A/N Thanks for all your reviews!! ^_^ Hope you like this next chapter!! It's not quite what you were expecting. . .
Chapter Seventeen.
My eyes slowly opened, and a blurred vision greeted me. I blinked several times trying to focus in on my environment. The first thing I noticed was the feather bed that I lay on. The blankets smelt new, and un-slept in, I'd almost forgotten such an aroma aboard Jack's vessel. I tried to sit up, but a stabbing pain in my knee prevented me from doing so.
"Where am I?" I muttered to myself, my hand reaching up to my head.
"The home of the commodore, Miss Harping." Came a reply.
I turned my head to see a middle aged maid fussing around the large room.
"When Mr Harping found you. . .
"Roberto?" I interrupted.
She nodded with a shrewd smile. "After you were taken, Miss, he did naught but talk about you. He convinced the commodore that you were worth the effort of searching for."
I smiled softly, as was expected of me, and looked down at the white sheets. "How long have I been here?"
"Four days, and in a bad condition when you first arrived, in need of food and medical attention, Miss, of course the doctor sorted you out just fine, and. . ."
Her babble was cut short by a loud rap on the door. Through the door stepped the doctor, a tall upright man, swiftly followed by Roberto, just as I remembered him.
"Roberto?" I gasped, at the mere sight of my old companion.
He grinned as he stepped into the room. "Theodora, and how are you feeling this fine morning?"
"Fine, thank you. My knee. . ."
"It will still hurt for a few days, Miss Harping. But it is not broken, I can assure you, just badly sprained."
"Just because you are the doctor gives you no right to interrupt Miss Harping when she is talking." Roberto said, threateningly.
"Oh don't be silly Roberto, thank you very much, sir." I said, forcing a smile.
All the while I felt a horrible fear growing inside of me. Almost as bad as the pure terror I had experienced on Jack's ship with his first mate, Barbossa. After a few minutes spent exchanging frivolous pleasantries, Roberto ordered the foolish maid, and doctor from the room, giving us 'time to talk'.
He pulled up a chair beside my bed, and took up one of my cold hands. His touch made me flinch.
"What has happened to you, Theo.? You must tell me everything that happened aboard that devil ship."
I shook my head, and the memory of Jack and the life I had had aboard the Pearl brought tears to my eyes. "No," I said, determined to put of the subject for as long as possible. "First I must know what happened back at the port. . .why did you attack?" I asked.
He smiled. "I've been promoted, Theodora, I'm now in charge of my own ship, thanks to the commodore. I attacked to get you back, I've been following the Pearl for awhile now. . ."
"And instead of attacking in open water, risking the possibilities of damage to your new ship, and loss of lives, you decided to attack an innocent town, killing women and children who have done nothing but good their entire lives. And you are saying you did all that for me? Should I be honoured?"
"What has got into you Theodora?" He demanded, angrily.
"Am I not the quaint, abiding cousin that I once was?"
He frowned. "When I catch that Sparrow I shall personally see to it that his death is slow and painful."
"Again I am honoured that you should take such pains on my account." I said, softly. But secretly I was glad, his words suggested that Jack had got away, and was probably a long way away by now.
"Why are you taking this so frivolously?" He asked, standing up and pacing the room.
"I beg your pardon?"
"You were kidnapped. . ."
"Yes, on the night my parents burnt alive in their mansion. I know Roberto, you need not tell me."
He turned to me in amazement. "You have changed."
"Would not such an experience change you?" I asked.
He didn't reply for a few moments. "Of course it would, but not to such an extent. I cannot begin to imagine what you have suffered aboard that ship, but you must not let it make you bitter. I shall find the man that has done this to you, and he shall be brought to justice."
I laughed.
"You laugh at me? You do not believe I shall catch Sparrow?"
"Sparrow flies on fast wings, but that is not why I laugh. I laugh at your idea of justice, Roberto." I told him.
"What?" He questioned.
I smiled at him. "Jack was nothing but a gentleman. Whilst on his ship he laid not a single finger on me, you must admit Roberto that is no trifle for a legendary pirate such as he."
"We should certainly commend him for not raping you." Roberto said, sarcastically. "Perhaps a medal?"
I didn't rise to his sarcasm. "I doubt the commodore would approve." I said, sweetly.
He shook his head in annoyance, and turned away. "If he is such a fine gentleman, why did he run away?"
I didn't reply, I couldn't. True, I had told Jack to leave me, but that meant nothing. He could have stayed had he desired to do so. He ran off to save himself without the slightest regard to my own safety. Perhaps he was not the man I thought he was.
"I would never have left you." He continued, softly.
"I beg your pardon?" I required. My stomach churned angrily.
"Theodora we have known each other since children, spent many years together. Hell, we even found Jack together." He sighed. "What I'm trying to say is, I think such a relationship as we have should be celebrated, and enhanced even further."
"At risk of destroying it all together?"
He nodded. "Love requires such risks to be braved."
"Love?"
"Love, indeed. I have always cared deeply for you Theodora, and though is probably not the best of times. You are drowsy and weak, and have only just escaped with your life."
"Jack wouldn't have harmed me. He was admirable, Roberto, honestly. Anything else I deserved." My hand went to my neck to feel for the necklace; it wasn't there, but I dared not speak up.
He looked at me through raised eyebrows. "It grieves me to hear you singing his praises. Theodora I am asking you to forget Jack Sparrow. . ."
"Captain." I couldn't stop myself from muttering.
". . .and become my wife."
A/N Review? The next chapter is nearly finished, and will be up soon! Thanks for reading!