A/N1: I would like to thank y'all for all the wonderful reviews again! They're keepin' me typing! Glad you are all enjoying it!
A/N2: Finally, the part we've all been waiting for… hello Will Turner and Jack Sparrow!
A/N3: Well after rereading this, I have discovered that I cannot type and have so many errors that it is inexcusable, so here is an edited version of this chappie… Even though nothing 'bout the errors has been mentioned, they are, I hope, all fixed now!
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"We must go after her!"
"What exactly do you think we're doing here, Leah?"
"I don't know, but apparently you're not accomplishing whatever it is fast enough!" She was standing beside her father, watching him and the Commodore make plans for the rescuing of Elizabeth… and they were doing so very slowly that by the time they actually formulated a plan, she would be dead, buried, and decayed!
Fuming, the young lady began to muse over how exactly she'd gotten herself into this situation, back in this stifling corset and countless layers of clothing standing next to these gentlemen.
After her sister had been taken, Leah had left the closet and, after peace was restored, had somehow run into a servant who recognized her and been taken to her father. He, of course, had been absolutely furious at her, but after she'd gotten him to listen to her for a moment and informed him that Elizabeth had been taken, his anger for one daughter had quickly been replaced with worry for another. As soon as it had been possible, a plan for her rescue had been devised, or at least partially devised, and was actually still in the process of said devising, but, of course, the governor's daughter, even in times of such dire circumstance, could not be allowed out in public in a mere bodice, so some maids who were still emotionally able had been called in and her dressed into a sky blue type of dress, squeezed into the corset of course.
"Father, please," she tried again, "is there nothing-"
"They've taken her! They've taken Elizabeth," a voice interrupted them, and the young blacksmith to whom it belonged followed very shortly after it. Leah rolled her eyes. Well if that wasn't stating the obvious, she did not know what was.
"Mr. Murtogg, remove this man," Commodore Norrington said absentmindedly, not even bothering to glance at the newcomer. Leah actually felt bad for him.
"We have to hunt them down, we must save her." The younger Swann clenched her fists, trying hard to keep from screaming at him. That was an unconditional given! If absolutely anyone had a knack for stating the obvious, this was he.
"And where do you propose we start?" her father demanded, turning on him. For once, Leah could not blame him for a comment like that. She had been pestering Governor Swann about the same subject for a very long time now, and to have the young apprentice blacksmith ask the very moment she'd even moderately let up… "If you have any information concerning my daughter, please, share it."
" That Jack Sparrow, he talked about the Black Pearl," one of the Commodore's men volunteered. Leah raised an eyebrow and perked up, careful not to allow her interest to show too much on the outward. That was the man who had kidnapped Elizabeth, or at least attempted to, wasn't it…?
"Mentioned it, is more what he did," another clarified. Really? Well that was… interesting.
"Ask him where it is. Make a deal with him. He could lead us to it," William said.
"No," Norrington countered with an almost tired air, as in tired of this boy wasting his time. "The pirates who invaded this fort left Sparrow locked in his cell, ergo they are not his allies." He turned away from the fuming brunette. But wait… Thoughts and musings were striking Leah left and right now. Perhaps those pirates had not been allies, but she was positive of the fact that pirates absolutely had to have enemies, and if one were to mention another ship in passing to one of the King's men, wouldn't one not mention an ally? "Governor, we will establish their most likely course-"
Without warning, Will slammed his hatchet into the table, right in the middle of the map. Leah cringed. "That's not good enough!"
"Mr. Turner," Norrington sighed, clearly exasperated. "You are not a military man, you are not a sailor. You are a blacksmith, and this is not the moment for rash actions. Do not make the mistake of thinking you are the only man here who cares for Elizabeth." He handed the younger man his hatchet back, and turned away, back to his plans, but the younger of the two sibling Swanns was sure he was making a mistake to not even check into this "Jack Sparrow" business.
Once William Turner was gone, Leah turned to her father. "Father, I'm going back to the house, but if you would only-"
"Leah, allow us time to make a plan to save your sister! So… yes, go back to the house, it sounds like a fair idea. Get some rest, you've had a rough night." And like that, with only one nod from her, she was dismissed. Of course, she wasted no time in getting out of sight and heading not for her home, but to the jails.
Leah Swann arrived at the prison not too long after Will did, although she wasn't aware of it, but still had the sense to proceed quietly down the stairs. Halfway down, she began to hear muffled voices. Stopping at the very last section of the rock stairwell where she would still be hid, Leah listened intently to the dialogue between the pirate and blacksmith. Well, she'd always known Mr. Turner, or William or Will as she tended to call him, had strong feelings for her sister, but never known it was to this extent…
And Sparrow would help him, eh? Well they'd both help her. Just as Jack Sparrow grabbed his effects and the two were about to make their escape before any guards came to stop them, she stepped out, effectively halting them. "Neither of you are going anywhere without me."
"Miss Swann?!" Turner exclaimed upon seeing her.
"Yes, Will, it's me, and as I just said, neither of you are going anywhere without me."
"Darling, really, we don't have time for this…" the pirate said to her, putting his sword back around his waist. "As I'm assuming you are fair lady's sist-"
"You're correct in that, Sparrow, both counts actually. As Will here has just stated, someone must have heard that, and if you don't get out of here soon, you shall certainly be caught.
"And I am not leaving here until you agree to take me with you to save my sister, so, in other words, neither are the two of you."
"Miss Swann-" William interrupted.
"Quiet Will! There's no changing my mind, you are well aware of that. Now, do we have an accord?" she asked mockingly to Jack, holding out her hand. She could be extremely stubborn when the situation warranted it, and warrant it, it did.
"Take her along, if she wills it," Will sighed, waiting very impatiently. They needed to get out of there if they were to have any chance at saving Elizabeth, and if her younger sister had the sudden urge to come along, so be it.
"All right, we have an accord," Sparrow agreed, though not appearing anywhere close to over delighted, and stuck out his hand to shake hers, but just as the two were about to meet for that finalizing shake, he pulled it suddenly back. "First, what be your name?"
"Leah Marguerite Swann."
He nodded, and finally fully extended his hand. "All right then, L-"
"Miss Swann, pirate," she snapped, pulling her own hand away almost the very moment she'd touched the pirate captain's own. He had threatened Elizabeth earlier, and she was not going to forgive such a transgression, as well as all else she'd heard about the infamous Jack Sparrow, simply because of one good deed that he'd been more or less forced into doing.
"Fine, Miss Swann and Turner, shall we leave her now before we have to fight off some of the king's lovely men?" If they hadn't had to by now though, after hesitating for such a long period of time, he sincerely doubted they would have to at any period of time, or at least until the next shift change, but better safe than sorry… at least on this count. After just escaping from that rotting cell, he did not have a very strong urge to be stuck back in it.
And now that they were a party of three, the Swann, the Turner, and the Sparrow made their way hurriedly out of the jail.
