Chapter Two
"Well then you will just have to distract Norrington for me and try not to tell father where I am." She looked at me like I had gone mad for a moment, before sighing.
"Alright Annabel but you owe me big time." She relented.
I thanked her before running off towards the docks. When I arrived there was a man making a motion to the pirates that had been hanged from rocks as a warning to others. Then it hit me, he is a pirate! Finally I was going to meet a real live pirate. I ran with excitement to the end of the docks to wait for him. I watched as he hopped of his now sunken boat and onto the dock. He continued sauntering my way as if nothing had happened.
The docks manager stopped him with "Hold up there you!" The pirate, who I now observed had long black braided hair and a red bandanna on along with pirates like clothes, walked back to the docks manager. As he did so I decided to follow close behind, "It's a shilling to tie your boat up at the dock and I shall need to know your name."
I looked over at the boat under water, pulled out three shilling I had and stepped up.
"How about three shilling and you forget his name?" They all turned around to stare at me.
The manager took the shillings and said, "Welcome to Port Royal Mr. Smith." Before closing his booklet and returning to his original duties. I decided to leave before further involving myself in the situation. I headed off towards The Interceptor to sit under the docks. When I got over there the soldiers allowed me to sit under the docks with a nod of acknowledgment. I could hear the ceremony starting up at the fort. I could only imagine the passive fury father was harboring right now. I heard footsteps above finding it to be the pirate coming down the plank way, sights set on The Interceptor.
The soldiers got up to block him
"This dock is off limits to civilians." They said with a feeble attempt at authority.
"I am terribly sorry. If I see one I shall inform you immediately." The pirate answered waving his hands this way and that. I chuckled. He started to walk towards The Interceptor again, only to be stopped. The pirate starts ranting on about how the guards weren't invited to the ceremony. They again told him that someone has to keep civilians away from The Interceptor.
After a pause the pirate picked up his pursuit again "I am sorry it just seems that a ship like that," he points to the Dauntless "Is better then this one really." I smiled to myself at the banter.
"The Dauntless is the pearl in these water true enough, but there's no ship that can match The Interceptor for speed." The soldier stated.
"I've 'eard of one, supposed to be n' eye uncatchable, The Black Pearl." The pirate smirked, seeming giddy at his own words.
I gasp at the name having heard about it before.
One of the guards starts laughing, "There is no real ship that can match The Interceptor." The other guard looked glum at his co-guard's words,
"The Black Pearl is a real ship." He says quietly.
The first turns to the second guard, "No, no it's not."
They start arguing about whether The Pearl is real or not.
I took notice that the pirate had slipped away to walk over to the helm of The Interceptor.
The soldiers finally stopped arguing and turned back only to see the pirate gone. They looked at me questioningly and I pointed to the helm. They jumped into action running up to the pirate
"Hey! You! You can't be up there!" One yelled as they pointed their guns at him.
"Sorry it's just such a pretty boat…I mean ship." He said his hands on the wheel as if steering. I walked up next to the guard surprising them considerably. I guess they thought the pirate might have had back up.
"What's your name then?" One of them asked, both their guns still poised and ready.
"His name is Smith." I answered for him,
"Or Smithy if you like." He added, smiling at me.
"Well what is your business here in Port Royal Mr. smith?" The first guard asked,
"Yea and no lies." The second added. The pirate told them the truth but they of course didn't believe him so he told them his story. I moved to the bow of the ship and looked up at the fort. I saw two figures standing up there. One seemed wobbly, as if they were going to fall. That would be most unfortunate. My assumptions were correct as the figure suddenly plunged over the edge.
"Elizabeth!" I heard the second figure scream. I looked up at them just as they looked down and seemed to be staring right at me. The pirate and the soldiers came up next to me.
On an impulse I jumped into the water knowing I had to save my sister. As I started to swim I felt something pulse through the water. Ignore it and swam towards Elizabeth, but saw the pirate get to her first. I helped him tare off her dress to keep it from weighing her down. I wished I could do the same for my dress and my corset were making it harder to swim to the surface. After much struggle I finally reached the dock, and was helped up by one of the soldiers. I dragged myself to sit next to Elizabeth
"She isn't breathing." I cried panicking that we had been too late. The pirate moved past the soldiers who stood behind me, and cut Elizabeth's corset off. She immediately turned on her side coughing up water.
"I never would have thought of that." Was all the first soldier could say.
"Clearly you've never been to Singapore." Commented the pirate. I bent over to Elizabeth to help her sit upright. The pirate suddenly reaches towards me, grabbing something. I realized it was the medallion, and froze.
"Where did you get that?" he asks staring directly into my eyes. Footsteps approaching thankfully, allowing me to tear away from his piercing gaze.
I look up to see my father, Norrington and his soldiers standing with their guns pointed at the pirate.
"On your feet." Norrington commands. The pirate lets go of my medallion, giving me time to hide it, and stands back with his hands raised. I pull Elizabeth over to father who asks if we both are all right. I just nod as he gives Elizabeth his coat. I jump as I feel a coat being put on my shoulders. I turn to find was Norrington, but his attention was already on the pirate again. Father looks over to the soldier who was still holding Elizabeth's corset, and the soldier drops it and points to the pirates.
"Shoot him." Father orders with haste.
I step in front of the pirate without hesitation
Father, Commodore, do you really intend to kill the man that has just saved Elizabeth's life?" I try reasoning.
"Are you crazy Annabel?" Elizabeth says in a hush as she pulls me back over to her. Norrington glares at the pirate, but seems to contemplate what I said. Norrington puts away his sword and gun, which his soldiers mime, and the pirate makes a thank you gesture towards me.
"I believe thanks are in order." Norrington said holding out his hand to the pirate. Not trusting Norrington, it took him minute to actually take Norrington's hand. As soon as he did so, Norrington pulled him forward and pulled up his sleeve revealing what looked to be a tattoo. "Had a brush with the east India trading company? Did we pirate?" Norrington remarked.
"Hang him!" Father ordered anxiously, while holding Elizabeth tighter.
"Keep your guns on him! Gillette fetch some irons!" Norrington ordered as the soldiers raised their guns again. "Well, well Jack Sparrow is it?" Norrington said finally releasing the pirate's arm
"Captain if you please." Jack answered to him. Norrington looked out to the water
"Well I don't see your ship." He retorted looked back at Jack.
"It just so happens I'm in the market." I couldn't help but chuckle at his words. One of the guards told Norrington how Jack had said he was going to commandeer a ship. The other soldier gives Norrington Jack's things. Norrington started looking through them and commenting on how bad he thinks they are. He pulls Jack to the side and Gillette starts putting irons on Jack. Elizabeth finally steps forward arguing with me about how wrong hanging Jack was.
She stands in front of Jack trying to get Norrington to listen while I stood beside the Commodore. They start yelling louder over the situation.
"Finally" I hear Jack mutter as he turns and puts the chains of his irons around Elizabeth's neck. I was about to run to her when an arm grabs me around my middle holding me back. I look to find the owner of the offending limb to be Norrington. I stare at him confused by his actions, but he is wholly concentrated on the danger in front of us.