See Chapter One
I know, I know. I changed the title again... I seem to keep on doing that! First Fortune and Men's Eyes was the name of my Harry Potter fic, then I changed it back to what it was originally and gave the name to this fic, and then I decided I liked Fortune's Loss better... Sorry. I really will try to not do it again. (runs away from Sorano)
At potcfandom. com I read news that there will in fact be a sequel to PotC: The Black Pearl. In fact, supposedly there will be TWO, both filmed at the same time. I seem very calm about it now, but if you had seen me when I'd first found out... scary. I squawked the news to anyone willing to listen and bounced around the house squealing like the obsessed fangirl I am.
AND there's supposed to be a Captain Jack Sparrow action figure coming out. I want it yo!
And another really awesome thing, although I'm probably the only one who cares, was that I found the original script for PotC. And Norrington was actually the one who set Jack free! XD
What happened was that instead of switching the scene from the boats to Jack about to be hung, it was Will on trial.
Norrington: ...and though I do say so with regret, the law is clear. The penalty for piracy is death by hanging.
Governor Swann: (Liz squeezes his hand and he stands up) By your leave I wish to speak on behalf of the boy. (glances at Liz) It is clear that these deeds were performed out of a sincere desire to do good, at great personal risk. It seems to me, that in the rare occasion where the right course is committing an act of piracy, then an act of piracy is the right course (cheers of approval) So in my capacity as Governor I intend to grant pardon to-
Gillette: Sir! (all eyes turn to Gillette, standing at the top of a stairway) Jack and his crew have escaped (gasps from the crowd) There was no damage to the cell... they must have been set free.
Liz: (exchanges looks with Will. You? Not me, you? No, not me either!
Swann: (points) The Black Pearl! (everyone rushes to the parapet to see)
Jack: (swings from the rocks onto the ship)
Gillette: Sir! Shall I break out the cannons?
Norrington: I don't think that will be necessary. (raises a hand... twirls a key on his finger) A day's head start. That's all he gets.
And then it takes on where the movie was, with Jack being all captainy and then singing the pirate song. No one else cares, but I think it's awesome that it was Jamie who set Jack free originally! But I guess they thought it would have made the Commodore too nice. Heaven forbid they allow him to be more than a man of ice! Gah. I hope he has a good part in the next movies.
(cough) Ok, I'm done gushing. Have you noticed I'm obsessed? I thought I noticed you noticing.
This chapter's story pimp goes out to Webcrowmancer. Quite possibly the most prolific Sparrington writer of all time, Webcrow is god. She's the whole reason why I got into Sparrington in the first place and her fics rock.
You can find her stories at the Parley Archive (theparleyarchive. net).
Sadly, she has decided to take a break from writing fanfiction for the moment, but she'll be back when the next PotC movie comes out. No one could resist. As it is, all of her (many many many) fics are completed, so at least she hasn't left us hanging. :P
Bella Gerent Alii
Let Others Wage War
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE'S GONE!"
Matthew cringed back from his Captains wrath. "It... he wasn't there, Cap'n! I swear I looked, but he's gone."
Jack Sparrow struggled to contain his irritation and keep a hold on his temper. "Let's just... take a little look ourselves, hm?" In little enough time he was at the stairs, peering into the hold where the ship's captives were kept. Matthew was right- the Commodore was not in the brig! He could see a flash of white that had to be the man's wig. Jack didn't think Norrington would go anywhere without it, but go he must have. The manacles were on the floor and the door open.
Sparrow whirled around, almost colliding with Matthew who had been at his heels. "Search the ship! I want every inch inspected!"
He wanted to stomp up the stairs and back to his cabin to indulge in a fit of sulking. What was it that made Navy men the most exasperating, annoying men on the planet? He descended further down the stairs and entered the hold.
The brig was really only two rather large cages built into the ship, one on each side. Perhaps there were clues to the man's disappearance in the left one, where he'd been installed. He moved across the floor, swaying with the ship, but stopped when he thought he'd heard something.
"...Bloody pirates..." Jack knew he'd heard that. Just where... There. At the very back was a small table in the shadows. And seated at the table was the sought-after Commodore.
Sparrow growled. He was going to give that man a piece of his mind! He stalked over, fully prepared for a good rant and for the second time stopped mid-step. Norrington was slouched over the table, apparently without the energy to sit properly as he usually did. His eyes didn't seem to be able to focus on the pirate and Jack wasn't entirely sure the other man even knew he was there.
He cursed silently, fluidly, for a few moments. The last thing he needed- ! The Captain placed the back of his hand to Norrington's forehead and it was undoubtedly hot; much hotter than it should be.
"MATTHEW! Get Anamaria!"
It was dark.
He knew it wasn't a dream, because his dreams never had this... emptiness. Empty of light, empty of anything.
Where was he?
Something... there was something. What was it? Something was calling him... Who? Bronze skin, a golden smile, eyes beckoning you into sin...
The darkness was lifting.
"Looks like 'e's finally wakin' up."
Now it was nothing but a thin fog shrouding his view. There was colour all around him.
James opened his eyes.
"Well, well. Look who's returned to the land of the living." Sparrow, seated at a chair nearby, realized what he'd said and winced. "Never mind." He coughed. Moving on then.
Frankly, it was about time Norrington woke up. Unconscious for so long, really, it was much less entertaining then Jack had thought it would be, having a Commodore on board. Not to mention it had been a ruddy bitch to lug all that dead weight up to his cabin. If it hadn't been for Anamaria's threats, he might well have left the man down there to rot.
The Commodore looked at him blearily, eyes only now starting to focus on the room around him. Jack grinned, wondering what the oh-so-proper Norrington thought of his (ahem) humble pirate abode.
It was a rather spacious cabin- or rather, it would have been if it weren't for the very large bed occupying most of the space. It had fine silk sheets and a rich velvet cover, which James had better damn well appreciate since he was the one who'd been sleeping on it!
Beyond the bed was an elegantly carved little table at which Sparrow was sitting. Cupboards and shelves lined the starboard wall, while the other three were nearly covered with various paintings, tapestries, and a beautifully made map depicting the Atlantic Ocean and the lands bordering it. Between two particularly lovely tapestries, one of a mermaid and the other a coiled Chinese dragon, stood the door, currently closed.
And the Commodore turned his gaze to Jack, scrutinizing him in that intense way he seemed to do everything. His grin widened- and what would proud James make of him? Not the scruffy brigand he appeared to be before, oh no. No longer on the run, searching for his Pearl, not knowing when his next meal would be found. Freedom agreed with Sparrow, much like the bird he was named for.
The matted hair was gone, replaced by a multiple braids; the look was reminiscent of his former dreadlocks, only more manageable. The trinkets adorning his hair were still there, more or less. A few lost, some new. And his old bandana re-dyed and looking as good a new- not that he'd tell anyone why he'd gone through such trouble when it would have been easier to just steal a fresh one. The rest of his attire was also new: a nice, cream shirt, deep brown vest, a proper leather belt, a pair of tan breeches, and a navy blue coat.
"Like, what y' see, love?"
James flushed. Angry, perhaps, at being caught staring so openly. "Hardly, Mr. Sparrow," he replied coldly. They stared silently at each other for a long moment. Jack considered holding it out just to see how long it took for one of them to break, but that would serve no purpose. The other man was ill after all, so he shouldn't taunt him. Much.
Finally, Sparrow broke the silence. "You've been out for th' past two days," he informed his 'guest.'
Apparently that wasn't the response Norrington was expecting. The officer blinked and cleared his throat. "That... that long?" As if he couldn't quite believe he was participating in a conversation with a pirate that didn't involve hanging, or other such bodily harm.
"Aye." Jack sat back and fitted himself more comfortably to the chair, propping his elbows on the arms. "Now, I've a bit of a wonder, Norrie." Pretending to ignore the way James bristled at that, he steepled his fingers before him and continued. "A fine ship like your Dauntless, First-rate ship-of-the-line 'n all- seems to me she'd 'ave a surgeon." He fixed the other man with a keen gaze. "Any decent healer would've seen the state of wound-rot y' got yourself into."
The Commodore didn't reply immediately, remaining silent for a long moment, but finally seemed to decide that there was no real harm in explaining. "He's dead. He... died in cannon fire."
Ah. That explained it. "M' sympathies, mate. And th' same battle 'n which your Dauntless got such damages, I expect. Not to mention that li'l cut o' yours." Sparrow gave the bandage on Norrington's shoulder a pointed look and the other man gave a cautious nod in confirmation. Again, the pirate pretended to ignore the expression on James' face; this time, though, it was of pain and Jack didn't think it was because of his injury.
"Well!" The pirate said suddenly, changing the mood to one more cheerful. "You're well on th' mend, thanks to our own lovely Anamaria- and m' self, of course," Jack added modestly. Modest-ish.
"Anamaria?" Norrington asked, looking surprised. "The woman?"
Jack straightened a bit, fully prepared to defend his crew. "Woman or not, don't be thinkin' that she's any less capable, jus' 'cause she's a woman," he warned the other man.
Unexpectedly, the Commodore flapped a hand, as if that were a given. "I don't doubt her skills, but she doesn't appear to have the sort of... temperament... one usually sees in a surgeon."
Sparrow snorted. "Ana's never been exactly what y' call predictable."
"Hmm," James only said in reply. Jack shot a look at him, and saw how the other man's eyes were starting to drift shut. Well, that was hardly surprising after being unconscious for two days, and in the throws of a very high fever during most of that time.
The pirate got up quietly, tiptoed out of the room and, after a moment's thought, locking the cabin door behind him. Safety precautions and all. Then he went and shooed Monty away from the wheel, so he could stand at the helm. The pirate had never lost the thrill he got from being behind the wheel, after having been without for ten long years.
It helped him think, too. And he had a lot to think about. Hm... "Gibbs!" Jack hollered.
"Aye, Cap'n?" The Quartermaster stood respectfully to the side of him.
"Y' used t' serve under Norrington, did y' not?"
Gibbs gave a cautious nod. "On the crossing from England. He were first Lieutenant then."
Sparrow was silent for a bit, smoothing the wood beneath his hands. "And what did y' make of him then?"
"An upright man, now as then. Very... proper. As proper as it gets."
"Mast up his arse even then, aye?"
"Aye," Gibbs had to agree. "But... not a bad man, no. He demanded much from us, but nothing he weren't willing to work for, himself. And if he always stuck by rank and propriety, outside them limits he were a good master. Knew everyone of the lads' names, he did, down to the cooper and the marines."
Jack eyebrow's rose. On board a ship like the Dauntless, there could be anywhere from eight hundred and fifty crewmembers to over nine hundred. Norrington must have a mind like a sponge to remember all that...
"Asked after their wives, even, them that had 'em." The older man shrugged. "Is that what y' wanted to know, Cap'n?"
"Aye." He gave the man a sidelong look. "Thank ye." Clearly a dismissal.
Well. That was certainly interesting... Sparrow rather thought he'd been underestimating the Commodore the entire time. The expression on his face turned wry as he remembered the other man's escape from the brig. Oh yes. Definitely.
The pirate gave the Pearl a fond pat before squinting at the sky. By the position of the sun, it was just about dinner. Norrington would be positively ravenous after two days without proper food. But... Jack didn't want to give her up just yet, so Norrie would just have to make due without him. After all, he had already given up his bed, and quite a bit of his time nursing the Commodore back to health. Sparrow scowled; Norrington had better be grateful- he was beginning to regret ever having come up with that bloody ransom scheme.
But nothing he could do about it at the moment. Now... which of the crew was least likely to take it into his (or her, in the case of Anamaria) head that a good Commodore was a dead Commodore?
"Cal!"
"Cap'n?" The boy replied almost immediately. It always spooked Sparrow just how fast that boy was to show up. Honestly, it was if the lad could read minds half the time! No matter. Cal was still young enough for the grandeur of the navy to not yet have worn off- and a complete prick with that lovely Turner blade of his shoved up his arse Norrington may be, it was also true that the man was damn impressive, even ill and half-conscious.
That thought took his mind down interesting paths, but he shoved it aside to mull over later.
"Lad, the Commodore'll be needin' a meal. Be a love and get it for 'im, eh?"
Cal blushed becomingly and nodded. "Aye, Cap'n!" Would you believe he actually saluted before running off? Jack shook his head in mock sorrow. What were cabin boys coming to these days! Doing his duty so earnestly... It wasn't natural.
Hm. Reminded him rather a lot of Will, actually.
Oneiriad - I agree completely. Too much Sparrington? HAH! I scoff at the mere thought. Sneaky!Norrington is fun, but at this point it's more like bloody-irritated-and-wanting-Sparrow-to-get-his-comeuppance!Norrington.
Raphe1 - My characterizations are marvellous? (fans self) Stop, you're making me blush! And we will see just how Jack puts up with a sick Jamie. (evil grin) Updating as fast as I can- and I've fixed the bit about the manacles. Thanks for correcting me!
HieiTheDarkGem - Don't worry, Jamie'll be ok. Ish. (smirk)
Authoress Pendragon - Yay another long review! I love long reviews. :D Thanks for thinking my writing style's that good, but really, you have nothing to be jealous of. I'm the one who should be jealous, you know! Your stories are always so detailed- I wish I could write with such knowledge of the characters and the story.
p.s. Savvy savvy savvy savvy savvy. XP Savvy?
karachi - Congratulations! You have succeeded in making me bounce around, squealing like a little girl that I was recommended by someone I don't even know, at a place I've never heard of! I am now a very happy little authoress . I am HIGHLY flattered- and I want to join that group now. I searched for it under yahoo groups, but I couldn't seem to find it... do you think you could possible link it to me?
Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed reading my story :D. And now there IS another chapter! Read ahead. .
Mundungus42 - "three-demonic-giggle-inspiring" ? I don't even know what that means but it make me giggle. XP Plot twistiness? Really? Cool!
Applesauce - ... (sweatdrop) No, actually I didn't. Gillette is NOT DEAD! I repeat, NOT DEAD! He's alive and kicking. Well, maybe not kicking. He's injured. But he's there. He just couldn't be brought on board the Pearl... but we will be seeing him and Groves again, trust me. I have plans for those boys. Nyeheheh.
You know, I've never been called a fiend before. It's a new experience. :laughs: That's actually rather fun. XD
Julie - I love it when people specify the parts of the story they like. You now officially rock my socks yo.
You're welcome.
pirategrrl - Lol :P. Hint taken.
Lady Lorax - Thank you for saying so. BTW, if you intend to use the contraction of 'you are,' it's 'you're' rather than 'your'.
BJ4 - Heh. That reminded me of the scene where Jack tells Jamie that's he was rooting for him. Also, I love that you used the word snarky. That is one of the most fun words on the planet. Oh, and I'm glad that you liked the story thus far!
The Mad Fangirl - AH! (puts hands to flaming cheeks) I can't believe you've actually reviewed for one of my stories! You are totally one of my heroes when it comes to PotC slash! And you're welcome for the plug. How about really thanking me by finishing Taxes 8? Hm? (grin grin nudge nudge)
No one else thought of the hairpins? Really? Shocking. Well, I suppose since the majority of the main characters don't really wear wigs, and most people wouldn't assume that Jamie could pick locks... (smirk) Commodores are versatile... especially MY Commodore. Nyahahaha...
BTW "Greg's" family is actually really cool. I hope we see more of them later on. And the fact that Bill looks like Giles made me crack up. Speaking of Ripper- do we see more of him as well? Perhaps in conjunction with Ethan...:P
BlackJackSilver - Thank you. And, you know, Blackjack is one of my favourite card games to play...
TBC