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The Truth
The rowboat pulled up along side the Dauntless as several marines helped Elizabeth up on deck.
"Elizabeth! Do you have any idea how worried I was?" Governor Swann shouted running to his daughter and hugging her. Hope was the next one on deck followed by Gillette then Jack and the rest of the marines.
"Arrest that man!" Norrington ordered as Murtogg and Mulroy went to him. Norrington walked over to Hope.
"Hope what were you thinking? You should have known better than to sail around with a pirate."
"Save the lecture, James. You're starting to sound like my father." Norrington and Gillette were surprised at her delivery.
"When he's not here I have no choice. You could have been hurt or even killed. What's worse you participated in stealing one of his majesties ships."
"Then arrest me."
"I won't do that."
"Why? I have special privileges being a minister's daughter? Or is it because of my relationship with Edward? Which is it or is it more than that?" Norrington was silent t how she was behaving.
"I swore to your sister that I would protect you. Having you arrested would be breaking that promise."
"I had no choice. I wanted to help save Elizabeth. You knew Jack could give you a clue as to her whereabouts but you said yourself that you considered it but decided against it. And you did that because he was a pirate."
"But we have to save Will!" Elizabeth's voice came.
"Right now. There is something more important to deal with," Hope said going over to Gillette. Norrington turned his attention to the governor, who walked towards him.
"We will return to Port Royal not go gallivanting after pirates!" the governor yelled.
"Then we condemn him to death!" Elizabeth shouted.
"The boy's fate is regrettable. But so was his decision to engage in piracy!"
"To rescue me to prevent anything from happening to me!"
"I don't understand this! Governor Swann what would you do if I were in Will's place?" Hope asked walking in front of him. He was silent. "Commodore, what would you do?" He was also silent.
"That's an entirely different situation, Hope. You're not a pirate," the governor finally said.
"Neither is Will. He only did those things to save Elizabeth. He took the option that made sense, even if it meant trusting a pirate. In this situation Will and I are equally guilty and if you won't help Will then you might as well arrest me now because my actions are no different from his." Jack saw an opening and walked over.
"If I may be so bold as to inject my professional opinion. The Pearl was listing near to scuppers after the battle. It's very unlikely she'll be able to make good time. Think about it. The Black Pearl. The last real pirate threat in the Caribbean, mate. How can you pass that up?" Norrington turned away and looked at Hope.
"I am not going to arrest, Hope. I refuse to. And as for you Mr. Sparrow. I can pass the chance up by remembering that I serve others, not only myself." Norrington said walking off. Elizabeth ran after him.
"Commodore, I beg you, please do this. For me. As a wedding gift." Everyone was shocked especially Hope. "Elizabeth . Are you accepting the Commodore's proposal?" She looked over at Hope who shook her head and mouthed no. Elizabeth gave her look that told her she had too. "I am." Hope looked down and went over to the railing and looked out.
"A wedding! I love weddings…drinks all around!" Jack said excitedly extending his arms out before the look for Norrington silenced him. "I know. Clap him in irons, right?"
"Mr. Sparrow, you will accompany these fine men to the helm and provide us with the bearing to Isla de Muerta." Hope turned around and looked at Norrington in complete shock. "You will then spend the rest of the voyage contemplating all possible meanings of the phrase 'silent as the grave.' Do I make myself clear?"
"Inescapably," Jack said before they hauled him up to the helm where Gillette and a few others stood waiting. The governor surprised walked over to Norrington.
"Commodore, I must question the wisdom of this."
"With all due respect, Governor. Mr. Turner is a subject of the British crown, and therefore under our protection." Swann realizes this as the truth before he too heads up to the helm. Norrington looked over at Elizabeth as they walked to the other side of the deck. They talked for a few moments before Norrington headed up to the helm himself. Elizabeth walked over to Hope.
"If we get to Will on time he will be heartbroken when he finds out."
"He is a fine man but not for a woman like you or me Hope. You know that. There is nothing I can do. My father would never permit it."
"Have you even attempted asking him just as a question?"
"My father is a difficult man."
"So is mine. But I won't let that stop me," Hope said before walking off. Elizabeth was shocked at her choice of words before she walked after her.
"Hope! What are you talking about? You're engaged to Edward, how can you…" Elizabeth started as Hope turned to her and gave her a look. "Oh my god. Hope you can't be serious, don't do it."
"I'm having doubts, Elizabeth. I love Edward more than anything but Jack is everything that I always told myself I wanted. It wasn't difficult at first. I hated Jack, but, in the short time I have been with him...there's more to him than you or anyone else realizes," Hope said going to the railing and looking out.
"You're not falling in love with him, are you?"
"I don't know. I don't know what I feel. On that island I wanted nothing more than to see Edward again. Then when I finally did I was happy but something in me has changed even though it has not been that long since we have been reunited. If I look at him now I can say I love him, but if I look at Jack all that seems to be erased. You're just as guilty as me."
"What?"
"I saw how you and Will behaved towards each other before the Black Pearl attacked and during. You're insistence to save him was mirror image of him trying to convince James to make a deal with Jack to go after you. You may not want to realize it but when you see Will again and then you look at James. It will be the same thing I am facing. You're in love with Will and I can tell." Their conversation was cut just as a few other officers walked to them.
"Miss Swann, Miss Danforth. If you come with us you can get cleaned up, if you wish." The two women nodded and followed the officers below deck.
Later that night Hope stood down at the deck railing as the ship sailed through the graveyard of ships. All was quiet until she heard someone walk up behind her. She turned and saw it was Jack.
"Jack," she said a little surprised.
"Never thought you would be back here again," he said standing beside her.
"No. It's look worse at night then in fog."
"Forgive me for saying this but you don't seem very happy. The commodore agreed to go rescue Will and you are back with your dear lieutenant. "
"Normally I would be, but….it's complicated."
"Saving Will or seeing your lieutenant?"
"Edward." Jack was about to say something when Hope cut him off. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what, love?"
"Everything. I haven't been all that nice to you since we left Port Royal." Jack couldn't believe what he heard.
"Why this sudden change?"
"Up until last night I thought of you as a black hearted, lying, womanizing pirate, but, last night I saw the part of you that you tend to keep hidden."
"Ah. Well I have to. Don't need anyone thinking I had gone soft." Hope laughed a little. "In all honesty. That change you saw was because of you."
"What are you talking about?"
"You know when you asked me my reasons for having a weak spot for you?"
"Yes."
"That was it. The first time I saw you I thought you were just another annoying, snooty English woman who was raised proper and probably intended to someone of your class. But then when you showed up with Will in that prison dressed in men's clothing and the behavior you had toward me I knew that you were not like other women. You were independent, resilient, hot-tempered, and if I may say so, not one to be treated like a helpless woman. If I am being honest, some of the things I said or did to you were only to get one of your comments." Jack had moved closer to her and Hope had leaned forward putting her hands on the railing while he described his reasons to her. "Now. You may get your chance to slap me if you find my next comment to bold but…" he started putting one of his hands on her own. "I never thought I would say this and mean it, but as such I feel you should know. I've fallen in love with you." Her eyes widened and she looked at him. Soon after she saw Elizabeth heading towards them and looked up to the helm and saw Norrington watching them and Gillette coming down the stairs.
"Then it's safe to say that I've done the same thing with you," she said looking at him before leaving. He smiled big as Elizabeth walked up to him. Hope had met Gillette on the way down the stairs.
"What was that all about?"
"Nothing. Just a couple of unresolved issues." Gillette smiled before he walked back up to the helm. A few moments later Norrington walked down and stood beside her. He was about to say something when she changed the subject. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"Helping Will and remembering Catherine's last request."
"I loved her. I don't believe anyone can replace that love or her for that matter." Hope was silent. "I have the feeling you weren't too happy about Elizabeth's acceptance of my proposal."
"No, I'm happy for you and congratulations. It was just a little sudden." He nodded to her before walking over to Elizabeth and Jack.
"With me, Sparrow."
NOTE: I know. Jack is a little out of character but I didn't know what else to do. I had to get something going between Hope and him. Besides that, I hope you liked it. Sorry so short. PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!
ArianaielNightstar