Author's Note: I do believe this tale is winding down. Another chapter or so should tie up my loose ends. I want to thank all of you for being so patient with me as I struggled to finish these last few chapters. I regret the long waits between chapters, but you can't force your muse to do as you please. Anywayhere's chapter 20, and chapter 21 will be coming soon.
A Pirate's Life and Death part 20
By Ecri
Elizabeth was breathing heavily as she fought by Anamaria's side. "Stay with me!" Anamaria called out to her, and Elizabeth nodded.
"You, too!" She demanded this knowing her friend and she were considered easy targets from the invading pirates. It was when, in glancing around for further threat or target that Elizabeth caught sight of another ship.
This couldn't be good. She gestured to the sight so that Anamaria would see it. The woman nodded, but seemed to spare not another thought for the newcomer.
"What's it mean?" Elizabeth asked.
"That it must be open season on The Black Pearl!" Anamaria shouted back.
Elizabeth nodded. It certainly felt like that. She slashed her sword at another marauder who seemed intent on hurting her, then she kicked him where it would do her the most good and him the least.
Taking her cue from Anamaria, she tried not to pay attention to the new ship. The thought of another crew to fight was more than she could bear at any rate. Better to delude herself into thinking things were improving. In refusing to think about the ship, she did however, find her thoughts returning to Will Turner.
"Where are you, Will?" She whispered the words, though she was sure he must be back on that island, where she and Jack and William had left him. She shook her head. How could she have done that? How could she not have made certain that it was Will aboard? She shook the thought off and moved down the deck with Anamaria looking for more pirates to fight.
Jack's eyes fastened on Nick's, but he did not cower, nor fall back, nor try to crawl away. Instead, with an overwhelming calm perhaps brought on by the loss of blood and perhaps brought on by the realization that he'd certainly cheated death more times in the past than to begrudge losing this final battle, Jack Sparrow prepared for the killing blow.
A blur of motion came at them from starboard and Jack found himself shoves roughly aside as the blur released a rope and stood, sword at the ready, shielding Jack from Nick's blade.
"Leave him alone."
Jack struggled backward trying to get his feet beneath him once more, and when he finally did, he stared at the boy, no, the young man, who for the second time in his life, was placing himself between Jack Sparrow and certain death.
"Will."
"Jack." Will acknowledged without taking his eyes from his opponent. "You and I have met before."
Will's words were a surprise to Jack, but Nick seemed to be apoplectic.
"You! But you're" Nick glanced back to where he'd left his hostage, memory resurfacing to turn his recent reality into lies.
Jack saw it all on Nick's face.
Will took a menacing step closer to Nick. "You're the reason they left me behind, aren't you?"
Nick shrugged off whatever emotions had held him still and lunged at Will. Not for the first time, Jack was glad that Will had found the skills of swordsmanship to be a fair substitution for the more amorous pass times he might have engaged in.
Will was more of a match for the older man, and his grasp or reality gave him an edge that Nick could never possess. Lunges, parries, footwork, all blended into a macabre dance as Will proved his mettle again and again.
Jack, though his arm bled spuriously, found his sword and stood by Will's side. He could still hear the clatter and clang of the battle behind him, but it was this one that held him. He would not back down. With Will at his side, he would face Nick and bring the other man down.
He never had the chance. Nick, seeing Jack standing with his blade, let out a howl of rage and raised his own weapon. Jack saw that he'd never get his sword up in time. Prepared once more to die, he was more and more surprised that he'd continued to breathe.
A flurry of motion had distracted him, but when Will, who'd stepped forward at that last moment, stepped back to Jack's side, Nick slid gracelessly to the deck, a gaping wound in his chest. Jack glanced at Will's sword, still clutched tightly in the younger man's grip, and saw it dripping with dark blood.
His eyes narrowed as he moved his gaze upward to take in how this development affected his young friend. Determination mingled with regret, but, to Jack's relief, it was the determination that held firm. No man could kill without regret, but Jack saw at once that Will's would not overwhelm him.
The boy had grown into a man, and he'd done it alone.
William Turner, Sr. plunged his own sword deep into the gut of the man who'd tried to sneak up behind Elizabeth. Drawing the blade free, he ignored the now limp body that fell to the deck. He glanced around but saw no immediate threat. As a matter of fact, he saw few people standing.
He glanced to where he'd last seen Jack and saw his old friend standing with a pirate he couldn't recognize. Must be from the new shipbut why ain't he fightin'? William wondered.
He glanced around the ship and saw other unfamiliar pirates helping the crew of the Pearl to dispose of the marauders. Helping? He couldn't quite come to terms with that. What could it mean?
He glanced to Anamaria. "What's goin' on, girl?"
"Name's not 'girl'," Anamaria declared.
William smiled broadly. The woman was right. "All right then, what's goin' on, Anamaria?"
She returned the smile. "Couldn't tell ya, but I think it must have somethin' to do with him." She pointed toward where Jack was still speaking to that strange pirate. William decided it would be best if he wandered up there and got the story straight from the horse's mouth.
Spinning around, Jack saw not one but two ships anchored nearby, and the assaulting pirates were being assaulted by his own crew and the newcomers.
He took a closer look at the newest ship in the threesome and saw the name. "The Queen of"
He broke off as he saw Anamaria attacking two men twice her size at the same time. He was about to race to her side to aid her, when she disarmed one and mortally wounded the other. He shook his head in admiration. Anamaria never did need anybody's protection. For that matter, neither did Elizabeth.
She saw the daughter of the Governor of Port Royal end two pirates tumbling into the sea. It was enough to set him laughing. He looked around the deck and saw that the fighting seemed over, and the clean up was beginning.
Jack turned back to Will. "We've got some catchin' up to do, mate."
Will smiled and nodded. "We do." His gaze moved around the deck of the Pearl, and Jack saw the concern plainly.
"She's aboard, Will. Probably run a man through by now."
Will nodded, but it wasn't until he saw Elizabeth that he believed it.
Jack gestured in her direction. "Go on, then." He watched Will race to Elizabeth's side and sweep her up in his embrace. "Somethin's different about 'im." He whispered to himself. He turned then and saw Nick, the gaping wound in his heart had effectively drained the man of blood which now stained the deck of the Pearl.
Saddened beyond words, Jack knelt by his one time friend. "Ah, Nick. It shouldn't 'ave 'appened." He reached out a hand toward his friend but stopped himself before he touched the inanimate flesh.
He would have to take care of a burial at sea, and the decks would have to be scrubbed if not outright replaced. He stood again and took a look around only then noticing that William, Bootstrap Bill, had appeared by his side. He looked sorrowfully down at Nick. "It weren't right, Jack. It coulda been either of us."
Jack nodded. "It could have."
The two stared at the lifeless body for another few moments, memories and regrets playing through each of their minds. Finally Jack turned away draping an arm over William's shoulder. "But that's all in the past. It's the future we should worry about."
"What future is that?"
Jack grinned and gestured to Will and Elizabeth who were talking animatedly and clutching each other's hands as they did. "That future, William. That's your son. Will Turner."
William stared at his son, his eyes wide.
Will had rarely felt such joy in his life, but whenever he had, Elizabeth had been at his side. "I feared the worst," he admitted.
"I did, too. Oh, Will, we thought you were aboard! We thought he had taken you! We never would have left you behind"
"I know that." He was about to say more, but Jack was there with another man by his side.
"Will Turner, this is your father. William, this is your lad." Jack stepped aside, and Elizabeth did as well, giving the Turner's a moment.
Will looked at the older man and he recognized something of himself in the features. He pictured his mother with this stranger, and was amazed at how easy that was to do.
"You're mymy father." Will said the words but it was still difficult to believe. "I thought I'd killed you."
William, tears in his eyes, moved closer to the lad and embraced him. "So I've been told. Ye never did, Will. I'm safe and alive my lad, and this is all the treasure I ever dreamed ofif only I'd have seen that sooner!"
Will pulled back slightly from the embrace. He looked William in the eye. "That's in the past. We have timeto get to know each other" he broke off suddenly embarrassed at the assumptions he'd just made.
To his relief, William hugged him more fiercely.
Captain Hamilton watched his men mop up the last bit of resistance from the pirate crew that had boarded the Pearl. Sent on their way with their proverbial tails between their proverbial legs, the others would have to try again some other day, and no doubt they would.
Seeing Captain Sparrow heading his way, Hamilton turned to face the man. "Sorry to have boarded without permission. Rescues are hard on protocol."
Jack smiled. "They are at that. Your lot seem to have done a good job."
Hamilton smiled. "Yes, they are an efficient group. Comes from believing in what they do. Young Will, there, for example, embraced the life well enough. It wasn't until he was faced with the act of piracy that he realized there was more to it than being a good sailor."
Jack cleared his throat and took one, firm, menacing step toward Hamilton. "How does that work exactly, you being cursed and all? Is he free to go, or do I have to fight you for him?"
Hamilton saw the look in Sparrow's eye. "Ah, you've recognized the name of my ship, have you?"
At Jack's nod, Hamilton sighed. "Then you know what we're after."
Jack nodded. "I'm tellin' ye now" He leaned in closer to the other Captain and dropped his voice to a whisper. "Ye can't 'ave 'im."
Hamilton's eyes widened in surprise. "We just saved your ship and your life, Captain Sparrow. I would think you'd show a bit more gratitude."
Sparrow grinned, his gold teeth glinting in the sun. "Ye can think what ye like. Will saved my life. Will did it. Not you. Face it. Will Turner is not goin' with ye."
Hamilton dropped all pretence of propriety and etiquette. "He hasn't got a choice. He's joined my crew voluntarily."
"I'm sure 'e did, but did 'e know what that entailed?" Jack watched Hamilton and when the man didn't answer right away, Jack nodded. "Ah. I thought not." He stood his ground and glared at the other captain. "I know a bit about this curse on your ship. Ye can't 'arm those ye've only just 'elped. I don't know what it would do to you, but I love surprise endings."
Hamilton seemed to pale a bit at that remark. "Surely you see that he's signed on to my ship. Curse or no curse, there is a certain obligation in that."
"Aye, but 'e's a pirate! Ye can't expect a pirate to keep 'is word."
"Men have been flogged for less."
"True enough, true enough." Jack pondered that for a moment. "Tell me, 'ow exactly did ye meet Will?"
"Trilby recognized him. The ship was going down in a hurricane and young Mr. Turner pulled Mr. Trilby to safety."
"Your ship can't go down." He cast a curious glance at the Queen. "At least, not permanently."
"No, it can't."
Jack nodded. "So Young Mr. Turner dives into a storm ravaged sea to save a man's life when his ship is going downbut the man in question is already dead and the ship cannot sinkhave I got that right?"
"Perfectly."
"You see nothing wrong with that?"
"Not at all."
Jack sighed. "You know, with all the undead pirates sailing the Caribbean, it's amazing there's room for any of us live ones out here."
Hamilton did not reply, but Jack hadn't really expected him to.
Jack watched the man pondering the nature of a man who willingly served a ship that was nothing more than a trap for the good-hearted. "Look, Will's not goin' with you."
Hamilton carefully rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. "He most assuredly is."
"We can go all night playin' is/isn't and not get anywhere, mate. I'll not let ye 'ave 'im."
William Turner shook his head sadly at the descriptions his son had just given him of his life since the death of his mother. "If I'd 'ave known how bad it would be for ye, I'd never 'ave left you alone. What put it in yer head to come and find me?"
Will shrugged. "I'm not sure. I suppose it was always in the back of my mind that once I was old enough I'd try to find you, get to know you." He turned his gaze back out on the water. Sometimes it was easier to talk this way. He could imagine his mother's face out there on the waves, and draw strength from the fact that she'd loved this man, this pirate.
"I searched for ye, too. I went to England, but you must have left long before I got there. I wanted to find ye lad." He sighed as only a man who's seen his entire life pass before his eyes and has found more than a few regrets can sigh. "I wanted to pass along something to ye, Will."
Will smiled. "I know." Carefully, he drew out the box Jack had given him that he'd only just retrieved from Elizabeth. "I've got it."
William's eyes lit up. "That's it! I left that wi' ol' Joe! Where'd ye find it?"
"With Joe. Jack picked it up. He gave it to me, but I never had the time to open it."
William stared at the box, but looked away. "Well, ye should open it before you thank me. It's not very valuable."
Will opened the box. Inside there was paper. Carefully, almost reverently, he took the slips of various sizes out of the velvet lined box. What he saw took his breath away. Pencil drawings, careful sketches of Will and his motherof his mother and his fatherof him slightly older "You drew these." Will realized after a moment.
His father nodded. "I did. I wanted something to remember ye and ye're mother by, and while I was out sailin' and plunderin' I drew those from memory. There's a lot of gaps in the times when I did see you, but I drew what I could."
Will nodded, a tear in one eye.
"Oh, there's one other thing." William patted down his pockets and finally revealed a ring. "I've chased Nick all 'round the world for this." He placed it in Will's hand.
It was a small ring of exquisite design.
"I wanted to give it to yer mother. I never could afford a proper weddin' ring, so one day, I took my share of the money the Pearl had made, and I bought that for 'er. I never did find 'er, and from what ye tell me, she must have died about the time I was havin' it made." He looked at the ring, his emotions obvious. "Oh, but I loved yer mother."
Will smiled. That was all he'd ever wanted to know. "I'm sure she would have loved it."
"Ye give it to yer Elizabeth now."
Will shook his head. "I couldn't."
"It's not plunder, boy, though I did buy it with ill-gotten gains. It's a good ring. Closest we've got to an heirloom." He laughed and Will joined in with him.
Will looked again at the ring. It was beautiful. With a ring like this, he could ask Elizabeth to marry him. He'd have something of his own, something that had belonged to his father, that would have belonged to his mother, to offer her. An heirloom, his father had called it. He liked the sound of that.
Jack's standoff with Hamilton hadn't gone unnoticed. As Jack argued quietly with the Captain of the Queen, he realized they were drawing a crowd. One by one, the entire crew had come to stand by him, which would have pleased him except that Hamilton's crew had come to stand beside him.
This could not end well, Jack was sure.
It was Will's and William's arrival that finally brought things to a head.
"Well," said Hamilton, "here's the boy now. Why don't we ask him."
Jack's eyes didn't move from Hamilton's, but just as Will opened his mouth to speak, Jack spoke louder. "It's not a negotiationwe're not under the rules of parlay or anything. Will's stayin' put."
"Jack?" Will asked, and Jack could hear the concern in his voice.
"It's nothing ye need to worry about, Will."
"No, of course it isn't." Hamilton agreed. "He's coming aboard the Queen. If for no other reason then to work off the debt."
"Debt?" Will and Jack spoke at the same time.
Hamilton nodded, and a look of infinite sorrow crossed his face. "You've killed a man here today, Will." He gestured to Nick's prone body. "He's quite dead."
"I was saving Jack."
Hamilton's eyes narrowed and he took on a haughty tone. "Oh, and that justifies what you did? You ended a life. What makes Jack more worthy to live than that gentleman?"
William Senior drew himself up and took a step to stand by Jack's side. "Nick weren't no gentleman."
Hamilton appeared amused. "No, I suppose he wasn't. Still, Young Mr. Turner has taken a life. In the eyes of Heaven, that's surely a crime to be punished."
Will, sounding defeated, spoke quietly. "He's right, Jack."
Elizabeth took firm hold of Will's arm. "You can't mean that! He held that poor man hostage, led us to believe you were illhe wouldn't have hesitated to kill any one of us. He was insane."
Will nodded and appeared to taking it all to heart. He never noticed Trilby staring at him as though willing him to understand something that was just within his reach, something that would change his life.
Jack noticed, however, and, still unsure what was happening, grew angry at the sheer level of manipulation taking place on his ship. He turned on Will. "I saw ye kill 'im, Will. Ye understood at the time the difference between murder and self-defense. Ye knew the danger of absolutes. Killing is always a last resort. The trick is knowing when it's the only resort left to ye."
Will nodded but looked unconvinced.
Hamilton called to his men. "Get back to the ship." He looked at Will standing there, flanked by his friends, his family. "You, too, Will. You're place is now on the Queen."
To be continued