Disclaimer : I don't own, nor do I claim to own anything from 'Pirates of the Caribbean.' I ain't 2 purtee smaht ter fink up stauhff like'at. :)
To all my reviewers : How can I thank thee? Let me count the ways... one one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand.
Obviously a poem of that magnitude must be read under the most precautious of eyes. :) Now, onto the story.
______
Chapter 9 : A Captain of Silence
______
The clink of metal against wood and Cat opened her eyes. The blur of sleep still hanging on the lids made the room hazy, but she caught site of a furry little animal running around with a necklace. She tried blinking again, but the haze did not leave. Suddenly, the necklace was dangling in front of her. It was gorgeous. Gold. Aztec gold.
Cat blinked a few more times, trying to get a better look at the necklace. She sat up straight and looked around, her vision clear. No animal and no necklace.
"It was a dream." She mumbled to herself as she realized that she was still in pain. "Ah."
"Shh!" Will was at the cabin door, ear propped up against it. He held his finger to his lips.
Cat slowly crawled across the room, and sat beside him. The pain went through her body again. She had reopened a few wounds on her back. Pushing the pain back, she too, put her ear to the door.
******
"How'd ye do it, Jack?" Blackbeard was circling the Captain, laughing at him.
"Must I remind you?" Jack smiled and leaned forward. "Captain Jack."
"Oh, righ'. Captain Jack." Blackbeard looked at Jack's wrists. His wrists were tied behind his back. Somehow, the Captain of the Black Pearl had mysteriously boarded the ship without any of Blackbeard's crew knowing. He was at his cabin door about to open the door and let all his "friends" out before the crew caught him. "How did ye git aboard the ship?"
"Do I look like a fool to ye?" Jack laughed a little and saw that Blackbeard was glaring at him. "Maybe I do... " He cleared his throat and tried to get free of the really strong crewmember, it wasn't working. "I don't tell my secrets, Mr. Beard."
Blackbeard flinched when Jack called him 'Mr. Beard' but continued on, trying not to kill the one man that he needed more than anything. "Then why did ye invoke the right o' parlay (A/N - I know it's supposedly French - but I like spelling it this way.)? Obviously ye wanted ter talk ter me."
"To make a deal. A bargain. A righ' ol' switch-a-roo, mate." Jack arched an eyebrow, waiting for Blackbeard to make up his mind. He looked deep in thought at the idea. "If ye let Will and Elizabeth Turner go free," Jack saw the smile on Blackbeard's face, but Jack was too smart. "Safely free back to their homes," The smile faded, and Captain Sparrow's kohl-painted eyes sparkled. "Then I will gladly go through the obstacles on the Isle of Spirits again, mate. Just for you."
"Fine." Blackbeard heaved a sigh. "I'll le' the boy 'n his bonnie lass go safely free back ter ye ship, that way they can go back ter they're 'ome. An' I keep ye an' ye'll get me that treasure on the Isle o' Spirits." Jack nodded, looking at the guy behind him to release him now, but no luck. "O' course - we can't 'ave'em followin' us, now can we? So - if I see the Black Sails, an' they're a-comin' fer ya, I'll kill 'em."
******
Elizabeth had joined Will and Cat as they listened to the scene just outside the cabin door.
Will and Elizabeth looked at Cat after they heard that she was not in the deal.
"I am so sorry." Elizabeth patted Cat's arm.
"But, don't you worry; you will get out of here. If Jack had known that you weren't a traitor, you would be in the deal." Will smiled reassuringly, but his tone did not back him up.
"Don't pity me. Everything is just coming back times one hundred, that's all." Cat shrugged. "All the things I did, I was bound to get some sort of punishment sooner or later." She sighed and put her ear up to the door again, hoping that she would hear some better news in store for her future.
"Um, Cat... " Elizabeth tapped her on the shoulder.
"Watch it. Back, remember?" Cat's muscles tensed causing even more pain, but she gritted her teeth. "Yes?"
"The Isle of Spirits. I have never heard about it before." Elizabeth didn't apologize, but the look in her eyes was good enough for Cat.
"Yes, what exactly is the Isle of Spirits?" Will's voice was hushed as if it were a deadly secret.
"A pirate's legend if you ask me. Don't know why Blackbeard is so set on going there - it doesn't exist." Cat said defiantly. "But, the story goes that the pirates of old would bury their treasure there. The amount of booty continued to grow, and before long it became the most sought after place for rogues and buccaneers of all types. There is so much treasure there that one would need all of the Spanish Armada, times 100, to carry it all."
Will and Elizabeth were clearly enjoying the story as they let out a proper gasp of awe. Cat continued on.
"But - the last pirate to put his treasure there died. Unnatural or natural causes, it didn't matter. He died, and he vowed that no one would ever touch the treasure and live to see the light of day again. He called on the four guardians: earth, air, water, and fire. They would protect the treasure for all eternity, so that the pirate could be with the one thing that he loved most forever and never have it taken away from him."
"If it is just a legend, how come people still try and search for it?" Will asked, clearly enjoying the story.
"I think the island did exist at one time, but the waves of many storms washed it away. They are chasing nothing more than seaweed and starfish, now. But, the idea of being the richest person in the world just captivates people and they go looking for something they cannot find." Cat shrugged and laid face down on the cool floor.
"The guardians... what exactly are they?" Elizabeth asked.
"Well - they are spirits. That is why it is called the Isle of Spirits. The water guardians are supposedly huge piranhas that could swallow a man whole. The others I have never heard about, but I would bet that they would be just as bad." Cat closed her eyes and yawned. She slowly drifted back off to sleep.
******
Catharine was awakened by the sweet aroma of the salty sea air... and a tang of... Captain Jack Sparrow? She opened her eyes quickly and realized that she wasn't in the cabin anymore, and that she had a few ropes around her middle. A sound to her left made it perfectly clear that she wasn't tied up alone, either.
"Jack?" Cat tried to move, but her back scraped against the hard wood of the barrel that she and Jack shared. "Oh, Lord!"
Jack didn't even look at her, he was staring out into the ocean.
Cat looked down at the deck and sighed. He had the right to be angry with her. If it wasn't for her, then he wouldn't even be in this mess and he could be doing whatever he wanted to do. Raid other ships, give a few Commodore's and Captain's from His Majesty's navy a run for their money, escape death how *he* pleased, or find a few treasure maps and search for the treasure. But, no. Cat ruined all hope for Captain Jack Sparrow, and she knew it.
"Argh!" Cat knew that voice. "Git the two love birds a small boat. A raft o' some sor'."
A few crewmembers were bustling around the barrel that held Jack and Cat. They looked afraid of Blackbeard and Cat wondered if they would even dare to think of being mutinous at all.
"You black-hearted scoundrel!" Elizabeth came into Cat's view and came inches away from slapping him, but a crewmember stopped her and threw her into the boat for her and Will.
"Thanky, milady." Blackbeard took off his hat and gave a low bow. The crew laughed, but not heartedly like Blackbeard. "And, take heed o' the deal Captain Sparrow made with me. If ye come to rescue him, or Miss DeVries, I'll be killin' ya rather quickly I do fear."
"We're not scared of you!" Elizabeth tried to get out of the boat again, but Will stopped her. He grabbed her arm and pulled her back in. She looked at him in awe as if he was supposed to be trying to save Jack and Cat.
"Elizabeth." Will's voice soothed her and he winked at her, and then he changed his tone. "There is nothing we can do. Blackbeard will keep them safe ... we may yet again, see them. We are going home..." Elizabeth's mouth dropped open, but she gave a slight nod, as if she knew what he was thinking. "Now. Besides, we have plenty of food to get us back to Palm Rock and from there... home."
"Goo'lad." Blackbeard complimented as he thought things were going his way. "Now - say goo'bye ter ye friends. It may just be the las' time ye'll ever see'em again." He turned and walked into his cabin, leaving orders to a tough-looking pirate.
"Goodbye, mates." Jack said under his breath, as Elizabeth and Will were lowered to the waters below in their boat.
Cat sighed, as she watched their heads slowly disappear over the side.
"Ye two are now wif me. Cap'n lef' me orders ter lock ye up and throw away ther key." The pirate pulled the barrel, making Jack and Cat nearly fall, towards a different area below deck. He loosened the rope and threw them, and the barrel, into a cell. After he locked the cell door, he smiled at them, his yellow and black teeth nearly falling out.
"Well, 'ope ye two we'll be a-gettin' along famously-like." He turned on his heel and headed towards the upper deck.
As soon as the pirate was gone, Jack took the ropes off and moved the barrel against one side of the cell. He sat on it, putting his elbows on his knees, and resting his chin on his hands. He flipped his hat over his eyes, not wanting to make eye contact with Cat. Jack sighed and then was still.
Catharine didn't want to bother him, but she felt that she needed to say something.
"Jack... I mean... Captain Sparrow," Not even a flinch from the Captain. "I just wanted to say that you are a very admirable pirate, and you are a very good man. Not many men would do that for their friends ... and definitely if they were a pirate like you." Cat took a deep breath, the sores on her back stretching again. "You have done honorably."
Jack Sparrow was as still as a statue. Cat looked around the cell, and finding no other piece of furniture to sit on, chose a corner opposite of Jack and sat down. Her back felt unusually better, and without the annoyance of the pain, she began to drift off into a daydream.
______
A/N : If you haven't guessed by now. I am Cliffhanger Queen. *smiles*
I feel it brings more drama to the story. Wahoo. Oh, and before anybody mentions it - yes, I do know that 50 lashings can kill a man. Cat just needed some more pain. She's becoming a little Mary Sue-ish to me. Makin' her nice and miserable for a little while. See... I made her too good with weapons, you already know that her father died when she was young, she's learned how to handle weapons from a samurai, and she's a female pirate. Good thing that I haven't made her the fairest maiden on the sea (I only give slight accounts on how people look and I know that - I'm bad at descriptions - I let the reader make their own mental picture). And, it's also a good thing that I didn't name her after me, eh? Hehe.
Read and review!! I'll love you forever! Seriously - I like good critiques. And a warning to flamers... I might flame back, if provoked. :)
To all my reviewers : How can I thank thee? Let me count the ways... one one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand.
Obviously a poem of that magnitude must be read under the most precautious of eyes. :) Now, onto the story.
______
Chapter 9 : A Captain of Silence
______
The clink of metal against wood and Cat opened her eyes. The blur of sleep still hanging on the lids made the room hazy, but she caught site of a furry little animal running around with a necklace. She tried blinking again, but the haze did not leave. Suddenly, the necklace was dangling in front of her. It was gorgeous. Gold. Aztec gold.
Cat blinked a few more times, trying to get a better look at the necklace. She sat up straight and looked around, her vision clear. No animal and no necklace.
"It was a dream." She mumbled to herself as she realized that she was still in pain. "Ah."
"Shh!" Will was at the cabin door, ear propped up against it. He held his finger to his lips.
Cat slowly crawled across the room, and sat beside him. The pain went through her body again. She had reopened a few wounds on her back. Pushing the pain back, she too, put her ear to the door.
******
"How'd ye do it, Jack?" Blackbeard was circling the Captain, laughing at him.
"Must I remind you?" Jack smiled and leaned forward. "Captain Jack."
"Oh, righ'. Captain Jack." Blackbeard looked at Jack's wrists. His wrists were tied behind his back. Somehow, the Captain of the Black Pearl had mysteriously boarded the ship without any of Blackbeard's crew knowing. He was at his cabin door about to open the door and let all his "friends" out before the crew caught him. "How did ye git aboard the ship?"
"Do I look like a fool to ye?" Jack laughed a little and saw that Blackbeard was glaring at him. "Maybe I do... " He cleared his throat and tried to get free of the really strong crewmember, it wasn't working. "I don't tell my secrets, Mr. Beard."
Blackbeard flinched when Jack called him 'Mr. Beard' but continued on, trying not to kill the one man that he needed more than anything. "Then why did ye invoke the right o' parlay (A/N - I know it's supposedly French - but I like spelling it this way.)? Obviously ye wanted ter talk ter me."
"To make a deal. A bargain. A righ' ol' switch-a-roo, mate." Jack arched an eyebrow, waiting for Blackbeard to make up his mind. He looked deep in thought at the idea. "If ye let Will and Elizabeth Turner go free," Jack saw the smile on Blackbeard's face, but Jack was too smart. "Safely free back to their homes," The smile faded, and Captain Sparrow's kohl-painted eyes sparkled. "Then I will gladly go through the obstacles on the Isle of Spirits again, mate. Just for you."
"Fine." Blackbeard heaved a sigh. "I'll le' the boy 'n his bonnie lass go safely free back ter ye ship, that way they can go back ter they're 'ome. An' I keep ye an' ye'll get me that treasure on the Isle o' Spirits." Jack nodded, looking at the guy behind him to release him now, but no luck. "O' course - we can't 'ave'em followin' us, now can we? So - if I see the Black Sails, an' they're a-comin' fer ya, I'll kill 'em."
******
Elizabeth had joined Will and Cat as they listened to the scene just outside the cabin door.
Will and Elizabeth looked at Cat after they heard that she was not in the deal.
"I am so sorry." Elizabeth patted Cat's arm.
"But, don't you worry; you will get out of here. If Jack had known that you weren't a traitor, you would be in the deal." Will smiled reassuringly, but his tone did not back him up.
"Don't pity me. Everything is just coming back times one hundred, that's all." Cat shrugged. "All the things I did, I was bound to get some sort of punishment sooner or later." She sighed and put her ear up to the door again, hoping that she would hear some better news in store for her future.
"Um, Cat... " Elizabeth tapped her on the shoulder.
"Watch it. Back, remember?" Cat's muscles tensed causing even more pain, but she gritted her teeth. "Yes?"
"The Isle of Spirits. I have never heard about it before." Elizabeth didn't apologize, but the look in her eyes was good enough for Cat.
"Yes, what exactly is the Isle of Spirits?" Will's voice was hushed as if it were a deadly secret.
"A pirate's legend if you ask me. Don't know why Blackbeard is so set on going there - it doesn't exist." Cat said defiantly. "But, the story goes that the pirates of old would bury their treasure there. The amount of booty continued to grow, and before long it became the most sought after place for rogues and buccaneers of all types. There is so much treasure there that one would need all of the Spanish Armada, times 100, to carry it all."
Will and Elizabeth were clearly enjoying the story as they let out a proper gasp of awe. Cat continued on.
"But - the last pirate to put his treasure there died. Unnatural or natural causes, it didn't matter. He died, and he vowed that no one would ever touch the treasure and live to see the light of day again. He called on the four guardians: earth, air, water, and fire. They would protect the treasure for all eternity, so that the pirate could be with the one thing that he loved most forever and never have it taken away from him."
"If it is just a legend, how come people still try and search for it?" Will asked, clearly enjoying the story.
"I think the island did exist at one time, but the waves of many storms washed it away. They are chasing nothing more than seaweed and starfish, now. But, the idea of being the richest person in the world just captivates people and they go looking for something they cannot find." Cat shrugged and laid face down on the cool floor.
"The guardians... what exactly are they?" Elizabeth asked.
"Well - they are spirits. That is why it is called the Isle of Spirits. The water guardians are supposedly huge piranhas that could swallow a man whole. The others I have never heard about, but I would bet that they would be just as bad." Cat closed her eyes and yawned. She slowly drifted back off to sleep.
******
Catharine was awakened by the sweet aroma of the salty sea air... and a tang of... Captain Jack Sparrow? She opened her eyes quickly and realized that she wasn't in the cabin anymore, and that she had a few ropes around her middle. A sound to her left made it perfectly clear that she wasn't tied up alone, either.
"Jack?" Cat tried to move, but her back scraped against the hard wood of the barrel that she and Jack shared. "Oh, Lord!"
Jack didn't even look at her, he was staring out into the ocean.
Cat looked down at the deck and sighed. He had the right to be angry with her. If it wasn't for her, then he wouldn't even be in this mess and he could be doing whatever he wanted to do. Raid other ships, give a few Commodore's and Captain's from His Majesty's navy a run for their money, escape death how *he* pleased, or find a few treasure maps and search for the treasure. But, no. Cat ruined all hope for Captain Jack Sparrow, and she knew it.
"Argh!" Cat knew that voice. "Git the two love birds a small boat. A raft o' some sor'."
A few crewmembers were bustling around the barrel that held Jack and Cat. They looked afraid of Blackbeard and Cat wondered if they would even dare to think of being mutinous at all.
"You black-hearted scoundrel!" Elizabeth came into Cat's view and came inches away from slapping him, but a crewmember stopped her and threw her into the boat for her and Will.
"Thanky, milady." Blackbeard took off his hat and gave a low bow. The crew laughed, but not heartedly like Blackbeard. "And, take heed o' the deal Captain Sparrow made with me. If ye come to rescue him, or Miss DeVries, I'll be killin' ya rather quickly I do fear."
"We're not scared of you!" Elizabeth tried to get out of the boat again, but Will stopped her. He grabbed her arm and pulled her back in. She looked at him in awe as if he was supposed to be trying to save Jack and Cat.
"Elizabeth." Will's voice soothed her and he winked at her, and then he changed his tone. "There is nothing we can do. Blackbeard will keep them safe ... we may yet again, see them. We are going home..." Elizabeth's mouth dropped open, but she gave a slight nod, as if she knew what he was thinking. "Now. Besides, we have plenty of food to get us back to Palm Rock and from there... home."
"Goo'lad." Blackbeard complimented as he thought things were going his way. "Now - say goo'bye ter ye friends. It may just be the las' time ye'll ever see'em again." He turned and walked into his cabin, leaving orders to a tough-looking pirate.
"Goodbye, mates." Jack said under his breath, as Elizabeth and Will were lowered to the waters below in their boat.
Cat sighed, as she watched their heads slowly disappear over the side.
"Ye two are now wif me. Cap'n lef' me orders ter lock ye up and throw away ther key." The pirate pulled the barrel, making Jack and Cat nearly fall, towards a different area below deck. He loosened the rope and threw them, and the barrel, into a cell. After he locked the cell door, he smiled at them, his yellow and black teeth nearly falling out.
"Well, 'ope ye two we'll be a-gettin' along famously-like." He turned on his heel and headed towards the upper deck.
As soon as the pirate was gone, Jack took the ropes off and moved the barrel against one side of the cell. He sat on it, putting his elbows on his knees, and resting his chin on his hands. He flipped his hat over his eyes, not wanting to make eye contact with Cat. Jack sighed and then was still.
Catharine didn't want to bother him, but she felt that she needed to say something.
"Jack... I mean... Captain Sparrow," Not even a flinch from the Captain. "I just wanted to say that you are a very admirable pirate, and you are a very good man. Not many men would do that for their friends ... and definitely if they were a pirate like you." Cat took a deep breath, the sores on her back stretching again. "You have done honorably."
Jack Sparrow was as still as a statue. Cat looked around the cell, and finding no other piece of furniture to sit on, chose a corner opposite of Jack and sat down. Her back felt unusually better, and without the annoyance of the pain, she began to drift off into a daydream.
______
A/N : If you haven't guessed by now. I am Cliffhanger Queen. *smiles*
I feel it brings more drama to the story. Wahoo. Oh, and before anybody mentions it - yes, I do know that 50 lashings can kill a man. Cat just needed some more pain. She's becoming a little Mary Sue-ish to me. Makin' her nice and miserable for a little while. See... I made her too good with weapons, you already know that her father died when she was young, she's learned how to handle weapons from a samurai, and she's a female pirate. Good thing that I haven't made her the fairest maiden on the sea (I only give slight accounts on how people look and I know that - I'm bad at descriptions - I let the reader make their own mental picture). And, it's also a good thing that I didn't name her after me, eh? Hehe.
Read and review!! I'll love you forever! Seriously - I like good critiques. And a warning to flamers... I might flame back, if provoked. :)