Chapter five: Trail me.


"State your full name." Will, my "lawyer" said to me as the trail started. I shot him a hard look before replying.

"Coralie Arabella Gregory."

"Now, when was the last time you spoke to Mr. Aaron Smith?"

"The night before last. I was helping him to his cabin because he was quite drunk, and unable to himself." I saw Elizabeth in the crowd smiling smugly to herself. I wanted to hit her.

"And then what?" I sighed...This was so stupid. I noticed John dragged himself out of bed and was actually sitting on Jacks lap, trying not to fall alseep or cry...John, not Jack.

"After helping him into bed, I left his cabin."

"Is it true that you encountered Elizabeth Natalie(a/n: I wonder what her real middle name is?) Swann in the hallway post halping Mr. Smith?"

"Yes."

"And did you say anything to her?" He knew I had said something. I bet my life that Elizabeth told him another cock-and-bull story.

"Only after she said something to me."

"And that was?"

"She asked me if I made another conquest. Rather than say anything snide all I said was 'Some women attract attention, others do not.'"

"And why did you say that?"

"I dunno. I wasn't up to having another row,"

"What do you mean, 'row'?"

"Elizabeth and I don't seem to get along."

"And why is that?"

"I don't know. Ask her." I said sweetly. "Ever since I came aboard this ship, and onto the account, she has been nothing but spiteful."

"I am not spiteful!" Elizabeth screached jumping up from her seat, and pointing at me.

"Miss. Swann, please refrain yourself or I will force you to go below." Jack said sternly, handing John over to Derack, and motioning for Will to sit down. Jack stood up and walked to where I sat, apart from the rest.

"Do not worry, little one." He whispered in my ear, before continuing. "Miss Gregory, did Mr. Smith say anything unusual at all to you, in his drunken state while you helped him?"

I shook my hed, my hair whipping about my face. "No. He didn't say much at all."

"What did he say?" Jack persist. He knows Aaron said something to me. I thought.

"He mentioned you..." I was unwilling to say what Aaron said. I was still so uncertain about my feelings for Jack. I think it was mostly gratitude for taking me away from the marraige, and court. But then there was Will. I had this deep feeling in my stomach whenever I thought of him, and I couldn't identify it to save my life.

"And what did he say?" Jack repeated.

"He said how you thought I was a good grew member-" I heard a loud snort from Elizabeth, but continued. "And how he thought..."

"Go on,"

"How he though you and I would be a smart match." I blurted out. This time Elizabeth let out a shriek of laughter.

"Will, would you?" Jack asked, a pained look on his face. Will took up Elizabeth and dragged her below.

"Is that all he said?" He continued.

"Yes."

"And then?"

"He said he wanted to lie down. He was very wobbly on his feet, so I helped him walk to his cabin, and get into bed."

"Was that the last time you saw him?"

"Alive, that is."

"Very well. You are free to go to your cabin to await your verdict." Two crew members escorted me to my cabin, and locked the door.

"Like I have nowhere else to go." I said loudly to the door as it gave affirmative click. I looked around my cabin helplessly. I decided to change into some clean garments, after spending the night in that drab cell. After I was dressed in a magnificant gown of cream colored silk, I sat down at my desk, and took out the writing materials. I set to writing. I wrote anything and everything that came to mind, my quill scratching againts the parchment satisfyingly. I had paused, scratching my chin with the quill when Jack came into the room.

"A verdict has been reached." He said wearily. I saw that he was reluctant to take me back up.

"Do you believe I didn't do it?" I demanded before standing up. He looked me over in my cream gown, and a ghost of a smile formed on his well shaped lips.

"Yes. I believe you. But if a crew member demands a trail, I have to oblige. And as much as Elizabeth doesn't act like a crew member, she still is."

"But your the captain! Can't or order them! Even if it is in the code," I had learned of the code on the second day of being on the account. "Your a pirate! Who says you have to follow those rules! You don't follow any other rules!" He gave a small chuckle.

"I'm gunna have to watch out for you...Your too smart." He joked. I reluctantly got up and followed him to the deck.

"You've reached a verdict?" Jack asked, standing in the middle of the deck, and I was sitting in the same chair. Derack got up.

"We have."

"Go ahead." I braced myself. I saw John sitting there, chewing on his nails. I caught his eyes and gave a slight shake of my head. He stopped.

"We find Coralie Gregory not guilty." I let out a gusty sigh of relief. Jack ran up to me a gave a me a huge bear hug, picking me up off the ground and spinning me around. After he set me down, Will gave me hug of the same nature. Then Derack. John had to fight through the crowd before he reached me. I picked him up and he gave me a feeble little hug.

I put my hand to his forehead and gasped. He was burning up.

"John!" I said in a shaky voice. "You shouln't be out of bed." He gave me a small smile, and layed his head on my shoulder. I broke away from the crowd and ran as fast as I could with him in my arms to our cabin. I gently laid him on th bed. He was shivering heavily and I piled all the blankets on him, wishing for more. As if reading my mind Will came running in, his arms laden with down quilts.

"Jack said he would most likely be cold," He explained as we threw them over the small little boy. I pushed back them back from his feet, and started to frantically rub his feet.

"Can you get me some hot water?" I asked Will, who had a look of concern on his face. He nodded and went running. I tried my best to warm his freezing cold feet.

"How long until we get to the Americas?" I asked Jack who came in shortly after Will left.

"About another three or four weeks..." He said sadly. I let forth another long sigh. Will came running back with a large bowl of hot water. I grabbed the nearest garment of mine, ready to soak it in the water, but Will grabbed my wrist, producing a drying sheet. I took it and wrapped the hot rag around Johns legs. He let out a few miserable noises along the way.

Will exited the room, going for more water. I sighed and wiped my hands on the now water stained gown. I took off the rags and dried Johns feet. I got up to go to the loo when Jack took me by the elbow.

"Come to the galley...He is asleep. You need a drink." I gave a small nod, and we left.

"I need to tell you," Jack said, staring into his mug of rum. I furrowed my brow over my small mug as I took a long draught(I had learned to like rum).

"Hmm?"

"I don't think he is going to live."