Chapter 9: Reunited Friends

Despite the fact that she was a hostage, Juliet was overjoyed. She had a friend with her and it made her captivity more bearable.

"William, I'm so glad you're all right!" Juliet gasped, hugging her handsome friend tightly.

"As am I," William replied with relief, "I feared the worst for you."

"Me too," Juliet said, "At least now I can rest knowing that you're safe."

"I don't like to rain on your parade, but we're not safe. Not yet," William countered, "What are you doing here?"

"My father and mother have been kidnapped," Juliet told him gravely.

"By who?" William asked, his interest growing.

"The Spanish sailor known as Ponce de Leon," Juliet replied.

William blinked and gazed at his friend blankly.

Juliet wrinkled her brow. "What?"

"Have you been a naughty girl drinking rum?" William asked in disbelief.

"No!" Juliet replied, aghast, "What on God's green Earth would give you that idea?"

"Hmm, let me think," William said in jest, "You're father is Jack Sparrow-"

"Captain!" Juliet corrected.

"Captain Jack Sparrow," William continued, "One of the most infamous pirates in the Spanish Main. You're ship is full of rum, you are your father and mother's daughter, need I go on?"

"No, I think you've put my life story in a nutshell," said Juliet in jest, "Anyway, I speak the truth. Ponce de Leon, the sailor in pursuit of the Fountain of Youth, has abducted the Black Pearl."

"What does he want? How did you end up here?" William asked, his voice rising.

"One question at a time, if you don't mind," Juliet told him, "If you were listening, you'd know what Leon wants."

"The Fountain of Youth," William said.

"Very good, William," Juliet said unctuously.

"Moving on," William said expectantly.

"I ended up here because of that Spanish cur," Juliet explained, "My mother is worried about my new brother or sister and she and I tried to escape. Unfortunately for us, Leon knew we would attempt to escape. He had me tied up and tossed down here with you."

"And Mrs. Sparrow?" William inquired.

"I don't know," Juliet said solemnly, "My mother is a clever woman, thus whom I get my cleverness from."

"Certainly not whom you get your modesty from," muttered William.

"That is a trifling flaw," Juliet said dismissively, "As I was saying, my mother is a clever woman, and I know she will not die so easily. Besides, she is far too valuable to Leon to die."

"That is true," William agreed.

"Anyway, what are you doing here?" Juliet wanted to know.

"I was taken, on the day of the new Commodore King's promotion ceremony," William explained, "I was playing with James when I was taken. I only remember two men in red coats, but nothing else. Before I knew it, I was here."

"Commodore King?" Juliet asked, puzzled.

"Yes, he has taken over for Norrington," William replied.

"From the stories my mother told me, Norrington is not an honorable man. I don't think this King character is either," Juliet said shrewdly.

"I don't either," William agreed, "It's too odd that the new Commodore would not want to hunt down Captain Jack Sparrow. Norrington did it with a passion."

Juliet's eyes widened. "What if he is?"

"How so?" William asked.

"Don't you use your head, William?" Juliet asked, irked, "Commodore King is hunting my father. We're just the bait."

"He's using my mother and father to get to Captain Sparrow!" William gasped.

"And Leon is using me to get the Fountain of Youth," Juliet added, "I think these men know each other."

"We will know for sure soon enough," William told her.

"You know, you do use your head," Juliet laughed, "Just like Will and Elizabeth."

"But I'm not so good a pirate as the daughter of Captain Jack Sparrow," William praised.

"I'm flattered," laughed Juliet.

Juliet brushed away William's hair and noticed a large bruise on his forehead. "Ouch, that looks painful."

"I haven't had much more pain than this, but I'm fine," William said bravely.

"William, you howled louder than a wolf when I slapped you with my wooden sword," Juliet said flatly.

"No, I didn't!" William protested.

"You most certainly did!" Juliet countered, "You were screaming, "Ouch! By Davy Jones Locker, that hurt!""

"Well, it was painful," William said.

"The sight of you running around holding your buttocks was hilarious," Juliet giggled.

"I'll let you have your fun," William said, "Go and laugh. Let's see you get whacked in the buttocks with wood."

Juliet laughed giddily. "You know, when I was being tied up by that stinking villain, I was terrified. Now, I am unafraid."

"I'm fearless now, too," William said.

"I'm truly glad you're with me, William," Juliet told him, taking his hand.

"As am I," William said sincerely, squeezing Juliet's hand, "Always look for the good in any predicament."

"The good is we're together," Juliet declared.

"Certainly," William agreed.

Suddenly, Juliet gasped and exploded into a fit of coughing and wheezing!

"Juliet? Juliet!" William gasped, "What's the matter?"

Juliet made no response, and her coughing worsened.

"My God," William gasped, "Juliet, breathe. Come on, breathe!"

To William's dismay, Juliet could not breathe at all and she collapsed in his arms, wheezing violently. William took out a handkerchief from his pocket and placed it over Juliet's mouth. When he removed the handkerchief, William turned white. Stained on his white handkerchief was Juliet's blood.

"Oh, my God," William breathed to himself.

William fanned Juliet with his handkerchief, desperately trying to rouse her. "Juliet! Juliet, wake up! Wake up, Sweetheart!"

An hour passed and William could not wake his friend.

"Juliet, please stay with me!" William begged.

Just as William was about to fear the worst, Juliet awoke.

"William?" asked Juliet, dazed.

"Shh," William soothed, "Save your breath, Juliet."

"What happened?" Juliet asked.

William wrinkled his brow. "You fainted. You were coughing violently."

"Bloody chest cold," Juliet muttered.

"Juliet, are you certain Mrs. Sparrow was only worried about your sibling?" William inquired.

"She has no one else to worry about," Juliet said.

William nodded. "You should rest. I don't know how long we'll be at sea."

Juliet complied and lay down next to William. Once he knew she was asleep, William laid his coat over Juliet's tiny body. As he watched Juliet sleep, William was apprehensive. A common cold did not include coughing up blood, he knew. He was beginning to wonder if Juliet would ever survive this voyage.