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"I don't think that's very nice mate," said the young man that was standing right behind the pirate holding the knife. Arden slowly opened her eyes. In front of her was a man a couple of years older than herself. His hair was dark as night with very dark eyes. His hair was curly and unkempt, not quite reaching his shoulders. He was also a good few inches taller than Arden's attacker. The pirate looked even more evil and disgruntled as he said, "Go get your own strumpet, kid." The man brought out a pistol and pointed it at the pirate's head.
"I don't think Captain Jack Sparrow would like his newest crewmember to be treated like some whore," said the man. Immediately the older man dropped the knife. "She's Sparrow's?" he asked. The younger one nodded. Without another word the older pirate went back into the tavern to find a wench.
"You alright Miss Hawkins?" the man asked. Arden nodded. She rubbed her neck and looked up at her rescuer. "Pretty good luck that you came around when you did, eh?" she said. The man shrugged. "I just don't like watching old friends of mine getting treated like scum is all," he said casually. Arden, however, stopped dead. She looked at the man for about two seconds before...
"Julian?" she said in shock. Julian nodded, grinning unabashedly at his friend. He didn't have long to grin because no sooner had he nodded, Arden jumped on him in a bone-crushing hug.
"How the Hell are you, mate?" she asked. After about two seconds she realized that her friend couldn't breathe. She quickly let go of him so he could answer. "Well," Julian began, "I'm doing good at the moment. I got a good job on a good ship. After the incident that orphaned us I started working as a cabin boy. About six months ago I got a position on the Black Pearl." Arden's jaw dropped.
"The Black Pearl?" she said. "But I didn't see you! I 'aven't seen you!" Julian's eyes had a mischievous sparkle to them, one that Arden knew all too well. "Ahh," Julian said, "but you didn't look in the crow's nest. That's me job. I'm the lookout." The pair walked around for a bit, then they rounded a corner to the side entrance of the tavern when they saw a couple in a...passionate embrace in the alley.
"'Scuse me," said Arden, the she realized who it was. "Will? Elizabeth?" The pair spun around, blushing furiously. Julian couldn't hold in his laughter and Arden just looked stunned. "Now," she said, "that's something I'd expect from Jack any day. Not you two!" The Turners looked more than slightly embarrassed as the four walked into the tavern. There they saw yet another....embrace in a hall. There was their captain, proving that he was handsome, and hadn't lost his touch. The Turners, Arden, and Julian all headed back to the Pearl, laughing hysterically.
When they reached the ship, Arden said, "Why don't you two go off to yourselves now." And they did.
****
"I can't believe it," said Arden. "We're on the same ship." Julian nodded. The two of them had climbed up to the crow's nest and were looking up at the stars. It was a throwback to a thing they used to do as children. Julian looked over at Arden. "You ever find out who the soldier was looking for?" he asked. Arden shook her head. "Didn't want to," she replied. "Doesn't really matter now does it?"Julian shrugged. "Ever see 'im again?" Arden shook her head. Then she sat up.
"How'd you get away?" she asked. Julian sat up too and replied, "It was my hiding place. We were playing hide and seek, remember?" Arden nodded. "Well," he continued, "I was hiding in the broom closet in my mother's room, so they never found me." He was silent, then, "How did you survive? I mean I've heard the stories, but they never say how you lived." Arden's eyes glittered strangely as she spoke.
"I'm not sure why I didn't drown," she said. "All I remember is being thrown off the ship. It was pretty close to land. I must have passed out. When I woke up, I was on the dock and Jack Sparrow was looking at me." Julian sat up straighter. "Sparrow?" he asked. "The Captain found you?" Arden nodded.
"He knew who I was too," she continued. "He said he knew my mother. When he heard she was dead he took me to a tavern. The owner's wife took me in and she raised me to be a barmaid. When I tired of that I stowed aboard a merchant ship and came to Port Royal to find Jack." At Julian's questioning look she explained, "I wanted to be a pirate. I wanted to be on the best ship I could, so I thought why not the Pearl." Julian nodded.
The two remained silent for the remainder of the night. They didn't even realize when they fell asleep on the crow's nest.
****
Captain Jack Sparrow woke the next morning in a bed that was not his own. This was a common occurrence in his life. He pushed past the girl on the bed and found his clothes where he'd dropped them the night before. He looked out the dirty window at the sun. It was still early morning. Early enough to leave without waking the girl. He grabbed his effects...and his hat and made it out of the tavern. When he approached the ship he sensed that something was amiss. Looking up in the crow's nest, he saw not one, but two heads up there. Taking out his telescope he realized that it was Julian and Arden, sound asleep.
Grinning he made his way down to the galley, stopping once to peek in at the Turners. The minute he did, he wished he hadn't. Checking in the crew's quarters, he saw that every man was accounted for, many waking up and preparing for the next day. Anamaria was already up trying to shift Gibbs out of his hammock.
"Get up you lazy sod!" she said angrily. Jack smiled. Anamaria was not a morning person.
****
Will and Elizabeth Turner woke up after a very busy night. They could hear the sounds of the crew moving above them, but for some reason they had no desire to move from where they were. They just lay in the serenity of the moment, smiling at each other. Their serenity was broken by a knock at the door.
"Will," came Jack's voice from behind the door, "I do hope your wife is decent, actually I don't, but either way I'm about to open the door." They got the hint. Both Mr. and Mrs. Turner were decent when Jack came swaggering in. Looking at the bed and the sheepish couple, Jack stifled a laugh.
"Looks like you two were, er, busy last night," he said with a sly look toward Will. Elizabeth turned an unnatural shade of purple and Will looked slightly annoyed. "You know Jack," Will said, "if there's a reason you're down here, I'd really like to know." Jack grinned at the disgruntled blacksmith.
"I came," Jack said, "to ask your lovely wife," he motioned towards Elizabeth, "if she would become ship's cook, temporarily." Elizabeth was about to answer when Jack continued, "Of course you don't actually have a choice in the matter Elizabeth. I just thought I'd tell you that there are some very hungry pirates up there, so I'd get to the kitchen quick, savvy?" He stayed just long enough to see the angry look on Elizabeth's face, then ducked out and closed the door before he could be hit by her husband's shoe.
*****
Arden woke to the sun in her face. She was lying in the crow's nest looking up at the sky. Turning to look at who was next to her she saw Julian leaning against the mast, grinning at her.
"Well, it's about time," he said. "I thought you'd stay asleep all day!" Arden kicked him and got up. Looking over the rail she saw the crew bustling about with their duties. Looking at the helm she saw Jack standing at the wheel. Looking past the helm she saw the ocean. It was crystal blue, the sun shining off of the water like diamonds. The ocean seemed like paradise...
"Miss Hawkins!" Arden was shaken out of her reverie by a voice below. Looking down she saw Jack grinning up at her with a mischievous look on his face. "If you and Mr. Miller aren't busy missie," he said slyly, "I wonder if you'd come down and do your duties." Arden glared at him in annoyance. She climbed down the ladder and when she reached the deck she walked toward the helm.
"Now what," she said in an annoyed tone, "were you implying Jack?" Jack grinned and swaggered in his usual fashion. "I was implying," he said, "that you and our lookout had a bit more fun than me last night, and that isn't allowed." He would have continued more, but he was silenced by the hand that hit him really hard on the shoulder (Arden was too short to hit the back of his head, and she wasn't the slapping type). He grinned as Arden stalked toward the galley.
*****
Elizabeth Turner was having a rough time preparing the noontime meal for the crew. There was plenty of food, just not much to do with it. She thought about the previous night in the tavern. *So Arden's mother was killed by the Navy...* Elizabeth thought. *That's interesting....I wonder who they were looking for...* Her thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of a person approaching. It was Arden.
"Morning Elizabeth," she said. "Thought you might want some help with the food. I know pirates can be a bit...er...ravenous when it comes to the eatables." Elizabeth nodded. The two girls set to work on the food, Elizabeth peeling potatoes and Arden working on a base for a soup of sorts. Elizabeth's fingers moved clumsily with the knife. Even though she adopted the life of the wife of a blacksmith, Governor Swann insisted that his daughter and son-in-law dine with him in the evenings. In short, Elizabeth didn't know how to cook properly. Arden, however, moved through the food with ease, picking out the best pieces to go into what looked like a crude stew. Remembering her previous thoughts Elizabeth spoke.
"Arden?" she asked. "What happened to you...you know, after the death of you mother?" Arden stopped what she was doing, her hands frozen, about to drop something into the pot. "I was thrown into the water like a piece of garbage," she said. "We were pretty close to shore and I must have floated near the beach." She didn't look at the older girl as she continued, "From what I gather I was carried to a tavern. When I woke up, Jack Sparrow was hovering over me." At this Elizabeth's jaw dropped.
"Jack?" she asked. Arden nodded. "Aye," she said. "He knew who I was as well. He told the owner of the tavern of my...predicament and the man took me in. He was married, luckily, and his wife taught me what I should know about being a barmaid." She looked at Elizabeth.
"When I was a bit older," Arden continued, "the pirates taught me to fence. They thought it odd, a young lass wanting to fight. It amused them. I bested all of them. It took time, though." Elizabeth stared, lost in thought.
"Did you ever find out who killed your mother?" she asked. Arden shook her head. "No," she said. "But if I ever meet him again, I'll make sure my name is the last he ever hears."
***************
A/N: If this story gets Mary-Sueish in any respect, inform me immediately so I can shoot myself in the bloody foot. Also, I'd like to thank those who reviewed, and the dear creator of Fiona for reminding me to update. Just to remind you...Julian is the boy whose mother was a friend of Arden's mother. There is no Jack/Arden romance in this story (sorry mates). Actually, there is no Jack/Anyone romance in this story.
"I don't think that's very nice mate," said the young man that was standing right behind the pirate holding the knife. Arden slowly opened her eyes. In front of her was a man a couple of years older than herself. His hair was dark as night with very dark eyes. His hair was curly and unkempt, not quite reaching his shoulders. He was also a good few inches taller than Arden's attacker. The pirate looked even more evil and disgruntled as he said, "Go get your own strumpet, kid." The man brought out a pistol and pointed it at the pirate's head.
"I don't think Captain Jack Sparrow would like his newest crewmember to be treated like some whore," said the man. Immediately the older man dropped the knife. "She's Sparrow's?" he asked. The younger one nodded. Without another word the older pirate went back into the tavern to find a wench.
"You alright Miss Hawkins?" the man asked. Arden nodded. She rubbed her neck and looked up at her rescuer. "Pretty good luck that you came around when you did, eh?" she said. The man shrugged. "I just don't like watching old friends of mine getting treated like scum is all," he said casually. Arden, however, stopped dead. She looked at the man for about two seconds before...
"Julian?" she said in shock. Julian nodded, grinning unabashedly at his friend. He didn't have long to grin because no sooner had he nodded, Arden jumped on him in a bone-crushing hug.
"How the Hell are you, mate?" she asked. After about two seconds she realized that her friend couldn't breathe. She quickly let go of him so he could answer. "Well," Julian began, "I'm doing good at the moment. I got a good job on a good ship. After the incident that orphaned us I started working as a cabin boy. About six months ago I got a position on the Black Pearl." Arden's jaw dropped.
"The Black Pearl?" she said. "But I didn't see you! I 'aven't seen you!" Julian's eyes had a mischievous sparkle to them, one that Arden knew all too well. "Ahh," Julian said, "but you didn't look in the crow's nest. That's me job. I'm the lookout." The pair walked around for a bit, then they rounded a corner to the side entrance of the tavern when they saw a couple in a...passionate embrace in the alley.
"'Scuse me," said Arden, the she realized who it was. "Will? Elizabeth?" The pair spun around, blushing furiously. Julian couldn't hold in his laughter and Arden just looked stunned. "Now," she said, "that's something I'd expect from Jack any day. Not you two!" The Turners looked more than slightly embarrassed as the four walked into the tavern. There they saw yet another....embrace in a hall. There was their captain, proving that he was handsome, and hadn't lost his touch. The Turners, Arden, and Julian all headed back to the Pearl, laughing hysterically.
When they reached the ship, Arden said, "Why don't you two go off to yourselves now." And they did.
****
"I can't believe it," said Arden. "We're on the same ship." Julian nodded. The two of them had climbed up to the crow's nest and were looking up at the stars. It was a throwback to a thing they used to do as children. Julian looked over at Arden. "You ever find out who the soldier was looking for?" he asked. Arden shook her head. "Didn't want to," she replied. "Doesn't really matter now does it?"Julian shrugged. "Ever see 'im again?" Arden shook her head. Then she sat up.
"How'd you get away?" she asked. Julian sat up too and replied, "It was my hiding place. We were playing hide and seek, remember?" Arden nodded. "Well," he continued, "I was hiding in the broom closet in my mother's room, so they never found me." He was silent, then, "How did you survive? I mean I've heard the stories, but they never say how you lived." Arden's eyes glittered strangely as she spoke.
"I'm not sure why I didn't drown," she said. "All I remember is being thrown off the ship. It was pretty close to land. I must have passed out. When I woke up, I was on the dock and Jack Sparrow was looking at me." Julian sat up straighter. "Sparrow?" he asked. "The Captain found you?" Arden nodded.
"He knew who I was too," she continued. "He said he knew my mother. When he heard she was dead he took me to a tavern. The owner's wife took me in and she raised me to be a barmaid. When I tired of that I stowed aboard a merchant ship and came to Port Royal to find Jack." At Julian's questioning look she explained, "I wanted to be a pirate. I wanted to be on the best ship I could, so I thought why not the Pearl." Julian nodded.
The two remained silent for the remainder of the night. They didn't even realize when they fell asleep on the crow's nest.
****
Captain Jack Sparrow woke the next morning in a bed that was not his own. This was a common occurrence in his life. He pushed past the girl on the bed and found his clothes where he'd dropped them the night before. He looked out the dirty window at the sun. It was still early morning. Early enough to leave without waking the girl. He grabbed his effects...and his hat and made it out of the tavern. When he approached the ship he sensed that something was amiss. Looking up in the crow's nest, he saw not one, but two heads up there. Taking out his telescope he realized that it was Julian and Arden, sound asleep.
Grinning he made his way down to the galley, stopping once to peek in at the Turners. The minute he did, he wished he hadn't. Checking in the crew's quarters, he saw that every man was accounted for, many waking up and preparing for the next day. Anamaria was already up trying to shift Gibbs out of his hammock.
"Get up you lazy sod!" she said angrily. Jack smiled. Anamaria was not a morning person.
****
Will and Elizabeth Turner woke up after a very busy night. They could hear the sounds of the crew moving above them, but for some reason they had no desire to move from where they were. They just lay in the serenity of the moment, smiling at each other. Their serenity was broken by a knock at the door.
"Will," came Jack's voice from behind the door, "I do hope your wife is decent, actually I don't, but either way I'm about to open the door." They got the hint. Both Mr. and Mrs. Turner were decent when Jack came swaggering in. Looking at the bed and the sheepish couple, Jack stifled a laugh.
"Looks like you two were, er, busy last night," he said with a sly look toward Will. Elizabeth turned an unnatural shade of purple and Will looked slightly annoyed. "You know Jack," Will said, "if there's a reason you're down here, I'd really like to know." Jack grinned at the disgruntled blacksmith.
"I came," Jack said, "to ask your lovely wife," he motioned towards Elizabeth, "if she would become ship's cook, temporarily." Elizabeth was about to answer when Jack continued, "Of course you don't actually have a choice in the matter Elizabeth. I just thought I'd tell you that there are some very hungry pirates up there, so I'd get to the kitchen quick, savvy?" He stayed just long enough to see the angry look on Elizabeth's face, then ducked out and closed the door before he could be hit by her husband's shoe.
*****
Arden woke to the sun in her face. She was lying in the crow's nest looking up at the sky. Turning to look at who was next to her she saw Julian leaning against the mast, grinning at her.
"Well, it's about time," he said. "I thought you'd stay asleep all day!" Arden kicked him and got up. Looking over the rail she saw the crew bustling about with their duties. Looking at the helm she saw Jack standing at the wheel. Looking past the helm she saw the ocean. It was crystal blue, the sun shining off of the water like diamonds. The ocean seemed like paradise...
"Miss Hawkins!" Arden was shaken out of her reverie by a voice below. Looking down she saw Jack grinning up at her with a mischievous look on his face. "If you and Mr. Miller aren't busy missie," he said slyly, "I wonder if you'd come down and do your duties." Arden glared at him in annoyance. She climbed down the ladder and when she reached the deck she walked toward the helm.
"Now what," she said in an annoyed tone, "were you implying Jack?" Jack grinned and swaggered in his usual fashion. "I was implying," he said, "that you and our lookout had a bit more fun than me last night, and that isn't allowed." He would have continued more, but he was silenced by the hand that hit him really hard on the shoulder (Arden was too short to hit the back of his head, and she wasn't the slapping type). He grinned as Arden stalked toward the galley.
*****
Elizabeth Turner was having a rough time preparing the noontime meal for the crew. There was plenty of food, just not much to do with it. She thought about the previous night in the tavern. *So Arden's mother was killed by the Navy...* Elizabeth thought. *That's interesting....I wonder who they were looking for...* Her thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of a person approaching. It was Arden.
"Morning Elizabeth," she said. "Thought you might want some help with the food. I know pirates can be a bit...er...ravenous when it comes to the eatables." Elizabeth nodded. The two girls set to work on the food, Elizabeth peeling potatoes and Arden working on a base for a soup of sorts. Elizabeth's fingers moved clumsily with the knife. Even though she adopted the life of the wife of a blacksmith, Governor Swann insisted that his daughter and son-in-law dine with him in the evenings. In short, Elizabeth didn't know how to cook properly. Arden, however, moved through the food with ease, picking out the best pieces to go into what looked like a crude stew. Remembering her previous thoughts Elizabeth spoke.
"Arden?" she asked. "What happened to you...you know, after the death of you mother?" Arden stopped what she was doing, her hands frozen, about to drop something into the pot. "I was thrown into the water like a piece of garbage," she said. "We were pretty close to shore and I must have floated near the beach." She didn't look at the older girl as she continued, "From what I gather I was carried to a tavern. When I woke up, Jack Sparrow was hovering over me." At this Elizabeth's jaw dropped.
"Jack?" she asked. Arden nodded. "Aye," she said. "He knew who I was as well. He told the owner of the tavern of my...predicament and the man took me in. He was married, luckily, and his wife taught me what I should know about being a barmaid." She looked at Elizabeth.
"When I was a bit older," Arden continued, "the pirates taught me to fence. They thought it odd, a young lass wanting to fight. It amused them. I bested all of them. It took time, though." Elizabeth stared, lost in thought.
"Did you ever find out who killed your mother?" she asked. Arden shook her head. "No," she said. "But if I ever meet him again, I'll make sure my name is the last he ever hears."
***************
A/N: If this story gets Mary-Sueish in any respect, inform me immediately so I can shoot myself in the bloody foot. Also, I'd like to thank those who reviewed, and the dear creator of Fiona for reminding me to update. Just to remind you...Julian is the boy whose mother was a friend of Arden's mother. There is no Jack/Arden romance in this story (sorry mates). Actually, there is no Jack/Anyone romance in this story.