Disreputable Pirates of Great Reputation do not have any weaknesses. If a Disreputable Pirate of Great Reputation had a weakness, he would be a Reputable Pirate of a Reputation of no Great Importance. Captain Jack Sparrow was a Disreputable Pirate of Great Reputation, which meant that he had no weakness. At least, that was what he kept telling himself. Of course, he did have a great love of rum, and of The Pearl, but those he could overcome. It was not like him to dream of something he desired while asleep and awake. Tonight, Captain Sparrow dreamed about the same thing he had dreamed about for the last few months. Ever since he had left him in Port Royal. The bed under Captain Sparrow rolled gently with the ship, sending the sweating and murmuring man onto his stomach. The Pearl knew about him, and she was, in her own way, speaking to Jack. The creaks of the ropes out on deck and the splash of the water rippling off of her sides all came into Jacks dream, and he quieted, listening to her. She whispered of him and how she would allow for Jack to have one more love to share, since it seemed to be bothering him so. She understood Love, and told Jack that they would be getting him for the both of them to share soon. But then again, it might have only been a dream. It was easy for Jack to believe that his beloved Pearl could be alive though, especially on a beautiful morning with the feel of the smooth wood under his hands. As he stood caressing the wheel, his first mate came up, taking his attention away from the living lady under his hands.
"Cap'n, we seem to have changed course during the night. I just took a reading, and we're headed to the English seas. Funny thing is though, we're goin straight and all the sails are lashed firm."
Captain Jack Sparrow, being a Disreputable Pirate of Great Reputation, was superstitious, as all good Pirates are. He heeded his dreams, especially when they concerned one of the three things he loved; Rum, the Pearl, or him.
"Keep this course, and make sure that we stay on it." Turning back to the wheel as Gibbs went off to tell the crew the news, he whispered to his ladylove, "We'll see, luv, we'll see."
The wind off of the sea blew cold and harsh. Any man standing on the empty docks would have been shivering after a minute, what with the waves crashing down on the wooden planking and boats moored in Port Royal's harbor. Although the sun had not yet set, it might as well have. Dark clouds were being blown in from the sea, tall angry clouds that slashed across the sky. A damp darkness seemed to be seeping into everything in the city, as a thick fog rolled in. Near the docks, crows circled around corpses creaking in the wind, trying to get to the rotting flesh that was encased in metal bars. They weren't the only living things out by the ships though, and they soon scattered, protesting loudly and angrily, as a rock clanged against one of the cages and silently disappeared into the waves below. William Turner stood as far out into the sea as the docks would allow. He glared angrily at the crows. And at the sea. And at the sky. The weather meant that there would probably be no more ships coming in, and any caught out in that storm wouldn't last long. The fog had soaked through Will's loose cotton shirt and his leggings, and the only thing dry on him was his feet, which were encased in sturdy leather boots. Well, the weather wouldn't change by staring at it, and neither would the letter he'd gotten earlier that day. The letter. He'd left it lying on his table in his rush to get down here. Someone, anyone could see it there… Will left the moored boats at a run. If he'd looked behind him, he would have seen the crows swooping back to peck at the decaying pirates.
The streets of Port Royal were deserted. Governor Swann had ordered that half-hourly patrols of five soldiers were to sweep the streets night and day, and arrest anyone who was "suspicious". This really was a guise to let the soldiers beat and arrest anyone they pleased, till most everyone stayed off the streets. The soldiers bypassed the taverns and whorehouses that were hidden in alleyways down by the seaside as long as they got more than their fair share of whores and rum. Thick fog had now permeated the entire city, and the scarce lighting was now almost entirely erased. The sun had set, and the black clouds veiled the moon and the stars, as well as anything in the harbor. A light rain was falling, quickly wetting the cobblestones and the blacksmith hurrying through it. The clomp of soldiers hobnailed boots on the streets rang out, the sound distorted by the fog until it was impossible for anyone to tell where the crash of soldiers came from. Will followed alleyways and even a few rooftops in a roundabout way through the maze of streets in an effort to avoid arrest.
The door to Turner's Smithy banged open as a rush of rain, wind, and Will blew through it. The man noticed with relief that the letter was where he had left it. He changed into dry clothes, hanging his wet ones up by the faintly glowing forge to dry. When he was warm, he sat down at the table to read the note again. As he picked it up, the brown parchment glowed in the firelight like a star on the cold empty night. The rum and saltwater stains gave it character, and a distinct smell of the sea.
My dearest William,
I heard of Your Gal marrying that Pig, Norrington. I am now hoping that You can see things My Way, And Submit to the bloode that your father gave you. I will be coming for you on the fourteenth of this month. We Will talk. I hope to have you aboard my shipe. Please do not bother to prepare a welcoming partye; I will accept no gifte othr than you. I am rathr low on crewe these days, and the crewe and I would greatly apreeshe ate having you on board. I will, of course, be dropping in rather un – expectedly, so please do not have other companye on that day. Do not rite a return letter. Just wait for me. And if your' speaking to the dear terror, give my best to Elizabeth.
Much Love, Jack
P.S. This letter was dictated to me by Jack. He is Not doing Well. I fear for his health. Please come with us.
Will set the letter down gently on the table. He stared at it for a while, and then stood up. Today was the fourteenth. The day Jack had spoken of. The day a storm had been building all day and was finally letting loose. Jack hadn't come yet. That meant either he was caught in the storm, or docked somewhere else. Will knew that he was a clever pirate, a knowledgeable sailor; he knew that he was one with his ship. But Will still worried. So many things could go wrong. He walked into the back room, and stripped. After putting an extra blanket on his mattress, he curled up in the warmth and fell asleep to the sound of rain tap-tap-tapping on his window.
Jack let hiself in the window quietly, muttering to himself. "Fancy the blasted pup not hearing a poor drenched man trying to seek out some shelter in the pouring rain. you'd think he might take the time to wake up and greet an old comrade, but noo-oo.." the Pirate rambled on like this for a while as Will slept on peacefully, the light from the dying forge lighting his nose and cheek as they were smeared across the pillow. After watching Will for a while, Jack walked in to the main room, and curled up next to the donkey, and soon was snoring peacefully.
Shouts drifted through Jack's sleep-dulled mind. A familiar voice was calling, calling his name. Jack leapt up, feeling the cold floor on his bare feet as his sleep-mussed hair jumped about wildly. Dashing into Will's room, he beheld the sleeping boy tossing wildly. Reaching down, he held Will. Blacksmith muscles struggled with wind and sea muscles as the sleeping Will fought on. Jack held him, keeping him from harm. glancing around, he spared an arm to splash a mug of water on Will's face. The owner of the wet face woke with a start.
Jack held Will and caressed his hair. The young man trembled in his arms, warm, sweaty and… naked. Well now. When life hands you lemons… no. It was too soon.
"Now now luv, calm down. You had a bad dream. Old Jackie's here, it's all right. Now why don't you just get dressed, and I'll be waiting out there with food for you, and then you can tell me all about it, hmm?"
Will leaned back, covering his naked form with the covers.
"Sorry Jack, I'll just be a minute."
Jack walked out into the main room of the smithy and set up breakfast for the two of them, talking to himself as he did.
"Now, Many a lesser man would give into the temptation of having a naked panting beautiful young man leap into his arms, but not I. I am Captain Jack Sparrow. And Captain Jack Sparrow always ripens his fruit before he plucks it." He poured two cups half full of tea, and grinned at them. "A good bit of one of my loves to the other ought to help set things straight." A surprisingly shiny silver flask appeared in his hand, and he filled up the rest of the cups with it. Picking one up, he took a sip. And frowned. It was a mite strong; Will might notice the taste of alcohol in his tea. Casting around for something to dull it down with, he found a sugar bowl. Now, keep in mind that Jack was a Pirate. Pirates don't drink much tea. After making sure that the contents of the bowl was sugar, jack emptied half of it into his cup, and half in will