"Elsa?" said Jack.
"No, I want to stay here with you," Elsa mumbled, still fast asleep, hugging her pillow tightly.
"Elsa, luv?" he said, shaking her gently. "Ship on the horizon-"
"Hah!" she said, wide awake. She jumped out of bed, pulled on her boots and made for the stairs.
"Wait!" Jack heard her yell at the top of the stairs. She ran back into the cabin. "Pistol, sword, sash!" She grabbed said items and asked, "What are ya waitin' for, Jack? Enemy ship! Come on!" She tugged at his hand.
"Luv...I'd put on a different shirt," he suggested, laughing.
"Why?"
"That one's mine."
She cocked her head to the side, looked at Jack's bare chest, looked down at herself, and said, "Oh, yeah. Why do I have-?"
"Don't know, but I'll take my shirt now."
"You have three others!" she said disappearing behind a screen and tossing him the shirt.
"That one's my favorite."
"Stubborn..." she muttered, reappearing with her own shirt on.
"Ready?"
She nodded and they ascended the stairs.
"I don't see a ship," Elsa said.
"Three points off the starboard bow, ma'am," Gibbs said, handing her his spyglass.
"In the fog?"
"In the fog."
"Great," she said sarcastically, handing the glass back.
A sudden thud sounded throughout the cold morning sky. It was followed by a sharp crack; splintering wood was heard.
"Mizzen t'gallant yard!" someone cried.
"Watch yer heads!" squawked Cotton's parrot.
"Jack!" Anamaria called, watching the broken timber land on top of the captain.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," he winced, trying to get up.
"Tom: take him to his cabin please?" Elsa asked, steadying Jack.
"Ma'am," Tom said, nodding.
"What about the ship, Elsa?" Gibbs asked. "Looks like it's your call now since Jack is...unavailable."
"Looks like a man-of-war," one of the crew commented.
"OK, OK, just think...Master and Commander!" Then aloud, "How many guns?"
"More than we've got," Ana reported bluntly.
"Where's nearest landfall?"
"Starboard side. Real close."
"What direction's the wind at?" she asked absently, looking over her shoulder and spotting the jagged cape a ways away. She already knew what direction the wind was blowing, and didn't wait for an answer. "May I borrow your glass?" she asked Ana. Taking it to her eye, she looked towards the enemy ship.
"Yes, man-of-war. Traveling fast on the wind," she thought to herself. "It'll be bloody difficult to round that cape, but we have to, or risk being cornered and grounded ashore."
"Brilliant," she muttered. Her mind was spinning. She had never had to think so quick in her life.
"Alright! Men!" She gathered the men and began her orders. "If we can round the cape before they catch up to us-and reach the shoals-we'll be in good shape! If not-" she didn't finish, because everyone already knew what would happen if they were caught. "Unfurl the sails! Especially the topsails. Who's playing captain of the maintop? Good. Go on! Gather as much wind as we can, lads! Get us out of here."
"But, we may not be able to out-sail her," said Gibbs.
"We'll hold out our pocket handkerchiefs if we have to! Just get us into that fog!"
"What's happening Jack?" Danielle yawned, appearing from below decks. "I was asleep and then BOOM!" Danielle said, emphasizing the 'boom'.
"Man-of-war. Spanish ship of the fleet-" Danielle's eyes widened. "-Yes, Spanish. Now, if we round the cape in time, if the Pearl can manage at least ten knots in this wind, and if we can reach those shoals, we'll be fine. If not," she continued, "we're dead...Or taken prisoner." Danielle winced. "Precisely. And I will not be taken prisoner by a Spanish ship," she stated firmly, her stubborn quality strongly showing.
"Shoals?" Danielle asked.
"The shoals beyond the fog. Another plus-if we disappear in that fog, it'll be easier to loose 'em. See?" Danielle nodded. "Grab a sword Will."
"Why?"
"Just in case. If we are boarded, I'm sure you wouldn't want to be taken prisoner by Spaniards. They're said to be vicious...In more ways than one," Elsa winked, and set off to the stern of the ship.
"I am so not a pirate," Danielle said down to her sword. Then she caught sight of the rigging. She sheathed her sword, a glint in her eye.
Elsa tapped her fingers apprehensively on the stern's taffrail, hoping they could get into that fog within the next few minutes.
Cannon fire.
"You fire on my ship," she muttered angrily, "and-"
More cannon fire.
Someone gave a cry as a twelve-pounder landed near the port side of the Pearl.
"Silence, fore and aft!" she cried. Everyone on the ship grew quiet; not a sound was heard.
Soon, fog settled in and around the ship, enveloping it eerily. Eventually, they were completely lost in the heavy mist, and the boom of the cannons faded away.
As soon as they were clear of the fog-a long while after-cheers erupted from deck.
"Wonderful job, Elsa!" Gibbs cried, running towards her. He clapped her on the back saying, "Just like Jack would do!"
"No," Anamaria said. "Jack would have had us fight, and we would have lost our necks!" She laughed suddenly. "No, she did much better than that old Sparrow!" Still laughing, she went back to the helm.
"Any damage?"
"None, ma'am."
"Brilliant. Alright, send the men to supper; I'll see to Jack."
Gibbs nodded and left for the galley.
"Is it safe?" Danielle asked, dropping down from the rigging.
"You hid in the rigging?"
"Yeah...why?"
"You dolt! If we had been boarded, you would have had no where to go, and those Spaniards would have had you easy as a cat gets a mouse inside a cardboard box!"
"Really?" she gasped. She also contemplated silently, "What a weird analogy..."
"Yes, really. Come with me."
For the next good part of an hour, Elsa guided Danielle around the whole of the ship, explaining where one could hide during an attack, and why it would be wrong to do so.
"In conclusion: it's better to fight than fly. Savvy?"
"Uh huh," Danielle answered absently, still thinking of the consequences of hiding in an empty rum barrel.