I don't own POTC or any of the characters. I'd be a millionaire by now if I did.
Through the Winds of Doubt: Chapter 2-Captain Jack's Arrival
Elizabeth sat dumbfounded, not able to think, but only able to sit there with her mouth half open. What in God's name was Jack doing here? Hadn't he learned that Port Royal was the one town to steer clear of? Elizabeth certainly did not mind Jack's presence on the island but the other citizens would not be so lenient. Commodore Norrington especially. Jack's luck had almost run out last time he'd been here and she did not want him to get hurt or see the noose around his neck. Then again, Jack was not alone this time. He had an entire motley crew to back him up if trouble should arise. So, on the other hand, she did not want Jack plundering Port Royal. After all, she was the Governor's daughter and she had an obligation to protect her citizens.
"I suppose I'm stuck between a rock and hard place," Elizabeth whispered to herself. Quickly her mind created two solutions to her dilemma: she could walk away right now and pretend that she'd never seen the ship and hope that Jack did not attack Port Royal (chances were he just wanted to stop and rest) or she could confront the Captain and inquire just what his business was in Port Royal.
She rose from her perch on the sandbar and jogged back to the beach. Her mare was obviously unsettled from the sight of the ship, for she tossed her mane restlessly about. "Quiet you. Everything's all right just stay here and don't make any noise," Elizabeth said, patting the mare's neck. The mare still stared wide-eyed at the approaching ship but stood still. She lead the mare farther back from the beach so that she was obscured by trees and brush, before tying the mare up to another palm tree. Elizabeth sat up against a near-by palm tree and waited impatiently for the boats to arrive.
The Black Pearl still looked as magnificent as ever. Jack had obviously taken good care of it. It seemed to shine in the midday sunlight, its name finally becoming befitting. The ship finally stopped a hundred feet out from the shallows. Elizabeth watched as the boats were slowly lowered into the water and the oars dipped into the sea. She searched desperately for Jack. For what reason she wasn't sure, but she felt unease as she realized that the crew could have come without Jack. In fact, she remembered the crew the last time she'd been forced to work with them. She and them hadn't exactly gotten along…especially with Ana Maria. She hid herself behind a palm tree and waited to see if the Captain had decided to come ashore.
The crew members pulled the boat farther up the sand, talking all at once. Elizabeth recognized a few members whose names she had forgotten. Then she realized that Joshamee Gibbs was in the boat moving oars around. Ana Maria became visible, the same scowl plastered across her exotic features. Then, with his usual swagger, Jack stepped onto the sand, gazing around the beach as if searching for something. Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief before studying for the first time in months. His usual, or should we say unusual, garb was thrown unceremoniously on his body. His long, black hair hung down over his shoulder, the unusual trinkets still attached to his dreadlocks. More than anything, his skin had turned a golden brown from being in the sun. Jack pulled his compass out of a bag, opened it quickly, and stared intently at it. A look of puzzlement crossed his features, but he shrugged and closed the compass.
The entire crew was still blabbering loudly, obviously excited about something. Gibbs rose from the boat and tried to quiet the crew. "All right, pay attention ye scallywags," Gibbs yelled. The crew quieted. Gibbs waited for a few moments for Jack to speak. Jack seemed in his own world though for he said nothing.
Gibbs cleared his throat, "Ahem…Captain?"
Jack turned around. "Ah yes, my apologies," he drawled. "Now then, you are all probably curious as to why we are here, correct?"
The crew nodded, waiting hungrily for his next words. Jack looked at the ground and then back to his crew. Ana Maria glared at him intensely. "Well then, I suppose I'm going to have to figure out by myself, aren't I," he told them.
The crew turned to one another. Jack grinned his golden teeth gleaming.
"So until we figure-or until I figure out-why we're here, we'll stay here, savvy?"
The crew nodded slowly, but Ana Maria stomped up to Jack and clenched her fists. "You mean to tell us, after all this time, we're here for no reason!"
Jack cringed, "Well…no."
He squared up attempting to make himself look authoritative. "We're here for a reason. But we just don't know what that reason is, so until we find that reason, we're going to stay here…and while we're here we'll try to find the reason so that we can know why we're here. Savvy?"
Ana Maria's face turned two shades darker.
Jack threw his hands up. "Ah, good then. Now set up camp."
He stalked off to the water and opened his compass again. The crew paused for a second not sure what to do.
Gibbs finally yelled with an aggravated cry, "Ye heard the Captain! Set up camp."
The crew became a chaos of movement. It's now or never, Elizabeth thought and with that, she emerged from the trees.
At first, no one noticed her. Gibbs was too busy throwing about orders and Jack too absorbed in the directions of the compass. Ana Maria was the first to realize Elizabeth's presence. Elizabeth straightened the creases of her dress and narrowed her eyes at Ana Maria.
Ana Maria rolled her eyes, "What are you doing here? Of all the times to appear..."
The crew turned around one by one and stared at Elizabeth in surprise. Gibbs walked up to Elizabeth.
"Miss Swann," he exclaimed, "what are you doing here?"
"I should be asking you the same," Elizabeth said.
Jack suddenly perked up from his thoughts and turned around at the sound of Elizabeth's voice. He stared at her for a few moments from across the sand, his gaze so intense that Elizabeth squirmed. She had forgotten how intense his dark eyes were.
"Ah, well this certainly is unexpected," Jack said, with a frown. He walked to Elizabeth and stopped in front of her, studying her for a moment before finally grinning.
"Dear Miss Swann, what are you doing here? Or is it Mrs. Swann now?" Elizabeth shrugged, "No. Still 'miss'."
Jack nodded, "I expected as much. Political engagements to drag on longer is what I've come to find."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Jack, you should leave here, for your own safety. If the Commodore finds you, it's back to the noose."
Jack almost laughed, but seemed to decide against it. "Ah, Elizabeth…I already told you last time I managed to slip by that this relationship couldn't work out. Although I do appreciate your concern, we shouldn't make this harder than it is. Sorry love." He grinned playfully and turned around, and the crew burst into laughter.
Ana Maria sneered, "Go back home girl. The last thing we need is a princess to take care of."
Elizabeth scowled and shoved her way past the crew to Jack. She forcefully grabbed his shoulder and turned him to face her. He raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Jack Sparrow-," she started before realizing her mistake as Jack opened his mouth to correct her, "Captain Jack Sparrow, I demand to know if you are here to plunder Port Royal or not. If you aren't then I will leave, but if you are…," and here she paused waiting for his response.
Jack stroked his mustache for a moment. "No. Port Royal is not part of my business here. I wouldn't think of going there again after acquainting myself with the Commodore. No, my business here is of… a different sort, shall we say."
Elizabeth searched his eyes to decide if it was a lie. She saw only truth. "Right then…well I'll be leaving then." It had become apparent that Jack had no interest in dealing with her at the moment. She started to walk back to her mare to leave, but Jack's hand grasped her shoulder, gently. She faced him, waiting. "Why leave so soon Miss Swann? That is if you don't mind."
She smiled. "Not at all."
Well I hoped that was a good second chapter. I tried to break it up to make it easier to read. Please give me reviews and let me know how I can make it better!
-The Author