Pirates of the Caribbean: The Ring of the Abyss

By: Anna Summers

Hello, hello, and hello my adoring fans! So good to see you back. Thank you so very much for the lovely reviews. The "thank-yous" shall be at the bottom of the chapter this time just because I feel like it, savvy? I would like to inform you all that I am fully excited about Spring Break, so if my story happens to seem a bit...happier...than usual, you will know why. It's because I'm going crazy with anticipation. Hoping everyone is as excited as I am and hoping you like the next chapter!

Chapter 19

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"Kate?" Jack walked over to where his niece was standing; alone near the hull of the ship. Jonathan and Will had gone to repair a tiny hole in the bottom of the small rowboat and Kate had been left by herself again.

"Love, yer so tense! Loosen up a bit! He's only a pirate!" Jack slapped Kate on the back as he referred to Marona.

"A pirate who killed my father!" Kate protested, whipping around to face Jack. He was silent for a minute, and then spoke.

"Do ye want to tell me what happened?" Jack's eyes were soft.

Kate instantly felt her eyes well up for the millionth time that day, and she turned away, "No."

"It sometimes helps to talk about it, ye know."

Kate sighed, and Jack thought for a minute there was no point in pushing her to talk about it, but then she began to speak.

"It was so quiet. That's what I remember most." She began, "You couldn't hear anything but your own breathing and the lapping of the water against the ship. That ship." She nodded towards the Abyss, as it quietly sat in the murky waters not far off into the distance.

Jack leaned on the side of the ship and stared at Kate, waiting for her to continue. She was choking up, and he hated to see her so sad. But he had to know what was bothering her so much.

"That was the night my father gave me the ring. He told me never to lose it...said it was very important, but he didn't say why." She smiled weakly, "Guess I found out the hard way."

Jack studied Kate, listening intently.

"He sent me off to bed and the next thing I knew I was hearing voices. There was a huge ship with Black and White Stallion sails...I was petrified and I got back in bed."

She sniffed, almost scared to go on...

"Then two men came in and they started talking about a ring. I could only figure it was the one my father had given me. They left...but the screaming from on deck didn't stop." Kate swallowed.

"Then, it got very quiet and I went to see the damage. The Abyss crew was gone. It was black as night and even quieter than before." A tear ran down her cheek, "Then I found my father."

Another tear, then another, and soon Kate was erupting into a sobbing fit.

"He was bleeding," she gasped, "And then he -- he died, Jack. He died and he left me there all alone."

Kate led her sobbing body fall into Jack, who held her awkwardly and then loosened up and gathered her in a tight embrace. She cried freely into his shoulder, taking in his signature smell of rum and salt water.

"His last words to me were..." Kate swallowed again, unsure if she would be able to go on, "Make me proud." Kate took a step back and wiped the tears from her shining brown eyes.

"And I'm going to, Jack. I'm going to make him proud."

Jack smiled at how brave Kate was trying to be.

"I think ye already have, love. Ye already have."

~~~~

"We can't have more than three people cram into this boat." Will announced when Jack and Kate had joined the rest of the crew as they crowded around the boat.

"Don't be ridiculous, William. I once fit ten bodies in a small boat like that one." Jack exaggerated as he pointed.

"The hole's grown. It'll sink if it has more weight than three people."

Not one to argue with a skilled blacksmith who was probably right anyways, Jack grunted and threw his hands up.

"Well, what now? I'll go, of course. And Kate must." Jack glanced at Kate, who knew she didn't want to go, but knew she had to. "That leaves one."

"Why must Kate go, Cap'n? She's a woman." Gibbs asked.

"True this is, Gibbs, but a very important woman indeed. Marona wants to see her."

"And I want to see Marona." Kate smiled bravely with a hint of revenge in her voice. Jack smiled proudly.

"Savvy?"

"Aye, Cap'n. Who else will go?"

"William!"

"Alright Jack." Will stepped forward.

"Captain Jack. Hop in, you two."

Will entered the small boat first and helped Kate in. Jack was about to climb in himself, but Jonathan stepped forward.

"Jack! What about me? I want to go!" said the eager boy.

"Ah, you, Jonathan, have a very important job indeed."

Jonathan furrowed his brow and looked at Jack quizzically, who was grinning as he always did.

"Ye get to keep me crew company!" he winked at an angry Jonathan and yelled, "Lower away, Gibbs!"

~~~~

"Let go of the anchor, Gilette."

"Yes, sir."

The Commodore gave orders to lower the anchor, and Elizabeth, of course, ran to his side and began asking questions.

"Commodore! Why are we anchoring so far from the island?" she demanded. The island was not far, but they were still not incredibly close to it.

"And put us at risk for an ambush? Mrs. Turner, please let me do my job."

"Well, how are we going to get Will?"

"I will paddle you to their ship myself. A small boat will be less noticeable and we will be less endangered."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and noticed Gilette and two other men preparing a tiny boat.

"Fine." She shot him a look, daring him to make any moves on her while they were in the little boat together alone. She glanced down at her finger, making sure the ring was still there.

"Commodore! The boat is ready, sir."

"After you, Miss Swann..." the Commodore said her old name automatically, but Elizabeth didn't mind because she loved that she could correct him.

"Mrs. Turner." She emphasized as she took the Commodore's outreached hand and stepped into the boat.

~~~~

It was chilly up on the deck of the Pearl, but it was nothing like the coldness of being in the small boat amongst the fog. Kate shivered when the boat hit the water, and she hugged herself to keep her warm as Jack picked up the oars and began to paddle.

It was also very quiet; no one spoke a word. Kate hated the quietness, it reminded her too much of her father. Though, she dare not speak. She felt if she did she might wake the dead.

Quite an obstacle course lay in front of the threesome. There was debris of sunken ships everywhere and Jack paddled expertly as he dodged them.

"Jack," Kate whispered, "Why have so many ships sunken here?"

"No one knows, love." Jack whispered back, then he said no more, so neither did Kate. She waited.

Just waited...

~~~~


Okay, so I know that one was short, but don't worry! I, Anna, promise a long very exciting chapter next! I won't let you down! Keep me writing! Review! Love you all. ~Anna Summers

Reviewers! My favorite people in the world!

Angelic Evility – Thank you very much for the review about the "words", you know I try! The best story you ever read? Oh, Angelic, you're making me blush now! And let me just say that it is great flattery that you think I have nailed Jack's character, because he is the most difficult and the one I am trying to portray most like the movie. So thank you, dear! You're great and you made my day! :)

artsigirl16 – Oh my! Well, you have certainly motivated me! I think I will have to do that little reception desk idea, though I'm not sure what the receptionist will think about that. But, you know what? Anything to make you happy! :) Thanks for the great review and I'm glad you pinpointed your favorite parts! It helps me find out my strengths and weaknesses! Thanks babe!

Satori Blackthorn – It's all right if you say 'that stupid Norrington' every review you wish because Norrington is a stupid buffoon who is not getting any smarter, if I do say so myself. And thanks for not being angry with me for the long reviews, you know I try! :) Happy readings!

bambi eyes – Let me just say adorable username! And I am very envious of you that your spring break is a lot earlier than mine, but nonetheless I wish you great fun in the sun or the snow or wherever you may be going! And I will try not to let you down with the lots of wonderfully written chapters, though I'm not so full of myself as to say that they are wonderfully written chapters, but thank you very much! Have a good break!