I snuck down to the cargo hold as Barbossa and his crew had taken my swords and pistol. Now I needed replacements. Good thing I wasn't obsessed with having the same effects like Jack.
I returned to the deck, no one commenting on my new weights as I walked around the boats casually, trying not to draw attention as I examined all the long boats. There had to be one I could easily release without anyone's knowledge. One that wouldn't be noticed at least for a while or could be lowered quickly.
Then again it depends on how many soldiers are left when Norrington leaves… I remembered. I might be able to lower the boat while everyone's distracted and then slip off when Norrington leaves… but then he'd see me while watching the caves if in the right spot…
There had to something.
Night fell and I leaned on the railing, staring at one of the long boats as I thought. I hadn't moved for a while.
"Now what could you be thinking so hard about?" my hair was moved from my neck and I smiled slightly as Jack's fingers brushed my skin.
"You wont like the answer to that." I admitted and turned to face him.
"Oh?"
"Or, you might not care at all." I thought leaning slowly closer. For his actions I'd say he might care. But I didn't want him walking straight into a cave of immortal pirates either.
"Now what could you be entailing?" he wondered slowly, a hand around my waist pulling me closer to him.
"Unlike your plan mine has very many holes and therefore isn't complete." I sighed "So I can't share it yet."
"What could you need a plan for?"
"Just in case." I added, my hand on Jack's arm. "Did you tell Norrington about the pirates curse?" I wondered changing the topic
"No, did you?" I shook my head "Did Elizabeth?" I shook my head again
"If he knew, he'd never have come. It'd be too much of a risk." I confessed "Will would be dead, you wouldn't have your Pearl and you'd be hung without delay." I saw a slight worry in his eyes "Did you forget that part? Pirate?" I smirked. He grinned back
"Wasn't at the front of my mind." he confessed
"I wonder what could be more important than you're own life." I said rhetorically
"You need only ask." he offered. I smiled
"I think I like to keep it a mystery. Who knows, the real answer could be disappointing." He raised an eyebrow
"You think that badly of me?"
"No," I shook my head "Not at all. Just, expectant."
"Mr Sparrow." we both turned our heads to see James approaching
"I think he's trying to irritate me." I sighed "And to think I'm meant to be related to him soon."
"Easy love." Jack grinned, I raised an eyebrow and smirked as he released me and moved to Norrington
"With me." the commodore ordered. I glanced to the water around us. It was dark, the fog filled the air, and the wrecks of ships pocked out of the glassy surface.
Yes, we had arrived at Isla de Muerta once again.
The soldiers began to run around and prepare as I walked over to Norrington.
"Do you intend on returning before an outbreak of violence occurs?" I asked curiously, he looked at me curiously
"Possibly once the situation has been determined." he answered. I nodded and watched as the row boats were lowered and the soldiers climbed into them
"Don't worry Love, we'll be back." Jack smiled as he was lead past me. I smiled at him and nodded
"I'm counting on it." I couldn't make an escape if Norrington and his mean were watching the caves, nor if they were coming back, they'd look for me before even thinking of allowing Jack's plan to commence. That could end in very terrible consequences, and if things went according to plan, we didn't need such an occurrence.
I walked to the railing and watched as the soldiers rowed away, Jack glancing at me and winking as they left into the fog. I smiled at him as my father joined me.
"He's an interesting man that Sparrow." my father confessed. I looked up at him and furrowed my eyebrows
"Father, you do no treat him as everyone else seems to." I admitted "How come?"
"I do not wish to believe that all pirates are vile." he said with a smile. I nodded in agreement
"I believe most just want freedom." I added. He nodded also
"Besides, the way he watches you give me a sense of hope for that belief." I looked up at him
"What do you mean?"
"There is much care in his expression." my father smiled "For a pirate he has been most helpful in protecting those I hold dear." he admitted
"Did you not just wonder if he gained something in return?" I asked
"I have." he nodded "However some things come from a simple request then a transaction. And that Sparrow, pirate or not, must be a good man if he is to impress my daughter." I glanced up at him and he was smiling
"You can tell a lot by a person's actions but more by their eyes." he said simply.
If my father could see it that plainly on my face then there was no way to deny it. I, a proud aristocrat, had fallen for a pirate. Such a typical outcome as half my family believed said pirate deserved to be hanged.
"Are you upset?" I asked, refusing to look at him.
"No." my father shook his head "Though I suggest such a thing we disclosed from your mother." he smiled slightly
"Unless I wish for her to collapse from disappointment." I nodded with a sigh. She will have me marry someone higher then a Commodore if given the option. A count maybe?
"You're right." I broke the silence and felt my father's gaze upon me. "For a pirate, his heart seems in the right place. Though he has desires he wishes to put above others he has proven to favour the right decision despite the odds." I admitted "Any kind of violence against those who do not deserve it are hesitant and avoided if necessary. All he wants his freedom." I watched the dark waters where the long boats had disappeared too "To sail the seas on his beloved ship, detach himself from worries and other responsibilities. Away from this socially built society."
After a while, I ended up adding a few of my own dislikes to the world. To think that such a life could be the method to acquiring such ends. However despite the sudden wish piracy could bring — a wish that had never crossed my mind until this very moment — I could never do such a thing. It would see my father proud doing what I wanted most in the world, though perhaps a little disappointed as to the lifestyle. My mother would never get over the seeming loss. The disappointment could be irreversible as I did not follow in the footsteps a proud aristocrat should by marrying a rich worthy husband. To think that's what my future entails as that was the proper lifestyle for someone like me.
"It seems Mr Sparrow may not be the only one dreaming of such a means." my father said. I looked up at him surprised before sighing.
"Such a dream does take heed." I admitted "However I believe it is a far away world that I could not indulge in at the cost of your disappointment."
"Christine," I turned to my father as he placed his hands on my shoulders "Though the chosen life style is not what I would wish for you, it is not what I would hold you back from if you truly desired it." he said seriously
"Does not matter." I shook my head "After the loss of Ethan I could not put you or mother through such a decision." I reminded my father of my brother. If I left to sail, whether an honest sailor or pirate, it would worry the two to the ends of the earth and I would not dream a fate upon them. I had to go through the loss of my brother myself, I knew how it hurt. I could not put them through the loss of myself atop of that.
"Christine," he touched under my chin and I looked up at him "I have noticed a change in you from when you first left on this mission of yours to now." he said. I looked at him confused. Change? What change?
"Right now I see it in you also. When talking to me your countenance changes dramatically compared to those of Mr Sparrow." he said simply. I was different when talking to the two? Maybe that's because half the words I was required to speak around my father could not be understood by Jack, or any of the other crew members for that matter. My language altered slightly, but according to my conversation with my father I was able to regain them without a fuss.
"And yet I am able to return to such countenance when with you." I spoke my mind. He nodded
"Yes, you do. But you seem more comfortable and happier with the other." He smiled at me and tucked some hair behind my ear "Just think about it for a while." and he turned to leave me.
I looked out to the water, had meeting Jack and sailing with pirates really changed me enough to enjoy it? Enough to dream of the freedom Jack spoke of on Rumrummers Island? It seemed foolish to believe I could leave such a life I had lived for something that many despised. And though my father seemed to almost unwillingly push me to my dreams, my mother would be in hysterics for such an action. I had always hated to disappoint them.
Thinking back to my conversation with the Governor earlier though my father was right as to my changes. I had been hanging around pirates too long. Both Elizabeth and I knew Jack was a bad influence as I'd taken a few of his habits on already it seemed.
And all this connected back to the inescapable fact that I'd fallen in love with Jack Sparrow. It would have seemed ridiculous a few weeks ago, exciting but impossible. As a child I could only dream of such a thing, such an adventure as I had lived. It seemed unrealistic that it happened.
I sighed again, suddenly my life seemed full of choices, and either decision would end in me being disappointed or others being disappointed, neither of which I wished to enforce.
I sat up straight as suddenly the long boats came back into sight, approaching the boat. Wow, had Jack convinced them of a plan? Was James willing to listen?
The soldiers came aboard and began to make ready for what ever decision had been made. Jack walked up onto the deck and I moved to the Commodore
"Is everything alright?" I asked worried
"Mr Sparrow has presented an idea that could lead successful." Norrington admitted
"He's good at that." I nodded, making a doubtful face in which Jack noticed, giving me a mock glare. "Then why the return?"
"I'm going to send the pirates out." Jack said simply
"To the Dauntless?" I asked, pretending to be surprised as I pointed to the deck. Jack nodded
"I'll be on my way then." and he began to move back to the long boat.
"Mr Sparrow, shall you attempt an escape let me make it clear that no mercy shall be shown despite your cooperation." James warned. I glared at him slightly
"He didn't have much of a choice." I grumbled
"Understood." Jack nodded, still smiling and he climbed down the ladder.
"Miss Langford and Miss Swann are to be moved to the captain's cabin." James ordered. I stared at him. No! How would I escape then? Two soldiers moved to my side. Crap. Now what? I couldn't get to a long boat or even the waters if I was locked in the cabin. The only other escape would be…
"Would you mind if I stayed for a few more minutes, seeing as nothing will occur in the mean time?" I asked, James gave me a look before nodding. However the soldiers didn't leave my side, though they did not attempt to hold me back.
I took a few casual steps so that the gap in the railing was before me and I listened to Jack's oars in the water below. The soldier that had held the boat to the Dauntless appeared and climbed onto the deck.
I was not being left behind.
I glanced at the soldiers beside me as Elizabeth glanced at the cabin doors before her. I'm sure she'd be safe here.
I immediately ran across the deck, my name being shouted as I did, before jumping off the Dauntless. I saw the long boat below me and Jack stood up immediately. I landed in the boat and the pirate caught my waist as it wobbled, we both caught our balance and lucky stayed out of the waters.
I grinned.
"Well that was awesome." I smirked
"What are you doing?" Jack demanded
"Like I was staying behind." I snapped "Don't worry, no way am I messing up your plan." I assured him
"Miss Langford!" I turned to see James leaning over the railing "You return to this vessel immediately."
"Sorry James but I'm not staying put." I shook my head "Think of me as insurance for Jack." I placed an arm around his waist
"Christine!" the governor shouted I sat down and pulled Jack with me
"Row."
"I really believe…"
"It's good you don't have the option to follow through with that." I said simply. Jack sighed and took the oars, the two of us ignoring the shouts. Surprisingly enough, the one voice I didn't hear, was my father's. Even Elizabeth called, obviously frustrated that I was going to save her love interest and not her.
"If you're not going to ruin my plan what are you planning?" Jack asked
"To wait for the opportune moment." I quoted him. He smirked slightly "I'm not an idiot and I wont walk straight into a crew of immortal pirates, you have a way of talking your way out of getting killed personally while I'm still learning. I wont walk in without an idea of what to do." I assured "Just do what you're planning and I'll stay quiet." I promised.
We rowed into the cave in silence then, Jack probably thinking over the right words that'll keep him alive long enough while I wondered what he was thinking. Or what everyone aboard the Dauntless was thinking. I wonder, did they think me stupid, or brave? Probably idiotic for being so rash.