The Price of ƒ я e e d o м
A PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN FANFICTION
The Price of ƒ я e e d o м © xoxoMyRealityIsFiction
Pirates of the Caribbean © Disney
Ayisha/Amenirdis © A.C. Crispin
Scene Two:
It Can Only Be Jack
Jogging to the starboard of the Dauntless, Ayisha leaned over the wooden railing, hoping to catch a glimpse of the woman swimming up to the surface of the sea. But, alas, she did not. Face ashen, Ayisha quickly untied the black lace around her neck that was holding up her cloak, letting the heavy black material fall to the deck with a soft thud. Grabbing onto one of the ropes, pulling herself up and onto the wooden railing, Ayisha shifted her body so that she could dive into the sea and rescue the damsel in distress,
"Wow, wow, hold on there, love." Jack tugged on the end of Ayisha's tunic, halting her from diving into the water. Ayisha glanced down at him impatiently, thinking that there was no time to waste. The woman could be sinking down to the bottom of the sea that very minute!
Jack turned his attention to the portly guard and pointed to the spot where they witnessed the woman plunge into the sea. "Would you be saving her then? I don't want my lass to dive into sea if it's unnecessary."
"I-I can't swim," the portly guard stammered out.
Ayisha rolled her eyes, trying to tug herself free of Jack's vice grip on the end of her tunic. She had to go in now – before it was too late. Jack switched his attention to the lanky guard, and he too shook his head, meaning that he, too, did not know how to swim as well. They had to be joking? Did the Royal Navy let anyone in?
"Pride of the King's Navy you are," Jack mumbled under his breath, forcefully yanking Ayisha down from the railing, and then he shrugged off his jacket, shoving it to her chest.
"Stay here," he ordered, staring directly in Ayisha's eyes, and she had no option but to nod obediently. "Do not lose these," he told the two guards, randomly handing the men his effects as he stripped them off of his person one by one. Glancing one last time back at Ayisha, she gawking up at him in pure awe, Jack dove into the sea to save the woman.
Peering over the side of the ship, Ayisha could vaguely see Jack's silhouette from underneath the light tides of the sea-water. Hugging his jacket closer to her body, she was silently praying that Jack would make it to the woman in time; and if not, for him to at least be okay in the long run. He never ceased to amaze her. Evan after all of their years together.
"Do you think he will reach her in time?" the lanky guard on Ayisha's left questioned, and Ayisha, on instinct, turned to glare at him before turning her attention back onto the water.
A large ripple swept across the surface of the sea. Ayisha's heart skipped a beat, feeling the invisible wave pass through her and sending unpleasant shivers down her spine. The feeling that she felt before they made port on the island crept back up to her senses. Dread. She and Jack never should have made port. They should have kept on going regardless of the fact their boat was sinking. They could swim really well. And if they tired - they could float..
"What was that?" the lanky guard questioned, turning to his friend for an answer, but the portly man shook his head in confusion.
Ayisha slowly turned around, the men following her with their eyes, bewilderment clear on their faces. Ayisha gazed up at the sky, a serious expression etched onto her beautiful face.
It was coming.
She didn't know exactly what it was, but whatever it was, it was going to be bad.
The wind changed course; Ayisha's lose hair from her long braid started to fly wildly; the British flag hoisted up onto the mast flapping in a different direction, towards the town. Slowly turning her gaze towards the island, following the direction of the wind, eyes glazed over, Ayisha locked her jaw in place, going into deep thought.
Ayisha was snapped out of her daze when splashing reached her ears, causing her to blink rapidly and shake her head clean of its previous thoughts of trying to figure out what the sudden wave of dread was. Running over to the port-side of the Dauntless, the silhouette of Jack surfaced from underneath the water, a woman tossed over his shoulder. Quickly picking up her cloak and hastily throwing it around her back, tying it back on, Ayisha ran down the wooden plank, following behind the two navy guards, and was forced to just peek over the men's shoulders when they blocked her path.
The lanky guard lifted the woman off of Jack's shoulder, laying her on the dock. And even from her distance, Ayisha could tell that the woman was not breathing.
"She's not breathing!" the portly man confirmed Ayisha's thoughts, and pushed aside the woman's wet hair, lightly patting her cheek in a lame attempt to wake the young woman up.
"Move!" Jack shoved aside the portly man. "Ayisha, your dagger."
Ayisha pushed her way through the two guards, and kneeled down next to the unconscious woman, skilfully sliding out the dagger from underneath the sleeve of her tunic and handing it over to Jack. He stuck the tip of the blade at the top of the pink corset the young woman was wearing, and cut down, ripping off the corset soon after. Jack then shoved it into the lanky man's arms.
As the woman woke up, gasping for air, the portly guard looked at Jack with a flustered facial expression, his cheeks tinged red. "Never would've thought of that."
"Clearly you've never been to Singapore," Jack retorted. Ayisha then patted Jack's shoulder with the back of her hand, her eyes focused on the gold medallion lying off to the side of the young woman's neck. When Jack faced her, Ayisha pointed to the medallion, and he followed her line of sight, picking up the medallion. "…where did you get that?" Jack asked the shaken woman. The woman nervously switched her wide-eyes between Ayisha and Jack.
Suddenly a tip of a sword's blade was pointed down to Jack's neck. Ayisha lifted her head, her mouth dropping open in complete surprise. "On your feet," the man holding the hilt of the sword ordered, and Jack and Ayisha had no choice but to comply.
Jack pushed Ayisha behind his back, standing protectively in front of her, and she gripped the sleeve of his tunic, peeking out from behind his broad shoulders. An older man rushed to the young woman's aid, helping her off of the ground and wrapping her body with his coat. At first the old man looked at the two guards, but those guards then pointed to Jack and Ayisha. Ayisha gaped at the two men in astonishment. Those bastards! She hoped that whatever was coming, would kill, or harm, them first.
"Shoot them!" the old man ordered. Ayisha clamped her eyes shut when she heard the sounds of the soldiers' rifles cocking, preparing to fire.
"Father!" the young woman Jack rescued quickly protested and then turned her gaze to the man who still held the tip of the blade of his sword to Jack's neck. "Commodore, do you really intend to kill my rescuer?"
The commodore switched attention between the young woman and Jack, and then sheathed his sword, Jack pressing his palms together and bowing in thanks to the woman. Ayisha silently sighed in relief, relaxing her tense muscles.
"I believe thanks are in order." The commodore offered out a hand, and Jack hesitated to take it. The commodore abruptly yanked Jack's arm out and snatched open his sleeve, almost ripping off the button. "Had a brush with the East India Trading company, did we, pirate?" sneered the commodore.
"Hang him!" the old man quickly ordered, his tone thick with disgust.
"Keep your guns on him, men. Gillette, fetch some irons," the commodore commanded, and immediately the soldiers shuffled around in response, barrels of rifles pointing in Ayisha and Jack's faces again.
Ayisha drew back in fright. They never had been caught before – she didn't want to get hanged! Jack glanced at Ayisha from over his shoulder and then transferred his gaze to the commodore. "Hold up there, mate. Leave the girl alone, she doesn't have anythin' to do with me."
Ayisha sharply looked at Jack, her face stoic so that only worry showed, her eyes begging him to stop speaking. Just because she didn't want to get hanged didn't mean she didn't want to live to see Jack get hanged. Nuh-uh, no way; she would rather be hanged. Ayisha diverted her eyes back to the commodore, who seemed to actually be contemplating Jack's comment as he stared at Ayisha. But then he turned back to Jack. "I don't make deals with pirates, pirate. The girl will be fined for being associated with you." The commodore looked back down at Jack's forearm. "…well, well. Jack Sparrow, isn't it?"
Jack retracted his arm when the commodore threw it down. "Captain Jack Sparrow, if you please, sir." Ayisha moved from behind Jack, and to his side, despite the fact he gave her a disapproving look.
"Well, I don't see your ship, Captain," the commodore retorted, glancing around towards the vacant sea.
"I'm in the market as it were. Decided to take some time off for the bonnie lass here." Jack wrapped an arm around Ayisha's waist, Ayisha smiling weakly. Her eyes scanned all of the navy soldiers nervously. "She hates being out at sea for too long." Jack covered the side of his mouth with his free hand, as if telling a secret, causing Ayisha to roll her eyes in exasperation. Whenever something went wrong (for Jack that is), it had to be her fault. That, or she would be an excuse as to why things didn't go according to plan.
"Oh, so she is associated with you?" The commodore smirked, catching Jack in mid-lie, causing Jack to snap his mouth shut.
"He said they came to commander one," the lanky guard puffed out his chest in his odd version of courage, interrupting Jack from speaking,
"Told ya he was telling the truth. These are his, sir." The portly guard picked up Jack's effects from the dock, handing them over to the commodore.
Ayisha tried to glare at the two guards, but Jack's form shielded her from sight, again. Did she already mention how much they were bastards?
The commodore passed an amused grin towards Jack and Ayisha before inspecting Jack's effects. First, the commodore picked up Jack's pistol: the only pistol Barbossa left Jack with when he marooned Jack and Ayisha on that tiny island, tossing it from hand to hand. "No additional shots nor powder," the commodore openly commented. He placed the pistol back on top of Jack's hat, picking up the compass (Jack and Ayisha reached out for it, but withdrew their hands, Ayisha biting her bottom lip in caution, hoping that the commodore wouldn't realize what it could actually do). "A compass that doesn't point north." He, too, tossed the compass back onto Jack's hat, reaching over and unsheathing Jack's sword, the metal blade shimmering in the sun light. "And I half expected it to be made out of wood," the commodore quipped. "You are without a doubt the worst pirate I've ever heard of."
Jack raised his hands into the air and gave a dramatic pause, "But you have heard of me." He grinned impishly.
Ayisha's head dipped down at Jack's comment, her forehead plopping against his shoulder blade. Even at the face of possible death, he always had to have the last word.
The commodore glared at Jack and grabbed a hold of Jack's upper-arm, yanking him forward and down the dock. "Check the girl for concealed weapons," the commodore ordered, and almost right away Ayisha was held by both of her arms, by two navy soldiers.
Grunting in protest at feeling the men's hands roaming her body, Ayisha tried to wiggle out of their hold. Hearing Jack's voice she ceased her struggle when she saw that Jack had tried to go to her aid and had been hit in the stomach with the butt end of a rifle. "She's unarmed, sir," the soldier to Ayisha's right declared.
"Commodore, I really must protest!" the young woman again tried to persuade the commodore, glancing at Ayisha, obviously seeing her discomfort.
"Carefully, Lieutenant," the commodore told the man clasping irons on Jack's wrists. "Bring the girl."
Ayisha was dragged down the dock and was clasped in irons, too. Once they let her hands go, they faltered at the heavy weight, half her body hunched over.
"Pirate or not this man saved my life," the young woman stated firmly, standing 'protectively' in front of Jack and the lieutenant who was clamping him in irons. "They both could have hurt me, but they didn't."
The commodore lightly shook his head at the young woman. "One good deed is not enough to redeem a man of a lifetime of wickedness."
"Though it seems enough to condemn him," Jack added.
"...Indeed," said the commodore through clenched teeth.
The lieutenant backed away from Jack, done with putting on the irons, and Jack openly sighed. "Finally." He then proceeded to throw the chain of the irons around the young woman's neck, pulling her close to his body - back against chest. The young woman yelped, and the older man, obviously her father, gasped in fright, ordering the soldiers not to shoot when the men in red coats pointed the barrels of their rifles at Jack.
"I knew you'd warm up to me." Jack grinned from over the young woman's shoulder.
"Don't be stupid, Mr. Sparrow," the commodore dryly responded, though worry was clear in his eyes. He raised his hand in the air, and Ayisha found herself being held by navy soldiers again, a rifle pointed straight at her. Ayisha locked eyes with Jack, hers wide and fearful - his filled with second thoughts.
He never really did think things through...
"No, don't you be stupid, Commodore," Jack retorted, his face stoic. "I'm a measly pirate, remember? What makes you think I won't kill the lass?" To add emphasis, he tightened the chain around the young woman's neck, causing her to gasp.
"What makes you think I won't do the same? She's to hang for being associated with you anyway." The commodore took Jack's bluff, but from Ayisha's view, she could see the commodore's hands ball into fists behind his back. She looked back at Jack, licking her trembling lips, but passed him a shaky nod to continue with what he was doing.
"But are you willing to test that theory out, Commodore?" Jack questioned seriously, raising an eyebrow.
The commodore remained quiet, fidgeting in his place, glancing at the old man, and then turned his head to the side in the direction of Ayisha. "Release her," he said reluctantly.
The soldier pointing the gun at Ayisha lowered down his rifle, and the men grabbing her released their hold. Rubbing her shoulders because the soldiers had a pretty strong grip, Ayisha gingerly walked towards Jack and stood behind him. "You all right there, darlin'?" Jack whispered, his eyes not straying from the commodore. Ayisha nodded. "Now, Commodore Norrington – my effects, please … and my hat!"
Yes. Never forget the hat. That hat meant more to Jack than anything. It was the first thing he stole from his father. His father. Ayisha has never really met Jack's father, but from the stories she heard - he seemed like the kind of person you didn't want to steal from.
The commodore glared in obvious hatred towards Jack, but made no move.
"Commodore!" said Jack, and reluctantly Commodore Norrington handed over Jack's effects, personally. Jack then glanced down at the young woman. "Elizabeth. It is Elizabeth isn't it?"
"It's Miss. Swann," the woman growled. Ayisha felt guilty about the young woman's situation. She was only trying to help, after all.
"Miss. Swann, if you'd be so kind. Come, come, dear, we don't have all day," Jack told the young woman, Commodore Norrington placing Jack's effects into her arms. "Now if you'd be very kind."
Jack smiled, and Elizabeth struggled to turn around in his hold, strapping on his sword around his waist, and putting on his hat. Jack grinned devilishly at the commodore, and the commodore turned his attention to the side in obvious jealousy. Ayisha just pursed her lips, thinking that, that very moment wasn't exactly a good time for Jack to be playing his games; though she had grown used to his flirtatious ways. "Easy on the goods there, darlin'."
"You're despicable," Elizabeth sneered into Jack's face.
Jack grinned, unaffected. "Sticks and stones, love. I save your life, you save mine and my lass's, we're square. Ayisha, I think now would be the opportune time for you to run," Jack muttered to Ayisha, pointing the barrel of his pistol underneath Elizabeth's chin.
"What about you?" Ayisha whispered back, not wanting to leave him alone to fend for himself.
"Love, this is me we're talking about. I'll be fine."
Ayisha tried to find comfort in Jack's words and continued to stare at him with a worried expression. Silently sighing to herself, she quickly glanced at the captive Elizabeth, and turned around, running down the dock and towards the sea. Without hesitation, Ayisha dove into the water and started swimming as fast as she could away from her current position.
Bubbles escaping her lips, the salt water beginning to burn her eyes, Ayisha had no choice but to surface for air. Taking in a deep breath and slapping her hair away from her face, the irons around her wrist giving her trouble to stay afloat, Ayisha craned her neck behind her. She was a good distance away from the private dock of the Dauntless, but what really made her heart pound in her chest was the continuous sound of gun fire.
"Jack…" she shakily whispered under her breath, fearing for his safety and health. She moved so that she could swim back, but then she could vaguely see an outline of a man flying in the air. Ayisha's eyes followed the silhouette of the flying man with her mouth dropped open, seeing his form then disappear from sight. That man could have only been one person...
Captain Jack Sparrow.
(A/N) Authors Note: Jack is a man of very good luck, isn't he? Does he ever really think things through?
OK, now I'm going to do something different - that I have never done before.
Review replies!
i love you always: I'm sorry that you had to make an account in order to talk to me about my second deletion of this story. But, like I said, I promise not to abandon you ever again. I'm flattered that my story is really one of the only ones you read on this site - it makes me feel all tingly on the inside :3
AddictedToJohnny: (By the way, love your name) Again, I'm sorry that you were going to make an account to yell at me. The reason I deleted it, was because I'm a horrible author who should be lashed 20 times, each, by each reader/review that I lost, and am hoping to get back. Though, I highly doubt it now. I'm glad that you noticed the few changes I made! That means you're actually reading my crap! :D
.S Y N T H E T I Cperfection.: I nearly gave you a heart attack? I'm sorry Dx It would be a pity to see a girl die so young - and from a heart attack no less! And, no, your review does not count as pressure. lol. I love you, too!
thing1966: You read the book, too? Yippie! Man, I'm happy that someone noticed that Ayisha isn't an OC. I wonder if I can get the site to add her to the character list for the PotC category. Do you think they will? Oh, well if they don't. But I'm warning you now - I'm going to do things a bit differently than what you may have read in the book. Like (SPOILER ALERT) I'm not going to kill off Aniba - he's too awesome to die!
Firestar'sneice: Thank you! And here I thought my writing sucks. You really think I have Jack in character? Because he is one difficult person to keep in character - he's so erratic! And, to answer your question, if Jack does marry Ayisha, that will make him a prince; but I don't think that it will keep him from getting arrested by the Royal Navy. Hardly anyone knows about Kerma, since they think that the island is a myth. But, we shall see. For all we know, Jack and Ayisha might not even get married! Jack does tend to do stupid things to ruin everything, and since I'm going to be keeping him in character, you should know what I mean. He's a ladies man. Key word - ladies.
DarkFireAngel00: I'm glad you quoted my last authors note. Makes me know that you, too, are actually reading my shizz. I'm glad to be back! Whoop!
Sarala23: I love your crazieness - so don't stop it! It keeps me entertained :D And, as for a random character (since I already gave you Viola Woods), hm, lets see...how about...I have no clue...man...Well, I'm sure you'll come up with something to cure your boredness o:
Curlycue2102: You name reminds me of my most favorite movie: Curly Cue. lol. It's a movie made in the 80's I think. You noticed the Mr. and Mrs. Smith, bit! -parties; I'm happy someone did! I also thought about that when I was typing out the previous chapter. It would be comical to see Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie do what Jack and Ayisha did with the sinking boat :3 And, don't worry about Jack being too out of character, because if you've read my review reply to Firestar'sneice, you'll see that Jack has a tendency to be...handsy (as you've already put in your story) lol.
Echo-ness, Race Forshaw, Told you so: I LOVE YOU! And you need to come out in your crack-fic about PotC story, already!
Reviews are love ;D
OH! And just because I have fond feelings for Curlcue2102 (no homo ;3) you should go check out her story! It's about Jack, a mermaid, and a ship in a bottle :3
It's really good. And, while your at it, you should read her Sherlock Holmes story (for all you Sherlock fans. Robert Downey Jr. -insert fan girl squeal here;!)