Chapter 10: Unexpected Bastardy
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 to Disney and the director Gore Verbinski.
oOoOo
Elizabeth walked along the surf line, her bare feet leaving prints in the sand. She finally met up with matching footprints she made earlier, going in the same direction. She had strolled all the way around the island.
Jack observed her from his position, sitting on the beach. 'Not all that big, is it?' he said to her as she passed him. He had taken out his pistol earlier and dismantled it, laying the parts, ball, and the powder to dry on his scarf.
'Has it changed since the last time you were here?' she asked, watching him.
'The trees are taller,' he replied absently. He examined the pistol parts to see that they were dry. He set about reassembling and loading his pistol, feeling a lot better about it being usable again.
Elizabeth frowned at him. 'I hope you have no intention of using that,' she expressed, unease in her tone.
Jack finished putting his pistol back together, shoving it into his belt and standing up. 'Not yet. Ask me again in a few weeks,' he told her, walking off towards the trees.
Elizabeth gaped at him, not trusting her ears. 'Captain Sparrow! We have to get off this island, immediately!' she yelled after him, following him.
Jack stopped, glancing at her. 'Don't be thinking I'm not already working on it,' he countered with a sigh. Turning on his heel, he walked through the trees to the other side of the island.
Elizabeth watched him for a moment before pursuing. 'But you were marooned on this island before, weren't you? So, we can escape in the same way you did then,' she reasoned with him.
He continued striding at a fast pace, but he spun around to face her after a moment. 'To what point and purpose, young Missy?' He bade. She stared back at him with a frown. 'The Black Pearl is gone. Unless you have a rudder and a lot of sails hidden in that bodice—unlikely—young Mr Turner will be dead long before you can reach him. And who knows what will happen to your bonny wee sister,' he explained. He turned away and continued walking.
Elizabeth followed, watching him knock on a tree trunk. 'But you're Captain Jack Sparrow. You vanished from under the eyes of seven agents of the East India Company,' she said, counting off the things he had done. He took four large steps, jumping up and down on the spot a few times. 'You sacked Nassau Port without even firing a shot. Are you the pirate I've read about or not?' she said to him. He paused, peering at her. 'How did you escape last time?' she asked him.
Jack sighed, tentatively beginning his apparently heroic tale. 'Last time… I was here a grand total of three days, all right?' he replied, and she frowned at him. 'Last time…' he hesitated, climbing up towards a clump of palm trees, digging for something beneath the sand. He let out a nervous laugh, finding what he was looking for: a large iron ring.
'What is that? Is there a boat under there?' Elizabeth asked, running up to join him. Jack disregarded her, heaving the trap door up and over, revealing a pit. Inside there were barrels and bottles of rum, all covered with dust and cobwebs, long abandoned. Jack's face fell. 'What? What's wrong? How will this help us get off the island?' Elizabeth asked him.
Jack sighed, kicking a barrel. 'It won't. It won't, and so we won't,' he answered, continuing before Elizabeth could start speaking. 'Last time, the rum-runners used this island as a cache. Came by and I was able to barter a passage off,' he explained, climbing down into the cellar. 'From the looks of things, they've long been out of business. Probably… have your bloody friend Norrington to thank for that,' he told her, climbing back out with two bottles of rum in his hands.
Elizabeth glared at him, raising her hands in frustration. 'So, that's it, then? That's the secret grand adventure of the infamous Jack Sparrow?' she asked. He nodded, and she stared at him in irritation. 'You spent three days lying on a beach, drinking rum!' she asked heatedly.
Jack smiled. 'Welcome to the Caribbean, love,' he answered, strolling away. He turned back to her for a moment, saluting her with his bottle. 'You should look at our contretemps this way: we've got shaded trees, thank the Lord. We've got some food on the trees, thank the Lord again. Moreover, we've got rum, praise the Lord. We can stay alive a month, maybe more. Keep a weather eye open for passing ships, and our chances are fair,' he told her.
This was not what Elizabeth wanted to hear. 'A month? Will doesn't have a month! And god knows what they will do to Calli! We've got to do something to help them!' Elizabeth cried.
Jack raised his eyebrows. 'You're right,' he countered, hoisting the bottle. 'Here's luck to you, Will Turner,' he said, taking a drink and boldly returning her furious gaze. He turned away, sitting down. 'As for your lovely sister, she is a spitfire to be sure. I'm sure she can handle herself,' he stated, glancing back at Elizabeth who was still glowering at him. 'Don't be thinking I'm happy about this, Elizabeth. I see no use in wailing and gnashing my teeth over that which I can do nothing about,' he told her honestly, taking another swig of rum.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. 'Not when you can drink instead, at least,' she answered irritably.
Jack sighed, picking up the other bottle he grabbed as well and tossed it to her. 'Try it. It goes down rough, but it goes down, and the second swig goes down easier,' he told her, taking another drink.
Elizabeth peered down at the bottle crossly, about to throw it away. Something stopped her, and she came to a decision. She regarded Jack for a long moment, before walking over and sitting next to him.
She glanced at him while unsealing the bottle, taking a swig and gagged at the strong after-taste. For a while, the two of them sat in silence, gazing out at the horizon. She broke the silence. 'And you will call me Miss Swann,' she muttered. Jack glanced at her in surprise before toasting her. Elizabeth examined the bottle, before giving Jack a sidelong glance, taking another drink.
The sun was setting on the horizon as the two of them managed to get a fire going. Jack began drinking his bottle of rum heartily. Jack, who was quite drunk, didn't seem to notice Elizabeth had only been sipping hers and was nowhere near as drunk as him. As the two sat by the fire, Elizabeth began humming softly before singing under her breath. 'Drink up me hearties, yo ho…'
Jack stared at her. 'What? What was that?' he inquired. Elizabeth smiled in embarrassment. 'Something funny, Miss Swann? Share, please,' he said, nudging her with his bottle.
Elizabeth chuckled. 'Nothing… it's nothing. Just… I'm reminded of a song I learned as a child. A song about pirates,' she told him, taking another drink.
'I know a lot of songs about pirates, but none I'd teach a child. Let's hear it,' he said, leaning back on his elbows in the sand.
'Oh, no… it's silly. Back in England, we didn't know a thing about pirates. They seemed so romantic and daring…' she trailed off. Jack sat back up, peering at her with a smirk on his face. She knew he liked the sound of that, so she continued, 'That was before I met one, of course,' she added, glancing at him, but this never seemed to deter him.
'Now I must hear this song. An authentic pirate song. Have at it!' he insisted.
Elizabeth chuckled at his enthusiasm. 'Well, perhaps… with a bit more to drink, I might…' she trailed off, taking another sip of her rum.
Jack leapt up. 'More to drink!' he yelled, running to gather two more bottles, tossing one to her. Elizabeth dropped the one she was holding, which was only half-finished, to catch the new bottle. Elizabeth glanced back at the other one lying in the sand and grimaced, opening her new bottle and taking a sip. Jack appeared again at her side, sitting down cross-legged in the sand. 'Well?' he bade, nudging her with his bottle.
Elizabeth took another sip, clearing her throat. She began to sing self-consciously, her voice becoming stronger as she went on. 'We pillage, we plunder, we rifle, we loot, drink up me hearties, yo ho,' she sang, signalling for Jack to take a drink before continuing. 'We kidnap and ravage, and we don't give a hoot, drink up me hearties, yo ho—' she paused as Jack joined in.
Jack sang out a lot louder than Elizabeth. Eventually, he stood up, pulling her up as well and they began singing and dancing arm in arm around the fire. 'We're devils and black sheep and really bad eggs. Drink up me 'earties yo ho! Yo ho, yo ho a pirate's life for me!' they sang, continuing to dance.
'I love this song!' Jack yelled out. They both met each other in the middle, swinging around arm in arm again. 'Really bad eggs! Ooh!' he said falling and taking Elizabeth down with him. He sighed, gazing out onto the horizon. 'When I get the Pearl back, I'm gonna teach it to the whole crew, and we'll sing it all the time!' He told her with a smile, which Elizabeth returned, saluting the idea with her bottle. Jack had tossed his empty bottle behind him, so he was unable to answer the salute. Elizabeth handed him hers, which he took a large swig off before settling unsteadily on his arms in the sand.
Elizabeth smiled back, feigning being drunk. 'You'll be positively the most fearsome pirate in the Spanish Main,' Elizabeth said, feeding his ego.
Jack shook his head a little. 'Not just the Spanish Main, love. The entire ocean. The entire wo'ld. Wherever we want to go, we'll go. That's what a ship is, you know. It's not just a keel, 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,' he illuminated. She smiled and nodded.
Elizabeth leaned her head against his shoulder. 'Jack… it must be really terrible for you to be trapped on this island,' she said.
Jack eyed her in confusion because she was leaning on him. Jack shrugged a little. 'Oh, yes,' he answered, putting his arm around her. 'But the company is infinitely better than last time, I think. The scenery has definitely improved,' he said, complimenting her as well. He made to move in, and so did she.
She pulled away before their lips could touch. Elizabeth laughed slightly, staring at him. 'Mr Sparrow… I'm not entirely sure that I've had enough rum to allow that kind of talk,' she explained. She was glad she pulled away before they kissed. She knew she would regret it.
Jack smiled. 'I know exactly what you mean, love,' he replied, curling his moustache.
Elizabeth grabbed one of the other bottles lying by the fire, opening it, and raising it in a toast. 'To freedom,' she said.
Jack raised his bottle. 'To the Black Pearl,' he toasted. They clinked their bottles together, and he downed his, losing consciousness.
Elizabeth regarded him in revulsion before gazing at the fire, smiling. Elizabeth got up, leaving Jack where he had passed out and made for the cellar. She grabbed barrels of food, bottles of rum, and anything else she could find before carrying them back and throwing them on the fire.
oOoOo
Jack was fast asleep, lying in the sunlight appearing on the horizon. His nose twitched as he stirred, and smoke drifted by above him. As the smoke drifted nearer to him, his nose twitched again, and he frowned before opening his eyes. Jack groaned, sitting up and rubbing his temples to clear his morning hangover. He scanned the island, realising all the foliage was on fire, the smoke rising into the clear blue sky. Leaping to his feet, he grabbed his head in pain. He squinted, watching Elizabeth pour out the last of the rum, dousing a scrub brush at the base of a palm tree. The whole thing went up in flames before she rolled a barrel forward and it also started to burn merrily.
Jack gaped in disbelief, wondering if this was some horrible nightmare. He slapped himself to wake up, but when he saw Elizabeth toss another barrel onto the fire and a small explosion went off, he began to panic. 'No! Not good! Stop! Not good!' he cried, running over to her. 'What are you doing? You burned all the food, the shade! The rum!' he yelled, clutching his head in frustration as he glared at her.
'Yes, the rum is gone,' she replied, gazing at the massive fire. She wiped her hands together as another rum barrel let off another explosion.
Jack stared at her in bewilderment. 'Why is the rum gone?' he asked as if it was the end of the world.
Elizabeth turned to him sharply, causing him to take a step back. He could see rage building in her eyes. 'One, because it is a vile drink that turns even the most respectable men into complete scoundrels,' she explained. Jack stared at her blankly, so she continued, 'Two, that signal is over a thousand feet high. The entire Royal Navy is out looking for Calli and me. Do you really think that there is even the slightest chance that they won't see it?' she asked him but sighed in irritation as his blank look didn't lift.
Jack gaped at her. 'You… you burned up the island, for a one-time chance at being spotted?'
'Exactly,' she answered, before turning towards the sea.
'But why is the rum gone?' he demanded again in resentment this time.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes, sitting down on the sand to stare out at the horizon. 'Just wait, Captain Sparrow,' she told him without looking at him, instead indicating to the horizon. 'You give it one hour, maybe two, keep a weather eye out, and then you will see white sails on that horizon,' she told him. She shielded her eyes, scanning the water determinedly, waiting, and searching.
Speechless, Jack threw his hands in the air. He stared down at her with unguarded resentment, taking out his pistol to shoot her for what he deemed her insolence and selfishness at burning his precious rum. He then thought better of it, placing it back in his belt and stalking off up the dune in fury just to get away from her. As he got to the top of the dune, he glanced back down where he could see a speck sitting on the sand. '"Must've been terrible for you to be trapped here, Jack. Must've been terrible for you",' he imitated Elizabeth before yelling. 'Well, it bloody is now!' Jack reached the crest of the dune where he stopped, staring incredulously at the horizon. Anchored on the other side of the island, white sails glorious against the turquoise waters, was the H.M.S. Dauntless. In the water was a longboat rowing towards the island. Jack rubbed his eyes in irritation, before glancing back down towards the beach. 'There'll be no living with her after this,' he grumbled, slumping his shoulders in defeat.
oOoOo
Jack made his way back down to the beach as the rowboat was pulling onto the shore. Elizabeth and Jack got in, and they rowed back to the Dauntless. It wasn't long before they were on board and Norrington pulled Elizabeth into his arms. 'Elizabeth, I'm relieved you're safe,' he said.
Elizabeth pulled away, giving him an uneasy smile. 'Yes, I'm fine, Commodore,' she answered. 'But we've got to save Will and Calli,' she told him. He shook his head, and Elizabeth stared at him in alarm.
He turned towards Jack, raising his eyebrows before nodding to the soldiers. 'Clap him in irons, and behind his back this time,' he ordered them. They fetched the irons, clapping them on Jack.
'Commodore, you can't do that!' Elizabeth yelled, beginning to panic.
'You're speaking up for him again?' Norrington asked, rounding on her.
Elizabeth shook her head. 'He can locate Isla de Muerta – but I doubt he'll be willing to help us from the brig,' she told him.
Jack nodded. 'She's right. We had time to get to know each other,' he answered, smiling at Elizabeth who rolled her eyes.
Norrington sighed. 'We are bound for Port Royal, not Isla de Muerta,' he told her, making to walk up to the bridge.
Elizabeth gaped at him in disbelief. 'No. The pirates have taken Calli and–' she started, but he cut her off.
'No. You're safe now, and we have already sent soldiers out to save Callista. Your father is frantic with worry. Our mission was to rescue you both and return home to Port Royal immediately, not go gallivanting after pirates!' he told her firmly.
Elizabeth was having none of it. 'Then we condemn them to death,' she demanded in shock. She couldn't believe they weren't even going to go after Callista. 'Commodore, please!'
Norrington sighed. 'Callista will be safe once they find her. The boy's fate is regrettable, but so was his decision to engage in piracy,' he replied.
Elizabeth threw up her hands in the air in frustration. 'To rescue me. To prevent anything from happening to me,' she answered, before shaking her head anxiously. 'Callista was with them! They will not hesitate to kill her as well after they have executed Will. They may even kill her beforehand! Do those soldiers you sent out even know the way to Isla de Muerta?' she questioned. Norrington seemed to think about this.
Jack raised his eyebrows at this, deciding to step in. 'If I may be so bold as to inject my professional opinion,' he said. They all turned to him as he continued, 'The Pearl was listing near to scuppers after the battle. It's very unlikely she'll 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 asked.
The Commodore turned to him. 'By remembering that I serve others, Mr Sparrow, not only myself,' he replied, turning to walk away again.
Elizabeth looked stricken at this; how can they just leave Calli? She thought. She stepped forward, placing her hands on the handrails of the stairs to the Helm of the ship. 'Commodore, I beg you, please do this. For me. As a wedding gift,' she said, gazing up at him. Norrington turned to her in astonishment.
Gillette asked. 'Elizabeth, are you accepting the Commodore's proposal?'
Elizabeth sighed. 'I am,' she answered, continuing to look up at Norrington hopefully.
Jack smiled. 'A wedding! I love weddings… drinks all around!' he yelled as Murtogg and Mullroy stared at him in bewilderment. Jack peered at the arrogant expression on Norrington's face. 'I know, "Clap him in irons", right?' he questioned with a smile still etched on his face.
Norrington rolled his eyes. 'Mr Sparrow, you will accompany these fine men to the Helm and provide us with the bearing to Isla de Muerta,' he told him, and Jack nodded. '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?' he asked.
Jack smiled. 'Inescapably clear,' he answered. Murtogg and Mullroy took his arms, dragging him up to the Helm of the ship.
Norrington turned to Elizabeth. 'You may seclude yourself in my cabin. I'm afraid we do not have any ladies' clothing aboard,' he told her, taking in her undergarments.
Elizabeth glanced down at herself. 'Then I can wear men's clothing,' she suggested.
'That would hardly be proper,' Norrington argued, shaking his head.
Elizabeth huffed. 'Well, I am not going to stay hidden in some cabin, or I suppose it's going to be heaving bosoms and bare for the remainder of the voyage!' she answered determinedly, folding her arms over her chest.
Exasperated, Norrington stared at her, but couldn't help grinning at her insolence. This was precisely why he loved her. She smiled back at him as if telling him she's not going to change. 'Murtogg, take our guest below, and find her some trousers and a shirt,' he ordered him. Elizabeth smiled, allowing him to escort her away. Norrington watched her go, before turning his gaze to the sea.
oOoOo
Back on the Black Pearl, Pintel entered the brig, peering into the cell Will and Hermione were locked in. There was no sign of Will because he was hanging from the rafters, trying to shove the ceiling planks with his legs. Pintel chuckled, causing Hermione to raise her eyebrows in question. 'That ain't going to work. That's the gun deck above ya,' he yelled up to Will. Will sighed, dropping back down to the ground.
Ragetti came down with two mops and a bucket, and he started swabbing the floor. Pintel took the other one, getting to work. Gibbs and the rest of Jack's crew were watching as Cotton's Parrot looked down, squawking. 'Awwk, shiver me timbers,' he said.
Gibbs chuckled, glancing at Pintel. 'Cotton 'ere says you missed a bit,' he told him. Pintel hit the cell with his mop.
Hermione glanced up as Will leaned against the cell bars, eyeing Pintel. 'You knew William Turner?' he inquired. Hermione came to stand next to him, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
Pintel stopped mopping, glowering at Will. 'Ol' Bootstrap Bill. We knew him. Stupid blighter. He threw in with us after we relieved Jack Sparrow of his Captaincy. But turned out, it never sat well with him, the mutiny and all – particularly after we found Cortes' treasure, and its peculiar condition. He thought we deserved to be cursed, for leaving ol' Jack to the fate we did. He said it wasn't right with the Code. That's why he sent off a piece of the treasure – to you, as it were: so, it would never be recovered, and so cursed we remain,' he explained, starting to mop again.
'And then he ran, and he's hiding out someplace where you haven't been able to find him,' Will said, his tone hopeful.
'That's a nice thought, to be sure, and I wager your ol' dad wishes he'd thought it hisself, but, no. See, what he'd done, didn't sit too well with Captain Barbossa–'
Ragetti laughed, cutting him off. 'That didn't sit too well with the Captain, at all. Tell him what Barbossa did,' he said.
Pintel rolled his eyes in irritation. 'I'm telling the story!' he barked at Ragetti who resumed his swabbing. He turned back to Will. 'So, he chained a cannon to ol' Bootstrap's Bootstraps, and dumped him over,' he answered. Will moved back from the bars in alarm at the account of his father's fate.
Ragetti laughed. 'Stupid blighter,' he said, and Pintel smirked in agreement.
Gibbs frowned. 'Good man,' he put in.
'The last we saw of ol' Bill Turner, he was sinking into the crushing black oblivion of Davy Jones' Locker. 'Course it was only after that we learned we needed his blood to lift the curse,' he finished with a frown, shrugging.
'That's what you call ironic,' Ragetti added to Pintel's nod. Will stared down at the floor of the Pearl miserably. Hermione rubbed his back, trying to give him some comfort.
Barbossa appeared behind Pintel, flanked by several other pirates. He regarded Will for a moment, before tossing the key to their cell. Pintel caught it. 'Bring them!' he ordered, turning on his heel and making his way back up. Will glanced down at Hermione worriedly, pulling her into his arms and kissing her forehead. Ragetti opened the cell door.
oOoOo
Jack stepped up to the rail, folding his arms over, waiting as he pretended to look out at sea. Elizabeth, dressed in sailors clothing to excellent effect, joined him and leaned on the rail as well. They stood in silence for a moment. Elizabeth glanced at him. 'You didn't tell Commodore Norrington everything,' she said to him.
'Nor did you, I noticed,' Jack said, examining his fingernails before glancing at her.
'He might delay the rescue… and that would be too late,' Elizabeth replied, defending her reasoning for not going into detail with Norrington.
Jack smiled. 'Exactly.'
'These men will be facing an enemy that seemingly cannot be killed,' Elizabeth said nervously, wondering what would become of all the soldiers.
'I have a plan. If it succeeds, then any battle will be decidedly brief… and one-sided,' Jack answered with a smirk.
Elizabeth peered at him, frowning. 'What's your plan?' she asked curiously.
'LAND HO!' the lookout in the crow's nest called out.
Jack and Elizabeth glanced in the direction the lookout was pointing in, seeing the Isla de Muerta laying dark and menacing on the horizon. Norrington appeared beside them with Gillette. 'Elizabeth – below decks. I will not compromise your safety,' he said defiantly, leaving no room for dispute even as she opened her mouth to speak. He turned away, not giving her a chance. 'Lieutenant, escort Elizabeth to my quarters, and make sure she stays there,' he ordered Gillette. He glanced between the Commodore and the now glaring Elizabeth anxiously. Norrington pretended not to notice this, gazing through his spyglass at the island. Jack watched in amusement as Gilette escorted Elizabeth away. Norrington lowered his spyglass, glancing at Jack. 'I don't like the situation, Mister Sparrow. The island is riddled with caves. I will not put my men at a disadvantage. Any attempt to storm the caves could turn to an ambush,' he told him.
Jack smiled a toothy grin. 'Not if you're the one doing the ambushing,' he answered. He proceeded to tell him his plan as if they were about to go on a treasure hunt. 'I go in; I convince Barbossa to send his men out with their little boats. You and your mates return to the Dauntless and blast the bejesus outta them with your little cannons, eh?' he told him. Norrington became thoughtful, his expression then turned to repulsion as Jack placed an arm around his shoulder. 'What do you have to lose?' Jack asked him with a smile.
Norrington took a deep breath, counting to ten in his head before peeling Jack's arm off from around his shoulders. 'Nothing I'd lament being rid of,' he answered.
Jack nodded. 'I knew you'd listen to reason!' Jack exclaimed. He then turned serious, tapping his chin, and clicking his tongue. 'Now, to be quite honest with you, there's still a slight risk for those aboard the Dauntless, which includes the future Mrs Commodore,' Jack told him. The Commodore stared back in uncertainty as the crew prepared to lower a longboat over the side. Jack wrapped his pistol securely in an oilskin pouch. 'That chart I drew up'll get you past the reefs. If you're steersman's good enough, that is,' Jack informed him.
Norrington glanced sideways at him. 'I'll be at the wheel myself,' he answered.
Jack nodded. 'I'll slip in, talk them into coming out, and you'll be free to blow high holy heaven the whole lot of them,' Jack told him. They got into the boat, and the crewmen lowered them into the water.
oOoOo
Up on the Dauntless, Gillette and another soldier pulled Elizabeth to the cabin, throwing her in. Elizabeth tried to go back out, but Gillette stopped her. 'Sorry, but it's for your safety,' he told her.
Elizabeth punched the other soldier, causing him to grab his, now, bleeding nose. 'Coward! The Commodore ordered – I have to tell him! The pirates! They're cursed! They cannot be killed!' she yelled, but only realised after how insane she must have sounded.
Gillette smiled mockingly. 'Don't worry, miss. He's already informed of that. A little mermaid flopped up on deck and told him the whole story,' he told her, shutting the door.
Elizabeth banged on the door for a while. 'This is Jack Sparrow's doing!' she shouted. The lock clicked, and she leaned against the door in frustration.
oOoOo
In the caves, the group of pirates moved deeper into the depths of the island. Hermione and Will followed along unwillingly, pulled by Ragetti and Pintel. 'No reason to fret. It's just a prick of the finger, and a few drops of blood,' he told Will disdainfully.
Barbossa turned then with a grin. 'Turner blood doesn't flow pure in his veins. Best play it safe, and spill it all,' he told them. The colour from Will's face drained, and Hermione glanced at him fearfully.
Pintel shrugged. 'I guess there is a reason to fret,' he said with a grin.
In the torchlight, Hermione detected cracks running between the floor, and the wall of the cave, which widened into a ravine. Barbossa appeared next to her, laying a hand on her shoulder making her jump. 'Careful, now. You could fall in and still be wonder'n when you'll hit dirt,' he said to her with a grin. She stepped away from the ravine.
Making a hasty decision, she deliberately stumbled as Ragetti pushed her forward. Closing her eyes, knowing what she was about to do may make Will abhor her or even scared of her, she took out her wand, casting the disarming charm towards the pirate in front of her. The torch he was carrying flew out of his hand and into her waiting hand. The force of the spell caused the pirate to fall into the wall of the cave. She stood in front of the pirates, armed with the torch and her wand, firing another spell at Pintel who let go of Will. Will took that opportunity to get over to her, examining the wand in uncertainty. She aimed it at the pirates.
'What is this power!?' Pintel roared, standing back up.
Hermione glanced sideways at Will, giving him a contrite expression. 'It's called witchcraft. I'm sure you've heard of it,' Hermione retorted, noting Will's stunned expression. Hermione closed her eyes, knowing she had a lot of explaining to do. 'You all deserve to be cursed and remain cursed!' she yelled, turning to Will. 'Jump into the ravine, now!' She told him. He dropped down without question. Hermione turned back to the pirates, raising her wand at the cave ceiling. 'Reducto!' She cried, jumping into the ravine as the ceiling collapsed, blocking the passageway. The wall of the ravine became loose gravel due to the explosion from the passage ceiling, and Hermione hit it. She tumbled down, disappearing into the darkness below.
'Witchcraft! Blast that girl! A witch! A pox on the boy, his father, and the whole damnable line! Fan out! Find them! Kill the witch and bring the boy to me!' Barbossa ordered. The pirates who were not crushed by the caved-in ceiling backtracked down the passage to find a way down into the ravine.
oOoOo
On the Dauntless, Elizabeth peered out of the Captain's small porthole seeing boats laden with Navy men heading towards the shore of the island. Turning away from the window, Elizabeth wished there was something she could do. As she searched around for a way to get out of the ship, she heard a flutter at the window. She glanced over to see Cotton's parrot perched on the window ledge. 'Drink UP me hearties yo ho! Drink UP me hearties yo ho!' the parrot squawked, fluttering off and Elizabeth raced towards the porthole, and then to the stern window to see it fly away. Peering down to where Cotton's parrot flew off, she could see a small rowboat fastened to the stern of the ship. A small, hopeful smile flitted onto her face.
oOoOo
Will watched as Hermione got to her feet awkwardly, glancing at him nervously. Will sighed, walking towards her and taking her wand out of her hand, examining it. 'You have a lot of explaining to do, Calli. I have no idea how you did what you did, but you have bought us some time,' he said, handing her wand back.
'I know, I promise I'll tell you everything as soon as we are out of this mess,' she said. Her voice was weak with the knowledge of what she would have to tell him. It may end up with her being the star guest at the gallows.
Will nodded, before taking her hand and they ran through the ravine, turning this way and that. Eventually, they could see a light, and they headed towards it, turning around a corner, and ran straight into someone.
Stepping back in alarm, Will let out a breath of relief upon realising it was Jack. Jack glanced between the two of them in astonishment, before grabbing their arms. 'Do you have any idea where you're going?' he asked them, gazing at Hermione, who gave him a small smile.
'Jack!' Will exclaimed, feeling like he could hug the bastard, even though he was also questioning how the hell he got there.
'Jack, where's Elizabeth!?' Hermione cried, hopeful that Jack being here meant she was also safe.
'We'll talk later. Don't speak; these caves magnify sound. Just follow me,' he told them. They nodded, following him through the caves.
Jack led them through a series of narrow passages, stopping and staring around himself a few times before carrying on. Will was just behind Jack, pulling Hermione behind him. The third time they stopped, Hermione sighed in frustration. 'Are you certain this is the right way?' she asked him.
Jack gazed at her for a long moment before answering, 'It's the right way,' he replied, nodding to a crack in the wall he was peering through. The two joined him, looking through the crack to see what he was gazing at. Through the crack was piles upon piles of treasure, sparkling, glowing, and seemingly endless. On top of the centre pile, in a moonlit clearing, was a stone Aztec chest.
'Thank you, Jack Sparrow,' came a voice from behind them, making them jump. Barbossa was standing right behind them, flanked by his men. The trio whirled around to run, but more pirates emerged from all directions, effectively cutting them off. Nearly the entire crew of the Black Pearl was there, except for the few who were crushed by the passage ceiling. The pirates grabbed the three of them, Will and Hermione immediately started resisting, but Jack did not bother fighting at all. Barbossa smirked at them all in turn. 'You couldn't have led him back more directly if you knew exactly where you were going,' he laughed, moving forward towards the stone chest. The pirates followed, dragging the three captives with them.
'You did know where you were going! You led us directly to them!' Will yelled heatedly. Jack remained silent, not looking at either of his companions.
'Why, Jack?' Hermione asked, her voice quiet.
Jack gazed at her, stunned to perceive the undertone of hurt in her voice. Jack looked away, not wanting to see her upset expression anymore.
The pirates grabbed Will, manhandling him towards the chest. 'The girl dies once we have dealt with Mr Turner. We wouldn't want her to taint us with her witchcraft again,' Barbossa said. Jack glanced at Hermione in bewilderment, but she had her eyes lowered to the ground. Jack watched Barbossa walk into the moonlight, becoming skeletal, and he put the medallion around Will's neck. He picked up a stone knife. 'What was begun by blood, let blood now end it!' he barked to cheers, raising the knife to Will's throat. Hermione averted her eyes, tears beginning to fall, thinking they were not going to get out of this one. She felt Jack move closer to her. She gazed at him as he winked at her causing her to frown at what he could be planning now.
Jack continued to gaze at her as he said, 'You don't want to be doing that.' Then he glanced up at Barbossa.
Barbossa made a show of pretending to think about his words, before lowering the knife to Will's throat again. 'No, I really think I do,' he answered.
Jack shrugged. 'All right then, your funeral,' he muttered, looking away.
Barbossa paused then, rolling his eyes and moving away from Will and out of the moonlight. 'Why don't I be wanting to do this?' he asked Jack out of morbid curiosity.
Jack grinned. 'Because, right about now, the H.M.S. Dauntless is lying in wait in the lagoon,' Jack informed him, and Will's eyes widened in horror.
'Jack!' Hermione cried in disbelief.
Jack ignored them both, continuing, 'And its guns and crew will cut you and your men to pieces the moment you step outside these caves.'
At these words, a buzz of apprehension swept through the pirates. 'Do you believe him?' Pintel asked Barbossa who appeared as though he was considering Jack's words carefully.
Barbossa shook his head. 'No,' he answered. Jack's shoulders slumped at this, but he perked up as Barbossa nodded towards Hermione and then Will. 'But I believe these two,' he said before glancing at Will. 'He is genuinely fuming,' he replied to nods from the pirates.
Jack eased. 'You've no hope of surviving Norrington's attack… that is, if you're mortal.'
Barbossa regarded him with a frown. 'What're you suggesting?'
Jack shook off the hands holding him, sauntering towards Barbossa, Will, and the chest of coins. He turned back to look at the pirates for a moment, deliberately avoiding eye contact with Hermione out of fear of what he would see in her eyes. He peered back at Barbossa. 'Simple. Don't kill the boy yet. Wait for a more opportune moment,' he proposed. Will scowled at him, listening to every word he was saying. Jack moved over to the chest, glancing at Will for a moment before scooping up a handful of coins from the chest. Keeping eye contact with Will, he began dropping the coins one-by-one back into the chest as he spoke, 'Like after you've killed… Every… Last… One… of Norrington's men,' he said emphasising his words with a drop of a coin.
Barbossa eyed him suspiciously. 'I can't help wondering, Jack, why you're being so helpful and all? Last time you did that, it didn't end well for you,' he said, clicking his tongue trying to figure Jack out.
'The situation has changed,' Jack answered, turning back towards him.
'That so?' Barbossa asked, raising his eyebrows and gesturing for Jack to explain.
'Aye. See, after you're done with the Royal Navy, you'll have a bit of a problem: The H.M.S. Dauntless. There you'll be, with two lovely ships on your hands, and what to do? Of course, you'll decide you deserve the bigger one, and who's to argue? The Dauntless: a first-rate ship-of-line, and with it, you can rule the seas,' he paused for a beat, letting this sink in. He continued, 'But if you're Captain of the Dauntless, who's left for the Black Pearl?' he asked with a smile, spreading his hands. 'Me! I sail for you as part of your fleet, I give you fifteen percent of my plunder, and you get to introduce yourself at tea parties and brothels as "Commodore Barbossa",' he said, sticking out his hand towards Barbossa. 'Do we have an accord?' he asked. Barbossa licked his lips, visibly tempted. 'Now, you can take care of the Dauntless, right?' he said, his tone hopeful.
Barbossa turned from Jack to the pirates. 'Men! Are you up for it?' he asked them. The pirates yelled back in the affirmative. Barbossa turned back to Jack, shaking his hand. 'Mr Pintel, select five men to stay here. Take the rest of the men out… not through the caves,' he ordered, keeping his eyes on Jack.
Jack's expression faltered; this he hadn't planned on. 'There's… another exit?' he asked him in surprise.
Barbossa smirked. 'Aye, for us there is.'
oOoOo
Moonlight shone down into the shallow waters, brightening the coral, and sparkling over the rippled sand floor. Suddenly, all the fish scattered in the seemingly empty water and figures appeared in the distance, wavering in the shifting current. They scuffled forward, kicking up clouds of sand, and the figures resolved into skeletal pirates, moving silently across the lagoon floor, swords glinting. The tatters of their clothing drifted in the water, their skull heads fixed in endless grins.
The lead pirate glided forward, stopping next to a huge iron anchor twice his height, buried halfway into the sand. A heavy chain with barrel-sized links climbed up toward the surface. A shadow fell across the lead pirate, transforming him into an ordinary man, revealing him to be Pintel. He looked up, above the massive chain led to the giant bottom hull of the H.M.S. Dauntless, silhouetted by the moonlight. The colossal shift drifted, again spilling light below, and the pirates gathered around the anchor were once again transformed into skeletons, staring with upturned faces. Pintel put a knife between his teeth, crawling up the iron rings.
The other pirates crowded forward, and soon the anchor-chain became clustered with skeletons.