Disclaimer: i do not own POTC
When Jack and Elizabeth woke the next morning Scotland was on the horizon. Jack was the first to wake up with Elizabeth sleeping on his chest, he hated to wake her but if they were not to be noticed they had to make the Pearl's arrival and departure a fast one.
"Elizabeth, time to go." Jack whispered.
"Mmmm…" Elizabeth mumbled.
"Come on luv…" Jack then sat up in bed, Elizabeth woke up and sat up as well.
"Are we already docked?" Elizabeth asked.
"No, but we must hurry." Then Elizabeth got up put her dress and shoes on, then put her cloak on. Jack did the same, he got dressed and put a thick jacket on, he looked nothing like a pirate and neither did Elizabeth.
"Here." Elizabeth said handling him his sack. "Your sword, pistol, and daggers are in there."
"What about yours?" Jack asked.
"Of course I put them in mine, do you think me a fool?" Elizabeth said with a smile.
"No luv, just a bit forgetful…who wouldn't be after…"
Elizabeth cut him off, "…last nights performance. Like I have told you before, be careful on your bragging…sometimes you are way off target…so to speak." Elizabeth laughed at the face Jack made.
"Your bloody hilarious ye know that…"
"But you love me anyway." Elizabeth then gave him a peck on the cheek before she and him walked onto the deck were Jacob and Jasper were already waiting.
"About bloody time, we are just pulling in now." Jasper said and he was right.
After they watched the Pearl sail away the four started walking towards the market, Jack and Elizabeth walking ahead of Jasper and Jacob who were carrying everyone's bags.
"Pardon me sir, do you happen to know where I might purchase some horses?" Jack said in a cleaned up English accent.
"Yer at the right place. Now how many will you be needing?"
"Four. For myself, my wife, and two of our servants."
"Where will you be riding?"
"London."
"That is quite a ways sir, you sure you don't want a carriage for the lady, she seem quite prim of you ask me." Elizabeth made a face.
"Sir, I am quite capable of riding on these creatures so if you please show us to your stallions." The man then directed the group of them to the stables.
"Pick your choosing." The man said. Jack, Jasper, and Jacob relied on Elizabeth to tell them how to pick a dependable horse, although all three had ridden one at one time or another, Elizabeth was trained to ride and pick them out, she also knew the proper pricing.
"The four stallions on the last two gates on either side. Now what is your price?" Elizabeth asked.
"Shouldn't your husband be dealing with the negotiations?"
"No, I am dealing with them, I am well knowledgeable in these animals, where my husband has his business in the seas. So if you please what is your price?"
"Five hundred pounds…"
"What is your name?"
"Hugh Lawry."
"Mr. Lawry, I am no simpleton, and if you think just because I am a women that I will lay down and roll over for you, you are sadly mistaken sir. I know these horses are old and are only worth at the most one hundred and fifty pounds. So when I offer you two hundred I suggest you take it…" Elizabeth said as she held out the money in a small leather bag.
"You drive a hard bargain lass…you got spirit, so I won't argue with ye, and you know what your talking about. So that price is fine."
"Thank you Mr. Lawry." Elizabeth then went to grab her horses reins. Jack, Jasper, and Jacob did the same and lead the horses outside.
"Well done Elizabeth." Jasper said.
"Thank you. I assume you all know how to saddle your horses." The four then saddled their horses and tied their sacks to the side. Jasper and Jacob were the first on their horses and Jack helped Elizabeth onto her horse before he saddled his.
Along the trail Elizabeth explained what London and the rest of England would be like.
"Right now we are in Northern England, many farms are in and about here so tonight we will be able to find shelter for a small fee. As we head further south inns will trail the paths, this trail is the only direct one that leads to London. London itself is very large and it's streets are lined in cobblestone, although I haven't been here in quite a number of years I am sure it is to be beautiful."
"Now, what about the court? I have never been near one to know what it is like." Jacob said.
"The King and Queen rarely ever travel to the Caribbean, so that is the reason why you haven't. The court is a group of people, some noble, some not, these people serve King William and Queen Mary. My Aunt Claire has been friends with the queen even before she became queen. My Aunt is the Countess of York, she married my uncle who was of noble blood. The court can actually be quite entertaining, I have been at court twice, once before I came to Port Royal and once when I was about fourteen. The purpose of going to court is to make connections, and on my last time here I certainly have made long lasting ones."
"Any of them trustworthy?" Jack asked.
"I wouldn't tell anyone a blessed thing. We are planning to kill an Earl, I suspect that I would like to keep my mouth shut about something like that." Silence then took the group over, that is until Jasper broke it.
"Want to race?" He asked Elizabeth.
"You don't want to race me." Elizabeth said dryly.
"Why are you too good for me?"
"Yes. I know how to ride a horse and well at that, you don't, so before you embarrass yourself…"
"Go!" Jasper took off.
"Bloody bastard!" Elizabeth then went galloping off after him. Jack and Jacob picked up speed as well.
"Jasper, the trees are low, you should stop!" Elizabeth tried to warn him, but it was too late. A tree branch that hung too low caught Jasper, knocked him off his horse and onto the ground, Elizabeth ducked in time and quickly grabbed his horse's reins and went back to him and got off her horse.
"Jasper are you alright?" Elizabeth said as she kneeled over him.
"Do I look bloody alright?" Jasper said annoyed, he got up and pushed her out of the way.
"I told you to be careful." Elizabeth said walking towards him.
"Bugger off." Jasper was in pain and in no mood to hear of Elizabeth's preaching.
"No I won't and let me see your head." By this time Jack and Jacob had arrived.
"What happened?" Jack asked wanting to laugh.
"Jasper's head made friends with that branch you see on the ground. Now he won't let me take a look at him."
"Must you rat me out." Jasper turned to her and said.
"Must you act like a child now let me see that thick skull of yours." Elizabeth looked at a very nasty bump and bruise. "Well, you can be glad that your head it that thick, because I believe if it weren't you'd be out cold." Elizabeth said with a smile.
"Funny." Jasper said.
"So is the fool up for the rest of the trip?" Jack asked.
"Yes, but we should stop, I think we passed a farm, we can stop for the night and get an early start tomorrow." Elizabeth said.
"Fine idea." Elizabeth and Jasper then mounted their horses and they rode to the farmer's house.
"Pardon me are you the master here?" Jack asked a man who was outside mending a fence.
"Yes, what can I do for you?"
"Well, my wife and servants are on our way to London. We were wondering if you might have a place we could stay the night, and some food. We would gladly pay."
"Sure I have some room. Since my children have left and my wife had died, it has been quiet and lonely, please come in and settle yourselves in."