Note to self:
This is going to be an abnormally long chapter, and I apologise for it in advance, but it needs to be done, and the end of it will be sooo much sweeter after you have read through all the crap! Thank you too my reviewers! I love you all, you are great! Oh and sorry for this taking so long to post, I have been away from my computer for too long! Oh and the whole Jack escaping thing will be explained next chapter for those of you who don't understand, which your not supposed to.
DISCLAIMER: I wish dearly that I could own these characters, …in particular Jack Sparrow, pity that he is only a character, but I don't. And I' don't own Johnny Depp either, as much as that is a crime against nature…ehem did I say that outloud! Any way, a little freaky mouse and his owners, own these characters, though he doesn't deserve to, and as such, I am just left to my never dying, unconditional love of POTC and Jack Sparrow, sorry Captain Jack Sparrow, and my strange obsession! Right. On with the story
Chapter 8: The Final Escape
When someone you love dies, it's an un-imaginable pain. It feels like part of your soul has been cruelly ripped out and swallowed, your heart torn into tiny shreads. Some people turn into emotional wrecks, can't live so die. Others, like Elizabeth become an empty shell. They are alive, but not living, they can feel but not really. When you look into these peoples eyes, all you see is a haunting sorrow, a deep regret that they couldn't follow their partner into death. In spirit they have died, in flesh they live.
Elizabeth learnt this the hard way. For months she had cried, and cried. Her eyes were permanently red and sore, and hollow. She was a walking corpse. No spirit could be seen shining out of her eyes, just a grave haunting.
She looked out the window over looking the bay at Port Royal. The sun shinning brightly, the sky clear and blue and the sea glistening like a jewel, just begging to be taken. She sneered. It was far too pretty a day. Elizabeth cursed it.
What was worse, was that no black or white sails marred the perfect surface of the sea. For the first time all the ships were in the bay, none coming, none going.
She didn't know why she was sitting here, starring out at sea. It was almost like she was willing the black sails to appear. As if by sheer force of her will, they would appear on the horizon, sail gracefully into the port and take her away.
But why? To what end?
Because part of her, would not let go of hope. Part of her believed that he was alive, a quiet voice that was slowly being stamped out. She shook her head at the silly notion of Jack being alive. She heard the shot.
Jack was dead, and so was her chance at true happiness. It had been months now since Jack's death. Elizabeth had grown cold and harsh, as if a calluses had formed around her heart. Protecting it from future harm and hurt. She didn't smile as much, she didn't talk as much, these things would be admitting that she was alive. And that Jack could no longer do either. It was the only way that she could survive, it was the only way to live without Captain Jack Sparrow.
Her father and Will had tried to get her to come out of her protective cocoon. But by far they were using the wrong people and the wrong methods. Their tactics were based on the belief that she was sad and cut off because she thought she had done some great evil. They had done all sorts of things, tried to convince her in many ways that Jacks death was the only option, that she had nothing to be sad for, nothing that she was guilty off. But what they didn't understand was that it wasn't her guilty conscience that was plaguing her, like they thought, it was a broken heart and a shattered soul.
She didn't know where Will was now. After a few weeks of her cold hatred and disposition towards him, he had left. Her father did not question the change in her affections, just put it down to the stress that she was under, that she was pushing people away. He was wrong. She pushed Will away because he had killed her love. And had been so calm in doing so. He had realized quickly, she was sure, that his actions had caused the change in affection. He wasn't bitter, but he left Port Royal, and where he went to she didn't know.
They had sailed into Port Royal a few days after Commodore Beckett. The moment the Black Pearl came to a still, Elizabeth ran off board to find him. And demand to see Jacks body. What she got was something different. Beckett claimed calmly that his body had been thrown overboard, soon after the shooting. That he had done nothing illegal so threatening would do no good, especially without a body to prove it. He smiled at her. Elizabeth controlled herself, for she was tempted to shoot that smile right off his face. Conveniantely he had also reminded her that her freedom, and status were thanks to him, so she ought to be more polite.
Elizabeth had stormed out.
Later that day she had erected a tombstone for him, not in the church graveyard, for that would be ridiculus but on the other side of the island, near the sea. She went to visit it on many occasions, when her father would let her out of the house. Though he was treating her with kit gloves, he had some strength in a few rules that he had laid down. For her protection of course.
It still felt strange to Elizabeth to be clothed in fancy dresses again. They felt un-natural and un-comfortable to her now, and they were hardly practical. Not that she had any use for practical these days. It's not like she was asked to perform any sort of labour. The few muscles she had gained on her months aboard, were dwindling away to softness. She grimaced when she saw her toned body turning to mush.
Elizabeth had attended a few dinner parties at her fathers request soon after coming back on land. It was one of his attempts to get her out of her shell. Instead the women there sneered at her behind their fans, about being so dark skinned, taught and skinny. Nothing like a lady should be. She had glared at them back and quickly left the party.
She sighed and turned away from the beautiful ocean. It was bringing back far to many hurtful memories. Jacks face flashed into her memory, his clever eyes, and charming smile. There was a time when she would have burst into tears at such a memory, but she was no well and truly out of tears. She still felt a stab of pain, misery and sorrow, but her calluses helped her not to become affected.
But none the less, as her sorrow abated to be left with an emptiness, she started to yearn for the freedom again.
It was an experience of a life time, sailing free on the wide ocean. The wind in her hair, the salt on the breeze and the thrill of it all. Most importantly there were no social constrictions, you could do what you want when you wanted and to hell with the pleases and thank you's and proper decorum.
In the deep recesses of Elizabeth's mind she knew the reason why she wanted the freedom of the sea. She thought that it offered a chance to run. Run away from memories, let them float off with the wind.
She snorted and turned back to the letter in her hand. It wasn't that at all. She wanted out, out of this house, out of this society.
With a final determination she finished the letter that she had started writing, signed it and sealed it. Taking the letter she placed it on the desk, her hand lingering over it for a mere second before she closed her eyes and took it off. Standing she gathered her sack of clothes which she had had one of the servants get for her on market day, consisting of comfortable pants, boots, a few shirts and a leather and cotton jacket to keep the weather off her. Of course there were a few creature comforts thrown in there, such as soap, a comb and other such things. Just because she was leaving her gilded cage, did not mean that she wanted to smell like a pirate!
However she did have to wait for the house to be asleep, and for darkness to conceal her escape so she spent the rest of the day pacing around her room. Finally when darkness fell, and her father was in his study (which was close enough to sleep) Elizabeth decided to make her escape.
One last glance around the room sealed her determination to leave, and Elizabeth silently slipped out of her room and crept down the hall lightly so as not to make a sound. She was out of the house quickly, and silently and without raising an alarm. No one would know that she had gone until the morning, and by then she hoped that she would be lost.
She ran down the drive way and towards the town. There she would wait around the docks until she could secure voage to Tortuga, or somewhere close enough. But for tonight, she was going to enjoy herself getting lost in the bottom of a rum bottle.
Ilovejackilovejackilovejack
It had been two months. Two long months since Jack had escaped from Beckett. Well he really didn't escape, he knew what was going to happen that night, to a certain extent, and it provided the perfect cover for him. Thanks to a little birdy Jack had found out where the heart of Davvy Jones had gone, and he had wanted it more than ever since his precious Pearl had undergone various attacks from the Kraken. It did hurt him to see the man who betrayed him, yet again, to sail away with his ship. But he knew he would get it back. But because of his new found concern for the lives of others he had decided that he ought to do it on his own. So having Elizabeth think that he was dead, would mean that she wouldn't try and follow him, a few trusted members of the Pearl knew, and helped him escape, for it was in their interests to.
Now that his mission had been completed he had one last thing to do, well two really, but he'd do them in one strike.
Get lizzie.
Get the Pearl
So that was where he was off to now. Sailing towards Port Royal to kidnap, well Jack liked to think of it as rescue, the captured and probably mortified Elizabeth. Who would be suitably morning her loss of him, and he would sweep in and erase all her sorrow. So Jack would like to think.
But more because he had promised her he would.
And even more because he wanted to.
Life had been three kinds of hell for Jack over the last two months, and somewhere in him he knew that he didn't want to go through that again without having Elizabeth beside him, or too come back to. It had scared him at first how much he had missed her, and how much he had wished she could be there to see him through.
Besides, he had deserved a little lassie booty.
He had commadered another small boat, only something small, something that would get him to Port Royal and would probably conc out on him. However this meant that he had to successfully steal his Pearl back or else he was stuck on the dreadful island with no form of escape. At least he had his crew with him, he didn't have to do this on his own.
Having of course stopped off at Tortuga before he had arrived he went around and found his old crew with the promise of the Pearl back. Jack had been slightly surprised to find most of them, that would mean that Beckett had let them all go and hadn't hung them for being pirates. He didn't want to know why.
So here he was on a little crappy boat, with too many mean for the damned thing, and was still half a day away from Port Royal. He would arrive at night, which he supposed was fitting because then he could steal Lissie away from her mansion under the cover of darkness. Jack hadn't really formed a plan yet, he just counted on Lissie being willing to come with him, which of course she would be. And then he would take her, mind body and heart.
The thought of a naked Elizabeth gave rise to a stirring somewhere he'd rather not have them at this moment. Not infront of the crew at least. There was always a time and place for that sort of movement and now was definitely not the time, nor the place. Though hopefully tonight it would be.
Mr Gibbs came up to Jack then,
"Captain we be nearing Port Royal, At least a few hours away"
"Thank you."
"Where de ye wish to be makin port Cap'an"
That stopped Jack momentarily, he couldn't just waltz into the port and walk away, he was far to recognizable.
"Be there a bay on the other side of the island Mr Gibbs in which we can put our anchor down" Jack asked. Mr Gibbs thought for a moment.
"Aye sir! It'd be nice and sheltered too, Though ye would be requiring a row boat to get ye to shore"
"excellent. Great. Well Mr.Gibbs, seeming as you know the way, you may bring us there!"
Jack left the helm to mr Gibbs and went down into the cabin to rid himself of this god-damned erection.
Ilovejackilovejackilovejack
Elizabeth made it into town, and she made it safely down to the warf. Having looked around for a short time, and making a few enquires as to where each of the ships were going, she had decided on a ship to leave on. However it was leaving in the morning which suited her fine because she had planned to find a rum bottle.
Having found a group of sailors she decided to follow them because surly they would know the best pubs to be drinking in. And sure enough they led her to a pub.
inside was warm and full of noise. She had braced herself to be asked to leave because she was a woman, but the men just cheered on like they were. Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief, even though her hair was tucked up into her cap she still thought that she looked far to femine.
Spotting an empty table off in the far corner Lizzie made her way there and ordered a bottle of rum and a mug to go with it from a barmaid who came swanking up to her shortly after she sat down.
While waiting for her rum, she simple observed the behaviour of the men around her. more than once a few men cmae up to her and was hit on by men who swung the other way, who thought that she was a very pretty young man, and must be up for some action, being a sailor and all. She kindly rejected, but was left with a few mugs of rum which she quickly helped herself too, while waiting for her own.
Looking around the bar she realised that this was the kind of life she was going to have from now on. And it didn't bother her a bit.
Finally the rum came, and Lissie waited for no introductions just tuck in as fast as she could. Looking on at the drunked sailors, as she herself was getting drunk, reminded her of Jack, which to her seemed rather reasonable. The thought of Jack though bought back that familiar pang of hurt, which was now intermingled with a yearning desire which was more painful in it's burning.
It must be the rum. She thought drunkenly as she stared into the dark depths of her mug.
She sighed into said mug of rum and quickly emptied it into her belly. She spent the rest of this night sating into the depths of mug after mug after mug of rum. Elizabeth had always heard stories about rum easing your physical and emotional pain but the more she drank, the more empty rum bottles that accumulated on her table, the more she hurt, and the more the desire for him burned in her heart. She could feel the tears welling in her eyes again for the first time in weeks.
Is this how jack had felt all the time, is this the passion that had consumed him, the passion that he felt for the pearl, and had once for a brief moment felt for her?
She groanded and dropt her head on the table and started to do this action repeativly. It was making a nice rythm, and she hoped that she could bash the memories and thoughts of him out of her head.
Why wouldn't he stop haunting her every thought?
ilovejackilovejackilovejack
The sun was just setting as Jack put the anchor down into this secret bay of Mr.Gibbs. Being the benelovent person that he was Jack allowed the rest of the crew to come on land but he would go into the port by himself. The plan was to met back here and then go and take back the pearl the following day.
as he made his way through the forrest towards the port, coming from the otherside, he grew increasingly sick and uncertain. He put this down to the lack of rum, rather than an uncertainty about lissie. He cared for her, but he couldn't possibly care that much, could he?
a few hours later Jack had made it into town. It was well and truly night now, and he could barely see where he was going, let alone any one else seeing him.
However he still hadn't formulated a plan so he decided that he'd go into town and visit a few local inns and see what he could find out from the locals about Elizabeth, because being the governors daughter she would be a source of gossip to the locals.
after visiting most of the inns in town, and having drunk a bit, he had found out information that was quite pleasing to his ears. In one of the first pubs that he had visited he had found out from one of the maids in the governors households (by chance, the one which had helped Elizabeth) that she had run away from the mansion. Apparently she couldn't live with her father, and had rejected her fiance after the death of a friend, and had steadily rejected society.
Jack thought that this was marvellos news. So he had visted the rest of the pubs in town in an effort to find her, and of course to fill himself with rum so he didn't feel so nervous, which was just because of a lack of rum in the first place, he kept on reminding himself.
Finally there was only one pub left in town, and of course it was the one closest to the warf, how stupid of him not to have gone there first.
he went in and it took his eyes only a moment to adjust to the light, and only a moment longer to find what he was looking for. Though she looked very much like a pretty young boy, Jack was certain that it was Elizabeth. The way his body reacted to seeing her, had to mean that it was her.
She was banging her head against the table, and was surrounded by rum bottles and mugs. That worried jack for a little while, and started to think that she may not be as welcoming to him as he had thought originally.
Grimacing slightly he went quickly over to her.
placing a gently yet uncertain had on her shoulder.
"lissie" he said.
To be continued.
BAH! I'm sorry, I really did want to continue, but it won't god damn happen! The chapter would be too long. So next chapter will be the smut lots and lots and lots of smut. So if you do know me in person, please don't read on! Any way that chapter should be posted tonight. So I won't keep you hanging too long!