Chapter 7
That evening, after the maid has gone, I watch from my side of the room as Elizabeth, wrapped in half a dozen blankets, reads a book.
"Are you okay?" I ask her, my thin nightgown closer to me. The breeze drifting in through the windows cut through me like knives, while Lizzie seems completely unfazed by it.
"I'm fine. Are you?"
"I'm okay. I heard from father that Jack Sparrow has been caught and imprisoned." I tell her, taking a seat on my bed.
She smiles.
"Apparently, he wasn't as clever as we though. A drunken man hit him with a glass bottle, rendering him unconscious."
Elizabeth laughs but turns serious again after a couple moments, "Anna, I need to tell you something."
I lean forward in my bed, intrigued.
Getting up, Lizzie takes a seat beside me and says with a deep breath. "Commodore Norrington has asked for my hand in marriage."
I stay silent.
I can't say that I am surprised, it was sure to happen.
"Anna, please say something." Lizzie pleads.
"What will you do?" I ask.
"Of course I don't want to accept." She says. "But so many people want me to. Expect me to. Anna, I don't know what to do."
"Strangely enough," I tell her, "I understand. Not about the marriage part but about not wanting to disappoint people, especially Father."
Lizzie only nods
Unable to think of more to say, I get up and grab my cape from the top of my bed frame.
"I am going for a walk." I tell Elizabeth.
"To Jack's?" she asks and I just nod my head.
"Be careful." She tells me.
"I will.
"Don't worry Lizzie," I say hoping I don't sound so discouraged as I feel, "You won't marry Norrington. We'll make sure of it."
Lizzie only gives half-hearted smile and I return one, slipping out the door.
Knowing that some maids might still be awake and using the servant stairs, I decide to take the main staircase.
Exiting from the ballroom's door to the garden, I take a moment to look back into the dark, eerie, house.
Something is strange. Maybe it is the way the wind makes the whole structure creak and groan. Or maybe it is the waves of fog that keep rolling in from the ocean. Maybe it is the dark, looming clouds that partially cover the moon and threaten to cast the world into complete darkness, with not even stars to light the ground.
I shiver, the wind and my thoughts unsettling me.
Walking halfway around the house, I find the bush under which I keep my sac.
I then make my way to the side of the house where no garden grows and enter a small cabin situated there.
Entering, I slap my forehead for having forgotten to bring a lantern.
Relieved to see that the clouds had let a few slivers of moonlight enter the building through the small slits in the ceiling, I start feeling around for some meat that no one would notice missing.
The meat storage cabin is small and it doesn't take me too long to gather quite a bit of meat, wrap it and put it in my bag along with a few bread roles that I had managed to save over the past week and four carrot sticks that I had snuck into the folds of my dress at supper with Father.
Elizabeth had taken her meal in bed, Father having been worried that she might catch a cold.
Satisfied with my stock pile of food, I start walking for the gate and past that, town.
After a few minutes of walking, I find myself, on a grassy clearing, on the top of a cliff, not far from Jack's home.
Not wanting to waste any time, I refuse to spend a few moments enjoying the view of the midnight black waves crashing along the rocks below.
Unfortunately, the way into the cave is at least half a foot flooded and I remind myself not to take too long otherwise, I will probably end up completely soaked by the time I reach home.
Instead of dragging the sac of provisions behind me as I normally do, I am subjected to carrying it on my shoulders, making the trek through the rocks and into the cave harder than usual.
Setting my sac down in the usual spot, I am careful to not wake Jack, who is completely passed out in his chair, a rum bottle in his hand.
Perplexed, I carefully extract it from his grip and take a look at it. The glass is new and the bottle is unlike any that he has. I should know, I have organized all his possessions at least ten times.
Setting the bottle down on the floor, I decide that it is not my problem, and that I have way too much on my mind as it is.
Absent-mindedly picking a random book from the crate, I hear Jack start to move around, awakening.
I watch silently as Jack grunts and shifts in his chair, his eyes slowly opening, first going to his empty hand, to the bottle on the ground, to the sac of food and finally to me.
Stretching his arms above his head, he positions himself in his chair to face me, "What are you doing here?" he asks.
"It's been a week." I remind him.
"I smell flesh." He responds and I point to the sac, giving him a strange look.
Only a pirate would mistake meat for "flesh".
"I brought some as a special treat."
"Why?" He questions so quickly that I am sure, that saying "Thank you" never even crossed his mind.
"Well first of all because I couldn't go into the kitchen and the vegetables in the garden haven't properly grown yet. And secondly because I need more advice and I thought that you might be more lenient to give it if I gave you something nice."
"You need advice again?" He asks me, raising an eyebrow. "What am I? A priest?
Ignoring his snarky response, I take a seat on a rock a couple meters away from Jack. He always reeks after he drinks.
"Yes, again. I am not having the best of months."I say, feeling the need to explain myself for some strange reason
"Well, I haven't got all the time in the world. What do you need help with?"
"Lizzie has been proposed to by Commodore Norrington." I tell him, with a loud sigh. It seems so much worse now that I have said it out loud.
"So?" Jack grunts.
"So!" I say, incredulously. "She doesn't love him! She doesn't like him! She can barely stand him! They can't get married! It is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! Their marriage will be a disaster with both of them completely miserable and full of regrets.
"Even though the Commodore is a prick and hasn't shown a bone of normal human behavior since I have met him, no one deserves an unhappy life. I can't let that happen to him and Lizzie, deserves much better. She is probably the most deserving person I know.
"She deserves everything good, including a large mansion, many healthy, happy, adorable kids, food to last a few lifetimes, and money to spend at a whim. She deserves the best the world can give her including her true love."
Jack opens his mouth to say something but I quickly shut him up.
"Don't say a word," I give him the evil eye.
"I know what you were going to say, "What about Will?" Well, what about him? He is just one of Lizzie's passing fancies." Now I am up on my feet, quickly walking around the room, over and over again, all riled up and with absolutely no thoughts of slowing down. "She can't really love him. He isn't her type. He's such a girl, for crying out loud! Not that there is anything wrong with it, but he is a male. He is supposed to be masculine. Instead he walks, I mean sways, around with his long hair in a pony tail, and his voice almost as high as mine. I mean, how girly can a man be?"
"Um…" Jack starts. "What are we talking about again?"
I freeze for a moment, trying to figure out the answer.
"Uh..." I plop myself back in my seat, my head in my hands, "I don't exactly know."
"Annalee," Jack starts.
I look up to correct him but he beats me to it.
"I mean, Anna. Are you sure that Lizzie and the Commodore are getting married?" He asks, sneering when he has to say the Commodore's name.
"No."
"And do you know for sure that Lizzie and Will are in love? Has either one of them said something that has confirmed 100% what you believe?"
"No. But it is –"
Jack cuts me off, "Anna, right now, there is nothing you can do. First of all, you don't know anything for sure. Secondly, it isn't really any of your business. Although it might affect you, it is ultimately, Lizzie's choice.
I start to answer him, when I hear large sounds coming from outside the cave.
I stand up and quickly walk outside the cave.
Although the fog has completely settles, making everything almost impossible to see, I can make out a dark shape in the harbor and lights, flying out from it that can only be cannon fire. I quickly climb the rocks to get a better view and manage to see the town, lit up by fires and hear cries of terror and pain.
I turn back to the cave, and quickly rush back in.
"Jack! There are pirates in the bay! They are attacking Port Royal!" I shout but as I get to the rock platform, Jack is nowhere to be seen.
"Jack?" I call out, suddenly afraid.
"Jack?" I call out again, but more quietly.
"Ja-" I try calling out again, but a blunt hit to the back of my head stops me from finishing.
I see the edges of my line of view grow darker and I slump to the floor, my entire world thrown into darkness.
"I am sorry, Anna." Is the last thing I hear, echoes of the cannon fire in the background.
My eyes shoot open and I quickly sit up, resulting in my head feeling as if it has been split open.
Clutching my throbbing head, I look around, noticing that I am still in the cave, sitting down on a makeshift bed made of rock, planks of wood, and at least five blankets. The sun is up and shining brilliantly into the cave, completely illuminating every previously shadowed nook and cranny.
"Wha-?" I start but stop when I hear a clearing of the throat.
Whipping my head around, the pain intensifies but right now, my mind is on other things.
"Jack!" I cry out, surprised to see a familiar face. "What happened?"
"Nothing." Jack's response comes much too quickly as if memorized.. "You just slipped and hit your head on the ground. You were unconscious."
"Jack," I say slowly, "I have known you for around two years. I know when you are lying. Please, tell me the truth."
Looking at me for a few moments, he turns away.
" Fine," He growls. "I… I might have hit you on the head to stop you from rushing out again."
"You hit me on the head?" I ask, suspiciously. The person that had apologized was definitely not Jack, whose voice was deep and rough as if someone had run a rough rock over his vocal chords. The other man's voice, although slightly rough, was smoother than Jack's and I had heard true remorse in his voice. Jack had proven himself incapable of being sorry or at least showing that he was. Besides, Jack couldn't walk. How on earth could he have moved from his chair?
"Yes, I hit you on the head." Jack repeats. "I couldn't let you leave. It was much too dangerous."
"Dangerous?" I ask, but quickly realize what he is talking about, "The pirates!" I shout. "You stopped me from going to make sure my family was all right! How could you do that! For all I know my Father and sister could both be injured or worse!"
I slow my breathing and jump to my feet, a wave of nausea washing over me. Holding back my supper, I start taking a few, careful, small, steps towards the exit, my legs feeling wobbly.
"I have to go." I tell Jack but he doesn't answer.
My legs quickly returning to normal, I quicken my pace and soon find myself at the front gate leading to the Swann mansion.
The gate is bent in numerous places and the lock has been completely destroyed.
Slowly pushing the metal gate open, I slowly walk up the small hill to the house, my heart aching for what sight might meet me when I enter.
The front door is open and through it I can see all our maids, looking flustered and bustling around, cleaning, tidying and two are leaning over a fallen body.
I enter the house but no one seems to notice me in my cape. I circumvent the fallen man and my eyes grow wide as I recognize Beeker.
Pushing the gruesome thoughts that fill my head to the back of my mind, I quickly run up the stairs where strangely, the halls are completely deserted.
The first room I check is the small parlor, connecting to Lizzie's and my bed chamber. Finding no one in it, I continue in the bed room and yet, again, find it devoid of life of any sort.
For the next hour or so, I scour the house for any sign of Lizzie or a struggle that might have resulted in her being injured.
My next stop is the town. Searching through the carnage, and asking anyone around if they had seen Lizzie or my father, I make my way through each and every street until I find myself face the large, solemn gate leading into the fort.
From outside, I can hear the shouts and commands of the soldiers, most likely cleaning up the rubble and carting away the injured and deceased.
I go to the right of the gate and through the servant entry, finding myself in the middle of chaos. The fort is much more crowded than the noises from outside let on.
Seeing a familiar face on the other side of the fort, I pick up my skirts and run
"Father!" I shout, trying to be heard over the mayhem.
Thankfully, my powerful lungs have caught my father's attention, and relief floods his face as he engulfs me in a hug.
After being let go, I notice the table cluttered with maps and navigation tools with Commodore Norrington pouring over them and Father clearly assisting him.
"Anna! Where have you been? I've been so worried." Father says, looking me over for any signs of injury.
I brush him off. "Where is Elizabeth? I can't find her anywhere"
"She's gone." He turns away but not before I see tears forming in his eyes.
Before I can ask where, Will Turner comes stomps onto the platform on which the table is situated.
"They've taken her. They've taken Elizabeth!"
I gasp and my eyes widen. Bloody pirates! Those dirty, good-for-nothing pieces of scum! What on earth could they want with Elizabeth? Ransom was an option but if a note had been left, Father or the Commodore would have found it but no note is on the table and Father's face shows complete and utter helplessness.
"Mr. Murtogg, remove this man." Commodore Norrington says without even raising his head.
Will shrugs of the guard, "We have to hunt them down! We must save her!"
"And where do you propose we start," Father turns to Will, "If you have any information concerning my daughter, please share it."
"Jack Sparrow." Will says.
"He talked about the Black Pearl." Murtogg says, having been standing still and silent in the corner.
Mullroy shakes his head, "Mention it is more what he did."
Will leans towards the Commodore, "Ask him where it is. Make a deal with him. He can lead us to it."
"No," The Commodore sighs, exasperated. "The pirates who invaded this Fort left Sparrow locked in his cell; ergo they are not his allies. Governor, we will establish their most likely course."
"Most likely course?" I say. "How can you gamble on this? This is Elizabeth we're talking about! You can't just take risks that will most likely accomplish nothing." I lower my voice almost into a whisper, "You are making a mistake."
"Then, Miss Swan, what do you propose?" the Commodore asks.
Thinking fast, I come up with a surprisingly good idea.
"I propose that we send ships to every nearby port. There must be people who have seen a ship with black sails."
My father sighs. "Anna, we can't do that. It's unreasonable."
"Unreasonable!" I practically shout and Father looks around to make sure no one outside our little group has noticed my little outburst. "Father, trying to find out their most likely course is unreasonable. One little mistake and everything is lost, the time, money, and effort... not to mention Elizabeth." I finish, softly.
"I am sorry Annalee, but we cannot do as you suggest." Father turns back to the charts and I glance at Will, sympathizing with him for once in my life.
Will clenches his jaw and heads into town, a determined step to his walk.
Ignoring his strange new attitude, I sit myself down on a nearby bench.
What to do? Lizzie could be anywhere by now. Anywhere from here to Tortuga, the pirates could be.
Think, Anna. I tell myself. Where would you go if you were a pirate?
After thinking for a few minutes an idea enters my head.
Although completely outrageous, dangerous, and stupid, it is probably one of the best things I could do at this time.
Who knows a pirate better than a pirate? I ask myself with a small smile as I exit the fort and start making my way down to the beach.
