Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I only own Stella!
Chap. 6
Stella decided it was time to have a talk with Jack. She went down to his quarters and knocked on his door. Stella heard the familiar shuffling of papers, and then Jack opened the door.
"Ah! Miss Stella! I've been meaning to have a talk with you. Please, step into my office." Stella followed Jack into the room and looked around. The cabinets, desk, and chairs, and bed were made of a dark, rich mahogany. Some old maps were hung on the walls and a few assorted rum bottles were scattered on the floor and desk.
"It's er. very homey, Captain." Stella said. Jack's lips curved into a toothy grin.
"Well, I'm glad ye like it, love, I'm rather partial to it meself. Now, have a seat." Stella turned to find a seat and sat down in a carved, age-worn chair.
"Now, originally, you were to be used as leverage, a sort of barter, but it doesn't look like we'll be needing that sort of services anytime soon, seeing as we're in the middle of the ocean without a plan. So, that leaves us with two options. One, we can make ye walk the plank," Stella narrowed her eyes, a bit taken back, "or number two, ye can start working around the ship, and we'll take ye on as a crew member. But if you do choose number two, and I would bet that you do, ye will need to work like the rest of the crew. Regardless of your obvious. women..ness.., and any other disapproving traits."
"Well, yes, I admit that number two sounds a bit more pleasant, but why give me an option? I mean, you're Captain Jack Sparrow," Jack broke into another proud grin at this comment, "you kidnapped me, why care about me? Not that I'm not grateful, of course." Jack smiled.
" 'S true, I have the power to do so. But I've watched you look at the ocean, I've seen the way you smile slightly when watching the rise and fall of the waves. So I nthat way, I like ye. Me, I'm the same way. But I've also seen the way Will has taken to ye. He hasn't smiled , let alone laughed in months. He seems to enjoy your company." Stella tried to contain the immense smile that was building up inside her. She was so happy to hear that she makes him laugh. Stella nodded her appreciation and retreated to her room.
Stella sat on her bed and reached for her pack.
"I might as well unpack now." Stella said to herself with a smile. She unhooked the whale-bone button on the leather pack and pulled out its contents; a leather-bound copy of Robin Hood, a locket, a small carved box that held Stella's beloved gold, a silver ring with her mother's initials on it, a string of shells and small coins, and finally, her most prized possession, her mother's journal. It was rough and worn, the cover a dark red. Stella lifted the cover to find her mother's flowery script flowing from every page. She turned to the last one an read her own words.
"Emma Rose Lawrence, beloved mother and wife. Died on may 19th, 1701 of typhoid in Port Royal, Caribbean." A tear dropped from Stella's eye, smearing the last "n". Her mind began to wander back to the day of her mother's funeral. She remembered the grey of the sky, the cool breeze that fluttered the flower petals resting on the coffin. Stella could see the blooms clearly; the dak red roses, the soft white apple blossoms, the unknown yellow flowers that grew on the hill around their old house. But mostly she could see the zinnias. They were her mother's favorite flowers. She had brought a large sack of seeds with her on the trip over from London. Stella remembered the story of her mother's joy when the brightly colored flowers grew so easily in the warm Caribbean temperature. After the funeral Stella and her father had moved to the small house on the outskirts of town. That's when things got bad. Stella couldn't imagine why a women as kind and wonderful as her mother had been (or at least what she remembered as an eight year old) would ever want to marry a man as horrible as her father. Over the years Stella had guessed it was an arranged marriage, she didn't really remember he parents ever speaking much to each other, her father had stayed mostly in the house, working on things for the Governor, as was his job. Her mother spent most of her time outdoors, gazing at the sea. Stella smiled, wondering whether she acquired her love of the ocean from her mother.
Suddenly, a thought rose in Stella's mind. She ran back to Jack's room, but he had since left. Stella hurried up the stairs and towards the Captain, who was standing at the helm.
"Captain Sparrow! I think I have something you might be interested in." Jack spun around on one foot and looked inquisitively at her.
"And what might that be, love?" Stella held out her mother's journal, open to a page. Jack looked down at the book to see that it was not covered in writing, like he expected, but with a map drawn over the two pages. He took the journal and studied it for a moment before looking at Stella.
"Where did you get tha'?" He asked her, his eyes fiercely wide with wonder.
"It's my mother's journal, she died when I was eight. I've never really looked at the map before. Does it lead to anything? Treasure perhaps?" Stella asked hopefully. Jack continued to look dumbstruck.
"This is a hand-drawn replica of a very old map. I've heard stories of it.but this is impossible, how could ye mother have it? The original was destroyed in a fire long ago!
"What's so amazing about it, Captain? Couldn't my mother have simply stumbled upon it?"
"Lass, this isn't any little map. This map leads to Hidalgo's treasure! The Captain Hidalgo's treasure! Every pirate in the Spanish Main, no, the entire world would kill for this map!" Jack was now shouting. The crew had all stopped their work and were watching the scene.
"It isn't possible yer mum just stumbled upon it! Hidalgo was one of the most fearsome pirates in the history of. everything! Even if your mother was the most beautiful wench ever to grace the earth, he wouldn't as much as smiled at 'er, let alone given her his treasure! He was so powerful that he was only killed when the entire Royal Navy surrounded him, after a five month chase, and bombed the 'ell out of his ship! It's impossible that yer mother just happened to come across it!"
"Well what difference does it make when or where she obtained it, Jack! It's bloody treasure!! For a few moments the entire crew stared at disbelief at Stella's unexpected outburst. Even Stella herself was a bit taken back, and jack made no move to correct her on calling him Jack. A few more moments passed.
"Well. that's a point. CREW!" Jack cried out, "On deck you scabberous dogs! Man the sails!" The crew scurried to work, a bit of joy in their step. Jack winked at Stella and then headed back to the helm. Stella lifted her eyes to the crow's nest to find Will, his arms stretched out on the wood in front of him. He looked eager and excited and soon found Stella's gaze.
"Oy Stella!" Will called to her. Stella walked closer to the mast.
"Aye, Will?"
"Looks like we're going treasure hunting!" Stella and Will both laughed, and Will's rang out clear in the salty air. Stella began to feel a sense of belonging, and it was only rivaled by Will's laugh, echoing in her ears.
Chap. 6
Stella decided it was time to have a talk with Jack. She went down to his quarters and knocked on his door. Stella heard the familiar shuffling of papers, and then Jack opened the door.
"Ah! Miss Stella! I've been meaning to have a talk with you. Please, step into my office." Stella followed Jack into the room and looked around. The cabinets, desk, and chairs, and bed were made of a dark, rich mahogany. Some old maps were hung on the walls and a few assorted rum bottles were scattered on the floor and desk.
"It's er. very homey, Captain." Stella said. Jack's lips curved into a toothy grin.
"Well, I'm glad ye like it, love, I'm rather partial to it meself. Now, have a seat." Stella turned to find a seat and sat down in a carved, age-worn chair.
"Now, originally, you were to be used as leverage, a sort of barter, but it doesn't look like we'll be needing that sort of services anytime soon, seeing as we're in the middle of the ocean without a plan. So, that leaves us with two options. One, we can make ye walk the plank," Stella narrowed her eyes, a bit taken back, "or number two, ye can start working around the ship, and we'll take ye on as a crew member. But if you do choose number two, and I would bet that you do, ye will need to work like the rest of the crew. Regardless of your obvious. women..ness.., and any other disapproving traits."
"Well, yes, I admit that number two sounds a bit more pleasant, but why give me an option? I mean, you're Captain Jack Sparrow," Jack broke into another proud grin at this comment, "you kidnapped me, why care about me? Not that I'm not grateful, of course." Jack smiled.
" 'S true, I have the power to do so. But I've watched you look at the ocean, I've seen the way you smile slightly when watching the rise and fall of the waves. So I nthat way, I like ye. Me, I'm the same way. But I've also seen the way Will has taken to ye. He hasn't smiled , let alone laughed in months. He seems to enjoy your company." Stella tried to contain the immense smile that was building up inside her. She was so happy to hear that she makes him laugh. Stella nodded her appreciation and retreated to her room.
Stella sat on her bed and reached for her pack.
"I might as well unpack now." Stella said to herself with a smile. She unhooked the whale-bone button on the leather pack and pulled out its contents; a leather-bound copy of Robin Hood, a locket, a small carved box that held Stella's beloved gold, a silver ring with her mother's initials on it, a string of shells and small coins, and finally, her most prized possession, her mother's journal. It was rough and worn, the cover a dark red. Stella lifted the cover to find her mother's flowery script flowing from every page. She turned to the last one an read her own words.
"Emma Rose Lawrence, beloved mother and wife. Died on may 19th, 1701 of typhoid in Port Royal, Caribbean." A tear dropped from Stella's eye, smearing the last "n". Her mind began to wander back to the day of her mother's funeral. She remembered the grey of the sky, the cool breeze that fluttered the flower petals resting on the coffin. Stella could see the blooms clearly; the dak red roses, the soft white apple blossoms, the unknown yellow flowers that grew on the hill around their old house. But mostly she could see the zinnias. They were her mother's favorite flowers. She had brought a large sack of seeds with her on the trip over from London. Stella remembered the story of her mother's joy when the brightly colored flowers grew so easily in the warm Caribbean temperature. After the funeral Stella and her father had moved to the small house on the outskirts of town. That's when things got bad. Stella couldn't imagine why a women as kind and wonderful as her mother had been (or at least what she remembered as an eight year old) would ever want to marry a man as horrible as her father. Over the years Stella had guessed it was an arranged marriage, she didn't really remember he parents ever speaking much to each other, her father had stayed mostly in the house, working on things for the Governor, as was his job. Her mother spent most of her time outdoors, gazing at the sea. Stella smiled, wondering whether she acquired her love of the ocean from her mother.
Suddenly, a thought rose in Stella's mind. She ran back to Jack's room, but he had since left. Stella hurried up the stairs and towards the Captain, who was standing at the helm.
"Captain Sparrow! I think I have something you might be interested in." Jack spun around on one foot and looked inquisitively at her.
"And what might that be, love?" Stella held out her mother's journal, open to a page. Jack looked down at the book to see that it was not covered in writing, like he expected, but with a map drawn over the two pages. He took the journal and studied it for a moment before looking at Stella.
"Where did you get tha'?" He asked her, his eyes fiercely wide with wonder.
"It's my mother's journal, she died when I was eight. I've never really looked at the map before. Does it lead to anything? Treasure perhaps?" Stella asked hopefully. Jack continued to look dumbstruck.
"This is a hand-drawn replica of a very old map. I've heard stories of it.but this is impossible, how could ye mother have it? The original was destroyed in a fire long ago!
"What's so amazing about it, Captain? Couldn't my mother have simply stumbled upon it?"
"Lass, this isn't any little map. This map leads to Hidalgo's treasure! The Captain Hidalgo's treasure! Every pirate in the Spanish Main, no, the entire world would kill for this map!" Jack was now shouting. The crew had all stopped their work and were watching the scene.
"It isn't possible yer mum just stumbled upon it! Hidalgo was one of the most fearsome pirates in the history of. everything! Even if your mother was the most beautiful wench ever to grace the earth, he wouldn't as much as smiled at 'er, let alone given her his treasure! He was so powerful that he was only killed when the entire Royal Navy surrounded him, after a five month chase, and bombed the 'ell out of his ship! It's impossible that yer mother just happened to come across it!"
"Well what difference does it make when or where she obtained it, Jack! It's bloody treasure!! For a few moments the entire crew stared at disbelief at Stella's unexpected outburst. Even Stella herself was a bit taken back, and jack made no move to correct her on calling him Jack. A few more moments passed.
"Well. that's a point. CREW!" Jack cried out, "On deck you scabberous dogs! Man the sails!" The crew scurried to work, a bit of joy in their step. Jack winked at Stella and then headed back to the helm. Stella lifted her eyes to the crow's nest to find Will, his arms stretched out on the wood in front of him. He looked eager and excited and soon found Stella's gaze.
"Oy Stella!" Will called to her. Stella walked closer to the mast.
"Aye, Will?"
"Looks like we're going treasure hunting!" Stella and Will both laughed, and Will's rang out clear in the salty air. Stella began to feel a sense of belonging, and it was only rivaled by Will's laugh, echoing in her ears.