Warning: Never try to attract the attention of any Royal Navy ship. You'll
probably do better hiding from them. So anyway, back to the island know.
Not much J/E in this chapter but there's a few little moments. So to
reviewers:
Anaknusan: Sorry. Most of the time I'm too anxious to read over my story and spell-check doesn't cover things like that.
concrete-angel: No, not hints of hanging. Hints of who's on the boat as you will soon find out in this chapter. Haha. Will has to do something, doesn't he?
Karin: O.k. Jack's in this chapter but not much J/E. Sorry.
Jenni: Muhaha. Will doesn't care about Jack. Well maybe, somewhat.
H2o Girl: So you finally were able to get on again. For the last time, I'M NOT KILLING WILL FOR ANY AMOUNT OF COOKIES! Will's a sweetie (except in this story. Muhaha.)
Cpt-Jack-Sparrow: *Blush* Thanks.
Elizabeth S. Turner- J/E later. Annoying necessary parts of the story now.
emeraldmedallion: Isn't he sweet?
*** Disclaimer: I own nothing. *Grinds teeth and kills people who do own it- except of course the hot actors* Now I own it! (Cheesy smile.) Alright, so I don't.
***
"How can we attract its attention?" Elizabeth asked desperately.
"The rum," Jack said, gruffly.
"Ah yes," Elizabeth grinned, "I'm glad to dispose of it again, maybe this time I can actually get all of it."
"No ya don't," Jack countered, "I found quite a lot among Bootstrap's treasure. Decent man that un was. Wait til I tell Will his father had alcohol buried with 'is treasure."
"You can tell him, but I'm burning it up."
"No yer not," Jack told her, sternly, "I've hidden some of it."
Elizabeth sighed and went to the trap door. She climbed down and retrieved quite a lot of rum. Jack was standing right at the top and helped her up. She lit a fire and started to toss rum in it with occasional explosions. "Here, let me help," Jack offered, taking a bottle from her hand, "This is no job for a lady."
Elizabeth snorted, "I'm the one who came up with this in the first place."
She threw another bottle in and jumped back as the fire roared. Jack looked over her shoulder. "It appears they've seen us," he stated, "They're moving this way."
Elizabeth nodded. "Do we need the rest of these?" she asked.
"Probably not," Jack replied.
They set down the bottles. "Let's just wait on the beach 'til it comes," Jack suggested.
Elizabeth nodded and followed him. Almost to the shoreline she tripped over a rock. Jack caught her with the reflexes of a cat. For a moment she was lost in his eyes again, hopelessly lost. Then Jack righted her again. "Thanks," she muttered, embarrassed for at least the third time.
They sat on the beach for a little while, not talking, simply staring at the sand. After about ten minutes Elizabeth looked up. The ship was much closer and it had the colors of the Royal navy. Elizabeth's stomach jolted. "Jack," she whispered, hardly able to talk in fear.
"What?"
He looked up for the first time and saw the ship. "Damn you, Elizabeth!" he yelled, "This better 'ave not been some bloody trick of yers."
"No, it's not, I swear," Elizabeth stuttered, "I'd never do such a thing."
Jack was pacing back and forth, swearing. "I can't just wait here. It's like waitin' for death itself."
"The trapdoor, Jack," Elizabeth whispered, meekly, "We have to hide with the treasure."
"They'll find us. I'm not goin' to lead 'em to the treasure and be hung. I'd rather be hung straight out."
"So you care more about the stupid gold than your own life?" Elizabeth asked, her voice shaking in rage as well as fear, "Maybe Will was wrong. Maybe you aren't a good man."
"Fer heavens sakes, calm down," Jack told her, "Any good pirate will sacrifice himself fer his treasure."
In any case, it was too late to hide. The ship was anchoring and a ship was being lowered. A few men got in. One of them could be seen clearly by Jack and Elizabeth: the Commodore. Jack began swearing all over again. Elizabeth slowly got up, her heart in her throat. The men stopped the boat and got out. Elizabeth back up against Jack. He made her feel safe, despite the fact that it was he she was worried about. The Commodore walked right up to them. "Elizabeth."
He tipped his hat then he turned to Jack. "Well, well, Captain Jack Sparrow."
He spat the words. Jack's face was set, his jaw clenched. Suddenly his arm slid around Elizabeth's neck in a hard grip and he took out his pistol and placed it against her temple. "I had the pleasure of doin' this once," he told the Commodore, "Now I 'ave the pleasure of doin' it again. Shall I kill her this time?"
His words hit Elizabeth like fire. "Traitor," she whispered, fighting his grip.
He grinned, his normal gold-toothed grin and held her tighter. "It's only a masquerade, love," he whispered.
The Commodore seemed to realize the trick as well. "This worked before, Sparrow only because I was inclined to believe you. This time, you are not so fortunate. If you had wished to kill her, you could have done so on this island alone and no-one would have ever known. Drop your pistol."
He signaled to the men with him and they all held up muskets towards Jack. Slowly he loosened his arm around Elizabeth's neck but didn't drop the pistol. "Drop it!" the Commodore commanded in a harsher voice. Seven fingers tightened on their triggers. Jack dropped his pistol. One of his men came forward and handcuffed Jack's hands together. Elizabeth stood to the side, helpless. "Your father will be very displeased to find the company you were in," Commodore said to Elizabeth, "I will try my best to dissuade him from any..uh. harsh punishment."
He smiled at her. Elizabeth's insides went cold. He was almost worse than Jussic. He had no heart. None at all. She countered his look with one of pure hatred. He ignored it. "Get him in the boat, we're rowing back to the ship," the Commodore commanded his men.
Several of them approached Jack. Jack offered them a smile. They pushed him hard into the boat in reply. "Don't treat him like that!" Elizabeth cried out, before she could stop herself.
"Elizabeth, this man is a criminal. He has broken the law many times and hurt many innocent people. He deserves everything he gets."
Elizabeth bit her lip. Jack wasn't looking at her. He was staring out at the water, probably contemplating escape. Slowly Elizabeth sat down in the boat beside the Commodore. He seemed determined to make her feel worse. "You've worried your father half to death running off like that. We thought you might be in the company of this bastard."
He kicked Jack. Jack didn't so much as flinch. "We weren't sure if you had gone on your own or been forced. Your father was going to enlist the help of your fiancé but he was gone too so I got the job. You don't happen to know the whereabouts of your Will Turner, do you?"
He spat out the words as if they were almost as disgusting as Jack. Elizabeth knew that the Commodore was hoping she would say Will was dead in which case she was almost certainly have to marry him. She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of knowing that Will was most likely in mortal danger. "I'm not sure exactly where he is now," she lied, "He didn't come with me. He left to visit his sister who he had not heard from in years. He is well and living."
The Commodore sensed her unease but chose to ignore it. "How unfortunate for him to be gone when you most needed him," he began lazily, "Pity. It's almost enough for one to question his responsibility."
"I didn't need him then," Elizabeth broke out, "I chose to go with Jack myself. He didn't make me."
He had trapped her into saying that. She shouldn't of, even though it would have been worse for Jack. Not that much, though. He was going to be hung all the same. It was much more trouble for her to admit leaving at her own free will. The Commodore had suddenly gone grim. He leaned close to her and gripped her face in his hand, much too tightly for comfort. "I suggest you don't say that to your father or anyone else for that matter," he whispered, "You are not to speak that. Understand?"
Elizabeth was frightened by this but nodded. The Commodore let go of her. In a few minutes they reached the Dauntless. Jack was pushed up first, very roughly. The other men went up next followed by the Commodore who was helping a reluctant Elizabeth up. Once aboard, the Commodore nodded to his men. "Bring him," he motioned to Jack, "Below deck and lock him up."
The men nodded and grabbed Jack by the arms. He caught Elizabeth's eye. His eyes were not filled with fear, but bravery. The sign of a pirate. "It disgusting," Elizabeth thought, "That they hang a man who's truly free. A pirate can do whatever he wishes and for this he is hanged."
For a moment they just looked at each other and the men pulled Jack away. Elizabeth fought the urge to run after him and free him knowing it would only get her into greater trouble and him too. The door to the Captain's cabin flew open and the governor of Port Royal stepped on to the deck. "Elizabeth!" he cried.
"Hello Father," Elizabeth said, coldly.
"But where is Will?" Governor Swann asked, looking around.
"He's not with me," Elizabeth declared.
"Oh," the governor wilted slightly. He had become rather fond of Will, "We were hoping he was with you."
"Father?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes?"
"May I talk to you for a moment?" she eyed the Commodore, "Alone?"
"Of course," the governor nodded, "Commodore, would you excuse us a moment?"
Commodore Norrington ground his teeth. Elizabeth was getting away with talking to her father first. This was not going as planned. Once the door of the cabin closed, Elizabeth turned to her father. "Father, there's something horrible I must tell you."
Her father raised his eyebrows. "Will has been captured by pirates."
"Sparrow?" her father started.
"Jack..uh..Sparrow has been captured by the Commodore. He is innocent."
"Except for being a pirate, Elizabeth," her father interrupted, "The Commodore is bound to the law."
Elizabeth said nothing. She had heard this many times before. "So if it had nothing to do with Sparrow, who is he held by?"
"Barbossa's crew with a new Captain: Jussic."
"Ah, yes I've heard of him. The new real threat to the Caribbean."
"Please?" Elizabeth started, lifting her eyes, she was beginning to form a plan, the only chance to free Jack, "Please, please can we go after the Shadow. I shall bear the pain for the rest of my life if I do not try to free Will."
She failed to mention Jack's crew, knowing that might cause trouble. "Of course, my dear girl," he father laid a hand on her shoulder, "I'm quite found of the Turner boy myself. I would feel quite guilty if I didn't send some help."
"Thank you father," Elizabeth smiled.
"You are very much welcomed. Is that all now?"
"Yes."
"Alright. Let us go find a cabin for you and some new clothes. You can hardly walk around looking like a man."
Elizabeth sighed and followed her father back out into the deck. Her father walked up to the Commodore. "Set sail," he told him, "We are going after Turner."
"Turner?"
"Yes, he's been captured by pirates."
"Oh," the Commodore shot a look at Elizabeth.
"Which way?" her father questioned Elizabeth.
"Northeast, I suppose," Elizabeth answered.
"Could we not drop off the prisoner at Port Royal first so that he can be hanged and we can rid ourselves of him?" the Commodore asked, meaning Jack.
Elizabeth took a deep breath. This was going to be the hardest part. "I thought he might come with us."
"Oh?" the Commodore's eyebrows were up to his receding hairline.
"Well yes," she answered, "He's a pirate after all. He has a knack for finding ships. I'm afraid we'll never find it if we rely on my sense of direction."
The Commodore gave a loud sigh. "Very well then," he replied.
***
Nice long chapter, huh? O.k., so I overdid the Commodore's meanness but he's way too nice in the movie. If Elizabeth really doesn't want him and he tries to hang Jack, he's got to be nasty. So that was my version of the Commodore which in my opinion makes a lot more sense.
Anaknusan: Sorry. Most of the time I'm too anxious to read over my story and spell-check doesn't cover things like that.
concrete-angel: No, not hints of hanging. Hints of who's on the boat as you will soon find out in this chapter. Haha. Will has to do something, doesn't he?
Karin: O.k. Jack's in this chapter but not much J/E. Sorry.
Jenni: Muhaha. Will doesn't care about Jack. Well maybe, somewhat.
H2o Girl: So you finally were able to get on again. For the last time, I'M NOT KILLING WILL FOR ANY AMOUNT OF COOKIES! Will's a sweetie (except in this story. Muhaha.)
Cpt-Jack-Sparrow: *Blush* Thanks.
Elizabeth S. Turner- J/E later. Annoying necessary parts of the story now.
emeraldmedallion: Isn't he sweet?
*** Disclaimer: I own nothing. *Grinds teeth and kills people who do own it- except of course the hot actors* Now I own it! (Cheesy smile.) Alright, so I don't.
***
"How can we attract its attention?" Elizabeth asked desperately.
"The rum," Jack said, gruffly.
"Ah yes," Elizabeth grinned, "I'm glad to dispose of it again, maybe this time I can actually get all of it."
"No ya don't," Jack countered, "I found quite a lot among Bootstrap's treasure. Decent man that un was. Wait til I tell Will his father had alcohol buried with 'is treasure."
"You can tell him, but I'm burning it up."
"No yer not," Jack told her, sternly, "I've hidden some of it."
Elizabeth sighed and went to the trap door. She climbed down and retrieved quite a lot of rum. Jack was standing right at the top and helped her up. She lit a fire and started to toss rum in it with occasional explosions. "Here, let me help," Jack offered, taking a bottle from her hand, "This is no job for a lady."
Elizabeth snorted, "I'm the one who came up with this in the first place."
She threw another bottle in and jumped back as the fire roared. Jack looked over her shoulder. "It appears they've seen us," he stated, "They're moving this way."
Elizabeth nodded. "Do we need the rest of these?" she asked.
"Probably not," Jack replied.
They set down the bottles. "Let's just wait on the beach 'til it comes," Jack suggested.
Elizabeth nodded and followed him. Almost to the shoreline she tripped over a rock. Jack caught her with the reflexes of a cat. For a moment she was lost in his eyes again, hopelessly lost. Then Jack righted her again. "Thanks," she muttered, embarrassed for at least the third time.
They sat on the beach for a little while, not talking, simply staring at the sand. After about ten minutes Elizabeth looked up. The ship was much closer and it had the colors of the Royal navy. Elizabeth's stomach jolted. "Jack," she whispered, hardly able to talk in fear.
"What?"
He looked up for the first time and saw the ship. "Damn you, Elizabeth!" he yelled, "This better 'ave not been some bloody trick of yers."
"No, it's not, I swear," Elizabeth stuttered, "I'd never do such a thing."
Jack was pacing back and forth, swearing. "I can't just wait here. It's like waitin' for death itself."
"The trapdoor, Jack," Elizabeth whispered, meekly, "We have to hide with the treasure."
"They'll find us. I'm not goin' to lead 'em to the treasure and be hung. I'd rather be hung straight out."
"So you care more about the stupid gold than your own life?" Elizabeth asked, her voice shaking in rage as well as fear, "Maybe Will was wrong. Maybe you aren't a good man."
"Fer heavens sakes, calm down," Jack told her, "Any good pirate will sacrifice himself fer his treasure."
In any case, it was too late to hide. The ship was anchoring and a ship was being lowered. A few men got in. One of them could be seen clearly by Jack and Elizabeth: the Commodore. Jack began swearing all over again. Elizabeth slowly got up, her heart in her throat. The men stopped the boat and got out. Elizabeth back up against Jack. He made her feel safe, despite the fact that it was he she was worried about. The Commodore walked right up to them. "Elizabeth."
He tipped his hat then he turned to Jack. "Well, well, Captain Jack Sparrow."
He spat the words. Jack's face was set, his jaw clenched. Suddenly his arm slid around Elizabeth's neck in a hard grip and he took out his pistol and placed it against her temple. "I had the pleasure of doin' this once," he told the Commodore, "Now I 'ave the pleasure of doin' it again. Shall I kill her this time?"
His words hit Elizabeth like fire. "Traitor," she whispered, fighting his grip.
He grinned, his normal gold-toothed grin and held her tighter. "It's only a masquerade, love," he whispered.
The Commodore seemed to realize the trick as well. "This worked before, Sparrow only because I was inclined to believe you. This time, you are not so fortunate. If you had wished to kill her, you could have done so on this island alone and no-one would have ever known. Drop your pistol."
He signaled to the men with him and they all held up muskets towards Jack. Slowly he loosened his arm around Elizabeth's neck but didn't drop the pistol. "Drop it!" the Commodore commanded in a harsher voice. Seven fingers tightened on their triggers. Jack dropped his pistol. One of his men came forward and handcuffed Jack's hands together. Elizabeth stood to the side, helpless. "Your father will be very displeased to find the company you were in," Commodore said to Elizabeth, "I will try my best to dissuade him from any..uh. harsh punishment."
He smiled at her. Elizabeth's insides went cold. He was almost worse than Jussic. He had no heart. None at all. She countered his look with one of pure hatred. He ignored it. "Get him in the boat, we're rowing back to the ship," the Commodore commanded his men.
Several of them approached Jack. Jack offered them a smile. They pushed him hard into the boat in reply. "Don't treat him like that!" Elizabeth cried out, before she could stop herself.
"Elizabeth, this man is a criminal. He has broken the law many times and hurt many innocent people. He deserves everything he gets."
Elizabeth bit her lip. Jack wasn't looking at her. He was staring out at the water, probably contemplating escape. Slowly Elizabeth sat down in the boat beside the Commodore. He seemed determined to make her feel worse. "You've worried your father half to death running off like that. We thought you might be in the company of this bastard."
He kicked Jack. Jack didn't so much as flinch. "We weren't sure if you had gone on your own or been forced. Your father was going to enlist the help of your fiancé but he was gone too so I got the job. You don't happen to know the whereabouts of your Will Turner, do you?"
He spat out the words as if they were almost as disgusting as Jack. Elizabeth knew that the Commodore was hoping she would say Will was dead in which case she was almost certainly have to marry him. She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of knowing that Will was most likely in mortal danger. "I'm not sure exactly where he is now," she lied, "He didn't come with me. He left to visit his sister who he had not heard from in years. He is well and living."
The Commodore sensed her unease but chose to ignore it. "How unfortunate for him to be gone when you most needed him," he began lazily, "Pity. It's almost enough for one to question his responsibility."
"I didn't need him then," Elizabeth broke out, "I chose to go with Jack myself. He didn't make me."
He had trapped her into saying that. She shouldn't of, even though it would have been worse for Jack. Not that much, though. He was going to be hung all the same. It was much more trouble for her to admit leaving at her own free will. The Commodore had suddenly gone grim. He leaned close to her and gripped her face in his hand, much too tightly for comfort. "I suggest you don't say that to your father or anyone else for that matter," he whispered, "You are not to speak that. Understand?"
Elizabeth was frightened by this but nodded. The Commodore let go of her. In a few minutes they reached the Dauntless. Jack was pushed up first, very roughly. The other men went up next followed by the Commodore who was helping a reluctant Elizabeth up. Once aboard, the Commodore nodded to his men. "Bring him," he motioned to Jack, "Below deck and lock him up."
The men nodded and grabbed Jack by the arms. He caught Elizabeth's eye. His eyes were not filled with fear, but bravery. The sign of a pirate. "It disgusting," Elizabeth thought, "That they hang a man who's truly free. A pirate can do whatever he wishes and for this he is hanged."
For a moment they just looked at each other and the men pulled Jack away. Elizabeth fought the urge to run after him and free him knowing it would only get her into greater trouble and him too. The door to the Captain's cabin flew open and the governor of Port Royal stepped on to the deck. "Elizabeth!" he cried.
"Hello Father," Elizabeth said, coldly.
"But where is Will?" Governor Swann asked, looking around.
"He's not with me," Elizabeth declared.
"Oh," the governor wilted slightly. He had become rather fond of Will, "We were hoping he was with you."
"Father?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes?"
"May I talk to you for a moment?" she eyed the Commodore, "Alone?"
"Of course," the governor nodded, "Commodore, would you excuse us a moment?"
Commodore Norrington ground his teeth. Elizabeth was getting away with talking to her father first. This was not going as planned. Once the door of the cabin closed, Elizabeth turned to her father. "Father, there's something horrible I must tell you."
Her father raised his eyebrows. "Will has been captured by pirates."
"Sparrow?" her father started.
"Jack..uh..Sparrow has been captured by the Commodore. He is innocent."
"Except for being a pirate, Elizabeth," her father interrupted, "The Commodore is bound to the law."
Elizabeth said nothing. She had heard this many times before. "So if it had nothing to do with Sparrow, who is he held by?"
"Barbossa's crew with a new Captain: Jussic."
"Ah, yes I've heard of him. The new real threat to the Caribbean."
"Please?" Elizabeth started, lifting her eyes, she was beginning to form a plan, the only chance to free Jack, "Please, please can we go after the Shadow. I shall bear the pain for the rest of my life if I do not try to free Will."
She failed to mention Jack's crew, knowing that might cause trouble. "Of course, my dear girl," he father laid a hand on her shoulder, "I'm quite found of the Turner boy myself. I would feel quite guilty if I didn't send some help."
"Thank you father," Elizabeth smiled.
"You are very much welcomed. Is that all now?"
"Yes."
"Alright. Let us go find a cabin for you and some new clothes. You can hardly walk around looking like a man."
Elizabeth sighed and followed her father back out into the deck. Her father walked up to the Commodore. "Set sail," he told him, "We are going after Turner."
"Turner?"
"Yes, he's been captured by pirates."
"Oh," the Commodore shot a look at Elizabeth.
"Which way?" her father questioned Elizabeth.
"Northeast, I suppose," Elizabeth answered.
"Could we not drop off the prisoner at Port Royal first so that he can be hanged and we can rid ourselves of him?" the Commodore asked, meaning Jack.
Elizabeth took a deep breath. This was going to be the hardest part. "I thought he might come with us."
"Oh?" the Commodore's eyebrows were up to his receding hairline.
"Well yes," she answered, "He's a pirate after all. He has a knack for finding ships. I'm afraid we'll never find it if we rely on my sense of direction."
The Commodore gave a loud sigh. "Very well then," he replied.
***
Nice long chapter, huh? O.k., so I overdid the Commodore's meanness but he's way too nice in the movie. If Elizabeth really doesn't want him and he tries to hang Jack, he's got to be nasty. So that was my version of the Commodore which in my opinion makes a lot more sense.