And the Winds of Destiny, by Hellborne
Pirates of the Caribbean
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 4 - Crime and Punishment
Two men climbed down the ladder and motioned Groves with a pistol to stay seated while Lord Raymond came to the door of the cell. Raymond looked back at Ted, who looked nervous. Raymond smiled. "Don't worry, Ted. I'll be fine." He climbed the ladder, followed by the two other men.
When he reached the main deck, he knew he was in trouble. The area around the mainmast had been cleared, and Captain O'Sullivan and his quartermaster were standing at the ready, the quartermaster holding a long, coiled whip at his side. Raymond looked up at the stars and the sails. /Good. We've come around./
Captain O'Sullivan cleared his throat, bringing Raymond's attention back. "Lord Smythe-Douglas, you have been much help in planning your ransom. We shall be doing as you have suggested, and are even now heading toward Montego Bay. However, your impertinent comment at the end of our polite little chat has insulted me to the quick, and as I cannot allow such insolence aboard my ship, you understand that you must be punished, though it pains me to have such a fine, upstanding popinjay as yourself flogged." The crew laughed.
One of the guards grabbed Lord Raymond by the upper arms and held him as the other removed his shirt. There were gasps as the pirate crew saw his ruined back. They tied him by his wrists around the mainmast and stepped back. Captain O'Sullivan stepped forward into his view. "Nothing personal, governor, but I cannot lose the respect of my men."
Lord Raymond remained calm. "How many?"
"Threatening a captain should earn you death, governor. However, since you are worth far more to us alive than dead, we have decided to be lenient with you. You shall receive Moses' Law."
The governor nodded solemnly. "Have at it then." He closed his eyes and drew deep into himself, relaxing his back as he leaned against the mainmast. When the first of the blows landed, he flinched slightly, and realized that the quartermaster was being lenient with him indeed; while the whip caused his back pain and left great weals of red, he knew that it could be much worse. He drew himself deeper into his meditation and tried to bear it gracefully. As the blows crisscrossed each other, his thoughts started to get interrupted by pain.
At the thirtieth blow, he screamed. It seemed the quartermaster had run out of leniency.
By the final blow, Raymond was hoarse and close to passing out, but as they untied his wrists, he grabbed the mainmast and turned around without assistance. The two guards took and held him by the arms, more as support than anything else. As he walked slowly to the hatch leading to the brig, he heard many voices from the crew mumbling, and most of those voices were in awe.
- -
Captain Groves heard the flogging through the open hatch. He counted them as they happened, and though he was sure that Raymond could withstand flogging better than most men, it still amazed him that he stayed quiet till the thirtieth blow.
He was astounded again when he saw the governor descend the steps with minimal help, though his head was bowed and his hair had come out of its queue and was hanging free. One guard opened the door to the brig while the other brought Raymond all the way to the rear of the cell and helped him sit down, giving Groves the red devil's shirt and leaving after saluting the governor, though Raymond had not lifted his head. The two men silently climbed the ladder, one returning with bucket and rag and leaving again.
After the hatch was closed, Lord Raymond raised his head weakly. Groves noticed that he had a familiar wild-eyed visage on his face, and the freed hair around it made him even more familiar looking. He gasped. "Raymond, we've got to do something. You're looking very familiar to me, if you know what I mean."
Raymond nodded, his breathing fast and shallow. He took a deep breath and held it, closing his eyes, then started breathing slowly and deeply, almost as if he were asleep.
Ted could see the muscles in his face reforming to the way they belonged to Governor Smythe-Douglass. He ripped one of the cloth "feathers" from the red tail of his costume, removed the wire, and tied Raymond's hair back.
Lord Raymond opened his eyes and looked at his friend. His voice was hoarse but strong. "How is it now?"
"Good. You're back to normal. I still don't understand how you do that."
"Took years to master. Learned it in India. I'm just glad the quartermaster went easy on me. I'm way out of practice in regards to pain."
Ted took the rag and soaked it in the bucket. Raymond turned so that his back faced Ted and heard a quick intake of breath.
"Lord Raymond, I do not believe they 'went easy' on you." Ted cleaned the blood off of the torn back. "No, Raymond. They most definitely did not 'take it easy' on you. Your back will need stitching." He did what he could and laid the rewetted rag over his back, letting Raymond's long, hip-length hair fall over it in its queue.
It didn't take long for the guards to come back down to the brig. This time they bore manacles and called "the rooster" out first. While one fitted him with manacles on his wrists, the other walked into the cell, gently fitted the other pair of manacles onto Lord Raymond's wrists, and helped him walk out of the cell.
Raymond thanked him for his assistance, and climbed the ladder followed closely by Ted and the two guards.
- -
Captain O'Sullivan helped seat Lord Raymond personally, and motioned Ted to a seat as well. The food from before had been replaced with bowls of fresh and marinated fruit, and there was even cream in a couple of small pitchers around the table. Once he stood at the head of the table, he bowed to Raymond. "Governor, you have the respect of me and my crew, and I'd like to make you feel as comfortable as the situation allows. I'm afraid I can't just let you walk free on deck since we are skirting Jamaica so closely, but as long as the manacles remain on your wrists, you and your assistant have free run of the ship till our arrival at Montego Bay."
Raymond reached for a banana and winced slightly. Ted passed him the banana and one of the pitchers of cream. The governor smiled and thanked the pirate for his hospitality.
Ted spoke up. "Captain, I've done everything that I can, but Lord Raymond's back requires stitching."
O'Sullivan nodded. He went to the door and threw it open. "Dennings! Bring your sewing kit! Lord Raymond's back needs tending!" By the time he walked back to his seat at the table, a small, elderly man came through the door and stood quietly behind Lord Raymond, kit in hand.
Raymond whispered, "thank you," and was helped to a small room off of the main cabin.
Captain O'Sullivan nodded at Ted. "Eat up."
Ted took a few marinated cherries into a bowl and poured cream over them. He took a careful bite, gave the captain a surprised look, and ate them much faster. "Captain, these are delicious! How are they made?"
O'Sullivan grinned. "The cherries have been marinated in brandy and sugar, and the cream's been sweetened as well. Pierre's the best cook I've ever had. They say he can make bilge water taste good."
Several minutes later as they were finishing, Dennings walked silently into the main cabin. "He's restin' comfortably. He didn't want any, but I made 'im drink some rum for the pain. Cap'n, I think ye should see this." Ted and the captain rose and walked into the small room.
The man on the bed was lying on his back, his hair out of his queue and draped carelessly over his shoulders, though the red scrap of material had been tied around his forehead to keep it out of his face. The dark shadow of his whiskers almost made him look like he had a beard and mustache. He had bandages wrapped around his upper torso, though there was a blanket laying over him up to his stomach. The rum had relaxed him completely, and his face looked tranquil, as every muscle in it lay slack. There was no mistaking it. The man sleeping serenely on the bed was Jack Sparrow.
- -
TBC
Pirates of the Caribbean
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 4 - Crime and Punishment
Two men climbed down the ladder and motioned Groves with a pistol to stay seated while Lord Raymond came to the door of the cell. Raymond looked back at Ted, who looked nervous. Raymond smiled. "Don't worry, Ted. I'll be fine." He climbed the ladder, followed by the two other men.
When he reached the main deck, he knew he was in trouble. The area around the mainmast had been cleared, and Captain O'Sullivan and his quartermaster were standing at the ready, the quartermaster holding a long, coiled whip at his side. Raymond looked up at the stars and the sails. /Good. We've come around./
Captain O'Sullivan cleared his throat, bringing Raymond's attention back. "Lord Smythe-Douglas, you have been much help in planning your ransom. We shall be doing as you have suggested, and are even now heading toward Montego Bay. However, your impertinent comment at the end of our polite little chat has insulted me to the quick, and as I cannot allow such insolence aboard my ship, you understand that you must be punished, though it pains me to have such a fine, upstanding popinjay as yourself flogged." The crew laughed.
One of the guards grabbed Lord Raymond by the upper arms and held him as the other removed his shirt. There were gasps as the pirate crew saw his ruined back. They tied him by his wrists around the mainmast and stepped back. Captain O'Sullivan stepped forward into his view. "Nothing personal, governor, but I cannot lose the respect of my men."
Lord Raymond remained calm. "How many?"
"Threatening a captain should earn you death, governor. However, since you are worth far more to us alive than dead, we have decided to be lenient with you. You shall receive Moses' Law."
The governor nodded solemnly. "Have at it then." He closed his eyes and drew deep into himself, relaxing his back as he leaned against the mainmast. When the first of the blows landed, he flinched slightly, and realized that the quartermaster was being lenient with him indeed; while the whip caused his back pain and left great weals of red, he knew that it could be much worse. He drew himself deeper into his meditation and tried to bear it gracefully. As the blows crisscrossed each other, his thoughts started to get interrupted by pain.
At the thirtieth blow, he screamed. It seemed the quartermaster had run out of leniency.
By the final blow, Raymond was hoarse and close to passing out, but as they untied his wrists, he grabbed the mainmast and turned around without assistance. The two guards took and held him by the arms, more as support than anything else. As he walked slowly to the hatch leading to the brig, he heard many voices from the crew mumbling, and most of those voices were in awe.
- -
Captain Groves heard the flogging through the open hatch. He counted them as they happened, and though he was sure that Raymond could withstand flogging better than most men, it still amazed him that he stayed quiet till the thirtieth blow.
He was astounded again when he saw the governor descend the steps with minimal help, though his head was bowed and his hair had come out of its queue and was hanging free. One guard opened the door to the brig while the other brought Raymond all the way to the rear of the cell and helped him sit down, giving Groves the red devil's shirt and leaving after saluting the governor, though Raymond had not lifted his head. The two men silently climbed the ladder, one returning with bucket and rag and leaving again.
After the hatch was closed, Lord Raymond raised his head weakly. Groves noticed that he had a familiar wild-eyed visage on his face, and the freed hair around it made him even more familiar looking. He gasped. "Raymond, we've got to do something. You're looking very familiar to me, if you know what I mean."
Raymond nodded, his breathing fast and shallow. He took a deep breath and held it, closing his eyes, then started breathing slowly and deeply, almost as if he were asleep.
Ted could see the muscles in his face reforming to the way they belonged to Governor Smythe-Douglass. He ripped one of the cloth "feathers" from the red tail of his costume, removed the wire, and tied Raymond's hair back.
Lord Raymond opened his eyes and looked at his friend. His voice was hoarse but strong. "How is it now?"
"Good. You're back to normal. I still don't understand how you do that."
"Took years to master. Learned it in India. I'm just glad the quartermaster went easy on me. I'm way out of practice in regards to pain."
Ted took the rag and soaked it in the bucket. Raymond turned so that his back faced Ted and heard a quick intake of breath.
"Lord Raymond, I do not believe they 'went easy' on you." Ted cleaned the blood off of the torn back. "No, Raymond. They most definitely did not 'take it easy' on you. Your back will need stitching." He did what he could and laid the rewetted rag over his back, letting Raymond's long, hip-length hair fall over it in its queue.
It didn't take long for the guards to come back down to the brig. This time they bore manacles and called "the rooster" out first. While one fitted him with manacles on his wrists, the other walked into the cell, gently fitted the other pair of manacles onto Lord Raymond's wrists, and helped him walk out of the cell.
Raymond thanked him for his assistance, and climbed the ladder followed closely by Ted and the two guards.
- -
Captain O'Sullivan helped seat Lord Raymond personally, and motioned Ted to a seat as well. The food from before had been replaced with bowls of fresh and marinated fruit, and there was even cream in a couple of small pitchers around the table. Once he stood at the head of the table, he bowed to Raymond. "Governor, you have the respect of me and my crew, and I'd like to make you feel as comfortable as the situation allows. I'm afraid I can't just let you walk free on deck since we are skirting Jamaica so closely, but as long as the manacles remain on your wrists, you and your assistant have free run of the ship till our arrival at Montego Bay."
Raymond reached for a banana and winced slightly. Ted passed him the banana and one of the pitchers of cream. The governor smiled and thanked the pirate for his hospitality.
Ted spoke up. "Captain, I've done everything that I can, but Lord Raymond's back requires stitching."
O'Sullivan nodded. He went to the door and threw it open. "Dennings! Bring your sewing kit! Lord Raymond's back needs tending!" By the time he walked back to his seat at the table, a small, elderly man came through the door and stood quietly behind Lord Raymond, kit in hand.
Raymond whispered, "thank you," and was helped to a small room off of the main cabin.
Captain O'Sullivan nodded at Ted. "Eat up."
Ted took a few marinated cherries into a bowl and poured cream over them. He took a careful bite, gave the captain a surprised look, and ate them much faster. "Captain, these are delicious! How are they made?"
O'Sullivan grinned. "The cherries have been marinated in brandy and sugar, and the cream's been sweetened as well. Pierre's the best cook I've ever had. They say he can make bilge water taste good."
Several minutes later as they were finishing, Dennings walked silently into the main cabin. "He's restin' comfortably. He didn't want any, but I made 'im drink some rum for the pain. Cap'n, I think ye should see this." Ted and the captain rose and walked into the small room.
The man on the bed was lying on his back, his hair out of his queue and draped carelessly over his shoulders, though the red scrap of material had been tied around his forehead to keep it out of his face. The dark shadow of his whiskers almost made him look like he had a beard and mustache. He had bandages wrapped around his upper torso, though there was a blanket laying over him up to his stomach. The rum had relaxed him completely, and his face looked tranquil, as every muscle in it lay slack. There was no mistaking it. The man sleeping serenely on the bed was Jack Sparrow.
- -
TBC