A/N: Sorry for the delay! But we (my co-author and me) are both German and it alway takes us years to translate it. So please be patient. We will be dating up, but there can be...uhm...large gaps in between.
Mac: Yes, I mean Elizabeth DIDN'T marry Will, because it's a Will/OC. Sorry, I might have warned you. Hope, you enjoy it anyway.
Oh! And even if it sometimes seems to be: It's no slash. (There are much more talented slash-writers than me.)
Chapter 3
"Gillette, come along!" James ordered, walking quickly down the stairs. He breezed by the startled Captain, not even pausing as he picked up his hat from the hat stand. Gillette hastily followed his commander, knowing better than to say anything other than: "Yes, Sir!"
James headed for the dungeons, an extremely puzzled Gillette in his wake.
"Open the cell, Gillette! Clap him in irons!" James said brusquely. Gillette obeyed, catching on to the Commodore's plan.
"Just one moment!" Finch protested, clattering down the stairs. Two red rage spots rode high on his cheeks.
James turned to Finch, regarding him coolly. "What is it?"
"What are your intentions toward Sparrow?" Finch demanded, coming to a halt before the Commodore. He was obviously trying to look intimidating, but his gasps for breath undermined the image.
"Governor Winter wants to see him hung. Instantly."
"The galllows is not yet half - finished."
James smiled superiorly, a mocking undertone to his voice. "Why a gallows? A rope and a beam will do. Get him out, Gillette!"
"May I perhaps remark something in addition to that?" Jack interrupted with a gentle, ingratiating voice. "It may be better to hang me completely with a complete gallows, than only half with a half – finished one. In the meantime, you could sit by me side for a little ... small talk. We can talk about the good ol' times – lost battles..."
"I did not lose," James said calmly. "Gillette, let's go!"
"Onward, Sparrow!" Gillette ordered.
The Commodore and Captains walked by Finch, who sputtered uselessly. He couldn't contradict Winter's orders and stop the hanging, nor could he protest that Norrington was being too efficient in his duties. Finch knew Norrington was up to something, but the Lieutenant could see no way to stop it.
"Captain Sparrow!" Jack protested. "Why can't you Navy types ever remember?"
"If you don't believe me, feel free to contact Govenor Winter for further inquiry." With that, James followed Jack and Gillette.
When they stepped out of dungeon, fresh air touching their skin, they crossed a large square and began walking to Will Turner's forge.
"I count many beams around here, Commodore," said Jack. "Looking for one particular, beautiful enough for me?"
"Silence, pirate!"
"Well, it's the least you can do for me, isn't it? After all I've done for you, ... all the help I've given you..." Jack said.
"Actually, there's no reason why we wouldn't be allowed to shoot him right here and now, or is there, Sir?" Gillette inquired.
James stifled a smile.
"No, actually not, Captain."
They stopped in a unfrequented side lane.
"Ah...just a moment....." Jack said, becoming somewhat uneasy. He had always been quite able to appraise the Commodore, but now... "You don't really want to....."
James drew his pistol and directed it towards the more than astonished Gillette.
"Leave, Robert," Norrington said softly.
"Sir, what....?" Gillette began to ask, then trailed off, confused.
"Gillette, you are a capable Captain and a good friend. I am about to commit an act of piracy, but there is no reason to drag you into it. You are in a position to have a very successful career. So leave and say I compelled you with force of arms to help a criminal to escape. No one will ever accuse you."
The Captain reflected upon that for less than a moment.
"No, Sir."
"Gillette..."
"Your words attribute to me an honor I'm not certain is justified," Gillette said slowly, carefully choosing his words. "But we've served together for many years, and not once have you led me astray. I may not have understood your motives or logic, but every action made sense in the end. Where you lead, I will follow."
"Gillette, think about what you're saying! In the eyes of the Crown, we're committing high treason."
"So be it."
James looked at him for a long time, then he put the pistol away.
"Go and inform as many of our people as you can find, Gillette. Make them realize what we're about to do. I won't condemn anybody if he'd rather remain here. We meet at Will Turner's."
"Aye, Sir." Gillette left.
"Flobert, you are the oddest pirate, I've ever seen," Jack uttered with a broad grin and eyed James from head to toe. "And I always thought you'd be serving the British Crown until you're small and wrinkled and these atrocious wigs were finally out of fashion. Instead you're offering me to serve on my ship. I'm touched." The pirate wiped non-existent tears from the corners of his eyes.
James looked at him coolly.
"Who had mentioned your ship, pirate? I don't offer anything to you. I'll take you back to the Black Pearl and then I'll pray to God that I will never see you again for the rest of my life."
" And what will happen to Port Royal? To Govenor Winter?"
"That is none of your business. Winter is my problem and mine alone. Keep out of it! I may not be an officer of the Crown anymore, but I am not like you."
Jack leaned toward James, so close their noses were almost touching.
"Just admit it! Somewhere on the bottom of your heart, you're loving me. And you chased pirates so doggedly only because deep down inside your heart there lives also a small, wig-wearing pirate."
With each word he tapped his slender forefinger against the Commodore's chest. Then he turned on his heel with a soft swinging movement and glanced back at James over his shoulder.
"Are we going?" he asked.
For one second James considered just shooting him.
"Halt!" The words were not particularly loud, but there was such an elementary anger vibrating in them that Jack decided to obey... this time.
James took a deep breath. He leaned forward and peered carefully past Jack into the street out of the alleyway they hid in. No soldiers in sight.
"Now, we are going. Forward!"
"Well, it would never occur to me to go backward."
James glared at the pirate, but Jack only shrugged. "Really..."
The two headed down the deserted lane. The approaching dawn afforded little cover to the men, but it was enough to see them safely to Willaim Turner's door. Norrington reached out a hand to open the door, but he found only empty air. Will had opened the door, and the blacksmith stood gaping at what he saw.
"You!" he exclaimed.
"Hello, mate!" Jack beamed. "They want to hang me here and now. May we come in?" Not waiting for an answer, James pushed Jack forward into the hot and dark forge. He shoved a bit too hard, sending the pirate colliding into Will. Their noses bumped in the impact.
"There'll be kisses later," Jack murmured and slipped past Will, while James locked the door behind them.
"I... I was just about to rush to your rescue," Will managed to say, still utterly confused. "What happened?"
"The noble Flobert of the Vegetable Market beat you to it."
"If so, it would be Commodore Flobert of the Vegetable Market," James said dryly.
For a moment Jack wasn't able to do anything but staring at him, completely aghast. Will, using the favour of the instant, asked: "Ah... what?"
Jack regained composure. "What I meant to say was..."
He walked over to the anvil and kneeled down in front of it, bending his manacles over it. He nodded at Will expectantly. Understanding, the young blacksmith seized his hammer and chisel.
"... and?" Will asked before he set to work.
"... that you invited not less than two Pirates into your house, of your free will."
Jack nodded expectantly at him again, but Will looked surprised at the Commodore.
"You mutinied?"
"You only can mutiny aboard a ship, Mr. Turner," Norrington said in his usual clipped tones. "But one could say, I... deserted. Furthermore, I helped a criminal to escape and instigated my men to a kind of... silent revolution. In other words, Sparrow is quite right. I am more or less a pirate."
"And what do you intend to do now?"
"At first, I'll leave Port Royal with all of my men who want to accompany me."
"And then?"
"And then I'll consider the best way to send Govenor Winter packing."
"Er, Will...," Jack interrupted impatiently, "... would you perhaps......?" He pointed with the chin to the chain of his irons. Will applied the chisel and raised the hand with the hammer, but let it sink again thoughtfully.
"So you want to leave Port Royal. Are you saying, you also want to commandeer ship?" he asked James, slightly grinning.
"No," James retorted with a thin smile."I'll leave that to you."
"To me?" Will regarded him innocently. "What makes you think I would accompany you?"
James put his hands behind his back and turned away. "Well, of course you can remain in Port Royal and negotiate your arms supplies with Governor Winter."
"Will!" Jack shouted. "Get me out of these chains or I swear, I'll strangle you with'em!"
Will raised the hammer again, but yet again stopped in the motion.
"Well, if I do that, then I'll have to come along with you. Because then I also helped a pirate to escape."
"And, of course, you can't agree upon that with your conscience, blah, blah," muttered Jack. "Could you please ruin your life like you already did before?"
Will grinned broadly and sparks flew, then the chain was split.
"Welcome back in the world of pirates!" Jack shouted merrily and patted Will on the shoulder. "I was almost missing you."
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A/N: So...uhm...For we don't have even begun to translate chapter 4,...Well, like I said somewhere above, it takes time. A lot of it. But we're working on it, I promise. I.