Revised and extended version of my story "Black Pearl – A Captain's Love"

When I read my first story lately I came to the conclusion that some chapters are missing and that it has a lot of voids. So I decided to revise it, add the missing chaps and rewrite some of the already existing chaps. The original version will remain published so you'll get the chance to compare both versions...

Hope you'll enjoy it and if you do so feel free to leave a comment – your feedback is the only payment I'll receive...

Disclaimer:

I do not own any rights on "Pirates of the Caribbean", its content or its characters (unfortunately) except my OCs and the storylines I invented by myself.

The same applies to the crossover chapters with 'The Crimson Pirate' and 'Against all Flags'...

Summary:

I always wondered about why Jack Sparrow is so obsessed by his ship - the "Black Pearl". Maybe it is because she's more to him but just a ship...

Being a boy of fifteen Jack Sparrow takes flight from Shipwreck Island and gets saved by a stranger who takes him aboard his ship and away to a hidden bay. The stranger is Patrick Swallow who chooses the bay as a hideout. There he lives with his partner Rosalind Stevens and her daughter Caithleen.

Jack and Caith become inseparable and they fall in love. When they have to leave the isle in a hurry life changes dramatically. They have to make a decision which leads them to London and to an employment with the East India Trading Company. When their ship gets heavily damaged the new leader of the company - Cutler Beckett - makes Jack captain of the fastest vessel that floats: the "Wicked Wench".

Then the day comes when Jack discovers that Beckett betrays him and uses him and his ship to sail slaves over to the colonies. Jack and Caith agree to set them free although they know what that could mean for them. When they reach the African shore to face Beckett they have to realize that the head of the East India Trading Company is driven by greed and power. Being hell-bent to get his cargo back Beckett turns Jack's and Caithleen's life into hell on earth and when he decides to take everything he loves away from Jack not only his freedom is meant...

Prologue: 1715 The Hidden Bay

The island was rather small. It was one amongst hundreds round the Caribbean and it wasn't even marked within the sea charts. Its bearings and coordinates got spread from captain to captain by word-of-mouth recommendation and although its port was rather small as well lots of sailors used to strike their bargains there because of two fundamental reasons:

It still belonged to a shrinking amount of free ports without immense taxes and it still stayed unchallenged from the English – the leading power all around the Caribbean.

So it happened that ships of all kinds sailing under different colors used to call at the isle and its inviting settlement with its taverns, inns and chandlers – not to forget the brothel and its beauties...

Aside the bustling little town, its port and its visitors the island kept a secret which only a few people ever came to know.

On the reverse side of the isle – separated from the town by nearly impenetrable virgin forests, steep cliffs and an insuperable mountain range – lay a picturesque bay surrounded by deep forests and scarps. It was neither directly to spot from the seaside nor was it directly to spot from the countryside. And it lay far enough from the port and the trade route.

A narrow passage separated the hidden bay also from the open ocean and its shallows, currents and hidden reefs meant unpredictable dangers for all those who did not know these perils.

Due to these natural barriers it caused that the little settlement which nestled up against the hillside remained hidden to the curious eyes of the English and the Spaniards as well as of the numerous pirates who searched for secure hideouts within these waters.

It was early in the morning and still misty after a mild and peaceful night when a ship searched for its way through the narrow passage which seemed to avoid the shallows and the reefs with a kind of sleepwalking matter of course being in some way redolent of magic.

Its sails got already reefed and the crew was busy to prepare for shore leave.

Almost unnoticed and some days too early the 'Silver Stream' returned back from her last adventure. She was a proud galleon, emblazed and impressive – a sight to behold...

Up at the helm stood two men who shared the watch and kept taps on the crew and the mist which blocked their view – the captain and his first mate and steersman.

"Mister Turner, make sure that this old lady will find back to her place safely and silently! We're a bit too early and I think we'll cause some of our beloved ones a big surprise today. I bet none of them reckons on us."

The captain lowered his spyglass and pushed it together.

"Aye, captain! Supposedly you're right. But don't you think as well it's better to return some days too early instead of never..." the first mate – Bill Turner – asked with a grin.

"Indeed, that's true. It did not miss much and we would have ended up at Davy Jones' Locker", the captain replied. He hesitated for a moment and frowned when he went on: "I only hope we really stayed unchallenged when we left the isle. This adventure isn't over yet and it could cause us a lot of trouble with the council of the Brethren Court. It's no secret at all that the boy we pulled out of the bay is not just an ordinary someone."

"Teague will get in violent temper if he comes to know what we did."

"Take my oath, my friend, he will..."

"And for sure his shadow in human form, this miscreant – Finch – will already have reported it to him."

"That's dead certain!"

"And it does neither cause you bellyache nor does it worry you?"

"No!" A broad grin appeared upon the captain's lips: "Far from it! The boy owns everything a pirate should own and much more. He's clever and courageous! His talents would have been wasted if we would have left him at Shipwreck Island or at Tortuga! Much worse: They really think their code and their brethren are much worthier than such a brave and dauntless boy. Barely to believe that he's the son of Edward Teague, isn't it?" He got stern again: "It's a pity that he's still too young to stay aboard but it would be a shame taking him with us only to use his skills to let him work as a cabin boy. Don't you agree?"

Turner gazed at him with a smirk: "Come off it, Patrick! Two or three years to come and he's in command!"

"What's this, William Turner? You're not planning a mutiny, eh?"

Both men burst out laughing while the fog slowly lifted and gave sight to the bay, the settlement and the breathtaking environment. Mostly it were framed houses which snuggled to the hillside. They belonged to the crew and their families, to fishermen, sailors, merchants, craftsmen and innkeepers. It was a peaceful life which followed its own rules and rhythm.

The port had room for two ships and another galleon was already moored to the pier when the "Silver Stream" reached her berth nearly soundless but the bay was wide enough to grant shelter to some more ships if necessary.

Captain Patrick Swallow and his partner Rosalind Stevens belonged to that continuously shrinking group of pirates who managed to stay free from any rules. They still sailed the seven seas only for their own profit while most of their former companions were already vested with letters of marque and sailed in the name of the King and the Crown of England or crooked to the council of the Brethren Court of Shipwreck Cove and its code - the dure and unrelenting pirate law.

Patrick and Rosalind found this strange but nonetheless enchanting island on one of their preys after they stayed at sea for countless weeks and months just coming ashore to take supplies aboard or to hide from severe weather. Meanwhile the two captains used the unique bearing of this isle and its hidden bay as a well sheltered hide out and as a kind of base for their preys.

Swallow's crew was totally loyal because there was neither an excessive strength aboard his vessel nor an all too lax regime. He knew very well how to handle all those different characters he was surrounded by and none of the men doubted his orders. They used to share their loots one to one with an extra part for the captain. Mostly this part was meant to get spend within the tavern as soon as they reached the next port – a payment for a proper drinking bout and some well provided wenches.

Patrick Swallow was a man in his middle ages. Who ever came across him for the first time would never have supposed him to be a sailor or a dreaded pirate. He was neither tall nor was he strong but he owned an unmistakable feeling for doing the right thing within the right moment. This unique sense and his knowledge of tactics and navigation made him one of the best captains sailing these waters.

Due to these skills he and Rosalind succeeded in sending about fifty trading and merchant vessels to the deep depths of Davy Jones' Locker within only one year equal under which colors they did sail. Both – the Spanish and the English – offered a prize on his head but his only answer when he came to know that also the French followed this example was a loud laugh. Afterwards he ordered another mug of beer and went on celebrating with his crew.

His missing strength and his lack of size he equalized with robustness and agility as well as with cleverness and slyness. In addition he owned an already legendary grasp for the sea and its inscrutable depths.

His weathered face was tanned and sunburned. It got dominated by his lively grey and sparkling eyes while his long hair – once ash blond – got bleached by the sun and the salty water of the sea and while several grey strands already mingled in within the bygone months. He used to wear it in a loose braid which let him appear much younger than he actually was.

Swallow was a passionate captain and he loved his ship and his crew. Every man aboard knew that he would never leave a man behind if he was able to avoid it.

For him the loss of a good man was much worse than to lose a proper prey.

However, from time to time he felt driven to leave his ship and the wide open ocean to stay ashore. Then no one came across him or even spotted him for weeks and anybody knew there was only one reason for his strange behavior:

His beautiful partner Rosalind Stevens.

His crew knew that it was once again time to stay ashore for a couple of weeks but even if there was no reason to spend just a hint of a thought on a new adventure there was a lot of work to do anyway.

The weeks ashore would pass by within a blink of an eye and in the end they all would be convinced that it was much too less time to finish all the repairing, the renovation and the mending the ship needed. Not to forget about the storing of fresh water, fresh fruit, supplies, rum, powder and lots of other goods they were in need of. So thinking of it the shore leave was really welcome. Much more because no one aboard would deny that it was much more comfortable to do the mending within the calm waters of the bay instead of having to do it while being tossed to and fro by the sometimes rough waves out on the open ocean.

So there was not to fear to die due to boredom. Most of the men were also glad to stay at home for a month or two. They already started to get impatient to finally see their families again.

Of all the questions Patrick Swallow had to deal with he got bothered especially by one. He asked himself what could happen to him and his men as soon as the council of Shipwreck Cove and their leader, the keeper of the code of Morgan and Bartholomew, would find out aboard which vessel the boy escaped.

Swallow knew very well that neither he nor his crew could expect any mercy if the council would draw its conclusions. Since they did not accept the code and the pirate law they were indeed free from its duties and its repression but they also lost the protection and the shelter the code granted. Nonetheless Patrick was convinced that the decision he made when he turned his back on the brotherhood was right although he had no illusions what would happen to him if they would ever find his secret hideout.

Bill Turner tore him out of his thoughts: "What do you have in mind concerning the boy, eh? Will you take him with you to stay together with you in your cottage?"

"Yes, that's what I want to do. Rosalind will love him. And to be honest, although he's already a versed sailor he's still a cute little boy as well", Patrick replied.

"Oh yes! There's no doubt about Rosalind and that she will love him but what about Caithleen? Don't you think she could get jealous? You didn't raise her as a girl or even a lady. Sometimes it seems she acts much more like a boy than it suits for a young woman."

"Don't be at fault, Bill. Caith is already woman enough to turn a man's head. She owns enough female attractions and I fear I have to defend them against her admirers soon."

"That's not to overlook that she will become as pretty as her mother, but that's not what I asked, Pat. You know very well that she's able to defend herself and I can't help, my friend, I doubt that it was only Rosalind who taught her how to shoot, how to fence and how to use a pistol, a cutlass and the grapnel."

"It was only Roaslind who taught her that, mate", Patrick denied with a wink.

"Then you should better warn the poor before he makes the mistake to think Caithleen's just a girl. Maybe you should teach him some tricks for self defense against her..."

"I also thought of that but after he spent his whole life within the fortress of Shipwreck Cove, amongst a breed of remorseless, reckless and cruel miscreants I suppose him to be very well in the know how to resist her. He's the son of captain Edward Teague so he should know what it means to fight for his life. Not an easy life, if you ask me, why else should he prefer to take flight from the isle?" With a shrug he added: "But I'm still convinced that it won't be necessary for him to defend himself against the girl. Think they will either hate each other or they will end up within the hayrick. In this case Rosalind would throw me out of our cottage without further ado but to be honest I would prefer that anyhow. Imagine Caith and the boy – there would be some pretty little ones to be to expect, eh...?"

Both men started laughing.

The same moment the "Silver Stream" reached her berth and the anchor fell with a loud rattle. Swallow was contented. There weren't many steersmen being as virtuous at the helm as Bill Turner was. He was a great sailor, a courageous pirate and a good friend and Patrick couldn't imagine to miss him.

Nevertheless Patrick asked himself what it was that kept the well-adjusted and discreet Bill Turner amongst a crew of dreaded pirates especially since he found himself a pretty lass on one of their preys – a passenger aboard one of the vessels they captured. Bill saved her when the ship burst into flames and they fell for each other the same moment. When they wanted to drop her in Tortuga she decided to stay and so it happened that she stayed together with Turner within the hidden bay for a couple of years now and whenever Patrick asked why they did not return to London they both kept silent.

However the answer might have been he was glad to have Turner aboard his vessel. One cool-headed man was good to have, two of them were even better. They became close friends while they had been out on several preys and their friendship worked well without a lot of words.

"Any orders concerning the crew or the reparation, captain?" The quartermaster appeared up at the helm.

"If the ship is finally moored, if everything is in its place and if the watch is organized you're all free to go ashore. The men shall take some days of rest. Work can wait till the end of this week. For you all know where to find the tavern you know what to do tonight, don't you? We'll go to divide the prey tonight so tell them all to assemble in time. That's all for the moment!"

"Aye, captain!"

With it the man returned to the deck and shortly after a crew of tired sailors left the 'Stream' for a well earned shore leave. Most of them were glad to feel solid floor underneath their feet for a while and Swallow knew that he could trust in his men. It needed no orders. The men already had organized the watch by themselves and due to this fact there were no problems to expect. With sunset they would meet within the tavern and with the end of the week they would start mending the 'Stream'.

Not only his crew but also Patrick himself were interested in one thing – time ashore was pleasing and necessary but it wasn't meant to last an eternity...

The same moment Patrick stopped short. Something was different this time – and he had nearly forgotten what it was!

"Sir?" The youthful voice tore him out of his thoughts and caught his attention: "What's going to happen to me?"

In front of him stood a cute boy of about fifteen. He was slender, lissome and already keen for his age. His pretty face with its delicately chiseled features, its soft brown eyes and its perfectly carved lips was tanned and Patrick was convinced that he would turn lots of girls' heads and break lots of girls' hearts some day.

Here and now he cocked his head and gazed at Swallow expectantly. If it was admiration or only relief wasn't easy to say, but without fail it seemed as if the lad was glad that Patrick did pull him out of the bay of Shipwreck Cove and decided not to take him back to the fortress but to this secret hideout instead - although this rescue nearly resembled an abduction.

The boy did not lament when Patrick told him that he had to stay aboard for a while. Quite the contrary. As long as the crossing took he asked intelligent questions and it turned out that he was eager and thirsty for knowledge. There was no doubt, the lad already knew a lot about seafaring and navigation and Patrick was convinced that he would become a captain of a fitting vessel on his own some day.

Swallow gave him a smile and wrapped an arm round his shoulders then he said: "So now, Jack Sparrow, here we are. That's the isle I told you about and you'll accompany me up to the cliffs. I'm sure you'll like my little home up there and I think you will also love the two of my crows if you'll come to know them. I promise."

The house Patrick Swallow built up for himself, his partner and her daughter was settled on top of the cliff, high above the sea and the bay. It looked like a little cottage, homelike and inviting with its whitewashed walls and its half savaged garden where roses, flowers, vegetables, fruit and berries grew.

The unique location of said cottage made it possible to have a wide view over the bay, the open ocean and the back country of the isle without being seen oneself. It was a great sight and the boy had an enthused look around.

A thin trail of smoke ascended from the chimney and a woman was just opening the blinds and the windows when she recognized her early visitors after having hesitated for a split second.

"Patrick!"

Only one moment later she opened the door and threw herself into the arms of her captain. It needed not long and they forgot about everything they were surrounded by:

The here and now, the beautiful morning and the boy who stared shyly and waveringly at his boots tips.

It had been just a moment later when another woman appeared in the door. She was young, much more a girl of his age than a woman though. Untamed black curls surrounded her pretty narrow face and fell unhindered into her shining and sparkling grey eyes. Her skin was tanned so she was used to stay in the open and she was dressed like a boy.

When she got aware of Patrick and Rosalind she rolled her eyes knowing immediately what was going on. She waved the boy to follow her and said with a shrug: "Better don't mind it! I'm already used to it, means it will last a little longer, you know. C'mon, you must be hungry."

With another curious glance at the entangled pair the boy followed the girl into the house: "I suppose they like each other, eh?"

"That?" The girl laughed: "Oh yes, they like each other deeply. Sometimes that deeply that they forget about everything. I prefer to stay outside then. You know what's meant, don't you?"

He gazed at her in surprise and answered a little confused about her straightforwardness: "What? Oh yes! Yes, I know..." He cleared his throat and then asked: "Who are you?"

"I'm Caithleen! Caithleen Stevens! That's my mum out there! She's the owner of the ship down in the bay moored to the pier. Of the 'Eagle's Wing'! I'm supposed to become her captain some day she says." She smiled and went on: "What's with you? Who are you?"

"Who? I mean, what? Me! Ah...Yes...I'm Jack Sparrow!" He smirked: "I want to be the captain of a ship some day as well. I love the sea and I love my freedom!"

"So do I!"

They smiled at each other and kept silent for a while until Caithleen said: "Don't be shy, please. No need for something like that! Sit down! I suppose Patrick wants you to stay up here?"

"Yes, that was what he said! At least something like that..."

"Uhh! I hope it does not mean that I have to behave like a lady from now on..."

Jack shook his head, and grinned: "You haven't! Not to please me! I'm not used to stay amongst ladies."

"Oh good! I'm glad to hear this because we'll share the chamber up there due to the lack of space within here, you know." When she saw his inquiring gaze she added: "No need to worry! We'll share the chamber not the bed..."

With it she started to lay the table with almost everything she found within the small kitchen and while doing so she glanced at Jack from time to time. They didn't say a word until she finished and until her curiosity was nearly boiling over, but before she was able to ask him another question Rosalind and Patrick entered the room.

"So, you're Jack Sparrow, the son of captain Teague?" Rosalind perched herself astride on a stool and looked straight into his eyes. She grasped for a mug of wine and added: "Can't say that I envy you about this fact, son. Surely it's not easy to survive within the fortress nowadays, isn't it?"

"I preferred to choose my freedom", Jack answered and he looked much more stern than a boy of his age was supposed to.

"Yes, I can understand it!" A shadow passed over Rosalind's face and let her appear much older than she actually was. She looked like an older version of Caithleen with one single difference: she wore her long black hair in a braid. A badly healed scar was to spot upon her left cheek but it wasn't able to destroy her beauty. Jack wasn't sure why but the smile which enlightened her face never reached her eyes as if something kept her from feeling joy. When she replaced her mug to the table Jack got aware that her hand as well as her arm up to her shoulder were also scarred.

"It's not really a sight to behold, isn't it, lad?" She asked and he winced.

"I'm sorry! I didn't want..."

"I know, I know! No need for excuses! I don't worry about it any more! They're all gained within honest fights and mostly it was my fault anyway! But let's talk about you, Jack Sparrow! Patrick told me about your bold escape. I stayed within the fortress for several times. Not often but often enough to know that living under the code isn't easy. Especially if I think of that scum that calls itself pirate or buccaneer! There is only one reason why they're willing to accept the code. Because they're in need for the shelter the code and the brethren grants them! But it's not included that a boy like you turns his back on the fortress, am I right? The more if the boy's the son of the legendary captain Teague! I fear they're not glad about your flight!"

Rosalind's voice reflected her feelings: disgust and reluctance.

It passed by rapidly and she went on with a smile: "But tell me, Jack Sparrow, if you're really Teague's son I suppose you to be already a suitable sailor up to now."

"I was out on a foray aboard my own vessel for several times!" Jack replied.

Rosalind and Patrick looked at each other in surprise then she smiled again and said: "Well, that sounds promising! What do you think, are you interested in hiring aboard my ship and in sailing under my command? I'm in need for a young and temerarious fellow who loves the sea and on whom I and Caithleen can count on..."

"But you don't know anything about me but my name..."

"Well, it's time then to find out who you really are, young mister Sparrow, and what skills you own. You love your freedom, right? She as well..." Rosalind pointed at Caithleen: "If you're both willing you can make a lot out of your skills. So, listen to me, then. Both ships moored to the pier down within the bay will need a younger captain soon. Show me what talents are yours. If I do not know much about you now, I will know a lot about you as soon as we'll set sail for the first time and return from our first prey, lad. And who knows, if I can trust you I'll possibly leave the 'Wing' to you and Caithleen for I would love to stay ashore some day..."