Guess what? I'm procrasinating! I got back from ROTK two hours ago, and
I've been studying french since then. Je prends, tu prends, il prend, nous
prenions, vous preniez, ils prennent. It's driving me nuts! So I should be
studying right now. . . I have three exams to study for. But I feel so bad
about not updating fast and regularly, so I'm writing instead. I just hope
I don't fail!
Disclaimer: do you honestly think that I own pirates of the Caribbean?
!@#$
Chapter six- Captain Bradley's Quest
Edward woke groggily from excitement-induced sleep. He panicked a little when he didn't recognize his surroundings, but in a moment the horrible memories came flooding back. He pulled his knees to his chest and rested his forehead upon them. Tears pricked his eyes, but he furiously blinked them back.
"Right, Edward, ye've landed yerself in a righ' mess," he muttered to himself. Somehow talking out loud made everything more real, and Edward's heart sank. "This weren't the way I wanted ta meet 'im. What'em I gonna do now?" Tears started to trickle down Edward's cheeks.
"An' now the boy's gone nuts," a voice said from the stairs. "S'on'y t'be expecte' if 'e jus' came from Ivanco's ship." Edward wiped his eyes quickly and looked up. Two mean-looking pirates stood in the stairway. One was dark- haired and bearded and looked like a hawk, with a hooked nose and small beady eyes. The other one had lighter hair, though still brown, and had a nose that looked as though it had been broken many times. His eyes were big and round, and he was beardless, and looked rather younger than the other.
"'Ho're ye an' what d'ye want?" Edward spat at them. He stuck his jaw out and glared at the two.
"'Ey now, we mean' no 'fence," the bearded man said. "We's was jus' wonderin' if ye wanted te come above deck for a lit'le while. Ye've been down 'ere fer near four hours now, an' tha' ain't right fer a boy o' yer age." Edward's eyes brightened at that prospect. At least he wouldn't have to stay down here the whole trip.
"Ye mean it?" he asked hopefully. The pirates grinned.
"NO!" they exclaimed in unison. They both laughed hysterically and stomped back up the stairs. Edward frowned and sat back down in his corner.
"Bloody pirates," he muttered under his breath.
***
Edward's stay in the brig was much longer than he'd expected. He expected to be brought before the captain when they got far enough out to sea. Or he'd expected to be given some sort of chore. There was nothing of the sort. The mean beardless man brought him meals three times a day, and he was stuck all alone the rest of the time. For five days he was stuck in this monotony, feeling kind of sick from the smell of the brig and the rocking of the ship.
Finally, though, on the sixth day, when Edward thought he'd go mad if he had to spend another hour in that brig, the beardless man came with news.
"An' 'ow's me fav'rite prisoner?" he asked gleefully as he walked to Edward's cage.
"Ain't we there yet?" Edward asked, as he had done at every meal for the last five days. "An' since when're ye 'appy to be bringin' me food?"
"Aye, I'm not 'appy about bringin' ye the food," Benny, for that was his name, said. "But teday's a special day, an' we's all in a good mood."
"Wha's so good abou' teday?" Edward asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Don't ch'ye know?" Benny asked gleefully. "Ain't ch'ye guessed? We's found Cap'n Sparra'!" Edward gasped.
"Ye found 'im already?" he asked. "But- but- ye's been havin' trouble findin' 'im fer ten years. An' now ye's just found 'im, like that?" he snapped his fingers.
"Aye," Benny said gleefully. "ye's a good luck charm, o' sorts. We was 'eadin' to shore to get some s'plies, as it were, and 'ho just 'appened t'be tied up at dock? Why yer good father Cap'n Jack!" Benny opened the brig and handed Edward his lunch. "Soon's we catch him up, we'll be puttin' the knife te yer throat." He let a malevolent smile creep onto his face.
"Eat up now," Benny said. "yer gonna be meetin' yer father soon."
***
As soon as Benny left Edward gobbled his lunch down. He sat quietly in his corner and took deep breaths for a moment or two, to calm his racing heart. Fear of death was new to him, never before had he had to worry about a knife to his throat. Although that wasn't the only thought plaguing his mind. Finally being able to meet Jack Sparrow, to tell him that he was his son. . . it was too much to hope that Bradley would let him go.
For three hours Edward sat in the dark, hoping that Jack would somehow manage to save him and not his precious treasure. Or both. Far too soon though, Benny came stomping down the stairs, a gag and knife at the ready.
"We's goch'er father," he said meanly. Benny roughly grabbed Edward's arm and twisted him round. He tied the gag tightly around his mouth and stuck the knife to his back.
"Now go, or we'll 'ave to give ye te Jack speared on me knife," said Benny, and prodded Edward forward.
***
Edward was taken up on deck and shoved to the captain's cabin. Inside, Jack sparrow was negotiating with Bradley. Bradley was sitting at his desk, boots up on the desk. Jack was leaning over the desk, his face two feet from Bradley's. Jack looked up briefly as Edward came in, and his eyes showed a flicker of surprise. In a moment it was gone, and he continued on his original train of thought.
"Lis'en," he was saying. "If ye think I'd still 'ave the stupid cup after ten years, ye's got te be mad. But," Jack went round the desk and put his face close to Bradley's. "I can give ye six times wha' that cup was worth. Ye've 'eard the stories I 'magine?" Bradley narrowed his eyes.
"An' 'ow do I know tha y'ain't got that cup 'oled up in yer unfindable cavern?" he asked shrewdly. Jack sighed.
"I try an' try te tell ye," he exclaimed, standing up straight again, and walking almost to the door. He turned on his heel and gave Bradley a glare. "I ain't never 'ad that cup, an' I probl'y won' ever find it. 'S'one stinkin' cup. Wha's so special about it?"
"I suppose ye ain't never 'eard of a family 'eirloom, or a family treasure?" Bradley asked, finally looking in Edward's direction. "This one's more like a family quest, as it were. Me father spen' 'alf 'is life lookin' fer that cup. When I tried te get ye to fin' it for me, ye wen' an' stole it. s'been me life's work te fin' tha' cup. An' I can' stand fer it te be pawed at by bloody stinkin' pirates who's got no connection to it a'tall." Bradley stood and came to stand by Edward. He dismissed Benny with a wave of his hand and took out his own knife.
"'Ave ye any family, Jack?" he asked. Jack gave Edward a slightly confused look before looking at Bradley again.
"Don' think so, me paren's were killed I b'lieve," he said walking to the desk and sitting down. "One o' the firs' villages Barbossa attacked when 'e stole me ship. Me brother I b'lieve was away at the time, though I ain't never found ou' fer sure. Why's ye askin'?" he put his boots on the desk, mimicking Bradley's earlier pose.
"One wonders how kids arrive in the world these days," Bradley said. "All the children runnin' round with no righ' parents. 've ye seen this boy before?"
"Not that I can remember," Jack said. "Mind ye, jus' about every time I's been on shore, I's been drunk."
"Well, this youn' fella claims te be a relation o' yours," Bradley said quietly. "Ain't tha' righ' Edward?" Bradley stuck his knife in Edward's back, almost hard enough to draw blood. Edward squeaked in surprise and nodded his head, while trying desperately to tell Jack differently with his eyes.
"Does 'e now?" Jack said. "Well, let the boy talk. 'E's got te tell me 'ow 'e's related!" Jack stood and took off Edward's gag. He kneeled down to Edward's height. "Now, who're ye an' 'ow'd ye get mixed up with an 'orrible ol' man like Bradley?"
!@#$
Okay, I'm sorry to be leaving you here like this, but I've got to drag it out no? Besides, I'm not counting on more than two or three more chapters, and I don't want to give up on this one yet. It's my new baby! Next chapter will have Edward finally telling Jack of their true relation, and then. . . I don't want to ruin it for you. But you can expect some action!
It's driving me nuts though, I've gone over the last chapter again, and there are so many mistakes! If I was more of a perfectionist than I am already, I'd re-post, but I'll wait until this is all done to do that. I think I'll definitely go back and correct everything when it's done.
I leave you with this:
"The painted guy on the Mûmak is the designated driver. The rest of them are drunk!" From me to you Kara!
Disclaimer: do you honestly think that I own pirates of the Caribbean?
!@#$
Chapter six- Captain Bradley's Quest
Edward woke groggily from excitement-induced sleep. He panicked a little when he didn't recognize his surroundings, but in a moment the horrible memories came flooding back. He pulled his knees to his chest and rested his forehead upon them. Tears pricked his eyes, but he furiously blinked them back.
"Right, Edward, ye've landed yerself in a righ' mess," he muttered to himself. Somehow talking out loud made everything more real, and Edward's heart sank. "This weren't the way I wanted ta meet 'im. What'em I gonna do now?" Tears started to trickle down Edward's cheeks.
"An' now the boy's gone nuts," a voice said from the stairs. "S'on'y t'be expecte' if 'e jus' came from Ivanco's ship." Edward wiped his eyes quickly and looked up. Two mean-looking pirates stood in the stairway. One was dark- haired and bearded and looked like a hawk, with a hooked nose and small beady eyes. The other one had lighter hair, though still brown, and had a nose that looked as though it had been broken many times. His eyes were big and round, and he was beardless, and looked rather younger than the other.
"'Ho're ye an' what d'ye want?" Edward spat at them. He stuck his jaw out and glared at the two.
"'Ey now, we mean' no 'fence," the bearded man said. "We's was jus' wonderin' if ye wanted te come above deck for a lit'le while. Ye've been down 'ere fer near four hours now, an' tha' ain't right fer a boy o' yer age." Edward's eyes brightened at that prospect. At least he wouldn't have to stay down here the whole trip.
"Ye mean it?" he asked hopefully. The pirates grinned.
"NO!" they exclaimed in unison. They both laughed hysterically and stomped back up the stairs. Edward frowned and sat back down in his corner.
"Bloody pirates," he muttered under his breath.
***
Edward's stay in the brig was much longer than he'd expected. He expected to be brought before the captain when they got far enough out to sea. Or he'd expected to be given some sort of chore. There was nothing of the sort. The mean beardless man brought him meals three times a day, and he was stuck all alone the rest of the time. For five days he was stuck in this monotony, feeling kind of sick from the smell of the brig and the rocking of the ship.
Finally, though, on the sixth day, when Edward thought he'd go mad if he had to spend another hour in that brig, the beardless man came with news.
"An' 'ow's me fav'rite prisoner?" he asked gleefully as he walked to Edward's cage.
"Ain't we there yet?" Edward asked, as he had done at every meal for the last five days. "An' since when're ye 'appy to be bringin' me food?"
"Aye, I'm not 'appy about bringin' ye the food," Benny, for that was his name, said. "But teday's a special day, an' we's all in a good mood."
"Wha's so good abou' teday?" Edward asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Don't ch'ye know?" Benny asked gleefully. "Ain't ch'ye guessed? We's found Cap'n Sparra'!" Edward gasped.
"Ye found 'im already?" he asked. "But- but- ye's been havin' trouble findin' 'im fer ten years. An' now ye's just found 'im, like that?" he snapped his fingers.
"Aye," Benny said gleefully. "ye's a good luck charm, o' sorts. We was 'eadin' to shore to get some s'plies, as it were, and 'ho just 'appened t'be tied up at dock? Why yer good father Cap'n Jack!" Benny opened the brig and handed Edward his lunch. "Soon's we catch him up, we'll be puttin' the knife te yer throat." He let a malevolent smile creep onto his face.
"Eat up now," Benny said. "yer gonna be meetin' yer father soon."
***
As soon as Benny left Edward gobbled his lunch down. He sat quietly in his corner and took deep breaths for a moment or two, to calm his racing heart. Fear of death was new to him, never before had he had to worry about a knife to his throat. Although that wasn't the only thought plaguing his mind. Finally being able to meet Jack Sparrow, to tell him that he was his son. . . it was too much to hope that Bradley would let him go.
For three hours Edward sat in the dark, hoping that Jack would somehow manage to save him and not his precious treasure. Or both. Far too soon though, Benny came stomping down the stairs, a gag and knife at the ready.
"We's goch'er father," he said meanly. Benny roughly grabbed Edward's arm and twisted him round. He tied the gag tightly around his mouth and stuck the knife to his back.
"Now go, or we'll 'ave to give ye te Jack speared on me knife," said Benny, and prodded Edward forward.
***
Edward was taken up on deck and shoved to the captain's cabin. Inside, Jack sparrow was negotiating with Bradley. Bradley was sitting at his desk, boots up on the desk. Jack was leaning over the desk, his face two feet from Bradley's. Jack looked up briefly as Edward came in, and his eyes showed a flicker of surprise. In a moment it was gone, and he continued on his original train of thought.
"Lis'en," he was saying. "If ye think I'd still 'ave the stupid cup after ten years, ye's got te be mad. But," Jack went round the desk and put his face close to Bradley's. "I can give ye six times wha' that cup was worth. Ye've 'eard the stories I 'magine?" Bradley narrowed his eyes.
"An' 'ow do I know tha y'ain't got that cup 'oled up in yer unfindable cavern?" he asked shrewdly. Jack sighed.
"I try an' try te tell ye," he exclaimed, standing up straight again, and walking almost to the door. He turned on his heel and gave Bradley a glare. "I ain't never 'ad that cup, an' I probl'y won' ever find it. 'S'one stinkin' cup. Wha's so special about it?"
"I suppose ye ain't never 'eard of a family 'eirloom, or a family treasure?" Bradley asked, finally looking in Edward's direction. "This one's more like a family quest, as it were. Me father spen' 'alf 'is life lookin' fer that cup. When I tried te get ye to fin' it for me, ye wen' an' stole it. s'been me life's work te fin' tha' cup. An' I can' stand fer it te be pawed at by bloody stinkin' pirates who's got no connection to it a'tall." Bradley stood and came to stand by Edward. He dismissed Benny with a wave of his hand and took out his own knife.
"'Ave ye any family, Jack?" he asked. Jack gave Edward a slightly confused look before looking at Bradley again.
"Don' think so, me paren's were killed I b'lieve," he said walking to the desk and sitting down. "One o' the firs' villages Barbossa attacked when 'e stole me ship. Me brother I b'lieve was away at the time, though I ain't never found ou' fer sure. Why's ye askin'?" he put his boots on the desk, mimicking Bradley's earlier pose.
"One wonders how kids arrive in the world these days," Bradley said. "All the children runnin' round with no righ' parents. 've ye seen this boy before?"
"Not that I can remember," Jack said. "Mind ye, jus' about every time I's been on shore, I's been drunk."
"Well, this youn' fella claims te be a relation o' yours," Bradley said quietly. "Ain't tha' righ' Edward?" Bradley stuck his knife in Edward's back, almost hard enough to draw blood. Edward squeaked in surprise and nodded his head, while trying desperately to tell Jack differently with his eyes.
"Does 'e now?" Jack said. "Well, let the boy talk. 'E's got te tell me 'ow 'e's related!" Jack stood and took off Edward's gag. He kneeled down to Edward's height. "Now, who're ye an' 'ow'd ye get mixed up with an 'orrible ol' man like Bradley?"
!@#$
Okay, I'm sorry to be leaving you here like this, but I've got to drag it out no? Besides, I'm not counting on more than two or three more chapters, and I don't want to give up on this one yet. It's my new baby! Next chapter will have Edward finally telling Jack of their true relation, and then. . . I don't want to ruin it for you. But you can expect some action!
It's driving me nuts though, I've gone over the last chapter again, and there are so many mistakes! If I was more of a perfectionist than I am already, I'd re-post, but I'll wait until this is all done to do that. I think I'll definitely go back and correct everything when it's done.
I leave you with this:
"The painted guy on the Mûmak is the designated driver. The rest of them are drunk!" From me to you Kara!