Woot! Another chapter!
A/N: I would just like to say this is going to be a long chapter because I intend for chapter ten to be the last chapter of this story. Not to fret, luvs! It will be awesome! I promise!
Chapter 9
Sam frowned as she was being dragged below the deck in irons. She sighed. She wouldn't have to do this, but the chance of her turning into a boring proper lady was too great. She couldn't say yes to that proposal. She looked around as she was escorted to the lock up on the ship. It was very similar to the one on the Black Pearl. It only had two small cells. Jack peeked his head out of one of them and Sam smiled, seeing that she at least wouldn't be alone in her cell.
"Now stay in there you. No funny business. That goes for you too, Mr. Sparrow." The guard with the reddish-brown hair said them. He walked away with his little pompous uniform and left the two pirates alone in the cell.
"What did he do to you, luv? Did he hurt you? Did he ask you anything?" Jack looked Sam over nervously, as if expecting her to explode at any second. Sam sighed and shook her head.
"Nothing of importance, Jack…He just said that he wanted me as a maid, and I could serve time as a 'normal citizen and servant of the king' instead of being hung. I told him that I liked being a pirate better and offered my arms for him to clamp me in irons." Sam smirked. "A pirates life for me, aye?"
"You should have taken his offer, luv…You'd be safe then…" Sam rolled her eyes as Jack gave her the sad puppy look. "I don't want you to get hung, luv. You have your whole life ahead of you."
"Jack…don't go soft on me now. You're my mate, right? Big deal…We're stuck here. Doesn't mean we can't escape. We've escaped the gallows before, Jack. Many times. I'm sure we can do it again too." Sam laid her head on Jack's shoulder. "Now shut up and let me sleep."
Sam closed her eyes and let sleep call to her. Jack sighed. He wasn't going to let her hang. Luck or not, at anytime his luck could fail him. And at anytime he could get her hurt by something he did. He regretted pulling her into this so long ago, but now…he was going to do what he could to make sure that she didn't hang, even if it meant chaining her to land in gold irons.
"Hey! Mate! Over here! A word!" Jack called to the black haired guard, Mullory. Mullory sat up and looked at Jack without saying a word. Jack smirked in a friendly way. "Yes, you! Can you relay a message to dear old Commodore? Can you tell him that Ms. Bryne has accepted his offer? Thank you, kindly."
Mullory looked confused, but got up anyway and went to the deck above. Sam snored softly on Jack's shoulder. Jack patted Sam's shoulder. "I promised Gibbs I'd take care of you, and I am always a man of my word."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Father, over here! She's in here!" Sam opened her eye slowly to see Elizabeth and Governor Swann standing over her. Elizabeth smiled as Sam opened her eyes. "Glad to see you're awake. Father, this is Sam Bryne from finishing school."
"Why, hello there, Samantha…My, you've grown…and a pirate too, no doubt." Sam sighed and smiled. Governor Swann wasn't her favorite person. He was a smart man, but quite a coward at times.
"I am well, Governor, and very much enjoying the view in this lovely…lock up." Sam smiled, trying to look convincing. The governor frowned and pulled his keys out. Sam watched as he unlocked the door, slowly opening it.
"As lovely as the view is, you can't stay in there forever. Nice to see you again, Sam." Governor Swann shook Sam's hand. Sam smiled slightly and looked at Elizabeth. Elizabeth embraced her, hugging her for a minute.
"Sammie, you must come with me above. You need to stretch your legs! Something!" Sam nodded and was dragged above by Elizabeth. She was dragged up the stairs and into the governor's cabin, also being ran into by many of the guards on the deck. Sam smiled and tipped her hat, trying to avoid any evil glances. Sam breathed deeply as Elizabeth let her arm go and closed the door of the cabin.
"What did you have in mind, Elizabeth?" Sam sat down on the small lady chair in the corner. Elizabeth sat down at the desk and moved the mirror on the table. Elizabeth fluffed her now dry hair.
"Can you braid my hair like you used to do?" Sam nodded and got up. She walked over to the desk, coming behind Elizabeth. She slowly took Elizabeth's hair separating it in three parts and then slowly started to bind it. Elizabeth sat still, just watching Sam braid her hair. "What made you change your mind?"
"About what?" Sam didn't look up from Elizabeth's hair. She wasn't sure what Elizabeth was implying. What the hell was she talking about?
"About being James' maid…He told me that you would be my lady of assistance." Sam blinked for a moment. Jack! This was Jack's doing!
"Oh…well, um…I had a lot of time to think about it and I had a lot of persuasion on Jack's part." She was telling the truth. What else could she say?
"That's lovely then…We'll get to go everywhere together! Dress shopping, eating lunch by the bay, all so lovely!" Sam smiled a fowl and fake smile. She was going to take it out on Jack's hide the second she got the chance.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sam walked out to the deck and looked over the edge. It was nearing night fall, and the sun was setting. Sam looked out at the water and listened to it hit against the ship. She smiled hearing foot steps behind her. "Care to join me James?"
The footsteps stopped short. Sam smiled as James came to her side and joined her. James smiled and looked out on the ocean with her. "I know that you didn't change your mind…"
Sam shrugged and still looked out at the ocean. "Can't blame Jack for trying…He's me best friend, and like my brother. Have to love him, have to live with him and have to let him look out for me."
"You are going to go along with it then?" James smiled, and looked at her. Sam turned and looked at him.
"I suppose I have no choice now, do I?" Sam sighed and looked back out at the ocean. She fingered the fine wooden rail. "Do I get to come tonight if I agree to?"
"It can be arranged." Sam smiled at James. "You won't run away again, right?"
Sam shook her head. "Not this time, anyway. Wish me luck?"
"But of course." Sam smiled and leaned in, kissing James softly. She pulled away, blushing slightly. James only looked surprised at this. "What was that for?"
"For luck."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sam sat beside Jack and watched as James surveyed the Black Pearl from a far in the few long boats they had. Half of the Royal Navy of Port Royale were in the few longboats. Sam sighed. After this adventure, this would be it. Corsets, dresses, petticoats and tight shoes from now on. She was going to have to make the best of it. Hopefully Jack had a plan. Hopefully.
"I don't care for the situation. Any attempt to storm the caves might start an ambush." James pushed his eye glass back into its fold. Sam looked around trying to the think of something. Jack leaned forward. Oh no, here it goes again.
"Not if you're the one doing the ambushing, mate." Jack leaned on James' shoulder and used gestures and motions to explain his point. "Sammie and I will go in there and convince Barbossa to send his men out with their little boats. You and your men return to the Dauntless and blast the b'jesus out of them with your little cannons. Ay? What do you have to lose?" Jack smirked.
"Nothing I would lament riding myself of." James pulled out his eye glass and used it to push Jack's hand off his shoulder.
"Now, to be quite honest with you, there's still a risk to those aboard the Dauntless which includes the future Mrs. Commodore." Sam rolled her eyes. He already had convinced James to go along with it, and James was stupid enough to go along with it.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Jack and Sam smirking at each other as they paddled into the cave. Jack seemed so happy that things were finally going his way. Sam laid her head on his shoulder. "Mate, I am truly proud of you."
"Now why is that, luv?" Jack continued rowing, but looked back at her.
"You stuck it out and we only landed in Tortuga once with minimal problems." Sam smiled and laid her head on Jack's shoulder as he stopped the long boat. "Jack, promise me something."
"Aye, luv?" Jack eyed her, just watching what she was doing.
"Promise me you won't die…that you won't leave me behind, sorry about leaving you behind by the way…and promise me you won't let me end up a perfect lady like Norrington wants." Sam glanced at him.
"I can't make any promises, luv. But I will try my hardest to keep that promise. But you have to promise me something, luv." Jack brushed a strand of hair out of Sam's face. Sam gave him a questioning look. "Promise you'll always think about me and always worry, and you'll keep telling the stories of Jack like Gibbs does."
"But of course. The world has a right to hear about our most amazing pirate captain in the entire world! It would be a sure hurt to deprive the world of what is the real Jack Sparrow." Sam smiled and hugged Jack. "You ready for this, mate?"
"No. But we'll go anyway." Jack hurried through the cave, following the sound of the loud jeering. Sam followed quickly behind, trying to keep up. They soon reached the large cavern where Barbossa's men were gathered. Jack and Sam pushed through the crowd, trying to get to the front. "Excuse us! Pardon me!"
Slowly the crowd stopped jeering and turned to look at the two pirates making their way to the front. Barbossa stopped and stared at Jack and Sam. Will looked up with hopeful eyes. He was being held over the golden chest of Aztec gold, like Elizabeth had a few days earlier. "Jack! Sam!"
"It's not possible." Barbossa whispered, staring at the two pirates in front of him. Sam smirked.
"Not probable." Jack corrected him. "Anything is possible."
"Where's Elizabeth?" Will looked around as expecting her to pop up somewhere. Jack sighed.
"She's safe, just like I promised. She's set to marry Norrington like she promised. And you get to die for her like you promised. So, we're all men of our word, really. Except for Elizabeth, who is in fact a woman and Sammie who didn't have to make any promises this trip." Sam sighed and rolled her eyes. Jack was just stalling because he wasn't sure what to do next.
"Shut up! You're next!" Barbossa held his bloody dagger at Will's neck and brought it closer, about to let it cut Will. Bo' Sun grabbed Jack. Sam stepped forward.
"You don't want to be doing that, mate!" Will gave Sam a grateful look. Barbossa stopped and looked at Sam.
"No, I really think I do." Barbossa turned back and got ready to cut Will.
Sam shrugged and looked away. "Your funeral."
Barbossa groaned and looked down at Sam. "Why don't I want to be doing it?"
Sam smirked. "I'm sure Jack would be glad to answer that."
Bo' Sun let Jack go, and Jack stepped forward. "Gladly, Sammie. You see…Well, because…Because the HMS Dauntless, pride of the Royal Navy, is floating just off shore, waiting for you." Suddenly, there were whispers among the crew members. Sam smiled. They were scared now. Jack climbed up to the large chest of gold.
"Just hear me out, mate. You order your men to row out to the Dauntless. They do what they do best." The men laughed in reply. "Robert's your uncle. Fannie's your aunt. There you are with two ships. The makings of your very own fleet. You're to take the grandest as your flag ship, and who's to argue? But what of the Black Pearl? Name me Captain and Sammie, me first mate. I'll sail under your colors, I'll give you ten percent of me plunder. And you get to introduce yourself as Commodore Barbossa. Savvy?" Sam smiled. Barbossa was falling for it.
"I suppose in exchange you want me to not kill the whelp." Jack smirked.
"No, no, by all means, kill the whelp, but just not yet. Wait to lift the curse until the opportune moment." Sam blinked. Almost time! Will looked up, still not having figured out Jack's plan. "For instance…" Jack picked up some coins from the chest, dropping one on emphasis of every word. Sam could already guess what Jack had planned. "After you killed Norrington's men. Every...last…one…"
A third coin plinked into the chest. Sam watched as Jack palmed the coin and slid it in his sleeve without Barbossa noticing. She learned that trick from an old magician in Singapore and then had taught it to Jack. She was glad to see he had put it to use. Jack's eyes never left Barbossa's. Barbossa suspected nothing and saw nothing, but both Will and Sam had noticed what Jack did. Now Will had to do some serious acting.
"You've planned this from the beginning! Ever since you learned my name!" Will said nastily.
Jack was unhurt by his nastiness. He looked content and simply replied "Yeah."
Barbossa moved from where he was standing so he was closer to Jack. "I want fifty percent of your plunder."
"Fifteen." Jack held up his arms, as if it were a large amount.
"Forty." Barbossa said simply.
"Twenty five!" Barbossa watched Jack for a moment. "I'll buy you the hat. A real big one, Commodore. With a feather."
Barbossa glanced up at the old beaten up hat on his head, and then smiled. He held out his hand to Jack. "We have an accord." And the men shook hands.
Barbossa went to open to mouth to give an order, but Jack beat him to it. "All hands to the boats!" Jack glanced at Barbossa who glared at him. "Apologies. You give the orders."
Barbossa smirked. "Gents. Take a walk." The pirates all smirked at each other and headed out of the cave. Jack gave a confused look.
"Not to the boats?" Barbossa smirked.
"You'll see." Sam made herself comfortable by some treasure piled up in on corner. Jack made his way over to her. She glanced around and picked up a dress, holding it against her, seeing if it might fit.
"That would look lovely on you, Sammie." Jack slowly came up beside her. "It looks like the one I used to plug the boat with."
"It's very similar…" Sam put it back down and ran her hands through the jewelry, trying to find something to match the dress color. Jack smirked.
"Maybe Barbossa will let you take it…His men have no use for it. Well, unless they're eunuchs, of course…but that's another story entirely. They don't have the same frame or figure you have." Sam sighed and smiled.
"And how would you know this?" Jack simply smirked.
"I just know, luv. Trust me." Sam shrugged and picked up some dangling earrings, a matching necklace and a bracelet. The dress and the gems on the jewels matched the each other.
"Barbossa? Can I have these?" Barbossa looked over at Sam and smirked, looking at her and the dress.
"Only if ye model it for me the day ye wear it." Sam mentally cringed. Should she chance it? Suddenly, Jack took the statue and dropped it making it echo in the cave. Barbossa cringed and then smiled at Jack. Barbossa sat down and watched Jack as he studied another golden statue he had picked up. "I must admit Jack, I thought I had ye figured. But it turns out, you're a hard man to predict."
"Me? I'm dishonest." Jack threw the statue down into the pile of treasure and made his way over to Barbossa. "And a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest. Honestly. It's the honest one's you have to watch out for. Because…you can never predict when they're going to do something incredibly…stupid." As if on word, Jack stopped behind one on the pirates and grabbed his sword, pushing the man in the water, then throwing it to Will. Jack quickly grabbed a sword for himself as Will cut himself loose, then beginning the battle.
Sam pulled out her sword from her waist and raised it to the pirate who came at her. She punched the guy in the face, and he fell into the water. Jack lunged at Barbossa and they fought their way through the caverns. Sam moved quickly to cover Will. Will ducked as she swung at the bearded pirate. The pirate fell in the water. Will smiled at Sam in thanks they continued to fight. Sam glanced over at Jack hoping he was okay. She landed another punch on one of the three pirates that she and Will were battling.
Sam suddenly heard choking and looked over at Barbossa and Jack. Jack had been stabbed by Barbossa! Sam was breathing hard as she saw Jack staring down at the cutlass in his stomach. He slowly backed up with a surprised look in his eyes. Sam bit her lip. Was Jack going to be okay?