Standard Disclaimer: I own nothing in regards to Harry Potter or Pirates of the Caribbean. All properties therein are those of their creators. I am only a writer working on my skills with worlds and characters that I love.
Note: This is one of two chapters I have planned to firmly establish Harry's legend and the world before beginning the events of the films with a time jump. Chapter five is already halfway written so it shouldn't be too long before it is up too. Tia Dalma will reappear in Chapter Six as I go over what happened in the present after Harry's disappearance.
Note: Also, Max the prostitute from the last chapter is a woman. Just bringing that up because I received a confused review from one of my readers. She's a character from Black Sails.
Note: Also not exactly listening to the Pirate Constitution verbatim. As Barbossa says, "They're more like guidelines than actual rules." Additionally, I didn't list all the rules that the Pirate Republic came up with, just a few that I found interesting in my research.
Note: Story Updates
-Finished and Editing: Berserker CH 3, Wizard of 20th Ward CH 3, Lord of Night CH 16.
-Halfway done writing: Dread Pirate Harry CH 5, Magic in the MC CH 7, Wizard at Nevermore CH 9.
-I ask for your patience in finishing and posting these as I am in midterm season at my university and my schedule is pretty busy with studying.
Chapter Four - The Governor's Daughter
Benjamin Hornigold sat on the beach of Nassau drinking rum with Charles Vane. Now that Henry Avery was dead Charles was the closest to him in power and means, aside from Silent Harry of course, but that young man outstripped both of them in leagues. The lad was just too polite to outright state the fact. For anyone else that would certainly breed rage and envy, but the young man was so generous with his earnings that it was impossible to dislike him.
It was that same captain they were discussing now as they passed the bottle back and forth. "When Harry said he was gonna upgrade this place, I never could have imagined the ways he intended." Vane noted.
"Aye, buying up, stealing, and making three hundred new canons before installing them around Nassau was one thing, but hunting down twenty new frigates to fish and serve as an outer defense was on a whole other level." Hornigold agreed. "For any of us that would have taken years, yet he did it in a manner of months, and Adewale said he has plans to procure even more."
"Those toilet inventions of his are quite impressive as well. They make latrines and outhouses obsolete." The captain of the Ranger agreed. Shortly after their announcement of the organization of their little Republic, Harry had delivered on one of his many promises to the Head Table. The use of magic to enhance the daily lives of the people of Nassau. First was a potion that apparently cured sexually transmitted diseases. Between that and his rumored performance at Madame Mortentia's, it was no wonder the whores kept asking for him every time he came calling to port.
He'd followed up this miraculous gift with what he called, 'hygienic changes, and quality of life upgrades.' Toilets were ceramic bowls and chamber pots inscribed with runes that disposed of waste as soon as it arrived by simply making it disappear. Public disease had dropped considerably after that. Then came heating chambers that provided everyone with tubs of hot water. Bathing rates had tripled per week for everyone in no time. Then there were the weapon and island defense advancements he'd set into motion. Some of them boggled the mind. On the whole, their tiny little island was rapidly reaching a state of modernity, and if Harry could deliver on some of his other promises too…
"There has been talk of putting Harry in sole command of the Head Table." Bane ventured. This rumor had come to him by way of Rackham. If every captain on the island voted that way then it would be so.
"After the latest changes he brought I wouldn't exactly be opposed." The blonde man groaned. "There is something to be said for someone that keeps their lofty promises." Two of their seats were now empty. Blackbeard had been on a long hunting voyage for a while now and last they heard he was heading to Mexico, apparently having received news that one of his many wives (the man was an old horndog) had apparently given birth to a daughter and he wanted to meet her. Who knew when he'd return from that venture? And Sparrow… No one was entirely sure what had happened to him. He and his crew had gone searching for a mythical Mayan treasure two months past, an act that Harry had warned them against heartily claiming such a thing was surely cursed, and never returned. The end result was putting all the authority on the shoulders of Hornigold, Vane, and Harry. And out of the three of them, Harry surely liked it the most.
"And you would just be okay with that? Him taking the reins?" Vane wanted to know. "It isn't a stretch to say you built this place."
"True, but look at where it was with me, and where it is now that Harry has shown up. And it's not like being in charge is that important to me. I just want the freedom to keep raiding and living life on my terms. Can't see Harry getting in the way of that."
"Aye, I'm much the same." Vane took another swig. "We gonna introduce him to the new guy?"
"Of course. And speak of the devil." Both men turned to look at the harbor where a telling black flag was coming into view. "That was fast. A two week voyage this time wasn't it?"
"Aye, he said something about looking for a new galleon called the Orca to add to the island fleet. I wonder if he found it?"
"Well, let's go find out for ourselves."
Together the two men stood, "And let's grab the newbie, Harry will get a kick out of him."
The Freedom
As he pulled into the bay of Nassau, Harry couldn't help but smile. Every time he came back it felt like coming home. And after the clusterfuck that had been his outing it certainly felt nice to return. As his fingers tightened around the grips of the helm, he felt a surprisingly strong yet supple pair of arms encircle his waist.
"Now, Captain," A sultry Irish purr buzzed in his ear, "what could ya possibly have to be anxious about?"
Smiling warmly at the voice he answered, "After how our journey ended, Anne, not a damned thing."
One Week Prior
Harry steered the Freedom smoothly through the fog and for once it wasn't one of his own creation. They'd been hunting a former privateering vessel named the Orca for the last several days, and the trail had led them into this grim twilight. The scoundrels crewing it had been targeting innocent crossing ships transporting families to the new world, so taking them out of circulation to aid immigrants was on even terms in Harry's mind with giving his island an extra measure of defense by adding it to the fleet.
He was just about to send Hedwig scouting when he felt something strange. A tremor in his tattoos that connected him to the sea. There was a dark presence ahead, and the ocean did not like it. Straining his ears Harry heard two things that confused him greatly. The swish of a hull retreating into the distance and a distinctly feminine voice singing 'A Pirate's Life For Me.'
Deciding to just handle the situation rather than flounder, Harry raised his hands to the sky and pulled them rapidly apart. Four things happened at once. First, the fog pulled away like the curtains of a grand stage. Second, the crew took note of a black flag disappearing over the curve of the horizon, too small to make out the particulars. Third, a transport ship with yellow trimming on the sails became readily visible. And fourth… the galleon that the Freedom had been hunting appeared and began to open fire on it.
As the screams of the innocent wrent through the air, Harry bellowed, "All hands to stations! Starboard cannons roll out on the double and prepare for broadside and boarding!"
"Aye sir!" The crew scurried about to follow his orders.
"I'm coming with ya ta board." Anne's voice came from behind him, and Harry nodded without taking his eyes off of his target.
"I wouldn't dream of keeping you away. Stay with me, though. I want a good knife at my back."
"Aye, Captain."
Across the deck Adewale called out, "Cannons ready, sir!"
"Brace for turn!" Harry roared before cranking the wheel as hard as he could, bringing the starboard cannons into full range. So focused were they on the yellow ship that the Orca hadn't even noticed them yet. By now the civilian craft was listing dangerously, their hull ruptured, and the small number of cannons on their deck no doubt already destroyed if the Orca cannoneers were worth anything. They couldn't afford to wait any longer. "Fire!"
The roaring boom of twenty cannons sounded as one and in the silence that followed responding booms came from the Orca as they attempted to return fire. Rather difficult when the Freedom had aimed specifically for their battery ports leaving only a couple irons on deck available for use.
"Front chasers!" Harry roared anew as he adjusted course to bring their prow directly toward the enemy craft. There wasn't time at this distance to reload the broadsides and he'd not yet finished enough space expansion charms for his rapid fire adjustments. Four hatches sprung open in the front above the figurehead and one after the other they pelted the Interceptor deck, sowing explosions, death, and discord in their wake. By now they were close enough to make out the individual figures racing across the surface. "Hooks and rope!"
"Aye!" The men and women of his boarding party cheered as Dobby popped to each and every one of them with a tri-pronged hook and more than enough line to swing over.
Handing one to Anne, Harry gestured to the nearby railing, "After you, my dear."
"Such a gentleman." The redhead smirked as she began twirling the hook to build momentum.
"I try." The wizard cranked the wheel to line them up as the vessels drew level with each other and with a force of his will calmed the sea to keep them still. "All hands, over the side!"
"Raghr!" His crew roared before launching their hooks and lines and swinging over to begin the assault on the rival pirating crew. It wasn't long before Harry and his redheaded knifehand followed.
Aboard The Transport Ship
Weatherby Swann, soon to be Governor Swann of Port Royal, stared at the tragedy that had become his voyage with mixed horror and fascination. Never in his life had he experienced such carnage and fear, yet he could not look away. This whole situation had come about after accepting a new posting to govern a port town in the Caribbean. It had seemed like a grand way to advance his family name in prestige and provide his daughter access to more prestigious marriage opportunities than being the daughter of a minor lord in England.
The crossing had gone smoothly for the first few weeks, but then, earlier today, they'd come across the smoking wreckage of another vessel in the sea. It had been his daughter that discovered the only survivor, a dark haired young lad of her approximate age apparently named William Turner; he passed out shortly after giving his name. Then the worst had happened. The fog around them cleared in an unnatural instant and revealed a pirate ship within cannon range that noticed them at once and immediately began to fire on their position. Without the protection of the fog to block their line of sight, and with no time to get the men to the ten guns along the topside railing, they were sitting ducks. Honestly, no matter what Captain Norrington said, Weatherby was two steps away from ordering his daughter to run to one of the lifeboats to make a run for it when against all odds a second ship flying a black flag had arrived, and started pelting their attacker instead of them!
At once Norrington gave the order to lower the sails and make haste, but the barrage of cannon fire had destroyed their rudder, crippled the mast, and decimated their cannons. All they could do was wait, pray for the new ship to be victorious, and hope that they were reasonable enough to take a payment instead of their lives.
As he was thinking these things, Captain Norrington himself came to stand beside him and look out over the unfolding scene. "I've given the men orders to arm every man above twelve and prepare for boarding. If violence comes, we are prepared to fight to the last man to protect the women and children." He held out a cutlass to the long wigged man. "That includes you, my lord."
Taking the weapon gingerly (he never had been much of a fighter), Weatherby asked, "Surely we should try talking before resorting to outright violence?"
The Captain frowned, "That would be ideal, but I have never known pirates to be reasonable people, and that new flag… I've been hearing reports about it for the last few months. It's apparently the personal colors of a man calling himself Silent Harry, a young man by all accounts, yet he has captured more prizes in a shorter timeframe than any other captain in these waters, and he's personally murdered more than twenty navy and East India Company officers in the same amount of time."
"Why is he called Silent Harry?"
Norrington thought about it for a moment. "Those few crewmembers who managed to be rescued after his assaults say he never speaks to those he takes and that his ship comes upon them completely without sound. I'm not sure I believe that last reason but the same tale has been told enough times to be worrying. I have also heard he is certainly ruthless, but that he is… not cruel, unless degraded. From what I understand he primarily targets slave transports and other ships related to the East India Company so it is rather strange he would be traveling along this sea route."
"Well, I would hate to see our menfolk killed in a needless battle." left unsaid was that he most certainly included himself in that number, "As the leader of this expedition I will of course parlay with this Silent Harry should he prove victorious, and provide whatever I can to get him to leave us in peace. Our material wealth is not worth our lives."
"I believe that to be a mistake, my lord."
"Nevertheless my decision is final."
Captain Norrington visibly ground his teeth at that statement, hating the thought of letting a known pirate just walk up to the deck, but nevertheless he saluted his soon to be governor and went back to ready the men. Whatever Swann said, he intended to have his own forces ready for anything. And if he was any judge, then they would need to fight for one of those ships anyway, as their own was practically scuttled in the water. As he continued on his way he took note of a girl of perhaps thirteen in a white dress, staring out at the flashes of cannon and gunfire emanating from the two ships as they drew closer together. It seemed Ms. Swann had a rather unhealthy interest in pirates and violence. Oh well, she was sure to grow out of it.
The Freedom
Harry stared at the Orca as it drew close, stepped up to Barbossa and Adwale with Anne at his side, and as one his group launched their lines with the other fighters and swung across the divide as others set up gangplanks to cross once they grew closer yet. By now they had their tactics down to a science, and as his number engaged the body of the enemy crew, Harry and his lot went after the captain and officers. The rationale being that without the head of their crew the body would fall. It was a system that had worked remarkably well in the past.
With khopesh blades in hand Harry cut a bloody swath through the pirate bodies until he reached the helm where a concentrated clump of dirty men in far better clothing than the others were set about defending the helm. The wizard could practically feel the contempt of his crew for their slovenly state. Cleanliness on the Freedom was prized and defended highly by them all, especially Madi as she saw the alternative as a fast track to new patients.
The officers saw them as they barreled up the stairs and seemed to have similar ideas to their own as they charged from their position in force. Harry ducked the wild slash of a thin man with a chipped saber, locked it against the deck with his right blade, and slashed clean through his neck with the left. Anne dispatched her foe with nearly a dozen rapid stabs in the span of two seconds, and Adewale cleaved a man near in half with his massive machete. Barbossa it seemed had found the captain, based on the stranger's massive tri-cornered hat, and was dueling him rapier to rapier with rapid movements so fast none present could really see them.
Of course all attention to that fight was quickly carried away by their own continued engagements and Harry found himself trading blows with a large man wielding an ax. Utilizing his greater speed and dexterity, the wizard danced back and forth around the wild man as he rained down counter slashes and strikes that left his foe coated in sheets of blood from nearly two dozen different wounds. Eventually the man couldn't take it anymore, fell to his knees, and died via a khopesh chop that caved in his skull.
Still feeling the high of his latest kill, Harry looked up to check on his friends, only to run forward across the deck screaming, "Anne!"
For her part, the redheaded knifehand was busy holding a short brunette tight while slowly slashing her throat when she heard her captain's exclamation. She turned to see what was so important, only to take note of a rifle wielding Scotsman twelve feet away aiming his weapon at her head. From that close a distance he wouldn't miss.
Time seemed to slow, she could practically see his finger tightening on the trigger, and just as she was readying herself for the last ditch effort of trying to raise her captive in front of her to try and halt the iron ball's path, a new weight crashed into her side as the crack of the shot erupted in the air. Anne heard a grunt of pain as she and the new weight crashed to the ground.
"Son of a bitch!" Harry exclaimed, shoving off of her before grabbing his pistol, aiming at her attacker, and setting him on fire with a crimson shot.
"Captain!" The redhead shoved herself off of the corpse in her arms and rapidly moved her hands over his form, finding the new hole through his left arm.
"Don't worry about me." He growled before ripping the sash from his waist to tie firmly around his wound. "Madi and Dobby will have me healed up in no time. We need to finish off these fuckers first though."
Anne was feeling a confusing mix of emotions in that moment. Gratitude for being saved, worry that Harry had taken a bullet for her, an unfamiliar warmth pooling in her core at the look in his eyes as he stared down at her, and anticipation at more slaughter to come. Like all times things got confusing for her, she decided to seize on violence until she had time to deal with it. "Right-O, Captain!" She exclaimed before moving off into the fray once more.
Meanwhile, Harry stalked over to the still dueling pair of Barbossa and the enemy leader. It was time to end this. His first mate saw him, moved to the side as if to give him room, but Harry was no longer in a dueling mood after getting shot in the arm. The moment he got in range he leveled his pistol on the captain's skull and pulled the trigger. A second later his brains were on the floor.
"Alright, boys!" Harry stomped his boot on the raised platform the helm was positioned on, temporarily halting the chaos below with the pure tone of command in his voice. As all turned to look at him Harry proclaimed, "These assholes actually shot me! I want them dead to the last man! Make them bleed for this!"
"Aye!" The crew shouted in agreement before surging like a rage fueled tide back into the enemy. No one, and they meant no one, hurt their captain!
What followed was a slaughter that stained the deck red and left a mountain of corpses behind. This crew had been surprisingly well stocked in terms of men and supplies, and the aftermath showed that clearly. When it was all said and done a great cheer erupted into the air and the looting officially began.
As the crew started ferrying over the supplies Harry was forcefully led back to his ship by Barbossa and Adewale, and Madi and Dobby fussed all over him for a solid ten minutes as they extracted the bullet from his arm, cleaned the wound, and sealed it shut with magic and gauze. There would still be a scar, and he'd be tender for a day or two, but there was no lasting damage. Madi wanted him to stay in the infirmary for observation overnight, but Harry was having none of it. There was still far too much that needed doing to be cooped up belowdecks at the moment.
"Turn your focus to the rest of the wounded. They have more need of your healing skills now than I do. Dobby, could you do something about the bodies and the mess?"
When both individuals finally gave their agreement to his orders the annoyed Brit took his leave. Stupid, he had been stupid. Instead of shielding Anne with his body he should have simply fired off a spell at the shooter right away or erected some kind of magical shield between the two, but when he'd seen her in danger some part of him just moved on instinct. He hadn't thought clearly. When he was just a simple wizard in England that was fine enough, being a dumb hero was expected, but he was a captain now, and the men and women under his command needed him to stay alive. Acting impulsively wasn't in the cards for him anymore.
He made it two steps onto the deck before he found himself shoved into the wall and a smooth tongue pressed between his lips. His eyes only had enough time to recognize red hair before he closed them and leaned into the embrace. All around them the crew cheered, hooted, and hollered congratulations along with several bawdy suggestions.
When Anne finally broke away she gasped out, "You took a bullet for me."
"I did."
"Why?"
"Do I need a reason to protect such a beautiful woman?" At her deadpan stare he sighed and added, "This is going to sound strange, and I swear that I will explain it to you fully tonight, but" he reached up to run his hand through her hair, "I have dreamed of you for years, Anne. Your beauty, your hair, your smile, and now that you are finally here with me I could not bear to be parted from you. That gun was poised to take you from me, and I could not have that."
"Well, that doesn't make a lot of sense, but it feels right." Anne smirked before resting her forehead against his own, "And I'm still here now, with you."
"Yes, but I'm a pirate, Anne, and that means I'm greedy. I want you all to myself. Is that alright?"
"I'm not one for sleeping around when a fine bed is already under me back. That being said, I do like ta share, so maybe we bring another girl or two round on occasion, eh?"
Harry couldn't help laughing at that. History had said Anne Bonny was insatiable, but he'd thought that a sly rumor on the part of the authorities to discredit her character. It seemed that was not the case after all. "What kind of man would I be to turn that down?"
"I can't rightly say, but maybe we should focus on getting things here settled for now, and tonight…" her finger trailed circles around his chest, "you can show me what is so special about that tongue of yours that it has gotten every whore on Nassau so hot and bothered for your company."
Blushing slightly at that reminder, the wizard nodded before stepping off the wall. Anne slid her arm through his own and together they took off to inspect the progress. Two hours later the Orca had been stripped of treasure, weapons, and supplies, to the point that it was now a floating husk. The plan to take it as a prize had gone out the window the moment Harry had seen the transport vessel was scuttled, but that didn't make this venture unprofitable with how full the Orca's hold had been. Now it was time to meet the travelers.
"Alright, people," Harry instructed the men and women occupying the deck of the Freedom as he directed his ship away from the Orca and over to the transport vessel, "our goal is to be as non threatening as possible, so let's put our best foot forward. These people are just trying to make a journey and have not yet done anything to cause us insult or harm. Provided they do as instructed we can send them on their way peacefully."
"Aye Captain." The crew gave him their affirmations, and they were underway. There was a slight moment of worry when several rifles were aimed their way and the men had to duck for safety, but they quickly disappeared when the white flag of parlay came into view. Of course Harry could have disarmed his foes with magic, but it would have been a hassle, and the whole point was to not freak them out.
When they finally drew level without being shot or otherwise engaged, a gangplank was lowered, and Harry leaned on his wheel to wait as a party from the other ship slowly made their way over, apparently having anticipated the need for the meeting.
The first to appear was a straight backed man in a crisp uniform, backed by five similarly garbed fellows in red coats. Muskets rested over shoulders within easy reach, but none had yet to be drawn. The men fanned out in an arch behind their leader, providing a complete half circle of protection over the plank for an aristocratic man with a very large wig to follow. He was trying hard to look as impressive as possible, but the military fellow achieved the look with far more effect than he did.
"I-I say," The wigged man set himself in place with a heavily detailed cane smacking the wood by his feet, "M-Might I have a word with the captain of this vessel?" If he hadn't been so clearly nervous then his demeanor would have been hilarious. As it was, Harry had had enough fighting for that day so he waved his first mate forward.
Barbossa bowed low with a sweep of his hat. "I be Hector Barbossa, first mate to Captain Harry, and we welcome you to the Freedom."
"Yes," The officer noted dryly, "your welcome was very loud and clear. I assume this is Silent Harry you speak of based on your flag?"
"Aye. He do be by the wheel." Harry waved sarcastically from his position. With the elevation difference of the helm he was positioned above everyone else.
James Norrington's first impulse was to scoff at the idea of someone so young commanding such an intimidating force, and a mob of clearly escaped slaves was intimidating indeed, but he'd received enough reports about what the man did to those who commented on his age so he managed to reel himself in. Instead he said, "Might we speak to him directly? This is a matter of parlay after all."
The wizard nodded and stepped down from the helm to wander over beside his first mate. He waved, and Barbossa said, "You may speak."
The minor lord took in the youth before him and marveled at what he saw. Pirates were supposed to be dirty, grungy, unorganized, uneducated, and altogether the dredges of society. This person was… none of those things. He was remarkably clean, in fact every person present was as well. Strange that. (honestly the hygiene amongst these black fellows was more present than amongst many of his fellow passengers.). His arms were bare revealing incredibly intricate tattoos, but his clothing was all well made and he stood with poise and presence equal to any naval officer he'd ever met. No person that young should be so intimidating in his opinion.
"Silent Harry," he finally managed to get his voice under control (he really wasn't built for tense situations). "I am here to negotiate for the safe passage of-" He was cut off by the slicing motion of the captain's hand.
Harry leaned over to whisper in Hector's ears and spoke his message.
"The Captain do be saying you have nothing to negotiate."
"Now see reason, I'm sure we have enough money to-"
Interrupting again the pirate added "Because we do not be intending to halt your voyage."
Weatherby's eyes grew large and even Norrington blinked with surprise. "Excuse me?"
"You are not slavers, your passengers are not part of the navy, or a prize worth taking. We have already emptied the Orca of its valuables and that is more than enough riches for this trip. Silent Harry has no urge to rob those simply starting new lives. Provided ye do be handing over your weapons as a show of good faith, we will allow you all to board the craft we have just captured and sail her to your destination with enough provisions to make the journey."
In the shocked silence that followed, a young female voice cut in, "But why? You're pirates aren't you? Why would you show us this kindness?" All eyes turned back to the gangplank where the openly gawking form of Elizabeth Swann was now standing.
"Elizabeth!" Weatherby tried to coral his daughter back across the distance at once, but she nimbly dodged him before ducking past Norrington and running across the deck to stand right in front of Harry with her arms crossed, determined to stand her ground.
Several of the Freedom's crewmembers stepped forward as if to intercept the young girl, but Harry waved them off as he stared the stranger in the eye. When he continued to say nothing she said, "Pirates attacked us, and they sank a ship that carried a new friend of mine for no reason. Why would you do different?"
Shocking everyone, Harry smiled, and actually spoke. It was a great shock to Elizabeth to find out that he was English. "What is your name?"
"Elizabeth Swann."
"My name is Harry. Tell me, Ms. Swann, are all people the same?"
"W-What? No, of course not."
"Then why would you assume all pirates are the same?" He smiled knowingly at the girl. "Those people who attacked you and your friend were as much our enemies as yours. Men who live only by their greed and desire to cause pain. My crew and I, though also greedy in our own ways, stand for something different, something more."
Elizabeth had snuck over to this big ship intent on doing what her father wouldn't and giving this man a piece of her mind, but she found herself now absolutely entranced by his aura of confidence and command, as well as his words. There was just something… powerful about him, and for some reason she couldn't quite explain, she liked it. Of course it helped that he was absolutely gorgeous in a way she'd never seen from the gentry of England. More rugged and worldly. "W-What is it that you stand for?"
"Freedom. Hence the name of my ship. Look around you, nearly everyone under my flag would have been enslaved to serve another against their will without our intervention. It's a barbaric and horrible practice that your king openly approves of and profits from."
Elizabeth cringed at the thought. She knew theoretically that slavery existed, but she'd never seen it practiced in her home in England, so the prospect had seemed more theoretical than reality. But looking across the deck of this ship and seeing all those faces that would have been subjected to such a life, she found herself utterly ashamed to be from a country that allowed the practice.
"I too was a slave once." Harry continued, "And I cannot abide its application. My people and I sail where we wish, raid when we wish, free whomever we can, and live the lives we choose to live. That is what we stand for. Your people on that ship are innocent. You have not harmed us and you have not enslaved anyone, so of course we have no need or desire to harm you." He took her hand and gently brought the back of it to his lips, "I wish you only the best in life going forward. You might even remember today as the day that pirates saved your life."
"I-I will." Elizabeth scuffed her shoe, suddenly ashamed of the vitriol she'd marched in with. "Thank you so much. That other ship… scared me. I thought I was going to die, but then you showed up." Her eyes raked over the gathered crowd, "You all showed up. Thank you too." She curtseyed to the crew, who chuckled to a man and nodded back at her.
"T-That's enough, Elizabeth." Weatherby stepped forward, grabbed his daughter's hand, and pulled her back behind the line of soldiers. "If you mean what you say, and we are free to go, then we will take our leave."
"Of course. A boat with foodstuffs will be sent to you and you may keep it as a way to shuttle passengers to the new ship."
As the civilians began to move back, Norrington stayed to look the pirate captain in the eye. "This one good deed does not redeem you from the life of wickedness you lead. Someday you will be captured and hanged. If I am lucky it will be by my own hand."
"Let's agree to disagree. After all, I'm on the side that frees men. You, on the other hand, are on the side that puts them in chains." Norrington didn't really have a response to that, and it stung his pride to realize it. So he simply spun on his heels and marched back the way he'd come.
Twenty minutes later the Freedom was moving back onto the open sea, and Elizabeth and the other passengers were being safely shuttled over to the Orca. The journey to their new home was once more in sight.
The Present
Nassau
True to her words, Anne had indeed come to his cabin that night, and by god had she been amazing. He wasn't sure how it was possible, but an entire room of willing women on Nassau had not compared to her singular enthusiasm. The woman was downright insatiable. Afterward they'd had a more thorough conversation about how they felt about each other, he'd explained where he really came from, and together they had decided to officially become a couple. Neither were much for playing games, and they liked each other far too much to stop what they'd begun.
Now that they had made it back to the island, though, it was time to make their way back to shore with their spoils. As had become their habit, the entire crew moved to the boats and made for the beach. Dobby made a request for a goat to cook, and with that the ship was secure.
Once on land the crew began unloading the cargo, and it was there that Hornigold and Vane arrived.
"Harry!" The blonde drew his fellow Head Table member into an exuberant side hug and examined his wares. "This is a glorious haul, and those cannons are sure to be put to good use, but weren't you planning to bring back a ship?"
The wizard shrugged, "I found others that needed it more than we do, surprisingly enough." His gaze turned to Vane and the stranger that was standing beside him watching his crew with interest. "And who is that?"
"A newbie to the island, James Kidd. Apparently he's the bastard son of that old scallywag William Kidd. As a legacy we thought we'd show him around and introduce him to some people."
Son of William Kidd? That didn't make any sense. Kidd hadn't had a son as far as he knew, and his reading on the man was extensive. Plus, there was something strange about the new guy. Looking closer he took note of the slight and angular features, heavier than normal grime on his face and neck, no longer common in Nassau. The overly bulky if well made clothing that hid a great deal of his body shape, and most telling of all, the lack of an addams apple on his neck. That last only visible through the grime if you were actively looking for it. Now that he thought about it, wasn't there a famous pirate that had notoriously cross dressed as a man several times during her career? Well, she may have fooled the rest, but she wouldn't fool him.
Hiding the hungry smirk that threatened to grow on his face with great force of will, he said, "I'll just go say hello."
Smirking conspiratorially at Anne he walked over to the newbie and leaned down to whisper in his, no her, ear, "Hello there, Mary Read."