Author's Note: Here is chapter two. Thank you to my three reviewers for letting me know what you guys think. You guys have motivated me enough to finish writing this chapter and posting it. I tried to take my time a little so that it would still draw you guys in, so that's why I am posting it at…oh…2:40 in the morning! So thank you so much! Kudos to:
Tiff fromschool
Guest
dionne dance: I'm glad I pulled you in. I was going for something or some element no one has tried. Or at least I hope that they haven't tried :D But I will be putting in some info about Evangeline's husband hopefully in the next chapter, but I will tie it in somehow. Who knows, it might be later than that!
Thanks also goes out to those of you who favorite/subscribed/alerted. You guys rock.
Well, I hope you guys enjoy! Happy reading, and don't forget to leave me some feedback. Constructive criticism only, and NO FLAMES!
Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean. I would be chilling out on the Black Pearl if I did, and Gibbs, Jack, and I would be drinking rum.
Chapter Two: A Ray of Hope
It was not the soft sway of the ship that awoke Evangeline on that fifth day. It wasn't even the nightmares. As she opened her eyes to see what had startled her, she saw two dingy and rough looking sailors staring down at her, with expressions of confusion and wonder.
"Looks like we's got ourselves a stowaway," the older of the two stated. He was a burly chap of about 5'4" with greying brown hair and soft brown eyes.
Evangeline's eyes widened. She quickly scooted away from them, her back against the wall with her knees to her chest.
"Whoa, missy!" the younger sailor exclaimed. "We ain't gonna 'urt ye."
"H-how do I know you're not lying?" she asked skeptically. She didn't enjoy the fact that she had let her guard down and been found out. "You're pirates!"
The older pirate sighed. He did seem genuinely hurt by her question. "Aye, tha' we are, miss."
"We swears we ain't lying," the younger pirate said. He looked to be about Evangeline's age, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy standing at 5'9".
Evangeline said nothing. She sat there, body trembling and eyes wide with fear. They really mean it, don't they? she wondered. But I can't be too careful. Not after… She stopped herself before she could even think about him again.
The two pirates looked at the poor girl with much concern. Her black, curly hair was messy and matted with what looked like dried blood. Her once white dress was covered in dirt and blood stains, matching the bandages wrapped around her forearms. Both felt very sorry for her.
"What's yer name?" the older pirate asked. He sincerely hoped that she would answer him.
Evangeline looked up at the man, eyes scanning him up and down, left to right. She looked him right in the eyes, and in the eyes of the younger pirate. Both pairs of orbs were very soft. They say the eyes are windows into the soul, she thought. They seem like they really mean not to harm me. Maybe I can trust them. Only time will tell.
"Evangeline," she finally said. "Evangeline…Turner." She refused to use her married name. Ever.
The old pirate smiled, thankful to have gotten her to at least trust them with at least her name. "Name's Porthos, Miss Evangeline. Parents named me after some French man or others."
Evangeline smiled a little. She remembered the stories about the Musketeers her mother would always tell her. She loved them as a child.
"I'm James Rhodes, ma'am," the younger pirate said. "Most everyone aboard calls me Rhodes, though."
Evangeline relaxed a little. "N-nice to meet the both of you," she said. Her voice was still a little shaky.
"So, why's you aboard the Percephany?"
Evangeline hesitated in answering this question. "I-I don't really want to talk about it."
Porthos waited for her to say more. When she didn't, he sighed. "Alright, let's go. Come on, miss."
Evangeline looked puzzled.
Rhodes turned to his fellow pirate, a worried look gracing his features. "Do we 'ave to?"
"Aye, boy. You know the laws as well as I. We 'ave to take 'er to the cap'n."
The girl went rigid. That was the last thing she wanted to do. What if he sends me back to London? she wondered. She then remembered the money she had looted off of Dr. Helmsworth's body, and that pirates love to haggle. Maybe I can bargain with the captain. Maybe this will convince him to let me stay on the ship.
Silently, she followed Porthos and Rhodes out of the darkness of the hold, and into the light of the outside world.
xxx
Captain Hamish Starky was standing at the helm, barking orders at his crew and gazing out of the open waters of the Atlantic. Just four days ago they had taken down the British flag and hoisted their true colors: a Jolly Roger—a skull and crossbones sat in the center with a red hourglass behind the skull on a black backdrop.
It was a beautiful day. The sun was out. There was a favorable wind, and not a Royal Navy ship in sight.
But Captain Starky groaned as he saw the two figures of Porthos and Rhodes, who were supposed to finding their crewmember, Reggie, who had disappeared into the hold at least an hour ago. He could be drinking all of the rum they had just acquired in London.
"Can I help ye, gentlemen?" he asked in a thick Scotish accent.
Both men were hesitant on answering the captain. And Starky didn't like it. They're hiding something, he thought.
Porthos was the first to eventually speak up. "Well, Cap'n, it seems we 'ave a stowaway."
Starky's eyes narrowed. "A stowaway? On my vessel?"
"Aye, Cap'n," Rhodes replied. "But—"
The captain of the Percephany interrupted him. "Who be the sea rat what stole aboard me ship?"
Porthos and Rhodes parted to reveal Evangeline, who wasn't too keen on being introduced to the captain.
Starky was stumped. He hadn't expected a woman to have stowed away. He quickly took in her appearance, from her messy black hair to her bandaged arms and shoeless feet.
Evangeline didn't like the captain looking at her the way he did. But she decided to take this time to analyze the man in front of her. He had curly red hair that was kept down by a dark emerald bandana and tri-corn hat. He wore a long, garnet-colored coat with a black vest and brown trousers, along with a pair of black boots. She looked at a pair of emerald orbs last.
She immediately took a dislike toward the pirate captain. Something about him seemed…off, and his eyes seemed cold.
Starky interrupted her thoughts. "What's yer name, lass?"
"Evangeline Turner, Captain."
Well, he thought. At least she has manners. He then realized something. Wait, did she say 'Turner'?
He grinned. "And why, may I ask, Miss Turner, have ye stowed away on me ship?"
She decided to at least be truthful to the captain, keeping it at a need-to-know basis. Who knows? she wondered. Maybe that will give him incentive to let me stay on the ship. "I'm running from some bad people who wish to do me harm."
The captain knew he had seen the girl before. Then it occurred to him. He had seen her running in the streets in London. He sighed. "So ye be the loon what escaped the asylum?"
Evangeline's eyes widened, as well as Porthos' and Rhodes'. How did he know? she wondered.
As if reading her mind, Starky added "I was in town, on me way back to the ship when one o' them orderlies runs out and causes a panic because a loon was on the loose."
"That explains the—" Porthos began.
"Please, Captain!" Evangeline begged, her voice dripping with fear. "Please don't send me back to London. Please don't send me back to the asylum! I'll do anything! Here." She pulled out the money she had acquired thrust it towards him. "I can pay for the voyage so far and…and you can make me work on the ship to help cover the rest. Please, just please don't send me back to that bloody hell-hole."
The captain looked thoughtful. After a moment, he put a hand on hers and thrust the money back to her. "Keep it, Miss Turner. I've no intention of takin' ye back ta London nor yer money."
Evangeline looked absolutely flabbergasted, her expression matching those of the two pirates next to her. "Captain?"
"Ye may stay aboard the Percephany," he said. Turning to Porthos and Rhodes, he added, "Get the cabin off o' the main deck ready and scrounge up a change o' clothes fer Miss Turner."
"Aye, Cap'n!" both men shouted excitedly, and then ran off.
Evangeline beamed up at Starky. "Thank you, captain."
"Yer welcome, Miss Turner. Ye hungry?"
"Famished." At the thought of food, the poor girl's stomach growled.
"Follow me an' we'll get ye somethin' while ye wait." Starky gestured for the girl to follow him, but noticed her hesitation.
"Why are you helping me?" she asked, not believing that it was actually happening. "Why?"
"Because," the captain began sorrowfully. "Me mum was committed to Bethlehem."
xxx
Evangeline had scarfed down the bread, cheese, and pork meat that the captain had given her and drank half a canteen of water when Porthos and Rhodes came knocking on the cabin door.
"Enter," Starky called.
Rhodes poked his head in. "Cabin and clothes are ready for Miss Evangeline."
"Ah, thank ye, Rhodes. As soon as Miss Turner is finished, you may lead 'er ta 'er cabin."
At that thought, Evangeline quickly finished off the bread and drank the rest of the water, and then followed Rhodes and Porthos. She was glad to get away from the captain. She didn't mind his company, but he was boring her with one of his stories. Even the one about how his mother was sent to the asylum nearly bored her to tears. The fact that he would just stare at her the way he did added to the discomfort.
The two pirates led Evangeline down to the main deck and to the right, where there was a small side cabin. The door was open, so Evangeline peered in to get a good look around. It was small, but nothing like her cell in the asylum. Off to the right was a small window, which would give her access to an ocean view and breeze, if she wished. To the left, there was a small bed hugging the wall, with a pile of clothes lying on top of the pillow, and along the center wall was a desk. On the desk, there was a brush, a few rags, and a wash basin.
Evangeline walked over to the bed and spread them over the bed. Rhodes had managed to find a white shirt, a dark, navy blue vest, black trousers, and a pair of brown boots, which were on the floor next to the bed.
"That's what I was able to find for ye," Rhodes said. "We brought the basin out of the hold. Must've been in one of the ships we plundered."
Evangeline looked at the two pirates and smiled. It was a genuine smile. "Thank you," she said. "Both of you."
Porthos and Rhodes were beaming at the sight of her smiling. "Yer welcome, lass," Porthos said. Sensing that she might want to get cleaned up, he added, "We'll leave ye to it, then. First Mate'll be down to look at yer arms when ye are done."
Evangeline nodded in understanding. Porthos and Rhodes backed out of the room to give her privacy, and shut the door. She immediately went straight over to the basin and dipped one of the rags in the water. She splashed water on her face and began "bathing" herself. She started by wiping all of the dirt off of her face. She then took the liberty of stripping down and, with the rag and a bar of soap she found behind the basin, scrubbing her entire body free of dirt and dried blood. She even took off the bandages from around her forearms and carefully washed off the dried blood. When she was done, she tended to her hair, which was an absolute mess. Deciding that the deck gets wet often, she slowly dumped the left over water over her head to rinse out the dirt, sweat, and blood. Knowing that was the best she could possibly do with her hair, she began to brush all of the knots out until her hair was lying flat.
Then, Evangeline put her change of clothes on. She had just put on her boots and fasten the last of the buttons of her vest when there was a knock on the door.
"Miss Turner?" a voice called out from behind the door.
"Come in," Evangeline replied.
The door opened to reveal another older looking pirate. He had brown hair that was tied back by a dark-colored ribbon, with greying muttonchops facial hair. He wore what looked like the remainder of a Naval warrant officer's, and even wore a piece of cloth around his neck. He had soft, blue-grey eyes. There was something about him that Evangeline recognized, but just couldn't put her finger on.
"Are you the first mate?" she asked.
"Aye, miss," the first mate said. "Joshamee Gibbs, at yer service, Miss Turner."
She took a look at the kit Mr. Gibbs had brought with him as she finished brushing through her ebony hair. She put the brush down and folded her arms. "I take it that you're here to look at my arms?" She wasn't really thrilled with the idea of someone taking a gander at the lesions running sideways across both of her arms.
"Aye, as the ship's doctor. I need to make sure they don't fester." He gestured for her to sit on the bed, and, reluctantly, she did so.
He pulled out another rag and some clean bandages, and then asked, "Will ye please roll up yer sleeves?"
Doing as she was told, Evangeline rolled the sleeves of her shirt slowly. It hurt a little to move the fabric across her wounds.
"Good God," Gibbs whispered. Looking at Evangeline, and then at her arms, he pulled up the only chair in the room, and got to work. "What did they do to ye?"
"The real question is what haven't they done," she said, hesitant on talking about it.
They remained silent, with the occasional gasp escaping from Evangeline's lips. She was still trying to pin point where she had seen the man before, but it, alas, eluded her.
"This is no way to treat a lady," she heard Gibbs mutter. "To think they get away with this."
"Yes, well, it's barbaric by all accounts," she said, trying to start a conversation with him. The silence was killing her.
"And they'll send ye in there fer no particular reason."
"Yes…wait. How do you know that?"
Gibbs sighed, and then looked up at her, his eye brimming with sorrow. "Because my niece was sent there, some time ago."
"I'm sorry. What was her name?"
"Chelsea. She had recently married and then disappeared, so to speak."
Evangeline's eyes widened. The memory of her dear friend rushed back to her, the memory of seeing her lifeless body in a pool of blood. Her eyes filled with tears. She suddenly realized who this man was. She remembered seeing him as a child, when she would play with Chelsea and before he left eight years ago.
" ?" she asked, making sure that she was correct in her assumption.
"Yes?" He looked right at those glistening blue orbs, realization gracing his expression. "Miss Evangeline?"
She nodded, tears escaping one by one.
Gibbs finished putting the bandages on her arms, and then put his hands on her shoulders. "Was Chelsea there? Was she alright?"
"She…she's…" She couldn't take it anymore. Evangeline let the tears flow, shaking her head as she did. She really didn't want to give her friend's uncle the terrible news of her death, but she couldn't hide it. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed.
Gibbs looked at the crying form in front of him, not believing that his niece was really gone, and in the hands of so-called doctors at that. Inside, he was grieving and broiling with anger. But right now, he could tell his niece's friend needed him. He got up and sat on the bed and hugged her close, letting her get the crying out of her system. When he thought she was done, he pulled her away from him to get a good look at her.
"Do ye have any family?" he asked.
She nodded. "I have a brother. He left England eight years ago to look for our father, but I don't know what happened to him."
Gibbs nodded in understanding. "Alright." He patted her on the shoulder, and handed her a leather pouch from within his tattered coat. "Drink this. And don't worry, I'll take care of ye. It's what she prob'ly would have wanted."
Evangeline nodded as she took a swig of the contents of the pouch. "I'd say the feeling is mutual." She took another swig. "What is this?" She wasn't use to drinking any alcohol of any kind, not even the wine at her wedding. The sweet, warm fire she felt coursing down her throat was a new sensation entirely, and she found that she rather enjoyed it.
"Rum," was Gibbs' simple response.
"Huh. Well, it's not as bad as people say it is." With that, she took yet another swig.
Gibbs chuckled and took the pouch from her, taking a swig himself. They went back and forth, one swig at a time until it was gone.
And that was the beginning of a beautiful and most unlikely friendship.