Something More Than Before
Chapter 13 – A Drunken Song
The people of Tortuga gathered at doorways and hung out of windows to catch a glimpse of the crowd of drunken pirates drunkenly parading through the streets, all joining in with a rousing chorus of 'A Pirate's Life For Me!'. The people cheered them as they walked past, Jack at the lead, waving his arms around manically.
They all shouted and yelled as they sang, and the noise was deafening. Each with a bottle of some form of alcohol in their hand, they were enjoying themselves immensely.
The crowd was only around ten strong, and many of the people egging them on eventually started joining in with the song, jeering and having a laugh.
Eventually, the crowd pulled away from the streets towards the docks and it wasn't long before everyone on board every ship heard them drawing closer, including the occupants of the Black Pearl.
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Elizabeth looked up at the sound of approaching song. She heard Jack's booming, smooth voice and smiled, knowing that everyone who went with him was doomed to get drunk. And by the sound of it, everyone was.
Will laughed quietly as Elizabeth left the room to greet them. She hoped to God that Jack's drunkenness would not cause him to spill the beans to Will about...everything.
"I take it you lot had a good time, then," Elizabeth laughed as they clambered and fell around on the deck.
There was a loud thud; Gibbs had fallen flat on his face. Jack gave him a second glance and then went over to Elizabeth.
"Hello, love," he said normally. Elizabeth cocked an eyebrow.
"Not getting wasted, tonight?" Elizabeth said cheekily.
Jack faked a hurt expression. "Me? Drunk? Whatever makes you think I of all people would be drunk hangin' around the streets of Tortuga this late at night?"
"Oh no, you're right," Elizabeth said mockingly. "Must be some other Captain Jack Sparrow I know."
"There ya have it," Jack smiled. "Will back on board?" he added miserably.
Elizabeth nodded, her smile fading. "Everything back to normal."
"Oh, I wouldn't say that," Jack said quietly, reaching out for her hand, "we'll just have to be quiet."
He squeezed her hand and walked on, heading for his cabin for the night. Elizabeth cast a glance over her shoulder to her room, where Will still was, and made her decision on the spot. She ran after Jack and followed him into his cabin, a knowing smile dawning on both of their faces.
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About an hour or so later, Elizabeth arrived back in her cabin, out of breath and with a flushed face, to find Will reading through the pages of her book interestedly.
"Sorry I took so long," Elizabeth panted, walking over to him. "One of the pirates had been left on the streets while unconscious and it was my job to bring him back."
Her lie was so pathetic that she was sure that Will was going to guess. Luckily, he grunted his approval and carried on reading. Elizabeth knew that sneaking around right under her fiancée's nose was bound to land her in trouble, but she couldn't be bothered to worry right now.
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Jack emerged from his cabin around the same time that Elizabeth went into hers, also in the same state; flushed and out of breath. He pretended as though there was nothing wrong and acted as normal. He noticed that there were few sailors still left standing on deck, so decided to go and pay a visit to an old friend.
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Barbossa heard the knock upon his door just as he was about to get up and go to bed. He yawned drowsily, and granted the person permission to enter.
Jack entered, looking sheepish and noticed Barbossa's drooping eyes.
"What do ye want, Jack?" Barbossa asked wearily. "If ya came to kill me again, at least wait until mornin'."
"No worries, Barbossa," Jack smiled reminiscently, "I've buried the hatchet now."
Barbossa nodded.
"No, um..." Jack went on, "I came to ask you about something, actually."
"Ye came to me for advice?" Barbossa chuckled, "Ye be a foolish man, Sparrow."
"And don't I know it," Jack said quickly, "It's about...someone."
"Someone?" Barbossa thought for a minute. "Ah, might it be that same someone who confessed her love to you years ago?"
"Yes," Jack said, frowning. "How do you know about that?"
"Please," Barbossa said, waving his hand, "the whole scallywag population knows about the doomed woman who gave you her heart."
"Why?" Jack demanded.
"We're a nosy bunch, Jack," Barbossa explained.
"That is true..."
"Look, what's your question," Barbossa pressed on, closing and rubbing his eyes.
"Does she still love me?" Jack asked quietly.
Barbossa slowly opened his eyes and looked up at the pirate standing so innocently before him. "Aye...she does."
"How do you know?" Jack said softly, sitting down in a chair next to Barbossa.
"Because she told me so," Barbossa told him. "Look, lad, if you've changed your mind...it's too late."
"I haven't changed my mind..." Jack said, shaking his head. "I was just wondering..."
"All finished?" Barbossa asked hopefully. Jack shook his head again.
"She still hasn't moved on?"
"No," Barbossa said pitifully, "she's a hurt woman, Jack."
"How easily did she fall for me?" Jack asked.
"At first glance, I believe," Barbossa said. Jack was taking all this into account.
"What happened to her?" Jack asked finally.
"You know what a broken heart does to people, Jack," Barbossa said sincerely.
"You'd know all about that, I guess," Jack smiled. Barbossa didn't.
"Aye, I do, lad," Barbossa said. "This is why you and Elizabeth ought to be careful. She loves Will, boy, and you both know it."
"I know," Jack protested. "I don't love her anyway."
"Good," Barbossa said.
Jack looked at him questioningly. "Don't become like me, lad. Don't become torn. Don't become broken...don't fall in love with her, whatever you do."
"I won't," Jack said confidently.
"Doomed is the man who falls in love with someone he knows can never love him back," Barbossa said wisely.
"How do you know all this?" Jack asked suspiciously.
"Because," Barbossa said quietly, "I'm one of those men."
Poor Barbossa, eh? Never thought he'd be the kind to fall in love, but oh well.
Review please!
QueenSerenity818 out.