Disclaimer: I own nothing. Don't sue me. Whatever…zzz…

Title: Crossing Blades

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          As Derrick carried her to the deck, Gwyneth knew they were going too fast. But maybe it was love at first sight. That didn't matter, everyone expected her to marry a fine rich man with a title, excluding her parents. But it really was true; love did not put bread in the oven or food on the table, or so she thought.

          "Derrick?" she asked as he walked up the stairs.

          "Yes, Miss Turner?"

          "We are going too fast. Give me a week to get to know you at least. I don't want to fall in love with someone who is completely wrong for me."     Derrick smiled.

          "How do you know that we're actually falling in love? This could just be a little clue to what love's all about," he reasoned.

          "That's silly. Love is something that comes from the heart, there really are no clues to it," Gwen told him as he reached the ship deck.

          "Well, can you describe love? Give me the definition for love," Derrick ordered. Gwen thought for a moment as he set her down.

          "It's warm, it comes from the heart, and and-and oh I don't know!" Gwen gave up as she thrust herself against the rail of the ship. Derrick came up behind her.

          "So, this could be a clue. Couldn't it?" he asked softly.

          "There are no such things as love clues! I mean, there aren't ever any clues to love, got it?"

          "Got it, Miss Turner," he said Turner with absolute disgust. He walked away leaving her a little guilty.

          Gwyneth stood by the rail whiles until she saw something very distant; it was like a little black dot. After about a minute she realized it was a ship! She was at the end of the ship, who else would notice it? She went to go find Jack. She found him in his cabin lying on a bed, obviously asleep. Gwen poked him on the chest.

          "Jack! Jack!" she whispered. Still asleep. She said it again but louder. He awoke with a jolt.

          "Yes, Miss Turner?" he asked tiredly.

          "There's another ship out there!" she said. Jack raised his eyebrows.

          "You're sure you're not seeing things, are you?" he asked.

          "Yes, I'm sure! Come on!" she pulled him out of bed.

          "I'm coming, I'm coming," he sighed. They walked to the ship together and up to the rail. There was more than one black dot. It looked about three.

          "Holy shit," he whispered. He called for Derrick. Jack told him only he and himself could hear. Derrick went up to Gwen.

          "I need to talk to you, privately." He led her to Jack's cabin. He pushed her in and shut the door. Then he locked it, with only her inside. Now that was dirty. Absolutely dirty. She jiggled the handle knowing it would do no good. Gwen looked out the window and saw the ships were only a little distance away. She heard people scrambling about trying to get ready. A few minutes later, the ships were only a few yards away. The other ships were readying cannons. One shot a cannon and she heard a huge crack in the ship. Jack was not going to be happy about that. Another boom could be heard as the Black Pearl shot a cannon.

          Gwen looked around the room for a pistol or sword. After minutes of searching she thought, 'How is it possible for a pirate not to have a gun stashed somewhere in his room?'

          She looked outside again. People were boarding the Black Pearl! As she could see, they were holding more pistols than one could count. While everyone was fighting on deck, she was locked in a captain's cabin watching the other ships board hers. She threw herself at the door.

          Suddenly, something came flying through the door missing her head by inches. She was about to scream but remembered that she shouldn't make any noise. She ducked under Jack's bed and out of sight.

          The door burst open revealing a blooded man.

          "Come on girl," his hoarse voice spoke. "I know you're in here." She saw his feet pass by where she was hiding. His hand came under the bed and reached for her and grabbed her shirt top. He pulled her out from under the bed. He was dark from dry blood. His face was unshaven, but there was no beard. He was lifting her off her toes by her shoulders. He smelt of battle.

          Gwyneth knew this would happen. She was completely defenseless. With one look at her right knee she knew; his gut was history. Whamo! He dropped her as he yelled in pain. Now was her chance to run through the door. She did as she thought.

          She ran into Jack who was fighting a man with a bloody nose. He smiled as he saw her. Once the bloody nosed man died he pressed a pistol into her hand. 

          "Keep close to me. And don't be afraid to use the pistol," he said. Gwen obeyed. She picked up a sword from a dead man's belt. Jack nodded in approval. He looked around a bit at the ship and spotted a few barrels. He brought themselves over to them pushing Gwen behind them.

          "Gwyneth, I need you to stay here. I'm responsible for you and I won't let you get killed," he said sternly. "Use the pistol if needed. It's loaded." He walked barely eight yards away from the barrels. She was scared, but not as scared as she thought she would be. 

          "Roll on, thou deep and dark, blue ocean, roll. Ten thousand fleets sweep over thee in vain," she quietly quoted Byron. (Author's note, I know Byron wasn't born until 1788 but just work with me, okay?) "Man marks the earth with ruin, his control stops with the shore; upon the watery plain. The wrecks are all thy deed, nor doth remain. A shadow of man's ravage, save his own, when for a moment, like a drop of rain, he sinks into thy depths with bubbling groan, without a grave, unknelled,  uncoffined, and unknown…"she finished, voice trailing off.

Sorry if it was short and not worth waiting for!  I don't know why but I wanted to use poetry, don't ask. I heard Byron mentioned in some books that I read (Avon true Romance). So I have this "One Hundred and One Famous P.O.E.M.S," and I took a verse from Byron. Seeya!