Disclaimer: Until Disney puts up Pirates of the Caribbean for sale and I buy it, I don't own anything it. Also, any insults against Captain Jack Sparrow written here are entirely untrue (except for maybe the drunken pirate and crazy pirate ones) and only there for the sake of the story. Will Turner insults on the other hand . . .
Summary: Ummm . . . . When Will decides that Jack is a pirate and thus deserves to hang, he doesn't reckon with Elizabeth's opposite view of the situation. Taking action of her own, the ending of POTC is given a twist.
And now, the feature presentation . . . For What It's Worth! (Applause all around.)m1 m2
For What It's Worth
Chapter 3: A Change of Worth
The night before Jack's hanging was as quiet as it ever was in Port Royal. Unlike the forbidding feeling of the darkness when the Black Pearl attacked, this night was like most. Not that Port Royal was silent; it wasn't, by a long shot. Taverns by the docks were crowded with noisy sailors; parents were trying to shush their children's protests of going to bed.
Near the fort's jail though, it was mostly silent and the distant yells were muted and unclear, almost inaudible from halfway across the city. The bored guard abruptly rose to attention as the sound of footsteps became audible; then, as he saw that the approaching figure was not his officer, relaxed slightly, breathing a sigh of relief. If his officer, or God forbid, the Commodore saw him relaxing, well slouching in truth, on duty, he would be as good as dead.
Studying the approaching man, he realized that he was nothing like the officers of the British Royal Navy. In fact, the rather rotund figure, draped in a large brown cloak resembled the utter opposite of the projected image of the navy.
As the old priest hobbled closer, the guard respectfully nodded his head, and greeted him, "Good evening, Father. What brings you out here tonight?"
"Good evening. I have come to pray for the prisoner's soul."
"Not that that bas—" The guard visibly bit back his next few words. "I'm sorry, Father. I was at the Battle of Isla de Muerta and knew friends who died there. I don't have . . . fond feelings for the prisoner." That lying bastard could rot in hell for all I care.
"Of course, that's understandable. However, every man deserves the chance to save their soul."
"Aye, Father. You may visit with him."
"Thank you." The priest began to enter the jail, but stumbled and fell against the guard. "Apologies. My legs are getting wobbly theses last few years, sa—son."
"No harm done." The guard replied, helping him up.
"Bless you, lad."
The guard watched the priest go, wondering how such naïve people survived in the world. He had no chance converting Sparrow, not if he had a year. Odd choice of words though; apologies sounded more like something Sparrow would come out with and the son almost sounded like savvy. The guard shrugged. Did it really matter?
Entering the jail, the priest breathed a sigh of relief, cursing Jack and his irritable tendency to make such odd phrases so addictive. That one night on the island I spent with him was way too much time.
The jingle in Elizabeth's pocket quelled her annoyed thoughts and made her smirk. The keys in her pocket were certainly deserving of a blessing. Who would ever suspect Elizabeth, for how would a Governor's daughter know how to pickpocket? Elizabeth silently laughed at that. Before being forced to give up her unladylike ways, she had run wild in the streets of London and Port Royal and her best friend before Will had been an accomplished thief and taught her the best ways to pick a lock, slip silently through the night, and of course, misappropriate objects from the filthy rich.
As she entered the hall across from Jack's cell and was about to throw off her hood, the guard watching the back entrance turned around the corner. With a start, jumped and turned to the guard.
This time she kept Jack's mannerisms out of her speech. "I'm sorry; you startled me."
"I didn't mean to, Father. You are here to pray for the prisoner?"
"Yes."
The guard merely nodded and walked back to his post.
Now that the guard had left, Elizabeth began to throw back her hood to greet Jack. Abruptly, she stopped. I deserve some payback to Jack for all the annoyance he's caused me. And with an inside grin Elizabeth put her plan to get revenge on Jack in motion.
As she walked towards Jack, she bowed her head, hiding her face. When she reached the bars of the cell, Elizabeth lowered her voice and asked, "Do you wish to repent your sins? It is best to die with a clean conscience."
Jack quickly realized the purpose of the priest in his cell and his face showed his opinion of it. Horrified, he desperately tried to get in a word edgewise but Elizabeth plowed on mercilessly. Considering how long she could get away with this, Elizabeth gleefully realized that doing this for at least an hour would strengthen her disguise and help the chance of escaping. If she tried to go after only five or ten minutes, her piety would be suspect. This way, she could pay Jack back, and get him out of jail.
Grinning inside herself, Elizabeth managed to preach for almost an hour when she finally took pity on Jack.
"Jack."
Having nearly died out of boredom, Jack wasn't listening. He was holding his head in his hands, sitting in the farthest corner and humming that irritating pirate song as loud as he could, in an effort to shut out the words of the fake priest. "We're devils and black sheep, and—"
"Jack, you filthy, idiotic, despicable pirate."
"Tha's not a nice thing for a priest to say." Jack said absently. Still caught up in the horror of the previous hour, he didn't realize what was happening now. "Really bad eggs. Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
"Good thing I'm not a priest then."
"Yo ho, Yo—Wha'!" Jack's head shot around. "Will?" He said incredulously.
"No, you moron, it's Miss Swan. And shut up! Keep your voice down, Jack, before the guards come."
"I'm still Jack to you, luv? According to your dear William, I'm nothing more than Sparrow, if that." Jack said with a tinge of bitterness.
At Will's name, her face flickered. As Jack watched, he was surprised to see disgust and anger mixed in with the usual annoyance at his words.
"He isn't my William." Elizabeth retorted.
"Ahh." Jack looked up for the first time. Thoughts spinning in his head. Not your William? If I had said that on the island or on the Dauntless, you wouldn't have denied it. Will is apparently not so heroically noble anymore. Showing nothing of his calculating thoughts, Jack replied brightly, "So you decided that the commodore was the better man." He smirked. He looked back down and began counting on his fingers. "That's eleven shillings I'm owed."
Elizabeth looked at him blankly.
"I bet Anamaria and the others that you would end up with bloody Norrington instead of bloody Will."
Elizabeth glared at him. Sarcastically, she replied angrily, "I was going to break you out of jail, but you seem rather happy here and quite confident you won't end up in the noose." With a sweet, innocent but fake smile, she finished with, "I'm sure as Captain Jack Sparrow you'll manage. So long. Apologies for doubting you."
With a final evil smile, she began to saunter off.
Jack screwed up his face. "Bloody woman." Louder he said, "Wait. I'm sure something can be worked out."
She slowly turned back. "So, Captain Jack Sparrow needs help?"
Jack rolled his eyes, cursing women. "No. I'm willing to work out a deal with you. Captain Jack Sparrow does not need help."
Elizabeth stared at him, not sure whether to be amused or annoyed and marveling at the fact that he even seemed to believe what he was saying.
"So what do you want?" Jack looked back at her innocently. Seeing her blank look at the sudden change of topics, he added, "You see, in a deal you do something for me—such as get me out of this blasted cell—and I do something for you. Like a kiss."
"What?" Elizabeth nearly shrieked.
"Keep your voice down, luv. A kiss. You do know what one is I assume. It's whe—"
"Yes, I know what it is." Elizabeth hissed. She did not want to hear Jack's description of what a kiss was. "Why would I want that from you?"
"Then you can say you've kissed Captain Jack Sparrow." Jack sat back confidently. "You'll be the most envied woman in Port Royal. It'll add a bit of scandal to your adventures, too." He nodded. "It's the only thing your story's missing, luv."
"That is not true. I do not want a kiss from you and I do not want a bit of scandal in my adventures. And I'm starting to suspect that you do not want to be out of the cell. And would stop calling me luv?" Elizabeth spit out.
Ignoring the last remark, Jack made his face look suitably apologetic and asked, "So what do you want . . . luv?"
Gritting her teeth, she took a deep breath and, in one breath, said, "I want passage out of Port Royal, and a place on the Black Pearl—as a crewmember, not in your bed."
Jack stared at her, for the first time in years, speechless. Finally, he found his voice. "Luv, I'd give that if I could, but the Pearl's long gone." At the mention of his Pearl, his voice turned wistful.
"No, it's not." Elizabeth grinned, enjoying her second chance to shock Jack. "It's waiting in a cove on the other side of the island. I doubt they'll manage any kind of an escape though. Too much of a risk."
Jack stared at her, hope lit up in his eyes. A chance to sail on the Pearl. To be Captain once again. Almost serious for once, he replied,"For that I'd give you the treasure of Isla de Muerta."
Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. "I'll take it."
Jack groaned. "That's not what I meant. So, how are you getting out of here?"
"It involves these." Elizabeth held up the keys. She inserted the key in the lock and turned. Or tried to. "Or maybe not. The bloody thing's stuck."
Jerking on the key, she managed to twist it around. Even unlocked the door wouldn't open. Finally, Elizabeth slammed the door in as hard as she could. With a bang, the door opened.
Footsteps echoed. The guard on the opposite side was coming to check on the disturbance. Swiftly, Elizabeth whipped off her robe, uncovering a more traditional outfit for a Governor's daughter, and put it over Jack.
"You're a priest come to pray for the prisoner's soul." She hissed.
"I got that part of your bloody speech." Jack grumbled.
"Just shut up. I got you out of that cell, didn't I?"
"Now you're going to get me back in it."
Jack watched, perplexed as Elizabeth dropped down to the floor and leaned against the bars of the cell. She slipped the keys into one of the many annoying ruffles in her dress, hoping it wouldn't fall out and get her a matching cell next to Jack.
"Help me up!" She whispered.
"But—"
"Just do it! Act like a priest."
Just as the guard came into view, Jack knelt down, and without a single trace of his usual slurred voice, asked, "Are you all right, miss?"
"Yes, I just tripped on the hem of my dress. Thank you."
He offered her his hand. "Here." Jack helped her up, then turned to the guard. Quickly, the conspirators arranged themselves so that it wasn't possible to see that the cell was empty. Unless the guard insisted on checking, they would be safe.
"Miss Swann just came and took a nasty fall."
"Ahh. That was the sound I heard.
"Yes."
An uncomfortable silence filled the hallway until the guard awkwardly broke it. "Miss Swann, is there anything I can do for you?"
Elizabeth, jerked out of her shock, shook her head. "I came to see if the prisoner would repent his sins. I just met the Father . . ." Elizabeth faltered, the only name going through her head was Jack and that wouldn't do.
"Father John." Jack put in smoothly. "We weren't even introduced until now."
Elizabeth nodded gratefully. "Exactly. I am glad I had a chance to meet Father John. Not many priest care to work so hard for every soul."
"I do my best." Jack said humbly.
"As we all do." Elizabeth put in.
"I will leave you to your prayers, then." The guard said after a moment.
As soon as the guard left, Elizabeth heaved a sigh of relief.
Jack and Elizabeth stared at each other. Then, with a resigned shrug, they knelt down to pretend praying, with whispered cursed coming from both of them.
"I think that's enough." Fifteen minutes later, Elizabeth said.
"Are you sure? You know, we could do this for another hour or so." Jack said sarcastically.
"The guard would get pretty suspicious then. Let's go."
"Wait." Jack said.
"What?" Annoyed, Elizabeth replied. "Do you want to go back in that cell?"
Without saying a word, he took out the keys to his former cell and locked it. "Another legend of Captain Jack Sparrow is born."
Ignoring the theatrics, Elizabeth said angrily, "How did you get the keys? I had them."
"You're not the only pickpocket here."
And with that, the two conspirators—and pickpockets—bluffed their way past the guard and into the streets. Walking as fast as possible with out gaining undue attention, they hurried towards the outskirts of Port Royal.
"Bloody hell." Elizabeth cursed as she tripped for what seemed the millionth time over her skirts.
"You can't run fast enough with those." Jack said. He had ditched the robes as soon as they were out of site of the guard, not that his usual apparel was much less conspicuous Elizabeth had grumbled.
"You are not leaving me here."
"Wait here. I'll be back"
"I am not going to wait here for the next six hours to figure out that you left me here."
Jack sighed again. "I promise, on my word as Captain of the Black Pearl, that I will come back in no more than hour or less barring intervention from unavoidable occurrences. Satisfied?"
Elizabeth glared at Jack. "I suppose so."
"Good." Swiftly, Jack swaggered off with not even a look back.
"If he doesn't come back, I swear I'll make him wish he never met me." Elizabeth said, following it with a string of curses her father would be shocked to hear. Sighing, she sat down in the shadows of a building to wait, hoping that no one would recognize her. She didn't know how long it would take before Jack would be found missing but when he was, it wouldn't take long to connect her to his escape. To be recognized as Miss Elizabeth Swann, soon to be Mrs. James Norrington now might end up being the loss of her life as well as the chance of true freedom.
Looking at the moon shining down, Elizabeth cursed with a vengeance. It had been at least half an hour, since Jack had left, maybe more. You fool, trusting a pirate. Didn't you learn anything after being tricked by Barbossa? Elizabeth put her head in her hands. Will was right for once; Jack wouldn't give me any more than a tip of the hat before he abandoned me. Curse him to the depths of hell. It wasn't as if she could do anything more.
Reluctantly, Elizabeth stood up. With Jack gone, the Black Pearl would be gone as well, along with her hopes of a new life. Cursing the day she ever met that filthy pirate, Elizabeth slowly began walking back to the Governor's house and the dull, boring life that awaited her.
Suddenly she stopped. "Why should I?" She said to the empty streets. "Why should I go back? I don't have to. I can go stowaway on a ship, end up in Tortuga, and find some other pirate ship to sail on. I don't need Jack."
Remembering when Barbossa held her captive, especially when Barbossa had held her at gunpoint to stop Will and Jack from removing the curse. She had been the reason her father, Commodore Norrington, and half the Royal Navy almost died. Elizabeth said, this time only in her thoughts, I swore to myself that I'd never let myself be helpless again. That I wouldn't rely on anyone and wouldn't be just a pawn.
Elizabeth grinned. It wasn't like I wanted to return to that anyway. I'll go find some men's clothes and sign on another ship. Forget Jack; he isn't worth it.
Elizabeth turned around, and then began to walk off. Stopping, she grinned and started swaggering to apply some 'transfer of ownership' to a pair of pants and a shirt. All she had to do was bind down her chest, put on some men's clothes and cut her hair. Nobody looking for the Governor's daughter would suspect a young, scruffy sailor or even a stowaway boy. Good riddance to Captain Jack Sparrow.
Yet again I'm sorry it took so long for me to post. I'm soo lazy. I'm going to try to have the next chapter up as soon as possible, maybe on Wednesday since I have a half day.
Calling all beta-readers, calling all beta-readers. If anyone would be willing to beta-read this, I'd really appreciate it. I don't need help with the grammar and punctuation as much as characterization and plot pacing. Just email me or review me. Thanks.
Pretty please review. It makes me want to write more so everyone review. I'll accept criticism as long is it isn't jut 'I don't like it. It horrible." Or something. I want to make this better and I need your help. Thanks.
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