True Love: Forever Reunited
Chapter 11: A Most Eventful Brethren Court
The next few weeks were some of the best any of the gathered pirates had seen in quite some time. Being together again had brought about a renewed sense of joy, despite the dark circumstances that they were dealing with. Will and Elizabeth had given the children a sword lesson each day, often with the help of Norrington or Groves, who liked to lend a hand. Norrington, it seemed, was more than happy to be alive once again; he had apparently spent much of his time in the Fiddler's Green wishing he had joined the side of the pirates all those years ago, and here was his chance. Though there were many occasions when Gibbs had been forced to stop Norrington and Jack from arguing, they had, for the most part, been civil.
The other seven members of the Court arrived sporadically over the next few weeks; Gentlemen Jocard was the first to arrive, followed by Captain Chevalle, Armand the Corsair, Villanueva, and Sri Sumbhajee. The only one left to arrive was Mistress Ching. On the morning the fearsome Chinese pirate was set to arrive, Will was out with Elizabeth, Norrington, Willy, Charles, and Anna for the children's lesson, when Jack pulled him aside.
"Excuse me Elizabeth," said the dreadlocked pirate captain, grabbing Will by the shoulder, "But I need to borrow William for a moment."
"What for?" asked Elizabeth, her eyebrow raised. "We're in the middle of the children's lesson."
"Yes," said Jack nonchalantly, "But this is important. Surely you, and Norrie dearest can cover for a few minutes?"
Norrington shot Jack a look for the use of the most irritating nickname, but Elizabeth nodded. "All right then," she said, shrugging her shoulders as Will gave her a quizzical look.
Jack pulled Will over to the side, looking serious, which made Will feel more than a little uneasy; Jack was hardly ever serious.
"What is it Jack?" he asked, leaning up against the building they were standing next too. "You look worried."
Jack frowned. "Look, William," he said, "I just want to warn you to be careful when the Brethren meets today. Many of them were not happy that Barbossa released Calypso last time, and so some of them will want to bind her again. But do not, and I repeat do not, give them the information."
Will furrowed his brow in concern. "I have no intention of doing so Jack," he said with a shake of his head. "I do not wish to willingly seek the wrath of Calypso; it would put my family and friends in danger, and that is the last thing I want."
"I know," said Jack, his normal smile slipping back onto his face. "A pirate you may be Will, but you are still ever so noble."
Will chuckled, surveying Jack intently. "We will tell the Court that Calypso granted us her favor in exchange for not binding her; do you think that will convince the ones who want her bound otherwise?"
"Probably," said Jack, nodding. "It's much better for us to have her favor when the blasted Company is after us all. Some of them are stubborn though."
"Will the Court have to elect a King this time around?" asked Will with a smirk.
"Only if we decide to declare war," looking very displeased at the idea. "But I can only hope that your Elizabeth will get elected again; none of the rest of them can stop arguing long enough, and frankly, I don't want the job. Being Pirate Lord and Captain Jack Sparrow is enough for me."
"Indeed," answered Will, as they walked back over to the group. "Thanks for the advice, mate."
"No problem," responded Jack with grin. "Old Jack has to look out for his friends; like I said, you've grown on me, whelp."
Will rolled his eyes at the name, but he had come to accept that coming from Jack, it was term of endearment. Jack seemed to have habit of giving people nicknames that they did not really care for; a scuffle often ensued when Jack called Norrington Norrie, Elizabeth always glared when he called her Lizzie, and Will always gave him a well deserved eye roll when he called him whelp. But, Will decided, Jack was Jack, and there was no changing that.
"So," said Will, folding his arms across his chest as they walked, "Did you meet anyone interesting on your journey to the Fountain of Youth? You never really said."
"Oh I met a fair few, but I couldn't understand a bloody word they said!!" he remarked irritably. "All they spoke was Spanish, and I only understood a pinch of it."
"I believe they only spoke Spanish," said Will in an amused voice, "because Florida, where the Fountain is located, is a Spanish colony."
"Yes, yes," said Jack, waving his hands about. "I know that. But it made finding the Fountain much more complicated."
At this, Norrington, who was helping Elizabeth to teach Anna Riley how to spar, turned around. "The Fountain of Youth?" he asked, clearly unbelieving. "That's preposterous!"
"Are you telling me," said Jack cheekily, "That after being returned to the land of the living after having been dead for ten years, you don't believe in something as simple as the Fountain of Youth?" He raised his dark eyebrows at the former Admiral, waiting for an answer.
"Fair enough," said Norrington, disgruntled.
A high voice cut through the air, just as he turned around to face Anna again.
"James, watch what you're doing!!" cried Elizabeth. But she was too late; just as has happened with Will and Willy during the very first sparring lesson, Anna's wooden sword connected with Norrington's before she could stop it, and he fell to the ground.
"Oh my!!" shouted Anna, her black hair blowing about in the wind. "I'm so sorry Mr. Norrington!!!"
"It's quite all right Anna," grunted Norrington. "That's a good arm you've got; the Turners have been teaching you well."
"Yes," answered Anna, still unsure about Norrington's state as she knelt down next to him. "Willy and Charles have been practicing with me as well."
"Never thought I'd see the day you got beaten by a seven year old, Norrie," said Jack, barely unable to control his laughter.
"Shut it, Jack," said Elizabeth, sending him a look as she and Will helped Norrington up. "You two need to learn to get along. Will and James have become friends, especially since their meeting on the Dutchman when Will was still Captain; you two need to do the same."
"Traitor," muttered Jack darkly to Will, who responded by clapping Jack heartily on the back. "Come on Jack, if you can finally admit that you're a good man, you can get along with Norrington; he's on our side now."
"Really Jackie, Norrington," called out Captain Teague from his position next to Gibbs, "Behave yourselves."
"They're right," commented Willy, who was nearby, sparring with Charles. "You are adults, and if you don't get along, what kind of example is that for us?"
Will smiled over at his son; he was wise beyond his nine years. His eyes ran over Willy, and he swelled with happiness. Willy had now fashioned himself a bandanna like his father's, which he wore under the hat that Elizabeth had bought him just before Will had returned. This statement from Willy seemed to spark something in Norrington, who stuck out his hand rigidly, meaning for Jack to shake it.
"Truce?" he questioned stonily.
Jack put out his multi ringed hand slowly, finally shaking Norrington's, looking like he was only doing so because he was under the watchful gaze of his father. "Truce." The two held on to each other's hand a bit longer than was necessary, and it rather looked like they might be trying to break each other's fingers.
The rest of the morning passed without much further incident, save Amelia and Andrew finally giving into Will and Elizabeth's pleas for them to learn how to handle a sword; what with them now being crew members of the Empress, and with the Company after each and every pirate, they needed to know how to defend themselves. The two had sparred all morning under Will and Elizabeth's guidance, and both made good progress, as both of their children had. Mistress Ching finally arrived in mid afternoon, and the Brethren Court was set to meet at four o'clock.
When the time came for the Court to meet, the large room was packed to the gills with people; each Pirate Lord, had of course brought their crew, and some were rather large. Elizabeth and Will had allowed Willy to accompany them to the meeting, due to the fact that everyone who could protect them was already in the meeting. Andrew, Amelia, Charles, Anna, Norrington, Groves, Estrella, Murtogg, and Mullroy stood nervously behind the Turners, and Jack's crew stood behind him, save Ana Maria, who stood by his side. The room was incredibly loud, because, as had been predicted, the pirates has already started bickering with each other. It took Barbossa shooting off his pistol into the high ceiling for order to resume.
"Quiet!!!" he bellowed. "Don't ye scallywags want to know why the meeting was called, and get something done, instead of squabbling?"
At this, the tumult slowly died down. Barbossa gestured to Elizabeth. "Captain Turner, since you are the one who initiated this meeting, I think you should enlighten our fellow pirates as to why we are all gathered here."
Elizabeth nodded. "The East India Trading Company," she began, "Has once again become powerful. Cutler Beckett's nephew, Lord Alexander Clinton is head of the Company, and has built it back up from the damage we did a decade ago. They are out to attain control of the seas again, by means of binding Calypso."
"We cannot allow that to happen!!" interrupted Mistress Ching, "If anything, we should bind her, so we will have control over her; then we may take the seas for ourselves!!"
"No!!" exclaimed Will stepping up. "You cannot bind her!"
"And who might you be?" questioned Captain Chevalle, "What gives you the right to speak?"
"I am Captain William Turner, formerly of the Flying Dutchman, and husband of Pirate Lord Captain Elizabeth Turner," said Will, trying to remain calm. "I served Calypso for ten years, and trust me when I say that you do not want to face her anger. And if we were to bind her, if would give the Company an equal chance for power over the seas. If we do not bind her, we will remain in her favor."
"How do you know such a thing?" questioned Gentlemen Jocard.
"Because Calypso appeared to us just a few weeks ago," said Elizabeth, "And told us such. If we have Calypso on our side, we have a much better chance against the Company. We will be in grave danger from both Calypso and the Company if we bind her."
"I wonder though," mused Mistress Ching, "Does anyone know how to bind her since Davy Jones was killed? The record of how to bind her was never written down, only how to release her."
Jack shifted uncomfortably next to Will, but spoke up before Will had a chance. "Do you honestly think that she would give someone else that information," he began, "Seeing as what happened when she did that before?"
"Calypso may be a goddess, but she is a rash being," said Sri Sumbhajee in that strange, high pitched voice, "She might have told Turner the information."
At this, all the pirates gazed at Will, contemplating the idea, but Will stood his ground, saying nothing.
"And what if he does?" demanded Jack. "That is not a reason for us to go around angering a goddess!!! As I have said before, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned!!"
"I can't believe I'm saying this," said Barbossa, rubbing his temples, as though he had a headache. "But I agree with Jack; binding Calypso is not a good idea. We will have a much better chance against the Company with her on our side."
This comment once again sent the whole room into a tumult, and the pirates began to squabble and fight once again. Will watched as his wife climbed upon the table, pulled out her pistol and shot into the ceiling, sending the room into a deadly silence.
"We will get nothing done," she yelled, her tone not one to be trifled with, her eyes ablaze, "If you lot do not stop this nonsense! Clinton is out to capture each and every one of the Pirate Lords, destroy pirates and all we hold dear, take control of the seas, and take revenge for his uncle's death, and all you can do is argue!!!" She emphasized her point by slamming her hand on the table.
"I still say that we should bind Calypso," said Mistress Ching.
Most of the Pirate Lords murmured their assent, all save Jack, Elizabeth, and Barbossa, who had of course, witnessed Calypso's appearance, and knew what a horrible mistake binding her would be. It seemed that the three might be overrun. The room erupted in arguments once again, until a small, but determined voice interrupted them.
"Wait!!" exclaimed Willy, his face desperate, his brown eyes pleading. "Please listen! My parents, Uncle Jack, and Captain Barbossa are right; I saw Calypso appear to us, and she will be awfully angry if we bind her. I may not know a whole lot about all of this, or what happened before, but I do know that if we disobey Calypso it will put all of my friends and family in danger, and it will make it easy for that awful Lord Clinton to wipe out pirates!" He finished, bravely looking each of the fearsome Pirate Lords in the face.
"Willy is right," responded Will, sending his son a proud grin. "Would you rather fight the Company with a goddess on our side, or not?"
These statements seemed to send many of the pirates in submission, their minds perhaps changed changed, and in the momentary calm, Jack spoke up. "Well then what's say we call for a vote?"
"Who says we need to vote?" asked Armand the Corsair in a begrudging tone.
The cock of a pistol was heard, and everyone in the crowded room whipped around to see Captain Teague holding his pistol aloft. "I do," he said in menacing voice, "And the Code says so; all things are decided by vote."
No one else argued after that, and when the vote was called, it was unanimously decided to leave Calypso be. It was the first time in the Court's history that there had ever been a unanimous vote.
"Now that we've decided that," said Barbossa in a contemplative tone, "What are we to do about Clinton? He is after everyone in this room, and he wants all of the Lords and Mr. Turner together, in hopes that he may find out how to, and be successful in binding Calypso; it almost seems foolish for us to seek him outright like last time; if he manages to capture us all, it could spell disaster."
"It may come to us seeking war in the end," said Elizabeth seriously, "But not quite yet; Clinton cannot do much to destroy piracy when Calypso is not on his side. I think the key is simply keeping him away from any way to bind her, so all of us being in one place for too long probably is not a brilliant idea."
"And we cannot all go back to our home ports, in case we need to band together again," pondered Mistress Ching. "What if we were to split up into two groups?"
"What about," said Will, his brow furrowed in concentration, "Half of us go to Tortuga, and hide there, and half stay here? Tortuga is wild enough to conceal most anything, and as far as we know, the Company does not know where Shipwreck Cove is."
"That sounds like plan!!" exclaimed Jack. "Brilliant William, you're starting to think like me!"
This plan was agreed upon by all the pirates, and it was also decided that they would keep in contact by letters every few days or so, and if something unfortunate were to happen, a messenger would be sent to inform the other side. Of the Pirate Lords, Elizabeth, Jack, Barbossa, and Mistress Ching were to stay in Shipwreck Cove, while the rest would take refuge in Tortuga. With this decision, the meeting was over, and the group that was going to Tortuga set sail almost immediately. Captain Teague however, seemed slightly disappointed that he had not been able to shoot anyone for attempting to break the Code.
"Well," said Norrington who had changed from his naval attire, and was now sporting some more pirate like clothes. "That was almost complete chaos."
"What could one really expect though?" commented Andrew, who was carrying Charles on his shoulders, "It's a pirate gathering."
"It's all rather exciting though, isn't it?" said Amelia, her eyes alight, "All this adventure!!"
"I agree," said Groves, who was walking next to Norrington, and hand in hand with Estrella, who was starting to look rather comfortable in her surroundings.
"I for one, am glad that I came out of there unscathed," said Jack, breathing a sigh of relief. "My nose has never really recovered from the time Sao Feng nearly broke it, God rest his soul. It still hurts sometimes, even now." He looked over at Ana Maria, clearly trying to gain some of her sympathy.
"Poor baby," said Ana Maria sarcastically. "Are you telling me that Captain Jack Sparrow can't handle a punch?"
"Course I can!" said Jack, standing up a bit straighter. "I'm tough, and strong, and…." He trailed off as Ana Maria interrupted him.
"Jack," she said with smirk. "Shut it." With that, she gave him a quick kiss, and proceeded to saunter off with a wicked grin on her face, leaving Jack staring after her, muttering something along the lines of "Women…"
Everyone tried to stifle their laughter, but were quite unsuccessful. "So," said Will slyly to Jack, "How does it feel to be such a ladies man?"
In response Jack elbowed his best friend and fellow pirate in the ribs and ran off after Ana Maria, clearly wanting another one of those kisses.
Being that it has been a long day, and the meeting had lasted for quite a while, due to the random outbursts of arguing and fighting, most retired to bed soon after everything was over. When the Turner family reached their rooms, they bid goodnight to the Riley family and set to get dressed for bed.
"I'm so proud of you Willy," said Will, ruffling his son's light brown hair that so resembled Elizabeth's. "Not many children your age would have had the courage to stand up to a bunch of notorious pirates."
"Thanks Papa," said Willy, giving his father a hug, which Will returned wholeheartedly. "But they were a stubborn lot; they couldn't get along about anything. But why exactly would Davy Jones know how to bind Calypso?" he asked curiously. "Mama told me that he was a bad man and that you both fought him, along with Uncle Jack, and that you had to take over his job, but I never really knew why."
"That is a story for another day," said Elizabeth firmly, as she began to mercilessly tickle her beloved son, who started to laugh uncontrollably. In response he began to tickle her as well, and she proceeded to reach out her other hand and tickle Will, who was perhaps the most ticklish of all. All of this resulted in the Turner family becoming one rather large, giggling heap.
Finally, when all three had lost the ability to breathe properly, they relented.
"Now then," said Will, trying to catch his breath and regain his dignity. "Off to bed with you, ye young scallywag!!" He said to Willy in his best Barbossa imitation.
"Aye matey!!!!" exclaimed Willy, as he gave both his mother and father a kiss on the cheek. Once Willy had gone into his room that he shared with Charles and Anna, with both of whom he had become inseparable, Will and Elizabeth climbed into bed, snuggling up under the warm covers.
"Oh Will," said Elizabeth with a tired sigh," I really despise hiding like this, but this isn't like last time; we need to hold onto our advantage of having Calypso on our side, and openly seeking them where they might find us, just does not seem wise. Though I have a hunch that we may have to go to war eventually, if they do indeed find us, " continued Elizabeth quietly. "I have a bit of a bad feeling."
"I do too," he admitted, "But we can only hope things turn out for the best, and that things work out in our favor. I think the Court made the best decision for the time being. I have a strange feeling though, like a storm is brewing. But never fear, love," he said, stroking her hair. "I have another feeling in the deepest part of my heart, that things will turn out all right; we just have to pray to God that it will."
"You're right," said Elizabeth as she gave Will a goodnight kiss. "We must hold onto hope, for if we do not have hope, we have nothing at all."
A/N: Hey everyone!!! I hope you liked this chapter, because I'm not totally sure how I feel about it. But thanks so much for all the reviews, and I shall update soon!!!!