((*Authors Note*))
Dedicated to Johnny Depp, who brought Jack Sparrow to life. And to pirates everywhere. For living life on the edge.
Lovers and Larks
---------------
Port Royal
Will fairly skipped down the road to the Governors house. The grin on his face was evident to any passer by. It had been nearly three months since he had last seen Elizabeth Swann. He wondered idly, what she would think of his appearance. His brown hair had lightened in the sun, streaks of gold now mingled with his darker locks. He was considerably more tan as well, the hot sea sun had beaten a healthy glow into his once placid pallor. New hair growth had sprouted from his chin and he had sculpted it into a clean cut goatee. His clothing had changed little. He wore brown leather breaches with tall brown boots, and a slightly dirty white shirt, and leather vest. Strapped secularly to his side with a wide brown belt was one of his cutlasses, on the other side a loaded flintlock pistol nestled itself against his thigh.
He slipped around the side of the house and knocked on the servants door. They let him in eagerly, lead him to the kitchen, and immediately called for Miss Elizabeth. Will, waited patiently for his love, chatting with the cook, who was already fixing him a meal.
"Will!" Elizabeth all but shouted as she entered the kitchen in a flurry of violet taffeta and lace.
"Elizabeth!" He replied. Just as happy to see her. Instantly, she was in his arms holding him close to her. Slowly she looked up at him, tears in her soft eyes.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"I was so worried about you. Yesterday, the storm. Are you okay?"
"As you can see, my love, I'm fine." He smiled at her to take away her worry. "The ship however..."
"The Pearl!?" She gasped. "What happened to the Pearl? Is Jack okay?"
"Yes, yes. Jack is fine. The ships main mast is gone. Struck by lightening. We pulled in off the coast to make repairs. By tomorrow morning we'll probably be pulling out again. Jack can't risk leaving the ship this close to Port Royal for too long."
"You... You're leaving again?" Elizabeth's tears threatened to spill again as she looked at her outlaw lover. Will silenced her fears with a kiss. Leaning in and brushing her soft pink lips with his own, earning a solid "Ooooooo!" from the cook, whom they had forgotten was even there. Will broke the kiss and smiled at her with a wink.
"I think the Lady and I will be having that upstairs." He said as he pointed at the warmed roast beef sandwiches, and tomato soup. Elizabeth smiled at him, then took him by the hand and silently lead him upstairs to her room. Rarely, had Will been in her private quarters. And never when her life wasn't threatened. Yet, nervousness was far from his mind. He sat on the edge of her bed looking at an angel, his angel. Her golden hair seemed to float around her on a soft breeze. Her eyes smiled at him, he smiled in return as she approached him.
"You are the most stunning creature I have ever had the privilege to behold." He told her softly.
"I missed you William." She said, before she again kissed him.
-------------------
Off The Coast
Captain Jack Sparrow lounged near the helm enjoying a celebratory bottle of rum smiling as his crew worked to finish setting the rigging on his new mast.
"Lovely. Lovely! That's a right smart mast, if I do say so m'self, which of course, I do. What do you think Gibbs?" He called over to his second mate.
"Aye Cap'n? What was that?"
Jack all but sloshed his rum on the deck as he swaggered over to Gibbs. "I say, that appears to be a right smart mast."
"Aye Cap'n that it be. The men 'ave worked right hard to set it right. I'm thinkin' that they could use a bit of holiday after that."
"Right you are man!" Jack stated. "I've been thinking entirely along those same lines." Jack left Gibbs standing on deck and climbed up to the quarterdeck. "Men!" he shouted, to get there attention. "Ye all have done Jack proud this day. I been thinkin' what can 'ol Jack do 'ta say thank ye? So, I says to 'meself, how about a bit of a holiday... In Tortuga!"
Cheers of joy rose up in his assembled men. Shouts of pleasure followed by thanks to Jack.
"Three cheers for Cap'n Jack!" They rang out in a gruff chorus. "Hip, Hip. Horay!"
Some raised their own bottles of rum, "To Cap'n Jack for see'n us through the storm!"
"Right you are men! Tomorrow, when our Will returns, we will set course for Tortuga! We'll all 'ave a bit of sport, and if a plump ship happens to cross in front of our bowsprit what are we gonna do?"
"Take everything! Give nothing back!" they shouted in unison.
The men's festive spirits, despite aching backs, sore hands, and lack of sleep, did not fade that entire day. They were happy to have such a thoughtful Captain, and it reflected well on Jack that his men, after nearly loosing the ship, and more likely their lives, were in such good spirits. Morale was up, and it made Jack feel good. He relaxed for the rest of the day waiting, as patiently as a pirate could, for his first mate to return from his bit of holiday so they could shove off.
---------------
Port Royal
Will was still kissing Elizabeth farewell in the servants doorway of the Governor's house when the Governor himself returned home, unbeknownst to the couple, with a distinguished guest, Commander Norrington. They were deep in conversation, speaking of taxes, politics, and, the ever present topic of conversation in Port Royal, Pirates. Little did the Governor know that at that very moment a pirate was preparing to slip out of his house, and vanish into the night.
"My lady! My lady!" Elizabeth's panting servant girl practically flew into the kitchen looking for her Mistress. "My lady William must flee!"
"What is it Betty? What is wrong?" Elizabeth asked frightened.
"Tha' Governor's 'ome, and Commander Norrington is wit' 'em!"
"Norrington! Damn, will that man never cease! Will you must fly, you are a wanted man. If he catches you I will never forgive myself."
"He won't catch me, my love." Will swooped in for one last kiss. "I love you. I'll be back as soon as I can."
"I love you too. Please be careful." Elizabeth watched as he turned from her to leave. "Will." She called quietly before he was fully out the door. "Tell Jack I said hello. Thank him for me, for letting you come and see me. I love you."
"I will my darling. Watch that Norrington fellow."
Will speed into the night leaving the mansion, and his love behind. From a window in the parlor Norrington watched his shadowy figure cross the street and disappear down an alley. He frowned to himself, but said nothing to Governor Swann, silently resolving to rid himself of a thorn in his side. Only then, he mussed, would Elizabeth's heart be his for the taking.
((*Authors Note*))
Well how about that. A well rounded chapter me thinks. A bit of Jack, a bit of mush, a bit of foreshadowing. Anne Bonny in the next chapter I promise. I'll try to get it up as soon as possible. Till then I would love some feedback. All comments and flames welcome. Let me know if you think everyone's in character, espically Jack. He's so hard to write. I feel like I'm one a roll with this story. Sadly that means my others will be neglected for a while. I know where the next few chapters are heading so they will probably flow like these first two did.
Will pillage and maim for comments.
Dedicated to Johnny Depp, who brought Jack Sparrow to life. And to pirates everywhere. For living life on the edge.
Lovers and Larks
---------------
Port Royal
Will fairly skipped down the road to the Governors house. The grin on his face was evident to any passer by. It had been nearly three months since he had last seen Elizabeth Swann. He wondered idly, what she would think of his appearance. His brown hair had lightened in the sun, streaks of gold now mingled with his darker locks. He was considerably more tan as well, the hot sea sun had beaten a healthy glow into his once placid pallor. New hair growth had sprouted from his chin and he had sculpted it into a clean cut goatee. His clothing had changed little. He wore brown leather breaches with tall brown boots, and a slightly dirty white shirt, and leather vest. Strapped secularly to his side with a wide brown belt was one of his cutlasses, on the other side a loaded flintlock pistol nestled itself against his thigh.
He slipped around the side of the house and knocked on the servants door. They let him in eagerly, lead him to the kitchen, and immediately called for Miss Elizabeth. Will, waited patiently for his love, chatting with the cook, who was already fixing him a meal.
"Will!" Elizabeth all but shouted as she entered the kitchen in a flurry of violet taffeta and lace.
"Elizabeth!" He replied. Just as happy to see her. Instantly, she was in his arms holding him close to her. Slowly she looked up at him, tears in her soft eyes.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"I was so worried about you. Yesterday, the storm. Are you okay?"
"As you can see, my love, I'm fine." He smiled at her to take away her worry. "The ship however..."
"The Pearl!?" She gasped. "What happened to the Pearl? Is Jack okay?"
"Yes, yes. Jack is fine. The ships main mast is gone. Struck by lightening. We pulled in off the coast to make repairs. By tomorrow morning we'll probably be pulling out again. Jack can't risk leaving the ship this close to Port Royal for too long."
"You... You're leaving again?" Elizabeth's tears threatened to spill again as she looked at her outlaw lover. Will silenced her fears with a kiss. Leaning in and brushing her soft pink lips with his own, earning a solid "Ooooooo!" from the cook, whom they had forgotten was even there. Will broke the kiss and smiled at her with a wink.
"I think the Lady and I will be having that upstairs." He said as he pointed at the warmed roast beef sandwiches, and tomato soup. Elizabeth smiled at him, then took him by the hand and silently lead him upstairs to her room. Rarely, had Will been in her private quarters. And never when her life wasn't threatened. Yet, nervousness was far from his mind. He sat on the edge of her bed looking at an angel, his angel. Her golden hair seemed to float around her on a soft breeze. Her eyes smiled at him, he smiled in return as she approached him.
"You are the most stunning creature I have ever had the privilege to behold." He told her softly.
"I missed you William." She said, before she again kissed him.
-------------------
Off The Coast
Captain Jack Sparrow lounged near the helm enjoying a celebratory bottle of rum smiling as his crew worked to finish setting the rigging on his new mast.
"Lovely. Lovely! That's a right smart mast, if I do say so m'self, which of course, I do. What do you think Gibbs?" He called over to his second mate.
"Aye Cap'n? What was that?"
Jack all but sloshed his rum on the deck as he swaggered over to Gibbs. "I say, that appears to be a right smart mast."
"Aye Cap'n that it be. The men 'ave worked right hard to set it right. I'm thinkin' that they could use a bit of holiday after that."
"Right you are man!" Jack stated. "I've been thinking entirely along those same lines." Jack left Gibbs standing on deck and climbed up to the quarterdeck. "Men!" he shouted, to get there attention. "Ye all have done Jack proud this day. I been thinkin' what can 'ol Jack do 'ta say thank ye? So, I says to 'meself, how about a bit of a holiday... In Tortuga!"
Cheers of joy rose up in his assembled men. Shouts of pleasure followed by thanks to Jack.
"Three cheers for Cap'n Jack!" They rang out in a gruff chorus. "Hip, Hip. Horay!"
Some raised their own bottles of rum, "To Cap'n Jack for see'n us through the storm!"
"Right you are men! Tomorrow, when our Will returns, we will set course for Tortuga! We'll all 'ave a bit of sport, and if a plump ship happens to cross in front of our bowsprit what are we gonna do?"
"Take everything! Give nothing back!" they shouted in unison.
The men's festive spirits, despite aching backs, sore hands, and lack of sleep, did not fade that entire day. They were happy to have such a thoughtful Captain, and it reflected well on Jack that his men, after nearly loosing the ship, and more likely their lives, were in such good spirits. Morale was up, and it made Jack feel good. He relaxed for the rest of the day waiting, as patiently as a pirate could, for his first mate to return from his bit of holiday so they could shove off.
---------------
Port Royal
Will was still kissing Elizabeth farewell in the servants doorway of the Governor's house when the Governor himself returned home, unbeknownst to the couple, with a distinguished guest, Commander Norrington. They were deep in conversation, speaking of taxes, politics, and, the ever present topic of conversation in Port Royal, Pirates. Little did the Governor know that at that very moment a pirate was preparing to slip out of his house, and vanish into the night.
"My lady! My lady!" Elizabeth's panting servant girl practically flew into the kitchen looking for her Mistress. "My lady William must flee!"
"What is it Betty? What is wrong?" Elizabeth asked frightened.
"Tha' Governor's 'ome, and Commander Norrington is wit' 'em!"
"Norrington! Damn, will that man never cease! Will you must fly, you are a wanted man. If he catches you I will never forgive myself."
"He won't catch me, my love." Will swooped in for one last kiss. "I love you. I'll be back as soon as I can."
"I love you too. Please be careful." Elizabeth watched as he turned from her to leave. "Will." She called quietly before he was fully out the door. "Tell Jack I said hello. Thank him for me, for letting you come and see me. I love you."
"I will my darling. Watch that Norrington fellow."
Will speed into the night leaving the mansion, and his love behind. From a window in the parlor Norrington watched his shadowy figure cross the street and disappear down an alley. He frowned to himself, but said nothing to Governor Swann, silently resolving to rid himself of a thorn in his side. Only then, he mussed, would Elizabeth's heart be his for the taking.
((*Authors Note*))
Well how about that. A well rounded chapter me thinks. A bit of Jack, a bit of mush, a bit of foreshadowing. Anne Bonny in the next chapter I promise. I'll try to get it up as soon as possible. Till then I would love some feedback. All comments and flames welcome. Let me know if you think everyone's in character, espically Jack. He's so hard to write. I feel like I'm one a roll with this story. Sadly that means my others will be neglected for a while. I know where the next few chapters are heading so they will probably flow like these first two did.
Will pillage and maim for comments.