Lady Lithoniel: Ah yes we're back with chapter three and this time (well hopefully) its going to be much better!
ENJOY THE SHOW!
Meara was up at the crack of dawn as usual. She strolled around the deck deciding to let the crew sleep in a bit. She sat on the ships railing gazing down into the crystal depths as the early morning sun danced on the waves. Meara breathed in the salty sea air with a grin; this was where she belonged, not in some fancy dress prancing around trying to find a suitor. People described Meara as being fiercely independent and as wild as the seas she sailed upon. Her Aunt had once said that if she ever wanted to marry she would have to settle down and act like a lady. Meara had only been a young girl at the time but she had stood up straight and tall with a proud look on her face. She had looked her Aunt straight in the eyes and said that she'd rather die then be tamed. Well needless to say Aunt Sarah had pretty much given up on turning her into a civilized lady right there and then. Meara grinned as the sun rose higher in the sky. Today was going to be very interesting, she could feel it!
Aileen had woken up just after dawn. She went out on the balcony so Elizabeth wouldn't be woken up. She could see the Seahawk anchored off in the distance, the flag bearing the silver hawk on a sea blue background billowed in the soft breeze. She sighed contentedly as the sun rose higher.
"I could get used to this peace and quiet." She said softly to herself. She heard movement inside and stepped back into the room.
"Morning sunshine!" Aileen said brightly.
"How can you be so…energetic this early!?"
"But its almost nine o'clock! By now Meara would've kicked me out of bed…literally." Aileen said with a grin. Suddenly there was a rap on the door and Aileen jumped.
"Ladies are you decent?"
Aileen heard Elizabeth rushing around behind her, knocking over a chair in the process.
"Yes, yes come in!"
The Governor and two maids stepped into the room, one bearing a large, fancy looking box.
"Well we've got a ceremony to get ready for." He said as the maid opened up the box revealing a beautiful dress and corset. Aileen cringed inwardly, she absolutely hated corsets! She shook her head slightly going behind the changing screen with Elizabeth. 'Oh you poor thing.' She thought to herself. Soon they were ready to go. Aileen was dressed in a simple gown of pale blue and white, that had a bit of an old fashioned look to it. She shrugged at Elizabeth.
"You can't exactly go shopping on the high seas ya know!"
Elizabeth laughed, but it came out as more of a wheeze.
"That's not good." Aileen muttered, but it was time to go. They came down into the hall and saw a handsome young man talking to the Governor.
"Will!" she said grinning. Aileen smirked, there was something going on here! Elizabeth spoke to Will for a while before they headed out to the carriage and were soon on their way up to the Fort.
Meara decided to go ashore and look for Aileen to see when they were leaving. No sooner had she stepped on the dock when she saw a sight that made her grin. Standing on the mast of a sinking boat was none other then her old friend, Jack Sparrow. She turned to the side pulling her hat down slightly so he wouldn't see her. He stepped off the boat and onto the dock just as the boat sank. The elderly gentleman approached him.
"It's a shilling to tie your boat up at the dock! Oh and I shall need to know your name."
"What do you say to three shillings and we forget the name."
"Welcome to Port Royal Mr. Smith." He said snapping the book shut. Jack smiled and walked away, but not before snatching the unattended coin purse. Meara laughed and stepped out of her hiding spot.
"Well, well, well if it isn't Captain Jack Sparrow!" she said. Jack spun around and saw her.
"Meara luv! Is that you?"
"How many other female privateers do you know, excluding Aileen?"
"You've made yer point love," he said glancing out at her ship, "you still sail that old tub do ye?"
"Hey that old tub was the only thing that came close to matching the Black Pearl in speed there mate!"
"Details, details, speaking of the Black Pearl…"
"Don't even think about it Jack! I'm in a good mood don't spoil it!"
"All right, all right, touchy thing aint ye!" he said as they walked.
"You haven't seen anything Jack Sparrow."
"Captain, Captain Jack Sparrow love."
"Oh my apologies Captain" Meara said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. They glanced up as they heard music come up from the Fort.
"Sounds like some high toned fancy to do eh?" Jack said, "Why wasn't a Lady such as yerself invited."
Meara let out a laugh.
"Somehow, I don't think I match their standards." Meara said, "Wait a minute that must be the ceremony Aileen's at."
Jack raised an eyebrow at her.
"Long story, don't ask."
They continued walking and saw two guards standing watch over a beautiful looking ship. Jack grinned and winked at her.
"How about a little fun eh?"
"Ohhhhh yes let's!" she said with a mischievous grin. The two of them headed down onto the private dock. The two guards immediately stopped them.
"This dock is off limits to civilians." The skinnier of the two said.
"We're terribly sorry. If we see one we shall inform you immediately." Jack said as he and Meara tried to continue forward, but the guards won't let them through so Meara looked up at the fort where they can still hear the music.
"Apparently there's some high toned and fancy to do up at the fort, eh? How could it be that two upstanding gentlemen such as yourselves, did not merit an invitation?" she said.
"Some one has to make sure this dock stays off limits to civilians." The skinny one said again and Meara rolled her eyes. Jack stepped to the side again and was hastily met by the two guards.
"It's a fine goal to be sure, but it seems to me that a ship like that," Jack said pointing to the Dauntless, "makes this one here a bit superfluous really." He finished gesturing towards the Interceptor.
"Oh, the Dauntless is the power in these waters true enough, but there's no ship that can match the interceptor for speed."
"I've heard of one, it's supposed to be very fast, nigh un-catchable, the Black Pearl!" Jack said.
"Don't forget the Seahawk!" Meara muttered, "he always leaves that out!"
The fatter of the two laughed.
"There's no real ship as can match the Interceptor!"
"It's anchored just offshore you dimwit!" Meara said under her breath.
His partner turned to him and spoke.
"The Black Pearl is a real ship!"
"No it's not."
"Yes it is I've seen it!"
Meara and Jack looked mildly curious when he said this, but kept quiet.
"You haven't seen it."
"Yes I have."
"You've seen a ship with black sails, that crewed by the damned and captained by a man so evil that hell itself spat him back out?"
"No"
"No"
"But I have seen a ship with black sails."
At this point Meara and Jack rolled their eyes and slip past the guards. Jack stood at the wheel and Meara leaned slightly on him until the guards finished arguing and noticed we were on board.
"Hey you!" they said pointing their guns at us, "get away from there, you don't have permission to be aboard there mate!"
"I'm sorry it's just, it's such a pretty boat – ship!" Jack said correcting himself.
"What are your names?"
"Smith or Smithy if ya like," Jack said, "and this lovely lass is Meara Hunter."
"Captain, Captain Meara Hunter!" Meara said with a roguish grin.
"Oh and what are you purposes here in Port Royal Mr. Smith and ah Captain Hunter?" he said, clearly not believing them.
"Yeah and no lies!"
"Well, then I confess. It is my intention to commandeer one of these ships, pick up a crew in Tortuga, raid, pillage, plunder and otherwise pilfer my weasely black guts out!" Jack said dramatically.
"Oh I'm just for something to do." Meara said with a small yawn.
"I said no lies!"
"I think they were telling the truth."
"If they were telling the truth they wouldn't have told us."
"Unless of course they knew you wouldn't know the truth even if they told it to you." Meara said and the two soldiers gave her a confused look while Jack smirked.
Aileen stifled a yawn as the ceremony continued. The new Commodore accepted his sword and gave it a few skillful twirls.
"I can see why you wanted company." She muttered. It was then she noticed Elizabeth was having real trouble breathing.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
She nodded and continued to fan herself. Music bean playing signaling the ceremony's end. The Commodore came up to them.
"Good day ladies."
"Good day Commodore." Aileen said politely with a small curtsy, mentally cringing, if Meara could see her now…needless to say that said Captain would probably be doubled over with laughter.
"Excuse me but may Elizabeth and I speak alone."
"Oh of course sir."
He smiled and the two of them headed out towards the battlements. Aileen sighed tiredly.
"Why did I agree to come to this thing?" she muttered to no one in particular. Suddenly there was an alarmed cry from the Commodore. Aileen ran out to the battlements and instantly knew Elizabeth had fallen.
"Dammit!" she cried hitching up her dress and rushing towards the docks, followed by the Commodore and some soldiers.
"And that's when they made me there chief." Jack said, telling them a story. Suddenly there was a loud splash and they all saw a woman plunge into the water.
"Will you be saving her then?" Jack asked.
"I can't swim!"
"Pride of the King's navy you are!" Meara said shrugging off her coat, hat and sword, before gracefully diving in with Jack. The managed to get the woman up to the surface, but the dress she wore was dragging them down. Meara quickly drew the long dirk she always wore and slit the dress as Jack pulled it off. They swam to the docks and the two soldiers they were talking to before heaved her onto the dock.
"Not breathing!" the fatter one said.
"Move!" Meara barked heaving herself onto the dock. Using her dirk she slit the corset strings. The woman coughed up water before taking ragged breath.
"Never would've thought of that!"
"Clearly you've never been to Singapore." She said. That's when she noticed a medallion identical to Aileen's around the young woman's neck.
"Where did you get that!?" she and Jack demanded at the same time. Suddenly she heard swords being drawn and looked up to find one at her throat.
"Good day gents!" she said slowly standing up. An elderly gentleman came forward covering the woman with his coat. Meara recognized one of the men; it was the same one who had approached her yesterday. She also noticed Aileen shove through the crowd, in a dress no less.
"What the hell happened to you!?" she cried. The soldiers looked at her in surprise.
"Whoops was that out loud?' she said with a nervous laugh.
"I could say the same to you." Meara said to her sister. She glanced at the swords pointing at her.
"Ah do you mind?" she said tapping one of the blades with her dirk before sheathing it, "you already know who I am."
The handsome man she had seen yesterday nodded and they focused their attention on Jack. The two soldiers handed her, her things.
"Thank you" she said slipping on her coat and hat after buckling on her Longsword.
"I believe thanks are in order." She heard the man say sticking out his hand. Jack hesitated before taking it. Instantly the man pulled up Jack's sleeve revealing a P shaped brand and a tattoo of a sparrow in flight.
"Well, well Jack Sparrow isn't it?" he said with a smooth smile. While they talked Aileen joined her sister.
"What in blue blazes is he doing here!?" she hissed.
"I dunno mate, I sort of just bumped into him." She said before smiling, "by the way nice dress."
"Shut up."
Meara smiled, but it quickly faded when she saw Jack being clapped in irons. She saw the young woman step forward. Knowing very well what Jack would do Meara went forward to stop her.
"Miss I wouldn't –BLOODY HELL!"
While speaking Jack had wrapped his shackles around both their necks.
Lady Lithoniel: Well there you have it, Jack's in the picture now, let the chaos begin MWAHAHAHAHA! audience backs away slowly before bolting Oh come on not again! sighs Oh well stay tuned for the next installment of The Seahawk!