Chapter Six

"No! You're safe now. And I will not go gallivanting out after pirates," Governor Swann declared angrily ta Elizabeth.

We were tugged aboard tha Dauntless, Navy prancin' 'round all important-like. I scoffed at their pompous attitudes. I was stared at like some lowly indecent human. Now 'ow would they look if they'd gone through what I'd been in the past days, eh? I maintained me diginity as I stood beside Jack, held back by tha pristine washed red coats.

Elizabeth followed her father up ta tha helm an' stomped 'er foot.

"Then we condemn him to death!"

Swann an' tha Commodore Norrington fellow gave up fer a moment, their faces droopin' at tha thought o' leavin' William ta fend fer himself. I squinted, tha Caribbean sun strikin' through me eyes. Their powdered wigs looked utterly superficial on a ship full o' sailors. I bit back a laugh.

"The boy's fate is regrettable. But then so is his decision to engage in piracy," tha Governor explained.

"To rescue me! To prevent anything from happening to me," damsel argued.

Sparrow interjected, arms flamboyant as per usual, it seemed. The guards holdin' him followin' his moves closely. They kept their chins up, as if afraid if they got too close, they might catch a disease.

"If I may be so bold as to inject my professional opinion. The Pearl was listing near to scuppers after the battle; it's very unlikely she'd be able to make good time. Think about it. The Black Pearl… the last real pirate threat in the Caribbean, mate. How can you pass that up?" he suggested wit' an attempt at a smile, terribly close to Norrington's face. Tha stench o' me cap'n's breath had tha man back away, revolted.

Norrington sighed, but replied wit' a serious expression.

"By remembering that I serve others, Mr. Sparrow, not only myself."

Elizabeth stepped closer to him.

"Commodore Norrington, please do this for me. As a wedding gift." She paused, looking up at him hopefully.

The wind whipped me hair, stingin' me face. She'd agreed ta marry tha' man? He was such a tool. Good riddance. But, ta each their own. An' tha pickin' basket where she came from didn't seem ta have too many options.

I glanced at Sir Commodore Man an' saw him hold back a twang o' excitement. Ta not overreact. Clearly he'd been pinnin' afta tha lass fer a while, wit' a look like that.

"Elizabeth! Are you accepting the Commodore's proposal?" Swann asked, obviously thrilled as well.

"I am," she breathed.

"A wedding! I love weddings! Drinks all around!" Jack cheered.

Norrington turned to tha pirate an' narrowed his eyes, an' tone o' voice, his hands sternly behind his back. He suddenly stood up straighter. Oh, he wasn't all 'e advertised 'imself ta be. None o' them were. I watched as his eyes shifted ta me, as well. He grimaced.

"Oh, yeah, o' course! Clap us both in irons, while yer at it. That'll make ye look high an' mighty. Good on ya, Mr. Commodore."

Apparently me outburst caught some o' their royal crew by surprise, lookin' ta me wit' shocked expressions. I merely rolled me eyes. But tha previously mentioned chose ta ignore me, keepin' his attention on Sparrow.

"Mr. Sparrow. You will accompany these fine men to the helm and provide us with a bearing to the Isla de Muerta. You will then spend the rest of the voyage contemplating all possible meanings of the phrase, 'Silent as the grave.' Do I make myself clear?"

"Inescapably clear," Jack answered.

Tha guards came ta grab both me hands behind me back an' shackle 'em tagetha. I squirmed, but it deemed useless. Back ta tha brig I was ta go. They'd surely plan on hangin' me once we returned. An' they thought pirates were criminals. I wasn't one ta hang. I'd hadn't hurt anyone intentionally, er at all when I tried ta remember an instance. I escaped Ireland ta see wha' else there was. After gettin' a taste o' it, I didn't wanna go back. I hadn't planned on seein' me last sights from tha noose.

However, none o' tha' meant I wouldn't fight fer me own freedom. I'd get out of it somehow. I knew there was at least a bit o' luck out there fer me. One couldn't keep a Maeve from water fer long.

"The lady pirate is to remain in the brig until we make our return to Port Royal. I understand you know it is there you will experience your short drop and a sudden stop, yes?" Norrington told me.

I scowled at 'im. 'e was bloody disgusting.

"An' I'm ta understand tha' yer not ta hang a pregnant woman," I sneered.

His eyes widened. So did Jack's, Elizabeth's, an' tha Governor's mouth fell open. Perfect. Tha' would give me time ta conjure up an escape. Lady pirates were ta wait in holdin' until tha babe was born, then they'd kill 'er. I'd 'eard tha infamous story o' Anne Bonny, Irish sailor ta be hung fer piracy. But bein' wit' child at tha time stalled tha execution.

"You're… you are with child?" tha Governor choked.

I nodded.

"Aye."

Jack stared at me, dare I say he looked unconvinced. Tha astounded shock vanished, as 'e let tha idea sink in. I silently pleaded 'im wit' me green eyes not ta bail on me. Sumthin' in his told me I could trust him on that.

Swann glanced ta Jack, then me. Back an' forth until he inhaled deeply.

"His?" he gagged.

Sparrow spoke up, smirkin' all tha while.

"She couldn't resist," he chuckled.

I smiled sinisterly ta tha Governor an' Norrington.

"Therefore, yer not ta lay anotha unruly hand on me. Or me child," I spat.

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows at me.

"Do not hang her. For the child. Pirate or not, she is a woman. As am I," she ordered.

"Very well," Commodore began. "Remove the shackles. You are to remain in the care of us until you have the child. But, you are to stay in the brig and when we get to Port Royal, reside in the prison. You will be given food, water. You are not to question any authorial figure lest you wish to condemn your child."

I nodded. It coulda been worse. I heard tha click an' felt tha iron unclasp from me hands. I instantly rubbed me wrists, red from their force. Tha guards ushered me down inta tha brig, where it was cold an' damp. I shivered, tha dimmest o' light barely slidin' in between cracks in tha wood. They pushed me inside tha tiny square an' I nearly stumbled over meself.

"Filthy whore," tha tall, lanky one cursed.

"Don't be so unkind," I retorted. "Hell is always expectin' more residents."

He sneered, an' spit at tha floor near me boots. I woulda slapped tha bastard had I not been stuck behind bars. Tha Navy thought they were helpin' tha wo'ld by ridding it o' piracy? Tha' pirates were so vicious that they need be treated like a deathly virus? Even women. Didn't matta what sex ye were. I was now one o' them. An' ta be tried as so. I realized I hadn't thought much 'bout gettin' caught 'fore I set out wit Jack.

Jack Sparrow. Trouble followed tha bloody git wherever 'e went. He was like a bloody magnet. Tha price ova his head was ta be a huge one, I figured. 'e had a habit o' gettin' 'imself outta most situations. An' I reminded meself that if I wanted ta live long enough ta gain experience in getting meself outta tough situations, I'd hafta start.

I musta fallen asleep, when I woke, tha sun was gone. I could tell by tha periwinkle rays o' tha moon strugglin' ta make their way inta me temporary hell. I sat up, hand automatically rubbing me sore neck. I groaned, an' when I turned me head, I saw Elizabeth come towards me. She was dressed in ratha fine men's clothing. Least they treated her like a decent human bein'. She knealed down an' put 'er hands on tha bars.

"I've only got a few minutes. They allowed me to come see how you and the baby were doing," she whispered.

I crawled over and questioned her wit' me expression.

"How sweet of them," I sighed.

"Listen to me. We've arrived at the Isla de Muerta. Jack is going to lead the pirates out to fight the Navy. I've got the key to free you," she explained, handing me tha key. I stared at her, incredulous, disbelievin'. "James wants me t-" I cut her off.

"James?"

"Yes, James Norrington. He's keeping me locked up in his quarters. Once they row away, I'm going to climb down the back of the ship. I'll knock on the wood outside this cell so you'll know when. When I knock, you're going to get out of here, and sneak out on deck, into the quarters, climb down and meet me. I'll have a longboat ready. We'll take to the Pearl. The rest of the crew are still locked in there. They can help us save Will. I'm not going to let him get hurt."

I raised an eyebrow. Damsel was gonna break tha rules fer once? That'd be a first. I felt like there had ta be a catch, however.

"Why are ye helpin' me?" I asked.

She gave a small smile.

"I know you aren't with child. If you don't get out now, they're going to examine you in Port Royal, and you'll be caught in your lie."

"Oh," I murmured. I tucked tha key inta me breasts.

"You're welcome," tha girl told me in a hushed voice.

She stood up ta leave, an' I took 'er wrist through tha bars.

"Thanks."

I waited impatiently fer her ta make tha signal. I'd hafta make haste if I were ta meet her. Part o' me hoped tha rest o' me fellow crew were alright, fer tha circumstances. The cell got cooler until I wrapped me arms 'round meself an' shivered. An' so much for lettin' me eat anythin'. Not one blasted person came down ta feed me, or tha baby.

A couple knocks startled me, soundin' right outside me cell. I took tha initiative an' dug tha key outta me breasts. I waited a moment ta make positive tha' I was alone. Once no sounds were 'eard, I inserted tha key an' heard a click. I grinned, an' cautiously pushed tha door open. Practically on me tip toes, I carefully strayed up tha stairs an' scanned tha area. Few men wit' muskets stood beside tha rails, keeping watch. Damnit.

I padded across tha deck, but me boots had otha ideas. They clunked against tha sodden wood, givin' me away. A head turned.

"Hey! You!" he shouted.

Me eyes went round, an' I sprinted ta tha French doors. I scrambled ta open them, several pairs o' footsteps behind me. I didn't dare look, an' rushed inta tha overly decorated room. I turned tha locks an' spotted tha opened window, wit' tied pieces o' clothing in a line. Banging came from outside tha door, an' me heart quickened. I dropped down wit' a tight grip, an' made me way down. I heard cursin' an' orders bein' given, so I let go 'bout 'alfway an' splashed inta tha water beneath me.

"Quickly!" Elizabeth said, somewhere between a whisper an' a shout.

I dived me head unda, usin' tha maeve abilities ta me full advantage. I swam in tha movement o' me mermaid sisters till I sprouted up an' climbed inta tha boat.

The moon was takin' up half tha sky, clouds canceling out any stars that mighta been there. Elizabeth urged me ta get ta work, so I did me part an' began rowin' wit' tha opposite oar as we crossed ta the Pearl.

Tha beauty stood proud on tha waves, though she was cursed as Barbossa's crew. I marveled at her grandeur, an' briefly wondered wha' she musta been like when Jack captained her. Elizabeth wrapped around a rope an' motioned fer me ta hoist meself onta tha ship. I climbed onta deck, her followin' a second afta. We looked tha place fer anymer cursed arses, an' I held back a scream when tha cursed monkey pet o' Barbossa's jumped in our faces. I glared at 'im, an' punched 'im out.

He splashed inta tha water, an' jus' as Elizabeth peaked ova tha rail, she dragged me down tha steps wit' her frantically. Two pirates ran up tha stairs, turnin' inta skeletons once they hit tha moonlight. I woulda gagged 'ad I not been so panicked. They reminded me exactly like tha two tha' tried ta rape me back in Tortuga. However, anger did manage ta fill me. They'd pay fer what they tried ta do.

Tha blond lass scurried down tha steps an' when we rounded tha brig, the crew turned, relieved.

"Elizabeth! Cora!" Gibbs exclaimed.

I ran ova ta them, an' held out me hand when I saw Elizabeth snack it off tha wall. Once they were free, we all excitedly stood on tha deck o' tha Pearl an' they cheered. But when Elizabeth went ta prepare tha longboat fer Isla de Muerta, I noticed hesitation in tha crew.

"Will is in that cave and we must save him. Ready? And, heave!"

I let go o' tha rope an' crossed me arms over me chest.

"Be there a problem?" I asked.

"Well, what about Jack?! They need our help! Come on!" Elizabeth cried.

Tha midget, Marty, I'd gathered 'efore, replied,

"Jack owes us a ship!"

"And there's the Code to consider," Gibbs added.

I rolled me eyes.

"Tha Code? Yer bloody pirates! Hang tha bloody Code. Either yer gonna stand there like a lot o' imbeciles or ye can 'elp us. Take yer pick."

Tha sunken faces o' me comrades were answer enough. I groaned loudly, an' went back ta aidin' Elizabeth in gettin' us settled in tha longboat.