I know I know I know I KNOW! I have been so long in giving you wonderful
people another chapter. But I hope I have appeased your appetite for more.
MORE! (giggles insanely) That's what Lestat said in that movie and he
looked dead sexy.. Ooook back to whatever point I was trying to make.
This is kinda a slow chapter building climax to another Sparrow and Lydia
chapter soon to follow, setting for fourth chapter: a BAR. Singing
drinking, Sparrow getting all drunk, come on what's not to love!? And
whoever sends me the best review (drumroll) I shall place you in the next
chapter as a barmaid who Jack hits on! So let the rum flow!
"Allow me to escort you to your cousin, Miss Swann. I believe you have had quite an eventful evening." The Commodore asked with all gentlemanly politeness, offering me his arm. Turning away from the window it was comforting sight for my eyes.
"Yes." I replied, taking his arm. "I suppose that was the one thing that Sparrow was right about."
"Let us hope it is the only thing," he muttered, as we walked out of the room.
"Oh? You didn't want to save a beautiful maiden tonight?" I asked cocking a brow as we decended the stairs together.
He took a quick glance at me and seemed to me suddenly nervous, like a small little boy being reprimanded for something.
"Forgive me...I..." He stumbled on the right words to say.
I laughed.
"What?" He asked, glancing at me again, his lips quirking in a smile.
"Sarcasm, Commodore Norrington. You have yet to learn it."
"Yes...I ..I..I suppose I haven't." He gave a small chuckle.
"Oh but don't worry, with a little practice..who knows?" I told him as we approached the sitting room. We now stood right outside the door where I could hear Will threatening an officer to, "move out of my way or find yourself in little pieces on the floor, I mean it!"
"Well shall we, Commodore Norrington?" I asked him.
"Indeed we shall." He replied softly, "And please....call me James."
My attention which had been focused on the threats on the other side of the door, snapped to look at the Commodore...I mean James."
"James?" I asked.
"Yes, Miss Swann?"
"I think we should go in before Will murders your second in command. And...it's Lydia, not Miss Swann.'
He smiled, "Yes Miss Swa..."
I gave him a look.
"I...I mean...Lydia."
We heard some sounds of a fight.
"I think now would be a good time to open that door, don't you think?" I said rather worriedly.
He did, and it was not a pretty sight. It would seem the guard who was blocking the door had met with Will's fist. He was clutching his nose, his eyes scrunched together tightly in pain.
"Gillette!" Norrington exclaimed, rushing to the man on the floor, helping him to his feet. Norrington spun around to Will, "Turner..." He began severely.
"Uh sir,?" The man Gillette, tapped him on the shoulder, his other hand still clutching his nose.
"What?!"
"It was actually....Mrs. Turner who uh...you know...hit me."
Norrington and I gaped at Elizabeth, who was rubbing her hand tenderly, "No one calls my husband a 'stupid blacksmith,'" was her only explanation.
I snorted and bit my lip to keep from laughing aloud. I did not think the situation at hand called for it.
"Mrs. Turner, I would have thought you'd have better respect for the law..." Norrington began.
"Not when they're blocking the door..." she responded.
"...and not take rash actions." He finished sternly.
"What can I say? It must be contagious." She replied, smiling at Will. There was obviously some humorous story about that, but at the moment I had no idea what it was.
"As is the impulse to harbor dangerous criminals in the closet, it seems." Norrington droned dryly.
"Well he wouldn't have fit in the clock along with the rum." Will tried hard not to laugh as Elizabeth said this calmly. I tried just as hard but I'm afraid it was just too funny. I clutched my side, as a wave of giggles climbed up my throat.
"By all rights I should arrest you both for assisting a pirate under your roof.." Norrington said coldly.
That stopped whatever laughter I was going to voice.
"However..." He glanced at me, seeming to pause for a moment and then ordered strangely off topic, "Men, take Gillette to the fort. See to his....injuries." He commanded sharply, changing his tact. The soldiers obeyed, leaving the Commodore alone in the room with us. He sighed deeply, "I'm giving you one last warning Turner. If I ever catch a pirate with the name Sparrow or other wise in this house, I will have no other choice but to lock you in the keep. And I suggest you get Ms. Swann to bed as she has spent a most terrifying time locked in a closet with that fiend. I would have thought," he added scoldingly, "you would place your cousin above the needs of a fugitive. I trust I shall not be so disappointed with her welfare next time?"
"No sir." Will replied softly, not seeming to argue on this point.
"Very well then. Mr. Turner. Mrs. Turner." He said bowing a bit at the waist to each of us in turn, "Ms. Swann."
"Commodore." I said coolly.
"Forgive me. Lydia."
"Forgiven, James." I replied with a smile.
He smiled back and left closing the door softly behind him.
"Did he?" Will asked stunned.
"Yes...yes..." Elizabeth murmured amazed, "I do believe he did!"
"What?" I asked turning to them.
"It must have been a hallucination, Liz!" Will continued, exclaiming in disbelief.
"No! No, it wasn't! I saw it too!"
"What's a supposed hallucination that you both saw?!" I asked again, getting rather annoyed.
"He smiled." Will said running a hand through his hair.
"Is that so very unusual?" I asked.
"For him it is. The only time I've seen him smile is when he talks about 'short drops and sudden stops'.." Elizabeth muttered.
Will took a piece of cloth from the table and mimicked hanging himself. It would have been slightly disturbing if he hadn't started to choke and ripped it from his neck as if it were possessed. "He needs to find himself a girl." Will croaked, rubbing his throat. He smacked a hand to his forehead, "I did it again, dear!" He exclaimed.
"What? You hit yourself?" She questioned.
"No! Well...yes I did that too..but I was talking about talking like Jack again."
"Uhg," I moaned rubbing my temples, "I'm so very confused."
"How do you mean?" She asked, moving toward him, ignoring me.
"Well he said the exact same thing when uhm...when I fought him after he threatened you that day.."
"What?!" She exclaimed delighted, "You fought for my honor, Mr. Turner?!"
"Can you even doubt it, Mrs. Turner?" He said smiling slyly at her.
Oh gods. They were playing kissy face.
I had no desire to stay and see what Will had meant to the Commodore by 'married life.' So getting to my feet I addressed them, keeping my gaze averted, "Well...I can tell when three is more then a crowd. Goodnight, you love sick puppies!" And turning I left the room, closing the door behind me. I don't even think they noticed my departure.
Lord, it was revolting the way they were always looking at eachother.
Well they might not have noticed my absence but someone else did.
"Is she gone?"
'No.' I thought with horror, coming to stop suddenly. 'He hadn't! The wretch!' I thought outraged, creeping back to the door and pressing an ear against it's cool painted surface.
But he had. It was he.
"Jack!" Elizabeth whispered in shock.
"Jack, what the devil are you doing out there?!" Will whispered.
"Waiting for the Harpy to leave so's I can get out of these damned rosebushes!"
'But why are you in the rosebushes to begin with?" Will asked obviously amused.
"I dunno mate. Maybe I fancied sleepin' in one so's I could scratch me eyes out. Or could it be 'cause they 'appened to be the ones that broke me fall, jumpin' from the window above to get away from a certain Commodore? Take ye pick and help me up." The throaty voice muttered.
There was a lot of grunting and groaning as Will helped Jack into the room.
"Ow! Careful! Bloody watch it, I'm wounded!"
"Jack, it's no more than a few scratches. Nothing more than flesh wounds." Elizabeth tutted impatient.
"Maybe so, but it 'appens to be my flesh!"
"Honestly..." She murmured annoyed.
"Are ye sure the lass is gone?" Jack asked once again.
"Yes....she left as soon as she well..." Will stumbled. I could imagine him trying not to blush, "she saw us...uh...."
"Getting' cozy? Poor girl, I don't blame 'er." Jack interrupted Will from the embaressment of saying the rest of his sentence.
"Then why don't you join her in leaving?" Elizabeth asked dryly, clearly not appreciating his unromantic sentiments.
"I would love to join her...in more ways than one...OW! What the bloody 'ell was that for?!" he exclaimed.
"Oh, keep talking about my cousin that way. I'd love to give you a mirror image for your other eye!" Elizabeth threatened.
"Pardons. It will never 'appen again."
"What won't happen again, exactly?" She asked dangerously.
"Nothing. Nothing at all to do with being locked in a dark, very small closet with ye pretty little cousin...."
"I'd stop talking, Jack," Will advised, "before you end up in the rose bush again."
Taking no heed, Sparrow continued in a very pleased and full voice, "..she would make a damn fine little strumpet in Tortuga...those fiery eyes....those flushed cheeks...full lips...."
A furious silence greeted these words and he chuckled nervously, "Perhaps I should stop talkin' before I end up in the rosebush again, eh?"
"That would be wise." Will commented.
"When has he ever been?" Elizabeth retorted tartly.
"Never." Will and Sparrow both chorused.
"Clever, maybe." Jack said.
"But never wise." Will added.
"Uhg! I'm going to bed! Dear husband of mine, you should do the WISE thing and follow me after throwing Mr. Sparrow out into the rosebush again." Her tone was one of tired continence, although the threat sure to be carried out if she were not obeyed.
"It's Captain, love, Captain Sparrow." Jack interjected.
"Don't you start with me!" Elizabeth warned.
"Yes dear." Will murmured softly to her order.
"And don't you 'yes dear' me, Mr. Turner. I am very put out with you!" I heard her snap and her fast, furious steps to the door. Jerking back, I looked for someplace to hide. Behind me was a door, sprinting toward it I hurled myself into the room closing the door behind me. I was swallowed by darkness. Another closet. Spite! I think I had had my fair share of them for tonight and for the rest of my life.
Elizabeth pounded up the stairs, "I cannot believe this!" she fumed , "Of all the no good, wretched...ugh! Sparrow things for him to do! I never...." Her voice trailed off as she acended the stairs. A few seconds later I heard a door slam. Hesitantly, I turned the knob of the door and peeked out into the hall.
Clear.
Sneaking out of the closet I edged nearer to the sitting room dorr, the voices came through easily enough.
"That sounds like quite an exit." Will commented.
"Aye. That it was." Mumbled Jack in reply.
"But I must ask you Jack.."
"If I favor your petite cousin?"
"No. And if you do, you'd be wise to change your mind."
"I thought we 'ad already established that I was in fact, not wise."
"Just shut your gob, Jack." Sighed Will, "What I was going to say is that you must hand over the possessions you pillaged today."
"All of them?!" Jack yelped indignantly, "Yer out of yer bloody mind!"
"Better out of my mind then out of the house. And Elizabeth would happily see that done if I didn't do the right thing. So hand it over.."
" 'and what over?!"
"Don't play the fool, Jack. The locket. Hand it over."
A silence greeted his words. It was a tricky silence. I realized dimly..
"Well, 'eres the thing about that locket..." Jack murmured pleasantly, his voice arrogant in triumph.
....he had something up his dirty sleeves.
"What of it?" Will asked.
"Does yer lovely cousin, 'appen to know who that locket belonged to?"
"How would I know? Why?"
"Because, dear Will, ye silly eunuch..."
"I'm not a eunuch!" Will protested angrily.
"Sure ye not, anyways.."
"I'm not!"
"May I continue please?"
"I'm not." Will muttered sulkily.
"As I was sayin', I don't expect the saucy little tart..."
"Oh, Elizabeth will murder you if she over hears you calling Lydia that."
"Well then it's a good thing she's not 'ere at the moment, eh? Now STOP INTERUPTING ME!"
"Sorry." Will murmured.
" 'Ere it comes down to this, mate, before you interrupt me again..."
"I said I was sorry.."
Jack groaned in annoyance, "Does she know that the locket opens?"
"Perhaps that's why it's called a locket." Will replied sarcastically.
"Shut up. Inside is a name...."
My grandmother, I thought. Cassandra.
"Cassandra Harlington!" He exclaimed in an excited whisper.
The crickets were more than audible.
"Don't tell me." Jack responded crestfallen, "Ye've never 'eard of 'er?"
"I ....can't say that I have."
"Jaysus, Mary, and Joseph! Bollocks and Billowing Sails! What do they teach people now-a-days?!"
"Obviously not the basics of famous Pirate Lore." Will commented good naturedly.
"Obviously not." Jack muttered, "No matter, I think we're both in need of a good bedtime story."
"Oh goody!" Will said, pitching his voice an octave higher, "because it's been so long since I've heard a story of horror on the high seas!"
"Will.."
"Yes?"
"Don't make me wipe the floor with ye. Now, how do lasses start those stories?"
"Once upon..." Will began.
"....a midnight clear!"
"No. Once upon a...."
"...murderous pirate ship?"
"Will you please let me finish?!" Will exclaimed.
"No. Once upon a..a..a..."
"TIME! TIME, YOU MORON!"
"Ah, yes! I remember now. Well once upon a time," Jack began in his lulling voice, "there lived a cunning pirate called Garmne Noirtz, French I think..and he was the best. He could do everything! Why there was this one time when he fought off a hundred men with only a cat and a wheelbarrow..."
"Jack?"
"Hmnnn?"
"I know you're trying to make a point..I just don't know what it is." Will laughed.
"Alrigh' alrigh' alrigh', anyways, the scallywag did the thing that no pirate dares to do."
"And that would be?" Will ventured.
"It is something so unheard of, so shameful, so WRONG.."
"Will you just tell me already?!" Will exclaimed annoyed.
"Aye, keep yer tights on, whelp. Aye so's 'ere is the greatest pirate in the world and goes and what does he do?!"
"I DON'T KNOW!! WHAT DID HE DO?!"
"The stupid bloke goes and falls in love." Sparrow sighed gustily, "That was a sad day for pirates, I'm tellin' ye."
Insane, loud laughter filled the air.
"That was it?! He fell in love?! That was his crime?!"
"I don't think ye understand, mate. Love destroys.." Jack answered seriously.
"Oh come now, Jack!"
"Well, it destroys a pirate, that's for bloody well sure," Jack exclaimed, "Now shut up and let me finish me story, savvy? So's he falls 'ead over 'eels in love with the lass, Cassandra. Now earlier in his years before he met 'er he had buried a treasure somewhere's. Was said to be such a treasure as to match Alba's and Cortex's together!" Excitement was bubbling up in Sparrow's throat, "And like the blitherin' idiot that he was, he gave the only coordinates to his little tart."
"I hate to ask what this has to do with Lydia." Will sighed exhausted with Jack's fever.
"Ahhhh," Jack purred, "See that is where it gets very interesting. Ye see boy, that locket I borrowed from ye cousin belonged to Miss Cassandra Harlington. And inside of it is a small riddle as to the whereabouts to the coordinates of Noirtz's treasure."
Silence settled in the room and outside the door from where I was listening intently to every word.
"Now," Sparrow continued, "I don't know why she 'ad the lock...or how but I find it to be the best bit o' luck I've 'ad since finding the Black Pearl again."
"Jack, did you ever stop to think that Lydia might be related to this Cassandra woman?"
"I might of, yeh." Jack admitted slowly, cautiously.
"And that the treasure might be half hers by inheritance?"
There was a pause, "It might of crossed me mind."
"Then you intend to tell her about this, don't you?" Will continued sternly.
An even longer silence decended.
"Jack..." Will said warningly.
" 'Ow about I get back to ye on that?"
"Jack!"
"Aye, alrigh' I'll tell the little lass.."
"Before you go looking for the treasure!"
"Bloody HELL, Will!"
"I mean it, Jack! She deserves to know!"
"Fine, the wee lass deserves to know and I deserve a drink..."
"Jack.."
"I'm going to tell 'er, don't get all Turner on me.."
"I am a Turner..."
"I'm just gonna go out to a pub, and then I'll come back and tell the lass everything..."
"Jack I don't think I have to tell you..."
"You'll gully me if I don't, yeh, yeh, I know, right ho..."
Just then Elizabeth's voice reached us from above, "Have you thrown him out YET?!"
"Almost, darling!" Will shouted back. "Jack why don't you just you the door this time."
"I think I'll take me chances with the rosebushes instead of dear Elizabeth.."
"Good choice."
I had heard enough. Sprinting quietly up the stairs I ran for my room, opened the closet I threw out some peasant clothes I had found from a traveling troupe. Taking my jewelry case from my vanity I dumped its contents out on the bed. I believe I have a few things to get at the local pub......
"Allow me to escort you to your cousin, Miss Swann. I believe you have had quite an eventful evening." The Commodore asked with all gentlemanly politeness, offering me his arm. Turning away from the window it was comforting sight for my eyes.
"Yes." I replied, taking his arm. "I suppose that was the one thing that Sparrow was right about."
"Let us hope it is the only thing," he muttered, as we walked out of the room.
"Oh? You didn't want to save a beautiful maiden tonight?" I asked cocking a brow as we decended the stairs together.
He took a quick glance at me and seemed to me suddenly nervous, like a small little boy being reprimanded for something.
"Forgive me...I..." He stumbled on the right words to say.
I laughed.
"What?" He asked, glancing at me again, his lips quirking in a smile.
"Sarcasm, Commodore Norrington. You have yet to learn it."
"Yes...I ..I..I suppose I haven't." He gave a small chuckle.
"Oh but don't worry, with a little practice..who knows?" I told him as we approached the sitting room. We now stood right outside the door where I could hear Will threatening an officer to, "move out of my way or find yourself in little pieces on the floor, I mean it!"
"Well shall we, Commodore Norrington?" I asked him.
"Indeed we shall." He replied softly, "And please....call me James."
My attention which had been focused on the threats on the other side of the door, snapped to look at the Commodore...I mean James."
"James?" I asked.
"Yes, Miss Swann?"
"I think we should go in before Will murders your second in command. And...it's Lydia, not Miss Swann.'
He smiled, "Yes Miss Swa..."
I gave him a look.
"I...I mean...Lydia."
We heard some sounds of a fight.
"I think now would be a good time to open that door, don't you think?" I said rather worriedly.
He did, and it was not a pretty sight. It would seem the guard who was blocking the door had met with Will's fist. He was clutching his nose, his eyes scrunched together tightly in pain.
"Gillette!" Norrington exclaimed, rushing to the man on the floor, helping him to his feet. Norrington spun around to Will, "Turner..." He began severely.
"Uh sir,?" The man Gillette, tapped him on the shoulder, his other hand still clutching his nose.
"What?!"
"It was actually....Mrs. Turner who uh...you know...hit me."
Norrington and I gaped at Elizabeth, who was rubbing her hand tenderly, "No one calls my husband a 'stupid blacksmith,'" was her only explanation.
I snorted and bit my lip to keep from laughing aloud. I did not think the situation at hand called for it.
"Mrs. Turner, I would have thought you'd have better respect for the law..." Norrington began.
"Not when they're blocking the door..." she responded.
"...and not take rash actions." He finished sternly.
"What can I say? It must be contagious." She replied, smiling at Will. There was obviously some humorous story about that, but at the moment I had no idea what it was.
"As is the impulse to harbor dangerous criminals in the closet, it seems." Norrington droned dryly.
"Well he wouldn't have fit in the clock along with the rum." Will tried hard not to laugh as Elizabeth said this calmly. I tried just as hard but I'm afraid it was just too funny. I clutched my side, as a wave of giggles climbed up my throat.
"By all rights I should arrest you both for assisting a pirate under your roof.." Norrington said coldly.
That stopped whatever laughter I was going to voice.
"However..." He glanced at me, seeming to pause for a moment and then ordered strangely off topic, "Men, take Gillette to the fort. See to his....injuries." He commanded sharply, changing his tact. The soldiers obeyed, leaving the Commodore alone in the room with us. He sighed deeply, "I'm giving you one last warning Turner. If I ever catch a pirate with the name Sparrow or other wise in this house, I will have no other choice but to lock you in the keep. And I suggest you get Ms. Swann to bed as she has spent a most terrifying time locked in a closet with that fiend. I would have thought," he added scoldingly, "you would place your cousin above the needs of a fugitive. I trust I shall not be so disappointed with her welfare next time?"
"No sir." Will replied softly, not seeming to argue on this point.
"Very well then. Mr. Turner. Mrs. Turner." He said bowing a bit at the waist to each of us in turn, "Ms. Swann."
"Commodore." I said coolly.
"Forgive me. Lydia."
"Forgiven, James." I replied with a smile.
He smiled back and left closing the door softly behind him.
"Did he?" Will asked stunned.
"Yes...yes..." Elizabeth murmured amazed, "I do believe he did!"
"What?" I asked turning to them.
"It must have been a hallucination, Liz!" Will continued, exclaiming in disbelief.
"No! No, it wasn't! I saw it too!"
"What's a supposed hallucination that you both saw?!" I asked again, getting rather annoyed.
"He smiled." Will said running a hand through his hair.
"Is that so very unusual?" I asked.
"For him it is. The only time I've seen him smile is when he talks about 'short drops and sudden stops'.." Elizabeth muttered.
Will took a piece of cloth from the table and mimicked hanging himself. It would have been slightly disturbing if he hadn't started to choke and ripped it from his neck as if it were possessed. "He needs to find himself a girl." Will croaked, rubbing his throat. He smacked a hand to his forehead, "I did it again, dear!" He exclaimed.
"What? You hit yourself?" She questioned.
"No! Well...yes I did that too..but I was talking about talking like Jack again."
"Uhg," I moaned rubbing my temples, "I'm so very confused."
"How do you mean?" She asked, moving toward him, ignoring me.
"Well he said the exact same thing when uhm...when I fought him after he threatened you that day.."
"What?!" She exclaimed delighted, "You fought for my honor, Mr. Turner?!"
"Can you even doubt it, Mrs. Turner?" He said smiling slyly at her.
Oh gods. They were playing kissy face.
I had no desire to stay and see what Will had meant to the Commodore by 'married life.' So getting to my feet I addressed them, keeping my gaze averted, "Well...I can tell when three is more then a crowd. Goodnight, you love sick puppies!" And turning I left the room, closing the door behind me. I don't even think they noticed my departure.
Lord, it was revolting the way they were always looking at eachother.
Well they might not have noticed my absence but someone else did.
"Is she gone?"
'No.' I thought with horror, coming to stop suddenly. 'He hadn't! The wretch!' I thought outraged, creeping back to the door and pressing an ear against it's cool painted surface.
But he had. It was he.
"Jack!" Elizabeth whispered in shock.
"Jack, what the devil are you doing out there?!" Will whispered.
"Waiting for the Harpy to leave so's I can get out of these damned rosebushes!"
'But why are you in the rosebushes to begin with?" Will asked obviously amused.
"I dunno mate. Maybe I fancied sleepin' in one so's I could scratch me eyes out. Or could it be 'cause they 'appened to be the ones that broke me fall, jumpin' from the window above to get away from a certain Commodore? Take ye pick and help me up." The throaty voice muttered.
There was a lot of grunting and groaning as Will helped Jack into the room.
"Ow! Careful! Bloody watch it, I'm wounded!"
"Jack, it's no more than a few scratches. Nothing more than flesh wounds." Elizabeth tutted impatient.
"Maybe so, but it 'appens to be my flesh!"
"Honestly..." She murmured annoyed.
"Are ye sure the lass is gone?" Jack asked once again.
"Yes....she left as soon as she well..." Will stumbled. I could imagine him trying not to blush, "she saw us...uh...."
"Getting' cozy? Poor girl, I don't blame 'er." Jack interrupted Will from the embaressment of saying the rest of his sentence.
"Then why don't you join her in leaving?" Elizabeth asked dryly, clearly not appreciating his unromantic sentiments.
"I would love to join her...in more ways than one...OW! What the bloody 'ell was that for?!" he exclaimed.
"Oh, keep talking about my cousin that way. I'd love to give you a mirror image for your other eye!" Elizabeth threatened.
"Pardons. It will never 'appen again."
"What won't happen again, exactly?" She asked dangerously.
"Nothing. Nothing at all to do with being locked in a dark, very small closet with ye pretty little cousin...."
"I'd stop talking, Jack," Will advised, "before you end up in the rose bush again."
Taking no heed, Sparrow continued in a very pleased and full voice, "..she would make a damn fine little strumpet in Tortuga...those fiery eyes....those flushed cheeks...full lips...."
A furious silence greeted these words and he chuckled nervously, "Perhaps I should stop talkin' before I end up in the rosebush again, eh?"
"That would be wise." Will commented.
"When has he ever been?" Elizabeth retorted tartly.
"Never." Will and Sparrow both chorused.
"Clever, maybe." Jack said.
"But never wise." Will added.
"Uhg! I'm going to bed! Dear husband of mine, you should do the WISE thing and follow me after throwing Mr. Sparrow out into the rosebush again." Her tone was one of tired continence, although the threat sure to be carried out if she were not obeyed.
"It's Captain, love, Captain Sparrow." Jack interjected.
"Don't you start with me!" Elizabeth warned.
"Yes dear." Will murmured softly to her order.
"And don't you 'yes dear' me, Mr. Turner. I am very put out with you!" I heard her snap and her fast, furious steps to the door. Jerking back, I looked for someplace to hide. Behind me was a door, sprinting toward it I hurled myself into the room closing the door behind me. I was swallowed by darkness. Another closet. Spite! I think I had had my fair share of them for tonight and for the rest of my life.
Elizabeth pounded up the stairs, "I cannot believe this!" she fumed , "Of all the no good, wretched...ugh! Sparrow things for him to do! I never...." Her voice trailed off as she acended the stairs. A few seconds later I heard a door slam. Hesitantly, I turned the knob of the door and peeked out into the hall.
Clear.
Sneaking out of the closet I edged nearer to the sitting room dorr, the voices came through easily enough.
"That sounds like quite an exit." Will commented.
"Aye. That it was." Mumbled Jack in reply.
"But I must ask you Jack.."
"If I favor your petite cousin?"
"No. And if you do, you'd be wise to change your mind."
"I thought we 'ad already established that I was in fact, not wise."
"Just shut your gob, Jack." Sighed Will, "What I was going to say is that you must hand over the possessions you pillaged today."
"All of them?!" Jack yelped indignantly, "Yer out of yer bloody mind!"
"Better out of my mind then out of the house. And Elizabeth would happily see that done if I didn't do the right thing. So hand it over.."
" 'and what over?!"
"Don't play the fool, Jack. The locket. Hand it over."
A silence greeted his words. It was a tricky silence. I realized dimly..
"Well, 'eres the thing about that locket..." Jack murmured pleasantly, his voice arrogant in triumph.
....he had something up his dirty sleeves.
"What of it?" Will asked.
"Does yer lovely cousin, 'appen to know who that locket belonged to?"
"How would I know? Why?"
"Because, dear Will, ye silly eunuch..."
"I'm not a eunuch!" Will protested angrily.
"Sure ye not, anyways.."
"I'm not!"
"May I continue please?"
"I'm not." Will muttered sulkily.
"As I was sayin', I don't expect the saucy little tart..."
"Oh, Elizabeth will murder you if she over hears you calling Lydia that."
"Well then it's a good thing she's not 'ere at the moment, eh? Now STOP INTERUPTING ME!"
"Sorry." Will murmured.
" 'Ere it comes down to this, mate, before you interrupt me again..."
"I said I was sorry.."
Jack groaned in annoyance, "Does she know that the locket opens?"
"Perhaps that's why it's called a locket." Will replied sarcastically.
"Shut up. Inside is a name...."
My grandmother, I thought. Cassandra.
"Cassandra Harlington!" He exclaimed in an excited whisper.
The crickets were more than audible.
"Don't tell me." Jack responded crestfallen, "Ye've never 'eard of 'er?"
"I ....can't say that I have."
"Jaysus, Mary, and Joseph! Bollocks and Billowing Sails! What do they teach people now-a-days?!"
"Obviously not the basics of famous Pirate Lore." Will commented good naturedly.
"Obviously not." Jack muttered, "No matter, I think we're both in need of a good bedtime story."
"Oh goody!" Will said, pitching his voice an octave higher, "because it's been so long since I've heard a story of horror on the high seas!"
"Will.."
"Yes?"
"Don't make me wipe the floor with ye. Now, how do lasses start those stories?"
"Once upon..." Will began.
"....a midnight clear!"
"No. Once upon a...."
"...murderous pirate ship?"
"Will you please let me finish?!" Will exclaimed.
"No. Once upon a..a..a..."
"TIME! TIME, YOU MORON!"
"Ah, yes! I remember now. Well once upon a time," Jack began in his lulling voice, "there lived a cunning pirate called Garmne Noirtz, French I think..and he was the best. He could do everything! Why there was this one time when he fought off a hundred men with only a cat and a wheelbarrow..."
"Jack?"
"Hmnnn?"
"I know you're trying to make a point..I just don't know what it is." Will laughed.
"Alrigh' alrigh' alrigh', anyways, the scallywag did the thing that no pirate dares to do."
"And that would be?" Will ventured.
"It is something so unheard of, so shameful, so WRONG.."
"Will you just tell me already?!" Will exclaimed annoyed.
"Aye, keep yer tights on, whelp. Aye so's 'ere is the greatest pirate in the world and goes and what does he do?!"
"I DON'T KNOW!! WHAT DID HE DO?!"
"The stupid bloke goes and falls in love." Sparrow sighed gustily, "That was a sad day for pirates, I'm tellin' ye."
Insane, loud laughter filled the air.
"That was it?! He fell in love?! That was his crime?!"
"I don't think ye understand, mate. Love destroys.." Jack answered seriously.
"Oh come now, Jack!"
"Well, it destroys a pirate, that's for bloody well sure," Jack exclaimed, "Now shut up and let me finish me story, savvy? So's he falls 'ead over 'eels in love with the lass, Cassandra. Now earlier in his years before he met 'er he had buried a treasure somewhere's. Was said to be such a treasure as to match Alba's and Cortex's together!" Excitement was bubbling up in Sparrow's throat, "And like the blitherin' idiot that he was, he gave the only coordinates to his little tart."
"I hate to ask what this has to do with Lydia." Will sighed exhausted with Jack's fever.
"Ahhhh," Jack purred, "See that is where it gets very interesting. Ye see boy, that locket I borrowed from ye cousin belonged to Miss Cassandra Harlington. And inside of it is a small riddle as to the whereabouts to the coordinates of Noirtz's treasure."
Silence settled in the room and outside the door from where I was listening intently to every word.
"Now," Sparrow continued, "I don't know why she 'ad the lock...or how but I find it to be the best bit o' luck I've 'ad since finding the Black Pearl again."
"Jack, did you ever stop to think that Lydia might be related to this Cassandra woman?"
"I might of, yeh." Jack admitted slowly, cautiously.
"And that the treasure might be half hers by inheritance?"
There was a pause, "It might of crossed me mind."
"Then you intend to tell her about this, don't you?" Will continued sternly.
An even longer silence decended.
"Jack..." Will said warningly.
" 'Ow about I get back to ye on that?"
"Jack!"
"Aye, alrigh' I'll tell the little lass.."
"Before you go looking for the treasure!"
"Bloody HELL, Will!"
"I mean it, Jack! She deserves to know!"
"Fine, the wee lass deserves to know and I deserve a drink..."
"Jack.."
"I'm going to tell 'er, don't get all Turner on me.."
"I am a Turner..."
"I'm just gonna go out to a pub, and then I'll come back and tell the lass everything..."
"Jack I don't think I have to tell you..."
"You'll gully me if I don't, yeh, yeh, I know, right ho..."
Just then Elizabeth's voice reached us from above, "Have you thrown him out YET?!"
"Almost, darling!" Will shouted back. "Jack why don't you just you the door this time."
"I think I'll take me chances with the rosebushes instead of dear Elizabeth.."
"Good choice."
I had heard enough. Sprinting quietly up the stairs I ran for my room, opened the closet I threw out some peasant clothes I had found from a traveling troupe. Taking my jewelry case from my vanity I dumped its contents out on the bed. I believe I have a few things to get at the local pub......