AN: Okay. So, before I begin this chapter, I must tell you all that the next chapter will be the last. And I cry in sadness. But, I wanted to tell all of you that there are several hints littered throughout this story that give clues to what will happen in the third installment of this story arc. I hope you guys can find at least some of them. Think of it as a little scavenger hunt! Hope you enjoy the chapter!
"A word to the wise isn't necessary. It's the stupid ones who need all the advice."
Unknown
Silver and Gold
Chapter 17: Rescues and Fights
"You know she wouldn't really shoot you. You are her family. You should know her better than that."
Tyler shook his head. "You didn't see her Sarah. She had murder in her eyes. She was willing to kill anyone who got in her way."
Sarah grabbed his hand, squeezing it gently. "She was angry, Tyler. You would have done the same thing."
Tyler sighed, lifting her hand to his lips. He closed his eyes, inhaling her scent. She had forgiven him, all those days ago, for lying to her. In the rush of emotions that followed after his apology, he had confessed his feelings for her. Now, not only was she the woman he loved, but she was also his confidant.
"I warned her, Sarah," he whispered. "I warned her that she would get caught, and she ignored me. Now, she will hang just like every other pirate."
"No, she will not," a new voice said, interrupting them.
Tyler looked up, his eyes widening as he noticed Jeremy standing in front of them. "Gr-grandfather. We did not see you there."
"I just arrived," Jeremy answered, closing the door behind him, locking it quickly. "Where is your father?"
"He had business to attend to. Father left little over an hour ago."
"Then we do not have much time. We have plans to make."
"Plans, grandfather? What do you mean?"
Sarah started to stand up, hampered only by Tyler still holding her hand. "Should I leave sir?" she asked.
Jeremy smiled. "No, my dear. This involves you as well."
Tyler stared up at him openmouthed. "What do you mean?"
"We are going to save your cousin."
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Jack sat back again in his chair, crumpling the paper in his hand. Was the old man crazy? Did he honestly believe they could pull this off? Jack ran his hand over his face, sighing. He wasn't sure if it would work, but, hell, he didn't have any better ideas. He would just have to go with the old man's plan.
Jack wouldn't allow her to hang. Just as she wouldn't allow him to.
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"I should have known you would be a criminal."
"Why? Because I didn't agree to have lunch with ya?" Lor asked sarcastically, smirking. "What kinda egotistical moron are you?"
Stevenson smirked down at her. "No. You had that look in your eyes. A shifty, dangerous look," he reached through the bars, tracing a finger down her cheek slowly.
Lor jerked her head back, pulling her face away from him. "Don't touch me."
"If you would be a little nicer to me, dear, I would be happy to find a way to set you free."
"What're you talkin' about?"
"There is always a price, Miss Adams," he replied, a devilish glint entering his eyes, "for everything. As I am sure there will be a price to set you free. If you would agree to serve me, it would be my honor to get you out."
Lor's eyes glinted angrily. "I could kill you with my bare hands," she seethed.
Stevenson laughed. "Yes, well, you would have to be on the outside of the cell in order to do so, wouldn't you?"
"I would never sell myself fer yer pleasure you bastard," she answered. "You can go to hell where you belong."
Stevenson's dark eyes glinted again. "Very well then, Miss Adams, I shall see you tomorrow."
He laughed again, turning around with a swirl of coat and left.
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"Are you sure this will work grandfather?" Tyler asked later that night. "I mean, I am no criminal. How am I to break her out? I do not think that . . ."
"All you need to do, my boy, is unlock her cell. Even though she is not suspecting this, Lor will be able to take over after she is free. You merely need to make sure she reaches the port. Everything will be okay from there."
Tyler sighed, sitting down. "But why bring Sarah into this?" he asked, placing his head in his hands.
Jeremy touched Tyler's shoulder lightly. "It is the only way Tyler. I know your father," he laughed, "after all, he is my son. He cares more about appearances and money than he does the feelings of his own son. If you wish to be with Miss Clarke, then you will take her with you.
"I know that she would not be suited for a piratical life, but you could both find a home of your own somewhere in the Caribbean. Port Royal perhaps, or Kingston. This is the only way both of you can be together."
Tyler sighed again. "I am not sure I wish to leave you."
"You must do this for me Tyler. I will not lose another member of my family. Help me in this, please."
"You know I will grandfather. I do not wish to see Lor hang, nor do I wish to live without Sarah. Come dawn tomorrow, Lor will be free."
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The day dawned with storm clouds hovering in the sky. Lor paced in her cell slowly. She hadn't gone to sleep the night before, having never felt tired. She had been contemplating ways to escape at first, but then halfway through the night; her thoughts had turned to her grandfather. What had he meant when he said she would not hang? Did he have some sort of plan that he didn't bother to tell her about? He wouldn't risk his life to try and save her, would he?
A crash sounded behind her, causing Lor to turn around. Tyler stood at the door to her cell, breathless with her weapons belt slung over one shoulder. In his right hand he held the keys to her cell. Her eyebrows rose slightly as she stared at him. This was not what she had expected.
"I have come to rescue you," he said nobly.
"Very gallant of you. I take it our grandfather put you up to this?"
"He is a very persuasive man when he wants to be," Tyler answered, unlocking her door and opening it quickly. "Come, Lor. There is a carriage waiting. We must get away from here."
Lor nodded, stepping out of the cell and taking her weapons belt from him, slinging it over her chest. "Then lead the way."
Tyler nodded and turned away from her, running down a long hallway to their left, Lor following closely behind him, neither one noticing the form hidden in the shadows, their eyes glinting.
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Lor climbed into the carriage, her eyes taking in the girl sitting wide-eyed in front of her. "Sarah?"
"It is a long story cousin," Tyler replied behind her. Turning his attention to the driver, he said, "To the port, Ralph. Quickly."
"Aye, sir. Right away."
"The port, Tyler?" Lor asked. "Why the port?"
"Grandfather made plans Lor. He contacted Captain Sparrow informing him of what he intended to do."
"Why would Jack even still be here? Why didn't he leave?"
"Grandfather caught him before he sailed away. He is to leave a boat for us at the port. We will row to the Black Pearl and sail away from England. Safely rescuing you and allowing Sarah and I to be together."
Lor accepted his information silently. She wasn't sure what to think. She was grateful that they had rescued her, and yet she was angry that they would pull Jack into it. He should have been far away from England, not anchored near the port waiting for her.
"And you think we can pull this off so easily? Take it from someone who knows, Tyler, nothing is ever so simple."
"It will be this time. The only person to see me was the man I took the keys from. We shall be long gone by the time he can sound the alarm and gather forces to hunt us."
The carriage came to a grinding halt, the driver pounding on the roof. "The port, sir!" came his muffled call. Lor threw open the door quickly, jumping out of the small carriage.
She stopped as suddenly as she started, her eyes narrowing.
"Lor? What is it?"
Lor unsheathed her sword slowly, her eyes never moving from where they were staring. "Mason," she replied quietly.
Tyler looked up quickly, startled. How could the captain have known?
"I knew that you would try to escape," he called, unsheathing his own sword.
"Tyler, get to the boat. I'll handle him."
Tyler, knowing better than to argue with her, nodded and helped Sarah out of the carriage. They walked quickly around them, Tyler making sure to stay clear of Mason.
"They will not get far, Adams. Once I deal with you, I will deal with them."
"Deal with me, Mason? Do you really think I am someone easily dealt with?"
"You are nothing but a pirate. One I have encountered numerous times."
Lor smirked, walking up to him. "I see the fruits of my latest assault haven't healed yet," she said, gesturing to the bandage covering his bruised and swollen nose.
Mason glared over at her, one hand tenderly touching his face. "I still owe you for that attack, Adams. This time I will not wait for you to hang!" he cried, lunging forward.
Lor blocked his blow, bringing her sword up, throwing him off balance. Mason stumbled slightly, falling forward. She side-stepped away from him, turning around to stare down at him.
"I have fought and bested men better than you, Mason. Do you actually believe you can beat me?"
"I will beat you, bitch!" he cried, slicing at her with the tip of his sword.
Lor stepped back, but didn't escape from getting hit. A slice opened on her stomach, a thin line of blood creeping out. She placed a hand over the wound, her eyes narrowing. Mason jumped up in front of her, punching her in the cheek.
Lor grunted, her head jerking to the side. She lifted her leg quickly, effectively kneeing him in the gut. She punched down with her left hand, hitting him in the back of his head. She stepped back from him, holding her sword point at his face.
Mason climbed to his feet slowly, grabbing a fistful of sand. Before she could realize what he was doing, he threw the sand in her face, blinding her momentarily. Lor stepped back blindly, narrowly missing his sword as he swung it through the air at her.
Lor rubbed her eyes, wiping the sand from them. She parried the next blow he threw at her, bringing her blade up again, knocking his weapon from his hand. Lor swung at him again. Mason ducked under the blow, grabbing her wrist and twisting behind her, careful of the sharp sword edge.
Mason twisted her arm behind her back. Lor cried out, her grip loosening on her sword. The weapon fell to the ground quickly, a clatter echoing in the empty port.
"Now, you die, pirate," he seethed, pulling out a dagger she hadn't seen before and slamming it into her left shoulder.
Lor cried out again, the pain creeping into her brain, disorienting her.
"Lor!" Sarah screamed.
Lor shook her head, attempting to erase the numbing pain from her mind. She elbowed him with her injured arm as best as she could, pulling free when his grip loosened. Reaching up with her right hand, she gripped the hilt of the dagger. Gritting her teeth, she pulled the blade out, closing her eyes as pain coursed through her again.
She turned around slowly, her arm hanging limply at her side.
"You are beaten, Adams. Give up now."
"Heh," she whispered.
Lor swung at him weakly with her left arm. Mason tilted his head back, avoiding her blow. With a cry of rage, she swung her right arm up, slamming the dagger hilt deep into the side of his neck.
Mason's eyes widened in shock, his jaw going slack. He fell to his knees, and then crumpled to the ground, his lifeless eyes staring up at her. Lor stared down at him and then kicked him viciously in the side.
"I win, you bastard," she said, her eyes gazing into his.
A hand touched her uninjured shoulder, jerking her attention away from the dead captain at her feet.
"Lor, we must go. If Mason knew of us, then soldiers will be here soon."
Lor gripped her bleeding shoulder tightly and nodded. They walked quickly to the small boat, Tyler kicking them away from the port and towards the open ocean.
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"What the 'ell 'appened?"
"She fought Mason," Tyler replied, helping to lift the unconscious Lor into Jack's waiting arms. "He wounded her. Lor was conscious when we first set out but then halfway here she passed out. Sarah hasn't been able to rouse her since."
Jack turned away from him, heading quickly towards his cabin, AnaMaria at his side. "She's lost a lot of blood, Cap'n," she said, looking at the wound gravely. "It'd be a miracle if she survives."
"Then ya better perform one helluva miracle, lass," Jack replied, entering his cabin and shutting the door quickly.
Gibbs looked at the two new arrivals sympathetically and then at his fellow pirates. "Weigh anchor! Hoist the sails! Get us outta this bloody place!" he called, watching as the people around him hurried to do his bidding.
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AN: Chapter 18: The End or Just the Beginning? What will happen next? Will Lor survive? How will Tyler and Sarah fare on a pirate ship? Find out in the next chapter!
Dawnie-7: Yes, she is. Thank you very much for reviewing! I thought that would be the only way to save him. Have his woman protect him, risking her own life in the process.
Goth Princess: Thank you very much! I'm so happy that I could make you a happy camper. I liked the fact that she slammed her head into his nose. It was last minute thing, but, boy, I laughed when I wrote it!
PineAppleLint: Well, they've met up again! Although it wasn't in the happiest of ways. I hope you liked the way Jeremy planned her rescue. To me, he's kinda like the Dumbledore of my Pirates universe. Hope you liked the chapter!
DaydreamBeliever14: I hope you have time! It would be so great to read a new submission! I'm glad you liked the chapter!
Captain-Kalazu: Thank you very much!
NazgulGirl: I hope I wrote fast enough for you. This chapter was days in the making. Took me long enough, right?
Cap'n Ethel Kidd: Yeah. You know it's funny. I had half of the chapter written, including the part where they mention Jack helping in the rescue, before I got your review. Boy, talk about good intuition on your part. I thank you very much for reading my stories, and I hope you enjoy the third one just as much as you did these two!