Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
1.
And the chase was on: Port Royal's finest chasing after a dashing rogue known as Captain (we mustn't forget that he's Captain) Jack Sparrow. My father took Elizabeth by the hand and made to lead us back to the mansion, where Elizabeth could put some proper clothes on and I would be kept far from the excitement. I, of course, had no intention of following. And seeing as how my father wasn't paying attention to me anyway, I slipped away.
Literally.
There must have been some donkey dung on the floor of something because one moment I was following my father and sister, and the next I was staring at my feet which were oddly right up against the sky. And then a sharp pain in my rear kindly informed me that I had fallen.
I picked myself up carefully and ducked into an ally as more of our intelligent soldiers ran by. When they left I stepped out and walked past a large statue. Glancing at it quickly, I walked by but stopped. Something was strange…
A sword was poking out from the gull-dropping ridden statue. I smiled, "Ah, Captain Sparrow, how nice to see you again," I said quietly, leaning into the statue as if I was examining it. Wasn't quite a good cover-up, because nobody looks at the statues anymore, nor do I think they ever did.
"Look, Miss Swann, ye really are lovely to look upon, but if ye don't move I wont have any option but to gut ye like a flounder," he said. I snorted, lovely to look upon was I? I wasn't about to disagree, but by Mr. Sparrow's appearance and stature, I guess that he was drunk. Or perhaps a bit queer. I shrugged.
"And ye don't want that do ye, Miss Swann? No doubt ye've got some rich suitor all ready to propose…" Captain Sparrow continued. I scowled, "I believe you have me confused with my sister, Captain. Or can you not see from behind that statue?" I snapped.
"Come along, I have no intent to call the soldiers. It would be of no profit to me," I said, stepping away. It wouldn't be any profit to me at all. Captain Jack Sparrow, pirate or not, had saved my sister's life when he could have let her drown. Now, the entire Royal Navy stationed at Port Royal was looking for him, so they could hang him for saving the life of the Governor's daughter. Captain Sparrow didn't strike me as a particularly dangerous man, and I had never met a pirate before. I had everything to gain by consorting with him - a chance at adventure at last. Christina Swann, aiding a known pirate! Much more interesting than some ceremony for a stuffy puff like our dear, brave Commodore.
Captain Sparrow stepped out from behind the statue and looked me over in such a way that I do not think was entirely proper…inwardly I grinned. "Captain Sparrow, my eyes are up here and they are surely what you must be trying so hard to find," I said sweetly. Okay, do he wasn't queer at all.
"Yes, of course, Miss Swann," he said with an impish grin. I rolled my eyes and looked over my shoulder. I could see red coats hurrying towards us. On impulse (I didn't plan it, I swear!) I grabbed his hand.
"Hurry, or they'll find you and you'll hang for threatening not one but two of the Governor's daughters," I said, leading him into the nearest shop.
My heart fell when I realized that it was the blacksmith's shop. Mr. Brown was passed out again, drunk. The sight didn't surprise me, but Will might be in here and he certainly would not let Mr. Sparrow get away. Will hated pirates.
"Whoa!" the Captain yelled into Mr. Brown's ear, making me jump. "Captain, I believe it is quite obvious that Mr. Brown is unconscious," I said. Captain Sparrow grinned at me again, and went to a hammering plank to try to get off the irons. I walked over. "Here, let me," I said, picking up the hammer and hitting the chains as hard as I could. I merely dented them. Jack looked at me, surprised, "What profit do ye collect by helping me, young Miss?" he asked. I met his eyes and grinned at him, probably looking like quite the imp myself. "Why, Mr. Sparrow! You shock me! Surely you should know!"
"It is me dashing good looks and charm, eh, girly? Can't resist ol' Jack, can ye?"
"No, Captain Sparrow, do not presume to flatter yourself. You're just a fascinating new creature. I've never met a pirate before."
"Creature…" the pirate grumbled darkly but I ignored him, still trying to hammer through his shackles.
"I can't believe you used my sister when she tried to help you!" I said, more to break the silence than anything. He shrugged, "Pirate," he explained. He spotted a branding iron in the fire, still red hot. I winced and stepped away, but he was not headed for me. He walked to the donkey that pulled the huge wooden gear-wheel's in the shop. I closed my eyes as he poked the sleeping animal with the hot metal. The donkey squealed and began to move, allowing Mr. Sparrow to reach up and have the irons broken. Suddenly the door rattled.
"Hide!" I hissed, running up to the door and opening it. It was Will, as I suspected. "Will!" I said breathlessly, trying to make my eyes wide, innocent and frightened. "Christina? What are you doing here?" Will asked. My mind was racing, what would I say? Once again on sheer impulse (and you'll have to believe me when I say I didn't plan it), I threw my arms around him, burying my face in his shoulder and trying to ignore how his strong arms slowly went around my waist. I'm afraid I might have shocked him, because his arms went around me almost hesitantly. Will and I never touched more than we had to, not even when we were practicing with the swords. At least, I never touched him. Sometimes he'd put his arm around my shoulder or chuck me under the chin, so much like a brother that I wanted to scream at him.
"Oh, Will, I was so terribly frightened, my sister! Elizabeth! She nearly drowned!" I wailed, sobbing a bit. He held me tighter, "I know. I was worried too but she's safe now and they'll catch that pirate," Will said. Damn, he knew about Captain Sparrow. I pretended to sob harder.
"I saw the pirate, Will, he was vile and terrifying and he was such a scoundrel," I cried, holding him closer. I could almost here Captain Sparrow clear his throat indignantly. "And ugly and rude," I added for good measure. I am a very good liar.
"Shh. I should have known you would take it this way, Christina, you are so sheltered growing up in the Governor's mansion," Will said gently, pushing me into the shop with his arm still about my waist. I tried desperately not to grimace. Sheltered, my foot. Did he think I was some flowery idiot, just because I was the Governor's daughter? I realized that I was trying to convince him of just that, with my performance. Oh, Will Turner frustrates me!
"Right where I left you…" Will said, looking at Mr. Brown with an ironic smile. I followed him, not wanting him to remove his hand from my hip. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Capt. Sparrow gesturing wildly and pointing to…
The hammer. My eyes widened, "Not where I left you," Will said, frowning at the hammer. "Ahem, I, ah, moved the hammer. I came here and waited for you, because I was so terribly afraid, you see, and then I decided I needed a weapon so I took the hammer…" I said quickly, feeling horrible for lying to Will. He raised an eyebrow. "Why didn't you just take a sword?" he asked. I blanched. "B-b-because!" I stuttered triumphantly, smiling and hoping I could pull off 'dizzy idiot' as well as Elizabeth could. Apparently, men like dizzy women. It makes them feel smart and important. Will, however, just looked at me as if I'd lost my mind.
"Because I could have no hope of surviving a duel with a pirate!" I said. He nodded - I scowled when he didn't assure me that I was very capable of defending myself - I'd come close to beating him a few times! - and then looked at the donkey, who was still squealing. He looked back up at me, "I think I gave her a fright when I walked in," I said weakly, feeling a bit faint. If I was caught in this lie, Will would never trust me again. He nodded.
Will's eyes ticked over my shoulder and I paled again, realizing that the Captain's hat was still there. "Christina?" he asked. I closed my eyes, suddenly fighting back tears. Typical female, my father would have said.
"You're the one they're hunting. The pirate," Will said, and I opened my eyes to see Will standing by my side, his arm around me again and bringing me protectively behind him. Half of me was thrilled. The other half was disgusted that Will thought I needed protecting. The disgusted half was taking over rapidly.
"You seem somewhat familiar. Have I threatened you before?" Jack said. My eyes must have been the size of cannon balls, the air practically cracked with tension.
"I make a point of avoiding familiarity with pirates," Will said darkly. Told you he hated pirates. Personally, I thought he'd make a splendid pirate…and then he could whisk me away on a beautiful ship into the horizon and we'd be pirates together, sailing the seas and living in splendor. I shook my head - bad daydream. Will is the boy I've known since I was twelve, and nothing more. Will is my best friend.
"Ah. Well, then it would be a shame to put a black mark on your record. So, if you'll excuse me…" Jack was saying, but Will unsheathed his sword. "Oh no, Will, don't - " I said, for good measure. They ignored me.
"Do you think this wise, boy, crossing blades with a pirate?" the Captain asked. "You threatened Miss Swann," Will growled. My heart leaped, but then I realized he was most likely talking about my sister. Stupid me. Jack, however, thought Will was talking about me. He winked at me over Will's shoulder. "Yes, both of them," he boasted. I snorted.
"But only a little." They started to fight. I backed away as far as I could to avoid being skewered. As much fun as I have when Will and I spar, I learned early on that when men fight, it's best to stay out of the way. They're barking mad, truly. Will's face was contorted in anger and hatred as he threw himself into the fight, but Captain Sparrow looked as though he was rather enjoying himself. He moved with such ease, parrying Will's attacks easily and flowing out of the way, that he made Will look to me like a child trying to play pirates and soldiers with his Papa. Except for the expression of loathing. If I had son look like that at his father, I would certainly worry for the child's sanity.
"You know what you're doing, I'll give you that. Excellent form but how's your footwork?" Captain Sparrow said as they fought. The swords were going so fast that I hardly could see them, but I could hear them cut through the air with a high pitched whoosh. And they met with a loud clang. I winced, but watched eagerly, anticipated every move. Will had taught me well.
"If I step here; very good. Now I step again," Jack said, as if he were teaching Will. I bristled, Will was holding his own very well, he didn't need some pirate to teach him how to fight! Suddenly they were edging toward me and I hastily stepped out of the way. "Will! Let me help!" I cried suddenly. Will didn't turn to look at me, but he yelled, "Stay out of this, Christina, I do not want you in harm's way,"
Well fine, then, but I could fight nearly as good as he could. I crossed my arms over my chest, resigned to being a spectator. "Ta!" Mr. Sparrow said and ran to the door. Will flung his sword like a lance and it sank deep into the door, inches from Jack's face. I yelped and covered my eyes. Okay, so I couldn't do that with a sword. Yet.
"That is a wonderful trick except once again you are between me and my way out. And now you have no weapon," Jack said, advancing on Will again. I looked around desperately, and grabbed an unfinished sword from the fire. "Will!" I shouted, tossing it to him so he caught the blade. My hand was burned a bit, but I hardly noticed.
"Traitor!" Captain Sparrow sniped at me.
"Woman," I explained.
"Huh," he sneered, turning his attention back to Will. "Who makes all these?" he exclaimed, as Will grabbed a new sword.
"I do!" Will shouted proudly. I smiled, watching him fight was quite entertaining. "And I practice with them three hours a day!" With me, I thought gleefully.
"You need to find yourself a girl, mate! Or, perhaps the reason you practice three hours a day is that you already found one, and are otherwise incapable of wooing said strumpet. You're not a eunuch, are you?" Jack asked, glancing downwards…I giggled shrilly again, and I could see the tops of Will's ears redden a bit. Jack offered me a rogue's grin. He really was a vile man.
"You will not speak so in front of a lady," Will said on my behalf. "Oh, it's quite all right, Will, I know you're not a eunuch," I said helpfully. Captain Sparrow laughed. They had continued fighting all the while.
"I practice three hours a day, so when I meet a pirate, I can kill him!" Will said, and conversation was halted for a moment and I watched in amazement as they fought upon a teeter-plank. A loose board snapped up and hit Will in the face. I yelped. The Captain glanced at me with a grin. Scoundrel.
They fought among the rafters and I looked up, nervous that either one would fall. I seemed to have taken a liking to the Captain. Perhaps I could convince him to take me with him on his ship, so I could finally get away from Port Royal.
They came back to the ground and continued fighting until they were right in front of me, and the Captain knocked Will's sword from his hand. Will looked shocked, and turned to get another sword, but Jack pulled out a pistol and cut a bag of brown…dirt like stuff, and sprayed it in Will's face.
I screamed. Woman, remember?
"You cheated!" Will accused. Jack shrugged, "Pirate," he rationalized. "Move away," he continued. "No," Will said. Jack sighed, exasperated.
"Please, move?"
"No, I cannot just step aside and let you escape." Will was stubborn and resigned. He would stand there even if the pirate had to shoot him in the face. I felt my heart beating wildly, but I didn't know what to do.
Jack cocked the pistol, I grabbed Will's arm. "Please, Will, just let him pass, its not worth dying over, please, Will," I begged, tears streaming down my face in earnest this time.
"Ye do not wish to die in front of the lady, do ye, lad? Move out of the way."
"Oh, Captain Sparrow, please don't! Will, you oaf, move!" I begged. Oh, men and their stupid ideas of honor!
"This shot is not meant for you," the pirate said, before there was a crash of breaking glass and he fell over, knocked out cold. Mr. Brown stood with his hand raised, the neck of a bottle clutched in his fist. Will turned to me, cupping my face in his hands and wiping my tears away. "Shh, love, it's all right, I'm fine," he said. "Y-you could have died you big stupid idiot!" I cried.
"Excellent work, Mr. Brown. You've assisted in the capture of a dangerous fugitive," came the Commodore's voice. "Just doing my civic duty, sir," Mr. Brown said.
"Oh, of course you were, if your civic duty was to sit around unconscious while Will, err, I mean Mr. Turner, fights off the dangerous fugitive," I snapped. The Commodore looked at me, at a loss for words.
"We'll have none of your stories, Christina, I don't know what you are doing here anyway and frankly I do not care, come along. Mr. Turner, if you'd be so kind, unhand my daughter," my father said. Will took his hand off my waist. "Come along, Christina," my evil stupid father said. I looked at Will, who nodded. "I'm sorry," I whispered, following my father out the door. Commodore Norrington stepped disdainfully over Jack's body. "Well, I trust you'll always remember this as the day that Captain Jack Sparrow almost escaped. Take him away." he ordered.
Stupid rich wig wearing men.