"Gentlemen, the time has come! Our salvation is nigh!"
If witnessing Jack Sparrow in the flesh had been strange and exhilarating (if not mildly infuriating a lot of the time), having the same experience with Barbossa was like the other, more terrible, side of that coin. Admittedly, he'd been one of her favourite characters of the series - back before she'd crash-landed here, of course. The clever, devious ones who could talk circles around their opponents has always intrigued her most…which was why her stupid little crush on James now caught nobody by surprise moreso than herself. That being said, she'd never wanted to meet Barbossa. Never. Much for the same reason she'd be more content to look at a tiger from the other side of a fence in a wildlife sanctuary than she would be to stumble across one in the wild. His schemes and machinations were delightful only when she could not be harmed by them.
It was easy for her to discount the dread she'd feel at being so close to the pirate captain up 'til now, because her mind had been operating on a bit of a skewed base. 'On a scale of Barbossa, to Beckett, to Davy Jones, to Davy Jones' kraken, who do you least want to encounter while here?'. And even then, Beckett and Jones could perhaps trade places. She'd save that assessment for later - if and when she had the misfortune of meeting them - before she put the scale down in ink. It remained in the drafting phase for now. Still, while Barbossa was inarguably on the 'lighter' end of the spectrum, it didn't make him a non-issue. Theo would be the first to admit that she'd been very lucky up til now when it came to who she'd encountered…face-smashing skirmish aside. As she listened to the resounding, ground-rumbling cries of Barbossa's crew, she accepted that whatever luck she'd been coasting on had run out.
Jack and Will went up the hill - not to fetch a pail of water, but to gain a vantage point to spy on Barbossa's actions. Theo didn't follow, partially because she didn't need to look to know what was going on, but also because her hair was an attention-grabber at the best of times (one of the many reasons, as she'd insisted to Jack, that stealth wasn't always her strong suit) and the last thing they needed was for a crew member to spot them because of her fiery barnet. Instead, she stayed down by the foot of the slope, her back pressed against the cold cave wall, listening with the greatest sense of detachment she could muster to Barbossa's speech and the crew's rumbling shouts of agreement in turn.
"Here it is!"
An almighty crash signalled Barbossa's opening of the cursed treasure chest.
"The cursed treasure of Cortes himself. Every last piece that went astray, we have returned. Save for this!"
The volume of the cries betrayed the sheer number of the crew - something she was surprised to find caught her off guard. When asked to name actual members of the crew, most would manage a handful at most - the ones relegated to comic relief, and the few others who were given speaking roles. It was that which made it easy to forget about the rest of them. While Jack might not have been everything that the likes of James or Governor Swann would picture when asked to describe a pirate, there was no mistaking that this lot most certainly were. It gave her no sense of eagerness to throw herself upon their mercy.
Theo wasn't the only one who balked at the frenzy they were working themselves into - although Will's distress had a different source.
"Jack!" He hissed, trying to lurch forward, only to be caught by the collar of his shirt and jerked backwards.
The clatter of the coins he disturbed might as well have been as loud as the crashing of thunder in Theo's mind, and almost on instinct she hunkered down a little where she stood, as though poised for a fight here and now.
"Not yet!" Jack growled, pulling the blacksmith back into the shadows and lowering his voice "We wait for the opportune moment."
Turning, Jack returned back down the slope, striding past her with barely a glance, Will hot on his heels.
"When's that?" Will asked "When it's of greatest profit to you?"
She knew they wouldn't be heard, but she still had to fight against the urge to hiss at them to shut up, her nerves on edge.
"May I ask you something? Have I ever given you reason not to trust me?" Jack turned on his heel, almost nose to nose with Will before he gestured vaguely in her direction without even glancing at her "She does, and one might argue she knows my character somewhat more than you."
The point didn't seem to bolster Will's spirit. Jack sighed.
"Do us a favour. I know it's difficult for you, but please stay here…and try not to do anything stupid."
Will scowled, but Jack didn't seem too bothered by the disapproval radiating from him, turning to her and gesturing for her to stay in place too - like she was a dog. Theo was rather less offended by the whole thing than Will, but it was difficult for mild annoyance to overpower the foreboding that had steadily risen within her ever since climbing into the skiff. Oh, she trusted herself and her ability to do what she had to when the time came…she just wished she knew what that was. Curling her fingers around the hilt of her stolen blade helped somewhat.
And then Will was rounding on her.
"You know what I mean to do?" He demanded quietly.
Theo nodded.
"And it works? It's what I'm supposed to do?"
"If it wasn't, I'd be trying to stop you," she pointed out.
Despite the fact that she knew Jack would be doing the very same thing in her shoes, it still felt shitty to wave Will along in his betrayal of her new captain. She supposed, though, it would feel a whole lot shittier to die because things went pear-shaped. Will frowned, eyes narrowing as if he didn't quite know whether to believe her. Were it not for their little bonding moment during the storm, she suspected he wouldn't. But the crew's frenzy was reaching new heights, and they didn't have the luxury of time to waste. So, with a great sense of purpose, he strode back to the boat and took up one of the oars, and then pursued Jack as quickly as he could while still remaining quiet, throwing a mouthed "wait here" over his shoulder at the last second for good measure.
If the guilt that she felt in standing by and doing nothing was an indicator of how she'd feel over future, much more momentous events, she knew her time here would not soon get much easier. She supposed she'd just have to get over it. Despite her resolution to do just that, she still winced at the sickening crack of the oar impacting the back of the good captain's head. But she waited until she did hear it before she pursued.
The cave system would soon be crawling with pirates searching for Elizabeth. She knew that Will would not be found, and nor would Jack (well, not immediately anyway), so logic dictated that she stick by one of them unless she wanted to be caught unawares. There wasn't much of a choice between the two, either, considering she'd made the glowing decision to throw in her lot with the more unpredictable of the two. She might've thought jokingly to herself that she envied Elizabeth, but then a bigger, more genuine reason to envy her flashed across her mind in the form of James' face, and the joke didn't feel quite so funny anymore.
Moving on the balls of her feet, and triple-checking the path in front of her for any coins, puddles, or anything equally noisy, she moved towards Jack's unconscious form on the ground. It was a well established fact back home that the entertainment industry always made it look like knocking somebody out wasn't much of a serious thing. In fiction it was a quick fix, back home it was cause for a hospital visit. She just hoped the rules governing cursed treasure and the edge of worlds worked their magic on things as mundane as head trauma, too. Mostly because Jack was difficult enough with all of his faculties in check.
He lay sprawled out on his back on the floor, snoring just slightly - a good sign, for it allowed her to hear that he was breathing properly. Every so often he'd stir, trying to wake up. Theo wagered Will had two minutes at most before he had to be gone, otherwise he'd find himself at the mercy of not one but two very angry pirate captains.
By the time she realised just how quiet it had gotten, the silence was broken by the crack of a gunshot - the only signal she needed that shit was about to get very, very real. Jack stirred on the ground in response to it, jerking slightly, beginning to truly struggle against the hold of unconsciousness now. Theo drew her shortsword, and poised herself for action as the gunshot heralded dissent among the crew, who very quickly began arguing amongst themselves - and blaming Barbossa for all of their perils. With great power, and all that. So poised was she for a fight, that when a hand clamped down on her shoulder, she whirled and raised the blade, only just managing to stop herself from slashing at Will's face.
"Jesus Christ," she hissed, staring at him in disbelief.
Water dripped from his hair and clothing in droves - he'd rescued Elizabeth, then. He didn't respond, even though the din of the crew would've more than covered any conversation, instead he only gestured for her to follow.
"I can't," she shook her head sharply "I need to stay with Jack. You go."
"Theo?!" Elizabeth came up behind Will, and regarded her with wide, disbelieving eyes "What are you doing here?"
Theo couldn't help the apologetic look that rose to her face of its own accord, furrowing her brow and downturning her lips. There was no explanation for her presence here that wouldn't end with her friend's opinion of her going down the gutter. It was rather a pattern now - starting with James, and now Elizabeth.
"We can't leave you here, they'll…" Will stopped short, apparently not keen to explain just what he thought the crew of The Black Pearl would do to her.
"You have to - go, now, or they'll find you. I'm serious, leave. I'll be fine."
Resignation rose to his eyes sooner than she expected, but to her great relief. Elizabeth, however, didn't share in his acceptance.
"What? No!" She protested as Will backed up, gently taking her by the arm and pulling her in the direction of the boat "No, we can't leave you here. Will, no!"
"I'll see you soon, I'll be fine," Theo hoped her face didn't show her own fear, for she knew they'd never leave if it did "Trust me, Will will explain everything."
Over Elizabeth's shoulder, Theo gave Will a pointed look that she very much prayed he understood to mean he should tell Elizabeth the acceptable version of everything, and not the full extent of it all. He gave the slightest of nods, but he was very much occupied with wrestling Elizabeth towards the boat. When the roar of the pirates began to echo around the caverns, no longer contained to just the main cave, self-preservation finally won out and she allowed Will to drag her in the direction of the skiff - but not without a final, terrified look over her shoulder. Theo gave her a nod, which was all she could offer in the way of reassurance through her own fear.
It abated a little when, upon witnessing them begin to sail away, she turned her attention back to Jack and found him beginning to sit up. Not because she trusted him to keep her alive just yet, but because he'd at least do in the way of a human shield if things went really tits up.
The rest of the waking up process was hardly so gradual - his dark eyes flew open, and he began swinging his fists before he even fully registered where he was, apparently trying to fight the oar that had already come and gone.
"Captain," she hissed, dodging the first swing, and then another "For fuck's sake - Jack. Get a grip."
Her soft words of encouragement did the trick, for he stopped trying to knock her out and blinked himself back into reality. And then he glared.
"You know, love, I really could have done with a warning."
"I'm still here, aren't I?"
The grunt he gave in response as he stood suggested he didn't consider that much of a blessing. But despite the greater danger breathing down their necks, she couldn't help but be relieved that he hadn't held more of a grudge. Ever the pragmatist. After all, in the movies Elizabeth all out sealed his fate, and she struggled to remember him holding much of a grudge beyond a few snarky comments.
"I'm to take your meaning to mean that the eunuch isn't?" He grumbled, straightening his hat.
"Nor is Elizabeth," she said "But cheer up, it's not all bad. You're in for a happy reunion."
Her own joking did little to lessen her fears, but she was soon following Jack swiftly through the caverns…right up until they stumbled right upon the crew. Jack faltered, trying at first to turn around the way they'd come, but they'd already been noticed.
"You!" Ragetti stared in disbelief at his former captain, pointing.
"You're s'posed to be dead!" Pintel added.
"Am I not?" Jack made a great show of inspecting himself, before turning to her as if seeking her own assessment "Oh."
Theo said nothing, but she didn't allow herself to cower, her grip on her sword tightening as though it would do her any good against them. Turning, Jack tried to shoo her in the opposite direction, only for her to come nose-to-sword with pirates - and then a pistol was cocking in her face. Expecting it didn't stop her heart from leaping into her mouth, and when she turned back to Jack it was only to see more swords pointed directly at them over his shoulder.
"Lass," Jack said quickly "What's the word I'm looking for? Begins with a 'p'? French?"
"Parley," she muttered.
"That's the one! Parley!" He repeated proudly "Always knew you'd be handy to have around."
She was too busy forcing her muscles to comply - keeping her back straight and her chin up - under the glares her input earned her to beam much under the praise. The brave act didn't come much easier to her as they were dragged none too gently before Barbossa, but the important thing was that it did not falter. And, as she suspected, it rather helped that she was standing just a little behind Jack, who leaned up against the oar he held like the encounter was of little more consequence than a quick catch-up with an old school pal outside of a pub.
"How the blazes did you get off that island?" Barbossa demanded, not bothering with pleasantries.
Theo kept her eyes trained carefully on him even though he'd not yet spared her a glance, just in case anything less would be considered weakness. It was tempting to glance around the crew, but it would be of no use.
"When you marooned me on that godforsaken spit of land, you forgot one very important thing, mate."
Barbossa waited, offering no reaction.
"I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."
Barbossa rolled his eyes "And who's the wench?"
It seemed, despite not looking at her, her presence hadn't escaped his notice.
"Oh, her?" Jack blinked as though he'd entirely forgotten she was there "She's me witch."
Theo clenched her jaw. Maybe she should've just gone with Will after all.
"Yer name, witch?" Barbossa eyed her now.
"Theodora Byrne," she said coolly.
His eyebrows raised just slightly, noting her accent.
"Long has it been since I've been greeted with the dulcet tones of my homeland," he said, inclining his head before frowning, his eyes trailing over her bruises "I've never known ye to be a lassie basher, Jack."
A few members of the crew chuckled as though such an assessment was a mark against Jack's character.
"Oh, that wasn't me - although the man who did do it didn't live to tell the tale," he waved his fingers in a manner that seemed to be a universal indicator of witchcraft.
Barbossa seemed largely unimpressed.
"Ah, well then you've given me two mistakes that I shouldn't hasten to make," he replied, taking a few steps forward to emphasise his words before turning to his men "Kill them both."
Theo barely had time to tense before Jack was speaking up - although not quite as quickly as she would've liked. Time did have a habit of stretching on when one was facing an entire firing squad, though.
"The girl's blood didn't work, did it?"
Barbossa paused as he stalked away, tension rolling off his shoulders.
"Hold your fire," he commanded at a growl, turning back again to glare at Jack's smug smirk "You know whose blood we need."
The smirk turned into an all-out grin as he repeated quietly "I know whose blood you need."
The silence that stretched on in response to that was painstaking - for Theo, at least. After all, she knew that Jack survived this encounter. She couldn't be sure that she would. Barbossa's eyes trailed back to her, apparently thinking along the same lines. Jack followed his gaze, before turning back to him lazily.
"She's part of the deal. I've grown fond of her - like a stray pup."
Barbossa rolled his eyes but, thank God, did not argue. When he offered no argument, his crew didn't seem much inclined to do so either, and he finally turned away.
"Stray dog comment aside, I could kiss you right now," Theo breathed.
It was a good thing the crew seized them, rough and grimy hands clamping around her arms as Jack received much the same treatment, walking them towards the boats like they were being arrested - for the feeling was rapidly leaving her legs as relief coursed through her, her heart pounding out a bloody dance remix in her chest. Jack didn't share her fear, shooting her a cheeky grin.
"I'll hold you to that, love."
She didn't quite have it in her to make a clever comment this time - but she'd take a breather, collect herself, and then give it a go later. At least now she knew there'd be time for that.
A/N: At a tentative guess (because I don't know much of what's going to happen beyond the bare basics before I write a chapter, I live life on the edge), this should be the last chapter for a while that heavily lends dialogue from the movies. I think. At least, the next one shouldn't anyway - there might be an instance of two in the ones that follow, but I'm really trying not to have it be a sort of "copy and paste" type thing when it does crop up.