DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything POTC related.
NOTE: PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!
The Hanging and Farewell
It was two days since the Dauntless left Isla de Muerta and night had fallen over the Caribbean once again. Hope slowly walked around deck and watched the guards on sentry duty. Norrington, the governor, Gillette and all the other officers were in the cabin. Elizabeth, Will, and a good half of the crew were below deck, most were sleeping. Hope went over to the below deck entrance and walked quietly down the companionway, past the living quarters deck where everyone else was and down to the prison deck. She was stopped at the entrance by none other than Murtogg and Mulroy.
"I can't let you go any further, Miss Danforth," Murtogg said.
"I need to speak with Captain Sparrow."
"No one can pass without permission from Commodore Norrington," Mulroy said.
"Please. There was a matter between us that hasn't been taken care of since you got us off that island." They looked at each other. "Please. I won't be long," she said smiling sweetly. Their faces softened and smiled.
"All right," Mulroy said.
"Thank you, gentlemen." They let her pass and when she reached the bottom she saw the Black Pearl pirates in a cell on one side and Jack on the other. She walked up to him. His back was turned towards her as he was leaning against the side. "Jack." He turned around and caught sight of her.
"Hope. What are you doing here, love?" Hope went over the cell and knelt in front of Jack.
"I had to see you."
"I'm flattered. Norrington don't know does he?"
"No. The only ones who know are Murtogg and Mulroy."
"Those two miscreants?" Hope laughed but flinched covering her abdomen with her good arm. Jack reached threw the bars and placed his hand over hers. "How bad is it?"
"It's nothing too serious. How are you doing?"
"Well, aside from me being hung in a day or so and trying to make conversation with the band of demented pirates over there. I'm doing inescapably well," he said smiling.
"We are not demented!" Pintel protested.
"I like it," Ragetti said. Pintel thought about it for a moment before realizing it fit. Hope glared at the two.
"Do you mind?" They put their hands up in surrender. "I talked to Will and we have thought of a way to stop you from hanging."
"Really? Rubbing off on both of you?" She smiled.
"Yes."
"If you spring me from the gallows where will I go? I don't have me ship anymore. Thanks to those bloody cads!" Jack said pointing his last statement at the others.
"We can hide you at the blacksmith shop then when night falls we can get you on a boat."
"The blacksmith shop will be the first place Norrington will look. We both know this was going to happen eventually."
"I can't believe I'm hearing this from you. The infamous Captain Jack Sparrow. You're just going give up? Just like that?"
"It's out of me hands, love." Hope lowered her head. "Look at me. Even if your plan did work, you don't want to live a life like I have."
"That's where you're wrong, Jack. When I was fourteen I envied pirates so much. They could go anywhere and see the world, nothing to stop them. You said it yourself, a ship is freedom. I wanted to have that luxury. My whole life has been a cage and after my sister died the ones who were really there for me were Elizabeth, Norrington, and Gillette. When I met Will he was always a confidant. Then you showed up. Granted I despised you in the beginning but that night on the island I realized that you had and were everything I wanted."
"Hope. Living the life of pirate is not the life that you want. The life you want is the one you already have. You have a marine, though he is a bit of a prude, that loves you and deep down I know you still love him as well. Marry him, have lots of little Hope's and Edward's, and be happy." Hope shook her and tried to smile but couldn't.
"Yes. And only to think about you everyday and wonder if there was more I could have done to save you."
"You'll forget about me in a week."
"No. I meant what I said to you up on deck that night. I love you. You're memory will plague my mind the rest of my life and even after death. Nothing will…" she started just as Jack reached his arm through the cell and kissed her. When he pulled away he kept his hand on her face.
"I have already accepted my fate and you must do the same."
"I can't."
"You must. At least there is one thing I can die knowing."
"What?"
"The first time I was to be hung you hated me. This time, at least I know that I found something to love that loved me back for who I am and not because they had or were forced too."
"I wish I had someone to love me," Pintel said as the others agreed. They had been listening the whole time. Both Hope and Jack looked over at them.
"Me too," Ragetti said rubbing his wooden eye.
"Stop rubbing it!" Pintel said hitting him. Hope turned back toward Jack.
"I should probably go back up. Someone might come looking for me," she said as she slowly stood, Jack along with her. He reached his arm back through the cell and cupped her face.
"If I don't see or speak to you again, I want you to know that I was telling the truth as well. I love you." They stared at each other for a moment. "Do me a favor."
"Anything."
"I know it will be hard for you but when I am standing there with the rope around my neck don't look away. You are the last person I want to see." Hope nodded and reached up and placed her hand over his before she slowly headed back towards the stairs. She looked one last time before she headed back up.
SCENE CHANGE:
Jack stood on the gallows looking over to a raised ground where Norrington, Governor Swann, Elizabeth, Reverend Danforth, Hope and Gillette stood. The whole town had appeared to have shown up that day as the grounds were very crowded. To Jack's right the town clerk stood reading a scroll.
"Jack Sparrow. Be it known that you have been charged for your willful commission of crimes against the crown. Said crimes being numerous in quantity and sinister in nature, the most egregious of these to be cited herewith. Piracy, smuggling…" "This is wrong." Elizabeth spoke before Hope agreed.
"It's not fair. He aided in rescuing Elizabeth and you're executing him."
"Commodore Norrington is bound by the law." Governor Swann explained.
"As are we all," Reverend Danforth said. Hope looked away and saw a blue and yellow bird flying overhead. Thinking nothing of it she turned back to Jack but then looked back realizing it was Mr. Cotton's parrot. Her eyes began scanning the courtyard for Will. Hopefully he had seen the parrot and was in the process of doing what they talked about.
"Impersonating an officer of the Spanish Royal Navy, impersonating a cleric of the Church of England." Hope forced a smile and shook her head. "Sailing under false colors, arson, kidnapping, looting, poaching, brigandage, pilfering, depravity, depredation, and general lawlessness. And for these crimes you have been sentenced to be, on this day, hung by the neck until dead. May God have mercy on your soul." Jack looked over at Hope as she did the last thing he asked her to do. Surprisingly Gillette didn't seem to notice. Her eye contact was broken when Will walked up.
"Governor Swann, Commodore, Reverend Danforth, Hope…" he stopped on Hope. She moved her head and eyes in the same direction towards the parrot. He only looked at her and nodded slightly before focusing his attention on Elizabeth. "I should have told you from the first day I met you. I love you." With that he walked away. Hope smiled a little as she looked back at Jack as the executioner put the rope over his head. Jack was looking at her strangely. She lowered her head slightly and pointed her index finger towards Will's direction. Jack looked down and saw Will forcing his way through the crowd. Norrington realized what he was going to do and called his marines.
"I can't breathe," Elizabeth said as she fell backwards. Gillette, Norrington, and the governor attended to her. Moments later the executioner pulled the lever and Jack fell threw catching himself on the blade of the sword Will threw into the door. Will fought with the executioner as Norrington, Gillette, and other marines headed towards the gallows. When Jack's rope was cut he fell through and sliced through the ropes tying his hands. Both Will and him continued dodging and fighting the marines that came at them. Jack's escape finally ended at the parapet when they were blocked.
"You forget your place Turner." Commodore Norrington said placing a sword at Will's throat as Elizabeth, Governor Swann, and Hope arrived.
"It's right here, between you and Jack."
"As is mine," Elizabeth said going to stand beside him.
"Lower your weapons!" Governor Swann said to the marines in despair.
"Do not lower your weapons! Remove these two from the pirate," Commodore Norrington yelled out. As the guards pulled Will and Elizabeth to the side, Hope pushed her way through and stood in front of Jack.
"No! Commodore Norrington please! Don't do this. Let him go."
"Hope. What are doing?" Gillette asked.
"I'm sorry, Edward. Commodore, please. Let him go."
"I can't do that Miss Danforth. It is against everything I have ordered if I let him go free. Jack Sparrow is the most sought after pirate in the Caribbean." Jack stepped around her but before he could say anything she clasped her hand over his mouth.
"Jack is a good man. He may be a pirate but there's more to him than any of you realize. Please Commodore."
"Miss Danforth. You hate pirates as much as I. Why are you defending him? He is one of them!" Hope looked at Jack then back at Norrington.
"You're wrong about that. I used to hate pirates but I don't anymore. He may be a pirate, but as I said there's so much more to him than being a pirate." Norrington saw the expression on her face as she spoke those words and he knew. He had sensed something on their voyage back to Port Royal, but now he believed his thoughts were correct.
"You defend him now because you love him." Hope closed her eyes and looked sadly at Gillette who held a look of disbelief and confusion.
"Yes." Jack smiled and turned to guards behind him, mouthing, she loves me. Norrington's face softened and Gillette still had a look of confusion but anger replaced the sadness.
"I can't believe I'm hearing this. What about us, Hope? He's a pirate how can you possibly love him, why do you love him?" Gillette said in anger.
"You have to believe me, Edward. I didn't expect nor did I want any of this to happen. I love you, I still do, and I always will. You were the first man I ever truly loved, Edward and I wanted you to be the last. Because of that, I tried so hard to deny my feelings for him but I just couldn't anymore. I'm so sorry, please forgive me. I don't ask it of you today but someday I will ask you again and I can only hope you can give it to me."
"So that's it then. Like that, it's over," Gillette said with not so much anger.
"I'm sorry. I know there is someone out there for you, I'm only sorry I wasn't the one. Part of my heart will always belong to you but the rest belongs to Jack Sparrow." Gillette lowered his head for a moment before he nodded sadly. Hope looked at Norrington who was still trying to figure things out.
"James. Both our families have been close friends for a long time. You know what it feels like to lose someone you care for." Norrington lowered his sword remembering the day he lost the love of his life, Catherine.
"The day pirates invaded Port Royal you had proposed to my sister. You were coming home to tell me when the town was attacked. Catherine was shot and died several minutes later. That day you vowed to hunt down the pirates that had taken her from you and kill them. Over these last eight years I have seen how you live your life. Since that day your entire life has been nothing but revenge on any pirate that comes into port. Nothing will ever bring Catherine back. Killing the pirates who took her life will not give you closure to her death. You need to move on, I did." Norrington was silent as the others around them were surprised. "But you found love again in Elizabeth. When she was kidnapped by Captain Barbossa your hatred against pirates rose even higher. And in your search you found that it was a true pirate that saved her."
"What are you trying to say, Hope?" Norrington asked.
"What I'm saying is that…" Hope started but was cut off by the governor, who had been listening intently.
"That perhaps on the rare occasion, pursuing the right course demands an act of piracy. Piracy itself can be the right course," the governor said. Hope and Elizabeth looked at him with surprise and Norrington showed the hint of a smile, accepting that what was just said is the truth.
"Lower your weapons and release Miss Swann and Mr. Turner." As they did Jack looked up and saw Mr. Cotton's parrot flying overhead.
"Well, I'm actually feeling rather good about this." Jack said as he came from behind Hope and walked in a drunken manner over to Governor Swann and talked into his face. The Governor wrinkled his nose at the smell of Jack's breath. "I think we've all arrived at a very special place, aye? Spiritually, ecumenically, grammatically." Jack then moved to Norrington. "I want you to know that I was rooting for you mate. Know that." Making his way back past Swann and between Will and Elizabeth and Hope he turned towards Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth. It would never have worked out between us darling. I'm sorry…" Hope shook her head remembering that night on the beach. Elizabeth looked at him a little appalled. "For my heart belongs to an annoying, snooty, sword fighting, hot tempered young woman," Jack finished going over to Hope. He pulled her face to him and kissed her. All the marines and Swann were disgusted by this. Gillette looked on with a solemn face. Will and Elizabeth just smiled. As Jack pulled away he leaned closer to her and whispered. "The adventure and freedom you seek is right here. I will return in two weeks for you."
"I'll be waiting." With that he went to the stairs of the parapet. "Miss Hope Danforth. As I said before, I have fallen in love you. Lieutenant Gillette, I do hope there are no hard feelings." Hope smiled at Jack. "Friends, this is the day you will always remember, as the day that…" before Jack could finish he bumped into the wall and fell over. Everyone present ran to the wall and watched as Jack fell into the water, miraculously missing the rocks.
"Idiot, he has no where to go but back to the noose," Gillette responded with a smirk. Hope watched as Jack popped his head above the water then looked into the distance and saw the Black Pearl.
"I wouldn't be so sure," Hope said. Gillette looked at her as she pointed out into the bay. Everyone watched as the Black Pearl sailed into the bay. Norrington smiled a little and turned
"Mr. Turner!" Hope watched as Norrington said a few things to Will about the sword he was given. Gillette and Hope stood watching this. She wanted to say something but thought best not to. "Did you mean everything you said about loving me?" Gillette asked her.
"Yes, every word." Gillette looked in her eyes and saw the truth.
"Then, I forgive you. Even though I don't like the fact that you fell for a pirate. That is something I have to accept."
"You're a good man, Edward. You'll make another woman very happy." Norrington sheathed the sword and walked away up to Hope. "Thank you, James." Hope said.
"I am still bound by the law when it comes to pirates."
"I know. But you will have a hard time trying to catch him." Norrington smiled and bowed to her. "Miss Danforth." As Norrington walked away Gillette called to him.
"Commodore! What about Sparrow?" Gillette asked.
"Oh I think we can afford to give him one day's head start." With that he walked away, being followed by his men. Governor Swann followed as well but not before turning towards his daughter and Will.
"So, this is the path you've chosen is it? After all he is a blacksmith." Elizabeth turned towards Will and removed his hat.
"No. He's a pirate." Hope smiled and saw Will and Elizabeth finally kiss.
"It's about time." She turned back towards the bay and saw water splashing upward by the ship. No doubt the crew hoisting Jack onto the ship. She stood there and watched until the Black Pearl was just a dot on the horizon before walking away.
TO BE CONTINUED……….
NOTE: Well? What do you think? Sadly, this is the last chapter for this story. But don't worry, this story is continued in: THE DRAGON'S EYE. The sequel has already been written(and COMPLETED) aside from the fact that I will be overhauling some of the chapters so they fit with this story. After that is done and even during I will be writing the second sequel.
NOTE2: To those who read this story but not the sequel, the questions you want might have will be answered. In the sequel you will find out how Hope's mother fits into all this, who the pirate was who killed Catherine, and a few other surprises. =)
NOTE3: For the sequel to The Dragon's Eye it will mainly be the focus of Hope's daughter. But that is all I will reveal because if I say more the fun is taken out.
PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!
sequel: THE DRAGON'S EYE