The pirate grimaced, while Annalise and Elizabeth stared at him in surprise. Governor Swann meanwhile puffed up angrily, and he snapped: "Hang him."
The pirate glanced at the Governor, and then his eyes moved to meet Annalise's as Norrington ordered: "Keep your guns on him, men. Gillette, fetch some irons."
He flipped the dirty sleeve up a little higher, revealing the tattoo of a sparrow in flight with the sun at the horizon in the background, and he raised a brow.
"Well, well…" Norrington said sarcastically as he let go of the pirate's arm. "Jack Sparrow, isn't it?"
Annalise's eyes widened as she recognized the name, while Jack Sparrow looked back at Norrington.
"Captain Jack Sparrow," Jack Sparrow corrected quite calmly for someone who was cornered and about to be hanged, "if you please, sir."
Norrington raised a brow and he pretended to look around as he commented mockingly: "Well, I don't see your ship…Captain."
"I'm in the market," Jack retorted, "as it were."
"He said he'd come to commandeer one." One of the Navy soldiers piped up suddenly, and Annalise frowned at him while the other piped up: "Told ya he was telling the truth."
The other soldier then turned to Norrington as he reported: "These are his, sir."
He reached down to pick up a pile of belongings, wrapped in a cross-body belt that he'd dropped earlier on the dock. Annalise frowned as she stared at the assortment of weapons and tools, while Norrington also examined each individually and thoroughly.
He picked up the pistol first, testing it and glancing back at the belt as he noted: "No additional shots nor powder."
He tossed the pistol back and picked up a small box instead, opening it to reveal-
"A compass that doesn't point north."
Norrington smirked at Jack dismissively as he clapped the box shut, while Annalise frowned. This didn't seem like the pirate she and her sister had read so many stories about.
Norrington unsheathed the sword hanging from the belt, checking it and he added mockingly as he glanced at Jack: "And I half expected it to be made of wood."
He sheathed the sword carelessly, keeping his eyes on Jack as he said flatly: "You are without doubt the worst pirate I've ever heard of."
"But you have heard of me." Jack returned smugly.
Annalise raised a brow at that, while Norrington seemed slightly taken aback for a moment before his eyes narrowed. He reached forward and grabbed Jack, dragging him harshly along to be put in chains, and both Annalise and Elizabeth frowned.
"James!" Annalise called angrily as she stalked after Norrington, while Elizabeth strode beside her sister, equally indignant as he objected: "Commodore, I really must protest."
Norrington simply tossed Jack over to Gillette, saying firmly as the other man began placing handcuffs on Jack: "Carefully, Lieutenant."
Elizabeth grabbed Norrington's arm, pulling him to face her and her sister as Annalise stepped forward to stand between him and Jack, demanding his full attention as Elizabeth snapped: "Pirate or not this man saved my life."
"And as such, he deserves at least some mercy." Annalise finished severely, and Norrington frowned at them both.
"One good deed is not enough to redeem a man of a lifetime of wickedness." Norrington replied sternly, and Jack pointed out derisively: "Though it seems enough to condemn him."
Annalise glanced back at him before looking back at Norrington as he gazed over her head at Jack distastefully.
"Indeed." Norrington said dryly, and Annalise glowered at him as Gillette finished cuffing Jack and moved back to stand behind his superior.
"Finally." Jack muttered before he suddenly threw his cuffed hands around Annalise's neck, dragging her back against him and using her as a shield as he choked her slightly with the iron chains between the cuffs.
Annalise let out a gasp of surprise, while Norrington darted forward to grab Elizabeth from harm, even as she cried: "Lisa!"
"No, don't shoot!" Governor Swann shouted in alarm as the Navy forces moved quickly to point their bayonets back at Jack, and consequently Annalise.
Annalise stood stiffly, her neck exposed as Jack's hold on her forced her head back, while Jack murmured in her ear: "I knew you'd warm up to me."
She hissed angrily, but he had already moved on, staring at Norrington as he ordered sternly: "Commodore Norrington, my effects, please, and my hat."
Norrington's jaw locked as he remained undecided, while the Governor shot him a pleading look. Elizabeth clutched his arm desperately, and she stared at him beseechingly while shooting worried looks at her twin as Annalise stood between the guns and Jack.
"Commodore!" Jack said sharply, clearly getting impatient, and Norrington, finally turned to accept Jack's belongings from his soldier.
"Annalise." Jack began in a purr by Annalise's ear, "It is Annalise, isn't it? Or Lisa. Or Anna."
"It's Miss Swann." Annalise snapped angrily, her temper starting to get the better of her.
But Jack was one step ahead of her as he tightened the chain on her neck, saying pointedly: "Miss Swann , if you'd be so kind."
He nodded once at his effects, and Annalise's eyes narrowed.
"Come, come, dear." Jack said impatiently while Norrington stiffly handed Annalise the bundle of Jack's belongings. "We don't have all day."
She took it, grinding her teeth, before tensing as Jack used the moment to instantly grab his pistol from his belt, holding it to her head. With his new leverage, he shifted, loosening his grip on her neck so that he could turn her to face him.
"Now," he murmured as he glanced down at her though Annalise noted he always kept a keen eye on the Navy soldiers, "if you'd be very kind."
Annalise locked her jaw as she also noted him glancing down the front of her loosened dress, smirking widely, but she did as he said, unfolding his belt and starting to strap it on around him. She reached her hand over between them to stuff his hat forcefully on his head, but if anything he seemed more amused by her anger than anything else.
Elizabeth was watching with an almost identical scowl on her face, feeling her twin's anger as she watched Annalise move to strap the body belt over Jack. It required a little wiggling and maneuvering with their current position, and as she reached around to buckle the belt, it mad it look like she was embracing Jack.
Jack glanced up at the group, grinning smugly as he noted the sorrowful expression on the Governor's face while Norrington grit his teeth and Elizabeth glared at him. He then winced a little as Annalise pulled a little harder on the belt than was necessary, and Jack grunted jokingly: "Easy on the goods, darling."
She just finished buckling his belt, tugging furiously, and she glared up at him with dark blue eyes as she hissed: "You're disgusting."
Jack simply smirked at her as he answered coolly: "Sticks and stones, love. I saved your sister's life, you save mine, we're square."
He twirled her back around so that she was facing the others once more as he began to back away, saying firmly: "Gentlemen, m'lady." He added in a purr by Annalise's ear.
"You will always remember this as the day that you almost caught," he went on as he backed ever further away, "Captain."
He paused for emphasis as he took another step back.
"Jack."
He took another step back.
"Sparrow!"
He suddenly flung his arms above Annalise's neck and shoved her forward, sending her stumbling right into Norrington and her father, and cutting off all of their views from Jack.
She quickly moved aside, right into her father and sister's embrace as they hugged her tightly in relief, glancing back to see Jack had swung himself up to a beam above all of their heads by dropping a cannon apparently, as a cannon fell before them, crashing through the wooden docks and shaking the ground for a moment.
Jack was yelling as he swung around wildly above them and Governor Swann demanded: "Now, will you shoot him?"
"Open fire!" Norrington ordered, and Annalise watched with wide eyes as the soldiers fired at Jack.
But almost like a miracle, every single bullet missed the flailing man as he swung far away and across to a mast pole far away.
"On his heels." Norrington shouted, and he and his men chased after Jack as the pirate used his cuffs to zip-line down the docks at an incredible speed.
The three Swanns were left in a shaken group by the dock as Jack disappeared from sight while the soldiers chased after him. Or rather, Governor Swann was shaken. Annalise exchanged wide-eyed looked with her sister when their father wasn't looking and she saw, if not exactly the same then almost as much, excitement in Elizabeth's eyes as finally there was something thrilling in their lives, if only for a moment.
It was much later when Annalise heard the 'reassuring' news that the pirate who had attacked her had been safely apprehended, and when she did she wasn't sure how she should feel. Decorum told her that she should feel relieved and gratified… but all she felt was a little pity and sorrow that the strange but interesting man who'd saved her sister and then threatened her was to be killed in the morning.
But there was literally noting she could do, short of dying with him if she was suspected of being his accomplice.
She and her sister had briefly discussed the matter after dinner, as well as the matter of Norrington's proposal, before they'd separated for bed. But neither had been able to come up with a plausible solution to either problem, other than the disheartening conclusion that they would have to leave Jack to the gallows and Elizabeth would have to marry Norrington.
She sighed as she closed her book, setting it aside on her bedside table as she stared into space, deep in thought. Elizabeth would have to make her decision about her problem on her own, no-one else could force her not even Annalise. But this knowledge meant her thoughts constantly returned to the mysterious pirate locked up in the fort prison.
There had been something dangerously attractive about Jack Sparrow, and his dark eyes plagued her even now. She was used to most men around her being upright and proper – at least, when they were sober and required to under social decree – and Jack… he was nothing like that.
And yet, unlike most other men of lower class, pirate or not, his eyes held an intelligent spark that spoke of only a hint of who he really was. For Annalise suspected that most of his staggering and almost drunken manner of speaking and moving was simply an act, an act meant to cover just how brilliant he truly was.
And it bothered her that she'd noticed that about him in the short time they'd been acquainted. Because it made him seem almost like Will, brilliant but keeping it on the low, except with an appeal she'd never felt with her surrogate brother. A confident, delectable but treacherous appeal… or at least, so long as he kept that infuriating mouth shut.
She scowled and shoved her blankets up more fully onto her body, snuggling into her pillows in the hopes of dismissing any further thoughts on the matter and resolutely shut her eyes…
Before they snapped open, and she frowned as she stared at her candle, puzzled to see it had snuffed out from an exceptionally strong wind from outside.
'What…?' She wondered.
Jack sat with his hat pulled down over his face, leaning back on the bars and sighing as he listened to the men locked in the cell beside him. The desperate sailors were whistling and calling obnoxiously at the dog sitting guard at the far side of the prison, trying to tempt it with a bone as it watched them with the ring of keys in its mouth.
"Come here, boy." One of the men called while the others whistled and called. "Want a nice juicy bone? Come here. Come on-"
"You can keep doing that forever, the dog is never going to move." Jack said tiredly at last, annoyed at their constant noise.
The men turned and glared at him, and the one holding the bone spat in annoyance: "Oh, excuse us if we haven't resigned ourselves to the gallows just yet."
Jack glanced over, and then he smirked as he turned away while the men continued to whistle and call at the dog.
His thoughts wandered as the men continued their obnoxious calls, thinking back on his memories, but soon they strayed to the curious lass he'd met on the docks. No, the curious lasses. Both were beautiful and, judging by their clothes and whom he suspected their father to be, rich. But it was more than that.
Jack had seen and wooed his fair share of rich women and pretty women, and even a few rich and pretty women. But there was something about these two women, lasses really, that drew him in. And he knew exactly what it was, what always got his attention more than looks or status.
It was a fiery spark in their eyes, particularly rare amongst such well-bred ladies. And it was especially strong in the brunette's eyes – Annalise. Her eyes spoke of barely concealed and controlled longing, one that he was sure once kindled would bring out a passion that could burn its way through the world.
He smirked as he thought about her, remembering every line of her face. Her luscious lips, parted in relief when her sister was revived safely and then pursed tightly in delicious anger when he'd been holding her hostage. Those blue eyes, that reminded him of the sea in more than just the colour as they glared stormily at him and challenged him to a fight that – he grinned at the thought – she would have no hope of winning.
He was broken from his thoughts as the otherwise quiet night was suddenly disturbed by a bang outside, and a voice shouted outside: "Cannon fire! Return fire!"
But Jack frowned as he heard the familiar cannons firing continuously, and he murmured in realization: "I know those guns."
He quickly got up, standing on his cell bench to peer outside the window through the bars and out into the bay. His eyes widened and a small smirk crossed his face as he stared at the ship sailing into the harbor.
"It's the Pearl." He murmured, and the prisoners behind him gaped.
"The Black Pearl?" One of the men asked in a frightened voice as he pressed himself against the bars separating Jack and the others. "I've heard stories. She's been preying on ships and settlements for near ten years. Never leaves any survivors."
The others watched with equal fear, but Jack turned to the man as he repeated: "No survivors?"
He gave them a look, asking pointedly: "Then where do the stories come from, I wonder?"
He smirked as the other men blinked, glancing at each other as they realized Jack made a very good point.