Damn, I think I'm on a roll or something! I'm all taking care of the edittingness that needs to be done! YAY!
Alright, then, let's see... I don't have anything entirely too predictable planned for this chapter... don't think so, anyway, but oh well... I must apologize for my formatting in the previous chapters, I'll go back and fix each of them, but for now I'm trying to get as much written as I possibly can before we do all sorts of cleaning and organizing and such before we move. Again. *dies*
For goodness sakes, every time I watch Pirates of the Caribbean, Elizabeth and her pompous father annoy me even more than they did the time before. *muttering into a pillow* They deserve what they will get...HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA NOW YOU HAVE TO WAIT TO FIND OUT! %_^ I'm so cruel...
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Novialeigh and Jameson walked home in complete and utter silence, each of them together thinking of why on earth Jack Sparrow had wanted her map. She didn't regret giving it to him, not totally anyway, since she doubted it was a map to where her father was residing anway, if Captain Sparrow had been so adamant about keeping it.
"Jameson, why do you think he wanted that map so badly, anyway?" She asked thoughtfully, staring at the ripped remainder of the page the map had been on. she ran her fingers over the torn parchment. "No' a clue, Miss Nova, I've heard ye can't really e'er be too sure with tha' Sparrow fellow..." She nodded slowly. "Aye, Commodore has said the same thing some twelve hundred times..." She kicked at a small rock that lay in her way, watching it bounce off to the side of the road. "Do you plan to tell the Commodore that we've seen him this evening? Should we even mention you were out?" He shook his head. "No' really my business, who comes t'Port Royal, tha' would be the Commodore's job... and between ye an' I, Miss, if they were t'find out I were out tonight, I can't be sure I'd be permitted t'stay here in Port Royal..."
"Maybe I should have gone with him..." she thought out loud, and he chuckled. "Miss Nova, ye'd do well to remember: You're set t'marry Mr. Hawthorne a week from t'morrows morn... Can't be gallivantin' off wit' pirates and all that..." She looked to the ground sadly. "Aye... I know... my poor head's been so used to trying to think of someway out of this mess Mother's landed me into, I didn't see my only chance in front of me..." He shook his head. "No, Miss... you canno' be lookin' at it like yer bein' forced into it... you've go' ta make yerself believe it's somethin' you'd be wantin' otherwise... tha' way, you won't miss what you had befo' so much..." Meeting her eyes briefly, he gave her a look of deep understanding as to the predicament she had been pushed into, and she gave him a sincere smile.
"I don't think it's really that simple, Jameson... I'd never have wanted to marry Thomas... not ever..." she said quietly. 'I wonder if Captain Sparrow has ever married...' she wondered to herself, but her train of thought was interrupted by the middle-aged Irishman. "I know, MIss... I dun' really like t'man myself... ye should see t'way he acts when yer no' around... quite tha impatient bloke, I say..." She glanced sideways at him. "Is that all?" she inquired. "I'd like to think I at least have a right to know what he's really like, do you disagree?" He looked up, shaking his head. "No' one bit, Miss... but I fear if I tell ye, you'll be back off to tha' pub and on the next boat out o'Port Royal with that' Sparrow." Unconciously clenching her fists, she tried to calm herself. "Jameson, if he's really that bad, should I be marrying him in the first place?!" He looked at her sadly. "No, ye shouldn't... curse yer father fo' leavin' when he did... He wos dead-set against this marriage, I 'ope you know..." She smiled knowingly. "Aye, I've been informed... how is it you would know?" She raised an eyebrow innocently.
"Oh, I 'ave my ways, Miss... must be lookin' out for ye, y'know..." he smiled down at her, and turned then turned his head up to the sky, looking at where the moon should be. "Is i' supposed t'be gettin' darker, Miss?" She looked up, the sky as black as onyx, making her think of Jack, but the thought was quickly washed away the question Jameson had asked, her eyes flashing with worry. "I don't... think so..." She had cut herself off, smelling the air. "Goodness, what is that?!" She asked, the overwhelming smell of burning timber filling her nose. He shook his head, telling her he didn't know, and looked around for any signs of smoke.
"Jameson, is that smoke supposed to be that high...?!" She asked worriedly, pointing to a huge smoke cloud off in the distance. He squinted at it. "Miss, I can't see any smoke..." She sighed, pointing again. "It's right there, I don't know how-" She was talking... until a tortured scream pierced the quiet of night. Nova, startled, looked up to Jameson before they both took off running down the road. They didn't need to run far, they smelled it, the smoke billowing hatefully from the building. Fire.
Stopping at the edge of the brick wall surrounding their home, each poked their head around and gasped in horror. The beautiful two-story house, finished hardly over a year ago, was burning. Novialeigh's mother clung to a servants arm, shrieking at the top of her lungs, sobbing hysterically. "NOVIALEIGH!!! NOVA!!!" She cried, trying as she might to run back into the house, only to be held back and comforted by tearful household help.
"Dear God... she's thinks I'm still in there..." Nova whispered, digging her nails into the jagged bricks of the wall. She took a step forward, as though she would reveal herself, but jumped back quickly, crossing herself as earnestly as she could. "Oh, God, Jameson... I left my candles burning... in my room... Oh, no..." Crying, she sunk to the ground, not caring if the mud soaked through the bottom of her skirts. In that house was everything her father had ever held dear, everything she had ever held dear, all of her belongings from England. If someone had been left behind in the house, it would be her fault.
She leaned her head back against the cold wall, closing her eyes, crying as she listened to the almost manical screams of her mother, and prayed no one was inside, that they had all gotten out alright. Poking her head around, she could hardly see anyone through her tears, which only frustrated her more. "Jameson...?" she whispered, turning around where she sat, looking up where he had stood - but now, he was gone. She span around furiously once more, looking out across the yard, and there he was, trying to calm Novialeigh's mother. He gave Nova one quick look before he helped Mrs. Jennings to a spot on the lawn, and Nova wondered why she hesitated to join her mother's side.
She didn't have to wonder. She knew it on the inside. 'Stand up, Nova... this instant, stand up.' she thought to herself, and she did just that, straightening her skirts as she held in the rest of her tears. She stood herself up straight and glanced back at her mother one last time as everything she had to do became quite clear.
"Goodbye, Mother..." she whispered to no one but herself as she collected her father's book and disappeared into the darkness, heading back towards town.
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Jack had long since fallen asleep, snoring loudly, and Will could only stare at the ceiling, unable to reach a relaxing state of slumber. The pub below them was much quieter now, full of unconcious victims of the pub's brawls, or those too drunk to move otherwise. Turning over and over again fitfully on the uncomfortable straw mattress, Will sighed angrily, sitting straight up where he lay, and began dressing. A walk was in order.
Quickly, he pulled on his boots and hat, the only things he had taken off, and bustled out the door, not caring who he disturbed as he trampled down the stairs. He waved off the barmaid as she began to ask him where he was going, and marched out into the cool evening.
He headed towards the blacksmith shop, long since deserted. He had left with no notice to Master Brown, simply taking all of the swords he had made, and left. There hadn't been much time to explain things to anyone. "Not after the stunt Elizabeth pulled, anyway..." he muttered angrily to himself, nearing the door of the only home he had known in Port Royal.
"Excuse me...?" came Novialeigh's quiet voice from the end of the alley as he stumbled past her, jumping at the sound of her voice. "You again!" he cried out angrily, giving her a nasty stare. She shrank backwards, stepping away from him, but he only followed, enjoying the look of fear on her face. "You're following me, aren't you?" he smirked, and she shook her head frightfully. "No, no, I promise! I'm looking for Captain Sparrow... is he with you?" she said quietly. The last thing she needed was someone figuring out that Jack was indeed in Port Royal, he'd be hung faster than she could snap her fingers.
"No, he's not with me, and I don't think he's quite interested in seeing you... so good night, Miss." He tipped his hat to her, bowing, a sarcastic grin spread across his lips, and he turned back to the door. "No, please! I'm begging you, sir, tell me where I can find him!" She lunged forward, clinging to his arm. Kneeling before him, she took his one hand in both of hers, pleading with him through her eyes, and he looked at her, his eyes wide with surprise. "What? What is it?" she asked, now afraid he would slap her, and she let his hand go, standing up quickly. He shook his head. "Nothing..." he mumbled gruffly. "You look like someone I knew once..." She could only stand there, not sure what she should say as he circled her, staring her up and down. "At any rate..." he said, shaking the vision from his head, the kind, soft Will disappearing back inside of him, and the angry, bitter Will now showing himself.
"Miss, what's so urgent about you seeing the good Captain anyway?" She watched his face, wide-eyed and fearful as she spoke. "Sir, I want to come with him... I want to find out what's on the map, he did offer, I'm almost positive you heard him, as well..." she said meekly, and he gave her a humored laugh. "You have no idea what you're getting yourself into by saying that... besides, you turned him down, Jack Sparrow never offers anything twice." But I need to go with him! I don't have anywhere else to go, sir!" He rolled his eyes impatiently. "Stop calling me sir. My name is William Turner. You may call me by such." She nodded quickly. "Aye, Mr. Turner... like I said, I have nowhere else to go, my father's left me, and next week, I'm set to marry, and I've set my house on fire this evening, I can't go back home, they think I'm dead right now!" She pleaded with him, and he raised his eyebrow at the babble she was spewing. "Miss..."
"Novialeigh... Nova... for short, anyway, or Miss Jennings, it's no ma-" "Miss Jennings." He cut her off, giving her a quick glare, and she immediately stopped talking. "If you insist upon it, I shall take you to Captain Sparrow. However-"He raised a hand to her as she began to thank him, grinning from ear to ear. "However... I'm speaking from the place of someone who knows... if you're doing this to simply find your father, or simply to get out of a marriage, I suggest you turn home now. A pirate ship is no place for a... young lady... of your age or stature." He smirked as he said young lady, purposely calling her a child, but she opted to take no note of it, only nodding.
"Now... you're going to come with me, Miss Jennings, and when Jack tells you to run on home, I suggest you do so. He's not the type to take kindly to those who've woken him." Briskly marching past her back down to the tavern, Nova had to quickly gather her skirts and her wits and follow him, stepping around small puddles, not wishing to get the rest of her clothing wet. "Oh, look a' tha'!" exlaimed Heav as the two entered the pub. Novialeigh gave her a nervous smile and followed Will up the creaking wooden stairs.
He knocked before entering, why, Nova didn't know, it was supposed to be his room too, but she didn't ask any questions of him. "Jack, are you decent?" he poked his head inside, giving the sleeping pirate a quick glance-over before allowing Novialeigh to enter. "Oye, I'm as decent as I ever was..." he muttered, sitting up in bed without opening his eyes. She tried not to giggle at the sight of him, his kohl smeared around his eyes as though he had been clawing furiously at his eyeballs with closed fists. His dredlocks were messier than usual, shirt half-off, and... 'Is that drool...?' she thought to herself.
"Jack, do compose yourself, we have a lady visitor." Will spat out sourly, removing his hat and cloak and setting them in his designated corner of the room. At the word 'lady', Jacks eyes popped open, but his look of surprise deflated as he realized it was Novialeigh. "Oh... it's you..." he spoke under his breath, and she stared at him, humored. "Aye, tis me."
"Well, I'm of the assumption that you'll be wanting your map back, Miss... Norah, wos it?" She shook her head. "My name is Nova, and no, that is not why I'm here." Her voice took on a sudden change of tone, now she spoke as though she here making a deal with a prominent business partner, rather than a criminal, and a pirate at that. "Oh, really then?" he asked. "Now, then, Nova, what has you brought back here so fast? Couldn't have been Will's debonair charm all the ladies 'round these parts talk of..." He smirked at Will, who made a rude gesture with his hand towards Jack and went back to the thin pile of parchment scrolls before him on the floor. Chuckling, Jack looked back up to Novialeigh expectantly. "so wot wos it then, that brought you here? I'm assuming this is of serious importance..." He gave her a funny look. "You aren't some sort of snoop, are you? A watchdog of some sort?" Again, she shook her head. "No... Mr. Sp-" She caught an eyeful of the look he gave her at the word "Mister", and changed her sentance quickly.
"Captain Sparrow, I..." Fidgeting where she stood, she blushed, feeling terribly foolish. "I... I'm sorry... I shouldn't have come back... please, forget I was ever here... enjoy the map..." She curtsied quickly, then spun on her heels, heading for the door. "Oh, no, luv, not so fast..." He jumped up, closing the door on her as she opened it, and she swallowed hard, now terribly of the situation she had gotten herself into. "No blaming this one on Mother, hmm, Novialeigh?" She muttered to herself. "Oh, dearest little strumpet, please keep all your negative comments to yourself, or wait til I'm out of earshot... I do hate being degraded..." He gave her a roguish smile and put an arm around her shoulders, causing her to jump quickly. "Oh... right... you're one of those high class society girls, I'm assumin'." She watched him with a fearful eye, and did a short side-step to put some distance between them. He sighed heavily. "Will never understand you spoiled rich girls... I say, if your body is tellin' you to do something, you should, my body's never steered me wrong in that sense." He pondered upon that for a moment, and a deep blush rose to her face, not being accustomed to hearing such talk.
Will glanced up from the papers on the floor - Novialeigh now saw that they were maps, but quickly looked away before making eye contact - and smirked at the sight of Nova's reddened cheeks. "Miss Jennings, if you're interested in joining the Captain and myself on a pirate ship, I suggest you lose all inward modesty now, it will get you nowhere, unless you count hiding in the brig the entire time someplace..." Jack looked at Will, then to Nova, then to Will, then to Nova again. "Exactly how much did I miss before you two decided to wake me up?" Novialeigh looked at him with wide-eyes, praying that Will would finish asking Jack for her, but she had no such luck. Will was again nose-deep in the maps.
"He... and I... I would... rather..." she stumbled on her words, practically shaking. "Yes, yes, luv, I have an early meeting with the horizon, I'd like to go back to sleep." She nodded, and breathed in slowly. "I would like..." she spoke slowly, taking a pause between each word. "...to join you... on your ship..." Almost embarrassed, she had to look away from Jack's eyes, which were sparkling mischieviously. "You're meaning you thought that since I offered before, I would be alright with it now... since, between running out of the pub and coming back, you changed your mind, am I correct?" She nodded slowly. "Well, my most sincere apologies, Miss, but the changing of the minds thing was quite the mind changer for me. So if you will excuse me, have a lovely evening, there is the door. My name is Captain Jack Sparrow, and I bid you adieu. Goodnight." He bowed deeply, and Novialeigh looked away quickly so he wouldn't see the tears in her eyes when he stood back up, but he smiled, catching sight of them. "Oh, no, Miss, too late for looking away. None of that crying business, anyway. Does me no good." She inhaled shakily, forcing a smile as she dabbed at her eyes with the handkerchief she always kept up her sleeve, and her stared at her blankly, not used to the feminine display. "Captain... sir... please. Don't make me turn back home..." She told him the same solemn tale, of her inconsiderate, austere mother, and the too fast approaching wedding to Thomas, the now permanent absence of her father, and how she had set her house on fire on her way to the pub earlier on that evening.
Jack, with the best intentions - most of the time, anyway - tried desperately to listen to the sobbing girl, but it was really no use. He sat nodding dully, having lost interest at the first word she spoke. "So you're trying to tell me, lass, that you'd like to sail away into the sunset... err... sunrise... with a pirate crew full of some of the most horrid, black hearted, good-for-nothing, ne'er-do-well, devilish, scoundrel...ish... men to ever walk this work? Miss... no offense to you... but are you sure you weren't drinking none of late?" He cocked his head to the side, peering into her eyes quizzically. She shook her head. "I've never had a single drop, Captain, not one in my entire life." He gave her a look of confusion. "You, my fair lady, know naught of what you've been missin'..." She gazed at him, her eyes shining impatiently, and he realized he had been getting of subject.
"well, I've never been one to leave an expectin' woman unsatisfied. So fine. You shall have your wish. We sail at dawn." She nodded to him. "But in return for your passage to this... little island you're so desperate to see, you'll be working on that fine ship of mine. And no getting the men to do your bidding, either, I've yet to see you act a doxie, but I don't want to see you start. Do we have an accord?" She again nodded slowly. "Aye, Captain Sparrow, we've an accord." He held out his hand for her, and she shook it daintily, bringing a sigh of frustration from his mouth. "Lass, you'll be havin' to drop the innocence act." He sat back down on his mattress, scooting to where he could be comfortable and turned down on his side."Goodnight, Miss Jennings...!" he said loudly, undertones of uncomfort in his voice. Timorously, she spoke up once more."Captain, I've nowhere to stay til dawn..." He groaned noisily, raising only his head off the bed. "What do you mean, you've nowhere to stay? I see plenty of floor space, miss. Are you needing spectacles, or are you still trying to be proper?"
Looking around her, the floor was scuffed and dirty, but she, being no cleaner, with no other room in which to sleep, was none to complain. "Thank you, Captain..." she spoke quietly, and she curled into a tiny ball in the corner, shifting uncomfortably between her corset,the hard wood, and a comfortable spot on her arm on which to rest her head.
Will glanced at Novialeigh, who shook with cold and was still trying to get comfortable, and sighed, re-rolling all of the maps and placing them with his effects. "Miss Jennings, since some of us here have forgotten all of our decorum, if he ever had any, you shall take my bed." She turned over to look at him, surprised he actually was being kind to her, and he sighed once more, impatiently this time. "Miss, I haven't got all night, either take the bed or tell me you won't be so I can get some rest." She pushed herself up carefully, and whispered a quick "Thank you..." to him as she lay herself down on the mattress, turning away from he and Jack. William quickly gathered his cloak, which he spread across the floor and layed down upon, closing his eyes and cursing Jack for allowing Nova to stay on with them.
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OH LAND-HO! I'VE DONE IT AGAIN! I FINISHED ANOTHER CHAPTER! THANK THE GOOD LORD! *does a little dance* I'm so glad I have something to keep me occupied as of late. ^_^
And... I'm not sure if rented rooms had beds then, or if they were just straw piles, but for my sake, pretend, eh?
And, one more thing. If you're curious about the stunt Elizabeth pulled that Will referred to, you'll want to read my other story "Moments of Value". It'll explain any Will or Elizabeth weirdness you read. Any of it. Ohh, eeeks. Anyway, I'm gonna go get this chapter posted. YAYS!
And when the wind hits my sails...I'm gone
~Bonnie Pirate Lass~