Started With A Kiss
Chapter 25 – Know Him? Of Course
Elizabeth had been reluctantly torn away from Jack's bedside to talk with the crew about the upcoming fight. Everyone who was on board was huddled around the table below deck.
"First, I think we should elect a new Captain, as our previous one is..." Gibbs started quietly, "...incapable."
Elizabeth sat silent, her eyes fixed on her lap. Tia Dalma, who was sitting beside her, glanced sideways at her before saying, "Elizabeth."
Elizabeth looked up. "What?"
"I nominate Elizabeth for the role of Captain," Tia Dalma spoke loudly.
"Why me?" Elizabeth asked.
Tia Dalma turned to face her. Her eyes were filled with sorrow as she said, "It's what Jack would have wanted."
There was a murmur of agreement around the table. Elizabeth didn't object; instead she looked back down at her lap.
"Well, that's decided," Gibbs said.
"Now," Barbossa said, standing as he took control, "we need an action plan. Any ideas, Captain Swann?"
"You can be in charge of that, Barbossa," Elizabeth said quietly.
Tia Dalma sighed and shook Elizabeth's shoulders vigorously. "Now, listen, Jack wouldn't want you to be like this, would he?"
Elizabeth merely looked up into Tia Dalma's face and said nothing.
"He would want you to be strong," Tia Dalma smiled, "and defeat the East India Trading Company before they wipe out all the pirates! Now, come on and pull yourself together...for Jack."
Elizabeth smiled at her. "You're right. But Barbossa's still in charge of the planning."
"Why, thank ye miss," Barbossa smiled, nodding his head. Elizabeth smiled back at him.
"So," Gibbs smiled, glad that they were getting somewhere, "any ideas so far, Hector?"
Barbossa glared at him before going on, "As a matter of fact, yes."
"Great, let's hear it," Elizabeth said brightly.
"A visit to Shipwreck Cove is essential," Barbossa began, "and so we will need to get there as fast as we can."
Elizabeth nodded before turning to Gibbs. "Gibbs, adjust course to head for Shipwreck Cove with all haste."
"Aye, Cap'n," Gibbs said before scurrying out of the room.
"While there," Barbossa continued, "we can gather as many pirates as possible. They've all wanted to get revenge on the East India Trading Company for some reason or another, so that should be pretty easy."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"After that, we will convene the fourth Brethren Court and decide what to do from there," Barbossa finished.
"Perfect," Elizabeth nodded approvingly.
"Sounds like a plan," Pintel said loudly.
"That was the whole point," Ragetti said, turning on him.
"I know, but what I meant was..." Pintel began.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and got up, the sign that everyone else could leave too. Pintel and Ragetti were still squabbling until they looked around and realised they were the only ones left in the room.
"Where'd everyone go?" Ragetti said quietly.
"I dunno," Pintel shrugged. "Suppose we'd better go?"
Ragetti nodded, and they, too left the room.
-----
Two days had passed since Elizabeth had been named Captain and already they had arrived at Shipwreck Cove. The wind, not to mention time, was definitely on their side.
Everyone scrambled to get off the Black Pearl and round up as many pirates as they could, in as little time as possible. They needed to make a quick departure to get a head start in the fight.
Somehow, many of the pirates at Shipwreck Cove had already heard of Jack Sparrow's death, even before their arrival.
He really was infamous. The thought made Elizabeth smile.
-----
Barbossa slammed down the wooden hammer in his hand onto the table, around which sat the nine pirate lords; Elizabeth had taken Jack's place.
She curiously looked around at everyone else. Other than her, there was only one woman. She looked Chinese.
"I now convene the fourth Brethren Court," Barbossa said loudly. "And we have a grave issue on our hands."
Everyone waited in silence.
"The East India Trading Company," Barbossa started dramatically, "is planning an attack. They're not afraid to keep fighting until we've all perished because of it."
Everyone around the table looked solemn and deadly.
"We need to round up as many pirates as possible to follow in our stead," Barbossa went on, "so that we stand at least a good chance of victory."
"Barbossa is right," the Chinese lady piped up. "We have to do this for pirates all over the world."
There was a murmur around the table as everyone discussed it and nodded.
"If we don't," the Chinese woman went on gravely, "we will all suffer under their terrible command."
There was an uneasy silence after those words. Everyone, with worried expressions, turned to face each other, their eyes filled with fear.
"Where is Jack Sparrow?" came an uncomfortable voice that sounded French.
Tia Dalma and Elizabeth's eyes met for one moment before Elizabeth looked directly at the Frenchman.
"He's dead," she said softly.
Looks of surprise were exchanged around the table now. How could Jack Sparrow, the most famous pirate in the Caribbean, be dead? Heads turned as the sound of boots could be heard walking down the stairs nearby.
The footsteps got closer and closer until eventually, a rather eccentric looking pirate appeared before them. He had an air of Jack about him, with little trinkets tied into dark dreadlocks, an unmissable hat upon his head, and pirate's clothes that stuck out like a sore thumb. His expression was unreadable.
"What did you just say?" he asked quietly.
Elizabeth looked directly at him. "Who are you?"
"Answer my question, love, and I'll answer yours," he said, dismissing the question. "What did you say?"
Elizabeth hesitated. "Jack Sparrow...he's dead."
The man looked at the floor for a moment before going to the back of the room and collapsing into a chair. He closed his eyes and put his head in his hands. Elizabeth stood up and followed him.
"Sir..." she began, kneeling down in front of him. He looked at her. "...did you know Jack?"
"Know him?" the pirate scoffed. "Of course I did..."
Elizabeth waited; there was obviously something else he wanted to say.
"...he was my son, and now you're telling me he's dead."
Elizabeth looked up at him with great sympathy. "I'm sorry."
"I think he spoke of you..." Jack's father said, understanding dawning on his face. "Are you Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth nodded. "He told you about me?"
Jack's father smiled and nodded. "The first time I saw him, after he shot Barbossa over there, he talked of you very fondly."
Elizabeth smiled.
"He wouldn't admit it, of course, but I could tell he'd fallen for you."
"Why wouldn't he admit it?" Elizabeth asked.
"Classic forbidden love," he smiled, "a pirate falling for a lady of class. And that's just it; pirates don't generally fall in love. Not natural. So, of course, Jack's pride got in the way."
"He admitted it in the end, though," Elizabeth pointed out.
"Aye, he did. But only 'cause you made him see what he was giving up."
Sorry if that wasn't a very good chapter, but I've had extremely severe writer's block recently...
Review please!
QueenSerenity818 out.