Things Fall Apart
10 in defense of a pirate
Disclaimer: Previous chapter.
Author's Note: This might be my last update for awhile, considering I'm going out of town this weekend, my 18th birthday is Tuesday, and Christmas is Thursday, so there probably won't be more til around the new year. But if the muse beats me in the head, there could be, just don't expect it.
Al the Firewoman: Righto, gotta keep the whelp lovers happy, my best friend included. Bringing Will back in just felt right for the story too, hopefully I'll be able to make him useful.
Liz: "I'm through being polite, goddamnit! Now take me down! E deck." Ding ding ding! ;x Just seemed like a good line to use, no?
Thecapnoftheblackpearl: Don't know why its not workin'. Looks fine from here. =\ Did you try reloading the page?
Dha-gal: LOL, that's actually not far from what its in my mind. Took me forever to think up something for him to say, but now here I am, ready for him to say it!
Robyn: Don't worry, I will most definitely keep writing. I like the idea of incorporating history into the fic, simply because it is a period movie, so it made sense to me. Also, being that I'm passionate about this particular time in history and the spirit of these people, I wanted to see how our darling would fare amongst his famous peers and in the bad situation, all while keeping it simple enough as to mainly revolve around movie characters. Hopefully I haven't let anyone down, living, dead, or fictional, in that way. Thanks for your review!
Jalyssa, Terreis, Southstar, Qalace & Inu lover: Thanks for your reviews, mates!
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Upon hearing those eight words, Jack thought for a fraction of a second that Will may be speaking against him as some form of scorned lover's revenge. The blacksmith walked wordlessly past both Elizabeth and Sparrow without casting a single glance in their direction. From the look on his face it was unclear what Turner's motives were.
"You have some words, Turner?" The magistrate gazed from beneath his spectacles at Will.
"I do." Will said, his voice firm and confident. Clearing his throat a few times Turner finally began. "This man," a hand was thrust in Jack's direction, still no eye contact was made, "is accused of piracy, and all that that entails."
"Yes, we know that, sir." The magistrate said, somewhat sarcastic.
"Yet there is not a person in this room that can claim knowledge of a single time when he has shown cruelty to another human being, or took a life out of anything other than defense. It is for no less than petty robbery that this court is bent on taking his life."
Finally Will did look over his shoulder, his eyes meeting Jack's for only a split second before the pirate looked away. It seemed clear that Turner was taking his defense, and that made Jack feel both grateful and terrible. Elizabeth held a death grip on her skirts, fidgeting nervously.
The magistrate coughed in disapproval, "Piracy is hardly petty robbery, Mr. Turner. It is considered high treason against the crown, and, puts quite a strain on our economy."
It was a good argument and for a moment it looked as if Will was going to give in. Suddenly, though, he spoke again.
"Yet everyday our officials hand out pardons to persons guilty of the very same treason. Some of which are infinitely more dangerous than Jack Sparrow."
The argument was both appealing and true, but the unspoken fact remained that Norrington had it in for Jack, and the magistrate knew it. The man began to speak again, but Will was now far too into his little speech to stop.
"Just a few years ago he saved the Governor's daughter from drowning, and helped the Commodore in the capture of very dangerous pirates. Are such actions not worthy of some sort of leniency?"
"One good deed is not enough to redeem a man of a lifetime of wickedness."
Elizabeth and Jack both perked at this, being that the magistrate had directly quoted Commodore Norrington. Both saw only one explanation for this: the magistrate and the Commodore had been conversing over this matter. The realist and experienced pirate in Jack knew that, with the new information taken into consideration, he was as good as dead. No, wait, he had already been that. Okay, okay, he was dead. Elizabeth, on the other hand, placed her faith in Will's almost non existent power of persuasion, and hoped for the best. Though it seems enough to condemn him, Jack remembered what his reply had been two years prior, but Turner had something different to say.
"Perhaps, sir, you did not hear me correctly, I mentioned two good deeds. And who are you to say that he has had a lifetime of wickedness? You cannot take a man's life based on the misinformed beliefs of a few men of power."
The magistrate tensed a bit, narrowing his eyes at Will, who did not back down, or even flinch. "I am the lord of this court, and thus, I can assume what ever I please. If you have a problem with that then you may cool your heels in the cells until you have learned respect for my office. Have I made myself clear?"
"Apologies, sir." Will said, though it was clear he did not mean it. "I simply mean to say that if we do not reward pirates with pardons and second chances based on their good deeds, then what is their incentive the perform them?"
The murmurs in the court grew until it seemed everyone was talking about what had just been said. It made sense to some, others saw it as insanity, and some just wanted to get on with the violence. The magistrate banged his gavel furiously until order had been restored.
"To be quite frank, Mr. Turner," He leaned over his papers, closer to the floor, "His Majesty has grown tired of rewarding these brigands second chances, because, he is made a fool each time, and let me assure you that there is nothing he hates more than being made a fool. It is for this reason that a new order, in which pirates get their comeuppance without question, is rising." Quite pleased with what he had just said, the magistrate thought for a moment before glancing at Elizabeth and adding, "Besides, it was just as recent as last year that this so-called harmless man," Cruel, demented, vicious pirate or not, Jack grimaced at that adjective, "kidnapped the very same Governor's daughter you claim her saved."
The murmurs started again but before the magistrate could restore order Elizabeth leapt to her feet, all thoughts of whether the court would hear a woman or not had left her mind.
"He most certainly did not kidnap me!" She made herself heard over the murmurs, causing everyone to fall silent again, gaping at her boldness. She felt a bit of fear once her initial outburst, and the adrenaline that came with it, was over. Now, all eyes on her, she spoke, voice shaking. "I went with him of my own accord, exercising my own free will in such a way that I could not have here."
James Norrington had been content to sit in the back, making quite a show of clearing his throat loudly when someone said something not to his liking. That is until the point where his word had been called into question. As a means of ensuring their loyalty, he informed his men that Sparrow had taken Elizabeth against her will, she was now disputing this. Rising to his feet he calmly began to walk up the aisle, to what was quickly becoming a three ring circus.
"She doesn't know what she's saying. Clearly the poor girl has been through a terrible ordeal."
Elizabeth spun on her heel to turn and face in the direction of the speaker, finger waving wildly to make her point in such a manner that she could have only picked up from Jack.
"James, you know damn well that Jack could not and, more importantly, would not, take me anywhere without my consent."
The Commodore stopped, standing in front of her, smug smile in tact.
"I know nothing of the kind, Ms. Swann, because I know nothing of this man's character, nor do I have any desire to. And," He continued, "I realize you have been gone from civilization for quite sometime, but we do still address those with title by said title."
Elizabeth stared at Norrington for a moment, but realizing that there was no way she could win an argument with him, she turned, left to wonder what had happened to the kind man who let Jack go free on two previous occasions. Now facing the magistrate she spoke clearly, finger still pointing in the Commodore's direction.
"This man is lying." Which, of course, earned gasps from the crowd. "I swear, on anything worth swearing by, that I was not kidnapped."
Now accusing an official of lying was up there with treason, and so of course, everyone waited for some sort of terrible consequence. Governor's daughter or not, Elizabeth could not simply do as she pleased. Though, when a lesser person would have been thrown into jail or given forty lashes, Norrington had other plans for her. Taking a grip on her arm, he spoke to the magistrate.
"Your honor, I think this display has proven more than anything just the effect that piracy has had on this young woman. It is therefore my recommendation that she be sent to stay with the other unfortunate souls until she has been brought back to her senses." The Governor stood up, and before he could speak Norrington's face turned apologetic, "Governor Swann, I regret this course of action, honestly, but it seems to be the only way."
By unfortunate souls he meant those who had lost their mind. The loony bin so to speak. Though in the 18th century it was not all about group therapy and sharing your feelings, so this idea terrified Elizabeth. The magistrate nodded in approval to the Commodore's request and was almost immediately pulled towards the door, everyone believed it was best if she did not witness the rest of the mockery of the justice system. Jack had been uncharacteristically silent up until now simply because he was surveying the room for the best means of escape, should a brilliant plan or opportunity arise, but now things changed. Leaping up, all thought of consequence temporarily gone, he made a move towards Elizabeth and Norrington. It was by pure Sparrow luck that he had managed to get past the guards. The problem being that his hands were still bound, and he had not really thought his amazing rescue through. Once the guards managed to get within striking distance again, Jack was on the ground, a developing new habit that he was not too fond of. Elizabeth feared that they wouldn't be satisfied to just subdue him, and that he may have earned an earlier grave than they intended, and did the only thing she could do at that point. In a swift motion she spun out of Norrington's grasp and begged over all the chaos.
"Surely you would not harm the father of my child!"
As the last word left her lips the Commodore's hand fell on her shoulder again, and the court went silent. It was in this moment of confusion and shock that Will decided it was the opportune moment to get the hell out. Grabbing the Governor, who was still standing, the blacksmith held a knife that he had hidden in his boot to the man's throat. The Governor did not struggle, mainly because he knew that he was just means to an end, and Turner had no reason to kill him. The Commodore, the other soldiers, and the magistrate, however, did not share this confidence. Of course you are wondering, yes, yes Will did hear Elizabeth's declaration, but caught up in the moment, he didn't let whatever feelings he had about it stop him from doing what he thought was right.
"Norrington, release her," Reluctantly he nodded his head in Jack's direction, "and him, too. Or, on my word, blood will be spilled here today."
The Commodore looked around for a moment, unsure of what to do, and clearly livid. After a few moments he nodded and Jack's bounds were cut. Rubbing his sore wrists the pirate gave a thankful grin to the guards who had freed him, but being that one of them had also punched him, the smile was short lived. His fist connected with the guard's face, and it was with great pleasure that Jack got to see someone else on the floor for once. Reaching down he took the redcoat's sword, since his own had been taken.
"Thanks, mate!" He said to the heap, before taking a place next to Will.
Elizabeth shrugged off the hand on her shoulder and joined the other two men and her father. Turning so that all three were now backing out of the court room, Will did not release the Governor until they reached the door. Closing the doors quickly behind them, Jack looked hesitantly at his pretty new sword, and finally slid it through the handles to buy them some time. The three friends now reunited took off running in the direction of the sound where the Black Pearl was hidden. Norrington and his men of course did managed to break through the door, but by the time they did, their marks were gone. That didn't stop them from searching, though.