Chapter Seven – Best Pirate
Scarlett had not wanted to sleep when she was brought back to her home, but she was so physically exhausted by the ordeal that she all but passed out when her head had hit the pillow. She woke very late the next day, in fact, it was well into the afternoon. For a few, brief moments, Scarlett remembered the events of the previous evening as a dream, and she was able to smile lazily into her pillow, but then she smelt the salt in her hair and saw the bruising on her arms, and she knew, it was not a dream.
"Elizabeth!" she cried. Her maids were not there to dress her, the previous evening had left many people searching desperately for family members and attempting to save their homes and possessions. The day could not go on as normal. She wore a simple blue dress, also with her pantaloons and boots. She fetched her sword from where she had dropped it, in the cupboard in Elizabeth's room, and fastened it on a belt, hidden from view under her many skirts. She braved the streets alone, utterly disgusted by what she saw. The many dead were thrown into the backs of wooden carts, half of the neighbourhoods had been burned to the ground. Shops and businesses destroyed, how could so much evil be done in one night?
She made directly for the Fort, guessing that it would be where she would find Norrington and her father.
One person she was surprised and overjoyed to find was Will. "You're alright!" she cried as she threw her arms around him.
"Scarlett", he gasped, "Dear God, I saw those pirates take you and Elizabeth, what happened?"
"It was horrific", she nodded, "but too much to speak of now, I must find Norrington and my father, if they have not left to recover Elizabeth already".
Scarlett noticed the pained expression on Will's face as she broke away from him, "They have not left to recover her, Scarlett, and I do not think they mean to, not yet at least", he told her.
"What do you mean?" Scarlett growled.
"They refuse to use Sparrow to lead them to the pirates that have taken her", Will said.
Scarlett's nostrils flared, "But why? He knows them, he told me so himself last night". And she had to turn from him to stifle her fury, "Will, I've seen those pirates, spoken with their Captain, every minute we wait is another minute of Elizabeth in danger".
"I wasn't planning on waiting", he affirmed, and Scarlett searched his eyes, they told her all she needed to know, "I'm coming with you", she announced, but Will shook his head, "No Scarlett, it is far too dangerous".
"I know the danger", she seethed, "And I have just as every right as any man to join the search for her", she placed a firm hand on his shoulder, "Captain Barbosa threw me overboard by my hair just because I annoyed him, think of what he might do to Elizabeth, she's my sister Will, and she's the only one I've got".
Will could see from the determination etched into her face that there was no dissuading Scarlett from her purpose. "Okay", he agreed.
No one paid much attention to the pair as they walked quickly through the streets, back to the dungeons. Once more, to Scarlett's surprise, they found it unguarded.
"Why are there no guards posted?" she asked in a hushed voice.
"Most of the soldiers are helping clear the debris from last night", Will answered, taking her by the hand, "Come on".
Will stormed forward, angered to see Jack lounging lazily on the floor of his cell, "You, Sparrow", he snapped.
Jack titled up his head, "Aye".
"You are familiar with that ship the Black Pearl", Will stated dryly.
"I've heard of it", Jack replied casually.
"Where does it make berth?" Scarlett winced at embarrassment, I think you mean, where does it port, Will.
Even Jack stared at him strangely, "Where does it make berth?" he repeated, and laughed, "Have you not heard the stories?"
"We're not here for stories", Scarlett growled, stepping out from the shadows and into full view.
"Miss Swann", he smiled, "We really must stop meeting like this".
"Tell him what he wants to know", Scarlett chided him.
Jack let his head fall back, "Captain Barbosa, and his crew of miscreants, sail from the dreaded Isle de Muerta. It's an island that cannot be found – except – by those who already know where it is".
"How very convenient for you", Scarlett sniffed, sensing Jack's plotting.
"Convenient for you, you mean", he smirked back.
"The ship's real enough", Will agreed, "Therefore it's anchorage must be a real place".
"Why ask me?" Jack yawned, pretending to check his fingernails.
"Because you're a pirate", Will barked.
Jack smirked, "And you want to turn pirate yourself, is that it?"
Scarlett could see that Jack was pushing him and that it was working, as Will gripped the bars and hissed, "Never".
This only seemed to further egg Jack on as he grinned, "Oh, so it is that you've found a girl!" he exclaimed, "Not that one", he pointed at Scarlett, "but her very pretty sister, oh I see. Well if your intentions is to brave all hacin' to her rescue, and so win, fair maiden's heart, you'll have to do it alone Mate. Cause her sister over there is useless, and a' see no profit in it for me".
"I can get you out of here", Will revealed, and Scarlett watched as Jack perked up.
"How's that?" Jack asked sarcastically, "The key's run off".
"I helped build these cells", Will continued, "These are half-pin barrel hinges – Scarlett help me", they lifted up the wooden seat, "With the right leverage, and the proper application of strength, the door will lift free", both he and Scarlett heaved, position the long seat against the bars.
Jack looked on, before asking suddenly, "What's your name, boy?"
"Will Turner".
He mused on it, as if he were rolling the name around in his mouth, "That would be short for William I imagine, good strong name, no doubt named for your father, eh?"
"Yes", Will answered cautiously.
"Well, Mr Turner, Miss Swann", Jack smiled gleefully as he rose to his feet, "I've changed me mind, if you spring me from this cell, I swear on pain of death, I shall take you to the Black Pearl, and your bonny lass. Do we have an accord?" Jack reached his hand through the gaps in the bars, and Will stared at it hesitantly before shaking it, feeling as though he had struck a bargain with the devil.
"Agreed".
"Agreed". Jack glanced at Scarlett, who in turn rolled her eyes.
"Agreed", Scarlett stated dryly.
"Oh", Jack pretended to be surprised, "You're coming too?" Scarlett glared at him, "You know I mean to".
"Right then", he smirked, "Get me out".
Both Scarlett and Will pulled on the bench, and just as Will had said, the door lifted free.
"Hurry," Will told him, "someone would have heard that".
"Not without my effects", Jack called, grabbing his things from the hooks.
By some miracle, they managed to reach the beach undetected, hiding beneath the bridge. They could see the Dauntless being made ready for voyage. "We're going to steal that ship?" Will asked.
But Scarlett saw that Jack was not focused on the Dauntless, but was eyeing up the Interceptor, which was docked a few ways away. "That ship", Scarlett commented.
Jack glanced at her over his shoulder, "Commandeer", he corrected, "We're going to commandeer, that ship. Nautical term. One question about your business boy", he turned to Will and Scarlett, "This girl, her sister, how far are you willing to go to save her?".
Will narrowed his eyes, "I'd die for her".
He then turned to Scarlett, "And you, Miss Swann, what would you do to save your beloved sister?"
Scarlett knew the only way she could answer, "I'd kill for her".
"Oh good", he smiled, "No worries then".
"The question is though", Scarlett murmured, "How exactly are we going to commandeer, the Interceptor?"
"This is either madness or brilliance", Will spoke, completely in disbelief that Jack's plan had actually worked, as the three were walking at the bottom of the harbour floor, an air pocket created by the longboat that they held over their heads.
"It's remarkable how often those two traits coincide", Jack remarked.
"Well that's all well and good for you two", Scarlett snapped irritably, like her sister, she had the ill fate of being small in stature, and while Jack and Will's heads both remained clear of the water level, she had to jump up and down foolishly to keep herself from swallowing mouthfuls of seawater.
Will began to laugh at her plight, however, it was abruptly short, and Scarlett looked down to see that his foot had been lodged inside an old lobster trap, and she snorted loudly, "Serves you right".
Next, they found themselves slipping out from beneath the longboat, and swimming as quietly as possible to the surface, that appeared to have been the easy part, as the next stage of Jack's plan involved them scaling the stern of the ship, which was no easy feat.
Jack was the first to reveal himself, sauntering on the quarter-deck as he announced, "everyone stay calm! We are taking over the ship!"
"Aye, Avast!" Will chimed in, far too confidently, and Scarlett found herself turning red in embarrassment for him as he earned a rise of laughter from the sailors.
"This ship cannot be crewed by two men", Gillette scoffed, and Scarlett felt her trademark anger rise as she stepped forward, "Then it is quite lucky that it shall not be crewed by two men", she smirked, sword pointed defensively.
Gillette's eyes went wide as he stammered, "Miss, Miss Swann, what on earth are you doing?"
"As Captain Sparrow said", she replied innocently, "We're taking over the ship".
His expression turned to one of disgust as he grimaced, "You'll never make it out of the bay".
Jack sauntered in front of Scarlett as he raised his pistol, "Son … I'm Captain Jack Sparrow", he tutted as he released the safety, "Savvy?"
It did not take much aggression to force all the crew members into the longboat, and all the sailors shot Scarlett horrible glares as they were lowered into the sea, one going as far to cry out, "deceiving slut!"
Scarlett rolled her eyes as she moved away from the ship's side, "Why is it that when a woman does not do as she is told, she is immediately turned into a whore?" The question was meant to be rhetorical, but Jack's keen ears never missed a beat as he answered her rather nonchalantly, "Cause that's what men do to women they don't understand love".
Scarlett snorted, "As though you understand me", and she walked towards Will, who thankfully, had not heard their exchange.
They quickly went about making the ship ready for sail – which albeit was difficult with only three people, Jack gave them orders, to which Scarlett would have under normal circumstances, objected to, but he was the experienced sailor, and, she would never admit it openly, but she would not have had a clue as to what she was supposed to be doing had it not been for his guidance.
"Sir! Sir! It's Sparrow and Turner! They've taken the Dauntless! Miss Swann too!" they could hear Gillette cry out, and Jack frowned, "Well, at least that will get his attention".
"Who?" Scarlett questioned, still unsure of what exactly Jack was planning.
"The Commodore, of course".
Jack had the trio hide as the crew of the Interceptor boarded them, he had been correct as always, it seemed, the Commodore came aboard with only two aims in mind, find Scarlett, kill Jack Sparrow. "Search every cabin, every hold, down to the bilges!" he commanded, and Jack still made Scarlett and Will wait, crouched on their hunches, until every sailor had boarded the Dauntless. Only then, did they make their move. They crept silently to the edge, each of them securing a rope. Jack was the first to swing aboard the Interceptor's deck, then Will, and lastly Scarlett. "Cut the lines", Jack told them, and Scarlett quickly went about slicing each one she could see with her sword.
Jack quickly made is way up to the quarter-deck, taking the wheel in his hands. The incredibly fast ship sailed smoothly away from the Dauntless, forcing the grappling hooks and gangplanks to fall into the sea. Scarlett watched as Commodore Norrington was the first to perceive this, and turned sharply, his eyes gone wild and his mouth parting upon seeing Scarlett on the Interceptor's deck, with Jack Sparrow at the helm.
"Sailors! Back to the Interceptor!" he barked orders, eyes still fixed on Scarlett.
One brave sailor attempted to swing on a rope as the trio had, but the Interceptor was already too great a distance away, and he fell into the sea.
Jack removed his hat, waving it in the air as he bellowed, "Thank you, Commodore, for getting us ready to make way! We would have had a hard time of it by ourselves".
Scarlett held fiercely onto the railings, her eyes never leaving James. So, in the end, she did make her choice. She would never have the strength to blind herself, but it seemed she did possess the bravery to fly away. She had committed the act of treason, and piracy, forever branding her a criminal, even if it was all to save her sister. But she still looked out at James, feeling an odd sense of loss, "I'm sorry, James", she called out, and the Commodore heard her, which only fuelled his fury.
The sailors being firing without orders, and he watched in horror as Scarlett had to duck to avoid the shooting. "Cease fire!" he snarled, and turned quickly to Groves, "Set top sails and clear up this mess".
"But with the wind at quarter astern, we won't catch them", Groves protested.
"I don't need to catch them", he growled, "I just need them in range of the long nines".
"But sir", Groves gasped, "We are to fire on our own ship?"
"I'd rather see her at the bottom of the ocean than in the hands of a pirate", Norrington answered.
"But", Groves wavered, "Miss Swann sir".
Norrington did not look at his first mate as he spoke bitterly, "She has made her choice, throwing in her lot with Pirates".
One sailor cried out exacerbated, trying desperately to force the wheel to steer, "He's disabled the rudder chain, sir". Norrington's jaw locked, and he found himself flinching as he heard Gillette cry, "Abandon ship", and he and his sailors leapt beneath the waves.
Groves could not help himself from gaping in admiration as he smiled, "That's got to be the best pirate I've ever seen".
Norrington glared at him incredulously, "So it would seem", he agreed darkly, before storming off into the Captain's quarters.
Scarlett felt almost dizzy as they sailed smoothly into the open ocean, it was more beautiful than she remembered, from the crossing, all those many years ago. The feeling of loss and anxiety quickly subsided as she gazed out dreamily on the horizon, it was selfish of her, to feel so content whilst her sister was in grave peril, but she could not help herself, it was everything she had dreamed of and more. The sun had dried her dress, but it felt awfully impractically, even with the added advantage of pantaloons and boots. No, it simply wouldn't do. Whilst Jack and Will busied themselves on the deck, she snuck away into the soldier's barracks. She rummaged through the discarded uniforms, trying on five different shirts before she found one that was reasonably small enough so that she did not look completely ridiculous. She tucked it into her black trousers and then donned one of their bright red Jackets. What scandal, she thought, dressing so much like a man, if her father could see her then, surely, he would have her put in the stocks.
She thought she would give Will such a shock upon coming back on deck, but it was her that was stunned to see Will hanging desperately onto one of the sail-yards, that Jack had him hovering over the ocean. "What are you doing?" she demanded, drawing her sword and bounding forward.
But Jack had already foreseen Scarlett's rage, as he simply raised his other hand, aiming his pistol at her, "Easy now love", he warned, and turned his attention again to Will, "As I was saying", he cleared his throat, "The only rules that really matter are these, what a' man can do, and what a man can't do. For instance, you can accept that your father was a pirate, and a good man or you can't. Pirate is in your blood boy, so you'll have to square with that someday. And me for example, I can let you drown, but a' can't bring this ship into Tortuga all by my onesy, savvy? And of course, I'd probably have to drown her too", he gestured his pistol at Scarlett, "Before she'd kill me".
Scarlett narrowed her eyes hatefully, "You have one thing correct then", she hissed.
Jack smiled wryly before swinging the wheel, pulling the sail yard back in, and Will with it. He fell hard on his back, and Scarlett rushed to his side, to find Jack pointing Will's sword at both of them, "So, can ye sail under the command of a pirate?" he flipped the sword so that he held the weapon outstretched by the blade, giving it back to Will, "or can you not?"
Will took it angrily, before pulling himself to his feet, and storming off to the other end of the ship, "Will, Will!" Scarlett called after him, but he did not so much as look at her.
"Leave me, Scarlett, I won't say it twice", and he continued to walk away, disappearing below decks.
The girl looked flustered, before turning once more to the pirate who had apparently begun the argument. "What did you say to him?" she snapped, as Jack continued to walk about the deck complacently.
"Only told the boy some truths about himself", he avoided her gaze, "Not my fault he's in denial of himself".
"And what truths were these, exactly?" she hissed, cornering him off as she stepped in front of him, forcing Jack to look at her.
"You heard em' love, don't make me repeat myself", Jack countered, and Scarlett huffed, "How could you possibly know that Will's father was a pirate?"
"Sailed with him, many a' times", he shrugged, "As a' told dear William, probably the only man to know him as William Turner, everyone else knew him only as Bootstrap Bill".
Scarlett wavered, she could see that Jack was making no efforts to deceive her, she could see that in his eyes, and she chewed on her lip, "Will won't take kindly to the revelation, he has a fierce hatred of pirates".
"I noticed".
It was Scarlett's turn to walk away from Jack, she turned, sheathing her sword as she leaned on the rigging of the shrouds. Jack watched her curiously, not much surprised that she had swapped her grand dresses for a sailor's uniform, he had already determined that she was not at all alike most members of the aristocracy. She was humble, and not particularly fond of the luxuries of an upper-class life.
"And what about you then lass, you don't seem at all bothered to be in the presence of pirates", he quired.
Scarlett gave a small laugh, glancing at Jack over her shoulder, "I've come to appreciate that some pirates are more tolerable than others, that despicable man, Barbosa, showed me to be more appreciative of milder characters".
Jack's face turned stern as he approached her, "So, you've met him then?"
"He allowed me to invoke the right of parley to board his ship", she sighed, shaking her head, "Seemed like the only way to stay alive, at the time".
"And why, might I ask, did he keep your young sister aboard, but not yourself?" he continued to press her, and Scarlett turned, searching his face, clearly, he knew something that she didn't. "We gave ourselves false names", she answered cautiously, "I chose the name Finch, whilst Elizabeth, gave her name as Miss Turner".
Scarlett watched as jack's eyes lit up, "Aye, that would do it", he murmured, before he began to make his leave from her. But Scarlett wasn't done, and quickly grabbed his arm, pulling the pirate closer to her. "Jack", she stated quietly, not wanting Will to hear them, "Both Barbosa and his crew expressed a great interest in the name Turner, and even uttered the name Bootstrap", she gripped him tighter, "What does Barbosa want so desperately with a child of William Turner?"
Jack cursed the girl for her intelligence, he could not let her divulge this to the boy, he needed him in the dark of his intentions. He knew that he had to tread carefully, especially since that was all the girl suspected. He leaned in closer to her, "Because, William Turner did not have one child", he told her, tip toeing carefully around the full truth, "A girl was born, a year after the boy, and it was William's intentions to take the girl aboard with him on his next voyage".
Scarlett found herself taken aback by the information, "Will has a sister?"
"Had", Jack corrected, "The girl died, of the consumption, days after she was born".
Scarlett's eyes softened, "Does, does Will know?"
"Doubt it", Jack muttered, "So lass, a' think it best we keeps this, revelation, to ourselves, unless you want him to suffer more".
"Yes, of course", Scarlett sighed, and Jack sighed in silent relief, "But Jack, does that mean, Barbosa believes that Elizabeth is William Turner's daughter?"
He nodded, "And right now, that be the only thing keepin him from slitting her throat".