Disclaimer: I've officially run out of ways to say this. Leave reviews
with some new ones, if any come to mind, please.
Note: Sorry about the odd spacing and the occasional word that makes no sense. "Word" is good, but apparently not that good. So, all hell done broke loose in this story. I still don't know how I'm going to get to the end, so only time will tell. Thanks for the reviews and enjoy!
P.S.: I leave for Italy (!!!!!) on February 4th and I'm coming back on the 14th , so don't think that I've left the story for dead and I'm just screwing with you guys. I have time off from school right after it, so I'll update like whoa when I come home. If you want to write me a little something to read on the plane ride you can send it to my screen name: SpideyWebbz43087@netscape.net . . . I heart you guys! Enjoy . . . again.
Here's To Freedom (Chapter 17)
"Come about, men. We sail for Port Royale!"
A raucous cheer went up from the deck as the crew scrambled about to their respective stations to do as the Commodore had commanded. A life on the sea was what they had all chosen, it was what they loved, but going home meant a dry bed and people who cared, an opportunity none of them cared to hesitate in experiencing.
He moved to the stairs to return below, but a feather light touch on his forearm held him back. He looked over and found Natalie with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face. "Thank you so much, James. I shall never forget this."
He simply nodded and watched after her as she brushed past him and down onto the main deck. She was something alright. Why any man would count himself lucky to be in her company.
He furrowed his brow recalling the silent profession of her love for Jack Sparrow. How in God's name the pair of them had even lasted the week without killing one another, he hadn't the faintest idea. What was the majesty behind that damn pirate?
For one, he was completely filthy. At first glance one would think that he preferred rolling about in the mud to sailing about in the waters of the Caribbean. Maybe that was it? He did have a ship . . . but James had an entire fleet, so that couldn't be it. The man was always foxed. Why one almost needed a translator to understand him through his endless slurring and spitting and he could barely see straight through the haze of his rum.
Did women really find all of that attractive?
"If that's the case, I suppose I'll be looking forward to a lifetime alone," he said with a sigh, starting down the stairs. But suddenly, a huge shout rose above the ship and James ducked as he heard the familiar sound of a cannonball whizzing past his head.
Squeezing his eyes closed, he waited until he heard wood smash and a loud splash (*Terreis, you're rubbing off on me . . .) before cautiously rising to his feet. Looking behind him, he noted that the railing had merely been clipped by the hunk of iron and only some minor aesthetic damage was suffered. Whirling about, he saw the Cara Mia stretched out lengthwise in front of the turning Dauntless, preparing to fire some more.
"He's absolutely mad."
Shaking his head, he hollered, "Quickly, men! Turn the vessel around and let's make for home before they do any real damage." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Gillette approaching in a panicky jog.
"Sir, aren't we going to fire?" the man asked, periodically checking to his left to see if another cannonball was approaching with every intent to remove his head. After all of these years, he still hadn't gotten used to getting shot at. He'd been called a coward more times than he cared to count, but he chose to think of it as he was destined to be a lover, and not a fighter.
The Commodore shook his head. "Not today, Gillette. Not today."
* * * *
Will and Elizabeth stood, paralyzed with fear and astonishment, as the first cannon let forth a hefty bang before sending the compact sphere of mayhem barreling towards the Dauntless.
The seconds ticked by as everyone on deck waited to hear if it had connected. Usually, ships in battle were only a few yards apart, so unless the projectile was fired on the opposite side, a direct hit was practically guaranteed. But as it stood, the Cara Mia was simply too far away from her target to afford that kind of accuracy.
Suddenly, the muffled sound of splintering wood echoed over the waves, sending a cheer through the men and Elizabeth over the edge. Breaking away from her husband she ran over to Jack and shouted in his face. "You pathetic, contemptuous beast!"
"Sticks and stones, luv," he replied with a shrug, raising his hand as a signal to ready all of the cannons.
Grabbing hold of his collar, she asked, her voice quivering with fury, "Do you love my sister, at all, Jack? Hum? Do you?" When he attempted to avoid her withering stare, she dropped his shirt and held onto him by the ears. He tried to wriggle free, but her words penetrated the fog and killed his ambition.
"Your little stunt there could have killed her, Jack! Would you honestly be able to live with yourself if that were to happen?" She glared up at him, frustrated with his silence, but taking note of the hefty gulp that caused his Adam's apple to bob in his throat. "Good, I was beginning to think that you were missing a heart as well as a soul."
Jack stood there, speechless, staring over her head and coaching himself to hold back his emotions. He felt like wringing her neck! He felt like begging for her help! None of it made any sense!
He used to be able to sack whole villages, be with four women at once, and be a complete swine, all without batting an eyelash! But he'd gone soft. Jack just couldn't do it anymore.
"Elizabeth!"
The cry broke through his thoughts and his eyes flew to Will who was jumping up and down and motioning wildly to the lightening horizon. "They're leaving without us!" he yelped.
Withdrawing the spyglass from his belt, he extended it out in the direction of the Dauntless, and sure enough, it was finishing turning around and was beginning to shrink into the distance. With a sigh, he shook his head murmuring, "Oh, Natalie. You didn't have to do this."
"Jack! Will you do something! I don't want to stay here forever . . . with you!" Elizabeth said, shooting him a terrifying look. Will continued to shout, and then the crew began yelling and Jack lost his mind.
"Oh, will you all just shut up!" he bellowed.
Everyone went silent and turned to him for guidance.
"You," he said, pointing to Elizabeth, "Lose the attitude. It isn't very becoming." Moving his finger along to Will, he raised an eyebrow and said, "You need to keep your knickers on, mate. We'll tail the Dauntless and drop you off in Port Royale along the way." Finally motioning to the crew, he hollered so they would hear. "And you boys should be doing something other than gawking at our guests on deck! Make ready the sails and prepare to turn about! We raise anchor at first light!"
* * * *
Natalie stood rooted to her spot on the main deck after the "attack", watching as the Cara Mia slipped below the horizon as they sailed away. She kept telling herself that she had done what was best and what she should have done, but after everything that had transpired with her father and the Eatons, she couldn't help thinking that she would have been better of staying with Jack. At least she would have been happy.
From behind her, she heard someone clear his voice loudly and she whirled around to find her father standing there with the Eaton clan in tow. He stumbled over his words and avoided her gaze, saying, "Natalie, it is decided. Plans have been made and you will marry Charles." When she opened her mouth to protest, he silenced her. "There is nothing to discuss. My decision is final."
Standing there, completely slack jawed with shock, she tried to absorb his words. Even after all she had told him about that pair of devils, he didn't even hesitate in arranging a marriage between them. He really did hate her.
"Well, I'll leave you and Charles to get acquainted, then. Good day." And with a farewell that oozed cold formality, he walked away with Geoffrey Eaton following close behind him.
Charles grinned at her like a besotted fool and moved to her side. She couldn't bear to watch this, so she turned her back to him and leaned over the railing instead. Casually slinging his arm over her shoulder, he said, "Isn't this wonderful, darling."
"Shut up, Charles," Natalie said with a hopeless sigh, forcefully removing his hand from her skin. Apparently, it was going to be a very long lifetime.
Note: Sorry about the odd spacing and the occasional word that makes no sense. "Word" is good, but apparently not that good. So, all hell done broke loose in this story. I still don't know how I'm going to get to the end, so only time will tell. Thanks for the reviews and enjoy!
P.S.: I leave for Italy (!!!!!) on February 4th and I'm coming back on the 14th , so don't think that I've left the story for dead and I'm just screwing with you guys. I have time off from school right after it, so I'll update like whoa when I come home. If you want to write me a little something to read on the plane ride you can send it to my screen name: SpideyWebbz43087@netscape.net . . . I heart you guys! Enjoy . . . again.
Here's To Freedom (Chapter 17)
"Come about, men. We sail for Port Royale!"
A raucous cheer went up from the deck as the crew scrambled about to their respective stations to do as the Commodore had commanded. A life on the sea was what they had all chosen, it was what they loved, but going home meant a dry bed and people who cared, an opportunity none of them cared to hesitate in experiencing.
He moved to the stairs to return below, but a feather light touch on his forearm held him back. He looked over and found Natalie with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face. "Thank you so much, James. I shall never forget this."
He simply nodded and watched after her as she brushed past him and down onto the main deck. She was something alright. Why any man would count himself lucky to be in her company.
He furrowed his brow recalling the silent profession of her love for Jack Sparrow. How in God's name the pair of them had even lasted the week without killing one another, he hadn't the faintest idea. What was the majesty behind that damn pirate?
For one, he was completely filthy. At first glance one would think that he preferred rolling about in the mud to sailing about in the waters of the Caribbean. Maybe that was it? He did have a ship . . . but James had an entire fleet, so that couldn't be it. The man was always foxed. Why one almost needed a translator to understand him through his endless slurring and spitting and he could barely see straight through the haze of his rum.
Did women really find all of that attractive?
"If that's the case, I suppose I'll be looking forward to a lifetime alone," he said with a sigh, starting down the stairs. But suddenly, a huge shout rose above the ship and James ducked as he heard the familiar sound of a cannonball whizzing past his head.
Squeezing his eyes closed, he waited until he heard wood smash and a loud splash (*Terreis, you're rubbing off on me . . .) before cautiously rising to his feet. Looking behind him, he noted that the railing had merely been clipped by the hunk of iron and only some minor aesthetic damage was suffered. Whirling about, he saw the Cara Mia stretched out lengthwise in front of the turning Dauntless, preparing to fire some more.
"He's absolutely mad."
Shaking his head, he hollered, "Quickly, men! Turn the vessel around and let's make for home before they do any real damage." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Gillette approaching in a panicky jog.
"Sir, aren't we going to fire?" the man asked, periodically checking to his left to see if another cannonball was approaching with every intent to remove his head. After all of these years, he still hadn't gotten used to getting shot at. He'd been called a coward more times than he cared to count, but he chose to think of it as he was destined to be a lover, and not a fighter.
The Commodore shook his head. "Not today, Gillette. Not today."
* * * *
Will and Elizabeth stood, paralyzed with fear and astonishment, as the first cannon let forth a hefty bang before sending the compact sphere of mayhem barreling towards the Dauntless.
The seconds ticked by as everyone on deck waited to hear if it had connected. Usually, ships in battle were only a few yards apart, so unless the projectile was fired on the opposite side, a direct hit was practically guaranteed. But as it stood, the Cara Mia was simply too far away from her target to afford that kind of accuracy.
Suddenly, the muffled sound of splintering wood echoed over the waves, sending a cheer through the men and Elizabeth over the edge. Breaking away from her husband she ran over to Jack and shouted in his face. "You pathetic, contemptuous beast!"
"Sticks and stones, luv," he replied with a shrug, raising his hand as a signal to ready all of the cannons.
Grabbing hold of his collar, she asked, her voice quivering with fury, "Do you love my sister, at all, Jack? Hum? Do you?" When he attempted to avoid her withering stare, she dropped his shirt and held onto him by the ears. He tried to wriggle free, but her words penetrated the fog and killed his ambition.
"Your little stunt there could have killed her, Jack! Would you honestly be able to live with yourself if that were to happen?" She glared up at him, frustrated with his silence, but taking note of the hefty gulp that caused his Adam's apple to bob in his throat. "Good, I was beginning to think that you were missing a heart as well as a soul."
Jack stood there, speechless, staring over her head and coaching himself to hold back his emotions. He felt like wringing her neck! He felt like begging for her help! None of it made any sense!
He used to be able to sack whole villages, be with four women at once, and be a complete swine, all without batting an eyelash! But he'd gone soft. Jack just couldn't do it anymore.
"Elizabeth!"
The cry broke through his thoughts and his eyes flew to Will who was jumping up and down and motioning wildly to the lightening horizon. "They're leaving without us!" he yelped.
Withdrawing the spyglass from his belt, he extended it out in the direction of the Dauntless, and sure enough, it was finishing turning around and was beginning to shrink into the distance. With a sigh, he shook his head murmuring, "Oh, Natalie. You didn't have to do this."
"Jack! Will you do something! I don't want to stay here forever . . . with you!" Elizabeth said, shooting him a terrifying look. Will continued to shout, and then the crew began yelling and Jack lost his mind.
"Oh, will you all just shut up!" he bellowed.
Everyone went silent and turned to him for guidance.
"You," he said, pointing to Elizabeth, "Lose the attitude. It isn't very becoming." Moving his finger along to Will, he raised an eyebrow and said, "You need to keep your knickers on, mate. We'll tail the Dauntless and drop you off in Port Royale along the way." Finally motioning to the crew, he hollered so they would hear. "And you boys should be doing something other than gawking at our guests on deck! Make ready the sails and prepare to turn about! We raise anchor at first light!"
* * * *
Natalie stood rooted to her spot on the main deck after the "attack", watching as the Cara Mia slipped below the horizon as they sailed away. She kept telling herself that she had done what was best and what she should have done, but after everything that had transpired with her father and the Eatons, she couldn't help thinking that she would have been better of staying with Jack. At least she would have been happy.
From behind her, she heard someone clear his voice loudly and she whirled around to find her father standing there with the Eaton clan in tow. He stumbled over his words and avoided her gaze, saying, "Natalie, it is decided. Plans have been made and you will marry Charles." When she opened her mouth to protest, he silenced her. "There is nothing to discuss. My decision is final."
Standing there, completely slack jawed with shock, she tried to absorb his words. Even after all she had told him about that pair of devils, he didn't even hesitate in arranging a marriage between them. He really did hate her.
"Well, I'll leave you and Charles to get acquainted, then. Good day." And with a farewell that oozed cold formality, he walked away with Geoffrey Eaton following close behind him.
Charles grinned at her like a besotted fool and moved to her side. She couldn't bear to watch this, so she turned her back to him and leaned over the railing instead. Casually slinging his arm over her shoulder, he said, "Isn't this wonderful, darling."
"Shut up, Charles," Natalie said with a hopeless sigh, forcefully removing his hand from her skin. Apparently, it was going to be a very long lifetime.