A/N: Here is the first official chapter! I love your reviews...keep them coming.
We really get into things the next chapter but for now enjoy my kicking off fun.
By the way a great loyal reviewer (Saucy-Duck) asked if will would be a part of the love triangle. I wanted to tell all that the plot is very complicated and that the WE relationship in this fic is mostly just friendship. However there are a couple of love triangles going one involving the same people! Whoa! Stay tuned to find out more.
"I don't understand."
"I don't understand! I don't understand," Jack mimicked Will as they sneaked behind a building. "I know who we need to get out of this place and I know how, when and where to get it. What else is there that you need to understand?"
"I don't understand the who, when, where and how."
"Good. That's a considerably important part of my plan. Wouldn't want something incredibly stupid to happen. Follow me."
"Don't I always," Will muttered under his breath.
Elizabeth held out her arms as her maid helped her into an afternoon dress,proceeded to brush her hair and pin it up.
"It must have been a hard day for you."
"Yes yes, it's not every day one gets engaged."
"Oh! I meant you getting held hostage by that pirate. Terrifying!"
Elizabeth nodded. "Oh yes! Absolutely."
"But you're engaged miss! The commodore finally proposed. Congratulations."
"Yes thank you. I'm overwhelmed."
They crept to the bushes behind the Governer's house.
"The Governer's house? Jack!"
"Shush!"
"And how do you plan on getting in?"
"I never had such a plan but if you really want to, go ahead without me," Jack said. "We are not going anywhere. They are coming to us. A doubloon says Commodore Norrington will visit here and take the girl for a walk and that not one single guard will think of searching the Governer's house."
"You're mad."
"If by mad you mean brilliant."
"It'll never happen."
"Wait and watch as you get proved wrong."
"And how, pray tell, are you so sure?"
"He's a man and she's a woman. Simple as that."
She straightened her light blue hoop skirt and tied her bonnet. In spite of the day's activities it was still only late afternoon and she was sure there would be people calling in on them. She couldn't afford to be unprepared.
"Miss? Commdore Norrington is waiting for you."
"Just a moment," she nodded. She made her way down the stairs after taking a long calming breath.
"James?"
"Elizabeth," he took hold of her hand to help her down the last few steps. "You look beautiful this evening. Are you quite alright?"
"I'm fine, really."
"Would you like to take a short walk around the grounds?"
"I'd love to."
He led her outside to the back garden and they walked along the plants.
"Elizabeth, I'm honored that you would accept my proposal but I must know...Are you marrying me because of your father's wish?"
She stopped and turned to him. "No James, I'm marrying you because you're a fine man."
He smiled and extended his arm again which she took gratefully. Before they could take the first step a gunshot rang and there was some yelling.
"Elizabeth stay here!"
"But--"
"Please Elizabeth. You'll be safe here, I have to see what's happening."
He was gone in the blink of an eye. Elizabeth stomped a foot in outrage, she hated being left behind.
Before she knew it something cold was pressed against her throat. "You make the slightest noise darling and even though I don't want to I will not hesitate in cutting your throat savvy?"
"William help me carry the unwilling lady will you?"
Will who looked more than slightly ashamed took hold of Elizabeth's other arm and they dragged her along.
"You won't get away with this," she whispered afraid to talk too loud.
"Hate to break it to you bonnie lass but I already have."
They walked away from the house and into the street where nobody seemed to take notice of them. As if on cue an old horse pulled wagon passed right in front of them and they all hopped on. The back of the wagon was filled with hay which served for a good hiding place.
Jack could almost laugh at how simple it was. "Of course they don't think of searching the governer's house. One noise and they assume they've found us. Amateurs," he laughed and observed Elizabeth who was still in danger of being cut by his blade.
"Now that won't do at all love, you're too easily recognizable. We need to get rid of the dress."
"You dare touch me and I will scream regardless of being killed."
"Easy dearie. Nothing we haven't seen earlier today," he said and received a glare from Elizabeth. They were all silent for a while and Jack -out of habit- used his free hand to look through all of the trunks in the back of the wagon. A couple of rings and necklaces which he pocketed, there were some clothes and the biggest, most funny looking had he'd ever came across. It was round and blue with colorful flowers of every size sown on to it and feathers on the brim.
He chuckled. "This shall do for a great disguise. No one will think the governer's daughter would ever where such a hat."
Elizabeth expressed her discomfort with an unhappy grunt. Jack placed the hat on her head instead of the bonnet.
"You're a vision darling."
Will sat straight to look outside. "Time to jump in, three..."
"Two..." Jack continued.
"One!"
They landed on a some sacks of wheat and Elizabeth was finally free from his grip.
The honest law abiding citizens of Port Royal who were walking by the harbor heard a high pitched scream echo through the street. All action stopped for a few seconds as everyone looked around but as nothing out of the ordinary could be spotted everyone went back to what they were doing.
Behind the sack of hay Jack had covered Elizabeth's mouth with one hand and held his pistol to her head with the other and looked rather bored and tired with the whole thing.
"May I remind you that if you give me away, you are no longer valuable to me and I will therefor have no problem with putting a bullet in your brain at this very second?"
She froze and didn't make another move. In spite of herself she was scared to death.
"That's better. Off to the Interceptor."
James Norrington hadn't been so furious since the Tripoli incident. Jack Sparrow! He didn't hate anyone that much in the entire world.
Somehow when he'd seen Elizabeth was missing he knew to go to the docks. As his carriage came to a sudden stop he hurried out, shouting his orders at the soldiers.
"Lock every ship down. I want every man guarding the docks. Not one ship leaves this bay," he ordered as he marched down to the Interceptor. Only to find it...gone?
"Commodore! How nice of you to see us off like this. We weren't expecting any fuss."
James looked at Jack Sparrow who was getting smaller and smaller as the Interceptor distanced from the harbor. He was so shocked it took him a minute to realize the woman of his dreams was standing right beside Sparrow with a pistol pressed to her head.
"Elizabeth!" he screamed with all his might. "All men to their stations. Lock down that ship and do not let it get out of this bay."
"I would rethink that if I were you Commodore as it puts the future Mrs. Commodore in grave danger," Sparrow yelled loudly so he could be heard. "If I were you I would let us have a day's head start because I'm quite determined at keeping this pistol where it is for the next twenty four hours. And if I sould find my life or my new ship in any danger I will put Miss Swann in the worst kind of danger."
James couldn't move. Couldn't speak.
"Commodore!" Sparrow yelled threateningly.
"Hold your fire men. Let them go."
"Wise choice. Until we meet again," he bowed.
Norrington was squeezing the hilt of his sword so hard he was surprised it didn't break. One look at Elizabeth and he knew he'd done the right thing. Soon the Interceptor was too far away for him to see Captain Jack Sparrow or Elizabeth Swann.
"Sir? Are we to let them leave."
"Supply every ship in the fleet. We leave tomorrow at dawn and we will find them."
Another soldier ran towards him. "Sir! He'd disabled all the guns. We couldn't even use them if we wanted to."
"And he didn't even fire a single shot," the first man said.
"That's got to be the best pirate I've ever seen."
"So it would seem," Norrington muttered. "In addition to the entire fleet I would like you to have them followed. Discreetly. Send out one spy on the next merchant ship that leaves and tell him to make no suspicious moves. I want your best man on this Lieutenant, I want Elizabeth to be protected from afar until we find them and I want this man to lead us to them and I want all of this done discreetly so as to insure Elizabeth's safety."
"Yes sir!"
He remembered himself saying that Sparrow wouldn't leave the port unless he let him. Here he was letting him.
Everyone went running about and carrying his orders out as he stood alone looking at the Interceptor which was now a dot in the distance.
"I will find you Sparrow and when I do I will squish you and make you sorry you ever came to Port Royal," he swore silently.
Elizabeth gathered her thoughts and planned every single way she could escape. One way included killing both men and sailing the ship back to Port Royal where an impressed James Norrington would take her into his arms. Unlikely.
Another one consisted of holding them both by gunpoint and making them take her back. Also unlikely.
The third option was the most simple and appealing. Kicking Jack Sparrow until he spat blood...it wouldn't help anything but it would make her feel better. A bit less unlikely.
She stomped on his foot with all her might.
"Oi love! That hurt."
"That was the main objective."
He ignored her last comment, placed his pistol back in his stash and walked over to Will who was at the helm.
"William take us to the Pearl. I would say three degrees starboard should do it and keep it steady."
"Aye Captain!"
Elizabeth marched after him as he inspected every little detail about the ship, unfurled the last sail and tied a rope here and there.
"You were bluffing!"
"I do that often. Which occasion are you referring to?"
"About keeping the pistol to my head for a whole day."
He rolled his eyes. "Of course I was. That would be absolutely boring wouldn't it?"
"You have no further use for me. Give me a longboat and let me go!"
"You're my safety insurance princess. I can't let you go that easy," he said distractedly as he shook his head at a knot. "Won't do at all. What do they teach them in the Navy these days?"
"But--"
"We'll need to make good time if we're to get to Tortuga by tomorrow morning," Jack shouted to Will.
"Aye Jack!"
Elizabeth who was clearly disappointed marched back to Will.
"You seem to have more sense. Please help me," Elizabeth begged.
"How very rude of me," Will flashed her an honest smile. "I'm William Turner. Call me Will."
He bowed as he planted a kiss on her hand.
"Elizabeth Swann," she smiled. Finally! Some manners.
"Pleasure. Miss Swann I am extremely sorry about all of this. I really am but my friend over there...His name is Jack Sparrow--"
"I know who he is," Elizabeth exclaimed grumpily.
Will chuckled. "Yes well...He's a bit..."
Will whirled his index finger next to his temple to demonstrate 'crazy'. Elizabeth smiled.
"So I've seen."
"Yes so if you could tolerate this insanity for a bit longer ,as I have for the past eight years, you have my word that I will let you go unharmed," Will said in a mock-serious tone as he held up a hand in an oath.
Elizabeth chuckled and leaned back against the railing. "You seem like a nice person. Why are you here?"
"Jack saved my life eight years ago and won't stop reminding me."
"So you're forced to do this?"
"No. Jack would like to think so but we both know he'll let me leave the moment I demand it."
"So you like this life?" Elizabeth asked with a raised eyebrow and blushed. "I'm sorry. Didn't mean to pry."
"Not at all. The truth is...I'm looking for my father. I need his help. Jack knew him and he has a suspicion that he might be in Davy's service--"
"Davy Jones?! You don't really believe that do you?"
"You would too if you lived with Jack long enough."
"I hope it doesn't come to that."
Will smiled. "You and I both."
"Honey I'm home!" Jack sang merrily as he came to join them.
"Home?" Elizabeth questioned.
"The Black Pearl," Jack pointed to the beautiful black ship beside the reefs.
"It exists!"
"Of course she exists."
Elizabeth had to blink again. "I thought it was a myth."
"Think again princess."
Sir Andrew Moretti was the best in his business. There wasn't a single person he hadn't found nor a single mystery he hadn't solved. When he heard Commodore Norrington's personal request and furthermore the price he would be paid he was certain he could do it.
"Inspector Moretti?" Commodore Norrington called. "I need this to happen immediatlely and I need this to be the most important job you've ever done. Could you do that sir?"
"I most certainly can Commodore. Is it true that he got passed you without firing a single shot?" he laughed. Norrington glared.
"Any ideas where you'll start looking?"
"Paaah! I've never had an easier mission. As sure as finding a proper lady at church on a Sunday morning you'll find Jack Sparrow at Tortuga after a raid," Andrew assured him. "Now if you'll excuse me Commodore. I have an hour to plan my plan, pack my things and get on that merchant ship."
Norrington nodded and left a sack on his desk. "I left you some of the money Moretti. I hope it'll insure that things go smoothly."
"It will indeed," he nodded after Norrington left. He brought out his trunk and packed the entire content of his desk. He'd need it if Jack Sparrow lived up to his reputation.
Elizabeth crossed her arms as she sat on a chair in Jack's cabin and tried to look cool and icy. She took off the silly hat and placed it on his desk.
"This would be my cabin, I rarely use it and you're welcome to stay here."
"Thank you," she said in an obviously feigned polite tone.
"Cheer up princess. You're on the best ship in the world, captained by the best captain in the world and crewed by the best crew in the world. You could do a lot worse. Namely blackbeard. Enjoy yourself!"
Gibbs burst in the room. "Captain!"
Elizabeth was shocked. "Mr. Gibbs!"
"Miss Elizabeth!"
"Aunt Fannie!" Jack exclaimed comically. "I see you're acquainted. Master Gibbs could you try to persuade her to loosen up a bit? She's awfully tight laced. I can't figure out why."
Gibbs ignored Jack's comments. "What do you want us to do with the Interceptor sir?"
"Send Mr. Cotton and Marty and some of the crew and tell them to follow us to Tia Dalma's."
Gibbs swallowed. "Not Tortuga?"
"Not Tortuga."
The two men strode out and Elizabeth waited until they were gone to slam the door shut and lock it. She wasn't scared any longer but she was incredibly angry and shamefully excited.
Jack sat down on the stairs looking tired of the days events and happy to have a bottle of rum in his hand.
"Ah mister Gibbs! Young people I tell you."
Gibbs looked confused. "Jack?"
"I mean as if William wasn't enough now there's two of them," Jack sighed. "Why Ana Maria! Darling...how are you?"
Ana Maria who was carrying his coat sat beside him and threw the coat at him.
"Thank you!"
"Captain Sparrow," Ana Maria said grumpily. "Your crew is drunk...yet again."
"Wonderful." Jack smile. "I was just telling Mr. Gibbs about our new guest. She's quite a stubborn lass."
"A girl! Shouldn't you be polite and ask her to dinner then? Wouldn't want her to starve."
"Dinner! Right you are," he strode to the door to find it locked.
"Elizabeth? Elizabeth?"
"It's Miss Swann."
Jack rolled his eyes. "Well Miss Swann would you honor us with your presence at dinner?" he asked mockingly.
"No!"
Jack gave Gibbs and Ana a look that said "I tried". They waved hands at him. Urging him on.
"Fine!" he muttered. "Could you open the door to my cabin for just a second?"
"No!"
"So you refuse to let me into my own cabin?"
"Precisely."
Jack turned to them. "She's being difficult," he whined.
"Be polite and nice. The poor girl must be scared," Ana advised.
"Open the door! I really don't want to break down my door, I happen to like it, but I will if I must."
Gibbs shook his head. "Not like that Jack! Be nice and charming. You're good at that."
"I must say I am," he admitted. "Miss Swann it would give me great pleasure if you so kindly opened the door and joined us for dinner...please," he added as an after thought.
"Thank you very much but no!"
Jack sighed and looked at Ana and Gibbs for help. They looked clueless.
"I'll give you a tour of the Pearl and show you how to steer it if you only open the door for the slightest moment...please?!"
There was no response and Jack took a swig of rum.
"Lets go," Gibbs said.
"Let her starve if she wants to Jack," Ana agreed.
The door opened ever so slightly and Elizabeth came into view. "Would you really give me a tour of the whole ship?"
Gibbs and Ana looked at each other in amazement but Jack acted nonchalantly. "Without a doubt my dear. I know ever corner of this vessel like the back of my hand."
Elizabeth came out of the room.
"That scratch right over there is where a crazy sea nymph attacked us once," he said as he took Elizabeth by the shoulder and led her away from the door.
"Really? Your story needs an audience Captain Sparrow. I'm afraid I hardly believe in these stories anymore."
"The world is my audience love."
She chuckled as he led her away.
"And down there is where we keep the important treasure..."
Gibbs and Ana shared a dazzled looke. Arms crossed, eyebrows raised and mouths agape. Jack Sparrow was full of surprises.
What do you think? The adventure is kicked off with lots more Sparrabeth to come! Also some plot twists.
Thank you to all my reviewers! I love you guys. Keep the reviews coming. They make me write faster