Chapter 10

In which two humans embrace each other under the starry sky, knowing it can be the end

It was raining heavily. Agnes looked through the window of her room, trying to figure out what her feelings were. It's the end, a small voice sad in the back of her mind. She should try to get back to reality, to forget her former life, her love, those incredibly brown eyes. And still, a faded picture was floating in front of her eyes, a picture of a could-have-been future. A future in which her heart beats simultaneously with the heart of her love.

This time she simply can't save this man. How could she possibly do that, a young woman against a verdict, against the guards and against the governor? Her eyes wandered down to her hand, to her fingers. And for a second she froze. Would it be possible to...?

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"I'm glad that you accepted my request to talk to you, governor." Agnes looked at the man, her heart was beating so speedy. This could be her last chance." Mr. Norrington" She bobbed her head to the man who was looking suspenseful at her." Mr. Hewitt." Agnes looked finally at her own father. Three men and a woman in the governor's courtroom.

"We are listening to you, Ms. Hewitt, I'm curious what so urgent was." The governor raised an eyebrow.

"I do think that I know." Norrington made a sarcastic roll with his eyes, but Agnes ignored him.

"My grandfather was a pirate." She stated slowly. " He conquered gold, silver and other goods from so many sailors, men and women, and from the state itself."

Dainel looked abruptly at her. What was she doing?

"I'm the grandchild of this man. And I know where the map is, which leads to his treausure." The air forze for a second, but Norrington's smiling voice broke the silence.

"Ms. Hewitt, we all know where that map is. Jack Sparrow himself showed it to Grey. The necklace is in Grey's hand, and we do not know where..."

"Mr. Norrington, I have to ask you to pay attention to me until I finish what I wanted to say. What if that necklace wouldn't lead to the treasure?"

"And how do you know it?" The governor started to show interest in what she said.

"That necklace was not older than one year. I bought it in a fair last year. This is what I got from my grandfather." Agnes raised her hand and all three men's gaze went to the golden ring.

"But Sparrow..."

"Sparrow helped me. He saw me as I realized that the ring could be the map. He helped me." For a couple of long moments nobody said anything in the room. But Agnes had more to say.

"And Sparrow is the one who can still help us. I'm not a pirate, and I have no idea what these carvings on my ring can mean." Another long silent pause.

"Alright. Ask him." The governor motioned to Norrington and Agnes gave out a long sigh. She managed to convince them to wait, to give him time til he tells them what they wanted to hear. But she had no more aces.

"If he helps..."

"He will be free to go."

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The sun was shining, Agnes felt that she could faint in that hot weather. And everything seemed so hopeless she could have cried. No, he wouldn't be free to go. She heard a couple of guards talking about his future with Norrington. She looked at the blue waves, then turned back and looked at a weird man who was standing in front of the wheel, his leg and his hands cuffed to it. The ship was full with guards, and Norrington came as well.

His father was the only one on this ship whom she could trust. No, to tell the truth there was one more man. A man sentenced to death. And the sun was rising high.

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He knew the way. They were close, too close. By the dawn they could reach the shores of that island they are searching. For a couple of seconds he looked at the moon high above, but then he fixed his eyes back to the sea. Steps he could hear from behind, and he prepared himself for another insult from the guards. But this time a gentler voice pronounced his name.

"Jack."

He didn't turned back.

" 'ello, love."

"You know that they said that you would be free to go if you helped. But it was a lie. I heard them talking about you."

Jack put on a boyish grin and glanced at her.

"Do you think I didn't know that? Sweetheart...It's a wild world. Do I have to tell it to you?"Agnes was suprised, but then she bobbed. Jack continued.

"C'mon. In a hour we will reach the shores. I don't think they want to wait til we get back to the town. There will be no audience, except for the guards, and for you of course.

She felt that she couldn't speak without crying. But she forced herself not too.

"Cmon, luv. Don't worry about me."

Agnes froze. And abruptly, all the frustration, all the fears and all the anger from her burst out and with all her strenght she knocked Jack against the wooden wheel.. The chains gave out a long sigh but Agnes didn't care.

"You know what? I do worry about you, I'm fed up with you!" She cried out, trying to be not that loud."And you know what? I don't care how many girls you have in every pub, you DO worry about me too! You helped me with the necklace, you saved my life for a thousand times, and I know that you love me as much as I do love you!"

For a second they just gazed into each other's eyes, Jack didn't say anything, just grabbed her shoulders, and whilst his back slowly slipped down on the wheel til they hit the floor he kept her mouth shut. They were kissing, floating,whoosing,flying,srceaming silently in each other's arms to the rythmic sound of the man's chains. And yes, it might be the end, but those moments felt like eternity. And she didn't know why but she simply couldn't speak, their tongues made a wonderful dance. A dance never to forget.

"Just a hour love. Maybe you should go back and sleep..."

"No!" They were still embracing each other. The sea was silent, the waves were calm. There were so many things which she wanted to tell him, but as he looked in to those eyes, a funny feeling conquered her. It felt as if he knew everything she wanted to tell him. Funny as it was, she felt that this man, whom she met a couple of months ago, knew her, Agnes Hewitt. And she could read from his eyes too. She slowly put her finger on his lips, forced herself to make a smile but she couldn't help her eyes welling up.

"Don't cry, Agnes" Jack muttered and put his palm on her face, his chains met Agnes's skin.

"I'm not crying." There was a break in her voice, but she just looked in his eyes. She tried hard not to blink, because she felt every blink, every move with she couldn't see those eyes were terrible. Then she added, very softly" You called me Agnes."

Jack didn't say anything, as if he wanted to deny what he had done. She could see those funny, boyish and affectionate sparks in his eyes. And suddenly she beacame very.very

calm. Her heart was in an incredible pain and sorrow, that was true. But as funny as it was, she felt herself calm. She felt that she was happy. Yes, incredibly happy. She was in love with someone who loved her back. And now this person was in her arms, literally. She was trying to embrace her as hard as she could, but she simply couldn't get enough of him. And that feeling is something which is not usual. And she knew it well enough to appreciate it.

It took only a few minutes, in fact she thought it was a few years til she could hear footsteps from behind. She knew what that meant, but she simply resisted to turn back. She despeately looked in the eyes of Jack. She strengthened her arms around him, her lips opened, her expression was full with fear, but she did what Jack always told her. She fixed her eyes on his brown eyes, and the outer world was closed out for these seconds. The man muttered the words with his lips:" Just look at me", but she couldn't help her eyes welling up. She tried hard not to, but she couldn't stop herself from crying. This time, she said to herself, it's allowed to cry.

The noise of the footsteps became louder, when someone stopped behind the broken woman. For a long second nothing happened, and Agnes didn't dare to turn back. Jack fixed his eyes on her face, so he couldn't tell her either what was going on. They knew it could be the end.

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Hey,

Yeah I know it's been ages since the last chapter...I hope you liked it...and yes, don't worry, it's not the end. The next chapter will be the THE END of this little story.

Enjoy summer, and this beautiful life!

Nicole