Chapter 5
About an hour had passed before everyone had begun heading back towards the Pearl. Elizabeth had spent the better part of the hour curled up on the bed crying before she had wiped her eyes and vowed to herself not to cry like that for any man ever again. When she left the brewery, she made her way back down the main street where she found Jack standing with Gibbs, deep in conversation. She stared at him for a long minute before he turned to look at her. He saw her red eyes and immediately his face saddened, but she wasn't about to give him any satisfaction for he had broken her heart in two. Turning around, she began heading back towards the docks without speaking a single word. Sighing, Jack started following her with Gibbs at his side. As Elizabeth kept walking, she suddenly felt a presence at her side.
"You have cried," Tia Dalma said softly.
"I'm done crying," Elizabeth replied rather coldly before distancing herself from the voodoo Priestess.
Tia Dalma shook her head and watched her go in dismay before whispering so quietly that only she herself could hear. "No you are not, child."
As they reached the docks, something seemed to be amiss with what they saw. Pintel & Ragetti turned to one another with confused frowns before facing forward again while Jack stopped dead in his tracks. Moving through the crew and pushing past everyone, he stopped before them all and stared out into sea.
"Mr. Gibbs!" he exclaimed.
Gibbs quickly rushed to the Captain's side as Barbossa followed him. "Aye, Sir?"
"Do you think that something perhaps may be missing here Mr. Gibbs?" Jack asked, pointing to the water by the docks.
Gibbs looked at the water for a moment before turning back to him.
"Sir?" he asked, confused by the question.
Elizabeth's frown suddenly turned into realization as she took a couple steps forward.
"The Pearl!" she expressed hurriedly.
"Exactly," Jack said, smiling sarcastically at Gibbs. "Where the bloody hell is my ship, Mr. Gibbs?"
Gibbs looked at the water once more before realization finally dawned upon him. "Mother's love! Captain, the Pearl's gone!"
"You don't say," Jack said sarcastically before turning to Barbossa.
"Now ye've really done it, haven't ye Jack?" Barbossa stated.
"Oh shut it," he replied in frustration.
"The Pearl is gone once again and we have a trifling need to go to a little place known as Shipwreck Cove," Barbossa exclaimed. "Any plans?"
"Listen you rum-pot deckhand," Jack began as Barbossa scoffed.
Before he could give a response, Jack continued with his rant.
"I was dead not three days ago and as I recall correctly, and I usually do, I gave the Pearl to your command to take until I get my bloody head right!" he exclaimed
"None of this is getting us anywhere," Tia Dalma said, getting between the two before they went at it with their swords once more. "Who was the last one to leave the ship?"
Elizabeth's eyes suddenly widened in surprise; "Will."
"What did ye say?" Barbossa asked with a frown as everyone faced her.
"Will," she spoke more loudly, looking up at everyone. "Will was the last one on the ship when I left."
"Are ye trying to tell me that the bloody whelp stole my ship?" Barbossa asked in disbelief.
"My ship," Jack corrected.
"I think so," she replied, looking away from Jack's eyes as he let out a frustrated scream.
Everyone suddenly began talking at once, causing Jack to hold his head.
"Captain, what will ye do?" Ragetti asked.
"Curse that slack-jawed idiot!" Gibbs snapped angrily.
"This be the most egregious act that…" Pintel began, but Jack put his hands up in front of them.
"Belay, belay, belay!" he snapped at everyone, causing them to quiet down before he faced Gibbs. "Mr. Gibbs, we have a considerably significant need to find ourselves another ship, savvy?"
Gibbs nodded quickly at his words.
"Find me a ship, Mr. Gibbs," he ordered angrily.
"Aye Sir," Gibbs exclaimed before rushing off with Cotton and a few other members of the crew.
Sighing, Jack placed his hands on his waist and gazed out into sea.
"Jack…," Elizabeth began, approaching him. "He just wants to save his father. With everything that's happened…especially between us, I think he feel that he only has his father left."
"He's a bloody idiot," Jack snapped, facing her. "The Black Pearl is the only ship that can outrun the Flying Dutchman. It was the one piece of leverage we had against that squid-faced buffoon and now we don't even have that thanks to bloody stupid Will."
"I'm warning you Jack. Don't hurt him," she said firmly as he faced her.
"I won't have to," he replied. "If he continues acting as stupidly as he's done, Jones will deal with him on his own."
With that, he glanced back at sea when a thought suddenly occurred to him.
"Mr. Gibbs!" he exclaimed as the pirates all turned to face him.
"What is it Captain?" Gibbs asked for he and the others hadn't covered too much ground yet.
"Anamaria!" he exclaimed, waving his hands in the air. "Anamaria's got the Interceptor!"
"Aye, Sir!" Gibbs said with a smile before he and the others ran down the street.
"I thought she hated you," Elizabeth began, crossing her arms at her chest.
"She did hate me, but I gave her a ship," Jack said with a smile. "One I plan on taking back."
With that, he turned around to see Barbossa standing directly behind him, with Jack the monkey on his shoulder.
"Ye know Jack, I believe ye've lost the Pearl more than ye've ever had it," he exclaimed as Jack sneered at him.
"Perhaps," he said in agreement. "But I don't plan on losing her again. I promise you that."
With a large grin, he turned around and walked away from the small group, standing on his own in silence as he gazed out at the calm water.
"That's what you said last time," Barbossa said, shaking his head and turning his attention to his monkey.
Elizabeth watched Jack in silence as he stood completely motionless, unaware that her eyes were on him. After what seemed like twenty minutes, Gibbs and the others ran back rather hurriedly towards them, waving their arms in the air.
"Where is she?" Jack asked, meeting them midway.
"We have her ship Captain," Gibbs replied. "Perhaps it's best we deal with her wrath on another day."
"Aye," Jack exclaimed before facing the crew. "Hurry!"
Elizabeth watched them in confusion but quickly followed as they made their way across the large dock, passing an array of ships and boats on their way. Quickly reaching the Interceptor, they climbed aboard one by one.
"Weigh anchor. Hoist the sails!" Jack ordered, rushing to the helm while the crew rushed to their stations.
"Man the braces!" Barbossa added. "Let down and haul to run free!"
"What are you doing?" Jack asked, facing him as Barbossa pushed him aside and took the helm.
"Your hands," he exclaimed, motioning Jack's right hand that had began trembling once more.
Staring down at it with a frown, Jack withdrew his hand and sighed.
"Take her out," he said as Barbossa smiled and steered the vessel.
All of a sudden, they noticed a large group of people running down the docks and approaching them from the side.
"Jack Sparrow!" Anamaria's voice came as she and her crew stopped before the ship, but it was too far into the water for them to do anything.
"Thank you my dear for providing us with your ship," Jack exclaimed with a smile, removing his hat and saluting her.
"When I catch you…," she began, her blood boiling.
"I know, I know," Jack replied. "You'll make me regret it. Until then, luv."
As Anamaria watched completely stunned, Jack and his crew made way with her ship. Letting out an angry scream, she simply stood there and watched as the Interceptor got smaller across the horizon.
"Am I to assume our next heading is for Shipwreck Cove?" Barbossa asked as Jack nodded.
"Aye," he replied, removing his compass and opening the lid.
He watched as the needle spun around once before landing on a firm location. Looking up in the direction it was pointed, Jack sighed when he saw Elizabeth standing at the end of it. Gazing out into sea worriedly, Elizabeth moved across the deck and Jack watched as the needle slowly followed her. Clearing his throat, he snapped his compass shut and head below deck as Elizabeth stood at the edge of the ship. Her mind was filled with thoughts concerning Will and the worry she felt for him. At the back of her mind, she also thought back to a couple hours ago when she had left one man for another, only to have the other reject her. Sighing, she hugged herself and stood alone, her thoughts not giving her a moment's peace.
As night quickly approached, they arrived at Shipwreck Cove. It was a vast fortress covered with incredible boulders on all sides. As they entered through the large gates, they suddenly saw a piece of land in the center lit with candles all around. From outside, it merely looked like a few rocks in the middle of the water but inside was a different story. Docking the ship, they dropped the anchor and piled off of the ship one by one. Arriving at the main doors of the large construction in the middle of the land, they were stopped by three pirates.
"Who be ye?" the first pirate asked, his clothes ripped and a foul smell coming from him.
"Captains Sparrow and Barbossa," Jack exclaimed, motioning the two of them.
"Ye can enter…and yer first mates," the pirate stated in a growl.
"Gibbs," Jack said while Elizabeth gave a knowing glance at Barbossa.
Sighing heavily, he pointed her way. "Elizabeth Swann."
The four of them walked through the doors while the rest of the crew returned to the Interceptor. Tia Dalma watched them go with an odd smile on her face before following the others. Once they were through the doors, they walked down a dimly lit corridor before approaching another set of doors. Opening them and walking through, they stopped to see everyone facing them in silence. At the center of the large room was a vast table with ten chairs around it. At the table sat six other men and one Asian woman.
"The ones seated are the Pirate Lords," Barbossa explained.
"But three chairs are empty," Elizabeth stated in confusion.
"Aye," Barbossa said with a smile as he and Jack walked to the seated Pirate Lords and all of a sudden, conversation and music broke out.
She watched as the two men shook hands with all of the people around the table, laughed and chatted amongst them before stopping at an Asian man.
"Jack Sparrow," the man said with a sneer, gripping the other pirate's hand and squeezing it tightly.
"Sao Feng," Jack replied, prying his hand away from the pirate and walking away cautiously.
He and Barbossa then took the two chairs seated side by side at the head of the table. Elizabeth looked up at Gibbs for an explanation and he smiled at her.
"Jack and Barbossa are Pirate Lords?" she asked in disbelief as the older man nodded at her.
As they turned back to the group, Barbossa punched his fist on the table, getting everyone's attention.
"The Brethren Court is now in session," he exclaimed and sat down as everyone quieted.
Elizabeth's gaze moved to Jack who sat leisurely in his seat, one of his legs draped over the other as if he owned the entire room and everyone in it.
"Captain Hector Barbossa, Pirate Lord of the Caspian Sea," Barbossa introduced himself before looking to his left.
"Gentleman Jocard," an African man exclaimed with heavy earrings on his ears and a necklace made of animal bones around his neck. "Pirate Lord of the Atlantic Sea."
He wore a traditional hat and clothing and tilted his head to the rest of the group before turning to his left.
"Capitainne Chevalle," a Frenchman stated, holding his head high. "Pirate Lord of the Mediterranean Sea."
He had the traditional long, curly wig for those of the courts and nobility. He wore a long, purple coat, a large feathered hat on his head and had rosy cheeks.
"Ammand the Corsair," the next man exclaimed. "Pirate Lord of the Black Sea."
He had a Middle Eastern look to him with a large mustache and a bandana made from traditional cloth around his head. Elizabeth looked at him for a moment before her eyes traveled to the next man.
"Villanueava of Spain," the man expressed, introducing himself. "Pirate Lord of the Adriatic Sea."
He was an old man with a long, grey beard covering the entirety of his chin. Wearing an old hat and worn out clothing, he had a large scar running down the right side of his face, from his nose and down his cheek.
"Mistress Ching," the only female exclaimed proudly. "Lord of the Pacific Ocean."
She was of Asian decent, but her eyes showcased her blindness. Despite her handicap, she was still one of the most fearsome pirates in the entirety of the ocean. She wore traditional clothing and a blue necklace around her neck, one that she had worn since childhood.
"Sri Sumbhajee the Hindu Priest," the next man said, his voice incredibly squeaky which made Elizabeth and Gibbs laugh quietly amongst them. "Pirate Lord of the Indian Ocean."
He had a very long, grey beard around his chin and wore a large turban on his head, with a gold pendant placed in the center. The man turned and looked to his left, where the Asian pirate who Elizabeth noticed seemed angry at Jack sat.
"Sao Feng," the Singaporean pirate stated. "Pirate Lord of the South China Sea."
He sat with a squint in his eyes as a large scar traveled from his right brow and down his cheek. He wore traditional clothing and had a thin beard, but no hair. Smiling, he turned and faced the final person.
"Captain Jack Sparrow," Jack introduced himself as all eyes landed on him. "Pirate Lord of the Caribbean Sea."
Elizabeth couldn't help but smile at him as he spoke so proudly of himself.
"The meeting is in session," Barbossa repeated once more. "Fellow pirates, fellow Captains, fellow Lords…we are here to discuss our defensive strategy against Lord Beckett and the East India Trading Company."
"We could stay here," Mistress Ching offered, motioning the room. "This fortress has given us protection in the past."
"Aye, we could wait here until they get tired," Gentleman Jocard added, which was followed by a round of cheers.
Jack and Barbossa exchanged glances and sighed before facing the rest of the table.
"So it's agreed," Villanueava of Spain said with a grin. "We will wait here."
Before Jack or Barbossa could protest, Elizabeth scoffed rather loudly. The music suddenly quieted as everyone turned and faced her. She swallowed nervously as Armand the Corsair rose to his feet.
"And who be ye?" the pirate asked her in a low voice.
"She's my first mate," Barbossa said, waving a hand leisurely at her.
"Does your first mate have something to say?" Sao Feng asked, smiling at her with an amused expression.
"Aye," she said, stepping up to the challenge. "I've met Lord Beckett and he's a man who will not rest until he gets what he wants. And what he wants is all of you dead or imprisoned."
"We know this Miss," Capitainne Chevalle stated in his French accent. "That is why we will arm ourselves and stay here for protection."
"Don't be such cowards," Elizabeth exclaimed, stepping forward at the table between Jack and Sao Feng.
The table erupted into laughter except for Jack who gazed up at her quietly.
"And what do you propose we do instead?" Gentleman Jocard asked.
"Fight," she replied simply. "Fight for what you believe in. Fight for the freedom you hold so dear."
Quiet conversation began quickly after her words as everyone began discussing her proposal amongst themselves. Rising to his feet, Barbossa quieted the table once more.
"I agree with her proposal," he expressed firmly as Elizabeth smiled at him. "What say ye?"
"Nay," was the most popular response which made Elizabeth's shoulders drop in disbelief.
Sighing, Jack rose to his feet and quieted the table. "Personally, if you ask me, I'm sick and tired of having to look over my shoulder. I've done it for most of my life and I'm tired. I say we face these bloody bastards and end this once and for all."
Elizabeth smiled at his words and looked back at the faces across the table, trying to make out what they were thinking.
"That said, I call for a vote," Jack added, realizing that he wasn't getting anywhere with his fellow Captains.
"A vote for what?" Mistress Ching asked. "We already said nay."
"I call for a vote," he said, glancing at her with a dirty look. "For a Pirate King."
His words caused everyone to jump out of their seats and argue with him profusely.
"There has never been a vote called upon since the first meeting of the Brethren Court," Capitainne Chevalle exclaimed.
"I know mate," Jack replied before smiling. "There's a second time for everything, savvy?"
Laughing at his words, Sao Feng rose to his feet. "Sao Feng."
"Mistress Ching," the woman stated proudly.
"Capitainne Chevalle," the Frenchman exclaimed as everyone else followed suit and voted their name.
"Jack Sparrow," Jack stated and faced Barbossa with a wink.
"Barbossa," he exclaimed, not understanding his meaning.
The crowd began speaking loudly once more as Jack rolled his eyes and looked to his previously mutinous first mate.
"Vote for me," he said as Barbossa scoffed.
"Why don't you vote for me?" he asked, crossing his arms at his chest.
Gibbs stepped between the two while Elizabeth watched them with a grin.
"We are at an impasse," Sri Sumbhajee stated.
"Vote again," Jack said, turning back to the table once more.
Laughing lightly, Sao Feng decided to play Jack's little game. "Sao Feng."
As they went around the table, everyone spoke their name once more. When they reached Jack, he said his own name and faced Barbossa once again.
"Mate?" he asked as Barbossa rolled his eyes and sighed in frustration.
"I cannot believe I'm saying this," he mumbled before looking up. "Oh alright…Jack Sparrow."
The crowd exploded at the result as Jack stood smugly at the head of the table. Elizabeth couldn't help but smile at him again as she secretly watched him from the side.
"This is outrageous!" Villanueava declared. "I say nay!"
As the others agreed with his suggestion, the door behind Jack and Barbossa slammed open, leaving a trail of dust that floated in the air. Elizabeth jumped at the sound and turned to look behind her while Jack sighed and looked down at the table.
"This is where things get interesting," Gibbs said in her ear.
All of a sudden, a fairly tall pirate walked into the room. He wore a long, red coat and a black hat. He had medallions and pendants covering his clothing reminiscent of Jack. Everyone remained silent as the man walked forward and stopped between Jack and Barbossa.
"Did I hear correctly?" the man asked after along time. "You refuse to abide by the pirate codes?"
The entire room was silent and all eyes were on him except for Jack who continued to stare down at the table. Elizabeth watched the two of them in confusion, unsure what to make of the scene before her.
"No, Captain Teague," Villanueava of Spain suddenly stated, sitting back in his seat. "Sparrow is the Pirate King."
"Good," Captain Teague said before facing Jack. "So what say you, boy?"
Looking up, Jack glanced at the weary faces across the table and smiled.
"Prepare for a bloody war," he finally said.
With that, the crowd erupted in cheers and applause as Elizabeth shook her head with a smile.
"Pirates," she expressed before facing Jack again.
"Prepare your men. At dawn, we head out," he said and faced Captain Teague.
"Come along boy," Teague said, draping his arm over Jack's shoulder.
As they walked towards the back doors, Teague turned and looked at Elizabeth.
"You too," he said.
Elizabeth looked at Jack for confirmation, but he simply shrugged his shoulders at her. Glancing back at the crowd once more, who were busy conversing with one another, she picked up her pace and followed Jack and Captain Teague. They walked down a long corridor before reaching another set of doors. Opening them, Teague walked in followed by Jack and finally Elizabeth who gasped when she saw the room. It reminded her of her own home back in England. It had a fancy décor, with a seating area, a fireplace and a large bed in the center. There were two other doors at the end and when Teague closed the door after them, another opened and a woman walked out. She was middle-aged and wore a fancy dress that resembled one that Elizabeth use to own.
"Jackie!" the woman exclaimed, rushing towards Jack.
Smiling at the woman, Jack removed his hat and embraced her warmly.
"Oh, I've missed you so much darling," the woman exclaimed. "Don't you ever scare us like that again, do you understand?"
Nodding, they both leaned back and she noticed Elizabeth.
"You must be Elizabeth Swann," she said with a smile as the three of them faced her.
"Yes," Elizabeth replied in surprise. "How do you…?"
"Oh, we know everything," the woman replied in a gentle voice.
"Elizabeth, I'd like you to meet Captain Teague Sparrow and Penelope Anne Sparrow," he introduced. "My mum and dad."
Elizabeth smiled at the revelation and shook hands with them both before letting out a small chuckle.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," she said.
"The pleasure is ours dear," Penelope expressed. "Come sit down. You must be very tired."
Taking Elizabeth's hand, Jack's mom took her towards the sofa beside the fireplace and sat her down. Elizabeth glanced at Jack, her mind boggled with dozens of questions. But when she saw the way he was looking at her and the soft smile on his face and in his eyes, she simply smiled back at him. Touching his son's shoulder, Teague pulled him out of his daze and led him to the next room, where they would most likely discuss their defenses in private.
"Jack spoke so much about you the last time he visited," Penelope expressed, handing her a cup of tea.
"Thank you," Elizabeth said, taking a sip and relaxing in her seat. "I'm sure things have changed since then."
"Why? Is it because you killed him?" Penelope asked, causing Elizabeth to cough as she swallowed some of her tea. "Darling, we're his parents. We know everything."
"I…," Elizabeth began and placed her cup on the table in front of her.
Looking down, she couldn't find the right words to explain herself.
"Darling," Penelope began, lifting Elizabeth's chin up. "We know you aren't a malicious woman. We know you did what you did for a good reason and we hold no blame on you for it because you traveled to the end o the world to rescue him."
Elizabeth looked away once more, sadness overtaking her face.
"Your son seems to disagree," she said.
"Aye," Penelope said sadly. "Jack doesn't handle betrayal very well. He's been through it one too many times in his short life and it's made him close off more and more every time."
Turning Elizabeth's face back to hers, Penelope smiled at the young woman's tears.
"He'll forgive you in time," she said. "You just need to give him some time."
"He told me just hours ago that he could forgive me, but he'll never forget," Elizabeth stated.
"That's the hurt and the pain talking. I know my son, Elizabeth and I know the way he looked when he would talk about you," Penelope explained. "He would get a sparkle in his eyes whenever your name was mentioned."
Smiling, Elizabeth wiped the small tears that had begun gathering in her eyes.
"He loves you," Penelope suddenly said, causing her to look at the older woman startled. "Oh, don't be so surprised. How many times has he saved your life?"
Thinking back, Elizabeth smiled. "Many times."
"If you were anyone else who had betrayed him, it wouldn't have hurt as much," she exclaimed. "It's because he loves you that the pain is so real and deep."
"He loves me," Elizabeth repeated. "I don't know what to say to that."
"Are you with your fiancée anymore?" Penelope asked firmly.
"No, we broke things off just this morning," she replied sadly.
"Do you love my son?" Penelope continued.
Elizabeth smiled at the audacity of the woman for asking such questions before nodding slowly.
"Yes," she whispered, her word hardly audible.
"Then tell him that," the woman said in a motherly tone. "I love my son so much, my dear and I want to see him happy for once in his life. I think he would be happy if he were with you."
"But he said he can't trust me anymore, that he'll never forget what I did," Elizabeth protested.
"He can and he will," Penelope assured her. "Jack has been through the two worst forms of pain that no one should ever go through. He went through emotional pain and heartbreak when you chained him to the mast and physical pain in Davy Jones' Locker."
Sighing, she looked into the fire with a far away look in her eyes.
"Teague told me what happens to you in the Locker," she said quietly. "I try not to dwell on it too much because if I do, I'll remember that I almost lost him...and I'll have all sorts of images of the kind of torture he must have seen."
Turning to Elizabeth, she smiled.
"Again, I don't blame you for losing Jack. Neither does Teague. It's just hard as a parent, thinking that you'll outlive your child," she said softly. "But we have him back and so do you. He will forgive you and forget, Elizabeth. Just give him some time. But if you really love him and want to be with him, you need to show him that."
"How?" Elizabeth asked.
"In little ways," Penelope replied. "Tell him that you love him and that you want to be with him. Change his bandages for him. Things like that."
"I cannot believe how warm you are towards me," Elizabeth said, her eyes still glossy. "How can I ever thank you?"
"Love my son," Penelope replied. "That's all the thanks I need."
Elizabeth nodded and laughed aloud.
"What is it dear?" Penelope asked.
"It's just that…," she began and smiled. "It's the first time I've voiced it."
"Voiced what?" the woman asked warmly.
"That I love Jack," Elizabeth replied and sighed. "Things are so different from a year ago. I was engaged to Will, a Governor's daughter living in England. Now I'm a pirate, fighting alongside other pirates and in love with another pirate."
"The world has such a bleak outlook on pirates," Penelope expressed. "And some are truly horrible, make no mistake. Not all of them are good men. But not all should be punished for the wrong deeds of others."
Smiling softly, Elizabeth nodded.
"You mentioned that Jack has been betrayed before," Elizabeth began. "Did you mean by Barbossa?"
"Oh yes, Barbossa did betray him by mutinying against him and marooning him on an island," Penelope replied. "But that's not what I meant."
"When else has he been betrayed?" Elizabeth asked, turning in her seat to face the kind woman.
"Perhaps it is best if I let Jack tell you himself," she began.
"Please?" Elizabeth pleaded with her.
Sighing, Penelope nodded. "You're not the first woman Jack has ever loved."
"What do you mean?" Elizabeth asked.
"Years ago, he loved another woman…Victoria," his mother explained. "Jack had just taken over the Black Pearl when his ship docked in France. She lived with her parents in a small villa by the water. When Jack and the crew arrived, they took over the town and began pillaging and raiding the place, but never harming anyone. Her brother had attempted to kill Jack and right before he was to execute him, Victoria showed up and pleaded with him not to harm her brother. She offered herself to him in replacement."
"Oh my God," Elizabeth exclaimed.
"Jack was astonished by this woman and agreed to the exchange. Her brother went home and she went with Jack aboard the Pearl," Penelope continued. "Only thing is he never once touched her. He simply had her accompany him for dinner and spoke with her. She was surprised by the way he treated her and on their final day in town, he allowed her to go home. She gave him a small pendant to remember her by, one that he wears on his head even today."
Taking another sip of her tea, Elizabeth stared intently at the woman before her.
"After roaming the sea for another few months, they returned to the same villa. Only this time they came as guests and he and Victoria spent time together once more. Before he was to leave again, she declared her love for him and he for her," Mrs. Sparrow explained. "She promised to love him forever as long as he came back to her every time and he agreed. But once they left, Lord Beckett, who was a Commodore back then, arrived at the town with a fleet. He had heard that the town had become a port for pirates."
"What happened?" Elizabeth asked.
"Beckett and his men stayed in town for a long while, waiting to see if Jack would return. During this time, Beckett fell in love with Victoria too," Penelope expressed. "But her heart only belonged to one man and Beckett knew this so he preyed on her weakness. He swore he wouldn't harm her family as long as she gave him Jack and she agreed. They set up a trap and of course Jack showed up. That's when they captured him."
"That's horrible," Elizabeth declared.
"Jack discovered her betrayal and shunned her away when she tried visiting him in his prison cell at the villa. Angry at him for not forgiving her, she went to Beckett and gave up the location of the Pearl. That's the first time Jack lost his ship," Penelope continued. "They were about to execute him when she pleaded with Beckett to reconsider. You see, Victoria had also agreed to testify against Jack and the rest of the crew which led to his attempted hanging. That's when he felt her betrayal the worst. Of course Beckett disagreed and that's when Jack vanished from under the eyes of seven agents of the East India Trading Company."
"I've heard stories," Elizabeth began. "But none about her."
"That's because he keeps such memories to himself," Penelope replied. "She followed him and pleaded with him to take her with him, but he couldn't even look at her and he left. She was broken after that and agreed to leave with Beckett to England and marry him. But she was far too distraught and the night before her wedding, she killed herself."
"Oh God," Elizabeth exclaimed. "That's why Jack and Beckett hate one another so much."
"Aye," Penelope said sadly. "They each blame the other for taking away the woman they loved. Only, I feel that Jack's claim is more justified."
Sighing, Penelope looked into the fire once more.
"Her betrayal hurt him terribly," she said quietly before looking back at the young woman. "But yours hurts more."
"How do you know that?" Elizabeth asked.
"Because of the way he would talk about you," Mrs. Sparrow replied. "It was on another level from the way he would talk about Victoria. He did love her…but you have his entire heart, Elizabeth."
Elizabeth looked away, overwhelmed by the newest revelation.
"He's been through a lot of pain in thirty-four years," Penelope said.
"Thirty-four?" Elizabeth asked. "I thought he was…."
"I know, he tells the world he's much older," Penelope agreed with a smile. "I'm his mother. Believe me, he's not."
Smiling, Elizabeth looked into the fire for a moment just as the other door opened and Teague stepped out followed by Jack. She gazed at him for a long moment and he held her eyes, neither looking away as Penelope rose to her feet and approached her husband with a smile on her face.
"Don't meddle, Penelope," he whispered to her, but she tossed his words aside and looked between the two of them happily.
"It's late and you should get some rest," she began. "You can take the next room. Teague and I will sleep in here."
Pulling herself out of her trance, Elizabeth rose to her feet and cleared her throat.
"Thank you so much for your hospitality," she said, smiling at the couple who smiled back at her.
With that, she turned and quietly followed Jack into the next room, closing the door behind her quietly. Once she was inside, all she saw was a bed in the center of the room over a large rug. Jack had already removed his coat and had bundled it in a ball on the ground.
"You can have the bed," he said, placing his hat on the small night table above his head.
"Don't be absurd," she said as he faced her. "There's enough room for the both of us. Plus, you're wounded."
Sighing, Jack hesitated for a moment before lying down on the bed next to her. They pulled the covers over their bodies and stared up at the ceiling, neither speaking a single word as they stayed that way for several minutes. Having had enough of the uncomfortable silence between them, Jack came to get up but Elizabeth was quicker and pulled his face towards hers in a kiss. He was taken aback at first but then held the sides of her face and relaxed into the kiss. Leaning back, she rested her forehead upon his and breathed in heavily.
"I'm sorry Jack," she said.
Leaning back, he gazed at her with a slight frown.
"For what?" he asked.
"For everything," she replied, looking down. "I'm sorry for hurting you and for betraying you. For the other betrayals you've seen."
Sighing, Jack looked away with a wry smile.
"My mother tends to speak too much at times," he said, but she turned his face to hers and sat up over his legs.
"I'm glad she told me," Elizabeth whispered, gently caressing his cheek. "It makes me feel closer to you."
He gazed at her so deeply that she lost herself within his soulful eyes. Leaning in, he kissed her again, embracing her in his arms tightly. They then hugged one another as he placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
"We should rest," he said, lying back down on the bed.
Nodding, she lied down after him and clutched the covers to her chest. Turning his face to hers, he gazed at the side of her face for a moment before pulling her towards him. She sighed in relief once she was in his arms and her head was planted on his chest, listening to the soft beating of his heart. Closing their eyes, they soon fell asleep in one another's arms.