AN: I'm in shock: over 15 reviews in three days! I've never been so happy! sniffs Thanks to everyone! (Oh, and Reikon, you are special, babe, no matter what your mom says!) Thanks for the support! I'm really sorry about the formatting; the website tends to tweak the document and everything. I had it all nice and spaced out, but the site messed it up, sorry! I'm also sorry if the story is moving too fast; it's just that it flows so fast in my head and I need to get it written down, but I'll try and go slower. Remember, I'm going by memory here! I don't have the film in front of me to correct my mistakes. Anyway, on with the story!
Chapter 6: Wedding Plans and Escape
Once onboard the Dauntless, guards held Jack by the arms as the Governor grabbed Elizabeth in a tremendous hug. He only let go when it seemed as though Elizabeth was going to faint from lack of air. The Governor then turned his attention toward Lara.
"As wonderful as it is to see you again, my dear, I'm afraid I don't know whether to punish you for piracy, or to thank you for saving my daughter," he said gravely.
"If you please, sir," Lara said with a bow, "I was only doing what you ordered me to all those years ago: to look after Elizabeth and to make sure that she was safe. I hardly think that you should punish me for following your orders, sir."
She looked up at the Governor, who seemed to be having a hard time keeping a straight face. "Indeed," he said, slightly smirking. "Those were my orders four years ago. And you have done an excellent job of seeing to your mistress, Miss Storm. I'll have to see you properly rewarded when we return home."
"But father!" cried Elizabeth. "What about Will? You cannot let him be killed by pirates!"
"My dear," the Governor said sharply, cutting off protests from both Lara and Elizabeth. "He has engaged in piracy, and, unlike your serving maid, he had no orders to see to you or your safety. He must face the consequences."
Flashes of despair raced across Lara's face before turned to Elizabeth. What she saw surprised her; she saw hope and what looked like a plan forming on Elizabeth's face. "Commodore, I beg you to do this. For me." She paused. "As a wedding present."
Lara's jaw dropped. 'Wedding present! Is she mad?' she thought. The Governor seemed equally surprised, and Commodore looked joyful.
"Elizabeth, are you accepting the Commodore's proposal?" her father asked in shock.
"I am," Elizabeth said softly, looking directly at the Commodore.
"A wedding!" quipped Jack. "I love weddings! Drinks all around!" He noticed the Commodore glaring at him. "I know, clap him in irons?" He held out his wrists.
"Mr. Sparrow," began the Commodore. "You are to go to the helm and direct us to the Isle de Muerta, and then spend the entire voyage pondering the meaning of 'silent as the grave,' is that understood?"
"Perfectly," answered Jack, who looked back and winked at Lara before being led to the helm. Lara smiled and rolled her eyes at him before leading Elizabeth to the captain's quarters to rest.
Hours later, they had arrived at the Isle. Jack went with Norrington and a majority of the crew to form a plan on how to attack Barbossa and his band of pirates, and Elizabeth and Lara were locked in the captain's quarters, to 'keep them out of harm's way.' Lara felt it was a good idea; she really needed talk some sense into Elizabeth.
"Lizzie, are you mad!" Lara frantically whispered to her friend, hoping no one would hear. "You and I both know that Norrington is an arrogant, powered wig-wearing idiot who doesn't deserve you!"
"Don't you think I know that, Lara?" Elizabeth whispered back. "I'm doing this for Will, and I'll do whatever it takes to save him!"
Lara grinned at her. "You love him, don't you?"
Elizabeth did a double take. "What!"
"You Love Him!" Lara replied, leaning against a table. "I always knew you did. You always got moody whenever I said I had to go visit Will and you had to go to a dinner party. It's sort of obvious, Lizzie. And don't try and deny it, I can see it in your eyes."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "What ever you say, Lara. Now, help me make a rope out of these bed sheets, we have to go help Will!"
The two of them quickly got to work ripping sheets in half with the help of a sword left in the cabin, then tied them together. They were lucky that a rowboat was hanging out right behind the ship, and had decided to first lower the boat, then climb down into it, since the both of them couldn't lower the boat with them inside of it. Elizabeth went first, then signaled to Lara to come down. Lara strapped on the sword, and was just climbing down when she heard the Governor talking through the door; something about making the right decision for the wrong reasons. She ignored him and kept climbing down. After she touched down in the boat, the two of them rowed toward the Black Pearl.
Once they reached the Pearl, Lara let Elizabeth go first again, since she had spent more time on the ship. Lara was three-quarters of the way up the side of the boat when something flew past her head. It looked like a monkey. Ignoring it, Lara raced up the side, then quickly followed Elizabeth across the deck and down below, hiding behind a pillar as two pirates went by up the stairs. The two of them then raced to free the prisoners.
"It's Elizabeth and Lara!" cried Gibbs.
The two girls quickly opened the locks, then let everyone upstairs. Lara and Elizabeth grabbed the nearest hanging rowboat, then knocked the two guards over the side with it.
"Come on! Will's in trouble!" cried Elizabeth. The crew simply stood there. She turned toward them. "Well? Come on!"
"Sorry, lass," said Gibbs. "We've got the Pearl, that's all that matters."
"Aye," said Annamaria. "Besides, Jack owes us a ship!"
"What about Jack?" asked Lara in amazement. "You're just going to leave him there to die?"
Gibbs shifted uncomfortably. "Well, there is the code to consider."
"Code!" cried Elizabeth. "You're pirates! Hang the code and hang the rules! They're more like guidelines anyway!" The crew still wasn't moved.
"Fine!" yelled Lara. "You're just a bunch of cowards anyway!" She and Elizabeth climbed down the side and into their still-waiting rowboat and rowed toward the island.
"Bloody pirates," muttered Elizabeth, as they watched the Black Pearl sail away.
AN: Sorry about the short chapter! I'm trying to drag it out as long as possible. Oh, by the way, does anyone want a sequel? It might happen; after all, the movie will likely have one. What do you think? Review and tell me!
