A/N: Ummm, yeah sorry about the huge incredibly long wait but I just
haven't been in a writing mood, even though I have a lot of ideas for this
story (really! I do!). Sorry to leave you guys hanging for so long but I am
a laaaaaazzzzzyyyyyy writer and there are times (days, weeks, months etc.)
when I don't feel like writing. Also I've been focusing my creative
energies on fictionpress.com lately
*cough*goreadmystuff*cough*.......subliminal messaging aside :P....Anyway you've
probably been wondering about Nadie/Lorelei for a while now (I'm so cruel
aren't I? Ending a chapter like that and then just leaving...). Not to say
that I'll stop using cliffies ;) they are a favourite element of mine, but
that maybe I'll update more. Really in all honesty this won't be a very
long story. I think I'm kinda at the halfway point already. Kudos to me.
Next up, everyone's favourite feature: Thanking reviewers! WOOOOO I GOT 10 THIS TIME!!!!!!!!!!! *dances* You know what? I think that's a record! *Checks* It is!!!!!!!!
Yeoflittlemind: Oooo air of mystery eh? Nice, I like that ^^. It makes me feel special :D. And you do have good reasons for liking this story, Thank you! Keep up the reviews, my friend!
Dazedconfusion: Hey, thank you sooo much! Man, if I get any more praise, my ego is going to explode :P. Wow and you put me on your favourite stories list *hugs reviewer*.
Lusty-Sea-Wench: Mwahahahahahahahahahahahahaha *coughgurglehack* ahem, yes, I am eeevil aren't I? Ah, I love cliffhangers ;). Hee hee, I'm glad you liked the whole tavern thing, I thought you would. See you in the next chapter and awwwwwwww I love you too ^_^
Katie115: Hey *looks at you suspiciously* don't I know you from 'Harry has boobs'? Yay! *pounces on you* Another reviewer! To answer your question: This story takes place several years before the movie, ten to be exact, just after the mutiny, therefore Will would only be about ten years old /therefore/ he has no part in this story. Sorry :P.
Happy-little-hobbit: Hello there! Gal of few words are we? Oh well, you got your point across ;). Here's another chappie.
hyper_freaky_person: Tanks four the revue. I licked it berry mush :P. Lol, nice spelling. Ah well, keep up the reviews.
Drunk Like A Fox: You probably knew that because I told you genius :P. We really should update Harry with boobs......pity I was busy over the break. Hmmm now to guess who it is......well it can't be Lindsey cuz she could just check her email for reviews, so it must be *drumroll* JENECKA!
bobo3: Yeah the rape thing was fairly obvious, at least that's what I thought, no one else tried to guess. I'm glad you liked my story and I'll be sure to read some of your work. Ugh, collegic homework, that's gotta suck. I wish you the best. Ta!
Random Character: Yes, you're very special....HAHA YOU BURNED YOUR FOOD!!!!!!!! Man, I still can't believe that story, how can anyone burn steamed brocolli??????? How is that even possible? Hey, maybe you burned your dinner cause you were focused on reading fanfiction......that would explain it :P. Tsk tsk......hee hee you know I love you Linz (in the most unslashy way possible :P), I just think it's funny.
Disclaimer: Yes yes, we all know I don't own potc, there's no need to rub it in my face.
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Nadie liked the landlord.
As soon as she had timidly approached him, he'd given her a friendly wink and had said, "Now, what can I do for ye, me gel?" and he'd smiled widely, quickly dispelling Nadie's trepidation.
Nadie had liked the way he had addressed her, his gruff voice completely devoid of any pity or condenscending tones. Instead he had treated her with kindness and generosity.
As he had prepared her bath for her and gotten her everything she needed, he had talked to her. He'd told her that he'd been a sailor before he'd owned his inn, and that he'd met 'Crazy old Jack' when the much younger pirate had tried to raid the ship he'd been serving on. Tried.....and failed. During Jack's stay in the brig, the older seaman had grown a liking for him and helped him escape the hangman's noose. The two had been fast friends ever since.
Nadie had listened to this story with rapt attention; it had been a very long time since any stranger had deigned to tell her anything, especially not a story.
She'd even giggled when the landlord had described Jack's dramatic entrance onto the ship. How he'd swung in on a rope and upon his landing he'd drawn his sword expertly in one fluid motion, ready to begin the battle, but found that his comrades had been unable to cross with him. Jack's eyes had gone very wide indeed when he discovered that he was alone.
"Well, lass, I suppose I'll leave ye to it."
Nadie nodded, "Thank you" she said quietly.
The landlord hesitated briefly for a moment then inclined his head in aknowledgement and left, shutting the door softly behind him.
Turning back to the tub, Nadie's lips curved up in the smallest of smiles. The landlord had been very generous indeed. Not only had he left many soaps and linens for her, but he had even provided scented bath oils, an extra and much-welcomed gift.
Nadie gently picked up one of the unmarked glass bottles, uncorked it and sniffed the contents. Her smile grew even wider with delight as the sweet scent of roses filled her nostrils.
As soon as she had added a few drops of the sweet-smelling liquid to the bath, Nadie stripped off the ragged remnants of her clothing and slipped into the pleasant warm water.
The bath had an immediate soothing effect on her tired and battered body. Years of pain, torment, stress and sorrow seemed to melt away and dissapate in the steam. For several long minutes, Nadie did not move and simply allowed herself to bask in the warm, contented feeling.
Finally, realizing that the water was growing cooler, Nadie plucked one of the washcloths from the pile that the landlord had left her and started to scrub away at her skin. With every layer of dirt she removed, she felt as if she'd destroyed another bar of her cage.
*
"Raped?" Jack said quietly, mulling this information over in his mind. It wasn't at all foreign to him. It was quite a common practice among the dregs of society but it still disgusted him.
"Aye," Isadora replied solemnly.
"What was she like.....before?" The pirate asked after a moment, remembering the sorrowful beauty of her young face, the shattered soul hidden in her eyes.
"She was...." Dora searched for words, "full of life. Her smile was infectious and it was impossible to be angry when she was about. I remember she was barely out of childhood when she came to work at the 'Blade'. She never told us her full name, or where she came from, just told us that her name Lorelei. I remember whenever I asked where she was from, she'd just give this little mysterious smile, say 'the sea of course; on the horizen's horizen' and go on with her work.
We started her off servin' drinks but when we heard her singin' one day as she worked, her job changed. There wasn't a single customer that didn't like to hear that lass sing. Every night, Lorelei'd get some sailor-young or old-to play the fiddle for her as she sang old ditties and ballads. The crowd always loved her as though she were their own sister or daughter and treated her with the utmost respect...." The brunette paused, and her eyes hardened "save one."
Jack raised his eyebrows slightly, "The rapist?"
Isadora nodded wearily, "Goes without saying doesn't it? His name was Richard DeVir," the woman's nose wrinkled with distaste. "He was one of the most pampered, slimy and arrogant aristocrats that I've had the great misfortune of meeting. Though I believe it was just bad luck on Lorelei's part that he took an interest in her." She shook her head sadly at the memories. "For many months, Richard pursued Lorelei but she always refused him. It was not through malice that she spurned him; she simply had no use for men besides companionship. Richard did not take her rejection kindly however, and his interest developed into an unhealthy obsession. I remember Lorelei often complaining that she thought he was following her home or spying on her.
Finally, one day, after a month of this, she didn't come in to work. Neither did she come in the next day. All the sailors she had befriended asked after her, but we did not know what to tell them, for we'd heard no news from her. She had no family, save us, there was no one we could talk to who would know where she was. Two weeks after she'd disappeared, she stumbled through the door, half-mad, starving and wounded. I can't describe exactly how it was to see her again...how she looked....it was her, and yet....it wasn't. She wasn't as ragged as she is now, but she was....different. She wasn't Lorelei anymore. It was all in her eyes....they were empty....completely empty. It was as though she was already dead."
Isadora sighed and continued, "In a way, I think she had died. Richard-the bastard-had killed her, broken her. When she came back to us, the part of her that was Lorelei had died, and she had become Nadie, a pathetic shadow of her former self."
Jack leaned back and reflected on this, "What about Richard?" he asked after a moment.
Dora studied him briefly and smiled wryly, "Thinking of avenging Lorelei, eh? Good luck, old friend, he's not been seen for two years," she chuckled mirthlessly, "maybe he knows what will happen to him if he returns here."
"Wait, love, if Lorelei or Nadie-whatever 'er name really is-was so well- loved, why did I find the poor lass wandering the streets alone, with no one trying to help 'er?"
Blushing slightly, Isadora hesitated and looked at her hands, "Jack, you know as well as I do, that we all have our own problems and lives to attend to," she raised her gaze, "It's not a fair excuse to Nadie I know, but have neither the time, the money, or resources to help her."
Jack spared the woman beside him a brief glance and returned to watching the rain fall out the window. He sighed slightly and shook his head.
She was right. But it still wasn't fair.
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A/N: Ok, I was meaning to make this a looooooot longer but then I realized that you guys are probably making little voodoo dolls of me and cursing my name, so I decided to give you this. There's only about two chapters left anyway (it's a short fic). However, the next chapter will be a lot better, and providing my teachers don't give me any more bloody essays I shall write it as quickly as I can.
Next up, everyone's favourite feature: Thanking reviewers! WOOOOO I GOT 10 THIS TIME!!!!!!!!!!! *dances* You know what? I think that's a record! *Checks* It is!!!!!!!!
Yeoflittlemind: Oooo air of mystery eh? Nice, I like that ^^. It makes me feel special :D. And you do have good reasons for liking this story, Thank you! Keep up the reviews, my friend!
Dazedconfusion: Hey, thank you sooo much! Man, if I get any more praise, my ego is going to explode :P. Wow and you put me on your favourite stories list *hugs reviewer*.
Lusty-Sea-Wench: Mwahahahahahahahahahahahahaha *coughgurglehack* ahem, yes, I am eeevil aren't I? Ah, I love cliffhangers ;). Hee hee, I'm glad you liked the whole tavern thing, I thought you would. See you in the next chapter and awwwwwwww I love you too ^_^
Katie115: Hey *looks at you suspiciously* don't I know you from 'Harry has boobs'? Yay! *pounces on you* Another reviewer! To answer your question: This story takes place several years before the movie, ten to be exact, just after the mutiny, therefore Will would only be about ten years old /therefore/ he has no part in this story. Sorry :P.
Happy-little-hobbit: Hello there! Gal of few words are we? Oh well, you got your point across ;). Here's another chappie.
hyper_freaky_person: Tanks four the revue. I licked it berry mush :P. Lol, nice spelling. Ah well, keep up the reviews.
Drunk Like A Fox: You probably knew that because I told you genius :P. We really should update Harry with boobs......pity I was busy over the break. Hmmm now to guess who it is......well it can't be Lindsey cuz she could just check her email for reviews, so it must be *drumroll* JENECKA!
bobo3: Yeah the rape thing was fairly obvious, at least that's what I thought, no one else tried to guess. I'm glad you liked my story and I'll be sure to read some of your work. Ugh, collegic homework, that's gotta suck. I wish you the best. Ta!
Random Character: Yes, you're very special....HAHA YOU BURNED YOUR FOOD!!!!!!!! Man, I still can't believe that story, how can anyone burn steamed brocolli??????? How is that even possible? Hey, maybe you burned your dinner cause you were focused on reading fanfiction......that would explain it :P. Tsk tsk......hee hee you know I love you Linz (in the most unslashy way possible :P), I just think it's funny.
Disclaimer: Yes yes, we all know I don't own potc, there's no need to rub it in my face.
~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~! ~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!
Nadie liked the landlord.
As soon as she had timidly approached him, he'd given her a friendly wink and had said, "Now, what can I do for ye, me gel?" and he'd smiled widely, quickly dispelling Nadie's trepidation.
Nadie had liked the way he had addressed her, his gruff voice completely devoid of any pity or condenscending tones. Instead he had treated her with kindness and generosity.
As he had prepared her bath for her and gotten her everything she needed, he had talked to her. He'd told her that he'd been a sailor before he'd owned his inn, and that he'd met 'Crazy old Jack' when the much younger pirate had tried to raid the ship he'd been serving on. Tried.....and failed. During Jack's stay in the brig, the older seaman had grown a liking for him and helped him escape the hangman's noose. The two had been fast friends ever since.
Nadie had listened to this story with rapt attention; it had been a very long time since any stranger had deigned to tell her anything, especially not a story.
She'd even giggled when the landlord had described Jack's dramatic entrance onto the ship. How he'd swung in on a rope and upon his landing he'd drawn his sword expertly in one fluid motion, ready to begin the battle, but found that his comrades had been unable to cross with him. Jack's eyes had gone very wide indeed when he discovered that he was alone.
"Well, lass, I suppose I'll leave ye to it."
Nadie nodded, "Thank you" she said quietly.
The landlord hesitated briefly for a moment then inclined his head in aknowledgement and left, shutting the door softly behind him.
Turning back to the tub, Nadie's lips curved up in the smallest of smiles. The landlord had been very generous indeed. Not only had he left many soaps and linens for her, but he had even provided scented bath oils, an extra and much-welcomed gift.
Nadie gently picked up one of the unmarked glass bottles, uncorked it and sniffed the contents. Her smile grew even wider with delight as the sweet scent of roses filled her nostrils.
As soon as she had added a few drops of the sweet-smelling liquid to the bath, Nadie stripped off the ragged remnants of her clothing and slipped into the pleasant warm water.
The bath had an immediate soothing effect on her tired and battered body. Years of pain, torment, stress and sorrow seemed to melt away and dissapate in the steam. For several long minutes, Nadie did not move and simply allowed herself to bask in the warm, contented feeling.
Finally, realizing that the water was growing cooler, Nadie plucked one of the washcloths from the pile that the landlord had left her and started to scrub away at her skin. With every layer of dirt she removed, she felt as if she'd destroyed another bar of her cage.
*
"Raped?" Jack said quietly, mulling this information over in his mind. It wasn't at all foreign to him. It was quite a common practice among the dregs of society but it still disgusted him.
"Aye," Isadora replied solemnly.
"What was she like.....before?" The pirate asked after a moment, remembering the sorrowful beauty of her young face, the shattered soul hidden in her eyes.
"She was...." Dora searched for words, "full of life. Her smile was infectious and it was impossible to be angry when she was about. I remember she was barely out of childhood when she came to work at the 'Blade'. She never told us her full name, or where she came from, just told us that her name Lorelei. I remember whenever I asked where she was from, she'd just give this little mysterious smile, say 'the sea of course; on the horizen's horizen' and go on with her work.
We started her off servin' drinks but when we heard her singin' one day as she worked, her job changed. There wasn't a single customer that didn't like to hear that lass sing. Every night, Lorelei'd get some sailor-young or old-to play the fiddle for her as she sang old ditties and ballads. The crowd always loved her as though she were their own sister or daughter and treated her with the utmost respect...." The brunette paused, and her eyes hardened "save one."
Jack raised his eyebrows slightly, "The rapist?"
Isadora nodded wearily, "Goes without saying doesn't it? His name was Richard DeVir," the woman's nose wrinkled with distaste. "He was one of the most pampered, slimy and arrogant aristocrats that I've had the great misfortune of meeting. Though I believe it was just bad luck on Lorelei's part that he took an interest in her." She shook her head sadly at the memories. "For many months, Richard pursued Lorelei but she always refused him. It was not through malice that she spurned him; she simply had no use for men besides companionship. Richard did not take her rejection kindly however, and his interest developed into an unhealthy obsession. I remember Lorelei often complaining that she thought he was following her home or spying on her.
Finally, one day, after a month of this, she didn't come in to work. Neither did she come in the next day. All the sailors she had befriended asked after her, but we did not know what to tell them, for we'd heard no news from her. She had no family, save us, there was no one we could talk to who would know where she was. Two weeks after she'd disappeared, she stumbled through the door, half-mad, starving and wounded. I can't describe exactly how it was to see her again...how she looked....it was her, and yet....it wasn't. She wasn't as ragged as she is now, but she was....different. She wasn't Lorelei anymore. It was all in her eyes....they were empty....completely empty. It was as though she was already dead."
Isadora sighed and continued, "In a way, I think she had died. Richard-the bastard-had killed her, broken her. When she came back to us, the part of her that was Lorelei had died, and she had become Nadie, a pathetic shadow of her former self."
Jack leaned back and reflected on this, "What about Richard?" he asked after a moment.
Dora studied him briefly and smiled wryly, "Thinking of avenging Lorelei, eh? Good luck, old friend, he's not been seen for two years," she chuckled mirthlessly, "maybe he knows what will happen to him if he returns here."
"Wait, love, if Lorelei or Nadie-whatever 'er name really is-was so well- loved, why did I find the poor lass wandering the streets alone, with no one trying to help 'er?"
Blushing slightly, Isadora hesitated and looked at her hands, "Jack, you know as well as I do, that we all have our own problems and lives to attend to," she raised her gaze, "It's not a fair excuse to Nadie I know, but have neither the time, the money, or resources to help her."
Jack spared the woman beside him a brief glance and returned to watching the rain fall out the window. He sighed slightly and shook his head.
She was right. But it still wasn't fair.
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A/N: Ok, I was meaning to make this a looooooot longer but then I realized that you guys are probably making little voodoo dolls of me and cursing my name, so I decided to give you this. There's only about two chapters left anyway (it's a short fic). However, the next chapter will be a lot better, and providing my teachers don't give me any more bloody essays I shall write it as quickly as I can.