Book Two - Chapter Five: The Sight of the Sirin

The Roving Maid's destination now, by popular demand, was to head towards Tortuga. Captain Jack Sparrow suggested a lengthy stay in case any of the men would rather venture to "invest" their fortune. Barbossa saw to it personally that each man got his share of the plunder. He kept the value required to restock the ship with himself, unable to guarantee what would happen to it if left under anyone else's guard. Barbossa did not relish in squandering his wealth on mere spontaneous indulgences, at least not at this time. In fact, he found most of his earnings going into hiring certain men to secretly stand as reliable protection for his daughter. Amelia had no knowledge of any of these arrangements, but she did find it curious that any man who approached her once seldom did so a second time. It was difficult for Barbossa to guard his daughter from all corruption, especially on one of the largest pirate-run trading ports this side of the Caribbean Sea.

Amelia, though predominantly sensible and partial to her own morality, could not help but follow suit with the ways of the other seafarers. She had observed since her childhood how the crew behaved when relieved from their pirating duties. Being thrown right into the action now - along with being old enough to understand what was actually taking place around her - she noted all the amusements that the men absolutely basked in.

Jack was especially notable - his lap, like his mug, was never left empty for too long. Amelia watched every gesture he made as he slurped, burped, and chirped away carelessly. Each woman who took a seat on his knee he caressed first with gold coin and secondly with his lips. On one hand, Amelia found the display revolting, she could never imagine allowing anyone to treat her in such a way, but dwelling upon that thought reminded her of how it seemed almost expected of her. The boy she attacked back in London had first approached her with the same intentions as just about every man who had approached her since. Still, she had yet to succumb to any man, and none who had approached her had yet seemed worthy of bestowing her only remains of ladylike virtue upon.

Amelia's female companions were the harlots and entertainers who were impressed with her ladylike manner and charmed by her boyish attempts. The same appeal came across the men who encountered her on the island. Amelia, however, still had a strong standard when it came to associating with men of any sort. The majority of the filthy, foul, and utterly repulsive selection that came forth simply did not meet her fancy even as acquaintances. If Amelia was to be found with a man, it was only one from her own crew, the ones she felt that she could most rely on, also the ones which Barbossa was the least concerned about monitoring - at least until he discovered that they had managed to get her quite intoxicated one night. No ill came to the girl. The crew kept a steady eye on her and prevented any attempts of some godless wretch of setting her up as pray to his fancies.

Ragetti scooped her up as she nattered away to herself and brought her to her room. She was locked in for the purpose keeping everyone else out. Barbossa was furious when he found out but was unexpectedly pleased when he saw that the one-eyed man had taken it upon himself to sit outside her door to keep guard over her.

Morning did not prove to be a pleasant experience for the young girl. She not only had to deal with the physical consequences of last night's endeavours, but the consequences that he father had lain upon her as well. Barbossa had quickly assembled a chore list for her to do upon the Roving Maid, most of which was just physical labour. The crew members did feel a little guilty for having encouraged the minor corruption of the girl. Some of them took on her chores without being asked or requesting any repayment for this unnecessary work. It was a long and trying day, but it proved that Amelia was now one of the crew, for better or for worse.

A few days later another ship pulled into the Tortuga bay. The ship received quite a bit of hubbub. Amelia did not see what was so impressive about it. The ship was not particularity large, nor was its features anything other than plain. It did not seem to be flying any country's flag that she could recognize - it must not be government owned. As a pirate ship, it did not seem any more intimidating than some of the smaller vessels Amelia had seen in her lifetime. The prow of this new vessel was a figurehead depicting a woman with the body of a large owl. The name written across the ship was Sirin. Amelia asked around, trying to get an understanding of why such a fuss was being made over this ship, but no one from her crew would say more than that the ship was out of place. The tone of these remarks told the girl that it was not a question she should be asking. Amelia took her cue and avoided as much to do with that ship as possible. The trouble was that Amelia could only identify the ship itself and had not noted who belonged to it.

Another night at Tortuga had come and a new group of foreign men seemed to occupy the tavern that Sparrow and his crew were partial to. They seemed harmless. They just kept to themselves and the ladies while drinking heartily and chanting merry tunes in a language Amelia was not familiar with at all. She did not mean to be so captivated with the new party, but could not help herself. There was especially one man in the party who caught her attention. He was younger, but tall, fit, and well kept for a seafarer. His dark hair curled from under his bandana and curtained the gold ring in one of his ears. His beard was small and well groomed, which Amelia found strange for a man in these parts. Appearance and cleanliness were not common factors found amongst the men who stayed in Tortuga. The man in question caught a glimpse of the young woman who was watching him. When Amelia realized that she had been spotted, she quickly turned her attention away and sought out the next reasonable opportunity to quit the establishment altogether. She joined some of the local girls who were heading outside to air themselves. The girls laughed and sighed about the sudden rush of men who had come in outside of the usual busy season. They sat on some crates to the side of the building and fanned themselves.

"I ain't been so worn in months, Fanny," one of the girls said to another who was not slow to agree. "You get the easy job, Ms. Amelia," she said, "running around with 'em, no worry 'bout tryin' to please 'em. Bet your pay is far prettier, too."

"Aye, Mary," said Fanny, "but the poor girl's got'a give up her own sex with no enjoyment of the other. Tell me, Ms 'melia, when's the last time you got to just be 'melia? I can't 'magine not bein' 'spected for my feminine qualities, even if nothin' else."

"Poor dear," added Jenny, "and you bein' so pretty, too," she said to Amelia. She rose and took Amelia by the hand, "Come now, I'm goin' to fix this right here and now."

The other two women started to panic.

"Are you mad, then, Jenny? With her ol' man in there? He'd have your head in a handbag, you silly nit!"

"Calm yourselves, ladies," Jenny insisted, holding Amelia's hand quite firmly, "I saw the ol' man leave myself not an hour ago. Besides, won't no harm come to the young dear, just a little fun is all."

She led Amelia back into the tavern and stood her next to the abandoned piano in the corner. Jenny herself sat at the piano.

Seeing what Jenny intended, Amelia immediately protested, "No, please I can't!"

"Hush, child. Don't be silly. What's a girl without music?"

"Music was never my forte, my tutors all said so," Amelia reminded her.

"Hush! Tutors! You're more lady than anyone in these parts, and a right little nightingale when it pleases you. Now, 'nough of this. Something pretty," Jenny insisted.

Jenny began playing. Amelia instantly recognised the balladic tune as being "Winds of Avalon" and regretted ever having taught that song to her friends when she was a young girl. Thankfully, the volume in the tavern was such that no one even seemed to notice that the piano was being played at all, so Amelia took advantage of this opportunity to get the song over and done with before anyone was any the wiser. She sang softly with the piano, refusing to turn outward to the crowd who she hoped was still ignoring her. As silent as her voice was, though, it still managed to be carried through to the first few groups who settled down to hear the sweet melody. Slowly others began doing the same until all attention was on the young woman. She could hear the silence around her by the time she had run out of verses and ended the song. There was no applause. No one stirred. A wooden chair could be heard screeching across the floor as its occupant pushed it back. The man stood and slowly clapped his hands. No one followed suit and the echo travelled throughout the room. Amelia could not bring herself to turn around and see who it was. She expected to be someone she knew, like her father, or even Ragetti who would surely save her from the humiliation of being the centre of attention.

Suddenly a voice cried out, "Higgins! Bring us another!"

The voice belonged to Captain Jack Sparrow. His voice caused the room to resume to its usual level of volume and no one waited for the next song, which Jenny played without any vocal accompaniment.

Mortified, Amelia went to stand outside again.

"Ms," said a voice from behind her. The accent was strong and exotic, she couldn't place it. Amelia feared to face the stranger but did so out of an obligation of civility. The man calling her was the one she had seen earlier amongst the newcomers. She had quite forgotten about him. "Forgive my forwardness," he said very eloquently. There was an underlying smile in his eyes. "That song, I have heard it before," he said.

"It is quite possible, sir," Amelia replied, "I claim no ownership of it."

The man smiled and nodded his head.

"Please, tell me, Ms," he continued, "do you know of the English song - ah…what is it now? It is very much like the one you just sang. About Julia? "Farewell Julia" I believe it is called."

"There is an old song "Fair Julia, Farewell," Amelia thought aloud.

"Ah, that is the one!" he said clapping his hands joyfully. "It is very beautiful, no?"

"Indeed, sir, it is a very sweet yet a very sad song," Amelia replied.

"It was one of the first English songs I ever heard," the man confessed. "Do you know the words?"

Amelia was ashamed to admit to it, fearing she would be required to do an encore performance, but her honesty required her to nod her head in accordance.

"Again, I apologize for being so forward, but it is not often that one hears such a beautiful voice, especially in such places. Would you sing for me," he asked shrewdly, "in private?"

His last word caused Amelia to back away.

"I'm sorry, sir, but I cannot," she said.

The man had realized that he must have offended her and quickly tried to save himself, "Forgive me, Ms, I mean no ill intention. Perhaps it is the wrong choice in words? I request only to hear the song, if it would not trouble you."

"Who's troubling who, now?" a familiar voice said from behind them both.

"Ah, Jack Sparrow," the man acknowledged, trying to sound friendly but an underlying tone of malice was in his voice.

"Captain! If you don't mind," he corrected. "Taking Daddy's ship a little far, aren't you?" Jack said very informally.

"It seems that I am not the only one to inherit from his father? You must pass on my congratulations to Captain Teague," the man said.

"Retired did he?" Jack inquired about the man's father.

"Killed. He wanted only to see the Sirin out on open waters, but never did," the man explained.

"And yet here you are in your father's boat," Jack admired mockingly.

"Tell me, Jack," the man said very accusatory, "you and your men still picking up after the Monchris? One would think that scavengers would not be so worthy of a pirate lordship, even such a small one."

"Aye, but at least I was never bound to a spit of a basin," Jack laughed to himself, taking a mug from a man passing by and then proceeded to drink from it.

The foreign man was ready to up the stakes of this interaction until he recalled that the young woman was still standing there, looking awfully confused and intrigued at the same time. "Surely, this is a conversation that can be continued another time," he said to Captain Jack Sparrow while looking at Amelia. He extended his arm to her, "If you would not mind, Ms."

Amelia looked at his proposition but also back at her captain.

"Oh, where are we going?" Jack blurted.

"Not, you, Captain," the man said most irritated.

"Girl's under my watch, mate."

"Your watch? Then you may watch, if the lady will allow it," the man said. "She was to sing for me."

Jack shot a look at the girl.

Amelia scrambled to find words, "I hadn't – I wasn't…"

"A song?" Jack questioned, "I love songs!" he exclaimed excitedly.

Amelia could not tell if this was her captain intoxicated or him pretending to be. He had kept up a fairly acute sense of awareness thus far, which was highly unusual for how he normally behaved while drunk. Amelia had seen her captain in various drunken states, and while she knew he had been drinking, he just did not seem to be as incoherent as his abrupt actions would otherwise suggest.

Jack had gathered some of his men while the Lord of the Caspian Sea, the man attempting to seduce the young Ms. Amelia, gathered some of his men outside to hear her sing the ballade. Barbossa was one of the men gathered - he had no idea how this came to pass. Quietly, Jack told him to keep an eye on the Caspian crew for the sake of his daughter. Barbossa understood and pretended to be none the wiser.

Amelia followed close by her captain and begged him not to make her do this. He seemed to brush her off which made her only press the case further.

"Jack, please," she pleaded sincerely with tears barely being held back in her eyes, "I am afraid."

Jack took her by the arms and looked at her. Amelia could see in his eyes that he was truly not as intoxicated as he alluded to being. "Ms. Barbossa," he said softly yet directly to her, "we should not trifle with these men anymore than can be helped. I do not know this man's intentions and I will be ever on guard until I am certain of them. In the meantime, entertain him, but keep your head about you."

With that said he let go of her and turned her to walk in front of him to where the Caspian crew was waiting. Amelia took hold of her captain's arm this time and squeezed it. He allowed her to do so and they walked together.

Nervously, Amelia closed her eyes and reflected on the words of the song the lord of the Caspian Sea had requested. She could not bear to look at all of those attentive eyes upon her. She sang softly but beautifully, and the words brought tears into the eyes of the men who listened carefully.

"Perfect," the lord of the Caspian Sea uttered, the very words his rival was searching for.

Amelia was still very much feeling embarrassed and tried to avoid receiving any further attention. A good thing did come of this, however. With the two crews now mingling, they were able to exchange a certain amount of information and even humour the thought of a partial alliance of sorts. The interaction was also enough for the other captain to single out the young Ms. Amelia once more.

"I applaud you, sweet angel," the lord of the Caspian Sea said in full flattery.

Amelia blushed but was too humbled to say anything.

"May I know the name of my heart's captor?"

His approach startled her and she was unsure on how to respond, though the question was quite simple. Finally she revealed it, "Amelia."

"Ah, that was not so difficult, now was it?" he said playfully. "You may call me Darius. I am the captain of the Sirin, and the pirate lord of the Caspian Sea," he said impressively. Taking her hand, he continued, "You, my fair Amelia, have truly made my night," and kissed her hand delicately.

Amelia felt her heart stop beating as his lips pressed against her skin, and once he released it, her heartbeat raced, making up for the lost time. He bid her a good night and said that he very much hoped to see her again. Amelia stood for a moment longer, frozen as her heart raced.