Horizon's Song Chapter 1: Prelude
By: LunarianPrincess
Disclaimer: It is called FANfiction b/c we are not the owners but just fans with (hopefully) good ideas. All constructive criticism is appreciated, I will try to respond to any questions, if you have a question please e-mail me at any time.
V*I*V
Aria is an independent, intelligent, sarcastic girl who is adjusting to life without her father. When she and her sisters are attacked, who will be there for her? And will her life ever be normal again?
V*I*V
The wind whispered through the palms, bending the leaves in sync to the hypnotic pounding of the deep, blue surf on the crystal white sand. The moon shone luminously over the peaceful scene, completely at odds with the sinister plot afoot. A wisp of smoke rose lazily above the palms, beckoning the three girls. Bridgette, Arianna and Leilani stealthily followed the small path towards the glistening white beach and the small fire. Bri, Lani, and Aria approached the beach and saw the three most feared, handsome, charming and wanted men in the Caribbean. Little did they know that they were not alone on this moonlit night.
There were three men were sitting around the fire, laughing about something, carousing and comparing plunders most likely. In their hands they clutched a bottle of rum each. The pirates that were both loathed and loved, Jack Sparrow, William Turner and his newly discovered half-brother, Joshua Turner. The girls may live practically alone on this sparsely populated island, but correspondence and gossip papers, sent by their solicitor and friends, filled in everything they could ever hope to know about current goings on. They owned the small island exclusively, the only other people being servants and their family, even the small dock and light house that stood on the high point of the island was theirs.
The girls longed to approach the men but caution filled their minds, they had been warned about these men, but above and beyond that, they knew that the men would notice their movements before they got any closer. The girls exchanged glances and it was by silent agreement that they hovered and strained to overhear the men. The three girls, though sisters, were very different. Bridgette, the oldest Mydia sister was maternal, responsible, and proper to a fault. Arianna was devious, sarcastic, and astonishingly bookish. Leilani was a sweet, bubbly girl, with a playful spirit. Sisters, and best friends, stared at the men in awe. They had been on this island only a short time, but they had never seen male specimens that were as impressive.
The three girls had been standing in the moonlight for quite a while before Arianna's impatience got the better of her and she crept forward. Clutching her skirts up so they didn't brush against the vegetation and make any noise, she tentatively made her way across the land until she was behind a palm tree close to the edge of the sand. She stopped and motioned for Bri and Lani to come closer when she heard a sound that made her cock her head. Bri and Lani had just gathered enough courage to join Aria in getting closer to the men when they were jolted out of their reverie and contemplation by the sound of cracking twigs. The girls spun quickly, only to be facing down half a dozen cocked pistols.
The girls instantly regretted the fact that they had been caught unawares, for if they had known they were going to be attacked they would have made sure to prepare themselves. For though they were of gentle birth, their father had guaranteed that they learn how to protect themselves. After a failed kidnapping attempt, he had immediately booked a fencing master. Since he could not always be with them, he made sure the girls could protect themselves in a fight, armed or unarmed. Admiral Mydia, as he was when he passed, had access to some of the greatest fighting masters, for he was a man renowned for his fighting prowess. In fact, his military ability was the reason the girls could call this island their haven. Their home was called Shell Island, and it had been in the family since Aria was 2 years old. Their father had unexpectedly died two years prior, and after one year in mourning, and setting their affairs to order in London, the girls had booked passage on a ship headed for Port Royal, and from there it was easy to purchase their own ship that took them northwest to their home on Shell Island.
Once away from the stricture of London society, they had returned to their former pursuits. It had been awhile, but as soon as they had found an instructor willing to work with ladies, their skills had slowly but surely returned. Aria had never really quit training with her swords, practicing in secret at night, but once back with a master she had advanced, by leaps and bounds. Never, more than this moment, had she wished harder for the hilt of a sword in her hand, even though they were outnumbered she would feel safer with one.
The men approached, brandishing their weapons and motioning for the girls to keep quiet. Bri and Lani were grabbed and Aria made a move towards them but one look at the pistols shoved against their sides stopped her. Aria was roughly handled by the tall man who grabbed her, she looked at her sisters, and their eyes all widened when one of the men produced bindings and blindfolds. The men bound their hands after they put gags and blindfolds on the three girls. They wanted to resist but the men had them at gunpoint, and each sister worried that any wrong move could cause one of the other two to be shot. They were hoisted off their feet and were aware of being carried down to the surf.
As the sound of the waves became louder Aria had a thought, the shore! Those men by the fire on the shore, if only she could get their attention, they might have a chance to escape, she thought she had counted 9 or 10 men when they had been grabbed. She started to squirm and as the man was occupied with her movements she began to make as much noise as she could. She prayed that her sisters would understand, that they would either be scared she was being hurt or that it was some sort of signal to make noise. She almost sighed in relief when they began to struggle and yell before she was brutally knocked out.
Moonlight illuminated the shoreline as a small vessel disturbed the stillness of the tranquil ocean waters. Waves lapped gently against the sides of the small rowboat, bringing a sense of serenity to the classic tableau of masculine strength. The three strong men pulled it high enough on shore so there was no danger of it floating away. Jack, Will and Joshua silently scrambled onshore, safe in the knowledge that the Black Pearl was anchored a fair distance off shore, in a little known cavern. They piled driftwood before lighting the fire. The fire was shortly roaring warmly, the three men softly plopped beside the bonfire, smiling at each other, satisfied after their remarkably successful raiding. They savored the solitude, comfortable in the others company. They each pulled out a bottle of rum out and began reminiscing.
"There is something to be said for a quiet night and a bit of rum," Will stated after plopping on the cool, white sand. He was wearing a loose white shirt left half open, tight fawn breeches that showed the muscles of his thighs, and knee-high black boots. On top of this he wore his scabbard and had a variety of weapons on his person. He relished the freedom of his clothing, grateful for the escape from the binding formal clothing of society.
"Well, whelp you've come a long way since that woman of yours went back to England, especially at your handling your liquor." Jack proudly proclaimed, he would never admit it, but he was secretly delighted that he had been reunited with the young man. He missed the almost non-existent flash of pain in Will's eye. His brother Joshua winced sympathetically.
"The sea called, I kept a weather eye on the horizon, but it wasn't too long before it was a wanting eye and not a weather eye. Elizabeth didn't like the thought that she came second to the sea," Will said swallowing down the tightness in his throat. It was still painful when people brought up the fact that his ex-fiancée had left him. Elizabeth and he had not come to terms with each other on many things, it seemed Elizabeth longed to return to England and the elegant setting she deserved so that she could show off her very own pirate, but Will could not give up his love of the sea, it beckoned him and he was loathe to resist.
Of course, after Jack had left Port Royal, Elizabeth and he had gotten engaged, announcements were sent out, and a party was held in the governor's mansion. They remained engaged while Will worked for a tidy sum for their wedding and life after. He had collected a huge amount when his blacksmith shop came into demand after everyone heard of his adventure with swashbuckling pirates and cursed treasure. That had been a rather fortuitous occurrence. In April, a month before the intended wedding, Elizabeth told him of her wish for them to return from England, at the same time Will revealed his longing to buy a ship. Both of them had been surprised to learn of the desires of the other, certain that their plans for the future were harmonious.
They had stayed together awhile, each trying to find a way to get the other to compromise. Once it became clear that their desires were so divergent they began to fight, tiny annoyances suddenly became the fodder for fights and shouting matches. Eventually, they both declared they wanted what was best for the other person, and so they had parted ways. Will had seen her off on H.M.S. Venture, feeling a certain sense of loss when she had finally gone. For so long, his life had revolved around Elizabeth, first in unrequited love, then in a desperate bid to guaranty her safe return, and finally, a futile attempt to hold on to her. They had parted ways in mutual agreement but both resented the fact that the other couldn't or wouldn't give something up for them. Will had spent a long time in contemplation after she had left. He made quite a few discoveries while involved with his introspection. First he made a vow that if he ever found himself in love again, and was given a choice, he would choose love. Second he realized he had never truly loved Elizabeth, he had admired her, true, but he also was infatuated with her, and felt as if he owed her his life, which he had repaid. He had accepted that but it still hurt when people mentioned his folly.
"Well, the horizon's song is black aria or the sweetest hymn, but be glad your rum drinking skills have improved, that'll help, whelp" Jack's words were uttered in his trademark slur, and it made Will smile wryly. Jack himself laughed at his little rhyme before taking another swig of rum.
"Well, I learned from the best," William said in a dry voice, laughing at how quickly his life had changed in the matter of four months. After he had gotten over her departure, Will spent most of his free time in contemplation before deciding on a course of action. He reached a decision fairly quickly, coming to terms with both his past and his intended future. He bought passage on a ship bound for Tortuga and began to search for the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow. He had been very sure of himself, adamant about his resolve to accept his parentage. Two days after the arrival of the Black Pearl on Tortuga, Will found Jack and he had requested to join the crew. He was well suited to the life of a pirate, he was a diligent student, and quickly earned the respect of the crew and even from their victims. The Black Pearl then received notice from an old friend of Jack's, the suprising existence of Joshua Turner, second mate on the Raven. However, they did not reach him in time to remove him from a ship bound for mutiny.
Joshua had been the only man to stay loyal to his captain when the crew had been infiltrated with unsavory pirates, quickly elevating the Black Pearl crew's opinion of him. Will was determined to find his brother, so they had been forced to rescue him from mutineers, and after placing the captain back in command, Joshua decided to accompany Jack and Will. Jack's loyal mate Ana-Maria had fallen in love with the captain and stayed with them. Shane, Ana's paramour, decided to join Jack's fleet, thus they had two ships, the Black Pearl and the newly christened Black Raven, Shane's ship. After this adventure, Will had enough money to commission the building of a ship, and the decision had been reached that he would captain his own ship under Jack as well. It was due to be ready by the end of the week, and then Jack would have three ships under his command instead of one. All remained equal partners in the venture though, Jack, Will, and Shane, captains and friends.
Will came out of his reminiscing to notice that Jack and Joshua had kept drinking while he had been thinking, smirking he took a healthy swallow and joined the rowdy merriment. They sat there laughing and reminiscing, when they heard a slight crunch from just beyond the tree line. All three were immediately at bristling attention, dropping their bottles and placing their hands on the hilts of their swords, anxious for some sign of hostilities. Not a minute later they heard feminine protests and the sound of a struggle, then all ceased abruptly. The men rocketed to their feet, looking around for some sign of where the sound came from.
Each man was frozen, waiting in tense silence for another sign of life. A muffled groan came from the left and the men exchanged brief glances. They drew their swords and raced into the trees. They followed a set of footprints and soon came upon a rowboat, just a little ways away from their own safe in a little cove, and there were nine men, three were holding unconscious women and were waiting while the other three were climbing into the boat, three more had waded into the surf to push the boat out to sea. One of the men holding the women handed his bundle to the man who had made it into the boat and made to climb in, but when they heard the commotion, he froze with his leg in the air.
Will and Jack stopped short as it dawned on them that they were outnumbered, none of them were intimidated, yet they did not want to risk the girls' safety. Joshua was still slowly advancing and the group's attention focused on him. Suddenly there was movement from the two captives upon the brawny men's shoulders, to the advantage of Jack and Will. The men were distracted and that is when the Captain and his two friends attacked in earnest. The two burly men were occupied for they had dropped the suddenly wriggling bundles. The muscular men stepped away from the squirming bundles, afraid to trample what his captain had called the "precious packages." The two watched as the other six raced to meet the armed pirates. They watched in disappointment when they saw that the men were skilled and easily handled their friends. The taller man nodded at his companion before unsheathing his sword and heading towards Will, who seemed the most skilled swordsman.
Will let out a crow of triumph as he dropped the first man, loving the rush of adrenaline that hit his system. The haze that the rum had begun to weave about him vanished in an instant, leaving behind a throbbing anticipation. His sword rang as it clashed with the other man's blade. Keeping his body loose, he swung out at the man, gratified when he sliced through the man's shirt and made a bright red stain bloom against the fabric. He was surprised to see two more men rushing towards him, but then he saw the last man standing between the boat and the bodies on the sand.
V*I*V
Here we are loyal readers, the beginning of a new Horizon's Song. I hope that you will enjoy this as much as its previous incarnation. If you have something you loved or something you hated, I'd love to hear it.
Thanks! ~LP