Above deck, on the Jolly Roger that same night...
Emma was looking over the side of the Jolly Roger watching the waves crash against the wooden ship, the salty water splashing her face ever so slightly. She inhaled the smell of the ocean, finding it calming as she looked up to the moon shining brighter than she had ever seen.
Behind her were the crew members having their own fun playing card games and drinking rum, they were loud but Emma didn't mind. She enjoyed seeing this side of them, the side that wasn't trying to kill her or her people... It reminded her that they were still people too, and just as she had her royal duties they had duties to do what their Captain commanded.
"It's calming, isn't it?" Captain Jones asked the princess from behind.
"Yes it is... I've always been fond of the sea." Emma said, not breaking her glace from the ocean.
"I've spent my entire life at sea and I never get tired of the view." He responded, trying to see what she was looking at.
"Hm... you're lucky. I've only ever known my Kingdom's boundaries." Emma said, finally looking at Killian.
"And being Snow White and Prince Charmings daughter isn't great? Let alone ruling an entire kingdom?" He said, not meaning to have an attitude in his voice.
He wasn't wrong. What did she have to complain about? She was her parents' pride and joy regardless of her being her kingdom's future ruler. She had maids, servants, guards, knights, August, and an entire kingdom that supported her and adored her... She had everything.
"This was my first journey away from home... I was going to visit my Kingdom's alliances. It's a yearly tradition." Emma said, not knowing why she was telling him this.
"I don't understand... Why would your parents let you journey alone? I mean you are their only child." The captain said, trying to figure her out.
"I had just turned 18, I begged them to let me do this. They wanted to come, but I wanted to prove to them that I was capable of being the queen they hoped I would one day be... that they didn't need to worry about me. I wanted to show the Kingdom I could do my duties without help from my parents." Emma said, more trying to convince herself than him.
"Are you sure you weren't just trying to prove that to yourself?" Killian questioned, inches from her face.
For a moment Emma got lost in his memorizing eyes, finding he had pain in them as well. He didn't seem so fearsome now... he was easy to talk to and he read her so well. Only in a day everything she knew about pirates, about Killian Jones, seemed wrong. She knew he had his own story to tell and she so desperately wanted to know...
"Aye, Captain! It's time for the duels!" A slender crew member shouted with a drunken smile, causing them to break their gaze from each other.
"Oh, you filthy lads don't stand a chance!" Captain Jones chuckled, not minding that he ruined the moment between him and the princess.
Killian went over to the barrel of sword they always had on deck and picked his weapon. A lightweight sword with a thin black handle.
"Who dares fight the fearsome Captain Jones?" Killian asked, laughter in his voice.
"I'll be the brave soul tonight, mates." A drunk overweight man said.
Emma noticed it was the man that pinned August to the floor earlier that day.
"Alright James." The Captain said with a grin.
Emma watched as the men clashed swords. James who was drunk had terrible form, his arms were jello, his feet all over the place. Emma knew this match wouldn't last long. Surprisingly though he blocked many of the Captain's shots high and low. Then James made a stupid, stupid mistake and took his eyes off his opponent's blad to look around. Killian wasted no time, he took advantage of his careless error and disarmed James, his sword hit the ground. A breath of defeat came out of James's mouth.
"And this, mates, is why we fight sober." Killian said triumphantly. "Any of you other lads like to take a go with the captain?" He said, swinging his sword.
"I would." Emma said with a straight face.
All the men on board paused for a moment, looking at her, then laughed, even Killian.
"Any serious offers?" Killian asked, ignoring the princess's comment.
"I would." Emma said once more, even more serious than last time.
"What do you know about fighting, Swan?" The Captain laughed, trying to humor her.
"Why don't you find out." Emma said confidently.
She went over to the barrel and observed her options of swords. Her father's words echoed in her head from her many lessons... "choose light, a bigger handle is fine, it'll give you some extra hand protection and better control..." She then found the perfect one, The sword was on the smaller side and the gold handle was big, but it was perfect for her, something she knew she could control well.
"Ah, of course the princess would pick the gold one." The Captain mocked, with a huge smile.
"Are you ready?" Emma asked, smiling confidently.
"Aye, love." Killian responded.
He took the first swing towards her exposed legs, she forgot she was still in her dress. Emma was quick to react blocking his shot, she then aimed for his head, which he was even quicker to block. He started walking towards her as their swords continued to clash... "Don't let the opponent overpower you, find their weak spot. Everyone has one..." Emma reminded herself of her father's words. She continued to fight looking for weakness in his form. He made that task difficult as he had amazing form, his arms were strong, he was quick on his feet, eye's focus on the blade. His energy only became stronger with every hit he made. She was starting to become tired, not knowing if she could win. All the other crew members were silent as they watched the princess and pirate fight.
Emma saw the confidence rise within Captain Jones, he must have noticed her pace slowing a bit and her arms were beginning to become tired. She pushed on though, knowing his confidence would get him in trouble... "When you feel tired, push on, they'll falter sooner or later..." Emma's father's voice still echoed in her head once more. Her father was right, in that moment Killian exposed his stomach and she took advantage. She pushed him down with her foot, nailing him to the ground, sword flying out of his hand. He was in shock. Members of the crew cheered and laughed.
"That was something, your highness!" Mr. Smee said, coming up to her with a smile, placing his hand gently on her arm as a congratulations.
Emma couldn't help but smile as many of the men applauded her. None of them noticed Captain Jones rising to his feet...
"Aye, that was something." Killian said with no emotion on his face or in his voice.
All the members of his crew stopped cheering, fear entering them as they had just all laughed at their captain.
"Where did you learn to fight like that?" Killian asked, surprisingly not angry at his crew for laughing at him.
Emma was still trying to catch her breath from the duel as the crew members dispersed, heading to their rooms, not letting there be any chance for the captain to yell at them.
"My parents of course, my father mostly." She responded, still breathing heavily.
"Now why would they do that when you have servants for that? Not that they were much use to you earlier... " Killian asked, confused, referring to how quickly his men killed hers that morning.
"Well, he told me he thought I should know how to take care of myself and my people if I ever needed to... I think he just wanted something to bond over since my mother and I did all the girly things." Emma said with a laugh, thinking of her parents.
"I must say, he taught you well... not many people have bested me." Killian responded.
"Thank you, I'll be sure to tell him I beat you in a duel." Emma said with a smirk.
"Aye, I'm sure he'll get a kick out of it... Tell him to work on your endurance though, it's weak." Killian said, knowing he had no place to as he had just lost.
"It's not my strong suit..." The princess responded, not denying it.
"Maybe we can work on that." Captain Jones suggested.
"I'd like that..." Emma said softly.
Everyone on deck had left, leaving the Captain and Princess to talk. They talked about random things from their favorite color to some random adventures they'd experienced, nothing too serious. They made their way over to the side of the ship and sat down laying their backs against the wall, tiredness taking its toll. They sat in silence for a moment, just staring at each other.
Killian took in her beauty, the moonlight made her necklace and skin glow, her hair slightly moving from a small breeze. Her eyes were greener than earlier that day when she had been crying, her lips were a light pink, and her cheeks still rosy... He couldn't help but absorb her beauty.
Emma watched as Killian stared at her, she didn't mind as she stared back admiring how messy his dark hair looked from him running his fingers through it as they talked, how well groomed his bread was kept. The blueness of his eyes held an ocean of secrets she was determined to discover over time, a small scar under his right eye... his lips slightly parted as he hitched a shaky breath in his lungs. For a moment she forgot she was his prisoner...