Author's Notes -
Okay, so I'm two days late BUT this is the longest chapter in a long time. Happy (late) Easter to all of you who celebrate Easter and Happy Monday as well.
A-
Author Thanks -
CaptainTish - Thanks! Yeah, Cadiz is in Spain. Hope you enjoy the chapter!
TriGemini - Thanks! Just a dream ... although I'm sure I had you all going for a bit. Christy and Jack didn't go anywhere ... the last chapter left off with Christy being led back to the room to rest and Jack behind the locked door of the guest cabin. Anyways, enjoy!
Smithy - Thanks! Just wait ... you may be satisfied at the end. Trust me. Enjoy.
AJ-Sparrow – Thanks! Enjoy!
Jinxd n cursed - Thanks! Enjoy!
S.S.I. - Thanks! For the cruise, I sold so many boxes of candy and all sorts of other fundraisers that it was great to get to enjoy it. Yep, Cadiz is in Spain. Enjoy!
The lady of the shadows - Thanks! Enjoy!
RMB - Thanks! Trust me, there's a lot that will be happening in coming chapters. Hold onto your seat. Enjoy!
Victoria87 - Thanks! Yeah, I know the stories both are quite long. I've realised the mistakes in my French, especially in "What's In A Name?" Like I said before I started the bits in French in WIAN, I'm not a fluent French speaker and have been learning for the last few years. I believe that you truly speak French ... mainly because you were able to point out my mistakes (which no one else noticed). I really appreciate the offer for help and also appreciate the way you went about pointing out the errors (thanks for not flaming me!). Anyways, if I need any further assistance, I'll take you up on your offer for help. Again, thank you for the offer ... I'm probably going to go about and edit some of the French in WIAN (seeing as I'd only had about 3 years and didn't know too much about grammar and whatnot) and I'll let you know if I need any help. Anywho, enjoy the chapter!
Queen of the Caribbean - Thanks! Wow ... you read this and 'What's In A Name?' in 2 days? Impressive. I know, Christy can come off as a bit of a Mary Sue ... but its difficult to write OFC's for Pirates of the Caribbean. But, as you said, she's not nearly as bad as some of the other stories on this site (but I won't name anyone). I hope your head gets better ... sounds like a bit of a concussion (trust me, I didn't write Christy's concussion by just making up the symptoms ... I got hit in the head with a canoe ... but I won't get into it). Panadol ... that's Aussie, right? My best friend was in Australia last year and that name sounds familiar. Me, I'm smack dab in the middle of the US ... in Illinois. (Terribly exciting, I know) Enjoy the chapter!
Freak in Corner - Thanks! I know it was short ... but I was a bit rushed. Enjoy!
Lil Bit - Thanks, poppet. Enjoy!
lady lorethei - Thanks! I'm glad you like my story so much ... I'm honoured. Enjoy!
jisAtsU siLENcE - Thanks! Yep, dream. Hehe, I had you scared. Mission accomplished, lol. Enjoy!
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Last Time -
"Tis a fool's mission but I think yer right," Gibbs said.
"Thank ye, Mister Gibbs. There be maps in Jack's cabin," Colin said before dismissing him. Colin had to admit that although he wasn't too accustomed to leadership roles, he had to be able to handle this ... for the sake of Jack and Christy. Taking the helm once more, he guided the Pearl east.
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Beyond the Horizon
Chapter 21 - Coming to Cadiz
Time crept slowly on, just as slowly as our progress towards Cadiz. Diego, in an unforeseen fit of kindness, allowed me to be moved into the room with Jack ... although he made it clear that he did not know what would happen to either of us once we reached the Spanish mainland. He promised to do what he could and I knew with almost certainty that he and Esperanza would be fighting for our cause.
It seemed that all things revolved around reaching Spain ... including Jack's (and possibly my) life. But, neither Jack nor I allowed the other to dwell on this fact. Although I will admit that Jack was far more optimistic than I was. Perhaps it was the lifetime of the Caribbean laissez-faire lifestyle that gave Jack so much more optimism ... or possibly his body was still so saturated with rum that he didn't care. Whichever it was, I did not know ... but I definitely seemed to be lacking the positive energy that gushed out of him.
Over the course of the three weeks it took to get the rest of the way to Spain, I regained almost all of my old strength, although Esperanza, who spent a fair amount of time with us, continued forcing mugs of cinchona tea down my throat. I had developed a huge distaste for the stuff ... but, I knew it was for my own good. (I just really hated hearing it.)
I woke one morning and heard, to my astonishment, a cry for land. I sat bolt upright and looked over to see Jack, gazing out of the porthole. "Land?" I asked, though I knew the answer already.
"Spain," he said, turning to face me.
"Perfect ..." I whispered, my heart sinking. It seemed that it had only been moments before that we had been taken from the Pearl and now everything was flashing. I supposed that had we been treated like proper prisoners, we would not be nearly this dreadful of land (or at least I wouldn't ... Jack didn't seem to dread anything ... except a shortage of rum, maybe).
Jack strode over to sit beside me on the bed and ran his fingers through my hair. "Remember what we rehearsed?" he asked.
I nodded. We had gone over what I should say time and time again. I was to tell Jauquiem Santos El Viendo that I had been taken from a ship that had been destroyed off the coast of Hispaniola and Captain Sparrow had not harmed me. I was not to refer to Jack as anything other than Captain Sparrow and I was to always treat his name with the utmost dislike. Jack had warned me not to mention Rhia and if I did, say that she was my daughter but my husband was dead. I was to say that upon arriving on Captain Sparrow's ship, I took ill with malaria and it was the combined efforts of a crew member from Captain Sparrow's ship and Esperanza that helped me to recover.
"Good. Esperanza and Diego will go along with whatever you say, I'm sure of it. So long as you don't slip up and gush about how much you love me, you should be fine," he said confidently.
"Jack ... what about you?" I asked, nervously, for all the details of the plan went no farther than what I should tell Jauquiem ... we had no further plan.
"Focus on getting Jauquiem to believe you first ... then worry about me, love. I have a plan of my own ... I think," he smiled reassuringly and I couldn't help but wonder what the plan was. I just had the feeling that it was something that I would find out when the time was right ...
I leaned over and gave Jack a kiss, not knowing when the next time I could do that would be and then we waited, holding hands and sitting silently on the bed.
It felt like only a moment before Diego and Esperanza walked into the room. Esperanza smiled over at me and I did my best to return the gesture.
"Captain Sparrow ... I must ask that you allow me to put these on you and come quietly with me ... although some showmanship might make everything seem more realistic," Diego said, holding out a pair of manacles for Jack to see.
Jack stood, gave me a wink and allowed his hands to be bound in the manacles, along with his feet.
I took a deep breath and stood up as well, waiting for some sort of instruction as to what to do, some knowledge as to what would happen.
Diego turned to me and said, "Senorita, Captain Sparrow will go in the first carriage with me. You will go in the second with Esperanza. Remember to keep calm. Please. Hysteria will not get this done any faster."
I smiled faintly. "You two have been around each other too much," I said, gesturing to Diego and Jack.
"We should leave, Diego. We don't want to be late," Esperanza said softly.
Diego nodded, gave me a quick bow and led Jack away. As he was walking, Jack turned his head back and winked confidently one more time. Now it was just Esperanza and me. "Act weak. Remember that the worse off you seem, the more sympathy you can get. Juaquiem has a soft spot for fragility."
I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Just what I wanted to do after being ill and recovering for almost a month, pretend to be weak. I sighed resignedly and nodded, I too could play a part.
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The carriage ride took a fairly long time ... or at least it seemed to have. Although just walking off of the boat and onto the docks, which seemed teeming with people had been nerve-wracking. Jack was spotted to be a prisoner and it felt as though all eyes were on us but thankfully, nothing was thrown. Me, I took the advice that had been given by Esperanza and tried to seem as weak as possible. I leaned on her as we disembarked and got into the carriage, trying to give the appearance that I was rather ill.
Once we were on the carriage, we began the bumpy ride through the city of Cadiz. Esperanza told me that Juaquiem lived at that top of a cliff overlooking the ocean and his own ship.
Diego had sent Rion ahead of us on horseback to announce our coming so when we arrived at the El Viendo estate, Juaquiem was waiting. I glanced through the curtains of the carriage as we arrived and saw Rion standing with a man of about Jack's height with neatly kept, medium length black hair. I couldn't see him too much clearer but his facial features looked moderately impressive.
I nodded mutely before the carriage door opened. Esperanza climbed out first and remembering that I was supposed to be weak, allowed myself to be helped out. "Gracias," I whispered to th man who had helped me before leaning on Esperanza. As we walked, I caught a glimpse of Jack getting out of his carriage, now flanked by two larger men. Jack and his entourage stopped in front of the man and Rion. They paused before them before continuing on into the estate.
Esperanza and I had reached the two men. I tried to keep myself from showing fear as we approached and did my best to not shake. Now I could see the face of Juaquiem. As I had assumed, his face was impressive. His nose, straight and decently long, his eyes a blue-grey colour most Spaniards didn't have. But now that I could see him up close, I saw that his skin was not nearly as dark as Esperanza's but instead was the colour of a light wood or maybe just a very tanned Briton. Inwardly I questioned the true story behind this man but figured I'd have to wait until later.
"What's this?" Juaquiem asked both Esperanza and Rion.
"We found her on Sparrow's ship. She was ill. I helped her get well during the journey and she told me that -" Esperanza started.
"Later. We will talk later," Diego interrupted. "Take her in. Lock her in. I will call on her later. Not now," he said shortly.
Esperanza nodded and guided me through the gates, into the open square that was at the centre of the home. We passed guards in the plaza silently and I tried to memorise my surroundings. She led me inside and took me to a room on the first floor, for there were two stories to the home. "I don't figure it will be long before he comes to see you. I won't be allowed to stay ... or see you while in his presence. Remember your story and don't get confused. He is a smart man but he also has a cruel streak to him ... just don't do anything rash and you should be fine. I'll have Diego check on Captain Sparrow from time to time..."
I got the sense that she didn't know what else to say or couldn't say anything else. "Thank you for everything," I whispered resignedly.
Esperanza leaned down and kissed me on the cheek before leaving.
And then I was alone. I gazed around the room. There was a window looking into the centre plaza but there was no way to escape because of the guards. I frowned out the window, a line creased in my forehead as I thought. In the plaza stood three guards with bayonets and I had a feeling there were more than that ...
Turning my attention back to the room, I took in the furnishings carefully. The bed positioned against the wall, the wardrobe which turned out to be filled with dresses, all of which were too long for me and a low sitting couch. Beside the sleep stood a shelf with several books and other knick-knacks. This room must have belonged at one time to a woman because it was in far too good of a condition to have been furnished by a man. I wondered who she was ... and more importantly, what had happened to her.
I started slightly when the door opened but it was an old man carrying a tray of food. He smiled at me briefly, set down the tray before leaving again. I walked over to examine the tray. There was a mug of tea, some chicken and bread. I picked a bit of bread and nibbled on it absently, gazing out the window. I couldn't help but feel impatient ... I hated waiting, not knowing what was going on ... but then again, I feared what I would learn when I did learn my fate or Jack's.
There was a knock on the door and I turned as the door opened.
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ON THE PEARL
For once in Colin's life, fate seemed to be going his way. By the grace of all things good and pure, the Pearl had made excellent time as they sped towards Spain, reaching the coast in a flat twenty-three days, much quicker than the typical journey.
The crew was exceptionally loyal to Jack (and quite fond of Christy as well) and upon finding him missing, worked as hard as possible to make haste after him. Working ceaselessly through the nights, they guided the ship by moonlight and when there was no moon, they mended sails and scrubbed the decks by torchlight. Colin was surprised at their resilience, the way that each man pulled his own weight without complaint and pitched in when another man grew too tired. Colin himself was at the helm through the first and second bells, only sleeping for about six hours per night.
Tad, the poor lad, seemed to be taking the brunt of the strain that Jack and Christy's abductions had caused. The boy did his best to keep the crew fed for he was not strong enough to do a great deal of labour on deck. Colin made a point of checking on the lad frequently especially since he seemed to be greatly missing Christy. Tad had adopted Chaton, keeping the lemur in his own little cubby-hole of a cabin and caring for the animal intently.
On that day, there was an extra amount of energy floating around the air. The Pearl was within seeing distance of the Spanish mainland (if one looked through a scope) and there was planning to be done. Colin had ideas but not nearly enough to plan such an attack ... as Jack would say, he needed to 'wait for the opportune moment.'
"Oy! Tad! C'mere, boy!" Colin called as Tad walked across the deck in the fierce afternoon sunlight.
Tad squinted over at him and obeyed. "Yup?"
"We'll be arrivin' come nightfall. Get Parkers, Potts and Gibbs. Tell them to meet me here ... we have work to be done," he instructed and watched as the boy scampered away.
When the men met arrived, Colin instructed Gibbs to take the helm so that he could speak to the other two in private. Once they were in the quiet of Jack's cabin (for it was the easiest place to speak to someone with the least chance of being listened to.
"Ah right. Here's what we need to do. We need to find out exactly where this bloke 'o wants Jack lives, what 'e's like and how much security 'e 'as. I dunno what we're gettin' inta and I wanna find out afore we get ourselves into trouble. So, Mr. Potts and Mr. Parkers, ye're ta check in the pubs, separate, mind. Don't go attractin' attention. See if any ships have come in in the last few days ... see who was on them. Don't go 'bout rousing suspicions ta yerselves and keep quiet, like. I'm sending ye ashore come nightfall ... take one of the row boats. Then I'm takin' the Pearl and we're gonna dock in that cove o'er there. Be back by mornin' and we'll plan the next course."
Parkers and Potts nodded silently and left.
Colin stood in the now empy room, gazing around, lost in thought. "Bloody 'ell, Jack ... ye best be still alive ... if yer not ... I'll kill ye," he muttered to himself before walking out of the room.
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PORT ROYALE
Elizabeth threw her hands into the air, frustrated. The house was filled with the angry screams of Rhia. Today was just one of those days.
It had been about two months since Christy had left her daughter in the Turner's care and Elizabeth was beginning to worry. She was definitely starting to wonder if Christy or Jack would be coming back at all.
Rhia had been fine, most days ... but as Elizabeth had already said, today was just one of those days. The child was pleasant and agreeable usually but there were those days (like today) when she screamed and threw fits over everything. Anything from the taste of her food to the way her writing looked to the amount of attention Will and Elizabeth could give her. At the moment, she was screaming because Will would not play horsey with her.
Although Elizabeth was frustrated, she had to admit that she understood what Rhia was so upset about. Rhia had never been away from her mother for more than an afternoon and, like Elizabeth had said, it had been two months.
Ten minutes later, the screams had died and Elizabeth ventured back into the room. She nearly laughed at the panicked expression on Will's face and knew that he was not accustomed to tantrums ... well, he should have seen the ones she had pulled as a child ... they were worse. Elizabeth knelt down beside Rhia, who was sitting on the floor, her cheeks red and tear-stained. "Hiya Rhia," she said cheerfully.
"Auntie 'Lizabeth?" Rhia said quietly.
"Yes?"
"I miss my mummy..." she whispered before a fresh flood of tears broke through her eyes.
Elizabeth caught the child up in her arms and let her cry. "I know, Rhia. I know," she replied, patting her on the back soothingly. Rhia cried herself to sleep in Elizabeth's arms and after lying her down on the bed, Elizabeth and Will left the room.
"I don't care what you say," Will started, once they were in their bedroom. "I'm glad we don't have any yet."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "She misses Christy and Jack. And who could blame her. She hasn't seen her mother for two months now. Of course she's moody."
"Moody? Ha! That's not moody, Liz. That's insanity. Moody is you on your monthly. That's sheer temper, that is."
She smiled. "Do you have any memory of Christy when she was pregnant? And Jack isn't always even-tempered. Of course she has a bit of a temper."
Will shook his head. "I just hope our children are never like that," he said without thinking.
He had done it ... Elizabeth's face fell and she walked over to the bed to sit down.
"Elizabeth ... I didn't ... I didn't mean anything," Will said, trying to contain the situation. "It's not your fault that we haven't had any children yet but that's not to mean that we won't in good time. It's just that ... I'm sorry."
Elizabeth smiled weakly over at him, her eyes sparkling. "I know ... I just really want a baby and..."
Will walked over, sat down beside her and wrapped his arms around her. "We will. The time just isn't right yet," he said, gently.
Elizabeth laid her head on his shoulder. "I'm worried about Jack and Christy," she whispered.
Will ran a hand down her back. "I know ... me too."
They sat in silence for a long time.
"Do you think something happened to them?" she asked finally.
"I don't think so. I'm sure Jack is still perfectly able to take care of himself and Christy."
"Yes but if ... if they got captured, then what? How are we supposed to know? I mean, what if they're hurt? Or even dead? Then what?" she asked nervously.
"I don't know, Liz. I don't know," Will replied, sounding tired.
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Author's Note -
Well, that's all for now. Next chapter will be posted by the end of next weekend.
Mange Klemmar,
CrazyCanoeingGIT