Disclaimer: I don't own POTC and never will.
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Chapter 10: A Stormy Night
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It was five days since they left Tortuga. There were signs of an oncoming storm as the Pearl continued its course to Nassau. The crest of the waves heightened and the wind strengthened. Thick dark clouds covered the sun, a sure sign that there would be a massive downpour later that afternoon.
Jack acknowledged these signs and prepared the Pearl and its crew for the storm. Everyone aboard the ship was in haste, except the Captain and one who didn't know anything about preparing a ship to face a storm.
Elisse stared around at the people going back and forth as they secured ropes, pushed aside barrels, and going down from the deck to the brig and back again. The Pearl had no prisoners so they used the brig to keep barrels loaded with sweeps for the cannons.
She stood at one corner of the ship where there was the least activity, not wanting to distract the men from their task. She so wanted to help, but she knew nothing of the work done on deck.
"'Ey, lass! Bored, aren't ye?" Anamaria asked as she walked up to her.
Elisse nodded in reply. "Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked.
"If ye have enough strength in that body o' yers, maybe ye can help me secure the sails." She answered and started walking away.
"I'll be glad to be of help." Elisse followed Anamaria towards the mast.
Anamaria tied a rope around the pole and tugged on it, tying it securely. She caught another rope hanging loosely from the mast and again tied it around the pole, this time giving the end to Elisse. She tugged on it just like Anamaria did, but found that it was too loose.
Anamaria chuckled. "Ye really must've been a princess back in Port Royal." She untied the knot and did the process again, tying it securely.
"If you are saying that I was spoiled at home, you're wrong." Elisse retorted, with a tone of bitterness in her voice.
"Oh? How so?" The pirate turned to her, eyebrows raised.
"If I was spoiled, Anamaria, I would not be here right now." She answered, looking away. "I was no more than a prisoner in my own home."
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The storm came with fierce winds and heavy rain. The Pearl tossed on the waves as it fought its way through. Jack stood at the helm, holding tightly on the wheel to keep the ship on course and also to keep himself from falling.
"Jack!" Elisse yelled, wrapping her arms around the pole to keep herself from being washed off the Pearl as tall waves hit the deck of the ship.
Jack turned, surprised to see her on deck. She was soaking wet and her dress stuck to her body. Her hair was sticking to her face as she tightened her arms around the pole she was clinging on to.
"Go back to me cabin, luv! It's not safe out 'ere!" he yelled back.
"We should take down the sails, Cap'n! It's goin' to be torn apart!" His first mate yelled from the bow of the ship where he was holding on to some ropes.
"She can 'old a bit longer!" he answered as he looked up to the black sails of his ship. He can't afford to drop anchor now, not when the Navy could possibly be on their tail.
"Jack!" Elisse yelled again.
"Go back to me cabin, luv! I'll talk to ye later!" he answered. The storm was yet to come to its peak. He turned towards her direction just in time to see her make her way to his cabin.
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A puddle formed on the floor of Jack's cabin as Elisse stood in the middle of the room, soaking wet. She was chilled to the bone but she still wanted to go back outside to keep an eye out on Jack. She had a feeling of unease as she took out dry clothes.
The ship lurched and Elisse grabbed onto the desk to prevent from falling. She hurriedly took off her wet clothes and changed into the dry ones, combing her hair afterwards. Looking around for something to do, she spotted her book on the bed. Leaning on the pillows, she picked her book up and opened it to the page she had marked.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Pistols were aimed and swords were drawn. The Stealth's crew was outnumbered. The British Naval forces had the whole crew surrounded, leaving Lieutenant Charles Wyatt two choices: to surrender or to fight till death.
It was decided. He would not surrender if the payment would be a person important to him.
"You are charged of mutiny and helping a prisoner escape, Lieutenant. Lower your sword and surrender, or we take aim and fire!" Commodore Hemmings ordered, his voice loud and authoritative.
"If these are the choices you leave us, then we will take the latter. We will never surrender." Charles was calm and confident. He knew his crew would fight with him until the very end, whatever the end may be. He had made his choice. Nothing could alter it except . . .
"Charles! No!" A woman emerged from the galley and ran over to him. "It's me they want."
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Captain Amerada Kramer." The Commodore spat out her name as if it had a bitter taste on his tongue. "I see why you betrayed the Navy, Lieutenant. You have developed a soft spot for this pirate."
"That is out of the reason, Commodore. I have my own principles and that is the true reason why I will not surrender." Charles answered.
"Then you leave us no choice, Lieutenant." The Commodore shook his head. "Alright, men! Take aim and --" He was cut short as Amerada stepped forward.
"Put the blame on me. I persuaded him to help me escape. I will accept any punishment but spare his and the crew's lives." She pleaded, holding out her hands.
"Era, no! You can't do this . . . " he trailed off as irons were clasped onto her slender wrists.
"Take the Lieutenant and his crew to the brig and lock them up. Meanwhile, take Captain Kramer here to the other ship and do the same." Commodore Hemmings ordered.
Before they could lead her away, Amerada turned once more to Charles.
"I will give anything for freedom, but I will not give up my freedom for anything. Except when it is your love I'm fighting for, only then will you see me in chains."
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Elisse awoke as the sun shone through the window of Jack's cabin. She squinted as her eyes adjusted to the light. As soon as she was fully awake, she found her book beside her on the bed, opened to the page she had read last night. She marked the page by folding the top right corner and closed it, leaving it on her side of the bed. She changed her clothes, brushed her hair and tied it with a piece of cloth. After she was through, she hurriedly went outside to check on Jack.
Walking up to the helm, she saw the Captain slumped on the wheel. His clothes were still wet and his eyes were beginning to close. Elisse knew he was very tired and decided to at least persuade him to change his clothes and then go to bed.
"Jack? Come on. You can sleep in your cabin." She said as she placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I be too tired to walk all the way to me cabin, luv. 'ere would be alright." He answered.
"You're soaking wet. You should change your clothes or else you'll catch a cold." She started tugging on his coat.
"Now ye sound like me mum." He pointed out, grinning.
"Just do it, Jack."
He groaned and lifted himself from the wheel, heading to his cabin with Elisse right behind him.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Why is everyone in such a gloomy mood?" Elisse asked Anamaria.
"We have been blown off course by the storm an' will take an extra three days to get to Nassau. All in all, it'll take us eight more days." Anamaria answered, finishing her meal. "Jack still asleep?"
Elisse nodded in reply. "I left him some food in case he gets hungry."
"I've noticed ye seem to be more concerned about him these days." The pirate pointed out.
Elisse's eyes widened at this. She did not notice that she was doing so. 'Did Jack notice too?' she thought. 'Or was it just Anamaria?'
Anamaria chuckled at her reaction. The lass was indeed surprised. She did not even notice the change in her own behavior towards the infamous Captain.
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AN: Sorry this chapter took long. I was on VACATION. Anyway, please keep reviewing!! Thanks! Oh and btw, Era is AmERAda's nickname.
Ury^_^
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Chapter 10: A Stormy Night
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
It was five days since they left Tortuga. There were signs of an oncoming storm as the Pearl continued its course to Nassau. The crest of the waves heightened and the wind strengthened. Thick dark clouds covered the sun, a sure sign that there would be a massive downpour later that afternoon.
Jack acknowledged these signs and prepared the Pearl and its crew for the storm. Everyone aboard the ship was in haste, except the Captain and one who didn't know anything about preparing a ship to face a storm.
Elisse stared around at the people going back and forth as they secured ropes, pushed aside barrels, and going down from the deck to the brig and back again. The Pearl had no prisoners so they used the brig to keep barrels loaded with sweeps for the cannons.
She stood at one corner of the ship where there was the least activity, not wanting to distract the men from their task. She so wanted to help, but she knew nothing of the work done on deck.
"'Ey, lass! Bored, aren't ye?" Anamaria asked as she walked up to her.
Elisse nodded in reply. "Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked.
"If ye have enough strength in that body o' yers, maybe ye can help me secure the sails." She answered and started walking away.
"I'll be glad to be of help." Elisse followed Anamaria towards the mast.
Anamaria tied a rope around the pole and tugged on it, tying it securely. She caught another rope hanging loosely from the mast and again tied it around the pole, this time giving the end to Elisse. She tugged on it just like Anamaria did, but found that it was too loose.
Anamaria chuckled. "Ye really must've been a princess back in Port Royal." She untied the knot and did the process again, tying it securely.
"If you are saying that I was spoiled at home, you're wrong." Elisse retorted, with a tone of bitterness in her voice.
"Oh? How so?" The pirate turned to her, eyebrows raised.
"If I was spoiled, Anamaria, I would not be here right now." She answered, looking away. "I was no more than a prisoner in my own home."
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
The storm came with fierce winds and heavy rain. The Pearl tossed on the waves as it fought its way through. Jack stood at the helm, holding tightly on the wheel to keep the ship on course and also to keep himself from falling.
"Jack!" Elisse yelled, wrapping her arms around the pole to keep herself from being washed off the Pearl as tall waves hit the deck of the ship.
Jack turned, surprised to see her on deck. She was soaking wet and her dress stuck to her body. Her hair was sticking to her face as she tightened her arms around the pole she was clinging on to.
"Go back to me cabin, luv! It's not safe out 'ere!" he yelled back.
"We should take down the sails, Cap'n! It's goin' to be torn apart!" His first mate yelled from the bow of the ship where he was holding on to some ropes.
"She can 'old a bit longer!" he answered as he looked up to the black sails of his ship. He can't afford to drop anchor now, not when the Navy could possibly be on their tail.
"Jack!" Elisse yelled again.
"Go back to me cabin, luv! I'll talk to ye later!" he answered. The storm was yet to come to its peak. He turned towards her direction just in time to see her make her way to his cabin.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
A puddle formed on the floor of Jack's cabin as Elisse stood in the middle of the room, soaking wet. She was chilled to the bone but she still wanted to go back outside to keep an eye out on Jack. She had a feeling of unease as she took out dry clothes.
The ship lurched and Elisse grabbed onto the desk to prevent from falling. She hurriedly took off her wet clothes and changed into the dry ones, combing her hair afterwards. Looking around for something to do, she spotted her book on the bed. Leaning on the pillows, she picked her book up and opened it to the page she had marked.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Pistols were aimed and swords were drawn. The Stealth's crew was outnumbered. The British Naval forces had the whole crew surrounded, leaving Lieutenant Charles Wyatt two choices: to surrender or to fight till death.
It was decided. He would not surrender if the payment would be a person important to him.
"You are charged of mutiny and helping a prisoner escape, Lieutenant. Lower your sword and surrender, or we take aim and fire!" Commodore Hemmings ordered, his voice loud and authoritative.
"If these are the choices you leave us, then we will take the latter. We will never surrender." Charles was calm and confident. He knew his crew would fight with him until the very end, whatever the end may be. He had made his choice. Nothing could alter it except . . .
"Charles! No!" A woman emerged from the galley and ran over to him. "It's me they want."
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Captain Amerada Kramer." The Commodore spat out her name as if it had a bitter taste on his tongue. "I see why you betrayed the Navy, Lieutenant. You have developed a soft spot for this pirate."
"That is out of the reason, Commodore. I have my own principles and that is the true reason why I will not surrender." Charles answered.
"Then you leave us no choice, Lieutenant." The Commodore shook his head. "Alright, men! Take aim and --" He was cut short as Amerada stepped forward.
"Put the blame on me. I persuaded him to help me escape. I will accept any punishment but spare his and the crew's lives." She pleaded, holding out her hands.
"Era, no! You can't do this . . . " he trailed off as irons were clasped onto her slender wrists.
"Take the Lieutenant and his crew to the brig and lock them up. Meanwhile, take Captain Kramer here to the other ship and do the same." Commodore Hemmings ordered.
Before they could lead her away, Amerada turned once more to Charles.
"I will give anything for freedom, but I will not give up my freedom for anything. Except when it is your love I'm fighting for, only then will you see me in chains."
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Elisse awoke as the sun shone through the window of Jack's cabin. She squinted as her eyes adjusted to the light. As soon as she was fully awake, she found her book beside her on the bed, opened to the page she had read last night. She marked the page by folding the top right corner and closed it, leaving it on her side of the bed. She changed her clothes, brushed her hair and tied it with a piece of cloth. After she was through, she hurriedly went outside to check on Jack.
Walking up to the helm, she saw the Captain slumped on the wheel. His clothes were still wet and his eyes were beginning to close. Elisse knew he was very tired and decided to at least persuade him to change his clothes and then go to bed.
"Jack? Come on. You can sleep in your cabin." She said as she placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I be too tired to walk all the way to me cabin, luv. 'ere would be alright." He answered.
"You're soaking wet. You should change your clothes or else you'll catch a cold." She started tugging on his coat.
"Now ye sound like me mum." He pointed out, grinning.
"Just do it, Jack."
He groaned and lifted himself from the wheel, heading to his cabin with Elisse right behind him.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Why is everyone in such a gloomy mood?" Elisse asked Anamaria.
"We have been blown off course by the storm an' will take an extra three days to get to Nassau. All in all, it'll take us eight more days." Anamaria answered, finishing her meal. "Jack still asleep?"
Elisse nodded in reply. "I left him some food in case he gets hungry."
"I've noticed ye seem to be more concerned about him these days." The pirate pointed out.
Elisse's eyes widened at this. She did not notice that she was doing so. 'Did Jack notice too?' she thought. 'Or was it just Anamaria?'
Anamaria chuckled at her reaction. The lass was indeed surprised. She did not even notice the change in her own behavior towards the infamous Captain.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
AN: Sorry this chapter took long. I was on VACATION. Anyway, please keep reviewing!! Thanks! Oh and btw, Era is AmERAda's nickname.
Ury^_^