Ch.2 – Robin's POV

"Robin? Robin, it's time to wake up. You wouldn't want to be late for the Lieutenant's promotion ceremony."

Upon hearing those last few words I immediately rose up only to fall back on my pillow again. I was excited for Norrington's promotion, of course, and I couldn't wait to see him and congratulate him; but seeing him meant seeing him and Elizabeth at the same time, and that meant seeing the Lieutenant attempt to court Lizzie again and I did not know if I was up to it.

"I don't want to go..." I turned over and moaned into the mattress.

"Now, we both know that's a lie, Robin Marie Asher. You have been in love with

Lieutenant Norrington since you were nine years old and ever since you have positively jumped at the opportunity to see him!" I didn't answer. Didn't even move. "You don't want to see him around Miss Swann do you?"

I sprung up to look at my faithful maid, Bethany. Ever since I could remember I'd told Bethany everything. Even how I felt about James. "No, I don't want to see him around Lizzie. Watching him court after Lizzie is the worst feeling in the world to me, Bethany. You know this and I don't appreciate you asking me about it at this hour."

I ignored the hurt look Bethany gave me and threw my blankets off. I stood from my bed and walked around to the dressing screen. "I think the green dress would be lovely, don't you?" I called out and heard my dresser and closet being opened.

"Yes, Miss. It'll bring out your eyes."

I nodded to myself and looked in the mirror. I was pretty, I guess you could say. But I was that general pretty that everyone in the the royal social status seemed to have. I had deep black hair that fell down my back in waves and curls. If it wasn't brushed thoroughly after it was washed it copied the look of a birds nest. My eyes were a dark green and I had a light sprinkling of freckles across my nose and cheeks. In the summer when Lizzie and I would spend hours out in the sun pretending to be pirates the freckles would stand out harshly. But now, since Lizzie was no longer fascinated by pirates, they had faded away, almost disappearing.

Bethany came around the dressing screen and lay the dark green dress over a chair. "Ready?" Bethany asked. Dreading what was to come I nodded. We began cinching up my corset.

After hours, or was it minutes? Of painful gasps and grunts the corset was tied up and my dress was on. Bethany curled my hair so it hung in rivulets. I did myself a final once over and heard a knock at my door.

"Yes? Ah, Geoffrey. Elizabeth is here I trust? Good." I gave Bethany one last smile and walked past Geoffrey. I left the mansion without alerting my parents I was leaving, trusting one of the staff to take care of it, and immediately entered the carriage waiting for me.

"Good morning, Governor Swann. Elizabeth!" I gasped seeing the dress Lizzie was wearing. "You look beautiful! Is the dress special for the Lieutenant?" I choked on the last word but ignored it as Governor Swann answered me.

"Yes, I had it shipped in, specially from London for the Lieutenant's promotion. It's the latest fashion in London. Isn't it lovely?" Governor Swann answered for Lizzie.

I nodded as I tried not to laugh at Elizabeth's rolling eyes.

We sat in a comfortable silence on the way to where the Lieutenant's promotion was to be held at the fort. I noticed that Elizabeth was breathing in short gasps while her father seemed oblivious. Once we came upon our stop Elizabeth and I stepped out and her father followed soon after to lead us to our seats. We walked arm in arm like we always did.

"My father is being quite annoying today." she murmured to me as she absently fanned herself.

"Oh, I'm sure it's only because of James' promotion. A lot of eyes are going to be watching. One slip and your family will be the talk of the town."

"You're defending him?" Elizabeth asked, turning to me.

"Of course not." I assured her, gripping her hand.

We walked a bit and Elizabeth said, "I'm sorry about what my father said. About the dress being for the Lieutenant."

I shook my head like it didn't matter but inside I was hurt. "It's common knowledge for the Governor's daughter to look stunning at a promotion!" I turned away as tears threatened to fill my eyes.

Elizabeth stopped us walking. "You're crying."

"Impossible. Now, come on, before we lose your father." I pulled on Elizabeth's hand and we began walking again.

A few minutes later Elizabeth and I were at our seats. Governor Swann had left us to stand in his position. Another few minutes later and the ceremony began. The Royal Navy twirled their guns and stepped in unison and did a whole lot of other things I couldn't seem to pay attention to as my focus was on mainly two things. One) The dashing Lieutenant who was standing at the end of the two rows of Navy officers looking focused. And Two) The short, breathy gasps Elizabeth kept giving as she furiously fanned herself. I quickly looked away from the Lieutenant and turned my attention to Elizabeth.

"Lizzie? Are you all right?"

"It's this blasted... corset." Elizabeth reached down and tugged on the bottom of the waist line of the dress.

I turned my own fan on my friend and worriedly fanned her. I turned back to watch Norrington as he walked down the two rows of Navy Officers to where Governor Swann awaited him. Norrington removed a sword from its scabbard and gave it a flourish. First to Governor Swann, then to the officers and finally to the audience. Then Norrington took the scabbard the Governor held out to him and replaced it back where it belonged. The Lieutenant bowed to the Governor then to the audience and we all clapped.

Afterwards there was a party with music and dancing and food. The now Commodore Norrington, had immediately come over to where Lizzie and I stood and asked Elizabeth to dance. Lizzie fanned herself a bit more and looked at me, nudging her head in the Commodore's direction.

"Ah... Elizabeth isn't feeling very well at the moment." I smiled up at Norrington. "Perhaps we could give her a minute to regain herself and you and I could dance, Commodore?"

"Splendid." the Commodore smiled at me and held out his arm. I took it and let him lead me to the dance floor where many others already were. I ignored the feeling of the Commodore looking back worriedly at Elizabeth and once the Commodore and I reached the dance floor we turned on our heels to each other. James held his hand up for me to take and I did. He rested his other on my waist and I tried to ignore the blush I could feel on my face as I placed my hand on his shoulder.

Once we began dancing I immediately congratulated him on his promotion.

"Thank you, Miss Asher. Though it is a small feat compared to what I have planned in the future."

"You sound like you've got your life planned out." I commented.

"Since I was young." The Commodore answered.

Silence.

I watched the Commodore turn his head to look over at Elizabeth again and I looked with him. "I'm sure Lizzie will be fine, James. It's a miracle that she has lasted this long outside in that dress to begin with."

"Lizzie?" The Commodore asked, looking down at me.

I batted my eyelashes quickly. I could never get over dancing with the Commodore because of how close we always were. I had a magnificent view of his stormy gray eyes but I could not concentrate on them right now as I had just realized that I used my nickname for Lizzie in front of the Commodore.

"Elizabeth. I mean, 'Elizabeth'. I'm sorry."

Norrington only smiled down at me. "It's quite alright, Miss Asher. You and Elizabeth have been friends for a very long time. It's not completely ridiculous to have created a nickname for her."

I nodded and looked down. Silence.

"You look beautiful, Robin."

I gasped and looked up at Norrington in surprise.

"Did that seem forward? I'm sorry..." I could have sworn I saw a smirk playing at his lips.

"No..." I was nearly panting. I'd waited eight years to hear those words come out of James' mouth. "No, it's quite alright. Thank you." I looked down at our feet.

"You seem surprised by what I've said. Have I upset you?"

"No, not at all, Ja- Commodore." I corrected myself.

"You may call me James, Robin... if you'd like."

I looked up again at the newly appointed Commodore and not able to say anything I merely nodded as I could feel my face flush up once again. The feeling did not go away as I had hoped and just before the song ended James leaned into me and whispered in my ear.

"Robin, you seem to be blushing."

I gasped and looked up at the Commodore who merely smirked. We parted and James bowed while I curtsied. I didn't look at him as I hurried over to where Elizabeth stood, still fanning herself.

"I feel as if Norrington knows." I murmured to her.

"Knows what?" Elizabeth asked.

"How I feel about him." I recounted to her what happened and she rolled her eyes.

"He was merely being polite, Rin."

"Then what about him calling me by my first name and not 'Miss Asher'?"

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "If he was really courting you-"

"I didn't say he was courting me, I only-"

"Ahem."

Wide-eyed I turned to the direction the sound had come from and found none other than the Commodore standing before us.

"Commodore Norrington. Hello." I blinked rapidly in nervousness and began furiously fanning myself.

James turned to me and smiled. "Hello again, Miss Asher." Then to Elizabeth. "May I have a moment?"

Elizabeth looked over at me with wide and annoyed eyes. I sadly nudged my head in James' direction. Lizzie turned back to the Commodore and he extended his arm for her to take. She took it and I watched as James led Elizabeth to a parapet. I threw myself into conversation trying not to think of what they could be talking about until I heard a splash and James screaming, "ELIZABETH!"

I ran to where James stood and looked over the edge with him. "James, what happened?"

He ignored me and jumped on to the parapet. He began taking off his coat and I shouted, "You can't go after her!"

Lieutenant Gillette grabbed James' arm and shouted, "The rocks, sir! It's a miracle she missed them!"

James shook Gillette off, still poised to jump in after Lizzie but after a moment he jumped down from the parapet and ran. I picked up my skirts and followed him, not caring how it looked. My best friend could possibly drown and I was going to see to it that that did not happen. I ran fast. Or as fast as I could run in a corset. I followed James with his Navy men following close behind to the docks. I was panting heavily and my corset stuck to me with sweat. At the docks two navy men were already leaning over a body. Elizabeth's body. She looked to be okay! There was another person with them though. And he looked like-

Oh no.

A pirate.

As we approached the small group James pulled his sword out of it's scabbard -his new sword-and pointed it at the pirates throat.

"On your feet."

Normally I would have shivered at the sound of James' commanding tone but I still needed to know if Lizzie was okay. She stood as her father and many other Navy men joined us.

"Elizabeth! Are you all right?" Her father asked as he approached. He took off his jacket and draped it around her considering half of Elizabeth's clothes were gone.

I held onto both of Elizabeth's hands as she stammered. "Yes- yes, I'm fine."

Governor Swann looked at one of the two Navy men who were standing over by the pirate and was holding Elizabeth's corset. I realized that they were Murtogg and Mullroy. Murtogg pointed to the pirate.

"Shoot him!" Governor Swann ordered.

"Father!" Elizabeth shouted. Oh no... I thought. "Commodore, do you really intend to kill my rescuer?" Don't tell me that her pirate love is resurfacing again.

Norrington looked over at Elizabeth and nodded to the officers. They put their guns down and James sheathed his sword. He raised his hand out to the pirate.

"I believe thanks are in order." Norrington told the pirate. The pirate hesitated a moment but took James' hand.

They shook hands a moment, but James tightened his grip on the pirates hand and pulled him forward. James lifted up the sleeve on the pirates shirt where a branded P could be seen in the pirates skin.

"Had a brush with the East India Trading Company, did we? Pirate?" In an instant the guns were drawn once more.

"Hang him." Came Governor Swann's demand and Elizabeth gasped in shock at her father.

"Keep your guns on him, men. Gillette, fetch some irons."

Now I could shiver with pleasure at James' commanding tone.

James pushed the pirates sleeve up a bit more. "Well, well... Jack Sparrow, isn't it?" James asked the pirate as he pushed his filthy hand away.

"Captain Jack Sparrow. If you please, sir." The pirate answered.

"Well, I don't see your ship... Captain."

"I'm in the market, as it were."

Murtogg spoke up, "He said he'd come to commandeer one."

Mullroy turned to Murtogg and said, "I told you he was telling the truth." Then to James, "These are his, sir." He held out what I assumed to be the pirates things. A pistol, belt, compass and sword.

James checked the pistol. "No additional shot nor powder." He flipped open the compass. "A compass that doesn't point north." Then he drew the sword out of its scabbard a bit. "And I half expected it to be made of wood."

I giggled at Norrington's insult and he flashed a smirk at me as he re-sheathed the sword.

"You are, without doubt, the worst Pirate I've ever heard of."

"But you have heard of me." Jack Sparrow retorted, pointing.

Gillette came back with the shackles and James drug the pirate over to him.

"Commodore, I really must protest!" Elizabeth shouted as she followed after James.

"Lizzie!" I hissed and ran after her.

"Carefully, Lieutenant." Norrington commanded. Concerned for what my friend might do I stood with her but between her and this Captain Jack Sparrow. I smiled wearily at the officers guns.

"Pirate or not, this man saved my life."

"One good deed is not enough to redeem a man of a lifetime of wickedness." Norrington told Lizzie firmly.

Gillette snapped the shackles closed on Sparrow's wrists. "Though it seems enough to condemn him." Sparrow said.

"Indeed."

"Finally." Was all I heard before I felt chains around my throat. I was pulled toward a wet, smelly body. I gasped with fear as I realized a pirate was touching me and was using me as a shield to protect him from the now drawn again guns.

"No! No! Don't shoot!" Governor Swann shouted. I saw fear in his and Elizabeth's eyes. I looked to the Commodore and saw that he had the same look in his. I wanted to say something but I was too scared and my throat wouldn't open.

"Commodore Norrington, my effects, please. And my hat." The pirate talked in my ear. James hesitated and I could see he was balling his fists in frustration. "Commodore!"

James took the pirates "effects" from Mullroy and held them out to my captor.

"Now, you... what's your name, luv?" Sparrow asked in my ear.

With James being close to me I felt safer and found my voice. "Robin Asher. And you will address me as 'Miss Asher'."

"Miss Asher, if you'd be so kind." For a moment I didn't understand but realized- he wanted me to put his things on him! I wasn't going to do that for a pirate so I stood still in protest. "Come, come, dear, we don't have all day."

I looked up to James and he seemed to be begging me with his eyes to just do as the pirate asked. So, I took Sparrow's things from James. Sparrow reached around and grabbed the pistol from the pile and whipped me around so I faced him. Sparrow's arms were propped on my shoulders keeping me close to him. I didn't like being so close to this smelly creature at all.

"Now, if you'll be very kind?" I spotted the gun pointed to my temple out of the corner of my eye and huffed. I reached up with the hat in my hand and got it firmly on his head. I had to reach around the pirates back to put the belt on him and it was almost as if we were embracing. As I tightened the belt Sparrow groaned. "Easy on the goods, darling."

I pulled once again on the belt to tighten it more. "You are despicable." I sneered at him.

"Sticks and stones, luv. I saved dear Elizabeth's life, you've saved mine, we're square." Jack whipped me around with the chains once again at my throat and the pistol still pointed at my head. Sparrow pulled me backward as he said, "Gentlemen... m'ladies... you will always remember this as the day you almost caught Captain Jack Sparrow."

I was pushed away from the pirate into James' arms. In the whirlwind of shouts and guns being fired the only thing I could pay attention to was James' arm which he never removed from my waist. It wasn't as if I was complaining, of course, and I gripped the lapels on his jacket.

"On his heels!" James shouted. Then he realized he was still holding onto me. I looked up as he stammered, "R-Robin, are you all right?"

"Yes, I will be fine." I whimpered.

"Well, then... if you could...?"

Embarrassed at how improper I'd let myself become I stammered and let go of him. "Yes, of course."

James ran off and I watched him go. My whole body weak at the events that just transpired. I suddenly felt hands grab me and I jumped. I whipped around to see that it was only Elizabeth.

"Are you all right?" She asked, concern in her eyes.

"Yes, I'm fine." I answered with a flustered smile. My face was bright red, I knew it.

"Come, we should find your mother and father. I'm sure they will want to know you are all right." Governor Swann said and escorted Elizabeth and I off of the docks.