Before The Dawn

Chapter XIV: Of Sightings and Stealth

By FalconWing

Anamaria still didn't know what to think. Jack was in charge of their adversaries; the very people that had kidnapped him in the first place.

She was currently seated in Jack's cabin. She was meant to be getting some sleep before taking the helm again and she knew she need the rest, but at any time, the ship that the sailor had described could appear on the horizon and she did not want to be fast asleep when it did.

The sailor – Donaldson he had said his name was – had told her that his overall impression was that he had not been captaining the men or any such thing, only leading the men in the fight. The order to withdraw had been passed along from the ship where, had assumed, the man who was in charge was located.

She could only assume that Jack had concocted one of his outrageous schemes and was in the midst of carrying it out. The one thing she knew for certain was that the end result for his plan was that he would be back on the Pearl, captaining her once more. There was no way in hell that Jack would even contemplate leaving the Pearl – it didn't take a King's advisor to notice that his ship and the freedom she represented held a bigger spot in his 'black' pirate heart than anything or anyone else in the world.

She also held the slight suspicion that he was counting on an interception by the Pearl to put this scheme of his into action – while he was a genius when it came to thinking up these brilliant plans, she couldn't name one occasion when he had carried it off all by himself. It was up to her to get there and get there fast. And before he slipped and gave himself away. After all, Jack Sparrow was not well known for being sedate and reticent.

Even now, glancing around his cabin, she could many of the items he had been most proud of pilfering.

A small round mirror framed with a plain gold border but stolen from some lord or another, a silver vase, nothing out of the ordinary, but looted from the strong house of the richest man in the Caribbean, a commonplace pistol pinched from the very holster of none other than Commodore Norrington during the little curse escapade. In fact none of the bits and pieces were ornamented and bejeweled, but rather small, unimportant things with a great history behind them. Somewhere, she knew, there was even a cutlery set intercepted on its way to the King himself.

"Sail ho!"

The loud cry from the lookout brought her leaping to her feet and out the door as though the devil himself were on her tail. She took the stairs to the quarterdeck two at a time and snatched the telescope from Gibbs, ignoring the peeved look he threw her way. Setting it to face in the direction to which Gibbs had been looking, she scrutinized the surrounding waters until coming to rest of the distant silhouette two points off the port bow.

The ship, which was heading on a course near perpendicular to their own, was a small light ship with two masts and it looked to be a schooner. Anamaria felt herself re-energizing despite her lack of sleep; this ship matched all the descriptions Donaldson had given them, fitting the bill perfectly, right down to the way the luffed slightly in the wind, as though the sailors aboard were not quite as off the mark as they should be. Flying from the main mast was a plain black flag, a sure indication of a less-than innocent intent.

Snapping shut the telescope, she turned to Gibbs, not bothering to hide her grin. She opened her mouth to speak, but seeing Marty and Cotton approaching, she directed her comments to them all. "Well boys, it looks like we've found Jack."

Both matched her grin, but she didn't miss the way Marty's hand went straight to his sword.

"Now, from what we've heard, Jack has been working with them so we won't go rushing in and cut them all down. What we want is to sail in guns bristling, showing them our full range of weaponry. But we won't fire. Instead what are going to do is to raise the truce flag. Go and have a bit of a chat with them first, see if we can sort it all out, but give them no allusions as to our superiority."

Marty's frown gradually vanished from his face, to be replaced by a grin and Cotton was nodding along, the parrot on his shoulder quiet for once. Both faces showed a strong determination; nothing would discourage them from this operation, something Anamaria was very pleased to see.

"Right then." She brought them back to the present and they looked to her expectantly. "Ye two can go and get the flags now. They're flying a plain black, so grab a white and a black, then hoist them up, white on top. Jack will know what they mean." As they began to shuffle off, she called after them. "Quickly now! Yer captain's just over there, don't ye want him back?" Both looked back over their shoulders at her, then quickly sped up so that they were nearly running when they disappeared down into the bowels of the Pearl.

She re-opened the telescope to take another look, when a voice beside her nearly startled her out of her wits. "Have they seen us yet?"

She had forgotten about Gibbs and glanced at him quickly before returning her eye to the eyepiece. "I think so, but I can't be sure." Indeed, the figures running around on the decks of the other ship had not sped up at all, though if her eyes didn't deceive her, there were more of them now than before. She handed it to Gibbs so he could take a look for himself and made her way down to the main deck, giving a nod and a smile to Matelot at the helm on her way past.

Marty and Cotton were just coming back up, their arms loaded up with the black and white fabric that was the two flags. They took them over to the base of the main mast and attached them to the rope, white on top as directed. Then, with a pull and a heave, they both lifted in small jolts until reaching the top.

There, they fluttered in the wind, the black and white cloth a message to the ship that just this once the legendary Black Pearl was not out for the kill.

– – – – -

At the lookout's shout Jack did not even bother to leave his hammock. It would just be another merchantman and someone would get him when she came close enough to judge what load she was carrying and whether or not it was worth taking. He was in sore need of a rest and in recent days even small naps had been denied him.

He closed his eyes, only to reopen them when the pounding of footsteps on the stairs heralded the arrival of someone else. Soon enough Tom burst into the doorway, eyes wide and cheeks flushed with excitement. Jack opened his mouth to exclaim that the other ship couldn't possibly already be close enough that he was needed on deck but Tom got in first.

"Captain wants you up top. Says there's something funny about this ships flag." Jack just sighed in exasperation. Its flag? How could anyone be stumped about the way another ship was flying its flag?

But he just nodded at Tom to indicate that he was coming and got up to follow the lad up and onto the deck. Before they even made it the whole way up, a loud cry rang out, instilling the rest of crew with a terrified dread and Jack with a disbelieving joy.

"It's th' Black Pearl! The Black Pearl's comin'! They'll kill us all!!

He didn't even notice Tom's wide-eyed look as he shoved past the boy, taking the stairs two at a time and sprinting across the deck. He didn't take the time to register the fact that, for a wonder, everyone – even in their fright – moved back to let him through as he raced to the quarterdeck.

He slammed into the rail as he failed to stop fast enough, whipping the telescope out of Clavell's hands before the captain even realized he was there. Putting his eye to the eyepiece, he aimed the telescope in the direction Clavell had had it and avidly scanned the horizon, coming to rest on the cause of the panic that was now hanging over the rest of the ship.

He froze and his grip automatically tightened on the instrument in his hand as he gazed through it with an eager intensity. Sailing at a ninety degree angle to them, the ship was the color of ebony and the dark hull sliced easily through the water as, even while he watched, it started to turn towards them. The deep black sails that struck fear into the hearts of men all over the Spanish Main, served only to make a gleeful grin form on the man who saw them now.

"Well?" Clavell was regarding him with an impatient stare and Jack thought it a display of just how anxious the captain was, to not even comment on the insubordination shown in the disregard shown to a superior officer in his snatching of the telescope. Jack looked at him blankly. " 'Well?' " He was having a bit of trouble, in his anticipation, registering just what he was meant to be reporting.

Clavell rolled his eyes, irritated. "The flags? The Black Pearl? You have some knowledge in this area. What do you think we should do?" Flags? They had more than one flag?

"Oh. Well. Running is out of the question. She'd catch us no problem and all it'd do is annoy them. I don't think they'd attack another pirate ship – it's against the Code, but that's not a definite." He returned his stare through the eyepiece and directed his gaze towards the two flags that were indeed there and that he hadn't taken notice of earlier.

On top was the white flag of surrender and under it a plain black one, the same as the Jolly was flying. He was having difficulty in believing that anyone could take to sea without knowledge of flags. Instead of openly displaying his disdain, he bottled it inside and made himself keep a respectful expression plastered on his face as he calmly explained.

"A white flag flown over that of the other ship means they wish to negotiate and the weaker side always has to go to the other ship. I suggest you select some men and prepare to take a visit on the Black Pearl."

– – – – -

Elizabeth heard the cries, though she could see no sign of the Pearl out of her window. She did, however, hear the distinctive sound of the guard still stationed outside her door pushing back his chair and rushing away.

Approaching the door quietly, she placed her ear against the wood and listened until she was certain there was no one in the cabin beyond. Throughout the past weeks she had had little to do but search for weak spots in the structure of the room and had come to the conclusion that her best chance of escape was in breaking the lock.

But that would be loud and so only effective if no one was around. Now might be her only opportunity.

She went and got her knife from its place in the small chest in the corner. Clavell had obviously not inspected the room properly as the long, still sharp blade had been in the chest and she had found it the first time she had looked through it.

The other thing she had been spending time on was practicing the nifty throw Will could do with his sword and now, several weeks and numerous cuts later, she felt she had it about as good as was possible without anyone teaching her. She just hoped that it would put her in good stead for being of assistance in the fight that was sure to happen – and happen soon with the Pearl's arrival.

Looking at the lock, she wished it were as simple as picking the darn thing. But she had already tried that to no avail and there was nothing else for it. She tore a chunk of material from the hem of her dress and wrapped it around the blade until she felt it was suitably padded for her to hold. Then she took a secure grip on it and brought the hilt of the knife down on the lock with all the strength she could muster.

A piece broke off, but when she tried the door it still wouldn't open. Retightening her grasp, she brought the hilt down again and again. On the third blow, the lock flew off the door with a smash and a clatter.

Satisfied and feeling strangely endowed, she transferred the knife to her left hand, removed the material and flexed the fingers on her other hand.

Returning the knife to her right hand, she tucked the blade up her long sleeve so that it wasn't immediately visible if she should come across anyone. Then she poked her head around the doorway before following with the rest of her when she saw no one. She pulled the door closed behind her and crept through the cabin.

On her way she grabbed a hooded coat to help her blend in with the rest of the crew. Opening the door out to the deck, she exited, being careful not to look too suspicious, but at the same time without grandeur.

She kept her head down and scuttled the ten feet between her and the stairs that looked to lead into the insides of the ship. She raced down the steps and taking a guess as to where the brig would be, kept going until the bottom. Turning the corner she suddenly came face to face with a man, supposedly guarding the cells she could now see past him.

Before he had time to react she lifted up her knife and clobbered him on the head with the hilt, the same way she had with the lock. It was clumsy and she cut herself without the material to pad the blade, but it did the job and the man slumped to the floor, temporarily incapacitated.

Reaching down, she grabbed the keys from where they hung on his belt and hurried to the first cell. By some miracle, it was Will who sat huddled in the back, though he was almost unrecognizable. He raised his head as she approached and his eyes widened when she pushed her hood back to reveal her face.

"Elizabeth?" She nodded and before she knew he had moved, he was standing just in front of her, reaching through the bars to stroke her hair. "Elizabeth." From this close view she could see the damage the imprisonment had wrought upon him. He was horribly pale, his cheeks had sunken and eyes and lips slightly puffy.

She could do nothing but nod. "Yes Will, it's me." She leaned forward and they stood for a moment, forehead to forehead. But the movement of the guard behind her as he stirred slightly brought her back to reality. However worried she was about Will's condition, the best thing she could do for him was to get him out of that cell so they could get out of this together and into friendly company.

She pulled back and started trying the keys in the lock one by one, explaining briefly what she knew. "The Black Pearl is approaching and Jack has a plan. I'm pretty sure it'll be put into motion soon, with the Pearl so near. We need to help – you know Jack, always getting himself into bad situations. I have a knife and you can grab the guard's sword and pistol." She looked up at him. "What about the others? Do you know what kind of condition they're in?"

Will shook his head mutely and Elizabeth nodded yet again, returning to the task of finding the right key. There must have been fifty keys on this one ring! "We'll have to leave them for now. We don't have the time and I'm sure they can wait. Most of them wouldn't be able to fight anyway. They'll be safer down here. Ahhh…"

The lock clicked as she turned the key and the door swung open.

– – – – -

Anamaria had ordered that the crew pretend indifference as the other party boarded and was pleased to see that they did as they were bid. They had been forced to lock Cotton's parrot down in one of the compartments in the hold for fear he would squawk something best left unsaid.

She had watched with increasing eagerness as Jack had crossed the divide between the two vessels by way of a boarding plank. She hadn't missed the expression of elation flit across his features as he set foot back onto his own ship, though she was sure the two men with him had. Jack had greeted her cordially by her name and so she had been forced to play along, albeit warily – she didn't know what Jack had told the other men and until she did, she couldn't be too careful.

The man he had introduced as Captain Clavell was a large, burly fellow, but the other, Brock, struck her as just plain brutish. Now as she led them to the captain's cabin she tried to catch Jack's gaze but he seemed oblivious, striding purposefully next to her, forcing Clavell and Brock to quicken their paces to keep up.

Opening the door, she ushered them inside, following herself and pulling the door closed. Jack had already made himself comfortable, settling in as if he had never been gone and she moved to sit beside him. The other two men had taken seats and looked rather hesitant, a fact she attributed to the infamy of the ship they were currently seated on.

As she continued to keep the silence, she was pleasantly surprised when the Clavell fellow finally gathered up the courage to ask just why she wanted to hold a parley with them. So they weren't complete dolts then. She rewarded him with a quick, simple answer.

"You have something ours and we want it back."

"No we don't!" When Anamaria only lifted her eyebrows and continued to stare at him, his voice hardened. "Fine then. Wha' is it tha' we supposedly 'ave, eh?" By now Jack was grinning like a loon, as he realized what she was about. Clavell looked confused and Brock had a considerably piqued look on his face as he leaned forward to punctuate his words.

Her smile quickly turned to a grin not unlike Jack's own as she gestured grandly towards him.

"Why, our captain, of course."

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

I'm terribly sorry that this is late, but in compensation, it is over 3000 words. My defense is that school isn't over so I have that, study for our exams next week, hockey, netball, horse riding and practices for a stage challenge thing we have coming up, plus it was b-day this week. Anyway, I do offer my absolute apologies and beg only that you review. Reviewers will be perpetually adored.

Reviewer's Thanks

Oneiriad: Here's some more of the captives and Anamaria for you. Hope you enjoy and thanks for the review.

Pirate Shy: Thanks for all those nitpicks. And it's good to know that people like my quick updates though this one wasn't on time.

Heldin: Ohhh, I don't know. What can you expect? And yes, I feel sorry for poor old Jack too with all those dumbies.

Beregond'sGirl: Yeah, I found all the names on the credits, but I have no idea who is who, so I just don't describe them to try and leave it open. Yes, my email is in my profile and that should be cool. When are you on holiday? I don't know when any holidays are in other countries.

Andi Horton: Thanks for that. It's really great to get such a nice review from a new person and it's great to hear from anyone who likes my story.

Crazydominodragongirl: Sorry, this one was a late update, eh? And I don't blame you for having homework – I have it too, which is mainly why this is so late.

Savvyness: Well, yes she would be confused wouldn't she?

Katla: Yay, thanks for reviewing. Its good to get new reviewers.

Inu Lover: Thanks a bunch for your review.

MiRoRmInX: I would leave longer ones but I am in a massive rush so the long review I gave you will have to be recompense for now, okay? Thanks for this really long review though and I'll be sure to respond in kind.

LunarianPrincess: Thanks for that, I hope you enjoyed this installment.

Coolpuella: Sorry that it wasn't up when it should have been but while school may be out for you, I'm just approaching mid-year exams. I will try harder though.

VanillaFluffy: Thank you so much for reviewing. Another new reader. Man, I'm on a roll, lol!

JeanieBeanie33: Thanks for your review, I hope the excitement increased a bit this chapter and it certainly in the next.

Love y'all…

FalconWing.