Chapter 10
"No Maria, you can't be trusted. Do not take me for a fool; I know that you love him. That makes you a liability we can't take chances this pirate must hang" Governor Swan told me while walking into his office and closing the door. Ever since Elizabeth was kidnapped and I went gallivanting across the Caribbean to save her our guards have doubled. There is no way I can get to the hanging without Father's permission. Father, he isn't my real Father and he doesn't know that I met Barbossa who then died. He doesn't even know that I cry my tears for the loss of my Father. He thinks that all my tears are for Jack. It's partly true, but not completely.
If I want to get to the hanging to save Jack then I have to start thinking like Jack. I can act love sick surely enough; I can pretend that I want to go to see if the Cutler will be there. Good thinking. I knock on the door and wait for the 'enter' before I go in. I see my father standing at the window gazing out into the sea.
"Father, I do not love the pirate, I was in love with the freedom but not the pirate. I would like to go to show the people that Elizabeth and I are fine. They look up to us Father and we must come across strong and unbreakable or the people will start to doubt us. I would also like to go so I can spend some time with my future husband, if you would allow it. All I ask is that you consider my request Father, it benefits us all" I told him, I curtsy and then make a move to leave the room. I reach the door but before I can exit he speaks.
"Maria, you are a fine young lady and I love you dearly. You are my daughter even if it is not through blood. I was sick with worry when Elizabeth was kidnapped but when you where in the prison and then you disappeared it got worse. You are my youngest daughter and it is my job to protect you and I failed. Please forgive me my child" He told me while turning round to look at me. I look into his eyes and see the pain and grief at the thought of him failing as a Father. I pull my dress up and run to him, I feel his arms rap around me, a foreign but comforting experience.
"You haven't failed me, you have managed to cope raising two children without a wife, and you deserve another medal" I told him with a laugh.
"I have failed you. I didn't once tell you I loved you; I always put you as second best and I even ignored you. It took me the experience of nearly loosing you, to death or to pirates, for me to realise how much I love and care about you. It shouldn't have taken me that long for me to realise the love I felt for you" He told me as he unwrapped his arms from around me. I smiled up at him, realising that I could now go to the hanging but I felt bad for doing this to him. He had already lost me once and if I helped Jack I would be condemned to a pirate's death.
"Maria, you can go to the hanging but I expect no trouble from you" He told me while sitting back on his chair to start some more work. I guess i'm dismissed; I nod my head in recognition and then curtsy before leaving and making my way to the stair case. The house was still getting patched up after the attack but I can see that the stairs have been cleaned and that the new drapes hung to long across the door but apart from that the house was the same as the one I grew up in. The house always seemed normal to me until I visit the town when I was 9. I saw that the other houses weren't as big or grand as mine and I realised that my 'father' was very important and that I was expected to behave as a perfect lady. Even after the visit to the less well off town I wasn't grateful for my home, only now do I realise how lucky I am. I had to experience the life of a pirate to appreciate the comforts of my own home. I made my way up the stairs and passed Elizabeth's room. I paused at her door but hesitated before knocking. We hadn't talked since the whole experience but I wasn't sure why. I must have offended her somehow. I decided that it was for the best to let her come to me. I don't even know what I had done wrong. I look out of the main window and see the sun hitting the middle of the sky, in a day it would be the time of the hanging. I have some preparing to do.
*Next Morning*
I awake to hear a knocking on my door and Hannah, my hand maid, opening the curtains to let in the glare of the sun.
"Come on Miss, time to start getting you ready" Hannah told me while pulling my covers back from my face.
"I don't want to get up" I complain.
"But Miss it is only 2 hours until you have to be ready for the hanging" She told me while pulling a large dress from my wardrobe along with a corset. It had taken me 18 years to get used to wearing one and after being on the ships for weeks my body had gotten used to be free from the dreaded contraption. Now they were back and seeking revenge on my body.
"Glaring at it won't make me change my mind about making you wear it" Hannah told me with a laugh.
I got up and as soon as I had drunk my morning tea I was shoved into a bath and then poked and prodded at until I was ready for my dress to be put on. It took an hour just to get my corset and underskirts on, and then the dress was thrown over the top. I told Hannah I would do my own hair; I curled it and pinned up so my hat could sit on top nicely. The dress was a lovely peach and green colour that complimented my darkened skin tone perfectly. Since I had been on the ships I had gained a tinted colour on my skin, I liked it. It matched my dark brown eyes and dark hair perfectly. My mother must have had a tan as it seemed to complement me perfectly.
"Are you ready Maria?" Father asked through my door.
"Yes Father I am coming now, you can go before me as I am going to be busy for a while yet as I yet to do my makeup" I told him while beginning to apply my makeup. Plus I needed to go on my own so I can start to prepare myself for the worst. I haven't really got a plan I am just going to try and appeal to my Fathers kind and parental side.
"We are here Miss Swan" The door man told me while helping me down from the carriage.
"Thank-you sir" I walk forward and see Elizabeth and Father standing next to the Commodore. Elizabeth turned and walked to me; she hugged me and whispered how sorry she was in my ear. I realised at that moment that she was feeling guilty for Jack being captured. We joined our hands as we turned to the Commodore and Father we were ready to face the world as long as we stood united.
"Elizabeth, Maria how nice to see that you have recovered from your horrific kidnapping experiences" Ahh they were going to call me going willingly with the pirates a kidnapping so they can excuse me from being hung as a pirate.
"Ahh it is about to start let's get going shall we" Father made way to the shade and we followed behind him. The people were standing around the deck but we were to stand on higher ground and in the shade. I can't see Will anywhere; I thought he would have come with his own rescue attempt.
"The Cutler sends his apologies Miss Swan but he can't make it today as he has important business to attend to, he hopes that you understand" I almost scream at the mention of his name but I know that I have to keep up the pretence that I want to marry the weasel of a man.
"Thank you Commodore, send him my best wishes and if you would be as kind as to ask him why I haven't had a visit since I returned from my travels I would be very grateful" I told him with my usual smirk. He didn't seem to find the hint of sarcasm in my voice so it has taken all the fun out of my comment.
"Oh I love a good hanging" Father said while rubbing his hands together. He has already forgotten that this is the man whom his daughter loves.
"Jack Sparrow , be it known that you have, for your wilful commission of crimes against the crown. Said crimes being numerous in quantity and sinister in nature, the most egregious of these to be cited herewith, piracy, smuggling" The Official began.
"This is wrong" Elizabeth murmured and her future husband turned to look at her and took her hand in his.
"Tell me about it" I murmur back.
"Commodore Norrington is bound by the law, As are we all" Father told us both directing our attention back to the proceedings. Jack looks us winks at me and gives me a sad smile. It breaks my heart but I know that he hasn't given up just merely trying to think of a worst case scenario.
"Impersonating an officer of the Spanish Royal Navy, impersonating a cleric of the Church of England" The Official went on with the list of crimes that Jack had committed. Jack laughed at the last one which causes me to have a huge grin across my face.
"Sailing under false colours, arson, kidnapping, looting, poaching, brigandage, pilfering, depravity, depredation, and general lawlessness. And for these crimes you have been sentenced to be, on this day, hung by the neck until dead. May God have mercy on your soul" The Official said while starting to prepare the noose.
"I'm sorry Father I can't stand by and watch him die, It's just not right" I say while making a move down the step but I am blocked by Will.
" Governor Swan, Commodore, Maria, Elizabeth I should have told you every day from the moment I met you. I love you. Come on Maria" Will grabs my hand as we start to move towards Jack. I see Cotton's parrot flying above us. I look up to see Elizabeth collapse as the drums cease. As they stop I run toward Jack at full speed as Will throws his sword for him to stand on.
"Move out of my way, I really don't want to hurt you" I told the executioner. He just stands his ground so I grab a block of wood and whack him across the head with it and manage to get a punch to the side of the face on him. I run to the rope and cut it with a sword I got of the executioner. Jack falls to the floor below.
"Jump love, I'll catch you" Jack tells me. I drop down the hole and sure enough he catches me.
"I'd kiss you but I can't find you through all the skirts" He tells me as he sets me on my feet. I quickly press me lips to his before running off to help secure Jack's freedom. We run fighting off men until we reach the top of the area, we became surrounded. Commodore and Father start to walk towards us with Elizabeth slowly following behind. I turn and press my lips to Jack's and we soon get lost in the feeling of pure love. Someone clears their throat to gain our attention. I look up to see Father with a look of disgust on his face at the sight of me being with a pirate.
"Lower you weapons, you can not harm my daughter. Do as I say, Commodore!" Father shouts but Commodore just ignores him and speaks to Will instead.
"I thought we might have to endure some manner of ill-conceived escape attempt but not from you, but Maria did you really think I was so stupid as to believe you wouldn't try and save the man you loved" Commodore said while glancing from me to Will. We were both standing in front of Jack. I am pressed firmly to his chest and Will stood protectively in front of me.
"On our return to Port Royal, I granted you clemency. And this is how you thank me? By throwing in your lot with him? He's a pirate!" Father shouts at Will and probably me but I just ignore him.
"And a good man, if all I have achieved here is that the hangman will earn two pairs of boots instead of one, so be it. At least my conscience will be clear" Will tells them with a sense of pride in his voice.
"Make that three pairs Will" I tell him while hugging myself Closer to Jack.
"You forget your place, Turner" Commodore tells them clearly ignoring me.
"It's right here, between you and Jack" He says while grabbing my hand and I grab Jacks to show a form of unity.
" As is mine" Elizabeth says as she moves to stand next to Will, he holds her hand and I give her a reassuring smile.
"Elizabeth! Maria! Lower your weapons. For goodness' sake put them down!" Father orders again and this time they do as they are told ad the Commodore agrees. Not for me but for Elizabeth.
"So this is where your heart truly lies, then?" He asks Elizabeth.
"It is" She replies while moving into Will's arms.
"Well! I'm actually feeling rather good about this. I think we've all arrived at a very special place, eh? Spiritually?Ecumenically?Grammatically?" Jack says while moving to stand in front of my Father, still holding my hand.
"I want you to know that I was rooting for you, mate. Know that" He tells the Commodore.
"Elizabeth? It would never have worked between us, darling. I'm sorry" He tells Elizabeth while still moving me along the line of people.
"Will? Nice hat" He tells Will. We are now stood by the edge of the battlement.
"Even if I am not here I am always in your heart. I will never let you marry Cutler so I will be back" He whispers to me and gives me a lingering kiss. He turns and tells the soldiers gathered around.
"Friends! This is the day that you will always remember as the day that..." He says as he falls off the battlement. This is so Jack! Commodore grabs my arms to stop me from falling over too. Maybe he is a gentleman.
" Idiot. He has nowhere to go but back to the noose" One the solider, called Gillette, tells us.
"I wouldn't be so sure" I tell them as I see the Black Pearl coming into view.
"Sail ho!" Another solider shouts.
"What's your plan of action? Sir?" Gillette asks Commodore but he is too busy looking at me.
"It is true isn't it? The Cutler abused you it was a true story am I correct?" Commodore asks me, I nod my head slightly.
"Then I am sorry I have failed you" He tells me with a sad smile. Luckily no one has heard our conversation.
"Sir plan of action!" Gillette demanded again. He is getting annoying.
"Perhaps on the rare occasion pursuing the right course demands an act of piracy, piracy itself can be the right course?" Father said trying to be wise but only succeeding in confusing us all.
"Mr. Turner" The Commodore turns to Will.
"This is a beautiful sword. I would expect the man who made it to show the same care and devotion in every aspect of his life" He says while giving Will the sword, I think it is symbolic of him letting him live and marry Elizabeth but i'm not sure. I ask a solider next to me and he says that I am right.
"Thank you" Will replies as the Commodore starts to walk away.
"Commodore! What about Sparrow?" Gillette asks once again. Seriously i'm going to punch that guy, although it will probably get me into even more trouble.
"Well, I think we can afford to give him one day's head start" He replies and they all leave following the Commodore.
"So, this is the path you've chosen, is it? After all, he is a blacksmith" Father asks Elizabeth with a slight smile on his face as he wraps his arms around me.
"No. He's a pirate" She tells him while giving Will a kiss. Father and I walk away to give them some privacy but we both start to sing a song.
"We're devils and black sheep and really bad eggs. Drink up me 'earties yo ho! Yo ho, yo ho a pirate's life for me"