The Commodore's Daughter
Chapter Ten
"There!" Anna shielded her eyes with her left hand and pointed with her right. Jack, standing beside her, nodded. Anna couldn't tell whether it was with satisfaction at the speed the Pearl had made, or whether it was resignation at having to deal with her father again.
She chose to believe it was satisfaction. "We're docking at whatever secret place you know of, am I right? Because the marines are going to be swarming this ship if you show your face in the docks in broad daylight. They know you on sight now. My father made sure of that."
Jack winced. "Remind me to thank him for that, will you, love?" Anna grinned and nodded sweetly, which made Jack groan. He wheeled around and bellowed, "Head for the cove!" Annamaria, at the wheel, nodded in acknowledgement and shouted the order to the rest of the crew.
Anna turned to ask what the cove was. She got as far as "What's the –" before a large, coarse, hot strip of black cloth descended neatly over her eyes. She gasped, wordless with shock, and tried to pull it off, but she felt someone tie a neat little knot at the back. "Part of me job," came Jack's very amused voice behind her. "No one but us pirates sees our spot. You savvy?"
"It seems like I have no choice but to be savvy," Anna grumbled. This time it was Jack who laughed. Anna bit her lip, but it was no use – the ease with which she had been caught soon had her laughing too, so hard that she stepped back, lost her balance, and made a wild grab for the rail as she tipped over backwards. She missed the ship, but Jack quickly caught her arm and pulled her back into a standing position. "Thank you," Anna said, gasping a little as she got her breath back.
"No trouble at all," Jack assured her, still laughing. "Just don't make a habit of that – you'll give me a heart attack."
"What?" Anna asked, smiling.
"Then I'll always have to be on hand to catch you."
"You care so much about what happens to me?" teased Anna. But even though her words were light, something fluttered in her stomach that she was fairly sure had nothing to do with falling off a ship.
For a moment Jack was silent. Then he said, "Oh, no, not at all," but his easy, bantering tone had an edge of uncertainty to it. He and Anna said nothing more as the Pearl made her way to the cove, and finally he coughed and left her standing by the prow. Anna heard him giving orders, and guessed he was headed to relieve Annamaria of her duties.
What was that about? she wondered. The fluttery feeling returned as soon as she thought about it, and Anna decided she actually liked it. She bit her lip again, knowing she shouldn't be enjoying thoughts like that and that her sister would be scandalized. I don't care what she thinks, Anna thought suddenly, and was surprised to realize that it was true. I really don't care what she thinks of me. I'm going to live the way I want to live, and not the way I should. She sighed, satisfied, as she made her decision, and held onto the prow as the crew lowered the anchor and the Black Pearl stopped moving.
She felt someone take her by the arm. "Come on," said Gibbs' voice. "We have to get into the city before you can take that blindfold off." Anna let the first mate lead her off the ship and guide her over the rocky ground. She had a vague sensation of passing over some hidden way, and then she heard the sounds of a city – people, animals, rumbling carts and creaking ships. Gibbs hastily untied her blindfold. It fell away from her face, and Anna blinked in the light, drinking in the sight of her home again. She looked around. Thomas' face had the same relief to be home that she was sure she had as well, and Elizabeth and Will looked like they'd been blessed with nothing short of a miracle. Little Kate was busily turning her blindfold into a shawl for her doll.
Anna noticed, however, the absence of one person crucial to her plan. She spun on Gibbs. "Where's the governor?" she demanded, fixing him with a very intense stare.
He fidgeted. "The captain left him on the ship with Annamaria and Zhao. They're too noticeable. He says we'll bring him once we're sure of safety here."
Anna nodded tightly. "Then we'd best go about procuring some." She caught Thomas' eye, and he nodded back. "I'll return when we've persuaded Father."
"You're that sure of him?" Gibbs asked in awe.
"Completely," Anna lied, summoning up a smile from somewhere and following Thomas through the streets of Port Royal.
The city was different, though. She noticed that now, and one glance at Thomas told her that he knew it too. The French couldn't possibly have gotten there that fast – could they have? She stopped a woman and asked, "What's going on here? I just arrived."
There was pity in the woman's eyes. "Are you part of a new shipment of colonists?"
"Yes," lied Thomas. "We both are. I'm her – cousin."
"Well, you'd both be doing yourselves a favor if you turned around and found a ship to take you back to England. Them Frenchies have taken over. Just yesterday. They've taken the governor's mansion for theirs."
"What about the commodore?" Thomas pressed, his eyes large with worry.
"Oh, they haven't gotten to him yet, but they will soon. No, poor Commodore Norrington's safe now, but he won't be for long. I just hope the home country hears and comes quick enough to help us. I hope the governor and his family made it back safely."
"I'm – sure they did." Anna dipped her head in thanks. "Thank you, mistress." The woman nodded and made her way past them. No sooner had she left them than Anna grabbed Thomas' arm and fairly dragged him after her through the streets. "We have to get to him soon!" she tossed over her shoulder by way of an explanation. "While the house is still safe!"
Thanks to Anna's speed, they reached the house quickly. Anna let go of Thomas and pounded hard on the door. It opened slowly, and Elizabeth Norrington's frightened face peered out. She gasped with relief when she saw Anna and Thomas. "Oh, thank goodness!" she cried. "You're back!" She pulled the door open wider and herded them in. "We've all been –"
"Elizabeth," Thomas interrupted. "I'm sorry, but it's urgent. Where is Father?"
"Oh." Elizabeth furrowed her forehead in thought. "I believe he's in the study –" Anna and Thomas both shot off instantly in the direction of the commodore's study, leaving Elizabeth standing, somewhat confused, in the middle of the hall.
***
Commodore Norrington sat, slowly moving his pen across a piece of paper. "The situation here is critical," he said under his breath as he wrote the words. "The French launched a surprise attack a day ago. We attempted to hold them off, but we were caught surprised, and their fleet was superior to our cannons. They wasted no time in taking control. Please send aid to help recover the colony of Jamaica for England." Norrington paused for a moment before reluctantly signing his name without his title of commodore.
He laid down his pen and shook sand over the letter to dry it. He was about ready to shake the sand back into its jar when he heard footsteps pounding toward his study. He reached for the letter to hide it – and sank back, stunned, into his chair as Anna and Thomas burst into the study. "Children," he managed before Anna threw herself at him and hugged him. Thomas was not long in following his sister's example. Norrington put his arms around them and held them tightly, staring in wonder at them. "How did you –" he finally started to ask. "What happened?"
Anna looked at Thomas and took a deep breath. "The Mermaid was attacked. By pirates." At his look of horror, she hastened to add, "None of us were harmed. Only the ship was the Black Pearl, and its captain was –"
"Jack Sparrow," Norrington finished heavily.
"Captain Jack Sparrow," Anna corrected. "Father, we have a plan to get rid of the French. Listen to me. Jack's crew is here in Port Royal." Thomas, with incredible foresight, had moved behind Norrington's chair, and he now held his father down as Anna went on. "If the governor were to come back, the citizens would rally to him, wouldn't they?"
"Yes," Norrington agreed.
"That's what I thought. I told Jack that they would, if he brought us back. Now we need a safe place to keep the governor while we spread the word. I was hoping we could all stay here." Finished, Anna heaved a sigh and waited nervously for her father's verdict.
"Well, of course," Norrington agreed. "All but the pirates –"
"They must have a promise of protection before they'll bring Governor Swann into the city. And I do not want them harmed, Father."
Norrington stared, aghast. "You're throwing in with them? Both of you?"
"It's the only way to retake Port Royal!" Anna cried. "Please, Father! Would you rather we remain a French colony now?"
Norrington sighed heavily, bitterly. "Very well. I shall not harm them."
Thomas let his father go. "Thank you," Anna said quietly. "I'll go tell them." She slipped from the room, down the stairs, and back into the city streets. Wending her way through the crowd, she traced the path of her madcap dash through the city and back to the small nook where Gibbs waited. "Bring them in," she told him. "Tell Jack it's safe. Bring the governor back. But keep him hidden. I'll wait and lead you all to the house."
Gibbs nodded and ran quickly back in the direction of the cove. Anna watched him go, swallowing hard. "First step accomplished," she muttered. "Second – we'll see how that goes."
Author's Note: I'm so sorry I haven't posted this whole week! I had PSSA tests this week, and it was just hectic. So I do apologize, and more chapters are on the way! (And thank you to everyone who's reading this!)
Chapter Ten
"There!" Anna shielded her eyes with her left hand and pointed with her right. Jack, standing beside her, nodded. Anna couldn't tell whether it was with satisfaction at the speed the Pearl had made, or whether it was resignation at having to deal with her father again.
She chose to believe it was satisfaction. "We're docking at whatever secret place you know of, am I right? Because the marines are going to be swarming this ship if you show your face in the docks in broad daylight. They know you on sight now. My father made sure of that."
Jack winced. "Remind me to thank him for that, will you, love?" Anna grinned and nodded sweetly, which made Jack groan. He wheeled around and bellowed, "Head for the cove!" Annamaria, at the wheel, nodded in acknowledgement and shouted the order to the rest of the crew.
Anna turned to ask what the cove was. She got as far as "What's the –" before a large, coarse, hot strip of black cloth descended neatly over her eyes. She gasped, wordless with shock, and tried to pull it off, but she felt someone tie a neat little knot at the back. "Part of me job," came Jack's very amused voice behind her. "No one but us pirates sees our spot. You savvy?"
"It seems like I have no choice but to be savvy," Anna grumbled. This time it was Jack who laughed. Anna bit her lip, but it was no use – the ease with which she had been caught soon had her laughing too, so hard that she stepped back, lost her balance, and made a wild grab for the rail as she tipped over backwards. She missed the ship, but Jack quickly caught her arm and pulled her back into a standing position. "Thank you," Anna said, gasping a little as she got her breath back.
"No trouble at all," Jack assured her, still laughing. "Just don't make a habit of that – you'll give me a heart attack."
"What?" Anna asked, smiling.
"Then I'll always have to be on hand to catch you."
"You care so much about what happens to me?" teased Anna. But even though her words were light, something fluttered in her stomach that she was fairly sure had nothing to do with falling off a ship.
For a moment Jack was silent. Then he said, "Oh, no, not at all," but his easy, bantering tone had an edge of uncertainty to it. He and Anna said nothing more as the Pearl made her way to the cove, and finally he coughed and left her standing by the prow. Anna heard him giving orders, and guessed he was headed to relieve Annamaria of her duties.
What was that about? she wondered. The fluttery feeling returned as soon as she thought about it, and Anna decided she actually liked it. She bit her lip again, knowing she shouldn't be enjoying thoughts like that and that her sister would be scandalized. I don't care what she thinks, Anna thought suddenly, and was surprised to realize that it was true. I really don't care what she thinks of me. I'm going to live the way I want to live, and not the way I should. She sighed, satisfied, as she made her decision, and held onto the prow as the crew lowered the anchor and the Black Pearl stopped moving.
She felt someone take her by the arm. "Come on," said Gibbs' voice. "We have to get into the city before you can take that blindfold off." Anna let the first mate lead her off the ship and guide her over the rocky ground. She had a vague sensation of passing over some hidden way, and then she heard the sounds of a city – people, animals, rumbling carts and creaking ships. Gibbs hastily untied her blindfold. It fell away from her face, and Anna blinked in the light, drinking in the sight of her home again. She looked around. Thomas' face had the same relief to be home that she was sure she had as well, and Elizabeth and Will looked like they'd been blessed with nothing short of a miracle. Little Kate was busily turning her blindfold into a shawl for her doll.
Anna noticed, however, the absence of one person crucial to her plan. She spun on Gibbs. "Where's the governor?" she demanded, fixing him with a very intense stare.
He fidgeted. "The captain left him on the ship with Annamaria and Zhao. They're too noticeable. He says we'll bring him once we're sure of safety here."
Anna nodded tightly. "Then we'd best go about procuring some." She caught Thomas' eye, and he nodded back. "I'll return when we've persuaded Father."
"You're that sure of him?" Gibbs asked in awe.
"Completely," Anna lied, summoning up a smile from somewhere and following Thomas through the streets of Port Royal.
The city was different, though. She noticed that now, and one glance at Thomas told her that he knew it too. The French couldn't possibly have gotten there that fast – could they have? She stopped a woman and asked, "What's going on here? I just arrived."
There was pity in the woman's eyes. "Are you part of a new shipment of colonists?"
"Yes," lied Thomas. "We both are. I'm her – cousin."
"Well, you'd both be doing yourselves a favor if you turned around and found a ship to take you back to England. Them Frenchies have taken over. Just yesterday. They've taken the governor's mansion for theirs."
"What about the commodore?" Thomas pressed, his eyes large with worry.
"Oh, they haven't gotten to him yet, but they will soon. No, poor Commodore Norrington's safe now, but he won't be for long. I just hope the home country hears and comes quick enough to help us. I hope the governor and his family made it back safely."
"I'm – sure they did." Anna dipped her head in thanks. "Thank you, mistress." The woman nodded and made her way past them. No sooner had she left them than Anna grabbed Thomas' arm and fairly dragged him after her through the streets. "We have to get to him soon!" she tossed over her shoulder by way of an explanation. "While the house is still safe!"
Thanks to Anna's speed, they reached the house quickly. Anna let go of Thomas and pounded hard on the door. It opened slowly, and Elizabeth Norrington's frightened face peered out. She gasped with relief when she saw Anna and Thomas. "Oh, thank goodness!" she cried. "You're back!" She pulled the door open wider and herded them in. "We've all been –"
"Elizabeth," Thomas interrupted. "I'm sorry, but it's urgent. Where is Father?"
"Oh." Elizabeth furrowed her forehead in thought. "I believe he's in the study –" Anna and Thomas both shot off instantly in the direction of the commodore's study, leaving Elizabeth standing, somewhat confused, in the middle of the hall.
***
Commodore Norrington sat, slowly moving his pen across a piece of paper. "The situation here is critical," he said under his breath as he wrote the words. "The French launched a surprise attack a day ago. We attempted to hold them off, but we were caught surprised, and their fleet was superior to our cannons. They wasted no time in taking control. Please send aid to help recover the colony of Jamaica for England." Norrington paused for a moment before reluctantly signing his name without his title of commodore.
He laid down his pen and shook sand over the letter to dry it. He was about ready to shake the sand back into its jar when he heard footsteps pounding toward his study. He reached for the letter to hide it – and sank back, stunned, into his chair as Anna and Thomas burst into the study. "Children," he managed before Anna threw herself at him and hugged him. Thomas was not long in following his sister's example. Norrington put his arms around them and held them tightly, staring in wonder at them. "How did you –" he finally started to ask. "What happened?"
Anna looked at Thomas and took a deep breath. "The Mermaid was attacked. By pirates." At his look of horror, she hastened to add, "None of us were harmed. Only the ship was the Black Pearl, and its captain was –"
"Jack Sparrow," Norrington finished heavily.
"Captain Jack Sparrow," Anna corrected. "Father, we have a plan to get rid of the French. Listen to me. Jack's crew is here in Port Royal." Thomas, with incredible foresight, had moved behind Norrington's chair, and he now held his father down as Anna went on. "If the governor were to come back, the citizens would rally to him, wouldn't they?"
"Yes," Norrington agreed.
"That's what I thought. I told Jack that they would, if he brought us back. Now we need a safe place to keep the governor while we spread the word. I was hoping we could all stay here." Finished, Anna heaved a sigh and waited nervously for her father's verdict.
"Well, of course," Norrington agreed. "All but the pirates –"
"They must have a promise of protection before they'll bring Governor Swann into the city. And I do not want them harmed, Father."
Norrington stared, aghast. "You're throwing in with them? Both of you?"
"It's the only way to retake Port Royal!" Anna cried. "Please, Father! Would you rather we remain a French colony now?"
Norrington sighed heavily, bitterly. "Very well. I shall not harm them."
Thomas let his father go. "Thank you," Anna said quietly. "I'll go tell them." She slipped from the room, down the stairs, and back into the city streets. Wending her way through the crowd, she traced the path of her madcap dash through the city and back to the small nook where Gibbs waited. "Bring them in," she told him. "Tell Jack it's safe. Bring the governor back. But keep him hidden. I'll wait and lead you all to the house."
Gibbs nodded and ran quickly back in the direction of the cove. Anna watched him go, swallowing hard. "First step accomplished," she muttered. "Second – we'll see how that goes."
Author's Note: I'm so sorry I haven't posted this whole week! I had PSSA tests this week, and it was just hectic. So I do apologize, and more chapters are on the way! (And thank you to everyone who's reading this!)