Title: The Odyssey
Rating: PG-13, though language is mild. Just keeping all my proverbial bases covered for further developments.
Summary: Captain Jack Sparrow's ransoming of young siren Leila Shipman leads him to not one but *two* of the greatest adventures of his life. Reviews are greatly appreciated, be they flames, criticism, or compliments.
Author's Note: The inspiration for Leila came from listening to Lara Fabian's "Leïla." Sample it at http://www.lara-fabian.com! (Discography, Carpe Diem, Track #3)
CHAPTER ONE: THE SIREN
Miss Leila Jane Shipman had begun to despise the annual ritual of a holiday on The Queen's Island. She used to be able to enjoy the island with only her handmaids to interrupt her peace (and play, for that matter), but now that she had turned eighteen and had since begun to sing for the Island upon her and her father's trips, she was paraded around like a prize. She had little time to herself, and she was taking bets that this year she might actually go insane. The soft brunette stared into the mirror, her updone hair framing her expression of displeasure at the dress her father had chosen for her to wear. It was nothing but an exercise in how gaudy the old Captain could be. The cream-colored dress was stiffly adorned with lace and encrusted with gold filigree. The damned frock billowed so heavily she could barely walk upright, and the genuine topaz necklace she wore felt like it weighed at least ten pounds.
The young Englishwoman sighed overdramatically, turning from the mirror and looking around her room, recently repainted to be awash in soft pastels. She closed her envy-green eyes, imagining the open sea...back to England. Or at least somewhere where no one knew her as the Siren of The Queen's Island (some rum loving sailors had made that one up last year).
A firm knock at her door interrupted her thoughts, and it took her a moment for Leila to find her voice. "Come in," she answered in a warm alto. One of her handmaidens came in, curtsied formally, and her father followed behind. The handmaiden escorted herself out as Captain Shipman smiled upon his daughter.
"It is almost time, Leila. Are you ready?" he asked, though it was more of a statement than a question. Leila nodded a yes and even offered a weak but warm smile to her father. She still loved the man, even though the feeling that he was exploiting her grew stronger every year. He put a protective arm around his darling daughter and they left the room, headed for the makeshift stage in the center of the small island.
******
After the Pearl was safely anchored out of sight, Jack, Anna Maria, and four of his crewmembers boarded one of the life boats, heading toward the shore of The Queen's Island. Jack could barely keep himself contained as they rowed toward the North shore. According to his memories, it was the least protected. Though tonight, it looked like 'least' meant 'not at all.' Jack was more than thankful for that. It made his job so much easier. The six scalawags hid the boat as best they could amongst the weeds and driftwood and scurried into the shadows, heading toward the town.
******
The only positive thing about this whole situation was the fact that Leila got to choose what she sang, and that night's music was sprinkled with a handful of her favorites. She opened with the solemn but sweet "The Unquiet Grave," and after a few others she closed with her very favorite, the seventeen-versed "The Dowie Dens of Yarrow." As the piano faded, it was replaced by the thunderous applause of some two hundred men and a sprinkle of women and children. Leila couldn't help a demure blush, but despite her sweet young Englishwoman appearance, she secretly entertained absolutely scandalous thought of running off to the seashore, abandoning this god-forsaken dress, and going for an evening swim. As she took a few more curtsies for good measure, she made her way rather quickly off the shoddy stage and ran into the 'wings', planning her escape to the ocean as she went.
Unfortunately, she didn't have more than a minute to entertain that idea. In mere seconds, a calloused hand clasped harshly over her lips, tying a gag about her mouth. Her hands were expertly bound, and she was led off roughly before she could even utter a note of protest or alert anyone to her sudden peril. She immediately noticed two incapacitated guards, as well as her handmaiden, Jessica, bound and gagged in the heavy shadows.
With a sparkle in his eye and a deft quickness in his step, Jack helped his crewmembers lead the struggling woman to the boat.
The audience's thunderous applause continued, drowning out any sounds the Siren's captors made in making off with her.
Rating: PG-13, though language is mild. Just keeping all my proverbial bases covered for further developments.
Summary: Captain Jack Sparrow's ransoming of young siren Leila Shipman leads him to not one but *two* of the greatest adventures of his life. Reviews are greatly appreciated, be they flames, criticism, or compliments.
Author's Note: The inspiration for Leila came from listening to Lara Fabian's "Leïla." Sample it at http://www.lara-fabian.com! (Discography, Carpe Diem, Track #3)
CHAPTER ONE: THE SIREN
Miss Leila Jane Shipman had begun to despise the annual ritual of a holiday on The Queen's Island. She used to be able to enjoy the island with only her handmaids to interrupt her peace (and play, for that matter), but now that she had turned eighteen and had since begun to sing for the Island upon her and her father's trips, she was paraded around like a prize. She had little time to herself, and she was taking bets that this year she might actually go insane. The soft brunette stared into the mirror, her updone hair framing her expression of displeasure at the dress her father had chosen for her to wear. It was nothing but an exercise in how gaudy the old Captain could be. The cream-colored dress was stiffly adorned with lace and encrusted with gold filigree. The damned frock billowed so heavily she could barely walk upright, and the genuine topaz necklace she wore felt like it weighed at least ten pounds.
The young Englishwoman sighed overdramatically, turning from the mirror and looking around her room, recently repainted to be awash in soft pastels. She closed her envy-green eyes, imagining the open sea...back to England. Or at least somewhere where no one knew her as the Siren of The Queen's Island (some rum loving sailors had made that one up last year).
A firm knock at her door interrupted her thoughts, and it took her a moment for Leila to find her voice. "Come in," she answered in a warm alto. One of her handmaidens came in, curtsied formally, and her father followed behind. The handmaiden escorted herself out as Captain Shipman smiled upon his daughter.
"It is almost time, Leila. Are you ready?" he asked, though it was more of a statement than a question. Leila nodded a yes and even offered a weak but warm smile to her father. She still loved the man, even though the feeling that he was exploiting her grew stronger every year. He put a protective arm around his darling daughter and they left the room, headed for the makeshift stage in the center of the small island.
******
After the Pearl was safely anchored out of sight, Jack, Anna Maria, and four of his crewmembers boarded one of the life boats, heading toward the shore of The Queen's Island. Jack could barely keep himself contained as they rowed toward the North shore. According to his memories, it was the least protected. Though tonight, it looked like 'least' meant 'not at all.' Jack was more than thankful for that. It made his job so much easier. The six scalawags hid the boat as best they could amongst the weeds and driftwood and scurried into the shadows, heading toward the town.
******
The only positive thing about this whole situation was the fact that Leila got to choose what she sang, and that night's music was sprinkled with a handful of her favorites. She opened with the solemn but sweet "The Unquiet Grave," and after a few others she closed with her very favorite, the seventeen-versed "The Dowie Dens of Yarrow." As the piano faded, it was replaced by the thunderous applause of some two hundred men and a sprinkle of women and children. Leila couldn't help a demure blush, but despite her sweet young Englishwoman appearance, she secretly entertained absolutely scandalous thought of running off to the seashore, abandoning this god-forsaken dress, and going for an evening swim. As she took a few more curtsies for good measure, she made her way rather quickly off the shoddy stage and ran into the 'wings', planning her escape to the ocean as she went.
Unfortunately, she didn't have more than a minute to entertain that idea. In mere seconds, a calloused hand clasped harshly over her lips, tying a gag about her mouth. Her hands were expertly bound, and she was led off roughly before she could even utter a note of protest or alert anyone to her sudden peril. She immediately noticed two incapacitated guards, as well as her handmaiden, Jessica, bound and gagged in the heavy shadows.
With a sparkle in his eye and a deft quickness in his step, Jack helped his crewmembers lead the struggling woman to the boat.
The audience's thunderous applause continued, drowning out any sounds the Siren's captors made in making off with her.
