Summary: Jack's little known past catches up with him in the form of a brother. Ch. 9- In which Jack's identity is revealed to Parliament, and he's thrown into prison.
Disclaimer: Pirates of the Caribbean and all the characters therein do not belong to me. Believe me, if I owned Johnny Depp in eyeliner . . . . Gah. That man is hot.
A/N: Thank you very much to everyone who reviewed, it keeps me writing. Oh yeah, and as a plug for my other story, please go read it! It's short and the idea came into my head so I had to write it even though I was in the middle of this.
AriannaMalfoy- Thanks J Yeah, I noticed his manner of speech in the movie too. He sounded just a little too refined to be a regular pirate.
Darkangel- My sister bites too, and she's threatening to come after me if I don't finish the story soon. I let her read the chapters before I post them. Now I'm going to have two of them after me! ::runs away in terror::
Captain Red Black- It's noting personal, really! It's just I have to find a good place to stop at the end of a scene, and sometimes I have to cut the chapter off in the middle of a scene or else it'll get too long. How about I send you some rum as compensation?
At York's words, a hubbub ensued, with several lords leaping to their feet and demanding what kind of game York thought he was playing. Above them all rose the voice of Charles Lancaster, Jack's first cousin and the Duke of Lancaster.
"York!" he thundered. "I have had enough of your underhanded tricks! I will not tolerate you bringing this ruffian before us and claiming him to be my cousin!"
Jack, personally, was tired of getting the same reaction every time he was announced before a group of people. It would be much easier if people would just accept his identity from the beginning so he wouldn't have to go through long, tiresome explanations.
York, however, was listening to the commotion with a small smile on his face, and after letting it go on for a moment, he raised his hand for silence.
"I see that you are all skeptical, and I know you will not take my word that he is indeed Jack Lancaster. You will, however, believe his father if he corroborates my story. I call on Robert Lancaster the First to stand."
Jack's father slowly stood up as if a great weight rested on his shoulders, but he faced York squarely, no sign of emotion on his face.
"Do you Robert Lancaster swear upon the Holy Bible and everything you hold dear that you will tell the truth?"
The older man hesitated for a moment and then said carefully. "I will."
York's eyes flashed triumphantly and he leaned forward slightly as if doing so would put more pressure upon the elder Lancaster.
"Is this man beside me your son?"
The silence in the room was absolute as everyone waited for Jack's father to give his answer. His gaze locked with Jack's and seemed to be pleading forgiveness, but Jack wouldn't meet his eyes, knowing he was going to have to commit his own betrayal very soon.
"He is," Lancaster said finally.
A hundred voices started speaking at once, questions and accusations flying about.
"Quiet! Quiet!" the moderator bellowed. "We will have order!"
York seemed annoyed by these interruptions of his proceedings and he glared fiercely about the room. When relative silence had again descended, York spoke again.
"Now, my lords, I am sure you are wondering why I have brought this man before you today. This is Jack Lancaster, but for many years now, he has gone by the name Jack Sparrow."
A few murmurs started up at the name, but York ignored them and continued.
"I see that some of you have heard the name before. This is the same Jack Sparrow that the London Times has reported on. The notorious pirate who is wanted throughout the Caribbean by three different countries."
"What proof do you have of that?" Charles Lancaster demanded. "You have always had a grudge against the Lancasters, York. This sounds like another one of your plots."
York sneered. "You want proof, Lancaster? Here it is."
Grabbing Jack's arm, he shoved up his sleeve, revealing the pirate brand and the sparrow tattoo. "Come and see it."
Charles rose from his chair and stalked over to Jack and York, glaring menacingly at the latter. Inspecting Jack's arm, his eyes widened in disbelief. Slowly raising his gaze, he looked into Jack's dark eyes. "How –?"
Jack shrugged. "Sorry, old chum. It's me."
The stunned look on Charles face as he sat down informed the other lords of the veracity of York's claims.
"What is it you want, Duke York?" the moderator asked sternly. "You wish to have him hung?"
"It is not my wish, but the law that says he is to be hung," York said, smoothly, "however, I am not finished. Jack is not alone in his crimes. His brother, Robert, has for some time been transferring funds and shipping timetables to Jack in order to help him in his piracy. In return, Robert has been receiving a share of Jack's plunder, which I'm sure explains the increase in wealth that family has lately seen."
At that accusation, Robert leapt to his feet in outrage, his fists clenched.
"What?!" he roared. "How dare you accuse me of that, York! I have never done any such thing!"
York smiled. "Ah, but your brother says otherwise, and I have here in my possession some rather implicating papers."
He indicated that Jack should speak, and the pirate took a deep breath, not looking at his brother.
"It's true that Robert has been sending me funds and timetables," Jack said tonelessly. "With the information he's sent me I've been able to plunder twice as many ships as I would normally, and I've been sendin' him a third of me loot."
Interrupting before the inevitable furor could occur, York flourished his hand triumphantly. "See, my lords? It is as I have said."
"This is not the place for this type of thing, Duke York," the moderator interrupted reprovingly. "These accusations are to be aired in a court of law and a trial held accordingly."
"Yes, of course. I apologize," York said, bowing slightly. "I am afraid I have been a bit overzealous in my quest to see justice done." He paused. "The Lancaster pirate, of course, does not need a trial as his guilt is branded upon his skin."
"That is true," the moderator conceded.
"Guards!" he called to the two soldiers flanking the door. "Throw this man in prison."
"And his hanging?" York asked hopefully.
"It may be tomorrow for all I care," the moderator said impatiently. "I would just like to get on with Parliamentary business, if that is all right with you, your grace?"
Hearing the sarcastic tone in the man's voice, York bowed silently and withdrew to his seat, while Jack found himself grabbed by either arm and dragged towards the doors.
"Wait a moment!" Robert shouted, on his feet again. "I protest! This is outrageous! You cannot hang my brother!"
The moderator sent him a stern look. "Lord Lancaster, I suggest you sit down. Brother or not, this man is a pirate and will be hung accordingly. I am sorry for your family, but this is the law. And you too are facing grave accusations of piracy, so you should not make it worse for yourself."
Robert was not to be deterred and opened his mouth to reply indignantly, but a soft touch on his arm stopped him. He glanced next to him and saw his father, looking about ten years older, staring at Robert with a pleading look on his face.
"Please, Robert, just sit down," he whispered. "Don't make it worse."
Closing his eyes to master his emotions, Robert squeezed his father's hand in reassurance before slowly sitting down, showing his great disapproval of the whole affair.
Jack found himself transported away from the Parliament house to a gray, dank looking building where he was dragged down two flights of stairs before being unceremoniously shoved into a cell.
"I don't s'pose I could get a little somethin' to eat?" he called to the retreating soldiers, who ignored him and disappeared up the stairs.
He rubbed his complaining stomach, which hadn't been fed in at least two days other than that drugged whiskey he'd been given, and that had definitely hurt him more than helped him. He doubted he'd be seeing too much in the way of food around here, though. Jailers tended not to be too concerned about the comfort of their prisoners. To take his mind off his hunger, he inspected his surroundings with a practiced eye, looking for anything that might be to his advantage. There was a stone wall behind him with a small barred window (just to offer the prisoners a tantalizing glimpse of freedom), a hard packed dirt floor that smelled of refuse and other unmentionables, and the other three walls of his cell consisted of vertical metal bars. The cell block extended about six cells on either side of him. All in all, it was very similar to the other cells he'd had the privilege of inhabiting for short periods of time, though this prison seemed to be much more extensive. As he had been pushed down the stairs, he'd seen corridors and other stairways leading off to other places, and from one stairway leading deeper into the bowels of the prison, he'd heard screams of intense agony.
The soldier on his right had jerked his head to the stairway and said, "That's where they send the uncooperative ones."
Jack made a mental note to himself to be very cooperative. He had no intention of becoming acquainted with the various instruments of torture he was sure were housed there. But by the same token, he wasn't planning on letting himself be hung.
Walking slowly around his cell, he tested both the metal bars and the bricks, looking for any weaknesses in the structure that could be used to his advantage. Unfortunately, everything seemed to be sturdy and stood up to his probing. As he tested the last bar on the right cell wall, though, something caught his eye in the accommodations next to his own. There was a jagged hole in the stone wall where the barred window had formerly been and the some of the bars on the cell door were twisted and broken. It looked as though a cannonball had come through the window and gone right through the cell door.
"That's very interesting," he murmured, studying the breach.
It looked large enough for his body to fit through, if only he could find a way to get over there.
That evening, York came to pay Jack a visit and found him slumped indolently against back of his cell, his eyes half closed in contemplation, forearms resting on the top of his raised knees. When York came to stand in front of his cell, he didn't even bat an eyelid, acting as if the man were invisible. York stared hard at him, willing him to look up and acknowledge the lord, but Jack coolly ignored him, and as the minutes stretched on, it was York who broke first.
"What's wrong, Lancaster? No pleading for mercy? No raging that I broke my word?"
Jack finally deigned to look at him, arching an eyebrow. "First of all, I don't beg for mercy, not like it would get me anywhere anyway, an' second, I'm a pirate. I know dishonest men like you, an' you can always trust a dishonest man to be dishonest."
York's lip curled. "In that case, why did you implicate your brother? Aren't you worried that now you have done your job I will have Turner killed?"
Jack smiled and shook his head. "There wouldn't be any point in that, now would there? All you wanted to use him for was blackmail, and now I've done what you wanted, so it'd be a waste of time and effort to kill him. He's worthless now, and no threat to you."
"Perhaps, but maybe I will have him killed just to spite the Lancasters," York said, toying with the pirate, as he really had no intention of killing Turner. He didn't like unnecessary messes.
Jack refused to rise to the bait, though, and closed his eyes again, signaling that the interview was at a close. The pirate's impertinence enraged York. Here the man was sitting in a cell and he acted as if he were holding court!
"I hope you enjoy your last few hours of life, pirate," he spat. "I will derive great pleasure from watching you swing tomorrow morning."
"So glad I can provide entertainment and meaning to other's lives," Jack responded without opening his eyes.
York gave thin-lipped smile. "We will see how flippant you are tomorrow with the noose around your neck."
Drawing something from under his cloak, the lord tossed it into the cell.
"Think of it as a parting gift," he said mockingly. "Be sure to give it to your brother if you ever see him again."
Throwing his cloak over his shoulder, York strode out of the dungeons without a second glance. Waiting until the lord had left, Jack opened his eyes and peered at the object that had been thrown to him. A full white rose with vicious looking thorns entwined with a thornless, crushed red rose. Jack rolled his eyes in disgust. And people said he was dramatic.
Jack was dozing lightly when a faint tapping on his window bars startled him to wakefulness.
"Jack, are you awake?" a hushed voice came.
Jack squinted against the bright moonlight streaming into his cell and whispered back, "Will, lad, is that you?"
"Aye," Will said. "Robert couldn't come because the guards might see him, but they didn't notice me Are you all right?"
"Just magnificent," Jack returned. "All the comforts a man could want."
He could hear the smile in Will's voice as the blacksmith responded, "Well, at least I can tell you're unhurt since you're still able to make sarcastic remarks." His tone sobered as he added, "You are to be hung in the morning, you know. York has influence enough that he managed to have it scheduled for tomorrow."
"I know." Jack grinned. "He paid me a visit this evening. Oh, and he gave me a gift for Robert."
Stooping down, Jack felt around for where he had placed the two roses and yelped as he impaled his finger on one of the thorns.
"Are you all right?" Will asked anxiously.
"No worries, mate," Jack said, gingerly picking up the roses. "Just stabbed meself is all."
Straightening up and thrusting the flowers through the window he said, "Here, give these to Robert, then tell me what he says."
"Why did you say those things about Robert today, anyway?" Will asked as he accepted the roses.
"Well," Jack leaned a little closer to the window. "Y'see, York threatened to have you killed if I didn't comply with his little scheme, so I figured it was best just to go along for the time bein'. The Lancasters have lots of friends in Parliament, and I doubt York's little scheme will hold water after its given a thorough investigation. Robert will survive it, but you wouldn't survive assassination."
"The bastard!" Will swore angrily. "I can't believe he used me against you!"
"Actually, I'm quite certain his parents were bound in wedded bliss when he was born," Jack said thoughtfully, "but I could be wrong."
He smirked. "Now wouldn't that be a scandal."
"Jack, be serious," Will entreated him. "We need to formulate an escape plan."
Jack flashed a smile. "Don't worry, I've got one all ready. All I need for you to do is get me a bar 'bout four feet in length. It can be anythin', but a straight metal one would be best."
"What do you need a bar for?" Will asked in puzzled tones.
"Don't question your captain, lad, just bring it," Jack said sternly.
"May I remind you, you are not my captain," Will said with a smile in his voice, "but I'll get it for you as soon as I can." A pause. "I've got to go. One of the guards is coming this way."
"Preferably by tomorrow morning!" Jack called after him. "Otherwise it's not much use to me!"