Yay for immersion! And Dear Mrs. Skywalker, heh. I'm not exactly redoing the chapters, I'm just editing them becuse in all honestly, I wrote them poorly and never went back to fix them when I posted! Thanks so much, I think, if that was a good review, and if not, then I'm sorry! But see there are things that were horribly off- like the crew showing up on the interceptor when it had been sunk, and then with the chapters after this one- when Jack's crew was on the ship I was very sketchy with the details there and I think you, Mrs. Skywalker, were one of the reviewers that were confused :-D So, as you'll see, you're not easily confused, I just get a little excited and leave parts of the story out ;-) LOL and Ps, i sure haven't seen batman yet!
and for everyone else reading this- I SEE YOU. You should REVIEW tell me if there's anything else that doesn't make sense!
I LOVE THIS CHAPTER!
Chapter 6
Shortly after he arrived on the shore of a timy little island, Commodore Norrington found himself pacing the sands impatiently.
His men had searched the island in its entirety and hadn't seen so much as a trace of Elizabeth- or any other human for that matter. But that didn't explain the fire that was just now starting to die down. How on Earth do you explain a fire the size of a small house with alcohol, crates, and food as its fuel? Someone was here and had made a signal to be rescued. It looked as though they had been rescued indeed.
Was it his Elizabeth that was on this island? He tracked what footprints he could find in the sand, which were few and scattered. It seemed that the best were in the moist sand near the waterline and seeming as how the tide was starting to come in, most of them were washed away, erased by the cool Caribbean waters.
What if it was Elizabeth Swann that was on this island? Was she alone? Had she been rescued? And if so, by whom? 'More pirates, probably.' Norrington thought to himself. 'What a fate for such a fine woman.' And once again, Norrington felt grief and pain in his being, thinking of that young Governor's daughter amidst the doings of those filthy outlaws. If only he could have gotten to her first.
"Sir?" Gillette asked, walking up to where his Commodore was inspecting the sands. "There's no trace of anyone on his island. The sun is near to setting, we ought to be setting sail aboard the Dauntless."
"Yes, we ought." Norrington said, and looked around to the red coats scattered on the island. Some were looking through the palm trees for signs of camp, some were inspecting the fire, and some were staring back at him. "Round them up, get them back to the ship." He commanded, then turned to stare at Gillette from a close distance. "Top speed."
Elizabeth rolled over and stretched. Mid-yawn, she snapped her mouth shut and sat straight up. She was in a bed, and, from the movement of her surroundings, she was apparently on a ship.
"Up at last!" She heard and looked up to see Gibbs with a plate of some sort of food. "Ye been out for a long time, Miss Elizabeth."
"Where am I? When did I get off the island... where's Jack?" She asked, pulling the sheets off herself and standing.
"Ah Missy, you need not worry. We got ye off the island near about high noon, and Jack is no where else but up at the Helm of this, 'Interceptor'."
"The Interceptor? I thought for sure it would have been ravaged by Barbossa!"
"Aye, she was nearly done for. But we've got her sailin' again. Not as fast as before, but she'll make due to the Isle de Muerta. Cursed place- and bad luck."
"Oh Gibbs, you and your luck. On deck, mate." Jack said from where he was standing unnoticed at the door. Elizabeth gasped and looked over at him in surprise.
Jack watched Gibbs walk by and exit to the outside deck before mocking his company's gasp. "Why, Miss Swann, are you so surprised?" He asked in a high, mocking voice.
"You startled us." She said in a rather nonchalant tone.
"For thus I apologize."
"Why are we going to the Isle de Muerta?"
"For thee William, of course!" Jack said, walking further into the room, revealing a bottle of rum in one hand (of course) and his closed compass in the other. Seeing Elizabeth advert her gaze, Jack sat on the side of the bed. Whether the gesture was welcomed he didn't seem to pay much heed. "What's on your mind, love?"
"Oh Jack," Elizabeth said, looking up to him with tears threatening in the corners of her eyes. "You said it yourself, he'll be dead before we get there."
"Maybe." Jack offered no consolation. "But if the curse is lifted and we catch that mangy crew, Barbossa will meet his end."
Elizabeth stared at Jack, nearly startled at how his tone changed when he talked about killing his mutinous first-mate. "But Will-"
"Shall be avenged, if his fate brings him to an end here." Jack said, standing and looking down his nose at Elizabeth. "I can assure you that." And with those words, his demeanor changed back into his ever-so-cheerful cover and he traipsed out of the room.
Elizabeth looked to the plate of pork that Gibbs had left and dove for it. It had only taken the girl a few minutes to eat the food before her, and she was off to deck. It was almost dark outside, and there was no sign of land, only water. The blue water was fading away to black with small licks of orange as the sun set, casting it's light in all directions. It was really a beautiful night, but the clouds covering Elizabeth's mind prevented her from seeing it.
Was her Will really dead? He had chanced death once already in his life and triumphed, but could he do it twice?
Her feet made their way over to where Jack was manning the ship without the help of her mind, and she stood, silently staring out to the night.
Jack watched her walk by and began to find himself wondering what she was looking at. Ana Maria walked by and he told her quietly to take the wheel, then walked over behind Elizabeth. He stood there for several minutes, knowing full well that she hadn't a clue that he was there before he raised a hand and placed it on her shoulder. She didn't jump as he expected she would, but instead turned her head to first look at his hand, then to his face.
She took in his entire expression before turning back to face the sea. With a sigh, she whispered, "What are you planning?"
"Well that depends." Jack said in a low, growling tone.
"On?" She persuaded.
"On what you're speaking of." He explained, and moved his hand from her shoulder to the back of her neck where we caressed her skin. "If you mean something concerning your dear William, then I have me a plan, and it will make do. But there are other plans running through this ol' head." Jack murmured, his tone rather distant.
Elizabeth turned her head to look at him again and his eyes went from the ocean to hers. "Jack?" She asked quietly, wondering what he meant. For only the briefest of moments, the two leaned in and their lips brushed.
Elizabeth's gaze remained on his lips, but Jack's eyes slid back over to the distance in front of them and with a nod, he squinted and spoke again. "The Isle de Muerta is just over that horizon, love. You'd best be getting some rest." And with a wave of his right hand, he grinned and added, "It's likely to be a very trying morning."
