AN: Thanks for all the love! I really appreciate the follows and reviews. Please let me know what you think about the chapters so far by leaving a review, those always brighten up my day :D
Regarding the story: I don't want to skip the movies of course but going through them rather quickly because of only Cutler's perspective, for now, thinking about Kate and such. As soon as we come to the movie parts (pirates 3) were Jack and Cutler meet again after all those years, we will see more perspective from Jack too.
For this chapter, keep in mind that Cutler at the end of Dead Man's Chest wasn't right away informed of Jack's death by the Kraken at the end of the movie, just keep that in mind :)
Enjoy loves!
It was almost amusing, the tall Governor Swann, standing right in front of him, wigless, powerless, shackled inside his office in Port Royal. Cutler removed a sword from its sheath, a sword that had belonged to James Norrington, another fugitive running from justice.
Playing with the sword Cutler turned it over, displaying the fact he had quite a talent and experience handling a sword. For a moment he felt like showing off, but it wasn't in Cutler's nature to do that, at least not while 'she' wasn't around
Cutler tried to remove another memory entering his mind and quickly spoke to Governor Swann staring at him.
'There's something to knowing the exact shape of the world and one's place in it, don't you agree?' Cutler spoke of the Governor's rude behavior from the past. He had never had respect towards Cutler, and now he was here, shackled like a criminal, with nowhere to go. The Governor's own actions haunted him in the end.
'I assure you, there are not necessary' Governor Swann raised his shackled arms. True, the Governor was not at all a threat, just a weak old man. But Cutler had to admit to himself he quite enjoyed the sight of Governor Swann being so powerless.
'I had you brought here because I thought you'd be interested in the whereabouts of your daughter' Cutler continued, ignoring the Governors cry for freedom.
The Governor seemed calm, but his nerves were revealed as soon as he asked if his daughter, Elizabeth Swann, was safe. Cutler couldn't guaranty her safety, in that he felt like he failed Kate, but she would understand, surely she would understand, that it was revenge on the Governor that was more important and that Elizabeth's escape was out of his hands, right?
'Our ships are in pursuit and justice will be dispensed by cannonade and cutlass, and all manner of remorseless pieces of metal. I personally find it distasteful to even contemplate the horror facing all those on board' Cutler felt his stomach turn talking about it, but he didn't show it on his face. It sure would be a horror aboard the ships that were attacked by the Company. It reminded him of his own experience aboard the hostile pirate ship all those years ago, it had made him weaker when it came to a display of all the horror that was going on aboard those ships. But he wouldn't show anyone. The only person he felt free to talk about it to, was long gone..
'Shall I remove these shackles?' Cutler spoke with almost pity to his voice, provoking a reaction from the Governor. A slight smile showed upon Cutler's face once the Governor asked Cutler to save his daughter, this time begging him to save a loved one. Just like Cutler had bagged Governor Swann all those years ago to not hurt Kate just before he kidnapped her. And it was then Cutler was reminded of what the Governor had told him just before he had forced Kate into the carriage that he used to take her with him.
'So you see, Mercer, every man has a price he will willingly accept. Even for what he hopes never to sell'
Weeks passed. Cutler had become aware that rumor runs quickly in the Caribbean and he was not the only one who knew of the legend. It seemed this so-called chest, the chest of Davy Jones, within his hidden heart, was no longer a secret. It was to one man´s doing that Cutler´s secret mission was revealed to the world. Together with Elizabeth Swann and Will Turner, Jack Sparrow had been searching for the chest as well. To save his own skin, to get away from the deal Jack made all those years ago with the Captain of the Flying Dutchman, so he could save his own ship, now known as the Black Pearl.
Cutler had felt even more anger towards the man, the man he shared so much history with. Jack might not know exactly Cutler´s plan, what he would do with Davy Jones´ power once he got it, but still, Cutler couldn´t ignore the fact that Jack was once again crossing him in his goals, his revenge.
Cutler sat in silent behind his desk at the Company´s main office in Port Royal. The thoughts of Jack Sparrow still bugging him after all these years kept on invading his mind. His face dark he stared at the edge of his desk. Only hoping those bloody pirates wouldn´t run away with the chest, hoping the Company men and Mr. Mercer would be in time to sail to Isla Cruces to find the chest. It was a race, a scavenger hunt and the first one to arrive would win.
Mercer entered the office, his face quite joyful, for how much joy his dark weathered face even could radiate.
'The last of our ships has returned' Mercer spoke while Cutler's dark eyes lifted from the spot he had been staring at to Mercer.
'Is there any news on the chest?' Cutler mumbled, not expecting any good news.
'None. But... one of the ships did pick up a man adrift at sea. He had these' Mercer moved forward and stopped right in front of Cutler, with only the large wooden desk in between and dropped the Letters of Marque on Cutler's desk. Cutler was surprised to see the little bundle of parchment, wrapped in the brown leather case that was supposed to be signed by Jack.
That same day, only an hour earlier Mercer had arrived at the docks of Port Royal, where one of the large ships, carrying the East India Trading Company's flag waving graciously in the wind, had just docked. The Company's Captain informed Mercer of a certain stranded man they had found adrift at sea, not far from Isla Cruces. Mercer watched a man being pulled across the gangplank by one of the redcoats, entering the land. The man's attire seemed familiar, of a higher class, but by the look of his hygiene, he almost looked like a commoner or even a pirate. Two green-brown eyes watched Mercer fearfully and he was stopped right in front of him.
'Why were you so close to Isla Cruces, Mr...?' Mercer started while escorting him inland.
'Norrington, James Norrington, Sir' James started speaking quickly like he didn't want to waste any time. Mercer noticed James taking something from underneath his coat. The guard next to them wanted to raise his musket but Mercer signed it was alright and stopped walking. James revealed a little leather bundle, wrapped closed with a few strings, and Mercer immediately recognized it. It were the Letters of Marque. Taking it from James rather roughly Mercer opened it and noticed Cutler's signature and seal stamp at the bottom. He also discovered another signature, at the place where Jack Sparrow's one should have been. It seemed James Norrington had signed them himself. Mercer let out a hearable sigh and started pulling James by his arm rather roughly.
'Sir.. where are you taking me? I need to speak to Lord Beckett!' James started talking quickly. Mercer rolled his eyes, yet another man trying to get an audience with his master. It had probably been about twice a dozen men that had tried to trick both Mercer and Cutler into making them think they had something valuable. Information, letters of prove, or even Davy Jones' heart itself. Mercer had laughed at the second man, only a week ago, trying to convince Mercer that he was in possession of the heart itself. The man was hung, only the day after when it was proved it was just an attempt to be rewarded, ranked, as many knew Lord Cutler Beckett was a generous man to those who helped his mission. Besides, it proved that gossip was going fast in the Caribbean. Both Cutler and Mercer had tried to hide their mission to get Davy Jones' heart, but because of Jack Sparrow and his friends, the whole world by now seemed to know that the legend is real.
'Where did you get these Mr. Norrington? These letters aren't yours to keep and defiantly not yours to sign' Mercer stopped not far away from the large building still at the edge of the beach, where the prisons stored more and more pirates every day. James heard the screams from behind the wooden door that would lead him to a cell of his own.
'I.. cannot say. But I have to see his Lordship, quickly. There are pirates on the loose, Sir' James felt the heart of Davy Jones beating in his coat, against the rhythm of his own. He had gained possession of the heart, fighting Jack Sparrow and Will Turner on Isla Cruces. James knew if he was going to give the heart to Mercer now, he might kill him on sight, James knew he wasn't of value to them and he wouldn't let that happen. He knew it would only be by Lord Beckett himself, with witnesses in the room, that he was going to get something out of it. So James needed to find a way to get an audience with Lord Beckett, and quickly, or it might cost him his head.
'James Norrington. I've heard of your failed mission near Tripoli, where you decided to run the Royal Navy's ship and your crew into a hurricane and by that losing your position. It was Lord Beckett himself that sent out the warrant for your arrest, and here you are? Did you really think you would get away with it? Be honest, you are only here to save your own skin. Am I correct?' Mercer spoke, his hand still roughly wrapped around James' arm.
'If you know my reputation, then you also know how much I want revenge on Jack Sparrow, personal revenge, he destroyed my life. I can help the Company, Sir. I know what Sparrow might be doing next!' Mercer rolled his eyes and tried to pull James' tall body along, but he had his boot dug into the sand of the beach.
'I know Lord Beckett personally wants revenge on Jack, just as much as I do..' James spoke while staring Mercer into his dark brown eyes. There was a swallow heard from Mercer, he was not able to hide his surprise.
'How do you know about Lord Beckett's 'personal' revenge on Jack Sparrow?' Mercer spoke about something he had sworn an oath not to ever speak about. Not to speak about why Cutler wanted revenge on Jack Sparrow and Davy Jones. Mercer was surprised James knew about it, but he wasn't quite sure if he was trustworthy yet.
'I.. was aboard the Black Pearl for some time. When the Letters of Marque arrived together with Elizabeth Swann aboard the Pearl they spoke of why Lord Beckett would want Jack to sign the Letters. Jack saw it as a trap, rather than a pardon for all his crimes throughout the years. At first, I didn't understand, but Jack later explained to me why Lord Beckett might want Jack. For revenge.. to avenge someone that died by Jack's doing, someone that was important to Lord Beckett. Jack spoke of a name that I happened to be familiar with..' James continued and Mercer tried not to listen with his mouth ajar.
'I knew Katherina Florence..' James spoke with emotion to his voice. Mercer took a step back, for a slight moment his eyes showed emotion in return, but before his dark eyes betrayed him he removed his vision from James and dragged him away from the guards nearby. James for a moment felt relieved as Mercer moved him away from the cells.
'You fool, don't speak her name so openly, so.. close to his Lordship's office door' Mercer moved up his eyes and signed James who looked up aswell. It was the balcony now just above them, the entrance to Cutler's office where the doors were open, welcoming in a warm breeze.
'Why?' were the only words James could speak. Mercer recognized sadness in the way he spoke. It was clear James had met her too, and they seemed to have been something that could have been close to friendship.
'I swore an oath, by Lord Beckett's command to not speak her name ever again' Mercer quickly removed the words from his lips.
'So I guess Davy Jones is not the only man trying to hide away his heart from the world after losing love..' James spoke softly and calmy. It was silent for a minute like both men tried to take a moment. But Mercer quickly wrapped his hand around James' arm again, squeezing it hard.
'Alright, I will grant you your audience with Lord Beckett. But do not, I repeat, do not speak her name or speak of her in any way, not ever. Do you understand?' Mercer watched up to James strictly as he was much taller. James felt a relieve enter his stomach that was pinching all that time. He bowed down his head in a nodding way.
'Oh, and do not make me regret this decision, or the gallows will await you still' Mercer spoke before James was removed from his sight by one of the Admirals of the Company. Mercer coughed and tried to remove the emotion from his face and straightening his jacket he entered Cutler's office.
'I took the liberty of filling in my name' not much later it was James standing in the corner of Cutler's office. Holding the Letters of Marque Cutler had noticed the filled in line, he recognized the name that signed it. His eyes went by a man that was unrecognizable. His filthy clothes filled the room with seawater sent. Cutler signed him to come closer.
'If you intend to claim these, then you must have something to trade. D'you have the Compass?' Cutler spoke calmly.
'Better' Norrginton spoke and raising his hand, earlier removing the brown pouch from his coat he moved it down on the desk with a pound.
'The heart of Davy Jones' James continued. Cutler was struck silent, he bowed over and remarked the smell of dead meat as flies swarmed above the brown pouch on his desk. Cutler couldn't believe his eyes once he had straightened himself from his armchair and had peeked inside the pouch, where indeed the magical heart was pounding, it almost pounded just as fast as his own heart did.
'It's remarkable' were the only words Cutler could get from his lips.
'I take it I've won commission as a privateer?' James asked.
Cutler raised his eyes, his lips formed into something that looked like a smile, a smile that had been absent for a long time. This was it, this was how Cutler was going to get his revenge. Lost in his thoughts he looked back at James Norrington asking for something in return, before Cutler answered.
'Oh I think, better'
It did not matter how many men he had to reward to gain his goal. It was for her, all for her..