-
Trailing behind Jack, Will and Gibbs, you watch them eye the line of men by the wharf. Men of all sizes, ages, colours and style. You see a man standing with a brightly coloured macaw on his shoulder.
"Feast your eyes, Captain. All of them, faithful hands before the mast. Every man worth his salt. And crazy to boot."
"So this is your able-bodied crew?" you ask with slight humour.
Jacks eyes shifted from you then to a pirate with a parrot on his shoulder.
"You, sailor!"
"Cotton, sir!" Gibbs introduced.
"Mr. Cotton. Do you have the courage and fortitude to follow orders and stay true in the face of danger and almost certain death?" Jack demanded simultaneously with a steady and intimidating stare. The pirate continued to stare.
"Mr. Cotton! Answer man!" Jack barked.
"He's a mute, sir. Poor devil had his tongue cut out, so he trained the parrot to talk for him. No one's yet figured how…" Mr Gibbs answered.
You look at Jacks disgruntled face and hide your laughter. Jack looked down at the ground then took one-step foreward, then turned his head to the bright blue parrot.
"Mr. Cotton 's... parrot. Same question."
The parrot nods its head a few times then squawks, "Wind in the sails! Wind in the sails!"
You chuckle and whistle at the bird, "So, guesses are, that means 'yes'."
"O' course it does. Satisfied?" Jack pipes up to Will. You can't help but wonder how such a man with such a regular sized body could have mustered the power to not have a hang over what so ever.
"Well, you've proved them mad - "
"And what's the benefit for us?" A feminine voice demanded.
Jack tilted his head and slowly made his way down the dock till he got to the last person. The pirate had his head bowed with a large hat on. Or he did, until Jack took it off and long black flowing hair cascaded down the dark woman shoulders.
"Anamaria-", quick as light she slapped him with full force.
"I suppose you didn't deserve that one either", you mumble to Jack.
"No, that one I deserved", he replies with a nervous smile.
"You - stole - my - boat!" she hissed to him.
"Actually - "
Anamaria's palm connected with Jacks cheek again.
"Borrowed, borrowed without permission. But with every intention of bringing it back to you." Jack slyly tried to break the ice.
"But you didn't!"
"You'll get another one!" Jack backed away as she pointed her finger at him.
"I will…"
"A better one!" Will added.
"A better one!" repeated Jack.
"That one!" you point to the Interceptor.
"What one?" he asked in a shocked tone, before realising you indicated towards the ship only just off the shore, "That one! Aye! That one. What say you?" Jack fumbled with the fruit in his hands.
A chorus of 'Ayes' came as the new crew made ready to leave. But Mr Gibbs had more to say.
"No, no, no, no, no, it's frightful bad luck to bring a woman aboard, sir. And to have two!"
Jack sighed and turned on heel, "It'd be far worse not to have them…"
-
Three hours into the journey and news was a storm was nearing. The crew worked busily on deck, while you helped knot some ropes with Gibbs.
"So, where you from lass?" Mr Gibbs asked as he sat down.
You finish up with the last knot and rub your sore hands together. A tiresome sigh escapes your lips, "I'm from a place that's quite far from here. Best be unnamed." He simple nods and offers you some rum. Politely declining, you turn your gaze towards the approaching storm.
Eventually you reach Jack and stand near him for a while before starting a conversation.
"So, you have a plan?" you ask. Jack's moustache twitches then he opens his mouth to speak then stops, and then takes in a deep breath.
"I'm guessing….no" you say.
Jack continues to gaze at the ocean with a thoughtful stare. "Well, ole' Jack has gotten through many troubles, so why would this one be stopping me?"
"Well…I don't know", you reply bluntly and sigh.
Minutes passed, and on cue the Dauntless is showered with water. Jack had ordered that you lock yourself within his cabin because it was safer, but objecting was more on your lines. If Anamaria could stay on deck, so could you.
You cough and push yourself to move across the rocking deck. Without warning, your showered with a wave and thrown forward across the deck. Slipping while trying to pull yourself up, you grasp onto a rope. Suddenly someone is by your side and trying to coax you towards the Captain's Cabin.
"Careful! You shouldn't be out here!" Will bellows over the crashing noises.
You try to help Will pull a rope back and tie it but find that it isn't much use. Seeing as he wasn't succeeding, Mr Gibbs came to help.
"How can we sail to an island that nobody can find with a compass that doesn't work?" Will yelled after a few minutes of tugging and pulling.
Struggling to hold on, you grab Gibbs' arm and heave yourself back.
"Aye, the compass doesn't point north but we're not trying to find north, are we?"
The last part of Gibb's statement only just manages to catch your ears, as your suddenly thrown into Will. Finding that your no use on deck, Gibbs' grabs your arm and hastily brings you with him onto the helm.
"We should drop Canvas, sir!" he shouts over the thundering waves against the Interceptor.
"She can hold a little bit longer!" Jack yelled back with a low growl and a turn of the wheel. You can see his tangled wet hair flying around him as he held his compass with one hand and steering with the other. His eyes a filled with anticipation.
"What's in your mind that's put you in such a fine mood?" you ask loudly from behind Gibbs.
A grin formed on Jacks face as he turned his dark eyes on you.
"Were catching up…"
-
An hour more of the storm continued before the ship had pulled through and was merely shrouded by a darkening fog. You stand and stare at the Island forming before your very eyes. You hear Will and Mr Gibbs start to talk behind you.
"Dead men tell no tales!" Mr Cotton's counterpart screeched from the mast.
Jack stood by the helm, constantly checking his compass until finally shutting it tightly and packing it away after Cotton continuously watching him.
"How is it that Jack came by that compass?" you ask as you sit down next to Mr Gibbs.
"Not a lot known about Jack Sparrow before he showed up in Tortuga with a mind to go after the treasure of the Isla de Muerte. That was before I met him. Back when he was Captain of the Black Pearl."
You hear Will drop his knife and stare blank eyed at Gibbs. "What? He failed to mention that."
Mr Joshamee Gibbs had let something slip, and managed to stifle a gasp while drinking from his flask.
"Well, he plays things close to the vest now. An' a hard learned lesson it was. See three days out on the venture the first mate comes to him an' says everything's an equal share as should be the location of the treasure, too. So, Jack gives up the bearings. That night there was a mutiny. They marooned Jack on an island and left him to die but not before he'd gone mad with the heat", Mr Gibbs explained.
You can't help but feel somewhat confused with the tale, but continue to listen quietly anyway.
"Ah. So that's the reason for the…" Will did an almost replica of Jack's animated hands.
"Reason's got nothing to do with it. Now Will , when a man is marooned he is a given a pistol with a single shot. Well it won't do much good hunting or to be rescued," Gibbs explained, "but after three weeks of starvin' belly and thirst, that pistol starts to look real friendly," he motioned his pointed finer to his temple, "but Jack made it off the island an' he still has that one shot. Oh, but he won't use it though, save for one man. His mutinous first mate."
"Barbossa." You mutter.
"Aye", Gibbs replied.
"How did Jack get off that Island?" you ask curiously.
"Well, I'll tell ye'. He waded out into the shallows an' there he waited three days an' three nights till all manner of sea creature came an' acclimated to his presence. An' on the fourth morning he roped himself a couple of sea turtles, harnessed them together an' made a raft!"
"He roped a couple of sea turtles?" Will repeated with slight confusion and a disbelieving expression.
"Aye, sea turtles", Gibbs replied with an assuring nod.
"What did he use for rope?" Will asked. Gibbs opened his mouth to reply but found he had no answer. Just on cue, someone had invaded the small conversation.
"Human hair," Jack paused while gazing seriously at Will, "from my back…"
A smile forms on your lips as Will stared cynically at the equally serious Jack. Without moving his eyes from you or Will, he begun to instruct orders upon his crew.
"Let go of the anchor!" Jack bellowed before addressing Will, "Young Mr Turner and I are to go ashore."
Suddenly you're on your feet and staring heatedly at him, "And what of me?"
You must have frightened Jack well off with your sudden movement, because he didn't bother to object, but merely stare worriedly before stating, "Fine! Bloody woman…never happy!"
Preparing for the row towards the Island, you catch Jack whisper something to Gibbs before the three of you climb into the dingy and are lowered into the water below.
-
"So, what we doing when we get inside?" you ask as the small boat entered a thoroughly dark, and narrow cave. Will sat by the front of the boat with his back to Jack's back while he rowed, with you sitting at the end facing the pirate captain.
He seemed to gaze at you for a moment. You can't help but think back to that night in Tortuga. "Jack…can I ask you something?" you whisper. His full attention was appointed to you and you know that he is listening to every single breath, movement and sound you make.
"A-at Tortuga…what did you mean that I'm confusing?" you manage to say. He sighs and continues to row.
"Jack, don't ignore me…" you whisper in a small demand. Ever since Tortuga, you were almost certain that the pirate watched you from afar, made sure that none of the crew got on your back and that he was more and more secretive when you questioned more seriously.
An unsettled noise came from his throat, "Love, I suggest that ye' don't linger on such events. Wha' I do suggest is that ye' promise not to do anything tha' would get ye'self hurt."
Not knowing what to say, you turn your head away but his hand catches your chin and your back to gazing at his steady stare.
"I see something more in ye'. Just tell me nothin' drastic will 'appen to ye'." His voice was nothing but a whisper.
"I-I promise…Jack", you reply before lowering your gaze.
The next few moments are floating by as your eyes gaze upon the scattered jewels and gold upon the bottom of the cave river.
"…Sprung a man from jail, commandeered a ship of the Fleet, sailed with a buccaneer crew out of Tortuga…"
You snap out of your daze and only then realized you had a smile on your face. Jack slowly turned around and gazed at the gold treasure at the bottom of the cave floor. The boat had finally reached the rock shore."
"An' yer' completely obsessed with treasure." Jack added with a drawl.
"That's not true. I'm not obsessed with treasure!" Will retorted as he stepped out of the boat and onto the rocks. Jack followed suit, and you find that the small boat is now rockier than before as you hasten to take a step onto the slippery rocks. A hand grasps yours and you step up onto the rocks and gaze wondrously into the warm eyes.
"Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate", Jack's murmured with a small smile.
Sneaking up on a hidden gap to watch the ceremony, you can't help but feel worried. You sit quietly and gaze at the rugged pirates and finally your gaze lands upon Elizabeth at the top of the treasure mound. The man standing next to her, his face grim, his eyes yellowed with anger and his stature of a man of utter evil.
Barbossa.
"Punished we were. The lot of us - disproportionate to our crime," his voice was laced with resentfulness as he indicated to the chest next to him, "here it is …the cursed treasure of Cortez himself. Every last piece that went astray we have returned…save for this!" Barbossa pointed at the gold chain and charm on Elizabeth's neck.
There was silence between the three of you until Will had suddenly lurched forward and knocked a few coins down the rocky ledge.
"Jack!" He hissed as Jack hastily grabbed his shirt and wrenched him back down.
"Not yet. We wait for the opportune moment", Jack muttered as he started to walk around to another part of the cave entrance.
"When's that? When it's of greatest profit to you?" Will snarled.
You quirk an eyebrow curiously at the sudden out burst. Jack's eyes widened in offence and he spun on heel to be front Will. Stepping up to him, Jack began to annoyingly state in his face:
"May I ask you something? Have I ever given you reason not to trust me? Do us a favour, I know it's difficult for you but please stay here… and try not to do anything stupid." You note that the last few words were exaggerated with his ever-moving hands. He quickly spins around and points at you.
"Love, stay - "
You object instantly, "I think I better come with you." Before he can open his mouth and state various situations that could cause strife, you've snapped your hand over his mouth and stared fervently at him, "Now!"
Sighing, his hand clasps yours and you follow him into another entrance. You both peer over the edge to witness Barbossa continuing to talk.
"You know the first thing I'm goin' to do after the curse is lifted…eat a whole bushel of apples", he sneers at Elizabeth before ripping the medallion from her neck and roughly shoving it into her open palm.
Cutting her hand, he shut her palm tightly and let her drop the blood-covered medallion into the chest.
Each and every pirate stood at shoulder width, awaiting their curse to rise from their bodies. A moment passes, and a pirate stares confusingly around him.
"I don't feel no different", he says with confusion.
"How do we tell?" another asks.
Barbossa rolled his eyes and took out his pistol. Without any care, he aimed and shot the last man who had spoken. The pirate frowned and looked up at Barbossa.
"Your not dead!" One of the men exclaimed.
"No," he said relieved then glared up at Barbossa, "He shot me!"
"It didn't work. The curse it still upon us!" Another pirate bellowed with anger. Barbossa viciously grabbed Elizabeth by the shoulders and shook her.
"You, maid! Your father, what was his name? Was your father William Turner?" barked Barbossa to Elizabeth. She sneered and Barbossa backhanded her, sending her tumbling down the back of the treasure mound.
You watch for a few minutes longer until they mentioned Elizabeth again.
"I say, we cut her throat and spill all her blood, just in case!" screeches one of the dark pirates. A cheer rose out of the crowd and Barbossa went to look back at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth! She's gone! You start to panic and look around you. The pirates are all looking around now and heading in all directions and would surely find one of you within moments. Only then did you realise Jack had not made a single sound the entire time.
Turning on heel, you quickly hurry down the path you had gone through and almost trip over the unconscious form of Jack on the ground with an oar next to him.
You lean over Jack and try to wake him before the pirates see you, "Com' on! Get up! MY MOTHER IS COMING INTO THE ROOM!" You bellow into his ear. Jack shot up, knocking you backwards and landing at someone's feet.
"You! You're suppose to be dead!" A voice says in pure bewilderment.
Looking upwards, you find that you're at the feet of over a dozen sneering pirates.
"Am I not?" you hear Jack reply with uncertainty.
Your heaved onto your feet and held tightly by the arms as Jack puzzlingly inspected his body for any wounds, before dizzyingly turning and only running into more of his mutinous crew. Turning back towards the bewildered pirate, you watch as words struggle to come out of his mouth.
"Puhluley, puhlulehvoos, parleli, parsmi, pasley, parle, parle…" you watch Jack scratch his chin.
"Parley?" you randomly say, hoping that's the right word.
Jack turns to you and grins at your accomplishment, "Parley! That's the one. Parley! Parley!"
The rat haired pirate cocked his gun. "Parley? Down to the depths whatever muttonhead thought up parley!"
Jack stepped forward and pushed the gun down, "That would be the French."
Jack reaches out and pulls you free from the large man, and you find that your instantly clasping onto Jack's shirt as Barbossa approached.
"How the blazes did you get off that island?" he hissed to Jack. Jack leaned against his oar and sneered at him.
"When ye' marooned me on that godforsaken spit of land, ye' forgot one very important thing, mate…I'm Captain Jack Sparrow!" Jack replied with utter most calm.
"Ah…and who are you?" he turns his attention to you. You take a sharp breath and take it from the top of your head.
"I'm his…um…strumpet?"
Jack stares at you with disbelief. Barbossa stares at you for a moment and you can't help but hate the approvingly sneer on his features as he eyes your entire body. He turns his attention back to Jack.
"Well Jack, I won't be making that mistake again. Gents, you all remember Captain Jack Sparrow? Kill him."
You see all the men aim their weapons at you and Jack. Jack's hand had some how made it around your arm and he had a reassuring grip on you.
"The girls blood didn't work, did it?"
There was an undeniable sudden jolt as Barbossa came to a halt, mid step and an annoyed cringe formed upon his features.
You watch the pirates reluctantly lower their weapons. You gaze the crowd till you see Twigg again. He's grinning at you and you absentmindedly move closer to Jack.
"You know whose blood we need?"
Jack had a very mischievous grin on his face, "I know whose blood ye need…"