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.
A/N: First of all, thank you all who reviewed! It made me feel a lot better!
NOTE: I live for reviews. No reviews, muses go out gambling and leave me with no ideas. 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 5 - Relative Confusion and Revelation
Captain O'Sullivan looked at Groves. "Did you know this, or did he manage to pull the wool over everyone's eyes?"
"Know what? That the governor looks like his cousin? Of course. Why do you think he doesn't drink? He doesn't want to be identified as being related to the man. Believe me, Captain, O'Sullivan. There was no love lost between Lord Raymond and Jack Sparrow. He was so glad to see him hanged that he had the pirate's gold teeth pulled. They're in Lord Raymond's offices in the governor's mansion at the base of a painting of the gallows. His shipping companies and rum company had been the victim of that pirate for years."
Dennings shook his head. "I sailed with Jack Sparrow for three years, and I swear it's him."
"I'm afraid not, Mr. Dennings. While I admit that the resemblance can be uncanny, I was with Lord Raymond when he visited Sparrow in the gaol the night before Sparrow's hanging. Sparrow was furious with the Governor for daring to sign the order to hang him. He said it would bring a curse down on Lord Raymond if he hanged his own cousin. But he swung the next morning, and there has been nothing but clear sailing for the governor since. Until last night when your men arrived, anyway." Groves hoped that the cover story would work.
O'Sullivan looked at Groves, who appeared calm. "That is an interesting piece of news, sir. One that, perhaps, the governor might wish to pay a stipend to protect."
"I'm sure that could be arranged, Captain. Although Lord Raymond can be a most stubborn man, he can usually be coaxed into seeing reason."
"Of course. And he does seem to be a fair man. Certainly he isn't a greedy man by what I've heard of him. That IS the reason we took him, actually. As far as politicians are concerned, he seems a very fine governor. Though hanging his own cousin seems a mite overzealous against pirates. Jack Sparrow was never one to be bloodthirsty or overly greedy. Only killed those who were trying to kill him or those he was responsible for. I met him once, and though he made people think he was crazy, if you ask me, I'd say it was all an act. He was a fine man; smarter than most. He was just too sentimental to be a good pirate, truth to tell. It's no wonder the Black Pearl wants the governor. His crew was loyal enough that he didn't need to renew ships' articles unless someone left, and that didn't happen often."
O'Sullivan pointed to a hammock above the bed. "That's for you. That way you can be near the governor when he comes to."
"Thank you, Captain. These are actually perfect accommodations." O'Sullivan walked out. Groves sniffed Raymond's breath. /There's more at work than rum here. It smells like laudanum. So that's how they knocked him out! I knew rum alone couldn't do it./ He carefully removed his rooster costume, ripping off the shirt because of the manacles and leaving his underclothes on, climbed into the hammock and fell asleep.
- -
Robert made sure to keep the Dragon barely within spyglass range. /Idiots. They're leaving their lights on at night. This will be easy./
About an hour before the end of the mid watch, the Black Pearl was a mere hundred feet astern of the Dragon, with her longboats lowered and loaded with crewmembers ready to give their lives if need be in order to save Lord Raymond.
- -
A bell was ringing. His head was ringing. Lord Raymond sat up, banging his head on something soft. Above him, looking down from a hammock, was Captain Groves. "Ted, my head hurts. It's ringing. What happened?"
"Your head isn't ringing, milord. This ship is under attack. You were drugged last night. I had to tell them about 'your cousin.'"
"Did it go well?"
"Yes. So well, in fact, that O'Sullivan intends to blackmail you."
"That's fine." A gun report was heard. "Ah. A rescue then. Robert's arrived."
"But with the story about your cousin, O'Sullivan believes the Pearl's crew mean to kill you."
"Hmm...that could be a problem. O'Sullivan is greedy enough to defend me. Or..."
The door opened. O'Sullivan and the two men stood there, pistols ready. They were obviously not happy about something. O'Sullivan held a small hatchet in his hand. "As much as it pains me, it appears you must take your leave of us. The Black Pearl's crew have boarded this ship and are demanding you and your assistant. However, as I will not have you for the ransom..." He lifted the hatchet. "I shall need 'proof' that I've got you. Please make this easy or I'll have to remove other parts to prove my sincerity." He looked deadly serious.
"Now just a moment. I'm sure that we can all come to an agreement. Let me write and seal a letter for payment. You'll get your money without having to take pieces off of me."
"They won't respect the letter after you're dead."
"Yes they will. I'll backdate it to before the attack and state in the letter that it's payment for services rendered. They'll honor it. Then you take the manacles off of us so that we have a fighting chance to swim to shore. So you see, it's a fair trade. Is that acceptable?"
"Ah, but what if you DO get free and get to Montego Bay ahead of us?"
"I said, 'for services rendered.' I consider it a great service to give us a chance for life against the Black Pearl, and worth every farthing. So decide, but do it quickly, before they get here."
O'Sullivan thought for only a second. "We have an accord. See that you don't go back on it." He had one of the men run for the paper, pen and wax while he unlocked the manacles. They all moved into the great cabin.
- -
As Raymond pressed his ring to the wax seal, the outer door burst open. Robert and six men stood there, cutlasses drawn. O'Sullivan started toward them, but Lord Raymond lifted his hand and spoke in a commanding voice. "Stop! I'll not have any more bloodshed on my account! Captain James, if I am the reason you have attacked this ship, please order your men to cease hostilities. I'll go quietly, as will my assistant. Captain O'Sullivan, thank you for your hospitality, but there is no need to lose more lives in my defense. Now, if everyone will allow my assistant and I a moment to get dressed..."
Robert picked up on what was happening and sent one of his men to stop the attack. "I'm afraid we won't have time for that, governor." Groves gave Robert a dirty look. "Take them." The five pirates grabbed both of them, ushering them out in their underclothes.
As they brought the two almost naked men aboard the Pearl, there was a titter of laughter from the helm. Lizzy was obviously enjoying the view.
As soon as Raymond's feet hit the deck, he mumbled, "Robert, blow them out of the water. I don't dare let them live." He was ushered into the captain's cabin, followed by Groves and his guards. Once inside the cabin, he requested some clothes for the two of them, walked to the desk and started to pour a tankard of rum. He realized what he was doing and slammed both bottle and tankard onto the desk. "Bugger! Why did the fool have to drug me?! This little fiasco would have been over in the morning if it hadn't been for that!" He collapsed into the chair. They heard and felt the report of the Pearl's guns firing at the other ship.
Shortly thereafter, Robert walked in followed by one man in chains and a guard. "Lord Raymond, this man begged for parlay, offering to join the crew. He said he'd been on the Pearl's crew before. Do you recognize him?"
Raymond looked over. The man in the manacles was Dennings. "Yes. He sailed under me for three years or so nigh on fourteen years ago. He's a good man, and handy with a needle and bandages...even if he's a little liberal on the laudanum."
"So you ARE Jack Sparrow! I knew I was right!"
Jack nodded. "Aye, mate. I was. But you have to understand that Jack Sparrow is dead. Captain James here is sparing your life on my say so. If any word leaks out tying me to Sparrow, your life will be over, savvy?"
He grinned. "I savvy, Lord Raymond. It's just nice havin' one of our own in power."
"No it's not. It's a bloody nuisance. But I'm glad we have an accord."
Robert and the others left, and Raymond and Groves got dressed and followed, watching the Dragon sink as the Pearl started her turn back to Port Royal.
- -
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.
A/N: First of all, thank you all who reviewed! It made me feel a lot better!
NOTE: I live for reviews. No reviews, muses go out gambling and leave me with no ideas. 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 5 - Relative Confusion and Revelation
Captain O'Sullivan looked at Groves. "Did you know this, or did he manage to pull the wool over everyone's eyes?"
"Know what? That the governor looks like his cousin? Of course. Why do you think he doesn't drink? He doesn't want to be identified as being related to the man. Believe me, Captain, O'Sullivan. There was no love lost between Lord Raymond and Jack Sparrow. He was so glad to see him hanged that he had the pirate's gold teeth pulled. They're in Lord Raymond's offices in the governor's mansion at the base of a painting of the gallows. His shipping companies and rum company had been the victim of that pirate for years."
Dennings shook his head. "I sailed with Jack Sparrow for three years, and I swear it's him."
"I'm afraid not, Mr. Dennings. While I admit that the resemblance can be uncanny, I was with Lord Raymond when he visited Sparrow in the gaol the night before Sparrow's hanging. Sparrow was furious with the Governor for daring to sign the order to hang him. He said it would bring a curse down on Lord Raymond if he hanged his own cousin. But he swung the next morning, and there has been nothing but clear sailing for the governor since. Until last night when your men arrived, anyway." Groves hoped that the cover story would work.
O'Sullivan looked at Groves, who appeared calm. "That is an interesting piece of news, sir. One that, perhaps, the governor might wish to pay a stipend to protect."
"I'm sure that could be arranged, Captain. Although Lord Raymond can be a most stubborn man, he can usually be coaxed into seeing reason."
"Of course. And he does seem to be a fair man. Certainly he isn't a greedy man by what I've heard of him. That IS the reason we took him, actually. As far as politicians are concerned, he seems a very fine governor. Though hanging his own cousin seems a mite overzealous against pirates. Jack Sparrow was never one to be bloodthirsty or overly greedy. Only killed those who were trying to kill him or those he was responsible for. I met him once, and though he made people think he was crazy, if you ask me, I'd say it was all an act. He was a fine man; smarter than most. He was just too sentimental to be a good pirate, truth to tell. It's no wonder the Black Pearl wants the governor. His crew was loyal enough that he didn't need to renew ships' articles unless someone left, and that didn't happen often."
O'Sullivan pointed to a hammock above the bed. "That's for you. That way you can be near the governor when he comes to."
"Thank you, Captain. These are actually perfect accommodations." O'Sullivan walked out. Groves sniffed Raymond's breath. /There's more at work than rum here. It smells like laudanum. So that's how they knocked him out! I knew rum alone couldn't do it./ He carefully removed his rooster costume, ripping off the shirt because of the manacles and leaving his underclothes on, climbed into the hammock and fell asleep.
- -
Robert made sure to keep the Dragon barely within spyglass range. /Idiots. They're leaving their lights on at night. This will be easy./
About an hour before the end of the mid watch, the Black Pearl was a mere hundred feet astern of the Dragon, with her longboats lowered and loaded with crewmembers ready to give their lives if need be in order to save Lord Raymond.
- -
A bell was ringing. His head was ringing. Lord Raymond sat up, banging his head on something soft. Above him, looking down from a hammock, was Captain Groves. "Ted, my head hurts. It's ringing. What happened?"
"Your head isn't ringing, milord. This ship is under attack. You were drugged last night. I had to tell them about 'your cousin.'"
"Did it go well?"
"Yes. So well, in fact, that O'Sullivan intends to blackmail you."
"That's fine." A gun report was heard. "Ah. A rescue then. Robert's arrived."
"But with the story about your cousin, O'Sullivan believes the Pearl's crew mean to kill you."
"Hmm...that could be a problem. O'Sullivan is greedy enough to defend me. Or..."
The door opened. O'Sullivan and the two men stood there, pistols ready. They were obviously not happy about something. O'Sullivan held a small hatchet in his hand. "As much as it pains me, it appears you must take your leave of us. The Black Pearl's crew have boarded this ship and are demanding you and your assistant. However, as I will not have you for the ransom..." He lifted the hatchet. "I shall need 'proof' that I've got you. Please make this easy or I'll have to remove other parts to prove my sincerity." He looked deadly serious.
"Now just a moment. I'm sure that we can all come to an agreement. Let me write and seal a letter for payment. You'll get your money without having to take pieces off of me."
"They won't respect the letter after you're dead."
"Yes they will. I'll backdate it to before the attack and state in the letter that it's payment for services rendered. They'll honor it. Then you take the manacles off of us so that we have a fighting chance to swim to shore. So you see, it's a fair trade. Is that acceptable?"
"Ah, but what if you DO get free and get to Montego Bay ahead of us?"
"I said, 'for services rendered.' I consider it a great service to give us a chance for life against the Black Pearl, and worth every farthing. So decide, but do it quickly, before they get here."
O'Sullivan thought for only a second. "We have an accord. See that you don't go back on it." He had one of the men run for the paper, pen and wax while he unlocked the manacles. They all moved into the great cabin.
- -
As Raymond pressed his ring to the wax seal, the outer door burst open. Robert and six men stood there, cutlasses drawn. O'Sullivan started toward them, but Lord Raymond lifted his hand and spoke in a commanding voice. "Stop! I'll not have any more bloodshed on my account! Captain James, if I am the reason you have attacked this ship, please order your men to cease hostilities. I'll go quietly, as will my assistant. Captain O'Sullivan, thank you for your hospitality, but there is no need to lose more lives in my defense. Now, if everyone will allow my assistant and I a moment to get dressed..."
Robert picked up on what was happening and sent one of his men to stop the attack. "I'm afraid we won't have time for that, governor." Groves gave Robert a dirty look. "Take them." The five pirates grabbed both of them, ushering them out in their underclothes.
As they brought the two almost naked men aboard the Pearl, there was a titter of laughter from the helm. Lizzy was obviously enjoying the view.
As soon as Raymond's feet hit the deck, he mumbled, "Robert, blow them out of the water. I don't dare let them live." He was ushered into the captain's cabin, followed by Groves and his guards. Once inside the cabin, he requested some clothes for the two of them, walked to the desk and started to pour a tankard of rum. He realized what he was doing and slammed both bottle and tankard onto the desk. "Bugger! Why did the fool have to drug me?! This little fiasco would have been over in the morning if it hadn't been for that!" He collapsed into the chair. They heard and felt the report of the Pearl's guns firing at the other ship.
Shortly thereafter, Robert walked in followed by one man in chains and a guard. "Lord Raymond, this man begged for parlay, offering to join the crew. He said he'd been on the Pearl's crew before. Do you recognize him?"
Raymond looked over. The man in the manacles was Dennings. "Yes. He sailed under me for three years or so nigh on fourteen years ago. He's a good man, and handy with a needle and bandages...even if he's a little liberal on the laudanum."
"So you ARE Jack Sparrow! I knew I was right!"
Jack nodded. "Aye, mate. I was. But you have to understand that Jack Sparrow is dead. Captain James here is sparing your life on my say so. If any word leaks out tying me to Sparrow, your life will be over, savvy?"
He grinned. "I savvy, Lord Raymond. It's just nice havin' one of our own in power."
"No it's not. It's a bloody nuisance. But I'm glad we have an accord."
Robert and the others left, and Raymond and Groves got dressed and followed, watching the Dragon sink as the Pearl started her turn back to Port Royal.
- -
TBC