It's Alaina again. This is last chapter until Sunday at the earliest.
Sorry! But you should be happy. I stayed up until 2:00 this morning writing
it, when I had to get up at 9:00. Just for you. So be proud. And go
review!! Go!!!
And hi to szhismine, for reviewing again!
I have to leave you with this, just because it's my favorite line from the movie. One of them, anyway.
"She's safe, just like I promised. She's all set to marry Norrington, just like she promised. And you get to die for her, just like you promised. So we're all men of our word really..... except for Elizabeth, who is in fact, a woman."
*
The meal was simple and delicious, consisting of roast chicken and mixed vegetables. They were served by the same pompous servant and Elizabeth's father had joined them.
"To drink, miss?" the servant asked of Jade.
"I don't s'pose you have any rum?"
"No miss," he said with a look that clearly said even if they had, she would not be receiving any.
"What a surprise. He lied to me. Again." Jack looked at his daughter.
"It wasn't a lie," he protested. "I truly did think they might have some."
"Of course you did." The governor looked quite shocked.
"Is it really appropriate for a girl of her age to be drinking rum?"
"You forget, she's Jack's daughter," Elizabeth reminded him.
"Yes. I suppose it really shouldn't surprise me."
"What's that s'posed to mean?" Jack and Jade asked at the same time. Will laughed.
"If she's yours, anything is possible."
"Well how's your life gone, Will?" Jack asked. "Are you still missing all the opportune moments? Still working at the little blacksmith's shop?"
"No. I have my own sword shop now."
"Sounds lovely. I'll have to visit. I could use a pretty little sword."
"To go with your pretty little boat?"
"It's a ship, Jade. A ship."
"Boat."
"Have you no respect for you elders?" Jade snorted.
"You're hardly worthy of respect."
"You're going straight to hell, you know that?"
"Well I guess I'll see you there." The governor coughed, nearly choking on hi s chicken. He had never dined with a pirate before, let alone two.
"Enough," Elizabeth laughed. "What about you, Jack? What have you been doing in the past seventeen years?"
"Oh, this and that. Traveling the world. Raising this miscreant..."
"Nearly losing our ship and home," Jade muttered.
"What happened?" Will asked.
"Well, while we were in London, some fellows took a fancy to the Pearl. They decided they'd resort to any means necessary to take her, even hijack."
"You're full of it!" Jade exclaimed.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to interrupt your father?"
"Maybe if you'd tell them the actual story, I wouldn't have to. They never tried hijacking. The amazing Captain Jack Sparrow here got drunk and they invited him to a poker game. I TOLD him not to go, but he never listens to me." While Jade continued to tell the real story, Jack watched her. She was completely oblivious to the fact that this was the last time she'd be with her father for a long time, and was essentially ignoring him. He hated having her leave her like this, without so much as a good bye, but it couldn't be helped. She was the world to him, and if something were to happen to her, he wouldn't be able to live with himself.
Will could see the range of emotions on Jack's face and knew how he was feeling. He felt the same way for his son, although possible not as strongly because he had Elizabeth as well.
As supper ended, they moved to the parlor, still exchanging talk and stories of the past seventeen years. Only at 10:00, when the younger Jack began yawning, did they consider stopping.
Jade was given a room with a large, comfortable bed. She changed into a nightdress and crawled into bed. Her father came in to tuck her in, just as every other night. Something was different this time.
"Good night, love," he said, kissing her forehead. "Sleep well."
But Jade did not sleep well. She missed the gentle rocking of the Black Pearl, and something was bothering her. Her father's good night had been too brief. After nearly half an hour, she finally fell asleep, dozing fitfully and lightly and dreaming lucidly.
"Are you sure about this?" Will asked as Jack prepared to leave.
"Yes," Jack answered distantly. He was more upset than he would have liked to admit. "Thank you again," he said, embracing Will and kissing Elizabeth's cheek. On his way out the door, he paused and turned back. "Do me a favor. Tell her I'm sorry." And he disappeared into the black night.
After dozing for an hour, Jade finally woke up. Knowing she would not be able to sleep any longer, she decided to seek out her father and talk to him. The second she stepped from the bed, she knew instinctively that something was wrong. Looking around the room, her gaze stopped on the table beside her bed. Through the dim light from the dying fire, she could make out the silhouette of her father's hat. Silently she picked it up, revealing a note held beneath it. Knowing already what it would say, she began to read.
"My darling daughter,
I expect you already know what's happening now, or have a pretty good idea. Don't hate me. It really is for your own good, even if you don't see that right now. The life you're living isn't proper for you. You should be given the chance for a real life with a proper home. So I've left you in Will and Elizabeth's care for a year or so. I want you to stay there and be on your BEST behaviour, savvy? And for goodness's sake, don't do anything stupid. Remember darling, not all treasure is silver and gold."
The letter was signed in her father's familiar signature, but Jade ignored that.
"Bloody hell!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. "That bloody bastard! I'll kill 'im!" Will, Elizabeth and Jack all ran into the room to witness Jade standing there staring at the letter and screaming every curse, oath and filthy word she could think of against her father.
"Jade, he said he was sorry," Elizabeth told her, trying to calm her down.
"Well he bloody well better be. Damn it all to hell. What did he think he was doing, leaving me here like this? He didn't even tell me!"
"He knew if he had, you wouldn't have stayed," Elizabeth explained.
"Damn right I wouldn't have. How'm I s'posed to stay here? Look at this. Look!" Jade began to jump up and down on the solid oak floor. "The ground doesn't even move. How am I to sleep at night? I can't live on land. When am I s'posed to swim? And, and... what the hell is wrong with him?? I belong on the ocean!"
Elizabeth and Will exchanged looks as Jade continued raving. "There's not much we can do with her now," Will said. "Some temper she's got."
"Just like Jack," Elizabeth answered wryly. "Just leave her here then?"
"I don't think we can leave her alone, though. She might do something foolish." Immediately both turned to look at Jack.
"What?" he asked suspiciously.
"Jack, darling, could you stay here and keep an eye on her?" Elizabeth implored.
"Oh, no. No way. Are you mad? I can't stop her from doing anything."
"We don't need you to. Just stay here and watch her. You're always saying you'd like more responsibility. Well, here's your chance," Will offered.
"Thank you ever so much," Jack muttered, glaring at them as he sat down in a chair. Will and Elizabeth left the room. Jade's ranting continued on for some time, slowly growing quieter. Jack began to grow sleepy. Eventually Jade's rantings turned to quiet mutterings as she reread the letter. Somewhere in the house a clock chimed midnight. Jade's head snapped up.
"Did you hear that?" she demanded. "That was 12 strokes, right?"
"I don't know," Jack answered, yawning. "Something like that. Either way, it's far too late to be up and about. Why don't you go back to sleep?" But Jade was ignoring him.
"I didn't fall asleep until 10:30. Which means it's only been an hour and a half. So..." All of a sudden she raced from the room.
"Oh lord," Jack muttered, chasing after her. He reached the landing on the times just as she ran out the door. Not sure what else to do, he followed after her. "Where are you going?" he called as they ran down the hill to the town. "Stop!"
Jade raced through the town with Jack only a few feet behind her. She halted to a stop at the end of a dock, staring at the water as though expecting something to show up. She shook her head imploringly.
"Damn. How could he do this? He's my only family."
"What about your mother?" Jack asked.
"Don't have one."
"Don't be foolish. Of course you do. Everyone has a mother." Jade turned to look at him, obviously irritated.
"No. They don't. Everyone has a woman who bore them until their birth. Not everyone has a mother. I don't." She turned to look back out at the cove, searching for something. It was a dark night, but the moon shone bright over the water. There was nothing there. The Black Pearl was gone, just as if she'd never been there.
"It can't be gone already. That just... It's not fair!" She stood there silently for several minutes, staring out over the water. Jack grew uncomfortable.
"Are you crying?" he finally asked.
"No," she answered furiously. They were silent for several more minutes.
"I'm sorry," Jack offered. She glared at him.
"I don't want your pity." She spun around walking off the dock and back towards the house. Not knowing what else to do, Jack followed.
And hi to szhismine, for reviewing again!
I have to leave you with this, just because it's my favorite line from the movie. One of them, anyway.
"She's safe, just like I promised. She's all set to marry Norrington, just like she promised. And you get to die for her, just like you promised. So we're all men of our word really..... except for Elizabeth, who is in fact, a woman."
*
The meal was simple and delicious, consisting of roast chicken and mixed vegetables. They were served by the same pompous servant and Elizabeth's father had joined them.
"To drink, miss?" the servant asked of Jade.
"I don't s'pose you have any rum?"
"No miss," he said with a look that clearly said even if they had, she would not be receiving any.
"What a surprise. He lied to me. Again." Jack looked at his daughter.
"It wasn't a lie," he protested. "I truly did think they might have some."
"Of course you did." The governor looked quite shocked.
"Is it really appropriate for a girl of her age to be drinking rum?"
"You forget, she's Jack's daughter," Elizabeth reminded him.
"Yes. I suppose it really shouldn't surprise me."
"What's that s'posed to mean?" Jack and Jade asked at the same time. Will laughed.
"If she's yours, anything is possible."
"Well how's your life gone, Will?" Jack asked. "Are you still missing all the opportune moments? Still working at the little blacksmith's shop?"
"No. I have my own sword shop now."
"Sounds lovely. I'll have to visit. I could use a pretty little sword."
"To go with your pretty little boat?"
"It's a ship, Jade. A ship."
"Boat."
"Have you no respect for you elders?" Jade snorted.
"You're hardly worthy of respect."
"You're going straight to hell, you know that?"
"Well I guess I'll see you there." The governor coughed, nearly choking on hi s chicken. He had never dined with a pirate before, let alone two.
"Enough," Elizabeth laughed. "What about you, Jack? What have you been doing in the past seventeen years?"
"Oh, this and that. Traveling the world. Raising this miscreant..."
"Nearly losing our ship and home," Jade muttered.
"What happened?" Will asked.
"Well, while we were in London, some fellows took a fancy to the Pearl. They decided they'd resort to any means necessary to take her, even hijack."
"You're full of it!" Jade exclaimed.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to interrupt your father?"
"Maybe if you'd tell them the actual story, I wouldn't have to. They never tried hijacking. The amazing Captain Jack Sparrow here got drunk and they invited him to a poker game. I TOLD him not to go, but he never listens to me." While Jade continued to tell the real story, Jack watched her. She was completely oblivious to the fact that this was the last time she'd be with her father for a long time, and was essentially ignoring him. He hated having her leave her like this, without so much as a good bye, but it couldn't be helped. She was the world to him, and if something were to happen to her, he wouldn't be able to live with himself.
Will could see the range of emotions on Jack's face and knew how he was feeling. He felt the same way for his son, although possible not as strongly because he had Elizabeth as well.
As supper ended, they moved to the parlor, still exchanging talk and stories of the past seventeen years. Only at 10:00, when the younger Jack began yawning, did they consider stopping.
Jade was given a room with a large, comfortable bed. She changed into a nightdress and crawled into bed. Her father came in to tuck her in, just as every other night. Something was different this time.
"Good night, love," he said, kissing her forehead. "Sleep well."
But Jade did not sleep well. She missed the gentle rocking of the Black Pearl, and something was bothering her. Her father's good night had been too brief. After nearly half an hour, she finally fell asleep, dozing fitfully and lightly and dreaming lucidly.
"Are you sure about this?" Will asked as Jack prepared to leave.
"Yes," Jack answered distantly. He was more upset than he would have liked to admit. "Thank you again," he said, embracing Will and kissing Elizabeth's cheek. On his way out the door, he paused and turned back. "Do me a favor. Tell her I'm sorry." And he disappeared into the black night.
After dozing for an hour, Jade finally woke up. Knowing she would not be able to sleep any longer, she decided to seek out her father and talk to him. The second she stepped from the bed, she knew instinctively that something was wrong. Looking around the room, her gaze stopped on the table beside her bed. Through the dim light from the dying fire, she could make out the silhouette of her father's hat. Silently she picked it up, revealing a note held beneath it. Knowing already what it would say, she began to read.
"My darling daughter,
I expect you already know what's happening now, or have a pretty good idea. Don't hate me. It really is for your own good, even if you don't see that right now. The life you're living isn't proper for you. You should be given the chance for a real life with a proper home. So I've left you in Will and Elizabeth's care for a year or so. I want you to stay there and be on your BEST behaviour, savvy? And for goodness's sake, don't do anything stupid. Remember darling, not all treasure is silver and gold."
The letter was signed in her father's familiar signature, but Jade ignored that.
"Bloody hell!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. "That bloody bastard! I'll kill 'im!" Will, Elizabeth and Jack all ran into the room to witness Jade standing there staring at the letter and screaming every curse, oath and filthy word she could think of against her father.
"Jade, he said he was sorry," Elizabeth told her, trying to calm her down.
"Well he bloody well better be. Damn it all to hell. What did he think he was doing, leaving me here like this? He didn't even tell me!"
"He knew if he had, you wouldn't have stayed," Elizabeth explained.
"Damn right I wouldn't have. How'm I s'posed to stay here? Look at this. Look!" Jade began to jump up and down on the solid oak floor. "The ground doesn't even move. How am I to sleep at night? I can't live on land. When am I s'posed to swim? And, and... what the hell is wrong with him?? I belong on the ocean!"
Elizabeth and Will exchanged looks as Jade continued raving. "There's not much we can do with her now," Will said. "Some temper she's got."
"Just like Jack," Elizabeth answered wryly. "Just leave her here then?"
"I don't think we can leave her alone, though. She might do something foolish." Immediately both turned to look at Jack.
"What?" he asked suspiciously.
"Jack, darling, could you stay here and keep an eye on her?" Elizabeth implored.
"Oh, no. No way. Are you mad? I can't stop her from doing anything."
"We don't need you to. Just stay here and watch her. You're always saying you'd like more responsibility. Well, here's your chance," Will offered.
"Thank you ever so much," Jack muttered, glaring at them as he sat down in a chair. Will and Elizabeth left the room. Jade's ranting continued on for some time, slowly growing quieter. Jack began to grow sleepy. Eventually Jade's rantings turned to quiet mutterings as she reread the letter. Somewhere in the house a clock chimed midnight. Jade's head snapped up.
"Did you hear that?" she demanded. "That was 12 strokes, right?"
"I don't know," Jack answered, yawning. "Something like that. Either way, it's far too late to be up and about. Why don't you go back to sleep?" But Jade was ignoring him.
"I didn't fall asleep until 10:30. Which means it's only been an hour and a half. So..." All of a sudden she raced from the room.
"Oh lord," Jack muttered, chasing after her. He reached the landing on the times just as she ran out the door. Not sure what else to do, he followed after her. "Where are you going?" he called as they ran down the hill to the town. "Stop!"
Jade raced through the town with Jack only a few feet behind her. She halted to a stop at the end of a dock, staring at the water as though expecting something to show up. She shook her head imploringly.
"Damn. How could he do this? He's my only family."
"What about your mother?" Jack asked.
"Don't have one."
"Don't be foolish. Of course you do. Everyone has a mother." Jade turned to look at him, obviously irritated.
"No. They don't. Everyone has a woman who bore them until their birth. Not everyone has a mother. I don't." She turned to look back out at the cove, searching for something. It was a dark night, but the moon shone bright over the water. There was nothing there. The Black Pearl was gone, just as if she'd never been there.
"It can't be gone already. That just... It's not fair!" She stood there silently for several minutes, staring out over the water. Jack grew uncomfortable.
"Are you crying?" he finally asked.
"No," she answered furiously. They were silent for several more minutes.
"I'm sorry," Jack offered. She glared at him.
"I don't want your pity." She spun around walking off the dock and back towards the house. Not knowing what else to do, Jack followed.