Ah! I have returned!

I'm sorry for the long wait, I was on vacation. x.X No internet--bleh.

So! Without further ado, here is your long awaited chapter seven. Please enjoy.


Paper Heart

As the wind blows through my dread locked hair, and cools my tanned flesh I almost feel adventure once again swooping down on me like an enemy pirate attacking from above. It's a feeling one never forgets. Once you've had the feeling, you crave it, like rum, it's an addiction you cannot escape, nor can it be ignored. I hold tightly to the crow's nest, lest I should fall, almost willing myself not to. It's a constant danger, but so is the life I live.

The life of a pirate.

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Entry 794

We barely escaped the Navy's clever ambush and are struggling to sail with the few crewmen we have left. I feel like a wreck.

Among the missing and dead is Mr. Cotton. His body was not seen in the water, but his bird is gone and so is he. My hand trembles to think of it. The poor, old salt had been loyal to me to the end, though he could never speak it in words, I knew he trusted my guidance completely. And I trusted him.

We still have the captives, but they're worth nothing to me in exchange for my crewmen's' lives.

I should not belittle their use though. The hostages were what saved us in the end. We could fire on the navy with our long-nines, but they were afraid to fire back for fear of injuring those they'd come to save. Eventually, the Queen's Lace was sunk to the bottom of the deep and the Dauntless's crew drew off their attack to let us on our way. Their men would've drowned if they hadn't stopped to pull them from the water. Therefore, our win is not one to brag about. Had we been sprung upon by two enemy pirate ships—or any ship, in fact, not from the Royal Navy—we would've been doomed. The navy, admittedly, is not as brutish to their own men as some would be.

I just wish the fight hadn't gone in the direction it did. I wanted to shoot my own foot when I had to take on another hostage then proceed to threaten them both right in front of the Commodore. I'm a pirate, but it just doesn't feel right to be that cruel.

It's those kinds of actions that make Barbossa's words ring in my ears.

"Now, see, Jack, that's the kind of attitude that lost you the Pearl. People are easy to search when they're dead."

I've never felt that way about piracy, but sometimes I feel forced to use his tactics. Even if I don't want to.

Still, I would return the captives to a port and let them on their merry way—forget about the whole thing, basically—but my crew… They're pirates; pirates who need food and the money to get it with. We need the money from the ransom and I risk a mutiny if I give up.

Blast pirates! Blast this whole idea of kidnapping girls for ransom.

Why have these plans gone off so smoothly in the past but are now complicated beyond belief? Has it merely to do with the fact that I took on the wrong hostage—one too closely related to the Commodore? Maybe the Turners were right. I have struck Port Royal too many times. I don't really know. If I did, I might be able to solve this problem and still get money for my crew; or at least know of a new way to get money. But I'm at a loss.

Treasure hunting is an option I could take more often, to avoid seeking ransoms. It's something my crew and I do once in awhile, but—usually—although, not in this case, it's more work than getting a ransom. And it's often more dangerous. Other pirates hear of the search and you get chased around from here to there, then, sometimes, you chase them from there to here to come out on top. Men die, ships are sunk, dreams are crushed, and everyone is out for themselves. Treasure hunting is a sport to accomplish alone.

Perhaps my problem is that I have the wrong crew. I need to find one that has my goals and ideas but—

No.

No one has my objectives. Gibbs is always telling me I'm one of a kind. And I know I am.

I'm too unconventional to be much of a blood-thirsty pirate.

As for Mara and Jesse, they're both in the Captain's cabin comforting each other. I know his presence is either going to relax Mara or stir her up. I don't know which, but from my first impression of the whelp, there's looking to be more tension around here from now on.

I don't look forward to it.

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The Journal of a Lady in Distress;

Captive by Pirate

Day 20

Miss Mara McArthur

I can't believe it! He's really here!

To be able to write this, with his hand in mine, while I use the surface of a book to write on at the bedside is all like a dream. My reality is all fuzzy around the edges with happiness.

But then it's shaken with fear. We're both in danger now and the navy has abandoned us to our doom. Apparently, we're not worth the price of a hundred dead men.

What happened today has upset me terribly. I never expected to see Jesse again, let alone aboard this ship! I feel more comfortable now that he's with me, but I'm scared for him. He's not that good with a sword. He's been practicing with Will Turner, a good friend of mine, but he's not ready to fight off a hoard of pirates. Jack could've very well killed him today, but for some reason he didn't. Whether he went easy on him or had other plans, I'm not sure, but Jack was all the time going to win—I knew that. And it frightens me a little to think that Jesse wouldn't back down.

Even if he's willing to—and that's sweet of him—I don't want him to die to save me. I can't bear the idea. It's horrid and foolish of him. How dare he do such an openly stupid thing, and worry me like this!

Before falling asleep he told me how he got here. He stowed aboard the Dauntless before it made way from Port Royal. When it docked momentarily near Tortuga he swam from the ship to the nearby, small peninsula, jogged to the other side of it and swam to the Black Pearl. I know he used to swim a mile every day back in Port Royal, but… How did he think he would have the energy to fight after swimming and running all that way? What a fool!

Incredibly brave and sweet… But a fool nonetheless!

Ah! But we are in a bit of trouble. Who's to save us now that the Navy has been defeated? We're on our way to a hidden berth and our only hope of rescue has been left far behind. If we cannot be found, as seems to be the case, I will be trapped here forever; just as Sparrow promised.

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"You're still awake, Mara?"

"I'm writing about what's been happening."

Jesse sat up and wiped the sleep from his eyes. "You're keeping a log of your adventure? What for?" He watched her closing notes with interest, then leaned back when she seemed to be nearly finished.

"To pass time. And I suppose it works as a will. You know, I'll need one in case I don't survive this." Mara closed her journal and laid her empty quill in her lap. She looked over at Jesse with remorse in her eyes.

"What kind of talk is that? I'm here now. We can escape!" Jesse sprang up from the bed and fell to one knee by Mara's feet. "We've only to wait until they dock in a port and we'll jump ship. If they try to stop us, I'll fight them off! They can't keep us here." He laid his hands over hers, trying to show her the bravery he felt in his heart despite their situation.

"You don't understand, Jesse. I'm under the impression this berth of theirs is an island, and we're going straight there unless something drastic changes their plans." Mara pulled her hands from under his. "I tried to jump ship once already. Maybe you can swim fast enough to get away, but I'm dead weight. We'll never make it anyplace when I'm my sort of waist size."

Jesse stared up at Mara, jaw hanging loose for a moment. It always shocked him how willingly she put herself down in front of him and other people. "That's not true! You've gone swimming with me before. And you kept up just fine." He finished with a proud grin.

"We went a fourth of a mile, you had your arm around me the whole time. You've obviously also forgotten about the vest of empty canteens I wore to keep me afloat." Mara crossed her arms, eyebrow raised. "Although, I don't see how anyone could forget that horrid contraption." She moved her hands to her hips in defiance. "And another thing: you even joked afterwards how slowly you had to swim to stay with me. You quite plainly said that it took us as long to do one-fourth mile as it did for you to do one whole mile."

Groaning, Jesse turned his face away to hide his distress then glanced back on a sudden though with suspicion in his eyes. "You've given up on escape, haven't you?"

"That's beside the point. I'm being realistic."

"No, you're not!" Jesse said, grabbing her shoulders. "Realistic is us getting out of here and starting our life together like we were planning to."

"How can you say that?" Mara shrugged off Jesse's hands and turned to the window. "We're on a boat in the middle of the ocean. Where are we supposed to go?"

"The nearest port!" Jesse said with a grin.

"What if it's unfriendly?"

Jesse looked away with a shrug. "We'll escape to a different port, then."

"You expect us to swim all of that way?" Mara turned her head, eyebrow raised.

"We'll borrow a row boat."

"So, we're going to travel all the way to a port, from a ship, in the middle of the ocean, and we're going in a row boat?" Mara asked incredulously.

"Why not?"

"Oh, you and your brash plans!" Mara turned back to the window angrily. He would be like this, suggesting crazy ideas and acting before thinking. His spontaneity was the one thing she could barely stand about him.

Jesse laid his hand on her arm only to have it brushed off. "But this isn't about my first marriage proposal to you."

"I never said it was!" Mara was beginning to be quite irate with this boy of hers. Where did he get off bringing that up?

"You mentioned my 'brash plans' again. You always do when you're thinking about our first marriage attempt." The young man turned and sat himself on the bed, frustrated with the argument.

"I am not still upset about that." Mara said, refusing to look at him.

Jesse watched his fiancé with narrowed eyes, unable to give up on his plans yet. "Then why can't we go in a row boat?"

"Because I don't care to die that way!"

"What way?"

"Any number of ways that could come from trying to sail the ocean in a rowboat!" Mara held up a hand and began to count off fingers. "Starvation, dehydration, eaten by sharks, drowning, being smashed against rocks or reefs, finding ourselves on an island full of cannibals, finding ourselves in an unfriendly port-"

Jesse's hands flew up in defense. "Whoa! I get the idea! It's dangerous; but, Mara, how's that any worse than here?"

Mara set her hand on her cheek and turned away. "It just is."

"We've got a better chance with the ocean than with bloodthirsty pirates." Jesse stood and wrapped his arms around Mara's shoulders, surprised to feel her tremble beneath him. "Mara?"

"No." Mara said with a gentle shake of her head. "They're not bloodthirsty. Captain Sparrow could've killed you today. He fights like William Turner—he's as good as Will is. I don't know why, but he refrained from killing you. He spared your life, Jesse."

"Are you suggesting that I can't even beat one pirate in order to save you?" Jesse tightened his arms around Mara's shoulders.

"I'm not trying to put down your skills. I'm just saying that Jack could've killed you and that if he didn't he probably doesn't intend to ever kill us. He's only out for profit, Jesse, and killing us won't get him any money."

"And you know this because he's told you?"

Mara turned her head and glared up at Jesse's face. "I just know. Can't you give a little trust in what I'm saying? I have been on this ship for awhile, you know. A lot longer than you, at least."

"Mara, I trust you, but I don't trust them. You can say what you truly believe, but it doesn't mean they're going to be honest according to their past actions. These are unpredictable, wild devils. You can't trust them to be consistent." Jesse stared back at Mara with equal firmness to her own. He wasn't going to give in on this point. They needed to at least attempt escape—even if just to be recaptured.

"You're quite impossible."

"Does that matter?"

Mara reached her hands up to Jesse's arms, still wrapped around her shoulders, and clutched at them. "No." She sighed heavily. "If you try to escape, I'll go with you—but I don't agree with this. I'm only going because I don't want to be here alone."

Jesse fought the urge to roll his eyes, even though he knew she wouldn't see him do it if he did. "I wouldn't go if you refused to."

"Then I refuse your absurd plan." Mara said releasing herself from Jesse's hold. "I won't sail on the ocean in a row boat and I won't swim to a port. I will not die that way."

Jesse stared down at Mara, studying her brown locks and eyes with an expression devoid of emotion. He dared not say anything for his anger.

"Let me tell you what's happened so far and maybe you'll understand my view." Mara interjected quickly into the heated silence. She took a breath and led Jesse to the bed to sit. They both did and she took his hands in hers. "There's something you should know about Jack."

Jesse raised a curious brow. "Do tell."

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We return now to an earlier time.
Norrington had just tricked Jack and after pretending to not be on the offensive, secretly allowed the Queen's Lace to creep up for the attack.

Norrington turned from his conversation with Jack, satisfied entirely. Doing his best to avoid the cross-fire, he strode across the deck to the helm. "Lieutenant?"

"Yes, Commodore?"

"I do believe, Lieutenant, that these mongrels are finally getting a taste of what the King of England feels about pirates." James said with a small smile. "It's about time."

"I concur, Commodore, but-" Gillette gripped the mizzenmast as the Dauntless jolted for the fifth time and the air cracked with a sound like thunder. "The cannon fire! We won't last if we don't fight back with equal strength. We're taking round after round with no return!"

Norrington's eyes flitted to the deck of the Pearl and carefully studied the drama unfolding there. "We don't have a choice. My nephew and his fiancé are aboard that ship. We cannot fire or we're putting them at risk for injury or death." He wobbled and clung to the bulward as another round from the Pearl's cannons struck the ship. He glanced across the Pearl to the Queen's Lace as cries rose up with the sound of desperation. More cannon fire threw James to his knees.

"Commodore!" Gillette's voice could barely rise above the thunder of the cannons. "The Queen's Lace is on the verge of sinking!"

The voice of the Dauntless's bo'sun interjected before Norrington could formulate a reply. "And we'll be joining them if we don't stem our attack. We're taking on a lot of heavy damage, Commodore."

James eyes couldn't tear from the sight aboard the Black Pearl. "But this is our last chance to stop Sparrow. We'll have to wait for reinforcement to arrive if this doesn't work. We can't wait that long!"

"Commodore!" Gillette caught and held Norrington's eyes. "Two are not the price of many. Put your connections aside—and your hatred for Sparrow. It's time for you to think of the well-being of your men." He waited precious seconds in silence, keeping careful watch of the struggle that was plain on the Commodore's face.

"Pull the men from the fight." James said finally, his voice cracking. He tore his eyes from Gillette to stare after Jack on the other deck. When his Lieutenant made no move to make the orders, Norrington dragged himself to his feet and forced his voice to be firm. "Gillette! The men—I call for an immediate and full retreat!"

"Fall back! Make your way back to the Dauntless! Retreat!"

Gillette's cries could barely be heard of the roar of the cannons, but what truly drowned him out was the screams of both the pirate and navy crews as the Queen's Lace rolled on her Port bow and the masts fell towards the fight still ongoing aboard the Pearl. The main mast caught on the bulward and could go no further. The Queen's Lace continued to sink, the mast slowly drifting down the bulward into the water as both crews looked on in horror. Men dove into the water from the sinking vessel in an effort to escape being taken down with it; some men clung to it as their last hope. Gillette's orders could finally be heard as the gunners paused their efforts.

"Retreat to the Dauntless!"

Norrington felt a stone sinking from his chest to his stomach as men poured off of the Pearl in the rush to escape. He watched Jack leap to his place at the helm, barely able to hear the orders he shouted to his crew as they prepared to make their escape. "This shouldn't be how it ends. He shouldn't be escaping all that he deserves!"

Gillette followed James's gaze then turned his eyes sympathetically on his Commodore. "This isn't the end, sir. So long as those two live we have hope."

"Perhaps, Lieutenant, but if they're not in Tortuga, I won't know where to find them; and I'm not authorized to be away from Port Royal for so long. If we can't catch them now, then when?" James cringed as the Queen's Lace spewed forth one final moan and freed her mast from the Black Pearl. As the water bubbled about her disappearing edges and the Pearl made her way toward the horizon, he clenched his fists and in a few quick strides made it to the bow of the ship. He didn't look back as he spoke. "We will pursue them, Gillette, as soon as we can. But for now, let us rescue our men from the water's grip."

Gillette felt smile drawing up his lips, but caught himself and turned to fire the orders and as the recovery work began he drew a sideways glance to watch James as he stood at the bow. "That man has lost a lot to that pirate," he said to a sailor beside him. "I just hope he doesn't let it get to him."

The sailor grimaced in the sunlight as he too turned his eyes to the Commodore. "I as well, sir. But I'm afraid I've not much idea what you're speaking of."

Gillette nodded curtly and turned to find something to do. "No, of course you wouldn't. My apologies, sailor." He lifted up a rope that a sailor was calling for, but a tap on his shoulder pulled his attention.

"Lieutenant, we've pulled up someone out of the water we think you should talk to."

Gillette nodded and turned to follow closely behind the Navy Officer. As they approached the center-port bow, he could see a man, guarded by three officers with rifles and bayonets. He was elderly with a grimace set upon his wrinkled features, he looked miserable; but then he was shivering too. Gillette felt a twinge of compassion for the man who was obviously a crewman from the Black Pearl, but kept his composure. "Well, have you got anything to say for yourself, pirate?"

The man said nothing.

"Good grief, man, say something in your own defense! You're on a navy ship with a brand on your arm that names you pirate. It's not a good position for you." Gillette glanced over his shoulder at the Commodore who was approaching with sullen steps. "Sir, the men dragged him up with some of ours."

"I see that."

"Shall I leave him to you then?"

"Yes."

Gillette bowed curtly and strode away.

James continued to stare blankly at the old pirate. "You were on Jack's ship?"

The old man still said nothing.

"Speak for yourself or you'll get no justice." James said, already aggravated. "What!" He ducked in surprise as something flew over his head—knocking James's tri-cornered hat from his brow to the deck—and promptly perched upon the old man's shoulder. "Ah." Norrington said, nodding slowly. He understood now who this was. "Mr. Cotton, is it? Nice to have you aboard, sir."

The sailor's elderly face seemed to soften its reserve, obduracy removed. Yet, he made no attempt to speak.

"I hope you find your accommodations in the brig comfortable because—unless you can help us—it'll be the last place in which you spend time alive—at least, before we toss you in jail." Norrington motioned for the three officers to take the sailor away, but pulled one aside. "He's a mute. I have not much hope for my plans because of this, but if we could get him to somehow tell us where the Black Pearl is headed, we might be able to pull back together this disgraceful rescue attempt."

"Aye, Commodore."

James released the officer's arm and he went on his way to catch up with the other two still dragging along Cotton and his squawking bird. Could James possibly dare to hope that the old mute was the answer to their problems? The Commodore straightened himself, then his jacket, and turned brightened eyes to the horizon in which a glimmer of the Pearl was still barely visible. If he had his druthers, he would save his nephew and his young fiancé and the two would have their wedding in Port Royal with Mara's mother present to witness it. "So long as that woman still lives, I can succeed." He turned his head to give Gillette a smile when the Lieutenant's hand touched his shoulder to catch his attention. "Yes, Gillette?"

"Every man has been pulled from the waters, Commodore, and our Bo'sun says before we can go anywhere we have to get the Dauntless fixed. She's not seaworthy at the present time."

"That's just fine, Lieutenant. Pull her into Tortuga and we'll begin repairs." James felt his face light up with a smile, and watched Gillette stand rock-struck beside him.

"Commodore?"

"Are you going to give the orders or shall I have to?"

Gillette's eyes widened, but a smile drew over his face; proof of his amusement. "I'll give them." He said with a curt nod, his face sobering. There was hope now, he could see it in Norrington's eyes. Perhaps it wasn't much, but it was enough. He doled out the fresh orders, but in a sudden thought turned back to James. "But he's mute, sir! He can't tell us anything."

"We'll just have to find some way around that, Lieutenant. He either tells us what we want to know by finding some way of communication or he is spared no amount of justice and goes straight to the gallows. It's his own choice at this point."

Though the glint of hope never left Norrington's eyes as he spoke, Gillette couldn't help but feel that getting information from the old pirate would be more difficult than the Commodore cared to believe.


I'm not really all that pleased with this chapter. The conversation between Mara and Jesse greatly displeases me in how it went. But, alas, I didn't want to put off an update any longer. v.V I'm also not very happy with my version of Jack. Ick. He just sounds like the Commodore to me. Anybody else feel this way?

Thanks for the reviews, guys! Captain MeraSparrow, Lonaargh, Nicole Egeni: You guys rock.

R&R, please and thank you. :)