Chapter Six

A Compass and a Tournament

The underground room was dark, and the single light that hung from the wall did not do much to penetrate the shadows, only made them dance as the fire in from the candle flickered with the cold, and the sea wind.

"Here's the key when you need to come back up," The guard growled, pressing it into his hand and walking away.

Silence.

It had probably only been half an hour or so since he had been thrown in here, his hands clapped in irons. Jack hadn't been dispirited. It had all come about so quickly, he didn't feel it was really happening to him, and as such, was already planning on ways to escape. Jack didn't fancy attending his execution; a hanging for him was not going to be pretty. He wasn't a heavy man, and so would take a long time to die. So the executioner was going to be disappointed when he didn't have the Pirate dangling on the end of his rope.

First off was trying to free himself from the shackles, but the guards had gotten wise and used smaller ones, especially for him. They knew the man could make his hands small enough to slip through, and this time, they were a snug fit, stopping any activities of the like. So he had just sat in the dark, trying to figure out his next course of action; for he knew he didn't have long. Beckett seemed so eager to dispatch him; the Captain was certain when he had said execution at dawn, he had meant it.

Only the approaching sound of footsteps and a surly guard made Sparrow look up, to his surprise it was Norrington standing there. He smiled weakly, though it did reach his eyes. Pushing himself up onto his feet, the pirate walked over to the cell door so that he could see eye to eye with his adversary.

"Come to get me out of this mess love?" He assumed, quick eyes darting to where the man held the key, "I didn't mean all that I said to you before…you got your life back, you're getting paid – you'll be commodore in no time I'll wager. Doing well for yourself aren't you Jamsey boy? I always knew you had it in you – well done!" Realising his compliments weren't getting him anywhere; he looked a little more pointedly at the key James held. "You know you want to let me go…"

James sighed, and nodded his head. "Captain Jack Sparrow. How many times have I put you behind bars?" he muttered nonchalantly, fingering the heavy iron key fondly in his smooth hands, closing his fingers over it and looking up at Sparrow, jaw set and a determined look upon his face. He swallowed, then looked away, gazing at the dark stone of the cobbled floor.

"Jack I…" First name terms. He fell against the bars, hands clutching the rusted poles, the metal cool against his forehead, dark hair falling out of place and over his eyes, steadying his breathing James closed his eyes.

"I assure you Captain Sparrow, it wasn't part of the deal…" James looked up and stood a little straighter.

He nodded, eyes shimmering. "I know I want to let you go? Hypnotism – I assume you learnt that off one of your acquaintances…" A wry smile and he turned to walk back. He tossed something over to Jack, however.

"Your compass. I noticed Lord Beckett had the courage to steal it off your belt of trinkets,"

X x X x X

A fairly grey morning greeted the residents of Port Royal the next day, and indeed many of them still turned up despite the ominous black clouds promising a short and heavy spell of rain.

Norrington was also there, and Beckett's guards had escorted Will and Elizabeth, both in strong shackles, to watch the hanging. James had his eyes down, and a hand covered them. What a fool he was, to believe that Beckett wouldn't harm the man, only take what he needed and dispose of him. With Beckett that obviously didn't mean 'cast out'. It meant kill. Murder. Condemn.

From the church tower, a lone bell tolled. Then began the drums. Will always wondered why they played drums at an execution, perhaps to avoid the horrible silence. For nobody talked at these gatherings, merely watched the gallows with grim faces. Beckett stood there already, the list of charges in his hand as he waited, expectantly, for the pirate he so loathed, to be led out from his confinement. He had been informed that Jack wouldn't ever agree to work for him, and so he would merely be in the way. A hanging was the best answer to this conundrum, and so he had ordered it be so.

Ah but here he came.

Jack, having been unable to catch his compass, had spent half the night trying to get it back, until a guard had picked it up, realised what it was and pocketed it. Sighing, the pirate had slumped against the wall and had practically given up. If Will and Elizabeth could have perhaps alerted the crew…then maybe he would still have a chance.

Now being led out into the full sun, his eyes squinted and looked away from everyone staring at him. He felt the barrel of a musket between his shoulders and continued to walk, hands chained in front of him as he ascended the stairs to the gallows, smiling politely at Beckett, who only sneered and looked away. The next thing he felt was a rope around his neck and realised he was standing on the trapdoor.

"Jack Sparrow, you are charged with condoning in the act of piracy, having twice avoided persecution by the law and engaging in acts including theft, sailing under false colours, impersonating members of the Royal Navy, impersonating a member of the church, trading contraband, being drunk and unruly…"

The charges continued to be read out, all petty crimes for which the punishment would be a flogging and no more. But who was to question the admiral? Will glanced at Elizabeth, who had tears in her eyes. This time perhaps, there would be no reprise for Jack. He didn't look as though he had any cunning plan of escape. He looked so fragile, so…defeated. The awfulness of the situation overwhelmed the young man, yet he did not look away. He hoped to catch Jack's eyes at least, to tell him how much of a friend he had been to Elizabeth and him.

"…and general lawlessness. I hereby sentence you to hang by the neck until dead."

The hand was taken away from his eyes as the drums started up, and he looked at Jack, stumbling as the guards got a little ahead of him in the march. There came a drop of water hit his cheek just below his eye. And then another on his lip - another on his nose. Looking up, James squinted as the rain began to spit, drenching everyone in a fine layer of water, dewdrops forming on lace hems of dresses, hair and wigs. The flag began to billow wildly against the slight wind that caught up.

The flag against the marble arch, where Elizabeth and Will stood, young Turner with a protective arm around his beloved, yet unmarried, beauty, her face streaked with tears and raindrops spattered, balancing on her long eyelashes, face pressed close into Will's shoulder, hiding her eyes from the awful sight.

That's exactly what it was. Awful, terrible… it was the man's life…

The ex-Commodore held up a hand, and walked briskly down the steps up to the marble podium where the lovers stood, along with Beckett and his two admirals, guns stood like staffs next to their sides.

"Don't you think the public," he spread an arm to encompass the crowd, "has seen enough hangings of this man, and it seems you have other prisoners besides? Wouldn't you prefer something a little more… entertaining, Sir?" Beckett nodded for Norrington to continue his proposal.

"A tournament,"

"Who are the challengers?"

James took a sharp breath. He nodded towards Sparrow, gaze lingering on the man for a moment too long, which earned him a hard jab of Cutler's elbow in his ribs. "And me,"

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Author's Notes: Who thought Tia Dalma was just awesome x) Oh and please, if you're a very, very, very big fan of Sparrington, and enjoy your slash, please check out Theban Band's artwork. If you type in Theban Band onto a search engine, (google I use) I know that on Google it's the first link (: Have fun on there. Be aware it's not particularly work-safe stuff xD I recommend all you kiddies who have somehow strolled onto my little fic here, DON'T go there. I'm trying to advertise and not be a bad influence at the same time here x) Multitasking; it's a woman thing x3