Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own 'em.
AN: OK, thanks for the reviews! I must say I am really enjoying this experience! So, on with Chapter Three, wherein the plot thickens! Please tell me what you think.I won't bother to update if I don't think anyone is reading this! You have been warned!
Chapter Three
The next day dawned clear and warm, with not a cloud in the sky as Nora wandered down to the docks in search of Jack's ship, The Black Pearl. Nora had never seen the ship herself, but had, of course, heard all the stories surrounding her, and was eager to see her.
She spotted the Pearl almost immediately, as she was the only ship to have black sails. Nora surveyed the ship as she came closer, and had to admit, she had almost never seen a better vessel.
Jack hailed Nora from the deck, where he was giving out orders to his crew. When Nora climbed aboard, he quickly introduced her to his first mate, Gibbs. The middle-aged man grudgingly shook hands with Nora, then went off to supervise the loading of some supplies, muttering something about women being bad luck. Jack apparently heard, because he rolled his eyes skyward, as if this was something he frequently got from Gibbs. Nora quickly found out why, when she noticed another woman hauling a crate on board.
"Her name's Ana Maria" came Jack's voice, seemingly reading her mind. He always had been able to do that Nora thought ruefully. She wondered, and not for the first time, how she was going to live in such close proximity with Jack without killing him. He had always been able to infuriate her in the past. Well, not always. She mentally kicked herself for recalling things that were over and done with.
When everything had finally been loaded, they set out. Jack left the navigation to Ana Maria, as he gave Nora a tour of his beloved ship, all the while telling her the story of how he had lost it.and won it again not 6 months ago. Despite the ego behind it, Nora was mildly impressed by the tale. Of course, she had heard the various stories surrounding the cursed treasure- who hadn't? But she hadn't really believed them, until now. Not even Jack Sparrow was crazy enough to make up something like that.
When they were finished, and back on deck, Jack spoke again.
"Well, I've taken you on board, and told my story; now it's your turn. Why is Blackheart after you?"
Nora looked around at the crewmembers suspiciously. "Let's go to your cabin to talk, eh?"
"My men are trustworthy" he replied, puffing up indignantly.
"Maybe, but I don't want to take any chances. Do you want to hear what I've got to say or not?" Nora led the way. When they got to the cabin, they sat down on opposite sides of the table, strewn with maps, charts, and other paraphernalia. Nora spoke again.
"You've heard the stories about my father, I presume?"
"You mean about the treasure?"
Nora nodded assent. "I don't think Blackheart is necessarily out to kill me. I think he wants something I've got. Now, how he came to know that it even existed is beyond me, but nevertheless, he knows, and he's after it."
"After what?"
"My father's treasure. The one he hid on a deserted, uncharted island before I was even born."
"But what is it that you've got and he wants? Certainly not the treasure?"
Nora sighed. "A map."
Jack's eyebrows raised again, this time in disbelief. "Well, why doesn't he just steal it from you then?"
"This isn't the kind of map that is easily stolen." Nora replied, and then she rolled up the sleeve of her shirt, to just above the elbow, and showed Jack the inside of her arm. He saw what appeared to be a tattoo, and an oddly shaped one at that.
Jack laughed in disbelief. "That's the map? I think you've been out in the sun too long, Nora!"
Nora gave him a stony glare, while rolling her sleeve back down. She replied heatedly "Well, if you don't want a share in the treasure, you can just put me ashore and I'll find someone who does."
"Now wait a minute" Jack replied hastily, "are you telling me that that tattoo is in the shape of an island?"
Nora smiled. "You always were too smart for your own good. Yes, it is. And my father entrusted the coordinates of this uncharted island to one person, and one person only."
"You."
"Me."
"So you want me to take my ship off on some treasure hunt looking for some island that may not even exist?"
"Well, if you want to put it that way, then yes, I do. Of course, like I said, if we find anything, you and your crew will get a share in it." Despite his professed disbelief, Nora could tell that the idea of an adventure, possibly ending in a treasure, was very tantalizing to Jack. She continued. "So, do we have an accord, or are you going to put me ashore?" She proffered her hand, and Jack swiftly took it in his own.
They spent the next ten minutes bartering for Jack's share in the loot.
AN: OK, thanks for the reviews! I must say I am really enjoying this experience! So, on with Chapter Three, wherein the plot thickens! Please tell me what you think.I won't bother to update if I don't think anyone is reading this! You have been warned!
Chapter Three
The next day dawned clear and warm, with not a cloud in the sky as Nora wandered down to the docks in search of Jack's ship, The Black Pearl. Nora had never seen the ship herself, but had, of course, heard all the stories surrounding her, and was eager to see her.
She spotted the Pearl almost immediately, as she was the only ship to have black sails. Nora surveyed the ship as she came closer, and had to admit, she had almost never seen a better vessel.
Jack hailed Nora from the deck, where he was giving out orders to his crew. When Nora climbed aboard, he quickly introduced her to his first mate, Gibbs. The middle-aged man grudgingly shook hands with Nora, then went off to supervise the loading of some supplies, muttering something about women being bad luck. Jack apparently heard, because he rolled his eyes skyward, as if this was something he frequently got from Gibbs. Nora quickly found out why, when she noticed another woman hauling a crate on board.
"Her name's Ana Maria" came Jack's voice, seemingly reading her mind. He always had been able to do that Nora thought ruefully. She wondered, and not for the first time, how she was going to live in such close proximity with Jack without killing him. He had always been able to infuriate her in the past. Well, not always. She mentally kicked herself for recalling things that were over and done with.
When everything had finally been loaded, they set out. Jack left the navigation to Ana Maria, as he gave Nora a tour of his beloved ship, all the while telling her the story of how he had lost it.and won it again not 6 months ago. Despite the ego behind it, Nora was mildly impressed by the tale. Of course, she had heard the various stories surrounding the cursed treasure- who hadn't? But she hadn't really believed them, until now. Not even Jack Sparrow was crazy enough to make up something like that.
When they were finished, and back on deck, Jack spoke again.
"Well, I've taken you on board, and told my story; now it's your turn. Why is Blackheart after you?"
Nora looked around at the crewmembers suspiciously. "Let's go to your cabin to talk, eh?"
"My men are trustworthy" he replied, puffing up indignantly.
"Maybe, but I don't want to take any chances. Do you want to hear what I've got to say or not?" Nora led the way. When they got to the cabin, they sat down on opposite sides of the table, strewn with maps, charts, and other paraphernalia. Nora spoke again.
"You've heard the stories about my father, I presume?"
"You mean about the treasure?"
Nora nodded assent. "I don't think Blackheart is necessarily out to kill me. I think he wants something I've got. Now, how he came to know that it even existed is beyond me, but nevertheless, he knows, and he's after it."
"After what?"
"My father's treasure. The one he hid on a deserted, uncharted island before I was even born."
"But what is it that you've got and he wants? Certainly not the treasure?"
Nora sighed. "A map."
Jack's eyebrows raised again, this time in disbelief. "Well, why doesn't he just steal it from you then?"
"This isn't the kind of map that is easily stolen." Nora replied, and then she rolled up the sleeve of her shirt, to just above the elbow, and showed Jack the inside of her arm. He saw what appeared to be a tattoo, and an oddly shaped one at that.
Jack laughed in disbelief. "That's the map? I think you've been out in the sun too long, Nora!"
Nora gave him a stony glare, while rolling her sleeve back down. She replied heatedly "Well, if you don't want a share in the treasure, you can just put me ashore and I'll find someone who does."
"Now wait a minute" Jack replied hastily, "are you telling me that that tattoo is in the shape of an island?"
Nora smiled. "You always were too smart for your own good. Yes, it is. And my father entrusted the coordinates of this uncharted island to one person, and one person only."
"You."
"Me."
"So you want me to take my ship off on some treasure hunt looking for some island that may not even exist?"
"Well, if you want to put it that way, then yes, I do. Of course, like I said, if we find anything, you and your crew will get a share in it." Despite his professed disbelief, Nora could tell that the idea of an adventure, possibly ending in a treasure, was very tantalizing to Jack. She continued. "So, do we have an accord, or are you going to put me ashore?" She proffered her hand, and Jack swiftly took it in his own.
They spent the next ten minutes bartering for Jack's share in the loot.