to write, so I really appreciate hearing your lovely reviews. Hope you like this chapter!
Silence hung like a thick cloud in the crowded alehouse as the two patrons entered and walked towards the bar. One was a ghost; after years without a trace all of a sudden the only successful female pirate Captain, the only woman on these seas who could evoke desire, fear, and respect in the men she came up against, who's reputation as a fierce warrior and cunning negotiator preceded her. Tortuga was never short of surprises but no sailor in the tavern that night expected to lay eyes on Captain Swan again.
Their surprise and fear were matched with their curiosity of who the pirate accompanying her was. His swagger oozed confidence, or was it cockiness? He was tall with dark features and a scar on his face that appeared fresh, but the most sinister part of his aesthetic was without doubt the glimmering grisly Hook protruding from where his hand should be.
The sound of their boots on the hard stone floor echoed through the establishment alerting all of their arrival. Emma slinked onto a bar stool pushing a stack of coins towards the bartender. "Keep the rum flowing" she ordered.
The older man's eyes never left her as he took her coins quickly replacing them with two glasses and a bottle of rum, yet holding his stare.
"Is there a problem, mate?" Killian sneered, popping the 't'
The bartender reared his head, squaring up to Emma, refusing to acknowledge Killian's presence let alone his question. He flashed his yellow teeth, accented with a gold tooth right on the top centre of his incongruous grin.
"Tell me lass, how is it that the notorious Captain Swan, who was famously captured by the royal guard of Aaralyn and executed for stealing the Crown Jewels, has just walked through the doors of my humble establishment? You're drinking rum so you can't be a spirit!" His eyes never wavered, permeated with suspicion.
"If that's the tale you've been spun then my double crossing, bottom dwelling bastard of a former partner in crime must have been here." Her words dripped with spite.
Every ear in the tavern was twitching in anticipation of what Emma would say. Ever since the night Baelfire strolled in with her crew reciting his dramatic tale of Captain Swan's capture and demise there had been countless retellings, facts became blurred, the events clouded as each raconteur added their own twist. It developed into one of the most exciting narratives on the seven seas but now Captain Swan was here among them in the flesh so either their favourite anecdote was a lie from the lips of Baelfire or their protagonist escaped making an even more entertaining tale!
"Aye, he was in these parts a year and a half ago sprouting stories of your capture, said he barely escaped with his treasure, a crown he was acquiring for someone." The bartender informed her.
"Well that much is true..." Emma had to be careful, she couldn't risk Killian being discovered, she also didn't want word getting out the Queen of Aaralyn was out of the Dark Ones captivity and roaming the oceans on her pirate ship. Her story had to be compelling and believable and the best lies always contained an element of truth. She downed the rum in her glass, slamming it on the table and spinning round on her barstool to face her keen listeners.
"Baelfire and I were after the Middlemist crown, he'd found a buyer and the pay-out was big enough not to ask questions, if you know what I mean..." There were a few nods and sniggers from her captivated audience, "Once the crown was in our possession we made our escape, but, realising we were cornered Baelfire took the crown and left me to take the fall, quite literally, while he made his bid for freedom. I was escorted to the castle dungeon and sentenced to death; however the King decided to show mercy..."
She felt Killian tense beside her, unsure of how much of the truth she would divulge.
"...because I was a woman" this earned more jeers and laughter from the crowd and once again Killian relaxed beside her, taking a swig of his rum to try and numb the searing pain in his wrist. "He waved the death sentence and instead I was to live out my days rotting in that cell. Which I did until the kingdom came under attack of the Dark One."
The room grew silent; every soul there knew an encounter with the Dark One was best avoided at all costs.
"The castle was destroyed and the kingdom along with it...I crawled out of the rubble and slipped away undetected."
The bartender weighed up her tale, it seemed accurate but he still had questions "Aye, we heard about the slaughter at Aaralyn, but that was months ago, where have you been since then, where is Baelfire, and who the hell is this?" He nodded in Killian's direction while the whole room still had their eyes on Emma.
She shrugged, "Baelfire never knew how to keep his mouth shut. Before he safely delivered the crown to his buyer he'd been boasting of his plunder in every tavern between Aaralyn and Agrabah reciting the details to any soul who would listen. One of the King of Aaralyn's men had been in pursuit of the jewels and followed the story, finding him in no time. Baelfire got away but lost the crown and now had a problem, his buyer wasn't a patient or forgiving man, he had no choice but to return to take the crown again. He came back just in time to see the city burn and discover, unfortunately for him, that I not only wasn't dead but had escaped."
She poured herself another drink and lifted it to her lips "no one betrays Captain Swan" then downed the contents of the glass and slamming it in the table to accent her point.
The room gasped. "You killed Baelfire?" A chubby bearded pirate in the corner asked in disbelief. "Your own lover"
Emma shrugged again showing no emotion "On my ship the punishment for mutiny is death...for any sailor." There was no telling what Emma would have actually done with Baelfire if given the chance but the fact was he was dead and it served her reputation better to have people believe he fell at her hand.
A shudder of whispers filled the room. Killian glanced around taking in the looks of shock, horror, respect, and some even looked impressed. It was safe to say they believed her.
"So where have you been?" The bartender probed. Emma opened her mouth to talk but Killian got there first. "She was crossing paths with me on the black seas."
There was a collective audible gasp. It was a smart cover story on Killian's part, he knew none of these pirates would have dared venture to the cursed waters and if he'd spent his pirating years there it would both explain why they had never seen him before while instilling the respect and fear he needed for them to take him seriously.
The corner of Emma's mouth rose slightly; impressed by the King's quick thinking. "With Baelfire gone I needed a new partner, I'd heard rumours of Captain Hook, but the stories seemed too farfetched, and if they were indeed true it was unlikely he'd want a partner. I had to show him my worth."
Killian took over, "She challenged me to a duel, much to my amusement, and so I accepted, no one had ever bested me in a sword fight before."
"And she did?" The bartender asked skeptically.
Emma's chest swelled, she prided herself on her skill with a sword and knowing Killian saw her fight disguised as a knight in his tournament back when they were living in the castle she smiled. He must have truly been impressed.
"No" he said plainly.
Emma quickly deflated, firing him a dirty look.
He retaliated with a charming smile and wink, enjoying all the attention a bit too much for her liking! There was stifled laughter rippling across the room.
"The truth is she lasted longer than any other opponent and it seemed whatever move or trick I threw her way she was able to deflect and counter challenge, the fight lasted hours and eventually we called a truce and she had my attention."
It was just enough for her to allow him this moment, since it hadn't come too much at her own expense, but this discussion of who was a better sword fighter would be addressed once and for all...in private.
Answering the crass chuckles and jeers from his last comment Killian elaborated, "any sailor, man or woman, who could prove to be my peer deserved my respect, I set Captain Swan the challenge of acquiring a jewel I'd yet been unable to procure and when she returned with it the next day I knew we'd make quite the team, we've been plundering ever since, only recently venturing back to these waters."
It seemed their storytelling was compelling enough to satisfy their listeners that night and secure their right to be there. As their novelty dwindled and the patrons resumed their own conversations, pub games, and frivolity Emma and Killian grabbed the bottle and found a more private corner table.
"That was quite the recount of events Hook." Her tone was anything but subtle.
Killian blushed slightly, lifting his finger to scratch nervously behind his ear, a tell of his that Emma knew too well and had come to find endearing. "Sorry, love, I guess I got carried away..."
"Well it seemed to do the trick, apparently you're a natural, are you sure you weren't a pirate in a past life?"
"A rake, perhaps, but no, not a pirate."
She narrowed her eyes, trying to imagine Killian in his younger roguish days. "I'm sure you broke many a heart"
He cleared his throat, not completely comfortable with where the conversation was headed. "Aye, perhaps..."
"And Milah?" Perhaps it was the copious amount of rum she'd consumed to get through their initiation making her bold but Emma since falling for Killian was curious about the woman he'd loved so much he'd removed his own heart.
He grabbed the bottle, emptying the remaining amber liquid to buy himself some time while he considered her question. He licked the remaining rum from his lips. "Milah was different." He stopped and Emma wondered if he had any intention of elaborating but after a moments consideration he shrugged and continued, "She was older, more experienced, just as reckless as I was and off limits...she was married." He explained.
"Sounds like a great catch." She instantly regretted her jealous sarcastic tone when she saw him wince. "I'm sorry, that wasn't fair" she muttered feeling ashamed of herself.
"Aye well, it is what it is" he didn't want to talk about Milah, not now, and certainly not here. "What about you? What made you choose this line of work?" He waved his hand in the air signalling to the pirates all around them.
She took a deep breath, "the short story: from as long as I can remember I lived in a tower, held captive by a witch, she was hardly there, in her stead was a servant called Henry...he was an older man, he raised me and he was kind but she'd cast an enchantment over him so he couldn't allow me to escape, even if he wanted to. When I was 16 he taught me how to weave baskets out of rope, she brought supplies, seeing it as a useful hobby, and she'd sell my baskets at market. One day when a new batch of supplies arrived, enough to make a hundred baskets he told me he'd taught me everything I needed to know to make my escape but that I would never succeed while he was alive..."
Emma bowed her head, "he then took his life...he sacrificed himself so I could escape...I weaved a rope long enough to reach the ground from the window of my high tower, I climbed down and ran until I found a village."
"That's where you got Henry's name" Killian nodded.
"He was the closest thing to a father I'd ever known and I owe him my life"
"Hmmm" he hummed in agreement, though knowing how much her father loved her it pained him that she had no memory or attachment to him.
"Once I got to the village I found an older couple with children, I thought they would help me but it turned out they had taken orphans and trained them to pick pockets, they ran a whole criminal operation using abandoned or stolen children. They soon realised I was worth more doing other things..." Emma looked away, shaking the memory from her mind and squeezing her eyes shut. "...I became numb to it, the them, to the men...Id trained myself to control my emotions and together with my skill at slight of hand I started robbing the men I was sent to and soon saved enough to run away and used those talents to get money for myself...that led to a life of piracy, I won The Jolly Roger in a game of dice and well...the rest is history." She said in an upbeat voice with a smile that soon faded when she saw his dark expression.
"Why didn't you tell me before?" He whispered.
"I suppose I didn't want you looking at me like that...judging me or worse...pitying me."
"You did what you had to do to survive a situation you would have never been in had my family and I not failed you and your father."
"My father!" Emma scoffed, leaning forward on the table to angrily whisper, "tell me, what father abandons his child, sends her away and entrusts her life, her future to a mere boy?"
"A desperate one!" Killian shot back.
She slumped back in her seat musing over his response. "He ruined your life too, you know." She said quietly. "He put too much weight on your shoulders, on your father's shoulders. The day he sent us on our way he was waving us off onto a path of pain and death. How am I supposed to love a man whose decision has only brought suffering to me and the ones I love?"
"I don't know." He sounded defeated. They had barely set off on their mission and it already seemed hopeless. "We'll find a way" he said with determination, "as long as there is hope we can find a way" his own words sending him back to a distant memory.
"Killian? Killian dear, are you crying?"
The Queen walked to the quivering curtains with two small shoes peeking out.
"Killian?"
"He's not here!" A small voice squeaked from the hiding place followed by a loud sniffle.
"Ah, I see" the Queen smiled, taking a seat on the floor beside the little shoes. "Now that is a shame because I heard Granny just made some of her famous jam tarts and I was hoping Killian would help me taste them..."
The little feet shuffled and the curtain moved around as the backs of two small hands wiped away tears before facing the Queen. When he popped his head around the curtain the mop of unruly black hair was messier than usual, his pink cheeks stained raw with tears and his piercing blue eyes glistened as he lifted his gaze to his Queen.
She looked at him with a warm, friendly expression. Her long raven hair framed her round smiling face, accented by her red lips, pink cheeks, and thick dark lashes. There was something about her presence that always made him feel safe.
She reached her arms out until he shuffled over and embraced her, letting her squeeze him within an inch of his life.
"Now, are you going to tell me what's wrong?"
"Papa has been away for 4 months now fighting in the ogre war, I haven't heard from him in over a week, I'm afraid he may be dead." The young boy cried in despair.
"Shhhh, no my dear, if that was the case we would have heard. Try not to worry, they'll be home soon."
"How do you know that? How do you know we'll win?" He boy questioned, pulling out of the Queen's embrace.
"Because we have what they don't, hope. And as long as there is hope we can find a way."
"Killian?" Her voice brought him back to the tavern, to the steady hum of chatter and laughter of the other customers, the throbbing ache in his wrist, and her eyes searching his for an explanation of where his mind just took him.
"Perhaps we should call it a night." He downed what was left in Emma's glass and rose to his feet; that memory had come from nowhere. Emma may not have known or loved her parents but he did and he couldn't fail them again, somehow he was going to have to make Emma love them. He'd risen too quickly, eager to leave the memory behind, his head began to spin as he stumbled from the bar.
Emma followed him out into the street, the night's sea salty air stung her skin, she watched Killian stagger back towards the pier and hurried to catch up to him.
"Whoa there, remember you've had a lot to drink". She steadied him before he toppled right off the pier and into the sea.
"Don't worry, love, I'm quite alright, my legs just seem a bit wobbly..."
Emma giggled, "Hadn't noticed" she lied. "Here, will you kindly escort me back to your ship?" She linked her arm with his so she could support him while they walked the remaining distance.
"Bit forward, lass, but I'll show you mine if you show me yours" he winked, grinning salaciously.
She rolled her eyes, "your ship is my ship, you idiot, and you don't need to flirt, I'm your wife remember!"
"Well that certainly is a wonderful turn of events, here I had an evening of wining, dining, and wooing planned."
"How much did you drink?"
"Hmmm let me see..." he lifted his hand, counting his fingers, "1...2...3...4...5..." then lifted his other hand, revealing his hook, "huh...well I guess just 6, ha!"
They finally reached the gangplank and Smee hurried up to meet them, followed closely by Graham and Ruby.
"Capt'n, I've made all the arrangement for repairs, the materials will arrive at sunrise, we should be ready to set sail again by the end of the week." The first mate reported, slightly distracted by the swaying and snickering of the King beside his Captain.
"Thanks, Smee I'll get a full report from you now." She turned to the others? "Graham, can you take Killian to the captain's quarters and get him some water, he needs to sober up." She grimaced at Killian playfully rearranging Smee's red hat on his head.
Ruby tried to hide her laughter while Smee nervously stood his ground and Graham cleared his throat, "alright, your highness, let's get you below deck before you do something to embarrass yourself."
"Your highness? I'm…I'm…a….Cap'n Nook!" He slurred.
"Of course you are mate" Graham shot Emma an apologetic look which she waved off and went over the extent of damages with Smee.
When she finally made her way down to the captain's quarters Graham was just leaving.
"Ah, Graham, and how is Captain Hook?"
He shrugged, chuckling, "I've seen him worse"
Emma raised her brow "Oh really?"
"Aye, in our younger more foolish days. He's on the bed, he's had a bucket of water, his boots are off, and don't worry I took him to the washroom so he could relieve himself of all that liquid."
"You're a good friend. I thought rum would numb the pain he was in, perhaps I should have kept a closer eye on how much he was drinking."
"Maybe the headache he has tomorrow will distract from the pain in his wrist." Graham offered hopefully before bidding her a goodnight and heading down to the crew's quarters.
Emma sighed then pushed open the door, unsure of what she'd find on the other side. The room was dimly lit, the oil in the lamp hanging from the ceiling running low. His large leather duster coat was draped over the back on a chair and Killian's boots placed neatly under it on the floor. He lay on the bed, half propped up, and his vest removed leaving just his black cotton shirt mostly unbuttoned and his leather trousers. He slowly rocked his head back and forth as he quietly sang one of the sea shanties played in the tavern that night. He was happy and carefree and for the first time Emma felt like she was catching a glimpse of that mischievous, frivolous, mirthful young man Robin and Graham remembered so fondly.
As soon as he realised she was there his face broke into a huge grin. "Hey gorgeous, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"
Emma chuckled, "Well this is my room…"
"Apologise, m'lady, I must have stumbled in by accident, but what a happy accident it's turned out to be. Would you mind terribly if I stayed, I can't seem get my legs to do what I want them to, and your bed is rather comfortable…how long have you lived on my ship?" He rambled only just coherently.
She raised her eyebrow, amused. "You mean my ship?"
"You seem to be mistaken, I am Captain of this ship, Captain Hook, the great swashbuckler, leader of the foulest crew, feared foe of every beast to have ever crossed me, slayer of monsters, and captor of hearts in every port I drop anchor…" He waved his arms dramatically as he listed off his made up misadventures.
"Oh is that so? Well Captain Hook, I feel honoured to meet such a legend." She joked.
She gently slid the hook's leather brace from his wrist, making him wince. "sorry" she offered.
"Don't worry love, just a scratch, occupational hazard."
"That's putting it lightly" She muttered to herself as she began to lift his shirt above his head so she could clean the wound and changed his bandages.
"You're keen, just can't keep your hands off me, can you love?" He leaned towards her wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
She shook her head, trying to bite back her laughter. "I am not going to let you live this down tomorrow! Here take some more water." She helped him drink from a cup Graham had left by the bed.
"I'm going to see you tomorrow?"
"I'm you're wife, you're going to see me every tomorrow!"
"You're my wife" he said the words slowly as if he enjoyed how they felt on his lips, triggering a distant memory, just out of his reach. He remained silent while she unwrapped the bandage, checked over the wound and re wrapped it again while he watched her every move. His new found silence told her he was beginning to sober up. Once she was finished she looked up at him, he was staring at the stump on the end on his left arm sadly.
"You should get some rest." She rose and walked over to plump up the pillow behind him then searched for a nightshirt to help him into.
"I'm going to be in a world of pain tomorrow morning aren't I?"
"Almost certainly" She smiled, "Just enjoy your sleep tonight." She kissed his temple and curled up beside him.
Just as the day's exhaustion was beginning to take over he broke the silence, "Your mother"
"What?" She whispered, turning to face him but he was staring at the ceiling.
"Your mother had hope, even during the darkest times, she always told me to have faith that things would turn out ok and she was always right. If she was here right now she would tell us to have hope."
Before Emma could properly dwell on his words and form a reply she heard his breathing fall into a steady rhythm and knew he'd fallen asleep. His declaration followed her into her slumber, bringing with it dreams of a woman with raven hair and red lips begging her to save them all.
By the end of the week the Jolly Roger was fully repaired and ready to once again set sail. As they raised the anchor and watched Tortuga slowly drift away one figure caught Emma's attention. It was the shadowy silhouette of a tall man with a long dark beard and steely expression. He stood fixed on the spot, his long coat flapping in the wind watching them sail away.
"Who is he?" Emma asked Smee.
"That's Blackbeard, Captain, he came to these waters 2 years ago, around the same time you were captured in Aaralyn, he's a quiet fellow, no one knows much about him but they know enough to not get in his way. His reputation proceeds him and a trail of bloodshed follows wherever he goes.
A fine misty drizzle surrounded her that morning as her eyes locked with the pirate on the pier, slowly becoming smaller and smaller until he disappeared from sight along with the rest of the buccaneer town. Something about Blackbeard's countenance filled her with unease, a chill crept up her spine, and her instinct was telling her their paths would cross again. She shook the feeling away and walked to the helm, her fingers gripping the pegs on the wheel.
"Tell the men to prepare for open sea" She commanded her first mate. "We should be in Misthaven within the week!"
"Aye aye Cap'n" he cried as the waves crashed against the side of the ship, now sailing full speed towards the horizon.