A/N: THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING. I will now thank each individually, YOU DESERVE IT!
LaxGoalie: Thanks so much for all the reviews! I did put you on my favorite list, it probably still didn't load however, it does kind of suck that this website loads things so slowly. Anyways, yes André is perfect, I made sure that he was that way because he is based on the character of André Marek in Timeline (he is sooo handsome!). To answer your questions, no Will and Elizabeth are not very in this story, but that is because I want it that way. The twins having a bigger role/destiny…not going to answer lol! The twins are both 18 years old.
BlackRose8291: blushes aww, you are so nice to put me on your favorite stories list, I feel so honored and accomplished as an author! André looks like Jack…hm…hehe, might find out a little about that in this Chapter! By the way, Miriam is an awesome name; it means the sea in Celtic or something.
EternalHope08: I LOVE YOUR STORY! Just thought I'd tell you again Thank you so much for reviewing, it makes me feel ver loved, I know that you know what I feel. The cannibals were cast out for the Incas unfortunately, but they might come in…hehe. About your question…might want to read this chapter!
AquariusClarinetus: Thanks for reviewing! I sent a review to your Raven's Secret but it didn't pass, kind of weird, I'll tell you what I was going to say in it in CBA.
Now, I present my Chapter 4(for those of you who have problems with roman numerals) and remember that I don't owns any of the Pirates of the Caribbean characters, but Miriam…well, you get my point. READ and REVIEW!
Chapter IV: Conspiracy
Chris fell just before dawn. His breathing had become labored and he still hadn't opened his eyes since they last closed to cover his eyes. The slaves moved away from him, their fear his death and possible transmission keeping them from helping. Their soft whispering filled the room with eerie wind as their chains of enslavement rattled. Miriam had done everything she could to wake Chris up; she had yelled, nudged and kicked him but to no avail. She had regained her strength since the incident yesterday, much do to André's help. The young man knew more than he cared to say about healing, even though he could do nothing for Chris's condition. Miriam was distraught. The thought of losing her much loved brother kept her hazel eyes full of tears on his unconscious form. They were twins. Chris had been born seconds before Miriam, and they were twins. An invisible link bonded them together, and the pain Chris felt as the illness drained him of his strength was also felt acutely by Miriam.
They had learned everything together. At the age of two, both had been sent to school, much to their mother's insistence than their father's. There they learned geography, protocol, math and science. The teachers were insistent, saying that their mother, Elizabeth, had been a great student and they must live up to it. Miriam excelled in everything but protocol. Chris on the other hand was more of a memory learner. He mastered geography and protocol quickly, but rushed to Miriam for help with his formulas. However, it was their father's teaching that had turned them into who they were today. Will Turner was a pirate, but due to the Commodore's great generosity, awarded the title of privateer. He sailed the seas on his boat, The Wind. Miriam and Chris had wanted nothing more but to sail forever after their first ride through the waves. Elizabeth wasn't much for boats. Her childhood had been full of them; all she wanted to do now was to raise her family. Will and Elizabeth's love for each other had made it possible for the trade off. Will would sail for two months with one twin, while the other stayed in Port Royal with her mother, and then stay two months in Port Royal before taking off again, this time with the other twin. It was on board the boat that Miriam and Chris learned. Miriam was quick with the staff, after having learned everything she could she used her skills with her curved sword, making her an admirable fighter. Chris, on the other hand, preferred the knives. He would keep ten on him at all times. His aim and throw were both deadly if confronted. Recently he had taken to practice catching the knives, to avoid injuries from other fighters and improve his speed. They grew up together and never left the other's side.
Chris lay beside Miriam, his breathing labored. She felt his pain, fear and shivers, as the cold, wet air settled on his skin. Chris moaned in his troubled sleep, sending Miriam to his side eagerly, her chains rattling on the wood floor. Her hazel eyes searched him, then seeing he was not awake, she leaned back on the wood behind her. She feared for his life, she feared for herself after his death. Suddenly, Miriam started frantically ripping ribbons of fabric from the frayed bottom of her dress. Her hands were ripping the pieces quickly, her hair undone from its elegant bun, and setting them like a blanket on Chris's unconscious body. She felt as strong hands took hold of hers by the wrist and brought them away from her dress, forcing her to stop her madness. Miriam tried ripping her hands from her capturer, but to no avail. Miriam turned to look at André, her hazel eyes wild, "Let me go! I must keep him warm, he's going to …"
André kept a firm grip on her hands, his eyes expressionless, "No, Miriam."
Miriam struggled, but the young man was too strong for her weakened body and she collapsed, sobbing. The slaves around were oblivious, some asleep while other's whispered softly. Tear ran down Miriam's face silently, leaving clean lines through the dirt on her smooth, sun tanned cheeks. André, seeing she was over her attack, gently let go of her wrists, placing her hands in her lap. His blue eyes showed concern through his coal black hair. Looking through one of his pockets, he brought out a small white handkerchief and offered it to her.
Miriam didn't hesitate as took it out of his hands and wiped her face. After having cleared her eyes with the white piece of linen, she set it on Chris, wiping his face and hair of the feverous sweat. André made no move to stop her, his legs crossed underneath him. Miriam stared crying again; her brother's breathing was no longer as strong and his fever had increased. Her brown wavy hair around her face was wet with her tears. André reached over to her and put his hand gently on her heaving shoulder. Without warning, Miriam reached around and slapped his hand off. Her eyes flashed with anger, burying the pain deep inside her, "You have no right to touch me. Do you not know that I am of the nobility? You are but a low slave, his boat is where you belong to be. If you hadn't escaped that first day, we wouldn't have been put in chains. I would have quickly found the means of escaping without chains and my brother wouldn't be dying! It is your fault! You are no different from your father!"
Miriam shut her mouth instantly, knowing she had gone too far. She had revealed the knowledge she had wished to keep fro blackmail. Even though, her stubborn face showed no sign of her fear.
André didn't move his eyes remained on her, his face impassive. Casually, Miriam saw him bring up his hand and inspect the small tattoo on his hand; it appeared to be of Indian origin. Through the coal black hair, braids and bone colored beads, Miriam saw his face harden and his eyes turn cold. The young man brought his head up, leaning on the wood behind him and stretching his legs in front of him. Then, after a few minutes, he turned his once more inexpressive face to Miriam, "How long have you known?"
Miriam turned her cold glare on him, "Ever since I saw you smile."
André grinned at this comment, his smile so like his father's breaking through the dark, "How charming."
Miriam didn't smile, "You are a pirate, and if my brother dies, I will hunt you down and kill you."
André's eyes were smiling once again, "Now, luv, that gives me a reason to live, doesn't it not?"
Only the chains kept Miriam from throwing herself at André. She screamed in rage and hissed, "You promised me never to call me that again, until I could fight back with my sword!"
André furrowed his brow, and then snapped his fingers remembering, "I did!"
Miriam said nothing.
André turned his face to Miriam's and his eyes softened, "I am very sorry, Miriam, I am afraid I will have to punish myself for that."
Miriam appeared confused as André stood up, his tall, strong body casting a shadow over her. After stretching briefly, he called over the ratty man that supervised over the slaves, "I have a favor to ask of your companion."
The ratty man scurried over to him, André towering above him, "Yer one of them two slaves. I'll call him! I will. Aye, he'll give ye a beating if I call 'im!"
André smiled, the beads of his coal black hair clicking softly. Then he threw his head back and laughed, a hearty laugh that lifted the gloom from the room, all the slaves feeling like free men and women once more, "That is my reason! I have offended this lady and wished him to bring down the cat of nine tails. I must punish myself for what I did."
Miriam's heart froze. The cat of nine tails was a horrible whip. It was a stick of wood, nine pieces of rope to whip with hanging from one end. Though the pain was already unbearable with just the nine whips, some ships added weights on the ends, allowing for deeper wounds and more sting. She looked up to André. His face was turned away from her, but his voice never wavered as he told his wish to the ratty man. She had never meant him to punish himself! She couldn't stand seeing someone do that to him, his dignity and carelessness robbed of him. Quickly gathering her skirts about her, she rose, wrapping her hands around one of André's arms. André turned to look at her, him crystal blue eyes soft and gentle as he smiled at her. Miriam felt the side of her lips curving into a smile to match his. "There is no need for the punishment," she told the ratty man, "He…didn't offend me."
The small man wobbled away, shaking his head and squeaking to himself so no one would hear. Miriam quickly sat down and turned her attention on Chris to avoid André. But Chris was still sleeping and when André spoke up, she had no excuse not to turn and answer.
"I didn't offend you, my lady?" he asked, his white teeth flashing.
Miriam didn't look at him, "You knew I was afraid of the cat of nine tails, didn't you?'
"Aye, I did."
Miriam looked up, her hazel eyes intense, "Why, then?"
André looked her over, his eyes considering, "I wanted to show you that I am trustworthy, but I had no desire to punish myself at all."
"It was fake then."
The young man shook his finger, "No. It wasn't. I do not lie, and I always keep my promises. That time it must have slipped. When we get on dry land, however, I will find you a sword and we will fight."
Miriam nodded, finally agreeing, "Do you know who I am, André Sparrow?"
"No, unfortunately I am not as good as a guesser as you are. But I do believe you have met my father?"
"Once, when I was a child. He is good friends with my parents. In fact, my parents owe him their wedding and love. But he disappeared and never visited us after Chris and mine's 5th birthday," She turned to André, realizing something, "You weren't there. You should have been. How old are you?"
"Twenty, give or take a year. My mother and father weren't ones for dates."
Miriam cocked her head to one side, "In fact, I never knew Jack Sparrow even had a wife."
André turned angry eyes on her, "He didn't."
The young woman moved closer to Chris, the expression of hate and anger on André's face frightening, "I'm sorry."
André shook his head and smiled, "It is not your fault. My father didn't want the attachment and ties; he enjoyed his freedom too much. A first, he was happy. I was his son and he wanted to teach me everything he knew, I was his joy in life. I was a quick learner, and learned everything he taught me. Unfortunately, things fell out between my mother and him. The infamous pirate then began to look at me like his rival to the pirate throne. At the age of 5, my mother got us off the boat. But after having had that much freedom, I couldn't live with her and her suitors. I escaped her shortly after and fled to sea. Pythagoras, and old man I met on one of my voyages became my tutor and I learned math, science and all I would ever need to know. He was killed by my father in a fight. I gave my father a scar on his arm for it and my father has been chasing me, his rival and only child, across the oceans ever since."
"How were you caught?" Miriam asked, thinking about the young man that had jumped over the flames in Port Royal. (A/N: For those of you that are confused, reread chapter I)
"I had been working aboard a ship called The Wind, captained by Captain Turner…" André stopped in mid sentence and looked over at Miriam, him eyes inspecting her. Then he passed on to Chris and having just cast a small glance towards him smiled. He turned his smiling face towards Miriam, "Ms. Miriam Turner I presume?"
Miriam looked down at her feet and nodded. André's laugh rang out clear in the dark room. Miriam looked over at him, "Do you find it funny? I suggest you not laugh at me, for while my past may be funny, yours is quite a story…"
André turned to look at her, his black hair under his blue bandana overshadowed by his white smile, "I am not laughing at you, Miriam, but I just laugh in realization."
Miriam frowned.
"You see, the crew constantly told me that Captain Turner had a daughter, and that I had just missed seeing her by a month. I now remember your brother on deck, but with his hair cut it is hard to recognize him. Ali, a strong dark skinned man, told me about your amazing and promising skills with the curved blade and double ended staff. The others told me stories of your great beauty, comparing you to a goddess. I see now that they were not wrong."
Miriam blushed crimson at this comment and immediately busied herself pretending to mop Chris's head and check for his fever. She saw André grin briefly before crossing his arms behind his head and closing both eyes. Miriam sighed and faced forward once more; her brother had yet to wake up. His time was running out, and as the illness engulfed him she felt the pain that tore through his body. She didn't notice the stray tear that ran down her cheek.
André looked over Chris, whistling softly as he saw his pale cheeks, closed eyes and wet hair. Miriam stopped mopping her brother's head for a moment and turned to face André. "What, now?" she asked, her eyes tired.
The young man held her eyes in his own bright blue ones, "He's dying."
Miriam threw the handkerchief on the floor in frustration, "Do you think I don't know that!"
The beads clicked together as he shook his head. Miriam collapsed, the bags under her eyes dark against her sun tanned skin. She closed her eyes only for a second before returning to mopping Chris's head, all the while nudging him, hoping to wake him from his troubled slumber. André clicked his tongue in reprimand behind her. Miriam breathed out and once more turned to look at André, "Now, what?"
His face showed concern as he gently touched her face, his fingers outlining the bags under her hazel eyes, "Why are you doing this to yourself, Miriam? There is nothing you can do for him; managi has claimed him. It is up to your brother to fight the illness; you cannot do it for him. Now, if it was me, I would understand your concern," André grinned, drawing back his hand. Miriam rolled her eyes at his last comment, "But you must keep yourself alive before all others. It is only with strength that Chris will live."
Miriam saw the reason behind it and agreed wholeheartedly, but she couldn't help her actions. Chris's breathing was loud and his body heat gave off amazing warmth. His presence was established beside her and she couldn't ignore him. His fear and pain jolted through her blood, and she did it as much for herself as for him.
Suddenly she turned to André, who had again closed him eyes. She nudged him, her brown hair loose around her face, "André!"
He opened one eye lazily, his face inquiring her reason to bother him.
'I have an idea. If you wish to listen do so, if not don't ever betray me for what I am about to say."
He jumped awake, crossing his legs underneath him and looking at Miriam eagerly. His blue eyes were alert, but he made up for his enthusiasm by casually pulling a small harmonica from his pocket. He did not play it but inspected it, his fingers and hands running over the smooth surface of the wooded pipes, "Aye, I want to hear your idea…and whatever would make you think I would betray you?"
Miriam waved her hand, dismissing the last question, "If I do not say it all now I will forget, so listen carefully. Do you have experience with escaping?"
André put his harmonica in his pocket, his face breaking into a grin at her last word, "Aye. I've done it a couple times. My father is quite a persistent man and I found myself twice in the brig of his ship."
Miriam's eyes sparkled, "I will need your help…"
Her voice faded, the waves lapping at the sides of the boat drowning out her whisper. The slaves around her united their voices and whispers with hers, forming a buzz of low voices. Their dark room was constantly echoing with the noise of the footsteps of the crew as their destination came closer within reach. The slave dealers slacked on security and relaxed, drinking and missing guard duty. As the boat's bowsprit faced to the south, the outline of land still not visible in the horizon, the whispering of the slaves grew treacherous and mutinous. Mutiny and escape were becoming possible.
A/N: You see, that was definitely longer than the last chapter. Now, I notice that you have slacking off on reviewing, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW! I understand that it is Memorial Day weekend and many people are out for the weekend, but I stayed home writing, so those of you that did stay home REVIEW! Tell me if you like it and what way do you think I should go with this. I promise you action in the next chapter…or not…or maybe even capture…maybe a death would be more stirring. lol :) REVIEW, please. If you review, I will listen to your comments and answer any questions you have at the Author's Note at the beginning of the next chapter. Now, what is your homework? REVIEW! It doesn't have to be long, just to keep me going. Let's say we push the reviews up to 18, 19 or 20? Can you do that:)
