Eye Of The Storm
(Ashley's POV)
"Feast yer eyes, Capt'n. All of 'em faithful hands before the mast, every man worth his salt, crazy to boot." Mr. Gibbs gestured to all the volunteers, standing along the dock.
"So this, is your able-bodied crew." Will addressed while he reviewed each sailor.
I yawned and marched up behind Jack, Will, and Mr. Gibbs. We walked along, passing a few people until Jack stopped at the man with the colorful parrot.
"You sailor!"
"Cotton sir," Gibbs answered for him.
"Mr. Cotton, do you have the courage and fortitude to follow orders and stay true in the face of danger, and almost certain death?...Mr. Cotton! Answer man!" Jack demanded.
"He's a mute sir. Poor devil had his tongue cut out, so he trained the parrot to talk for him. No one's yet figured how."
I then remembered a short I watched a while ago called Tales Of The Code; Wedlocked. It showed the story of how Cotton got his tongue cut off and why Giselle and Scarlett hated Jack. So I tapped on his shoulder lightly, and he faced me. Every time he looks at me, I effortlessly get butterflies and my mouth becomes dry, I get so nervous and I can't speak. I got on my tiptoes and murmured in his ear, "I know how the man got his tongue cut out."
"...how do-" Jack started to whisper before the parrot squawked loudly. "Ah, Mr. Cotton's parrot, same question."
"AWK, wind in the sails, wind in the sails!" The parrot answered.
Gibbs reassured, "...mostly we figured that means yes."
"Of course it does, satisfied?" Jack turned to Will.
"Well you've proved they're mad," Will argued before he muttered to me, "Just like you."
"Am not!" On accident, I noisily objected. And for it, I earned strange looks from everyone.
"And what're the benefits for us?" A higher-pitched voice inquired. Goodness gracious, not her.
The four of us walked to the end of the port, looking at the last sailor, wearing a floppy hat covering her face. Jack pulled her hat off and recognized her instantly. "Anamaria."
SLAP
"I suppose you didn't deserve that one either." Will sarcastically taunted Jack.
I claimed, "No, that one he deserved." I wonder if he ever had an affair with Anamaria...
Jack glared at me. I need to stop stealing his lines, he's getting suspicious...and angry.
"You stole my boat!" She yelled.
"Actually,-"
SLAP
"...borrowed! Borrowed, without permission. But with every intention, I'm bringing it back to you." Jack lied.
"But you didn't!"
"...You'll get another one!" He continued to lie to her.
"I will," She pointed at him with her index finger.
"A better one!" I falsely smiled at her.
Jack grinned at me then to her, "A better one!"
"That one!" Will chimed in.
"What one?" Jack inquired.
Will nodded at the Interceptor.
Jack angered, "That one?!" He thought for a few moments, before agreeing. "Aye, that one. What say you?"
"AYE!" The whole crew shouted before walking to the ship.
"No, no, no, it's frightful bad luck to bring a woman aboard Sir, let alone two." Mr. Gibbs glimpsed at me, "No offense, Miss Ashlyn." Oh yeah, Gibbs used to work for the East India Trading Company when Elizabeth was a child, so he must've known "me" as well.
"It'd be far worse not to have them." Captain Jack gave me another one of his famous grins and he gestured for me to climb aboard the Interceptor. "Welcome aboard, Miss Swann." I politely smiled back and walked up the plank.
I heard Mr. Gibbs ramble behind my back, "Two women on board?! A man don't have to be superstitious to know that's trouble!"
The rain poured down, harshly hitting the deck, a storm was brewing. Lightning struck and thunder roared, the sea was untamable, the mountainous waves crashed, it was anger in the form of water. I stayed by Will's side, trying to help as much as possible by pulling on ropes, not having a clue on what to do.
"How can we sail to an island that nobody can find? With a compass that doesn't work?!" Will shouted to Mr. Gibbs.
"Aye, the compass doesn't point North, but we're not trying to find North are we?" Gibbs grinned as he attempted to make his way over to the helm.
The wind arose and blew my wet, long hair roughly. My hair is a light brown when it's dry, but it goes to an almost black when damp. I glanced up at Jack, he was watching his compass as he sailed us through this mess of a storm. Still looking handsome as ever. As I was distracted, I didn't notice the monstrous wave that smashed onto the deck. I shrieked as I fell off of my feet, my body slid and as the boat heaved, I was washed over the edge. I caught onto the railing just in time, gripping onto it for dear life while I screamed again in horror. I always had a fear of the water drowning me as a child. Every time I got the chance to visit a beach I would go too far out and a wave would wipe me out. Water would fill my lungs for I could not hold my breath. And now, this fear was coming back. Not once did I think of all the problems there would be while living in a place like this, but all of these fears now invaded my mind, it was taking control of me. I couldn't hold my breath any longer, I swallowed an abundance of salt water.
"ASHLYN!" I barely heard Jack's raucous voice shout. The ocean rocked the boat sharply before my lungs began to burn and I fell unconscious.
I coughed heavily, spitting out the water in my lungs, opening my eyes. I found myself lying down in the middle of the deck, with someone on top of me. This person had their arms wrapped around me. As my view finally made its way to their face, I found it was Will, and he was staring at my face. "Ashlyn! You almost fell overboard!" He still held onto me. I turned to the side and coughed up more water. The rain continued to pour down on us. He helped me up to stand, not letting go. "Are you breathing alright?"
I coughed again, trying to clear my airways. "I believe so-" I could not stop the coughing. "Maybe not." I managed to say. Is this how I'm going to die?
"You need to rest and stay out of the water!" He shouted to me as the wind picked up. He assisted me to the cabin, Jack's cabin. He was steering the ship at the moment so he was not inside.
"I...can't." I muffled in between coughing fits.
"Jack won't mind. I'm going back out on deck, you stay here and lie down." Will let go as I carefully sat down on a small bed in the corner of the room. What a gentleman. He smiled at me then left, slamming the door against the harsh wind.
I glanced around the room. It was fairly clean, except for a few empty bottles sprawled across the floor, now rolling with the motion of the ship. I was very damp and cold, so I snuggled up under the blanket and lied back. I felt ashamed of myself as I kept clearing my throat. All these crazy thoughts fled my brain. I can't even survive through a mere storm. What kind of pirate would I make? A horrible one. I can't stop wondering, am I messing up the story in any way? What happens if I am? What if everything doesn't happen the way it's supposed to? Do you think Will likes me? He's kind of acting like he does. He is cute. But...NO. I don't like him like that. I love him with Elizabeth. Doesn't he still want her? And I like Jack, even if he doesn't think of me like that. Wait, did Jack even notice me go missing off the deck? Do I stand out to him at all? Does he think I'm pretty? Am I too young for him? In the real world yes but here? How long is this storm going to last? How long am I going to be staying here? What if I die here? What if I wake up and this is all a dream?
(Jack's POV)
My compass spun in circles instantaneously, then halted to point at the horizon that was blocked by dark clouds. Although, it was unforeseeable when it altered its direction since we were engulfed by a maelstrom. Then, the bloody arrow pointed to port. In confusion, I gazed out onto the deck, and saw the lass dangling on edge, near falling overboard!
"ASHLYN!" I shouted her name as another wave jerked the entire boat, impelling her to fall back on board. Thank heavens. I peeked back down at my compass, and it...persistently pointed at the damsel. With anger and frustration, I slammed me compass shut and shoved it away. I scanned the deck yet again and saw the whelp lying on top of her. The lass perchance fancies him, that be the reason she doesn't converse wit' me much. I shall change that. Or, perhaps he fancies her, and she does not. The whelp then stood with her in his arms, taking her to where I assume to be me cabin. O' course I couldn't see quite clearly 'cause of the weather. I shall have to go an visit her after this bloody storm passes. I navigated the ship straight on with a grin across my lips.
"We should drop canvas, sir!" Mr. Gibbs advocated.
"She can hold a bit longer!" I shouted back.
"What's in yer head, that put ya in such a fine mood Capt'n?"
I spun the wheel harshly. "We're catching up!"
(Ashley's POV)
I laid on my side, then rolled over onto my other, restless. My mind was racing, I could not get a nap in with these rough waters. I stopped coughing at least, I was finally breathing normally again. The ship wasn't rocking quite as roughly anymore, and it was a lot quieter. I assumed that meant that the storm had passed, after about what seemed like an hour.
Suddenly, I heard a knock at the door. I quickly sat up, adjusting my hair and fixing my short gown. "You may enter!" I called out to the intruder.
Jack opened the door, stepping in. "Did I wake you, Miss Swann?"
"N-no, I was unable to fall asleep. I apologize for breaking an entry to your cabin Captain Sparrow, I shall leave now." I stood up from the bed.
"Not a problem. I assume Mr. Turner brought you here during that dreadful storm, I am pleased you did not fall overboard. Stay, sit...wine?" He offered to me as he marched over to the desk. On top of the desk sat two tall glasses and a bottle of Red Wine.
I waltzed over to the armchair in front of the desk and sat down. "...not rum?"
He plopped down on the other side of the bureau, stretching his legs on top of it, crossing his boots. He poured himself and I some wine, I took the glass he offered me. "Unfortunately, we're all out."
"That would be your fault I presume." I lightly smiled at him.
"Pirate, luv. What did you expect? Furthermore, this is a merchant's vessel, they did not carry much rum, wretched for them and I. I only found two bloody bottles in this here cabin."
"How unfortunate for you. A pirate's favorite drink is rum, yes. But I believe you take that to drastic measures, do you not?"
"What t'is that suppose to mean, Miss Swann?"
"You're an alcoholic Captain Sparrow."
"You act as if you know a lot about me dear, but you do not."
"I know more than you think. I-I mean, from what I have heard." I stuttered, trying to save myself.
"Prove it then." He glared at me, taking a sip.
"You've sacked Nassau Port without even firing a single shot, you vanished from under the eyes of seven agents of the East India Trading Company, and your father is Captain Edward Teague. Although two of those are just mere stories you made up to appear more courageous. Need I go on?"
His eyes widened as he sat there, completely in shock. Was that too much? "How do you know about my father. Forget it actually, I'd rather we not talk about him." He seemed aggravated when I brought up his dad. I wonder why. "Ye somehow know of all my miraculous tales of adventures, and yet I know not a thing about you, so spill." He bit on his nails.
"You want to know...about me?" I paused for a moment, thinking if I should tell him where I'm actually from right now, or later. I knew I had to tell him eventually, but I decided later. "You've already met my sisters, Elizabeth Swann and Jasmine Swann, and I'm Ashlyn Swann, so there's nothing else to tell of, really."
"I require apprehending more than yer name an pretty face if you'd like to sail aboard MY ship. There must be a reason to how ya knew what I was going to say at the jail in Port Royal and this morning in Tortuga. Ah! You shall tell me the tale of how Mr. Cotton got his tongue cut out." He proudly reminded me. God damn it.
"I don't think there's enough time for the story Captain, we'll be approaching Isla De Muerta shortly." I started to stand before Jack roughly grabbed my hand.
"Not for another half hour luv. We still have plenty o' time. Are you going to finish that?" He pointed to my glass.
"No, I'm afraid not, here you are." I handed it over to him before sitting back down. I reluctantly began telling him the story. "It started when you told both Scarlett and Giselle that you were going to marry them. Of course, you lied since you are a dishonest man, who tells the truth occasionally." I smirked at him as he crossed his arms across his chest, peering into my eyes with amusement. "Both Giselle and Scarlett shortly found out that they were not going to get married to you, and instead they were getting auctioned off and sold to the highest bidder as a bride. The bidders gave out high prices until someone won the pair of them at 700 shillings and 2 goats. Alas, the women thought it was unfair that they were owned by the auctioneer and they did not get any profits for their own. So, Giselle slapped one of the bidders, saying that the auctioneer owned that too. And a fight spread across the saloon. It disastrously ended with the auctioneer that was holding the Pirate's Code getting shot. They locked up the code in a chest, and the man who accidentally shot the auctioneer and the code claimed that anyone who spoke of this event, he'd have their tongue, literally."
Jack chuckled for a while before saying, "Mr. Cotton must have been there, and he must have-"
"Spoke of that and got his tongue cut out, yes! Oh, would you like to know why your small ship sank on the way to Port Royal? Prior to your leave, Scarlett removed some of the nails out of the hull of your boat."
"That answers a great deal. What it does not explain, is how ye come by to have known about this auction and notably how my boat was sinking while sailin' into the docks of Port Royal." Jack questioned.
I got up, walked over to the door and opened it. "Perhaps another time Captain. Right now, you need to focus on how you're going to get your precious Pearl back." I smiled before walking out and closing the door shut.
I strolled out on deck, over to Will and Mr. Gibbs to hear their conversation.
"How is it that Jack came by that compass?" Will asked.
Gibbs took a swig from his flask of rum, "Not a lot's known about Jack Sparrow before he showed up in Tortuga with a mind to go after the treasure of the Isla De Muerta. That was before I met him, back when he was Captain of the Black Pearl."
"He failed to mention that."
"I could have told you that if you wanted." I barged into their conversation, making Will and Mr. Gibbs look up to me.
"Well," Gibbs continued on. "he plays things closer to the vest now. And a hard-learned lesson it was. See three days out on the venture, the first mate comes to him and says everything's an equal share, that should mean the location of the treasure too. So Jack gives up the bearings. That night there was a mutiny. They marooned Jack on an island and left him to die, but not before he'd gone mad with the heat."
"So that's the reason for all the..." Will then did his best impression of Jack, I giggled loudly.
"Reason's got nothing to do with it," Gibbs gave a serious look, stopping my laughter. "Now Ashlyn and Will, when a man is marooned, he is given a pistol with a single shot-one shot. Well, it won't do much good huntin' or to be rescued. But after three weeks of a starvin' belly and thirst, that pistol will start to look real friendly. But Jack, he escaped the island, and he still has that one shot. Oh, but he won't use it, though, save for one man. His mutinous first mate."
"Barbossa." Will and I said in unison.
"Aye."
"How did Jack get off the island?" Will questioned.
"Well, I'll tell ye. He waded out into the shallows and there he waited three days and three nights till all manner of sea creature 'came an acclimated to his presence. And on the fourth morning, he roped himself a couple of sea turtles, lashed 'em together and made a raft."
"He roped a couple of sea turtles?"
"Aye, sea turtles."
"I don't believe that rubbish. Just a rumor, that the Captain came up with himself." I blurted out.
"What did he use for rope?" Will interrogated, but Gibbs didn't have an answer.
I felt an arm crawl around my back and a hand resting on my waist, I twisted my head to see the man we were talking about.
"Human hair...from my back...let go of the anchor!" Jack ordered the crew with his appealing voice, "Young Miss Swann, Mr. Turner and I are to go ashore."
"Capt'n! What if the worst should happen?" Gibbs inquired.
"Keep to the code." Jack glanced at me, and he led us to a dinghy.
"Aye, the code."
