Hector Barbossa: Beginnings
By: Kimmie-Sama
Chapter One
Rain poured down on the rolling green hills that covered the west end of the English countryside, bringing with it a crash of thunder that shook the lands. Nothing stable grew out here, in the drenched fields and muddy summits. Only shrubbery weeds and sizable trees, nothing a respectable man could sell to live comfortably. Families of the local farmers starved and went poor in such unprosperous squalls, with no sight of the sun for days. His family was not any different.
A boy, becoming a man at the tender age of thirteen, ran down a murky path away from the inconsequential house that held his so called 'family'. He couldn't take it anymore, the pain in his belly from only eating once a day, his mother accusing him of stealing more food from her plate and his father beating him when he protested. The scars would never fade but he refused to let anymore be put on his skin.
The deep mud caught his foot for a moment and he stumbled and fell, breathing heavily as he wiped the muck from his face. After standing, he continued to run, not caring if he looked irregular. The rain poured over him, washing the dirt from his hair and on the swollen bruise his father left only hours before on his temple. He loathed the land around him, the smell of the grass and the way things always seemed too dark.
He needed to get away.
He wanted to see the world… To get as far away as he could from land.
To the sea.
--
"Out of the way boy!"
He was shoved down yet again, to the cobblestone path of the harbor town he had made it to, legs tired and the sight of him would have made any man turn up their nose in disgust. The boy's russet hair was matted and pressed against his scalp, mud and sweat crusted on his breeches and shirt, shoes starting to fall apart on his feet. More seemed to crumble off as he stood back up, rubbing his tired face with the back of his hand.
"Apologies..." He muttered quietly before glancing around at the busy town again. The boy was starved and even the smell of fish guts seemed appeasing to him. He kept his slow pace down the hills and ally ways of the town, moving for men much older and taller then him. All he needed to do was get to the docks, find a ship and be hired as a cabin boy.
Then he knew the food would come.
After treading through the expansive town, he felt a wind against his dirty face and the smell of salt excited him. The sun was brighter here, his eyes needed to adjust for only a moment before taking in the view before him. One of white sails and dark wood. Ships littered the waters here and he couldn't help but feel over joyed for the first time in his young life.
Just one more road would lead him to the docks, he could make it. Before him a coach rolled past, the horse's hoofs clicking loudly as they pulled it along. The young man couldn't help it, he was captivated by the exquisiteness of the painted detailed wood and the massive white horses. It seemed like royalty in that coach, something he would die to have.
Out of pure curiosity, he followed behind the sturdy coach, having to jog in his tattered shoes. It led him far down the road, past most of the ships on the various piers. Until the coach and he reached the last pier, where the coach passed effortlessly onto, but the boy was cut off by two guards in blue coats.
"No civilians can pass." One said loudly, giving the filthy boy a look of almost pity.
"Who was in here?" The young man said with urgency. "Who was that?"
The man who spoke before sighed lightly. "That was Captain Farrow."
"Captain Farrow.…" The boy's eyes observed between the men in front of him, the coach coming to a stop near an enormous boat, biggest one at this port most likely. Out of the coach a man with fine clothes and even from far away, he could see a glint of gold on the man's hands.
He was rich, respected and everything the boy wanted to be.
"You need a job, boy?" The guard who had been silent finally spoke.
Quickly looking up, the boy nodded fiercely.
A small smile passed over the man's lips. "I know of a boat, looking for a cabin boy."
"Where sir?"
"Go down the opposite way of this pier. Look for the boat captained by Mr. Radley."
"Thank you sir!" And without another word, the boy ran.
With a frown, the other guard spoke. "Yeh think that's best?"
"As long as that filthy boy isn't near me any, I don't care one bit what Mr. Radley does with 'im."
--
The boat he found to be Mr. Radley's was almost not worth mentioning. It was small compared to other boats and most likely twice as old. Walking down it's pier the boy wondered slightly if he would even try to speak with the Captain, he was sure he could get a better job on a much nicer boat.
"Yeh got'a problem here boy?"
A bulky man, his dirty face glaring down was now upon the boy hovering over him with his large frame. He carried some rope in one hand and a barrel in another. His body looked as filthy as the boy's, only he didn't even wear a shirt, showing that his skin was already a shade or so darker then any the boy had seen. Bald head, most likely from shaving it himself, the man raised a thick black eyebrow as the boy froze up. The sheer sight of him made the boy almost trip over himself.
A hard gulp passed through his throat. "Mr… Radley… I'm here to be a cabin boy…"
The tall man laughed heartily before stepping up onto the small boat. "Come aboard, if ya be wantin' to meet Captain."
Following quickly the smaller boy stepped onto the ship and almost fell at the inconsistency of it. It had been the first time he had stepped on a ship and the constant moving on the sea made it harder then he thought to stand. The tall man had already set the barrel down, then tossed the rope towards the boy.
Unable to really catch his balance as well as the rope in time, the boy fell backwards and hit his back on the rail. He swore in his head, pulling the rope he had intended to catch.
"Not a very good pair of sea-legs." Another voice cut in. Behind the tall, burly man came another, an almost opposite. He was short and wide, covered in filth and a smirk of almost black teeth. His pudgy face was red from the sun and most of his white hair was missing.
"Not sure he's cabin boy material, Captain. Seem to be his first time on anythin' that floats, let alone boat!" The tall one gave a louder laugh then before.
Standing quickly, the boy ignored the new pain in his back. "No! I need a job!"
"Well he sure is determined." Mr. Radley smirked again, walking closer to the boy. "You even know what a cabin boy does, squab?"
A sudden uneasiness passed across the boy's face as he looked between the two men in front of him. The sun pressed down hard on his face as sweat started to trail down his back. "No sir… but I can learn."
It was silent except the occasional wave rasping the hull of the boat and the cawing of the sea birds in the air. Finally the pudgy captain turned and walked towards the taller, younger man. "You show him. We don't have time to look for another boy."
"Aye captain." The man sighed before grabbing the barrel once again. "Boy. This way." He then headed down a small stairwell.
Smiling, the young boy followed, keeping his balance as he did. Before he could follow into the dark underbelly of the ship, the captain yelled out once again.
"Oi! Squab! What be you're name?"
The young man called out quickly. "Hector Barbossa!"
Step one of Hector's plan had been realized. He was on a boat.
Next step, to be first mate.
--
tbc
Here it is... Chapter one of a multiple chapter PotC fanfiction. I promised myself not to get into another one of these but after At World's End, I couldn't help it.
Please review, I really enjoy them. ;-)
A/N: 6-23-2009
These chapters are much shorter then what I like to do now, so the next 11 chapters that were done may come at ya quickly. Then the fun starts once again! :)