The Fairy and Her Captain - Chapter 4

Weeks passed from their encounter with Black Beard in the Enchanted Forest and the Jolly Roger was back sailing on the open sea to wherever their hearts desired to venture next. The sun shined brightly over the pirate ship and the wind pushed the vessel onward. Hazel stepped out from the lower deck onto the upper deck. She dawned on new clothing that Killian purchased for her while they were docked in the Enchanted Forest. She wore a slightly puffy dark green shirt with a black v-neck leather vest. Around her waist was a dark brown belt with a golden belt buckle, her pouch and dagger secured in place by the aforementioned belt at either side and around her wrists were matching leather gauntlets. She wore black leather pants paired with knee-high dark brown leather boots that laced up in the back with leather straps that had a slight heel to them. She had tied some of her hair back with a hair bind, fashioning the blonde strands that would get in her face into a small braid.

The crew couldn’t help as they turned their heads as they heard the door open and saw the ravishing sight that was Hazel in pirate’s clothing. Their mouths were slightly agape and if their jaws were attached to their skulls, would’ve certainly have fallen to the floor.

The fae’s cheeks, upon seeing the reaction she had gotten from the fellow crew with her new look, blushed slight pink hue. Safe to say that she wasn’t used to this kind of attention back on Pixie Hollow, let alone from the crew members aboard the Jolly Roger. She turned on her heels to search for the captain to show him her new wardrobe with it all put together. When she didn’t spot him above deck, she found Smee and walked over to the stout male with his red beanie. “Where is the captain, Mr. Smee?” She put her hands behind her back, fiddling with her fingers nervously awaiting for an answer.

Mr. Smee blinked a few times furiously when he looked at Hazel fully, in awe at how well the new ensemble seemed to fit perfectly on her. “I…uh…I believe he is in his quarters. He should be joining us shortly…but might I say that the new clothing suits you rather well. You did a splendid job. You look like a proper pirate.” He answered while adjusting the beanie on his head, clearing his throat a few times.

If the crew and Mr. Smee were reacting this way with her new choice of clothing, Hazel couldn’t imagine how the captain would react. It did bring her a small sense of confidence see everyone flustered by her new look. A soft smile curled on the ends of her lips. “Thank you Mr. Smee. That’s…what I was going for. When I was shopping with Killian after Black Beard captured me, he thought of the idea for wearing clothing of this style to disguise the fact that I am a fairy from others who would wish to steal me for their own purposes.”

”It was an ingenious idea from our captain, if I do say so myself.” Mr. Smee remarked, a slight chuckle rumbling in his throat as he glanced between her, the rest of the crew, and the sea.

Hazel opened her mouth to say something when her ears caught the sound of the door to the captain’s quarters open and she turned on her heels to look in him. “Captain,” She breathed, bowing her head a little. “Good morning.” They had yet to speak of their moment since it happened, the fact that they nearly kissed in his quarters after he saved her from Black Beard.

Killian’s eyes flicked up to the fae and studied her clothing. A charming smirk curled on the end of his lips and his brow raised just so. “Morning Hazel…Mr. Smee.” He remarked, giving a curt nod to his first mate and scout. “…You look…perfect in your new clothing. No one will suspect that you are a fairy just by looking at you.” That was if Black Beard hadn’t sent word that there was a fairy on his ship that was proficient in scouting and navigation. “And as Mr. Smee suggested after our encounter with the pirate Black Beard of keeping you outside of cage and in your larger form…should prevent anyone from taking you as easily as Black Beard had.”

”But he didn’t suggest that I don’t leave your side. That was your idea, Captain.” Hazel interjected with a hint of an endearing tone dancing in her voice, her head tipping to the side gently as a smile curled on her lips.

”True, but do you really want to be taken again by someone like Black Beard? Or by him again? You best stay at my side if you know that it is good for you.” Killian retorted sternly, pushing his tongue lightly against his cheek before it traced his bottom lip.

Hazel shook her head, “No…of course not. I would have certainly perished if you hadn’t saved me.”

”Exactly. Which is why I…am going to be teaching you how to fight against a pirate, love. You may be accustomed to defending the others against the enemies of the fairies, but you clearly lack the experience fighting against someone of my…caliber.” Killian sauntered up to the scout, unsheathing his sword. He lifted it in her direction, pointing the end of his sword to her throat. “Every morning you will meet me here for your lessons and every morning we will keep at it until you make progress towards holding your own against me. Is that understood?”

Her eyebrow arched slightly, but soon nodded her head slightly. ”Understood, Captain.”

Killian gave her a curt nod before he called out to the nearest mate for his sword. He moved the end of his sword from the mate back to Hazel, tipping his head to the side a little. “I’m sure that you would love to use your dagger. It simply won’t do for our purposes. At least not yet. We will work our way up to it.” The mate easily got what he meant without words and handed his sword to the fae. “I can’t always be there to protect you in a fight. Hence the reason for this training.”

Hazel wrapped her fingers around the grip of the hilt and took a few steps backwards. She swung it a few times in practice, her deep blue eyes fixated on the sword and how it felt in her hand. “You’re right that I prefer to use my dagger to fight. Although I think I may be able to handle using a sword.” Her eyes lifted from the sword to Killian, a teasing smile gracing her lips.

He shook his head and rolled his eyes slightly. “Please refrain from getting too full of ones self before a duel that you may not be walking away from unscathed. It’s not good form. Look at what happened to you after Black Beard.” He stated smugly, the lightest hint of a chuckle escaping him. He paused for a moment before he pointed the end of his sword between her eyes. “Now,” He swung the sword downward to his side. “Shall we begin?” He inquired, his dark brown brow lifted inquisitively.

Excitement glinted in Hazel’s bright blue eyes and she felt the blood pumping through her body. The very same feeling when she discovered her first time staring at the waters from the tallest tree on the isle of Pixie Hollow, watching the waves crash against the shores. “Of course, captain.”

The Captain held his sword straight up and Hazel followed suit, doing the same. He stepped forward and she mirrored his steps, bringing their swords together a few times, the subtle clanking filling the air.

This was common practice in duels between pirates. One that he often had done during his encounters with the ruthless Black Beard. It was their way of beginning a duel. In this case, it was not a duel where anyone would lose their lives as was often the outcome of a pirates’ duel.

The pair circled around one another in a dance, seeing who would make the first move to truly begin this sparring match. Their swords locked together as they stepped in turn. To the surprise of many aboard the ship, Hazel was the first to take a move with a straight jab at Killian’s stomach. He blocked it effortlessly with a downward movement of his saber, his blade traveling along the length of hers and swung upwards. Hazel stepped backwards from the force and made a second attempt using the same move ending with the same result.

Hazel swung her sword in a circle, repositioning herself in the default stance. She went for an attack to his left side and once again, blocked by the excellent swordsmanship of the man known by his more colorful moniker of Captain Hook. The following time, the fae put all she possessed into them with a confidence of a skilled scout. It seemed to catch the Captain off-guard for a mere moment that he only just allowed her to witness. Like a whisper in the air. Unfazed were Killian's next advances, forcing her backwards to the very spot where he intended to place her.

He kicked the floorboard underneath Hazel's left foot and watched as it fell through the hole he created. "I've been meaning to fix that, fae." He proclaimed triumphantly with a teasing smirk creasing his lips. "Safe to say that you aren't the only one who has fallen for that move in the past while dueling aboard the Jolly Roger."

Her eyes narrowed in the captain's direction and grimaced, purposefully not looking towards him. She tipped her head back and her eyes spotted an empty station in the crow's nest. She blinked a few times as a curious looked overcame her delicate features. "…Is anyone stationed in the crow's nest on the ship, Captain?" She finally said after wallowing in her defeat for a few fleeting moments.

"No. Would you like to go up there and see if that would be a station you would be interested in filling before we duel for a second time?" Killian inquired, his brow raising gently as he sheathed his sword and extended an arm to assist in helping her to her feet.

"Of course. I would love to." Hazel responded with a nod. She took his hand and allowed him to assist in helping her to her feet. Her eyes followed up the tall mast to the crow's nest and a smile came to her lips. She wasn't sure why she hadn't noticed it before now. But something in her gut told her that the crow's nest was her place, her station on the ship. The last piece of the puzzle that she needed to affirm herself that she belonged on the Jolly Roger and with this crew under the Captain Killian Jones.

She gave her sword to Mr. Smee before she used her magic to transform herself into her smaller fairy form. She flew up to the mast and traced the entire length of it until she reached the crow's nest. She landed softly on the railing before she grew into her larger human form. She stepped down from the railing and into the nest.

Her gaze set out to the distance, taking in the ocean and whatever else her eyes spotted from this tall height. It brought her a sense of familiarity. Like she was back in the tallest tree, gazing out to the ocean to watch the waves lap against the shores of Pixie Hollow. She closed her eyes gently and lifted her nose to the sky, taking in the largest smell that she was able. The relaxing scent wafted into her nose, her shoulders rose and fell. When she opened her eyes and looked down at the crew members on the deck from this height, a large smile from ear to ear creased on her face.

A sense of belonging and self grew inside of her gut. Her heart swelled as she took in everything. She truly felt like she was coming into herself, right where she was meant to be all along. Regardless if she hadn't gotten there in the conventional method that she hoped she would. This was where she belonged. Not on Pixie Hollow, but on the Jolly Roger with the crew that sailed on it. With the first mate, Mr. Smee and the Captain Killian Jones. She was meant to be the scout and navigator aboard this beautiful ship. She finally belonged to something far bigger than herself and nearly brought a tear to her eye.

When Hazel finally came down from the crow's nest, Killian looked to her with a small smile of his own. "The crow's nests suits you, Hazel. Like it was made for you…" He trailed off, his eyes meeting hers. Admittedly, the captain got lost in her blue eyes and he cleared his throat gently.

She nodded her head softly, admiring the small moment they had when their eyes met. "It does…now, Captain…should we continue our training? I'm itching to go again." Hazel urged, taking her sword from Mr. Smee's grasp.

A deep chuckle escaped his lips. "Of course."