My mother was beyond happy to see me. But that didn't stop her being angry. I sat down in the dining room while she scolded the hell out of me for breaking a pirate out of jail, commandeering a ship, back mouthing the Commodore — as she'd been informed — and racing into a pirate filled cave. I just sat there in silence and listened, only half taking it in. My mind was at Fort Charles, where Jack was back in those cells.
My father and I hadn't told my mother about me falling for a pirate. She'd probably flip and tell me it was nothing, that it would go away. She thought I was upset from all the horror I'd seen. But that was nothing compared to what she was going to put me through.
A dress was bought for me to wear to the hanging, my mother wouldn't excuse me and was forcing me to go. My father tried to get her to back down, but to no avail.
So, I now stood on Fort Charles again, this time for a hanging and not a ceremony. Elizabeth stood next to me with her father and the commodore as we watched the guards bring Jack out to the hangman noose. The drums sounded as the square was filled with people, somehow excited to watch a man die.
My grip tightened around my fan and I held my tongue as much as possible. This was wrong.
Jack was surrounded by soldiers, I'd heard the commodore feared someone would try to free him as he'd already escaped once. He was taking much precautions.
"Jack Sparrow, be it known that you have…" I ground my teeth
"Captain." I said under my breath, causing Elizabeth to glance at me.
"…for your wilful commission of crimes against the crown. Said crimes being numerous in quantity and sinister in nature, the most egregious of these to be cited herewith – piracy, smuggling…" they read. I kept my eyes on Jack as he stared at the wood panelling before him
"This is wrong." Elizabeth believed
"In every sense of the word." I agreed
"Commodore Norrington is bound by the law. As are we all." her father admitted
": …impersonating an officer of the Spanish Royal Navy, impersonating a cleric of the Church of England…" Jack smirked
"Oh yes." he laughed slightly and turned to the hangman, his smile vanished. I snickered, he impersonated a priest? That's a story I'd like to hear.
"…sailing under false colours, arson, kidnapping, looting, poaching, brigandage, pilfering, depravity, depredation, and general lawlessness." For a moment there I thought he was going to keep listing things. Jeez Jack got around. "And for these crimes you have been sentenced to be, on this day, hung by the neck until dead. May God have mercy on your soul." I took a deep breath as the Lieutenant lowered the scroll and left the platform.
A noise caught my ear above the drums and I turned to see, sitting on one of the flags, was Cotton's parrot. My eyes widened as I looked at Jack.
The Pearl was near!
Will suddenly walked up to us and dressed us each politely.
"Governor Swann. Commodore. Christine." and he took a deep breath before addressing the last "Elizabeth." he greeted. She looked down at him, only slightly "I should have told you every day from the moment I met you." Will admitted and caught her full attention "I love you." Elizabeth gasped slightly as the governor and Norrington turned to her. I grinned and glanced at Elizabeth who looked at me. I winked before watching Will who turned to walk away, not waiting for an answer.
The noose was placed around Jack's neck, the drum roll speeding up and I tapped Elizabeth.
"We have to do something now." I muttered
"What?" she asked
"Look." I pointed and Elizabeth looked up to notice Cotton's parrot as it flew away. She looked at me shocked and then after Will. I looked to Jack as Will pushed through the crowd to the noose and Norrington took a step forwards as he watched Will
"Marines…" he said, about to stop Will before Elizabeth gasped.
"I can't breath." she fell backwards
"Elizabeth." both the Governor and Norrington turned to her aid immediately. I left her side and made my way after Will who shoved through the crowd towards the hangman.
"Move!" Will drew his sword and immediately everyone split apart. The drums stopped and the trap door opened, Jack falling in just as Will threw his sword and etched it into the wood. The sword just provided a footing and Jack struggled to keep his feet from sliding off it.
Will made his way onto the hangman's stage and engaged the hangman with another sword.
I reached down and pulled the pistol I had strapped to my ankle, glad I'd decided to keep it on me from now on. I aimed it, being careful of Will and the hangman before the shot rang out. Everyone ducked as the rope holding Jack was severed and he dropped to the floor.
I immediately ran under towards him.
"Didn't see this coming did you." I smirked
"Did you?"
"No, but dreams sometimes come true." I leaned in and kissed him slightly "Now we just need to see if we can get you off the fort." I smirked, pulling Will's sword from the wood. I used it, only slightly to remove the noose from around Jack's neck who then ran out from under the stage.
Will flipped over the edge and the two ran parallel as Jack threw one end of the rope to Will. They rammed it against the torso's of three guards who collapsed to the floor before they ran up the stairs and swung the rope against two more guards' ankles, causing them to fall face first.
I followed as a few more ran after them and I tripped about three by poking the sword in the way. Will and Jack crossed positions and ran behind a brick pillar, pinning two more guards before yanking on the rope and slamming the soldiers into the brick work.
I tapped a soldier on the shoulder and he turned to me before I punched his face. I shook my fist, god that hurt more then I expected. The second I used the hilt of the sword still in my hands instead and they collapsed to the ground as Jack and Will tumbled along the ground and ran around another pillar. I joined them just as we were surrounded at the tower and the soldiers all pointed their guns at us.
Will and Jack turned, back to back as Will ran his sword across the tips of the guns. Jack held his hands up as Will turned to face Norrington. I stood next to the blacksmith glaring, the sword pointed to the ground.
"I thought we might have to endure some manner of ill-conceived escape attempt, but not from you." Norrington admitted as the governor approached us.
"Really, two people who spent weeks with said pirate weren't top on your list?" I questioned, James looked at me as my uncle gave me a solid look of disapproval
"Christine." he said strongly
"Yes?" I cut off what ever he was about to say and looked at both him and James. "You want to kill this man you go through me and Will." I said strongly. I looked at Will for confirmation and he nodded
"On our return to Port Royal, I granted you clemency." the governor reminded him "And this is how you thank me? By throwing in your lot with him? He's a pirate!" the Governor half spat as Elizabeth appeared next to her father
"And a good man." Will said back as he dropped his sword. Jack pointed to himself proudly and mouthed 'that's me'.
"Just because someone decides to brand him with a 'P' does not mean he's as vile and dissolute as all." I said quoting Norrington. His eyes narrowed "This man risked his life for us and we'll be damned if we didn't do the same."
"If all I have achieved here is that the hangman will earn two pairs of boots instead of one, so be it." Will allowed, Elizabeth looked at Will proudly before glancing at Norrington. "At least my conscience will be clear."
"You forget your place, Turner." Norrington said through ground teeth, taking a step forwards, his sword still raised to Will's throat.
"No, this is it." I raised my sword and moved James' from Will's neck with it. The Commodore looked at me surprised.
"It's right here…" Jack nodded "Between you and Jack." Will admitted.
"A place we wont move from." I assured as James lowered his sword, me doing the same. Elizabeth moved from her place to stand next to Will, taking his hand in hers.
"As is mine." she agreed, sharing a look with Will. Jack looked at the two and I sent him one of his own winks. He smirked at me and placed a hand around my waist, pulling me to his side.
"You better be grateful for this." I muttered to him
"Elizabeth!" the governor breathed appalled "Lower your weapons." he ordered, no one listened "For goodness' sake put them down!" he cried. The guns were raised to point at the sky as Norrington looked at Elizabeth sadly
"So this is where your heart truly lies, then?" he asked
"Is it." Elizabeth nodded, feeling slightly guilty.
"It might be for nothing." Jack said back
"Oh no, there's still an escape route if you can make it to the water." I grinned, Jack looked at me confused and I raised my hand to point at Cotton's parrot, now sitting on a cannon above us.
"Your ride's here." I smirked. He looked from the parrot to me before thinking for a minute and looking at Norrington. Jack moved from his spot behind the two, my hand now in his as he sort of dragged me with him.
"Well! I'm actually feeling rather good about this." he walked over to the governor "I think we've all arrived at a very special place, eh? Spiritually… Ecumenically… Grammatically?" the governor leaned away from him appalled as Jack turned to Norrington "I want you to know that I was rooting for you, mate. Know that." Jack turned to head to the edge of the battlement, still holding my hand, however he stopped and turned to Elizabeth and Will. The two hadn't broken eye contact since he'd begun talking.
"Elizabeth…" she turned to him "It would never have worked between us, darling. I'm sorry." He had a look of sincerity on his expression but all I could do was smirk.
Elizabeth looked at him slightly confused as he bowed to her. Jack continued on his way before stopping again "Will…" he didn't know what to say as he looked the man over "Nice hat." Will looked up at it and smiled as Jack and I stood on the stairs of the battlement, the guards following us and again pointing their weapons at the pirate.
Jack turned to me with a smile.
"I'm not expecting a mention." I smirked truthfully.
"Actions speak louder then words." and he leaned in to kiss me again, I gladly accepted, ignoring the gasp that probably came for my mother somewhere before he pulled away.
"Until next time." I smiled. He raised my hand and kissed the back of it before releasing me and making his way right to the edge where Elizabeth had fallen over all those weeks ago.
"Friends!" Norrington stood before him with his sword raised again. "This is the day that you will always remember as the day that—" Jack continued to walked backwards and toppled over the edge of the battlement and down to the waters below.
I immediately raced to the spot, Elizabeth and Will next to me as we stared down, me biting my lip hoping he was okay.
"Idiot. He has nowhere to go but back to the noose." Gillette believed. Jack resurfaced from the water and I let out the breath I had been holding.
"That man's going to be the death of me." I muttered, the amount of times I'd almost seen him die already.
Will sent me a smirk and I smiled as a shout called our attention.
"Sail ho!" coming around the edge of Port Royal's harbour was the Black Pearl. It's sails had been mended and repaired and I watched as Jack began to swim towards his ship.
"What's your plan of action?" Gillette asked Norrington, who didn't seem to have an answer. "Sir?"
"Perhaps on the rare occasion pursuing the right course demands an act of piracy, piracy itself can be the right course?" the Governor offered as he stood next to Norrington. Norrington smiled with a slight nod.
"Mr. Turner." James turned and Will sighed, he went to follow when Elizabeth and I stopped him
"I will accept the consequences of my actions." he told us, giving Elizabeth a long look before going to stand in front of Norrington. The commodore raised his sword admiring it.
"This is a beautiful sword. I would expect the man who made it to show the same care and devotion in every aspect of his life." finally giving Will the credit he deserved. I smiled and looked at Elizabeth who looked grateful as ever.
"Thank you." Will said as Norrington lowered his sword and turned to walk away.
"Commodore! What about Sparrow?" Gillette demanded
"Well, I think we can afford to give him one day's head start." Norrington said before continuing on his way. The soldiers all turned and followed him, leaving Elizabeth, Will and I standing at the battlement. The governor went to follow before turning to his daughter, gazing over Will again.
"So, this is the path you've chosen, is it?" Elizabeth looked back at Will "After all… he is a blacksmith." the governor said
"No." Elizabeth removed Will's hat with a smile "He's a pirate." Will looked back at her as the governor turned away. The two finally shared a kiss, their hands with matching bandages on one another's cheek, caressing it.
I moved from their side and walked through the battlement, watching the Black Pearl as it began to sail past the fort.
I stood at the far corner of the port over looking the sea. As the black ship moved closer I saw Jack standing at the helm, his hat on his head, his jacket over his shoulders and the crew bustling around the deck.
He looked up at me and gave me that signature smirk. I smiled and looked down before I raised my hands and curtsied to the captain. My captain. Jack removed his hat and bowed back causing me to chuckle a little. I placed my fingers to my lips and extending my hand towards him. Jack raised his as if to catch it and I smiled with a roll of my eyes.
"Until next time." I whispered with a slight nod.
I watched the Pearl sail past and away, any thought of having such freedom going with it.
Captain Jack Sparrow with it.
I didn't remove my eyes from the black ship until it was well from my view and even still I stared at the horizon. Who knows, maybe I'd see it and its captain again. Considering there was bound to be some retaliation to our actions today.
I sighed and turned walking back through the fort.
"Christine." I sighed. Yeah that was utter disappointment and slight anger in my mother's tone.
"Do you wish to scold me mother?" I asked hardly glancing at her as I stopped
"Of all the… people…" she began
"It's not something that's chosen mother." I cut her off and looked at her "And if you're going to feel anything, feel grateful I'm still here as at one point I highly considered leaving with him." I admitted. The shocked expression on her face was nothing I didn't expect.
"The thought still lingers even." I confessed and gazed out to the open ocean "But I couldn't bare to be the reason you lost another child to the sea." I muttered.
I walked past the two and prepared to leave for home. Though an eventful day, a part of me was disappointed for having stayed in Port Royal. But then, I expected a part of me would be disappointed if I left Port Royal also. Such a decision would never result in full happiness. Something would always disagree.
Something that did bring a perfect smile to my face however was the thought that maybe one day my pirate would steal me away instead. And being the consumed child I was, I wouldn't dare argue.