Hullo poppets! I just realized I haven't done a disclaimer in a while and
perhaps I should.
Disclaimer: C'est dommage, mais je n'ai pas rien. (It's a shame, but I have nothing.) Actually, wait, I am responsible for Evans (*cringes*) and the woman with Jack. And I can't say no more!
And thanks to everyone who has commented, esp. J.L. Dexter for those faithful reviews. (*clasps hands together and bows head*)
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Chapter 9: Good Man and Who Be Ye?
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Day 8. Dawn.
"Watch over him."
Commodore Norrington hand on the rail stilled as he came topside on the Black Pearl, the whispered words carried by the winds to reach his ears. Norrington's eyes swept over the deck, his heart squeezing at the emotion hidden in those words. His gaze rested on the helm and the slim figure that stood there. It was the pirate woman. Her back was to him, shoulders straight and stance comfortable. He watched her turn the wheel slightly and debated the wisdom of interrupting her vigil.
He had been surprised to find the dark-skinned woman a pirate as she had appeared quite like a lady to him when he first seen her. His nose wrinkled in disgust. Slavery in all forms was despicable. He knew more about the Incorrigible than he was telling, unsure how this fierce pirate woman and former slave would react. It was a slave ship, and he knew that even though the transport of new slaves from Africa had been outlawed nearly fifteen years ago, there were still illegal slave ships that brought new plantation slaves. He knew also that the Incorrigable was one of these ships that did so illegally.
Norrington wearily removed his three cornered hat and observed the new day breaking around him. As he watched the woman's dark hair sway with the breeze, he realized just how wrong his assumptions all these years had been. She was in love. She and Sparrow seemed to have some strange unshakable bond. This woman was devoted. She was not a barbarian and neither were her crewmates. And now Norrington allowed himself to cautiously accept that this Jack Sparrow was a good man also.
He stepped lightly forward once, and it appeared that she heard him. Anamaria swung her head around, one hand instinctively going to her sword. She relaxed slightly when she realized it was not a threat. "Commodore," she said sharply in greeting.
"Good morning, miss," Norrington replied politely. "And I told you once that you could call me James."
Ana looked at him wearily. "Very well, James. Then ye must know that I am no 'miss' and call me Anamaria as everyone else does." She glanced around her at the birds settled on some rocks as the two ships continued on. "Ye should be getting some rest."
James smiled somewhat ironically at her. "I don't think we'll be slowing down to let me aboard my ship."
Ana looked at him in a way that left no doubt in his mind, "Aye, that might be true." Somewhat reluctantly, she motioned towards Jack's cabin. "Ye can sleep there if ye want. It was," she corrected herself, "is Jack's."
"Thank you," Norrington told her graciously. He turned to go, but hesitated and felt compelled to say what was his on his mind. "I intend to return him to you without harm, Anamaria."
Ana looked somewhat taken aback, but her expression quickly returned to neutral. "And I intend to get him back." As Ana heard the cabin door click closed, she allowed herself a little smile with a shrug. Elizabeth was right, "He is a good man," she muttered under her breath.
______________________
Day 9, mid-morning.
Jack Sparrow blinked himself into consciousness as he his eyes caught some distinct splashing noises. He tried to raise himself off the bench and with a flash of fiery hot pain, all of the memories of the previous day came flooding back. Jack willed himself to sit up, attempting to ignore that strips of wounded flash across his stomach and back. Again, he heard a splash and was completely positive that he was not hallucinating.
He jerked his head around uncomfortably towards the noise. In the faint light pouring through the familiar knothole he squinted and was barely able to make out another person in one of the many narrow cells across the way from him. He grimaced and attempted to stand. When his vision went dizzy and he swayed, Jack wrapped his hands around the metal bars and supported himself. He would not fall to his knees before this person like an inferior.
"Oy, ye there!" Jack called out hoarsely. The figure made a little squeaking noise and squirmed. Jack rolled his eyes. "Come on mate, this is no time to be shy."
The figure squared its shoulders and swung its legs over the side of the bench similar to Jack's own that it had been curled up on. "Who are you?" the person demanded in a low voice.
"Captain Jack Sparrow at yer service," Jack quipped, releasing the bars with one hand to tip his hat to the other captive. When he did not feel the familiar piece of sturdy felt perched atop his bandana, he frowned and sighed. "Bloody 'ell!" he yelled in frustration.
"What did you say?" the captive demanded roughly. "Are you threatening me? He's threatening me! Don't let him hurt me!" The voice rose into a near hysterical shriek and Jack fought the urge to cover his ears, and he gritted his teeth.
Jack tried to shush the other prisoner with the annoying high-pitched voice. "I'm not threatening ye," he said quickly. "Those bastards took me hat. Everyone's always takin' me hat."
The other person gave him a funny look, or Jack imagined that the person would. He couldn't exactly see in the light. "You're daft," the person said, putting a hand on its hip.
Wait a blasted minute-Jack had seen that gesture before used only by one type of person. "Yer a woman!" he blurted out.
The person came closer into the light and Jack could see that it was indeed a woman looking at him with frightened and confused eyes green eyes. Her dark hair was disheveled and the remains of her gown were tattered and damp. "Aye, nice of you to be noticing," she told him, eyes narrowed in curiosity.
"What are ye doing here?" Jack asked conversationally, leaning into the bars, feeling some of his strength not holding out.
She hesitated, and Jack knew he would not be hearing the whole truth "I had to get out of London. I hid on the first ship I came across, which of all the luck happened to be this one. They caught me a few days out on the journey and I've been imprisoned on this ship ever since. It has to be nearing two weeks," she told him reluctantly.
"Yeh've been below here for two weeks?" Jack asked incredulously.
"No, sometimes the captain lets me stay in his cabin or stay topside for a few days, but I'm afraid I've made him dreadfully angry when I refused him. He chased me down here and I locked myself in sometime yesterday."
Jack blinked. He had no respect for any man who tried to force himself upon any woman and Anamaria's story and this woman's doubled his distain. "I'm sorry to hear that, lass."
She tossed her head. "It can't be helped."
Jack's head lolled to the side. "What's yer name?"
"Eve," She watched his swaying movements with curious eyes. "What are you doing here?"
Jack sighed. "It's a mistake. They're looking for a woman, Anamaria. She's my-" the words stuck in Jack's mouth. He was back to that question again. What exactly was Ana to him? "My first mate," he finished lamely. "There's a bounty after her cause she's a runaway slave."
Eve looked at him as though she did not believe him, "Your first mate?"
"Aye, and best friend," Jack admitted. At Eve's pointed look he shifted uncomfortably,
"A little more than a best friend," he confessed finally. Eve looked strangely triumphant and she smiled at him a little.
With his spinning head, Jack decided that he'd best sit and sank down on the unforgiving bench awkwardly, winching as his tattered clothing rubbed against the welts. Eve resumed her position curled up on her own bench. Jack blew on his hands halfheartedly and clunked his head back against the cold planks of the ships walls. Jack heard the door topside let out a large clang and heavy footsteps down the stairs. He straightened his spine.
Evans and another man, the burly guard again, came into view. "Ah, so you're finally awake," Evans commented pleasantly, "How are you feeling?" Jack looked at him stony-eyed and made no response. Evans turned his attention to Eve. "And you m'dear? How are you on this wonderful day?"
Eve curled herself tighter in a ball and glared at him through her wavy chestnut hair.
"Ready for round two, Sparrow?" Evans asked, his eyes hardening and expression turning less than pleasant.
Jack cocked his head and narrowed his eyes as they regained a little of their mischievous spark. "Or ye could just give up."
Evans growled and unlocked the door and roughly grabbed Jack around the arm, hauling him up towards daylight.
Blind in the sudden brightness, Jack winced as the burly guard lashed out with his unoriginal wooden club catching him across the shoulders and Jack stumbled to his knees. He gritted his teeth and climbed precariously to his feet. They would not see him on his knees. Ana always understood that kind of pride that he possessed and never challenged it. Ana. The club swung out again, grazing the edge of his stomach.
He wouldn't let these bastards get Ana. She didn't deserve this kind of punishment, not with everything that had already happened to her. Ana.
Evans' foot swung out of nowhere and nailed him square in the ribs. His breath left Jack and he gasped for air, clutching the ships railing. They were moving pretty fast, he realized for no apparent reason.
"Where's the whore, Sparrow?" Evans's voice reverberated unpleasantly in Jack's head. Jack shook his head. Ana wasn't a whore, he argued silently. She would tear this man apart if she ever heard him.
Out of the corner of his eye, Jack saw a fist lash out and Jack's own hand, acting on impulse along shot out to grab the man's first. It was the burly guard. The guard grimaced and tried to throw himself at the pirate captain. Jack went down on one knee and awkwardly and painfully flipped the man over his back. The man screamed horribly and went over the side of the boat, disappearing in its wake.
Jack attempted to straighten himself up and he saw Evans advancing on him holding the lost burly guard's club. Jack ignored the million bees stinging at his back and wiped a little blood from the corner of his mouth and threw his hands open. "Mate, when are ye going to get it through yer thick skull that I won't tell ye nothing."
Evans let out a calculating sigh as he inspected the man before him. Sparrow was standing precariously straight but in obvious pain. Evans also saw the steel in the man's eye and knew he would get nothing out of him unless he provided certain-incentive.
Evans motioned a sailor forward, who drew his sword and advanced on Jack. With the tip resting mere inches from Jack's neck, Jack allowed the sailor to move him back down into the hold where the dark, wet prison was located.
Jack was led over to an elevated table with heavy iron shackles located at the head and the feet. The bloodstains ingrained in the smooth wood were not reassuring. He hesitated, and only climbed on the table and lay down due to a particularly vicious poke of the sword.
Jack's wrists and ankles were secured in the shackles. Evans's leering face loomed over Jack's own. Jack's eyes held the steel of a thousand swords and he spat in the other man's face. Evans' features twisted into one of sadistic disgust and he grinned nastily at the man lying helplessly below him. Putting his face close to the pirate's ear he hissed something that caused Jack's muscles to tighten with fear.
"Let's see just how much it takes to break this Sparrow's wings."
_____________________
Despite what you may be thinking, I'm most definitely NOT turning this into a Ana/Norrington and Jack/OC fic!! Trust me on this one! Does anyone see where I'm going with this? You like? Maybe? No?
Disclaimer: C'est dommage, mais je n'ai pas rien. (It's a shame, but I have nothing.) Actually, wait, I am responsible for Evans (*cringes*) and the woman with Jack. And I can't say no more!
And thanks to everyone who has commented, esp. J.L. Dexter for those faithful reviews. (*clasps hands together and bows head*)
___________________
Chapter 9: Good Man and Who Be Ye?
___________________
Day 8. Dawn.
"Watch over him."
Commodore Norrington hand on the rail stilled as he came topside on the Black Pearl, the whispered words carried by the winds to reach his ears. Norrington's eyes swept over the deck, his heart squeezing at the emotion hidden in those words. His gaze rested on the helm and the slim figure that stood there. It was the pirate woman. Her back was to him, shoulders straight and stance comfortable. He watched her turn the wheel slightly and debated the wisdom of interrupting her vigil.
He had been surprised to find the dark-skinned woman a pirate as she had appeared quite like a lady to him when he first seen her. His nose wrinkled in disgust. Slavery in all forms was despicable. He knew more about the Incorrigible than he was telling, unsure how this fierce pirate woman and former slave would react. It was a slave ship, and he knew that even though the transport of new slaves from Africa had been outlawed nearly fifteen years ago, there were still illegal slave ships that brought new plantation slaves. He knew also that the Incorrigable was one of these ships that did so illegally.
Norrington wearily removed his three cornered hat and observed the new day breaking around him. As he watched the woman's dark hair sway with the breeze, he realized just how wrong his assumptions all these years had been. She was in love. She and Sparrow seemed to have some strange unshakable bond. This woman was devoted. She was not a barbarian and neither were her crewmates. And now Norrington allowed himself to cautiously accept that this Jack Sparrow was a good man also.
He stepped lightly forward once, and it appeared that she heard him. Anamaria swung her head around, one hand instinctively going to her sword. She relaxed slightly when she realized it was not a threat. "Commodore," she said sharply in greeting.
"Good morning, miss," Norrington replied politely. "And I told you once that you could call me James."
Ana looked at him wearily. "Very well, James. Then ye must know that I am no 'miss' and call me Anamaria as everyone else does." She glanced around her at the birds settled on some rocks as the two ships continued on. "Ye should be getting some rest."
James smiled somewhat ironically at her. "I don't think we'll be slowing down to let me aboard my ship."
Ana looked at him in a way that left no doubt in his mind, "Aye, that might be true." Somewhat reluctantly, she motioned towards Jack's cabin. "Ye can sleep there if ye want. It was," she corrected herself, "is Jack's."
"Thank you," Norrington told her graciously. He turned to go, but hesitated and felt compelled to say what was his on his mind. "I intend to return him to you without harm, Anamaria."
Ana looked somewhat taken aback, but her expression quickly returned to neutral. "And I intend to get him back." As Ana heard the cabin door click closed, she allowed herself a little smile with a shrug. Elizabeth was right, "He is a good man," she muttered under her breath.
______________________
Day 9, mid-morning.
Jack Sparrow blinked himself into consciousness as he his eyes caught some distinct splashing noises. He tried to raise himself off the bench and with a flash of fiery hot pain, all of the memories of the previous day came flooding back. Jack willed himself to sit up, attempting to ignore that strips of wounded flash across his stomach and back. Again, he heard a splash and was completely positive that he was not hallucinating.
He jerked his head around uncomfortably towards the noise. In the faint light pouring through the familiar knothole he squinted and was barely able to make out another person in one of the many narrow cells across the way from him. He grimaced and attempted to stand. When his vision went dizzy and he swayed, Jack wrapped his hands around the metal bars and supported himself. He would not fall to his knees before this person like an inferior.
"Oy, ye there!" Jack called out hoarsely. The figure made a little squeaking noise and squirmed. Jack rolled his eyes. "Come on mate, this is no time to be shy."
The figure squared its shoulders and swung its legs over the side of the bench similar to Jack's own that it had been curled up on. "Who are you?" the person demanded in a low voice.
"Captain Jack Sparrow at yer service," Jack quipped, releasing the bars with one hand to tip his hat to the other captive. When he did not feel the familiar piece of sturdy felt perched atop his bandana, he frowned and sighed. "Bloody 'ell!" he yelled in frustration.
"What did you say?" the captive demanded roughly. "Are you threatening me? He's threatening me! Don't let him hurt me!" The voice rose into a near hysterical shriek and Jack fought the urge to cover his ears, and he gritted his teeth.
Jack tried to shush the other prisoner with the annoying high-pitched voice. "I'm not threatening ye," he said quickly. "Those bastards took me hat. Everyone's always takin' me hat."
The other person gave him a funny look, or Jack imagined that the person would. He couldn't exactly see in the light. "You're daft," the person said, putting a hand on its hip.
Wait a blasted minute-Jack had seen that gesture before used only by one type of person. "Yer a woman!" he blurted out.
The person came closer into the light and Jack could see that it was indeed a woman looking at him with frightened and confused eyes green eyes. Her dark hair was disheveled and the remains of her gown were tattered and damp. "Aye, nice of you to be noticing," she told him, eyes narrowed in curiosity.
"What are ye doing here?" Jack asked conversationally, leaning into the bars, feeling some of his strength not holding out.
She hesitated, and Jack knew he would not be hearing the whole truth "I had to get out of London. I hid on the first ship I came across, which of all the luck happened to be this one. They caught me a few days out on the journey and I've been imprisoned on this ship ever since. It has to be nearing two weeks," she told him reluctantly.
"Yeh've been below here for two weeks?" Jack asked incredulously.
"No, sometimes the captain lets me stay in his cabin or stay topside for a few days, but I'm afraid I've made him dreadfully angry when I refused him. He chased me down here and I locked myself in sometime yesterday."
Jack blinked. He had no respect for any man who tried to force himself upon any woman and Anamaria's story and this woman's doubled his distain. "I'm sorry to hear that, lass."
She tossed her head. "It can't be helped."
Jack's head lolled to the side. "What's yer name?"
"Eve," She watched his swaying movements with curious eyes. "What are you doing here?"
Jack sighed. "It's a mistake. They're looking for a woman, Anamaria. She's my-" the words stuck in Jack's mouth. He was back to that question again. What exactly was Ana to him? "My first mate," he finished lamely. "There's a bounty after her cause she's a runaway slave."
Eve looked at him as though she did not believe him, "Your first mate?"
"Aye, and best friend," Jack admitted. At Eve's pointed look he shifted uncomfortably,
"A little more than a best friend," he confessed finally. Eve looked strangely triumphant and she smiled at him a little.
With his spinning head, Jack decided that he'd best sit and sank down on the unforgiving bench awkwardly, winching as his tattered clothing rubbed against the welts. Eve resumed her position curled up on her own bench. Jack blew on his hands halfheartedly and clunked his head back against the cold planks of the ships walls. Jack heard the door topside let out a large clang and heavy footsteps down the stairs. He straightened his spine.
Evans and another man, the burly guard again, came into view. "Ah, so you're finally awake," Evans commented pleasantly, "How are you feeling?" Jack looked at him stony-eyed and made no response. Evans turned his attention to Eve. "And you m'dear? How are you on this wonderful day?"
Eve curled herself tighter in a ball and glared at him through her wavy chestnut hair.
"Ready for round two, Sparrow?" Evans asked, his eyes hardening and expression turning less than pleasant.
Jack cocked his head and narrowed his eyes as they regained a little of their mischievous spark. "Or ye could just give up."
Evans growled and unlocked the door and roughly grabbed Jack around the arm, hauling him up towards daylight.
Blind in the sudden brightness, Jack winced as the burly guard lashed out with his unoriginal wooden club catching him across the shoulders and Jack stumbled to his knees. He gritted his teeth and climbed precariously to his feet. They would not see him on his knees. Ana always understood that kind of pride that he possessed and never challenged it. Ana. The club swung out again, grazing the edge of his stomach.
He wouldn't let these bastards get Ana. She didn't deserve this kind of punishment, not with everything that had already happened to her. Ana.
Evans' foot swung out of nowhere and nailed him square in the ribs. His breath left Jack and he gasped for air, clutching the ships railing. They were moving pretty fast, he realized for no apparent reason.
"Where's the whore, Sparrow?" Evans's voice reverberated unpleasantly in Jack's head. Jack shook his head. Ana wasn't a whore, he argued silently. She would tear this man apart if she ever heard him.
Out of the corner of his eye, Jack saw a fist lash out and Jack's own hand, acting on impulse along shot out to grab the man's first. It was the burly guard. The guard grimaced and tried to throw himself at the pirate captain. Jack went down on one knee and awkwardly and painfully flipped the man over his back. The man screamed horribly and went over the side of the boat, disappearing in its wake.
Jack attempted to straighten himself up and he saw Evans advancing on him holding the lost burly guard's club. Jack ignored the million bees stinging at his back and wiped a little blood from the corner of his mouth and threw his hands open. "Mate, when are ye going to get it through yer thick skull that I won't tell ye nothing."
Evans let out a calculating sigh as he inspected the man before him. Sparrow was standing precariously straight but in obvious pain. Evans also saw the steel in the man's eye and knew he would get nothing out of him unless he provided certain-incentive.
Evans motioned a sailor forward, who drew his sword and advanced on Jack. With the tip resting mere inches from Jack's neck, Jack allowed the sailor to move him back down into the hold where the dark, wet prison was located.
Jack was led over to an elevated table with heavy iron shackles located at the head and the feet. The bloodstains ingrained in the smooth wood were not reassuring. He hesitated, and only climbed on the table and lay down due to a particularly vicious poke of the sword.
Jack's wrists and ankles were secured in the shackles. Evans's leering face loomed over Jack's own. Jack's eyes held the steel of a thousand swords and he spat in the other man's face. Evans' features twisted into one of sadistic disgust and he grinned nastily at the man lying helplessly below him. Putting his face close to the pirate's ear he hissed something that caused Jack's muscles to tighten with fear.
"Let's see just how much it takes to break this Sparrow's wings."
_____________________
Despite what you may be thinking, I'm most definitely NOT turning this into a Ana/Norrington and Jack/OC fic!! Trust me on this one! Does anyone see where I'm going with this? You like? Maybe? No?
