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 chapter was a lot of fun to write. Jack's ever slowly but surely letting me in on his life as Edward Sperling before he was Captain Jack Sparrow. It's not pretty, it's not nice, but it's interesting to write.
Also, there is almost no Elizabeth in this chapter whatsoever. Sorry to the Lizzie fans, but she was keeping her thoughts to herself this chapter. I can't say I blame her really.
Rating: PG-13
Chapter 4: Raging Pirates and Remembrances and Remnants of Possession.
"Are you alright, Jack?" Norrington asked softly, looking down at the pirate who sat down on the floor leaning against the wall. He looked…broken.
"No, I don't think so, but that doesn't matter right now. "What about you? How's your hand?" he asked with a slight wince.
Norrington looked down to his bandaged left hand and sighed. "I don't know. I can still move it at least, so that's something. And for now there doesn't seem to be any infection. Elizabeth made me wash it out quite thoroughly just a few minutes ago."
"That's good," Jack said absently, looking down at his feet.
"Oh come on, man. It wasn't your fault. Don't you dare start in with the guilt again, I won't stand bloody stand for it. You had no control over your actions," Norrington said sternly, crouching down to look at him, trying not to wince as all the talking warred on his bruised throat.
"Tell that to Elizabeth," Jack said softly, still not looking up. Norrington had no answer to that.
"What about your ship? What about the Pearl? Where is it?" Norrington asked, both attempting to change the subject and clearly curious.
"She's docked in a bay nearby. I'm not worried about her. The crew's too bloody frightened of the fearsome Captain Jack Sparrow to try and take her. Not to mention I killed the last crew I had. And I got the one before that killed. It's a wonder anyone sails with me at all anymore. Don't they know I'm cursed?"
"You're not cursed. Not anymore. And don't say things like that as if you did them. You didn't. Lorelac did," Norrington insisted.
"Did he? The lines tend to blur as time passes. I'm no longer sure it wasn't me who did all those things-killed all those people-anymore, James. I'm just not," Jack whispered.
"Jack, you listen to me and you listen well. You are not a killer," Norrington insisted, reaching a hand out to lift Jack's chin so that their eyes met. "You're not," he repeated.
"Are you so sure of that?" Jack asked softly.
###
Somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean of the coast of Spain, merchant ship The Intrepid, 1673
"Pirates? What do you mean pirates? Real pirates?" Jack asked somewhat breathlessly, standing up beside his hammock and trying not to get knocked over by the men rushing past him.
"As opposed to fake pirates, Jack?" Emmett asked wryly pulling a pistol out of his sea chest and putting it into his belt.
"Don't mock, Emmett, it's not proper," Jack said absently before continuing on. "I've never seen a real pirate before. What-what do I do?" he asked, his face creased with worry.
"You fight. Don't worry Jack, I've got your back," Emmett promised with a smile. "You'll be just fine. You'll see."
"Fine. Right. We're going up against bloodthirsty pirates who would as soon kill us to look at us. Excuse me for not feeling as optimistic as you seem to be," Jack drawled, reaching into his own trunk to remove his pistol, having already gotten his sword out of the roll he slept with in his hammock. It was an expensive sword that wouldn't fit in his trunk, so he was given no choice but to sleep with it next to him.
"Oh I don't know, Jack. Some pirates aren't all that bad. Most of them just want your money, not your life," Emmett said with a shrug.
"You'll pardon me for not believing that," Jack said with a nod. "Very well, I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Shall we?"
"We shall," Emmett said with a laugh, leading the way up to the deck.
###
"What are you going to do?" Will asked, crouching down beside Norrington in front of Jack. "The entire town is out to kill you. You know that, right?" he asked with a worried frown.
"It's more than just this town, Will. You have no idea the things I've done. The people I've killed. So why don't you just keep your bloody opinions to yourself!" Jack yelled, his face clenched in rage. As soon as he said it, Jack's face slackened and he stared up at Will with slightly widened eyes. "I'm…sorry. I don't know why I yelled at you like that."
Will was almost as shocked as Jack was. Jack had never yelled at him. In fact, he couldn't remember a time that Jack had ever really yelled at anyone in anger before. "It's alright, Jack. We won't send you to the noose again. We'll find a way to get you out of Port Royal. Won't we, James?" Will asked the man beside him.
Norrington rubbed his slightly stubbly chin with his good hand in thought. "It won't be easy, but I think we can manage."
"Why are you helping me? After the things I've done. Norrington, I tried to kill you. Will, I…well you know what I did to Elizabeth," Jack said softly, not meeting either man's eyes.
"It wasn't your fault, Jack. You weren't in charge of your actions. Elizabeth…will come to understand that. You'll see," Will said slowly, casting a glance in Elizabeth's direction. She was sitting on a stool across the room and dutifully not looking at any of them.
"I notice you didn't say she'd forgive me," Jack muttered bitterly. "But that's to be expected. The things I've done can't be forgiven. They shouldn't be. I don't blame her, Will. And neither should you. What I did to her was unspeakable." The bloody bitch deserved it. A nasty voice whispered.
"What is it? You look like someone just walked over your grave, Sparrow," Norrington said with a frown, noticing Jack go ridged.
Jack didn't say a word, waiting for the voice to speak again. The voice that didn't sound like Lorelac, which was more disturbing than if it had. "It's…nothing. Nevermind. I thought I heard something. That's all," Jack muttered almost to himself.
"What do you think you heard?" Norrington pressed with a frown. "It wasn't Lorelac again, was it?"
"No it wasn't bloody Lorelac, you witless fool! And why should you care if it was? Why should you care about me anyway? Your kind kills mine. Oh wait, I forgot. They discharged you without a word. I guess you have no kind now, do you? Bloody useless," Jack sneered before gaping a little. "I-I didn't mean to say that," he said in a small voice, his eyes wide.
"Oh? Well what did you mean then, Sparrow?" Norrington asked just as coldly. "Go ahead. Take your shot. You're right, you know. I don't have a place in this bloody world anymore. The Navy was all I knew and now it's been taken away from me. Go ahead, laugh. I'm sure this must be very amusing to you."
"James," Will started, not quite understanding what the hell was going on.
"No, let him speak. He obviously has something to say. Let him bloody well say it!" Norrington seethed. Outwardly, he was as unruffled as ever save for his biting words, but inside he was fuming.
"I…I don't have anything to say," Jack said softly, seeming to sink in on himself. Gone was the brash pirate captain of old. In his place was a broken shell of a man that Will couldn't stand to see.
"Then why did you say it, Jack?" Will stepped in to ask, giving Norrington a chance to calm down a little.
"I don't know," Jack said softly, keeping his eyes down on the ground.
"What do you mean you don't know? Surely you must know why you said it?" Norrington pressed, calmed down a little but still profoundly irritated.
"I don't," Jack insisted. "I don't know why I said it. I didn't bloody mean it. I just…said it," he said with a slightly worried frown. Lorelac was gone, wasn't he? Yes, he was. But then why had he snapped at Will and Norrington? He truly hadn't meant to say the things he had. "Just leave me alone. I'm fine. Just…leave me be."
Norrington and Will exchanged a concerned glance. Norrington was no longer upset. He could tell Jack truly hadn't meant what he had said. "I do not doubt you, Jack, but are you absolutely certain Lorelac is gone?"
"Yes, I'm bloody well certain, you useless little worm, and your questions are beginning to bloody well annoy me," Jack spit out coldly. If it hadn't been for the fact that Jack's eyes remained their original dark color, Norrington would have been certain he was talking to Lorelac. As soon as the words were out of Jack's mouth, his eyes widened and he slumped a little in defeat. "I don't know what's wrong. I don't know why I say those things. Just…leave me alone before I say something worse," he said wearily.
"We know you don't mean to say those things, Jack. What we don't know is why you're saying them," Will explained with a small frown.
"I was possessed by a bastard demon for over a month, Will. There will be consequences. Maybe this is one. Not to mention this bloody tattoo is still here," Jack said with a scowl, holding up his left arm to punctuate his point. The tattoo remained as it had been earlier, starting at his middle and ring fingers and winding up his arm to stop at his shoulder.
"Do you mind if I take a look at it, Jack," Will asked softly, not wanting to risk the anger Jack seemed unable to control again.
Jack shrugged. "If you like. I don't care," he said, holding out his arm for Will to look at it. They're both worthless, you know. There's nothing either of them can do to help you. They're both useless, witless fools and I think you know it. You're on your own, Jackie boy.
"You just shivered, Jack. Are you alright?" Will asked after taking Jack's arm in his hands.
"I'm alright. Just a chill," Jack said absently.
"What are you thinking about, Jack?" Norrington asked, seeing Jack stare off into the room, his eyes fixed on nothing. He didn't believe the shiver had just been a chill any more than Will did. "If you want to talk about it…" Norrington trailed off, assuming that Jack was thinking about the things that Lorelac had done during that long month.
"I don't," Jack said coldly, his eyes going hard. "Are you going to look at the blood thing or are you just going to sit there like a fool?" he asked Will with a sneer, watching the young blacksmith stare back at him, Jack's tattooed arm still in his hands.
Will just looked down at Jack's arms, trying not to take Jack's heated words to heart. The look of horror that passed over Jack's face after he had said them helped a little. "It really is somewhat beautiful if you didn't know the meaning behind it," Will said, his eyes following the intricately woven black lines up Jack's arms. "Did you even find out its purpose?"
"No. I can only guess that it was something to mark that…Lorelac," it was hard to say his name, "was within me. But I don't know why it's still there," he said with an emotionless face. If he was worried about the remaining vestige of Lorelac's possession, he didn't show it.
###
Elizabeth watched the trio without expression, not knowing what to think. Standing across the room were two men that loved her and one who'd raped her. And they were all her friends. Or at least they all were her friends. Now…she wasn't so sure. One thing she was sure of however was the fact that she had never felt more alone in her entire life. Not even after her mother had died.
Not for the first time, she wished she had a female companion to talk to. No, not just a companion, a real friend. She needed someone to whom she could share this terrible burden; the knowledge that she was pregnant with Captain Jack Sparrow's child. A man who was not her fiancé. The knowledge combined with a look in Will's-and consequently Jack's-direction made her want to weep.
The only person who didn't play a part in this was James. A fact that made her care all the more for him. She didn't love him, she didn't think she ever would, but he was a good man who deserved her friendship if nothing else. Vaguely she wondered what Norrington would do if she shared her secret with him. But she would never deem to put him in such a position. He would be caught between conflicting loyalties. On the one hand, he would be honor bound to keep her secret. But on the other, Will was his friend and her fiancé and deserved to know. Not to mention the fact that Norrington might yet challenge Jack to defend her bruised honour. Elizabeth had no doubt Will might do the same. Despite the close friendship he and Jack shared.
No, she wouldn't tell anyone. Not until she had to.
###
Somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean of the coast of Spain, merchant ship The Intrepid, 1673
The fight that had ensued between the Intrepid's men and the invading pirates was brutal. Men fell screaming and bloodied to the deck, merchant and pirate alike. Jack saw one of the ship's best men fall to the now bloodied deck, his body nearly cut in half by a pirate's sharp sword. He had never imagined men capable of such violence. Well, that wasn't entirely true. But having something of an idea that men could inflict such wrongs against one another and seeing it in action were two entirely different things.
"Jack! Where are you, you educated fool?" Emmett's voice called out over the din of the fight.
Jack rolled his eyes at the title but made his way to the edge of the battle and caught Emmett's eye. So far, he hadn't found a single man. Not that he couldn't defend himself if pressed, he simply would rather avoid confrontation than meet it head on. Emmett seemed the other type if he blood on his sword was any indication. "You're wounded!" Jack exclaimed upon seeing the blood on Emmett's shirt as he came closer. "I'll fetch the doctor!"
"No, don't. He's got better things to do than to take care of me right now. I'm fine, Jack. How are you?"
"I'm not having nearly as much fun as you seem to be," he said wryly. "I haven't even been in a fight yet. They seem to be avoiding me for some reason. Isn't that strange?"
Emmett froze. "Yes, that's very strange, Jack," he muttered before looking at him seriously. "Listen to me, Jack. You remember how I said about how not all pirates are interested in taking your life but just your money, Jack?"
"Yes, Emmett, why are you telling me this? You don't expect me to give into them, do you? Because I won't. I'd rather die than give these thieving bastards anything," he seethed.
"No, listen to me, Jack. I know this ship. The Hangman's Knuckles. I've heard it before. If we…lose, don't let yourself be taken alive. Do you understand, Jack? Do not let yourself be taken alive!"
"What do you mean, Emmett?" Jack asked with confused frown.
"I mean that there are some fates worse than death, you educated fool, and these pirates practice all of them. Now promise me. I can't go back to fighting unless you understand that."
"Back to fighting? Emmett, you're hurt! You can't be expected to still fight! Get to the doctor! I haven't even had one fight yet! I'll take your place!" Jack pleaded with him in a worried voice. Emmett was his only friend aboard this floating purgatory and he didn't want to lose him to a pirate's sword. He had seen too many men fall already and Emmett was little more than a child.
"You can fight if you want, Jack. I'm not going to stop you. But I'm not going to stop fighting either. Not until all the pirates are dead…or I am. But if you're going to fight, Jack, fight to kill. If you had heard the stories I have about them, you wouldn't hesitate to kill them all."
"I won't, Emmett. I know the stories. I know pirates do to people. I've always known," Jack said in a bitter voice that made Emmett frown to hear it. "Don't worry about me. Worry about yourself. I'd…miss your presence if you were dead," Jack said somewhat stiffly.
"I'd miss your presence too, Jack," Emmett said with an honest smile that made him look even younger than he was while the blood on his sword and the firm crinkle of his brow made him seem that much older. It was hard to tell sometimes who was the oldest of the pair of unlikely friends. Jack had always looked younger than he actually was, and it seemed Emmett always looked more mature for his age. "But don't you worry about your pal Emmett," he continued, his smile evolving into a broad grin. "I've been fighting off pirates ever since I came aboard." The grin faltered a little. "Just keep what I said in mind, Jack. If it comes down to going with them as their prisoner or putting a bullet in me own head I'd chose the bullet every time."
Jack didn't think he'd be able to take his own life, but he nodded none the less. "Stick with me Jack, I won't let anyone get you," Emmett promised, completely serious.
"Stick with me, Emmett, and I'll do the same for you," Jack responded with a grin matching Emmett's infectious one.
"The pirates bloody well better watch out then, because here we go!" Emmett roared a rather impressive battle cry and rushed back into the battle head on, his sword drawn up over his head with the sun glinting off of its sharp blade menacingly. Jack could only do the same.
###
"What are you thinking about, Jack? You haven't said a word in over ten minutes and frankly, it's beginning to worry me. You normally never shut up," Will tried to joke, but the smile on his face seemed forced.
"Something I thought I had forgotten and now wish had stayed buried," Jack muttered, not looking at him.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Will asked, turning to look at Norrington as the movement of the former military man's pacing caught his eye.
Jack had been about to say not really, but he made the mistake of looking up into Will's sincere eyes and sighed. "I've been remembering."
"Remembering what, Jack?" Will asked, almost afraid of what the answer might be.
"Remembering when I was younger. When I wasn't…Jack Sparrow but," he took a breath, "Edward John Corentin Alexandre Sperling. God, I hate that name. I hated it then, and I still hate it now."
Will let out a short laugh at that then leaned over to whisper to Jack. "It could be worse, and if you tell anyone what I'm about to tell you, I'll see that you're properly hung this time being the improper pirate that you are," he muttered, but his eyes weren't completely serious. "My full name is William Amadeus Turner," he said with a wince.
Jack let out a genuine laugh at that, startling the occupants of the room. It wasn't much, but it lightened Will's heart to hear it. "I know, Will. Your father told me. I tried to talk him out of it but he wouldn't listen to me. He said you had to go through the same suffering he did, you being a junior and all," Jack said with a soft smile.
"You knew? And you never said anything?" Will asked with a confused frown.
"Of course I knew, and as you can see it wouldn't have been my place really to point fingers. Not with a name like mine," he said with a small smile.
"No, I suppose you're right," Will said with a nod. "What were you remembering?"
Jack sighed and took a deep breath. "When I was 20, my mother, Katrina, thought it would be a good idea for her only son to get a broader view of the world. She sent me to spend a year on my Cousin Sebastian's merchant ship as a cabin boy. I bloody hated it."
"You, Captain Jack Sparrow, most infamous pirate in the ocean, said to be born full grown from the sea itself, hated being on a ship?" Norrington asked wryly, surprising both men. They hadn't known he'd been listening. "Oh, and Will? Since I overheard your full name without you wanting to, my full name is James Christopher Michael Norrington III. Nothing too embarrassing, granted, but a bloody mouthful none the less. Be grateful for only three names," he muttered.
"And you, my dear Commodore, for you'll always be one to me, should be thankful for only four names," Jack said dryly.
"And you, my dear Captain Edward John Corentin Alexandre Sperling, should continue your story, if you're telling it. It's very rude to end a story abruptly like than and leave your listeners wondering what happens next," Norrington said dryly, trying to keep the mood light like Will was.
Jack rolled his eyes slightly at the use of his full name again, but sighed. "Fine. Yes, I bloody hated the sea. I hated everything but…books, alright? I read a lot, and I didn't go outside hardly at all. It's no wonder my mother wanted me on that ship. She was probably tired of having me around," he said softly, the subject of his mother a hard one to talk about.
"Not a week after we set sail our ship was attacked by pirates. The Hangmen's Knuckles captained by Zachariah Kruler," Jack said with both a small shudder and a sneer at the memory.
"Dear Lord. I've…heard of him," Norrington said softly, utterly horrified.
Will turned to Norrington for more information since Jack seemed to have clammed up on the topic.
"Captain Zachariah Kruler…is an aptly named man, Will. He was one of the most feared and ruthless pirates in the Caribbean once upon a time. He gave no quarter to his prisoners. It was said that any man, woman or child who came across him died a slow and excruciating death. He's one of the worst pirates on record, Will. A true sadist of a man. Some of the things I've read about-thank God, I've only just read of these things-would make your skin crawl and your blood turn to ice. May he burn in hell for all eternity," he said with conviction before turning to Jack. "And you said your ship was attacked by his? And you survived? When was this?"
"1673," Jack said, becoming lost in memories once again. "And who says I survived?"
TBC
A/N: Ok, yes I know that was a really HORRIBLE place to end, but I had to! I've already written some of the next chapter, so hopefully you won't have to wait too long! Thank you for your continued support, patience, and reviews! You guys keep me writing. You really do.
Reviewer Responses
Mistress of Destruction: Yes! Ahh that's why I need a beta reader! I noticed that almost right after I posted it, but was too lazy to correct it. :-) And I love Norry! I'm not meaning to hurt him, really! Poor Norry… And yes! Down with Lorelac.
JackFan2: Yes, you know what? I don't think Lorelac's completely gone either. That's funny, huh? Merrie cackles wickedly. I like your scenario, and thanks for the complement. I don't entirely know what's going to happen next. Especially concerning Lizzie. She's not talking to me at the moment. I think she's mad. Lol.
Otherhawk: It's ok, you're back now! :-) I wonder about Lorelac too. Something tells me he's not through with Jack yet.
BURN THE R.U.M.: Yes, I'm afraid he will. And you're right about Lizzie being mean. She was somewhat reserved in this chapter though. Somewhat. And no, angry pregnant women with access to weapons are scary!
SS: Sorry you had to wait! And alas, begging and groveling doesn't seem to work. Try constant nagging. ;-)
Ferntree: Yes, I was particularly proud of myself for thinking up that image. I loved it too. Thanks!
FalconWing: Thank you so much for your comments! Sorry this took so long to update! I wish I could say that everything will be right between Liz and Jack again soon, but alas I can't. She's decided to blame him for everything. Now, this may change, hopefully, but for now it's hard to say what will happen next.
Holiday1081: I could never kill Norry! I love that man too much to let him go. He's mine now. :-) I hope you liked more insights into Jack's past. Things are going to get…messy next chapter. The demon is not gone. Sorry to all the Lorelac haters out there, but he's not through with me yet. ;-) I'm glad you like the Will/Li conflict. I've also read a lot of fics and I wanted to make them a little more realistic. Couples fight sometimes. It's a sad fact of life. I figured if anything could bring them to a head, it would be Jack.
Swankles: Aww, thanks HF! I would love to see the changing eyes too. That'd be nifty…
OpraNoodlemantra: You have good reason to be worried about Jack's past. I'm worried, and I'm the one writing it. And please do! Johnny's Angels is a lot of fun!
NeonDaises: You're an awful distraction, I agree. But I do the same to you so I'm not really one to talk. ;-) Thanks for the review!
Again, thanks to everyone!!! See you next chapter!!!
-Merrie