Chapter Two
Beatrice squinted her eyes and used her hand to block the sun from her eyes. Port Royal really was positioned in a beautiful spot: right by the ocean. The water was so blue and went as far as the eye could see. The town behind her was just a burden to the twenty-eight year old. She had no purpose anymore, no reason to really continue living in the boring town.
Will had grown up and became a fine young man, content with his job of making swords and her father was probably only one drink away from kicking the bucket. Mr. Brown had lost his touch over the years and turned to drowning himself in alcohol to get through life. Whatever Beatrice used to do around the shop was taken over by Will and she couldn't argue because he had become a much better blacksmith than her and unlike Beatrice he could be recognized one day as the town blacksmith.
Beatrice would only ever be the blacksmith's rowdy daughter or the one to deliver the swords on occasion.
"Miss Brown! Have you found what you're looking for?"
Beatrice rolled her eyes and looked over the edge of the crow's nest, her dark brown hair falling over her shoulder as she looked down at the soldiers on the dock. "Sorry Mullroy, Murtogg, no luck. Oh darn, I was so sure I'd be able to see the hat I dropped while walking over here with your swords. I think I'll have to stay up here a little longer to try and spot it." She pulled her head back over and continued to stare at the horizon.
Murtogg blinked and looked over at Mullroy. "I don't really think she lost her hat."
Mullroy gave him a look. "Of course she lost her hat. She explained it quite clearly when she got here. She was carrying the swords she sharpened for us and the wind blew away her hat. She couldn't go and retrieve it because she knew we were waiting so she requested to use the crow's nest because she didn't have time to search."
"But she's been up there for fifteen minutes."
"What other reason would she have to want to go up there?" Mullroy asked.
Murtogg looked unsure and glanced back at the ship. "Maybe…she just wanted to go aboard the Interceptor?"
Mullroy snorted. "What interest would a woman have in a naval ship?"
Murtogg opened his mouth.
"Man, ho!" Beatrice called out, pointing a finger in the direction of the stairs coming down from the higher docks.
The soldiers turned and hastily blocked the unwelcome visitor's path.
Beatrice watched the three men interact, unable to hear them speak and unable to see the new man's face. But she could see that his hair was long, longer than most men kept their hair, and his clothes were unkempt compared to the prim uniforms being worn by the two soldiers. And he had a hat, a nice looking triangular hat.
He looked to be trying to haggle a way onto the ship. Beatrice leaned on the side of the crow's nest, watching with disinterest. Wouldn't be the first time someone tried to sneak onto the Interceptor when there was a ceremony up at the fort, and unfortunately for Murtogg and Mullroy they were always picked to guard.
What none of the higher commanders seemed to realize though, was that Murtogg and Mullroy tended to argue about everything, which resulted in them getting distracted. It was fortunate for the stranger who was using their arguing as an opportunity to board the Interceptor, but unfortunate for the two soldiers.
It didn't take long for the two soldiers to realize the man was on the ship and to run aboard, guns brandished in preparation to shoot. Beatrice tried to lean closer to be able to hear but the wind was all she could hear from the height she was. From what she could see Mullroy and Murtogg were being good little soldiers and interrogating the man. They kept their guns on him, listening for any lies, eyes narrowed. Beatrice smiled. She knew they were good soldiers; people just didn't give them enough credit. They would escort the man off the ship and regain their post soon.
The smile she had been wearing slowly faded however as she watched Murtogg put down his gun and ask another question, the strange gentleman eagerly replying. Mullroy was next to lower his weapon and had the audacity to lean it against the side of the ship. She felt her jaw drop slightly when all three sat down on some crates, the two soldiers listening attentively to the stranger, who looked to be telling some kind of story, enthralling the soldiers' attention and distracting them from their job.
Beatrice shook her head in disbelief and retracted her earlier thought. Murtogg and Mullroy were great guys, but they were too easily distracted by everything to be good soldiers. She bet anything that this stranger could trick them into giving him the ship. Grabbing onto the tall rope ladder to the crows nest she prepared to descend to assist the two into doing their job.
Before she could however a loud cry caught her attention and she looked towards the cliffs. Someone was falling. Suicide? She followed the person's form; a woman based on the large fancy dress she was wearing, plummeted and Beatrice cringed when she hit the water. That had to hurt. Even if the woman hadn't hit the rocks, the fall and impact with the water had to have knocked her out. Seeing no immediate action from the fort, from where she fell, like someone jumping after her, Beatrice looked down at Murtogg and Mullroy. Nothing from them either. Turning back to the water she saw no sign of the girl surfacing.
Probably that dress that's keeping her down.
Beatrice made a quick decision and pulled off her boots and jacket and lifted herself onto the side of the crow's nest. Taking a deep breath she jumped off the look out station and dived into the water. First thing she realized was that the water was cold and she momentarily paused in reaction. During that time she opened her eyes and tried to find the girl that fell. Luckily the water was very clear enough to make out the large white object sinking a couple meters away, however the water still made it too blurry to see the girl's face. Beatrice kicked her feet and swam towards the girl and latched on one close enough.
However, when she tried to pull them both up the dress that was pulling the girl down was now pulling Beatrice down as well. Air suddenly seemed more necessary as Beatrice's lungs began to ache and she tried to pull harder, but no use.
The thought of letting the girl go crossed her mind for a moment and her hands began to let go of the girl, but as she did a pair of large hands pushed her aside and ripped the dress off the girl, letting it fall away and leaving the girl in only her slip and without the extra weight. Beatrice floated for a moment, staring after the two figures as they swam to the surface, the real savior supporting the girl.
Beatrice's lungs protested more and she swam after them, letting out a large gasp when her head broke the surface. She swam towards the docks and let Mullroy and Murtogg – they had apparently ran to the docks to await them after Beatrice and the stranger jumped into the water – pull her out of the water. She shook herself and looked towards the stranger as he bent over the girl, who suddenly looked a lot more familiar out of the water.
"Elizabeth!" Beatrice said. She rushed over to the fallen girl, pushing past the stranger to kneel beside Elizabeth to get a good look at her. Her chest wasn't falling up and down; she wasn't breathing.
Murtogg and Mullroy kneeled down on the other side of Elizabeth, Murtogg coming to the same conclusion as Beatrice. Beatrice wondered if her face looked just as frantic as theirs.
Murtogg leaned over Elizabeth. "Not breathing!" he said.
The stranger pushed him aside. "Move." He said as he drew a knife and cut Elizabeth's corset open. The next second the girl gasped and turned to the side, throwing up the water she swallowed. Beatrice patted her back.
While Beatrice was concerned, the stranger was questioning. When Elizabeth laid back down the stranger picked up the gold medallion around Elizabeth's neck and looked at her intently. "Where did you get that?"
Beatrice looked at the medallion curiously.
"On your feet."
Beatrice looked up and locked eyes with the one person she didn't want to see. And the new Commodorekept the eye contact for barely a second before pointing his sword at the stranger. A warning, Beatrice supposed, for them to back away from Elizabeth. They did so, Mullroy and Murtogg backing off quickly while Beatrice and the stranger slowly stood, Beatrice sadly finding herself between the stranger and the sword.
The governor swooped in as soon as he could and started fussing over Elizabeth, but Beatrice's attention stayed on James. He was looking at her again, and she hated herself as warmth filled her chest.
"Move aside Miss. Brown." He said coldly.
Beatrice flinched and moved to stand beside Murtogg, who was still holding the discarded corset. When she noticed the Governor looking at it she slapped the corset from his hands and pointed to the stranger.
The governor glared at the man. "Shoot him."
"Father! Commodore, do you really intend to kill my rescuer?" Elizabeth asked James calmly.
James looked at Elizabeth for a moment, his features softer, and with a motion of his head his soldier lowered their weapons while he sheathed his sword. He held out his hand. "I believe thanks are in order."
The man hesitated, but eventually took the offered hand, only to have his arm grabbed and his sleeve pulled up to reveal a burned 'P' on his wrist.
"Had a brush with the East India Trading company did we, pirate?" James asked.
The man winced while Governor Swann made a face. "Hang him." The governor ordered.
"Keep your guns on him, men. Gillette, fetch some irons." James pulled the sleeve up further to reveal a tattoo of a sparrow in flight. "Well, well… Jack Sparrow, isn't it?"
Sparrow took his arm back and smirked the tiniest bit. "Captain Jack Sparrow, if you please, sir."
James's lip twitched and looked around. "Well, I don't see your ship, Captain."
"I'm in the market, as it were." Sparrow said.
"He said he'd come to commandeer one." Murtogg interjected.
"Told ya he was telling the truth. These are his, sir." Mullroy said, eagerly holding out Sparrow's things for James.
Norrington looked over the objects. He picked up the gun first. "No additional shots nor powder. A compass that doesn't point north." He looked amused as he unsheathed the sword on the pile. "And I half expected it to be made of wood. You are, without a doubt, the worst pirate I've ever heard of."
Jack smirked. "But you have heard of me."
James's smile faded and he roughly pulled Sparrow to Gillette who was waiting with the irons.
Beatrice didn't follow quite as quickly as the rest. She didn't want to be there any longer, so as Elizabeth argued with James over the pirate's treatment Beatrice tried to sneak through the soldiers towards the docks, but they were harder to get around than she hoped they would be, or they were just trying to make it difficult for her. She was in the middle when a sudden uproar of excitement rose. Beatrice looked up and saw Sparrow holding a gun against Elizabeth's head, the iron chains around her neck.
Beatrice sighed, wondering how they had let their precious Elizabeth get in such a position. Beatrice stayed where she was and watched as Sparrow used Elizabeth to get all of his things back, and to strap them back on his person. Once everything was in place, including his hat, he looked back to James and the governor, a pleasant smile on his lips.
"Gentlemen! Milady," he said for Elizabeth's sake. "You will always remember this as the day that you almost caught Captain Jack Sparrow!" He pushed Elizabeth away and James automatically reached out to grab her, the momentum pushing him back and in result distracting everyone as Sparrow kicked a metal plate and used to rising rope so escape.
Beatrice could only watch him rise for a moment, because as he rose, the cannon at the top of the pulley system fell, heading straight for the soldiers and Beatrice. They all moved out of the way, but as the cannon broke the deck one of the soldiers lost his footing and pushed Beatrice into the broken section. She fell through the hole and back into the water, hitting her head on a piece of wood. Beatrice groaned and tried to lift herself up using the opening in the wood.
"On his heels!"
Suddenly the soldiers were crossing over the opening, one hitting Beatrice as he crossed. She cried out and fell back down. She floated, but things began to go hazy and she could hear a distance voice, and then all became black.
"Beatrice!"
Beatrice slowly stirred and the first thing she realized was that she was dry and warm. She opened her eyes and groaned. Her head was pounding. She touched her forehead and sat up. She was surprised to feel a bandage on the right side of her head. She realized she must have gotten it when she hit her head going through the deck.
"Oh I hope they caught that bloody pirate." She hissed.
The distance sound of the clanging of metal caught her attention and she noticed that it was dark outside. Beatrice wondered how long she had been asleep. Also, who had brought her here? She noticed she was in her nightclothes and she blushed. And who had changed her clothes?
She shook her head and threw her blackest off herself and got up. A little too fast, the room started to spin slightly, but she shook it off and headed out of her room and towards the workshop. She stood in the doorway and watched Will work for a moment. He paused and she was about to speak, but something seemed to catch his attention. He put down his tools and went to the window, peering outside curiously. Beatrice snuck up behind him and tried to look over his shoulder.
"Do you see anything?"
Will cried out and turned sharply. "Bee! Don't do that!" he said, but then looked to have realized something. "Oh, you're up. How are you feeling?"
"Quite well, except my head is killing me." Beatrice said. "But it'll pass. What I'm really wondering about is who changed my clothes. Hmm?"
Will's cheeks reddened slightly. "Well, after the Commodore dropped you off wet there was no one else-"soaking
"James dropped me off?" Beatrice asked quickly. "Really?"
"Well the Commodore and his men were with you when you fell, and when they traced the pirate's footsteps here they dropped you off after they captured him." Will said.
"Oh." Beatrice covered her disappointment with another question. "So the pirate came here after he escaped? Did anything happen?"
"I fought him off." Will said, looking embarrassed. "But he cheated and got the upper hand, which was when the soldiers arrived. But before he could escape your father hit him over the head with a bottle, knocking him unconscious. After that the Commodore gave you to us and took the pirate away."
"Really, dad did that? I never would have thought he'd be sober enough to do something that helpful, much less waste one of his bottles." Beatrice said happily. "So, considering the circumstances, I'd say we'd better get ready to go attend a hanging tomorrow."
"You….You want to go see the pirate get hanged?" Will asked.
Beatrice nodded. "Never been to a hanging, I'd say this would be a great first experience. And Sparrow deserves it, right?" She narrowed her eyes. "He's a pirate and all pirates deserve nothing more than a long death."
A sudden bang drew Beatrice's attention to the window. She gasped at what she saw. "Will! Pirates are attacking the town!"
"What?" Will came up behind her and looked out as well. They watched as pirates swept the town, cannon fire in their wake, throwing bombs and attacking citizens and breaking shop windows. They watched as a pirate threw a bomb into a shop across the way, laughing as it blew up. People began to be driven from their homes and screamed as they tried to escape the pillage.
"Oh God." Beatrice whispered. "This is awful. They better not come near my shop."
"I have to help." Will said determinedly. He grabbed a hatchet from the wall and a sword and headed for the door.
Beatrice blocked his way. "Will, wait! Don't do anything stupid. It would be much safer to stay inside. We don't have any big glass shop windows and we can lock the doors and windows and turn off the lights. No one will know we're here."
"You want to hide?" Will said shocked. "You want to hide here while our town is being ransacked by pirates and people we know are suffering?"
There was another explosion and Beatrice winced. "Yes, because hiding is better than death!"
Will pushed past her. "I'm sorry Beatrice, but I'm no coward."
"It's not cowardice Will! It's intelligence. Will, don't!" But he was already gone, slamming the door after him. Beatrice groaned. "Idiot."
She rushed back to the window and peered outside for a moment before closing it tightly and locking it, followed by locking both the front and back door. She then grabbed a sword, blew out the light and sat in the dark beside the front door.
"I'm not a coward, I'm just not n idiot." She muttered. "I'm not a coward. Not a coward. Not a-" There was a banging at the door and Beatrice gasped. She covered her mouth and stared at the door. Her heart beat faster and she tired not to make any noise.
"Bee! Open the door. I need your help! Please hurry!"
Beatrice stood quickly and unlocked the door, opening it an inch. She saw it was no pirate but a very disheveled woman, her neighbor Harriet. Beatrice opened the door wider. "Harriet?" Harriet was Beatrice's age and ran the bakery next door with her husband, Jeremiah.
"Please Bee, Jeremiah was injured and our shop was blown up. We need somewhere to hide." Harriet sobbed, grabbing onto Beatrice's arm.
"Get inside, quick." Beatrice said, opening the door fully. Harriet thanked Beatrice over and over before motioning for someone. Beatrice was surprised to see a large group head into the shop, all thanking Beatrice as they passed. Jeremiah was brought in, being supported by a large man Beatrice recognized as the butcher, Frederick, and Frederick's wife Sarah, holding her son Henry, followed them inside. And behind Sarah came Beatrice's other neighbors, an elderly couple, Edward and Anna, followed by their two adult children, George and Catherine, their spouses, and their children.
Beatrice checked to see if there were any more people and for any pirates. She saw no one attacking or coming so she closed the door and relocked it.
"Thank you Bee." Harriet said again. "Edward is injured as well, he was hit by some debris, and Jeremiah won't stop bleeding. He was hit by a stray bullet."
Beatrice could barely see Jeremiah in the dim light, but could hear his groaning. "Where was he hit and how bad is Edward?"
"His left shoulder and Edward just hurt his back, they need a place to rest." Harriet said.
Beatrice sighed and felt around for a candle and her matchbox. She could still hear the distant sound of cannons and bombs and hoped that the noise would cover their own and that the pirates wouldn't see the small light. She held up the candle and looked at all of her refugees.
"George, Frederick, bring Edward and Jeremiah this way. Jerry can use my bed and Edward can rest in Will's. I think it's best if the children stay in the rooms too. It might be safer. George, take the candle, you know the way, you've brought my father home from the bar enough to know the way to the rooms. Make sure to close and lock any windows, and stay away from them. And stay quiet." She added as an afterthought as the group made their way upstairs.
Harriet hugged her. "Thank you Beatrice."
Beatrice nodded. "Use the blankets to press on the wound to stop the bleeding. Hopefully the pirates will leave by morning and we can get a doctor."
Harriet sobbed. "I don't know what I'll do if Jeremiah-"
"Calm down." Beatrice said. "Now go upstairs and stay with your husband."
Harriet wiped her eyes. "B-But what about you?"
Beatrice smirked and lifted her sword. "I'll stay down here and make sure no pirates come in."
"You're so brave Beatrice." Harriet said quietly. "I wish I was more like you."
"Just go." Beatrice said pushing Harriet towards the stairs.
"Thank you." Harriet whispered one last time before disappearing up the stairs.
Beatrice sighed and returned to her last position by the door. The sound of guns and scream and cannon fire was still coming from outside and now Beatrice had more to worry about than her own safety.
She wanted nothing more than the pirates to go away and Port Royal to be safe again. Beatrice glared at the ground, her hands tightening around the hilt of her sword.
"I hate pirates." She growled. "I hope they all die."
The chaos and destruction continued outside. Beatrice closed her eyes tightly and brought her knees to her chest.
"Every last one."
