And the Winds of Destiny, by Hellborne
Pirates of the Caribbean - PG-13
Copyright. Characters, not mine. See the Mouse. Story, mine, but I make no money. He does, but not on this.
Typing convention: / is used for thoughts.
Summary: How do you cheer up a depressed Sparrow?
Beta: The great BetaGoddess Pendragginink. She's fantastic! And way too modest for her own good!
N/A: Apparently some fangirls went to Greg Ellis and asked him Groves' first name. I don't know if it was in reference for fanfics or if he even reads them, but hopefully he doesn't take offense if he does. Anyway, it's officially Theodore Groves, so any fics that I had previously done have had the name changed.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This is the sequel to "The Makings of a Pirate". If you don't read the first story, you're missing EVERYTHING, so if you haven't read it, please go do so and come back or you won't understand anything.
NOTE: I live for reviews. No reviews, no more writing. Can't figure out if anyone likes it if they don't review. So REVIEW! PLEEEEEEZE???
- - - - - - -
May the wind always be at your back
And the sun always upon your face
And the winds of destiny to carry you aloft to dance with the stars.
--Old Irish Blessing as quoted by George Jung ("Blow")
- - - - - - -
Chapter 2 - The Devil and the Dragon
Robert watched as the prisoners were brought aboard the Dragon and ordered the guns to cease fire and prepare to sail. He would follow the Dragon to the depths of hell to retrieve Lord Raymond and Captain Groves. The fort, on the other hand, started firing on both ships, thinking the Black Pearl would start firing on them instead.
- -
Once aboard, they separated the two costumed men. Groves was brought below deck, while Lord Smythe-Douglass was taken to the captain's cabin. Waiting at the great table that was laid out for dinner and covered with various appetizing dishes, was the Dragon's captain. He was truly a mountain of a man, even seated, with a mane of red hair that was held down by a scarf, though a large, feathered hat was on a chair at his side. As the men handling the governor pushed him into a chair, the captain stood up and nodded to Lord Raymond. "Welcome to the Dragon, Lord Smythe-Douglass. I am Captain Shamus O'Sullivan. While I apologize for the method of your arrival and your unfortunate attire; come, enjoy a meal with me, I beg you." He waved at the food, walking around the table to serve. "Please. What would be your pleasure, Governor?"
Lord Raymond brushed himself off, apparently trying to get rid of the dirt from the men's hands. He could feel that the ship had left the harbor and was now in open water. From the lack of rocking, the ship was moving with the wind, and he distinctly remembered the wind was coming out of the West. /Tortuga perhaps./ "Captain, let's get to the point of this little meeting. Why am I here, and what are you going to do to me and to the gentleman that they took below? A slice of roast, if you please."
The captain sliced a piece of roast and put it on Lord Raymond's plate. "Ah, a politician who doesn't mince words. Amazing." Captain O'Sullivan grinned. "Well, Governor, as I'm not rightly sure who the man is who came with you, I can't say what I'll do with him. Perhaps you would enlighten me? Black pudding?"
The governor raised his eyebrows and thought quickly. "He is my assistant, and I would appreciate that you allow him to stay with me, as I am not accustomed to being without his aid. No thank you. Yorkshire pudding? And perhaps some potatoes."
"Certainly." He scooped some pudding and some of the new potatoes onto the plate. "So would you say that he is 'valuable' to the government?" He pointed at yet another dish. "Turkey, perhaps?"
"No more than I am. If it's ransom you're after, the government won't pay a farthing for either of us. Yes, please."
The pirate grinned as he sliced the turkey. "Now why don't I believe that?" He placed the slice onto the governor's plate.
"I'm sure I wouldn't know. That's enough, thank you."
The pirate captain placed the plate before Lord Raymond. "Drink?"
"Water will be fine, or, tea, if you have it."
"Certainly." He prepared a cup of tea for the governor and placed it in front of him. "Enjoy." Captain O'Sullivan moved back to his own place and sat down.
Lord Raymond daintily sliced some meat and ate it. "My compliments. This turkey is excellent." He took a sip of the tea. "Now Captain, if you wish to ransom me, it will benefit both of us quite a bit more if you do so through my companies than the government. And of course, the same goes for my assistant. Now, how much were you thinking of as a ransom?" He took a new potato on his fork and popped it into his mouth.
The captain smiled sweetly. On him it looked like a grimace. "I was thinking of ten thousand guineas for you. And I suppose another thousand for your assistant."
The governor almost choked on the potato, laughing. "Oh why be so generous, captain? I'm sure you could get more for me than that, if you don't try to get it from the government, which has little enough money to run things, let alone to pay a ransom for a governor who is out of favor with His Majesty. My suggestion to you is to send the ransom demand to the barman at the Gilded Tankard in Montego Bay." He sliced off some roast and ate it.
"A barman? Do you think I'm daft?"
"Only if you don't follow my suggestion, my dear Captain." Lord Raymond took a sip of the tea. "Excellent tea, Captain. The barman at the Gilded Tankard is the one man in Montego Bay that has the authority to make deals in my name. Bring him the demand and you will have your ransom in short order. And if you raise the ransom to twenty-five thousand guineas for the both of us, he perhaps won't have a mind to laugh at you. Ten thousand guineas. Indeed, Captain. Even out of favor, I am still worth more than that. At least to my own companies and holdings I am. Now, when do you plan on sending the ransom demand and how are you planning on doing it?" He took another sip of the tea.
Captain O'Sullivan watched the governor drink, smiling. "I thought we'd give them a week to stew on it, then send our demands with proof that we've got you."
"Proof?" He delicately stabbed another potato and bit into it. "What kind of proof are you thinking of?"
"I was thinking that your signet ring would be adequate proof." He grinned in a way that said more.
"And the finger wearing it, I suppose." The governor sipped his tea casually.
"Aye, I was thinking that would help them make their decision faster."
"Actually, Captain O'Sullivan, what that would do is anger a group of people in such a way that I suspect that you would be begging for an imaginary mercy that would never come. I'm afraid that I'm rather popular with various groups who are rather, shall we say, protective of me. No, Captain O'Sullivan. What I would suggest is that you send my assistant Theodore with the message. It would also guarantee that you would receive your ransom that much quicker. Oh, and I don't believe that you need to take a week out for anyone to realize that I'm gone. You did, after all, interrupt my Christmas Ball. I would say that the entire aristocracy and a large number of others know that I've been taken."
Over a mouthful of roast, the captain grinned. "Governor, you seem awfully calm aboard a pirate ship. And here you are helping me with the ransom demand. I ask myself why?"
"I can assure you that I am, how do you say it? 'Quaking in my boots.' However, I am also an Earl in His Majesty's court, and should word get out that I was less than completely composed, I would be the laughing stock of England. I'm sorry, Captain. No matter what I may feel inside, you will not find me other than perfectly in control on the outside. It's in the upbringing. Now, do you perhaps have something that I can change into? This costume, while comfortable, is not what I would like to be ransomed in."
"Let alone rescued, eh? Governor, while my men were out abducting you and your assistant, the Black Pearl sailed in out of nowhere and attacked us. I want to know what you have to do with the Black Pearl."
Lord Raymond looked surprised. "The Black Pearl?" He laughed. "No 'rescue' for me from that ship, Captain, I assure you. I hanged their captain. They had probably planned on interrupting my party the way you did, but when you beat them to it, they fired on you thinking maybe you'd hand me over. They were definitely angry when I hanged Captain Sparrow."
"YOU hanged Jack Sparrow? I hardly believe that, Governor. You don't seem the type capable of ordering a man hanged."
The Governor smiled sweetly. "I don't? I can assure you, Captain O'Sullivan, that I personally gave the order to hang Jack Sparrow, just as I shall personally give the order to hang Shamus O'Sullivan." The smile never left his face.
O'Sullivan shot up and around the table in a flash, grabbing the governor by the collar. He dragged him to the door. "Hoyt! Take him below and put him in the brig with the rooster!"
Hoyt grabbed Lord Raymond by the arm and hauled him away, jerking when the governor didn't go fast enough.
- -
TBC
Pirates of the Caribbean - PG-13
Copyright. Characters, not mine. See the Mouse. Story, mine, but I make no money. He does, but not on this.
Typing convention: / is used for thoughts.
Summary: How do you cheer up a depressed Sparrow?
Beta: The great BetaGoddess Pendragginink. She's fantastic! And way too modest for her own good!
N/A: Apparently some fangirls went to Greg Ellis and asked him Groves' first name. I don't know if it was in reference for fanfics or if he even reads them, but hopefully he doesn't take offense if he does. Anyway, it's officially Theodore Groves, so any fics that I had previously done have had the name changed.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This is the sequel to "The Makings of a Pirate". If you don't read the first story, you're missing EVERYTHING, so if you haven't read it, please go do so and come back or you won't understand anything.
NOTE: I live for reviews. No reviews, no more writing. Can't figure out if anyone likes it if they don't review. So REVIEW! PLEEEEEEZE???
- - - - - - -
May the wind always be at your back
And the sun always upon your face
And the winds of destiny to carry you aloft to dance with the stars.
--Old Irish Blessing as quoted by George Jung ("Blow")
- - - - - - -
Chapter 2 - The Devil and the Dragon
Robert watched as the prisoners were brought aboard the Dragon and ordered the guns to cease fire and prepare to sail. He would follow the Dragon to the depths of hell to retrieve Lord Raymond and Captain Groves. The fort, on the other hand, started firing on both ships, thinking the Black Pearl would start firing on them instead.
- -
Once aboard, they separated the two costumed men. Groves was brought below deck, while Lord Smythe-Douglass was taken to the captain's cabin. Waiting at the great table that was laid out for dinner and covered with various appetizing dishes, was the Dragon's captain. He was truly a mountain of a man, even seated, with a mane of red hair that was held down by a scarf, though a large, feathered hat was on a chair at his side. As the men handling the governor pushed him into a chair, the captain stood up and nodded to Lord Raymond. "Welcome to the Dragon, Lord Smythe-Douglass. I am Captain Shamus O'Sullivan. While I apologize for the method of your arrival and your unfortunate attire; come, enjoy a meal with me, I beg you." He waved at the food, walking around the table to serve. "Please. What would be your pleasure, Governor?"
Lord Raymond brushed himself off, apparently trying to get rid of the dirt from the men's hands. He could feel that the ship had left the harbor and was now in open water. From the lack of rocking, the ship was moving with the wind, and he distinctly remembered the wind was coming out of the West. /Tortuga perhaps./ "Captain, let's get to the point of this little meeting. Why am I here, and what are you going to do to me and to the gentleman that they took below? A slice of roast, if you please."
The captain sliced a piece of roast and put it on Lord Raymond's plate. "Ah, a politician who doesn't mince words. Amazing." Captain O'Sullivan grinned. "Well, Governor, as I'm not rightly sure who the man is who came with you, I can't say what I'll do with him. Perhaps you would enlighten me? Black pudding?"
The governor raised his eyebrows and thought quickly. "He is my assistant, and I would appreciate that you allow him to stay with me, as I am not accustomed to being without his aid. No thank you. Yorkshire pudding? And perhaps some potatoes."
"Certainly." He scooped some pudding and some of the new potatoes onto the plate. "So would you say that he is 'valuable' to the government?" He pointed at yet another dish. "Turkey, perhaps?"
"No more than I am. If it's ransom you're after, the government won't pay a farthing for either of us. Yes, please."
The pirate grinned as he sliced the turkey. "Now why don't I believe that?" He placed the slice onto the governor's plate.
"I'm sure I wouldn't know. That's enough, thank you."
The pirate captain placed the plate before Lord Raymond. "Drink?"
"Water will be fine, or, tea, if you have it."
"Certainly." He prepared a cup of tea for the governor and placed it in front of him. "Enjoy." Captain O'Sullivan moved back to his own place and sat down.
Lord Raymond daintily sliced some meat and ate it. "My compliments. This turkey is excellent." He took a sip of the tea. "Now Captain, if you wish to ransom me, it will benefit both of us quite a bit more if you do so through my companies than the government. And of course, the same goes for my assistant. Now, how much were you thinking of as a ransom?" He took a new potato on his fork and popped it into his mouth.
The captain smiled sweetly. On him it looked like a grimace. "I was thinking of ten thousand guineas for you. And I suppose another thousand for your assistant."
The governor almost choked on the potato, laughing. "Oh why be so generous, captain? I'm sure you could get more for me than that, if you don't try to get it from the government, which has little enough money to run things, let alone to pay a ransom for a governor who is out of favor with His Majesty. My suggestion to you is to send the ransom demand to the barman at the Gilded Tankard in Montego Bay." He sliced off some roast and ate it.
"A barman? Do you think I'm daft?"
"Only if you don't follow my suggestion, my dear Captain." Lord Raymond took a sip of the tea. "Excellent tea, Captain. The barman at the Gilded Tankard is the one man in Montego Bay that has the authority to make deals in my name. Bring him the demand and you will have your ransom in short order. And if you raise the ransom to twenty-five thousand guineas for the both of us, he perhaps won't have a mind to laugh at you. Ten thousand guineas. Indeed, Captain. Even out of favor, I am still worth more than that. At least to my own companies and holdings I am. Now, when do you plan on sending the ransom demand and how are you planning on doing it?" He took another sip of the tea.
Captain O'Sullivan watched the governor drink, smiling. "I thought we'd give them a week to stew on it, then send our demands with proof that we've got you."
"Proof?" He delicately stabbed another potato and bit into it. "What kind of proof are you thinking of?"
"I was thinking that your signet ring would be adequate proof." He grinned in a way that said more.
"And the finger wearing it, I suppose." The governor sipped his tea casually.
"Aye, I was thinking that would help them make their decision faster."
"Actually, Captain O'Sullivan, what that would do is anger a group of people in such a way that I suspect that you would be begging for an imaginary mercy that would never come. I'm afraid that I'm rather popular with various groups who are rather, shall we say, protective of me. No, Captain O'Sullivan. What I would suggest is that you send my assistant Theodore with the message. It would also guarantee that you would receive your ransom that much quicker. Oh, and I don't believe that you need to take a week out for anyone to realize that I'm gone. You did, after all, interrupt my Christmas Ball. I would say that the entire aristocracy and a large number of others know that I've been taken."
Over a mouthful of roast, the captain grinned. "Governor, you seem awfully calm aboard a pirate ship. And here you are helping me with the ransom demand. I ask myself why?"
"I can assure you that I am, how do you say it? 'Quaking in my boots.' However, I am also an Earl in His Majesty's court, and should word get out that I was less than completely composed, I would be the laughing stock of England. I'm sorry, Captain. No matter what I may feel inside, you will not find me other than perfectly in control on the outside. It's in the upbringing. Now, do you perhaps have something that I can change into? This costume, while comfortable, is not what I would like to be ransomed in."
"Let alone rescued, eh? Governor, while my men were out abducting you and your assistant, the Black Pearl sailed in out of nowhere and attacked us. I want to know what you have to do with the Black Pearl."
Lord Raymond looked surprised. "The Black Pearl?" He laughed. "No 'rescue' for me from that ship, Captain, I assure you. I hanged their captain. They had probably planned on interrupting my party the way you did, but when you beat them to it, they fired on you thinking maybe you'd hand me over. They were definitely angry when I hanged Captain Sparrow."
"YOU hanged Jack Sparrow? I hardly believe that, Governor. You don't seem the type capable of ordering a man hanged."
The Governor smiled sweetly. "I don't? I can assure you, Captain O'Sullivan, that I personally gave the order to hang Jack Sparrow, just as I shall personally give the order to hang Shamus O'Sullivan." The smile never left his face.
O'Sullivan shot up and around the table in a flash, grabbing the governor by the collar. He dragged him to the door. "Hoyt! Take him below and put him in the brig with the rooster!"
Hoyt grabbed Lord Raymond by the arm and hauled him away, jerking when the governor didn't go fast enough.
- -
TBC