Chapter 5
I wasn't sure if bein' on tha island wit' tha lass an' Jack were a good thing, ratha than bein' aboard the Pearl wit' tha' Barbosa fella an' 'is dirty crew. I watched as tha' blond, Elizabeth, I collected earlier, took on 'er way ta walk 'round tha' island. Didn't seem big enough, but I was too tired ta complain anymore.
I settled meself on tha' sand. I tried ta run some fingers through me hair but it was no bloody use. Tha' curls were more tangled than ever, an' tha salt water weren't helpin' none. I sighed ta meself, floppin' down on me back. I squeezed me eyes tight as tha sun burned through 'em.
Jack was plannin' on tradin' tha' one lad, William, fer 'is ship back. Bloody selish motive. Pirate, I reminded meself. Tha' William an' Elizabeth seemed ta 'ave quite an interestin' history. Tha entire thing was messy, an' tha' bargains an' leverage an' whatever 'ave ye, made it all tha more confusing. I entertained tha idea o' regrettin' joinin' a pirate crew instead o' wastin' me life away at Tortuga, than I thought 'gainst it. I'd prefer ta 'ave a mess than nothin' at all ta keep me busy.
I felt a presence near me an' sensed tha selfish git. I heeded no attention.
"Comfortable, darlin'?" he inquired.
I took in a deep breath an' exhaled.
"'bout as comfortable as I can get given tha situation," I admitted.
He took a spot next ta me an' it was then tha' I opened me eyes an' saw he 'ad rid himself o' his "effects" as 'e called them. 'is sword had been as a clothing rack o' sorts, wit' his belt, vest, an' other belongings laid in tha sun ta dry.
"At least yer not alone," he said.
I groaned. Why was he always so bloody full o' 'imself?
"Ba da yuh-duh en dee da," I sang grumpily in a rhythm I'd learned long ago at home.
Jack turned ta me wit' a confused expression. I saw he had his pistol in hand, tha single bullet in tha other.
"What was that, Cora?"
I rolled me eyes, proppin' meself up on me elbows.
"Nuthin'. Ye just always seem ta think tha' yer tha best thing in this wo'ld since God knows what," I explained.
He chuckled an' brought tha bullet up ta examine it carefully. A small smile tugged at me mouth, completely bloody ridiculous he looked. Story said he'd been carryin' tha' one shot fer ten years. Might as well use it on tha' Elizabeth girl; she didn't seem capable o' holdin' herself. Or, 'e could always use it on him.
"Ye just always seem ta keep fergettin' that I am, in fact, the Captain Jack Sparrow," he retorted, neva' breakin' tha' gaze o' tha bullet.
"An' 'ow is tha' goin' fer ye, captain? Now yer wit'out a ship. Worse than before, might I add."
He tenderly put tha' bullet back in its' place in tha gun an' set it down. I raised me eyebrow, sittin' totally upright.
"Not to fret, Miss Gallagher. I've got a plan," he assured me.
I crossed me arms. I was still soaked from tha swim over. I silently thanked God tha' I hadn't needed ta remove me bodice, fer me shirt would be see through wit' tha water. In tha short distance I saw Elizabeth come closer, holdin' up 'er skirts so as not ta get 'em wet. Wha' tha bloody hell was the difference, we were all wet already.
"I'm quite sure ye do," I scoffed.
"'course I do. Look at me," an' he held out his arms wit' a smug smirk.
I nodded wit' a teasin' grin. This was tha' same pirate I'd 'eard had sacked Nassau Port wit'out firin' a single shot. Yet 'ere he was, marooned on an island wit' a one damsel in distress, an' meself. Wit' no means o' escapin'. I hadn't thought about a means ta escape. Figured I'd think o' somethin' later. Me mind was too clouded at tha moment. I was too stubborn ta stay there an' die, tha' was fer sure.
"Whatever ye say," I concluded.
Elizabeth met up wit' us an' her eyes followed ta Jack's pistol lyin' next ta 'im. She sighed an' watched him.
"If you're going to kill me please do so without delay."
I let out a low ha! Tha girl was somethin'.
"Is there a problem between us, Miss Swann?" Jack asked haughtily.
Her face came down in a scowl as she tried ta look intimidatin'. She looked pissed.
"You were going to tell Barbosa about Will in exchange for a ship," she spat.
Jack's expression hardened.
"We could use a ship. The fact is I was not going to tell Barbosa about bloody Will in exchange for a bloody ship because as long as he didn't know about bloody Will, I had something to bargain with. Which now no one has. Thanks to bloody, stupid Will."
Elizabeth's scowl fell an' a look o' guilt crossed her face. She starred at tha' sand ground. I only watched in means o' entertainment. This was interestin'.
"Oh," she muttered.
Jack then stood up, tuckin' his pistol in his sash.
"Oh," he mocked. I hid a smile.
"He still risked his life to save ours," she argued defiantly.
I saw Jack throw his arms up in frustration as he himself let out his own ha! and began walkin' in another direction. Tha' damsel paced afta' him an' I contemplated followin'. Twasn't worth it, I decided. Instead, I took a piece o' band from me wrist an' used it ta braid me hair best I could. 'least it wasn't in me face. Tha hairs felt rough from bein' in tha' salty water, but I coulda been in worse circumstances.
Perhaps a small part o' me enjoyed this new life, difficult it may be. It was far more excitin' than servin' stupid blokes by day an' night in tha confides o' smelly Tortuga. I felt more at ease wit' tha sea, but when had I 'er not? I looked out beyond tha horizon an' saw tha sun begin its' descend. Tha sky had stripes o' various color, some lookin' tha same hue as me own hair. I smiled, genuine. If I ignored tha' attitude o' Sparrow an' blocked out tha curse an' tha damsel, I could pretend ta make tha most outta everythin'. I'd get off tha island somehow. I never found meself stayin' in one spot ferever. Go bloody crazy, I would.
I 'eard their voices behind me back before I saw them. Jack now had three bottles o' rum in his arms. Impressive; quite. I'd gotten used ta learnin' ways ta balance as many meself as I could when I was a barmaid. Elizabeth had one, too, though she looked at it in disgust. But she opened her mouth once again, and I half suspected it'd be sumthin' stupid as usual.
"So," she paused. "Is there any truth to the other stories?"
Jack set tha bottles down near 'is feet an' his face grew serious.
"Truth?" he breathed. He rolled up his left sleeve ta reveal an ugly scar tha' resembled tree branches er lightnin' strikes. I subconsciously drew meself back, eyes wide. Then 'e moved on ta liftin' up tha otha' sleeve, showin' tha tattoo o' a sparrow in flight o'er tha sea an' tha P brand. It was scorched inta 'is skin, permanently red. Wha' made me hitch me breath was when he drew his shirt ta present two bullet holes in his right pectoral. Long healed, but still red an' angry lookin'. I stayed silent, an' it musta shut damsel up too 'cause she didn't say anythin'. Jack fell on his bottom next ta me, same seat as 'efore. He popped open tha rum bottle, where did they get these?, I suddenly wondered.
"We still have a month, maybe more. Keep a weather eye open for passing ships an' our chances are fair."
Elizabeth looked up at him.
"What about Will? We have to do something." Oh, shut up.
Jack nodded, an' hung his rum up in tha air.
"You're absolutely right. Here's luck to you, Will Turner."
She finally accepted defeat, an' sat besides Jack on ta otha' side. She brought tha bottle up ta her lips and before takin' a sip she sung,
"Drink up me hearties, yo ho."
Jack then noticed I was wit'out an' pushed a bottle into me chest. He smirked crookedly, an' downed tha rest o' his substance. I inspected mine before pushin' tha cork out. Guess it didn't matter where it came from. Smelled like rum, looked like rum, what else was there ta do? I threw me head back an' swallowed thankfully.
"Níl sé ina lá, níl a ghrá, níl sé ina lá is ní bheidh go maidin, níl sé ina lá is ní bheidh go fóill, solas ard atá sa ghealaigh!" I sang, dancin' 'round tha bonfire we'd created, bottle o' rum in me 'and, smile on me face, starlight shinin' an' moon gleamin' off tha sea.
"I love this song!" Jack cheered, takin' his arm 'round me waist as we both fell ta tha ground. We were dangerously close, but tha liquid intoxicated me senses an' I felt a sudden urge ta never move 'way.
"When I get the Pearl back, ye can teach it to tha whole crew, and we'll sing these songs all the time!" he said happily.
I brought tha bottle ta me lips fer some more. I leaned inta him wit' an unsteady sway an' breathed,
"An' ye will be tha most fearsome pirate in all tha Spanish Main."
"Not just tha Spanish Main, love. The entire ocean," he drawled, usin' 'is hands ta speak. I giggled an' laid me head on his shoulder. "The entire wo'ld. Wherever we want to go, we go. That's what a ship is, you know. It's not just a keel, and a hull, and a deck, and sails. That's what a ship needs. But what a ship is, what the Black Pearl really is, is freedom." Watchin' 'im talk so passionately 'bout this life made me heart swell. His eyes sparkled. I felt his hand snake 'round me shoulder, holdin' me tight. An' I didn't want him ta let go.
I sighed, takin' the rest o' me rum down me throat.
"Must really be awful ta be stuck 'ere then, Jack," I said.
"Mm. Well, the company is infinitely better than last time, I think. The scenery has definitely improved," he explained, drawin' ever word out.
Sittin' up abruptly, I threw me empty bottle down wit' a smile. I struggled ta get up ta me feet, usin' Jack as a sorta ladder ta balance. He looked up at me curiously an' I saw tha' sparkle in 'is black orbs.
"Captain Sparrow!" I called cheerfully. "I don't believe a pirate such as yerself woulda ever learned ta take a likin' ta Irish dancin', no?"
He drank tha rest o' his dose 'efore answerin'.
"Believe not," he admitted.
I took 'is hand an' 'elped him up.
"Best ye learn now then, eh?"
He grinned, then takin' his fingers, he curled his mustache up. I laughed an' took a few steps back, towards tha water where tha ground was more flat. I began ta sing 'gain.
"Chuaigh mé isteach i dteach aréir, s d'iarr mé cairde ar mhnaoi an leanna."
Dunno where tha energy emerged from, but I 'ad adrenaline shoot through me at such a perfect pace tha' I began throwin' me legs 'bout an' twirlin' round, lettin' some curls escape tha braid. I continued ta sing tha old dancin' tune, an' watched as Jack tried ta copy me movement. I laughed an' felt me feet splash ta refreshin' water as I jumped up as I remembered when tha dance masters traveled from town ta town back in Ireland ta teach tha form. Twas a big tradition back 'ome ta take part in tha festivals an' gatherin's alike, fiddles playin' dawn ta dusk an' strangers comin' in ta teach whoever wanted tha new Irish dance. It quickly became a way ta tell stories, rather wit'out our mouths, but wit' our feet.
Ne'er even mind me skirt slappin' 'gainst tha waves, fer I felt at once in a long while, content. I sang so loud I was nearly screachin', an' I laughed hysterically hearing Jack strugglin' ta follow along. The way tha moon bounced light off tha Caribbean Sea gave me a sense o' magic. Jack reeled towards me an' I noticed tha rum bottle in his hand. I snatched it from 'im an' drank down half of it. His grin looked dare I say proud fer a moment, then stole his drink from me an' finished it off, tossin' it in tha sand. I giggled when 'e laced our hands tagetha an' we continued our singin' terribly off key inta tha water an' twirlin' 'bout in a poor dance.
"It's not day, nor yet awhile, I can see tha starlight shinin'!" I sang.
"N'il sheen la never go fail!" Jack continued.
I giggled so hard at his attempt at Gaelic tha' I snorted through me nose. They were in bloody English!
"Ye stupid pirate!" I laughed, throwin' me head back. Me hair had come undone, tossin' in tha breeze.
"Simply couldn't 'elp meself, darlin'," he admitted. He spun me around in a circle an' it ended wit' me tight 'gainst his chest. Our singin' had ended an' me heart raced against his warmth. I looked up at 'im an' smiled.
"Yer drunk!" I snickered.
"As are you," he noted, smug as hell.
Shivers coursed through me veins like a flooded river an' I couldn't find it in meself ta hold back when I rose up ta put me lips upon 'is. He stilled a second an' when I brought me hands ta clasp themselves behind his neck, he obeyed an' joined me. His mustache tickled 'gainst me skin an' I giggled inta 'is sinful mouth. Tha kiss was wet an' messy an' I moaned when his hands began explorin' uncharted territory.
"Cora," he groaned.
I gasped an' bit down on his bottom lip. 'e said me name in a way I realized I wished ta hear 'gain. His voice was as intoxicatin' as tha rum an' it burned fire within' me. I responded by braidin' me fingers in his hair an' continuin' our drunken act.
When we finally pulled back, our eyes were lust clouded. Tha smoke evaporated inta tha air an' I blinked a few times. He was dangerously handsome damnit. I was so sure 'e was tha devil hisself. It escaped me 'fore I coulda caught it.
"You're beautiful," I whispered.
I shut me lips in a frown, foolishly thinkin' tha' maybe tha wind had carried it away before he heard it. But tha lopsided smirk proved me wrong.
"Yer enchantin'," he drawled.
Fer once I felt a blush color me cheeks, but it also coulda been tha heat o' tha alcohol. I slowly withdrew meself from tha cap'n, an' made me way ova' ta me previous spot by tha fire. I settled down an' rested me head on me elbow below it. I took in a deep breath an' cursed meself fer lettin' tha bloody stupid poison get tha best o' me.
Was I really admittin' ta 'ave taken a fancy ta tha bastard? Damn man was absurdly attractive. Horribly connivin', clever, witty, frustratin' as hell, smart. Last thing I wanted was ta get me heart ruined by a pirate. I didn't wanna end up like me ma, all alone on some bloody spit of land ta raise a mistake child, worried constantly 'bout me man. I knew she really loved me da. He seemed ta care fer her, but neva in tha same way. Think she was more o' a burden ta 'im than anythin'.
I prayed tha' if anythin' it was only tha rum talkin' an' tha situation forcin' us tagetha. Like a phase, I supposed. I was sure I hadn't began ta care fer 'im like tha'. 'e was jus' me captain, nothin' less an' nothin' more. Most certainly nothin' more. I would make sure o' it.
Smoke an' heat filled me nostrils, causin' a brief coughin' spell. I jumped up ta see Elizabeth flingin' more barrels an' bottles inta a fire, flames spewing from tha top. I ran over ta her but slowed down once tha poundin' in me temple made itself present. Ugh.
"Wha' tha bloody hell are ye doing?"
She spun 'round an' she was covered in smudges o' dirt an' soot.
"Making a signal. Someone's got to do something to get us off."
A fire signal! It'd easily be spotted. Poor lil' governor's daughter was bein' sought after, no doubt by probably tha entire Navy. My face split inta a smile though I grimaced, puttin' a hand ta me head.
"The effects of too much rum?" she spat.
Spoiled brat.
"Least a lass knows 'ow ta have some fun. Make tha best o' things, yeah?"
She rolled her eyes an' went back ta 'er work. I watched silently, wishin' I had some herbs er sumthin' fer me bloody head. I knew she'd been judgin' me second she saw me. Jus' cause she came from some fancy noble bloody family er whatever didn't make her higher than anyone else. Not all tha world was dealt tha same cards. Then I remembered.
Navy.
I inwardly panicked. They'd take me, they'd hang me. I wasn't innocent no more. They'd take me as a pirate an' pay me no mercy. Was tha' really ta be tha way me life ended? So soon, too. Me womanhood didn't pay me any quarter. I'd need a plan. I wasn't gonna be subject ta tha' treatment. I had experienced too much already ta give it all up fer some stupid laws. I'd get outta it somehow.
Me thoughts were interrupted by captain dearest.
"No! Not good! What are you doing?!" he came, practically squealing, up ta meet Elizabeth an' me. "You burnt all the food! The shade! The rum!"
"Yes, the rum is gone," she repeated clearly.
His arms were flailin' all about in front o' his face, an' evadin' hers as well.
"But why is the rum gone?!" he desperately shouted.
"Just wait, Captain Sparrow," she began, sittin' down beside me, "you give it one hour, maybe two, keep a weather eye out and you will see white sails on that horizon."
I rolled me eyes at Jack's reaction. He angrily aimed his pistol at her head, in battle wit himself. He shook violently an' then stuffed it back in his sash. She wasn't worth it. I groaned. So we'd be stuck wit' her then. White sails or not.
Not long afta, it was hazy since me mind was still in tha after effects o' drunkenness, but white sails sailed ashore.
Author's Note/Disclaimer: I do not own any of the lyrics used in this chapter. That belongs to Celtic Woman. The song, however, was N'il S'en La.