Authors note thank ye v much to all my fabulous reviewers I advise ye all strongly to read their stories) so here goes nothing chapter two.
Ah, I see you have returned dear reader. I thought you would be unable to stay away. So without much further ado I will begin.
This part of our story is staged in and around that market town to which we have already been introduced, Port David. Now in this town lived a certain young lady whom we have previously met. I realise we are not very well acquainted with said lady; dear reader, thus I shall introduce her to us.
Her place of residence can be found near the ships dock, where she lives with her father. Her father being a woodman (specialised in ship repairs) by trade, is an elderly gentleman and so has passed his tradesmen knowledge and skills onto his only child. An unusual occupation for a woman, but one in which this lady excelled. The sailors (and pirates) were used to this arrangement by now, and if any got out of hand her sharp wit and intellect soon resolved matters.
On this day the sun was beaming down on the port. Being the midst of summer, the weather was a tad hot and not the sort of weather one would wish to be working in. Alas, our fair lady was currently working on the helm of a merchant ship, smoothing over the surface after repairing the storm damage.
"You finished yet lass?" the ship's first mate shouted.
"Aye, she'll fare well against any storm now" she yelled back whilst climbing down the gangplank and onto the shore.
"So what says you to a drink and I'll say how much we pay you?"
"Hmm" she stood considering this, "You'll buy the drinks, and I'll say how much you pay me, aye?"
At this he let out a hearty bellow "aye lass, suits me fine let's be off then." Laughing all the while they made their way to the nearest tavern, The Maidens Head.
………………………………………Onto the Black Pearl…………………………………………………………..
The Black Pearl, the mere whisper of the name is enough to make grown men shiver. Once sailed by a damned crew and a Captain so evil that hell spat him back out. She was now with her rightful Captain, Captain Jack Sparrow, who non-evil though he was had a reputation most pirates would die for. Known throughout the Caribbean as a womanising heartless rogue, he had worked hard for his reputation. Even though most of the stories were just that, stories. For he was a pirate, yes, and a good one at that, but he was also a good man.
There he stood this man at the wheel of his ship. On meeting him, many mistook him for a fool. Little did they know that underneath that drunken charade was a sharp and shrewd mind. Next to him stood a smaller quite stout ex-naval type of man, skin as brown and wrinkled as a drying hide left out to too long in the sun. He would follow his Captain to the death, honoured to be part of the select elite that could call Jack Sparrow their friend.
"Jack?" he questioned. One always had to check Jack was still with you; he had a tendency to drift off.
"Yes Gibbs, you were saying you knew somewhere we could get the old girl patched up, no questions asked."
"Aye jack, I do. It's not far from here, s'only 'bout a day away."
"And the name of this Port?"
"That'd be Port David Captain."
The Captain turning to his crew bellowed "Port David it is then, man the sails, tow the line pull the rigging, and you Cotton," an elderly gentleman turned, "You and Parrot here up to the nest on the look out."
"Aye Captain, Aye Captain" croaked the bird.
Checking no-one was listening, Jack turned back to the wheel and ran his hands lovingly over its dark wood.
"Won't be long love, we'll get you fixed up in no time."
Time passed, the light faded and darkness approached. Its velvet grip crept over the ship like a thief in the night. Nothing could be heard on these waters; all was still. Like a lover, the morning came and it was gone. A terrifying screech cut through the mornings quiet. "Pieces of eight, Pieces of eight!" and with a fluttering of wings, Mr Cottons Parrot perched itself on Jacks Hat.
"Thank ye Mr Parrot. Aye, I can see the land clearly from here."
"Mr Gibbs, tell the crew we'll be in Port David within the hour, and to get anything they want for landing."
"Aye, Captain."
"And Gibbs…"
"Yes Jack?"
"Tell 'em not to get into too much trouble; we are here on a friendly visit, aye?"
At this the older man laughed (a sound reminisce of a gurgling drain).
"Aye Captain, best behaviour it is then."
I shall not bore you with the details dear reader, but they docked without too much commotion, as Jack felt it necessary to relieve a few of the sailors of some of their heavy items, namely their purses.
First stop, of course, was the local tavern The Maidens Head; the outside of which wasn't particularly outstanding and it could have been any type of building. Once inside however, its occupation was very apparent, the smell of beer, rum and sea hung in the air like cheap perfume with the conversations buzzing similar to those of a hive of bees.
Captain Sparrow entered the tavern in his usual conspicuous permanently drunken state, standing out from the usual customers (consisting of seamen and the like) in his unusual dress, yet no one batted an eyelid. Making his way to the bar he briefly scanned his surroundings eye resting on a young woman and sailor sat on a near by table. He ordered his and Gibbs drinks, "two rums, mate," and sat down. A burst of loud laughter made him look up and into the eyes of the young woman whom he had just been studying; she seemed somewhat familiar. Had they met before? Whilst he was trying to trace her face, he downed the rest of his drink, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. Looking back up, she had gone.
"Right then, Gibbs, now that we are refreshed we best be off to this repair man of yours."
After a somewhat longing look back at the bar Gibbs sighed "Aye Captain."
"Now Gibbs, where be this man of ours, hey? I hope he's good, can't be having my beauty in the hands of some ruffian now, aye?"
As they strode purposefully towards the ship repair shop, Gibbs said "well that's what I need to tell you Captain…"
"Be there a problem here? As I came here in good faith mate that your said friend could fix up me ship."
"Oh no, there be no problem Captain, it's just this man you mentioned…"
"No problem then is there, mate, no need to be worrying" interrupted Jack.
Having arrived outside their destination and with all the finesse he could muster, Jack said "Now if I'm not mistaken matey, this here be a ship repair shop, aye?" and with this he barged in.
Inside the shop there was a person bent over some tools, as Jack barged in they sighed and turned round and said "we're closed."
"Now that was what I be trying to tell you Captain", Jack blinked … it was the girl from the tavern.