AN: Once again, sorry for such a long gap between the updates, and once again, the ridiculous amount of homework is at fault for stunting my creative abilities. It also didn't help that this chapter was tremendously boring for me to write, since I am all-knowing about my story, and this chapter is strictly informational. I hope it clears things up for you if you were getting confused by the...four or five different story lines I am forcing you to follow. If you have any questions, feel free to messege me or just say it in a review. Enjoy!
Ella wandered across the deck of the Pearl, staring daggers at anyone who dare make eyes at her. It was mid-afternoon, and disgustingly sweaty and humid. Wiping a bead of perspiration from her forehead, she climbed up to the stairs to where Barbossa was standing, staring out of his eyeglass impatiently. When he noticed her, he shut it and smiled, though it did not reach his eyes. "Miss Bronte. How pleasant to see you gracing my deck once again."
Ella snorted in disbelief. "What are you looking for?"
"Master Turner."
"England is far across the Atlantic Ocean. It's going to be a long trip. Anyway, I would be more worried about the navy trailing you," she answered sourly.
"Oh, and why is that, Miss Bronte?"
"You kidnapped me, and I hold an important key of the Commodore's. Not to mention you are a wanted criminal. If that isn't enough incentive for the navy to track you down, then I don't know what is."
Barbossa smiled knowingly. "The Black Pearl is the fastest ship in the Caribbean. Even if they were to find us, they would have to catch us, which, I promise, they could never do. I will never worry about the navy."
Ella clutched the railing angrily. "I will be rescued, mark my words. I could care less about how fast this stupid ship is, the Commodore will rescue me."
"But of course, Miss Bronte."
Ella could feel a snarl escaping her mouth and raised her fist to hit him, but Barbossa sent a warning stare, and she dropped her hand, still fuming. "What is so important about these keys?" she insisted after a moment, collecting her frenzied thoughts. Barbossa began drumming on his eyeglass and watched as the sails whipped in the breeze carelessly. "Well?"
"I was thinking, whether to tell you or not." Ella raised her eyebrows expectantly, and Barbossa continued. "The keys go to a treasure."
"Is it big?"
"It is not of gold, so I suppose, in a way, it is not."
"A pirate not looking for gold. That's about as common as a blue moon," responded Ella sourly.
"This treasure is sought after by many more than pirates. I do believe even your precious Commodore is looking for it, seeing as he had one of the keys."
"What is it?" Though she would never admit it, Ella was rather intrigued.
"Eternal Youth."
"You mean, the Fountain of Youth? But that doesn't exist!"
"Neither did Davy Jones, or Calypso, or cursed treasure, yet, I have encountered all three." Barbossa sighed wearily, a sigh that revealed all the trials he had ever faced, the dangers, and suddenly, Ella wondered how he ever came to be a pirate. "I have learned thru experience that the supernatural is not at all…uncommon. I wholly believe that the Fountain exists and is real, and I intend to find it."
Barbossa stood more erectly, his gaze piercing the horizon fiercely. "I will find the Fountain of Youth. Nothing can stop me, not from a chance like that. To begin again."
For a brief moment, Ella felt a twinge of pity for the man standing before her. Something in the way he talked, the way he stood so straight yet menacing told a story that she couldn't seem to hear. "How did you become what you are?" she blurted out.
Barbossa raised an eyebrow. "I hardly think you honestly care."
"I still want to know."
Chuckling, he walked to the helm, wind catching his hair. "I have endured many experiences, many storms and trials that have made me how I am. Those don't matter, as I have come to realize. Let it suffice to say I am quite happy with where I am now. The only thing I regret is i could not get here sooner, or live my life longer, something I intend to fix through the Fountain of Youth."
He looked at her, and Ella knew that Barbossa wasn't lying. He enjoyed this life of stealing and plundering, of killing and taking. This fact made Ella narrow her eyes angrily. "I always believed that there is some good in people. I don't know that I can say the same for you. Your heart is so black and dirty…I don't know what to say!"
Barbossa cackled at the comment. "I have good in me still. It's just that there is so much more bad. Pirates are not all fun and games, Miss Bronte. Pirates are villains. We take what we want and give nothing back. It would do you good to keep that in mind."
He left, leaving Ella to stand there, not sure what to make of the this encounter.
Elizabeth picked at the thread in her dress, one that was now stained with water and dirt. She didn't know how long she had been down there; she just stopped counting after the first few days. It wasn't that she had given up hope, but more that she truly had lost any care. She had a feeling that she would remain alive, until they at least found Sparrow and Winnie. With that thought in mind, she honestly couldn't care how long she was in this terrible brig.
Of course she missed everyone back home: Robert, Isabella and Arielle, the maids. They were the constant force in her everyday life, the one that reminded her she was just another person in this world, the force that kept her sane when Will was gone.
But now they were gone too, leaving her alone with her dangerous thoughts. Thoughts of Will, what could have happened, what if he were still mortal…a few tears escaped, but she wiped them away hurriedly. She did not dare begin to think of these things again. It hurt to have him gone, but she was slowly becoming numb to the fact, the memory. Tears like this had been common the first few months when he had left. Many times it was just her in the bedroom, crying the night away, alone in her bed. But she was Elizabeth Swann, and eventually the tears stopped coming every night. She was strong, and she would remain strong, even if it meant staying at home for ten years alone, wondering if Will would come to see her again, or spending time here in this dinky cell.
A soldier was heard coming down the stairs, no doubt with some food, something she had been increasingly in lack of. The man, or boy, to be more precise, came forward, offering the bread and mug of beer to her. She snatched them hungrily and devoured the bread in three bites, despite its staleness.
"I wish to speak with the Commodore," Elizabeth requested. It was a request she had uttered every time a man came down, and as she expected, the soldier rolled his eyes.
"And as usual, the answer will be no, Miss Swann."
"Mrs. Turner."
"Sorry, ma'm. My mistake."
Elizabeth took a sip from the mug. "Why won't he talk to me? Surely, as a prisoner, I have a right to know with what I am charged with?"
"Treason," the boy answered automatically.
"Yes, but what precisely?" The private gave no response, but instead shifted his feet uncomfortably, not meeting her inquiring eyes. "I want to know what is going on. I need to understand what is happening right now."
"Of course, Mrs. Turner. I'm sorry." With that, the young man disappeared above decks once again, leaving Elizabeth alone, dejected and frustrated.
She sat down on the hay scattered across the floor, flicking a flea off of her dress thoughtlessly. If only she did know what was going on. Richard, so long ago, had been too cryptic for her to make head or tail of the matter, a fact that irked her continuously. The commodore was hiding something, and Clarissa was involved. But what this thing was, Elizabeth could not imagine. What would cause Belmont to kidnap Clarissa, and charge her with treason, and which kept Richard so silent?
The quick sound of boots on wood came down to meet Elizabeth's ears, followed by Richard, who was looking a little flustered.
"Elizabeth? How are you?"
"Richard, what's wrong?"
He glanced up above, then came over and kneeled down next to her. "I heard a rumor that you were going to be transferred to the Midas tonight. I wanted to talk to you before then."
"Tonight? To that other ship?" Richard nodded regretfully. "Why is that other ship there?"
"I don't have a lot of time, so I'll try and talk fast. No one knows I'm down here yet." He proceeded to explain what he had heard between Dawson and Belmont the two nights he was still on deck.
"Wait, so Dawson what suppose to kidnap Winnie?" interjected Elizabeth, aghast at the news.
Richard nodded. "Weird things have been happening every since she and Ella came here. Though, I don't know why Belmont is bothering to rescue Winnie, let alone kidnapping her."
"Winnie has some things of value, a map and key. Maybe this is the reason, or is connected in some way."
Richard rubbed his chin for a moment. "I reckon it probably is. But I wonder, what does this key open?"
"The Fountain of Youth! Jack Sparrow was telling us about it over breakfast the day of the kidnapping." A light of understanding seemed to enter her eyes. "I wonder if he overheard Winnie and I discussing it. That would be why he kidnapped her!"
Richard nodded in understand. "Out of everyone who has become mixed up in this, she is probably in the safest position. Sparrow, if my memory serves me correctly, tends to be less…crude than many known pirates." Elizabeth nodded in agreement. "But she won't stay like that, not if Belmont is going after her. She needs to get off that ship fast. The Commodore is doing everything in his power to try and find Sparrow."
"Of course," muttered Elizabeth. She looked at Richard, a mix between relief and weariness written on her face. "Well, that certainly clears everything up. I assume this is the reason why Barbossa kidnapped Ella so long ago? Though, how is she tied into all of this?"
Richard frowned thoughtfully. "I had almost forgotten about that. I suppose Ella must have something pertaining to all of this as well."
"The other key," said Elizabeth softly. "Jack said something about two keys, but Winnie only had one. Ella must have the other key."
"The Commodore's key!"
"Yes! This is beginning to make sense!"
"Of course! Barbossa kidnapped Ella, somehow discovering she had this key. That's why the Commodore went all the way to Savanna to rescue her; he knew that Barbossa was after the Fountain of Youth!"
"It was just coincidence that Jack showed up, but he overheard the discussion between Winnie and I, which was the reason he kidnapped her. Then he would have gone after Barbossa for his ship. I remember him mentioning that."
Richard raised his eyebrows. "How does he plan to get his ship back?"
Elizabeth started fiddling with her fingers. "I suppose he could try and buy it, but he has no money. The only thing he could do is trade something in return, but he has nothing." Suddenly her face went white, and she looked at Richard, horrified. "You don't suppose he's going to--"
He stood up quickly, unexpectedly, and whatever Elizabeth had been considering quickly vanished. Shouting was heard overhead, and "Tremaine" was distinguishable above all of the noise. "I need to go, I'm not suppose to be down here." Kneeling down, her took her hand comfortingly. "Be strong, and safe. I don't think I'm going to be seeing you again."
"Why?"
He glanced up the stairs, before leaning down and whispering, "I'm going to try and escape. Belmont is becoming suspicious, of the whole crew, but I have the closest ties to everyone involved. It's to dangerous, and I can't be any help dead."
"Good luck," answered Elizabeth as he scurried up the stairs.
Richard had been right. Two hours later, Elizabeth woke up the sound of keys in a keyhole, and two soldiers dragging her unceremoniously out to the deck, dropping her roughly before walking away.
Raising her head, she found herself next to Belmont, dark and menacing in the still of night. At the moment, she had the mind to tell him exactly what she was feeling with some choice words, but it occurred to her that it would be best to remain silent. Belmont was not aware she knew so much, and it was safer to stay that way.
A muffled sob was heard next to her, and turning her head, she beheld Clarissa, dirty, unkempt, and miserable. Unlike Elizabeth, she was tied up securely with rope, with a cloth to soften her cries.
Mustering some strength and much courage, Elizabeth stood up to face the Commodore, who had a nasty expression on his face, one between loathing, scorn, and arrogance. "I demand to know the meaning of his," she stated in her most formal voice, one she had picked up from her father when he was conducting business.
"That is none of your concern," growled Belmont. "Finally, you arrive. What took you so?"
A man, blonde and younger in years, and rather largely built. Elizabeth recognized him as Dawson, but held her tongue. The pirate snorted haughtily. "I had to prepare living quarters for the ladies." Smiling, he revealed a row of rotted teeth, a smile that would have been pleasant to see if he was not doing so in such a terribly suggestive and vile way. Inwardly, Elizabeth cringed, though outwardly showed no emotion. Clarissa, as predicted, let loose a stifled scream of terror, causing Dawson to smile wider. "Of course, the only available space was the brig, though my men did offer their own beds."
Elizabeth wanted nothing more than to hurl at the thought, and nearly did, had Belmont interrupted Dawson's speech. "I don't care whether you have them hanging from the sails as long as my men can't see them, and they remain alive."
"Do you have something you're hiding?" cut Elizabeth sharply, a comment she had not intended to release. Belmont raised his hand and backhanded her hard before she could defend herself, sending her sprawling to the deck, blooding dripping from her nose and mouth.
"Be quiet, whore. I want none of your smart comments," he snarled viciously. "Take them now, Dawson."
"Of course, Commodore," he answered, along with a mocking bow. He jerked his head, and four men appeared at his side. "Take them down to the brig, and untie this one," he kicked Clarissa in the shoulder. As ordered, the men snatched both of them and dragged them to the other ship. Glancing back over her shoulder, Elizabeth saw Belmont, standing there like he ruled the world, with the dark clouds threatening storm behind him. She gave him one last piercing glare before she was shoved below deck of the Midas along with poor Clarissa. A terrible feeling swept over her that she would not be seeing daylight for a very long time now, and glancing upward, she soaked in the last rays of the setting sun.