Chapter Sixteen-Wedding
(Weddings? I love weddings! Drinks all around....)
*This chapter is ridiculously long. I apologize in advance. As it is so freaking long, it also took me
longer than normal to write it. Apologize for leaving everybody hanging for a few days, but you'd really
hate me if I chopped this in two. Major things happening guys, we're closing in on a conclusion....
Captain Jack Sparrow strolled through the streets of Port Royal, happy as a clam and not
caring who saw him. He and Catherine were going to be married with the support of the governor. He
didn't really think anything could put a damper on his spirits now, and he wasn't even drunk! As he
swaggered through the back streets lined with small, humble homes, he suddenly ran into something to
little for him to have noticed as he walked. After stumbling into a nearby wall, shaking his head and
making sure his hat was still intact, Jack looked down to see what he had collided with. Sitting on the
ground in front of him, looking quite shaken himself, was the same little boy who had been sent to fetch
the pirate to Catherine the day before.
"Peter, me boy!" Jack cried happily as he pulled the child to his feet. "Sorry lad, not hurt are
ye?" The boy shook his head, still slightly dazed by his sudden encounter with Sparrow. "Good. Have
you spent yer shilling yet, my young friend?"
"No, sir," said Peter as he regained his bearings. "I can't decide what to spend it on!" The
child held out his hands, apparently frustrated at the thought of the shiny coin burning a whole in his
pocket, as Jack laughed at his innocence.
"A nice hat's always a good thing ter have," said Jack as Peter dusted himself off. "Do you
have a hat?"
"No, sir."
"Well there you are." Peter was smiling at the idea of buying himself a great big hat, just like
Jack's, when a woman came out of a nearby doorway. She was calling Peter's name, but suddenly
stopped short when she saw him talking to the pirate. As the woman ran up to snatch her child back
inside, Jack straightened up and stuck his hand out.
"Err, how d'ye do, ma'am. Just having a word with Peter here, hope ye don't mind?" The
woman clutched Peter's shoulder and narrowed her eyes in appraisal as Peter explained to his mother
who this man was. He told her that Jack was the basis of his job for Will Turner.
"I know Mr. Turner and his wife," the woman said. "If they trust you then I guess it is all right
for you to talk to my son." Jack folded his hands and bowed (which was actually more of a bobble) his
thanks. "Unfortunately, it is past Peter's bedtime." The boy scurried inside with a look of
disappointment on his face; he was really growing quite fond of the pirate. "Now," said Peter's mother
with her arms crossed, "Peter didn't tell me your name?" Jack sort of coughed and shuffled from side
to side, trying to think of the best way to avoid this unpleasant situation.
"Well, that would be because he doesn't know me name."
"That would make sense, I suppose. I mean, you are a pirate, are you not? It can't be too
safe for you to be in Port Royal after what happened. I assume you know what I'm talking about?"
Jack's mouth dropped open. This woman was trying to say that she thought he was one of the pirates
who attacked the town a year ago!
"Now wait just a minute! I know what yer tryin' to say, but I happened to have been locked in
a cell in the fort when that blasted crew of mutineers attacked Port Royal, for your information!" The
woman relaxed slightly, but still left her arms crossed in front of her chest as Jack looked behind her to
see Peter with his ear pressed against the window of their home.
"Very well. I still would be interested to know what business you have here. Why shouldn't I
just alert the guard at the fort as to your presence?" Jack threw his hands up in frustration.
"Because I'm not here to cause trouble! I just came for my girl, I just want to get married!" At
this Peter's mother's mouth dropped open, Jack's shock now having been transferred to her. "Look
Mrs....."
"Thatcher."
"Look Mrs. Thatcher, I really don't want any trouble. I don't have any ill will toward yer boy,
I happen to like the kid. And I really wish ye'd tell me what to do to keep ye from lettin' that bloody
commodore knowin' I'm still here! Outta respect fer the Turners, at least, could ye just keep yer
peace?" Mrs. Thatcher's eyebrows rose in curiosity.
"The Turners?" Jack smacked himself in the head, realizing what a stupid mistake he'd just
made.
"Had to do somethin' stupid. Aye, the Turners."
"Very well, you tell me what this has to do with the Turners, and I will swear on my son's head
that I won't turn you in." After looking at the woman sideways for a few minutes while flexing his
fingers to help him think, Jack just shrugged his shoulders.
"Because my girl is Mrs. Turner's sister. There, happy?" A look of complete and udder shock
came over the woman's face.
"What?"
"Are ye gonna tell or not? Please let me know so I can be on me way."
"No, I won't tell."
"Thanks very much." And with that Jack Sparrow strode off towards his ship, not in the best
of moods, leaving Peter's shocked mother standing in the street in front of her home. As left the street
and went inside, a very small but greatly significant detail of the recent scene presented itself, a detail
that would prove almost disastrous to Jack, Catherine, and everyone else involved: a face in a window
across the street smiled and disappeared behind a curtain.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next day was one of excitement for Catherine. The entire morning and afternoon were
spent making arrangements for the small, secret wedding that would take place that night. Will was
running all across Port Royal looking for a trustworthy minister. Governor Swann was making sure that
he would not be missed at the fort as well as swearing every member of his household to secrecy.
Elizabeth, having found a nursemaid for baby Jack, had devoted herself entirely to her sister. She gave
her advice and encouragement, as well as made her sit still long enough to fix her hair and calm her
nerves. As Elizabeth stood behind her sister brushing her long auburn hair, she couldn't help but let a
tear run down her cheek.
"Cate?"
"Yes, darling?"
"You know how happy I am for you, and I wouldn't want to do anything to ruin your day,
don't you?" Catherine nodded, confused as to where this was going.
"Yes."
"Have you realized that this may be your last day in Port Royal for a long time?" Catherine
turned around her look at her sister, one arm resting on the back of her chair and the other twirling a
strand of hair. "We won't be always together after today like we have been our entire lives."
"Oh Tess," said Catherine as she stood up and took her sister into her arms. "I know that
things will be very different. It may be months, even years between visits home, but that will make our
meetings so much sweeter." Catherine, the strong child, stroked her baby sister's hair as she cried
softly into her shoulder. "You will always be my Tess, no matter what happens, but I must go with
Jack."
"I know you must, I just wish there was some way for us to stay together as well," Elizabeth
said, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"I know, Tess, so do I." The two sisters stood there holding each other for a minute or two
before Catherine sat back down in the chair and the wedding preparations began again. It was, after
all, only an hour or so until dark. Only an hour or so until Jack and marriage.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At the same time Elizabeth was setting Catherine's hair, Jack was being subjected to another
form of grooming aboard the Pearl. He found himself submerged in a tub of water being scrubbed so
hard his brown skin turned pink by Gibbs and Mr. Cotton while at the same time shouting at Anna
Maria to be careful with his clothes, which she was scrubbing in another tub a few feet away.
"Blast, Gibbs! Are ye tryin' to clean me or kill me!?!" Gibbs just laughed and threw a bucket
of soapy water over Jack's head.
"Don't ye want te be presentable fer yer lovely lady?" Jack looked up at him and sneered.
Gibbs tilted his head to one side. "That and I had to get revenge fer that bucket o' water ye threw on
me while I was sleepin' in Tortuga last year." As Gibbs smirked and scrubbed, Jack laughed
sarcastically and splashed water all over Gibbs' front. As the two men continued their battle of wills
and water, Mr. Cotton shook his head and continue to scrub while Anna Maria doubled over laughing.
This was a sight you didn't see everyday!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After the sun had set and all was dark in Port Royal, Jack, Gibbs, and Anna Maria were let into
the governor's mansion by Will, who showed them to a candlelit green in back of the house. At the
same time the pirates were arriving for the wedding, a small woman in a tattered dress was talking to a
small group of soldiers in the empty market square.
"Ye'll never believe what I heard las' night, gents, ye'll just never believe it!" The soldiers
laughed at the old woman, who would do anything for a decent story to tell them.
"I saw a pirate standing in the street talking to that poor widow Thatcher!"
"Oh come off it, Annie."
"It's true I tell ye! And what's more, 'e was tellin' 'ow 'e was 'ere te get married!" One
soldier was bent over with his hands on his knees, he was laughing so hard. The old woman put her
hands on her hips obstinately.
"And ye'll never guess who 'e said 'e was goin' te be marryin'."
"We give up, Annie, who?"
"The gov'ner's daughter! Ye know, the spitfire one wi' the wild 'air. 'E even went as far as ter
say 'e was good friends wi' the other'n an' 'er 'usband!" Most of the soldiers broke out into hysterics
at this last bit, but one of them stared at the tiny, wrinkled woman with a very serious look on her face.
"This pirate, what did he look like, Annie?"
"Well, 'e 'ad yer usual worn leather boots an' 'at. 'E also 'ad a red scarf tied about 'is 'ead
an' long brown 'air wi' lots o' beads an' such tied inter it." The soldier's eyebrows shot up.
"Did he look kind of crazy, waving his arms about and swaying?"
"Aye." The soldier turned around and began running back to the fort. His fellows looked after
him with curiosity.
"What are you doing, mate?" The soldier turned his head and shouted over his shoulder as he
ran.
"I've got to tell Commodore Norrington! Jack Sparrow's in Port Royal!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A few minutes later the old gossip, Annie, was walking down the street on which she lived with
her friend, another old gossip, as young Peter Thatcher was running up and down the street looking for
his mother's cat. She had promised him that if he found the cat and brought it into the house for the
night that she would take him to the market the next day to spend his shilling. As Peter was crawling
underneath a small cart behind which the cat was lying, Annie and her friend passed his way.
"I just don't believe it, Annie, tell me one more time what 'appened?"
"I was talkin' ter some soldiers an' I told 'em 'bout that pirate an' what 'e said te the widow
Thatcher, an' the next thing I knew the commodore his'self was stompin' off with a bunch o' soldiers te
go and find 'im. I'm tellin' ye, May, I 'ave personally assisted in the capture o' a dangerous pirate!
Ain't that just somethin'?" The two women continued chattering on their way. Peter, having
completely forgotten the cat, shot out from under the cart with a look of horror on his face. The child
ran as fast as he could back to his small house where his mother was waiting for him.
"Mum! We've got to go help the pirate!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The stars were shining brightly as Catherine Swann took her father's arm and walked out onto
the small patch of green behind the stately governor's mansion. The sight that met her eyes was one
which she would treasure for the rest of her life. In place of a church aisle, there was a small trail on the
grass lit by two shining rows of tiny lanterns leading up to a circle of candles and torches. Inside this
circle she saw her sister holding a bright tropical flower with a long white ribbon tied around its stem
and Will standing next to her with the baby, who also had a flower clutched in his tiny fist. Across the
way from Elizabeth and Will stood Gibbs and Anna Maria, who also each had a flower and were the
cleanest they could possibly be. In the very center of the circle stood a minister with an open Bible in
his hand, and next to him stood Jack. Catherine beamed as she looked upon the man who would soon
be her husband. If cleanliness was next to godliness, then Jack was the most pious of saints; everything
about him had been cleaned. His clothes were crisp and his skin gave off a radiant glow; his hair was
shining in the candlelight, each metal bead and coin sending tiny gold shimmers dancing across his face.
Catherine smiled, turned to her father who squeezed her hand, and the two of them began their walk
down the aisle.
Jack Sparrow looked up from his shoes, which he had been staring at nervously ever since he
had come outside, to see the most beautiful creature he had ever seen in his life. Catherine's deep hair
was set in soft curls with small tendrils floating across her fair neck and shoulders. She wore a simple
dress, a gown of her mother's, which was the soft ivory of a pearl darkened slightly by time and held a
single white orchid in her graceful hand. Jack's breath caught in his throat as he looked on his bride.
Catherine's face was set in a wide, loving smile as she walked down the aisle of lanterns, the glow from
the fires unable to compete with the heavenly light radiating from her happy face and her fiery eyes. As
she and her father reached the circle, Governor Swann turned to his daughter, kissed her once on each
cheek, and then put her hand into that of the pirate. Together they turned to face the minister, ready to
begin their life together hand in hand.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The residents of the small, quaint street of Port Royal on which Will and Elizabeth lived were
awakened by a loud bang and the sound of splintering wood. As the alarmed neighbors came out of
their doors to see what was happening, two soldiers emerged from the broken door of the Turner's
small house.
"There's no one here, sir." Commodore Norrington nodded, his hands clasped calmly behind
his back.
"Very well. The fact that they are not at home at this late hour makes it perfectly clear that
there is only one other place they may be," he said, his voice beginning to take on a slightly excited
tone. "Men, we move on. To the governor's mansion."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jack held Catherine's hand in his as he held out a shining gold band and repeated the words of
commitment spoken by the minister. As he began to put the ring on her finger, a young voice was
heard coming around the house.
"Mr. Turner! Mr. Pirate! Is anybody there?" The wedding party turned to see a small boy
running towards them, panting. Jack stooped down and grasped him by the shoulder.
"What is it, Peter?" The child struggled to speak between gasps.
"It's...the soldiers...commodore...on their way...looking for pirate...old lady...told
about...wedding...guards coming..." Elizabeth let out a shriek. Jack stood up, his jaw set firmly, and
clutched Catherine's hand as she began to breath faster and faster, trying not to panic and searching
Jack's face for any sign of what to do.
"Minister," said the pirate solemnly, "can we please complete the ceremony quickly?" The
reverend nodded. Jack took Catherine's trembling hand and placed the ring on her finger. "With this
ring, I thee wed." Tears slowly began trickling down her face as Jack held both of her hands tightly in
his strong grasp. The two stared into each other's eyes, unmoving and silent.
"I now pronounce you man and wife in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Amen." The minister closed his Bible. Loud cries and the sound of heavy feet came from the house.
Jack pulled his wife to him and kissed her, softly but painfully. As he withdrew Catherine placed her
hands on his shoulders, pleading with her eyes. The pirate spoke without taking his eyes off of her tear
stained face.
"Peter." The child pulled himself up off the ground on which he had collapsed.
"Yes, sir?"
"Does your mother have a plan?"
"Yes, sir. I am supposed to bring you back with me to hide until the soldiers go away."
"Good lad. Catherine," Jack said as he took her hands off of his shoulders and placed them on
Governor Swann's arm. "Wait here. I will bring you to me when it is safe." The woman nodded and
lifted her trembling fingers to her husband's beloved face. Jack closed his eyes for a brief moment as
his eyebrows knit together in anguish, then he opened his eyes, kissed Catherine's fingertips softly,
hoisted the still panting Peter onto his back and ran off into the night.
(Weddings? I love weddings! Drinks all around....)
*This chapter is ridiculously long. I apologize in advance. As it is so freaking long, it also took me
longer than normal to write it. Apologize for leaving everybody hanging for a few days, but you'd really
hate me if I chopped this in two. Major things happening guys, we're closing in on a conclusion....
Captain Jack Sparrow strolled through the streets of Port Royal, happy as a clam and not
caring who saw him. He and Catherine were going to be married with the support of the governor. He
didn't really think anything could put a damper on his spirits now, and he wasn't even drunk! As he
swaggered through the back streets lined with small, humble homes, he suddenly ran into something to
little for him to have noticed as he walked. After stumbling into a nearby wall, shaking his head and
making sure his hat was still intact, Jack looked down to see what he had collided with. Sitting on the
ground in front of him, looking quite shaken himself, was the same little boy who had been sent to fetch
the pirate to Catherine the day before.
"Peter, me boy!" Jack cried happily as he pulled the child to his feet. "Sorry lad, not hurt are
ye?" The boy shook his head, still slightly dazed by his sudden encounter with Sparrow. "Good. Have
you spent yer shilling yet, my young friend?"
"No, sir," said Peter as he regained his bearings. "I can't decide what to spend it on!" The
child held out his hands, apparently frustrated at the thought of the shiny coin burning a whole in his
pocket, as Jack laughed at his innocence.
"A nice hat's always a good thing ter have," said Jack as Peter dusted himself off. "Do you
have a hat?"
"No, sir."
"Well there you are." Peter was smiling at the idea of buying himself a great big hat, just like
Jack's, when a woman came out of a nearby doorway. She was calling Peter's name, but suddenly
stopped short when she saw him talking to the pirate. As the woman ran up to snatch her child back
inside, Jack straightened up and stuck his hand out.
"Err, how d'ye do, ma'am. Just having a word with Peter here, hope ye don't mind?" The
woman clutched Peter's shoulder and narrowed her eyes in appraisal as Peter explained to his mother
who this man was. He told her that Jack was the basis of his job for Will Turner.
"I know Mr. Turner and his wife," the woman said. "If they trust you then I guess it is all right
for you to talk to my son." Jack folded his hands and bowed (which was actually more of a bobble) his
thanks. "Unfortunately, it is past Peter's bedtime." The boy scurried inside with a look of
disappointment on his face; he was really growing quite fond of the pirate. "Now," said Peter's mother
with her arms crossed, "Peter didn't tell me your name?" Jack sort of coughed and shuffled from side
to side, trying to think of the best way to avoid this unpleasant situation.
"Well, that would be because he doesn't know me name."
"That would make sense, I suppose. I mean, you are a pirate, are you not? It can't be too
safe for you to be in Port Royal after what happened. I assume you know what I'm talking about?"
Jack's mouth dropped open. This woman was trying to say that she thought he was one of the pirates
who attacked the town a year ago!
"Now wait just a minute! I know what yer tryin' to say, but I happened to have been locked in
a cell in the fort when that blasted crew of mutineers attacked Port Royal, for your information!" The
woman relaxed slightly, but still left her arms crossed in front of her chest as Jack looked behind her to
see Peter with his ear pressed against the window of their home.
"Very well. I still would be interested to know what business you have here. Why shouldn't I
just alert the guard at the fort as to your presence?" Jack threw his hands up in frustration.
"Because I'm not here to cause trouble! I just came for my girl, I just want to get married!" At
this Peter's mother's mouth dropped open, Jack's shock now having been transferred to her. "Look
Mrs....."
"Thatcher."
"Look Mrs. Thatcher, I really don't want any trouble. I don't have any ill will toward yer boy,
I happen to like the kid. And I really wish ye'd tell me what to do to keep ye from lettin' that bloody
commodore knowin' I'm still here! Outta respect fer the Turners, at least, could ye just keep yer
peace?" Mrs. Thatcher's eyebrows rose in curiosity.
"The Turners?" Jack smacked himself in the head, realizing what a stupid mistake he'd just
made.
"Had to do somethin' stupid. Aye, the Turners."
"Very well, you tell me what this has to do with the Turners, and I will swear on my son's head
that I won't turn you in." After looking at the woman sideways for a few minutes while flexing his
fingers to help him think, Jack just shrugged his shoulders.
"Because my girl is Mrs. Turner's sister. There, happy?" A look of complete and udder shock
came over the woman's face.
"What?"
"Are ye gonna tell or not? Please let me know so I can be on me way."
"No, I won't tell."
"Thanks very much." And with that Jack Sparrow strode off towards his ship, not in the best
of moods, leaving Peter's shocked mother standing in the street in front of her home. As left the street
and went inside, a very small but greatly significant detail of the recent scene presented itself, a detail
that would prove almost disastrous to Jack, Catherine, and everyone else involved: a face in a window
across the street smiled and disappeared behind a curtain.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next day was one of excitement for Catherine. The entire morning and afternoon were
spent making arrangements for the small, secret wedding that would take place that night. Will was
running all across Port Royal looking for a trustworthy minister. Governor Swann was making sure that
he would not be missed at the fort as well as swearing every member of his household to secrecy.
Elizabeth, having found a nursemaid for baby Jack, had devoted herself entirely to her sister. She gave
her advice and encouragement, as well as made her sit still long enough to fix her hair and calm her
nerves. As Elizabeth stood behind her sister brushing her long auburn hair, she couldn't help but let a
tear run down her cheek.
"Cate?"
"Yes, darling?"
"You know how happy I am for you, and I wouldn't want to do anything to ruin your day,
don't you?" Catherine nodded, confused as to where this was going.
"Yes."
"Have you realized that this may be your last day in Port Royal for a long time?" Catherine
turned around her look at her sister, one arm resting on the back of her chair and the other twirling a
strand of hair. "We won't be always together after today like we have been our entire lives."
"Oh Tess," said Catherine as she stood up and took her sister into her arms. "I know that
things will be very different. It may be months, even years between visits home, but that will make our
meetings so much sweeter." Catherine, the strong child, stroked her baby sister's hair as she cried
softly into her shoulder. "You will always be my Tess, no matter what happens, but I must go with
Jack."
"I know you must, I just wish there was some way for us to stay together as well," Elizabeth
said, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"I know, Tess, so do I." The two sisters stood there holding each other for a minute or two
before Catherine sat back down in the chair and the wedding preparations began again. It was, after
all, only an hour or so until dark. Only an hour or so until Jack and marriage.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At the same time Elizabeth was setting Catherine's hair, Jack was being subjected to another
form of grooming aboard the Pearl. He found himself submerged in a tub of water being scrubbed so
hard his brown skin turned pink by Gibbs and Mr. Cotton while at the same time shouting at Anna
Maria to be careful with his clothes, which she was scrubbing in another tub a few feet away.
"Blast, Gibbs! Are ye tryin' to clean me or kill me!?!" Gibbs just laughed and threw a bucket
of soapy water over Jack's head.
"Don't ye want te be presentable fer yer lovely lady?" Jack looked up at him and sneered.
Gibbs tilted his head to one side. "That and I had to get revenge fer that bucket o' water ye threw on
me while I was sleepin' in Tortuga last year." As Gibbs smirked and scrubbed, Jack laughed
sarcastically and splashed water all over Gibbs' front. As the two men continued their battle of wills
and water, Mr. Cotton shook his head and continue to scrub while Anna Maria doubled over laughing.
This was a sight you didn't see everyday!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After the sun had set and all was dark in Port Royal, Jack, Gibbs, and Anna Maria were let into
the governor's mansion by Will, who showed them to a candlelit green in back of the house. At the
same time the pirates were arriving for the wedding, a small woman in a tattered dress was talking to a
small group of soldiers in the empty market square.
"Ye'll never believe what I heard las' night, gents, ye'll just never believe it!" The soldiers
laughed at the old woman, who would do anything for a decent story to tell them.
"I saw a pirate standing in the street talking to that poor widow Thatcher!"
"Oh come off it, Annie."
"It's true I tell ye! And what's more, 'e was tellin' 'ow 'e was 'ere te get married!" One
soldier was bent over with his hands on his knees, he was laughing so hard. The old woman put her
hands on her hips obstinately.
"And ye'll never guess who 'e said 'e was goin' te be marryin'."
"We give up, Annie, who?"
"The gov'ner's daughter! Ye know, the spitfire one wi' the wild 'air. 'E even went as far as ter
say 'e was good friends wi' the other'n an' 'er 'usband!" Most of the soldiers broke out into hysterics
at this last bit, but one of them stared at the tiny, wrinkled woman with a very serious look on her face.
"This pirate, what did he look like, Annie?"
"Well, 'e 'ad yer usual worn leather boots an' 'at. 'E also 'ad a red scarf tied about 'is 'ead
an' long brown 'air wi' lots o' beads an' such tied inter it." The soldier's eyebrows shot up.
"Did he look kind of crazy, waving his arms about and swaying?"
"Aye." The soldier turned around and began running back to the fort. His fellows looked after
him with curiosity.
"What are you doing, mate?" The soldier turned his head and shouted over his shoulder as he
ran.
"I've got to tell Commodore Norrington! Jack Sparrow's in Port Royal!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A few minutes later the old gossip, Annie, was walking down the street on which she lived with
her friend, another old gossip, as young Peter Thatcher was running up and down the street looking for
his mother's cat. She had promised him that if he found the cat and brought it into the house for the
night that she would take him to the market the next day to spend his shilling. As Peter was crawling
underneath a small cart behind which the cat was lying, Annie and her friend passed his way.
"I just don't believe it, Annie, tell me one more time what 'appened?"
"I was talkin' ter some soldiers an' I told 'em 'bout that pirate an' what 'e said te the widow
Thatcher, an' the next thing I knew the commodore his'self was stompin' off with a bunch o' soldiers te
go and find 'im. I'm tellin' ye, May, I 'ave personally assisted in the capture o' a dangerous pirate!
Ain't that just somethin'?" The two women continued chattering on their way. Peter, having
completely forgotten the cat, shot out from under the cart with a look of horror on his face. The child
ran as fast as he could back to his small house where his mother was waiting for him.
"Mum! We've got to go help the pirate!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The stars were shining brightly as Catherine Swann took her father's arm and walked out onto
the small patch of green behind the stately governor's mansion. The sight that met her eyes was one
which she would treasure for the rest of her life. In place of a church aisle, there was a small trail on the
grass lit by two shining rows of tiny lanterns leading up to a circle of candles and torches. Inside this
circle she saw her sister holding a bright tropical flower with a long white ribbon tied around its stem
and Will standing next to her with the baby, who also had a flower clutched in his tiny fist. Across the
way from Elizabeth and Will stood Gibbs and Anna Maria, who also each had a flower and were the
cleanest they could possibly be. In the very center of the circle stood a minister with an open Bible in
his hand, and next to him stood Jack. Catherine beamed as she looked upon the man who would soon
be her husband. If cleanliness was next to godliness, then Jack was the most pious of saints; everything
about him had been cleaned. His clothes were crisp and his skin gave off a radiant glow; his hair was
shining in the candlelight, each metal bead and coin sending tiny gold shimmers dancing across his face.
Catherine smiled, turned to her father who squeezed her hand, and the two of them began their walk
down the aisle.
Jack Sparrow looked up from his shoes, which he had been staring at nervously ever since he
had come outside, to see the most beautiful creature he had ever seen in his life. Catherine's deep hair
was set in soft curls with small tendrils floating across her fair neck and shoulders. She wore a simple
dress, a gown of her mother's, which was the soft ivory of a pearl darkened slightly by time and held a
single white orchid in her graceful hand. Jack's breath caught in his throat as he looked on his bride.
Catherine's face was set in a wide, loving smile as she walked down the aisle of lanterns, the glow from
the fires unable to compete with the heavenly light radiating from her happy face and her fiery eyes. As
she and her father reached the circle, Governor Swann turned to his daughter, kissed her once on each
cheek, and then put her hand into that of the pirate. Together they turned to face the minister, ready to
begin their life together hand in hand.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The residents of the small, quaint street of Port Royal on which Will and Elizabeth lived were
awakened by a loud bang and the sound of splintering wood. As the alarmed neighbors came out of
their doors to see what was happening, two soldiers emerged from the broken door of the Turner's
small house.
"There's no one here, sir." Commodore Norrington nodded, his hands clasped calmly behind
his back.
"Very well. The fact that they are not at home at this late hour makes it perfectly clear that
there is only one other place they may be," he said, his voice beginning to take on a slightly excited
tone. "Men, we move on. To the governor's mansion."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jack held Catherine's hand in his as he held out a shining gold band and repeated the words of
commitment spoken by the minister. As he began to put the ring on her finger, a young voice was
heard coming around the house.
"Mr. Turner! Mr. Pirate! Is anybody there?" The wedding party turned to see a small boy
running towards them, panting. Jack stooped down and grasped him by the shoulder.
"What is it, Peter?" The child struggled to speak between gasps.
"It's...the soldiers...commodore...on their way...looking for pirate...old lady...told
about...wedding...guards coming..." Elizabeth let out a shriek. Jack stood up, his jaw set firmly, and
clutched Catherine's hand as she began to breath faster and faster, trying not to panic and searching
Jack's face for any sign of what to do.
"Minister," said the pirate solemnly, "can we please complete the ceremony quickly?" The
reverend nodded. Jack took Catherine's trembling hand and placed the ring on her finger. "With this
ring, I thee wed." Tears slowly began trickling down her face as Jack held both of her hands tightly in
his strong grasp. The two stared into each other's eyes, unmoving and silent.
"I now pronounce you man and wife in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Amen." The minister closed his Bible. Loud cries and the sound of heavy feet came from the house.
Jack pulled his wife to him and kissed her, softly but painfully. As he withdrew Catherine placed her
hands on his shoulders, pleading with her eyes. The pirate spoke without taking his eyes off of her tear
stained face.
"Peter." The child pulled himself up off the ground on which he had collapsed.
"Yes, sir?"
"Does your mother have a plan?"
"Yes, sir. I am supposed to bring you back with me to hide until the soldiers go away."
"Good lad. Catherine," Jack said as he took her hands off of his shoulders and placed them on
Governor Swann's arm. "Wait here. I will bring you to me when it is safe." The woman nodded and
lifted her trembling fingers to her husband's beloved face. Jack closed his eyes for a brief moment as
his eyebrows knit together in anguish, then he opened his eyes, kissed Catherine's fingertips softly,
hoisted the still panting Peter onto his back and ran off into the night.