Disclaimer: I am still very rich since I have not been able to purchase Jack Sparrow and William Turner.
EavesdroppingWe were approaching Isla De Muerta. The Black Pearl was tossing and bowling along before a fine humming breeze that sent white caps all over the sea. With nothing to do but sit and look at the blue sea and the bright sky overhead my thoughts went to William, Elizabeth and AnaMaria. Indeed the young whelp did ask Lizzie to become his wife and she said yes but time would tell if they would truly become man and wife.
I ran my hand down the smooth wood of the helm and then my thoughts took me back to the week just past.
Lizzie had been showing Will much attention since the accident or should I say blatant attack from The Vengeance. Never the less she has been giving and he has been accepting every advance. To be cared for by such a fine lady and to refuse her would be detrimental I am sure. Yes, I wonder about the lad but I know he isn't stupid. For when a brisk lively young man of three and twenty and a sweet beautiful miss of one and twenty are thrown together day after day for weeks on end the opportunities are infinite. I can just imagine how endless they can be.
Ah those days when a man is young and whether wisely or not falls in love. I know Will is hopelessly in love and it will be his downfall. I will mark my words. I think to myself how often during this voyage I'd lie awake in my berth at night, tossing this way and that without sleep. Not that I wanted to sleep but I would rather sleep then lie awake thinking about her and staring into the darkness. Aye, I realized I was a fool and I realized Miss Elizabeth was not in my future. There was no profit in it for me to woo said maiden and destroy my friendship with Will. What was I thinking she wouldn't go with me, I have already told her over and over again that things could not work out between us. I knew inescapably Will would ask Elizabeth to marry him and he did. I even wagered rings on the union. As of right now she has a beautiful diamond on her left hand. It was the least I could do for William after he so gallantly tried to save me ship. It was just sitting around in my loot and I had no better place for it so I felt William could place it on Lizzy fine finger. I am truly joyous for the both of them. I think? I do want them both to be happy. I think? Well, I know for a fact I believe William fits in on The Black Pearl he belongs with me. As I said before, time will tell. I will let the young whelp make his own choice. Hopefully he will be like his father in this aspect of his life. Of course I love weddings, Drinks all around I always say.
Things were going along very smooth and pleasant, until one evening five days past, when all came to a sudden end. Woo! I should have seen the storm coming.
In thinking back, I am just as wide off the mark as AnaMaria in the fact I was concealing myself and saying nothing. It was a nice calm evening and the sun was low in the sky. I had a nice spot to sit and I was minding me own business. I knew I should have said something but no I am dishonest and I can be trusted to be dishonest, so I stayed.
Elizabeth and Will were together, leaning over the rail and looking out across the water through the dusk toward the west, where the sky was of a lingering brightness. They both held a mug of rum and she had her head on his shoulder. It was such a lovely and romantic scene. His arm was wrapped around her small waist. She had been mighty quiet all that day but all of a sudden she began without any preface to tell William everything that was on her mind. In my opinion that was her big misfortune. She started with that fine night of long long ago on the deserted island. Yes, the night or our torrid affair. She told him how the rum intoxicated her and how I was so charming.
I must admit I had tried to be quite charismatic. I knew Elizabeth's words were not meant for my ears but I had to listen intently. Pirate! She told him of how we sang and danced and how she felt so thriving. Aye I do remember, she felt quite alive in my arms. That was one opportune moment I could not have passed.
While sitting in the shadows enjoying the sea and the entertainment, I was beginning to wonder how much the Lass had to drink. Will had removed his hand from her waist and I could tell by the look in his eyes he was somewhat annoyed. But she continued, she told Will that she confided in her father before he died. She had told him that she had the child and that Captain Jack Sparrow was the father. She wanted Will to know that her father did not die thinking that he had wronged her. Oh how noble of her I thought, as I smiled thinking otherwise.
Then I think this is what really sent the poor Whelp whirling. She told him she wanted him to raise Katheryn as his daughter and that she would give the child the name of Turner. The rage that burnt in Will's eyes was that of his father's when I had told him how I felt about his wife. WOO! When I heard Lizzy say that, I too was taken by surprise but I sat back and just observed. I knew that this was going to be quite a show. In my evil devilish mind I thought. Aye Lizzy keep on digging your grave, the deeper it gets for you the better it is for me. William just may stay on The Pearl.
Me-thinks when she began to speak about Katheryn and I, William knew what was coming. But now that she had told him, he just stood there staring across the ocean. His breath was coming hot and dry as if there were ashes in his throat. Elizabeth the poor girl went on and on. Why she didn't stop I will never know. She spoke in a very low voice to William and I could not believe she said such words. My ears were burning.
"Will I must admit I have liked Jack Sparrow from the very first moment I had seen him. He is intriguing and alluring and I could tell Norrington and my father were against him from the start. I mean he did save my life and just because he is a pirate doesn't mean he should hang. I will always think of Jack as a dear friend who has been very kind to me, who has so little pleasure in his life and so I know will always remember me."
Will had finally found his tongue. I'm surprised he held it that long.
"You mean to tell me you actually had or should I say have feelings for Jack? You want him to remember you for always? In what way my dear? Do you want him to remember you as a woman, as the mother of his child, as a friend, or as the strumpet he got drunk with on the beach? Really Elizabeth are you listening to yourself? You do know that he does or should I say did love you in his own idiosyncratic way? Well, I too, love you and it has always just been you, nobody else. I have to say your words hurt. I feel you have stabbed me in my heart. Jack and I have fought over you and I thought I won. I know he is a man of his word and has stayed away from you and now you tell me you had or have feelings for him. You mean to tell me it was not just the vile alcohol and the spellbinding fire that sent you to Jack's loins. You were, as you said fascinated by him? Lord Elizabeth, Jack is my friend and you are my fiancé. I want to trust you. I want to trust him. I think I can trust Jack but I am having a hard time trusting you now."
He repeated. "I really do love you with all my heart, but if you hold any feeling for Jack Sparrow you best look deep into your soul now, and as far as raising Katheryn I will not even discuss that. That is between you and Jack and that is the only thing that should be between you and Jack."
It was at that tragic moment I felt Will was mine and Elizabeth had lost. Then I perceived AnaMaria had been hiding nigh and she suddenly moved. I know she did not witness me or she would not have done what she did. She had over heard all that was said I am sure since my ears were privy to all also.
Will looked at Elizabeth and informed her he would give her time to think. He would not hold her to the engagement if she felt she could not be true to him. His parting words were filled with emotion and I agreed with them.
"If I will not accept yours and Jack's child as mine obviously we will not be wed. You can think on this my Love. I will marry you and yes raise Katheryn but no she will not be a Turner. She is a Sparrow. She is Jack's. If we marry we will have our own children. I will not share a child with Jack."
He gave an icy cold look at her and then to my astonishment he said. "Savvy?"
Ah! That's my boy. I said to meself with a smirk on my face and laughter in me head.
He went straight to his cabin leaving Elizabeth alone on the deck, so he thought. She stood in silence looking after him, feeling that now indeed the last drop of bitterness had been added to his troubles.
Elizabeth did not see AnaMaria creeping up behind her. She had turned and continued leaning over the rail. AnaMaria came out of the dark shadows and startled her.
"You hussy!" She came up close to Elizabeth but she used a loud voice that all on deck could hear her. "How could young Mr. Turner be so cursed to have such a wretch as you?" She spoke and waved a boat hook in her hand. Back and forth she swung it as though she would have struck the young woman who was now shrinking back against the rail and crouched as though to escape a blow.
With fury in her eyes AnaMaria continued.
"You have a man whom truly loves you and you ask him to take another man's baby? You have the impudence to tell him of how you feel about Captain Sparrow. You girl, are not fit for a gentleman or a pirate, especially the likes of young Mr. Turner. You are worse then a whore. You play both men off of each other. Will almost killed Jack because of you. I also remember the way you were lusting after Jack. You couldn't keep your eyes off his beautiful features and his golden tan body. You went as far as telling me you found him rather attractive. His golden smile intrigued you and you even asked him to make you his wife. Now I know why. Do your interests only lie in him cause he is your dear child's father or do you truly harbor feelings for him? Is your ego so large that you think he will always remember you? Yes, I know Will wants to know these answers and I do also. I told you Jack Sparrow was not you're kind and out of your class so what do you do? You turn from Jack and you go to your long time childhood friend whom you know will love you to the end of time. Now you go and break young Will's heart? You have turned his love into anger. You are a fool an idiot. You are not fit to be on this ship let alone with William or Jack."
Sitting here at the helm and thinking back I realized what AnaMaria was going though. I am not AnaMaria but I could sense the bout of passion that was placed into her words. Her brains were whirling and she was melting down fast what with despair and love and anger as she addressed Elizabeth. I believe she had scarcely gone mad and I could not hold her accountable for her actions at that very moment. Yes, just thinking of what she did next still amazes me.
AnaMaria put her free hand against Elizabeth's breast and thrust her violently back, crying out and beating upon her. In a great, loud, hoarse voice she accused Elizabeth of taking her Love away (meaningme), and having a child with a man she does not love (yes me again). Of losing her dignity and tumbling in the hay with the wrong man (What can I say?
AnaMaria was yelling at the top of her lungs. "You are just a strumpet and you wouldn't know what to do when the right man came along. Hopefully for Mr. Turner, he has seen your true colors and he will run. He will run so fast and so far to get away from you and your cursed ways."
Elizabeth went staggering back and almost fell over the rail with the push AnaMaria gave her, but she caught herself. Then with unexpected violence AnaMaria whirled the boat hook about and I do believe would have struck her. God knows than what might have happened had Gibbs not caught her and held her back.
"Keep back! Gibbs. " Cried AnaMaria. " I want to strike her; I want to fling her overboard!"
What with the sound of loud voices and the stamping of feet some of the crew came hurrying to see if Gibbs needed help. William also came from out of his cabin and I blended in with the crew as well as I could. Making quite sure they had not seen where I had appeared. I felt it would be best it they did not know I saw and heard everything.
By this time Elizabeth had her back up and she was glaring at AnaMaria. "And who are you, anyhow?" She cried out. "To threaten me, strike me and insult me. You dare not strike me AnaMaria! I know you very well, you are a pirate you are the bane of the ocean, you are a thief a murderer. You plunder and raid and you don't care whom you hurt or kill. I know who you are, what you are and whom you want."
By this time AnaMaria had ceased to endeavor to strike her. She stood stock-still. Her eyes were bulging as though they would pop out of her head.
I figured it was time for me to say something. I could not let this continue for the sake of AnaMaria, Elizabeth or the rest of the crew.
"What's all this?" I interrupted. "What does all this mean?" I looked at Lizzy then AnaMaria. I attempted to take the boat hook from AnaMaria's hand. Needless to say I was not triumphant.
Elizabeth shrieked and looked at me for help. "That damned girl insulted me and attacked me with that." She pointed at the boat hook AnaMaria was still swinging around.
AnaMaria struggled to get away from Gibbs and succeeded.
"Captain that bitch insulted all of us. She is a blight to us all. She has put us all in danger. She is a curse to all men and to The Black Pearl. She speaks ill of pirates, she speaks ill of you and Mr. Turner. She even speaks ill of her child who is half pirate whether she likes it or not. Sure as Hell I don't!"
AnaMaria cried out panting in the extremity of her passion. Then she glared at me and threatened to strike me with the hook. I jumped back fast and I was rather alarmed at her swiftness. Then I clapped my hands upon her shoulders and fell to shaking her so that she could scarcely stand. She dropped the hook and it just missed her foot.
"AnaMaria you are a pirate you know the code and you know not to attack your mates, let alone quarrel with a passenger and attack your Captain." As I spoke I looked down on the deck where the lethal hook lie.
"I'm asking you Love, not ordering you. Will you please go straight to my cabin and stay there till I come to you. Savvy?"
"No Captain!" AnaMaria glowered at me as she broke away from my grip. "She is a threat to us and I won't stand for it."
"AnaMaria I will have no such rioting aboard my ship. Now, I am ordering. Go! Don't put it past me I will use the cat of nine tails if you push me." I lowered my dark brooding eyes on her and she knew I meant what I said.
She stood in the light of a lantern and her face had gone ashen and I do believer if a look could kill, the dreadful malevolent stare she fixed upon me would have slain me were I stood.
Gibbs grabbed AnaMaria by her arm and looked upon me. "I have told you over and over again Jack, it is bad luck to have a woman on board and we are twice cursed, we bloody have two". He then took AnaMaria below.
Elizabeth was trembling with fear and anger. She threw herself at me and almost knocked me over. She put her arms around my neck and nuzzled into my tangled hair and sighed with relief. I almost fell into her trap and raised my hands to stroke her short chopped hair and to let her know I would let no harm come to her. Then I caught sight of William. I grabbed her arms and pulled her off me neck. I looked into her eyes and whispered ever so softly so she could only hear me. "Easy on the goods love. This is not the time or place." I pushed her towards William. "Go to your fiancé dear he waits for you." I made quite sure Will saw my actions and heard my words.
"William please take care of Elizabeth. It seems AnaMaria wishes her harm." I then smiled at Elizabeth. "Lizzy, William is here to take care of you. Remember Love, he is the one you should turn to not me. Now I must go attend to AnaMaria." I pulled my hat down over my face and sauntered off. I was not looking forward to face the wrath of AnaMaria.
I took me time going down to me quarters to check on AnaMaria. The poor woman was at her wits end. She had gone to my cabin as I bid and she shut the door, flung herself down on my berth and yielded herself to tears, humiliation and despair.
I entered me cabin with caution not knowing what was to befall. I had no intentions of being wounded by her. For all I knew she could be waiting behind the door with a sword or dagger or perhaps she was trashing me cabin. Better yet, she could possibly be drinking herself to oblivion. I had no idea.
When I went into the room it was pitch black and I heard her sobbing. I went over to the lantern on me desk. I lit it, which gave the cabin a low yellow eerie glow and I slowly turned to face AnaMaria.
I could see her slight form lying on the bed and just trembling up and down as she cried. I could see I had broken this poor girls heart. I had no intentions of ever hurting her I had no comprehension of how she felt for me. I knew I was her Captain. I knew I stole her boat, I owed her a boat, I gave her a boat, and actually I gave her a ship, The Interceptor to be precise. Grant it the ship did get blown up due to me indirectly and then when I did get pulled onto The Black Pearl she was at the helm and she handed the helm over to me. Since that day she stayed with the crew and me.
"AnaMaria." I said. " I have always told the crew that me ship is the most important thing to me. AnaMaria my dear, you know this. I try not to let anything or anyone else become important to me. Aye, I did let Mandy into my heart and I felt the pain when I thought she had died. Katheryn is also, now in my heart. She is my child. I cannot deny that truth and I won't. She has to be saved and I am the only one who can do it. Elizabeth is no longer a desire for my affections and she never was. (Grant it that was a lie but AnaMaria did not have to know this). Lizzy has always belonged to William and will always be his."
I was beginning to feel a little uneasy not knowing what was the right thing to say to AnaMaria. I wanted to approach the bed but I did not want to give her mixed signals.
"AnaMaria, I had no idea how you felt and how far you would fight for me. You darling can do better than the likes of Captain Jack Sparrow. I am not worthy of the kind of love you offer. I will not ask you to die for me or for my child. Are you listening to me?"
I finally did give into my stubbornness and walked over to the bed; I sat next to her prone body as she quivered from her weeping. I stroked her long glossy hair with my rough callused hand as she hid her face in my feathered pillow.
"AnaMaria, I am sorry. I really did not know. I really thought you--you did know me. I try to keep my heart closed Love; I try to keep my head clear and my life simple. You yourself once told, dare I say, Miss. Swann; I am not one to settle down. My love is the sea, it is The Black Pearl. Nothing has changed Love, nothing."
She looked up from the soaked pillow with her dark amber eyes meeting my deep brown ones.
"Captain why do you have to be so tempting, enticing, captivating, beautiful? I do know how you feel and I guess I have always known. I just hoped it could be different. I wanted more than your company. I wanted your heart. Yes, you have always been straightforward with me, I cannot fault you that. Now I am being honest with you and you now know of how I feel. Captain I do ask if I can stay on The Black Pearl and remain under your command. I will understand if you say no and ask me to leave. I will also understand if you flog me. I have attacked Miss. Swann and you."
I pulled her up from the bed and wiped the tears from her eyes and ran my hands across her wet checks. She threw herself into my arms and started to sob. She laid in me arms and soaked the warmth of my body.
"Jack just hold me in your arms tonight. I won't ask anything more. I just want to be with you. I want to be close to you."
"AnaMaria, I would never throw you off me ship. You have permission to stay Love. Stay as long as you want."
I sat with her in my arms for I know not how long, staring into the darkness until by and by in spite of her despair she dozed off into a loosed sleep. I lay her down on the deep red velvet spread and went to the desk and turned down the lamp putting her back into her pitch-dark world. I headed for the door and as I was closing it I heard her say.
"Jack, you don't have to ask me to do anything for you because I just would. I would die for you Captain Sparrow. I love you Jack. Yes, I love you."
I was deep in thought thinking of AnaMaria's words. They had been haunting me ever since I heard them. I came to the conclusion I would not ask her to fight for me for the fear she really would die for me. I truly was not worthy of her affections. I jumped when a voice came from behind me.
"Captain, I know not where your head is but the look on your face may give you away. I can only assume you have been watching the horizon and can see the storm developing." William pointed to the large billowing clouds building up as if they were snowcapped mountains. The blue skies had gone to a dark dismal grey and the sea was getting rough.
"Shall we drop the canvass and anchor over in the Cove?"
Will's presence had startled me. I did not want to admit that I had not noticed the change in the weather conditions so I pulled on me beard and eyed the hovering clouds.
"Aye William, the climate has changed and you are right we should drop anchor."
I veered the ship towards the large jaunting cliffs knowing that a hidden cove was behind them. As I maneuvered the helm I looked upon Will for quite awhile watching his moves as he walked along the deck gazing at the rocky landform before us.
"It is good to see you doing so well. I am glad you are mending. I trust we must thank Miss Swann for that?" I smirked at Will trying to get a reaction. I was searching for information from him but I did not want to appear eager. Not knowing where he and the fair Miss Swann stood in matters of the heart.
William did not answer my question. He just looked at me as if he knew I was fishing and he would not give me the satisfaction.
"Jack?" Will gave me a concerned look. "If I am not mistaken have we not arrived at our location? Isla De Muerta?"
"Boy, you have a keen eye and yes you are correct. There are several small isle and caves in this area. You have had the privilege to be in the largest cavern. We will pull into that small-secluded cove and I will take a select group of men to the cave. Not knowing what I will find, we will go with caution. Remember this is the choice spot Jeffery Barbossa has picked for our meeting. We will remain hidden until I am ready.
As I sailed The Black Pearl around the pointed cliffs into the safe harbor of land my calm thoughts vanished as I saw in front of me, The Vengeance. She was already anchored in my cove. I saw her outlined against the darkness of the land behind her. She was standing motionless as a stature in the midst of the grey waters.
"William it is entirely impossible for us to sail the Pearl into this cove. I am not ready to make an attack and the crew isn't either. Therefore if anything is to be accomplished we must undertake by some subtle design rather than by open-handed boldness. We shall sail to the next inlet, in hopes the weather co-operates and then we shall get our revenge. Savvy? Tell, the men to make way. We have a lot of work to do."
XXXXXXXXXXAfter finding a suitable place to anchor I gathered the crew to the deck. The sun was just dropping below the water and the rains had held off.
"Men I myself will go to The Vengeance under the mask of night. I propose to take one of the ship's boats and pay a visit to the vessel that attempted to destroy mine. I have seen her today and she is close, to close. I am trusting for some opportune moment to occur to aid me in the accomplishment of my aims. The weather may just help. My goal is to gain further information hence I will not go in on a full-scale attack. I invite any who dare to do so to volunteer for this expedition. I'll tell you plainly that I will not force any man to go against his will. For those who do come I will award you for your loyalty and achievements with considerably booty."
Nearly every man desired to be taken. I was rather surprised and now I had to decide who would accompany me. I chose eleven asking the others to stay on The Pearl and watch over her. If need be I even ordered them to sail her out of the cove and back into open seas. My goal was to protect the ship, she is my leverage, so Barbossa may think.
To their disappointment I selected to leave William and AnaMaria behind. William in my opinion was not well enough to wield a sword let alone row a boat. AnaMaria was too emotionally and physically drained. I needed every member with me to have a cool head.
I arranged to have two boats, six in each. One I would lead and the other would follow. Those in the second boat would not be boarding The Vengeance unless they were given the command. Each armed with a pistol in one hand and a cutlass in the other I arranged the boats to be hoisted out and we made our way across and around the inlet to the neighboring cove.
We rowed in perfect silence for the best part of an hour. I was directing the course of the boat and we were now going straight across the waterfront to the starboard side of The Vengeance. Indeed I knew what my destination was and I did not want to be caught.
To my surprise I saw another boat in the distance. It was full of men whom appeared to be armed for even in the darkness the shine of the moonlight glimmered sharply on the barrels of their guns. I ordered the crew to stop rowing and to be as quite as the dead. I noted it was half past midnight and this boat was leaving The Vengeance heading towards the shore. I heard a man yell. "Cease rowing!" They lie on their oars while he stood up and surveyed the water and then the coastline. The moonlight was now shining full upon him. Yes it was Jeffery Barbossa, a large man wearing a fine red waistcoat trimmed with gold braid. I pulled out my spyglass as we sat in silence. I wanted to assess the situation also and I was hoping they would not spot us. To our good fortune the moon was swallowed by a passing cloud and we were now just part of the water. Before the light dwindled I noted sitting in the boat with Barbossa a very small figure. I could only assume it was my Katheryn.
We all sat still as stone, and then at last Barbossa's boat having regained its wits continued towards land. As the boat went away into the night with the tide I grinned. The moon had come back out and moonlight glittered on my gold teeth.
"Ah so Barbossa is taking said Katheryn off his ship. Well now this makes the game more interesting."
Ben looked out at the boat and then at me. "Where shall we go now? To the Vengeance or to shore?"
"Go? Where shall we go? We shall go to the devil himself. We shall go ashore."
A/N I hope you all enjoy and understand that all the italics were necessary for you to know it was in the past. Thanks for all your reviews and yes, I agree Jack can be a dumb ass but hey he is human, he is a pirate! I think I need say no more, I still love him.