Title: Isla de Vida
Author Name: Dimenticato-poco-angelo
Author E-mail: General
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Pirates of the Caribbean
Summary: Catharine only wanted to know where her compass would take her. She didn't bet on Captain Jack Sparrow being the one to take her there and she didn't bet on her old master showing up and she didn't bet on finding a father or a family. Catharine betted on everything except that.
DISCLAIMER: I own Catharine, Travis, the Goodwin's and anything else you do not recognize. All else belongs to Jerry Bruckheimer and whoever else owns whatever they own.
A/N: No worries, remember not everything is as it seems. Please review even if you don't have much to say. Plus if you think Cahtarine is Mary-Sue please tell me and I shall stop immediately and take any advice given. And another thing. I live in Va so yes I know Roanoke is inland and therefore could not be a Port, but hey I didn't feel like doing historical research for a city that would be mentioned like once. If it bugs you I'm sorry.
Chapter One: Sail Away
I'm sailing away, set an open course for the virgin sea
I've got to be free, free to face the life that's ahead of me
A gathering of angels appeared above my head
They sang to me this song of hope, and this is what they said
They said come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
STYX 'Sail Away'
She was ready. This was it. Tonight she would be leaving America forever. Travis had stolen a times table for ships leaving Port Roanoke and she would be hidden by one of the cabin boys below deck on the Carolina. Her stomach was leaping in anticipation. In a few hours she would be free. Free from her Master's ever watchful gaze, free from a life of servitude, free to roam the sea as she pleased, free to. Well she couldn't think of what she would do once she was free, but that wasn't the point. The point was she would be free.
"Catharine," she heard the shrill voice of her Mistress calling from the kitchen, "Catharine the guests are arriving. Your punishment will be severe if you are not down here by the time they enter this house." Quickly Catharine donned her apron before making her way down the servant's stairwell and into the kitchen. Mama Belle and Marie were the only two in the sweltering heat of the kitchen.
"Cat," Marie whispered harshly, "what in all of Heaven were you doing up there?"
"I couldn't find my apron." Catharine lied easily. She smoothed her dark hair back from her face with a white handkerchief and gathered the baskets with the bread slices in them. "I'll be back shortly." She told them in a sing song voice.
"Someone's a bit chipper this afternoon." Marie commented to Mama Belle as Catharine left the kitchen.
Catharine kept her head bowed when she entered the dining room. Everyone had already been seated and she prayed that they had not been kept very long. After setting down the bread baskets she returned to the kitchen where she helped to prepare the salads and the main course. The evening seemed to drag on and on. Marie and Catharine soon grew bored with listening in on the dining conversations. The only good bit of gossip the two girls learned were the names of the guests and their reason for voyaging to America.
Commodore Norrington. Catharine filed the name away and continued about her evening chores while waiting to be able to clear the table of the main course and bring in desert.
"Catharine," the whisper interrupted her day dreaming and she turned to the side door to find the source, "Catharine." The voice called again. She dried her hands on her apron and walked over to the door, peering out through the screen. In the darkness she spotted a familiar face, looking around to make sure no one would see her she snuck out the door.
"Travis," she whispered, "what are you doing here? If Master catches you." Travis silenced her protests with a quick kiss.
"Don't worry so much Anna." He told her, "I just came to tell you that Jonathan will meet you at the church tonight at ten thirty. You cannot be late. He has everything timed exactly." Catharine pulled her beloved into a fierce hug.
"When will you be coming?" she asked.
"In two days time another ship leaves for Port Royal carrying Master's guests home. I've already bartered passage onto the ship. By nightfall on the third week I will be in Port Royal. Now you best get back inside before someone notices you're gone." He released her from his embrace and she turned to go back inside, but turned around.
"One last kiss?" she asked. He pulled her back into his arms and pressed his lips to hers.
"Be safe." He whispered in her ear before she walked back through the side door.
"Cat where have you been?" Marie asked as soon as she returned to the kitchen.
"I just needed a breath of fresh air." She answered quickly.
"Well, they're just about finished with their meal you had best get in there quickly." Catharine nodded her head and hurried to do as she was told. Only a few more hours, she told herself.
After the desert dishes were cleared Catharine sent Marie and Mama Belle off to bed, insisting that she could finish up the dishes and straightening the kitchen. She was drying off the last piece of china when Master Goodwin entered the kitchen.
"The Missus tells me you were neglectful of your duties this evening and you were late bringing out tonight's meal." His tone was soft and gentle, but his walk was menacing as he closed in on her, "You've been acting a bit uppity for the past few days I hear. Perhaps it has been too long since you last punishment and you have forgotten what it means when you disobey your Mistress or Master."
"No, sir, I." she turned to look at him, quickly realizing her mistake when he backhanded her.
"Did I tell you to speak?" he demanded harshly. She shook her head meekly, keeping her hands down by her side. This seemed to anger him more and he grabbed her upper arm ragging her out of the kitchen and toward the stable. Fearing what awaited her she struggled slightly.
"No," she pleaded, "No I didn't mean to."
"Silence." He yelled at her before smacking her again. Catharine had never before angered him to the point of a whipping, but she knew that was why he was dragging her to the barn. Her only choice was to fight, which in the end only made things worse.
Marie found Catharine lying in a heap outside of the side door to the kitchen.
"Catharine," she whispered as she gently tried to wake her, "Catharine." She said again. Catharine awoke with a start, pain immediately shooting up and down her back.
"What time is it?" she rasped.
"Nearly ten o'clock. Come on Cat let me get you inside so I can see what damage was done." Catharine stood up as quickly as she could doing her best to ignore the pain.
"No, no I have something I have to do. I'll be back shortly." She left Marie standing in the doorway as she ran toward the town of Roanoke, Virginia.
There was no way she could make it to the church in time, she thought to herself as she continued running. Her plans would be ruined and she would be forced to live in servitude for the rest of her life, however long or short it may be. That thought alone gave her the strength to run faster.
"Jonathan," she called out as she neared the church. A form stepped from the shadows and she ran straight into her arms unable to stop herself.
"It's okay Catharine. The ship's departure has been delayed for a few hours. Apparently the Commodore wishes to return to Port Royal as soon as possible. But do not fret there will plenty a ship to carry your dear Travis safely to Port Royal without fear of Goodwin ever knowing." Catharine sagged against her friend in relief. He put a comforting arm around her back and she winced. Horror instantly filled his eyes. "No," he gasped as he brought his arm around to stare at the blood that now stained his white cabin boy shirt.
"All I need s a change of clothes. Perhaps a shirt and a pair of pants." She told him shrugging off his concerned look.
"Does Travis know?" he asked.
"No, and you shan't be the one to tell him. He's better off if he doesn't know. I don't want him to provoke Master to the point where they end up killing each other." Jonathan smiled and shook his head.
"Come along then," he told her ushering her toward the doors of the church, "I'll find you something else to wear."
A few hours later Catharine was lying in Jonathan's bed aboard the Carolina. Jonathan had related Catharine's story to the cook, who had told the first mate, who in turn told the Captain who had a grudge against Eric Goodwin since boyhood. He had agreed to let Catharine stay in Jonathan's cabin as long as she helped in the galley. She quickly agreed and all was set. As she drifted off to sleep she could not believe that she would finally be free.