Author's Note: Not too much Jack/Carmen in this chapter, because other things are starting to happen. I love you all for reviewing... and keep at it!

Chapter Six: The Martyr Arrives

Jack ran as fast as he could. He wasn't used to being dressed so formally. His loose hair bounced irritatingly on his shoulders. He picked his way over the rocks, which were slippery from the tide, and hurried into the cave where his beloved Pearl was docked.

Will was hanging from the rigging with Elizabeth. He jumped down to greet Jack as he ran onto the ship. "Jack, what's going on?" he asked.

Jack stopped, panting a little. "It's Chiltingham," he said.

"Who on earth is Chiltingham?" Elizabeth asked, jumping down from the rigging herself. Jack noticed she had changed into a loose shirt and breeches, and a hat almost worthy of his own.

"Captain Aron Chiltingham," Jack replied, slipping out of his formal jacket. "I'll explain in a moment, I really need to get changed, luv. I can't fight like this."

"Fight?" demanded Elizabeth, storming after him as he headed down to his cabin.

"Aye, you know that thing where two people with swords-?"

"Jack!" she screeched, but he stepped into his cabin and closed the door behind him.

In there, he quickly changed back into his usual clothes, enjoying their comfortable feeling. He didn't have time to think about Carmen. He needed to concentrate on Aron Chiltingham. What on earth did he want with a little port like Port Royal? He quickly reattached some of his trinkets to his hair, pulled on his bandana and hat, and checked he had all of his weapons.

Back outside, Elizabeth and Will stood waiting, their arms folded. Jack put his hands in the pockets of his coat.

"I think you'd better explain, Jack," Will said, eyes dark.

"Aron Chiltingham is a pirate," Jack said, waving an airy hand, trying to remain confident. "A... a bad pirate. Evil. Twisted. Think Barbossa on a bigger scale, mate."

"What's he doing heading into Port Royal?" Will asked.

"That I don't know," Jack replied, honestly.

"It wouldn't have anything to do with you, would it, Jack?" Elizabeth demanded.

"I am deeply hurt by your accusations, Miss Swann!" Jack said, with mock sadness. "As a perfectly honest man, I feel I do not deserve such disrespect. Aron Chiltingham is a bastard, there is no doubt about that. I, however, have never crossed him. I've only met him once, and even then I was nothing more than an almost innocent bystander."

Will looked around at the green mist and narrowed his eyes. "Is he... is he, you know, human?"

"I'm not sure," Jack said lightly. The honest answer was no, but he felt it was best not to give it. "Still, best not to worry. Undead men are much the same as dead men. They just smell better."

Will asked, "What are you babbling about, Jack?" just as Elizabeth cried, "So he's undead?"

Jack raised his hands. "I never said that, luv. He's... just different. Calm down. He isn't even here yet."

Elizabeth stormed off, muttering something about having to fight on her first night here. Will looked after her and sighed. "I'm not sure it was a good idea to bring her," Will said.

Jack shrugged. "She's probably safer here," he said honestly.

"Did you see Carmen?"

"Aye." Jack paused. He wasn't sure he was ready to talk about this. He couldn't even think about her without getting confused and emotional, and he definately didn't need that now. "What I need right now is some rum. Gibbs!"

A portly man appeared instantly at Jack's command. His bright eyes showed his loyalty to Jack, who had to admit he was deeply fond of Joshamee Gibbs and loved having some one respect him so. "Aye, Cap'n?"

"Rum," said Jack.

"Cap'n, yer drank it all on the voyage o'er here. We don' have no more, I'm afraid," Gibbs replied.

Jack sighed and checked the bone was fixed firmly into his hair. "Why is the rum always gone?" he murmured.

There was the sound of beating drums. Jack turned wildly in a characteristic movement, his hair and beads bouncing, to determine that the sound was coming from outside the cave. He knew who is was. He had heard those drums once before. It was the Martyr, Aron Chiltingham's ship. Jack's heart was racing, but it stopped as a loud, echoing voice moaned out, "Carmen." Jack knew that sound would wash all over Port Royal.

He also knew now what Chiltingham wanted: Carmen Regalia. "Bugger," he muttered.

xXx

Carmen was crying. Her hot tears rained down on the cold pillow. It was late now, and the rest of the girls had arrived home from the ball. Aunt Josephine had been livid with Carmen. She couldn't believe the Princess had left so early without a proposal from James. Carmen had been forced to endure two hours of being screamed at by her aunt, then she had been sent to bed.

The building was still and quiet now. Carmen supposed everyone else was asleep. But her heart was aching now.

That wonderful sky... so beautiful. She was losing herself in it. Beside her, she could feel Jack's solid, steady body, hear his gentle breath, but nothing else.

She remembered Chalpa, remembered Jack lying next to her, and longed for all the world he was with her right now. She remembered how he had looked so panicked before he had left her before, and wondered what was going on. She hoped he was alright, but she also wondered what he had done this time.

Outside, the storm was raging furiously, shaking her windows. She shivered a little and curled into a little ball under the sheets.

Then her door burst open.

She sat up, heart thundering, making out a figure in the shadows. "Carmen!" said a voice. A familiar voice. It was Mar.

"Mar, what are you doing in here?" hissed Carmen. "I'm in enough trouble, you don't want to be caught in here."

Mar ignored her. She walked in without closing the door, heading once more for the windows. Carmen saw she was wearing a long white cotton nightgown, her long brown hair pinned up neatly. "You need to hear this," she said seriously, unfastening the windows and tugging them open.

"What are you-?" Carmen began, climbing out of bed, shivering underneath her own nightgown as the chill air hit her. But then she froze inside too.

"Carmen." Her own name, moaned, so far away but so close it cut into her soul.

Carmen raised an eyebrow. "Good God," she said, in a way more fitting of the tavern wench Lainey. "Where is that coming from?"

Mar pointed out of the window. "That ship."

Hair flowing behind her, Carmen walked over to the french windows and looked out. Indeed, coming into the port slowly, engulfed in green mist, was a large ship.

"Carmen."

"I have to leave," Carmen said, her throat dry.

"They might want another Carmen," Mar pointed out.

Carmen already had her shoes on, and was reaching for a robe to pull on over her nightgown. "They want me, I can tell, Mar. I've got to go. This is the first place they'll look."

"I'm coming with you." Mar was so loyal, so brave. Her face was set as she looked back at Carmen. "I'm coming with you, your Highness."

"Carmen, please," replied Carmen, as they headed out of her room. They fled down the stairs as fast as they could, then out into the cold, wet night.

The wind blew Carmen's hair and she wished she'd stopped to pull it back out of her way. They were close to the sea here, and for a moment they stood still and watched the ship sailing in. Lettering on the side announced that it was the Martyr. The Jolly Roger fluttered above it.

"Pirates," Mar said. "Where are we going to go, Carmen?"

"The Black Pearl," Carmen replied. She'd already thought of this. The Black Pearl was where she had felt safest, and she trusted the crew to keep her safe. Jack would never let anything happen to them.

"The Black Pearl?" Mar repeated. "That's a pirate ship, too! Carmen, are you insane?"

They were already walking swiftly. The rain was sticking Carmen's hair to her forehead. This really wasn't a good time to explain things to Mar. "Trust me, Mar."

The Martyr had dropped anchor. The crew were starting to climb down. They were out of time. Carmen and Mar began to run. Carmen knew it was probably no good now. They would never reach the Pearl.

Then she saw him. Running up from the caves, no longer the gentleman but the pirate.

"Jack!" she exhaled. She stopped and turned to see the pirates heading towards her and Mar. She couldn't quite make them out, but she felt a little less afraid now. Jack was coming.

He wasn't going to make it. The pirates reached them first. Carmen's hand was on Mar's wrist as she took them in, standing before them in the moonlight, eerie in the green mist. They looked like the usual pirate crew; dirty, disfigured men. The Captain was a tall, slim man in a navy jacket, his face hidden by a large black hat. But Carmen recognised the red-headed man beside him.

"You!" she exclaimed.

"Hello, pretty," Tobias Hawke leered back. "Did you miss me?"

"Like a hole in the head," Carmen tossed back, glaring at him. Her eyes fell on Jack. He had just reached them. He grinned at her, then there was a resounding crack. Jack fell to the floor, revealing a beautiful woman standing behind him clutching an oar. She tossed her black curls over her shoulder and grinned at the Captain, blue eyes glittering.

"Nicely done, Pussy," the Captain said, in a deep, slow voice. It made Carmen's spine tingle. "We do not need Jack Sparrow right now."

"Captain, Captain Jack Sparrow," Carmen said irritably, automatically, squatting down beside Jack and rolling him over. He was out cold, and that meant he was no use to her. He couldn't save them. Panic set in a little bit. She looked over at the caves and looked desperately for the rest of the crew.

"Captain Jack Sparrow," the Captain repeated. She could tell he was smiling. "And I assume you are Carmen Regalia?"

"That's Princess Carmen Regalia," Mar interjected acidly, standing defiantly.

"Ah, Princess Carmen. It is a pleasure to meet you." The Captain raised his hat a little and they could see his eyes were green. He surveyed Mar with them. "Then who does that make you?"

Mar shifted her weight. "Marianne Fisher. I'm a maid."

"Wake up, Jack," Carmen was whispering, tears in her eyes. "Please wake up!"

"Miss Fisher." The Captain repeated it slowly.

"What shall we do with the spare?" Tobias asked coldly, and Carmen blanched. If they killed Mar because of her, she would never forgive herself.

The Captain seemed to be considering. His green eyes were closed. Then he said briskly, "We keep her for now. Bring them. We should move before the Navy gets involved."

Carmen was shaking Jack roughly. He was still out cold. A boot suddenly collided with her face and she fell to the floor as she felt her lip burst. It had happened once before but she still winced as hot blood poured down her face. The woman who had kicked her bound her hands easily as she lay on the floor, then tugged her up with an evil smile. Carmen had never seen anyone so beautiful as this Pussy.

"Let go of me!" she cried. "I am a Princess of Evaneta and I demand you release me at once!"

"Oh, shut it," Tobias said, coming up to her and gagging her with a foul-tasting piece of fabric. "You are without a doubt the most irritating woman I've ever heard."

Carmen thrashed wildly, staring at the comotose form of Jack with tears in her eyes. Two members of the crew were attempting to bound Mar, but two punches later and they were on the floor. The Captain produced a pistol and pointed it at her head. She froze instantly, and she was bound. Hope was lost. Carmen sighed as she was dragged onto the ship with Mar.

"I am Captain Aron Chiltingham," the Captain grinned. Lightning flashed in the sky above. "Welcome to the Martyr."