Broken Wings
A Pirates of the Caribbean story by Merrie
Disclaimer: All I own is a variety of ticket stubs, a poster that talks to me at night and stares at me while I write, and one overly played soundtrack. If that adds up to owning POTC, then why didn't anyone tell me??!! But I doubt it does.
Summary: Captain Jack has lost his ship, his crew, and nearly his life to a horrible new curse. Will this Sparrow be able soar again after his wings have been broken?
Characters: Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, Commodore Norrington, and all the wonderful cast of POTC.
Author's Note: Thank you so much to those of you who reviewed! I seem to have lost some readers along the way. I hope that doesn't mean that you guys aren't liking my story. Anyway, the angst continues for poor Jack.
Rating: This story is rated PG-13 for violence and language.
Chapter 3: Curses and Corpses
Will shot up straight in his bed with a shout, breathing hard and sweating profusely. 'A nightmare, oh God, what a nightmare.' he thought to himself, trying vainly to catch his heaving breath. From almost the very moment he had finally fallen asleep, his dreams had been plagued by grim visions. Lighting the candle on the table at the side of his bed with a slightly shaking hand seemed to banish some of the worse images, but most of them still played themselves out behind his tightly shut eyes. "Jack......" he whispered to himself, opening his eyes again to cast a glance across the room. The light that had banished the horrid images moments before now seemed to cast shadows of demons and danger at every corner.
"It can't be true, not Jack." Will had had nightmares before. Ever since the ordeal with the curse he had been haunted by scenes death; both of Jack's and his father's. He would remember the expression on Jack's face for the rest of his days as he had gotten run through by Barbossa's sword. And the grim cursed visage of Jack afterwards.....the very thought of it caused a shudder to course through his body. And his father......after he had ended the curse the thought had entered itself unwillingly in his mind. What if he was still tied to a cannon somewhere at the bottom of the ocean? Did that mean he had killed his own father by turning him mortal again and leaving him to drown? Will didn't want to think on it. He couldn't think on it or might have started screaming.
Those weren't the images that haunted him now, however. His dreams were filled with death again, that was true, but this was different. This was no scene that he had witnessed in the past or imagined; this had happened. He knew it had, somehow he just knew. Anamaria was dead. Gibbs was dead. Jack's entire crew was dead. And Jack.....that part was unclear. Will didn't know exactly what had happened to him, but whatever it was, wherever Jack was, he was most certainly in trouble. Will didn't know how he knew these things, but he didn't want to question it. Not when every fibre of his being was screaming at him to get out of bed and search the seas for Jack at this very second.
The decision made before he could even begin to think about it, Will threw the sheets off of his prone form and swung his feet off the side of the bed. Getting dressed quickly, making sure to attach his belt and sword last of all, he pondered on whether or not to go and retrieve Elizabeth. At last he decided it would be wrong not to bring her. She cared for Jack, same as he. She would want to go and rescue him, same as he. 'Is he even still alive to be rescued?'
Will started at the voice that slowly whispered those words in his ear. Of course Jack was alive. He was Captain Jack Sparrow. He might as well have been immortal. Will would have believed that sooner than that Jack had died. But where had the thought come from? Will was relatively sure it wasn't his. Had he even heard it at all? Dismissing such thoughts from his mind, he gave a quick shake of his head to clear his mind and left to make his way to the Swann's mansion.
***
James Norrington couldn't sleep. He didn't know what it was, but there was just something in the air, something foreboding, that called for wakefulness. He stood out on the docks in the early morning twilight, simply listening to the sea. He had grown up on the sea all his life, and never before had he heard it sound like this. It was a horrid sound, something dark and unforgiving. If he had to describe the emotion of the sea to someone, he would have said it seemed vengeful. Something had gone wrong. Some balance had been disrupted, and the sea was angry about it. No, that was too light a word. Livid would have been closer to the mark.
Norrington had to back away from his position at the edge of the dock as a particularly violent wave threatened to knock him from where he stood down into the sea. He didn't envy anyone out on the sea tonight. As a sailor of many years, he knew when the sea should be left well enough alone. This was definitely one of those times. So intent was his gaze on the sea that he almost missed William Turner heading rather loudly towards the governor's mansion. 'What is Turner doing heading over there at this time of night?' After a moment, an unwanted thought crossed his mind and he narrowed his eyes. 'He better not be doing what I think he's doing.' Norrington thought with a frown. "Mr. Turner!" he called out, causing the young man to start and turn abruptly to face him, a hand on his sword hilt. Norrington admired the lad's speed and reflexes. Those wouldn't help him if he was planning on dirtying Miss. Swann's reputation before they were to be married, however. "May I ask what you are doing heading to the governor's mansion at this time of night?" Norrington cast a stern glance at Will.
Will almost smiled at Norrington's tone of voice. He knew how his going out to see Elizabeth at this time of night must have looked, but the call to help Jack was both urgent and insistent. Also, it was a bit difficult to take Norrington seriously while he was dressed in casual wear rather than his immaculate red coat, and his powdered wig had been left at home. Will realized that he had never seen his natural hair before. It was dark and short, very similar to Will's own. Realizing abruptly that he hadn't answered Norrington's question, he spoke, "I know how this must look, but I need Elizabeth's help." As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he cursed under his breath for such a feeble excuse.
"Is that so? And what exactly do you need Ms. Swann's help for, Mr. Turner?" Norrington asked, raising a dark eyebrow that Will could just make out in the dim light of early morning. If you had asked Will why he had done it later, he might not have been able to tell you, for in that moment he decided to tell Norrington the truth. He fervently prayed he wasn't condemning Jack to death as a result. "Jack's in trouble."
"Jack?" After a brief moment, Norrington nodded. "You mean, Jack Sparrow, I take it? In trouble, you say. I don't believe it." The last was said with an air of sarcasm.
"Yes, he is in trouble. His crew has been killed, and he is left alone." Will kicked himself for revealing that bit of information. How was he going to explain how he knew that?
Norrington picked up on this right away, as Will had feared he would. "And just how do you know that, Mr. Turner? He hasn't been in Port Royal for months. I know, we've been keeping a close eye out." Norrington didn't want to admit that he was more likely to warn Jack away rather than hang him at this point because he wasn't fully comfortable with the idea himself, but once he had voiced those thoughts even just to himself they couldn't be denied. He admired the Captain. In fact, he admired him enough to do the incredibly stupid. "It doesn't matter," Norrington said, noticing Will was vainly trying to think of an answer to his question. If you say he is in trouble, then he is. You're a good man, Turner. I trust you. I'm not saying I trust Sparrow, far from it, but if you need my help to rescue him, I will be at your service."
To say Will was shocked was an understatement. His jaw dropped to his feet and he was sure he was mumbling incoherently in disbelief. 'Did he say what I think he just said? No, this is Norrington we're talking about. He doesn't help pirates, he hangs them. Doesn't he?' Looking hard as best he could in the dim early morning light into Norrington's eyes, he tried to discern whether or not the man was serious. When Norrington met his gaze unflinchingly, Will put out a hand. "If we're to go on an adventure together, you must call me Will."
"James." He gripped Will's hand firmly in his own and shook it with a smile on his face. "An adventure, is it? I dare say I hope I'm not to be discharged for this. I rather like it being a commodore."
"If we can get Governor Swann on our side I don't think you'll have anything to worry about. If not.....well, you could always be a pirate." Will couldn't help but laugh at the utterly affronted look Norrington gave him at that suggestion.
"Now, I believe you were off to retrieve Elizabeth?" At Will's nod, Norrington continued. "Then we shall go and find her together." With that, the two once unlikely comrades in arms walked off into the growing light together.
***
Elizabeth groaned aloud and placed her pillow firmly on top of her head to shut out whatever was trying to awake her at this time of night. She had just been in the middle of a particularly good dream involving a wet and shivering Will who had to take off all his clothes or catch his death. She wanted very much to get back to it. He hadn't even got both of his boots off before she had woken up. Hearing the sound again, which she was now awake enough to identify as something small hitting her window, she groaned and threw the covers back in frustration. Whoever had decided it would be a grand idea to throw things at her window and wake her up from what would have been the best dream she had had in a long time was certainly going to get a piece of her mind.
Putting on her robe, she stalked over to the window and threw the curtains open just in time to back away in fear at the rock that came sailing towards her. Fortunately, she had not been hit because the still shut window had stopped the projectile, but this only served to incense her further.
Throwing the shutters open, she shouted out into the courtyard underneath her into the dawning light. "Of all the nerve! I'll have you know it is quite improper to wake a young woman in the middle of the night! Wait until my fiancé gets his hands on you!"
"Uh, Elizabeth? I am your fiancé." Will said with a small smile.
"Oh! Will! I'm so sorry! I didn't know it was you!" Her eyes squinted in the yet dim light. "Then who is that with you?"
"It's me, Elizabeth. We're sorry to have woken you." Norrington spoke up from his place at Elizabeth's side.
"James? What are you doing here? Will? What's going on?" Elizabeth asked, now more than a little concerned.
"Get dressed in traveling clothes Elizabeth, and meet us down here. Be as quiet as possible." Will told her gently.
Elizabeth did as she was told without question, for now at least. She would find out what was going on soon.
***
Jack came to himself slowly, ever so slowly, groaning into the dirt underneath his face. If it was even possible, he felt even more wretched than he had before. After one failed attempt to rise to his knees and eventually his feet, he decided that he rather liked it down on the ground. At least it wasn't spinning.
'Aw, is someone not feeling too good?' A voice sneered in his direction. For a moment, he was filled with hope that someone, anyone, had come to rescue him! He would be able to leave this room full of the rotting corpses of his friends. But then, it dawned on him. 'Oh God,' he thought with a shudder. 'I didn't hear that aloud, did I?'
'Well, give the man a prize. You're not as bleedin' dumb as you look after all,' the voice cackled mockingly.
Pushing himself to his knees, ignoring the nausea that ripped through his body like a sword, he yelled as loud as he had the strength for, "Who are you? What are you? Why don't you just leave me alone?!"
'Oh, don't you know, Jack? I'm the voice of your madness.' Jack felt a cold rush of fear pass through him, and he slumped dejectedly. "Madness? I am not mad!"
'Then who are you talking to, mate? I don't see anyone else in here but the corpses of all those you've failed. You killed them, Jack. How does that make you feel?' Jack could hear a smug smirk in the words.
"I didn't kill them. It wasn't my fault. I am not mad! I do not believe that you are the voice of madness. I believe you are a curse. A horrible curse that caused the deaths of my friends. It was you who killed them, not me!"
'Are you so sure about that? But who caused the curse, Jack? It certainly wasn't me.' The voice seemed to trail off, leaving Jack time to ponder its words. After a brief moment, he had convinced himself. He was many things, and oh God, perhaps he had brought a curse down on his friends, but he was not insane.
'Not yet, anyway. But you and I are going to have lots of fun together. It's not as if you have anywhere else to go, now is it? And if you think your little 'friends' are coming to rescue you, think again. There's no one for you now, Jack. No one but me.'
Jack pressed his hands to the sides of his head, vainly attempting to block the voice from his thoughts, but it was no use. The voice was everywhere; it was inside his thoughts, inside the cavern, inside his memories and dreams. The voice was everything. And it would not be denied.
'That's right Jack. I will not be denied. You are going to pay for what you have done. You are going to pay dearly. You and everyone around you. And you will continue to live because I wish it. You will continue to live while the bodies of your lover and friends rot and decay around you. You will live to see young Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann curse the day they had met you for the pain you've caused them.' At that, Jack started. No, not Will, not Elizabeth.... The voice went on. 'Oh yes, I know all about them. I know how to make them scream. I will make them scream. And it will be *all* *your* *fault.* So you might as well just sit back and bleed. The fun's just beginning.'
TBC
A/N: Was this a bad place to end? *evil grin* It was, wasn't it? But cliffhangers are so much fun to write!!! Do not fret too much though, at least everyone's still alive, right? Well, except for the room full of corpses......but what's a few dead bodies between friends anyway? Oh, those were Jack's friends........ *shrug* What can I say? I'm evil.
A Pirates of the Caribbean story by Merrie
Disclaimer: All I own is a variety of ticket stubs, a poster that talks to me at night and stares at me while I write, and one overly played soundtrack. If that adds up to owning POTC, then why didn't anyone tell me??!! But I doubt it does.
Summary: Captain Jack has lost his ship, his crew, and nearly his life to a horrible new curse. Will this Sparrow be able soar again after his wings have been broken?
Characters: Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, Commodore Norrington, and all the wonderful cast of POTC.
Author's Note: Thank you so much to those of you who reviewed! I seem to have lost some readers along the way. I hope that doesn't mean that you guys aren't liking my story. Anyway, the angst continues for poor Jack.
Rating: This story is rated PG-13 for violence and language.
Chapter 3: Curses and Corpses
Will shot up straight in his bed with a shout, breathing hard and sweating profusely. 'A nightmare, oh God, what a nightmare.' he thought to himself, trying vainly to catch his heaving breath. From almost the very moment he had finally fallen asleep, his dreams had been plagued by grim visions. Lighting the candle on the table at the side of his bed with a slightly shaking hand seemed to banish some of the worse images, but most of them still played themselves out behind his tightly shut eyes. "Jack......" he whispered to himself, opening his eyes again to cast a glance across the room. The light that had banished the horrid images moments before now seemed to cast shadows of demons and danger at every corner.
"It can't be true, not Jack." Will had had nightmares before. Ever since the ordeal with the curse he had been haunted by scenes death; both of Jack's and his father's. He would remember the expression on Jack's face for the rest of his days as he had gotten run through by Barbossa's sword. And the grim cursed visage of Jack afterwards.....the very thought of it caused a shudder to course through his body. And his father......after he had ended the curse the thought had entered itself unwillingly in his mind. What if he was still tied to a cannon somewhere at the bottom of the ocean? Did that mean he had killed his own father by turning him mortal again and leaving him to drown? Will didn't want to think on it. He couldn't think on it or might have started screaming.
Those weren't the images that haunted him now, however. His dreams were filled with death again, that was true, but this was different. This was no scene that he had witnessed in the past or imagined; this had happened. He knew it had, somehow he just knew. Anamaria was dead. Gibbs was dead. Jack's entire crew was dead. And Jack.....that part was unclear. Will didn't know exactly what had happened to him, but whatever it was, wherever Jack was, he was most certainly in trouble. Will didn't know how he knew these things, but he didn't want to question it. Not when every fibre of his being was screaming at him to get out of bed and search the seas for Jack at this very second.
The decision made before he could even begin to think about it, Will threw the sheets off of his prone form and swung his feet off the side of the bed. Getting dressed quickly, making sure to attach his belt and sword last of all, he pondered on whether or not to go and retrieve Elizabeth. At last he decided it would be wrong not to bring her. She cared for Jack, same as he. She would want to go and rescue him, same as he. 'Is he even still alive to be rescued?'
Will started at the voice that slowly whispered those words in his ear. Of course Jack was alive. He was Captain Jack Sparrow. He might as well have been immortal. Will would have believed that sooner than that Jack had died. But where had the thought come from? Will was relatively sure it wasn't his. Had he even heard it at all? Dismissing such thoughts from his mind, he gave a quick shake of his head to clear his mind and left to make his way to the Swann's mansion.
***
James Norrington couldn't sleep. He didn't know what it was, but there was just something in the air, something foreboding, that called for wakefulness. He stood out on the docks in the early morning twilight, simply listening to the sea. He had grown up on the sea all his life, and never before had he heard it sound like this. It was a horrid sound, something dark and unforgiving. If he had to describe the emotion of the sea to someone, he would have said it seemed vengeful. Something had gone wrong. Some balance had been disrupted, and the sea was angry about it. No, that was too light a word. Livid would have been closer to the mark.
Norrington had to back away from his position at the edge of the dock as a particularly violent wave threatened to knock him from where he stood down into the sea. He didn't envy anyone out on the sea tonight. As a sailor of many years, he knew when the sea should be left well enough alone. This was definitely one of those times. So intent was his gaze on the sea that he almost missed William Turner heading rather loudly towards the governor's mansion. 'What is Turner doing heading over there at this time of night?' After a moment, an unwanted thought crossed his mind and he narrowed his eyes. 'He better not be doing what I think he's doing.' Norrington thought with a frown. "Mr. Turner!" he called out, causing the young man to start and turn abruptly to face him, a hand on his sword hilt. Norrington admired the lad's speed and reflexes. Those wouldn't help him if he was planning on dirtying Miss. Swann's reputation before they were to be married, however. "May I ask what you are doing heading to the governor's mansion at this time of night?" Norrington cast a stern glance at Will.
Will almost smiled at Norrington's tone of voice. He knew how his going out to see Elizabeth at this time of night must have looked, but the call to help Jack was both urgent and insistent. Also, it was a bit difficult to take Norrington seriously while he was dressed in casual wear rather than his immaculate red coat, and his powdered wig had been left at home. Will realized that he had never seen his natural hair before. It was dark and short, very similar to Will's own. Realizing abruptly that he hadn't answered Norrington's question, he spoke, "I know how this must look, but I need Elizabeth's help." As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he cursed under his breath for such a feeble excuse.
"Is that so? And what exactly do you need Ms. Swann's help for, Mr. Turner?" Norrington asked, raising a dark eyebrow that Will could just make out in the dim light of early morning. If you had asked Will why he had done it later, he might not have been able to tell you, for in that moment he decided to tell Norrington the truth. He fervently prayed he wasn't condemning Jack to death as a result. "Jack's in trouble."
"Jack?" After a brief moment, Norrington nodded. "You mean, Jack Sparrow, I take it? In trouble, you say. I don't believe it." The last was said with an air of sarcasm.
"Yes, he is in trouble. His crew has been killed, and he is left alone." Will kicked himself for revealing that bit of information. How was he going to explain how he knew that?
Norrington picked up on this right away, as Will had feared he would. "And just how do you know that, Mr. Turner? He hasn't been in Port Royal for months. I know, we've been keeping a close eye out." Norrington didn't want to admit that he was more likely to warn Jack away rather than hang him at this point because he wasn't fully comfortable with the idea himself, but once he had voiced those thoughts even just to himself they couldn't be denied. He admired the Captain. In fact, he admired him enough to do the incredibly stupid. "It doesn't matter," Norrington said, noticing Will was vainly trying to think of an answer to his question. If you say he is in trouble, then he is. You're a good man, Turner. I trust you. I'm not saying I trust Sparrow, far from it, but if you need my help to rescue him, I will be at your service."
To say Will was shocked was an understatement. His jaw dropped to his feet and he was sure he was mumbling incoherently in disbelief. 'Did he say what I think he just said? No, this is Norrington we're talking about. He doesn't help pirates, he hangs them. Doesn't he?' Looking hard as best he could in the dim early morning light into Norrington's eyes, he tried to discern whether or not the man was serious. When Norrington met his gaze unflinchingly, Will put out a hand. "If we're to go on an adventure together, you must call me Will."
"James." He gripped Will's hand firmly in his own and shook it with a smile on his face. "An adventure, is it? I dare say I hope I'm not to be discharged for this. I rather like it being a commodore."
"If we can get Governor Swann on our side I don't think you'll have anything to worry about. If not.....well, you could always be a pirate." Will couldn't help but laugh at the utterly affronted look Norrington gave him at that suggestion.
"Now, I believe you were off to retrieve Elizabeth?" At Will's nod, Norrington continued. "Then we shall go and find her together." With that, the two once unlikely comrades in arms walked off into the growing light together.
***
Elizabeth groaned aloud and placed her pillow firmly on top of her head to shut out whatever was trying to awake her at this time of night. She had just been in the middle of a particularly good dream involving a wet and shivering Will who had to take off all his clothes or catch his death. She wanted very much to get back to it. He hadn't even got both of his boots off before she had woken up. Hearing the sound again, which she was now awake enough to identify as something small hitting her window, she groaned and threw the covers back in frustration. Whoever had decided it would be a grand idea to throw things at her window and wake her up from what would have been the best dream she had had in a long time was certainly going to get a piece of her mind.
Putting on her robe, she stalked over to the window and threw the curtains open just in time to back away in fear at the rock that came sailing towards her. Fortunately, she had not been hit because the still shut window had stopped the projectile, but this only served to incense her further.
Throwing the shutters open, she shouted out into the courtyard underneath her into the dawning light. "Of all the nerve! I'll have you know it is quite improper to wake a young woman in the middle of the night! Wait until my fiancé gets his hands on you!"
"Uh, Elizabeth? I am your fiancé." Will said with a small smile.
"Oh! Will! I'm so sorry! I didn't know it was you!" Her eyes squinted in the yet dim light. "Then who is that with you?"
"It's me, Elizabeth. We're sorry to have woken you." Norrington spoke up from his place at Elizabeth's side.
"James? What are you doing here? Will? What's going on?" Elizabeth asked, now more than a little concerned.
"Get dressed in traveling clothes Elizabeth, and meet us down here. Be as quiet as possible." Will told her gently.
Elizabeth did as she was told without question, for now at least. She would find out what was going on soon.
***
Jack came to himself slowly, ever so slowly, groaning into the dirt underneath his face. If it was even possible, he felt even more wretched than he had before. After one failed attempt to rise to his knees and eventually his feet, he decided that he rather liked it down on the ground. At least it wasn't spinning.
'Aw, is someone not feeling too good?' A voice sneered in his direction. For a moment, he was filled with hope that someone, anyone, had come to rescue him! He would be able to leave this room full of the rotting corpses of his friends. But then, it dawned on him. 'Oh God,' he thought with a shudder. 'I didn't hear that aloud, did I?'
'Well, give the man a prize. You're not as bleedin' dumb as you look after all,' the voice cackled mockingly.
Pushing himself to his knees, ignoring the nausea that ripped through his body like a sword, he yelled as loud as he had the strength for, "Who are you? What are you? Why don't you just leave me alone?!"
'Oh, don't you know, Jack? I'm the voice of your madness.' Jack felt a cold rush of fear pass through him, and he slumped dejectedly. "Madness? I am not mad!"
'Then who are you talking to, mate? I don't see anyone else in here but the corpses of all those you've failed. You killed them, Jack. How does that make you feel?' Jack could hear a smug smirk in the words.
"I didn't kill them. It wasn't my fault. I am not mad! I do not believe that you are the voice of madness. I believe you are a curse. A horrible curse that caused the deaths of my friends. It was you who killed them, not me!"
'Are you so sure about that? But who caused the curse, Jack? It certainly wasn't me.' The voice seemed to trail off, leaving Jack time to ponder its words. After a brief moment, he had convinced himself. He was many things, and oh God, perhaps he had brought a curse down on his friends, but he was not insane.
'Not yet, anyway. But you and I are going to have lots of fun together. It's not as if you have anywhere else to go, now is it? And if you think your little 'friends' are coming to rescue you, think again. There's no one for you now, Jack. No one but me.'
Jack pressed his hands to the sides of his head, vainly attempting to block the voice from his thoughts, but it was no use. The voice was everywhere; it was inside his thoughts, inside the cavern, inside his memories and dreams. The voice was everything. And it would not be denied.
'That's right Jack. I will not be denied. You are going to pay for what you have done. You are going to pay dearly. You and everyone around you. And you will continue to live because I wish it. You will continue to live while the bodies of your lover and friends rot and decay around you. You will live to see young Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann curse the day they had met you for the pain you've caused them.' At that, Jack started. No, not Will, not Elizabeth.... The voice went on. 'Oh yes, I know all about them. I know how to make them scream. I will make them scream. And it will be *all* *your* *fault.* So you might as well just sit back and bleed. The fun's just beginning.'
TBC
A/N: Was this a bad place to end? *evil grin* It was, wasn't it? But cliffhangers are so much fun to write!!! Do not fret too much though, at least everyone's still alive, right? Well, except for the room full of corpses......but what's a few dead bodies between friends anyway? Oh, those were Jack's friends........ *shrug* What can I say? I'm evil.