Chapter 2: Aboard the Pearl

The smell of rotting wood filled her senses as she boarded the Black Pearl once again. From the moment that she was brought to the Pearl by Barbossa, it held a mysticism about it that made her feel completely at ease while she was there.

"Well, greetin's lass! 'Tis been a fair bit o' time since we 'ave seen ye last!" A familiar voice welcomed her; it was Master Gibbs, standing ready at the gangplank, awaiting the captain's' arrival, making ready for new orders. She smiled at him, and hugged his outstretched arms.

"Still believe that bringing a woman aboard is bad luck, Mr.Gibbs?" she joked, pulling away out of the hug.

"Nay, 'tis more of a pleasure 'avin you arbored, miss. I'd be called a liar if it weren't to say that you 'ave been missed." he responded, and turned his attention to the boarding captain. "Cap'in! Where be our 'eading, sir?" Jack pulled his compass from his sash, and handed it to Elisabeth.

"This be Lizzie's heading today, gents. We 'ave once again been commandeered to 'elp the poor whelp escape from some trouble that he seems to have gotten 'imself into." She gracefully took the compass from Jack, letting her soft skin graze his rough and calloused hands. He couldn't help but think that she had done it on purpose, but ignored the thought, excusing it as an accident, and Elisabeth being her naturally graceful self.

She had in fact, not meant it as an accident. She wanted to feel his warmth again, in the most inconspicuous of ways. She flipped the compass open, noticing its immediate confusion, she quickly shut it again. She thought hard on what perils Will was surely facing, and how she wanted to help him. She opened her eyes and the compass and looked at it. It went from pointing straight to Jack, to due east. Jack had come up behind her quietly, and peaked over her shoulder. "Gent's we 'ave our heading!"

The crew took to their work immediately, making ready to sail at the break of dawn. Jack looked at Elisabeth. The setting sun made her hair glow, and porcelain skin radiate beauty. The Kraken was a small price to pay to save her, he thought to himself, clearing his throat and mind of the memory, yet again. "Lizzie, luv, as for your accommodation while you are 'ere on the Pearl, you will have full access to me quarters. I'm sure that you will find the bed to yer liking. As for meself, I will be content sleeping in the hammock next to me mapping effects. It would not be fitting fer a lady such as yer self to be residing with the crew below deck."

"Mr. Sparrow, I'm not sure that I am entirely ready to have the likes of you as a roommate," she paused and thought as to what the crew would be like. Filthy, smelly, and some of the most vulgar scoundrels around, not the type that she would want to be sleeping around. "But I will be in agreement with this, as long as I can trust and have your word that you will not take advantage." she agreed.

"Aye. Ye have me word." He agreed. "Now, fer dinner, young lass. What is it that yer heart desires? We have been fully stocked, and Jix, our cook, will make anythin' to yer likin'." She was fairly hungry, now that she thought about it.

"I have no special requests, captain Sparrow, whatever he wishes to make, I'm sure I will eat. In the meantime, I will go ready myself for dinner." She turned away from Jack, "Just call when we are to eat." she said over her shoulder, taking note that Jack was watching her intently as she walked away. Jack nodded in response. His eyes covered her, from the tip of her head, to the bottoms of her feet. Taking in every movement she made. Gibbs stood quietly, watching as his Captain fell victim to her once again.

"Cap'in, not that it be any of me business, but, what's in yer head that ye be lookin' like ye are? She does belong to another man still, right?"

"Aye Gibbs, that she does. All in the same, it does no harm for a man to look upon a woman with respect and adoration." Jack chose his words wisely, attempting to not let Gibbs see just how deeply he cared for Elisabeth. Gibbs continued looking into Jack's face, which was vacant of everything going on around him on the ship, save for the door that Elisabeth had just disappeared behind.

"Jack, ye love her. 'Tis true enough when I can see it meself. No worries though captain, yer secret is safe with me." he smiled at the captain, breaking him from his trance.

"I do not love 'er. She is merely a dear friend that we be 'elping out. She is beautiful, I won't lie, but love is something that I do not feel fer her," Jack stated, feeling almost guilty that he said those words. "Why would you think that I, captain Jack Sparrow, would be in love, Mr. Gibbs, do tell."

"Well, as I see it. Only a man in love would not only forgive what she had done to ye in the past, but then to further agree to take 'er a board his ship, and rescue the man which she really loves, all just to make 'er 'appy. The mere power a woman has o'er a man in love is a power far greater than the sea itself, Cap'in. He will sacrifice 'imself just to see that the lass be safe, and that Cap'in Sparrow, is merely the surface as what I 'ave seen ye do fer that bonny lass." Gibbs finished, and looked at Jack for a moment. Jack's eyes cut back and forth, and finally ended in a roll.

"Rubbish. Poppycock. Utter insanity. 'At's all I 'ave to say 'bout that. To yer post, Gibbs." Jack ordered, making his usual obscene hand gestures. Gibbs nodded, seeing that his words had indeed struck a cord within Jack. Jack on the other hand, desperately tried to get the thoughts that Gibbs had placed there out of his head. "He's got a point, Jackie" his conscious started talking to him. Since the locker, it had become a routine for Jack to carry on conversations with himself, making him appear to the crew more daft than before. "You can't stop thinking about her. Remind us again WHY you're compass was not working the first time. And! Furthermore, why Tia Dalma pressed the issue of you not knowing what you want, when in fact you did know, but weren't ready, and are still not ready to admit it." it continued.

"Oh shut it." Jack responded, "I don't need anyone telling me what I do and do not feel. Especially the likes of you! Now bugger off!" He shook his head and cleared his mind just in time for Jix to announce that dinner was prepared. Finally, something to get him thinking on other things.

Jack knocked on the door to his quarters. "Yes?" her voice melodically said from behind it. "Come in." Jack followed her request and entered the room. She sat that the wash bin and mirror, gracefully brushing her hair. She was wearing a deep red dress, and looked angelic to Jack upon his first glance.

"Dinner is ready, luv." they were the only words that he could muster in his state of utter intrigue. She was more beautiful than he could ever imagine her. No longer was she the child that he had met so many years ago, but instead, a fully grown woman, and a fine one at that. All the refinement that a gentleman deserved, with the spirit and longing for freedom that any pirate desired.

"Thank you, Jack." She stood and placed the brush down, walking towards him, never breaking her gaze to his eyes. "Stop staring at him, you fool," she told herself. "you don't want to complicate the matters at hand anymore than you already have." Her internal battle raged, but on the surface she remained as calm as the ocean was on that night. In response to her unbreaking eye contact, Jack stood motionless and waited for her to join him by the door. He held the door open for her as she exited the cabin, heading for the table on deck that had been set for her and Jack to dine at.

It was a peaceful night, a faint breeze blew just enough for the scent of blooming magnolias to fill the air around them. Even with the smell of the musky wooden ship, the sweet smell played in their minds, as plates overflowing with food were brought to them. Roasted pig covered in mango marmalade, yellow rice, black beans, and sweet little morsels of platanos maduros created a mouth watering smell as the two hastily began eating.

"Jack," Elisabeth said through a mouthful, "This is amazing! When did Jix become part of your crew? Where is he from?" she questioned, downing another heaping spoonful of rice.

Jack laughed a little, "He's from Cuba, luv. 'Is mother and father owned a restaurant in Havana, and he was one of the cooks there for a short spell. Then, one day, 'e up and told 'em that 'e was going to be leaving. So he packed his effects, and made his way to the dock. To my fortune, I was nearin' time to sail when he approached me about joining me crew. I agreed and have yet to go hungry since." He lowered his voice, and leaned into her, "Now, lass, ye didn't 'ear this from the likes of me, but you should 'ear that bloody Cuban play the guitar. It be like the music that the angels play, I do swear it." Elisabeth laughed at his statement, taking the last bite of food on her plate.

After their plates had been cleared from the table, Elisabeth rose and made her way to the railing of the Pearl, looking out to the open ocean. Jack followed behind her, and stood next to her at the railing. "Beautiful," she airily said, watching the moon rise over the horizon, and its mirror image reflect in the waters.

"Aye, it is, luv." Jack responded, and looked over at her through the corner of his eye.

"Jack," she paused for a moment repositioning herself to look at him, and rehearse what it was that she wanted to say. "Thank you for helping. I know that you didn't have to accept my offer, but I am very grateful that you did. As well, thank you for the opportunity to go with you afterwards as well. I have been aching to sail again. But with Will being gone, there is little opportunity for me to make my way out to sea." He smiled back at her.

"My pleasure Lizzie. 'Tis nice 'avin ye back on the Pearl, in all honesty."

"Honesty, Jack? That is something that I have yet to see you portray. Unless of course, you have had a change of heart, in which the infamous captain Jack Sparrow has turned from a pirate into an honest man. That wouldn't be the case now, would it?" Elisabeth teased.

"By all means, dearie, I am dishonest. I wouldn't lie to ye on accord of that. But I do tell you, in all the honesty that this 'ere pirate can muster up, it is a pleasure 'avin ye here." Jack spoke in circles, at which Elisabeth merely chuckled, but could see the point he was getting at. There was part of her that just liked to watch him squirm when she caught him being hypocritical. He looked at her, and saw that she was thoroughly enjoying herself in his discomfort. "Well, lass, I suggest that we call it a night. Dawn breaks early on a ship, and we 'ave a ways to go before we get to Will. 'Opfully we'll 'ave a favorable wind tomorrow."

Jack and Elisabeth walked back to the captains quarters in silence. It was a peaceful silence, but within both of them, storms were brewing, and curiosity was being born once again. Jack waited outside the cabin while Elisabeth readied herself for bed. Once she had finished, she opened the door where Jack had propped him self up against the staircase leading to the helm. He entered his cabin, sat at his charting table and pulled out the small piece of parchment that he had gotten from Elisabeth hours before. Slowly he unfolded it, careful not to tear the weak material. From the looks of it, it looked as though the map was ancient. There were funny letters scrawled into the bottom right hand corner of the map. They were letters that Jack had never seen before, in all of his travels. He looked confusingly at them. Elisabeth had noticed what Jack was doing and his look of utter confusion, and spoke up.

"Its Greek."

"Well I know that, and don't think I don't. I've seen a lot of written languages, and this one is definitely Greek to me."

"No, Jack. It really is Greek. This map has traveled a long way. It originated many, many years ago, on an Island name Cyprus. As the tale goes, it was an utter Utopia. Magical creatures, and beauty beyond spoken words." Elisabeth began to recall the tale as it was told to her. "There was a civilization that was far superior to any other in the world at the time, and as legend would have it, it is said that they discovered a way to make themselves immortal. Then, once day, the entire island, disappeared It is said that it was lost forever, and there had been no record of the place, save for the two written accounts of the philosopher, Plato, and they were merely descriptions of the island. It was all but lost, until something surfaced on a voyage to Cypress during a pirate raid. A young pirate, in the midst of torching a home, looked upon the desk and saw a well charted map, leading to only what he could comprehend as an unimaginable treasure. He snatched the map, and hid it away for many years, even from his captain, in fear that he would be made to forfeit any of the treasure that lie at the destination. Over the years, it was passed down to his predecessors, in hopes that someday one of his descendants would have the fortune of being a captain. Unfortunately, this was not the case. The map was discovered by a captain, who then set forth on the journey to find the lost city, but became victim of a pirate raid, orchestrated by none other than Davey Jones, and his crew, during the organization of the first brethren court. Finally, when Will became the captian of the Dutchman, he was clearing out Jones's personal effects, and ran across this map. He gave it to Bootstrap, for safe keeping, and when Bootstrap came to tell me of Will's misfortune, he gave the map to me, to ensure its safety. Thus, it is now in your hands, and I am trusting you, Jack, to make sure that it doesn't fall into the wrong hands." Elisabeth told the tale as Jack listened intently. Upon the completion of her story, Jack sat and looked deeply at her for several moments. He was more intent on understanding his feelings for her, rather than the story that she had just told. Maybe he did love her. He had never loved a woman before, so how would he know what it was like? And if Gibbs could see it, then everyone else must be able to as well. This unnerved Jack. Could Elisabeth tell that he loved her? He hoped that she couldn't, it wasn't his place to love her, and have it known. That was Will's job. That is why they had set sail on this ridiculous rescue mission in the first place. Then, the most curious thought crept into his head. What if she in fact, loved him in return, the same way that he loved her?