Rose awakened the next moment in a place foreign to her. For a moment, she had completely forgotten that Jack had returned, and no longer did she live in such a harsh environment as the tavern on Tortuga. Now she was aboard the Pearl, her new home. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she took a first look at her new room that she was to share with her brother from then on, as now daylight streamed in through the large, ornate, colored glass windows that opened up to a panoramic view of whatever large expanse of ocean the vessel had just passed through. Jack had already left, presumably to oversee the ship's departure from Tortuga in the morning hours, giving Rose a chance to explore the Captain's quarters to her will. A large table made up the centerpiece of the room where Jack most likely took his meals. In the rear of the room nearby the windows was his bed and desk, completely hidden beneath piles of maps, charts, and bottles of rum, Rose supposed. Though very disorderly, Rose was thrilled to finally be here. She straightened her hair, and took a deep breath before opening the doors that led to the main deck where she was to meet her new family: the crew.
She was startled when the blaring sunlight first hit her eyes and she saw just how many sailors were aboard. She was nearly taken out by a rolling barrel controlled by an intimidating looking fellow with intense tribal marks all over his face. Rose quickly mumbled an apology for getting in the way and then rushed to an open clearing, searching for her brother. She scanned the deck, finally seeing his long hair beneath his tricorn hat. He was flailing his arms wildly about, directing his crew to do any variety of tasks, though it appeared to Rose that no one was paying him much heed.
"Rose!" an excited voice said, stirring her from her thoughts. She turned to see Ben, carrying a small pack of very few belongings that he saw fit to bring aboard.
Rose grinned when she saw him. "Ben!"
The boy was ecstatic. "Can you believe it?" he cried. "We're finally here! We've done it!"
"Do your parents know yet?" she asked concernedly. "That you're—"
"Gone?" Ben finished. "Hardly. They won't notice until late tonight, and they'll notice that they're bloody liquor shipment didn't come in before they notice my absence." When he saw that Rose still looked skeptical about his departing without telling his father and step-mother, he quickly added, "I left a letter in my room for them, but I still would doubt if—"
"And who are you?" a dark voice voice spoke over him, causing Ben to start.
"Benjamin McHenry, sir. Newly hired by Captain Sparrow, sir," squeaked Ben.
"Is that so?" the sneering man replied. "Then stop tarryin' and get to helpin' hoist the sails. You any good at riggin'?"
Ben quickly made his way, rushing to catch up with this gruff pirate, glancing back at Rose apologetically.
She called after him, "Come to the Captain's Quarters after sunset! We'll talk then!"
He nodded, then disappeared into the busy crowd of pirates heaving things to and fro across the deck.
Rose smiled in relief, happy to see that her friend was so excited to be free from Tortuga, and equally as pleased to be able to spend more time with him in the hopes that someday they could be more than just friends.
She turned back at the helm to see Jack, but ran right into another pirate. She gasped audibly not only after making contact with him, but also upon coming face to face with a screeching monkey, who was also startled by her clumsiness.
"I'm so sorry, sir!" she said, backing away from only to run straight into another passerby. Apologizing again, she turned back to the original man she had hit and was rendered speechless by his domineering presence. He was tall, older than Jack with a rough, weathered face and a haggard appearance. He wore a large, feathered hat and his eyes looked threateningly at Rose. His pet monkey stood perched on his shoulder, staring at Rose now in silent fascination.
"Ye best be steppin' lightly aboard a pirate ship, lass," he said in a thick Irish accent.
"My apologies again, sir," Rose stammered, trying to appear professional despite his reprimand.
"Master Barbossa, First Mate of the Black Pearl," he introduced himself gallantly. "Rose Sparrow, I presume?"
"Teague," she corrected, then instantly regretted upon seeing his delighted face.
"Teague, eh?" he said in surprise. "That explains a lot..." He began to circle her, eyeing her up and down. "You're quite a deal younger than Jack," he noted.
"Aye," she said uncertainly. He suddenly appeared over her left shoulder, further startling her. "Feel safe aboard our humble vessel?" he asked.
"With Jack around, yes," she replied honestly, leaning away from his rotting teeth.
"Your brother won't always be around to save ye, Miss Teague," he said, stepping away from her.
Rose tried to control the irritation that was flaring up inside her. "With all due respect, sir, I don't need Jack to save me."
"Ah yes, but consider this," he said. "A young girl like you, all alone on the sea? If somethin' were to...happen to Jack, say, what would become of ye? Ever spent time on a pirate ship before now?"
"Not much," she said through gritted teeth. "But I served a fair share of pirates in the tavern for the past three years."
"A ship is another thing entirely, lass," he hissed. "Between stormy seas and other pirates trying to pillage and plunder, not to mention the knaves aboard this vessel, there be squalls ahead, and Davy Jones waiting for them what don't obey!" His pet monkey screeched, as though affirming this thought.
Rose only swallowed, trying not to let Barbossa's intimidating words get to her, but it was clear that she was shaken up. Despite having just met her, he somehow seemed to know precisely how to manipulate her every worry she had upon coming aboard.
Barbossa added when she failed to respond to him. "But I'm certain ye don't need anyone to save ye, as you said. Not even yer CAPTAIN!" he yelled, causing her to start again. He had yelled this last word to Jack, tying it in to the last sentence he had said to Rose.
Jack looked over at Barbossa in response. "Mmm?" he cried.
"Before we make sail," Barbossa called out, "Do we have a headin'?" The crew who were on deck stopped their progress upon hearing this, looking to Jack expectantly.
"Um..." Jack said, looking around frantically as though the answers to his question were suspended in mid-air. Suddenly, he cried out, "North?"
Barbossa furrowed his brow, and in utter bewilderment asked, "Sir?"
"South?" Jack tried again, as though he had somehow responded incorrectly.
"South..." his first mate said skeptically.
"Aye!" replied Jack. "Towards um...er..."
"The South American continent?"
"That's the one!" Jack cried triumphantly. "Why don't we head down that way and figure out the rest as we go along?"
"As you command, Captain," Barbossa replied. He watched as Jack returned to his flailing, then turned to the surrounding men nearest him. "We'll head due East," Barbossa said to them. "Toward Port Royal. See if we can't sack a British trade ship."
Turning back to Rose one final time, he said, "Miss Teague," bidding her off and walking proudly away.
That night, Jack ensured that nearly every flat surface was illuminated to give Rose as much light by which to see as he could. They dined together, feasting on fineries Rose had never dreamed she'd find on a pirate ship.
"Only the finest for family," Jack said, toasting her with a wine glass. After they had nearly consumed the entirety of their meal, Jack asked her, "So, what do you think about the Pearl?"
"It's a fine ship," she replied honestly, "But I'm not certain the men are taking too kindly to me."
Jack looked taken aback by this. "What makes you say that?"
"Well, they are pirates, and I certainly wasn't expecting a very warm welcome, but I believe they think that this ship is no place for a woman."
"Who gave you that idea?"
"Well," began Rose, hesitant to tattle on her brother's first mate, "Master Barbossa warned me of dangers that might lie ahead for me."
"Oh," said Jack, waving off her words with a flick of his wrist. "Pay no attention to Hector. He has a flair for the dramatic, that's all. I mean did you see the size of that hat?"
Rose giggled, but still was concerned. "I am safe here, right Jack?"
"Of course!" he cried, his mouth full of turkey leg meat. "No safer place in the Caribbean to be than right here with me!"
"Well I've been thinking about it," she said softly. "Why did you tell the men that I was your sister? You always told me never to tell anyone how we are related."
"That was back when we were separated," explained he. "There's no threat posed to us here."
"I don't know the first thing about sword fighting or shooting a pistol or sailing a ship—"
"All in good time, love!" When Jack saw that his sister still didn't look convinced, he stood and rushed off toward his desk, rifling through various piles he had created. "Here!" he cried triumphantly, producing a rusty cutlass and faded belt and handing them to Rose.
"What is this?" she asked.
"It's your new best friend," Jack replied. Motioning for her to stand, he grabbed the belt from her and instructed her how to fashion it, tying it securely around her waist.
"Look at mine," he said. "You want it good and tight, for as you add more effects to it, the heavier it becomes."
Rose looked at her brother's belt closer, seeing various trinkets, bottles, pouches and holsters. "What is all that?" she asked.
"My collection!" he said proudly. "I carry mementos and important things from everywhere I go. I always need to be carryin' it on me person!"
He then backed away from her, drawing his cutlass and holding it parallel and extended from him. "Now then, draw your weapon, m'lady."
Rose smiled, pulling the blade free from its sheath and pointing the tip of the weapon straight at him. "Fancy words for my first kill," she said jokingly.
Jack pursed his lips. "First of all, work on your phraseology. Those are nothing close to good quips. Second, your form is all wrong. Here..." He walked toward her, kicking her feet until she moved them where he wanted them to be. "Now center your weight."
Rose bent her knees, squatting low to the ground.
"What is that?" Jack cried. "I said center your weight!"
"I don't know what that means!"
"Like this!" he sighed, demonstrating. Rose copied him, making slight adjustments until she got his approval. She committed this stance to memory as he continued, "Alright, now you keep your eyes on your enemy..."
"Alright," she said.
"See right through him."
"Alright..."
"See his fears!"
"Alright!"
"Then..."
"Yes!"
"Improvise!" Jack said, sheathing his weapon and walking back towards the table.
"What?" Rose said, bewildered.
"The rest comes naturally!" he said simply, biting into his turkey leg once more. "He swings, you swing, he lunges, you block 'im, and you get the rest!"
"Improvise?"
"That's all there is to it, love!" Jack said.
Rose was still uncertain, just as she was uncertain about his captaining skills based on his demonstration on deck earlier, but she had no time to argue with him as they were interrupted by a knock on the door.
Rose's eyes lit up. "Ben!" she cried. "I hope you don't mind, and I promise not to make a habit of it, but I invited him here tonight so we could talk. May he come in?"
"By all means!" Jack said.
Rose sheathed her sword and rushed to the door, opening it not to reveal Ben, but Barbossa. Her heart sank when she saw him. "Jack," she called back to her brother. "It's Master Barbossa."
"Ah, Hector!" Jack cried from inside.
"Captain," Barbossa greeted, pushing past Rose into the main room.
"Rose and I were just talking about you," added Jack, still happily munching on his dinner.
Barbossa turned and glared at Rose. "Were you? In regards to what, I wonder."
"Rose fears that she isn't welcome aboard this ship," Jack stated. "I entrust that this is not the case."
"No, sir," Barbossa said a little too emphatically. "Your sister is very welcome here. However," he said, "I do wish to speak to you in private, sir."
"Certainly!" Jack agreed. The men turned to Rose expectantly, waiting for her to take her leave.
"I can't see in the night, Jack," Rose said nervously.
Barbossa raised his eyebrows. "Can't see in the night?" he said, looking to Jack.
"She was born with night blindness," he explained. "Rose, there's a crate right outside the door. We won't be but a moment, right Barbossa?"
"Of course, sir," Barbossa replied. "I'll even go retrieve the girl after I depart."
"Splendid!" Jack grinned, and with that, Rose hesitantly began to exit the room. She closed the door, suddenly enveloped in darkness. She felt for the crate Jack was referring to, and upon finding it, sat uncomfortably on the object, jumping at every noise, be it a creak of the floorboards or any voice that pierced through the night.
Rose sat there for quite some time, but perhaps it was just feeling longer than it was because she felt so exposed without use of one of her most important senses. She wished Ben would come, see her sitting alone in the dark and would keep her company, but he never came.
Suddenly, Rose heard the door click next to where she had exited. She spun towards the noise. "Master Barbossa?" she asked. No response. "Master Barbossa, is that you?" she tried again. No sound could be heard. For some time, Rose could only hear her heart's pounding, unsure of what stood right next to her. Finally, she heard a creaking of a floor board a ways away and assumed that her mind was playing tricks on her.
The night grew ever colder as Rose waited for Barbossa to retrieve her. For two hours she waited, until finally she could take no more. Risking barging in on business, Rose stood, feeling around desperately for the door handle. She grasped it, pulling on it and flinging herself through the entrance, once again regaining her sight. "Jack?" she yelled.
Jack rounded the corner quickly, seeing Rose shivering from the cold. "I was wondering where you were! Did you find Ben?"
"Ben?" she asked.
"I had assumed you had found Ben and were outside with him, since Barbossa didn't send you in!"
"Where is Barbossa?" she asked.
"He left hours ago!"
Rose's stomach burned with anger. So her mind hadn't been playing tricks on her. "No," she said, jaw clenched. "I never moved from that crate."
Jack only laughed, grabbing Rose a warm blanket and waving the event off as a honest mistake, though Rose knew better. "Honestly," he laughed, "I wonder who has the night blindness; you or him! Anyways, where did we leave off? Oh yes! Swordsmanship is all about improvisation..."
But Rose had stopped listening. She knew why Barbossa didn't keep his word to fetch her. He wanted her gone. And what was worse, Ben had failed to keep his word to see her that night. She feared she might be slowly losing her friend for good.
