Chapter Nineteen: Departure

"You've done WHAT to my crew?!" Jack exclaimed.
"Well, sir..." Dharketh said, fidgeting and trying to avoid Jack's gaze, "they've all...all...well, they're awake...but they don't seem to be in very good condition..." he finished lamely.
"What do you mean? Will they die?" Jack asked with a dangerous undertone to his words.
"Well, not yet..." Dharketh said, trailing off.
"Then you better go and bloody do something about their condition so they can crew the ship, then, hadn't you?!" Jack shouted in rage.
Dharketh ran off, obviously glad to be away from the wrath of Captain Jack Sparrow. Of course, this gave Jack a feeling of immense satisfaction in spite of the fact that he was concerned for his crew. It was good to let these strange people know who was the boss of his ship. He caressed the Black Pearl's hull lovingly.
"You know, I could get jealous of your ship," came a familiar and slightly seductive voice from behind him.
"Oh come on, love, you know you come first!" he protested with a smile. She snorted, knowing better. "Alright, alright, but I've known her longer," he said, smacking his hand against the wood.
Shaking her head, Arianne simply shimmied up the ladder and onto the ship while Jack watched her rear end disappear from sight. When she had gone, he bellowed, "If you're not finished getting packed and getting your things aboard the ship in the next half hour, you'll be left behind!"
"Jack, calm down," Arianne called down to him from the deck. "It may take some time to get the crew in working order."
"Bloody hell, woman, there are enough elves coming with to crew the ship that my original crew doesn't need to be in working order for us to leave!" he called back, annoyed.
"Well, suit yourself, but if you wind up with a crew of seasick elves and no one to help you, it's your own fault," she said, sounding a bit irritated herself. Her head disappeared and he allowed himself a resigned sigh. Why was she always right? It really wasn't fair to him.
His musing was interrupted by a softly musical voice. "I have already packed all that I shall need."
When he turned to see who it was, he found himself confronted with those silver eyes and shockingly white hair. To cover his surprise, he said, "Well, fine thing for a seer to already know what she needs, but what about the other blasted faeries?"
"They will come soon, and all will have forgotten something that they will believe they are in dire need of halfway to our destination," Y'lorani said with a faint smile.
Jack simply snorted and motioned for her to begin carrying her things up the ladder. That was another thing that was irritating--there was no room for a gangplank in this blasted place. He would be glad to leave, would be glad to come to a real ship harbor. Nothing but trouble these faeries caused.
At least they were stronger than they looked, he reflected as he watched Y'lorani carry all of her things up the ladder with her. That was some task, considering that the ladder was made of rope.
When Y'lorani returned to the ground, Jack asked, "Will my crew members all return to their normal selves?"
Y'lorani shook her head. "I do not know," she said. "I cannot See the futures of humans."
"Then how did you see what would happen to me?" he asked, confused.
"Again, I do not know. Perhaps some day we will be learning what it is about you that is so different," she replied mysteriously before walking away, presumably to say her farewells.
He stared after her, frustrated. When he finally could no longer stand being so near his ship without being on her, he too climbed the ladder. He smiled as he felt the ship beneath his feet. It had seemed like years since he had last set foot upon his beloved Pearl.
He walked over to the wheel, caressing it while he hummed snatches of "A Pirate's Life For Me" joyfully. The ship would see open waters again soon enough!

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Arianne watched Jack caressing his ship, a doting expression on her face. It was amusing how much he had missed the ship over the past week or so. Of course, she had missed the ship too, but she knew that she could never understand just how much Jack belonged to the sea. He would never be content living on land for long, and they would have to work through that when the time came. Besides, she thought as she stroked her belly, perhaps having a child to care for would keep him on land that much longer.
Of course, the child would be raised mostly on the sea--they would definitely have to find a home right on the beach, no doubt. She had no objections to her child becoming a sailor (and a damn good one she would be with Jack as her teacher). In fact, she very much supported it. Her child would have a healthy respect for the sea, unlike those foolish fops that suddenly decided they were sailors. Those almost invariably ended up in Davy Jones' locker.
This mortal life was such a wonderful thing. Living and doing all that one could before infirmity or death claimed you, then leaving the living to the young. Leaving the world in their hands. She would not age as most mortals did--she would, if she was correct, retain a youthful body and vigor until she herself decided to pass from the world.
If she had anything to say about that, she would be staying here for a very, very long time.

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Dharketh watched with relief as the pirate called Gibbs began to walk around his cabin. He knew that the others were making good progress as well, and perhaps now Jack would not keelhaul him as he had so threatened. When Gibbs drank from the flask he kept at his bedside, Dharketh suspected that he was just fine. When an alcoholic wished to drink, he was likely going to be just fine.

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Hours later, as the Pearl sailed into the night, Y'lorani watched the island fade from her sight--keen though it was--with a feeling of...what? Was she sorrowful? Excited? She really did not know what to call the strange feeling she felt in her breast. Stroking the crystal, the unmistakeable voice of her grandmother floated through her thoughts.
"You will be happy now, my child...live well..." it whispered.
Y'lorani smiled. She was happy. For the very first time she was truly happy.
The sun dipped below the horizon at last, and the stars took their places while the moon watched their dance as a queen would watch her courtiers.

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