Disclaimer - First up, my apologies to the four readers who managed to access the previously updated chapter 5, only to find out that I took it down, thereby quelling any attempt to review. Some of you contacted me and I explained why I had to remove it. For those of you still wondering why I did what I did, I realized a way of integrating the POTC characters with the story at this point in the telling. With that said, the next chapter after this one, will be what I had originally uploaded, before removing it. I hope its replacement here will appease you.
As before, I only own the story, with all other components - characters and certain POTC geographical locations - notwithstanding.
And, as before, my thanks and appreciation to Askre for beta reading! You rock, ASKRE!
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Chapter 5 - Voyage
"Are you sure you know where you are going?" With her arms crossed, Elizabeth looked every bit lacking confidence as she felt towards the helmsman.
The man standing at the wheel eyed the young woman, dressed in a simple white shirt, overcoat, and knee breeches, blessed knee breeches. Such outerwear on a wench did justice to them better than any man could, at least according to Jack Sparrow. Elizabeth's stockings had long lost their pristine white, though, now stained with seawater and the overall-bilge from the Black Pearl. She had even traded her uncomfortable French-made boots for the more practical buckle topped shoe, wide at the toe, and with far more traction for a wet environment of a sailing ship. With her hair pulled back and wrapped in a single pigtail, she looked her part, fitting in with the rest of the crew without drawing undo attention to herself.
Yet, as brash and as piratey as she appeared, Elizabeth was still a woman and, unfortunately for Jack, betrothed to another man. Yes, Jack would be the first to admit his true mistress was the sea, but he still enjoyed the company and beauty of a woman. A eunuch he was certainly not!
Still, as Elizabeth stood there, challenging him, he couldn't mistake the set determination of her jaw.
As his ship sailed through the warm, Caribbean seas, Jack gestured with the object in question, "Are ye say'n I don't savvy m'own compass, luv?" A breeze played through the exposed sleeve of his shirt, as well as buffeting against the brim of his tricorne. It forced him to momentarily remove his hand from the wheel to set his hat further onto his head.
He saw the girl roll her eyes, though, apparently amused with his question. She then gave him a smug look, her lips pressed to a thin smile.
"Yes, I do, since we seem to be going in circles!" Elizabeth then raised her arm, her hand and finger pointing towards the Black Pearl's aft. Jack's gaze followed in kind. Easy enough to see under the bright, summer sun, the Pearl's wake proved the girl's word, its wide arc showing - at least in that moment - that it was indeed going in circles.
Undaunted by her accusations, "Your doubts trouble me, they really do, lass." Jack looked straight ahead again, feigning hurt, as he continued managing the wheel, one fist re-grasping a handhold. His other held his precious and slightly hexed direction finder. With its lid flipped open and the dial quirking around -- seemingly undecided which way to point -- he studied his compass astutely. Holding it up for inspection, "I know ma'compass, Miss Swann, an' it knows me."
"And I know you!" Her voice spat sarcasm, drawing his attention to her once again.
Grinning, "I kind'a likes the sound of that, Miss Swann; you knowin' me, and all. It fancies -- potential." His smile widened, that irritating cocky smile, which, if Elizabeth were even half-honest with herself, she would admit to swooning, if just a little.
Maybe it was because of how the gold in his teeth sparkled. Or maybe it was the way one corner of Jack's mouth turned up just a little. It certainly wasn't because of his hygiene. She sighed and knew that despite his bad breath, it had to be his smile, that annoying way he would smirk. It was what charmed her initially, when they first met. That was after Jack had saved her from drowning but before he held her captive in front of her father, Governor Swann, and her suitor, Commodore Norrington.
But, all of that took place six months prior and Elizabeth's life had changed dramatically ever since.
Now, here they were on another adventure, but one in which the girl willingly chose to participate - and much to her father's frustration, too.
They had met secretly with the pirate, she and Will Turner, after a courier had relayed a message from him. It seemed Jack was planning on returning to the dreaded island to retrieve the gold and then return it -- and its spell -- to its rightful owner. He needed Will along, for he alone held the 'cure' to the spell, if it so decided to effect them again. Of course, it didn't hurt that Turner's skill with a rapier was as superior to his own.
"It never hurts to have a swordsman at your back, especially with skills such as yours!" Sparrow's complimentary words eventually tempted the ex-blacksmith and he had been more than eager to help.
As for Elizabeth, she refused to stay behind, cooling her heels, not with her husband-to-be gallivanting over the high seas. She was a woman of action and she knew all too well how Jack operated. Consequently, she insisted on coming along.
And whenever Elizabeth made up her mind to do something, she was unstoppable, something which vexed even her father. Nevertheless, he had long ago given up trying to control her. With his daughter's betrothal to the very man she chose to sail with, Weatherby Swann had only sighed and shrugged, hugging Elizabeth, and wishing her Godspeed.
Now, as she stood near the helm of the Black Pearl, she faced the man responsible for more adventures in her life than she - or Will Turner - had ever imagined.
Elizabeth huffed impatiently. "Well, either way, CAPTAIN Sparrow, how much longer is this trip going to take? Last time I voyaged there - "she shuddered slightly, even now the memory of almost becoming a blood sacrifice too fresh on her mind - "it didn't seem to take as long as it appears to be taking now."
Sparrow shrugged in that funny way of his, almost a drunken swagger, really. He chuckled under his breath, "Yes, it does seem that way, doesn't it, but th'compass --" he turned the box in his hand, pointing it to the left and then to the right, then straight ahead, before deciding 'left' was better, "- has had a mind of its own," he smirked at the girl again, "I only goes where it tells me to!" Gold teeth glinted brightly against the sunshine as his smile widened more.
The sound of shoes on wood broke into their confrontation, though, steps marching up the stairway behind her. Elizabeth never turned to see who it was, but remained where she stood. Soon, an arm snaked around her waist. She startled at first, but then settled into it.
"So, what're you two talking about?" Will nuzzled her hair affectionately.
"About telling Jack where to go!" Elizabeth gave Sparrow a cheeky smile and a coyly tilt head.
"Heh, very funny, Miss Swann."
"Soon to be Mrs. Turner!" Will reminded him.
"Ah, yes, of course, lad, how could I forget?" Jack gave a little laugh.
"Seems you keep trying to." Elizabeth rested into her fiancé, now, staring teasingly at the pirate.
"Still, ye may be betrothed to wed, yet together you are, both alone…on a ship…and far from daddy or noble priest." He wiggled his brows suggestively.
"And committed to wedding night tradition, MR. SPARROW!" Elizabeth now straightened her posture, her chin lifted defiantly, "I take offense to your - implications!"
"It's CAPTAIN SPARROW, lass, and my implications are based on assumptions that, according to your close physical proximity to your bonny intended, on a ship small enough to test your commitment, allows me to assume that you have done away with your -- said -- tradition!" He grinned, quite pleased with his retort.
Will Turner hesitated slightly, trying to intepret what Jack had just tried to say. Then, in an almost comedic delayed reaction, he quickly slipped between his beloved and the man at the helm. Posturing himself threateningly and pointing his finger into Jack's shirted chest, "I assure YOU that my intentions for Miss Swann have and always will be honorable, regardless of our future marriage. And," Will then lowered the tone of his voice and steeled his gaze, "remember, Jack, I am here out of courtesy to you!"
"And immensely appreciated, too!" Jack remained at the wheel, but took a small step away from Turner's challenge and poking finger.
"Then do us both a favor," Will repositioned himself to stand next to Elizabeth again, "...and keep your nose out of our business."
Jack gave a sideways purse of his lips, his eyes half-lidded under a raised brow. Glancing casually at his compass again, if only to change the subject, his eyes widened in surprise, "Hmm…seems m'compass with a 'mind of its own' has changed -- its mind -- again." In keeping with the new directions, Jack turned the ship's wheel to starboard.
The abrupt change in direction effectively forced Will to lose his balance, quelling his discontent.
"Nice trick."
"Yes, the compass does that occasionally," the pirate smiled, "and I shall tend to my own affairs, Mr. Turner, of that you can be assured."
Will chuckled and took his fiancé's arm in his, "Come, Elizabeth let's leave our CAPTAIN to captaining this boat.
"Ship, it's a SHIP, are ya such a landlubber ya don't know the diff'rence?" Jack corrected eagerly.
"Yes, I do know the difference, Jack," Will smirked, "And it seems to be a big one at that; certainly big enough -- for someone with honorable intent!" Will Turner bowed and took his leave, gently supporting his betrothed by her arm. The two of them walked down the steps to the main deck below. Behind them, they heard Jack Sparrow shout orders to his men manning the sails of the Black Pearl and muttering under his breath about how "very inappropriate it is to have a woman onboard".
As evening descended and as dark fell over the ship - with only lamplight and the stars above to guide their way, Jack rested within the embrace of his captain's quarters. Sitting at his desk, the large aft window behind him, the pirate starred hard at his compass.
"You are a capricious instrument, you do know that, right? "
He snorted disagreeably, not really expecting an answer. Rhetorical conversations between the pirate and his hexed box were common these days. He wondered if his other concern, though, his other need, was intruding on his present quest. Tia Dalma had said, when she first 'sold' him the artifact, that it pointed to one's desire, the one thing that pricked most at the heart, but did he really 'desire' the treasure again? His only reason for retrieving the gold was to return it to where Barbossa had found it originally, thereby keeping others from its curse. Jack had felt the temptation of immortality when he fought Barbossa and where one did not die one could go just about anywhere, or do anything. Considering the efficient way the Black Pearl could outrun even the best the British navy could muster, Jack feared others might accidentally find the island and take upon them the advantage the curse might offer. Then, already well known among his constituents, Jack would have to be more than savvy with where he sailed. Just the same, he knew, despite Barbossa and his crew's desire to regain their mortality, there was a certain amount of enjoyment with how they had gone about their pirating. Something about the curse removed any semblance of civility and regardless of his profession, Jack Sparrow always saw himself as civil.
Hence, he had to return the gold and maybe, just maybe, find a bit of a reward in it, too.
"They would have to be happy t'get their gold back, right?" He asked himself, jiggling the compass again and sighed when the arrow danced between two points. "Capricious as a woman; that you are!"
Still, he wondered if the compass knew his time would soon be at hand and, consequently, the item was more than a little confused. A sudden rush of worry filled Jack's innards with icy dread.
"Maybe he'll give me a bit of reprieve. After all, I only captained for two years before I was so horribly mutinied." He smiled then, that cocky smile that had charmed more than his share of beasties, both animal and human. If Jack played it right, he just might procure more time from the one who held his soul in jeopardy. He could hope for that, anyway.
A sudden knock brought his attention around to the double door to his quarters, though, beyond which his men worked the deck and sails.
Straightening in his chair, "Yes?" Jack placed his compass down on the desk.
The door cracked open at first and then, the person on the other side confidently opened it wider.
"Miss Swann is ready, Cap'n."
"Ah, thank you, Mr. Gibbs." Jack hesitated slightly, before snatching up his compass again. He looked around and then stood. Addressing his first mate, "Remind me next time, Mr. Gibbs, to refuse any wench wantin' to come along fer the ride." As Sparrow walked around his desk and headed towards the double door where Gibbs stood, "I personally don't like losin' my sleeping berth to a woman, 'specially when I'm not sharin' it with'er."
Chuckling, his first mate nodded, "Don't blame ye in th'least, Cap'n. If it weren't fer Mr. Turner…" The man wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, only to have his superior's next words cut his expression down.
"If it 'weren't' for William Turner, Mr. Gibbs, I'd be dead, at the end of a hangman's noose." Jack sighed, "I owe him fer that and…fer comin' along to ensure the same curse won't befall us as it did Barbossa!"
Gibb's eyes widened slightly, "Aye, you have my vote on that'un, no arguments from me - or the rest of the crew. Ya sure this idear of yers is a good'un?"
"Do ye want t'take the chance of someone else taken the curse and running amuck?" Jack smiled when Gibbs gave a more than enthusiastic shake of his head, "Aye, thought you'd agree t'that!" Sighing, he looked over his first mate's shoulder and noticed Elizabeth standing there beyond the doorway, with Will typically at her side. Jack smiled as he strode passed Gibbs and towards the opened door, "She's all yers, lass, just make sure you leave it as you found it, like before!"
"I appreciate your generosity, Captain Sparrow." Elizabeth eased passed the pirate into the cabin, escorted by her betrothed.
"I am only generous where it suits my throat; to have you bunk with the rest of me men would create more problems than a Kraken."
"CAP'N, PLEASE!" Gibbs eyes widened, almost in horror, going into whisper mode, "Even th' mention of that - beast - is curse enough to th'men, ya knows that."
Smirking, Jack swallowed, "Yes, I know, which is why I said it to a woman. A double curse cancels itself." He looked at Elizabeth and saw her scowl. He offered her his lopsided grin, "No offense, lass."
She said nothing in reply, other than sneering a little, before putting more force behind her entrance. Once she was well inside the cabin, "Now, although I appreciate the use of your quarters, I think it is best that you join your men, now, CAPTAIN Sparrow."
"And your bonnie young man will join us, as well?"
"Of course, as he has for the past week." She glared at the pirate, now, "And I would appreciate it if you would stop making unsavory references with regards to our honor." Elizabeth tilted her chin up, "Something of which you might learn a thing or two, that is if you took the time to pay attention." Turning to face the pirate full on, her voice level and stern, "Now, if you please?"
Bowing slightly, "Of course," Jack nudged Gibbs towards the opened doorway and the two of them walked out and onto the ship's deck.
Will then faced his beloved, "I will sleep outside the door, just in case." He looked back and watched as the pirate and first mate headed past the overhang just outside the double doors. He smiled as he gazed at Elizabeth again, his voice low, "Although I highly doubt Jack would try, there are others in his employment that are not so - trustworthy, or honorable." He removed his rapier, "Any man attempting to cross this threshold, will meet the business end of my sword, on my honor I swear it."
Elizabeth cupped his face in her hands and leaned in to kiss him. Pulling back, she remarked, "Honorable beyond a fault. Thank you."
Will kissed her again and she accepted it, unaware that just outside the cabin, the air around the Black Pearl had become thick with fog, a fog uncharacteristic for that part of the sea and quite familiar, too. When Elizabeth and Will broke their embrace, the girl noticed the change in atmosphere. "We must be getting close to the island!"
Will turned and, when he saw the fog drift over the deck outside, "Still hours away, though, we're just in the beginning stages of it. I'm afraid, more like another day of sailing - at least, but…" he looked at his fiancé again, "at least Jack's compass finally cooperated."
"Isla De Muerta. The name still gives me shivers."
"This time, my love, it will be different."
"I hope so, because if we run into anymore bewitched pirates…"
"You forget, I am the cure for that."
Elizabeth smiled, "Yes, I know, but only if all the gold is still there, you do realize that?"
"And Jack's strange little box is the only way to get there, so I doubt for any company."
"Our only guarantee that our trip will be uneventful and uninterrupted."
"And that is the best of guarantees!"
Hours later, a creature more alien than the betrothed couple could ever imagine would find his life in jeopardy. And, not too many hours after that, a confrontation with a curse and a shipload of pirates would make his and his brother's situation stranger still.