Chapter 4: Ponce de León
The next day Jack and Guinevere were on their way to the Fountain of Youth. Despite the Black Pearl, charts, and compass, their search was fruitless. They had been in pursuit of the Fountain for a day, and there was no land in sight. Jack and Guinevere grew increasingly annoyed and worried. Their daughter was dying and they were running out of time looking for the Fountain.
"Mr. Gibbs, any land in sight?" Jack asked.
"For the hundredth time, no, Cap'n," Gibbs groaned.
"Very well," Jack acknowledged, "I need a drink."
"We're out of rum, Jack," Guinevere said quickly.
Jack rolled his eyes. "Why must the rum be gone?"
"I ask myself that all the time, darling," Guinevere reassured him.
"I hope not. Not with the little one, you don't," Jack said sternly.
"Said the rum-loving Captain Jack Sparrow," Guinevere countered.
"I love my rum, but more than rum, I love you," Jack told her sincerely.
Guinevere pecked Jack on the cheek and smiled. "That's the sweetest thing a woman could ever hear."
Carefully, Jack placed his hand on Guinevere's rotund, protruding belly. "Thank God for that! If that weren't true, I don't think I'd be feeling a new life inside you."
Guinevere took Jack's hand and sighed. "Little Sparrow's been quite feisty today."
"I thought so," Jack said, "Why don't you and little Sparrow rest in our quarters? You barely slept last night and that's not good for either of you. You need to not worry, as that's not good either."
"Jack! Guin! You'd best get below deck! Quick!" Rose said urgently.
"I'll go. Stay at the helm," Guinevere told her husband.
"Guin, my love, you and the baby need rest," Jack protested.
"Our daughter is dying, Jack. I must," Guinevere said, "You cannot find the Fountain from below deck."
"And you can't take care of our children as delicate as you are," Jack countered.
"Hurry!" Rose cried.
"You have my word that I shall rest after I look after Juliet," Guinevere promised.
Jack sighed. "As you wish, Missus."
Guinevere hurried behind Rose below deck. Before her, there was a sight that stopped her heart. Juliet was sprawled on the floor, her eyes closed. A gun lay right next to her. Panicked, Guinevere and Rose raced to her side.
"Juliet? Sweetheart? Please, wake up!" Guinevere said anxiously.
Juliet did not make the slightest movement. Her face was now whiter than a ghost. Seeing this terrified Guinevere to the core.
"Quick, onto the hammock!" Rose said.
As quickly and gingerly as she could, Rose lifted Juliet onto the hammock. "Juliet? Come on, lass!"
"Juliet, can you hear me? Please, wake up, Sweetheart," Guinevere whispered.
To their relief, Juliet moaned and opened her eyes. "Mother?"
"Sweetheart, you scared me!" Guinevere gasped.
"What happened?" Juliet asked.
"You were on the floor with a gun," Guinevere explained, "You don't remember?"
"No," Juliet replied, "I was trying to take my gun out to practice as father promised. The gun was too heavy and I just remember having a fit and nothing else."
If Juliet wasn't in front of her, Guinevere would've turned a sick white like her. "I'm sorry, love. I'm afraid you are not well enough to shoot today. Stay here and rest. Rose will bring you some water."
Guinevere nodded to Rose, who disappeared up the stairs.
"When will I get better?" Juliet groaned.
"I'm sure you'll be on your feet in no time, Sweetheart," Guinevere reassured her, "You're a Sparrow."
"That be true!" Juliet giggled, "I miss Will, Elizabeth, William, and James. Will we see them again?"
"Soon," Guinevere said, "They're your godparents, of course. We will visit them after your brother or sister comes."
Juliet smiled. "We'll be showing off our new Sparrow whelp or whelpette!"
Guinevere wrinkled her brow. "Where did you hear those words?"
"From Father," Juliet said nonchalantly.
"Do us a favor, don't use them again," Guinevere told her, "Now, go to sleep."
"I don't want to sleep. I hate being cooped up in this bed," Juliet complained.
Guinevere smiled. "I know. I hate it too, and I imagine Father would, too. You will get well again. I promise."
"And if you promise then it will be done," Juliet smiled.
"That's right," Guinevere laughed.
Guinevere kissed her daughter's brow and began to sing her a soft, French lullaby:Il est temps de dormir maintenant, bébé,
Il est temps de rêver maintenant, bébé
Vous êtes sûr dans des mes bras,
Coffre-fort dans vos rêves doux
Fermez vos jolis yeux
Rêve maintenant, le petit
Sommeil maintenant, bébé
Quand vous vous réveillez, je vous attendrai
Rêvez jusqu'à ce que nous nous réunissions encore
Juliet closed her eyes and fell asleep. Guinevere felt at peace watching her girl sleep. However, she felt a wave of guilt sweep over her. She had just lied to her own child. She didn't know if she could keep lying or if she had the heart to tell the truth. Just then, she heard Rose.
"Guin! Get up here!" Rose called.
"What's happening?" Guinevere wanted to know.
"A ship of Spanish colours," Rose explained, "She ain't no pirate ship. I know it and she don't look friendly either."
"Oh, bugger!" Guinevere groaned.
Guinevere raced up the stairs to the main deck. She looked out and saw a Spanish ship in the distance. Quickly, she raced up to the quarterdeck with Jack.
"Just when I thought the day couldn't get any worse," Guinevere groaned, "What do they want?"
"I don't know, but I don't think they want to chat over a bottle of rum," Jack replied wisely.
"Cap'n, I think we'd better coax some wind from these sails," Gibbs suggested.
"Belay that, Mr. Gibbs," Jack told him.
"But-" Gibbs protested.
"Belay!"
"Spanish!"
"Belay!"
"Danger!"
"Just shut it!"
"Prepare the guns! I want to see everything we've got in those guns!" Guinevere shouted.
Everyone hurried to the guns carrying everything they could carry. Nails, cannonballs, silverware, etc. were all shoved into the guns. Warily, they waited for the Spanish vessel's next move.
Jack looked through his spyglass. He then saw a ball of red and orange and a great cloud. "Everyone down!"
Jack snatched Guinevere and everyone ducked for cover. KABOOM! Cannonballs sailed through the air and collided into the hull of the Black Pearl. The ship began to sway tremendously and the crew scrambled to brace themselves. The damage was serious, as the Pearl began to take on water immediately.
"Oh, bugger," Jack groaned.
"I suppose that settles everything!" Guinevere commented, "Return fire!"
At Guinevere's command, the guns flashed and sent their fury to the Spanish ship. There was a chaotic scene of blinding cannon fire, smoke, and shots from pistols. Then, the whistle of ropes as the Spanish prepared to board.
"Jack!" Gibbs shouted, "They're boarding us!"
"I want movement! Give 'em all we got!" Jack shouted.
In a fury of smoke, the ring of swords, and gunshots, the crew of the Black Pearl fought to ward off their Spanish adversaries. The battle was long and fierce. Everyone was desperate to save the Black Pearl from their enemy. In the melee, Jack lost sight of Guinevere and he fought his way through the bedlam to her.
"Guin!" he shouted, firing and slashing at anyone in his path, "Guin!"
To his dismay, he found Guinevere warding off a villain with her fist and a sword. Suddenly, he saw an adversary heading behind Guinevere raising a sword to kill!
Quickly, he raced over behind the villain and grabbed his raised weapon. "Didn't your mother teach you never to disrespect a lady?"
Using the handle of her sword, Guinevere knocked out the villain.
Evading the fray, Jack and Guinevere hid behind the steps. "What are you doing?"
"Saving our lives, that's what!" Guinevere replied.
"You need to get somewhere safe. Where's Juliet?" Jack told her.
Guinevere's eyes widened. "Juliet!"
"Where is she?" Jack asked.
"Below!" Guinevere shrieked.
Without another thought, Guinevere dashed to the door leading below. Much to her horror, the door was blocked by a heavy piece of debris.
"Juliet! I'm coming!" she cried as she struggled to free the door, "Juliet, answer me, please!"
Guinevere struggled and struggled, but the debris was too heavy and with her condition, was too much for her too bear. Suddenly, she was snatched up by two burly Spaniards!
"Get off me!" she screamed.
Quickly, she elbowed the first man in the gut and swatted the other.
Before she could escape them, the first man whirled about and snatched her.
Guinevere struggled and punched, but the man held her fast.
"Very clever, señora, but you're not going anywhere," the man said in her ear.
His accomplice recovered and grabbed Guinevere by the arm. With Guinevere fighting them, the two thugs dragged her to their ship.
"No! Juliet! Juliet!" Guinevere screamed as she was taken away.
From behind him, Jack heard Guinevere's screams to find her being carried off by the two men. "Guin!"
To save her, he fought his way through his adversaries only to be met with a pistol between his eyes. Jack gazed upon a tall, handsome Spaniard dressed in tattered clothes and a feathered cap.
"Jack Sparrow," the man greeted coldly, "Tie him up with la señora!"
Jack was roughly seized by two men who bound his hands and then tied him to the mast with Guinevere, who was muffled by a cloth over her mouth. Jack was as mad as a drunken sailor. His daughter was dying, he couldn't find the Fountain of Youth, and now he had just been taken prisoner on his own ship!
"The man who did the capturing and pillaging is to explain to the man who is the victim why he is the victim and the man who is the victim demands to know who the man who did the capturing and pillaging is," Jack said fiercely, "And if the man who is the captive were the man who did the pillaging, he'd speak quickly."
The Spaniard bowed low. "I am the captain of The Spanish Lady"
"That's not very helpful at all," Jack growled, "Who are you and how in the name of Calypso do you know me?"
The Captain laughed. "All in good time, Sparrow. First, my men are exhausted by our battle and now we have a reward for our victory."
The Spaniard nodded to the bound and gagged Guinevere.
"You wouldn't dare!" Jack snarled, "You know if you do, I will have no choice but to kill you."
The leader showed a toothy smile. "Jack Sparrow, you are in no position to make threats. I am the victor, and what is that phrase? "To the victor go the spoils.""
He strutted over to Guinevere and stroked her hair with his dirty hand. "What a beauty! How fortunate we are to find such a fine woman on this trip!"
Unsheathing his sword, the Spanish Captain cut the ropes that bound Guinevere to the mast. Guinevere tried to run for it, but before she could she was impeded by the Spanish ruffians.
"We haven't had our fun, señora," said the Captain.
Guinevere was forcefully shoved into the filthy hands of her captors. Her captors grabbed any part of her they could like birds around food. They let their hands roam everywhere and anywhere they pleased as Guinevere emitted muffled screams and fought. Their hands crawled from her hair down to her buttocks and back up, repeatedly. Jack was incensed and he threw himself at the ropes as he watched his wife's torment.
"It's been a long time since we encountered such a fine wench," commented one captor, resting one hand on Guinevere's buttocks.
"It's certainly worth the wait!" laughed the other.
The Captain laughed heartily. "Welcome aboard The Spanish Lady, Mrs. Sparrow."
Guinevere glared daggers at him.
The Captain let his hands rest on Guinevere's chest. "You may not enjoy my company, but I will surely enjoy yours."
The Captain then took notice of the buttons on Guinevere's shirt. With a wicked smile, he began to free the buttons. Before he could proceed further, Guinevere slammed her bounds hands into the Captain's gut. The Captain doubled over, freeing Guinevere from his grasp. Guinevere then removed the cloth from her mouth.
"If I were you, I'd jump overboard before I get free!" Jack threatened.
"As would I, you craven murderer!" Guinevere added.
"Murderer?" the Captain asked.
"There is a soul aboard my ship! She's drowned below deck because of you!" Guinevere screamed.
"I think you're mistaken, Señora," the Captain told her.
He signaled his men and they dragged out a small prisoner, bound and gagged. To Guinevere and Jack's relief and horror, the prisoner was no other than Juliet.
"Juliet!" Guinevere gasped.
"I believe this is the soul you speak of," the Captain said knowingly.
"You let her go, or I swear to you I will send you to the depths!" Guinevere threatened.
"If I were you, I'd not upset or play games with a pregnant lady," Jack warned.
"Might I remind you, Señora Sparrow, that you are a prisoner and thus, are not in a position to make threats," the Captain reminded her, "I'm afraid I cannot let you or your precious child go free."
"Why is that, I wonder?" Jack demanded.
"You are searching for the Agua de Vida, no?" the Captain asked.
"What's it to you?" Guinevere asked suspiciously.
"My crew and I have been searching for it for centuries," the Captain replied, "The legends of Jack Sparrow are spread all over and so does his quest for the Agua de Vida."
"What do you want from us?" Guinevere demanded.
"I want you to lead me to the Agua de Vida so that my crew and I can live forever," the Captain replied.
"That's it? You could've asked us nicely!" Guinevere retorted.
The Captain whipped out a pistol and pressed it against Juliet's head. "How is this for asking nicely? If you fail to lead me to the Agua de Vida or attempt to deceive me, I will kill the girl."
"I noticed that you failed to answer my previous question," Jack told the Captain, "Who are you?"
"I am Juan Ponce de León," the Captain announced.
"What? You were warned not to play games with a pregnant woman," Guinevere asked, perplexed.
León pressed his pistol harder against Juliet's head. "Does it look like I'm playing games?"
Guinevere was silent.
"Señor de Leon, I have a proposal to make," Jack said, "Seeing as we all want the Agua de Vida or Fountain of Youth, I propose that I lead you to the Fountain of Youth and in return, you give me an equal share of the Fountain. That way, we all end happy. You get your immortality, and so do I. Savvy?"
"We have a deal, Sparrow," de Leon agreed, shaking Jack's hand, "Release the prisoners and make sail!"
Ponce de Leon's men freed their prisoners and made way to their vessel The Spanish Lady.
As everyone got to work, Juliet and Guinevere embraced. "Sweetheart, I thought I lost you! How did you escape?"
"I'm the child of pirates, Mother," Juliet replied with a grin, "I was pretending to be asleep. I heard Rose telling of trouble and I came to find you and Father."
"I Thank God you take after your father," Guinevere laughed.
"That is the daughter of a Sparrow," Jack praised.
"Juliet, Sweetheart, I want you to go below decks and rest, savvy?" Guinevere said.
"Aye, Mother!" Juliet said.
As soon as Juliet was out of sight, Guinevere turned to Jack and glared at him.
"I don't like the way your looking at me," Jack said, "Why is that?"
"You shouldn't," Guinevere snapped, "Why haven't we found the Fountain yet, Jack?"
"There's a lot of open water, darling," Jack said.
"Really? Then how do you agree to help find the Fountain for that monster so easily?" Guinevere demanded.
"To save you and Juliet, of course," Jack told her.
"Let me see the compass," Guinevere told him.
Jack held up his compass. To Guinevere's horror, the needle spun out of control.
"Jack!" Guinevere gasped, "You're compass isn't steady. I know what that means."
"You do?" Jack asked.
"You don't know what you want," Guinevere gasped, "You promised me that you weren't after the Fountain for yourself! Why didn't you tell me your compass wasn't working?"
"My compass works just fine," Jack said sheepishly, "I was keeping things close to the vest."
Guinevere could only gape at her husband, tears glittering in her eyes. Her own husband lied to her at the price of their daughter's life.
Jack tried to turn away, but Guinevere grabbed his arm. "If you keep things close to the vest, how am I supposed to trust you with our daughter's life?"
"Never trust a pirate," Jack replied.
Guinevere felt as if a knife had gone through her heart. She now felt as if life couldn't get any worse. She had been taken prisoner, her husband lied to her, her daughter wasn't safe, and she had a baby to worry about. Despite all of these concerns, Guinevere felt lucky to be alive and knew she had to act quickly to save herself and her daughter.