Author's Note: Hi everyone! I decided to set a goal and I'd like to try and get at least fifty reviews from this story if at all possible. Please help me reach this goal, whether you enjoyed the story or not.
Jack: So, what was that strange game ye played yesterday, fer track?
Aoife: It's called bowling, you have to try and knock pins down with a ball. You get points for it and whoever gets the most wins.
Jack: I get a lot of points in the wooing department. Do I win that game?
Aoife: You go out of your way to be annoyingly cute, don't you?
Jack: (smirks) Hell yeah.
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Chapter Fourteen --- Why Is the Rum Gone?
I woke the next morning with the smell of smoke filling my nose. I sat up and turned to where the smoke was coming from. Elizabeth was throwing sticks and bottles of rum into a blazing fire that was bigger than the one we had last night. She noticed that I was awake and called out, "Keelin, come help me!"
"Jack's gonna kill you when he wakes up," I replied, brushing sand out of my hair and off my clothes. I stood up and walked over to her.
"If it gets us out of here," she replied. "I'll take full blame…or credit." She pushed a keg of the rum towards the fire. It caught fire and she disappeared into the secret spot where the rum was stashed.
Suddenly, I was grabbed from behind. I gasped loudly and tried to scream but a hand clapped over my mouth. I was spun around roughly and Jack stood before me. He placed both hands on my arms and glared angrily. "What the bloody 'ell do ye think ye're doin'?" Jack demanded, shaking my arms.
"Jack, stop!" I cried, as I felt my teeth rattling around in my mouth. "It wasn't me! I swear, I just got up! It was Elizabeth!"
She emerged just then, more bottles in her arms. She tossed them into the fire, one by one, before turning her attention to us. "Good morning, Jack," she said cheerfully.
"Ye've burned all the food, the shade…the rum!" he yelled in disbelief.
"Yes, the rum is gone," she replied proudly.
"Why is the rum gone?" he questioned, squeezing my arms tighter. I winced in pain, but he didn't seem to notice.
"One, because it is a vile drink that turns even the most respectable men into complete scoundrels. Two, that signal is over a thousand feet high. The entire Royal Navy is out there looking for me. Do you really think that there's even the slightest chance that they could miss it?" she rushed in one long breath.
"But why is the rum gone?" he repeated, whining like a child.
"Just you wait, Captain," she huffed, sitting down in the sand, determined to spot a ship. "Keep a weather eye out and in an hour, maybe two, and you'll see white sails on the horizon."
Jack pushed me away and I stumbled a bit. He pulled out his pistol and aimed at her for a few seconds before turning and marching away. I hurried over to the rum storage and desperately searched for a bottle of rum. I pushed aside empty crates and found one half hidden in the sand. I climbed out and ran after Jack and found him standing frozen at the top of a sand dune. "Jack!" I called. He turned slowly and I saw what he was staring at. There were large white sails on an even larger ship that was anchored slightly off shore. It was The H.M.S. Dauntless. "Great," I muttered, seeing the longboat heading towards us.
"What do ye want, lass?" he asked coldly, staring at me.
I raised an eyebrow and replied, "Excuse me that I'm innocent and had absolutely nothing to do with Elizabeth's rum burning."
"But ye said ye were from the future an' ye knew what was gonna 'appen. Ye could 'ave stopped 'er."
Touché. "She already had the fire going when I woke. I couldn't stop it then."
"Ye could've warned me an' I could've stopped 'er, the bloody wench."
"You were drunk."
He paused and watched me carefully. "So? What do ye want?"
"Well, I was going to give you this," I displayed the bottle that I had hidden behind my back, "but I might as well drink it since you don't want it."
Jack's eyes widened as he reached for it. "'Ow did ye get it?"
"I found it, it's mine," I replied, moving it away from him.
"Come on, Keelin. Give it 'ere," he pleaded.
"Ummm……no," I replied, uncorking the bottle. I took a long gulp and sighed, "Mmmm, delicious."
"Keelin, I'm gonna shoot ye if ye don't give me that bottle." I took another sip in reply. "That's it lass." He jumped towards me and I ran away, laughing.
"Come and get it, Captain," I yelled. He ran after me and I darted into what was left of the green of the island. He quickly caught up and cornered me in some underbrush. His eyes glittered darkly and he was fighting extremely hard to keep the smile off of his face. He was towards me and I backed up and found my back pressed into a tree. Jack pressed himself up against me and leaned in closely.
"Give me, me rum," he demanded quietly. I held it out away from him as best I could. He grabbed for it but couldn't reach. Watching him intently, I laughed. He glanced at me and then proceeded to tickle my sides. I shrieked with laughter and squirmed to get away.
"No, Jack! Stop!" I cried.
"Give me the rum an' I will," he replied, a smirk on his face.
"Alright! I surrender!" I laughed, handing it to him begrudingly. He took it and swiftly downed half the bottle. "Jack!" I cried. "Save some for me!"
"No way, love," he replied, before polishing off the rest of the bottle.
"Jack! I got you that bottle, you ungrateful son of a bitch!" I protested.
"Oh, so ye want some payment?" he suggested, raising an eyebrow.
"No!" I cried. "I just wanted some."
"Ye 'ad some."
"Well, I wanted some more," I pouted.
"Sorry, love, but none of that," he grinned, dropping the now empty bottle to the ground. He put an arm next to my head on the tree behind me and used his fingers on the other to twist my hair.
"Do you remember what you said to me last night?" I asked quietly.
He paused, thinking hard. "Not anythin' important that I remember," he replied. "Why do ye ask?"
"Nothing, I was just wondering," I replied, staring intently at his jacket.
"Love, what's wrong?" he asked softly, pulling my chin up so that our eyes met. "Tell me I didn't say somethin' that I'll regret."
I shook my head. "No, just something that I wish you'd say again, this time when you're sober," I said bitterly.
"Just tell me, Keelin," he replied, clearly fustrated and concerned.
"No, Jack," I replied quietly. "Maybe when the oppurtune moment arrives, you'll say it again and this time, mean it." I slipped out of his grasp and headed back to inform Elizabeth that her soon-to-be-fiancee would be here momentarily.
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(Edana's POV)
When I woke the next morning, I squinted to see the sun through a small hole in The Pearl. It was high already in the sky and I turned on my side to face Will. He was already awake and he smiled as I looked at him sleepily. "You're so beautiful when you're sleeping," he commented quietly.
"What about when I'm awake?" I teased.
"Even more so," he replied. I smiled and kissed his forehead.
"So are we there yet, do you think?" I asked.
"No, the ship was extremely damaged after the battle. She won't be making very good time, now," he replied.
I glanced over at the crew and they were still sleeping, sprawled out where they could find room in the cell with so many people. "Poor guys, Jack dragging them into this, only to find themselves locked in the enemy's brig," I commented dryly.
Will laughed softly and ran his fingers through my hair. "I guess we can only wait now."
A door opened above the stairs and light flooded down into the cells. The crew sat up, blinking and groaning. Down the stairs came Pintel and Ragetti with trays of food. Two bowls were pushed in to me and Will. I pulled them closer to see what was inside. It looked like a kind of soup with mystery meat floating around inside. "What is it?" I asked cautiously.
Pintel turned around and smirked. "We 'aven't 'ad a cook in ten years, so I fixed up a little somethin'."
"Who made Elizabeth's fine meal with the Captain then?" I asked, curiously.
"Ragetti 'ere did. 'E's actually a fine cook. I wanted to surprise ye though, with me excellent cookin'," he explained.
I grimanced in disgust and he snapped, "If ye don't appreciate fine cookin' then don't eat it."
"If you don't mind, the lady just mentioned that she was very bored. Could you possibly find a book so that way she won't be a bother?" Will made up.
"I'll 'ave ta ask the captain," Pintel snarled. "The only books the crew 'as are filled with pictures someone drew of women." He and Ragetti left and I pushed the bowl away from me.
"Suddenly, I'm not so hungry," I said, watching the 'meat' chunks float around. I turne dto Will and added, "Thanks for asking that. At least it'll keep my mind off of what's about to happen."
"My pleasure," he replied. "I thought you might say that. You should really try to eat. You'll need your strength."
"Can I pass?" I pleaded.
He poked at his and then pushed his bowl away too. "I don't think I'm going to eat either."
The door creaked back open and Pintel appeared with a book in his hand. He shoved it through the bars and growled, "Yer lucky the cap'n's in such a good mood," before storming back up the stairs. I gingerly picked up the book.
"A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pyrates?" Will read over my shoulder.
"Aye," I replied. I sat down on the bench, patting it to encourage Will to follow suit. He did and opened the book in my hands.
"At least it'll keep us occupied for a bit," he replied, a small smile on his lips. I kissed his cheek and read aloud to him and the crew.
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(Keelin's POV)
"Well, well, what a surprise," Norrington commented dryly as he saw me and Jack standing next to Elizabeth. "Elizabeth, I'm so glad that you're alright," he turned his attention to her.
"Yes, well, I'm quite fine now," she replied, polietly.
"Let's get you cleaned up and bring these pirates back to Port Royale," he said.
"One pirate and one almost pirate but still a partner in crime," I commented.
Norrington shot a glare in my direction and said to his men, "Bring Mr. Sparrow-"
"Captain," Jack and I chorused, irratated.
Jack smirked at me as Norrington continued. "And Mr. Jones," he glanced at me and added, "Or should I say, Miss Jones."
"How'd ya know, Commodore?" I asked casually.
"I have my ways," he replied coldly. "Head back to the ship men." We were brought to the long boat that sat waiting for us. On the way back, Elizabeth informed Norrington of most of what had occured. Back on The Dauntless, we were greeted by a frantic Governor Swann.
"Oh, Elizabeth, my dear! Thank goodness!" He hugged her quickly and then demanded, "Take us back to Port Royal immediately."
"But we've got to save Will and Edana!" she cried.
"No," the governor snapped. "You're safe now. We will return to Port Royal immediately and not go gallivanting after pirates!" He spun around but Elizabeth stopped him.
"Then we condem them to death."
He faced her, his eyes hinting that he was trying to hold in his temper. "Their fate is regrettable, but then so was their deiscion to engage in piracy."
"To rescue me! To prevent anything from happening to me!"
Jack stepped forward and interuppted. "If I may be so bold as to inject my professional opinion." I snorted and he ignored me. "The Pearl was listing near to scuppers after the battle. It's very unlikely she'll be able to make good time. Think about it. The Black Pearl. The last real threat in the Caribbean, mate. How can you pass that up?"
Norrington stared at Jack coldly and responded just as coldly, "By remembering that I serve others, Mr. Sparrow, not only myself."
Elizabeth's eyes grew desperate as she saw the hope that was fading in my own. "Commodore, I beg you, please do this. For me. As a wedding gift."
Everyone went silent as she uttered those few words. Governor Swann was the first to recover. "Elizabeth, are you accepting the Commodore's proposal?"
She paused before replying, "I am."
Jack got really excited and began saying, "A wedding! I love weddings! Drinks all around!"
"Jack, shush!" I chided, excitedly. "Congratualtions, Elizabeth," I added, smiling brillantly. Of course the smile meant that there was hope for Eddie.
"Thank you Keelin and thank you for all your help," she said, returning the smile.
"Mr. Sparrow," Norrington interrupted. "You shall accompany these fine men to the helm and provide us with the bearing to Isla de Muerta. You will hten spend the rest of the voyage contemplating all possible meanings of the phrase, 'silent as the grave'. Do I make myself clear?"
"Inescapably clear," he replied sarcastically before he was brought to the helm.
"And Miss Jones-"
"Actually, Commodore, it's Keelin Burke. Just to letcha know," I winked.
He raised a bored eyebrow and said, "Miss Burke, you will be brought to the brig, where you too will be silent. Understood?"
I started to reply when Elizabeth cut me off. "Commodore, if it is suitable with you, Miss Burke could come and keep me company and I promise that she won't do anything stupid."
He paused, glancing at his fiancee, before agreeing. "Don't let her leave your sight."
Elizabeth grabbed my arm and dragged me towards the rail, away from Norrington. "Thanks for that," I whispered, placing my hands on the rail, gazing out at the sea.
"You're quite welcome," she replied with a slight smile.
"Elizabeth, why are you agreeing to this?"
She didn't answer at first but gazed at the sea. After a few moments, she replied, "Because it's what's expected of me, I suppose. I'm not supposed to be marrying for love. It wouldn't have worked between me and Will. We would've caused quite the scandal. Besides, if there's no trust, the relationship can't work."
"Aye," I agreed with a slight head nod. I glanced towards the helm to see how Sparrow was holding up. He was staring at me intently and when our eyes met, he winked and blew a small kiss. I smiled at him and shook my head, teasingly. Elizabeth turned to see what I was grinning about but Jack had turned his attention back to the helm as he saw her turn.
"You know, I think the captain might have some strong feelings for you," she said, turning her attention back to me.
"I wish everyone would quit saying that," I grumbled. "If he does, he'll take his bloody time showing them."
"I think you should give him a shot, once we're out of this mess," she added before leaving to change. "I'll be right back," she said and disappeared into a cabin.
Meanwhile, Jack had been relieved of his civic duties and he joined me at the rail. "'Ey, love," he said, placing a hand in one of mine. "Miss me?"
"Not really," I replied.
"'Arsh, love, 'arsh. Everyone misses Captain Jack Sparrow," he said, hurt that I wasn't all over him. I simply raised an eyebrow and he continued, "So, what were ye an' Lizzie talkin' about?"
"Things of interest to the female," I replied, having no interest in repeating our conversation.
"Well, who to understand better than-"
"Captain Jack Sparrow."
"Very good, ye learn fast, love."
"So I've been told."
He leaned in close to me and whispered in my ear, "Ye wanna learn 'ow to do somethin' more enjoyable?" He ran a finger down my arm and back up. A chill shivered down my spine. He pressed his lips gently to mine and waited for my answer.
I didn't get a chance to reply as Elizabeth had joined us. eyeing Jack's hand on mine suspiciously. "Lovely afternoon, isn't it?"
"Miss Swann, I noticed that ye didn't tell the commodore everythin'," Jack ignored her small talk.
"Neither did you," she retorted quickly.
"I 'ave me reasons," he replied. "But don't ye worry yer little 'ead. Ye fiancee won't die...unless the plan goes wrong."
Her eyes widened slightly and I said quickly, "Don't worry, he won't die, I promise."
"What's this plan?" she aksed.
"None of yer business," he retorted.
"Sparrow, to my cabin now!" Norrington's voice rang out of the ship.
"Yes sir," he saluted, giving my hand a quick squeeze before leaving.
"See what I mean?" Elizabeth whispered in my ear before leaving to speak with her father, leaving me alone to think about today, my nineteenth birthday.
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(Edana's POV)
It was nearing sunset when Barbossa finally came down to get us. He stood at the bottom of the stairs, glowering happily and Pintel and Ragetti released us from the cell. The crew remained behind but I think that they were grateful for that. We were escorted to the boats and brought onshore, through the tunnels to the cave on Isla de Muerta.
Will clutched my hand reassuringly as the boat landed on the sand. We were pulled onto the sand and before Barbossa let us go anywhere, he bound our hands behind our backs with rope. Once the ropes were secure, Will and I were led into the cavern by the yelling pirates.
As we entered, Pintel tried to reassure Will, "No reason ta fret. It's just a prick of the finger, a few drops of blood."
Twigg pushed by us but paused, saying, "No mistakes this time. 'E's only 'alf-Turner. We spill it all!"
"Guess there is reason ta fret," Ragetti snorted. They giggled like children and I rolled my eyes.
"Puh-lease! You two are so ridiculous!" I said.
They stopped being obnoxious and dragged me after Will, towards Barbossa. "Ye're next poppet," Pintel threatened, throwing me towards the captain. Barbossa smirked as I stumbled into him and wrapped an arm around my waist.
I shivered involuntarily out of disgust as he whispered, "Yer pretty eunch friend's about ta set us free. Glad ye came ta watch." He unsheathed a stone knife from his belt and held it up, capturing the crew's attention. "Begun by blood, by blood undone!" He shoved Will's head down towards the Aztec chest so that his neck was exposed. He pressed the knife against Will's throat when a voice rang out from the back of the cave.
"Alright Barbossa, party's up!"
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(Keelin's POV)
Sunset was approaching quickly and I watched as Elizabeth was dragged towards her room by Lieutenant Gillette. "Please miss," he pleaded. "Your fiancee will be safe!"
"Coward! The commodore ordered--I have to tell him! The piratews! They're cursed! They cannot be killed!" Elizabeth shouted, fighting the officer.
Gillette pushed her back into the cabin and replied sarcastically, "Don't worry miss, he's already been informed of that. A little mermaid flopped up on deck and told him the whole story." Her shouts continued for a few minutes after he locked the door and turned away.
"Or perhaps a sparrow," I said casually from where I was still leaning against the rail.
Gillette spun around, startled. "Miss Burke," he stammered. "You startled me."
"I'm sorry but do you know where I can find that said Sparrow?" I asked.
"He'll be above deck in just a moment," he replied, hurrying away to fetch Sparrow.
Sure enough, just seconds later, Jack appeared, the commodore shortly behind. A group of Marines followed them and they set to make the boats ready. Jack beckoned me to him and I went. He leaned against the rail, jsut out of Norrington's hearing. "Keelin, I think ye oughta stay behind with Lizzie."
I sighed, "No Jack. We've already been over this."
"I was afraid of that. I know it's yer birthday and I wantcha ta stay 'ere."
I stopped cold. "Eddie told ya?"
"Yeah but--"
"I'll kill her!"
"There'll be no killing 'cept fer me an' Barbossa. Please, Keelin?"
"No, Jack. I'm coming, it's final. Make that my birthday present, okay?"
He sighed heavily and surrendered. "Fine."
"Thanks Jack!" I smiled, planting a soft kiss on his cheek.
"If we get outta this, I'll getcha an even better present."
"Thanks," I replied, stepping into a boat. Norrington climbed in in front of me and Jack, and the Marines sat behind us. Jack grabbed my hand and carressed it reassuringly as we hid behind some rocks, watching The Pearl.
After a few moments, Norrington announced, "I don't care for the situation. Any attempt to storm the caves could lead to an ambush."
Jack leaned in and said, "Not if ye're the one doin' the ambushin'. Keelin an' I go in, convince Barbossa ta send out his men in their little boats. Ye and yer mates return ta The Dauntless and blast the beJesus outta 'em with yer cannons, eh?" He slung his free arm over the commodore's shoulder and asked, "What do ye 'ave ta lose?"
Norrington looked disgusted and peeled Jack's arm off his shoulder. "Nothing I'd lament being rid of."
"Come on Commodore, the plan'll work," I said.
"How would you know, Miss Burke?" he questioned.
Jack was about to blurt out something and I covered his mouth with my hand. "I'm a soothsayer in training," I lied. Jack nibbled gently at my hand to get me to remove it.
"So I see," he replied, disbelievingly. Jack had begun to lick my hand and I quickly removed it, wiping it on my trousers. Norrington thought it over and finally said, "All right. But if it doesn't work, both you and Sparrow will hang."
"You have an accord," I replied, shaking his hand to settle it.
"Men, move to let Mr. Sparrow and Miss Burke have a rowboat." They quickly shifited into the other two boats. Jack and I remained in the boat by ourselves.
"Thanks Commodore!" I called as Jack began to row towards the caves. "Come on Jack, hurry!"
"I'm goin' as fast as I can love," he grunted, rowing steadily. I shut my mouth and watched as the sun disappeared beyond the horizon. We rowed into the caves and landed on the sand. I jumped out of the boat, grabbed Jack's arm and raced to the cave.
I saw Will with his head bowed over the chest and Eddie standing next to him, Barbossa's arm around her waist. He released her and brought the knife to Will's neck. I couldn't take it anymore and shouted, "Alright Barbossa, party's up!" The knife left Turner's throat as he stood up to see the intruders.
"'Cuse me, pardon me," Jack said as we pushed out way to the front.
Will glanced up and exclaimed, "Jack! Keelin!" Eddie grinned at us, her saviours.
"S'not possible," Barbossa spat, clearly upset by our interruption.
"Not probable," I countered as the Bo'sun grabbed our shoulders, holding us in our places.
"Where's Elizabeth?" Will asked, a cold edge in his voice.
"She's safe, just like I promised. She's all set ta marry Norrington, just like she promised. And ye get ta die fer 'er, just like ye promised. So we're all men of our word really, 'cept fer Elizabeth, who is in fact a woman," Jack said, waving his arms about while he talked.
"Shut up, ye two. Ye're afta these two," Barbossa growled. He pushed Will's head back down and leaned in to slit his throat.
"Ummm...you do not want to be doing that," I said.
Barbossa glowered at me and snapped, "Nah, I really think I do."
"Yer funeral," Jack shrugged.
Barbossa rolled his eyes and stood away from Will. "Why don't I want ta be doin' it?"
"Well, because," Jack started. He slapped the Bo'sun's hand off of his shoulder and headed towards Barbossa. "Because, the H.M.S. Dauntless, pride of the Royal Navy, is floatin' just offshore. Waitin' fer ye." A collective gasp traveled through the pirates. "Just 'ear me out, mate. Ye order yer men ta row out ta the Dauntless. They do what they do best. Robert's yer Uncle, Fanny's yer Aunt, there ye are with two ships. The makin's of yer very own fleet. 'Course, ye'll take the grandest as yer flagship and who's ta argue. But what of the Pearl? Name me captain, I'll sail under yer colors, I'll give ye ten percent of me plunder an' ye get ta introduce yerself as...Commodore Barbossa. Savvy?"
Barbossa looked thoughtfully at him then snapped, "I s'ppose in exchange ye want me not ta kill the whelp."
"No, no, not at all. By all means, kill the whelp. Just...not yet," he added at the look of horror on Edana's face.
"Wait for the oppurtune moment," I imputed.
"Fer instance," Jack said, picking up a few medallions. "Afta ye've killed Norrington's men," he threw a coin in at a time, "every...last...one." He dropped another in and the last one in his hand, he cleverly slipped into his sleeve. The pirates laughed.
"You've been planning this from the beginning! Ever since you learned my name!" Will snapped. Oops. I forgot that he saw the hidden coin too. Sh-it.
"Yeah," Jack replied casually but quickly. He's trying to shut him up, I realized. Smart man.
Suddenly, Barbossa interrupted. "I want fifty percent of yer plunder."
"Fifteen," Jack countered without blinking an eye.
"Forty."
"Twenty-five," he snapped. He paused at the glare on Barbossa's face. "An, I'll buy ye the 'at. A really big one...Commodore."
Barbossa considered the deal and then said, "We 'ave an accord." They shook hands to settle it.
"Fantastic!" I breathed. I tried to join Jack but the Bo'sun still had a tight grip on my shoulder. "Let me go," I tried smacking his hand. He grinned down at me and I shivered.
"All 'ands' ta the boats!" Jack declared. Barbossa shot him a look to remind him who was the Commodore. "Apologies," he said, putting his hands together as though he was praying. "Ye give the orders."
Barbossa faced his crew and shouted, "Gents...take a walk." They turned and left through a different tunnel than where the boats where.
"Not ta the boats?" Jack questioned worriedly. Barbossa shot him another look and turned away. Finally out of the Bo'sun's grip, I joined Jack, looking at the tresures, as we waited for news on the attack.