Chapter 10: Three Strikes
For a long while I stood there watching Jack staring at both of the ships before my feet finally gave up holding me up and I flopped on the sand taking off my boots and unwrapping my feet to inspect the damage I had caused them that day. "Bleeding again and thoroughly sore." I thought thankful that there was a light breeze blowing before I wrapped them up again with some of the cushioning bandages I had used and glanced up observing Jack still studying the ships his eyes still hard. Jack turned suddenly startling me as his gaze fell on me and I covered my eyes studying him for a moment seeing a twinkle in his eyes I long ago thought was lost. "He's back!" I thought allowing a smile on my face seeing his attention was now on my feet and was giving me a reproachful look. I sighed knowing eventually I would hear it especially now that I clearly was in more pain then needed and observed Jack walk slowly over and sit down in front of me.
"Ye were very stupid love…ye made the healing process much longer." Jack stated softly ignoring the wind whipping around us and watching as I crossed my legs Indian style and leaned forward.
"Yeah…kind of figured that one out on my own…and you were the stupid one thank you." I stated sarcastically before catching both of his wrists aimed for mine. "Why did you stop?" I asked placing his hands carefully on my knees and caressing them softly seeing him quirk his brow in thought.
"Because…I have no idea." Jack said sounding distant before tilting his head curiously observing my hands as I played with one of his rings. "I think I may have lost myself if I did." He finally said surprising himself with his own honesty, since opening up to someone was not what he liked doing no matter whom. "Don't ever change Jack." He thought remembering my comment from earlier and smiling faintly as I paused and met his eyes studying them intently for a minute.
"You didn't want to change…I'm glad you didn't" I said softly untangling my legs and turning around leaning in his lap to study the clouds overhead glancing up as his face come into view with a smirk I had missed often enough. "Hmm?"
"Ye be stuck with me as I am love…that cannot be overly thrilling to Lizzie." Jack murmured allowing a chuckle as I gave him a dirty look for using 'Lizzie'. "She is probably going to eventually kill me anyway because we're heading back to Tia Dalma for a bit more information." He said softly watching as my eyes widened realizing Elizabeth would probably beat me as well as Jack.
"Elizabeth will kill me too…for letting you get the bloody thought in your head to begin with." I grumbled toying with the pendent around my neck curiously watching as Jack gently took the pendent in his fingers unclasping it from my neck to study it more closely. "It has runes of the elements engraved on the back in a strange pattern…I think it's a power pattern if I remember right…Tia didn't mention it had any tricks up its sleeve." I mumbled noting his gaze studying the pendent carefully before he leaned over to face me.
"Do ye think this had something to do with my sword floating?" Jack questioned a look between curious and nervous on his face as he placed it back around my neck and fastened it again. "That was to say the least very interesting." He said watching as I gave him one of my thoughtful looks.
"I don't really know Jack…Tia Dalma was cryptic as usual." I muttered smiling as he sighed miserably and glanced up at the sky a 'typical Tia' look on his face, before he leaned back lifting me into his lap watching as I turned to glance at him giggling as something flew overhead startling us both. "Cottons parrot." I stated curiously studying the bird while it flew back overhead with a squawk. "Apparently the crew is signaling all is well for the moment." I thought seeing Jack smile satisfied all seemed well for the time being.
We sat there for a good hour or so before I fell backwards into the sand with a startled sound glancing up seeing Jack had stood with a highly amused look on his face. "Very funny." I thought wryly before I managed to sit up and glare up at him. I tried an attempt to stand but by then my feet were to sore and all I seemed to do was slip back down on my knees after several attempts, before Jack leaned down lifting me to my feet and then I was in his arms bridal style being carried back across toward town. I was surprised to see a carriage was waiting for us and glanced over recognizing Elizabeth's personal driver before Jack lifted me in and joined me on the ride back to the manor. After a slow bumpy ride the sky had turned to a late dusk color and we arrived at the mansion doorway long enough to be escorted into the house and up to our room, where Jack placed me on the bed and turned to see Elizabeth enter the room looking frazzled to say the least.
"You're both late…I was getting worried." Elizabeth stated in a huff before noticing my less then desirable attire and widening her eyes. "You mean you both just come back from the beach?" she asked a 'why me' look on her face as she glanced up at the ceiling rolling her eyes. "I guess I will have to get you presentable then…Jack please attempt to be nice tonight, Norrington and some town officials are here for dinner discussing today's events and I would rather you not give them a reason to hang you." She murmured softly watching as Jack gave her a dirty look before a curt nod was received. "Shoo." She muttered chasing Jack into the hall where he ran into Will who looked relieved to see him.
"It wasn't really necessary to chase him away Elizabeth…it's not like he hasn't seen what I have to offer." I murmured giggling as she flushed scarlet giving me a most evil look. "Truce!" I cried ducking her hand that was aimed for my shoulder, before I stood and fell back down onto the bed with a groan of pain.
"This may be a bit more difficult then I thought." Elizabeth muttered sighing miserably before she disappeared over beside my trunk and lifted out a nice mint green dress with lacey sleeves and corset. "I will have to re-bandage your wounds on your feet again." She said sighing as I nodded striping out of my more comfortable clothing and timing myself to Elizabeth's movements managing to somehow again find myself with barely enough air to breathe and the dress neatly draped around me it's silky fabric cool against my skin.
After about an hour I was ready or so Elizabeth thought I was as she finished wrapping my feet and stood back to admire her handy work with dress and my hair piled neatly on my head. "I hate this century." I thought wrinkling my nose in disgust at the proper dress I was wearing and giving her a sour look. I was then left to my own amusement while Elizabeth tracked down Will and left Jack to enter the room looking as agitated as I felt. I heard the door shut with a little more force then usual and glanced up my eyes widening in surprise or horror take your pick. "Oh hell…that is not right." I thought seeing his eyes narrow at me suspiciously before I covered my face hiding the amused expression I knew would eventually come after the shock. Elizabeth had finally conceived a scheme that got Jack in a well tailored and highly ruffled suit that I vaguely remembered him throwing out the window at one occasion or another. I didn't know how Elizabeth and Will finally managed this turn of events, but to say the least it wasn't a pretty sight to see Jack dressed in something Will would wear and what was worse his expression was so sour it was very amusing, which made me trying not to laugh extremely difficult.
"How?" I managed from behind my hands trying desperately to restrain my laughter as Jack carefully walked into the room and sat down on the bed beside me. I turned to face him and bit my lip to restrain the giggle itching to escape.
"Dear William and Elizabeth had a mob of gentlemen waiting in one of the rooms down the hall……that's how." Jack stated with a scowl before snorting at the outfit he was wearing and thinking of a way to rip it to pieces. "They hid my clothes, to keep me in this monkey suit." He grumbled glaring around the room wishing he had a bottle of rum handy.
"Oh." I managed before finding his look too much and letting a giggle escape covering my mouth in surprise as Jack turned narrowing his eyes at me. "Oops." I thought tilting my head thoughtfully to the side. "Sorry…it's just the look on your face, your expressions always tend to amuse me one way or another." I said giggling again as he gave me a dark look and allowed a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Um…that look is never a good thing." I thought laughing hysterically as he tackled me to the bed and poked at my sides glancing down an amused expression on his face. "Evil." I grumbled both of us turning as the door opened revealing Elizabeth and Will waiting for us.
"You two…what am I going to do with you?" Elizabeth groaned seeing the two of us on the bed and flushing getting an idea where it may have been headed if they hadn't come to fetch us for dinner. "Come on…immediately." She snapped both Jack and I sitting up exchanging a highly amused look with each other.
"Coming mother." I murmured sarcastically giggling at the evil look she gave me before finding myself being carried from the room in Jacks arms following the others to the dining room where I was placed to my distaste next to Norrington, which put me in the middle of the one I loved and the one that really needed to find someone else to bother. "Did I mention I hate these seating arrangements?" I thought giving Elizabeth a sour look seeing her shrug apologetically clearly not expecting so many officials at dinner as there were.
Dinner was longer then usual and more so boring then I thought possible, I almost resorted to tossing food down at Elizabeth to amuse myself but thought it wasn't the time or place at the moment. After another hour of the conversation revolving around the days less then appealing events I tuned out the conversation and started drawing cute little patterns in the dessert frosting on my plate seeing Jack looked about as thrilled as I did. I turned my attention to the conversation when several of the officials started to belittle all pirates not really paying attention to the pirate in the room, but somehow I sensed that this was a good thing. I wasn't sure if all the town officials knew that Jack and his crew were pirates and had a feeling Norrington was careful not to mention this due to the fact that Jack and the others would be hung as quickly as Grisham and crew. I noted the irritated expression on Jacks face and sighed placing my fork down grasping his hand under the table in an attempt to smooth things over seeing him glance down a brief smile on his face before he narrowed his eyes at an official that said something extremely bad, but I didn't catch it, all I knew was Jack looked ready to run the man through.
"Please excuse us…I need some air." I murmured as an excuse smiling faintly as Jack assisted me from the chair and we both exited into the back gardens. "Under the willow is the last place they will look, I think you need some time away from stuffy British society." I stated dryly hearing a chuckle in response as Jack headed toward a familiar path.
"Stuffy is one way of putting it…I thought about stuffing them." Jack stated irritably the smirk still present on his face as I nodded understanding his point rather easily. "Norrington kept edging them on." He muttered his smirk fading and a dark look crossing his face.
"He is proving he can still get under your skin Jack. James is a stupid, evil, useless…well plainly putting it, he's a jerk." I stated softly spitting out the leaves from the willow as we went under it and giving him a dirty look at his amused expression before I found myself placed on the grass and leaning into his arm against the tree. "He knows exactly how to get to you……and you let him." I mumbled sliding closer into his arm and glancing up seeing he was studying me again. "Why do I always feel like I'm under a microscope with you?" I wondered tilting my head to the side to get a better look at his expression.
"He wants ye…that's how he gets to me." Jack grumbled his eyes widening in surprise as he snapped his mouth shut glancing around as though the world heard some secret. "What has this girl gone and done to me?" he wondered to himself remembering events that had happened recently and sighing thoughtfully. "He can't have ye." He murmured pulling me closer to him and leaning down stealing my lips with his the wind a dull whisper around us.
"I'm yours Jack always and if you want me." I thought as he pulled back settling back down against the tree not another word spoken between us for a long while. We both heard noise and glanced in the direction of the noise seeing a single torch and hearing a familiar pair talking avidly, Elizabeth swearing and ranting about how anti-social the officials were and how they were whole heartedly full of hot air. "Elizabeth sounds thoroughly displeased." I thought allowing an amused grin on my face seeing Jack was listening intently to her ranting before chuckling and tilting his hat over his eyes, which was one of his effects he refused to part with period. I saw the torch go out suddenly and heard a startled yelp followed by a splash finding myself crawling away from Jacks embrace and peeking out from under the willow to observe what had happened. I then saw Elizabeth standing beside a pool of water and glancing down at Will who was now soaked with unlit torch in hand spitting out water.
"What happened?" Jack questioned his eyes hidden under his hat an amused expression on his face. "Lizzie go for a swim?" he questioned as I gave him a dirty look and shook my head.
"Apparently Will found something to force him into an early bath." I stated giggling as Jack moved his hat from his eyes and crawled over beside me glancing out from the willow and chuckling at the sight of a soggy Will who carefully trudge from the water only to stumble back in with another splash. "Go help him out of that will you?" I asked managing to get to my tender feet and slipping from the willow followed by Jack who stayed there a minute to make sure I was good to go and then he briskly walked over startling Elizabeth so much she nearly joined Will, but Jack caught her arm pulling her away from the water and then offered Will a hand.
"Need a hand mate?" Jack asked flashing a familiar gold laced smile and noting Will give him a curious look before accepting offered hand and finding himself on dry steady land for the moment.
"I see the party ended." I murmured watching Elizabeth place hands on hips and give me a worried look before nodding and walking over making me sit on one of the stone benches without giving me a chance to argue. "What was it all about and what's going on?" I asked curiously smiling as Jack sat down behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist leaning on my shoulder waiting for the full story.
"They basically chewed Norrington out for even getting involved in the matter without getting more sufficient back up. They told off Will and myself for getting involved and allowing an injured woman to participate in such a dangerous mission, they stated that it was a good thing the Pearl was in the area and those gentlemen took it upon themselves to get involved…nothing mentioned about said gentlemen involved for obvious reasons. They also basically informed us Grisham and the others would be held for a while until all investigations ceased." Will stated surprising me that he didn't seem to need to breathe through that whole monotone of information he so graciously offered.
"Which give Grisham and friends plenty of time to come up with a plan of escape." Jack stated dangerously low before I gave Will a very evil look and sighed turning to Jack giving him a small smile.
"I doubt they're going anywhere…James has a militia guarding the jailhouse, I gathered that much through the boring speeches of pompous white wigs." I murmured seeing Jack smirk at this before nodding leaning back on my shoulder satisfied with my answer. "James is going to have a shit load of paperwork for this mess." I stated with a gleeful grin receiving a swat from Elizabeth, but she was smiling as well at this turn of events.
"He's also going to have to get used to us being around until Grisham is gone." Jack stated with an amused look on his face making the three of us turn to face him curiously. "I don't plan on going to the puzzled islands or Tia Dalma's until after Grisham is gone." He stated suddenly understanding why I gave him a surprised look and cringing. "Bugger." He thought seeing Elizabeth's expression turn from intently listening to anger and shock.
"Hold it." I begged grasping Elizabeth's arms pleading that she and Jack didn't start another war between each other right away. "I know you don't like her and that this is not wonderful news, but he again needs her help and it would be nice to learn a bit more about this pendant around my neck…Liz…please don't kill him at the moment." I stated softly seeing her eyes narrow suspiciously at Jack before she sighed relaxing her arms and nodding.
"Fine…maybe she can heal those as well." Elizabeth murmured pointing to my still bandaged feet and turning to a shivering Will who appeared to not notice he was shivering at the moment. "You go get something dry on before you catch something." She muttered following her husband to the house shooing him rapidly along the path, while muttering her irritation about the trip to Tia Dalma's all over again.
"Do we need to stop off in Tortuga to get something again for Tia Dalma?" I questioned turning away from Jacks embrace and tilting my head in thought. "Oh…stay away from that girl, I don't want to have to hurt her." I warned with a small smile before Jack thought about my question for a long while and nodded.
"It would probably be wise to take something…I'm not so sure she will be willing to heel ye again though love. I know ye don't like her." Jack stated softly as I glanced at him for a moment and shrugged in response to the statement.
"It's not that I don't like her…she gives me bad vibes, but only a little bit. I just don't entirely trust her…she's way too cryptic and mysterious for her own good." I stated with a nod shifting to the side of the bench to get more comfortable and falling off the back of it hearing a startled grunt followed by a curse. "Anna?" I questioned seeing Anna-Maria had slipped from some bushes and stumbled in her attempt to catch me from falling off only end up under me and my parachute of a dress.
"Yes…min gettin off lass?" Anna-Maria questioned as I accepted Jacks hands and found myself back on the bench turning slower this time to get a look at Anna-Maria who sat up glancing between us thoughtfully. "Grisham and crew be still locked up…I eard they won't be hung righ away?" she questioned her face a mask of confusion and annoyance.
Jack and I explained what was going on with that situation to Anna-Maria and told her she could relay the news to the crew, Jack also informed her of our current stay in Port Royal until after Grisham and crew were cold and dead. I watched Anna-Maria nod in response to this and orders from Jack to keep the ship ready to go at a moments notice before she disappeared back the way she had come.
Jack sat there for a long while with a thoughtful look on his face before I waved my hand in his face getting his attention as quickly as possible seeing him jump briefly before smirking. I stood carefully finding my feet were still tender, but I refused to be carried all over the place constantly and took Jacks hand the both of us making our way slowly back to the mansion and inside where we were greeted by several of the house servants before making our way back to our room. I sat there on the bed for a long time thinking about the days events and what else could go wrong when I was interestingly pulled from my thoughts by Jack who unlaced the back of my dress allowing me to again breathe normally. "Interestingly enough Elizabeth will probably kill us in the morning." I thought amused at the idea of again torturing the couple aware of Jacks hand slowly trailing across my back.
Morning always seems to come too soon around Port Royal or any other place for my liking and this morning was no different especially when both Jack and myself untangled ourselves from one another hearing a very demanding knock on the door and glaring at the thing both of us looking annoyed. The knocking was as always persistent and could only be one person in the entire house that annoying, which meant Elizabeth either had something important to tell us, or wanted to drag me away to do something in what she would deem fun, mainly shopping. "Ick…I knew being in Port Royal would eventually get me into another of her shopping obsessions." I thought rolling over and pulling a pillow over my head to drown out the persistent rapping. Elizabeth knew I wouldn't be cooperative and knew shopping with my feet the way they were was out of the question, which against my better judgment got my curiosity up and I again dragged myself from the pillow cave and sat up noting Jack had thoroughly buried himself in the bed and was murmuring several annoyed curses.
"What!" I grumbled grouchy and miserable in every aspect of being woken up at whatever evil hour of the morning she had chosen.
"I need to talk with you…are you two decent?" Elizabeth snapped from the other side of the door annoyed with how long it took her to get a response.
"No…not going to be unless you give me a good reason as to why I have to move." I called from the bed hearing a muffled amused sound from under the cave of blankets and pillows Jack had buried himself in. "You evil morning person." I muttered blowing my hair from my face and waiting for a response.
"Just get decent." Elizabeth snapped in response from the hall and rubbing her sore hands thoughtfully.
"No." I whined irritably startled when the door flew open and she marched into the room shutting the door violently behind her. "Ok, ok, getting decent." I muttered seeing a dangerous look in her eyes as I slid from the bed and into a robe making myself as decent as possible seeing Jack had finally dragged himself from under the blankets and was staring at her with a scowl on his face. "Now why the pounding?"
"It appears that James was ordered to have us present as witnesses to Grisham's execution along with the rest of them, since technically we were all involved in the capture yesterday. I have to get you around and wearing something…
"No." I stated plainly before sitting back on the bed aware my feet were still very tender from yesterday's stupidity. "I won't go." I stated shaking my head and glancing back at Jack who nodded apparently catching the drift a lot faster then Elizabeth was.
"You must…James was ordered to have us all down there by ten sharp, it's nearly nine now." Elizabeth said softly as I again shook my head and laced my fingers through my hair trying to remain calm when explaining things, instead of hysterical which was how I was feeling at the thought of watching several people hang at once.
"I don't care if the bloody King of England ordered me down there…I refuse to watch a bunch of people dangling by a rope until they are dead. I don't do death well as it is and that will not help me in the least bit. As I remember you're not exactly thrilled with the idea." I pointed out smiling as Jack pulled me close wrapping his arms around me protectively. "I can't watch them die…I just can't." I said lowering my gaze from hers and studying the pale teal colored dress she was wearing and finding myself drawn to the necklace around her neck which was silver with a single blue gem in the middle, which reminded me of one I had at home someplace long forgotten.
"I see." Elizabeth said finally getting the point and nodding in response. "Very well then…Jack has to go though." She said softly as I nodded glancing up at her and smiling watching her walk over to pull out a dress for me to see them off in and smile in return. "Come on." She murmured as I left the bed and followed her behind the dressing blind only to emerge later in a cobalt blue dress with a lacey trim.
I stood there as Elizabeth exited the room and found my way back over to the bed perching on the side hearing Jack shuffling around getting ready and thinking about what was going to happen that morning. "Wait a minute, if Jack has to go and is present Grisham will blow the whistle on him and the others and Norrington won't be able to do anything to stop it. The officials have taken matters into their own hands and Norrington's are now tied. Jack could be in a lot of trouble down there at the gallows today…in more ways then one." I thought watching as Jack started to leave after kissing me softly, startled when I latched onto his arm and sighed miserably.
I stood without a word and shook my head as he started to question me and followed him down the stairs pausing beside the carriage where Elizabeth, Will, Governor Swann, and Norrington were waiting. I waved it off as Elizabeth started to question my actions and climb into the carriage beside Jack glancing out the window all the way to the very crowded square where voices were ringing violently and loudly. "I don't like this." I thought stepping out beside Jack and keeping my eyes straight ahead to the place where we were to be present during the execution. It was the scene from the first movie all over again minus Jack being the one getting ready to be hung and in this case no one would be coming to rescue Grisham and company. I leaned against Jack looking away from the people in front of me I knew would be hanging shortly and concentrated on listening to the voices in case Jack got noticed.
"Love…why did ye come, ye didn't want to be here and still don't." Jack questioned thoughtfully which forced me to glance up meeting his brown gaze thoughtfully.
"I didn't want someone to holler out your identity and get you and all the others hung with them." I murmured softly seeing him smile faintly at my concern before allowing me to turn away from the others hearing the gate drop and a cheer from the crowd. "It's nothing to cheer about, no matter how evil they were…their deaths are still a sad event." I thought knowing that they weren't always pirates, but had been driven to it at some point for one reason or another. "Can we leave now?" I questioned glancing carefully from the gallows and seeing Elizabeth and Will nod in response.
Soon I found myself being gently led down the stairs to the awaiting carriage, but to my surprise Elizabeth sent them on their way taking Will's hand in her own and motioning for Jack to follow her down one of the many now familiar roads of Port Royal and to my surprise directly to Mr. Browns' Black smith shop, where Will opened the door allowing us all entrance seeing as usual Mr. Brown was out cold bottle in hand. I smiled at the familiarity of the place and stifled an amused giggle at Jacks less then pleasant look and saw Will walk over with Elizabeth following and to my surprise the couple started to practice sword play apparently leaving Jack and myself to our own amusement. "They're trying to cheer me up." I thought with a small smile seeing Elizabeth blow a strand of hair from her face concentrating on fighting and not falling over her skirts. Jack amused himself watching the display for a few minute before pulling out one of the still many dangling swords around the room and handing it to me a smirk clearly present in his face.
"Like hell…my feet still hurt." I murmured crossing my arms refusing the sword he still had in hand. "Besides…you'll beat me, you've had far more practice and experience." I pointed out giggling when Elizabeth managed to use one of Will's own moves on him seeing him give her a sour look before allowing the faintest of amused smiles. "I also can't breathe overly well thank you Jack." I stated my attention drawn back to him seeing he wasn't about to let me talk my way out of it.
"Ye seemed to do rather well yesterday sore feet and all…and I think ye could use some relief from your obviously less then pleasant thoughts as it were." Jack stated softly as I gave him an evil look and shook my head stubbornly. "Then again I could be wrong, yesterday may have been a fluke." He stated quirking his brows with a smug smirk seeing I greatly disliked his reverse psychology and was slightly annoyed at the moment.
"You know…you're evil." I grumbled softly seeing his smirk broaden at the comment before I sighed miserably and accepted the sword from his hand getting a feel for the blade. "He's going to kick my ass." I thought blowing my hair away from my face as I let it loose and glanced over seeing Elizabeth was clearly amused by Jacks actions.
To his credit Jack was easily parrying me blow for blow and as usual my less then graceful movements found me flat on the ground several times with Jack glancing down amused. I would seem to get ahead and find myself easily out maneuvered again noting the sounds of Elizabeth and Will's fighting had ceased to watch the two of us amusing ourselves with one another's sword skills, in my case severely lacking. "Jack play fair damn it." I thought amused because he was clearly far better at fighting then I was, but he was toying with me in the process which was slightly agitating to say the least. I observed one of his more interesting moves and memorized the footing in the process before moving away from several of his blows smiling faintly turning the move against him seeing him jump back a startled look on his face. "I always knew learning from watching could come in handy." I thought allowing a faint smug smile on my face seeing his eyes follow me cautiously clearly amused by my trickery. It didn't last long though because he quickly overtook me again sending my sword again to the ground and placed his away continuing his smart ass behavior with a bow and chuckle of amusement.
"I told you so." I muttered leaning down and putting the sword back where Jack had pulled it from sighing faintly sensing my feet throbbing painfully again as I remembered the injuries.
"Ye were right about me beating ye love, but I didn't expect you to watch me and turn one of me own tricks against me." Jack stated seeing I was having trouble standing again and nodding toward Elizabeth who offered me one of the few chairs in the room, which I flopped in easily enough. "I'll have to remember that…teaching ye a few tricks might be good for both our benefit, clearly you're a fast learner." He murmured softly as I smiled shrugging thoughtfully seeing Will and Elizabeth were again practicing sword fighting to entertain themselves.
"He leans a lot to his right, Elizabeth tends to go more left." I noted observing the sword fight and picking up some moves that I may use for a later reference. "Fighting in a dress though….is the last thing on my list." I murmured leaning back trying to breathe better feeling Jacks hands gently resting on my shoulders.
"He switches quickly though if she goes for the opening." Jack stated liking my observations and allowing a small chuckle seeing Elizabeth loose her sword as though proving his point. "Ye would probably fight much easier without the dress too." He murmured as I glanced up seeing his smirk and shaking my head amused with his reference clearly not being innocent in anyway.
"I think we should head back to the manor." Elizabeth stated after loosing her sword a fourth time and giving Will a dark look. "I would image my father and our less then amusing guests will be having lunch soon. Sadly I think we will have to endure another afternoon and probably evening of hot air and annoying discussions." She stated dryly her face wrinkling into an annoyed look making me giggle.
"Sounds wonderfully pleasant……if ye don't want me to kill any of them, there had better be rum." Jack muttered as I stood wrapping my arm around his waist and smiling as he did the same helping me stay on my feet for the more then likely long walk to the mansion.
"I second that." I said seeing Will hide an amused smile from Elizabeth who was less then amused by the threats. "What? I mean Liz…they're annoying pompous white wigged wind bags. The only two that don't deserve to be shot is your father….and sadly James." I muttered trying to sound aggrieved, but laughing instead at the sour look Jack gave me.
"I wish I could disagree, but you have a wonderful way with words." Elizabeth stated sarcastically, but looked highly amused with my way of putting things into perspective. "Home." She muttered shooing everyone ahead of her waiting for Will to close things up, before waving down a familiar coach and giving me a sheepish look. "I had him come back after a few hours…don't need you collapsing." She muttered as we all climb into the coach and found ourselves headed back to the mansion.
I hated my play on words more then anything right then, especially considering I wasn't far off with the annoying, pompous white wigged wind bags. They were discussing the execution like it was a celebration during lunch and I had found my appetite completely disappear rapidly during the discussion and descriptions of various of the crew slowly strangling, by the time desert had come around I felt sick and could have sworn I had watched the execution instead of hiding from it thanks to the less than pleasant imagery I was getting from the conversation. I noticed Jack had seemed to be observing me to make sure I would be alright, Elizabeth and Will were both glaring irritably around the table seeing clearly I was by far from amused, and to my surprise Norrington and Governor Swann tried to change the topic several times, which failed miserably after a few short sentences. I finally couldn't take the topic of discussion anymore and excused myself from the room exiting quickly to the back of the house and walking painfully down to one of the benches near one of the many flowered bushes beside a pond of water with lovely tropical fish swimming about.
"Jack was detained by Elizabeth to discuss some concerns for your well being…are you alright?" questioned Norrington startling me from my concentration on the tropical fish and turning on the bench to see him standing there awkwardly. "Jack will kill him." I thought shrugging and returning my attention to the fish.
"I'm fine…I was rather happy I didn't have to watch them hang, but thanks to those lovely annoyances in the house…I have plenty of imagery I did not want." I muttered still feeling sick at how they were celebrating the deaths and closing my eyes a moment allowing the light wind to ruffle my now hanging down hair, which I refused to place back up for lunch. "Having a vivid imagination can be a bad thing in there." I thought hearing a shuffle beside me and glancing back up at the concerned looking Norrington.
"It is rather distasteful how they're boasting." Norrington stated rather irritably making me raise my brow in surprise at his comment. "Is there anything I can do?" he questioned while I shook my head.
"No thanks." I stated watching as he turned to leave clearly seeing I wasn't in a talking mood. "James?"
"Yes?" Norrington questioned turning to give me a quizzical look.
"Don't pretend you aren't like them…you boasted about pirates' deaths before." I stated point blank. "I do want to thank you for not enjoying it this round though…it increased what little respect I may have for you." I said softly seeing Jack was headed toward us clearly a suspicious look on his face.
"Indeed." Norrington stated dryly immediately marching off toward the mansion exchanging dark looks with Jack before continuing on.
"What was that all about?" Jack questioned seeing I was still not in a great mood and looked a bit ill.
"He abused 'Indeed' again, and didn't like the truth pointed out to him. He's annoyed with me yet again." I stated smiling as Jack sat down beside me and chuckled amused I had again ruined Norrington's day.
"Good." Jack stated allowing me to lean back into his arms. "We will be leaving tomorrow early enough so ye and Elizabeth don't have to wear those dresses neither of ye are fond of. Gibbs come to the mansion for a visit and was very pleased with the news." He said relaxing his arms around me and watching as I glanced up.
"He was happy…until you mentioned our next two stops. I'm sure the first one made him ecstatic and then you mentioned 'up river' was next and he probably turned white." I said giggling when he nodded a 'he did' look clearly on his face. "Poor Gibbs." I murmured with a smile laughing when Cotton's parrot came from nowhere and startled Jack as it landed on my knee which I had eased up on the bench. "Letting you know they're ready to go?" I questioned seeing him scowl at the bird before nodding.
"Bloody thing." Jack muttered giving the parrot a dark look before it flew off into the sky again leaving us to ponder the day's events. "Good news?" he questioned as I turned hearing the sound of approaching feet spotting Elizabeth and Will who both looked very exasperated and annoyed.
"Yes…the pompous white wigged wind bags won't be back this evening." Elizabeth stated relieved before she flopped on the ground beside the bench and leaned into Will who joined her. "Father was greatly displeased with the conversation for obvious reasons." She said her eyes studying me for a long while before I smiled.
"Good…I didn't find the imagery overly pleasing either." I said sarcastically before I wrapped Jacks arms around me tight and snuggled closer watching the afternoon sun starting to set. "I can't wait to get out of here and back on the water." I said softly already knowing there was a grin on Jacks face from the comment.
"Do you think we can avoid confrontation and more of your previous friends this time Jack?" Elizabeth asked sarcastically before glancing up at Will who had a look of 'here comes trouble' on his face.
"It's not always my fault Lizzie." Jack stated crossly before I sighed already seeing where this was going.
"Oh goodie…round one-hundred million?" I thought sitting up and pulling away from Jack seeing Elizabeth had already stood ready for the confrontation leaving Will on the ground laying back staring up at the sky and me glancing back and forth as the two started again to scream at each other. Will finally sat up watching the match between the two and glanced over at me seeing I was ignoring the match observing the fish swimming in the water again. To my surprise Will moved over near the pond and slid his hand in splashing the water up into my face making me start before I wiped off my face narrowing my eyes at him seeing he was amused by my reaction. "Cute Will…really cute." I thought wryly before sliding to the ground giving him an evil look and splashing him back. Then the two of us watched the fish in the pond for a long while hearing the screaming match slowly start to die down and both glanced over seeing each person breathing heavily clearly neither one was amused in the least bit.
"You two done now?" I asked seeing both narrow their eyes in our direction before Elizabeth sighed placing her hands on her hips in annoyance and nodding in surrender. "Good…because the Governor might send a search party, you two have been at it long enough for dinner to be about an hour away." I stated brushing off my hands as I stood, seeing Will glance between the two thoughtfully.
"Oh dear." Elizabeth muttered glancing toward the house and marching off as we watched Will run after her.
"Ye really know how to annoy." Jack stated dryly before I shrugged walking ahead of him hearing him follow after muttering 'bloody women' under his breath and other curses all the way to the house.
Crash
"Ow." I thought realizing I had rolled rather violently from the bed and glancing up from the floor I found Elizabeth glancing down at me arms crossed with an amused expression on her face. "Right…leaving." I thought sitting up seeing Jack was already around and collecting our things that would need to leave with us. I would have been happy to leave the annoying and ridiculous dresses behind, but knew it was out of the question. I slowly stood up cursing as Elizabeth less then politely shoved my clothing in my face and shooed me night dress and robe draped over my shoulders behind the changing blind.
While I was dressing she observed our things being removed from the room and smiled as I emerged looking like I was about to kill someone, but without a word she dragged me to the doorway where I limped half hazardly into the hall finding myself being shooed down the stairs where we said our rather speedy good byes and found myself basically being rudely shoved into a carriage that would take us to the docks. I was so happy to be back on the Black Pearl I forgot to kill Elizabeth for yanking me from bed and waved to all the familiar faces before making my way to Jacks cabin and flopping on the bed falling back to sleep.
--On Deck--
The crew were already to leave and after a quick barrage of orders from Jack the deck was alive with action, everyone clearly as anxious to get out of Port Royal as the rest of us and soon the Pearl was on the open water, wind in her sails heading to our first stop in Tortuga. Elizabeth and Will were too distracted with the work on the ship to really confront Jack about heading to Tia Dalma's again and the rest of the crew were just glad to be far away from land and on their way to a more appealing place for them. Jack was observing things across the ship, before it dawned on him Brandi was nowhere in sight and he glanced at Gibbs quizzically watching as he leaned on the railing thoughtfully noting Jacks curious look.
"She be in yer cabin sleepin." Gibbs stated before taking a sip of rum from his flask and glancing around the active deck hearing a familiar pirate shanty ringing out from the crew and hearing Jack murmur the song under his breathe before nodding in response to Gibbs's answer.
"She's had a rough stay." Jack remarked thoughtfully before seeing Elizabeth head up to the crows nest for watch duty and noting Will was helping move things across deck. He found himself amused when Ragetti ran across the deck after a familiar wooden eye and Pintel ran after giving him a lecture in the process. "I think I'll go check on her mate." He stated handing over the helm to a curious Gibbs before Jack slowly swaggered his way down the stairs ducking several things being moved around his path and finding himself pausing outside his cabin door in thought.
Jack slowly opened the cabin door and found her laying across the bed sprawled out in a flop position, hair strewn across the bed in a golden weave and found himself sitting on the edge smirking as she shifted over on reflex and snorted in her sleep. "Why would she want to be mine…she deserves far better." He thought wrinkling his brow in thought glancing down at a familiar disaster of papers, books, scrolls, and other things that had been left around the cabin.
Jack sat in the middle of the mess again and studied the map for a long while finally standing with it and walking over to his desk tracing it over with his finger and reading various things from the documents he had commandeered from the mansion. He heard movement and glanced up seeing the ever present mouse shuffle across the papers on the floor hurriedly before disappearing from sight again and shook his head with an amused smile before finding something not amusing in the documents he had. "Arachnid Caverns…that sounds familiar for some reason…hmmm…Oh a spider infested cavern." He thought sourly remembering Brandi's Arachnophobia and glaring at the map thoughtfully for a long time wondering if he could come up with a way around the area or not.
--Original POV--
"Jack?" I questioned groggily as I rolled over hearing muttered swearing and glancing at his desk smiling as his attention was drawn from whatever annoyed him. "Morning…I should say afternoon. What's wrong?" I asked sitting up and glancing down at my newly bandaged feet remembering Elizabeth murmuring something about Tia Dalma fixing them earlier that morning.
"Just a few less then appealing places on the Puzzle Islands." Jack murmured thoughtfully watching as I stood and slowly hobbled my way over to the desk sitting on the edge and glancing down at where his finger was on the map. "Arachnid Caverns." I read silently still too tired to process things right away. "That's not so…oh right, spiders." I murmured shuddering at the word and glancing up hearing a knock on the cabin door.
"Go away." Jack remarked knowing by the sound it wasn't Elizabeth. "I'm busy and Brandi's sleeping." He called hearing a muffled curse from someone I could only assume was Gibbs and returning his attention to the map at hand.
"Devils Pass, Octopulus Rivers, and Cat Caverns…these places sound like something from a Discovery Channel special." I thought glancing over the map with Jack jumping as he stood suddenly without warning and started to pace the room carefully maneuvering himself in between the many papers, books, and such across the room. Jack paced for a good half hour before he paused suddenly in the middle of the room aware it was very quiet and turned seeing I was observing the documents on the desk and the map instead of questioning why he was pacing. "She must be thinking…otherwise she would be tearing off me ear right now." He thought a suspicious expression on his face before he walked over studying my expression seeing I was tracing over several more of the names a curious look between frustrated and annoyed on my face.
I heard a shout on deck that indicated Tortuga wasn't far off and watched Jack grasp his coat and mine pointing to the door both of us going out on deck pleasantly being greeted by a slowly turning to twilight sky. I saw Elizabeth slowly making her way from the crows nest and smiled as I received a hug seeing her observing my stance seeing I was getting better at being on my feet but they were still tender.
"Jack said he was going to show you some tricks when you got your feet back under you." Elizabeth stated dryly with an amused expression on her face seeing Will was showing one of the newer crew members a couple of tricks of his own. "I think you might want to pick up some from Will too." She said as I nodded faintly seeing Jack was talking avidly with Gibbs up at the helm discussing our next stop, which I could see clearly made Gibbs very uncomfortable. "I think that's a good idea…I get the feeling I'm going to need those tricks." I thought remembering the places on the puzzle map and cringing.
I watched the crew anxiously gathering around awaiting our evident stop in Tortuga and found myself laughing as Ragetti again ran across the deck after the wooden eye he seemed to loose more often then I could count and heard several of the crew start the party early so to speak by breaking out the rum and to my amusement instruments while we drifted slowly to the ever present familiar island of Tortuga. Elizabeth was already amusing herself by dragging Will across the deck her wild spinning dances making the both of them appear drunk even though they were still very sober.
The rest of the crew remained at their posts while I sat on a crate and watched with fascination at the many different instruments being played and bobbed my head to the music seeing Jack was content at the helm observing the action below a very noticeably smirk evident on his face. "I hate it when he knows more then he lets on." I thought getting the feeling there was more on his mind then just the puzzle map and wondering what else Tia Dalma could possibly do to help us along the way. I watched as we pulled into the docks of Tortuga and the first watch was left on the ship seeing everyone clear out through Tortuga rapidly before my eyes and laughing as several of them easily found a stop off to get rum and company.
"You like this place way too much." Elizabeth muttered dragging Will down the gangplank and off into the busy and loud streets of Tortuga, guns going off and fights run about.
"That's a bad thing?" I asked aloud seeing she was already far from ear shot and shrugging. "I like it here, my kind of town." I said turning and seeing Jack was currently speaking with Anna-Maria before he left the helm in her charge and started toward me across the deck. "Elizabeth doesn't approve of my liking Tortuga." I said seeing him pause in front of me with a curious look on his face.
"I wonder what's wrong with Tortuga in her opinion?" Jack stated allowing a smirk to cross his face clearly already knowing why she disapproved of the place and not caring. "Ye up to a few lessons?" he questioned glancing down at my feet and smiling faintly remembering my complications I had with cushioning my feet and fighting with my boots from earlier.
"Maybe…what do you have in mind?" I asked knowing my feet would probably be protesting my action later, but in the mood for some interesting entertainment at the moment.
"I know a place where I'm sure ye could get in some practice." Jack stated with an amused chuckle as I shrugged nodding I liked the idea. "If you can keep up with these few tricks I'm going to show ye first." He said standing back and drawing his sword waiting for me to do the same, which I did watching as he demonstrated several interesting moves that I for a moment thought I wouldn't get.
"Right…too fast." I muttered observing his move and seeing an all to clear 'oh well' expression on his face and huffing irritably before following his attacks, somehow remembering the moves easily enough and meeting him blow for blow. "Then again maybe not." I thought surprised I had kept up with him and seeing he too seemed slightly surprised and somehow proud at the same time. "I have a few of my own from watching Will and Liz earlier." I thought smiling faintly following through with his rhythm again throwing in the other moves seeing him easily catch them, but pausing afterward with an amused expression on his face.
"Ye trying too hard love." Jack stated returning his sword to his side and glancing around the area thoughtfully seeing they had drawn only some minor attention, nothing overly dangerous. "Come on…I think ye could use a fight." He said leading the way down the roads of Tortuga with arm around my shoulders pausing and sighing as a woman with long raven hair and glittering green eyes instantly recognized him.
"Who's the wench?" hissed the woman adjusting her green skirts and giving me a look of complete contempt.
"Not with him." I murmured ducking Jacks arm and standing back to watch the scene unfold seeing him give me an annoyed look seeing I wasn't going to help him out of this one unless it involved something sharp. "I wouldn't do that." I warned catching her wrist as I noticed something glint and holding her arm steady seeing a dagger in her hand. "You again." I thought realizing it was the same girl from the last time and giving her a very evil look. "I warned you once already…I figured you would back off." I stated taking the dagger from her hand and toying with it allowing a look between amused and evil to cross my face.
"Ye recognized her." Jack said clearly not amused with my actions, but seeing the faint light was catching the dagger in my hand and wondering what I planned on doing with it.
"This is that girl you were here with last time." Stated the woman sounding more annoyed then I thought she could. "What is she…your personal whore?"
"That's not wise." Jack thought seeing the dagger pause in my hands as I placed the tip gently against my finger and glanced up at her with narrowed eyes. "Personal whore…I'm not a whore and thank you very much I'm quite happy with him." I thought moving the dagger quickly without thinking and slicing the dress from skirts to corset, luckily missing any of her skin in the process. I then dropped the dagger at her feet watching her catch her dress quickly before it fell revealing her in her undergarments and smiled faintly.
"Don't mess with me lady, I might surprise you." I thought aware I was becoming more so violent then usual since I had come to the pirate world and allowing the briefest of smiles before grabbing Jacks arm and pulling him away from the rather flustered looking woman. Jack returned his arm around my shoulders without another word and led the way to the Faithful Bride entering with me in tow and ducked several items flying around him as he maneuvered to a back table leaving me there to go get rum.
"I will eventually hurt that woman." I muttered aloud seeing Jack place a rum in front of me a smirk evident on his face before he sat across from me nodding apparently in agreement. "Why do you always attract trouble?" I asked seeing him give me a reproachful look before shrugging.
"Because eh is trouble tha be why." Anna-Maria stated dryly joining us and ignoring the dark look Jack gave her in response. "I tried to tell ye tha lass."
"So you did…I think I love trouble though." I pointed out giggling at the smug look Jack gave Anna-Maria before she rolled her eyes and took a sip of rum.
"Ye do." Anna-Maria stated wryly before leaving the table to amuse herself elsewhere.
"I know I do…not again." I muttered watching as Jacks gaze settled on someone watching us from across the room and I snorted my annoyance giving Jack a very annoyed look. "I don't love trouble anymore." I stated seeing him give me a glance before standing clearly curious to the one watching us. "I swear if that's another person you threatened before…I'm going to threaten you with a dagger and I won't miss." I stated warningly seeing Jacks eyes widen at the threat before giving me a look as though I was joking. "I'm serious Jack Sparrow."
"Captain love." Jack stated with a smirk before he kindly excused himself from the table by standing and returning to the bar without any other comment.
"I'll give you Captain." I thought snapping the hand of one of the many half conscious drunks that attempted a grab at my ass. "Don't make me finish breaking appendages mate." I warned seeing the man cringe at the threat clasping his broken hand and walking quickly from my sight.
--Bar--
"Need another rum." Jack stated to the bar keeper observing the man that had been eyeing their table thoughtfully. He was tall long scraggly graying brown hair and a green eye, the other was white with a scar through it and his clothing was rather well kept considering he was in Tortuga. "Have I threatened ye before mate?" he questioned finally letting his curiosity get the better of him.
"Maybe…who's yer friend?" Asked the man clearly watching as Brandi snapped another mans appendages for reaching to far into her personally space followed by a sharp elbow to the face for going for his sword.
"I need to be careful what I show that woman." Jack thought clearly seeing I was currently in a fowl mood and he would have a very interesting night if anything were to currently go wrong.
"She's not my friend……I think she's me girl." Jack stated curiously wondering when he had last claimed a woman to truly be his girl, something he didn't expect to do even though he had been claiming that for a while now. "Ye mind yer own business mate and explain the maybe part." He warned seeing the man allow a brief smile filled with a few missing teeth and some rather interesting wooden teeth that looked as though a termite had taken residence in his mouth.
"I'm not interested in yer girl or ye for that matter…just what you're after, Jack Sparrow." Said the guy casually before seeing Jacks hand twitch near his sword ready for trouble and anything else.
"Captain." Snapped Jack irritably seeing Brandi stand and swing a chair rather violently into a rather large guys head apparently drawing attention from men who had witnessed her breaking several appendages and seeing there could be trouble in the near future. "What am I after?" he questioned keeping his gaze fixed on her seeing her sit back down glaring at anyone who dared to make another move on her personal space.
"Yer after a globe, that can show ye treasure ye never imagined…according to the legends. I didn't believe the legends until I heard you had come in contact with a specific map and went through hell to get the thing. Sadly the person who informed me of this is now dead……last I heard." He stated finishing his rum and nodding toward a group of maybe four men that appeared a bit stocky and dangerous. "I will call them away if ye kindly tell me where the map is."
"I don't think so mate." Jack stated dryly seeing Elizabeth and Will had just walked into the bar and had taken notice to him and his gaze following the large men.
--Table fight.--
"Damn stupid ass." I hissed grabbing another chair and snapping it over another mans head seeing that there was something going on and Jack was currently studying me from across the room. "Great…I take that look as we're in serious……oh shit!" I yelped ducking as a sword came for my head and hearing a clang, glancing up to see Will standing there eye level with one of the men holding the sword that nearly took my head. "Thanks." I stated seeing Elizabeth was busy with her own pirate and seeing Jack nodding in response that it was a good time to try out my latest lessons.
"You alright?" Elizabeth asked managing to kick her assailant into a beam and force him down with a groan.
"Yeah…no need for me to go loosing my head over the situation." I stated trying to be humorous and receiving an evil look in response. "Right, no more bad jokes." I stated dryly before pulling out my sword and joining the now rather interesting large scale fight around us.
--Back with Jack--
"She's quick." Stated the man sounding interested before ducking a swing from Jacks sword meeting his blade with his own. "Now Jack…all I need is some information and I won't cause ye or yer friends anymore headaches." He said meeting another blow from Jack and sighing irritably.
"Ye be a little late for negotiating mate…yer friend nearly took me girls head." Jack stated with an annoyed look on his face before both swords met several more times with a clang, both pirates moving swiftly in between several other fights in the room coming into our rather interesting mess of a fight.
"Hi Jack." I said with a smile ducking a sword and kneeing the guy in the most sensitive of his assets. "Duck." I stated watching as he caught a blow from the man that had been watching us and rushing over to Elizabeth's aid.
I placed my sword back at my side and took the nearest chair swinging it like a mad woman into three of the men whom had ganged up on Elizabeth hearing a splintering of wood and smiling satisfied as the three collapsed in a stunned heap. "Three strikes you're out." I thought returning my sword rapidly to my hand and using one of the more interesting moves Jack had shown me catching a sword above my head ducking low and taking the guys feet out from under him. Will was on the other side of the room assisting Elizabeth where he could and I was now opposite Jack and the other pirates fight watching carefully to see what would happen and cursing irritably as strong arms lifted me from behind almost making me drop my sword. I glared menacingly ahead at an amused looking pirate approaching us and snapped my head back hearing a crunch and swinging my leg out knocking the other backwards.
"Time to go love." Jack stated startling me from behind and grabbing my arm making a beeline for the exit seeing Elizabeth and Will were already halfway there. "I think we may have company on this adventure yet…again ye were right." He stated wryly before ducking a flying chair and pausing as a bottle shattered in front of us.
"I told you so…duck." I said as another bottle nearly hit us both. "Go!" I hissed as both of us scrambled for the exit following after Will and Elizabeth.
The four of us made it to the street and followed Jack down several different alleys, before pausing to catch our breaths. I gave Will a knowing look and leaned against the wall hearing Elizabeth instantly go into her lecture before rolling my eyes and concentrating on the now dark sky listening to the familiar noise of Tortuga and smiling as a not so amused looking drunk tumbled from a balcony nearly landing on the fighting duo making them pause and glance down.
"Time to go." I thought yanking Jack one way and seeing Will pull Elizabeth the other agreeing to meet back at the Pearl soon. I led Jack down a couple of familiar alleys and ducked into a familiar shop glancing around at the various jewelry, garments, and other goods in the store waving to a graying haired woman with kind brown eyes wearing a red worn dress her hair neatly in an up do of the time.
"Hello again dear…I see ye dragged yer man with ye this time." She said softly as I gave Jack a look of annoyance and nodded sighing. "What can I do for ye this time?" she questioned as I glanced around the shop and pointed Jack to a seat walking behind the counter and into the back to talk with the kind shop keeper, leaving Jack to stare after me in bewilderment.
"Can I do a service in return for you again Hannah?" I asked seeing the woman offer me her kind smile and nod. "I need something to impress our voodoo queen friend again and knew you said you had some things to sort in here that you couldn't reach. I will help and drag him in to help too for the items." I stated as the woman nodded and turned pointing to several boxes of old dresses and linens that needed to be sorted through.
"Ye start there and I'll have something very interesting for ye by the time you're done, you are a very kind young woman…that man be very lucky." Stated Hannah softly before exiting the back room waving for Jack to join me in the back.
"What's going on love?" Jack questioned watching as I grabbed several boxes and dumped them in the middle of the floor eyeing the mess of material thoughtfully.
"This is how I got those necklaces last time…she does trades, if you're really nice and stay on her good side. Give me a hand sorting this mess so we can go to Tia Dalma's and get your information." I muttered tossing a rather interesting antique lace dress into his face and laughing at his startled cough at the dust he received with the garment.
A few hours later and twenty empty boxes Hannah returned to the back room staring around in surprise at the neatly sorted linens folded and ready for tagging and then glanced at the box of the not so good linens that would go out with the trash. Hannah smiled and motioned for us to go back out into the main room where I watched Jack give me a slightly evil look brushing off dust and picking off linen pieces from his clothing watching as I disappeared into the back with Hannah who led me to my surprise to a bunch of rather beautiful and intriguing gowns or rich reds, greens, and other dark colors.
"Pick one of these dresses and a nice necklace to trade with yer voodoo queen. Ye have done a great deal to help me dear and if ye need anymore to trade with yer friend…come back and I'll gladly do it. Ye saved me business from going under and I appreciate yer advice on how to draw in more customers." Said Hannah before I nodded hugging her and watching as the flustered woman returned to wait on another customer who entered the shop.
The main problem I had with finding a dress is I had no idea about Tia Dalma's size let alone if she would take any of these richly decorated dresses and sighed calling to Jack. I explained we had a pick of the dresses and jewelry for trading with Tia but I had no clue her size. Jack kindly pointed out her size in several of the dresses and gave me a curt nod when I gave him a curious look, but decided against asking how he knew.
I had a very good idea how Jack knew and didn't want to think about it, now having more reasons to dislike Tia Dalma then before but knowing too that it wasn't my place to really worry. Jack was clearly not on Tia Dalma's list of friends, they were now more of acquaintances and I finally found a rich emerald green dress I thought she would fancy and noticed Jack glancing over the jewelry thoughtfully eyeing the rings, and slipping a couple on glancing over his shoulder to see if he was free and clear.
"I doubt Hannah would appreciate that Jack." I stated seeing him jump startled by my annoyed voice and smiling innocently. "Back to where you stole them from…and grab that rose quartz pendant that looks like a lily of the valley." I muttered seeing him remove the rings he had taken and give me a sour look before doing as he was told. "Don't look so miserable, I'll make it up to you later on the ship." I said with a smile before I turned toward the exit and waved to Hannah from under the dress which I was carrying carefully in my arms.
Without another word Jack led the way back through the town toward the docks where hopefully everyone would be waiting to head out. I paused snagging Jacks collar and dragging him into a narrow alley cutting off his protest by clamping my hand over his mouth and directing my head in the direction I recognized a few of the men I had rather rudely knocked unconscious with a chair. "Bugger…they're scanning Tortuga for us all." He thought glancing further down the way and seeing the Black Pearl had a few of the familiar men in front of it, but no one dared venture aboard, which I and Jack were both thankful for. I turned around in the narrow alley and observed it for an exit seeing it turned off into another alley and not so kindly dragged Jack with me hearing him mutter under his breathe about 'pushy woman' before I halted at the end and glanced around seeing all was clear, but we were several feet away from the ship and could be easily spotted. I suddenly got a very uncomfortable feeling and felt Jack wrap an arm around my waist pulling me back into the alley seeing I was suddenly pale.