Pirates of the Caribbean: Extinction of A Legacy
Author's Note: Gak! Sorry for the long wait! ^^ Here's the chapter. I'll talk later.
==========================================================
Chapter XIII: The Raven and the Sparrow
For nearly six months, Port Royal went about its business, returning to the normal day-to-day work. A few changes had occurred here and there, concerning the Governor's household, the Norrington household, and a certain blacksmith. Elizabeth and William Turner were engaged to be wed in a few months, and Governor Swann was finally accepting their relationship- especially after Will's business began to grow after Mr. Brown had retired.
Elizabeth was adjusting well to middle-class life, and found herself liking the chores that most women were to do. She cooked, cleaned and did the groceries. All the things she thought she would never live without; she found to be more of a hindrance than necessities.
"Good Morning Miss Swann."
Elizabeth turned around and found a small boy smiling up at her. After a few weeks in town, Elizabeth met wonderful children who helped her with her chores. David was one such child. He was a seven-year old with rosy cheeks and shimmering blue eyes, which contrasted his dark locks. The gap between his teeth made him look adorable.
"Good Morning David, how are you today?" Elizabeth asked as she knelt down towards the child. David smiled at her, and handed her a parcel.
" I be doing well, Miss Swann," he replied, " A lady from the docks asked me to deliver this to you."
He then ran off to find his friends, leaving Elizabeth with an envelope. Looking towards the harbor, she found a large ship docked with its crew unloading crates onto the docks. From the looks of the ship, Elizabeth deduced it was another merchant ship, but the crew did not look to be part of a 'respectable' merchant crew. Most of the men wore rags, and some were as old as her father was.
She forgot about her daily trip to the market as she spotted a woman climbing down to from the ship. Elizabeth thought the woman looked somewhat familiar, but she didn't know who or where she had seen her. The woman was tan-skinned- reminding her a bit of Jack Sparrow, but her attire reminded her of a whore. She had a loose white, elbow length bell sleeved shirt, which revealed her the tops of her shoulders. The lace on her shirt was loosely tied- tight enough to conceal her cleavage. She wore a light violet skirt that concealed a pair of black breeches underneath, although Elizabeth only saw them as the woman had climbed down. She had a wide black belt tied onto her waist, keeping her shirt and her skirt on. Another sash was tied on her waist over the belt, but Elizabeth could only assume it was for show.
As the woman walked towards the streets, Elizabeth caught a glance at her light brown boots. The bracelets that hung on the woman's wrists chimed as she walked, attracting attention from everyone she passed by. As the woman came closer towards Elizabeth, she noticed the red bandanna that was tied onto her forehead, keeping her wavy mid-back length, black hair from her face.
Recognition flashed through Elizabeth as the woman turned towards the ship. Hiding behind a store, Elizabeth prayed that the woman did not see her. She began to quickly walk towards the market, hoping she merely saw a look alike, and not the real thing.
~*~*~
Clang. Clang. Clink.
Sounds of metal being molded by a hammer echoed inside the smithy. Will was busy finishing the last order of blades for Commodore Joseph Norrington. After receiving clemency from the Governor, proposing to Elizabeth, and getting pardon from the Commodore, he was back to being a blacksmith. His talent was discovered, and now everyone flocked to give him orders for blades.
Wiping the sweat from his brows, Will began to polish the remaining blade for the new sailors of the British Army. Every blade was identical to the others, all perfectly balanced, but not as intricate as the blade he had made for Commodore Norrington. As he practiced with the sword, he found himself tiring. Sheathing the sword, he opened one of the hidden drawers underneath his workstation.
There, were two blades that differed from the rest. One was a one-edged blade made with folded steel, its hilt was a weave of gold and silver. An intricate design was carved on the blade itself, with the initials 'JS carved on the base of the blade. The other was a much thinner blade, but still high of quality. It too, was a one-edged blade made with folded steel with a deep fuller running through the middle of both sides, only its grip was wrapped in braided yarn laid overtop the leather straps. It had a tassel made of fine threads of red and gold. On the blade, the name 'Marion' was carefully engraved on the base of the blade. Both blades had metal scabbards lined with leather.
Will took pride in both, and kept them locked in a place where no person would ever see them. Will was waiting for the opportune moment to present his masterpieces to their rightful owners. Taking out Marion's blade, he placed the scabbard on a table and ran his finger on her name.
"She would have loved to receive a fine sword."
Will nearly dropped the rapier, startled as he heard Norrington's voice. He slowly turned around and found Joseph standing a foot away from him.
"How did you get in?" Will asked nervously, wondering how the Commodore managed to sneak up on him without him hearing the man's footsteps.
Joseph chuckled, " William, my boy, I have been standing here since you opened those drawers," he replied somberly, still eyeing the sword in Will's hand. A moment of silence drew out from between them, and Joseph decided to continue. " I came to apologize for-"
Before he could utter another word, Murtogg barged in, and gave a slight salute to the Commodore. Joseph's warm expression melted, and Commodore Norrington faced both Will and Murtogg.
"Mr. Murtogg, what is the meaning of this?" Joseph inquired.
" A ship just docked sir," the man replied. Seeing the look on the Commodore's face, he continued, " It's the HMS Diamond, sir."
Will became curious as he heard the ship's name. The HMS Diamond was a British ship that had vanished a couple of years ago. There were rumors that a band of pirates now held it, but none were sure about its true whereabouts.
" That will be all, Mr. Murtogg," Joseph said, dismissing the soldier. He looked back to Will apologetically and gave him a small nod. " I'm afraid my apologies will have to wait, Mr. Turner. Good day."
Will responded with a nod of his own, closing the doors behind him. He went back to his workstation and was about to place the blade back into the scabbard, only to find it missing. He was about to search, when he felt the familiar coolness of the metal on his neck.
"I thought he'd never leave," said a familiar masculine voice. Will's eyes widened both with surprise and anger. He felt the blade move away from his neck, and heard it being sheathed into its scabbard.
Turning around, he found the smirking face of Captain Jack Sparrow. Will looked at the man incredulously, while he took the rapier from his outstretched hand.
" Beautiful, mate," Jack commented, nodding at the sword. " Who's Marion I wonder?"
" Are you daft, Jack?! Norrington was just here! And he's still out for your hide!" Will yelled as he ignored Jack's implications. " Why are you here?"
The pirate swayed towards a chair and sat down. " I was wondering when you'd ask," Jack said, " But really now, behind dear Elizabeth's back?"
Will glared at him and placed the sword back in the drawer, retrieving the other. " It's not what you think Jack. Marion was my guardian. She went missing nearly three years ago," Will explained as he locked the drawer. Turning around, he tossed the other blade in his hand to Jack, who caught it deftly.
"What's this, mate?" Jack asked, testing out the rapier.
"It's a sword, Jack," Will replied obviously, hiding the smirk on his face. Jack turned to his friend and laughed.
" I know that, boy," Jack said with a smile, then he went on examining the sword, " I meant- what is the occasion? Is it me birthday?"
Will rolled his eyes as he leaned on a post to watch his pirate friend. He could tell that Jack was in love with the sword- the way he held it and how he practiced. It was almost the exact replica of him when he had finished constructing the blade.
"So, about this guardian of yours," Jack brought up as he sheathed his newly acquired sword, " How is it you managed to snag an angel?"
Will understood how Jack could have misinterpreted his words. With Barbossa and the Aztec gold making Jack a believer in the impossible, it was perfectly reasonable to the pirate that other beings existed as well.
"She was my guardian- a second mother, per se," Will explained as he tidied up his equipment, "Not an angel, but a woman who was eight years my senior- they say she died during a pirate attack"
Jack sat back on his chair and watched the expressions on Will change as he spoke. Suddenly, an idea sprung to his mind, but how was he going to word it?
"But you don't believe them?" Jack asked, hoping his plan would work. He had missed the lad's company, it reminded him so much of Bootstrap.
Will shook his head as he began to sweep the floors. " No, I believe she was kidnapped by pirates- that was another reason why I hated your kind, Jack. Other than burning the ship my mother and I were on, thus killing my mother, they had kidnapped a woman who took me in during my most vulnerable time."
Jack continued to watch Will, waiting for the opportune moment to inform the lad of his venture. His ears perked as he heard the words that came out of Will's mouth. " I can only imagine what they're doing… or what they've done- if only I could find her, then I can let go of the grief."
Grinning, Jack slapped his thigh and made eye contact with the younger man. " I've got a proposition for you. Join me on the Pearl for one last adventure before you get married," Jack started, " You can dedicate this journey to Marion, and get enough money to buy a house for yourself and Elizabeth."
Will had a thoughtful look on his face, " Norrington won't approve, he's likely to get suspicious of the origins of my wealth."
"So you can build the house slowly, you're good at that sort of thing," Jack goaded. Knowing the boy would not refuse a chance to return Elizabeth's previous lifestyle back to her, he continued, " Elizabeth would never have to miss the life she had before… do we have an accord?"
"Agreed."
Smiling, Jack nodded as he left the smithy, heading for his ship.
~*~*~
Joseph stood in his uniform, his posture straight and his gaze as cold as the Arctic winds. He eyed the merchants suspiciously, as he observed the deck of the HMS Diamond. It was just as he and his men had suspected- the HMS Diamond was the same Diamond that was stolen during its trip to the Mediterranean. He made a slight signal to his men, and was about to arrest every member in the ship when a woman climbed aboard.
" Is there a problem, Commodore?"
Joseph halted, recognizing the melodious voice of his sister. He slowly turned around, his heart beating quickly in his chest. For three years he had thought of his sister as dead, and now, she stood before his eyes. Although she was not wearing the type of clothing Joseph was used to seeing her in, everything about her was still the same. Her hair was somewhat longer, but other than that, everything was just as he remembered.
"Marion"
To Be Continued…
=================================================================
Author's Note: I apologize for the wait. I had a hard time adjusting to the school hours and the homework. I have to admit, the things between gave me a chance to edit and revise ideas. ^^ At first I was thinking of making Marion be the one who met up with Will… but now I have a brand new twist in the story that I think you all will enjoy.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I'll see you all next week… I probably might not have the next chapter done until then.
