Marin stood on the forecastle of the Red Dragon, enjoying the wind that
blew sea salt through her hair. The Dauntless sailed a few hundred yards
ahead of them, and she could see James by the helm, his eyes fixed on the
horizon. For the first time in her life, Marin felt as though she was going
to throw up on board ship.
It wasn't seasickness, she knew that for certain. It was a mindless, crippling, stomach churning fear of the battle she would be fighting in a very short while. It was the paralysing terror that on this day, she could lose her life, or worse, the lives of those she held most dear. Oh, she had fought in skirmishes on the waves before, many times. But she had never been a part of such a concerted effort to rid the world of one man.
A distant rumble made her jump, sending her gaze out across the waves around them to where two ships could be seen in the distance, smoke rising around them as their canons blazed. She needed no telescope to know that the Pearl had engaged the Stella Maris, though why she could not tell.
Boots thumped up the deck behind her, and she felt Elias take his place at her back, peering through his eyeglass at the warring ships. He swore.
'Make sail, lads, let's get some speed on the old lady!' he shouted, and Marin heard the scramble behind her as the crew hurried to set more sails. 'Run out the port guns!'
On board the Dauntless, she could see the same tasks being performed, with no less efficiency than on the Dragon. But she cared nothing for the men who worked feverishly around her to catch up to the skirmishing ships. All she could think of was Jack.
The plan had been that he was to lay off the Maris, but apparently Danielson had given him no other choice but to engage. Marin's imagination was throwing up images of the Pearl being blasted to pieces, boarded and her crew slaughtered. She could not see how Jack's crew could stand against the Maris' crew, since they were desperate men and easily outnumbered the black-sailed ship.
Elias grasped her shoulder, sensing her heart-wrenching fear for the man she loved. He held her tightly as the Dragon picked up speed, slipping past the Dauntless as they went to the Pearl's aid.
'Hold on, Jack lad,' he murmured, his eyes fixed on the ships as boarding planks were lowered. 'Just a bit longer.'
*~*~*
As the canon fire had echoed back to them across the open sea, James had been unable to prevent himself rushing to the side to stare in horror at the smoke filled scene. Despite himself, he was fond of Jack Sparrow, and had no wish to see the irascible pirate die in a fight not his own. He glanced back at the Dragon, seeing clearly the look of undisguised terror on Marin's face where she stood, transfixed, on the forecastle.
He heard himself give the order for more speed, the sailors around him rushing to obey. They had never seen him so affected by the sight of a sea battle before, and this tense impatient commodore was not something they wished to see again. The men had come to rely on his impassive expression to keep themselves in check, and to see that he had lost it was not the most encouraging sight in the world.
James watched as the Dragon began to gain on the Dauntless, gauging the distance between them with an expert eye as they drew closer to the battle scene. He turned to the sailors, shouting his orders with the commanding air he had learnt in his early days as a captain.
'Heave to and take in sail!' he ordered. 'Lay off the battle!'
He strode down onto the main deck, calling his officers to him.
'Captain Gillette, you will anchor here and await further orders,' he told the Welshman. 'Not one shot is to be fired from this ship unless directly engaged, do you understand me?'
Confused, but not one to disobey a direct order, Gillette nodded.
'Aye, sir,' he said hesitantly. 'Are we to lay off and watch them kill one another?'
James frowned at the younger man, sickened by his assumption that the three ships would destroy one another.
'If that is your wish, Captain,' he said, moving to the starboard side as the Dragon slipped past them.
He could see Elias and Marin hurrying to and fro, putting in place the final preparations as they went into attack mode. Turning to a sailor beside him, James gestured to the rope he held in his hand.
'If you would, seaman,' he asked, and the man obeyed, looking shocked to see the commanding officer lay hands on the working parts of the ship.
James hauled himself up onto the side, nodding to Gillette, and swung across to the Dragon as she passed, landing with a thud on the pirate ship's main deck. Gillette rushed to the side, the other officers in tow.
'Idiot!' he exclaimed. 'What the devil does he think he's doing?'
Midshipman Fazackerly, a boy of about twelve, coughed, saluting Gillette smartly.
'Commodore Norrington has transferred his pennant, sir,' he said, unaware that this was not perhaps the wisest thing to say in the circumstances.
Gillette gave him a withering look, glancing up at his companions.
'Well, gentlemen, it appears that now we wait,' he said bitterly, glaring across the water as the Dragon sailed past with his commodore on board.
Marin ran down to meet her cousin, shocked that he had chosen to take quite such an involved part in the actual conflict. He smiled grimly down at her, moving to join Elias on the poop as they approached the Stella Maris on the opposite side to the Pearl. They could hear the frantic orders being shouted aboard Danielson's ship as the pirates rushed to man the port guns to defend themselves against the primed Dragon.
James peered across to the Pearl, seeing Jack and Will back to back, fighting off anyone who approached them with efficiency, if not finesse. Beside him, Marin breathed a quick sigh of relief, before her gaze fell on Danielson. Their traitorous cousin was standing firm by the helm of his ship, barking orders to his men as the Dragon began to draw alongside.
The guns blazed, splintering the Maris' side as the pirates within fought to prime their guns in response. James heard Elias give the order to board, and knew that the fight was hardly begun. He grasped Marin about the waist as she swung across to the Maris, one of the first to land amongst the crew they had set out to annihilate. Back to back with his little cousin, he lashed out at the pirates who approached, aware that those of Danielson's crew who had boarded the Pearl were returning to protect their ship.
Elias thudded down onto the poop-deck, just feet from his enemy as Danielson turned, drawing his sabre calmly as the fighting raged about them. The younger pirate laughed at his opponent derisively.
'Do you really think you can take me on, you old dragon?' he sneered, his eyes sharp as Elias approached, his own sword drawn.
The blades ran together for a moment, each man testing the other for any hidden advantage.
'I see you let the girl come,' Danielson continued, hoping to goad Elias into attacking. 'Couldn't bear to leave her at home, could you?'
His blade flashed suddenly, blocked easily as Elias moved to avoid the thrust.
'Tell me, is she any good?' the captain of the Maris asked insolently. 'I should so hate to take the spoils only to find she's not up to any standard.'
Elias' jaw clenched as he tried to keep a hold on his surging temper. Outnumbered and outgunned, and the bastard still insisted on insulting the only person Elias held dear.
'Ah,' Danielson said suddenly, deliberately misinterpreting his expression. 'She's a virgin, yes? Oh well, then I thank you. It's not often a man can enjoy first rights.'
With a howl of fury, Elias unleashed his temper, falling upon his treacherous cousin with all the anger within him fuelling his attack. Danielson fell back under his blows, surprised that the older man had so much fury locked up inside. He quickly recovered, giving ground reluctantly as the attack settled into a fight to the death.
Jack swore as he careered back into the bulkhead, aware that the guns had stopped. Glancing about, he saw the men who had boarded his beloved Pearl were returning to the Maris, and beyond her lay the Dragon. With a triumphant grin, he bellowed for his crew to rally with him, leaping up onto the planks Danielson's crew had so thoughtfully left in place, Will at his side. The two men threw themselves into the heaving mass of scuffling men, sabres flashing and pistols waving.
Marin withdrew her dirk from one man's leg, knocking him back against the mast with enough force to stun him. She glanced up at where Danielson and Elias fought, feeling her heart leap into her mouth. Elias' sword lay embedded in the deck, Danielson's finger on the trigger of his pistol.
Danielson grinned at his beaten opponent.
'You know, I'm disappointed in you, Elias,' he said conversationally. 'I would have thought you'd put up more of a fight.'
Elias swallowed the blood that was welling up from his bitten tongue, glaring in hatred at the man who stood before him.
'I should have known you wouldn't keep to the code,' he spat. 'You're a traitor, Danielson, just like your fathers before you.'
Danielson's eyes dulled in mute fury at this insult.
'Well, at least no one will be able to count you among their ancestors,' he hissed.
The bullet hit Elias' stomach, throwing him back against the wheel in agonising pain. As he slipped to the deck, he heard a familiar voice scream in desperate horror.
'NO!'
As if from nowhere, a foot levelled a kick at Danielson's head, knocking him backwards as he stumbled to keep his balance. Uncaring now if she lived or died, Marin leapt after him, seeing nothing but the man who had killed her father, and shot the man who raised her.
Will's head snapped up on hearing the familiar voice, and he was horrified to see Marin taking on Danielson by herself, Elias slumped against the helm as he pressed a weak hand to the wound in his stomach. Jack was nowhere to be seen, struggling amid a mass of Danielson's crew to get the commodore out of a spot of bother with four of them. Will threw his attacker backwards, taking to the rigging to assist Marin in her desperate fight.
Jack slashed his way through the opposing pirates, fully aware that Norrington appeared to have the entire situation under control. He thought he'd heard Marin scream over the shouts around him, but had not been able to glance up from his own private struggle as he approached the commodore's side.
James ducked a high thrust, driving his sword home as he regained his feet, vaguely aware of Jack's approach. He had no idea where Marin had disappeared to, only that she had gone from his back some time before and had not returned. He could only hope she had not been hurt. Another sabre flashed in his direction and he stepped back to avoid it, straight into the path of a descending blade.
'Commodore, move!' he heard Jack shout as he disposed of the man attacking, turning to see the blade swish past him, missing his arm by mere inches.
As the huge man raised his sword again, James heard a distant musket shot, and the pirate's chest erupted in blood and flesh. Shocked, he turned, seeking the main mast of the Dauntless. Sure enough, nestled in the crow's nest were three sharp-shooters, all aiming for the men around him. His eyes widened as he realised they were likely to shoot Jack if they could, and he pushed his way to the pirate's back, obscuring the perfect target he had presented them.
'My thanks,' Jack panted, parrying two men's swords. 'I had wondered when you were going to notice them.'
James smiled tautly, once again concentrating on the men who seemed determined to spill his life's blood.
Marin staggered backwards as Danielson's hand smashed into her cheek, her head spinning in an effort not to pass out. She barely managed to raise her sabre to block a blow that would have sliced her head from her neck, once again pushed back from her attacker by the sheer force of his strength. Danielson was giving no quarter, fully aware that this small woman was no match for his skills. He grinned down at her as she found her feet again, raising his sabre once more to finish her off.
Marin's fingers found her dirk, throwing it accurately into his upper arm as he tensed for what he thought would be the final blow. Danielson swore violently, ripping the blade from his arm and slamming it down, point first, into the deck beside Elias' sword. His sword arm was suddenly aflame with pain, but he refused to back off as Marin stumbled backwards, falling to the deck as she caught her feet in Elias' legs.
He grinned confidently, seeing the pure hatred in her eyes as she gazed up at him, bereft of any weapon to defend herself with. With a harsh laugh, he raised the sabre, bringing it down to cleave the defiant girl in two.
With a sharp metallic clash, Will's sword met Danielson's just above Marin's head as he leapt down from the ropes above them. He growled at the surprised pirate, throwing him back purposefully so he landed on his injured arm, eliciting a howl of pain from the furious man. As Marin crawled to Elias' side, lifting the wounded man's head into her lap, Will advanced on their enemy, feeling his own blood boil at the injury done to his friends.
James breathed a sigh of relief, seeing Will leap down to Marin's rescue just in time. Beside him, Jack was still fighting in grim silence, ignoring everything around him as he concentrated on surviving the battle. Neither man could afford to let his guard down. Though outnumbered, Danielson's men were well-trained, good fighters, and they knew they were fighting for their lives.
This time, it was Danielson who staggered backwards, bleeding and in pain, as he faced a man much younger and fresher than himself. Will drew back his fist, punching the pirate viciously as he adjusted his grip on his sword. The older man's head snapped back as he brought up his sabre, now desperate to defend himself. Will batted the blade to one side, making sure Danielson was looking into his eyes as he held the pirate against the side.
'Parley,' the wounded man croaked, panic filling his being as he realised this boy truly intended to kill him.
Will's eyes narrowed in anger. He gripped the locket where it hung about Danielson's neck, tugging it free as he settled the point of his sword against the man's stomach.
'No quarter,' he growled, thrusting up with one smooth movement.
Danielson jerked, his hands clenching convulsively as his life's blood began to drain from his body. Will pulled the sword from him, and turned away as the pirate captain crumpled to the deck, lifeless.
It wasn't seasickness, she knew that for certain. It was a mindless, crippling, stomach churning fear of the battle she would be fighting in a very short while. It was the paralysing terror that on this day, she could lose her life, or worse, the lives of those she held most dear. Oh, she had fought in skirmishes on the waves before, many times. But she had never been a part of such a concerted effort to rid the world of one man.
A distant rumble made her jump, sending her gaze out across the waves around them to where two ships could be seen in the distance, smoke rising around them as their canons blazed. She needed no telescope to know that the Pearl had engaged the Stella Maris, though why she could not tell.
Boots thumped up the deck behind her, and she felt Elias take his place at her back, peering through his eyeglass at the warring ships. He swore.
'Make sail, lads, let's get some speed on the old lady!' he shouted, and Marin heard the scramble behind her as the crew hurried to set more sails. 'Run out the port guns!'
On board the Dauntless, she could see the same tasks being performed, with no less efficiency than on the Dragon. But she cared nothing for the men who worked feverishly around her to catch up to the skirmishing ships. All she could think of was Jack.
The plan had been that he was to lay off the Maris, but apparently Danielson had given him no other choice but to engage. Marin's imagination was throwing up images of the Pearl being blasted to pieces, boarded and her crew slaughtered. She could not see how Jack's crew could stand against the Maris' crew, since they were desperate men and easily outnumbered the black-sailed ship.
Elias grasped her shoulder, sensing her heart-wrenching fear for the man she loved. He held her tightly as the Dragon picked up speed, slipping past the Dauntless as they went to the Pearl's aid.
'Hold on, Jack lad,' he murmured, his eyes fixed on the ships as boarding planks were lowered. 'Just a bit longer.'
*~*~*
As the canon fire had echoed back to them across the open sea, James had been unable to prevent himself rushing to the side to stare in horror at the smoke filled scene. Despite himself, he was fond of Jack Sparrow, and had no wish to see the irascible pirate die in a fight not his own. He glanced back at the Dragon, seeing clearly the look of undisguised terror on Marin's face where she stood, transfixed, on the forecastle.
He heard himself give the order for more speed, the sailors around him rushing to obey. They had never seen him so affected by the sight of a sea battle before, and this tense impatient commodore was not something they wished to see again. The men had come to rely on his impassive expression to keep themselves in check, and to see that he had lost it was not the most encouraging sight in the world.
James watched as the Dragon began to gain on the Dauntless, gauging the distance between them with an expert eye as they drew closer to the battle scene. He turned to the sailors, shouting his orders with the commanding air he had learnt in his early days as a captain.
'Heave to and take in sail!' he ordered. 'Lay off the battle!'
He strode down onto the main deck, calling his officers to him.
'Captain Gillette, you will anchor here and await further orders,' he told the Welshman. 'Not one shot is to be fired from this ship unless directly engaged, do you understand me?'
Confused, but not one to disobey a direct order, Gillette nodded.
'Aye, sir,' he said hesitantly. 'Are we to lay off and watch them kill one another?'
James frowned at the younger man, sickened by his assumption that the three ships would destroy one another.
'If that is your wish, Captain,' he said, moving to the starboard side as the Dragon slipped past them.
He could see Elias and Marin hurrying to and fro, putting in place the final preparations as they went into attack mode. Turning to a sailor beside him, James gestured to the rope he held in his hand.
'If you would, seaman,' he asked, and the man obeyed, looking shocked to see the commanding officer lay hands on the working parts of the ship.
James hauled himself up onto the side, nodding to Gillette, and swung across to the Dragon as she passed, landing with a thud on the pirate ship's main deck. Gillette rushed to the side, the other officers in tow.
'Idiot!' he exclaimed. 'What the devil does he think he's doing?'
Midshipman Fazackerly, a boy of about twelve, coughed, saluting Gillette smartly.
'Commodore Norrington has transferred his pennant, sir,' he said, unaware that this was not perhaps the wisest thing to say in the circumstances.
Gillette gave him a withering look, glancing up at his companions.
'Well, gentlemen, it appears that now we wait,' he said bitterly, glaring across the water as the Dragon sailed past with his commodore on board.
Marin ran down to meet her cousin, shocked that he had chosen to take quite such an involved part in the actual conflict. He smiled grimly down at her, moving to join Elias on the poop as they approached the Stella Maris on the opposite side to the Pearl. They could hear the frantic orders being shouted aboard Danielson's ship as the pirates rushed to man the port guns to defend themselves against the primed Dragon.
James peered across to the Pearl, seeing Jack and Will back to back, fighting off anyone who approached them with efficiency, if not finesse. Beside him, Marin breathed a quick sigh of relief, before her gaze fell on Danielson. Their traitorous cousin was standing firm by the helm of his ship, barking orders to his men as the Dragon began to draw alongside.
The guns blazed, splintering the Maris' side as the pirates within fought to prime their guns in response. James heard Elias give the order to board, and knew that the fight was hardly begun. He grasped Marin about the waist as she swung across to the Maris, one of the first to land amongst the crew they had set out to annihilate. Back to back with his little cousin, he lashed out at the pirates who approached, aware that those of Danielson's crew who had boarded the Pearl were returning to protect their ship.
Elias thudded down onto the poop-deck, just feet from his enemy as Danielson turned, drawing his sabre calmly as the fighting raged about them. The younger pirate laughed at his opponent derisively.
'Do you really think you can take me on, you old dragon?' he sneered, his eyes sharp as Elias approached, his own sword drawn.
The blades ran together for a moment, each man testing the other for any hidden advantage.
'I see you let the girl come,' Danielson continued, hoping to goad Elias into attacking. 'Couldn't bear to leave her at home, could you?'
His blade flashed suddenly, blocked easily as Elias moved to avoid the thrust.
'Tell me, is she any good?' the captain of the Maris asked insolently. 'I should so hate to take the spoils only to find she's not up to any standard.'
Elias' jaw clenched as he tried to keep a hold on his surging temper. Outnumbered and outgunned, and the bastard still insisted on insulting the only person Elias held dear.
'Ah,' Danielson said suddenly, deliberately misinterpreting his expression. 'She's a virgin, yes? Oh well, then I thank you. It's not often a man can enjoy first rights.'
With a howl of fury, Elias unleashed his temper, falling upon his treacherous cousin with all the anger within him fuelling his attack. Danielson fell back under his blows, surprised that the older man had so much fury locked up inside. He quickly recovered, giving ground reluctantly as the attack settled into a fight to the death.
Jack swore as he careered back into the bulkhead, aware that the guns had stopped. Glancing about, he saw the men who had boarded his beloved Pearl were returning to the Maris, and beyond her lay the Dragon. With a triumphant grin, he bellowed for his crew to rally with him, leaping up onto the planks Danielson's crew had so thoughtfully left in place, Will at his side. The two men threw themselves into the heaving mass of scuffling men, sabres flashing and pistols waving.
Marin withdrew her dirk from one man's leg, knocking him back against the mast with enough force to stun him. She glanced up at where Danielson and Elias fought, feeling her heart leap into her mouth. Elias' sword lay embedded in the deck, Danielson's finger on the trigger of his pistol.
Danielson grinned at his beaten opponent.
'You know, I'm disappointed in you, Elias,' he said conversationally. 'I would have thought you'd put up more of a fight.'
Elias swallowed the blood that was welling up from his bitten tongue, glaring in hatred at the man who stood before him.
'I should have known you wouldn't keep to the code,' he spat. 'You're a traitor, Danielson, just like your fathers before you.'
Danielson's eyes dulled in mute fury at this insult.
'Well, at least no one will be able to count you among their ancestors,' he hissed.
The bullet hit Elias' stomach, throwing him back against the wheel in agonising pain. As he slipped to the deck, he heard a familiar voice scream in desperate horror.
'NO!'
As if from nowhere, a foot levelled a kick at Danielson's head, knocking him backwards as he stumbled to keep his balance. Uncaring now if she lived or died, Marin leapt after him, seeing nothing but the man who had killed her father, and shot the man who raised her.
Will's head snapped up on hearing the familiar voice, and he was horrified to see Marin taking on Danielson by herself, Elias slumped against the helm as he pressed a weak hand to the wound in his stomach. Jack was nowhere to be seen, struggling amid a mass of Danielson's crew to get the commodore out of a spot of bother with four of them. Will threw his attacker backwards, taking to the rigging to assist Marin in her desperate fight.
Jack slashed his way through the opposing pirates, fully aware that Norrington appeared to have the entire situation under control. He thought he'd heard Marin scream over the shouts around him, but had not been able to glance up from his own private struggle as he approached the commodore's side.
James ducked a high thrust, driving his sword home as he regained his feet, vaguely aware of Jack's approach. He had no idea where Marin had disappeared to, only that she had gone from his back some time before and had not returned. He could only hope she had not been hurt. Another sabre flashed in his direction and he stepped back to avoid it, straight into the path of a descending blade.
'Commodore, move!' he heard Jack shout as he disposed of the man attacking, turning to see the blade swish past him, missing his arm by mere inches.
As the huge man raised his sword again, James heard a distant musket shot, and the pirate's chest erupted in blood and flesh. Shocked, he turned, seeking the main mast of the Dauntless. Sure enough, nestled in the crow's nest were three sharp-shooters, all aiming for the men around him. His eyes widened as he realised they were likely to shoot Jack if they could, and he pushed his way to the pirate's back, obscuring the perfect target he had presented them.
'My thanks,' Jack panted, parrying two men's swords. 'I had wondered when you were going to notice them.'
James smiled tautly, once again concentrating on the men who seemed determined to spill his life's blood.
Marin staggered backwards as Danielson's hand smashed into her cheek, her head spinning in an effort not to pass out. She barely managed to raise her sabre to block a blow that would have sliced her head from her neck, once again pushed back from her attacker by the sheer force of his strength. Danielson was giving no quarter, fully aware that this small woman was no match for his skills. He grinned down at her as she found her feet again, raising his sabre once more to finish her off.
Marin's fingers found her dirk, throwing it accurately into his upper arm as he tensed for what he thought would be the final blow. Danielson swore violently, ripping the blade from his arm and slamming it down, point first, into the deck beside Elias' sword. His sword arm was suddenly aflame with pain, but he refused to back off as Marin stumbled backwards, falling to the deck as she caught her feet in Elias' legs.
He grinned confidently, seeing the pure hatred in her eyes as she gazed up at him, bereft of any weapon to defend herself with. With a harsh laugh, he raised the sabre, bringing it down to cleave the defiant girl in two.
With a sharp metallic clash, Will's sword met Danielson's just above Marin's head as he leapt down from the ropes above them. He growled at the surprised pirate, throwing him back purposefully so he landed on his injured arm, eliciting a howl of pain from the furious man. As Marin crawled to Elias' side, lifting the wounded man's head into her lap, Will advanced on their enemy, feeling his own blood boil at the injury done to his friends.
James breathed a sigh of relief, seeing Will leap down to Marin's rescue just in time. Beside him, Jack was still fighting in grim silence, ignoring everything around him as he concentrated on surviving the battle. Neither man could afford to let his guard down. Though outnumbered, Danielson's men were well-trained, good fighters, and they knew they were fighting for their lives.
This time, it was Danielson who staggered backwards, bleeding and in pain, as he faced a man much younger and fresher than himself. Will drew back his fist, punching the pirate viciously as he adjusted his grip on his sword. The older man's head snapped back as he brought up his sabre, now desperate to defend himself. Will batted the blade to one side, making sure Danielson was looking into his eyes as he held the pirate against the side.
'Parley,' the wounded man croaked, panic filling his being as he realised this boy truly intended to kill him.
Will's eyes narrowed in anger. He gripped the locket where it hung about Danielson's neck, tugging it free as he settled the point of his sword against the man's stomach.
'No quarter,' he growled, thrusting up with one smooth movement.
Danielson jerked, his hands clenching convulsively as his life's blood began to drain from his body. Will pulled the sword from him, and turned away as the pirate captain crumpled to the deck, lifeless.