Things Fall Apart
05 they may take away our lives
Disclaimer: PotC isn't mine. Oh, wait, yes it is! Weeeeeee! ... Okay.
Author's Note: I've come to the conclusion that its harder to get reviews or new readers on a sequel, that on the original. But, that's alright cos I'm havin' fun writing this, and I 3 my loyal reviewers! ;] In other news – did you guys see the deleted scenes on the DVD!? IT WAS SO MUCH JACK AND LIZZY! Why did they delete them!? The island scene was longer .. Jack was SERIOUS for a second .. not to mention vulnerable ( poor scarred Jack, ) and then when he said he and Elizabeth were `peas in a pod` .. I think I nearly fell off my bed. Why did they delete that!? I've also been listening to the Braveheart Freedom Theme over and over again, and while it should remind me of that movie, I keep seeing pirate-y things in my head through it. I've been reading an awesome book called "Raiders & Rebels" and it gave me the inspiration for this fic – all the things they relay that happened to real pirates are terrible, so much so that the thought of it happening to Jack is completely unbearable. Anyway, here's my update.
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A closed fist connected with the wooden surface of the desk, the noise of impact was followed by an awkward silence, during which Jack regained some of his composure. Vane had jumped at the sudden outburst, but quickly went back to nursing his rum, loathing himself for being the bringer of bad news.
"You have to be wrong." Jack spoke very clearly and slowly, placing emphasis on every syllable.
"Wish I was, mate." Charles replied, and he meant it. More than anything, he meant it.
The message that Vane had brought when he boarded the Black Pearl was not at all good. It wasn't that the Governor of the Bahamas had set up his mansion in New Providence, it wasn't that he came offering amnesty, it wasn't even that some pirates had accepted – all of this was common. No, the driving force behind the fist to desk moment, was that the outlaws of Nassau had welcomed the man with open arms. They hadn't accepted the pardons Rogers offered, for their own benefit, and promptly run him out of town – as was the custom of those days.
As was previously stated, pirates only accepted pardons so they could trade their plunder for profit, none of them actually ever considered going legit. And, they certainly didn't consider hunting their brother pirates to gain favor with the society they were supposed to be loathing.
But, all of those matters were of the passionate idealistic variety. What the most obvious problem should have been, was what Jack said next.
"An` are all of them to drunk to realize that if pirates loose their strongholds there'll be no place left to go?"
It was true. If pirate ports were lost, if they turned into law abiding settlements, with anti-pirate activity, then the brigands would have no where to restock, make berth, or sell goods. They'd have nowhere left to hide when they were on the run, and they'd not be safe roaming the streets freely. If they didn't have a place to call home, the sweet trade would die.
And what was the point in doing anything if one wasn't doing it freely?
"Yes, Jack, but what do you expect `em to do? Fight?"
That question was followed by laughter, which Jack returned, but it was clear by his expression he didn't find it funny.
Pirates didn't make it a habit of uniting and fighting for causes, even if the cause was their way of life. Each man did what was right for himself, and did so in the quickest and easiest way possible. In this case, accepting a pardon, and not risking life and limb to be rid of what most considered to be no more than an annoyance, was the quickest and easiest way out. Fighting for ideals and dreams, even though they all silently held them, was unheard of.
They weren't very good at seeing the big picture.
But, Jack did see the big picture. He always saw the big picture, it was actually for that very reason that he was so good at planning and plotting – he always thought two steps ahead. Part of him hated the inhabitants of New Providence for not defending their town, but he knew how the pirate mind worked, he knew he couldn't expect miracles. He also knew better than to make it known that he believed anything was worth fighting for: besides alcohol and wealth, of course. But, donning a kilt and war paint while making inspirational speeches about freedom? What would the other pirates think?
So he kept his silence.
Eyes darting around the room, searching for a means of an escape, Vane was beginning to be uncomfortable – reason being, there was more. Possibly even worse news than the first message he'd delivered.
"Ah –" He began, "—that's not all, mate."
Jack stared at him for a moment, as if trying to decide if he wanted to know more. The option of saying that he didn't care, and sending his guest away, seemed like a good one. But the glutton for punishment that dwells within all of us urged him to listen. He waved a hand, signaling that Charles should continue, and inwardly braced himself.
Deciding that there was no easy way to say what had to be said, the other man simply blurted it out.
"Teach is dead."
If he had of been drinking at that point Jack would have choked.
"Blackbeard?" He knew the answer, but it was worth repeating such a name.
Vane nodded.
"Bastards." Jack said, unable to think of a more suitable way to describe the pirate hunters responsible.
And he knew pirate hunters were responsible. A man like Edward Teach didn't die by a freak accident. Though he had barely known the man, his reputation spanned oceans and continents, everyone knew and feared Blackbeard – he was a monster. To the rest of the world, at least, the other pirates he was both a mentor and a good natured drinking buddy. He had an insatiable lust for life, and though he was prone to fits of rage, most people knew when to keep their distance. His ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge, was almost as big as his legend, the man was unstoppable. But, he'd been stopped.
Both men knew what it meant: if a man so great had been killed so easily, there was every chance they'd be next.
The shock was too much for Jack, who was in dire need of some thinking time.
"Eh – I think I'll be retirin'. So if you'll excuse me--"
Silencing him by raising a hand, Vane emptied his tankard.
"Say no more. I'll find a place to sleep amongst the crew."
Jack nodded and watched the other man leave, already starting on his second helping of rum.
Elizabeth watched as the guest exited the Captain's quarters, and debated whether or not she should go in and see Jack. The expression on Vane's face didn't appear to be a pleasant one, so she deduced that the one Jack was wearing wouldn't be either. So, this left her with a dilemma: go in and do her best to console him, as well as satisfy her curiosity, or, give him time to get over whatever had just transpired.
The concerned girlfriend and curious child won out, and she headed reluctantly towards the door.
The room was dark now, only a single candle was flickering somewhere in a corner, casting a light that fell on Jack. The smell of liquor was present, but Sparrow himself was not drinking. He sat staring at his mug, unmoving, as if he wasn't sure what to do about anything at all. His hands were still clenched into fists, which rested on either side of the table. Elizabeth, who was a bit stunned at the scene, stared for a moment, but in the end decided to wait and see if he'd crack and tell her what was going on. She went about her business as if nothing was amiss, stripping down to what she usually slept in, she turned down the bed sheets and climbed in. The silence was agonizing, for both parties, though neither said a word. Jack's gaze didn't move, though he was well aware of Elizabeth's presence. He was somewhat comforted, and at the same time, annoyed, that she was there to interrupt his brooding. Wait, no, not brooding, thinking. Captain Jack Sparrow certainly didn't brood.
"Coming to bed?" Elizabeth said finally, patting the spot next to her.
Jack gave no answer.
She sighed and it appeared that she had given up; she started to lye down, but before her head could hit the pillow –
"Blackbeard is dead."
Jack said, in a sort of monotone that was foreign to Elizabeth. She sat back up again and faced him; he'd never said anything about being friends with the man. But still, she'd see where this line of conversation led.
"I'm sorry." She said, sounding unsure as to whether or not she should be sorry.
He didn't acknowledge her condolences, only continued speaking, still not making eye contact with her. In the rare moments that Jack was serious, he couldn't bring himself to look at the person he was talking to, as if they'd make fun of him for his momentary vulnerability.
"The pirates of Nassau `have welcomed Woodes Rogers."
She started to speak again –
"-- and accepted his pardons." Jack finished.
Honestly, Elizabeth didn't see what the huge deal was. Pirates died everyday, and accepted pardons more often than that. It was something she personally tried not to think about—the fact that Jack would most likely end his days by hanging, or on the edge of a sword. But, that was a pirate's life. It was something everyone aboard the Black Pearl knew and accepted. Though, because of how much this seemed to bother him, Elizabeth didn't speak of her confusion out loud. Whether she understood it or not, she was confident that Jack knew more about the world of outlaws than her, and if he believed the present situation was bad, then she'd take his word for it.
"So," She ventured to speak again a moment later, "what are you going to do?"
She hadn't meant anything by it. It just seemed the most suitable thing to ask, considering she had no idea what was going on. If it bothered him as much as it appeared to, wouldn't he want to do something about it? It seemed only reasonable. But, Jack's face said it was anything but.
He thought it over for a minute, weighing the pros and cons of every possible angle, and in the end, when he finally looked at Elizabeth, there was only one answer.
"Keep you safe. Even if the means by which I `have to do that aren't to my likin'."
"And by what means are you going to keep me safe?" Came the question, in an urgent tone. She didn't like where this was going at all.
He stared at her for a moment, willing her to understand what he was thinking, and even though she did, she didn't make it known – maybe her assumptions were wrong. Finally, he sighed, and resorted to explaining his plan.
"When we dock in Port Royal I'm gonna leave you there with your father." It came out in one breath, as if he was trying to say it so fast she wouldn't understand. If she didn't understand, he reasoned, he wouldn't have to suffer through the look on her face, and the argument that would follow.
It seemed the most selfless course of action, and once again, it was this woman who brought out selfless where it wouldn't have otherwise existed. Jack knew that Elizabeth wouldn't be punished for her actions; she'd be pardoned because she was the Governor's daughter, and the people of the settlement would assume that she was kidnapped again. Anything other than that would, of course, be dismissed as hearsay.
The look on her face should have been horrified, but it wasn't, she hadn't flinched at all. Inwardly, of course, she had, but outwardly she decided to pretend he was bluffing as a last effort. Rising to her feet again, she walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, causing him to snap out of his strange trance: bringing him back to reality as only she could.
"No." She said firmly, "You're not."
His eyes lingered on her face for a moment, but finally he shrugged off her hand and rose to his feet.
"S'not up for discussion, Elizabeth." He sounded more like a father than she ever thought he could. For an instant, she realized their age difference, and he looked positively ancient. Not physically old, but there was an obvious tiredness there; one that she'd never ever seen before.
Well, maybe once before.
On that godforsaken island, when he'd revealed those terrible scars to her. "No truth at all." He'd said then – his intention had been to show her that piracy was not romantic.
"How many times have we been through this?" She followed him as he paced the room, agitated. "I make my own descions. You above all people should know that."
He stopped and faced her.
"I'm the Captain of this ship –" He was going to say more to that effect, but the finger that was shoved in his face made him stop.
"You are not going to pull rank on me, Jack."
"Damnit, Lizzy!"
Never, since the day she'd met him, had Jack ever raised his voice to her. Or anyone, for that matter, unless he was shouting orders. She jumped, shocked that he had picked now to yell had her. His outburst had gotten the reaction he'd hoped for – utter silence, and a means for him to speak without interruption.
"This is big. D'you understand? Big. Beginning' of the bloody end if they have their way. An` if your found `ere with me, and aren't fortunate enough to be tried in Port Royal," He faltered, and looked her directly in the eye, "--They will kill you."
She processed what he'd said and for a moment the girl was actually scared. Jack had his back turned to the mirror, and she could see her own reflection over his shoulder. What she saw there was nothing more than a child in a pirate costume, and for a split second, she was scared. Her eyes moved from the mirror back to Jack, he was still straight faced, and she wished for a familiar smirk more than anything. As the reality that the life she'd undertaken was punishable by death hit her, the even colder reality that Jack's life could be in very real danger, hit even harder, she once again, made her decision.
"I stood by you in Port Royal," She started a sentence that she prayed would change his mind, "I stood by you in Tortuga, aboard this very ship, and on the Isla de Muerta, and I would consider it an honor and privilege to hang by you, Captain Jack Sparrow, from any gallows in this world."
She didn't want to die. But the fear of loosing the man who stood before her was far more than her fear of a noose.
Jack didn't say a word, he only looked at her for a moment, and it was hard to tell, simply by looking at him, whether he'd changed his mind or not. Elizabeth seemed positive about what she wanted, and if she was so determined about staying, he felt he had no right to tell her she couldn't. He wasn't her father, and though he wanted her safe, he didn't want her to hate him for making her do something against her will.
Just when it appeared that his resolve may have softened – Elizabeth spoke again.
"You've declared war on the world, and I want to be on the front lines."
That was meant to have a positive effect, to let him know she intended to be there for him. But what it really said to Jack was that Elizabeth didn't understand, that it still was romantic to her, an adventure, and that in turn said that she'd eventually get tired of it. He shook his head and whispered to her.
"No, luv," He corrected, "it's the world that's declared war on me."
That simple revelation spoke volumes, because it wasn't the type of thing he'd of told just anyone. All pirates knew it thought, they knew they were hated. He turned and silently left the room, returning to his precious helm, leaving Elizabeth to wonder what she'd said wrong.