"Maybe I should have climbed aboard the Black Pearl." Melinda half said to herself.
When Elizabeth came back from going around the island Jack spoke up "Not all that big is it?" Jack laying on the beach. He has dismantled his pistol; the parts, ball and powder dry on his scarf.
"Has it changed since the last time you were here?" She inquired.
"The trees are taller." Jack checks to see if the pistol parts are dry; they are. He sets about re-assembling and loading his pistol.
Melinda decides to say something then "I hope you don't intend to use that Jack otherwise I will use mine."
Jack has finished putting his pistol back together. He shoves it in his belt, walks off. "Not yet. Ask me again in a few weeks."
"Captain Sparrow we have to get off this island immediately." Elizabeth exclaimed not believing him.
"Don't be thinking I'm not already working on it." He climbs up toward a clump of palm trees. Digs for something beneath the sand, He finds it: a large iron ring.
Elizabeth followed him while Melinda stayed behind and asked him "What is that? Is there a boat under there?" Jack heaves the trap door up and over, revealing a pit. Inside are barrels and bottles of rum ... all covered with dust and cobwebs, long abandoned. Jack's face falls. "What's wrong? How will this help us get off the island?"
"It won't. It won't, so we won't" He jumps down into the pit, cracks open a bottle of rum, takes a swig.
"But you did it before! Last time."
"Last time, I was here a grand total of three days. Last time, the rumrunners who used this island as a cache came by, and I bartered passage off.
But from the looks of this, they've long been'out of business, and so that won't be happening again. (takes another swig) We probably have your friend Norrington to thank for that."
"So that's it then? That's the secret grand adventure of the infamous Jack Sparrow? You spent three days lying on a beach, drinking rum?!" Elizabeth shouted.
"Welcome to the Caribbean love." He gathers up a few bottles and heads back to the beach "You should look at our contretemps this way: we've got shade trees, thank the Lord. We've got some food on the trees, thank the Lord again. And we've got rum, praise the Lord. We can stay alive a month, maybe more. Keep a weather eye open for passing ships, and our chances are fair."
"A month? Will doesn't have a month! We've got to do something to help him!" Melinda exclaimed standing up upon hearing Jack.
"You're right (he raises up a bottle) here's luck to you Will turner." He drinks -- and defiantly returns Elizabeth's angry gaze as well as Melinda's. But then turns away, sits down. "Don't be thinking I'm happy about this, women. But I see no use in wailing and gnashing my teeth over that which I can do nothing about."
Melinda knew the answer about Jack and this island she just didn't want Elizabeth to be thinking how to get off the island just yet.
Melinda motioned Elizabeth to sit down next to her so they could talk, while they made Jack get all the wood by himself. "So how is it getting your hand cut?" Elizabeth looked shocked at the question not expecting it, but before she could answer Melinda carried on "Hurts don't it. I got quiet a few cuts and bruises learning to fight, I can teach you if you want, what say you to that Lizzie?"
Elizabeth looked extremely happy when Melinda asked that and instantly replied "Yes."
Melinda got up passed Elizabeth her spare sword then began the lessons, which ended with Elizabeth with a few cuts on her arms and some on Melinda when she wasn't paying attention to the lessons but to Jack and the sea.
Then came the lessons of fighting without weapons now that ended up being a laugh for both of them but more so for Jack.
Guns were next and by the time she taught Elizabeth the basics in all three and some extra in swords and fists night had already crept upon the Caribbean.
When night arose Jack had finished the fire and was proceeding to drink and to Melinda's shock so was Elizabeth.
"You really should join in Mel."
Shaking her head Melinda replied "I rather not."
With that said she went away from the both of them and proceeded to make her own fire, when she finished she sat down and opened her locket which began to play 'Hoist the Colours' she knew the words and began to sing them very quietly and ended up falling to sleep not long after.
Upon waking up Melinda smelt smoke and stood up instantly, seeing the smoke Melinda knew what Elizabeth had done and was happy she had but scared as well.
For the reason being the ship that would be searching for her would have James Norrington aboard and she did not want him to see her like this again except now she was a looked more like a pirate than ever.
She grabbed her hat out of her bag and put it on; the hat was very similar to Jack's except it has a red lining at the edges.
She walked to an area of the Island and found Jack who just exclaimed "There will be no living with her after this."
Melinda looked to where Jack was looking and spotted the Dauntless which made her run to Elizabeth and shout "What the hell where you thinking? If they get us me and Jack will be put to hang in the gallows."
Elizabeth looked at her and stated calmly "Melinda you won't be hanged, I'll tell them you are not a pirate."
"I will lie no longer Elizabeth I AM A PIRATE!"
Elizabeth looked shocked at the outburst "You are my friend as well."
Melinda shook her head "No matter what I will not lie to them if they ask why am I wearing these clothes I will say I am a pirate, and I am proud to be one as well."
Not long after this conversation a two boats came on shore with Norrington and a few of his men "Elizabeth!"
Melinda looked away at Jack and mouthed "I'm Sorry."
Jack came up to her and whispered "Sorry for what luv?"
Melinda could not believe what she was thinking she wanted to kiss Jack and in front of James if not her act in piracy that would get her a place for the gallows.
Looking towards James she just heard Elizabeth say "Melinda and Jack are here as well Commodore."
Looking up James eyes got a happy glint in them at being able to finally give Jack Sparrow his appointment with the gallows, but then they got a sad look to them when he saw Melinda and what annoyed Melinda most was the disappointment in them. "Well, well Captain Jack Sparrow it is about time you had your appointment with the gallows."
Melinda stepped in front of Jack surprising everyone even herself "Then I will hang with him."
Jack's mouth opened slightly then he whispered "Luv that's not the way to win his heart."
The reply that came was filled with sorrow and a heart wrenching pain "I know."
Elizabeth stepped forward "Commodore she helped save me you can't do what she says."
James looked at Elizabeth before looking at Melinda "She has acted in piracy and then therefore now is a pirate and deserves what all pirates do a short drop and a sudden stop."
Then and there Melinda's heart broke she could take anyone else calling her a pirate but for James too was painful because now she knew what he thought of her as; low life scum that should be rid of.
Motioning for his men to get the two pirates into one of the boats James did not witness the lone tear that glided down Melinda's face but Elizabeth and Jack did notice.
In the boat Melinda was very quiet and looked into the water for answers she knew it could not give except for death and that was not an option for it would be cowardly and not a pirate way to die.
When on board the Dauntless Melinda heard nothing for she still heard what James said before repeating over and over in her head. Not realising it she muttered quietly "I'm a Pirate." But unlike before when it was filled with pride now it was filled with sorrow and shame.
Jack was the only one who heard her and he looked at her to see her eyes filled with great sorrow and now more than ever did her eyes look like the sea deep blue and unknowing of the things around it just something in her mind which Jack knew exactly what she was thinking about.
He also knew he would have to break it to her later that Elizabeth was now engaged to the commodore which would bring more sorrow to her heart.
Just then Elizabeth looked at Melinda and saw the sorrow in her eyes and felt guilt thinking the sorrow was for her agreeing to marry the commodore and her friend's 'betrayal' of the heart.
When Governor Swann addressed Melinda she looked up in shock and the governor then saw the sorrow in her eyes and repeated what he said "I forgive your act of piracy for trying to save my daughter and succeeding."
Melinda nodded but said nothing and just looked at her feet again.
When the governor was about to ask if she was alright James spoke his opinion on the matter of Melinda "She tried to stop me from taking Sparrow sir if we let her go she may try to free him."
Melinda's head shot up so fast it shocked the people around her but more so did the bitter tone to her once always cheerful voice "That's Captain Sparrow COMMODORE."
James looked at her in shock and said "Excuse me." Not believing his ears as much as he did not believe his eyes when she stepped in front of Jack.
"I said That's Captain Sparrow Commodore. I know he may not have a ship at this time but he is still a captain and you would do well in remembering that." She replied in a slight mocking tone towards James.
Elizabeth stepped in before her friend would be placed as a pirate "She doesn't mean it James she's just worried for her brother is all and the worry is making her slightly impatient."
James glared at Melinda and told her "Don't worry Miss Turner we will save your brother soon."
When he was walking past her she whispered icily "If not Norrington you will have a woman's wrath upon you." Loud enough so only that James could here.
But before her could reply one of his men was taking Jack down to the cells and Melinda followed saying she wanted to talk to Jack for awhile and the governor accepted only by the look his daughter gave him.