CHAPTER ELEVEN
Oh, to Love a Pirate!
Jack in a jubilous mood this morning. He had sprung out of bed with the youth and vigor of a ten year old. Jack had no idea why he was so happy. All he knew was that it was wonderful and he liked it. He liked it a lot.
Faye was still sleeping on the hard wooden floor, ignoring countless attempts of Jacks to move her. She had just rolled over and told him to leave her to sleep. So, he did.
The pirate didn't know what he was going to do with himself today. Probably just walk around as he had every other day of the week. Though, today had such beautiful weather one couldn't help but want to be outside. Perhaps he would seek out somewhere to swim and practice his infamous Swan Dive. The last time he had done it he was stuck on the cursed island with Elizabeth.
Elizabeth. Where were they? Were they still at Port Royale going ahead with their nuptials or had they done as promised and set off in search of him? So many questions, and so few answers. Jack longed to see his friends again. He missed them terribly, he only hoped they would come soon. As much as he loved Faye's company, he only wished his two friends were there to share it with him.
Suddenly Jack heard Faye stir. She opened her eyes and looked at him. The woman smiled and raised herself from the floor.
'Good Morning' she said brightly.
'Yes 'tis' Jack replied. He sat back down on the barely used bed and placed his leather boots onto his feet.
Faye stood up and crossed the room to the wash basin and poured some water into it. She wet her face to wake up and looked at the man who shared the room.
'What are you doing today?' she asked as she walked to his side of the room. Faye tied her hair up in a messy bun on top of her head and smiled.
'Was goin' ter go swimmin' Jack replied 'Such nice weather t'day'
'Mind if I join you?' she asked, smiling. But, then a sudden thought seemed to cross her tired mind. 'On second thought, master wouldn't be too happy if I came home soaking wet'
Jack sighed. He had to meet this Master and set him straight. He seemed a rather shady character the more he heard about him. If Jack ever met him he would inflict unimaginable pain onto him.
'Faye. When are you jus' goin' ter give up on him? You will never please 'em no matter what you do.'
Jack had a point, Faye thought, she would never please them. Their standards seemed to get higher everyday. It was as if they didn't want to be pleased at all.
'I would but I can't' Faye replied solemnly, eyes downcast to the motley floor. 'I would love more than anything to be free of them.'
By now Jack was frustrated by the procrastination's of this woman. 'The jus' go. Who cares about 'em?'
'And where am I to go?' Faye asked. She would give anything to get away. She only wished her parents were still alive.
'Stay with me.' He paused 'Tell me one thing. Do they like pirates?'
'Well. No, they are absolutely petrified of them.' Faye said 'Why?'
'Well, they won't come near me then. Just stay' Jack smiled wryly and flicked a beaded braid out of his eyes. 'Besides, you'll never be good enough for 'em. But, there is one person you're good enough for'
'And who is that Captain Sparrow?' Faye asked, a slight lilt in her voice. She raised an inquiring eyebrow at Jack and smiled.
'Me.'
The storm rolled in slowly. Elizabeth had been sent back to bed by Will. He said she shouldn't be out in the cold rain. Elizabeth tended to agree. But, she was also petrified of storms. Another clap of thunder sounded and Elizabeth jumped slightly. She buried her face into a pillow to silence the noise.
Another clap of thunder infiltrated its way into Elizabeths eardrums. But, with that sound came another loud noise, soon followed by a splash of water. Elizabeth immediately realised something was wrong and raced to the door. She quickly opened it and sprinted onto the deck. A horrible sight unfolding before her eyes.
Another ship, not remotely like theirs, had its canons bared ready to fire. And sure enough they did. Another loud 'BANG' and Elizabeth immediately went to the floor. As she stood up she was greeted by Will's face.
'What the hell are you doing out here?' he yelled, grabbing Elizabeth sharply by the arm. He escorted her back to her cabin.
'I-I heard something.' Elizabeth stammered.
She stepped back into the room unwillingly and gave Will and slightly questioning look.
'What's going on?' she asked with a lilt in her voice.
'Pirates. The remainder of Barbossa's crew have found us' Will replied hastily. 'Stay in here. I don't want you to get hurt.'
Elizabeth just stood there, not ready to budge. She had faced the pirates before she wasn't about to let them get the better of her and the crew again. 'I'm going!' Elizabeth yelled. She pushed past Will.
The Governors daughter found a one-shot rifle a small pile of ammunition conveniently on the floor below her feet. She picked up the weapon and bullets. Elizabeth cocked it, ready to fire.
The crew were holding off Barbossa's gang as well as they could. There hadn't been many serious injuries as of yet. And, Elizabeth hoped for it to stay that way. She slung the rifle over her shoulder and ran to Anamaria. She was looking frantic, sword in hand and gun in holster.
'Go back!' the woman yelled at Elizabeth as she tried to parry off another pirate. 'Will doesn't want you here'
'I don't care what bloody Will wants' Elizabeth said, surprised at her own speech. 'I'm staying and nothing is going to change that!'
'Fine. Well if it gets too much then go back. Promise me this.'
Elizabeth rolled her eyes at Anamaria and stood, waiting for something. Why was it everyone wanted her to stay out of it? Why? Just because she was born into privilege it did not mean she was less capable of fending off pirates. She had proved that last year. But, no they still thought of her as the poor little rich girl. Elizabeth sighed and turned around. But, was quickly greeted by a sickeningly familiar face.
' 'Ello Poppet' Pintel said, grabbing Elizabeth by her long auburn hair. 'Long time no see eh?'
Elizabeth did something she never though she could or would do. She spat. Spat square in the pirates face. He lost eye-contact with her and she immediately ran for it. But, her long nightdress made her trip. She landed on something. Something hard. Not bothering to investigate, she immediately got to her feet. She continued to run, having no idea where she was going until she heard a scream. A scream of pain. She turned around quickly, her hair whipping herself in the nose.
Will was lying on the ground, a dagger in his right leg. Koehler, one of Barbossas miscreants was standing over her fiancée, a sword to his gullet. Will was struggling to stand and before she knew it Elizabeths feet and guided her towards the pirate. The Governors daughter quickly pulled the dagger out of Wills' limb and in one swift movement plunged it into Koehler's chest. Will just stared. His pain had subsided and was now replaced by shock from Elizabeth.
Elizabeth knelt down besides Will and ripped a sleeve off her dress. She quickly tied it tightly around Will's wound and yelled for help.
'It's going to be fine' She said, kissing Will on the cheek. 'Fine'
Will's grip tightened around Elizabeth's hand, almost turning his fiancées fingers blue. Immediately Joshamee came running to the couple. He looked at Elizabeth frantically and she returned the same look.
'Take him downstairs. I'll be there soon' Elizabeth said, looking Joshamee in his grey eyes.
Mr. Gibbs obliged and lifted Will with some difficulty and took him below-deck. Elizabeth watched him go. But, her reverie was broken by a sharp pain in her head again. She turned around to face Ragetti. He now only had one eye and an eye-patch. He was holding her by the hair and proceeded to drag her off.
'HELP!!' Elizabeth yelled as she was pulled away. 'ANYONE?'
But, no one heard her frantic screams for assistance. They were all too busy with their own problems. Elizabeth continued to attempt to wretch her way of the deadly pirates grasp. He lead her into the brig and threw her onto the hard straw-ridden floor.
'Where's Jack?' the pirate asked gruffly. He somehow looked more dangerous than he had last year. Elizabeth wondered how he had survived the Navy's resistance.
'I don't know' Elizabeth said, as calmly as she could. Which, she realised, didn't sound very calm at all.
'Sure yer don'' the pirate said coming closer to Elizabeth. 'Listen, girl. Tell me where 'e is and I'll leave yer alone.'
'I-don't-know' Elizabeth stated succinctly. She shot a deadly stare at Ragetti hoping it would intimidate him somewhat. It didn't.
Ragetti came closer once again and stared at the girl. 'We know you know where he is' Ragetti stated plainly. And, in one quick motion he slapped Elizabeth across her fair face.
The Governors daughter cowered slightly, tears stinging her eyes. She touched where he had slapped her and winced at how painful it actually was. Her bloodshot eyes looked up at Ragetti and stared.
'I-don't-know!' she yelled, her voice muffled by tears. She held them back. 'The Navy sent him away. Believe me'
'I know that part. But, where did they send him?' The pirate was now holding a golden dagger to his victims throat. Elizabeth swallowed and looked back.
'I-DON'T-KNOW!' she yelled as loud as she could. Perhaps she could get some attention. Alas, it failed. No-one came and obviously no one intended to.
Finally Elizabeth was put out of her misery by a final slap in the face. She fell to the hard ground, hitting her head on a sharp stone. She slowly drifted into unconsciousness perhaps not to return.
Jack smiled as they sun caressed his bare chest. The hot sand was comforting between his toes. Faye was in the water showing Jack some highly skilled swimming acrobatics. The pirate had taught her his Swan Dive and she had pulled it off perfectly.
Jack laughed at his companion as she surfaced from the water and threw a towel around herself. She landed next to Jack on the sand and smiled, lying on her stomach.
'Well, Mr. Sparrow, you certainly know how to show a woman a good time' she said. Faye began to draw designs in the sand with her index finger and looked up at Jack.
'Well, thank you Miss.' Jack said courtly and bowed his head in a Victorian style greeting.
'I've made a decision' Faye said.
Jack looked strangely at the woman. Okay, random comment of the day, He thought to himself. 'A decision about what?' he asked.
'About going back' she stated simply. She continued to draw in the sand. She had drawn a bird flying over a sunset - Jacks ensign.
'And…' Jack prompted watching her draw. He smiled as he realised what it was.
'I'm not going back. And I have you to thank' Faye smiled at him.
Immediately Jack picked her up and swung her around. 'That's fantastic!' he said as he ran into the water. He dropped the woman in and dived in himself. 'Best news t'day'
Faye splashed him with some salty water, smudging his kohl-lined eyes and smiled. 'So I gather you're glad?'
'Ne'er better!' Jack exclaimed.
For hours they talked on the warm sand. Jack had not yet realised but finally it came all too clear. He was falling in love. For once in his life he didn't feel like a pirate. He felt normal. Complete.
Finally the sun began to go down but they stayed. The beach was beautiful at this time of night. The sound of waves crashing on the rocks sent the duo off into a comfortable sleep.
But, instead of sleep Jack thought. He though of his childhood. Something he never thought of. The more he tried to remember the more he forgot. His most vivid memory was that of his father, Emmett Sparrow. From what Jack remembered of his father they could pass as identical twins. His only memory of his father was when he had first taught him to handle a sword. They had spent almost a whole day mastering the basics of swordplay. But, his father had died shortly after. Leaving a fourteen-year-old Jack Sparrow to roam Tortuga alone.
Jack had never known his mother. He didn't have much of a desire to either. In his opinion, a woman who would abandon her own son was not much of a woman. His father had said Jack got his determined streak from his mother, something he was actually thankful for.
The sun rose slowly over the blurred horizon and greeted Jack with a smile. The Captain sat up unsteadily and found Faye asleep beside him, her black hair fanned out behind her. Jack smiled as he watched her sleep. It was strange how the simplest of things seemed to give him pleasure.
Jack hummed a soft tune and stood up from his sandy seat. The pirate began to walk, not really sure where he was going. But, now, whilst Faye was asleep, seemed like the ideal time for some quiet contemplation.
As he walked Jack thought of his time in Port Royale and his feelings for Elizabeth. True, he would jump at the chance to have her. But, he knew that day would never come. Besides, he had Faye. Whether she shared his feelings or not Faye was all he needed. In fact, at the moment, she was all the lonesome pirate had.
Will. How he missed the man. They had formed an immensely strong friendship over the almost two years they had known each other. Will and stayed with Jack through thick and thin and vise-versa.
The future. What would the future bring him? Would he ever have someone? A family? An actual life off the wide seas of the Caribbean? But, the more he thought about it the less Jack could imagine leaving the pearl and his crew, they were his whole life. Jack couldn't even remember how he had met them or even when he had. All he knew was that they were the ones who made him who he was and no-one or nothing was going to change that.
Finally Jack decided to stop walking. He found a large set of rocks and sat on one of them, peering into a rock pool. Starfish, anemones and crabs scuttled around miniature ecosystem. For once in his life Jack realised how insignificant life was. In the scheme of things he was just one person in a world of so many. He may as well be a grain of golden sand on the beach he strode across. All his life Jack had tried to be significant and noticed. Sure, he was one of the most famous pirates in the Caribbean but what about the rest of the world? He still had a whole ocean to explore. New people to meet, new treasure to be found. Now, more than ever Jack was determined to get off his behind and become something.
And so he did.
The captain walked back to where he had left Faye and found her sitting up watching the young children jump waves. When she saw Jack she stood up, her sarong waving in the cool ocean breeze.
'Come away with me' Jack said plainly as he walked closer.
'Come away with you where?' Faye asked quizzically. She raised a dark eyebrow at the pirate and sat back down.
'I have no idea. Anywhere. I've realised I still 'ave a whole world ter explore, a whole new group o' people ter meet.'
Faye smiled at the pirate. 'We'll see Captain Sparrow. We'll see'
For once in her life Elizabeth was helpless. Still unconscious she lay on the dirty floor. No-one knew what went through her mind and no-one would. Unconscious people didn't tend to sit up and burst in speech. Instead, a shadowed figuire walked into the cell she was in and picked her up.
The man inspected her and decided to take her back to his ship. The figuire peered down at the woman and sighed. Once again he was the one who did all the work. It was his job to pick up the dead or unconscious bodies and take them back to the ship, where, he and his crew would strip them and take any precious belongings.
The man noticed she was still lightly breathing but ignored it. She would be dead soon anyway, he thought to himself. This young woman was engaged. He could tell by the stately ring on her finger, which he quickly pocketed. Engaged to that filthy blacksmith Will Turner. The man shuddered as he thought of his name. William Turner was the son of the infamous Bill 'Bootstrap' Turner, the same man who had launched this whole mess upon them.
The man slowly surfaced onto the deck, unnoticed by those still fighting and took the unconscious Elizabeth back to his boat. Immediately he was greeted by Pintel and Ragetti.
'Well look who it is!' Ragetti exclaimed excitedly. Obviously he knew the woman. 'Put 'er over 'ere, Twigg'
Twigg obliged and placed the incoherent woman on the deck. The whole crew gravitated towards her and began inspecting her for jewellery and the like. But, alas, they failed.
'She's got nothin'!' Pintel said, feeling slightly cheated. Afterall he was the one who had made her unconscious in the first place.
'Well jus' throw her in the brig. She's not dead yet' Jacoby said harshly. 'Unless…'
'Unless what?' Ragetti piped up.
'…Unless we throw her overboard.' Jacoby continued, a sinister tone lacing his words. 'That'd kill 'er for sure'
The rest of the crew began to chatter excitedly but were soon stopped by Pintel. 'No! This woman has importan' information fer us. We can' just loose her ter Davey Jones Locker'
' 'es right lads. With this woman we can finally fin' Jack Sparrow' Ragetti said, supporting his friend.
'Well, lock 'er in the brig then. Fetch some water, we'll wake 'er up tomorrow' Jacoby commanded as the crew went to their various duties.
This was going to be good. Very good. They were one step closer to finding Sparrow. But, what they didn't know was that the woman had no idea where Jack was. But, what they didn't know wouldn't hurt them.
As Elizabeth lay on the straw-ridden floor she was unaware of the events soon to follow.
Will awoke with a start, salty sweat stinging his cracked lips. He immediately stood up but found it too painful. Then, he remembered. Elizabeth. Where was Elizabeth? Will swore loudly and slowly limped towards the door. He found Joshamee sitting under the mast.
'Where's Elizabeth?' Will asked frantically.
Joshamee stood up and walked slowly over to Will a sullen expression painted across his aging face.
'They took her. We've looked all over. She's gone, Will. I'm sorry' Mr. Gibbs looked down and then looked back at Will, but he wasn't there. Joshamee sighed and sat back down.
Will sat on the bed, his head in his hands. How could he let this happen? It was all his fault. He shouldn't have let Elizabeth out in the first place. Will punched the wall but cursed when a splinter infiltrated its way into his rough hands.
'Dammit Will.' He said to himself. 'How could you be so stupid?'
It's not your fault a small voice said in the back of his mind.
'It bloody well is my fault!' Will yelled at himself.
Realising there was no-one there he stopped and sat back down, burying his head in a pillow, thinking of Elizabeth. His shoulders shook as tears exited his eyes and onto the pillow in front of him.
Faye smiled as they walked through the streets. She still hadn't answered Jack, but she knew what her answer would be. She looked at Jack who in turn looked at her. They both smiled at each other. It was wonderful how they could communicate without words. Perfect.
Oh, to love a pirate! Faye thought to herself as she walked with Jack through the marketplace
A/N: sorry for taking ages to update. BUT! It's done. yayness. Plz R&R. thanks.
