Disclaimer: I don't own POTC. Or LJS.

Chapter 54: The Rune

"What's all that noise?" Long John asked in his cabin with Jack. "Bloody hostages. Per'aps if we cut out their throats they could still open the Gate," he pondered aloud.

"Unlikely," Jack said distractedly. He was so drunk that he couldn't see straight, but his heart still ached for the girl. He wanted to explain everything to her, about John being the one who originally was to seduce Camille. But Jack had convinced his 'mate' that he was right for the job. And he had been, until he fell madly in love with the woman. He didn't think that she would ever forgive him, but she didn't have to. This would all be over soon enough.

"Jack!" John cried, pounding on the floor with his crutch.

Jack snapped from his drunken stupor. "Hm? Apologies. Mus' be the rum."

John eyed him warily. "That there redhead hasn't gone and made you soft, has she Jack?"

"Me? No!" Jack said, appalled. She may have killed me, but that's not the same thing as being soft, he added mentally. "D'you think I could be foolish enough to let a woman ruin my life?" He shook his head.

"So how is she, then?" John asked, testing Jack and reading his expression.

Incredible. "Camille? Eh," he said, waving his hand a bit as to say "so-so". "She is too sophisticated for my personal liking, to be honest. I consider myself a humble man who seeks out women of the same stature," he said, remembering to ramble a little bit so he'd seem more relaxed. But through all of this, his head was still spinning. "I think I'm gonna go lie down," he excused himself, stumbling across deck only to come face to face with the two women drying their eyes. "Bloody hell, now I'm seein' her everywhere," he said to himself.

Camille took Gretchen by the arm and led her away. "Come, let's get something to drink," she suggested before they disappeared below.

Just before landing, Long John had discovered the disappearance of half his party of hostages and gone into a bellowing rage. For, it wasn't important that Camille and Gretchen were the only ones needed for this operation. It was the fact that a woman had outsmarted him.

He was seething with fury by the time they landed that afternoon, and Jack was just waking up with the hangover of the century. Unfortunately for him, his liver hadn't given up just yet and he was worse than miserable.

But of course, Camille was leaning over the banister with the most interest in the fog-covered island they were approaching. It was immense, and as the fog parted little by little she could see trees for miles up ahead. She had never seen a forest, or a jungle of any sort. She stared at it, wide-eyed and amazed. "I'll bet this island doesn't even have a name," she mused.

Gretchen was right beside her, and her breathing started to get shallow. She was looking around, beginning to panic and regret her decision to stay behind. Camille looked back at her. "Don't faint on me now, I need you to help me on this one."

But Gretchen was already down for the count. Camille didn't even bother rushing to her side as she fainted. Rolling her eyes, she looked back out into the mist. "Women," she muttered. She heard a movement and whirled around. "Lay one finger on the girl Captain Silver, and I'll cut off your other leg."

"Well I suppose than you'll want to carry me to the treasure?" he shot back.

"Of course, Captain Silver. Apparently I'm a crutch-no pun intended-for weak men," she replied.

John laughed, and looked back at his hungover mate. "Are you so ready to give up a lioness like this one, Jack?"

But Jack only waved his hand. "Stop yelling," he said, his face looking very green.

Camille knelt next to Gretchen, lightly slapping her face. "Hey, wake up. You've got to pull yourself together, we're almost there," she said as she felt the ship beginning to stop.

Gretchen looked up tiredly, hoisting herself up to a sitting position. She still shuddered when she saw Long John or Jack, and she gripped Camille's arm. "Ouch!" Camille yipped. "You're hurting me, let go!"

But Gretchen didn't listen. Camille pulled up until she was standing, her knees about to buckle together. "Gretchen darling," she said in a low voice as the duo of captains (mostly John) got the lifeboat ready to descend into the layers of mist. "There's really nothing to be afraid of. All we have to do is go through the woods, find the Gate, and open it," she coaxed. "Don't even worry about these two, just leave them up to me, all right?" she said in a motherly tone. "Now come on, love. Into the boat," she said, holding her arm steady and helping her into the boat with the captains.

Gretchen was still shaking, but Camille kept her confident position as she took a pair of oars and began rowing along with Long John Silver. The island was beautiful, and the dark water became clearer as they came closer to the shore. It wasn't sandy, like beaches were. It had grass and ferns right up until the very edge when it touched the water, and Camille was the first one to scramble up on land. This place almost made her forget her deadly legacy that was about to take place.

"Oh my God," she breathed. "This place is enchanting." She looked back at Silver, who was tying the boat up. "Are you sure you don't want just split the treasure and live here?" she asked in a light tone.

Silver straightened up and looked at her. "I can guarantee you'll be dead in no less than three days, wench, no matter what terms we are on."

Camille made a face at him, trying not to pay any attention to Jack. She helped Gretchen up. "You know, you may want to think about losing that dress. It's going to be very cumbersome in a place like this."

But Gretchen just looked at her. "And what would I walk around in?"

"Your undergarments, darling," Camille said, smiling. "A petticoat is ample amount of clothing," she said reasonably.

"I will do no such thing," Gretchen said haughtily, and Camille felt her stomach turn for a moment. She was reminded of herself a little more than three years ago. This treasure hunt could turn into quite a tragedy. Especially if everyone was as stubborn as she thought herself to be.