Here's a new, albeit short, chapter because I'll be gone for a few days, enjoy! I'll update when I get back!
Several days passed, and Annabelle and James still had no chance of finishing their conversation from the island, prevented from the tasks of sailing, or the difficulty of finding a more private time and area to discuss it. Annabelle dreaded reliving the incident when she would have to recount it to him, while James was still desperate for answers. She was his only source besides Elizabeth, although he knew it was quite possible she may have told some of the Black Pearl when she had reunited with them. Even then, James didn't trust anyone on that ship enough to rely on what they may have been told, and he certainly didn't hold much hope of getting to Elizabeth.
Neither had they devised a plan for alternate passage to Port Royal. James was furious at the deceit against Annabelle and Elizabeth, let alone Beckett's nerve to have carried out the deed. Within a matter of days this need to protect and watch over Annabelle had become very strong with Norrington. He also felt a need to be beside her, but whether for comfort and security, or for another reason, he wasn't sure. So many feelings had begun to overwhelm him, and he didn't know where to start on sorting them out or how to control them.
Annabelle's shock over James's living had just begun to dissipate. She was overjoyed and terrified at the same time. She was terrified because she feared something else happening to him, as well as whether he would ever return her feelings-if he ever remembered her vow to him as he lay dying. She cared for him deeply, but James was a hard man to decipher. He covered up his feelings well, but she knew there was a way to find that soft spot. She was determined to find it unless she became aware of signals that discouraged it.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Annabelle was double-checking ropes, redoing knots Gibbs and Marty had shown her. She could overhear Jack and Barbossa but pretended not to hear. It was apparent they were not aware of her nearby presence, or of the fact that they were not whispering as softly as they hoped.
"I'm afraid you're mistaken, Barbossa. If we continue north, we shall miss the easiest way to reach our destination," Jack mocked.
"And I'm afraid you are not aware of the storms that may hit us if we continue northwest. They will be strong enough to throw us off course," Barbossa retorted just as easily.
"And if we are thrown off course, wouldn't that most likely push us north?"
There was silence between the two "captains". It was interrupted with one of the crewmen's shouts, which prompted both of them to respond to their title being called.
"Captain! Sails ahead!"
Others on deck, including Annabelle, watched on as the two looked in the pointed direction through their telescopes.
Both men were in harmony with their instruments and in spotting the vessel. It was a large ship with three masts and white sails. It was too far for them to see anything else to help them determine if they were friend or foe. Considering their situation, it was most likely foe. Annabelle was so focused on following orders that had she looked, she would have recognized the ship coming after them, though it wasn't flying its flag.
Barbossa beat Jack in closing his telescope and shouting orders. "Keep sailing true! Keep weather eyes open for possible attack!"
Jack stepped forward. "Hoist the sails! Be prepared to fight!"
Everyone assumed their positions while keeping to their tasks. Their foe didn't need to know they had already been spotted.
As fast as the Black Pearl was, the other ship caught up to them, and orders were shouted for preparation of being boarded or attacked. Annabelle's heart skipped several beats when the other ship aimed at them. Her heart pounded when she saw a familiar face on the top deck.
"Jack Sparrow!" Lord Clayton hollered. Both ships grew so silent that only slightly raised voices were sufficient in both men being heard.
"Captain. Captain Jack Sparrow!"
"Well, Captain, Captain Jack Sparrow. I have a proposition for you, and if you fail to at least listen I will have no choice but to open fire upon your ship."
Jack's eyes moved about in uncertainty. He certainly didn't want any holes blown in his ship, and curiosity and distrust lurked in the air. He quickly noticed the ship was more heavily armed than the Black Pearl. It probably wouldn't hurt to hear what this man had to say. Perhaps he could bargain with him. It had certainly been easy with Beckett. How hard could it be with another naïve, British lord?
"Very well, then," he waved his arm. "I agree to your request."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Jack glanced around Lord Clayton's quarters aboard the Intrepid. From the man's possessions and decorations, Jack surmised that the man was as extravagant and arrogant as Beckett was, but more subtle and conniving. His negotiations with this Clayton would prove true.
"So, to what do I owe this great honor, Lord Clayton?" his voice was slightly laced with mockery.
Clayton was standing at the side of his writing desk. "Something was stolen from my office the night you disappeared. I would be most gracious to have it returned to me."
"And what would you have need for something that belongs to me?" Jack asked smoothly, obviously feeling unthreatened.
Clayton proceeded to take slow steps around the office. "I am under obligations of his Majesty to retrieve it. And might I remind you that you will dig yourself a deeper hole with the East India Trading Company should you fail to do so."
"I would return it to you, however it is not in my possession because I did not steal it." Clayton eyed him, as Jack had wanted. "It appears that Miss Bennington is responsible for its disappearance, and now it is in the hands of my first mate."
Jack watched Clayton's demeanor change from curiousity to surprise. The changes were subtle, but Jack had a knack for noticing even the slightest changes. As he continued to watch the man's face, he perceived something else he could use for bait against him.
"May I ask though, how you found us?" Jack made sure his voice didn't hold an ounce of guilt. He was already fiddling with various knick-knacks around the room.
A hint of a crooked smile surfaced on Clayton's face. "I happened to know how valuable that map is to you. The more I studied it, and copied it for myself, I came to know why." He waited for this to sink in before he continued. He took a few steps toward Jack and stood erect. Had he been a rag, Jack would have been able to wring the arrogance out of him. "It didn't take long for me to realize your purpose, and when I set sail, I plotted my own course toward your destination. I knew it was only a matter of time until we caught up with you."
Jack gave him a fake smile. "Congratulations, but what is this proposition that you're so anxious to bestow?"
A sly look came over the other man's face as he walked over to a table and poured two small glasses of a dark liquor. "Your destination may prove to be an invaluable source for his Majesty's government; therefore you will take us along on your course. As we speak, some of my men have boarded your ship, and I can assure you yours are vastly outnumbered and outweighed. Should you fail to follow orders, you and your men will be given an appointment with the gallows; instant death will occur should your men try anything against mine onboard your ship. If you follow orders and your part of the bargain, however, I will grant you and your men clemency."
Jack eyed him, not satisfied with the vague statement. "What kind of mercy does that entail?"
"That all depends on how well you follow orders and your share of our agreement."
Jack took his glass from Clayton's grip and held it up. "Then I request that my mercy is to be guaranteed my freedom immediately after I carry out said agreement."
Clayton knew what he meant. He was smart, but he also realized Jack had only asked for his own freedom. Clayton was willing to grant him that, because he couldn't guarantee on anyone else's behalf should Jack run into them. This plan he had devised was too good for him to throw away for one ounce of mercy. And there was always a loophole to be found in such arrangements.
Jack inhaled his drink in one gulp and clinked the glass down on the table.
Jack hadn't given his word yet, so Clayton jumped in with his last measure. "Very well, but for reassurance and collateral purposes, I request two of your crewmembers be brought onboard. One of them is your choice, but the other must be Miss Bennington."
"Miss Bennington? What is she to you?" Jack leered. He wasn't concerned about her, but curious.
"What possible use is she to you? She seems of no value to you. I would think you would be grateful for me to take her off your hands for a while."
Jack was wary, but he also knew that if Clayton had any use for her, it was likely for something he couldn't take care of until after they had all reached their destination. Not to mention that Annabelle was more troublesome than Elizabeth was, although Annabelle wasn't as vocal.
An idea hit Jack upon remembering Elizabeth. When Annabelle had released him in Port Royal, she had mentioned getting to Elizabeth so they could claim what was rightfully theirs. Whatever it was, Clayton would undoubtedly try to stand in their way. From the little Annabelle had said, Jack trusted his instinct. Clayton was already enthralled with his new adventure. He doubted the man would occupy himself with her trivial matter until afterward.
If Clayton was happy to take Annabelle off his hands for a while, however, Jack had the perfect choice of who the other prisoner could be. It could turn into a win-win situation for Jack, for now. What Clayton didn't know about Jack yet was that he was very capable of finding holes in the bargain that he could get around if needed. In Jack's mind, he certainly had the upper hand in this agreement.
"So then we all embark on this happy voyage, my men and I keep the map and navigate the course, you get two prisoners for your own reassurance-as well as for collateral-and once we reach our said destination, I am guaranteed my freedom, and everyone is happy."
Clayton raised his chin. "Those appear to be the terms we have reached."
Just as Clayton raised his glass to his lips, Jack swiped it and raised it, surprise on the other man's face.
"Then we have an accord," the pirate captain said before tipping the glass and swallowing the liquor in one gulp.
