On Sparrow Wings
Chapter 4: A Promise Kept
Disclaimer: So, I've been thinking, would anything like a piece of fan art count as owning something of PotC? Cuz if it does then I got more than I thought! I luv it! Oh, don't get me wrong lawyers; I don't own anything like the production studio, or the actual PotC story… No way… I just LOVE the movie to pieces and write about it, so no claims here, just enjoyment. Yep.
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"The Royal Navy? What!?" Maris was utterly bewildered. "What is going on?"
"Get out of the way, woman. This is all yer fault." Hans shoved past her. His insult rang in her ears. She frowned and ran towards old Winger.
"Can you tell me what's happening?" she asked. He just glared at her and hobbled off to help Hairy with one of the cannons. She frowned. Determined to find out, she stuck her head out over the railing in an attempt to see the Royal Navy ship. And sure enough, there it was, guns ready to fire on them. Maris's jaw dropped. Leaning back onboard, she hurried over to Ivan, asking what she could do to help. He shrugged her off, so she went down the line, soon pleading with people to let her help. No one wanted her bad luck. Finally, Timmory took her arm and escorted her downstairs.
"Ye stay here, out of the way. We don't need ye up there, messing things up," he growled. He roughly shoved her onto Jack's bed and closed and locked the door. She sprang up and pounded on the door.
"Bloody pirates!" she screamed. "What's wrong with you!? Let me out! I can fight! Arrgh!!! You're out of your minds! Every one of you!" She kicked the door and slumped onto the bed, fighting back sobs of anger.
~~~
Jack's eyes narrowed when he saw Timmory pull Maris below. He shrugged and turned to shout at someone. There was nothing he could do now; the Royal Navy ship was drawing near.
"You, Edwash! Help Chrispy load that cannon!" He turned toward the main mast. "Hans, Ivan! Tighten the main sail! We need total control!"
Langford's voice came from the wheel. "Jack! Be ready to fire 'fore the Navy scum can get us! As soon as they're even!"
"Yessir!" He headed for the cannon lines shouting for them to be ready. The Navy ship was drawing up. "Ready, men? Hold! Hold!" The ships were even. "Fire! Blast 'em with all we've got!"
The cannons roared to life, blowing holes in enemy ship's sides, a few blasting the deck. The navy shot back, slower than the pirates but just as fierce. Men fell on both sides.
"None of that! Up, men! Up!" Jack ran shouting up and down the line. The call to board came from the Navy ship. "Stand firm!" he hollered, drawing his cutlass. "They will rue the day they messed with Jack Sparrow."
Ropes sailed over the side and Navy sailors soon followed. Crashing on board, the Navy men were met with brandished swords and blazing pistols. The pirates were not about to be taken prisoner. Jack plunged into the battle with a grin. He knew these men; he knew that no matter what, the Royal Navy would not win this fight. He heard a shout of pain. Carefully glancing around, he spotted Chrispy being backed into a corner, clutching a wound in his arm. Hitting his opponent over the head with the hilt of his cutlass, he moved to Chrispy's aid. While extremely educated, Chrispy was not the most skilled with a sword. In fact, he wasn't very good in a fight at all. Jack shook his head and plunged in. Poor bugger, the Navy man had no idea what he'd gotten himself into. Jack teased the man unmercifully. He couldn't have ever finished his training. Maris, who wasn't even in the Navy, fought better. Thinking of Maris, Jack frowned. He pulled his favorite move and tossed a dirty rag in the man's face. Scrabbling at it, the man was totally unprepared for the blow to his unmentionables. Falling to his knees in pain, Jack popped him one at the base of his skull, rendering the man unconscious. He turned to Chrispy.
"Go get Maris. She can help." Chrispy nodded and made to stand up. "Wait. "Jack grabbed his arm and pulled him back down. "After that, take a few men and get on the other ship. I want it gone, with no means of returning. Got it?" Again Chrispy nodded. He stood and dashed off, dodging the battles all around. Jack watched him until his attention was captured by a Navy sailor spoiling for a fight. Jack obliged.
Chrispy made it below and headed for Jack's cabin. He could hear occasional angry shouts emanating from it. He reached for the lock and turned it in the midst of an insult. It clicked and instantly noise ceased inside. He opened the door and jumped aside as a shoe can flying through the air, aimed straight for his head. Maris froze at the sight of him, arm poised to lob another shoe.
"What do you want? Why are you here?" she growled.
"Mr. Sparrow sent me. I believe he feels that you should be allowed to partake in the first true battle during your stay aboard this ship. He told to me retrieve you. Are you prepared?" he responded politely.
Maris blinked. "Uh…" Shouts could be heard above and a loud thump sounded directly on top of the cabin. She glanced up, reached for her belt with her sword, and strapped it on. "Yes. I'm ready."
"If you'll follow me." He bowed and led her from the cabin. Upon reaching the deck, Chrispy motioned her forward and said, "The battle is yours, miss."
"Thank you, Chrispy." She strode forward and drew her sword. She was angry. Angry at her parents for trying to arrange her life, angry at Langford for making her feel dirty, angry at herself for taking it personal, and really close to being angry at the Royal Navy for interrupting her last sea voyage. Someone was gonna get it because she was about to lose her temper. She stalked along the deck, looking for someone unoccupied enough to loose her rage on. One such person stumbled into her, have just been shoved away by Hairy. He turned to deal with someone else and Maris attacked the man in front of her, letting her fury pound him with each blow. She struck and he blocked. She struck again and his block wavered. Again she struck and this time broke through his defense. Having been trained by the Navy, she knew the moves he would try to use and kept ahead, catching him off guard and wearing him down. She locked their hilts together and pulled him close.
"You picked the wrong ship to mess with." She twisted his sword from his hand and clobbered him with her hilt. He fell to the deck. She turned, now with two swords, looking for her next victim. She caught some movement out of the corner of her eye. A Navy sailor was attempting to sneak up on her. She turned to meet him and startled him. He was game though and quickly recovered. Attacking first, Maris was forced to take up the defense. She continued blocking as the man forced her to move around the deck. She took the initiative and, letting him move her, she guided him to a place to her advantage. She pretended to weak and the man drew back his arm kill. She slipped under his guard and attack before he could protect himself. Unfortunately his blade collided with hers and knocked both away from their mark. She barely grazed his arm and, twisting, she managed to avoid a possibly fatal thrust into her side. Completing her circle she brought one blade up and locked it with his. She then brought up her other sword and lay the flat of the blade across his cheek. She smiled wickedly at him and the fear in his eyes grew tenfold. Laughing she clubbed him with her hilt and watched him drop to the ground. Turning to find another partner, she saw Chrispy, Benjie, Hairy, and a slimy looking pirate called Edwash. They were stealthily trying to board the other ship. Someone was sneaking up on them. She strode over and tapped the man on the shoulder. He turned towards her swinging his sword. She blocked the blow and he looked at her. She cocked her head and said, "Hello." He backed up a step and attacked. She blocked that and returned the favor, giving him almost no time to think with the quick use of both her swords. He soon realized his mistake as she drove him toward the edge of the ship, a fierce gleam in her eyes.
"You're going down," she whispered. Lunging forward, she shoved him in the chest and he flipped over the railing, down into the sea.
Jack had watched her take out her first victim and was slightly unnerved by the anger behind her blows. He had run up to help Langford defend the wheel and missed her second fight, but watched as she beat down the next man with the quickness of her two swords. He grinned as she shoved him overboard and was almost taken by surprise as the lieutenant of the Navy ship charged at him. Sidestepping quickly, he pulled the man past, straight into a railing post. Letting the unconscious man go, he leapt down to join the main fray, letting Langford keep things under control at the wheel. He could see his fellow crew members over on the Navy ship, slinking over to the hold entrance. He turned away and, yelling, started swinging at the nearest Navy sailor.
Slipping below, Chrispy and Benjie grabbed two powder kegs while Hairy and Edwash arranged the remaining explosives in a thick line of total destruction down the center of the ship. Catching up to Chrispy and Benjie, they grabbed one of the powder kegs and set of for the deck. Starting there they poured a trail of the powder down below, meeting up with their shipmates. Tossing the partially empty kegs down the closest flight of stairs, the four head up top. Benjie, Hairy, and Edwash prompted all remaining crew onto the pirate vessel or overboard before heading back. The last one across, Edwash gave Chrispy the all clear. Chrispy bent down and touched of the powder. He dashed back to the Wind Rider and nodded to Jack as he ran past. Jack nodded back and abandoned his fighting partner. Striding along the railing, he quickly cut the ropes holding the two ships together. The Pirate vessel began to pull away. Then, knowing what was coming, Jack gave the whistle and much to the confusion of the Royal Navy men, the entire crew of the vessel moved to the port side. Soon they started to follow, intent on cornering the beastly pirates, but before they could move more than eight paces a violent eruption rocked the ship, sending many men off their feet. The pirates quickly surrounded the Navy men. Already counting heavy losses, the knew there was no hope with out a ship to return to they wisely surrendered.
"Take these men and lock 'em in the brig!" Jack said, taking immediate control. "Ivan, take count of the dead and wounded on both side and fetch Capt'n Langford." Hans headed off, first for Langford.
Maris, helping move the prisoners to the brig was now emotionally spent and felt distant from the others. She shuffled along, ignored by her shipmates, punching the occasional Navy man who was brave enough to taunt her. But none of it was connected. It was like looking at pictures in a book, but they were moving. She was feeling light headed and was having trouble breathing. Shoving the last man in the cell, Maris turned to stagger back on deck. Her side ached and she couldn't wait to get to bed. Reaching the deck she went to lean on the railing to wait for Ivan to return with the captain and hear the report of the battle. Eventually Ivan returned but he was alone and he looked grim. Maris frowned. That wasn't right.
"Well, Ivan, where's the captain?" Jack frowned at him.
"Well, Jack ye see… tha's where things ain't so good…" Ivan started to reply.
It was getting dark. Maris squinted up at the sky. There was no storm rolling in. There wasn't even a cloud in the sky. She was getting confused. She pulled herself back to Jack and Ivan's conversation.
"What do ye mean 'Tha's where things ain't so good?' We won this fight and sure, there will be losses, but nothing that would delay Capt'n Langford." Jack frowned again.
"Well…" Ivan started.
Maris stared, lost. She could see Ivan's mouth moving, it looked like he was saying something along the lines of "The capt'n… the capt'n…" but Maris couldn't hear him any more. Then the world went from dark to black and she pitched over in a dead faint.
Hearing a crash, Jack's head jerked over, looking for the source. Ivan fell silent, apparently glad to have a reason to quit talking. Maris was lying on the deck. Blood was blossoming out around her in a scarlet rush. Jack ran over and knelt down beside her. Looking up, he ordered, "We need to get her below and the bleeding staunched."
"What if we don't want to? We were just going to get rid of her anyway. We should just chuck 'er overboard and let Davy Jones deal with 'er." Timmory growled.
"Yeah, what authority have you got to order us to save her? She's only bad luck and you're not the captain."
Ivan suddenly piped up. "Yes he is."
Everyone turned to look at him.
"What?" Jack looked up. "What did ye say??"
"You are the captain. There's been a field promotion. Captain Langford has been killed in action and First Mate Jack Sparrow has become Captain Jack Sparrow."
Jack's mouth fell open. Captain… Captain Jack Sparrow… It had a nice ring to it. Pulling himself together he assumed control. "Right then. Gather all wounded and take them below. Treat them completely. I want no more deaths on this ship. The battle is over and I want lives saved, not taken away. Get to work!" He picked up Maris and took her below placing her on a bed close to Benjie, who only had a few minor cuts.
"Watch her and make sure she's treated well or there'll be another fight on this ship. Got that?"
Benjie nodded.
~~~
Jack sat in his new captain's quarters with his head in his hands. Clean up had been a nightmare. There had been twelve members of the Royal Navy crew, three of his own, and Captain Langford sent down to Davy Jones's locker. Out of the Royal Navy survivors, over half were injured and needed care, along with his own seven injured men... and Maris. That was the biggest problem. None of the uninjured men would help her. Chrispy had taken charge of her, but with his bad arm, it was almost too hard for him. The cut he had taken had gone deep, into his muscle, but he refused to do nothing and he didn't complain, so Jack let him have his way. Three days later and they were still scrubbing blood off the deck, fixing cut lines and putting everything back where it belonged. Being a captain with naught but cleaning to do was tedious work. Pounding on his door brought him out of his thoughts.
"Come in," he sighed.
"Jack- I mean Captain Sparrow, we've arrived at Port Royal." Timmory said opening the door and standing just inside.
"Fine. Take the prisoners onto the dock, tie them together and lets leave."
"Yes sir, but…" he hesitated.
"But what, Timmory?" Jack growled through his hands.
"What- what of the girl?" he said, suddenly squinting as if to see Jack's face buried behind his hands.
He looked up wearily, knowing this was not what Timmory or much more of the crew wanted to hear. "She stays."
"Yes sir." Timmory walked out of the cabin and slammed the door. Muffled shouts carried through the door but Jack ignored them. He didn't really care how fast the crew accomplished their job, all he wanted was to be rid of the Navy men on his ship so things could be normal. He sighed and walked out onto the deck. Squinting against the sun, he looked for Benjie. Not seeing him, he exerted a bit of captain command.
"BENJIE! On deck! Now!" he hollered. A whump followed this exclamation and soon Benjie was standing in front of Jack. He smiled, liking the prompt reaction being captain caused. He could definitely get used to this. "As soon as we're finished he, make for Tortuga. We deserve a break. If you or anyone needs me… too bad. I'll be in my cabin and I don't want to be disturbed." Benjie nodded an strode off for the wheel. Jack wandered below to visit his crew that did not yet have the liberty of walking around up top and told them they were heading for Tortuga. A great rousing cheer followed this announcement. Jack was smiling when he headed over to Maris's bed, which had, for the comfort of the crew, been moved as far away from them as possible.
"How's everythin' going, Chrispy?"
"The patient is quite coherent, Captain. She feels quite frustrated with herself about the injury," he replied.
"Well, it's not-"
"Will you two stop talking about me as if I wasn't here?" Maris interrupted Jack. "Where are we?"
"We in Port Royal." He frowned as the color drained from Maris's face.
"Are you going to make me leave?" she asked, breathlessly. "Please let me stay."
Jack frowned at her. "Why do ye think I came down here?" She started to mouth wordlessly. He chuckled.
"Why are you laughing?" she demanded, her temper flaring. "You're going to ruin my life by dumping me here! There's nothing here for me. You can't leave me here. You- you said you wouldn't let Langford do it. Why are you? I hate you, Jack Sparrow! I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!" She was struggling to get up now, eyes blazing. Jack was laughing out right now. "What is so hilarious!?"
"Ye are! I'm not going to make ye leave. Stop jumping to conclusions." He softly pushed her back down on her bed.
"But- but you said…" she trailed of looking up at his smiling face.
"Ye never let me finish. I was saying, why else would I come down here? To tell ye I'm not throwing ye of my ship."
"Oh. Okay. Thanks."
Chrispy leaned over and said, "I think you should leave now, Captain. She appears to be in shock from your decision."
"Alright, Chrispy." He leaned down so his mouth was next to Maris's ear. "I always keep my promises, Maris." He stood up, slapped Chrispy on the back and left.
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A/N: So… Here's the latest chapter… I'm in a really typee mood so I think I'll start the next chapter. Hey, I've got a question for all of you who care to answer. Who is you favorite character? In the next chapter there lots of upheaval and it would help to know ahead of time how readers might respond, so if you could just let me know it'd help a lot. Thanks!