Chapter Four: The Real Reason You're Here
A/N: The ACTs are done! I will NEVER take that again after today. I nearly died.... That is such a blasted LONG test! Thanks for those who offered prayers for me today! Or even just thought about me! Much much thanks! It was greatly appreciated! Especially since I was day dreaming about the next chapter in between testing times.... And even during testing, but SHH!!! Don't tell my parents that, savvy? :grins:
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"They took Captain Sparrow and his first mate. Nothing's been heard of them since day before yesterday. I thought I might warn you, there's not much chance of seeing your friend again."
"Nothing?" Will asked, his voice barely audible. "But there has to be something we can do! What about that agreement that the two of you signed when he was here for Elizabeth's and my wedding? Does that mean nothing now?"
"There was nothing in the agreement that said that the Navy would rescue him if he failed to keep himself out of trouble in other areas. I can only guarantee him safe port here. Nothing more."
"Then we've condemned him to die!"
Norrington sighed. He'd anticipated this. Prepared himself, he thought. Within the last few months since Sparrow had made his clumsy escape from Port Royal, he had come to almost respect the pirate, and he felt that the captain could probably say the same. Not that either of them would say it verbally. They had their pride to think of, of course.
On the way from his office where he had received the news to the blacksmith's shop, James Norrington had convinced himself that he would not support any kind of rescue attempt, nor would he allow one. While it would be a loss to Port Royal - he could barely come to grips with the idea that a pirate's death would be a loss and would not have thought so half a year before – if Captain Sparrow was no longer keeping other pirates out of their waters, it was not so much that he could risk anyone. That would be rash and foolish.
Speaking of rash and foolish...... "I'll go," Will stated firmly.
"No. I've been running ideas through my head all morning, Will, there is no way that you would pull it off."
"Do you know where he is? Or a possible location?" Will watched the commodore's face. He knew, but he was reluctant to say. "I won't try anything.... stupid, as Jack would say, just go to them and explain that he is an asset to Port Royal, will that do?"
"They will not give him up."
"What makes you so sure?"
"Because they sought him out, according to Mr. Gibbs."
Will froze. "They were after him?"
"Indeed."
Will shook his head, resisting the urge to slam his hammer down on the anvil. "I have to do something, James," he muttered.
"Will you sail with the Pearl?"
"Aye."
"I can have them step up the rate at which the damage is being repaired and give you the location," Norrington said at last, his hand finding its way to the bridge of his nose, massaging away a threatening headache. "And if worst comes to worst, I can write a letter demanding him into our custody, though that will do very little good, I can assure you."
Will nodded as Norrington turned to leave. "Commodore?"
"Hmm?"
"One last thing...."
"If I can."
"Watch over Elizabeth for me, and don't let her follow."
"That I can do."
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The door to the brig swung open and Anderson ducked as he entered. "'ello there, Sparrow. Lovely day, isn't it?"
"Just wonderful."
"I'd like to relieve you of your lady for a while, if you don't mind."
"I do mind."
"That doesn't really matter."
"Thought as much."
Ana Maria stirred at his side where she had fallen asleep. "Wha's amatter?" she mumbled.
Anderson motioned at Ana Maria. "Take her down the way, gents. This lady needs a brand. Give her one to match her captains."
A man dragged Ana out as two more held Jack back. He fought against them until Anderson got right in his face. "Let's get down to business while they deal with her, shall we?"
"I've no business with ye, sorry, mate."
"You do now, Sparrow. It may mean her life."
"You couldn' kill 'er any easier than ye could kill me."
"We'll see." Anderson stood, pacing the small room. "You can leave, gents. Mr. Sparrow and I will be quite all right by ourselves." The two men nodded and left. Anderson turned a hateful eye on his captive. "I've heard your stories, Sparrow. I've head about the mutiny and the ten years without your precious ship. Most of all, though, I've heard of Cortez's treasure."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "You turnin' pirate?"
"I'm not getting paid enough in this job."
"Tha' treasure's cursed."
"The treasure is, yes," Anderson answered. "So I've heard, but I would assume your ship still anchors there. I want the other treasure, Sparrow. All the goods you've stored up over the years, and the treasure Barbossa stored. I want the coordinates to Isle de Muerta."
"No."
Anderson smirked. "You'll be begging me to let you tell me after this is said and done, Sparrow. Let me assure you of that." A woman's scream – Ana Maria's scream – echoed through the hallway. "That would be your dear almost ready to come back. Have fun, Jack. We'll be back shortly."
As he was leaving another man tossed Ana Maria into the brig. She was clutching her right hand, her eyes closed shut.
"Ana?" Jack called to her carefully. He inched forward, carefully touching her shoulder. She looked up at him, her hand slowly coming away from her arm, revealing a "P" burned into her arm, still warm to her touch. "Oh Ana..." the pirate captain breathed. "'m so sorry, luv." He pulled her into a carefully embrace. "I'll rip 'im apart, luv."
"Don't get yerself killed."
"I won't. But 'e'll be sorry 'e messed with us, luv. Mark my words."
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Thanks very much for reviews! ( this is getting repetitive, but oh well, that's why I personalize it )
Kungfuchick: Yes, he was awesome. One of the few politicians I admire. I'm glad you and your computer made up. That would have been bad if you hadn't. My laptop got mad at me once and just keeled over, never came back. Vengeful things, computers are. Could be because of all the times I threatened to throw it out the window...... I never did, though, honest!
LaVieSansAmour: Ah yes, Norrington.... He's a good man, if not a bit cold. Ah well, that's all right. We'll make him better, maybe.... :)
A/N: The ACTs are done! I will NEVER take that again after today. I nearly died.... That is such a blasted LONG test! Thanks for those who offered prayers for me today! Or even just thought about me! Much much thanks! It was greatly appreciated! Especially since I was day dreaming about the next chapter in between testing times.... And even during testing, but SHH!!! Don't tell my parents that, savvy? :grins:
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"They took Captain Sparrow and his first mate. Nothing's been heard of them since day before yesterday. I thought I might warn you, there's not much chance of seeing your friend again."
"Nothing?" Will asked, his voice barely audible. "But there has to be something we can do! What about that agreement that the two of you signed when he was here for Elizabeth's and my wedding? Does that mean nothing now?"
"There was nothing in the agreement that said that the Navy would rescue him if he failed to keep himself out of trouble in other areas. I can only guarantee him safe port here. Nothing more."
"Then we've condemned him to die!"
Norrington sighed. He'd anticipated this. Prepared himself, he thought. Within the last few months since Sparrow had made his clumsy escape from Port Royal, he had come to almost respect the pirate, and he felt that the captain could probably say the same. Not that either of them would say it verbally. They had their pride to think of, of course.
On the way from his office where he had received the news to the blacksmith's shop, James Norrington had convinced himself that he would not support any kind of rescue attempt, nor would he allow one. While it would be a loss to Port Royal - he could barely come to grips with the idea that a pirate's death would be a loss and would not have thought so half a year before – if Captain Sparrow was no longer keeping other pirates out of their waters, it was not so much that he could risk anyone. That would be rash and foolish.
Speaking of rash and foolish...... "I'll go," Will stated firmly.
"No. I've been running ideas through my head all morning, Will, there is no way that you would pull it off."
"Do you know where he is? Or a possible location?" Will watched the commodore's face. He knew, but he was reluctant to say. "I won't try anything.... stupid, as Jack would say, just go to them and explain that he is an asset to Port Royal, will that do?"
"They will not give him up."
"What makes you so sure?"
"Because they sought him out, according to Mr. Gibbs."
Will froze. "They were after him?"
"Indeed."
Will shook his head, resisting the urge to slam his hammer down on the anvil. "I have to do something, James," he muttered.
"Will you sail with the Pearl?"
"Aye."
"I can have them step up the rate at which the damage is being repaired and give you the location," Norrington said at last, his hand finding its way to the bridge of his nose, massaging away a threatening headache. "And if worst comes to worst, I can write a letter demanding him into our custody, though that will do very little good, I can assure you."
Will nodded as Norrington turned to leave. "Commodore?"
"Hmm?"
"One last thing...."
"If I can."
"Watch over Elizabeth for me, and don't let her follow."
"That I can do."
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The door to the brig swung open and Anderson ducked as he entered. "'ello there, Sparrow. Lovely day, isn't it?"
"Just wonderful."
"I'd like to relieve you of your lady for a while, if you don't mind."
"I do mind."
"That doesn't really matter."
"Thought as much."
Ana Maria stirred at his side where she had fallen asleep. "Wha's amatter?" she mumbled.
Anderson motioned at Ana Maria. "Take her down the way, gents. This lady needs a brand. Give her one to match her captains."
A man dragged Ana out as two more held Jack back. He fought against them until Anderson got right in his face. "Let's get down to business while they deal with her, shall we?"
"I've no business with ye, sorry, mate."
"You do now, Sparrow. It may mean her life."
"You couldn' kill 'er any easier than ye could kill me."
"We'll see." Anderson stood, pacing the small room. "You can leave, gents. Mr. Sparrow and I will be quite all right by ourselves." The two men nodded and left. Anderson turned a hateful eye on his captive. "I've heard your stories, Sparrow. I've head about the mutiny and the ten years without your precious ship. Most of all, though, I've heard of Cortez's treasure."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "You turnin' pirate?"
"I'm not getting paid enough in this job."
"Tha' treasure's cursed."
"The treasure is, yes," Anderson answered. "So I've heard, but I would assume your ship still anchors there. I want the other treasure, Sparrow. All the goods you've stored up over the years, and the treasure Barbossa stored. I want the coordinates to Isle de Muerta."
"No."
Anderson smirked. "You'll be begging me to let you tell me after this is said and done, Sparrow. Let me assure you of that." A woman's scream – Ana Maria's scream – echoed through the hallway. "That would be your dear almost ready to come back. Have fun, Jack. We'll be back shortly."
As he was leaving another man tossed Ana Maria into the brig. She was clutching her right hand, her eyes closed shut.
"Ana?" Jack called to her carefully. He inched forward, carefully touching her shoulder. She looked up at him, her hand slowly coming away from her arm, revealing a "P" burned into her arm, still warm to her touch. "Oh Ana..." the pirate captain breathed. "'m so sorry, luv." He pulled her into a carefully embrace. "I'll rip 'im apart, luv."
"Don't get yerself killed."
"I won't. But 'e'll be sorry 'e messed with us, luv. Mark my words."
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Thanks very much for reviews! ( this is getting repetitive, but oh well, that's why I personalize it )
Kungfuchick: Yes, he was awesome. One of the few politicians I admire. I'm glad you and your computer made up. That would have been bad if you hadn't. My laptop got mad at me once and just keeled over, never came back. Vengeful things, computers are. Could be because of all the times I threatened to throw it out the window...... I never did, though, honest!
LaVieSansAmour: Ah yes, Norrington.... He's a good man, if not a bit cold. Ah well, that's all right. We'll make him better, maybe.... :)