Disclaimer: I don't own anything
Warning: a couple of swear words
27: An Emotional Evening
Moonlight, pale and ghostly, glared through the passing clouds. The sea fret that had not too long ago been far off in the distance whispered menacingly across the surface of the gentle waves, spectral, ethereal, enveloping the hull of the Dauntless. Every colour, vibrant and opulent in the harsh sun of the day, was muted and dull in the moon's weak light. The deck had changed. By day it had been a relatively safe haven, a bustling cornucopia of soldiers and sailors; by night it was eerie and tense as shadows grew and distorted sinisterly.
Unease trickled through me as I froze on the staircase. The pale glow washed out the appearance of every single man on deck, gifting them with a look of death. My eyes grew misty as my gaze flittered from one soul to the next. How many are going to die tonight? It felt like the weight of their fates was on my shoulders, pushing sharply downwards on my chest and crushing my lungs. How many are going to lose their lives?
Just when I thought I was going to break down entirely in front of everyone, I caught sight of what looked suspiciously like a Jack shaped silhouette lounging by the mainmast. Suddenly my spiralling thoughts shifted as the uncomfortable notion that I'd recognise him anywhere crept up on me.
If anybody was going to make me forget my troubles it'd be the – oftentimes ridiculous – man in front of me. And as I stared around the deck at all of the innocent faces whom I prayed would survive I realised that that was exactly what I craved: to forget, if only for a little while.
Checking discreetly for my guard and finding him nowhere in sight amongst the crew, I made a beeline for the pirate. If he'd heard me approaching he didn't acknowledge it, too engrossed as he was in watching the shipwrecks surrounding the Isla de Muerta draw closer.
"I see someone's set you loose," I spoke softly, "was it those trusty sea turtles of yours?"
His gaze slid to mine as he flashed a somewhat strained tooth grin, abandoning whatever it was he had been contemplating. With a jerk of his head, a wordless signal to follow him, he turned on his heel and walked towards the bow of the ship.
As I followed discreetly, trying to keep the tread of my boots as light as possible, I marvelled at how at ease Jack's gait was. Where mine was still relatively unstable and clumsy, he glided along gracefully, matching the rolling movement of the ship and effectively making me look like a new-born deer on ice. If I'd had any doubts before, this moment shattered them into oblivion: he truly belonged at sea.
The shadows provided by the foremast and sails offered a calculated privacy from the few soldiers and crew that had remained on the top deck whilst the others made preparations below. It was a welcome reprieve from unwanted eyes. Being seen with Jack was dangerous for my precarious reputation, one that I had already run a risk of destroying just by speaking to him in plain sight, and with my guard prowling around somewhere … well, it was better to stay out of sight.
Jack stopped abruptly and leaned against the foremast, a muscle in his jaw clenching rhythmically. Making sure that I was well hidden in the shadows, I faced him not liking the tension that he was emanating.
Sighing wearily he rubbed a hand down his face. "How much has Elizabeth told you about her stay aboard the Pearl?"
"Enough," I said curtly, folding my arms around my middle, partly for warmth, partly for comfort. What an unpleasant start to what I'd hoped would be a pleasant conversation.
"And the curse?"
"Lizzy told me everything," I wheedled, not exactly lying and yet I looked everywhere but at him. "Jack, why are you asking me this?"
A light touch on my elbow brought my eyes darting right back to his. "If you can find a way off this ship, love, I want you to take it."
I scrutinised him searchingly, conveniently ignoring the satisfying warmth that was blooming where his hand still cupped my elbow. For what I was looking for though, I wasn't sure. Jack's face was uncharacteristically serious and yet it gave nothing away. All of a sudden I had an inkling as to what he'd been contemplating before I'd interrupted him.
"All right," I murmured slowly, mindful of the soldiers' boots clacking on the floor none too far away. "But where do you propose I go? It's not as if I'm spoilt for choice." Even though I already knew what I was going to do, having decided that it wouldn't be a good idea to stay on the Dauntless amidst the fighting and inevitable slaughter – guilty self-preservation at its finest - I was curious to see what he had in mind despite not fully understanding his intentions.
Jack momentarily tapped his fingers against my arm from where it was still gently resting. How is it possible that one small action can be so bloody distracting? I waited as he studied me in a manner disconcertingly similar to what I'd just done. He, however, appeared to be successful in his endeavour as he nodded, seemingly satisfied.
"Do you still have the dagger?" he asked, looking pointedly at my satchel.
I stilled under his touch. "Yes," I responded uncertainly.
"Do you know how to use it?"
"I think I know the basic principles of how to use a knife," I snapped uncomfortably as I wrapped my arms tighter around my waist.
Turning my face away from him, I grinded my teeth. This wasn't supposed to happen. It wasn't what I'd sought him out for and it was the very last thing I wanted to discuss. With half a mind made up to run away from the conversation, I made to do so but Jack's grip tightened on my elbow. Instead of gaining the space that I so desperately wanted, he brought me a step closer towards him.
"Go to the Pearl," he said eventually, nodding thoughtfully. "If I know Barbossa, he'll only have left a handful of crew behind at most to watch my ship. You're small so hiding shouldn't be a problem for you, but if it is…" he paused as his other hand reached up tenderly and pressed on my cheek, turning my head until I faced him once more. My breath suddenly faltered. "Aim for anywhere except the chest – too many bones – and then run."
"Well thanks for that," I blanched as I tried to muddle through the slightly distressing notion of using the dagger that was warring with the pleasantness of his close proximity, "but it really wasn't necessary because I'm not going to use it." Thank god he hadn't thought to demonstrate, I wasn't sure how I would have reacted but one thing I was positive about was that it would not have ended well. Judging by his expression, I think he'd come to that conclusion earlier too.
"It doesn't hurt to be prepared, love," he shrugged and raised his eyebrows whilst backing away, taking his tender touches with him. Almost immediately I missed his warmth as a niggle of guilt wormed its way through my brain. Jack was being abnormally serious. He was only trying to help and really didn't deserve my attitude right now. It wasn't fair of me to take my fears out on him, just like it wasn't fair of me to use him to forget.
Squaring my shoulders, I took a deep breath. It was time for me to be the bigger person, I didn't want to fall out right before he was about to fight. "You're right. Look, I'm sorry. Thank you and … thanks for before. You know, for not intervening with Norrington. It – well, it meant a lot to me."
"I knew you could handle it," he responded simply. "Once you get going you're a force to be reckoned with, Bella. Fiery, just like all this hair of yours."
With one seemingly inconsequential sentence, he disarmed me completely. Gone was the strained and worrisome conversation, Jack had demolished it to rubble. In its place he founded the lightheartedness I had craved and yet it let me reeling and more than a little flustered. Heat rapidly crawled up chest and neck to my cheeks at the unexpectedness of his compliment. If the stupid satisfied smirk on his face was anything to go by however, this was the exact response he had hoped for – either that or he found my face looking like a tomato hilarious.
Was that really how he saw me, a strong woman? I felt like anything but. Pretending as though I wasn't as flustered as I undoubtedly looked, I made a big show of patting down my unruly curls, deliberately misconstruing his compliment.
"Not sure I'd agree with fiery but I'm sure it looks downright shocking at the moment," I muttered. My voice was alarmingly breathy which irritatingly made him smirk wider. Clearing my throat I decided to get my own back. "Besides, if that's your idea of a compliment or dare I even say charming someone, it's a wonder anybody's given you their time of day."
"Oi! I'm charming! I can be very charming!"
Pressing my lips together hard, I tried to swallow down the laugher that was bubbling up my throat from his affronted expression. It was all I could do to raise an eyebrow, silently contesting his hastily conveyed statement, without laughing so loud that everyone would be able to hear. I wanted this moment to last.
Despite all reason, Jack's eyes darkened as he rose to the bait I had unwittingly lured him with. His gaze flickered to where his ring was nestled between my collar bones and back up to my face. Ever so gently, more so that I thought he was capable of, he reached out, picked up the ring and tugged. My heart raced as I tripped closer to him. The heat of his body simmered through the painfully thin cotton tops we both wore, warming the minimal space left between us.
Breaking eye contact, I stared down at his hands, watching almost mesmerised as he rubbed the pad of his thumb across the silver band – a thumb I knew to be calloused and rough but oh so gentle. Fingers grazed the underside of my chin, lifting it lightly and directing my eyes back to his.
"Emerald suits you, Arabella," he whispered softly. It was heady, sultry and just a little bit mind-numbing. Being this close to him, looked at like I was the only thing that mattered in the whole world, made it difficult to think straight. "If you'd let me, I'd shower you in the finest jewels from around the world."
Somehow, without realising it, our faces had moved closer. All that stood between us now was the smallest sliver of air. Jack's fingers pressed under my chin, drawing my face inexplicably nearer until only the faintest whisper separated our lips. His pupils were blown wide. If I'd blinked I would have missed the way his eyes darted to my parted lips and back. A roguish smile curled his lips as mischief danced to life on his face.
"Of course…" he continued, smile growing wider. My eyelids closed of their own volition. His lips brushed enticingly against mine, facial hair tickling slightly with his hushed tone. Needing him to quit teasing, I wished, hoped, prayed that he'd close the distance. "I'd love nothing more than to see you wearing them…" our chests pressed together, tingles of anticipation sparking where we met, "… and nothing but them."
My eyes flew open and my jaw dropped at the absolute audacity of the pirate, regardless of the hold that he had on my chin. I'd wanted to close the distance, to kiss him and sear this moment on my brain, seal our fate until the full implications of what he said registered in my lust clouded brain. The blush that had receded bounced back with a vengeance to my utter dismay.
"There it is again," he chuckled lowly as he pulled back, dropping the ring and tapping my burning cheek with his index finger.
"You – you-" I spluttered before angrily expelling a huff of air. "You're incorrigible!" I finally choked out. How dare he almost kiss me and not follow through, now I was going to be left wondering what it would be like and craving his touch. Swatting his chest I muttered petulantly, "That wasn't gentlemanly at all!"
Jack caught hold of my hand before I could drop it pressing my palm flat against his chest, half over his shirt and half over his bare skin where the neckline dipped enticingly.
"Ah, you said charming, not gentlemanly," he laughed.
"Ha!" I breathed. "It certainly wasn't charming either."
He quirked an eyebrow, smiling contentedly. "Sticks and stones love, and you didn't seem to mind. Besides, did you forget?"
"Yeah yeah, pirate, I get it," I snickered softly whilst rolling my eyes at his typical response.
Gradually my amusement subsided as I stared at my palm pressed against his chest. I mean really, how could I have been so stupid to have forgotten? While I may have been momentarily lost in the moment Jack had made it clear that it was just a game for him, an attempt to defend his slighted honour and embarrass me.
And yet, his hand still grasped mine, holding it to his heart. I didn't know what to think. A small part of me took great delight in the feeling of his heart beating just as fast as mine under my fingertips. Perhaps he had been more affected by the moment than he let on. Feeling emboldened, I rested my other palm on his chest. A gentle caress grazed across my ribs before finding purchase on my waist, drawing me in although not as close as before. Where that moment had been charged and electric, this was all the more endearing. Soft and comfort filled like coming home after a long and difficult day and slipping into the cosiest pyjamas. Soothing and reassuring.
Little by little, I skimmed the palm he still grasped across his chest until it rested purely on skin. It was anything but smooth. Firm and warm, sparse hairs tickled faintly as I pressed my palm back to its original place but under his shirt.
Reality came plunging down on me like a rocket re-entering the atmosphere. Raised, rubbery skin pushed back against my hand. Keeping my eyes resolutely on our hands, his larger one dwarfing mine, I gulped down a sudden lump in my throat. His scars were a sharp reminder of the imminent dangers here, of what was at stake tonight.
"I know you'll be ok," I started in a small voice, eyes flicking back up to meet him, "but please try not to do anything too idiotic."
Jack's chest rumbled under my hands as he chuckled, his fingers tightening around my waist. "Ah, once again you're forgetting. Idiocy comes part and parcel of being a pirate."
"I'm being serious, Jack."
"I know. I –"
"-Miss Fenn? Are you out here?" My guard barked from close by.
Startled, I snatched my hands back and peered around Jack and the foremast to survey the deck. More men were milling about purposefully, rushing to follow their Commodore's orders, filling the deck with a cacophony of noise. How had we not noticed the commotion?
"Miss Fenn?" he all but shouted again, irritation lacing his tone.
Taking a step back I started to compose myself, lamenting the loss of our stolen moment. "I should go," I murmured, "before I cause any more trouble."
A gentle smile lit up his face in the dim moonlight. "Remember what I said and you'll be fine," he warned. "I'll see you soon, Arabella Fenn."
Smiling softly in return, I turned away and stepped out of the shadows.
"There you are! Where on earth have you been, Miss Fenn? I came to collect you from the Commodore to escort you back to your cabin and he told me that you went back on your own. When I checked you weren't in there," he berated breathlessly like he'd been running around nonstop.
"Sorry, I just needed some air," I replied, glancing back to see that Jack had already disappeared from view. It really was a miracle that we hadn't been found.
"Come, the deck will only get busier from now, we'll be arriving soon and it's no place for a woman to be." He took my hand and placed it in the crook of his elbow, steering me in a slow meander back to the Captain's Quarters.
"I wasn't in the way," I murmured peevishly, irritation bristling along my spine at the blatant sexism.
"Be that as it may, we're going to be rather busy and the safest place for you to be is in your cabin."
I scoffed but made no reply. Guilt began to creep back in as we passed the crew readying the longboats. Determinedly trying not to look at their faces, lest they be imprinted on my conscience forever, just like Theodore Ainsworth, I turned to my guard. Like most people here he towered over me. A powdered white wig with a naval hat perched on top sat atop his head, ghastly and no doubt full of lice, marking his status as a man of wealth. Whatever he had done to annoy Norrington must have been pretty bad since he'd ended up with what was essentially babysitting duties. Surely such a command would be beneath his station? I'd quickly come to learn that's how it worked on ships such as these in this time and in all honesty, it didn't seem all that much different than back home. The wealthy few having a monopoly and commanding the rest of us through humiliation, demonization and ridicule: it was just more noticeable with the ridiculous clothes and wigs.
An agonising thought struck me as we reached the door. While I hadn't wanted to look at, let alone interact with the rest of the crew, I'd been forced into his company. I owed it to him to at least know who he was in light of what was to come. "What's your name?" I murmured.
He blinked, taken aback by my forwardness. "You know mine and isn't this how introductions are supposed to be made? You didn't tell me yours when we first met," I continued, pushing for an answer.
"My apologies, Miss Fenn, you are quite right. I'm Mr Taylor, a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Opening the door for me, he gestured for me to walk through first. "Well then, Mr Taylor. Thank you for escorting me, it's been … enlightening," I muttered, struggling to find the right words. It had been a long day and was soon to be an even longer night and yet our fleeting encounter had already served to remind me of the limitations I could expect amongst 'polite' society.
"If that'll be all Miss Fenn, I really should attend to my other duties." He tipped his hat and turned on his heel.
"Wait!" I called after him.
"Yes? Was there something else you required?" Mr Taylor responded, turning back around.
"I um, oh this is embarrassing," I muttered pulling at the ends of my hair, "it's dark in here and I could really do with a candle or something, just so I don't, you know, trip over or anything and I can't use a tinderbox."
"You can't use a tinderbox? Why ever not?"
"I just – for some reason they never work for me, I don't have the knack for it," sighing in frustration I jogged over to the desk that was glowing in a patch of moonlight and snatched the tinderbox from the surface, "will you please?"
"I hope you do not mind me making this observation but you are rather an odd woman, Miss Fenn," he said after a moment's pause.
"So I've been told," I grumbled.
Taking the tinderbox from my hand he acquiesced to my request and skilfully lit a lantern hanging on the wall. Orange and yellow light filtered around the room, flickering erratically as the flame took hold.
"There we are. Now I really must be going. Please do not attempt to go onto the deck again, Miss Fenn. It really would behove you to remain here." With that said he turned around, marched out of the door and closed it softly behind him. A marked difference from the last time I was brought back to what was essentially my jail cell with Norrington.
A weary sigh left my lips as I stood for a moment, absorbed in the flickering light coming from the lantern. I needed time to process what I had to do. Before long the cursed pirates would be taking their "walk" along the seabed, heading straight to the Dauntless. There was no way I could be on this ship by the time they arrived. Cowardly as it was, I knew that if I stayed here I wouldn't survive. Physically I probably would, especially if I stayed holed up in here with the Governor but mentally I knew that I wouldn't cope. Not now, not so soon.
My fingers rose shakily and pressed to my lips, another thing I had to contend with sooner or later. I had almost kissed Jack. I couldn't be thinking about what it'd be like when I had other more pressing issues to deal with. But I did want to: to kiss him, to feel him pressed against me once more, his firm chest flush with mine, strong arms wrapped around me.
Shaking myself out of my stupor I set to work, I could think about that later. Taking the lantern down from the wall, I wandered about the room and lit the remaining ones until the whole cabin glowed a warm amber. With my immediate concern settled, I searched around for a linen cupboard. I needed to be prepared; I had to know where everything would be. And what better way would there be than with an escape plan already in place. The quicker we could leave the better. I just prayed that my knowledge didn't fail me now - that the universe wouldn't decide to send me a huge 'fuck you, here's something you didn't know about, have fun with that' situation to deal with - I'd had more than enough of that to last a lifetime. Desperately I flung open every door that I could find, hoping that at last I'd find what I was searching for. Finally I found a chest brimming with cotton sheets and blankets. Pulling a few out I tried to rip them, testing their strength.
A scraping sound alerted me to the presence of someone stood directly outside the room as I rifled through the chest. Through the warped glass, a distorted red blur was dragging something to the side of the door before they sat down. A soldier. Keeping guard.
What was I doing? I wasn't being careful at all. Hastily shoving the sheets back inside the chest, I closed the lid as quietly as possible. It would look far too suspicious if I'd started creating a rope, a means of escape before Lizzy came back. How would I explain to her that I knew exactly what to do without sounding stark raving mad? No, it would be safer if I let her come to the conclusion on her own, she was smart and capable, it wouldn't take her long. I'd have to risk waiting.
Wandering over to the desk I sat down in the comfortable ornate chair behind it, at a loss of what I could do now. Everything in here was beyond distracting me. The novels on the wall held no appeal and I probably wouldn't have been able to focus on the words anyway. I was struggling as it was to keep my thoughts from drifting.
I felt like I had to do something, anything, but I didn't want to risk arousing suspicion from the guard outside. All I was left to do was wait. Wait for Lizzy for be brought in, wait for the battle, wait to see who lives, who dies. I couldn't have been in here for more than fifteen minutes and yet it felt like a lifetime had passed. I suppose that's the funny thing about time though, nobody tells you that when you're waiting it deliberately slows; ironic really, not to mention incredibly mocking. Left with limited resources, the mind tends to wander to places you'd rather avoid. Like near kisses and impending battle.
My fingers ghosted across my lips again, the memory of Jack's whispering against them still sharp, fresh, unsettling. He'd done a wonderful job of helping me to forget but it had been close. Far too close. And yet I'd wanted him to do it, to close the minute distance and kiss me until I couldn't breathe, until I forgot who I was and where we were.
With an aggravated sigh I slumped forwards in my chair and banged my forehead lightly against the desk. My mind was a yo-yo. As it furiously descended my mind flew to Jack and the almost kiss and as it aggressively wound back up, I was suddenly thinking about the crew and their fates. Down, up, down, up, kiss, death; a continuous and repetitive rolling along the constant string of anxiety. How long would it be before it snapped?
The doors bursting open by the guards stationed outside smashed through my reverie. Lizzy was being manhandled into the room by two soldiers who struggled as she kicked and flailed about.
"I don't care what the Commodore ordered! I have to tell him – the pirates – they're cursed! They can't be killed!" she all but shouted as they unceremoniously dumped her to her feet in the room.
"Don't worry, Miss Swann. He's already informed of that," Mr Taylor mocked as he trailed behind. "A little mermaid flopped up on deck and told him the whole story." With a ridiculous chuckle, he walked backwards out of the door, slamming it in Lizzy's face.
I stared flabbergasted while Lizzy let out a small scream of indignation.
"This is Jack Sparrow's doing!" she shouted through the door to the backs of our guard who now stood sentry, one on either side of the double doors.
"You can shout all you want Lizzy but I don't think they're going to open the door," I said, raising an eyebrow at her display. She whirled around to face me, hair whipping across her face.
"Your pirate is bloody infuriating! He's planning something, I'm sure of it."
My jaw dropped.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Don't you agree?" she snapped, crossing her arms defiantly.
"Oh no, I agree. He's definitely planning something but that's to be expected really," I replied, a slow smile curving my lips mischievously.
"Then what is your problem?"
"Elizabeth Swann, what on earth would your father say if he'd heard you just now?"
"What are you talking about, Arabella?" she huffed as I choked back laughter.
"I've never heard you say 'bloody' before. You just swore! How do you feel? Liberated? Exhilarated?" I joked, still slightly disbelieving that anything close to a swear word had come out of her mouth.
Lizzy didn't even deign to respond, merely fixing me with a deadpan look. Relenting, I stuck out my tongue at her in an effort to lighten her mood, despite the overwhelming sense of impending doom that enshrouded her as she dropped into a chair.
"Look, if it'll make you feel better, I know that Jack has some semblance of a plan even if he doesn't know the full extent of it yet … though he does seem like the spontaneous sort of planner … but – no this isn't coming out right," I quickly backtracked at Lizzy's crestfallen face. "Right. What I'm trying to say is that it'll work out in the end, you'll see. Will will be safe and you're just gonna have to trust that Jack knows what he's doing."
Scoffing, she crossed her arms and turned to look out of the glass panes of the balcony door. "Trust him? A pirate? We'll all be slaughtered by that blasted cursed crew."
"If you don't trust him, then I'm asking you to trust me," I responded, wincing at her indelicate phrasing. As if I needed the reminder of what was at stake. "Please. Can you do that at least?"
She shrugged her shoulders, thinking it over. "I suppose so."
"Good. Now moving on, what did you do to Mr Taylor to make him speak to you like that?" I asked incredulously.
Lizzy groaned and covered her face with her hands. "Do I have to talk about it?" she mumbled.
"Er, yes? He's been keeping an eye on me and we've spoken a bit. While sure, he was a bit rude and downright sexist, he wasn't overtly mocking like he just was to you."
She peeked through her fingers. "He was the one I distracted while you crept down into the brig."
"Ah. Right. What happened then?"
Lowering her hands, she rested them demurely in her lap. "Honestly Ara, it was awful, I felt so bad. I persuaded him to show me around the ship and we bumped into James. He was cross – I've never seen him so ill-humoured before. Mr Taylor got the brunt of it. He took the whole blame actually but James wouldn't hear of it or of any of his excuses. I suppose he may have been demoted or something once I returned to father's cabin."
"So he blames you? That makes sense I suppose. But surely if Norrington is Taylor's boss wouldn't he want to be getting on the right side of him? And surely the way to do that would be through you, right? After all, you're engaged now."
"Did you not hear him? Who in their right mind would believe in cursed pirates? It's impossible."
"Well, improbable. We both know it's not impossible," I replied, unable to help myself.
"You're not helping."
"Sorry." Lizzy was right. I really wasn't helping either of us. Sailors and soldiers alike aboard the Dauntless truly had no idea what they were going to witness. They were practically going into this situation blind. Nightmares had crossed into reality and every unspoken rule that they knew about the way the world functioned was going to be ripped to shreds.
Around us the Dauntless creaked and groaned as she swayed gently upon the waves that licked her hull as we lapsed into silence. Flames unsteadily quivered with the movement of the ship, creating shadows that danced upon every surface they touched. Lizzy's heavy sigh permeated the air between us.
"I'm frightened, Arabella," she whispered. Her eyes were unfocused as she stared at the windowpanes of the door.
"I know. Me too," I whispered back.
"What if Jack's plan doesn't work? What then?" She turned to face me. Fire burned in her eyes, a molten gold smouldered as her fear made way for something else. "I can't just sit here. I feel so helpless, I hate it. I have to do something, I have to help somehow but all they see is a weak woman who needs protecting!"
Lizzy leapt up from her chair and began pacing, her voice grew louder as her frustration began to get the better of her. "I survived almost a week with that godforsaken crew and they think that just because I'm a woman I don't know what I'm talking about and that I can't fight? I'm a decent shot and fairly handy with a sword now, I've probably had more experience fighting than half the crew out there!"
Jumping up, I blocked her way and placed my hands on her shoulders, grounding her. We needed to avoid raising the guards' suspicions at any cost, now more than ever. "Stop. We have to stay quiet or they'll check in on us. I know you're not helpless, Lizzy. We're not helpless, not by a long shot," I implored, my heart grieving her for and the gender role she was being forced to conform to. I understood her, more than I think she really realised.
"Of course we are," she snapped back, "what can we possibly do to help save Will from certain death when we're locked in a heavily guarded room?"
"I think I might have an answer for that."
Praying that the universe was on my side, that my knowledge hadn't failed and that Norrington had come through for me, I strode over to the balcony doors and quietly unlatched them. A cool breeze pricked at my skin as I crossed the balcony and peered over the railing. Sure enough, bobbing down below was our saviour. Tied to the front on a metal ring was a thick piece of rope, tethering it to the Dauntless so that it was unable to escape in the currents pulling at its keel.
"A longboat," Lizzy murmured in wonder as she came to stand next to me, peering over the side.
"With the oars in too, very useful don't you think?"
"But how did you know it would be there?" she asked, confused.
"I may have implied to your fiancé that it would be a good idea to have contingencies in place, you know, should the worst happen."
"You planned for this?"
"Well, yeah. I knew you weren't just going to sit around here all night."
Lizzy darted forwards and before I knew it I was engulfed in her arms. Hesitantly I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her in closer, drawing strength and comfort from her embrace.
"I don't know how you convinced James to do this or how you knew we'd need it but thank you, Arabella."
"It's all right, it was nothing really," I choked out as tears welled in my eyes. I couldn't help thinking about Amy and how, if I ever got back, the very first thing I was going to do was hug her senseless. I'd been without my sister for far too long. "If anything it was entirely selfish on my part. I want to be off this damned ship as much as you."
"I don't care if your reasons were selfish; you've still gone to unbelievable lengths this past week. I don't think I'm ever going to be able to repay you," Lizzy breathed as she pulled back.
"Nonsense, no need for repayment. I mean, what are friends for?"
Lizzy smiled her thanks, thankfully not commenting as I tried to surreptitiously dry the few tears that had escaped down my cheeks. As she looked over the railings once more her smile dropped and a thoughtful expression took up the mantle. "How are we going to get down without being heard? We could risk jumping into the sea and trying to climb into the boat from there but that'll be incredibly noisy."
"Is it the only way though?" I asked, entirely too innocently.
Slowly, she turned her gaze to the heavy drapes that framed the doors on the inside of the cabin, clearly thinking hard. "Ara, what's the likelihood that there'd be a linen cupboard in here?"
"I'm very glad you asked," I smiled as I took her hand and dragged her over to the chest I'd found earlier.
Quietly we each took a bundle of sheets in arms and set about tying them together. Every now and then we made sure to help each other pull on them in opposite directions to test if the knot was secure enough whilst making sure we kept a watchful eye on the guarded door. Worry bit at my chest that we weren't going fast enough. Every time I snuck a glance at the moon beaming onto the balcony I hastily picked up the pace.
Before long we had two decent and sturdy looking ropes coiled along the floor. Working in perfect partnership, Lizzy and I joined the two together to form one giant rope of linen. For something that had been so light when in individual sheets, it was deceptively heavy when combined. Staggering under the weight as we tried to lift it to the balcony, we were now faced with the new dilemma of what to attach the rope to.
"A moment please," the slightly muffled voice of the Governor asked of the guards outside our quarters. I froze as Lizzy's head turned at the interruption. His distorted frame sank as he sat on a stool. "Elizabeth, I just want you to know…" he trailed off, evidently trying to find the right words.
It couldn't be time already. He'd try to come into the room soon. If we wanted any chance of escaping we had to leave. Now.
"Lizzy," I hissed, trying to catch her attention, "what can we tie this to?" I couldn't think as my heart began hammering painfully against my ribs.
"I believe you made a very good decision today-" the Governor continued, heedless of the turmoil inside the cabin.
Lizzy snorted in disbelief as she mocked her father under her breath. Still she stood and stared at his frame through the door.
"Lizzy, focus!" Panic gripped me. If the Governor was here then the cursed crew weren't too far behind. Any minute now they'd be creeping up the side of the Dauntless, prepared to slaughter the crew, anybody, everybody they'd come across.
"- I couldn't be more proud of you."
"-Lizzy!" I snapped, interrupting the Governor.
"The railings are solid wood," she murmured just as I had about given up hope that she'd listen to me, "they shouldn't have weathered to the point of being rotten yet, maybe we can tie it around that? It should hold our weight."
Without wasting another second I dived to the balcony floor and double knotted the rope around one of the wooden pillars supporting the handrail.
"That's gonna have to do," I whispered urgently as I pulled on it as tightly as I could before pushing the rope down to the sea below. "God I hope this works-"
"-you know, even a good decision, if made for the wrong reasons…" the Governor pressed on, baring his words of wisdom.
"-Lizzy! Come on!" I vented, grabbing her hand. She'd stalled again, facing her father in surprise. "We don't have time. You go down first." Dragging her to the balcony, I practically launched her over the edge of the handrail.
"No, stop, let me listen to him."
"Get down that rope or so help me, Lizzy, I will push you into that ocean, damn the consequences."
She looked at me sharply. As soon as she took stock of my wide eyes and undoubtedly terror stricken expression, her face softened.
"All right, I'm going," she whispered, casting a longing look at the door.
"He'll be just fine, I promise, now come on!" With one hand gripping the balcony, I held as tightly as I could whilst turning to face the door in terror. Any minute now the Governor would realise that Lizzy wasn't in the cabin anymore. We needed to be away before that happened.
A dull thud and a small splash wafted up. Peering over the edge I saw Lizzy in the longboat trying to sort out the oars. It was now or never. Fuck, I hope leaving was the right decision. What use would I be in here anyway? Besides, Jack asked me to take the chance if I got it, surely if two of us had come to the same decision then it couldn't have been a bad one?
Steeling myself, I climbed over the balcony handrail and seized the swinging rope.
I suppose it comes as no surprise that yet again I have dragged this story out. I just can't seem to help myself, I really felt like this was necessary. This is part one of a two-part chapter (the second part is unwritten because I deleted it all and cried). Review replies:
Buckhunter: Yes, it's definitely been some time! Gonna have to differ with you on finding this year easier though, it's been a lot worse for me haha. Thank you for your kind words though and I'm happy that you enjoyed my portrayal of Norrington in the last chapter, I had a lot of fun with him and it made me realise that I can't wait to explore his character more. As you can probably tell from this chapter while I like to be plot-focused I like to develop character and explore relationships a heck of a lot more
thewhiteangel213: you're welcome! Thank you for taking the time to let me know :)
Lilalyra: Hi! I'm happy it got you reading the whole story again (something that I actually haven't done and really probably should...)! Thankfully the wait wasn't as long this time, though I'm aware it was still a while, sorry!
Sparky She-Demon: Thank you, I'm glad you're enjoying it :)
loverofbooks14: Ah, thank you for the compliment! Honestly, it made my day when I saw it. I hope I can maintain those high standards!
ita123: Thank you! Hope the reread was just as enjoyable - I love to hear that people like this story so much that they take time out of their day to reread it.
annik92: Thank you, I'm happy you love it!
We're nearly at the end of this ARC now, thanks for sticking around, I love hearing from each and every one of you, it really does make my day.
Unedited and crossposted on AO3 under the same username
Stay safe and until next time x