Another chapter where I didn't know where to start. I know I'm trying to get from A to B, but B is very far away and I need to fill their lives with things between here and there. Hope there's enough in here to keep you interested. I think I have a pretty good direction for the next chapter.
Thank you to River, Sleepy Lotus and Scarlet Woman for the reviews. Your feedback is always appreciated.
Disney owns all the things. Just borrowing their characters and their world for a bit of fun.
Chp 10
"I was so exhausted," he said, "I put on one boot and had to lay down for a rest before putting on my other boot."
"I was so tired," she said, "when I was combing my hair, I had to rest my arm between strokes."
"I was laying down to put on my shirt and resting my arms between doing up each button," chimed another voice.
"I had to rest my spoon between bites," added another, "I was living off soup because I was too weak to chew."
Captain Jack Sparrow was laying in bed half awake listening to the chatter and laughter outside his cabin. Most people were already recovering from this flu that was sweeping through Shipwreck Cove, when a cocky Jack Sparrow was finally hit by it.
Unfortunately for Jack, since he didn't have much sympathy for the crew when they were sick, they didn't have much sympathy for him now. But he was too tired to do anything about it. He couldn't even muster up enough energy to yell out his window for them to quiet down. He managed, with some effort, to roll onto his side and pull a pillow over his head.
Pirate bounty was rarely as glamorous as one might imagine. There were almost never treasure chests filled with gold and jewels, not even in this world, full of magic and mermaids. The ship that was commandeered by the Empress was one such non-gold and jewels filled ship.
Rather, it was a cargo ship, like many East India Company ships, that were in the area and pressed into joining Beckett's armada to fight against piracy. Ironic then that this and a few other ships would then be commandeered by pirates. The Empress was the first to return to Shipwreck Cove, successful in securing some bounty for trade.
They could get a good price for the ship itself, though how that sale would go through was yet to be determined. Not many pirates had enough spare cash to purchase a ship outright. It was one of the key reasons they decided to return to shipwreck cove. The brethren may choose to buy it from them whole or if other ships were in need of repair, they could sell it in parts.
The cannons themselves would fetch a pretty penny, though they were not great in number, as this was more of a cargo ship. The sails, which were all in fine condition, should also get a good price. A preliminary inventory of the cargo noted crates of tea, and bolts of silk and cotton. Food stores would be used for provisioning the Empress, though they would likely trade some of the ships biscuit for rice.
Personal effects of the sailors needed to be properly inventoried. Clothing, weapons and other personal effects would be laid out. There should be enough for each of the crew to take something from these piles. If anything was left over, like the cargo, it would be sold and the proceeds split. If there was not enough to go around it would be noted and whoever didn't get something would be given an equivalent cut in cash.
When she was healthy enough to stand for a length of time, she went down to the docks. First to the Pearl to see how everyone was doing. The crew was glad to see her and they traded stories of surviving the flu.
On the Empress the greeting was warm, but as her Chinese was basic, at best and only two were fluent in English it was more difficult to communicate. She spent most of that first day below deck sorting bolts of cloth by colour and type. Whatever order there was when they packed the ship was lost. The room looked like it had been turned upside down with bolts of cloth tumbling in every which direction. Some things were damaged by fire or water, during the commandeering of the ship. Those were set aside to see if they could be salvaged later. When there wasn't enough light to see by she sat in a corner to rest. She found herself waking up just before dawn tucked under a blanket.
She worked with Tai Huang to devise a plan for who they should sell what goods. There was a cotton ban in England, but it was very popular in continental Europe. Calico prints were all the rage. Anything dyed in indigo was also a hot commodity in all of Europe. Blue was such a difficult colour to find there.
She was on ships and in smokey taverns haggling with merchants and captains for the best price. A man's world. She hardly saw any women during this time. Though she was used to working among men, many were not used to her presence.
Catcalls were another thing she had to endure. Mostly harmless request to smile or invitations to bed or marriage proposals. She ignored most of them and went about her business. She was waiting for someone to get up in her face or call her a whore, but it hadn't happened yet.
Someone was kissing his cheek. His eyes flew open to see her startled face lit by the dusky light, outside his window. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," she whispered, "it's getting late, but I thought you'd still be awake." He realized he'd been drooling in his sleep and wiped his face before struggling to sit up. She tsked at him, rearranging the pillows to make him more comfortable.
It was strange to see him like this. His hair unbound, eyes not lined with kohl. He was shirtless. Tanned skin and muscle. Tattoos and scars. She swallowed a sigh and tried not to stare at his bare chest or wonder if he was naked under the sheets.
"I brought you some broth," she said, distracting herself from carnal thoughts, nodding to a lidded mug at his bedside. "It's bitter, but the herbs should help to bring down your fever."
She had her hair braided in one long plait down her back. Her shirt wrapped around her and fastened at the throat and collarbone with Chinese buttons and tied with a bow at her waist. He wondered how much of her outfit would come undone if he pulled the tail of that bow.
The room felt suddenly warm and he was quite sure the cause was the proximity of this girl and not his fever. He didn't realize he had been staring until he saw her blush and look away. "It's late, I should let you rest," she said, getting up.
"No," he said, "I'm sorry. I wasn't expecting you." He reached for her hand and pulled her back to sit on the edge of the bed. "Stay a while," he coughed. "Or I may die of boredom before this flu has a chance to kill me."
"You'll survive it, Jack," she smiled. He loved her smile. Loved that she thought enough of him to come visit. Maybe this illness was making him weak and sentimental.
He hadn't found the time to visit her when she was sick. He could have. But he'd busied himself with repairs on the Pearl and trolling the taverns for drink and song and the company of women. Damn her for making him want to be a better man. "I'm sorry I didn't come to see you," he mumbled.
"It's alright," she said. She didn't need to tell him she waited every day with the hope that he might come by, that she might catch a glimpse of him in the square, or hear his voice in the hallway. She didn't need to see him. She just hoped she might. She made excuses for him when he didn't come, but remained hopeful. Sometimes hope is all you need to keep going.
"I meant to," he said. "I would hear from others that you were holding up. I was just busy with the Pearl..." He was making excuses. He should have made time to see her. Damn her for making him feel badly about.
"Jack," she said, a gentle hand cupping his cheek. She was smiling him, "it's alright." She held his eyes until he nodded. It was her fourth day on the docks. She knew how busy things could be. "I'm glad that we can see each other now," she said. He nodded.
"Tell me how you've been," he said with a sigh. He realized he was still holding her hand. It wasn't the soft hand of a lady. His thumb gently traced each finger, every little scar, cut and callous. These were working hands. He never would have guessed these hands would belong to the girl he pulled out of the water so long ago in Port Royal. He felt a twinge of sadness for these hands.
She was hypnotized by his touch. She lay her other hand on top of his to stop him. "You've probably heard the Empress returned," she said, regaining her faculties, only to have him treat her other hand to the same caress. "The crew voted me a full share," she looked away, taking slow deep breaths to try to stop her heart from racing. His thumb tracing the pattern of her hand, memorizing its contours, a distraction that scrambled her tried brain.
"So I've heard," he said. Getting a full share without being a member of the crew was unheard of and was currently the gossip of the docks. Most took it for what it was, some combination of: respect for King and former captain; repayment for freeing them from the Dutchman; and pity on a young widow who found herself suddenly alone in the world. Not all of the gossip was so respectful. He worried a little about the things she must be hearing. "It was generous of them," he said closing his eyes for a moment to rest.
"It was very generous. I never expected it," she said. "I've been busy trying to earn my piece of it, since I've been strong enough to get out of bed. Helping with inventory and haggling to get the best price for our plunder. It feels good to work."
He nodded, tried to clear his throat but choked on his own spit, which set off a fit of coughing. His face red as he struggled for breath. The sheets slipping down revealing bare hips. She turned away blushing. It was his practice to sleep in all of his clothes when at sea and naked when docked.
He smiled at her discomfort. "If I knew you were coming I might have dressed," he said, laying back exhausted, once he regained his breath. "Or you could join me in my undress," he teased.
"Drink your broth," she said, tucking the sheets back around him and holding the mug to his lips. The docks were full of fit young shirtless pirates toiling in the sun. Pirates who seemed quite comfortable dropping their pants and relieving themselves on the edge of the docks. She was getting used to seeing men's bodies in various states of undress. But this was different and it left her flustered.
"What's the plunder?" he asked, his eyes twinkling. A smile on his lips. "Chests full of gold and jewels?" He laughed, setting off another fit of coughing.
She made him take some more broth when he composed himself. "Tea and cloth mostly," she replied. "The biggest prize is the ship itself. There was some damage, but she's still seaworthy. Too expensive for anyone to buy outright for the price we want, so we're selling off parts. Whatever's left will sold as lumber and become part of the city. I've already talked to Gibbs to see if there's anything the Pearl can use."
His heart swelled with pride to hear her talking like this. "Lizzie, my pretty pirate lass, living off the avails..." he hummed before leaning back and closing his eyes.
"I should let you rest," she yawned, "I'll come back another day." She didn't realize how exhausted she was and made no move to leave. She could probably fall asleep sitting right here on the edge of the bed.
"It's late. You shouldn't be out walking alone after dark," he said after a long pause. His fingers reached out and found the tips of her fingers in the dark.
She rolled her eyes. "Thanks, are you my father now? I think I'll be fine." But still she didn't get up. Their fingertips touching.
"Prove it," he smiled, remembering the time she put him on his back. She smiled and shook her head, stifling another yawn. "It's alright if you stay," he said. He shifted to make room for her and settle himself in to sleep.
It would be so easy to stay. Just kick off her shoes and lay her heavy head next to his. She turned to face him. "People will talk," she said.
"People are already saying you've bedded the crew of the Empress," he said wondering at her reaction to the rumour.
She'd heard something of that. It was a stupid rumour. What crew would vote a full share to a former ships whore? "It's not true," she said. "I've not given myself to anyone but Will," she said hopeful that mention of her husband would kill the mood.
He sat up and cupped her cheek gently, leaning in to draw a kiss from her lips, leaving her breathless. "I beg to differ. If people are talking anyway," he said, "why not give them something to talk about?" Before the shock of his kiss wore off and she regained her faculties, he was passed out snoring.
Does she stay? Does she go? Will things get steamy between these two? You'll have to wait for next chapter to find out! Please follow, favourite and review. I love getting your input.
I've paraphrased 2 songs in this chapter, because if you're not smart enough to write your own sentimental lines you should steal them from love songs. Any guesses?