Chapter 13

While Jack waited to ensure Sly and his friends were well away from the ship and out of sight, Jewel helped John down to the first mate's cabin where he lay down in the bunk. His wound was not serious, and she was able to stop the bleeding and apply a clean cloth to it. She made him comfortable and stayed a few minutes until he finally fell asleep. When she quietly left him, she returned to Hawk's cabin where alone and able to relax at last, she went over to the basin of cool water and looked at herself in the mirror. She remembered Jack cleaning her face a little when they first got back on the ship and was grateful for his thoughtfulness, yet she still yearned for a bath and the feel of clean clothes.

Putting that thought aside for the moment, she washed her hands and removed her dirty shirt. Her hands and arms were sore from her earlier fight with Joe Hooper and her struggle to get out of the abyss. She felt a weakness in them when she handled the sword before Sly and his mates and was grateful she did not have to fight them. As she probed her arm, she noticed a slight bruise had already begun to form and was certain more were to follow. She chuckled to herself hoping she would not have to give her father a reason as to why she had bruises on her body. Turning her attention back to cleansing herself, she washed her face, arms and neck and was pleased that a good supply of soap was kept on board. After drying off she went to Hawk's closet and selected another shirt to put on and once dressed, found the comb and fixed her hair again with the ribbon, allowing it to hang down on her shoulders.

Confident that she now looked a little more presentable, Jewel left the room and went up to the upper deck where she leaned over the stern of the ship to look out over the water. Malik was at the helm and occasionally glanced over at her whenever she moved about the deck, gazing covetously at the medallion she wore. This time when he looked at her, he took in a deep breath and closed his eyes. His body trembled and when he opened his eyes again, he smiled and began to hum a familiar tune before turning away from her. Jewel heard him and recognized the tune as the same one she heard Hawk hum one time before. She was surprised by the coincidence and suddenly felt the presence of malice alerting her senses of danger. Not sure what it meant she cautiously walked over to him convinced it was the medallion that captured his greedy attention.

"Don't let greed sway your purpose, sir," she warned him. "It belongs to me and me alone, and any thoughts you have of possessing it are useless. You know you can't win against me. I have the power, and I'm not afraid to use it." She reached around to the front of the wheel for the imbedded knife and pulled it out, holding it confidently to show she did not fear him.

"I like fire and passion in a woman," he replied smiling at her.

Jewel's eyes widened with surprise. She stared at him for a moment unable to speak but quickly left him to return to the main deck. Had she heard him correctly, she wondered, for she remembered Hawk saying those very words. She knew something was not right, and a feeling of foreboding grew strong within her. She certainly did not trust him, but Jack needed him to serve the ship, so she would just have to watch him carefully and bide her time until they met up with the Black Pearl. When she turned to look at him once more, he was still smiling at her.

Bothered by Malik's behavior and her instinctive feeling of danger surrounding him, Jewel slowly walked to the bow of the ship and threw the knife overboard, then closed her eyes as the wind whipped up her hair from behind and blew some of it in her face. She was still tired from the previous few hours and tried to calm her feelings of apprehension. The sunlight felt warm on her face, and for the first time in years she looked to the future with a clear sense of relief and freedom and with joyous thoughts of being alive and going home. She missed her parents remembering how much they loved her and worried that news of her abduction would devastate them especially after all they had been through because of her these last three years.

Jewel touched her medallion as it still hung around her neck and thought again about Malik's apparent interest in it. Not wanting to risk further temptation, she removed it. She held it in her hand and admired it for it was certainly the most beautiful treasure she had ever seen or owned. She also knew it was dangerous and not something to casually be wearing. Running her fingers over the smooth, shiny surface once more, Jewel felt the energy of its power surge slightly through her fingertips. Though she knew the power of the medallion belonged only to her and those who knew the sacred chants, the sheer beauty and value of it was enough to make it a sure target for thieves and other unsavory sorts. Still she was proud of owning it and even more so of what she had accomplished with it. She tearfully smiled at the memory of her victory and giving a little sigh, carefully put the medallion back in her leather pouch.

Jewel closed her eyes taking in the smells of the ship and the sea and thought again about her parents. They did not know she had actually arrived a week ago in St. John's. She had decided at the time not to make her presence known since she had to leave and accomplish her mission. When no one was looking, she changed her clothes and disguised herself as Rafe. She found a secluded place to hide her belongings behind some bushes near the docks and there found a small fishing boat, the same one that eventually led her to Jack and the Black Pearl. Jewel thought about the captain and their short time together both as Rafe and as Jewel, and was happy he had come into her life.

"Jack," she said softly to herself.

"I'm here," whispered a voice close to her ear.

Jewel was startled by his presence but quietly relaxed when she felt his hand touch her on the shoulder. She wondered if she should say anything about her foreboding feelings regarding Malik, but when she looked at him, she decided not to burden him with further complications. Jack seemed strangely serene and with good reason. Save for Malik, Hawk and his men were gone, and they were safe and on their way to meet the Black Pearl. He was anxious to be back with his men, yet he still had the British soldiers and Riggs to take to St Johns. This he would do at any cost. Then there was Jewel. He had promised to get her home safely, and that was a promise he could now easily keep. All was well, he decided, and he could finally get some rest.

"The Pearl should be arrivin' in St. John's in the mornin," he reminded her. "It won't be long before you're back home with yer family."

"I'm not even sure I know how to live that safe and secure life anymore," she replied as she turned her face a little to look at the water. "I've been in a different world for three years now and not exactly doing the kind of things a woman should be doing. What man is going to want a woman who's more suited to being a pirate than a wife and mother? I guess I could always be a cook in a tavern, like you said, and dare anyone not to like my cooking." Jack grinned and pictured her in the middle of a bar brawl throwing bottles of rum and food at rowdy customers. He forced himself to look serious as she continued. "Seeking justice for Edward has altered my life. I have killed, Jack. I have their blood on my hands."

Jack sensed her guilt yet knew her actions were justified.

"You killed defending our lives and the lives of others. They killed for simple pleasure. Not quite the same."

Jewel nodded in agreement, and Jack turned her around to face him putting both hands on her shoulders and looking into her eyes.

"Ye must put all this behind you. Ye're free now. You can do anything ye wanna do," he said seriously. "Yer life is yer own now with so many possibilities. Sure, ye can live with yer parents, or go back to England, or live on another island here or..." He paused and wondered if he should continue.

"Or what?" she asked looking at him inquisitively.

"Well," he hesitated and looked out over the water. "Nah, 'twas a rather wild thought and could n'er have worked out."

"Please tell me anyway."

"Uh, well, I had a notion that ye could…" he started to snicker, "stay on the Pearl." He saw the startled look in her eyes, then quickly added, "And be our cook, of course."

Surprised and a little shocked at what he said, Jewel stared at him. Feeling too awkward to face her, he avoided her eyes and looked down at the deck waiting for her response. When he could not wait any longer, he smiled and finally looked up. Jewel looked into his dark eyes and reached up to run her fingertips softly along his lips remembering their kiss in the cave.

"What do you mean… stay on the Pearl?" she quietly asked. "Ride the high seas with you on the Black Pearl… as the cook, of course, while you surprise and attack other ships for their booty. Then I suppose I could wait and hope that maybe, just maybe you and the others wouldn't get killed in action or caught and hung." She slowly shook her head. "I may seem hard and tough, Jack, but I still have a woman's heart. Do you think I don't care what happens to you?"

Jack saw tears form in her eyes, the same eyes that had only several hours ago helped to vanquish the notorious Hawk and his men. Now, however, they were hurting and vulnerable. He had not meant to hurt her feelings and was confused by her reaction and lack of appreciation since he was going against the code by even suggesting life on board the ship to a woman. Still he tried to ease her concern.

"Jewel, take a deep breath and look around you. This is what I have to offer," he replied taking a deep breath himself. "Freedom. Freedom to be yer own person, to see the world and its wonders, and also to be with… me." Jack cleared his throat and was surprised by his own offer.

Jewel did as he said and took a deep breath. She remembered how she felt watching the sunset with him last evening, and even though so much had happened since then, she still felt the same way about him. But now that she had survived the confrontation of Hawk and his men, she had to look at her future more realistically.

"Yes, Jack," she replied, "I understand you all too well. It is a good life ... for you and your men, to be free as the wind and sail the seas, never being tied down. I wish I could be like that, but I'm a woman, and I need different things; security, a husband, home, a place to put down roots. I want to have children one day and give them the love and care my parents gave me. I hardly think I could have those things on the Pearl. Besides, it's bad luck to have a woman on board a ship, remember?" Jewel sadly began to move away from him as a tear rolled down her cheek. "I will miss you, Captain," she whispered lowering her eyes and turning to walk away.

Jack frowned and watched her leave but did not try to stop her. He felt bad, but what she said was right, and he knew it. He turned to look at the sea once again and soon began to realize the pain of emptiness that was slowly burning in his heart. This is what Rafe meant when he told him about filling the void in his heart with feelings and not being afraid to need and want that special person, that he would meet the one woman who would accept him; she, who was of the soil, trees, rocks, and streams. At first, Jack did not understand it then suddenly remembered that she had also said that to him in the cave. There she had told him, she was the one. She knew it then, and now he was able to admit it. Jewel was the one, but had he now lost her, he wondered.

Jack felt caught up in the turmoil of his feelings. She told him what her needs were, but he also had needs. He needed his ship, his Pearl, and all the advantages that came with it; the command and respect of his crew, the freedom to live by his own rules, the risk and challenge of the chase, the adventure, the gold and treasure, the power of reputation and the mystique of legend. He also needed the feel of the helm, the wind and spray on his face, and the lure of the distant horizon. These were the things he valued, and as he thought about them, he realized the one thing that tied them all together, that made all the other things possible. The one thing he needed the most was... the sea.

Jewel went down to the galley to take inventory of what food there was for the evening meal. She was saddened by her conversation with Jack knowing their time together was almost over and still had a few tears to wipe away. She wanted the remaining time to be pleasant and memorable and decided nothing made a moment more memorable for a man than a good meal. She looked around and was pleasantly surprised to see a well-stocked pantry with potatoes, salted beef, and flour. She took several items out to begin cooking and was soon surprised to hear some faint flapping sounds coming from inside a small cabinet. When she opened the door, she saw two chickens nesting in a small pile of hay.

"Well, just look at that! We'll certainly eat hearty tonight, if nothing else," she thought to herself and putting aside her somber feelings, went up to the main deck to talk to Malik.

Jack soon walked over, and she asked him to take the helm as she needed Malik to help her in the galley. Jack had not taken the wheel of the Raven in many years, and it felt good to have that control again. Running his hands over the wood, he thought of the Pearl and his crew and smiled knowing tomorrow, if all went well, he would once again take possession of his own ship. After a short time, Malik came back up to take over once again, and as he came closer he brushed off feathers from his shirt. With John resting below deck, Jack mulled around for a while checking the sails and thinking about Jewel and how he had upset her. He picked up the scattered swords left on deck setting them to the side and decided to look for her in the galley, however when he got there, she shooed him away and told him to go back to the captain's cabin and get some rest. She was making the meal and did not want anyone in her way.

"Say, who's giving the orders around here, me or you?" he asked and quickly ran up the stairs when she came after him waving a pot.

Relieved that she was feeling better, Jack went to Hawk's quarters where he started to rummage through the dead man's personal belongings. Among the usual maps and such he found a loaded pistol, a scope, a gold timepiece, and a small bag of gold coins. Putting the gold and the timepiece in his pocket as payment for the inconvenience of his incarceration, he also found many articles of clothing, boots, belts, and hats. One drawer even held soap, washing cloths and linens, while another held a few combs, a looking glass, and some picks to clean teeth. Jack decided to use this time to recheck the maps since Jewel was busy preparing food. He had just started to look at them when he heard her at the door. He opened it and was surprised to find her holding a large pot of water.

"I thought you might want to wash up with some clean, warm water," she said as she carried the pot over to the table. She carefully poured some of the water into a basin and put the pot down on the side. She next looked for a cloth for him to dry off with and after finding one, folded it neatly and set it by the water.

"Thanks fer… heatin' it up," Jack replied as he watched her and smiled at her efforts to be helpful and domesticated. Jewel smiled in return and left him to go back down to the galley. Jack took a long look at the steaming water and reluctantly stuck his fingers in it. Glancing back at the door to ensure he was alone, he swished them around a few times then took them out.

"Crazy woman. She must've forgot I took a bloody bath just yesterday," he mumbled to himself. "But of course that was before the brig, and the cave, and the sinkhole, and the swordfights." He casually looked toward the door again and shook his head grumbling. "The first time we meet, and she has me takin' a bath. What's with her and washin' up all the time anyhow? Don't she know a man has to be a man…smell and all?"

He sniffed himself and made a face, then looked down at his clothes. They were dusty and dirty from the cave explosion and lying on the ground, but nevertheless just the way he liked it. But for her sake he decided he would rinse them out. After taking them off, he looked for something to wear from Hawk's closet.

"Well, well... lookee here. A wardrobe fit fer a king," Jack murmured as he sifted through the fine assortment of clothes shaking his head. He then paused when he got to the dresses. "Or a… queen," he added and took out a few of the dresses, holding them against his body one at a time. In a mirror on the inside of the closet door, he looked at each one and turned from side to side with a proud and haughty grin. "Who wore all these?" he said aloud. "T'would seem, Hawk, ye either entertained women on board, or just maybe ye had secret hankerin's of yer own." He continued to sift through the wardrobe then stopped. "Oh, yes indeed!" He took out a red dress and held it against him. "Still, it ain't right, me being a sea captain with no dresses in my closet."

Jack put them back and finally found something manly he could wear. Once dressed, he took his own dirty clothes and soaked them in the warm water one piece at a time. When they were ready, he took them out to the main deck and carefully hung them over the side of the ship to dry in the afternoon heat.

"Sufferin' sea serpents!" Jack's eyes widened while looking at his dripping wet clothes. "Where in Satan's name's m' mind?" he mumbled to himself. "Pirates don't give a toad's eye 'bout women's dresses or clean clothes." He looked around to see who might be watching. "Luck 'ave it Gibbs and the men aren't around t' see this. What next, combin' out m' hair?" He shuddered at the thought and feeling the need for some real male company, walked over to speak with Malik.

Jewel already began to prepare the meal and when it was ready to serve, set out the bowls. She first prepared one for Malik and took it up to him at the helm. Jack was still with him when she noticed his wet clothes hanging over the side. Smiling to herself, she thought how domesticated he was becoming, and that he just might find a way to run a comb through his hair. She happily turned to go back to the galley, and Jack soon followed enticed by the delicious aroma of her food. He sat at the table and was surprised to see all the hard work she had done to prepare this meal for them.

"Why 'ave ye done all this?" he asked while looking down at all the food.

"It's just a simple meal," she explained, "but since this is our last night together, I just wanted it to be special for all of us. You know, something you'll remember me by. Besides, Jack, it might be a long while before you're able to get another good meal, and I know you must be hungry." Jack nodded in agreement, and she sat down across the table from him and watched as he began to eat.

"Mmmmm, blessed by the gods, this is good," he said as he savored the flavor of the herbed chicken. "Ye really did work in a kitchen, didn't ye?"

Nodding her head, Jewel smiled and was happy the food pleased him.

"That I did," she answered proudly, "Oh, and I checked on John. He's still sleeping, so I left him alone. He can eat later when he wakes up."

"Mmmmm," he said again while swallowing another tasty morsel, "So, ye think I won't see ye after tomorrow?"

"I think probably not," she said sadly, "but now I want to be honest and tell you a story about a girl and her dragon. I owe you that much."

"Ye mean about the medallion and how ye became the Dragon Lady? Alright, but how 'bout you talk and I'll eat."

Jack continued to eat and enjoy his meal, not realizing before just how hungry all the day's strenuous activity had made him but more so just how good the food was. Jewel watched as he ate and was glad she could do this one thing for him. She had strong feelings for him and knew she would have to start letting them go. The first step would be to tell him everything, so she began to talk about herself, her family and home, about Edward and the events of his death, how she left her home in Savannah to travel to India and from there to the Buddhist monastery seeking spiritual and emotional healing. She told him of her years there working in the kitchen and finally watching the new warriors and their training sessions. Jack listened with great interest when she described how she trained day after day after her chores were done learning the skills and discipline taught by the masters. She worked hard to perfect herself and was eventually granted special permission to take the ancient tests and to attend the ancient rituals, learning the chants in order to use the power of the dragon.

Everything she did after leaving the monastery was for the sole purpose of purging the evil presence in this area by seeking justice for Edward's death. She next explained about the need to disguise herself as Rafe and lie to him, using him as a pawn in her overall plot to get captured by Hawk. When she had finished with her story, she anxiously waited for him to respond. Jack seemed shocked and tried to understand all she had said. He finally laid his knife and spoon on the table giving her a stern look, his mouth swallowing hard the remains of his food. Jewel saw his response and tried to further defend her actions.

"If you remember, I told you in the cave I didn't mean to hurt you or deceive you. I never expected to get that close to you as Rafe, rather… as a man. It wasn't easy for me either; not able to tell you I was a woman at first, not able to be myself. But that's the only way my plan could've worked or at least, that's what I thought. I'm sorry, Jack, but I felt I had no other way."

Jewel continued to wait for a response from him, yet Jack remained calm and looked away from her for a few silent moments. He finally wiped his mouth on the sleeve of his shirt giving her a serious yet forgiving look. She was expecting him to be angry and actually wanted him to be so he could eventually forgive her, but he was not and that made her angry with him. Frustrated, she stood up and walked away from the table. Puzzled by her reaction, Jack got up from the table, but as he took a step toward her, she quickly turned around and confronted him.

"Jack, don't you understand what I did? I disguised myself as a man so I could get aboard your ship." Jack gave her a little smile and picked up a piece of food that lay on the table.

"Aye, ye certainly had the men fooled." He looked at the morsel and put it in his mouth.

"I lied when I told you my name and where I was from. I was never a stowaway," she admitted still trying to get a rise from him, but he continued to smile and swallowed the morsel.

"Nor a rat catcher, it seems." Jack tried to look serious.

Jewel became more frustrated and stepped right up to his face staring him in the eyes.

"I used you so Hawk would find me! I put you in danger along with the ship and crew!

"But then ye killed Hawk and his men," Jack replied with a grin. "Fair exchange, I'd say."

"I told you I wanted to become a pirate but..." Jack put his fingers to her mouth to stop her from talking further then pointed a finger at her.

"But, you already were," he interrupted. "You became a pirate the day ye stole that fishin' boat dressed as a man and purposely stranded yerself in search of Joe Hooper. Lucky fer you, it was the Pearl who saved ye with a captain willing to pick up drifters from the sea. Pirates always lie when in pursuit of treasure or in your case, Hooper, but naturally I… uh… kinda wondered from time to time whether you really were a man. But 'twas yer fightin'… that threw me off."

"Of course. Nothing escapes your keen eye, does it? But is that it?" Jewel asked still confused by his calm behavior. "After all I told you, after all I did? That's all you can say?"

"Aye, that'll 'bout do it, 'cept I'm beginning to believe that women make better pirates than...uh… pirates." He gave her a wry, little grin, and Jewel stared at him shaking her head. "Anyway, all is forgiven." Jewel gave him a curious look.

"Well, Jack, you certainly are a strange man to figure out."

"Ah, yes... but that's the point now, isn't it? Always have them guessing," Jack smiled and sat down again, motioning for her to do the same, "Seems we're the same in many ways, you and me. At least now I can stop thinkin' about Rafe, where he is, and how ye knew him." His demeanor changed as he paused to look into her eyes. "Ye did the world a great justice, not only fer you but for everyone. I'd heard tales of Hooper and wondered about Rafe's obsession with him but just accepted it t' be… a man's revenge, certainly not a woman's."

Jack looked down at the table and continued.

"I'm wise enough not to get close to people and only a few do I trust. Rafe was one of them. But people come into my life and leave it just the same. I can only take what life gives me." Jack then recalled his awkward talk with Rafe regarding women. "Tis a bother to have said some things to you man to man, now knowing you weren't one." He looked up at her. "I understand why ye deceived me. Who better to understand deceit than one who lives and breathes it. But I still wasn't totally fooled by yer appearance." Jewel gave him a dubious look.

"I see, Jack. Well then, I was certainly foolish to think I could deceive such a master of disguise and illusion." Jewel smiled knowing full well he had no clue she had posed as a man.

"Aye, though I must admit, I was strangely drawn to ye as Rafe. Had me worried there. Now I know why. Still I like ye much better without the mustache and beard." Jack studied her face nodding his head then slapped his hands on the table. "And now I have some questions fer you." He thought for a moment as Jewel waited then asked, "How can the dragon be destroyed?"

"Destroy the medallion and you destroy the dragon as well," she began to explain.

"So how do ye destroy the medallion?"

"I can't do it. Fire is the only thing that can destroy it."

"Well, fer certain that be not a problem."

"Not that easy, Jack. I'm afraid it'll take something more than regular fire… only the fires from hell can destroy that medallion."

"What?!"

"Dragon fire! The dragon's fire is the only fire strong enough to destroy the mystical power within the medallion, but the dragon can't destroy it while I'm wearing it. When I go into a trance we become one, and as long as we are one, it can't destroy me for it would also destroy itself. The only way is to remove the medallion from me at the opportune time. But you must remember, Jack, the dragon can only destroy evil, and it's highly unlikely that someone that evil will have possession of my medallion at the very moment the dragon destroys them. Oh yes, I almost forgot… even if the dragon destroys the medallion and therefore itself, if I'm still in the trance with it, I'll also die. One last thing, if however the power in the medallion is destroyed, the medallion itself becomes just a simple gold medallion like any other."

"Luck be cursed!" Jack murmured. "What's the quickest way to get out of the trance?"

"The quickest way is that which conquers all fire. Water!"

"Water? Not… holy water?" Jewel laughed and shook her head. "Well, that's… very interesting," Jack remarked thoughtfully. "Alright, enough said 'bout that. Now to my other questions. How did ye ever manage to throw that knife and cut the ropes on m' hands, and more importantly, what about that… kiss?"

Jewel was relieved and took a deep breath. She was glad she told him everything and was ready to put it all behind her. Now she could enjoy the voyage with him until their rendezvous with her father. With that out of the way, she now felt inclined to answer his others questions.

"Jack, as for the knife, I learned to throw it as part of my training. When you throw for hours at different targets over the course of three years, you learn not to miss, standing or sitting. Your life, or someone else's, depends on it. You understand though, I had to miss the barrel and hit the bell because being a woman I was expected to miss. If I hadn't, you would've wondered about it, and I couldn't have had you doing that."

"And the kiss," Jack asked curiously with a slight grin while watching her with riveting, dark eyes. She laughed and quickly glanced down at the table, too embarrassed to look up.

"The kiss…well, now, that's not an easy one to answer," she began. She got up from the table and walked over to the steps of the galley not wanting to face him. "I didn't know if we would truly survive. Anything could've gone wrong. I…uh … liked you and felt bad I had put you in that situation risking your life." Jack quietly got up and walked up behind her. She slowly turned around to face him and was startled to find him standing so close.

"So then, it must've been out of sorrow and pity that ye kissed me, right?" he quietly asked as he moved a step closer to her. Still embarrassed by the questioning and feeling awkward being this close to him under the circumstances, she casually stepped back and found herself up against the wall next to the galley opening.

"No, of course not. I…uh… was grateful for all you'd done and felt I owed you a kiss or something. That's all," she replied now cornered and nervously looking around.

Jack looked at her with a sweet, boyish grin enticing her with his subtle, seductive, masculine charm. He was enjoying her discomfort for with all the great skill and confidence she displayed as a fighter, and despite her feigned attempt to attract him when they first met, she was rather shy and unsure of herself this close to a man. He purposely took another step closer to her until he was right up on her and to keep her from escaping to the side, he propped up both arms against the wall behind her, one on each side of her face. Trapped, she tried not to look at him, but when he spoke to her, she just couldn't resist looking into those eyes.

"Alright, so ye thought we wouldn't make it out alive, but instead of a long hug and a few heartfelt tears, and especially knowin' I couldn't very well touch ye, ye gave me a kiss that curled m' toes and made me weak in the knees?"

She did not answer but meekly nodded her head.

"Well, woman, I'm not tied up anymore," he whispered and leaned toward her looking at her face and gazing longingly into her eyes. She softly sighed, her heart pounding with anticipation and heat slowly rising up within her causing her face to flush. She glanced down yet he continued to look at her with serious yet tender purpose. His hand gently pushed a strand of hair from her face then touched her cheek. He further moved his hand under her chin to raise her face toward him and moved his other hand gently around her waist to pull her against him. She closed her eyes and waited. Her lips parted, and with a deep breath he closed his eyes as well, but just as he felt the smooth moistness of her lips, he heard a loud cry coming from the upper deck.