Hector Barbossa: Beginnings

By: Kimmie-Sama

Chapter Thirteen

Even in the bright daylight outside, the room where Barbossa was dragged into was darker then if the middle of night came upon them. Only the light from the candles on the chandlers gave enough visibility to the dark colors and lavish gold's and silver's the area was cluttered with. Chairs were around him, but the only table visible was one in the far corner of the large room where a few people sat.

Not surprised to see a few women lounging around the room, he gave them all quick glances at their faces as if expecting to see Lucina. Yet none of the powdered faces matched and even if he could not tell their hair color from being covered by white wigs, he knew it would not be that easy. At the table he was dragged to, he looked over the few men who sat quietly and watched.

Barbossa knew which one was Chevalle within a moments glance. A curled wig was what the man wore under a navy hat, his face powdered in similar fashion of the ladies around the room. He was attempting to be a aristocrat, high in society. It would seem that he and Chevalle had related tastes in lavish things, so perhaps it could be worked in his favor.

As he drew closer to the table he heard the men with Bo'sun pause further back. A sudden jab from a man at his side made Barbossa glare at the one's around him.

"Le Capitaine, cet homme vous demandait de nom.*" French was spoken by the man next to Barbossa, his head lowered slightly to the man he spoke to. It was odd for a Captain to be treated so respectably away from his ship. Unless of course his role was something more. With a thought Hector spoke quickly before Chevalle could retort.

"My fellow Captain, I am Hector Barbossa, Lord of the Caspian Sea." He struggled in the grip of the men around him, doing his best to give a slight incline of his head.

It proved his theory to be correct, for as soon as he finished speaking Chevalle stood from the table and waved his hands. "Permettez-lui d'aller, mais ne vous égarer pas loin.**" In a moment he was free from his captors and they took strides back away from his form. He gave a glance back at Bo'sun who was still held tightly, but did not worry about him. As long as he was in control of the situation he would be able to leave here with no problems.

"I thank ye, Captain." Hector did his best to act humbled, taking an aditional bow to the standing man. The other two men at the table were silent as they looked him over. "Forgive me if I seem to bold but-"

"What brings you to Marseille, Captain Barbossa?" The accent was thick but he could hear the aristocrat in each syllable.

Hector lifted himself as he watched the French pirate sit back into his chair. "Somethin' was taken from me and I have been serchin' to find it. Rumor has led me here to yer fine town."

"You must tell me what item in question would make a pirate Lord wander so deep into another's territory. Unless you have lied to me about your Lordship, because last I recall a man named Aison held that station." The two men who must have been his bodyguards were gripping the hilt of their cutlass and pistols, almost ready for Hector to start charging.

"Aye, Aison was the last man to hold Lordship. But few years back he was killed by the East India Trading Company." Barbossa pushed away the lingering memory of Aison's final words and the sounds of his final battle alongside his mentor. "As his first mate he made me successor."

"My condolences for his death." It surprised Hector how civil Chevalle was acting towards him, but something still did not seem right in his calm demeanor. "But you have yet to answer my question. What item is it that you search for?"

Now the barter would begin. "It not be an item, per say. But a person, a woman who was taken from me ship in the Caribbean port known as Tortuga."

"A woman. You have ventured so deep into my waters and my lands for a woman?" His laughter made Hector put off. Yes, it did seem foolish. But he did not care at this point what the man would say. "I must say now I am interested in your story Hector Barbossa." With a wave of his hand another chair was brought over by a man who earlier held Hector captive. "Sit down and let us talk over some wine, monsieur."

Doing as told, Hector looked over the men on the sides of him, hands now on the table and not their weapons. Goblets of wine seemed to come just seconds after he sat by another powdered faced woman. She gave Barbossa the most coy of smiles before leaving the table again to the men.

Chevalle lifted his goblet with a smile towards him. "I too am a Pirate Lord, of the Mediterranean sea. So our talk will be civil and accounted for, Captain Barbossa. Now tell me of this woman."

Luck seemed to be on his side this day. Toasting his wine he took a drink with a grin. After setting it back on the table Hector leaned in closer. "Her name be Lucina... Yeh could say she was my ward. She is a French lass, who was taken and sold at a port in northern Morocco. I heard she was bought by a famous Captain in Marseille..." With a small bow of his head, Hector gave the other man a serious look. "By you."

A look of disgust came over the face of the Lord, his hand gripped in a fist on the wooden table. "Oui, I remember this woman. I bought her, I did. Only to save her, Captain. French men who sell their own women are not men at all."

Hector almost retorted with the words along the lines of the selling of men and women he saw today in the square but bit his tongue. That was a talk for another day. "Then I take it the pirates who took Lucina...?"

"My men took care of enough of them." Chevalle was calm once more, hands pulling at the lace around his wrists. "It still seems odd to me that a man of your stature would care so deeply for a young girl."

"Let me put it this way." Barbossa took another sip of the red wine, enjoying the taste. "I 'ave put much gold into makin' this lass into a fine lady for me own personal reasons." Hector pulled on the coat he wore, trying to show off the gold buttons in the low candle light. He studied the face of the French pirate and tried to smile. "Of course I will pay yeh back any amount you paid for her."

Another look of disgust came across Chevalle's face. "It sounds to me that you are treating this woman just as poorly as those men who took her."

If a look of offence was over his face it was because it was true. "I have done nothin' to Lucina to be judged as such. It be simply me own reasons but I do wish t' see this girl unharmed and in a respectable port as a lady. Not some wench for pirate's company."

Silence passed between the men as they observed each other. After taking the last drink of the goblet in front of him, Chevalle stood from the table and gave Hector a weak bow of his head. "Sorry to inform you, Captain Barbossa, but where the lady is, is not in my knowledge. After we arrived to Marseille I let her go to find her own way in her own country."

It was if the hope he had crashed into his chest all at once, making him hastily rise to his own feet. Barbossa let out a deep sigh, speaking low. "Then I thank yeh for the wine."

The three men left quickly, with no other words exchanged. Behind him he heard some words in French and then the heavy steps of the man who had followed him ashore. It was if a long moment of despair passed over him, staring off at the walls covered in heavy tapestries.

"Sir, she not slave to men now, that be what you want." Bo'sun's think accent made him snap out of his despair.

It was true, he did find out that at least where ever Lucina was she was not some man's toy. In fact she was back into her own county of France, where her own beauty and the few years she received in the Lady Mabb's household would be enough for her to find a wealthy suitor and become a rich Lady in the world.

But even something about that made Hector on edge. For some reason he felt a heavy ball in the bottom of his stomach drop at the thought of Lucina looking for a suitor in a nobleman or aristocrat.

With the lingering pain dull in his gut, he left the room.

--

It had been hours since Barbossa left the dark rooms of the private retreat of Captain Chevalle. Bo'sun had retired back to the docks and his ship leaving Hector alone in the port town to wander the streets. He found that the wine he drank with the other pirate Lord was his new fancy, because when he stopped into a small tavern he bought a bottle to take with him. Rum was always a good drink to have but there was something about the red drink that struck him.

Maybe it was because it reminded him of Lucina's home, the county where she had been born and raised. Finding himself at the docks, Hector settled to take a seat on the edge of an empty pier and toasted the night's sky by himself before partaking in the red alcohol. The waters glittered with the reflection of the stars and moon, its small crescent form barely giving off enough light for Hector to see his own feet hanging off the wooden dock.

This was it. His journey here was for what? To know that Lucy was safe. It was not his responsibility anymore if she was now in her homeland and making her own ways in life. Other men came to her rescue and took care of the men who stole her from him. Not that she was really his to begin with.

The night dragged by but the bottle helped it along with each drink. Soon it was gone and with an annoyed sigh he dropped the bottle into the ocean below. Tomorrow he would leave port, this country just reminded him to much of the woman he had grown to care for.

With a small stagger he stood from his sitting position, it felt like he had been there for hours. Turning to walk back down the pier, he paused as he saw a few men walking towards him. There was no boat here, so their intent was clear. He knew flashing the small gold he owned and the sashes of fine cloth would grab some murderous men's attention, so he was ready for them.

Barbossa drew his cutlass and waited. This would be an easy fight, all he would have to do is imagine these men where the ones who stole the blond girl from his cabin.

Or better yet the suitors that dared to claim her now.

A/N: Wooo getting good. At least I think so... would love some reviews people, just to let me know if its good.... :)

Also, the french dialogue I got from a translator online... this is what it comes to:

*="My Captain, this man asked for you by name."

**="Let him go, but do not stray far."