Chapter twelve: Lies behind my eyes

I spent two nights in the jail before my trial. Jack had tried to see me, said one jailer, but couldn't get past the gaurds, and was threatend with being arrested as well. Coralie did managed to come in, being as she was of hte uptown folk, and dropped off some of her cooks wonderful cakes and cookies. I devoured them, and then she left assuring me that no letters from India(the place) had arrived. The day of my trail dawned wet and cold. The wheather didn't clear up like usual, but stayed damp and dreary, and the spattering of rain on the tin roof of the jail made me feel like I was going crazy. I was almost glad when the gaurds came to take me to the courthouse. Coralie had dropped off my nicest gown the night before for the trial. And I did my hair as best as I could without a brush and a mirror, and only combs.

I walkd into the courtroom and glanced around before sitting down in the defendance chair. Elizabeth was sitting in the plaintiff's chair looking quite pleased with herself. Her face read; "I just caught me the outlaw that aint never been caught." I smiled inwardly. No street whore was going to bring me down. The only capable person who could was my late husband...and he is dead. Jack was in the audiance along with half the crew and the Turners'. After I was sworn in and the like, I was forced to sit down at the bench.

"Jezebel," The bailif began. Even he didn't know my real name. "You are accused of seven counts of murder, seven counts of impersonation, ten counts of robbery, and one count of piracy...How do you plead?"

Without skipping a beat I said: "Not guilty." The bailiff looked at the judge wearily, then went to stand besides the bench.

"Very well," The judge, Judge Maris, said. "Elizabeth Swann, you are called to the stand." I got up and went back to the chair, as Elizabeth went up. She gave me a satisfied smirk before sitting down. Her lawyer came up and started to question her.

"Miss. Swann," He said in a nasily voice, "Tell me exactly what happened on the day of November 18, the day this...killer, threatened your life."

Elizabeth's eyes took on an expression of fright. "Well, I was walking down the market-place main road, when I came across Coralie Turner. She was in the precenace of Jezebel, and I said how beautiful Coralie's children were. Jezebel had a little boy in her arms, which she handed over to Coralie, and then Jezebel pulled a dagger on me," At this, Elizabeth started sobbing into her hanky that was tucked ever so neatly into her dress sleeve. I rolled my eyes and thought, surely the jury wouldn't believe this bull crap...However, when I looked over at them, they all had sympathetic looks on their faces...Every single one of them.

"And then?" Elizabeth's lawyer, Mr. Macy asked gently. I could tell they had gone over this act before.

"An-an-and then," She blubbered into her hanky, "She said if I ever came near her or Coralie or the kids again, she would kill me!" At this she practiaclly fainted, and the judge had to threaten half of the people in the courtroom with charges of contempt before they settled down again.

"Did you do anything to goad Miss. Jezebel?" Mr. Marcy asked. I hissed at this, because I was still a Mrs.

"Nothing!" Cried Elizabeth. "Absolutely nothing! And I was nothing but friendly to Mrs. Turner. I don't know why they did it! I just don't know why!" Mr. Marcy tisked and helped Elizabeth down from the bench.

"I would like to cross-examine Miss. Jezebel," Mr. Marcy said. I sighed and got back up and into the bench.

"First off," I said as I sat down. "I am a Mrs."

"Oh really?" Marcy asked, eyebrows raised. "And where, pray tell, is your husband?"

"He died. The sea claimed him" I said after a beat.

"Hmm, maybe his death was by your hand? Or punishment for your wicked ways?" Marcy shouted, to the jury.

"Innocent until proven guitly," I said matter-o-factly. "Besides, we are not here for the death of my husband, now are we?" Marcy shook his head, and began his interrogation.

"Tell me, have you ever met Miss. Swann before the events of the other day?" He asked, idly leaning agains a chair.

"No,"

"Then why did you threaten her?"

"I didn't." I said cooly. "She, however, insulted Mrs. Turner, and her integrity. Asking who was the father of her kids. I told her to go away, and not bother us. She must of felt a bit sore about that." And so the endless circle of questions and answeres continued. It took almost three hours for me to convince the jury that I didn't threaten Elizabeth, and then four hours to convince them that I hadn't killed anyone, lying with my eyes while my hands were busy working over-time. When the jury all filed out to make their verdict, I was allowed to talk to everyone who came to see me.

"Thank god your all right," Jack said, giving me a big hug.

"Uh, whoa. Is this the same Jack Sparrow?" I asked after he let me go. "The one I knew didn't like to show affection." We all walked to the end of the hallway to talk with a bit more privacy. Dan gave me a hug next.

"You're wearing the combs!" He said beaming. Jack scoffed.

"She always wears those...don't get your skivvies in a twist." We all laughed and I recieved hugs from everyone else, though why I was being hugged so damn much, I couldn't tell you. Jack suggested we finish our conversation about Martin Luther, but when ew started to go at it again, the bailiff annouced a verdict had been met. I saw fear and uncertinty in everybody's eyes, but I simply tossed my hair and haughtily walked back into the courtroom.

"Has the jury reached a verdict?" The judge asked, clearly tired. I saw Elizabeth's eyes brighten when one of the jurers got up and prepaired to speak. I glanced around the room to see if there were any escapes and saw three. I relaxed a bit more.

"For the counts of murder, we find the defendant, not guilty. For the counts of robbery, impersonation, and piracy, we find the defendant, Jezebel, not guilty. She has been cleared of all charges." The judge pounded his gavel.

"Court is dissmissed!" He shouted above the outrburst of noise. Elizabeth was shrieking about the unfairness of it all...Jack, Will, and Dan were all doing a war-like chant saying: "She got off! She got off! She got off!"...Coralie was jumping up and down with a bewildered George in her arms...and even little Anne toddled over to me and gave me a big hug around my shins. I smiled as we all walked out of the court room, and the guys' chant became louder as we made our way back to the Turners' house.

"She got off! She got off! SHE GOT OFF!"

"Shut up you three!" Coralie finally shouted at them when George started to wail, and Anne hid behind her skirts.