AN: I've been writing so intensely to make up for the lost time and give you more chapters in a fast pace, that the end of my bed's mattress shifted about half out of the bed…Let's see if it paid off ;)

Entry 13

"Ye're lucky. I couldn't find any major damage aside for some bruising and the bump on yer head. Ye'll be suffering from headaches and possible dizziness for some time, but more or less ye seem to be fine."

"Thank ye Edward", I told me former Captain, smilin' at th' man wance he was done examinin' me middle torso for possible fractures, although th' lack o' pain had awready said a lot aboot me health. But efter we'd gained a peedy break from work he'd insisted oan havin' another mair profound keek at me to be sure, efter gettin' validated o' me to be awright Edward noo givin' me room to sit back oan me seat wi' a wince. Me pressin' a fleetin' haun oan th' biggest bruise o' all I'd discovered to have appeared to me left side.

I could hardly toe th' line as wance again me thoughts reeled back to recall all that I'd learned from William efter we'd been forced to join Davy Jones' crew. Th' hatred I felt towards Sparrow only increasin' when I'd found oot th' miscreant to have lied to William to have 'im board th' supposed Flyin' Dutchman in search o' a key he'd claimed to help to save Elizabeth's life. Only for 'im to be ambushed by Jones' crew efter findin' us aboard th' Cornucopia, Sparrow's original purpose apparently to have been to use Will to literally repay some debt he owed to th' Captain. Details o' what kind o' a deal yet unclear to William as weel, but what mattered was that we were' noo trapped aboard this accursed vessel because o' that pirate. Weel William was, me 'n' Edward had been juist in th' wrong place at th' wrong time…Which however didn't come as utter chagrin to me, as this unfortunate event had efter all made it possible for me to be wi' William…Nae that he seemed equally enthusiastic aboot me company as had been established th' first moment he'd seen me.

Furthermair th' fact that I was aboard a mystical vessel (that was supposedly tasked wi' a purpose o' ferryin' souls from this world to th' neist), worked to th' bone by a cursed crew who resembled mair that sea monster than men, every single one o' 'em causin' me skin to crawl wi' their slimy, translucent skin 'n' bodies covered or consistin' completely o' all that I could imagine to crawl oan th' ocean floor; from starfishes, corals 'n' crustaceans to actual body parts 'n' other distinct characteristics o' different sea creatures lik' in th' case o' th' shark headed First Mate. 'Im frightenin' me th' maist wi' his merciless eyes 'n' in every wey terrifyin' presence. 'N' 'ere I had been thinkin' to fear nothin' mair than a bloodthirsty gang o' men attemptin' to take ower th' ship I was aboard, findin' meself in a situation that was a lot worse, even Jones had speared oor lives instead o' havin' us murdered lik' poor Larry.

But naw matter how much I wished to be somehwer else, I'd quickly come to realize that there wasn't a wey escapin' from th' ship, everythin' becomin' even mair complicated when instead o' plannin' an escape William had informed us to try to find 'n' then steal th' key from Jones as originally intended. Me nae understandin' th' importance o' it, but back then had juist let th' matter be, taken how taut he seemed to become whenever I'd spoken to him. His aloof wey o' actin' causin' me to lose all courage to try to work oot th' problems atween us.

"You're a doctor?" William inquired suddenly, speakin' for th' foremaist time in fifteen minutes or so as eyed at Edward, me directin' a doilt keek to Edward whom I saw nod for me ultimate astonishment.

"I quit me studies when me father demanded me to rejoin the Navy", Edward answered, sittin' by me side as leant his heid against th' ship's hull. "The title of a doctor didn't sound revered enough for him as a man of military upbringing and a family of long line of respected Marines."

"Ye ne'er told me this", I said in surprise, Edward tiltin' his heid at me indifferently.

"Who I am now and who I used to be are two separate things entirely…Ye've acquiainted yerself with the current Edward McConaughey, so what ye should be more interested in is the man I have become."

I approved by smilin', in fact realizin' noo meself to have wondered Edward's natural ability to operate when he'd examined me at first at th' wrecked ship 'n' then later 'ere. His evident skills 'n' knowledge aboot medicine comin' thro' when William had voiced oot th' conclusion to me observations, me examinin' Edward for awhile 'til William's voice cut me train o' thought again.

"What happened at the archipelago?" he accosted, nae hostilely but quite flabbergasted as his eyes moved from Edward to me questionably, leanin' oan his knees. "Because I'm sure not to believe Spanish privateers to have caused you to run into those shoals so badly that your whole ship was in such shambles by the time I got there."

William frowned when he saw me flinch, me gaze fallin' to goup at th' deck below as Edward was lost to his thoughts for a moment, me thinkin' back to th' terrifyin' moment when the' Cornucopia had been assaulted by that gigantic beast o' unknown origin. Me fillin' wi' terror as could see gey vividly how its tentacles had ripped th' vessel apart lik' a feeble structure built oot o' twigs, draggin' th' sailors intae th' water one by one, eventually tryin' to swallow th' remains o' th' Cornucopia 'til at th' last minute had abandoned th' wreck ontae th' archipelago for some reason. Me wrappin' me arms aroond meself as held back th' quiver th' roar o' th' monster was close to trigger wance I noo could hear its horrendous ring in me heid. Me shakin' it to dispel th' unnervin' rememberance as Edward finally responded, takin' William by complete surprise. 'Im however nae keekin' as shocked or even remotely dumbfounded as I expected efter Edward had finished.

"I don't know what it was…All I do know is that just as me crew was fighting for its life against that Spanish Argosy that was coming at us with all the predominance it hold against us in hand to hand combat, something attacked them. A monster of enormous size that was able to drag their ship into the sea in a blink of an eye, interfering with the battle. Giant tentacles next creeping over me ship's gunwale once it was done hunting down the Spaniards, proceeding to prey onto me men until there were but few of us left, the being tearing through the ship's hull with its teeth before it snapped her in half. Tossing what was left of her onto that cluster of rocks. That's what happened. A devil from hell emerged, bringing destruction at its wake."

I shuddered, tryin' to bypass th' chillin' comparison o' Edward's that mair or less seemed accurate to adapt to practice to describe oor run in wi' th' beast, me nae bein' able to imagine any other place that creature could've crept from. As long as I then stole a glance at one o' th' Dutchman's crewmen at th' main deck 'n' couldn't stop meself from thinkin' how fittin' it actually was this ship o' mere legends to pop up juist efter we'd been faced wi' a similar kind o' ludicrous unlikelihood. While considerin' a possible connection only in th' subliminal part o' me mind me noticin' William to pale a wee, his gaze strictly at oor feet 'til I saw 'im to frown. Releasin' th' pent up breath he hadn't even noticed to have withheld.

"William, what is it?"

"I know what was it that attacked you", he replied, Edward's heid snappin' doonward to gawk at 'im surprised as I simply eyed at 'im, nae kennin' what to say when lik' wance afore he filled in th' blanks for us. "It was the Kraken."

Edward keeked streenge at th' sound o' th' name o' th' creature responsible o' th' loss o' his ship, but although for a short moment he seemed lik' burstin' intae an icredulous laugh, he turned equally serious soon efter even he at th' time would've wanted to go against William aboot such a ridiculous claim to hold true. He efter all had seen th' beast wi' his ain eyes (sort o'), aware o' this his visage hardenin' where I faced William in utmaist wonder. Unlik' Edward havin' no clue what that thing was any mair than durin' th' moment I was runnin' awa' from it.

"Kraken?" I stated quizzically, William avertin' me gaze wi' a brisk nod where Edward turned to me, frown set upon his coupon as weel.

"Haven't ye heard any of the stories spread amongst the sailors, even amidst the ones ye sailed with?" he queried, me simply shakin' me heid in confusion. "It's bad news, Randa."

"It gets worse", William cut in, straightenin' his posture as a fleetin' bitter flicker could be spotted from his eyes when he brought up Sparrow. "Before the Black Pearl sailed over to that archipelago in search of the Dutchman, we paid a visit to an old acquaintance of Jack's. A voodoo priestess with special abilities who told us about the Dead Man's Chest Jack was after, helping us to locate the ship so that we could acquire the key needed to open it. But on the way there I learned the real reason why Jack was so eager to meet with the woman, why he'd been acting so strange even compared to his usual self, and wanted to know about the Chest…Gibbs told us him to be afraid of a certain beast that he said to do bidding for Jones…His very own sea monster with tentacles and breath that reeks of death. And for what I understood Jones had left him with a mark that was calling the creature to him."

"That…thing that tried to kills us… belongs to Captain Jones?" I asked efter gaspin' at th' sound o' a certain issue William had mentioned briefly, noo stupefied. William tiltin' his heid.

"I doubt there are many sea creatures prowling these waters, so that would be my guess."

"And it is after this Sparrow fellow, is that so?" Edward spoke up, foldin' his arms pensively.

"Certainly. I've never seen Jack so distraught, and he was terribly scared to sail the Pearl away from the shallows, so he must've been consciously trying to remain out of the Kraken's reach."

"But why did it attack Edward's ship, if it's Sparrow it wants? That Spanish Argosy? Did Jones send it to sink Cornucopia instead?" I remarked, exchanging a keek wi' Edward, 'im also gainin' a tint o' hatred in his eyes. Me seein' th' muscles o' his jaw to clench.

"I don't think he did…something else must've sicced the creature to abandon its original prey and track us down", Edward deduced, lettin' oot a deep, frustrated sigh. "Whatever the case this Sparrow seems to be exactly the amount of trouble as I've heard…especially if I just lost me livelihood because of a being that was supposed to drag his ship into the abyss instead of mine."

"Which is exactly what I don't understand…If the black spot Jack was carrying was left so that the Kraken could find him, what caused it to take down your ship instead of the Pearl?" William wondered in turn, me thinkin' aboot that for a moment 'til a silly thought occurred to me. Me recallin' somethin' Edward had said to me during oor battle against th' ravagin' beast.

"Th' hat."

Th' men turned to me in utmaist bafflement, noo wearin' a frown each when they in turn had no clue what I was referrin' to, me bumpin' Edward lightly wi' me haun as tried to mak' 'im remember wi' a significant goup.

"When we were runnin' from th' Kraken, ye said it to be drawn to th' hat I was wearin'. Th' one yer men fished oot o' th' ocean nae all that much prior to th' attack."

Edward had a realization, William's coupon also fillin' wi' understandin' efter his fleetin' confusion. Me nae even noo almost findin' enough ground to believe in such a far-fetched 'n' nae to mention idiotic idea, it nevertheless bein' th' only thing I could think o' to explain oor theory aboot th' creature to have been summoned by somethin' afore mistakin' th' Cornucopia as th' Black Pearl. Th' only thing connectin' th' two ships wi' Sparrow miles awa' from th' scene bein' that tricorne hat. For me followin' surprise Edward makin' a freish even a bit fascinated frown as removed th' hat I was noo wearin, for me dismay me noticin' it to be th' very same we were talkin' aboot.

"I thought that thing got swallowed by th' creature!" I breathed, me eyes lik' plates as Edward turned th' heiddress aroond, shakin' his heid when nothin' stood oot to offer justification to me suggestion.

"I found it laying right next to ye…I don't see any catnip for sea monsters so I might've as well been imagining that thing to have targeted ye for a reason", Edward remarked, resortin' to sarcasm when th' topic at haun had hit a whole another level o' laughable. Flippin' th' hat back to me, William's eyes followin' th' motion 'til he nodded towards th' heidpiece.

"That's Jack's."

"What?" I stated, glancin' at th' hat oan me lap.

"He wasn't wearing it when I found him from that cannibal island…I assumed him to have lost it. And it seems I was right, the typical for his luck accident pretty much saving his life."

Efter rememberin' to have found th' hat familiar efter Mateo had gifted it to me (who would've kenned for a reason such as that it to belong to Sparrow 'imself), I then forgot everythin' we'd been discussin' for th' last few minutes as took a double tak' aboot what William had juist said, shocked. "Cannibals?"

"That's a story for another day…" William said wi' a dismissive wave o' his haun, for a moment me thinkin' 'im to break intae one o' those gentle smiles, 'til his features turned back to earnest. Me deterrin' a sigh as Edward's voice noo continued.

"And I encouraged ye to go after that pirate…Ye were right Randa, that man is bad for business."

I smirked a wee at th' amused lift o' his eyebrows, abrupt bangin' sound nevertheless claimin' oor attention then 'n' we saw one o' Davy Jones' men to have appeared to th' stairs leadin' doon to th' covered tween deck were were usin' for oor breather. Steppin' oot o' th' shadows 'n' catchin' th' light o' a lone oil lamp so suddenly that he frightened me, heavy rain hittin' against his spine covered back, th' big fish lik' eye that had stretched a bit oot o' its place due to th' similar spikes oan his coupon widenin' as th' man impatiently kept smackin' th' rail o' th' staircase to urge us to move.

"Break time's over! Back to work!"

I groaned, standin' up reluctantly as efter th' wey we'd been practically flogged to work rigorously 'til th' last ounce o' oor strength had finally ran oot 'n' th' Boatswain had been forced to give us a respite, I didn't feel meself any mair energized. Th' previous as weel as th' first hours at th' service o' th' Dutchman to have awready drained me from all determination, me body protestin' against th' idea o' workin' any mair tonight as I took a few steps towards th' stairs. In th' end comin' to a ditherin' halt as William 'n' Edward followed me cue, William bein' th' first to head for th' flight o' stairs. Efter a brief deliberation me encouragin' meself to follow 'im, stoppin' 'im 'til he'd made it too far for me to back doon, upon decidin' me to need to clear at least some air atween us me placin' a haun oan his forearm.

"Could I talk to ye for a minute?"

William turned to me in surprise, but soon keeked lik' his stone faced self as locked gazes wi' me, me hastily takin' back th' unwanted touch by pullin' me haun awa' once his eyes were cast doon to goup at it. Me keekin' awa' from 'im as weel as regardless o' all I'd prepared meself to tell 'im me mind then went blank, but th' awkwardness I could sense buildin' up left as I then heard Edward to approach us.

"I'll go ahead to initiate the workload."

I gave 'im a thankful nod when he'd picked up me wish to have some alone time wi' William, William nae refusin' me request but neither he said anythin' as we then returned back deeper intae th' innards o' th' tween deck to have privacy. 'Im stoppin' in front o' me, his set features revealin' nothin' 'n' makin' it even harder for me to produce th' words I'd reheased time 'n' time again. Me avoidin' his gaze at first 'til took in a breath, closin' me eyes as turned back aroond to gaze intae his eyes, 'im however surprisingly beatin' me to th' chase upoan speakin'.

"You shouldn't have come after me."

I was taken aback by his sudden remark, 'til got ower it wi' a questionable frown. William glancin' towards th' main deck. "Your Captain told me you to have searched for me. You shouldn't have, Miranda."

"I had no choice", I answered, deviatin' from th' subject I'd attempted to bring up, but this was equally important. "I came to warn ye."

"About?"

"Ye were right. Me uncle is plannin' somethin' terrible. I found a bunch o' suspicious documents from his study that hinted towards several executions, mentions o' illegal financial transactions wi' several important clients o' th' Company, compulsory purchases o' enterprises 'n' fortunes o' th' revered families along wi' a petition for a law that would put everyone in Port Royal under danger o' hanging if enforced... 'N' Elizabeth is one o' 'em to face that threat, William. Along wi' ye."

"I already know that. I don't trust your uncle, and am not sure should I trust you either taken how attached you've had time to grow to your roots", William retortin', th' sharp edge in his voice cuttin' but I didn't let it dishearten me.

"Naw William, I'm serious. Me uncle has no intention o' freein' either o' ye, 'n' has composed a list o' names o' those suspected o' relations wi' pirates he's goin' to wipe from th' face o' th' earth wi' that emergency Martial Law, 'n' both o' ye are oan that list", I revealed, William turnin' a tad mair serious then due to me urgent tone.

"Beckett can't do anything as long as Governor Swann will be there to stop any of his undertakings at first hand", William countered, skeptical, his frown deepenin' wance he witnessed me followin' distress.

"Ye left, ye weren't there to see me uncle's influence stairt to affect oan everythin' 'n' change things in Port Royal to that extent that soon nae even th' Governor can have a say in 'em, William. Me uncle is th' appointed representative o' th' King, 'n' regardless o' Governor Swann's post as th' local enforcer o' th' town's management 'n' its laws, his influence will nae hold against me uncle's."

"You don't know that", William stated surely. "Under no circumstance would Governor Swann give in to Beckett and allow his only daughter to be hanged unjustly."

"Are ye prepared to place yer faith in that belief? Ready to possibly have Elizabeth 'n' later yerself pay for it wi' yer necks?" I inquired, causin' William to gasp 'n' his risen anger cooled doon momentarily. 'Im thinkin' a moment 'til keeked awa', indifferent face oan his coupon.

"I don't care what happens to me. All that matters is that Elizabeth will be safe", he said, me droppin' me eyes at th' sound o' his gentler voice afore took hold o' meself.

"Then listen to me."

William turned to me again, indeed listenin' noo mair eagerly when I'd proven to offer 'im some insight to th' prevailin' situation.

"Ye cannot go back to Port Royal. If ye do, either wi' th' compass or wi'oot it me uncle will have ye detained 'n' locked in prison 'til ye will be maist certainly hanged wi' Elizabeth 'n' everyone oan that list. I found yer arrest warrants 'n' burned 'em, but aren't convinced it to be enough to halt th' process yet alone me uncle's plans for ye. Which is why ye have to stay awa'."

"I cannot leave Elizabeth!" William exclaimed acrimoniously, steppin' closer to me wi' an ootraged keek in his eyes. "I will not leave her. We might've had our differences of late, but I never would've believed you to tell me to abandon her to death just to save myself."

"I'm nae sayin' that!" I stressed. "Juist biddin' ye to be cautious 'n' think what ye're goin' to do from noo oan. Elizabeth will be awright wi'oot ye returnin' to fetch 'er, as Peter would ne'er allow anythin' to happen to 'er, yet alone let oor uncle to kill her. She's too important to 'im to let 'er face th' noose…"

"What do you mean?" William asked, me freezin' juist slightly when I realized to have let somethin' unintended to slip me lips, as William still had naw idea how in luv me brother was wi' his wife to be. Me keepin' it that wey as simply shook me heid.

"Me point is that nothin' is goin' to happen to Elizabeth as long as Peter's wi' 'er to secure 'er safety in yer stead. So ye should act accordingly 'n' stop playin' further intae th' Company's hauns by stayin' awa' so that me uncle cannot arrest ye too. I beg o' ye, William."

"You came all this way to beg me not to return?" William said poignantly, his followin' words aimin' to hurt me 'n' I did press me heid doon for a fleetin' moment as received his mordant allegation. "Are you sure there isn't completely other reason you don't want me to return to Elizabeth? It sure seems like it when I think back about how unsupportive you've been about our marriage."

"We didn't part in th' maist ideal terms last we saw one another", I stated, William only quirkin' his eyebrows.

"We did not."

"I ken nothin' justifies th' wey I've acted…but I'm 'ere to atone", I told 'im sincerely, in fact gaspin' noo meself when I could see William to turn angrier, as was but given 'im starin' back at me in grave disbelief.

"How is that possible when the last time I had a proper conversation with you, you basically severed all further ties with me?!" he exclaimed, me blinkin' me eyes at th' face o' his flared up indignation. Hardly keepin' meself together when for th' first time I behold his true resentment towards me, it causin' me hert to squeeze painfully as he narrowed his eyes at me. 'Em being far from that warm color o' brown while they hold mine, turned but hard. Th' essential words feelin' lik' stickin' to me throat again as I felt th' tears o' remorse to well up in me eyes, me lettin' oot a distressed breath as felt me cheeks to flush for deserved sense o' shame William's unabated delivery made me feel. Oor conversation trailin' off as if as a continuation to th' last fight we'd had in his apartment.

"You say to have come here because you were worried about my safety… But what I fail to comprehend is the reason why you should care at all what happens to me, why you keep shoving yourself back in my life when you told me to back straight off from yours and have nothing to do with it any longer! That's what you said to me, Miranda, and now that I've finally decided to take note of your wishes and refrain from involving myself with you anymore, you show up here demanding the opposite by meddling into my affairs. After what you told me you have no right to get involved in this matter, as like you yourself announced there's no reason for us to keep caring for each other's fate when we've already decided upon them! I decided on Elizabeth at the cost of renunciation of your friendship, were you decided on Taran at the cost of not even that little. Your desires were quite cleared to me back at that stable, even further by your absence at my wedding."

I gazed doon in utmaist abashment, his disappointment mixed in wi' distinct ire truly hurtin' me, when th' situation seemed to turn exactly as bad as I'd imagined while finally face to face wi' William. Me closin' me eyes in brief loss o' words, th' difficulty to keek intae his eyes again hinderin' further me current burnin' desire to prove 'im wrong, to apologize to 'im. Me hearin' William to sigh once he'd calmed doon, 'im eyein' at me efter a long time o' nae bein' able to face me either at th' heat o' his frustration.

"I hope you understand that by coming here in search of me you've made me even angrier. I don't understand you, know you any longer, and cannot fathom what is it you want of me anymore when I already granted you your wish by leaving without a promise of any further dealings with you."

"I want ye back, William", I finally spoke up, bemusin' William by th' keek in his eyes, but he misunderstood me. Although me luv for 'im had nae diminished nor vanished me noo kennin' any wishes to have it returned by 'im were but wishful thinkin' that had led to this riff to have been built atween us, pullin' us apart even further from afore every moment we would yet remain estranged. Me finally lettin' go o' me bitterness enough to admit to want to have even that wee that was left when I couldn't have his hert, decided to go efter that what he'd awready offered many times. "I want yer friendship. I want to earn it back, 'n' by comin' here at th' risk o' me uncle's anger 'n' darin' to possibly have me ain name added to th' list o' sentenced for me betrayal, I partly hoped that to speak o' me desire to reconcile."

William gouped back at me blankly, measurin' me as his breaths came oot heavy, me bein' able to see 'im to be still quite mad at me as I confronted 'im bravely wi' a sincere face. Takin' in another breath to keep th' tears at bay noo when I was mair calm 'n' wouldn't maist certainly benefit for sheddin' 'em in front o' 'im nae to appear manipulative (to mak' it seem lik' I was tryin' to win ower his complaisance wi' pity). Me in turn daunerin' closer to 'im.

"I've had time to think durin' these past weeks 'n' I…want to say I'm sorry aboot everythin' I've said to ye. Done to ye…"

I cringed when William abruptly twirled aroond wi' a heedless eye-roll, boltin' at th' sound o' me words as clearly didn't want to hear any more o' me explanations he maybe deemed but excuses. Me pleadin' voice however managin' to stop 'im afore he had th' chance to leave me hangin' wi' th' maist important part o' oor exchange I hadn't yet had th' chance to deliver.

"Please, William! I ken this is the last thing ye want to hear especially so late, but please humor me this one mair time 'n' let me explain. Apologize", I said emphatically, frankly as watched William to turn back aroond tardily, eventually th' sternness o' his mien stairtin' to melt awa' bit by bit as he listened me to explain meself, lik' I should've done right from th' stairt. Me hopin' me followin' confession o' nae me feelings this time, but me assent o' me mistakes to mak' 'im see me words to be mair than mere pretext. Me seekin' courage to speak from th' deck again as th' knot in me stomach churned for th' sadness o' th' words I was to say, nevertheless me kennin' 'em have to be said or I'd lose 'im for guid wi'oot another chance to redeem meself.

"Ye are right aboot me as weel. I don't deserve yer friendship, yet alone yer forgiveness", I stairted, glancin' doon as William was visibly surprised, me noddin' me heid in consent. "For th' last year I've wronged ye for th' sake o' me ain grief 'n' anger, nae givin' ye a chance to mak' up yer deeds to me by pushin' ye awa' stubbornly, hurtin' ye wi' me indifference 'n' inability to allow ye to be happy wi'oot me. I haven't been th' friend ye deserve 'n' needed, 'n' I'm sorry for me lack o' support aboot ye 'n' Elizabeth's marriage…Ye deserve to be happy 'n' luv 'er mair than anyhtin', I've always kenned it but refused to accept it due to me ain hertbreak…Ye did hurt me William, by leavin' me for 'er, 'n' I was juist so affronted by ye sudden change o' hert that I wasn't able to cope wi' what ye wanted. Focusin' so much to meself 'n' me ain disappointment. That's why oan th' day o' yer wedding…I juist couldn't brin' meself to come. 'N' I regret that decision forever, 'n' I do understand what ye feel for Elizabeth 'n' have come 'ere to tell ye that I'm nae goin' to further demur ye wi' me childish resentment. Forgive me, William. I ne'er wanted things to turn this wey, but they did because I was too weak to face th' truth, punishin' ye for it. 'N' I should've been at yer wedding, I really should've… Forgive me…"

At th' end o' me tirade I turned awa' a bit to hide th' tear that slipped from th' corner o' me eye, wi' a deep sigh me wipin' it wi' a brisk brush o' me fingers, aside turnin' dejected me actually also feeling relieved when I'd gotten all that aff me chest efter such a long time o' broodin' ower it. Me noo concentratin' in listenin' to silence as William didn't respond, 'n' I didn't expect 'im to. To have awready prepared for th' fact that he might've nae forgiven me noo, or ever. Me sendin' a regretful keek efter 'im wance I heard 'im stairt to dauner towards th' stairs, however comin' to a swift halt, causin'a freish wave o' relief to wash awa' th' chagrin when I saw his lips to have actually curved up to a smile. William meetin' me eyes, his irises wance mair warm.

"Apology accepted."

I offered a weak smile back, still rather ashamed o' meself me then simply tryin' to go past 'im, only to be startled when I discovered th' very same crewman to be standin' nae but a few steps behind Will. Leerin' at us in irritation as I stiffened, matchin' his goup me ain jittery.

"Turner, Ruthford, get yer mangy sterns up on the deck stat!" he barked, me blinkin' afore lowered me gaze. Th' crewman but glarin' at us as followed us to obey, William liftin' his eyebrows.

"Ruthford…Robert?"

"Don't ask", I whispered back, surprised when I was neist jerked forward by th' crewman, me obediently stairtin' to scurry ower to th' flight o' stairs, 'til heard an odd clang from behind me. Glancin' ower me shoulder to see William crouch doon to pick up a peedy pocket watch that I had totally missed to have laid oan th' deck. Me soon recognizin' it as he turned it in his hauns while followed us, frownin' at it where th' crewman returned to th' upper deck level first, givin' me a chance to speak.

"That's Edward's. It was a gift from his maw, guid that ye found it. He would've been upset if he'd lost it."

"Yes…I'll give it to him later", William agreed, his countenance somewhat streenge as he seemed to be occupied wi' some perplexin' thought, but I didn't ask aboot it as pushed against th' rain 'n' climbed up to th' deck. Th' spine faced crewman instantly pressin' me back to me station, wi' another deep sigh 'n' deterred wince me delvin' back intae th' slave work. Joinin' Edward.

Four hours we drudged in th' doonpour o' rain, th' water fallin' from th' heavens turnin' quite strenuous when th' work was burdensome enough, th' rain makin' everythin' slippery 'n' causin' me feet to lose footin' mair than a few times as I scrambled aboot th' deck in me miscellaneous tasks. Fillin' pretty much similar role that I'd posessed aboard Edward's ship, in that aspect nae findin' th' work challengin' aside for th' exogenous hindrances th' nature had decided to grant us. Me keepin' oan goin' by mere perseverance although me body was turnin' all th' while mair tired, me bemoanin' in me heid when I realized us nae to have even reached th' halfwey o' oor shift. Me entertainin' meself wi' th' organ music that was comin' from th' Captain's cabin, th' sad 'n' quite aggressively played but initially beautiful tune workin' as a welcome distraction.

Efter five minutes o' battlin' wi' th' one o' th' shrouds that had unfastened from th' gunwale in' th' strong wind I heard th' Bo'sun to issue a command for all th' members o' th' crew to abandon their current stations to go haul all th' cannons from th' main deck to th' quarterdeck. Along wi' th' others me goin' ower to th' First Mate 'n' another crewman of th' Dutchman who'd been tyin' ropes aroond th' heavy guns. Me takin' hold o' th' rope efter standin' behind th' sailor wi' a barnacle covered hat, from th' corner o' me eye noticin' Edward to tak' his place behind me, 'til th' pullin' begun. Th' crew stairtin' to set th' pace for th' constant hauls by callin' 'em oot one efter another, me arms screamin' for strain as I struggled to maintain a tight grip o' th' wet rope. Me fingers slippin', but somehow I managed to stay in th' rhythm wi' th' rest, me soon directin' a brief glance aboot th' deck 'n' saw William to be busy wi' th' same task at th' other side o' it, afore I gazed up to see how far had oor cannon risen. Only to find it to get stuck in th' air wi' th' followin' haul, us pullin' th' rope in vain a couple o' times, it nae budgin' 'til it abruptly stairted to alight. Th' cord loosenin' in oor hauns.

"Secure the mast tackle, Mr. Turner!"

William keeked up at th' Boatswain upoan hearin' his name, squintin' against th' droplets o' rain as perhaps wasn't sure had he heard right, th' impatient repetition o' th' Bo'sun's command however clarifyin' his doubts wance his eyes were then turned up to se th' danglin' cannon.

"Step to it!"

William rushed off towards th' quarterdeck, me pleadin' 'im to hurry in me mind as eyed at th' all th' time fallin' cannon that was inchin' towads us. Causin' me hert to skip a beat wi' each jerk when I feared th' rope to give in afore William could secure it, shouts comin' from th' direction he'd vanished however claimin' me attention. Me leanin' back as pulled th' rope as tight as was able, turnin' to gaze towards th' upper deck, in th' end seein' nothin' due to all th' water that streamed to me coupon because o' me slanted position. Me hearin' William to snap at someone 'til th' mast tackle abruptly tightened mair, me sighin' for relief, 'til efter a short moment saw th' rope to go completely languid in all o' oor hauns. Us havin' no time to even keek up when th' cannon fell straight oan top o' us, topplin' ower th' crew, me hittin' me heid lightly ontae th' deck that caused me awready existin' headache to flare in a form o' freish dull pain at me temple. Me releasin' a moan as felt th' weight o' one 'n' a half crewmen oan top o' me lower torso, me back as well protestin' efter gettin' slammed ontae th' hard floor because o' collapsin' Rudy. Everyone stiffly risin' back oan their feet miraculously unharmed, juist afore th' even louder commotion from th' quarterdeck caused all o' us to turn aroond. Me palin' wance I noo saw William, sprawled against th' gunwale efter th' detached mast tackle had caused 'im to fly thro' th' air, th' enraged Boatswain pointin' at 'im efter arrivin' to th' scene wi' another crewman.

"Haul that weevil to his feet!"

I let oot a concerned breath as watched two crewmen to lift William up roughly at th' command o' th' Boatswain, me vision gettin' blocked by th' banister as he was then dragged forward. Th' rest o' th' crew hurryin' towards th' upper deck to see what was happenin', as did Edward 'n' I, me runnin' up wi' th' rest o' th' men in haste. Only to freeze when I came to a startled halt at th' leadin' edge o' th' spectators, 'n' saw Bo'sun to tak' a lash from his belt. Me eyes shiftin' from th' whip holdin' Boatswain to th' man standin' by his side, whose full attention was oan William. His face appearin' streengely shocked to me, but I bypassed th' man as me gaze instantly focused oan William who instead was secured neist to th' rigging by th' unrelentin' hauns o' th' crewmen. Edward takin' hold o' me as wi'oot thinkin' th' consequences I automatically was aboot to dash to wrench th' lash from th' Boatswain's grip wance saw 'im raise it above his heid. Edward's voice serious as it whispered in me lug.

"Don't, unless ye want to be next."

"Five lashes to remind you to stay on 'em!" th' Bo'sun roared, his arm aboot to brin' doon th' lash, but for me surprise 'n' relief th' crewman in his vicinity stopped 'im by grabbin' his arm. Th' Boatswain as weel as everyone present turnin' to goup at th' man taken aback, me relaxin' a tad in Edward's grip as examined th' crewman in bafflement, followin' 'im to be hatefully glowered by his fellow sailor.

"Impeding me in my duties?" th' Boatswain seethed. Th' man who in fact keeked mair human than th' rest o' th' crewmembers standin' in front o' William resolutely as locked gazes wi' th' Bo'sun unfazed, makin' 'im th' least pleased to be opposed. "You will share punishment."

"I take it all."

"Will ye now?"

I flinched as Captain Jones' voice abruptly carried from somewhere behind us, me 'n' Edward steppin' aside wance we turned 'n' saw 'im to have appeared at th' top o' th' flight o' stairs. Approachin' th' Bo'sun 'n' th' other sailor wi' vehement steps, his face consistin' o' nothin' but austerity, me only noo realizin' th' organ music to have stopped playin' immediately efter th' accident. Me takin' a wary step closer as watched Jones to stop in front o' th' insubordinatin' crewman.

"And what would prompt such an act of charity?" he inquired, inclinin' his heid at th' man in front o' 'im who seemed to hesitate then, slowly turnin' towards William who was levelin' equally confused gazes to his unexpected savior as me. Th' crewman's eyes turnin' a bit softer wance they rose to eventually goup at William.

"My son…he's my son."

I blinked in dismay, nae at first comprehendin' what th' man had said, as efter a quick flabbergasted examination I couldn't detect any similarities atween 'em. Sharin' William's sentiments entirely when he whipped aroond in incredulity at th' sound o' th' crewman's revelation, frownin' at th' man momentarily stupefied. Captain Jones seemin' surprised 'imself 'til he went closer to th' upperhanded William, glancin' from th' supposed son to th' presumed father, afore I could hear a laugh o' derision to erupt his lips.

"What a fortuitous circumstance be this!"

Cruel tint had crept intae his voice at th' end o' his sentence as he neist faced th' Boatswain wi' a vicious smile. Extendin' his haun forth to receive th' whip from 'im, me stiffenin' wance mair 'n' directin' an alarmed keek at William afore me eyes shifted to his father. Th' realization aboot th' change in th' situation causin' th' knot in me belly to tighten for plain abhorrence but for entirely different reasons this time.

"Five lashes owed, I believe it is", Jones continued, takin' a cue o' his words his men shovin' William back against th' rigging as his father was noo presented wi' th' lash. Shocked by th' Captain's unimaginable cruelty me attention returnin' to Jones who was exchangin' a deadpan stare wi' th' sailor in front o' 'im, Mr. Turner keekin' up to th' man wi' no merciful bone in his body in horror. Shakin' his heid wildly as cringed awa' from 'im.

"No. No, I won't!"

"The cat's out the bag, Mr. Turner!" Captain Jones snided, scowlin' 'til directed a remarkable keek to William's direction, th' malignancy in his uncarin' eyes added to th' threat o' his voice causin' William's father's decisiveness stairt to crumble. "Your issue will feel its sting be it Bo'sun's hand, or your own."

I keeked to William's father in dissent when efter refusin' to touch th' whip 'n' resultin' in Captain Jones handin' it back to its owner to carry oot th' punishment, eventually I saw Mr. Turner to snatch th' lash wi' a cry o' furious protest. His ain eyes hard as they held his Captain's for a fleetin' moment, 'im then eyein' at th' whip in his haun grudgingly, afore his loth gaze again rose to William in regret. Edward tightenin' his grasp aroond me arm to keep me from interferin' yet again as I jolted upon watchin' William's vest to be removed 'n' his shirt torn in half to reveal his bare back. Sense o' nausea 'n' disgust ower Jones' brutality causin' me stomach to flip when me uptak' came to cope wi' th' ghastliness o' what was goin' to happen. Although bein' a common practise aboard ships to punish wrongdoers, th' fact that it was William standin' ower there shirtless 'n' his ain father holdin' th' whip to deliver th' set number o' lashes makin' me sick. Me releasin' a horrified breath 'n' winced awa' as followed th' whip to dig intae Will's back th' first time, wantin' to scream for 'im to stop but nothin' came oot as I recalled Edward's warnin'. 'Im seizin' me lips by squeezin' me forearm surreptitiously as th' second hit was delivered. Efter th' third th' anguish efter all growin' too overbearin' for me to manage to hold th' cry o' terror in, me understandin' me mistake second too late when me ain fate had awready been sealed.

I placed a startled haun oan me lips efter me notably high pitched exclamation halted Mr. Turner's haun from landin' th' fourth lash, me eyes visitin' William who drowsily turned to give me a glance, 'til me attention was drawn to th' crew aroond me. Each 'n' every one o' 'em havin' their eyes peeled oan me efter hearin' me scream. Edward cursin' behind me back as took protective hold o' me again, Captain Jones walkin' ower to me to measure me, me haun slidin' doon as I let oot a fretful breath. Hidin' me coupon, it however doin' wee to help noo when th' secret was oot 'n' I could feel me hat to be jerked aff me heid by one o' th' crewmen, me closin' me eyes as me hair fell oan me shoulder as a final nail to me coffin.

"A woman?"

That word sounded amongst th' crew repeatedly as everyone reached a consensus aboot me true gender in amazement, me takin' a step back as glanced aboot th' coupons that were instantly lit wi' anger. Edward attemptin' to push me behind 'im but was captured by Jones' men, me gaspin' wi' a startled cry as th' Captain's huge clawed haun neist hurtled to wrap aroond me neck. Me keekin' up to'im in fear as he turned me heid from one side to another, baleful keek replacin' th' previous severity o' his irises when th' truth dawned to 'im.

"Punishment for impersonating as a man is death by hanging", he informed me, shivers runnin' doon me spine as I locked gazes wi' 'im. Fillin' wi' dread that seemed to please Captain Jones, 'im jostlin' me intae th' awaitin' arms o' his First Mate, juist as Edward 'n' William's voices rose for an intense outcry. Jones keekin' at 'em afore returin' his attention back to me, th' hammerhead forcin' me oan me knees by juist grippin' to th' back o' me neck.

"No? Then perhaps a more lenient chastisement is to go by in this instance", Jones consented, me lettin' oot a relieved breath, but me fleetin' sense o' ease vanished wance th' Captain faced William's father again. Motionin' his men to release William afore I was immediately hauled up again 'n' walked forward to tak' his place. Me feet slidin' across th' deck in futile resistance when th' two strong men wrenched me wi' 'em, but a wee affected by me frantic writhin'. Jones' boomin' words echoin' in me heid in all their horror as in a blink o' an eye intense tremor kicked in, me nae bein' able to gather any o' me courage as had juist previously seen what had happened to William. It replayin' in me heid, unsettlin' me completely as owerheard me sentence.

"Ten lashes for enlisting to service under false pretences."

"No…no, please!" I cried as was set against th' ropes, th' owerpowerin' arms keepin' me from further strugglin' as I shook me heid in plead. Tears o' fear wellin' up as I saw Mr. Turner to come behind me, ready to follow his Captain's command, Jones simply standin' by his side wi' a similar kind o' savorin' smile oan his lips as afore. Me earlier relief o' seein' William saved from further floggin' noo fadin' to panic when I was to receive th' undelivered hits 'n' mair instead o' 'im lik' Edward had warned me. William strugglin' against th' deterrin' hauns that kept 'im from runnin' to me same as Edward. Both o' 'em joinin' me pleads by demandin' Mr. Turner nae to got thro' wi' this, me releasin' an aghast cry wance th' crewmen removed me jacket, me ain shirt rippin' apart soon efter. Me bein' able to feel th' searin' pain oan me back even afore th' whip had landed oan me skin.

"Please, no…"

I hadn't realized such a voice to be possible to be produced from me throat as for th' followin' seconds that passed all I could hear was meself scream, in terror 'n' agony as wi' each freish swing th' cord seemed lik' cleavin' intae me flesh deeper. In atween th' lashes me feelin' blood trickle doon me sides as me knees gave in under th' pressure o' pain, lik' so many times efter leavin' home me mind tryin' desperately to fathom how could've I found meself from such a situation. Tears seepin' thro' me tightly shut eyes as I tried to maintain th' smartin' o' me slashed open muscles, me nae kennin' by th' time o' which lash th' pain became too much for me to handle 'n' I blacked oot. But barely conscious when th' whippin' finally ended 'n' I felt meself collapse, tryin' to fight against th' faintin' sensation that me heid seemed to prefer ower th' agony o' me achin' back, as I was then caught. Captain' Jones' voice nae managin' to pierce thro' me conscious as I faintly registered meself to be hauled somewhere, goin' oot lik'a candle afore comin' to again, tryin' me hardest to force me eyes open but I wasn't in any control o' me body that was owerwhelmed by pain unlik' I'd ever experienced.

"Two days should be enough time to rebate your deception", Captain Jones stated, me feelin' me languid body to slump against somethin', me hauns brought above me heid afore as th' second part o' me castigation I presumed 'em to be tied wi' rope by th' slight twinge o' tension that circled 'em. Me nae bein' able to hold back th' quiet yelps when even th' act o' breathin' caused me back to convulse, as heard Jones say somethin' else I couldn't quite mak' oot afore faintin' again. Th' clomp o' his wooden leg bein' th' last thing I remembered aside for th' terrible burn o' th' gashes.

"And should anyone dare to release this dissembler before the completion of the punishment…They will suffer the same fate."

AN:

I wish that made do as a plot point. My tank was terribly out of ideas surrounding this part of the film, even I have toooooons of notes concerning the next one, so…beauty's not pain, it's the writing, hah! It's always a bitch when you're (cough, yours truly) trying to figure out some decent plot and instead you're stuck with all these parts of dialogue etc that would fit to another project completely…Well, hopefully all of you like what you've read so far and if you don't…you know what to do!

Scottish vocabulary:

Pronouns etc:

o'= of, th'= the, 'em= them, oor= our, 'n'= and, intae= into, 'er= her, 'im= him, me = my, nae = not

Recurrent & other words:

maw = mum/mother, afore = before, me = my, hert = heart, wee = small/little, awready = already, ken = to know, efter = after, doon = down, as weel = as well, goup = stare, wance again/mair = once again/more, 'til = until, likelie = probably, keek = look, ower = over, aboot = about, streenge = strange, wey = way, haun = hand, ain = own, oot = out, neist = next, lik' = like, gey/pure = very, stairt = start, heid = head, awa' = away, wey = way, wi'oot = without, o' coorse = of course, dauner = walk, freish = new, wi' = with, juist = just, peedy = small, doilt =confused, thro' = through, ne'er = never, lugs = ears, naw = no, coupon = face, face = expression, 'ere = here, goup =stare, aff = off, luv =love, utmaist = utmost