DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything POTC related
NOTE: Thank you for the reviews!!! You three (Dawnie-7, Shay, and FluteDamioh) are the only ones who actually review, so thank you. I hope you like this chapter. Please Review!!!
CHAPTER 10
A Traitor Among Us
Hope was below deck picking up the mess around the hammock Nathaniel shared with Katie. While stuffing clothing into Nathaniel's rucksack a glimmer of something caught her attention. She reached down and saw that it was a necklace with a reddish – orange stone dangling from the end. She picked it up and touched the stone. She stared at it for a moment before a single phrase came from her mouth
"Heart of the dragon." She looked at it confused and was taken from her thoughts when she heard someone coming down the stairs. It was Elizabeth.
"There's something you should see," she said.
"What is it?"
"Come see." With that, she left without a word. She looked back at the necklace before putting the necklace in the sack along with the clothes, went up to the main deck, and saw everyone, except for the marines standing at the helm. She walked over to them slowly and realized they were staring at an island less than one league away. Katie saw her approach and ran to her.
"It's Port Royal!" Katie said dragging Hope by the hand to the helm.
"Port Royal," Hope said simply.
"Your parents are there and they have been terribly worried about you since they learned of the attack," Elizabeth said.
"When we will arrive?" Hope asked.
"Less than hour I would imagine. When we dock, we'll take you all over Port Royal. Maybe seeing familiar things will help you remember," Will said.
"I'm sure it would but I promised Katie and Nathaniel that I would find their father, whether I remembered anything or not. I don't know how much time he may have left and no time can be wasted. When we arrive in Port Royal I wish to only see my parents then head out when the ship is resupplied." Will nodded. Elizabeth turned to Jacoby and Gibbs.
"Did you tell her?"
"Tell her what?"
"Her reputation throughout the Caribbean." They shook their heads no. "If you are going to help her remember you need to tell her everything," Elizabeth scolded.
"We didn't want to overwhelm her," Gibbs defended. Elizabeth turned to Hope.
"Hope, there's something you should know. When we go after Jack you need to be aware of what type of reputation you have throughout the Caribbean."
"What are you talking about?"
"You and Jack are somewhat legends. The infamous Captain Jack Sparrow and Hope Danforth. The minister's daughter who married a pirate. You are one of the only women who can wield a sword with as much skill as any man or trained swordsman. You must remember that skill if we're going to help, Jack," Elizabeth said.
"I can't snap my fingers and remember something like that, Elizabeth. I promised my children that we would find Jack whether or not I remembered him or whatever skills I had," Hope said a little agitated before she walked off. They were surprised.
"I think she be rememberin' more than she be lettin' on about. Her temper has certainly returned," Jacoby said.
"We have to do something. There must be something that can help her remember. We'll need her if we have to battle the Scully brothers. She may remember everything in time, but time is something Jack may not have," Will said. Elizabeth watched after Hope's retreating form.
"Will, Jacoby, Mr. Gibbs, I need an honest answer. Do you really need Hope to help you battle them?" Elizabeth asked.
"Well, we will have the Commodore and Captain among other navy sailors and marines to help. Then there will be myself, Gibbs, Jacoby, Darien, and Stoker. There are three brothers, so two to three per brother. There are enough marines and sailors to take care of their crew if it comes to that."
"That's plenty. If Hope doesn't remember I don't think we should force her to, if that's even possible."
"A minute ago ye were all for her remembering the sword handling skills, lass," Gibbs said.
"Yes, but Hope was right. We can't expect her to remember everything with the snap of a finger."
"Ye be needin' a lot more men than ye have if ye be facin the Scully's. They be a brutal combination. More difficult than ye all might think," Stoker said.
"We don't have anymore than what we have."
"Maybe ye be needin to take on more men. I know a group of mates that would be very helpful in the spot ye be in."
"Where are they?"
"Tortuga, of course."
"No! No! Absolutely not. Commodore Norrington would not set foot within one league from that place," Elizabeth said.
"If that be the way ye seein' it, then it be yer funerals," Stoker said.
"What are you trying to say? That we don't stand a chance against the Scully brothers?" Will asked.
"I did make it that obvious, didn't I? Ye don't know who ye be dealin' with," Stoker said walking off.
"There's something strange about that man. Even Hope doesn't trust him," Elizabeth said.
"Hope isn't exactly one to trust either," Darien said.
"What?"
"Ye actually believe these images she's having? They are very specific if ye ask me, for someone who doesn't remember much."
"She's not making them up. The things she remembers did happen."
"Even if the memories be true, like I said. They are very specific," Darien said as he too walked off. Will ran after him.
SCENE CHANGE
Hope sat on the companionway with her head in her hands.
"Why can't I remember anything than these flashes? All right, put two and two together. My name is Hope Danforth. I married a pirate named Jack Sparrow. I am the daughter of Port Royal's minister. I have skills with the sword. I have two children. I was engaged to Captain Gillette." She yelled out in frustration, standing up and hitting the side of the entrance with her fist. "What's the point!? It's useless!" She sat down again and put her face in her hands. "It's useless." She was taken from her thoughts when she heard yelling from the deck.
SCENE CHANGE
"You think she's faking her memory loss because she doesn't want to be who she is? Is that what you're saying?"
"Think about it, lad. She be the daughter of a minister, well, by law anyway. Her real father was the blood-thirsty pirate, Captain Draco," Darien said.
SCENE CHANGE
"My father was a pirate? They all failed to mention that. Why does that name, Captain Draco sound so familiar?" An image of a man in black, with a red glass eye, and two missing fingers from his right hand came to her. The name and image went through her head quickly, and she recognized it. Without hesitating she ran down the stairs and over to her hammock and pulled out the necklace she had found earlier. "The heart of the dragon." Another image flashed, that of a black ship with red sails and a dragon shaped figurehead. Then the image of the man came again, but this time she saw a necklace hanging from his neck. "The dragon's eye." Suddenly, voices flooded through her mind and one echoed above the rest.
"When the eye of the dragon sheds blood from the heart of the dragon a spell will be cast, thus beginning an epic battle between the two immortals. One evil, one good." She closed her eyes as an image appeared of Captain Draco and her fighting onboard a ship, both severely injured. "As both lie near death only the mixing of blood from the keeper of the heart and the crushed shards of the eye of the dragon can break the spell. The evil is sent into the depths of hell and the good remains at the gates of judgment." Hope saw herself cutting her hand, squeezing the dragon's eye, and coating it with her blood, before she threw it to the deck and crushed it. The voices faded and an image appeared. She then saw herself standing in a white space filled with an abundance of colors. Above her, was a black sky dotted with millions of stars and before her stood a woman in blue.
"You must go to the present and then go to the past. The road is rocky and the way is far. It's a dangerous trail and a difficult quest. If you want to know who you really are," the woman's voice echoed. Images flashed through her mind rapidly, from a young girl to an adult woman. Her mind went silent. After a few moments, she opened her eyes, which didn't hold confusion, but only recognition. Without a word, she grabbed the sword from her sack, headed back towards the companionway, and stopped where she had been sitting before as the arguing continued.
SCENE CHANGE
"Ye didn't forget did ye now? The murderous Captain Draco is none other than Draco Scully, the eldest brother among the four. His brothers are no better than him and Hope knew it!" Darien yelled.
"What is going on down here? I expect order while you are on this ship!" Norrington yelled coming down.
"This naught be concernin ye, Commodore. Now why don't ye go back up to your little wheel, and steer yer little ship," Darien said.
"I would remind you, sir, that you are a pirate. If you do not come to order I will have you arrested!" Norrington said.
"Ye arrest me ye have no way of finding ole Jack Sparrow. I naught say one word if ye do!"
"How can you be so cold-hearted?" Katie shouted. "My parents trusted you as their friend and now you insult them!"
"I naught be insultin them, lass. I be speakin only the truth! Would ye honestly want to hunt down the brothers of the man who killed yer sister and then he turned out to be your father by birth?"
"Would all of you please stop this senseless arguing? You are forgetting that Hope has probably heard all of this," Gillette said joining them.
"So much concern, Captain Gillette. I should think ye be furious, after all she did leave you for a pirate," Darien said. Gillette looked at him in anger.
"How do you know about that?" Elizabeth asked.
"Stoker told me." They looked over at Stoker who stood nearby.
"How did you find out?"
"A few mates of mine overheard the kid and lass talking outside the Scarlet Maiden. According to them it was very touching," Stoker said. Hope walked up onto the deck without notice from anyone else.
"Typical pirates. Always intruding into other's affairs," Gillette said.
"Ain't no intruding here, boy. I asked them to listen to everything she said when she was around them. I wanted to know what I be dealin with before I agreed to help," Stoker said. Hope glared at him from her spot before she hurled her sword at him. It lodged itself in the mast, between Darien and Stoker. Everyone's eyes were shocked.
"Will! Are you crazy?" Elizabeth asked.
"I didn't throw that sword."
"Then who did?"
"There's only one other person I know of that can," Will said turning around as did the others and saw Hope standing there.
"Hope?" Elizabeth asked. She said nothing as she stormed over to Stoker took him by throat pushing him into the mast, pulling her sword from the mast, and holding it at his throat.
"You lecherous snake! You didn't care what you were going to be dealing with. All you wanted to do was deliver us to Aidan!" she yelled.
"I have no idea what ye be talkin' about, lass."
"Oh, you know perfectly well what I'm talking about, Stoker. You were going to be our guide to Ireland then lead us into a trap."
"You're daft, girl."
"No. You're the one who's daft. Did you really think that I wouldn't find out?"
"Find out about what? Hope, what are you doing?" Jacoby asked.
"Stay out of this, uncle. Answer me, Stoker!" she yelled digging the sword a little deeper, but not enough to spill blood.
"I don't know what ye talkin' about."
"Don't lie to me! I know you know. I knew that you were up to no good. I saw you at the bar the night Nassau port was attacked. You were talking to a man. I didn't realize who he was until he walked out. The man was none other than Aidan Scully. You had arranged the perfect plan for his revenge," Hope started as she pulled away from him and backed off, but keeping her sword on him. "The one thing people fear right now, since my father terrorized the Caribbean, is having the phantom ship, Wandering Hangman, attack their town. You're plan was a good plan all right. Have the Wandering Hangman mysteriously show up and fire several shots upon the town, but, in the taverns direction, in hopes that it would rip apart the entire building and send the pieces flying and possibly killing, myself, Jack, and Nathaniel, isn't that right?"
"Ye presume much for someone who doesn't remember." Hope smirked.
"Really? Doesn't remember? What about this then. The Scully's wanted revenge against the person who had killed their brother. They didn't factor in that it was the blood daughter of him that had done so. Well, as you know, you're plan didn't exactly work. A strong sturdy building and Jack pulling us out of there prevented the plan from succeeding."
"You remember!" Katie exclaimed. Hope looked at her and winked before turning her attention back towards Stoker.
"But, luck shined on you when you realized that in an attempt to avoid falling pieces of wood I hit my head on the stone wall of the tavern. When I came to a few minutes later, I had no memory of who I was and Jack was nowhere to be seen. My best guess would be that you had followed him, got the drop on him, and gave him to Aidan. Perfect. Plan fulfilled. I didn't remember who I was, Jack was taken, and the only ones with any knowledge, however limited, was a six year old boy, Jack's first mate, and my uncle."
"That's a lie. I had nothing to do with the attack!" Stoker yelled.
"Silence, Garret Stoker. Then my daughter showed up with the Royal Navy. This could be a problem. Therefore, as witty as you probably claim to be, you realized she was trying to find us. Then when she does, I still have no memory and Jack is gone. Jacoby and Gibbs don't know much and who shows up, Darien Turner. The bitter rival of Aidan Scully. An even bigger problem, who suspected you right from the start now didn't he?"
"I warned you about what would happen if you betrayed us," Darien yelled turning to Stoker and pulling his sword as well, and held it at him.
"Lower your sword, Turner!"
"Why?"
"This is not the time for revenge and there are children present. Now lower the sword." Darien reluctantly abided. Hope knew this situation could turn bad and turned to Katie.
"Katie, I want you to take Nathaniel and go below deck."
"But, why?"
"I don't think you two should be here right now. Please, do as I say."
"Mother."
"Don't argue, do as I say," Hope said in the stern and gentlest voice she could. Katie still didn't move.
"Katie, please do as I say." She reluctantly agreed.
"I'll go with them," James said. Hope nodded at him. Governor Swann went over to Commodore Norrington.
"Are you going to do nothing to stop this?"
"This a matter between them and only them. I will not interfere unless I have too. Its better that we know Mr. Stoker is a traitor on our approach to Port Royal then on the way to Ireland. Besides, I don't think she needs any help right now."
"But what if blood shed occurs."
"Hope will not let it go that far. She may appear brutal in her strategy but she wouldn't result to violence unless there was no other choice. You can tell by the way she asked her daughter to go below deck."
"It's not Hope I'm concerned for. It's that Darien character, which concerns me." Once Katie, Nathaniel, and James were below deck, Hope continued.
"Now, where were we? Oh, yes, Darien suspected you from the start. You knew with Darien in the picture that there would be trouble so you made up a story that two of your friends told you that Scully had taken Jack to Ireland and that you wanted to help."
"Well, lass. It appears ye be havin' yer memory back."
"How'd you guess?" Stoker glared. "Now, you are going to tell me where exactly Scully took Jack."
"Never. If ye want to know ye goin to have to be takin' me with you."
"Perhaps you've not noticed that Darien isn't too happy with you right now. So, I suggest that you tell me what I want to know." He sneered before he pulled his own sword and swung at her, which she avoided. Norrington and the other marines put their hands to their swords. Darien attempted to join but was stopped by Hope.
"No!" Stoker swung at her again and she dodged. "Will! Get them out of here!" Will grabbed Elizabeth and went to Governor Swann.
"Father, come!" Elizabeth said as she pulled her father as they headed below deck.
"You're a fool, Stoker. You start a battle on the deck of a ship of the Royal Navy?" Hope asked.
"No better place!" Stoker said as he lunged at her.
"You can't beat me, Stoker."
"Watch." He said as he lunged again and they exchanged several advances. On the last advance from Stoker, Hope stepped to the side and tripped him as he fell to the deck. She stood over him with her sword at his throat.
"Tell me where he took Jack!" she yelled. When he didn't answer, Darien came over, picked him up by the collar, and threw him against the stairs leading to the wheel.
"Where is he?" Darien yelled digging the tip of the sword into Stoker's throat. Blood was drawn.
"Darien! Stop!" Hope yelled running to them and placing a hand over Darien's arm.
"This isn't the way." Darien stepped back.
"Garret. Please, tell me where my husband is. You can't win here, no matter how much you think you can."
"Here or at the gallows, I win. I will tell you nothing."
"What if I made you an offer?"
"You can make no offer."
"This is useless. I will get an answer from him one way or another,
Darien said as he raised his sword to strike. Hope stared and Stoker.
"No!" Hope said pulling his arms away. "Garret, you're a merchant sailor, are you not?"
"Aye. Used to be."
"So I figure that you haven't killed a man before?" Stoker saw something in her eyes and her words that told him she knew.
"No."
"Why did you help Aidan?"
"He sought me out. I didn't agree at first but I tried to bargain with him. As such, he guaranteed me passage out of the Caribbean if I helped him. To me, the Caribbean is an unforgiving chain of islands that uses her beauty to make up for her faults. What family I have left is in England. I want to return to them."
"He lies," Jacoby said.
"No I'm not."
"Garret, if you are pulling another trick on us…" Hope warned.
"I'm not."
"Your only family is in England?"
"Aye."
"What would you do if you were in my place and one man stood between you and rescuing your family and all the man had to do was tell you their location? What would you do?" He was silent for a long time before he sighed and looked at her.
"I can understand why ye have the reputation that ye have."
"Then you'll tell me where they took Jack?"
"On one condition, lass."
"Yes?"
"You drop me off at England on your way." Hope looked at Norrington.
"Commodore. It's your ship."
"I don't entirely trust you, Mr. Stoker. However, I have a condition as well."
"What be that?"
"You spend your voyage in the brig."
"I'm to be a prisoner?"
"Not a prisoner in the sense that you mean. You will receive blankets and the meals everyone else eats and be treated as one of the crew. This is because of what I said earlier, I don't trust you. That's the offer." Stoker looked at Hope.
"Please. I guarantee you that the Commodore will not go back on his word. We will drop you off at the nearest England port we come across, but, from there you are on your own." Stoker nodded.
"Where is he?"
"Kinsale."
"What?" Jacoby asked.
"Kinsale. That is where the Scully's live. Kinsale in County Cork, Ireland."
NOTE: Well? What do you think? Let me know. PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!
ArianaielNightstar