A/N Wow!! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed!! A craftsman/woman likes to
hear his/her work is appreciated!! ^_^
Chapter Seven.
Roberto returned to England, and an odd quiet fell on the house, rather like the quietness that surrounds me now as I sit writing this, in my last moments of this Earth. I say of this Earth, 'cause no one knows what happens when you die, no one's lived through it, to return to tell the tale. So anything could happen. . .I'm not scared, I'm gonna face it just like Jack told me to, just like Jack will.
The Commodore left shore, he was still disinclined to mention to where he was heading, just whispered conversations between my father and himself. Another strange thing was they left at night, rather then the grand celebration that usually took place. Surely only someone to hide sneaks out at night? I was nearly sixteen when the commodore returned, bringing Jack Sparrow with him.
There was a massive commotion down at the docks, as soon as I heard the noise I escaped the clutches of my governess and set off. The Commodore had returned, and he was not alone.
I saw them he drag him ashore. His hands were in chains, and his feet barely touching the ground, he was clearly making it as hard as possible. There was a grin across his injured face, but the lack of alcohol was clearly affecting him. His eyes fell on me, and he winked.
I raced after them, clutching my dress in my hands, to prevent it dragging along the floor. It was hard to run in my shoes, and I slowed to a quick walk, watching carefully as they took Jack away. Poor Jack, I thought, all alone. . .wait a minute. . .he was all alone. . .that couldn't be right. I spun round, and my eyes scanned the docks, where was his ship? His crew?
"Excuse me, commodore?"
"Ah, Miss. . .erm. . ."
"Harping. But never mind about all that, what are you arresting that man for?"
"This one, miss Harping?" He said, as the soldiers pulled Jack past.
I nodded.
"Don't you recognise him, he tried to abduct you, and nearly killed your cousin. He attacks ships and ports, and is a threat to every man honest or otherwise."
"Well, I'm sure he did not mean to do it, he can explain everything at his trial. . ."
"Trial? Miss Harping you are clearly not in tune with the justice system, miserable criminals like him do not get a trial, he was caught red handed."
"But. . ."
He shook his head, and began to walk away.
"What about his crew?"
"There were no crew, no ship either, it's my belief he was marooned."
"Wait. . ."
"Sorry, Miss Harping, lot's to do. Kindly give my regards to your parents." He said, strolling off after his men.
I turned to leave, but could not resist a glance back, Jack was trying to talk the soldiers round, I shook my head. These were men of honour, they would not turn for a few shillings.
I ran into the drawing room, where my mother sat working on the tapestry.
"Where's Father?" I demanded.
She scowled at me. "Theodora will you walk out, close the door. Knock and come in properly, then ask me what it is you want. I will not abide ill mannered children."
"I'm not a child." I barked before running out, and heading towards the study.
I knocked on the door, and without waiting for an answer barged in.
"Father. . ." I began. But the room was empty. I collapsed in his chair and stared at the desk in front of me. Why was I doing this? I didn't own this pirate anything. Why was I trying to help him?
I was still sat there when the door squeaked open.
"Theodora." My father thundered.
I jumped up. "I came to find you."
"Sit." He said, snapping the door shut. "Your mother tells me of your insolent behaviour. . ."
"But sir, I'm not a child any more."
"Exactly, so why do you still act like one?"
I shook my head. "Look someone's in trouble, and you always told me to help someone, when they were in trouble."
"And who is this person?"
"Captain Jack Sparrow."
Her father thought for a moment or two. "The commodore has informed that a man bearing the same name is to be hung on the morrow. I take it it is him to whom you are referring."
I nodded. "But you don't understand. He's the boy, the one we found on the beach, Roberto and I when I was five. We took him in. . .he was a stable boy. . ."
"In that case we have given him one chance and he has done nothing to justify another."
"Father, please." I said, staring into his cruel eyes.
He glared back at me. "You're begging me to save the miserable life of a pirate. A man who thinks or feels nothing for you. Why?"
But I could not answer his question, because I did not know myself. Or maybe I did. Looking back to my life before we found Jack, I had lived in the shadows, nobody had noticed me, I was just 'Harping's daughter'.
"He was the first one to ever notice me. He listened when I talked, he looked past my gender and age and saw the person underneath."
My father was horrified by my talk. He sent me from the study saying if I mentioned the pirate again 'I would not know what had hit me'.
That night I could not sleep, Jack Sparrow haunted my mind, and all I could think of was him sitting alone in the grimy prison cell, waiting for the morning. Eventually I threw the bed covers off and clambered to the window. The scene that greeted my tired eyes made me scream out. The whole of Port Royal was ablaze.
I could smell the smoke as it took Port Royal in it's grasp. It was another shock to me, to find our dear house also coated in orange flames. I stood by the window, unable to move, paralysed with fear. I ran to the door, and pulled it open, but the smoke poured in making me choke, I slammed the door shut, my hands trembling as I collapsed on the bed.
I grabbed my bed covers and draped them over me, as I once more tried the door. I had no choice, I could not escape through the window. I pushed the door opened, and the smoke enveloped me, making me splutter as I attempted to walk down the hallway. Through the smoke I saw a figure, and suddenly Frankie grabbed me.
"C'mon young misses." He coughed, as he guided me towards the stairs.
"Pa!" I said, miserably, as he led me down the steps. The fire was licking up our entrance hall, and he threw me over the flames, before jumping himself. The cool midnight air refreshed my polluted lungs as I gasped it in, but the putrid smell still filled my nostrils. And tears blazed my eyes as I stared up at my burning house.
"Where's Mama?" I demanded, as I got my breath back. The fire had reached the top of the house, the roof began to collapse, Frankie pulled me backwards, but I dodged his iron grasp. I wanted to go back inside, I couldn't leave my parents.
I opened my mouth to shout, but the words didn't come out as I choked back a sob.
"Frankie, Frankie, my parents." I spluttered.
He shook his head. "I'm sorry misses."
"No, no!" I choked, this time from grief rather then the smoke.
"C'mon." He dragged my through the gate as the house fell on it's foundations.
We ran through the town, avoiding the fire fighting crew, pushing our way through the crowds. It seemed the whole of Port Royal was awake, watching as the fire took away their livelihoods, their family. The screams and shouts, cries and yells deafened my ears, as Frankie clung to my sweaty palm. But what happened was inevitable. I reached out, but the groom was no longer there, the crowd had taken him from me.
I shook my head, trying to keep calm. I ran to the only place I knew, the docks. They seemed to be the only place that had not been caught by the fire. There was a strange ship in dock, a ship I had never seen before.
Then my mind whirred, I felt dizzy and almost feel to the ground. I laugh now, as I remember my reaction, but back then I was terrified. The ship that greeted my eyes, it was none other then the Black Pearl.
And The Black Pearl meant. . .
As I hand touched my shoulder I screamed and spun round.
"Dora." Said that slurring voice. Jack Sparrow was grinning down at me, surrounded by his pirate crew.
I fainted.
A/N Okay, so Jack needs Dora. . .why? Well, it has something to do with their experiences together as children!! Anyway please R & R, and I'll post my next chapter as soon as possible. Savvy?
Chapter Seven.
Roberto returned to England, and an odd quiet fell on the house, rather like the quietness that surrounds me now as I sit writing this, in my last moments of this Earth. I say of this Earth, 'cause no one knows what happens when you die, no one's lived through it, to return to tell the tale. So anything could happen. . .I'm not scared, I'm gonna face it just like Jack told me to, just like Jack will.
The Commodore left shore, he was still disinclined to mention to where he was heading, just whispered conversations between my father and himself. Another strange thing was they left at night, rather then the grand celebration that usually took place. Surely only someone to hide sneaks out at night? I was nearly sixteen when the commodore returned, bringing Jack Sparrow with him.
There was a massive commotion down at the docks, as soon as I heard the noise I escaped the clutches of my governess and set off. The Commodore had returned, and he was not alone.
I saw them he drag him ashore. His hands were in chains, and his feet barely touching the ground, he was clearly making it as hard as possible. There was a grin across his injured face, but the lack of alcohol was clearly affecting him. His eyes fell on me, and he winked.
I raced after them, clutching my dress in my hands, to prevent it dragging along the floor. It was hard to run in my shoes, and I slowed to a quick walk, watching carefully as they took Jack away. Poor Jack, I thought, all alone. . .wait a minute. . .he was all alone. . .that couldn't be right. I spun round, and my eyes scanned the docks, where was his ship? His crew?
"Excuse me, commodore?"
"Ah, Miss. . .erm. . ."
"Harping. But never mind about all that, what are you arresting that man for?"
"This one, miss Harping?" He said, as the soldiers pulled Jack past.
I nodded.
"Don't you recognise him, he tried to abduct you, and nearly killed your cousin. He attacks ships and ports, and is a threat to every man honest or otherwise."
"Well, I'm sure he did not mean to do it, he can explain everything at his trial. . ."
"Trial? Miss Harping you are clearly not in tune with the justice system, miserable criminals like him do not get a trial, he was caught red handed."
"But. . ."
He shook his head, and began to walk away.
"What about his crew?"
"There were no crew, no ship either, it's my belief he was marooned."
"Wait. . ."
"Sorry, Miss Harping, lot's to do. Kindly give my regards to your parents." He said, strolling off after his men.
I turned to leave, but could not resist a glance back, Jack was trying to talk the soldiers round, I shook my head. These were men of honour, they would not turn for a few shillings.
I ran into the drawing room, where my mother sat working on the tapestry.
"Where's Father?" I demanded.
She scowled at me. "Theodora will you walk out, close the door. Knock and come in properly, then ask me what it is you want. I will not abide ill mannered children."
"I'm not a child." I barked before running out, and heading towards the study.
I knocked on the door, and without waiting for an answer barged in.
"Father. . ." I began. But the room was empty. I collapsed in his chair and stared at the desk in front of me. Why was I doing this? I didn't own this pirate anything. Why was I trying to help him?
I was still sat there when the door squeaked open.
"Theodora." My father thundered.
I jumped up. "I came to find you."
"Sit." He said, snapping the door shut. "Your mother tells me of your insolent behaviour. . ."
"But sir, I'm not a child any more."
"Exactly, so why do you still act like one?"
I shook my head. "Look someone's in trouble, and you always told me to help someone, when they were in trouble."
"And who is this person?"
"Captain Jack Sparrow."
Her father thought for a moment or two. "The commodore has informed that a man bearing the same name is to be hung on the morrow. I take it it is him to whom you are referring."
I nodded. "But you don't understand. He's the boy, the one we found on the beach, Roberto and I when I was five. We took him in. . .he was a stable boy. . ."
"In that case we have given him one chance and he has done nothing to justify another."
"Father, please." I said, staring into his cruel eyes.
He glared back at me. "You're begging me to save the miserable life of a pirate. A man who thinks or feels nothing for you. Why?"
But I could not answer his question, because I did not know myself. Or maybe I did. Looking back to my life before we found Jack, I had lived in the shadows, nobody had noticed me, I was just 'Harping's daughter'.
"He was the first one to ever notice me. He listened when I talked, he looked past my gender and age and saw the person underneath."
My father was horrified by my talk. He sent me from the study saying if I mentioned the pirate again 'I would not know what had hit me'.
That night I could not sleep, Jack Sparrow haunted my mind, and all I could think of was him sitting alone in the grimy prison cell, waiting for the morning. Eventually I threw the bed covers off and clambered to the window. The scene that greeted my tired eyes made me scream out. The whole of Port Royal was ablaze.
I could smell the smoke as it took Port Royal in it's grasp. It was another shock to me, to find our dear house also coated in orange flames. I stood by the window, unable to move, paralysed with fear. I ran to the door, and pulled it open, but the smoke poured in making me choke, I slammed the door shut, my hands trembling as I collapsed on the bed.
I grabbed my bed covers and draped them over me, as I once more tried the door. I had no choice, I could not escape through the window. I pushed the door opened, and the smoke enveloped me, making me splutter as I attempted to walk down the hallway. Through the smoke I saw a figure, and suddenly Frankie grabbed me.
"C'mon young misses." He coughed, as he guided me towards the stairs.
"Pa!" I said, miserably, as he led me down the steps. The fire was licking up our entrance hall, and he threw me over the flames, before jumping himself. The cool midnight air refreshed my polluted lungs as I gasped it in, but the putrid smell still filled my nostrils. And tears blazed my eyes as I stared up at my burning house.
"Where's Mama?" I demanded, as I got my breath back. The fire had reached the top of the house, the roof began to collapse, Frankie pulled me backwards, but I dodged his iron grasp. I wanted to go back inside, I couldn't leave my parents.
I opened my mouth to shout, but the words didn't come out as I choked back a sob.
"Frankie, Frankie, my parents." I spluttered.
He shook his head. "I'm sorry misses."
"No, no!" I choked, this time from grief rather then the smoke.
"C'mon." He dragged my through the gate as the house fell on it's foundations.
We ran through the town, avoiding the fire fighting crew, pushing our way through the crowds. It seemed the whole of Port Royal was awake, watching as the fire took away their livelihoods, their family. The screams and shouts, cries and yells deafened my ears, as Frankie clung to my sweaty palm. But what happened was inevitable. I reached out, but the groom was no longer there, the crowd had taken him from me.
I shook my head, trying to keep calm. I ran to the only place I knew, the docks. They seemed to be the only place that had not been caught by the fire. There was a strange ship in dock, a ship I had never seen before.
Then my mind whirred, I felt dizzy and almost feel to the ground. I laugh now, as I remember my reaction, but back then I was terrified. The ship that greeted my eyes, it was none other then the Black Pearl.
And The Black Pearl meant. . .
As I hand touched my shoulder I screamed and spun round.
"Dora." Said that slurring voice. Jack Sparrow was grinning down at me, surrounded by his pirate crew.
I fainted.
A/N Okay, so Jack needs Dora. . .why? Well, it has something to do with their experiences together as children!! Anyway please R & R, and I'll post my next chapter as soon as possible. Savvy?