~ ~ ~ Pirates Of The Caribbean: Barbossa's Revenge ~ ~ ~
Chapter 10: Freedom
"We have to go to Isla de Muerta as soon as possible." Will stated, standing at the helm of the ship. "The only problem is... I don't know how to get there."
James watched as they left behind the life boats, all of which supported the slave ship's former crew. They had given them a week's worth of rations, seeing how they were not too far from the nearest port, and had set them adrift. Now, the only three remaining crew members were debating on just what to do next.
"Isla de Muerta?" Leigh spoke, quite unsure of the situation. "I've never heard of it before."
"That's because it's an island that can only be found by someone who knows where it is." James replied, turning and looking over at Will.
The young blacksmith paled slightly, "That's what Jack told me." he stated, taking a few steps toward the man. "How do you know about that island, James?"
"I don't think..."
"Tell me!" Will shouted, advancing on James.
Suddenly, the clouds above, which had blocked the moon and stars during the ship's small mutiny, parted. Strong moonlight shone down, casting the boat in an eerie glow and causing the calm waters of the ocean to shimmer.
But all of this eluded Will and Leigh as they stood dumbfounded, starring in shock and horror at James.
"This is how I know." he stated, spreading his arms out to his sides, thus revealing his cursed skeleton form even more to his two crew mates.
Will stepped back, "You're part of his crew... Part of that bastard's bloody crew!"
All reason left the blacksmith as he lunged at the older man.
"I trusted you!" Will shouted as he found himself quickly overpowered and pinned to the ship's deck.
"Hear me out, lad!" James replied, forcing Will to calm as he lay on the deck. "I was once a part of Barbossa's crew, that I won't and can't deny. But I've helped you this far, haven't I?"
Will's eyes narrowed as he looked up at the man above him, "Why should I trust you?"
"Because Jack did." Leigh stated, stepping up so she could see both of the men. "Jack Sparrow trusted him. Is that not enough?"
Will let this thought mill around in his mind for a while. Should he trust James and hope the man did not betray him? Or should he take his chances alone? All in all, James would know the location of Isla de Muerta, one thing Will himself was unsure of.
"Lead us to the island then." The blacksmith replied, standing. "I'd rather see my son one last time and be betrayed, than sail the ocean looking for him and always knowing I was too late." Will turned, walking to the ship's cabin, and quickly disappeared inside.
Leigh turned to the other man, "You should tell him who you really are." she stated. "It might help him trust you."
But James shook his head, "No, lass. I have to wait 'till the time is right. Besides, it'd just make him more sore at me than he already is."
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"We're catchin' up to the Sangria, Cap'n." Gibbs stated, rousing Jack from his cabin.
The slightly crazed pirate grabbed his hate and immediately followed the elder man up onto the deck.
"AnaMaria!" Jack shouted, taking an offered spyglass from Gibbs, "How long till the Sangria's within firein' range?"
"Half an hour, maybe more." came the woman's voice as she stood at the Black Pearl's helm.
Evening had turned to the dark of night, which given time, had become a beautifully sunny morning. As Jack watched the enemy ship through his spyglass, his thoughts went to Will.
The young blacksmith had entrusted Jack with his son's very life, most likely in exchange for his own. Now, the pirate captain was once again attempting the impossible... going up against a cursed crew. And this time, things looked even bleaker than before.
Jack wanted to be rid of the curse just as much as Barbossa, however, he was not willing to murder Turner's only child for his own freedom. The more the captain thought about it, the more he wondered what exactly would lift the cure, permanently that is. If Will's blood had only been a temporary solution, then young Jack Turner's blood would be just as useless... unless of course the heathen gods preferred a human sacrifice, provided it could not get the right blood which it so desperately was seeking. This had never occurred to Jack before, but now he realized that truly, the only one able to lift the curse would be Bill Turner himself. Unless... of course, they killed poor little Jack and it actually appeased the god's wrath. However, he now knew that Bill Turner was alive and well once more... the only problem was the fact that he was currently in the capture of a slave ship with Will. Jack wondered if the young blacksmith even knew the man was his father...
Either way, Jack Sparrow was in a tight spot.
The captain shook his head, reminding himself not to reference his being in the third person, before returning his attention to the spyglass.
"We're catching up..." Jack whispered.
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"Will..." Leigh's voice came from the door. "Will, are you alright?"
The young blacksmith sighed, "Yes. I'm fine!"
"Look... I don't know what's rightly happened to you but, if it's any comfort, you can trust me if you can't trust James."
There was a click as the lock gave way. Will smiled sadly as he opened the door.
"I'm sorry, Leigh. It's not your fault." the blacksmith said, letting the woman into the room.
Leigh sat down in a chair next to a large round table. She watched patiently was Will shut the door before returning to his seat beside the big rectangle windows at the back of the cabin.
There was silence in the room for some time. Leigh sat quietly, looking at nothing in particular, but glancing at the blacksmith every now and again.
Eventually, Will sighed. He spoke, yet kept his eyes to the window's magnificent ocean view.
"I'm lost." he whispered, hardly loud enough for Leigh to hear. "I'm lost... adrift upon a merciless tide that threatens to pull me under. The more I struggle, the stronger it's pull becomes. Yet, if I give up, it's only a matter of time before I drown."
Leigh stood, taking a few steps towards the window. "Will, I..." but she thought better of what she was going to say.
"This is all my father's fault." came the blacksmith's voice once more. "If he hadn't touched that damn treasure then I would never have been in this to begin with! And yet... I may never have married Elizabeth, nor met her for that matter. Fate has it's cruelties I suppose." he finished, his voice trailing off.
Leigh looked at him for a moment before steeling her resolve. "Will, there's something I need to tell you."
Quickly, as the blacksmith turned to her, she produced a pistol from the folds of her dress. Leigh handed him the gun.
"It's Jack Sparrow's. He came onboard via our cabin, if you could call it that. He... he knew, knows James and he gave it to him. Yet, I think James forgot about it due to the commotion that both you and Jack were causing on deck. He left it with me while he checked topside, and even I forgot about it until your outburst a while ago."
Will took the gun and turned it over in his hands. It was indeed Jack's pistol, though this time it had more than one shot. However, the writing upon the underside of the handle drew the young blacksmith's attention.
'To Cap'n Jack Sparrow, From Yer Mate, William Turner.'
Will gasped, "Jack... Jack was given this gun by my father..." he whispered in surprise.
"That explains it...' came Leigh's reply.
She realized her mistake before she finished the thought, yet the man before her caught the small slip of her tongue.
"Explains what, Leigh?" he asked, looking up at her.
The woman turned, "I can't... I wasn't supposed to tell you."
"Tell me what?" now Will was on his feet as well, "Leigh, tell me."
She thought about it for sometime, absently wringing her hands in nervousness. Will noticed this and shook the image of Elizabeth, doing that same action, from his mind.
"Leigh..."
The woman turned, "Jack gave that pistol to James... to your father, Will."
He began to laugh. "You're joking."
"No. I'm being perfectly honest and serious. James isn't James, he's William Turner, your father." she noticed the confused and disbelieving look in the blacksmith's eyes. "I didn't know until Jack called him that."
Will sat down again, nearly missing the window seat as he did so. "No... No! My father's dead!"
"Your father was cursed, unable to die... just like James."
"NO!" Will stood angrily, pacing to the other side of the room. "It's not true!" tears clouded the blacksmith's vision as he shook his head. "You can't be telling me this... no..."
"Will, I..."
But the young man no longer heeded her words as he leaned back against the cabin wall, looking up at the ceiling. Slowly, Will slid down to the ground, his knees drawn up against his chest.
"My mother died of typhoid and I came out to the Caribbean to find my father, whom I believed to be a merchant sailor. He had sent me a piece of Aztec gold, all of him I had left. I didn't know what it was at the time. Elizabeth took it from me when I was rescued from a terrible explosion on a merchant vessel. She did it because she thought I was a pirate and that I would be hung. I thought I'd lost my one connection to my father forever. I grew up and then Barbossa kidnaped Elizabeth. Then, when on the way to save her, I learn from Jack that my father was a pirate and was now dead, yet I learned he was murdered from members of Barbossa's cursed crew. We broke the curse, killed the traitorous pirates, and life went back to normal. Elizabeth and I married and had a son, yet Jack's birth killed her. Now, six years later, my son's kidnaped by a resurrected Barbossa, to break a curse that should be lifted already. Now, you tell me that the man out there is my father? The one man who can stop this madness? The man I thought had been dead for a large part of my life?" Will's eyes locked with Leigh's and the woman did not know if he was ready to explode or break down. "You tell me that the bastard steering this ship, is my father? The man who abandoned his wife and only son in a tiny cottage in London? The very man whom all these years I've struggled not to become? The..." but Will could not continue.
A sob escaped his lips as he sucked back tears which threatened to fall from his eyes. Will lowered his head onto the folded arms about his knees.
"I can't... I won't believe it..." he whispered, trying to regain his composure, even though he knew he was crying.
Taking in a deep breath, Will lifted his head, only to see Leigh kneeling in front of him.
"Leigh... I don't want to believe you." He spoke.
The woman nodded, "I know. You've been through much, Will Turner. Too much if you ask me. You've run from the memory of the past for a very long time. I can see that clearly in your eyes. But Will, this means everything will be over." she said with a smile, laying a hand on the blacksmith's arm. "If your father is here, he can break the curse."
Will's eyes searched Leigh's own. He realized the truth of her words. No matter how much he hated his father, with Bill around, there was an even greater chance for Will to save his son. For once, the blacksmith was graced with the leverage in their delicate situation. His father's blood, just a few drops of it, could well break the curse once and for all.
A smile graced the blacksmith's lips, "You're right." he said, the smile soon turning into a full fledged grin. "The blood of a pirate flows in, not only the veins of myself and my son, but in the veins of the very faceless stranger whom I call father, who until now was unknown to me... James or, better yet, William Turner."
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Disclaimer: Refer to chapter 1 for this.
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Reviews:
inu lover: I hope it wasn't too sad.
Cacunai: Yeah... I figured that out too late about "noone" and the same goes for the other. But thanks though. I don't have a beta so, it makes my job all the more difficult. Apparently, I got to your review after I had already put these reviews up... ff.net does that sometimes, not giving the reviews when they were needed. *coughs* And I think I'll stand over here... away from Gollum... eeeeee....
Mellaithwen-ElvenMaiden: Your wish is my command... though... it took a while to grant.
Wicked Lady: Okay I.... don't know yet... but give me a while to come up with a good reason! I will! And it'll make sense too! Johnny did say savvy and, when I saw it, my friend Kenneth and I burst out laughing because of it. Only problem was, we couldn't tell Danielle (who you may hear me refer to as Merry from time to time) said she'd kill us if we told her anything about it because she hadn't seen it yet... and she loooooves Depp.
Chef 13: No, I've never watched it. Though Merry (my friend) likes it well enough. But thanks about the chapter!
Legolas19: Whoa... what'd I do that was funny? *looks around* Was I being stupid... again?! AI! AI!
Saki Cup of Tea: SEE! I UPDATED! Hehehehehehe... not much of a mutiny I have to say though.
Nik: I think I kept you waiting longer this time... EEP!
Mija: Nooooooo I'd never mock you.... but don't be offended if I did... I mock a lot of people sometimes... 'Tis a downfall perhaps.... *smirks* Only kidding.
Vanya Edhel: So... if the key word was, "Wasn't", does that mean that she now IS?
Ihni: Apparently you liked my killing Elizabeth AND you liked the mean people... okay... Plus, you're a Jack Sparrow fan *coughCaptainJackSparrowcough* and you like Will when he's unconscious or chained to the floor... okay... Yep, three generations indeed, and I'm glad you still like the story too! But no, that wasn't the last chapter. Until you see the fateful words "THE END" at the end of a chapter, it's not over.
PeleAmelika: Jack noticed... but it took a while. The curse was lifted for a time. Now with Barbossa, no one really knows, save for him himself. Perhaps you'll learn of it in the future? *raises an eyebrow* MWAHAHAHA!
Dragonmistress and Celticgirl: The sequel will be a long time coming I'm afraid... not scheduled to shoot until 2005 I believe. And it'll be in New Orleans... *smiles* Which is good because I'm about to have some family down there perhaps... maybe I'll try to visit the set? *rolls her eyes* I'd better not get my hopes up, huh?
Doctor Weird: LACIE!!!! *tackles* Have you read more yet? HUH? *smiles and does the happy dance* It's great for you to be here reading my stuff!!!! YAY! YAY! YAY! And no... I still don't have a pitchfork.
Elvenangel: Yeah... kinda sucks that you can only send in original scripts to Disney. I'd love for the POTC writers to get their hands on my script... though... I don't think it could be done in New Orleans like they're planning... but if they don't bring back William Turner in the 2nd one, I'm gonna scream... speaking of which... he needs to be played by Jason Isaacs (course, I think Thranduil needs to be played by him as well) since he and Orli look so much alike. But, I'm excited that you've read most of my stuff! Rock on! Is this the nickname you're putting your POTC story under?
Merry: MELLON NIN! *tackles* HI! I like that thought too... though it returns me to the question on if Orli can sing or not... dang it! Hehehe... watch away, mellon nin! Laters!
iRish tEa 07: Thank you! Thank you!
CatSparrow: Now, if I can just stop with these plot holes I've found I keep doing (rereading stories can be a curse or a blessing sometimes) then maybe I'll have something truly good? But thanks for your compliments and I'm sorry it took so long to update. Being addicted to fanfiction is bad... maybe we should start a therapy group for it... hmmm.... especially for those who read fanfics with cliffies... AI!
Charisse: I'd love to show it to him save for the fact that I've tried everything short of giving it to him by hand... only original scripts for Disney and all that... *sighs* oh well. I'm glad you like it and I'll try to update it a bit more often.
Elven angel11: Soooo do I get the brownies now? CAPTAIN BLOOD ROCKS!!!!!!! *hides* See.... it's an update... and a long one...
FaerieQueen: Yeah... I know... *blushes and hides her red correcting pen* but what can one do when they have no beta. And you know, after thinking it through, then writing on paper, then typing it up... I kinda don't want to see it again for a few days. And yes... he is rather steamy.... *smirks*
piratesobsessee: Well... I'm mad I killed her now... poor Elizabeth. I loved her in the movie but she sucked in the book!
lunae lumen: Thankies!
mkrux: *smiles* I love Errol Flynn movies... and I love Orlando Bloom movies... and they both play great action/adventure/guys-with-swords type characters! Thanks so much!
aussiesportstar: Thank! And yeah... I'm mad I killed her now.
Kelsey: I won't leave you hanging forever, man. I just need time to sort things out... that, and I've got wayyyyy too many other fanfics I write besides this one... sadly at the same time. But you'll see what happens.
Me: It won't be finished "soon" but I swear to you it will be finished.
Nuintincowen: Thanks soooo much!
Cat15: I hope you continue to think they're great... hehehehe.
Magical Myth: Noooo! Don't feel like a wimp! I cried writing it... well... not true... Okay, when I wrote it I hated Elizabeth because the first two chapters were based on the POTC book. By the time the third or fourth chapter came out, the movie was finally out. Then, I loved Elizabeth because she was freakin' awesome in the film. So then I went back and re-read what I'd done... and then cried. There is a sequel, yes. It's filming in 2005 and it's supposed to be partly in New Orleans. But I swear, they'd better bring back Will Turner (because it's too obvious that he's not dead) or I'm gonna scream! *laughs* I do love Aragorn too, as one can tell from my many LOTR fanfics, but Leggy's still my fav. No one's got it like Orli, man... no one.
Falcon Shade: Was this one more to your liking in length? Hmmm? *laughs* Sorry, I've had writer's block. This chapter took me 4 days to write!
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Author's Note:
It took my four days to write this chapter... FOUR FREAKIN' DAYS!
Will: At least it's done.
Hey wait... you're not my muse! Where's Legolas?!
Jack: He went out for a walk, mate.
Where's Aragorn?!
Will: Not here, either.
But... but... Well, you guys are still really sexy... but where's Legolas?!
Jack: Of for bloody sake, girl! We're your muses for this bloomin' story!
You are?
Jack: Aye!
Oh... in that case...
*Jumps and hugs Will*
Hi!
Will: Ummm... Jack... she's clinging to me.
Jack: That's the price o' fame, Will me lad. Learn ta deal.
In the next chapter...
I don't know what's going to happen.
You and I both will be surprised...
All this and more in the next chapter!