Rhiannah carefully made her way up the narrow, wooden stairs of the ship in preparation to find the man who had so rudely violated her early on.
Her false bravery faltered significantly as she met the rough crew's glances, but she continued forward as if she was unaffected. The morning sunlight's gleam caught off her golden brown locks and emerald dress, causing the men's eyes to trail her path of undeniable beauty to the deck.
Jack Sparrow sensed the picturesque scene occurring behind him and casually turned to face her, leaving one arm to casually direct the ship's path. "Excellent choice." He wiggled his eyebrows slightly and stepped away from the wheel, pointing at it and addressing another man to take temporary charge. "Turner, if you will."
Sparrow swooped up to Rhiannah in long, lofty strides and took her hand again. "I don't suppose you wonder where you are," he grinned lightly, taking amusement in drawing out her concerns as long as possible.
Rhiannah removed her hand from his grasp, clutching it lightly at her side. "I'm not a complete fool, you know, I can put two and two together" she began, but paused momentarily to think of what she was debating.
"That's what I thought, you're just all fight, are you not, lass?" He winked and glanced behind him. "You must got a mighty fine bump on that head of yours, m'dear," he said, placing his hand gently behind her head and fingering her curls. "You should thank me for taking you aboard this ship here," he instigated, slowly moving his hand down her locks and to the small of her back, sharply drawing her closer to whisper into her ear, "'n for saving you, and all…"
She pushed her hand against his chest firmly to break the close contact and narrowed her eyes. "I don't know what you're speaking of," she stated sharply, avoiding eye contact and gazing around the ship instead.
"Nonsense," he murmured, cupping the sides of her face and advancing slowly. Rhiannah felt herself temporarily fixated into his gaze before turning her chin sharply, breaking his grasp as another voice cut through the tension.
"Jack, that will be just about enough from you now," a woman's sharp voice sliced through the air behind him and he flinched slightly in response. Rhiannah felt a wave of relief wash over her.
"Ahh, Elizabeth, dear…your presence is always so evident," he said, cocking his head slightly and turning around.
Elizabeth tipped her chin up and looked at him in a mocking sense of superiority. "That will do now, Jack," she smiled walking past him and taking the arm of the other woman. "Now Rhiannah, darling…let's catch up again, perhaps in the cabin."
------------
Flashback:
A gallant young man stood next to Rhiannah's side, proudly taking her hand in front of the small gathering of people surrounding them, ready to depart. "I shall return this eve, m'dear…you will surely await?" he prompted, casting a devoted smile upon his face for the gushing crowd. Rhiannah shifted her weight slightly, feeling a little flustered.
"Of course, love," she nearly whispered, avoiding the glances of admiration from her fellow ladies.
"Aye, Commodore Norrington, a splendid woman you have indeed…now let us continue," another officer interrupted, ushering the man off with the rest.
Rhiannah stood in silence, her giggling friends surrounding her as the men departed.
--
Rhiannah nervously drummed her fingers upon a rickety wooden table in the cabin, subconsciously scanning the room's décor. The room held an array of both valuable and worthless objects, all sharing a particularly gleaming property about them. Elizabeth broke her trancelike state, clumsily swinging the door open while balancing a tray of tea in one hand.
"Sorry dear, still haven't grown accustomed to serving others in motion," she noted slyly, grabbing the banister to regain balance as the ship swayed slightly in the waves.
Rhiannah politely smiled, helping herself to a cup of tea before folding her hands over her lap nervously. "Elizabeth—", she began.
Elizabeth interrupted her. "I know this is not all what you expected, in truth, it's not what I expected…but I suppose the damage has been done now."
"The damage? I think that would be an understatement, Elizabeth," Rhiannah spoke quietly, but coldly. "I simply requested a route out of this marital disaster, if I had known it involved the demolishment of an entire settlement I would never have considered it! I never wanted this! I never wanted that at all…" she trailed off, voice wavering.
Elizabeth looked at her, slightly startled. "Anything involving this piracy is more than simply a route, Rhiannah…you know as well as I that you did it for your own good, and I cannot allow you to place a weight over my chest over your desires," she stated, her voice rising. "You surely realize this is going to come back to me eventually, because of my past relationship with Norrington-"
"I know that, Elizabeth—"
"…and your disappearance, either way, would not have gone unnoticed…being kidnapped by pirates, people surely recognize the relationship, Rhiannah!"
"Elizabeth, are you attempting to defend this wild ransack of South Bay? I was perfectly aware people would associate my disappearance with you, but I had not considered it a problem. Why, tell me...if this was such a conflict, why you did not refuse my request?"
Elizabeth relaxed her clenched fists, slumping back in her chair. "I could not leave you, Rhiannah, to marry the fool…as much as I despise Jack's raiding tendencies, it was the only negotiable way I could come to land safely and find you," she paused, rubbing her forehead and smoothing her hair. "Believe me dear, if I had known it involved the height of disaster it did, I would have second guessed it myself…but even then…I just do not know how I could have left you there…you understand me, aye?"
Rhiannah quietly pushed her chair away from the table and stood up. "Thank you," she spoke quietly, moving toward the door.