Author's Notes: This chapter is written as a *Flashback*
Jack: Ye really should be workin ye know!
Me: Yeah, but the boss isn't in today, and I have nothing to do, so I'll do this instead
Norrington: Tsk, Tsk!
Me: Besides, you shouldn't moan Jack, or I might not let ye get the girl after all...
Jack: but... but...
Norrington: Ha! Silent as the grave, Mr Sparrow, remember?
Me: Norrington, shut up! Jack, stop bothering me so I can let you get your girl mate!
Jack: Alright, just get on with it!
BTW, Isla Del Espíritu Telaraña means (roughly) "Island of the Spirit Web" The name will become relevant later ;-)
************************
#7 – Tortuga
A tint of red coloured the moon, as the Jack watched the lights of Port William fade into the distance behind them. The weight in his chest had not lifted as they sailed from their delivery site. The final repairs, which needed to be done in Port, had been completed quickly and they had set sail immediately; none of them wanted to remain and be hung for piracy. A fair wind favoured them as they journeyed back towards the small island they had been moored at during the storm. As with many of the uninhabited isles in the area, Isla Del Espíritu Telaraña, had been born from volcanic activity. While some of the island had flourished with plant life, the rocky cone of the dormant volcano at the centre remained barren. The land around the base of the volcano was riddled with caves, and Wolf's crew used several to store their horde. Once the ransom gold was added to the ever growing horde, they were to restock their diminished supplies in Tortuga and head out once more.
"I'm sorry lass," Jack whispered to the night. A single tear slid slowly down his cheek and he wiped it away, before anyone else could see it. "Ye be well, darlin. Don't forget bout us."
**************
Standing in the shadows on the dockside, Ash looked up at the blood moon and shivered. She'd watched the Explorer sail away, taking Jack from her and leaving her stranded in a world in which she no longer belonged. Now, hidden from curious eyes, she simply waited. The dress she wore, while fashioned from rich fabric and with intricate designs, was made for appearance, not warmth. The shirt, trousers and jacket Jack had given her were hidden carefully in her room, stowed away from her Uncle who wanted them destroyed. With a gentle sigh, she stepped back out into the pale moon light and walked slowly back towards her Uncle's mansion. A plan would have to wait until later; for now she had to play the role of dutiful fiancée, to a man she already despised. A slight shudder ran through her as she realised that, if she wanted to escape, she only had five days to do so. Otherwise, she would be tied into a loveless marriage until the day death claimed her.
"Will you wait for me Jack?" she asked the darkness. Squaring her shoulders, she entered her Uncle's mansion and played her part to perfection, while thinking of ways to disappear for good.
The night before Ashanae's wedding, the weather became unusually still. If she was going to leave, she knew, it would have to be tonight... and it seemed whatever Gods were listening apparently agreed. The wind, which had howled through the town for several days, died suddenly in the late afternoon and a thick fog rolled in off the sea around sunset. Clouds built over head, obscuring the stars and moon completely, making the night darker than normal. It was the cover she needed to make her escape; if she could get out of the house, she would be on a ship and out to sea by the time anyone realised she was missing. Dressed in the pirate garb Jack had given her, and with the addition of boots and a hat which she had acquired when she bartered passage to Tortuga, she stuffed a few things into a canvas bag and went to leave. It was only then she discovered that getting out of the mansion was going to prove more difficult than she had anticipated.
Her door had been locked, from the outside.
"Damn you, Uncle!" she muttered angrily. She looked around the room,
trying to think of another escape route, and her eyes fell on the large double
window. Her room was on the second floor of the house, but a drop of over sixteen
feet stood between her and freedom. She carefully opened the windows, mindful
that the other members of the household were still on the floor below. As quietly
as she could, she climber over the railing of her balcony and reached out towards
the heavy trellis frame just below her window. Climbing slowly, to minimise
the noise, she reached the bottom and turned towards the gate, coming face-to-face
with her cousin Annar.
***********
James Wolf stood in his customary place at the helm, watching his First Mate with mild concern. Ever since they had sailed from Port William five days before, Jack Sparrow had been acting strangely. He seemed listless all the time, and had taken to drinking more heavily than normal. He barely spoke to anyone, even his Captain, and Wolf was growing more worried about him with each day. Today, however, he seemed even more withdrawn than usual.
"Jack?" he called softly, trying to attract the lad's attention.
"Yes, Cap'n?" Jack replied, after several minutes.
"Come here mate."
"Sir?" the younger man queried, as he stopped just to one side of his Captain.
"What be bothering ye, Jack?"
"Nothin Cap'n. I be fine," Jack lied, his voice hollow.
"Ye be thinkin about Miss Reibia?" Wolf guessed shrewdly. Jack didn't reply, and the silence between them stretched out as Wolf looked intently at his First Mate. Dark circles had appeared beneath the man's eyes and there were noticeable hollows around his cheekbones. His clothing appeared looser than it normally did, and Wolf suddenly realised that Jack had eaten very little during their evening meals together.
"She be lost to me James," the young man said suddenly, surprising Wolf by addressing him by his first name.
"Why?"
"She married that prig today. She's not Miss Reibia no more, she be Mrs Norrington now," Jack explained, raising his head to meet his Captain's gaze.
"Aye, I spose she is. Look, I know it ain't gonna help much, but we'll be back in Tortuga in a few days. How about ye go see Scarlet?" Wolf suggested kindly. He knew from experience that sometimes, the only cure for a broken heart lay in the embrace of a whore.
"Maybe," was the only response Jack would make. With a sad sigh, the young man walked off towards the bow, leaving his friend more concerned than before.
Three days later, the Intrepid Explorer docked in Tortuga, and the crew quickly lost themselves in some of the many taverns and bordellos which filled the town. Jack remained aboard, wanting time alone and Wolf returned after several hours… carrying some interesting news.
"Jack!" Wolf shouted, as he climbed back aboard his ship.
"Sir?"
"Stop ye sulkin and get over ere!" He tried to keep his face straight as he watched the younger man race towards him, the look of curiosity on Jack's face cheering him greatly.
"What be wrong Cap'n?" Jack demanded, slightly out of breath.
"Nothin be wrong lad! I just thought ye'd like t' know that a certain young lady has gone missing... the day she was supposed to get married..." Wolf kept his tone casual, but couldn't hide his smug grin as he watched comprehension dawn on Jack's face.
"She didn't marry him? What do ye mean, missing? Where'd she go?" The questions tumbled out of his mouth as his excitement grew. She had run away, he knew suddenly, but where had she gone?
"No, she didn't marry him. Missing, as in no-one knows where t' find her. The barman at Marcel's said he'd heard the Navy are looking for the Island Breeze, the only ship which sailed from Port William the night Ashanae went missing..." Wolf's voice trailed off as his eyes widened in horror.
"Cap'n, what is it? Please, tell me!" Jack pleaded.
"Jack, we'd better get ashore," James said abruptly, getting to his feet.
"Please James, tell me what's wrong!"
"Jack," Wolf began, placing his hands on Jack shoulders gently. "If she was aboard that ship, she could be in danger."
"Why?"
"Because the Island Breeze is over there!" Wolf replied, pointing to a ship moored at the next wharf.
**********
Keeping to the
shadows, Ashanae moved slowly through the labyrinth of alleyways in Tortuga,
looking for somewhere relatively safe to spend the night. The Island Breeze
had been at the dock in Port William when she arrived, ready to make sail as
promised. She still couldn't quite believe she had managed to get there
at all, due to the unexpected appearance of her cousin outside the house...
She stood very still, poised to fight if she had to. The look on Annar's face was one of stunned surprise, as she recognised her cousin. Her eyes widened in comprehension, as she saw what Ash was wearing.
"You're running away?" the younger girl exclaimed.
"Yes, I am. I'm not staying here to be married off to some uptight stranger!" Ash hissed, her voice low.
"You can't leave!" Annar stated, her voice rising slightly. Before she knew what she was doing, Ash clamped her hand over her cousin's mouth.
"Listen to me, very carefully Annar," she whispered softly into the younger woamn's ear. "I will not allow your father to sell me off like a servant! I will have my freedom, even if it means I have to kill you to get it!" Releasing the girl, Ash took a step back and watched her intently for a moment.
"You love him, don't you?" Annar whispered suddenly, a strange smile on her face.
"Who?"
"That pirate, Jack Sparrow." Her smile grew as she saw the look in her older cousin's eyes.
"No!" Ash denied vehemently.
"Yes, you do. Go, dearest. Be with the man you love. I'll delay them in the morning as long as I can. That should give you enough time to get far away from here."
"You're not going to raise the alarm?" Confused, Ashanae didn't move.
"No, now go! I just hope I find someone to love, like you love that pirate!" Grabbing her cousin's arm, Annar pushed Ash into the shadows and returned to the house. Hidden by the fog, Ashanae Reibia left civilised society and went in search of her freedom.
She paused, shaking her head to disperse the memories. There would be time enough
later for trying to figure out why Annar had helped her, now she had to get
off the streets and find somewhere to sleep. She was pulled from her musing
as the torchlight from the street ahead was suddenly blotted out, and she looked
up to see a heavy set man standing at the entrance to the lane, blocking her
path.
Ash froze as the large man advanced down the alley towards her, a long knife held casually in his right hand. She backed away, fighting to suppress her fear; she needed to think clearly if she was going to escape unharmed. Suddenly her back came into contact with something; solid and unmoving, yet oddly warm. It took her a moment to realise it wasn't a wall that was stopping her, and she spun round. She gasped in horror as she came face-to-face with another drunken pirate. Before she had time to duck, his fist connected with her jaw and she flew backwards several feet, stopped only by the armed man behind her. A sudden, sharp pain sliced thorough her skull for a moment, then the blessed oblivion rose up to claim her, and she felt nothing more.
*********
Jack: OK, what did I say about cliff hangers mate?
Me: Jack, if you want your girl...
Jack: Yeah, I know luv. Silent as the grave, right?
Me: right!
Well, that was probably the most productive day I've ever had at work.
1 ½ hours working, and 6 writing LOL
Please review.
If you like it, please review and tell me what you like; if not, review anyway
and tell me what you don't like :-) Oh yeah, and it's time to start my
studies, so I may not update for a bit :-(