A Gilded Cage: Sequel to Broken Wings, Part II of the Fallen Sparrows Trilogy

A Pirates of the Caribbean story by Merrie

Disclaimer: They're still not mine. Although if they were...they'd probably all hate me for what I do to them, so I suppose it's just as well.

Summary: Captain Jack has been possessed by a demon god by the name of Lorelac who's used Jack to become the most infamous, hated, and wanted pirate in the ocean. Can Jack reclaim his life back? Will Elizabeth and Will be able to help while encountering problems of their own? And what about Chief Norrington? Sequel to Broken Wings.

Characters: Captain Jack Sparrow, Lorelac, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, Chief Norrington, many other random extras.

Author's Note: This turned out to be a fairly Norry-centric chapter. I'm not entirely sure how that happened, it just did. I guess the fellow's got a lot to say. shrug

Rating: PG-13 for now, but likely to rise in later chapters to be safe. Stupid ff.net boo, hiss

Chapter 2: Captains and Commodores

"We'll be at Port Royal within the hour, sir," one of Lorelac's few new crewmembers spoke tentatively to him as he stood at the wheel. He hadn't been able to find as many men as he had wanted to; word had gotten around Tortuga of how he had dispatched his old crew, but he had enough to make it Port Royal at least.

Getting into Port Royal itself would be somewhat troublesome due to the reputation he had made for himself-Sparrow-over the last month. "Have you thought about how you're going to enter the town without being arrested and hung, sir?" the crewman asked boldly, surprising Lorelac. He must have not heard the stories about me.

"Are you questioning me?" Lorelac asked coldly, looking the man straight in the eye.

"N-no sir," the man stuttered, tensing as Lorelac's mood shifted to hostile. "I was merely curious, sir. It won't happen again."

"See that it doesn't, lad. I wouldn't want to lose you just yet," Lorelac said slowly, his demeanour leaving nothing in his words to misinterpret. The crewmember gulped and nodded, turning quickly and practically running back down to the deck.

Lorelac watched him run, not bothering to hide his amusement. He hadn't really needed a crew, truth be told. It was within his power to call up the winds to sail the ship without the aid of a crew, but they were a good source of amusement if nothing else. And if he was willing to admit he was fallible-which he wasn't-the use of his powers could be taxing over long periods of time.

He raised his left hand up to rub at his temple in an absent-minded gesture as he thought over the past few days. He had had quite a bit of trouble finding crewmen willing to accompany him, or even to speak with him in Tortuga. They all knew how sailing with him could mean their very lives, and most of them were unwilling to take that risk. "Bloody cowards," he muttered under his breath. "If I had my old crew back I'd be set. Gibbs, Anamaria, Mr. Cotton, all of them—" Lorelac cut off the statement with a strangled gasp. "They're dead, Sparrow. You got them killed. Now keep your bloody thoughts to yourself!" he whispered frantically under his breath. That was another thing; Sparrow was beginning to whisper to him again. Something that shouldn't have been possible. He should have been gone. Lorelac couldn't understand it, and combined with the memories he was haunted with now even while he was still awake, he was beginning to fear for what little sanity he had. "Damn you, Sparrow! You cannot defeat me! I am a god!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, uncaring of who saw him and what they thought. This had to stop.

WWW

"That will be all, thank you Gillette. Could you ask Norrington to come in here please?" Admiral Kleeson asked, not looking up from the paper he was reading on his desk as he addressed the young redcoat in his office.

"Of course, Admiral Kleeson, sir," Gillette said with a short bow before turning on a polished heel and walking out into the waiting area outside of the Admiral's office where Norrington stood waiting.

"He's ready to see you now, Commodore," Gillette said, trying unsuccessfully not to smile smugly in his once superior's face. Norrington was a good man-he didn't deserve this-but he wasn't going to give up his own career just for one good man.

"From that smile on your face, Gillette, I'd say my title is no more than a formality now, am I correct?" Norrington asked calmly. "Or shall I call you Commodore from now on?"

"Don't take it personally, Norrington. You're a good man, and I respect you, but you've broken one too many rules to get off this time," Gillette said slowly.

"So it would seem," Norrington turned and made his way into the Admiral's office without another word.

"Norrington, so good of you to join me. Please, take a seat. Would you like a drink?" Admiral Kleeson asked, rising from his chair to greet him and making a preemptive move toward the liquor cabinet.

"I'd rather stand, and no thank you. What is this all about sir? Am I to assume I'm being discharged from service?" Norrington asked slowly, forcing his emotions off of his face.

"Straight to the point as usual," Kleeson commented, moving to sit back down at his desk. "I've always liked that about you." He sighed and placed his arms on the deck, interlacing his fingers. "As for your discharge, I'm afraid you leave us no choice."

"Do I get to ask why or am I just supposed to say thank you? Sir." The sir was added as an afterthought.

"That sounded very close to insubordination, Norrington," Admiral Kleeson said slowly, his eyes narrowing.

"I meant no disrespect sir," Norrington said, lying through his teeth and hoping that the Admiral wouldn't pick up on it.

Admiral Kleeson narrowed his eyes again, but didn't comment. "You're being discharged for a number of reasons, but officially for "conduct unbecoming a man of your rank."

"Conduct unbecoming a man of my rank," Norrington repeated slowly, not really believing it. "And what the bloody hell is that supposed to mean?" he asked with a raised voice. It wasn't a yell, but it was definitely above his normal even-toned voice.

"Take care, Norrington. I can always have you flogged to go along with your discharge if that is your wish," Admiral Kleeson said coldly.

Norrington just barely kept his tongue. "You said I was being discharged for a 'number of reasons.' What are the others?" he asked evenly.

"Let me be frank, Norrington," the Admiral said slowly. "While I may admire you-or at least your methods at times-I have never liked you. You were always far too arrogant for your own good. You've had a stellar career, don't get me wrong, but you've stepped on more than a few toes in getting there and what's more I don't even think you're fully aware of it. You don't have a lot of friends in the Navy, Norrington, I think you're aware of that at least. A good deal of the men dare I say-even 'hate' you for your present rank. You're a young man and yet you've one of the highest ranks in the Navy. You've upset more than a few people getting there."

"So that's the reason I'm being discharged after a number of loyal years to the Navy? Because I've stepped on a few toes?" Norrington asked incredulously, wishing he had taken that seat as he felt a bit light-headed at the implications.

"You didn't let me finish," Admiral Kleeson said with a frown and a furrowed brow. "Chiefly, the reason you're being dismissed is your actions of late, not anything you've done in your past. First, you let Sparrow go. That can be looked over-no one's been able to catch him since-but still, many people in high positions see that as a mark against you. Secondly, commandeering a ship of the Royal Navy in some kind of ill-conceived rescue attempt, and act for which a lesser man would have been hanged. This was also looked over, in the belief you were coerced by Mr. Turner and the governor's daughter. No, the final mark on your career, the final reason you're being stripped of your rank is this gallivanting off to this so- called island of savages. I've even heard rumors that you've become the king of these people?"

"Chief," Norrington muttered under his breath. "Not king."

"I don't really care if that's true or not, but you do know that it is our policy as a nation to try and civilise such peoples and yet, you've refused to tell anyone else where this so-called island is. Why is that, Norrington? You do realize that if you would only share this information with us there would be a chance-albeit a small one-to save what's left of your career?"

"Yes. I do," Norrington said firmly. "And I won't." That was it. He had made his decision and he would have to live with the consequences.

Admiral Kleeson looked him up and down slowly as if to judge his seriousness, "No, I don't believe you would." He looked down to his desk, shuffling some official-looking papers about that Norrington couldn't read, but could guess the contents. "You are hereby discharged from the employ of the British Royal Navy. All titles and privileges are revoked henceforth. You will be given a year's pay as severance. I strongly suggest you use this generous gift to find yourself a new employ. Good day to you, Mr. Norrington," the Admiral said, not looking up at him, his words a clear dismissal. Norrington turned and strode out of the office before he did something rash.

WWW

'£50. A 'generous' gift indeed.' Norrington thought to himself dryly as he strode out of the military barracks that had been his home away from home for nearly half his life. He made it out of the barracks and down a mostly abandoned nearby alleyway before his legs gave out from under him and he leaned against the wall of one of the buildings for support. "Dear God, what am I going to do now," he whispered to himself, his head spinning at the implications of it all. The military had been his entire life. It was all he had ever known.

He looked down to the embroidered jacket he wore-a trembling hand reaching up to touch his tricone hat-and felt two emotions begin to swirl through him; intense regret, and intense anger. How dare they do this to him? How long had he served their every whim and way without hesitation or question? And they had just dumped him like yesterday's rubbish. He couldn't believe it. He yanked the hat and the bloody itchy wig off of his head and threw it down to the ground with a scream of pure frustration and rage. "I don't bloody believe this!" he yelled, no longer caring for propriety. Nothing mattered anymore. He was without title, without honor, without purpose. His life had been stolen from him without a second thought. It didn't matter that he had knew it might have happened; nothing could have prepared him for the wretched reality that his life-his now useless life-was. Nothing. He picked up his hat and dusted it off before slamming it back down on his head. He was still a gentleman at least if not a military man any longer. But he left the wig sitting in a puddle of muddied rainwater without a second thought as he strode out of the alleyway and in the direction of the nearest pub. He needed a stiff drink.

WWW

Elizabeth sat on the small chair in front of her vanity mirror, staring into it and not liking what she saw. Although no one would yet be able to tell she was pregnant from her appearance, she half expected to see news of her...delicate condition branded upon her forehead for everyone to see. She sat, leaning towards the mirror, one hand reaching out to touch the cool glass. She couldn't believe it. She was pregnant and unmarried. What would her father think? How could her family survive the scandal? This was all Jack's fault. He caused this. He...did this to her. He had effectively ruined her life on that island. And what's more, he probably didn't even care. The bastard would probably turn the blame around on her and say that she shouldn't have let herself get pregnant. That it was her own fault for being so weak as to let herself be taken. She'd be damned if she started thinking that way. This was all his fault and he would be made to pay one way or another. A small voice inside her head tried to rationalise that Jack had been possessed at the time and therefore wasn't at fault, but Elizabeth ignored it.

"He had fought against bloody Lorelac before I got there; he just wasn't trying hard enough. He was just looking for an excuse with me ever since that night on the rum island," Elizabeth reassured herself, once more confident in her position. Some part of her knew she was being irrational, but the fear of losing Will over this inspired irrationality. If she did lose Will over her pregnancy by another man, God forbid, then Jack Sparrow would pay. One way or another.

"Elizabeth? Are you alright? You've been in there for quite a long time. Our guests are asking about your health. Are you unwell?" her father's kind voice called out from behind her door.

Elizabeth cast one last long look at herself in the mirror and sighed. What would her father think of her if she told him the truth? That she was decidedly unwell? She shuddered at the thought. If it was up to her, she wouldn't tell anyone. If it had been up to her, she wouldn't have been pregnant in the first place, but she couldn't think about that fact right now or she might find herself tempted to break something and that would be somewhat imprudent with her father on the other side of the door. "I'm fine," she called back. "Tell Mr. and Mrs. Shamelhorn I shall rejoin them directly."

"If you're sure you're alright," Governor Swan said softly before turning to go back to their guests.

Elizabeth waited until she could no longer hear his soft footsteps on the carpet before sighing in relief, frowning at herself as she noticed her face and cheeks were somewhat flushed. She really didn't want to rejoin the boorish people downstairs, but she knew her father was counting on her, and not showing up after reassuring him that she was fine would look suspicious. With a sigh she rose to her feet and straightened her dress, trying for all the world to make sure she didn't look like the pregnant young woman she now was.

WWW

Lorelac surveyed the coastal city of Port Royal with disdain. He hadn't actually ever been there before and was more than a little disappointed by what it had to offer. Perhaps his expectations had been too high for a mere mortal city. He was traveling openly though the city without escort, but he had done a few things to mask his appearance for those who would attempt to capture him. He wasn't really worried about being caught or hung-he couldn't be killed by these pathetic mortal means-but dealing with them would be an annoyance he didn't have the patience for right now.

He wandered along the docks, briefly stopping here and there to look over the vendor's wares. He was greatly annoyed to find himself unconsciously looking for some kohl and new beads for his hair. He was not Jack Sparrow. He was Lorelac, demon god of mischief and plague. This had to stop. By all rights, there should be no trace of the man left inside this body, and yet he could swear he was beginning to hear Sparrow's thoughts and whispers now. He didn't like it.

"May I help you sir?" one of the vendors asked politely, looking him straight in the face, but not recognizing him for the notorious pirate he was. Pity. Well, he supposed being clean-shaven with his hair tied back might have worked better than he had anticipated to mask his appearance, but it was rather annoying going unrecognized after a month of living in infamy.

"No, I want nothing. Kindly leave me be," he said softly, putting more than a little menace in his voice. He had more important things to do today than be hassled by idiotic shopkeepers.

"Sure you do. You just haven't found what it is yet. How about some fresh fruit from the orchard here in town? Or some handmade jewellery? Perhaps you have a girl back home who'd like it if you don't. Only three pounds a piece," the shopkeeper insisted.

"Listen up and listen well, laddie. Unless you'd like your throat slit and your wares covered in you own blood, it'd be in your best interest to let me pass without incident, savvy?"

"Why I never. I'll have the royal guards take you into custody before you can—" the shopkeeper was cut off, literally, as Lorelac slit the man's throat and rolled him under the table after looking about for witnesses. Fortunately-for them-there had been none. He made his way though the town, smirking to himself as he heard the distant screams behind him as the body was located. "I did warn him," he said to himself somewhat cheerfully, whistling as he walked. It was time to find his...friends.

WWW

"I think you've had enough, Commodore," the bartender said gently, calling the man before him by his rank still even though Norrington had told him not to.

"I bloody have not. I'm not even drunk yet. And don't think I don't know what you're doing. Just because I don't drink often doesn't mean that I don't notice when my drinks are being watered down. Now kindly refill my glass and stifle yourself from further comments about my state of sobriety."

The bartender sighed softly, but knew there he was caught. He was just about to refill the former Commodore's glass when he heard the front door of the inn open and looked up to see the new customer. The instant he set his eyes on the newcomer's dark skin, hair and eyes, he knew there was something familiar about that man, but he couldn't place him.

"Well?" Norrington said somewhat irritably, gesturing to his empty glass, not looking up to see the man who had just entered. If he had, he might have noticed the smirk on his face as he came to sit down next to him at the bar.

"Commodore Norrington. What a delightful sur—"

"It's just Norrington now. I no longer go by Commodore," Norrington interrupted, watching as the bartender reluctantly filled up his glass before turning to the newcomer. He was then supremely glad he had not been taking a drink just then, for he surely would have spit it out all over Lorelac's face. "You. What are you doing here, you bloody bastard?" he asked, his eyes narrowed and his voice cold.

"Tut. Is that any way to greet an old friend? Especially one you haven't seen in...goodness, a whole month. My how time flies when you're having fun," Lorelac said with a smirk.

"You're not my friend. And I'd see you hang if I weren't killing Sparrow in the process. A man I do consider my friend. You're nothing to me. Only a problem to be solved. And we will find a way to get rid of you. I bloody promise you that."

The dagger was through Norrington's left hand-pinning it to the bar-before he had time to react. He cried out, bolts of white-hot pain tearing up his arm.

"How's that for a problem?" Lorelac seethed, pulling the dagger out of Norrington's now bloodied hand with a jerk. He had been tempted to twist it while pulling it out, in effect damaging the military man's hand beyond recovery, but such a thing would have been petty revenge. Beneath him. This was good enough. "Does it hurt? And you better put that bloody thing down before I tear this place to pieces. And I can do it too, believe me," Lorelac directed first to Norrington who was clutching his bleeding hand to his chest and secondly to the bartender who had been reaching for a weapon beneath the bar.

"What the bloody hell do you think? Of course it hurts you bloody bastard," Norrington gasped out, somehow remaining defiant when his hand was screaming at him. He took the cloth the shaken bartender handed him and wrapped it tightly around his hand, wincing both at the pain, and the blood stains on the front of his uniform jacket. They would never come out. But then he remembered that he had no real need for it any longer since he had been kicked out of the military, so he supposed it didn't really matter.

Lorelac tutted again before speaking, "Now, you're going to take me to the others or I'm going to have to put this blade through your other hand, and you definitely don't want that, savvy?"

"Savvy," Norrington grit out between clenched teeth, rising to stand beside his chair. He wobbled a bit, black spots dancing at the corners of his vision, but he willed himself not to pass out. There would be plenty of time for that later if he was still conscious.

WWW

Captain Jack Sparrow was in hell. A hell within his own mind that made it all the worse. The things he'd seen. The things he-no, Lorelac, no him, Lorelac, him, Lorelac-had done would haunt him for the rest of time. Even if he was somehow able to reclaim his life from the demon who'd stolen it, there was no coming back from this. He'd never be the same and he knew it. He couldn't be the same after what he'd seen.

He had watched Lorelac kill dozens and dozens of people, rape women and burn entire towns to the ground. He had seen him destroy other ships without mercy or hesitation. Things like that couldn't ever be forgotten. He would be hearing the screams of his victims in his every waking and sleeping moment for the rest of his life. Thoughts like that made him wish for death.

He had tried to warn Norrington-he had railed and banged against the bars of his prison-but it hadn't been enough. He could feel Lorelac's hold on him weakening, ever so slightly however. But it hadn't been enough to save the Commodore. As he watched Norrington walk towards Will's shop, clutching his wounded and wrapped hand tightly, he added another mark to the list of things he might have been able to prevent and would never be able to atone for. He also knew deep inside that that list would grow immeasurably longer by the time he was leaving Port Royal. If he left Port Royal, that is.

He watched as Lorelac entered the blacksmith shop with a deep sense of longing and nostalgia. He let out a cheer within his mind as Lorelac stumbled, picking up on some of Jack's thoughts. He only hoped Norrington had noticed. From the way he had been watching Lorelac like a hawk ever since he had driven the blade through his hand-his blue eyes cold and hateful-it was quite obvious that he had.

WWW

"James what are you doing..." Will trailed off as he saw Lorelac, the hammer that had been in his hand poised to strike at the anvil clattering to the ground. "Jack?" Will asked slowly, not believing his eyes. He then saw the cold smirk on Jack's face and the saturated bloody cloth wrapped around Norrington's left hand. "No. Not Jack. What are you doing here, you bloody bastard?"

"My dear William, you seem unhappy to see me. I can't imagine why," Lorelac said with a smirk. "How do you like the new me?" he asked, pulling off Jack's battered tricorn hat and twirling around for Will to see the changes he had made.

"Jack's going to be mighty angry with you for ruining his hair and taking out all of the beads," Will said evenly. All but one. Why did he leave that one in? He asked himself, his eyes drawn to the crystal which caught his eye as it refracted a rainbow of color in Jack's raven hair. "And I don't like the clothes. They make you look like a ponce," Will said with a sneer, gesturing to Lorelac's clearly refined clothes. They were nothing Jack would have worn, unless he was trying to impersonate a stuck-up nobleman, that is.

"Watch yourself, Turner. I've already taken Norrington's hand for his insolence, and I have no qualms about taking something of yours either. Perhaps your darling Elizabeth? I so wanted to see her again. We have so much to talk about, she and I? I'll assume she hasn't told you? A pity. Well, she will sooner or later, I'm sure. Even she couldn't bottle it up forever."

"What are you talking about?" Will asked coldly.

"Oh nevermind. I'm sure if she wanted you to know, she would have told you by now. Maybe you should be reevaluating your decision to marry this woman if you're relationship together is already based on lies and mistrust?" Lorelac commented wickedly.

"Don't-don't listen to him, Will," Norrington practically pleaded with him, wincing in pain. Unlike Will, Norrington thought he had figured out what Lorelac was talking about-what Elizabeth was hiding from them about her time on the island with Jack. It was nothing she had said, he had been trained to peer beneath the surface of what was spoken out loud and what was whispered within. He hoped to God that he was wrong, but he doubted it.

Lorelac let Will grab him by the shirt collar for a brief moment with a smirk on his face before sending him back hard against a desk with a force hard enough to bruise.

"Tell me!" Will ordered, pulling himself away from the desk with a wince that he managed to cover to his credit.

"Alright, alright. You don't have to get bloody fussy about it," Lorelac said with a smirk, straightening his clothing. "While your darling Elizabeth and I were on the island together, I raped her and she loved every moment of it."

"You bastard," Norrington whispered before turning to see Will's reaction. The other man had gone very, very still, and it worried him. He was just about to ask if he was alright, when Will spoke.

"I don't believe you," he said firmly.

"Oh, I think you do, William. And what's more, you don't seem all that surprised to me. You never really believed she loved you, did you? She's too noble for the likes of a poor, humble, futureless blacksmith like you."

Will's fist was against Lorlac's jaw before anyone had time to react. And what's more, with a job that required sufficient upper body strength, Will packed a mean punch. The pain that he felt afterwards was intense, but it had been worth it.

"Bloody hell," Lorelac said, spitting out a tooth and wiping the blood off of his chin. "Those don't bloody grow back. I guess I'll just have to get another gold one. As if I've not got enough already," he muttered to himself before turning to Will, taking great pleasure in seeing him in pain. "If you ever touch me again, I'll snap your neck like a twig, you pathetic little worm," Lorelac seethed.

"He won't. You have my word," Norrington interceded upon Will's behalf. And Will wouldn't. He was a man of his word. But he hadn't promised that he wouldn't lay both hands upon the devil that had taken over Jack's body if he thought he could get him back. Norrington saw Will beginning to tremble in clear pain and spoke up to Lorelac, "Stop it, you're killing him!"

"So? Why should I care?" Lorelac asked with a frown, looking at Norrington.

"What would be the point in killing him? Especially now that you've yet to see his reaction when he sees Elizabeth next." Saying such words in front of a man who was obviously in pain in more ways than the obvious killed something inside of him, but it couldn't be helped. Will's life was at stake.

"Hmm...you may have a point. Fine. I'll let him live for now only to see his life crumble before him. It should be quite entertaining, I should think," he said with a bloodied smirk, releasing Will. Norrington sighed in relief as he saw Will relax slightly, but shivered as Lorelac's gaze was once more tuned to him. "Once I've gotten to see the reaction, there's nothing stopping me from killing you all. You would do well to remember that, Commodore."

Norrington only nodded, kneeling down to help Will, freezing when he heard the front door of the shop open and Lorelac's cheer-filled words.

"Ah, Elizabeth! The woman we've all been waiting for! Do come in, we've got much to talk about."

TBC

A/N: Ok, I'm evil, you know it, I know it, everyone knows it. First I make you wait so long for this chapter, and then on top of that, I end it with a cliffhanger. And I don't feel at all remorseful. Well, maybe a little....ok, a lot. I'm so sorry!! sobs I'll make it up to you all, I promise!!

Reviewer's Thanks Section

Miss Becky: Thanks so much for the birthday well-wishes! :-D I hope this chapter addressed some of your concerns and comments. And look! I even included a section with Jack! He's still there! crowd cheers

Holliday1081: Yup, Lizzie' preggers. But no one knows yet but her and the doc. That'll change soon. I can't really imagine Norry without the uniform and all that goes with it either, but I guess I'm going to have to now, huh?

ravenmuse: Thank you so much for your comments! Don't worry, there will be much more on Jack's past. He's shown me a little of what's happened to him, and let me tell you, it's not pretty. As for the rest of them, well, we'll just have to find out how they deal together.

Miss Anya: I'm so glad you're liking my Jack bits! There wasn't much of him in this chapter, but more is coming soon, I promise!

jigglykat: I can't wait to see Will's reaction either! But one thing at a time...

Sherlock's Sparrow: Glad you're loving the story, the next update will come much sooner than this one, I promise!

Depp n Em Fanatic: You were waiting for this chapter for ages too. Sorry about that.

Jackroks: Thanks for your comments! I'm looking forward from more with Lizzie too.

Blue Trinity: I'm not entirely sure what Liz is going to do just yet, one problem at a time. Norry as a pirate...hmm... Don't know about that one either. And no worries, Jack's opportune moment is coming soon!

BURN THE R.U.M: Aww, I'm glad you keep reading despite the angstyness. I wish I could say that it'll get brighter soon, but that would be a terrible and bald-faced lie.

Mistress of Destruction: Lorelac is definitely very arrogant. He thinks no one can stop him. Well, we'll just have to show him wrong, won't we?

Mara: Definitely messy. Norry as a pirate could definitely be fun.:-D

tylerheritage: Ok, first of all, I want to say thank you for all your reviews!! Yeah, I hate Lorelac too. Well actually it's more of a love/hate kinda thing. But then I'm the one who created him, hides from angry mob so maybe I should. And Norry...I love that man. That's all there is to it.