Thanks again to all of you who have read and reviewed this story…sorry it is taking me so long to update, but life gets in the way sometimes…lol.
As always, I don't own any characters from POTC…just the ones I make up in my poor widdle brain.
About the opening scene in this chapter--- I have read over half of all the POTC fanfics on the site and haven't found a scene like it, but if there is one, I want to apologize in advance. I hope you enjoy it, and please R & R if you feel like it…
Chapter 6: Breath of Life
….I never thought I'd be too tired to breathe…..funny thing, that……
My body feels heavy and so hot, like I've been cast into an oven. I'm not asleep but I can't wake up either, and I can't seem to find the energy to move. My side hurts every time I shiver…I want to cry but I can't. I turn my head slightly and hear the sound of a steady heartbeat in my ear, and for some reason it comforts me. I take a deep shuddering breath, let it out and drift off…
I feel weightless and the pain is gone…and I find I have the energy to open my eyes. I look down at myself in the bed beside him, and can't help but think that I look like a fright. So pale, my hair snarled and my face damp with perspiration, and yet he holds me to his side as if he were my lover. He sleeps, his noble head tipped back against the headboard, the dark circles under his eyes revealing the exhaustion. In sleep he looks much younger than he appears awake, and I feel a wave of tenderness toward this strange man I scarcely know. Then it comes to me that I am indeed floating, that I must be dead or at the least dying, and I realize at that same moment that I am not alone.
"It's not too late, you know…" The woman's voice is soft and strangely accented, and I turn my head to find her floating gently beside me near the ceiling. Her eyes and hair are dark as night in her fair face, and her beauty is stunning. "He has a noble heart, not unlike your own, Linnet. Because of your sacrifice, you have been given a rare gift,…..the gift to choose. You can take my hand now and leave this life behind….or you can stay and live."
"If I choose to go, what will happen to Miranda?"
The translucent figure answered me, a note of regret in her voice. "I cannot answer that question fully, as each person's destiny relies on the actions of others. I can tell you that she will reach her destination unharmed."
"But will she be happy?"
The woman looked at me sadly and shook her head. "Linnet, I cannot answer more….You must make your decision quickly, else your choice will be made for you." She nodded toward the bed, and I could see that my body no longer moved and that my lips had taken on a blueish cast. At that moment the Captain started awake, and his eyes grew wide as he looked in our direction. I saw his lips move but couldn't hear what he said, as there was a strange rushing sound in my ears that sounded remarkably like the ocean's tide. I can't help but watch with fascination as he turned his attention to my body and gave a fearful shout when he saw its stillness. Laying me flat he struck my chest several times with his fist and then put his lips to mine, trying to blow life back into my body. "Breathe, damnitall, breathe! I didn't nurse you for 2 days to have you die on me now!"he cried out in desperation. He bent his lips to mine once more as I look over at the floating woman. The single word she spoke echoed in my head…."Choose."
"Life" I whispered, and saw her smile, one of sweet triumph mingled with a gentle sadness, a smile which blinded me. An instant later I felt a horrendous pulling sensation, and suddenly I was back in my body, which ached horribly. Fiery pain lanced my side, but for once I didn't care. I gave a shuddering gasp and opened my eyes and his look of relief is a sight I'll never forget. His hand felt cool as it brushed across my warm forehead as he leaned back, and I looked and gasped when I saw the beautiful shimmering woman still hovering above us. I glanced over to see the captain had noticed my reaction and was staring at the ceiling as well, and as I fell into a healing slumber I thought I heard him speaking……
"…many thanks, Pearl m'love…."
(a/n)When Anamarie arrived half an hour later to take over nursing duties, she found the injured woman wrapped in the Captain's arms, his head resting atop hers, and that Linnet's fever had finally broken.
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After several hours of much needed sleep, the captain made his way to the galley, where he ate the first really solid meal he'd had in nearly 3 days. Returning to the helm, he motioned Mr. Cotton aside and stepped behind the wheel of his beloved ship with a familiar sense of belonging. Telescope in hand, he swung around quickly scanned the horizon for signs of other ships. He heard a whisper of skirts behind him and turned to find Miranda standing beside the big wheel, running one finger along the grips. She wore her hair plaited under a black bandana he recognized as belonging to Anamarie, and the young woman's feet were bare and very dirty. She was humming softly to herself, and Jack had to hold back a grin as recognized the tune as the one he himself had become so fond of. She started and jumped back when Jack snapped the telescope closed and hung it on his belt as he stepped back to the helm.
"Are the crew treating you well, Miranda?"
She brushed her hands on her skirt nervously before she answered him. "Everyone has been very nice to me….but I miss Linnie. Ana said she was very sick, and they won't let me see her…….is she going to die, Captain Jack?" The young woman's voice was tremulous and she looked at him with something akin to fear in her eyes.
"She came very close to it, but no, luv, she isn't going to die. She is very strong woman….she just needs a lot of rest, but your Linnie will be right as rain before you know it." '……God, please forgive me if it isn't true….'
The girl's eyes brightened and she smiled at him, and Jack was momentarily stunned by the beauty of that smile. It was as if he had been graced by an angel, and he suddenly felt as if he should fall to his knees while in the presence of something so holy. When she turned away to look out at the sea, he took a calming breath before catching her attention again.
"Tell me, Miranda, where did you live before you got on the ship?"
"Linnie and I lived at Havenwood, in Sussex. I miss it very much….the house was so pretty and we had our own park. Linnie used to take me there….Papa and Mama did too, before Mama died. Then we were all sad."
"Sounds like a pretty place, sweetheart. Why would you leave such a nice home to come to Port Royal?"
"When Papa died, Uncle Henry and Aunt Beryl came to live with us at Havenwood." Miranda got very quiet and her eyes grew sad as she played absently with the ships wheel. "There was a lot of fights about what should be done with me, and Uncle and Linnie would yell at each other something awful. Then Uncle said I was to be married and sent Linnie away with me. And then you came with The Pearl."
Jack stood silently, digesting this information for a few moments before asking another important question. " Would you like to go back to Havenwood, poppet?"
She shook her head as she looked up at Jack and said in a frightened voice "I don't like Uncle Henry anymore, Captain Jack. He was nice to me at first—he bought me candy and a kitten and my doll Ellie, and it wasn't even my birthday! But he isn't nice after all---- I was hiding behind the sofa in the library when he hurted her. Linnie, she hit him and told him to leave her alone and ran away. She got awful sick and cried a lot when she thought I was asleep. Please don't tell her I saw." The girl's expression brightened once more before she continued with confidence. " Linnie says that at my new home, I'll be the lady of the house and noone will hurt me or say mean things to me like Aunt Beryl, so I want to go to my new home, if you please, Captain Jack."
The tightening of his hands on the wheel was the only outward sign of Jack's inner fury, and he wished he had the absent bastard in front of him so that he could beat him senseless before running him through.. Calming himself, Jack sighed and nodded at Miranda, favoring her with a slight smile. "Port Royal it is then, missy. I've got some friends there whom I 'aven't seen in a while that will be able to help us. Now, how would you like to help me steer for a little while, ay?" He stepped back and with a gallant gesture, urged her to take the helm. He couldn't resist returning the wide joyful grin she favored him with as the slender woman stepped in front of him and placed her hands on the big wheel. It wasn't long before her sweet voice joined his as they sang the pirate ditty they both knew and loved as the sun began to sink toward the horizon.
