"You often meet your fate on the road you take to avoid it."
– French Proverb
"This ain't gonna work," Pintel grumbled to his perpetual cohort.
"It does seem highly improbable," Ragetti concurred.
"Ain't gonna work," Pintel repeated.
"Dark karma's wot it is, for how he duped that poor girl's parents." Ragetti's eyes focused in deep thought as he hit upon the proper concept. "Kismet is wot I'd say."
Pintel's face crumpled into a look of unqualified confusion. "Wot's kismet?"
"Turkish, originally from the ancient Arabic 'qismah', means fate, a predetermined, unavoidable destiny – in this case, a bad one."
"Both of you, shut it!" Jack ordered over his shoulder as the group traversed the docks.
Gibbs spun about in reproach. "If the cap'n says it'll work, it will……won't it?" he nervously questioned his leader.
"Certainly it will," Jack replied. "There's no bad kismet here. On the contrary, it's quite serendipitous that we've landed where we have."
"Aye," Gibbs agreed, his confidence in Jack returning as he looked about at the squalor of the still-darkened streets and dilapidated buildings in this rather unfortunate part of town where they'd come ashore. "The morning's still new……"
"And," Jack continued, beginning to set off through the nearest alleyway, "all we've left to do is find the most likely prospect."
Will, Elizabeth, and William had spent the morning below playing pirates, a happy diversion that also served the convenient purpose of keeping the child constantly in their company. It was nearly eleven by the time Elizabeth excused herself to make a trip to the galley, spurred on by the demands of her growing unborn child – as well as the rumbling stomachs of her husband and son.
She was gathering up the requested items to picnic back in their cabin when Elizabeth heard a loud noise overhead. Curious, she exited the galley and began to venture above to see what on earth was happening.
Back in their cabin, Will also heard the series of thunks and identified them for what they were: passengers boarding the ship, either Jack and the crew returning…..or worse. Ordering William to stay put no matter what – even going as far as to instruct the child to lock the door behind him and let no one in – Will set out to find Elizabeth, his hand going instinctively to the hilt of his sword.
Above, Jack swung his legs over the rail, bounding down onto the main deck of the Pearl just as Elizabeth was cresting the final stair leading above.
"What is going on?" she asked him. "Were you able to – " But her words died off as additional sets of legs leapt onto the deck: the first of a young boy and the second of a tall, vaguely handsome, rather formidable looking man. "What is this?" Elizabeth guardedly questioned.
Jack nudged the reluctant boy forward. "Elizabeth Turner," he said, holding her gaze meaningfully. "Tell these good people that this is your son."
She looked over in perplexity at the young boy whose wavy chestnut locks and large dark eyes did bear a slight resemblance to her son. Still, with no hesitation, in mystification she answered, "That's not my child."
"See there," a heavily accented voice triumphantly declared.
Following the voice, Elizabeth glanced over to what was now a small crowd of people gathered just beyond Jack near the rail, including an unknown woman and several burly Portuguese men. Though she had no idea who they were, she immediately recognized the man who had just spoken.
"Capitaine Chevalle," she mumbled, now perfectly comprehending what Jack was about.
"You've lied to us, Sparrow," the tall handsome man antagonistically accused, rounding upon Jack.
"No," Jack insisted, shaking himself loose from the man's grasp. "Pay no attention to her. I'm afraid at times her condition renders her slightly daft," he said confidentially, indicating her midsection.
The man diverted his eyes back to Elizabeth, noticing for the first time the small protrusion jutting out from beneath her tunic. He took in the sight, and the accompanying knowledge that she was with child, with apparent great interest. Under his unsettling gaze, Elizabeth involuntarily brought her hands up to fiddle with her blouse in a fruitless attempt to conceal her pregnancy.
"For the last time," the man demanded, now addressing his question to Elizabeth, "is this or is this not your son?"
"That is not the boy," Chevalle firmly repeated, pushing his way to the forefront.
"Can you really be certain of that?" Jack submitted. "Having only seen the lad once and at the tender age of four. Surely a boy can do an awful lot of growing in five years' time."
Chevalle clearly hesitated at Jack's word, exasperating the tall man who Elizabeth now assumed to be Caldeira.
He turned back to Elizabeth. "Is this boy your son?" he repeated, this time his eyes bearing a hint of beseeching vulnerability that made her pity the man. "Please, tell me honestly."
Elizabeth's eyes scanned over the group, doing her best to estimate the threat they posed while at the same time debating over her answer. Her first inclination was to immediately respond in the negative. After all, she had never wanted any part in Jack's scheme and now, witnessing firsthand the pain in Caldeira's eyes, she was even more firm on this point. However, by answering affirmatively, she would divert any danger from her actual son who, playing just one deck beneath them, was far too close for her liking.
Having heard the commotion, Will swiftly appeared above, unknowingly relieving the pressure of his wife's response. "Elizabeth?" he called as he approached, surveying the crowd in much the same manner as she had just done.
Elizabeth said nothing, still unsure of how to reply, but she would not have to, for her husband read the troubled look upon her face and instantly knew something was wrong. Turning to Jack, he asked, "What is the meaning of all this?"
"You," Caldeira said, his entire focus fixed upon Will. "You are the one, William Turner, former Captain of the Flying Dutchman."
Will spared a momentary glance toward the man. "Who are you?" he asked with a touch of distain directed at the presumptuous man who was so clearly upsetting his wife.
Jack quickly stepped forward, placing himself between the two men. "That is Caldeira, mate," he pointedly informed Will. Inching closer, he instructed beneath his breath, "Don't do anything stupid."
Elizabeth took Will's arm, gaining his attention. "They've come aboard so we might verify that this boy is our son," she cautiously told him, placing special significance on the last two words.
Will's thoughts instantly flew to their real son, very much alone and unprotected but a half-minute's walk beneath them, and he immediately comprehended Elizabeth's dilemma. If they could convince Chevalle, Caldeira, and his men that this boy was their son, they could protect William. On the other hand, by doing so, they would subject another young child to whatever dangers they wished their own to avoid.
Will looked from Elizabeth to the dark-haired lad, who though quick-witted appeared visible unnerved at the unfolding situation. With a sigh, he quietly divulged, "I don't know this boy. He's not my son."
The auburn-haired woman near the rail let out a whimper of despair at his admission and Caldeira turned away from them, raking his fingers through his hair in frustrated despondency. As he silently debated the situation, a second and third longboat reached the Pearl's side and her decks were soon flooded with more of his ruffians.
Suddenly finding his voice at the most inopportune of moments, the young boy tugged at Jack's coat. "You – you promised I'd get paid either way……."
Jack winced, after a beat, offering up a diplomatic smile. "Gentlemen," he evaded, suavely gesticulating, "let us remember that – "
"Desonestos!" Caldeira shouted suddenly enraged. Crossing the deck in two quick steps, he grabbed hold of Jack, looking ready to run him through. "Trapaceiro! Conniver! Canalha! Cheat!" he spat as his men edged forward, apparently ready for a fight.
"Parlay?" Pintel suggested to Ragetti, but both men went ignored.
Abruptly releasing Jack, Caldeira turned upon Elizabeth. "If we can not find the eldest child, perhaps we'll just take this one," he said, pointing at her belly.
Reflexively, Elizabeth's arms flew to protectively cradle her swollen womb as her eyes widened, first with outrage and then with undeniable fear, for she was outnumbered, without any weapon, and in no condition to fight. She shrank back a bit, but was immediately bolstered as her husband stepped in front of her, staring down Caldeira with hardened eyes.
"Amado, no," the auburn-haired woman, who was obviously Caldeira's wife, entreated, coming to his side. "I will not allow it. And……it would not work," she said, looking Elizabeth up and down. "She cannot be many months along. The child must have been conceived since the return of her husband. It would hold no powers."
The sense of her words seemed to sink in. "You are right," he softly resigned. Yet, after a moment's pause, unwilling to give up, with renewed determination he added, "Then we must make them – "
"Papa?" a small muffled voice could be heard from the hatch below.
Elizabeth looked to Will in terror, both recognizing the voice of their child. Instantly, Will set out toward the stairs to intercept his son, but he was too late and halted middeck at the boy's appearance above.
"Pa – " William stopped, looking around in perplexity as he absorbed the scene before him.
Will's immediate reaction was to race forward and secure William, but he was at a disadvantage, as a throng of Caldeira's men stood between him and his son and would easily reach the child first. In this unnerving situation, he was left with no other option than to act completely blasé and unconcerned and hope to divert their suspicions away from William – a hope that seemed grossly against the odds, as the child's age, appearance, and simple presence aboard the Black Pearl all screamed his true identity.
Everything and everyone seemed to have frozen upon the deck at William's emergence – some with fear, some with watchfulness, and others with hope in their eyes.
Whatever doubts may have been in the minds of Caldeira and his men were instantaneously squashed as William took another step towards Will, innocently inquiring, "Papa, is something wrong?" When he failed to reply, William uncertainly whispered to him, "Should – should I get my sword?"
Elizabeth's heart wrenched at his brave words and she could take no more. "William!" she cried, bolting toward her son but, at a nod from Caldeira, she was instantly seized by his men.
"Elizabeth!" Will protested, hastening toward her, but the look upon her face wordlessly told him to first protect their son.
Will grabbed for his sword, lunging toward William, but he too was set upon by Caldeira's mob – though it took no less than four of his men to successfully restrain him. With his father effectively confined, two more men swooped in, grabbing hold of the young Turner boy.
"NO! William!!" Elizabeth screamed.
Both parents struggled with their conquerors, Elizabeth nearly breaking free, but the hold upon her waist was tightened, causing her to cry out in pain and Will to violently resist all the more – until the point of a sword was placed sharply to his throat. Fearing for the safety of her unborn baby and utterly torn between which child to protect, Elizabeth ceased all efforts at resistance and slumped in the arms of her captors.
The broken, despairing look upon his wife's face, combined with the confused apprehension on his son's, set something off within Will and, though powerless at the moment, he made a promise to himself then and there that, however long it might take, Caldeira would live to regret his actions.
"Caldeira, you said nothing about harming the boy," Chevalle, to his credit, protested. "After all, he still has connections to the Dutchman. According to rumor, his grandfather is the new captaine."
"Papa?…..Mama?" William asked, looking back and forth between his confined parents for some indication of what he should do. "I – I don't understand," he faltered.
Caldeira's wife crept closer to the child, looking overjoyed at his discovery but exceedingly troubled at the proceedings. "Is this really necessary?" she asked her husband, indicating the two men forcefully holding William.
Caldeira glanced about the deck and, seeing that both Turners were bodily restrained and closely guarded, with one of his men upon every one of Jack's, he nodded his consent that they release the boy.
Having evidently inherited some of his mother's intrepid pluckiness, William had the bravado to actually look momentarily annoyed at the men who had held him, frowning at them as he smoothed his clothing.
Caldeira slowly approached William. "Now we shall discover the full breadth of your deception," he said, directing his comment at Jack. "I hope, for the sake of your friends, it only extends to the child's identity and not his capabilities."
His boastful threats incensed Will, who struggled against his restrainers to no avail. Once he had ensured that Will was still entirely overpowered, Caldeira motioned towards four of his men, who crossed over to the rail to carefully receive a bundle the final two men handed up from the longboat below.
The most robust man of the lot took full possession of the apparently light item and, as he straightened and turned to face them, the bundle was revealed to be a small girl with a lace shawl about her shoulders and a heavy blanket wrapped from her waist down past her feet.
Shifting in the man's arms, much like William had, she looked about the deck in confusion, scanning the crowd of strangers for her parents. "Mãe?"
As she crossed the deck to go to her daughter's side, Elizabeth locked eyes with the girl's mother, dually conveying she understood her motivations and silently pleading with the other mother to protect her son. Though it was barely perceptible, the woman nodded to Elizabeth as she passed before dropping to her knees on the deck where her daughter was being placed.
"Minha querida filha," she comforted, gently unwrapping the girl's legs and placing the folded blanket beneath her head as a makeshift pillow.
William looked at the girl inquisitively, taking a few steps closer. The little girl turned at the movement, regarding William with equal curiosity and, after a moment, smiling shyly at him.
William opened his mouth to speak but never had the chance to start as he was interrupted by the drowsy voice of Carmen, making her way up the stairs. All heads turned in that direction, as they had failed to realize someone else was yet below, and a spark of hope burned brightly in Elizabeth's eyes.
"I wondered where – " Carmen stopped abruptly as she viewed the scene, especially troubled by the sight of her dearest friends being held at sword point. Angrily looking about for their captain – who she was certain must be at the bottom of this – she hostilely shouted, "Jack, what are you – "
Carmen's words caught in her throat as Caldeira hastened forward. Both stopping dead in their tracks, the two stared at one another, wholly transfixed. Appearing to be almost in shock, she took a step forward. "Andre?" she questioned in disbelief. "Andre, is…..is it really you?"
"See," Ragetti whispered to Pintel. "Told you it was kismet."
AN: *Ducking* At the very start, I'll acknowledge my naughtiness for leaving things on such a cliffhanger, but it seemed the proper place to end (and hopefully leave you in anticipation for the next chapter!)
If anyone is interested, during his rant against Jack, in English, Caldeira called him "Dishonest! Dodger! Conniver! Scoundrel!" His wife referred to him as "darling", and their child as "my beloved daughter".
Also, I realized I've been negligent in not including previews for the next chapter. You all overwhelmingly voted for their inclusion, and I honestly enjoy writing them, so I'll try to remember to include them from here on out.
Up Next:
Carmen's connection to Andre Caldeira is revealed – but will it help or hurt the Turners? And William is called upon to heal Caldeira's daughter with surprising results.