It was the sudden stillness that woke him. Jack's eyes snapped open as the
rolling and pitching of his beloved Pearl suddenly settled into a gentle
rocking that would have pleased him had they been anywhere but by the Horn.
Beside him, Marin stirred also, making a girlish sound in her throat as he
felt her eyes flutter open against his bare shoulder.
He glanced down at her, seeing the same alarm and wonder in her eyes that he was certain coloured his own expression. She smiled in confusion as he slipped from the bunk, pulling on his clothes quickly. Marin sat up, clutching the covers about her as she listened to the quiet whistle of the wind across the deck above them.
'The eye of the storm,' she murmured, her eyes finding Jack's in mutual triumph. 'We're here.'
He grinned at her excited expression, throwing her shirt to her as she slipped her legs over the side of the bunk, the linen sheet still wrapped about her body. Despite the fact that they had been married for nigh on six months, she was still shy of him when it came to dressing and undressing. Jack obligingly turned his back, passing her breeches back to her as they came to hand.
'Sounds like old Fitz was right,' he told her as they sat side by side on the bunk, each putting their boots on. 'It certainly feels like the eye of a storm, though what we'll find out there, I couldn't say, love.'
Marin smiled faintly, standing to twist her hair back from her face as he wrestled with his bandanna. Satisfied that they were presentable for the crew, Jack pulled on his coat, catching his wife as she slipped past to kiss her tenderly before following her up on deck. He absently tucked the back of her shirt into her sash as they emerged into the quiet air.
Jack felt a triumphant smile work its way onto his face as Marin gasped quietly. They moved together to stand beside Solomon on the larboard side, gazing out across the island before them. It seemed a desolate place, all barren rock and deep caves. Jack was reminded of Isla de Muerta, another island where a curse had been laid to rest.
A gentle breeze tugged at his dreads, making the various beads and trinkets chime as they tapped against one another. James stood nearby, his own eyes wide with wonder that they had even found the place in the midst of the storms without being dashed against the jagged rocks that lined the isle. But no, they had been buffeted straight into a deep cove, protected on three sides by towering cliffs in which caves could be seen to stretch further into the island. Howling filled the air, a steady, high pitched wail that seemed to be torn from inhuman throats, spelling the doom of some poor sailor out at sea that night.
James leant forward, murmuring words all too familiar to Jack and his wife.
'The gold survives within the eye of the storm, where the whispering winds never cease to blow and the wail of the banshee fills the air from year to year, in sight of the land where the eternal flames burn.'
That was the clue that had been given to them, passed down through generations to Elias Fitzpatrick, who in turn had given it to them, just weeks before his death. Marin swallowed against the lump that rose in her throat as she remembered her beloved cousin, grateful for Jack's presence at her back as he took her hand in his.
A shout echoed across the cove from where the Red Dragon had just slipped in behind them, looking a little battered but still sound as she drifted in near silence across the water.
'Ahoy, Pearl!'
Jack turned to see Will and Elizabeth waving to them from the poopdeck. He waved back, grinning as he turned Marin to watch as their friends drew alongside.
'Permission to come aboard, Captain Sparrow?' Elizabeth called as the Dragon dropped anchor beside the Pearl.
'Granted,' Jack said absently, waving his hand in one of those ridiculous gestures that clarified nothing and spoke volumes. 'Bring the captain, too.'
Will shot him an indignant look as he grasped a rope, not bothering to wait for the boarding plank as he swung himself, his wife and his son across to the other ship. Elizabeth had long since given up on wearing dresses whilst on the sea, and had taken a leaf from Marin's book in her clothes, settling on breeches, shirt and waistcoat not unlike those of her husband. The two moved to join their friends at the larboard side, staring out across the island.
'So that's it then,' Will breathed. 'Elias' island really does exist.'
James glanced at him, relieved to hear that he wasn't the only one who had doubted the old pirate's clues to the whereabouts of the family hoard.
'It really does,' he agreed, watching from the corner of his eye as Jack took the baby from Elizabeth, far too comfortable with the infant to be completely inexperienced with children. 'But there are so many caves, it will take us a long while to find the gold.'
Will nodded, his eyes still fixed in wonder on the barren looking rocks.
'There's a stream about a mile inland,' he muttered. 'We saw it as we slipped in. So there's fresh water, at least.'
No one seemed able to tear their eyes from the island, each caught up in their own personal pleasure at having survived the voyage to reach their destination. Then suddenly Marin laughed, a joyous lilting sound that carried across the quiet water as she wrapped her arms about James and swung him about.
'We're here!' she cried, holding him close as he laughed with her, feeling the triumphant pride that swelled through his little cousin.
It was as if Marin's words had broken a spell laid over the two crews, as Gibbs and Hopkins shook themselves, barking out orders to lay the ships alongside one another. The men hurried to attend to their duties, chattering excitedly among themselves as they clambered up into the rigging, or moved to secure the anchors.
Jack bounced young Matthew in his arms, smiling as the little boy laughed at him. Elizabeth saw Marin's eyes turn to her husband, a slightly wistful smile on her face as she watched him play with his friend's son. She slipped an arm about her friend's shoulders.
'Jack's very good with Matthew, isn't he?' she said softly, watching the captain as he played with the baby.
Marin sighed gently, nodding.
'He loves babies,' she murmured. 'But don't tell him I said that, or I'll never hear the end of it.'
'Hear the end of what?' Elizabeth laughed. 'Besides, he won't be able to hide it when he has a few of his own.'
Marin blushed, ducking her head in an attempt to hide the embarrassed flush on her cheeks. Elizabeth lifted her chin.
'Still not well, then?' she asked quietly, her eyes seeing more than Marin would have wished her to.
The younger girl nodded miserably.
'I don't know what's wrong with me,' she shrugged. 'I feel fine most of the time, it's just mornings I'm not so well. What does that mean?'
Elizabeth smiled fondly down at her friend.
'You really don't know, do you?' she said gently.
Marin frowned, confused.
'Know what?'
Elizabeth sighed softly.
'This is what growing up amongst men will do for you,' she said, to no one in particular. 'Look, when you get a chance, talk to Solomon about your nausea. He'll be able to tell you what's wrong.'
'Why can't you?' Marin asked her friend, a little hurt that Elizabeth knew something about her and wasn't sharing the information.
The older woman laughed.
'I've interfered in your marriage enough to know when to keep my nose out of things,' she said mysteriously. 'Ask Solomon, that's all I'm saying.'
A strain of music floated across the deck to them, and they turned to see the men settled together by the two forecastles, pipes and drums out, ready to celebrate their safe arrival. Marin glanced to the great cabin, and laughed to see Will and Jack manhandling one of her husband's more prized possessions out on deck - a cask of the finest Spanish brandy.
Letting her eyes wander over the crew, she could see how happy they were to be out of harm's way, even if it only lasted for this one night. Gibbs had managed to finagle Matthew from his captain's arms, and was sitting with him in the midst of the sailors, even as the crew of the Dragon swarmed across to join the celebrations. The musicians among them opened with one of the more rousing tunes, Solomon stamping about the deck to set the pace for them even as he endeavoured to put words to the well-known melody.
A warm hand ensnared her own, and she looked back to find Jack standing close by, his eyes on the dancers. He bowed flamboyantly to her.
'Might I have the pleasure of this dance, love?' he asked, not waiting for an answer as he swept his little wife into the dancing, ignoring her protests that she couldn't dance at all.
Laughing, Elizabeth turned a deaf ear to her friend's pleas for help, pleased to see Marin being forced to enjoy herself and forget her worries. A gentle arm slipped about her waist, and she didn't need to turn to know that Will had joined her, watching their friends whirl about the deck with the sailors around them cheering them on.
'She still hasn't worked it out, has she?' he murmured to his wife.
Elizabeth's eyes widened.
'How did you know?' she demanded.
Will raised an eyebrow.
'Beth, I went through four months of this with you, do you seriously think I can't recognise the signs?' he asked her archly.
She held his gaze for a moment, before shaking her head with a smile.
'Sorry,' she apologised. 'But don't you dare tell Jack.'
He looked affronted.
'I would never do such a thing,' he protested, his mask of innocence dissolving into a wicked grin. 'Besides, I want to savour the moment when he tells me.'
Elizabeth laughed, slapping his arm lightly in mock indignation on her friend's behalf. He caught her hand and kissed it, that wicked smile never leaving his face as his eyes twinkled mischievously in the falling darkness.
'Since Matthew seems quite at home with Mr Gibbs, Mr Turner,' Elizabeth said suddenly, stepping away from him to execute a bow that could have rivalled Jack's, 'would you do me the distinct honour of this dance?'
Will laughed, curtseying awkwardly to his giggling wife as he took her hand.
'Oh, sir, you are the one to honour me,' he replied, in an impossibly high-pitched voice.
As Elizabeth dissolved into helpless laughter, he took her in his arms and swung her into the dance, quickly settling as they matched Jack and Marin move for move. Even as they settled into the rhythm, the music grew faster and wilder, until both couples gave up in defeat. The laughter and celebrations continued for hours, well into the night as the crews of both the Red Dragon and the Black Pearl gave thanks in their own way to the great lady of the sea that they had made a safe journey.
*~*~*
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT at the end of the review responses today - don't miss it, it affects you all!
He glanced down at her, seeing the same alarm and wonder in her eyes that he was certain coloured his own expression. She smiled in confusion as he slipped from the bunk, pulling on his clothes quickly. Marin sat up, clutching the covers about her as she listened to the quiet whistle of the wind across the deck above them.
'The eye of the storm,' she murmured, her eyes finding Jack's in mutual triumph. 'We're here.'
He grinned at her excited expression, throwing her shirt to her as she slipped her legs over the side of the bunk, the linen sheet still wrapped about her body. Despite the fact that they had been married for nigh on six months, she was still shy of him when it came to dressing and undressing. Jack obligingly turned his back, passing her breeches back to her as they came to hand.
'Sounds like old Fitz was right,' he told her as they sat side by side on the bunk, each putting their boots on. 'It certainly feels like the eye of a storm, though what we'll find out there, I couldn't say, love.'
Marin smiled faintly, standing to twist her hair back from her face as he wrestled with his bandanna. Satisfied that they were presentable for the crew, Jack pulled on his coat, catching his wife as she slipped past to kiss her tenderly before following her up on deck. He absently tucked the back of her shirt into her sash as they emerged into the quiet air.
Jack felt a triumphant smile work its way onto his face as Marin gasped quietly. They moved together to stand beside Solomon on the larboard side, gazing out across the island before them. It seemed a desolate place, all barren rock and deep caves. Jack was reminded of Isla de Muerta, another island where a curse had been laid to rest.
A gentle breeze tugged at his dreads, making the various beads and trinkets chime as they tapped against one another. James stood nearby, his own eyes wide with wonder that they had even found the place in the midst of the storms without being dashed against the jagged rocks that lined the isle. But no, they had been buffeted straight into a deep cove, protected on three sides by towering cliffs in which caves could be seen to stretch further into the island. Howling filled the air, a steady, high pitched wail that seemed to be torn from inhuman throats, spelling the doom of some poor sailor out at sea that night.
James leant forward, murmuring words all too familiar to Jack and his wife.
'The gold survives within the eye of the storm, where the whispering winds never cease to blow and the wail of the banshee fills the air from year to year, in sight of the land where the eternal flames burn.'
That was the clue that had been given to them, passed down through generations to Elias Fitzpatrick, who in turn had given it to them, just weeks before his death. Marin swallowed against the lump that rose in her throat as she remembered her beloved cousin, grateful for Jack's presence at her back as he took her hand in his.
A shout echoed across the cove from where the Red Dragon had just slipped in behind them, looking a little battered but still sound as she drifted in near silence across the water.
'Ahoy, Pearl!'
Jack turned to see Will and Elizabeth waving to them from the poopdeck. He waved back, grinning as he turned Marin to watch as their friends drew alongside.
'Permission to come aboard, Captain Sparrow?' Elizabeth called as the Dragon dropped anchor beside the Pearl.
'Granted,' Jack said absently, waving his hand in one of those ridiculous gestures that clarified nothing and spoke volumes. 'Bring the captain, too.'
Will shot him an indignant look as he grasped a rope, not bothering to wait for the boarding plank as he swung himself, his wife and his son across to the other ship. Elizabeth had long since given up on wearing dresses whilst on the sea, and had taken a leaf from Marin's book in her clothes, settling on breeches, shirt and waistcoat not unlike those of her husband. The two moved to join their friends at the larboard side, staring out across the island.
'So that's it then,' Will breathed. 'Elias' island really does exist.'
James glanced at him, relieved to hear that he wasn't the only one who had doubted the old pirate's clues to the whereabouts of the family hoard.
'It really does,' he agreed, watching from the corner of his eye as Jack took the baby from Elizabeth, far too comfortable with the infant to be completely inexperienced with children. 'But there are so many caves, it will take us a long while to find the gold.'
Will nodded, his eyes still fixed in wonder on the barren looking rocks.
'There's a stream about a mile inland,' he muttered. 'We saw it as we slipped in. So there's fresh water, at least.'
No one seemed able to tear their eyes from the island, each caught up in their own personal pleasure at having survived the voyage to reach their destination. Then suddenly Marin laughed, a joyous lilting sound that carried across the quiet water as she wrapped her arms about James and swung him about.
'We're here!' she cried, holding him close as he laughed with her, feeling the triumphant pride that swelled through his little cousin.
It was as if Marin's words had broken a spell laid over the two crews, as Gibbs and Hopkins shook themselves, barking out orders to lay the ships alongside one another. The men hurried to attend to their duties, chattering excitedly among themselves as they clambered up into the rigging, or moved to secure the anchors.
Jack bounced young Matthew in his arms, smiling as the little boy laughed at him. Elizabeth saw Marin's eyes turn to her husband, a slightly wistful smile on her face as she watched him play with his friend's son. She slipped an arm about her friend's shoulders.
'Jack's very good with Matthew, isn't he?' she said softly, watching the captain as he played with the baby.
Marin sighed gently, nodding.
'He loves babies,' she murmured. 'But don't tell him I said that, or I'll never hear the end of it.'
'Hear the end of what?' Elizabeth laughed. 'Besides, he won't be able to hide it when he has a few of his own.'
Marin blushed, ducking her head in an attempt to hide the embarrassed flush on her cheeks. Elizabeth lifted her chin.
'Still not well, then?' she asked quietly, her eyes seeing more than Marin would have wished her to.
The younger girl nodded miserably.
'I don't know what's wrong with me,' she shrugged. 'I feel fine most of the time, it's just mornings I'm not so well. What does that mean?'
Elizabeth smiled fondly down at her friend.
'You really don't know, do you?' she said gently.
Marin frowned, confused.
'Know what?'
Elizabeth sighed softly.
'This is what growing up amongst men will do for you,' she said, to no one in particular. 'Look, when you get a chance, talk to Solomon about your nausea. He'll be able to tell you what's wrong.'
'Why can't you?' Marin asked her friend, a little hurt that Elizabeth knew something about her and wasn't sharing the information.
The older woman laughed.
'I've interfered in your marriage enough to know when to keep my nose out of things,' she said mysteriously. 'Ask Solomon, that's all I'm saying.'
A strain of music floated across the deck to them, and they turned to see the men settled together by the two forecastles, pipes and drums out, ready to celebrate their safe arrival. Marin glanced to the great cabin, and laughed to see Will and Jack manhandling one of her husband's more prized possessions out on deck - a cask of the finest Spanish brandy.
Letting her eyes wander over the crew, she could see how happy they were to be out of harm's way, even if it only lasted for this one night. Gibbs had managed to finagle Matthew from his captain's arms, and was sitting with him in the midst of the sailors, even as the crew of the Dragon swarmed across to join the celebrations. The musicians among them opened with one of the more rousing tunes, Solomon stamping about the deck to set the pace for them even as he endeavoured to put words to the well-known melody.
A warm hand ensnared her own, and she looked back to find Jack standing close by, his eyes on the dancers. He bowed flamboyantly to her.
'Might I have the pleasure of this dance, love?' he asked, not waiting for an answer as he swept his little wife into the dancing, ignoring her protests that she couldn't dance at all.
Laughing, Elizabeth turned a deaf ear to her friend's pleas for help, pleased to see Marin being forced to enjoy herself and forget her worries. A gentle arm slipped about her waist, and she didn't need to turn to know that Will had joined her, watching their friends whirl about the deck with the sailors around them cheering them on.
'She still hasn't worked it out, has she?' he murmured to his wife.
Elizabeth's eyes widened.
'How did you know?' she demanded.
Will raised an eyebrow.
'Beth, I went through four months of this with you, do you seriously think I can't recognise the signs?' he asked her archly.
She held his gaze for a moment, before shaking her head with a smile.
'Sorry,' she apologised. 'But don't you dare tell Jack.'
He looked affronted.
'I would never do such a thing,' he protested, his mask of innocence dissolving into a wicked grin. 'Besides, I want to savour the moment when he tells me.'
Elizabeth laughed, slapping his arm lightly in mock indignation on her friend's behalf. He caught her hand and kissed it, that wicked smile never leaving his face as his eyes twinkled mischievously in the falling darkness.
'Since Matthew seems quite at home with Mr Gibbs, Mr Turner,' Elizabeth said suddenly, stepping away from him to execute a bow that could have rivalled Jack's, 'would you do me the distinct honour of this dance?'
Will laughed, curtseying awkwardly to his giggling wife as he took her hand.
'Oh, sir, you are the one to honour me,' he replied, in an impossibly high-pitched voice.
As Elizabeth dissolved into helpless laughter, he took her in his arms and swung her into the dance, quickly settling as they matched Jack and Marin move for move. Even as they settled into the rhythm, the music grew faster and wilder, until both couples gave up in defeat. The laughter and celebrations continued for hours, well into the night as the crews of both the Red Dragon and the Black Pearl gave thanks in their own way to the great lady of the sea that they had made a safe journey.
*~*~*
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT at the end of the review responses today - don't miss it, it affects you all!