Chapter 9: Cross and Double Cross; Nothing is Ever What it Seems
Disclaimer: I do not own anything relating to PotC nor HP as they remain the properties of their respective owners. I do own the plot though and any additional characters I add. Also, the familiar dialogue is from the PotC films which belong Disney and the director, Gore Verbinski.
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At full sail, the Interceptor headed out to sea. Gibbs glanced over at Elizabeth and Will, where they were talking alone on the forecastle. He turned his gaze towards Hermione who was walking down the steps from the Bridge. He shook his head. 'Three women on board? A man don't have to be superstitious to know that's trouble,' he muttered to himself. He peered forward from the Helm, scanning the horizon. He could see a tiny island in front of them. 'Shift your heading, steer clear of that island. Fifteen degrees starboard,' he told Anamaria, who nodded and turned the wheel.
On the aft deck, Cotton concentrated on his work, securing a halyard. Cotton's Parrot flapped its wings, taking off to land on the starboard bulwark, squawking. 'Dead men tell NO tales! Dead men tell NO tales! Dead men tell NO tales!'
Cotton stared at the parrot in uncertainty for a moment, before scanning the horizon. He could see black sails. He dropped the rope he was holding and stood up. Gibbs and Anamaria peered behind them, seeing the ship. 'Hands aloft to loose t'gallants! With this wind at her stern, she'll carry every sail we've got,' Gibbs was yelling, passing Hermione as she stood to see what was happening.
Off in the distance behind them, a ship was following them. Hermione guessed it was the Black Pearl. 'So much for a head start, Jack,' Hermione muttered to herself.
She glanced around as Elizabeth came up from the cabin followed by Will. Will looked miffed by something, and she made her way towards them, taking hold of Will's arm. Elizabeth glanced at them for a moment with a frown before shaking her head. She went up to the bridge as the crew ran around on the deck. 'What's happening?' Elizabeth asked Anamaria who was steering the ship.
'The Black Pearl, she's gaining on us,' Anamaria answered, indicating behind her to the approaching Pearl.
Elizabeth stared at her in disbelief. 'This is the fastest ship in the Caribbean,' she claimed, gesturing to the ship.
'You can tell them that after they've caught us,' Anamaria countered testily.
Hermione and Will made their way up to the bridge. 'We're shallow on the draft, right?' Will questioned.
Anamaria stared at him, frowning. 'Aye,' she answered.
Elizabeth caught on to what Will was thinking. 'Well, then can't we lose them amongst those shoals?' she asked her.
Gibbs smiled then. 'We don't have to outrun them long, just long enough,' he said, turning to shout orders to the crew.
'Lighten the ship, stem to stern!' Anamaria bellowed.
'Anything that we can afford to lose… see that it's lost!' Gibbs barked as the crew made to complete the orders.
Will and Hermione ran down to the deck to help. Barrels of rations and equipment were getting thrown off the ship, lightening the load. After a short while, he paused to examine the Black Pearl to see oars coming out of the sides to speed them up. Hermione also peered out and frowned. 'They'll catch us in no time with them. I think throwing the stuff off the ship may have been in vain,' she told him, and he nodded in agreement.
Will looked around, moving over to one of the crew members that was about to throw a cannon overboard. He stopped him. 'We're gonna need that,' Will told him and the man nodded before going off to do something else to help.
'It was a good plan until now,' Hermione muttered to him. Will clasped a hand onto her shoulder. Hermione glanced up to see his eyes were full of resolve and she wondered what he was planning. Hermione peered over the side of the ship seeing miles of blue water, the Interceptors tacks leaving a long white wake. The Black Pearl was matching it though, gaining on them.
'Gibbs!' Will shouted, letting go of Hermione and went towards Gibbs. 'We have to make a stand. We must fight!' he told him before turning back to the crew. 'Load the guns!' he yelled to them.
'With what?' Hermione asked, coming to stand next to him. 'We just threw everything overboard save for a few cannons with no gunpowder nor cannonballs,' Hermione reminded him.
Will turned to her. 'Anything,' he said, turning back to the crew. 'Everything! Anything we have left,' he yelled as the crew began running around again.
'Load the guns! Take shot and langrage. Nails and crushed glass! With a will!' Gibbs ordered. The crew stuffed cutlery and other assorted items into the cannon, including Gibbs' canteen flask. 'Pearl is going to bluff up on our port quarter. She'll rake us without ever presenting a target,' he shouted, reaching for his canteen only to remember it was loaded into a cannon. He growled in frustration.
Elizabeth turned to Anamaria. 'Lower the anchor on the right side. On the starboard side!' she yelled to her as Anamaria gawked back in scepticism.
Hermione nodded in agreement, as she thought about it. Will stared at Elizabeth for a moment before glancing back at Anamaria. 'It certainly has the element of surprise,' he said to her.
Anamaria stared at them. 'You're daft, lady! All three of you are!' she barked.
Gibbs smiled, a glint appearing in his eye. 'Daft like Jack!' he said to them. Hermione groaned at getting grouped in any class related in any way to Jack because no one was like him. Gibbs turned back to the crew again. 'Lower the starboard anchor! Do it, ye dogs, or it's you we'll load into the cannons!' he hollered, and the crew made to lower the anchor.
Hermione gazed out again; the Black Pearl was now close behind the Interceptor, which was heading towards the island. One of the sailors ran past her up to the stern, pulling a release. The ships anchor raced down into the water, the metal chain jumping and twisting on the deck. Once the chain stopped, the sailor locked it in place. Hermione stared at Anamaria who still had a firm hold on the wheel. 'Let go,' she told her, and she did so. With its forward momentum and the anchor down, the Interceptor made to turn quickly. It pivoted around the anchor surprising Barbossa whose eyes widened at the unexpected move.
Barbossa and Pintel observed as the vast ship brought its cannons to bear right in front of them. 'They're clubhaulin'! Hard to port! Rack the starboard oars,' Barbossa roared to his crew.
'Hard to port!' Bo'sun repeated the order as the two ships came up, so they were side by side.
On the Interceptor, Will turned to Anamaria. 'Keep us steady now,' he told her before turning to the crew who were waiting to fire the cannons. 'Now!' he shouted.
'Fire!' Elizabeth bellowed just as Barbossa shouted the same command on the Black Pearl. The ships began exchanging cannon fire, but for now, the Interceptor had the advantage and took it. Its cannons boomed, raining down cutlery, other items, and a few cannonballs on the Black Pearl.
Down in the brig of the Black Pearl, Jack stared around in alarm as the cannon fire persisted. He glanced out the porthole to see if he could see anything. In the cell with him was Twigg, acting as a guard. 'Don't hit my ship! I mean, kill the lying scoundrel…!' he paused in his yelling and turned to Twigg. 'I'm a little conflicted, here,' he said, but Twigg just stared at him. Suddenly, a hole blew in the hull causing him to dive to the ground to avoid injury. He sat back up, glaring at the hole. 'Stop blowing holes in my ship!' he barked. He glanced down, seeing Gibbs' canteen flask. He picked it up and went to take a drink only to find it empty and looked around. He spotted Twigg lying on the ground unconscious. The shot from the cannon destroyed the lock on the cell door. Pocketing the flask, he made his way out.
Back on the Interceptor, Gibbs came up to Hermione and Elizabeth. 'We could use a few more ideas, lassies,' he said to them.
'Your turn,' Elizabeth said, biting her lip.
'I can't think of anything,' Hermione muttered, ducking down from a blast.
'We need us a devil's dowry,' Gibbs shouted in frustration.
'We'll give them her,' Anamaria said, pointing her pistol at Elizabeth.
'But they already tried using her!' Hermione cried.
Will pulled her to her feet and into his arms. 'She's not what they're after,' Will said, gazing at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth frowned at Will and Hermione before reaching up to where the medallion had been only to remember that it wasn't there anymore. 'The medallion,' she said fearfully. Will let go of Hermione, leaving to search for it below.
Elizabeth and Hermione watched as the Black Pearl came about. A low, loud rumble of two dozen cannons fired as one hitting the Interceptor. A second barrage of shots followed then, most of them finding their mark. Sailors dived for cover, leaving their cannons as they realised they were outmatched.
Hermione beheld the face of the man captaining the Black Pearl as he laughed. He signalled another round of fire, showing no mercy. Hermione dived to the side, using the side of the ship to pull herself back up. She just managed to hear Barbossa issuing commands to his men over the commotion. 'Raise yer colours ya bloomin' cockroaches!' The Black Pearl fired again, a double ball shot with a chain connecting the two. It hit the main mast dead on. A cracking, splintering sound filled the air as it broke, falling onto the deck.
Down below, Will was panicking. The toppled table where the medallion was left wasn't there anymore. A crack from above and a crash later, he realised the mast had fallen, trapping him. He made his way to the grate. 'Hey! Hey! Below!' he yelled, but there was no response.
'Looks like they mean to send us under!' Anamaria yelled, firing her pistol at the pirates.
'There, she's raised the Jolly Roger, upside down,' Gibbs said, indicating to the flag on the Black Pearl.
Everyone stared at him, all knowing what this meant, but Hermione gazed at it in bewilderment. 'What does it mean?' she asked him.
Gibbs sighed. 'It's a signal. If we resist, it won't just be death. There'll be torture as well,' he illuminated. Hermione's eyes widened.
'We're not going to surrender!' Elizabeth shouted boldly.
'That we are,' Gibbs muttered.
Barbossa moved his ship alongside, preparing to board. 'Hands, grapnels, at the ready. Prepare to board!' he commanded his crew. They threw grapple hooks across to the Interceptor, beginning to board. 'Blast all to carcasses, men! Forward clear to the powder magazine and the rest of you, bring me the medallion!' Barbossa ordered. His men swung across to the Interceptor.
'We can at least fight! We might be able to kill a few—' Hermione started to argue. She reached into her pocket for her wand, deliberating if this was when she would have to expose herself.
'Calli… it'll be worse for us, for Elizabeth and Will… especially Will… if we fight,' Gibbs said, cutting her off. Hermione stared at him for a moment. She nodded in understanding, but her expression was still defiant.
The deck slanted; the ship was sinking as Pirates swarmed across on ropes, taking control of the Interceptor.
Back on the Black Pearl, Jack finally appeared from the hold to see pirates running around and fighting. He staggered over to one of Barbossa's crewmen, taking the rope from him as a bullet hit him. 'Thanks very much,' he said before swinging onto the Interceptor to land ungracefully in front of Gibbs.
'Jack!' Gibbs yelled in surprise and relief.
Jack shifted unsteadily for a moment, reaching into his pocket and withdrawing Gibb's canteen, handing it to him. 'Bloody empty,' he told him. He headed towards a pirate who was cornering Elizabeth. 'That's not nice,' he said before punching him. He then turned to Elizabeth. 'Where's the medallion?' he questioned.
She stood heatedly. 'Wretch!' Elizabeth screamed, about to slap him.
Hermione ran over then upon hearing the commotion as Jack caught Elizabeth's wrist. 'Jack?' Hermione asked in disbelief having assumed he was dead.
Jack didn't appear to hear her. He assessed Elizabeth's bandaged hand. 'Ahhh. Where's dear William?' he solicited with a smile, a glint in his eye.
Elizabeth's eyes widened as Hermione turned around to see Will under the grate. 'Will…' she whispered as she made to go towards him.
'Will!' Elizabeth called, pulling her wrist free from Jack and ran towards the grate.
'Elizabeth! Cassandra!' he yelled, trying to lift the grate.
Jack watched for a moment before seeing the monkey making his way over to the Black Pearl with the Medallion clasped in its mouth. 'Monkey!' he shouted, running after it.
'I can't move it!' Elizabeth cried, trying to push the mast.
It was times like these where Hermione knew she had to make a choice, and she chose to use magic. Even if it terrified them, they were curious or rejected her after discovering her secret. She had to save Will, and she went for her wand. Someone grabbed her from behind though, dragging her away along with Elizabeth. 'Will!' she screamed, reaching out her hand towards him.
Will looked back at her with concern. 'Calli!' he shouted, doubling his efforts at moving the grate, but it was no use.
Over on the Black Pearl, the monkey alighted on Barbossa's shoulder. He reached up to take it from him just as Jack reached Barbossa. 'Why, thank you, Jack,' Barbossa said, glancing down at Jack.
'You're welcome,' Jack replied with a smile.
Barbossa raised his eyebrows. 'Not you. We named the monkey "Jack",' Barbossa informed him with a smile. Jack returned it with a nod, and Barbossa turned to his crew. 'Gents, our hope is restored!' he bellowed to them, receiving cheers in return. On the Interceptor, some of Barbossa's men ignited gunpowder leading to a collection of powder kegs. Will struggled to escape from the cabin that was filling with water. He swam to the bottom of the cabin upon noticing the large hole in the side. He swam towards it just as the Interceptor exploded.
'WILL!' Hermione and Elizabeth screamed out, staring at the flaming ship in anguish. The topmasts of the H.M.S. Interceptor sank into the smooth crystal waters of the Caribbean. Tears filled their eyes, falling to the deck of the Pearl.
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Hermione couldn't breathe as she stared at the wreckage of the Interceptor. Was Will dead? She didn't want to consider it. The possibility made her heartbeat faster and her stomach flutter in anxiety. Tears were streaming from her eyes like a waterfall. Next to her, Elizabeth didn't seem to be faring much better than her. She kept shaking her head, her tears falling.
Hermione tuned back into her surroundings, just as Pintel was pointing his gun at all their crew in turn. 'If any of you as much as thinks the word "parley", I'll have your guts for garters,' he threatened them.
Elizabeth snapped then. 'Will!' she cried before attacking Barbossa. 'You've got to stop it! Stop it!' she was crying, but it seemed to fall on deaf ears.
Barbossa grinned crudely, grabbing her wrists to prevent her from hitting him. 'Welcome back, Miss. You took advantage of our hospitality last time. It holds fair now that you return the favour,' he said. He pushed her into the crew whose hands were all over her in seconds. They yelled shouts of approval, forcing her from one to the other.
'Let her go!' Hermione cried. She made to help Elizabeth, but Barbossa grabbed her, pulling her back against him.
'Can't be having that, Missy,' he breathed into her ear causing her to shiver in fear and disgust.
'Barbossa!' came a familiar voice.
Hermione turned to see Will standing on the railing, holding onto the rigging to keep himself steady. He was aiming his pistol at Barbossa. 'Will,' she whispered, a smile spreading across her face.
'She goes free!' he shouted, pointing his pistol at Barbossa from where he was still holding Hermione.
Barbossa frowned up at him. 'What's in your head, boy?' he asked him.
'She goes free!' he yelled, indicating to Hermione again. He noticed Elizabeth, gesturing towards her. 'She goes free as well!' he added.
Barbossa frowned before chuckling. 'You've only got one shot, and we can't die,' he explained, smiling a horrid smile at Will.
Jack stared at Will, gaining his attention. 'Don't do anything stupid,' he whispered loudly to him.
Will ignored him, answering Barbossa. 'You can't. I can,' he said, aiming the gun at himself, and leaning out over the ocean.
'Like that,' Jack whispered, closing his eyes and sighing.
Barbossa's frown intensified, wondering who this brave boy was that would risk his life for a bunch of scoundrels. 'Who are you?' he asked him in confusion and a little irritation.
Jack moved to stand in front of Barbossa then to try and stop Will from responding. 'No one. He's no one. A distant cousin of my aunt's nephew twice removed. Lovely singing voice, though – eunuch,' Jack told him with a smile, pointing down as Barbossa raised his eyebrows at him.
Will scowled at Jack before addressing Barbossa once more. 'My name is Will Turner. My father was Bootstrap Bill Turner. His blood runs in my veins,' he told him. Barbossa's eyes widened in recognition upon realising the resemblance. Jack lowered his head in defeat, moving back to where he was standing before.
Pintel squinted at Will as the pirates murmured in surprise. Ragetti gasped, pointing at him. 'He's the spitting image of ol' Bootstrap Bill come back to haunt us,' he said to the grumbled agreements of the rest of Barbossa's crew.
Will ignored them, aiming the gun at his neck. 'On my word do as I say, or I'll pull this trigger and be lost to Davy Jones' Locker,' he threatened, resting his finger on the trigger.
'Will, don't!' Elizabeth screamed. Will glanced at her before staring back at Barbossa.
Jack dropped his head, and Barbossa grinned at him. 'Looks like your back to having nothing to offer,' he said with a chuckle. Jack closed his eyes in frustration.
'And he's got Old Bill's courage. A curse on him, and you!' Pintel yelled out, staring at Will in apprehension.
Barbossa stepped forward. 'Name your terms, Mr Turner,' Barbossa said to him.
Will pointed to Hermione. 'Let her go,' he said. Barbossa let her go. 'Elizabeth and Callista both go free,' he told him.
Barbossa nodded. 'Yes, we know that one. Anything else?' he asked him a little mockingly.
Will looked over at Jack then and saw him indicating at himself. Will gestured towards them with his pistol before directing it back at himself. 'And the crew – the crew are not to be harmed,' he told him. Jack rolled his eyes, having meant for Will to order Barbossa to let them go free as well.
Barbossa considered his terms while his crew waited. Finally, he answered. 'Agreed. You have my word, as a gentleman of fortune–'
'Will – you can't trust him,' Elizabeth said imploringly, staring at Will anxiously.
Will thought about that before turning back to Barbossa. 'You must swear by the Holy Bible,' he told him.
Barbossa's crew stared at their Captain. Barbossa gaped at Will as if he'd just grown another head. 'Eh? You have my word, then – on the Good Book, I do swear, and the Lord spare my worthless soul,' he said, crossing himself. His crew followed suit. Will nodded and lowered his gun, stepping down onto the deck. The pirates encircled him, seizing the pistol away from him. 'Boatswain! Take your captives below decks. Chain them in the galley, and teach 'em how to row,' Barbossa ordered a few of his crew who led the captives away.
Barbossa gazed out to the sea then, towards the islet as a cheer went up from the pirates. Will clicked on to what Barbossa intended to do, struggling against his captors. 'No! You gave your word!' Will roared as they dragged Elizabeth and Hermione to the plank.
Barbossa glanced at him. 'Quiet, boy, or you'll lose your tongue. Those who know me know I wouldn't cross my word, and bring down bad luck on the ship,' he replied before turning and nodding at Pintel.
'Go on, Poppet, go! Walk the plank!' Pintel said. Elizabeth gave him a look of disgust.
'Barbossa, you lying bastard! You swore they'd go free!' Will cried at Barbossa.
Barbossa rolled his eyes, turning back to him. 'Don't dare impugn me honour, boy. I agreed they'd go free, but it was you who failed to specify when or where,' he said with a chuckle. One of the pirates gagged Will, and Barbossa turned to eye Elizabeth and Hermione. 'Now my terms,' he said, turning back to Will, 'one stays, and one goes,' he said with a smile. Will began making noises of anger.
'I say to hell with it, and we both go,' Hermione whispered as Elizabeth shook her head.
'No, I'll go,' Elizabeth told her tenderly, but firmly.
'No, I'll go,' Hermione told her, but Elizabeth shook her head. 'Why?' Hermione demanded in frustration.
'I do not like the idea of you being stranded on an island in the middle of nowhere with nothing, Calli. I will not allow it, and father would not be best pleased if I did that. I am the eldest, after all, it is only right,' Elizabeth hesitated, gazing at Will. She then glanced at Jack. 'Look after those two,' she whispered, turning towards the plank.
'Elizabeth, no, I don't like it either…' Hermione whispered. She walked forward, pulling the older woman into her arms. 'Please, don't do this...' Hermione said, tightening her hold on Elizabeth.
'We'll meet again little sister,' Elizabeth whispered. Hermione pulled away, feeling the tears welling in her eyes. She wanted to argue with her, but she knew she couldn't win… Elizabeth was way too stubborn to listen.
Barbossa looked back and forth between them. 'Decided then,' he said, walking towards Elizabeth. 'Though it does seem a shame to lose something so fine, don't it lads?' he asked his crew.
'Aye!' they all yelled in agreement.
Barbossa smirked, looking back at her. 'So, I'll be having that dress back before you go,' he told her, holding out his hand to take it. Elizabeth glared at him, untying the ties on the front of the dress and slipping it off.
Jack turned to the pirate who was holding him. 'I always liked you,' he whispered, and the pirate snarled at him.
Elizabeth finally had the dress off, leaving her in her under-dress. 'It goes with your black heart,' she cried, throwing the dress at him.
Barbossa chuckled as he caught it, pressing it to his face. 'Ooh, it's still warm,' he said, throwing it to the crew.
'Off you go! Come on!' a pirate barked, and Elizabeth slowly made her way down the plank.
Bo'sun rolled his eyes. 'Too long!' he bellowed, stomping his foot down on the plank. It shook, and Elizabeth fell into the water with a splash.
'Elizabeth!' Hermione screamed restlessly. Behind her, Will made more enraged noises.
Jack looked around in shock as two of Barbossa's men dragged him over to the plank also. Jack eyed the plank before turning. 'I'd really rather hoped we were past all this,' he said to Barbossa with a pleading look on his face.
Barbossa smiled, placing his arm around Jack's shoulder. 'Jack…, Jack. Did ya not notice? That be the same little island that we made you Governor of on our last little trip,' he told him, pointing out to the distant island.
Jack turned to scan it before looking back at Barbossa. 'I did notice,' he replied. 'When you sail the open sea as long as I, you learn to trust the signs fate sends your way,' Jack said irritably.
Barbossa smiled a toothy smile. 'Perhaps you'll be able to conjure up another miraculous escape… but I doubt it,' he said, unsheathing his sword and brandishing it at Jack's throat. 'Off you go,' he said.
Jack moved back towards the plank. Jack stopped just before stepping onto the plank and sighed. 'It's pure evil to make a Captain walk the plank of his ship, twice in one lifetime. No good can come of it,' he cautioned Barbossa.
Barbossa chuckled, lifting the sword, so the blade rested just under Jack's chin. 'Now, Jack. That reef is less than a league distance. It's a square deal all around, and you can't hope for better,' he told him.
Jack nodded absently. 'Someone needs to cut these bonds, then,' Jack requested of him.
Barbossa smiled, showing a pistol and pointing it at Jack. 'You'd best take a swim, Jack,' he told him firmly.
Jack's eyes widened, staring at the pistol and then back at Barbossa. 'Last time, you left me a pistol with one shot,' he said, raising his eyebrows and gazing at Barbossa somewhat expectantly.
The pirates grumbled in agreement. 'That's proper, sir, according to the code,' Ragetti said.
Barbossa feigned looking stunned by this. 'By the powers, you're right,' he answered, turning to his crew. 'Where be Jack 's pistol? Bring it forward,' Barbossa ordered. One of the pirates brought it forward, handing it to Barbossa.
Jack stared at the one pistol momentarily before surveying the island. 'Seeing as there's two of us, a gentleman… would give us a pair of pistols,' Jack said hopefully.
Barbossa shook his head. 'It'll be one pistol as before, and you can be the gentleman and shoot the lady and starve to death yourself,' he countered, throwing the pistol into the sea. 'That is, presuming you're both not drowned,' he smirked. Jack glared at him. 'So how did you get off that island, anyway?' he asked Jack curiously.
Jack peered down at the water where his pistol had disappeared before looking back at him coolly. 'You can go to your grave not knowing,' he retorted.
'That's fair,' Barbossa answered as if he didn't care. He watched Jack dive into the ocean after his pistol.
Jack plunged down into the water, appearing on the surface, floundering as he struggled to stay afloat. Elizabeth, who was still in the water, noticed Jack below her now, sinking and struggling. Sighing, she took a deep breath and swam down. She untied his bonds before swimming back to the surface.
Looking around, she expected to see Jack surface next to her. She peered around and saw him, inexplicably, swimming the other way, further into the depths. Puzzled, she watched as, finally, Jack broke the surface next to her, sucking in air. He pulled his hand out of the water, showing her what he went after. It was his pistol, which he tucked into his shirt. Elizabeth gaped at him in scepticism. 'You went back for that? We need to head for the reef!' she shouted, shaking her head and swimming towards the island. Jack shrugged before following her.
They waded out onto the beach where Jack glanced back at the Pearl, shaking his head. 'That's the second time I've had to watch that man sail away with my ship,' he grumbled. Behind him, Elizabeth rolled her eyes.