AN:
Thank you for the new favorites I just found from my e-mail and the guest reviewer for submitting a comment! And to respond…I'll simply say that we'll see what will happen. But I promise Will won't go waltzing free without some eventual consequences… ;)
Finally some relief, momentum! I found it surprisingly so much easier to write from Peter's perspective, even during the first installment and the first chapters of this story it was totally other way around…Oh, well, let's see how you find this update, shall we?
Entry 15
Both McConaughey and I flinched at the sound of the fourth voice that abruptly had spoken somewhere behind us, us twirling around to stare at the back wall, Miranda releasing a low yelp of dismay as we next watched a human like figure to separate itself from the ship's hull. Miranda falling on her bum with another cry, of pain this time, as two eyes opened to stare at us. My forehead scrunching up for awe as McConaughey drew away from the wall sharply once the figure that resembled Jones' other crewmen focused his gaze on each of us in turn. Silence descending as we eyed at the being which features now clearly resembled that of an old man when he wasn't anymore buried under the corrals and other sea life covering the planks. The sailor infused with the ship stepping down to the cell, the lantern he was holding almost striking the rising McConaughey on his head as I followed his suite, frowning even deeper at the sight of the crewman's brain that had abdicated the man's body by remaining stuck to the hull. Me taking a careful step closer to him as looked to him in interest, his somewhat intense eyes solely focused on petrified Miranda whose words had lured him out of his slumber.
"What do you know of this?"
"Open the Chest with the key and stab the heart…" the crewman mused as a response, his gaze slowly shifting from astonished Miranda to me until it drifted away to elsewhere absentmindedly. McConaughey's voice nevertheless causing him to turn around briskly a look of abnegation displayed on the remnants of his face.
"To what end, old man?"
"Don't stab the heart!" the crewman breathed, leaping to McCoanughey who leant back his own eyebrows deeply furrowed, equally baffled as me when the three of us listened to the crewman's delivery to turn from serious to somewhat noteworthy. "The Dutchman needs a living heart or there'll be no Captain…and if there's no Captain, there's no one to have the key."
"So the Captain has the key?" I questioned, in realization, the crewman going mute at the face of my inquiry and his expression didn't completely advocate my presumption, as I heard Miranda to rise to her feet as well. Coming closer, cutting into the conversation.
"Where is it?"
"Hidden", the crewman whispered, as swiftly as he'd made his out of the blue appearance starting to retreat back towards the wall as if he'd said too much and was afraid of revealing anything more. Me taking a pace forward with lifted eyebrows before he could save himself from further replying by returning back to his immobile state as part of the ship.
"Where's the Chest?"
"Hidden."
"Hidden where, mate?"
Captain McConaughey didn't receive any manner of reply either as just when the final question had left his lips the elderly crewman had withdrawn back to his lifeless form, his eyes closing as the corrals surrounded him, merging him with the boards. But the lantern in his hand expressing any signs of life by rocking just slightly in his extended arm until McConaughey's hand caught it. The man releasing a sigh before tapped the wall with his knuckles a few times, not managing to wake the old man again.
"Wasn't he helpful. He didn't tell us anything we already hadn't figured out on our own. To even bother to wake up for no much reason at all…"
"There was somethin'…aboot stabbin' th' hert. Is that why Sparrow wants th' Chest, to acquire Jones' hert to kill 'im?" Miranda wondered, us turning to level an ignorant look at her until my irises started to roam about the figure of the late crewman in ponders. Me shaking my head as folded my arms.
"I can't think of any other reason when Jack's concerned."
"At least now we are sure where to seek the key first."
I nodded at the Englishman, although not much more informed smiling a bit. "Aye."
My thoughts started to wander then, away from the key and the Chest and Jack, me coming to remember something Miranda had said just a moment before during our discussion. It causing my heart to lighten as I turned around slightly, eyeing at her, my frown smoothing as I saw her smile at me weakly before her eyes were cast down. Me watching her hands to slowly twirl around the bars in what it felt to me like awkwardness once what McConaughey had said to me earlier before her arrival also came back to me. Me eventually not finding myself able to resist clearing it out the formed quandary, whether what he said had been true or not, from asking it from her directly after a short moment of hesitation, going to Miranda as she sat back down. Me sighing at her when she winced, joining her on the floor as sought her eyes with mine.
"Thank you."
Miranda looked up to me in bafflement. "For what? As always I've done nothin' but caused unneeded concern to ye."
"For suggesting to use the Chest to help Elizabeth", I specified, smiling wider, but it was diminished once after a moment of exchanging a stare with me she looked away. Her smile not as sincere as she probably aimed it to be, me indeed frowning again slightly in understanding as she shook her head at me.
"Don't. I only said it because it's right, 'n' because she means th' world to ye…'N' I don't want ye to face th' pain o' losin' th' one person who matters ye th' maist…"
I don't know did she even notice to have uttered those last words, but they certainly stroke a cord in me and filled me with all that familiar remorse, when I did realize McConaughey to have been perhaps correct about me and Miranda continuing on as friends …because the look I briefly could see in her eyes spoke of much more, and I'd known it all along, only wished it to have changed along with her mind during these past weeks we'd been apart. Me glancing back at the man who was once more observing our every move from the back of the cell, me gazing down myself in momentary loss of words as took hold of one of the bars to lean closer to Miranda. Filling with realization but also with disbelief as finally looked up to her with tender eyes, my voice quizzical.
"The reason you didn't come to my wedding…" I started, however pausing as saw Miranda's head to jerk upward a tad, her blinking at the sound of my words, me rephrasing at the sight of the emotion I saw playing on her visage until she chased it away with a composed mien. It however failing once she heard the phrase that left my lips next. "…Do you really love me that much?"
She said nothing in the following minute that passed, just avoided my eyes, till after a long time of choosing her own words she locked gazes with me. The look in them what else but causing my heart to lurch when during that one moment of mutual sincerity I witnessed the depth of the feelings she hold for me, them reflecting through her dithering irises that looked into mine in all their desperation she undoubtedly had always felt deep in her own, until she turned tense. Notably distraught as released a sigh, inclining her head.
"How was I supposed to watch ye marry another when all I've dreamed aboot ever since meetin' ye was for us to wed?" she said, so quietly that she might've as well been talking to herself, my frown deepening as I stared back at her, her voice wavering a little when she continued. "I'm nae a braw person, William. I tried to be, I awready was standin' in front o' a mirror in me room, wearin' th' dress ye 'n' Elizabeth gave me, ready to leave…but I was juist that selfish nae to have been able to take th' definin' step towards th' door. 'N' admit that…"
She silenced then before finishing her sentence, me tilting my own head at her distress as couldn't say anything that would've made her words any easier to deliver, leaning away with a sigh while found to be at odd with myself. Miranda's features now morphing to more serious as if she would've realized to have been rambling on something senseless, indeed understanding to be going behind her last evening's promise with a few carelessly expressed words, stopping herself from continuing just like the crewman had before. Locking gazes with me with barely contained countenance.
"Everythin' I had to say aboot this I told ye last evening…I…don't want to brin' this up noo. It's still too soon."
I shut my eyes as Miranda instantly rose from the floor as a last proof of McConaughey's allusions at the end of her answer. Me now even more strongly than ever coming to doubt would there ever be anything but this one sided bond of past love between us that one look at Miranda now as well as long ago at home proved impossible. Not my choices in life nor any of my urges being powerful enough to wipe away her attachment to me or turn it to correspond mine, upon understanding this me looking after her even more miserable once she headed towards the stairs. Taking support from the wall momentarily while closing her own eyes, for the turmoil of emotions or pain, I did not know. Only aware of my many times overcome guilt that that moment weighed on me even heavier, as well as my cell partner's eyes that had remained glued to me for the last minutes my brief conversation with Miranda had lasted. My train of stirring thoughts getting nevertheless cut by the sound of the opening brig door, me following Miranda to hurry to the side to avoid two crewmen who then entered the dungeon and came down the steps. One of them walking over with a ring of keys he'd recovered from his belt.
"Turner, McConaughey, out! Captain ordered ye back to work!"
Both of us rose obediently once the cell door was opened, McConaughey striding past me and exiting first instead of making a comment about the words exchanged between Miranda and me (which I'd been expecting to be honest), but as I followed and directed my eyes towards the staircase I discovered her to have already left. Me stopping momentarily in mixed ponders as the crewmen and Captain McConaughey went on ahead, leaving the brig before me.
I dug out my pocket knife as let my eyes roam about the deck in disinterest, gazing at the sailors hard at work as brought the blade to the fruit in my hand. Preparing to stick it inside the ripe apple, until Norrington's equally assiduous form caught my eye, the sour look on his visage amusing me as I had never seen the esteemed former Commodore to have been forced to engage in such a humiliating task that required the soiling of his hands in something as foreign to a nobleman as manual labor (not to mention as part of a pirate crew consisting of the kind of men he'd used to hang for circumstances he very much had come to adopt quite nicely without as much as a complaint). His evident reluctance to demean himself to work for his sworn enemy in all its conspicuousness not either escaping the attention of the pirate in question, as soon Sparrow plodded through the swabbing sailors to stop in front of Norrington. Taking great pleasure at seeing the former Navy man on all fours at his feet, the pirate placing one of his feet onto the deck to block Norrington from continuing working as well as to claim his attention, with a hardly hold back leer the man indeed looking up to his Captain questionably. Earning a snooty smirk back as the pirate nodded at the rag in his hand.
"A bit of manual labor is good for you Commodore. Builds character."
I made a half a smile as watched Norrington to eye at Sparrow for awhile in confusion, his features however being instantly consumed with pique as he saw the pirate to tap his foot remarkably, with slow movements the irked man complying to wipe the grime off his boot. Sparrow monitoring his progress until after a few seconds shooed the man away and turned around, Norrington sending a scowl after the pirate who now spotted Elizabeth standing by the gunwale. Lost in thought as was reading through the…Letters of Marque.
My eyes fixated to the Letters as Sparrow now swooped behind Elizabeth unbeknownst to her, her therefore not having enough time to conceal the Letters before the pirate had claimed them from her hands. Not listening to her objections as simply strode away to take a look at them himself in interest, me seeing him lift his eyebrows as he most likely spotted his own name written to the beginning of the document.
"This is interesting…"
"How dare you!" Elizabeth exclaimed, trying to take the Letters back from Sparrow but he avoided her arm that darted forward to take hold of the Letters, the man cocking his shoulder at her in feigned confusion, flapping the document fully open as made a conceited grin.
"These Letters of Marque are meant to go to me, are they not? It's very kind of ye to have delivered them all the way here personally, love", Sparrow responded, ignoring Elizabeth then as turned around to continue reading the accord presented on the paper, him however soon stiffening considerably as his eyebrows drew together for dismay. Him squinting to make sure he'd read the previous line correctly as hoisted the Letters higher, unfortunately for him finding his vision to have been as clear as ever.
"Beckett."
"Beckett?" Gibbs repeated in shock, Elizabeth glancing at him in concur as the First Mate leaned over her shoulder to see the document better.
"That's right. Lord Cutler Beckett of the East India Trading Company."
I smirked secretly as caught a glimpse of Sparrow's nervous grimace when he gingerly opened the Letters of Marque once more after closing them in disbelief, both him and apparently also his First Mate recognizing my uncle's name with displeasure, which seemed to confuse Elizabeth who yet wasn't aware of Sparrow's true connection to the Company. Me finally slicing my knife into the apple as settled myself against the main mast, listening in on the ongoing conversation that I soon noticed to also perk up the former Commodore's interest. Norrington focusing only partially to his task of swabbing with the rest of the newest recruits, as like mine his attention was drawn to the three conversing figures standing just within the audibility range for us to overhear their supposedly secret exchange.
"Beckett sent Will to find you in order to acquire your compass in exchange for these", Elizabeth explained, beckoning towards the Letters the pirate was examining with careful eye, not liking what he saw by the look on his scrunched up face when as a confirmation he discovered the familiar insignia at the end of the document.
"They're signed?" Sparrow questioned, although he could obviously see that himself, Elizabeth frowning at him.
"Of course they are. Do you think I would've brought them with me if they were of no value?"
Sparrow brought the Letters closer as if he wasn't yet convinced of their authenticity, the inescapable seal of the Beckett family resting alongside my uncle's name however causing him then to grimace in distaste. The pirate sticking his tongue out while next hauled the Letters farther away from himself as if they were something repulsive to touch, dismay setting onto Gibbs' face in turn.
"Will was working for Beckett and never said a word…"
"Companionship with my uncle even if most diminutive isn't actually something that would put a man in favour of your circles", I cut in, slipping an apple slice into my mouth as locked gazes with all three. Sparrow's sneer deepening as he then dropped the Letters to cross his arms pensively, me now waltzing over to them with lifted eyebrows before swept the deck with my gaze. "Therefore as his one and only nephew I'm surprised not even one of your ninnies has attempted to slit my throat yet."
"That can still me arranged", Sparrow muttered under his breath, by now recovered from the considerable surprise my own revealed close association with uncle Cutler had inflicted upon him. Resulting him in attempting to lock me in the brig, but Elizabeth had been quick to thwart any attempt to have me detained, for this reason me now only tilting my head at the pirate smugly, as Gibbs' eyes widened before narrowing again once the man arrived to a conclusion most accurate.
"Beckett wants the compass. Only one reason for that…"
"Of course…" Sparrow realized, turning towards us. His contemplativeness changing to seriousness in a blink of an eye, when he finally understood not to be the only one aware of the possibilities the Dead Man's Chest brought to its discoverer. "He wants the Chest."
At this Norrington's head popped up yet again, just slightly for no one but me to notice, me directing a matter-o-fact quirk of an eyebrow to his direction before turned to Elizabeth at the sound of her voice along with Sparrow.
"He did say something about a Chest…Did you ever hear him talk about it, Peter?"
"No. He did tell me some things concerning the intent to take over the Caribbean by exterminating piracy, but he didn't let me in on everything he had planned. This is the first time I've heard of this Chest", I lied, waving another apple slice in wonder as returned Elizabeth's gaze in bafflement. Yet again succeeding in appearing clueless to everything that had started to happen from the moment my uncle had settled to Port Royal.
"What is this Chest?" Elizabeth questioned, shifting her attention from me to Sparrow who seemed to cringe a bit at her direct query, without a doubt having hoped her not to make any questions that could've brought down the facade he'd built around her to keep her in check long enough to serve his purpose. "The compass I understand, but what does Beckett want with this Chest?"
"If the Company controls the Chest, they control the sea", Gibbs elaborated for her following astonishment, Sparrow sweeping his moustache and beard anxiously until wiped any trace of concern away with a stern expression while facing Elizabeth.
"A truly discomforting notion, love."
"And bad! Bad for any mother's son who calls himself a pirate", the First Mate stressed, exchanging another tense stare with befuddled Elizabeth, where I released a slight laugh. Claiming the undivided attention to myself.
"That is if there really would be a Chest for the Company to control. Should we come upon a Chest at the end of this voyage, I'd be very much surprised if it consisted of anything but dust and sand…or better yet a note that mocks all those loony fools who have believed such nonsense enough to dig it up", I countered, putting on my mask of disbelief as looked to Sparrow, earning a narrowed look back.
"This is not a matter of jest, lad!" Gibbs breathed, dead serious, as grabbed my shoulder to emphasize the importance of me taking the matter seriously. "Ye out of all of us should know how dangerous man yer uncle is. So better safe than sorry, the Chest is better at the bottom of Davy Jones' Locker than in his hands, mark my words."
"And if it's really down there, then what do we do? Dive right in and swim to it if that bloody compass leaves us in middle of this never ending ocean?" I retorted, pointing at our only guide leading us towards our aimed destination that now rested on Elizabeth's hip. "We have come across nothing but open water ever since leaving Tortuga."
"If it comes to that radge, ye'll be the first one to try", Sparrow cut in sardonically, me offering him an equally caustic twitch of my upper lip, as the pirate faced me in turn, smiling. "And while ye're at it, why don't ye go and ask dear old Davy to release the whelp and hand over the key in the process? Would save us a lot of trouble and time listening to ye bleat like a woman."
"Jack, stop it", Elizabeth interjected, the pirate looking at her somewhat insulted, lifting his eyebrows in curt outrage as beckoned to me.
"You never tell him to stop."
"Peter has a right to be sceptical, Jack. Where I believe you", Elizabeth assured, me wanting to roll my eyes so badly as cast my eyes back down to the apple I started twirling in my hand, Sparrow making a slow nod until looked at the fruit earnestly. Causing me to sigh as I waved at it remarkably.
"Take it out of my pay…Oh, that's right. No honor amongst thieves, and certainly not sufficient honesty for payment of wages."
"Peter…" Elizabeth breathed, her eyes darting to me to tell me to behave and I flashed her an apologetic grin, cutting a slice and handing it over to her. Elizabeth accepting it with a delighted smile, where the pause in the main conversation had given Gibbs enough time to contemplate our current situation, the man's attention moving from his Captain to the skies above.
"I think there's a bit more speed to be coaxed from these sails."
I followed the man to strut along the deck while delivering an order for the crew, me now abandoning my pocket knife as bit into the half of the apple that was left, Sparrow's curious voice bringing me around to see him to have stepped right in front of Elizabeth. That trademark flirtatious grin of his reaching from an ear to ear, me shortly glowering at the pirate as watched him inch closer to Elizabeth, her countenance remaining however serious after her fleeting surprise to find him so close as she returned Sparrow's stare. For a brief moment me bypassing the words said between them as stopped to admire her. Her looking much more like herself now when her hair had been freed to the wind, her tanned skin glowing golden even under all the dirt covering her smooth cheeks, highlighting her strong eyebrows and bringing out her natural beauty even more. Me finding myself rather tranced by her so unkempt, casual appearance only heightened by the men's clothing she naturally was still wearing. Deciding her to be equally beautiful in her usual carb of a lady as well as in plain breeches and that ragged jacket she'd pilfered from some poor sod's back. This notion bringing a smile to my lips.
"Might I inquire as to how you came by these?" Sparrow asked, lifting up the Letters of Marque, as Elizabeth tilted her head in frustration. Narrowing her eyes.
"Persuasion."
"Friendly?"
"Decidedly not."
I hold back a chuckle as came to regret not to have been there to see Elizabeth hold my uncle at gunpoint and force him to sign the Letters (even I'd been notably upset to learn of her disappearance with the document). The defiance in her voice nevertheless only amusing me when I recalled my uncle's recount of that night's events, me now lifting a finger to detach a piece of the fruit's peel from between my teeth as followed the pair with my attentive gaze. Watching Elizabeth to back up closer to the stairs leading up to the quarterdeck, Sparrow inclining his head in wonder.
"Will strikes a deal for these and upholds it for honor, yet you are the one standing here with the prize", he mused, thoughtful smirk spreading on his lips. His remark leaving Elizabeth speechless for a moment as I turned around tardily, listening intently as the pirate started to read the admission of the reprisal out loud. "Full pardon, commissioned as a privateer on behalf of England and the East India Trading Company..."
I could see Norrington to flinch at the sound of that and his eyes rose from the deck below him to the pirate, one more glance made to his direction telling my words from last evening to have been proved even further true to him. Me shifting my head towards him to exchange a subtle and yet significant look with the man, my former employer's gaze falling back down in deep ponders as I saw Sparrow to make an amused smirk this time. Stashing the Letters into the breast pocket of his coat, me frowning slightly as Elizabeth once again failed to reclaim them back from him, Sparrow's voice but indifferent and most certainly uninterested. Just as I'd anticipated after discovering my uncle's plan to offer him a position as a privateer, in true intent or as a means to have him returned to the Company to be executed forthwith, I wasn't completely sure. My uncle might've shared my hatred towards the man, but he also could've found a way to profit from Sparrow's existence rather than just kill him, which I wouldn't utterly agree on, while aware of his character and upon witnessing his deep rooted contempt towards my uncle and the Company. His following words only denoting his sentiments.
"As if I could be bought for such a low price."
"Jack, the Letters, give them back!" Elizabeth urged, the pirate turning his head towards her in denial. Me lifting my jaw and folded my arms as behold the sly smile that rose to his lips.
"No. Persuade me."
"You do know that Will taught me how to handle a sword", Elizabeth warned Sparrow, coming up behind him to lean in to his ear, her words inflicting mirth in Sparrow where I only leered at the ocean shortly. Not wanting to know what she'd really meant with that phrase as the pirate turned around with folded arms, as conceited as ever as assumed his disputable charm to work on her when he then gazed deep into her eyes. But Elizabeth was far too smart to be swept off her feet by the alluring quirk of his eyebrow like any common wench of Tortuga.
"As I said…persuade me."
Sparrow seemed in fact disappointed when Elizabeth simply stalked away from him to the other side of the deck after a brief incredulous stare, Sparrow peering after her in slight chagrin, while had this constipated look about him. As if he would've been deterring an urge to do something, thinking the better of it as next discovered to be watched by me. With a dismissive frown him then waving me to go to work before turning around and heading towards his private quarters, me but scoffing with a shake of my head as bit through the fruit. Elizabeth would never fall for the likes of Sparrow, that was for sure.
"It's a curious thing…There was a time when I would've given anything for you to look like that while thinking about me."
Norrington's voice snapped me out of my thoughts and I turned just slightly to find him to have abandoned his station to come to stand by Elizabeth. His words confusing me until I did manage a glance at that smile that for my following dismay had spread on Elizabeth's lips after the departure of the pirate, until it vanished at the sound of the former Commodore's comment. Her turning around with an evasive reply.
"I don't know what you mean."
"Oh I think you do", Norrington argued, leaning against the railing as gazed at Elizabeth suggestively, the knowing smile playing on his own lips making me sullen as I examined Elizabeth, seeing her to hesitate until she assumed an ignorant expression. Me however seeing enough to make my assumptions and have my hands clench into fists, my hard eyes shifting to stare at Sparrow who had been apparently called up to the helm to check our bearings. Indeed busying himself with peering through a spyglass he'd claimed from his belt, as I released a pent up breath after noticing to have hold it in for a few seconds.
"Don't be absurd, I trust him, that's all", Elizabeth responded with a negating stare, something I could detect from her features however not convincing me, and neither did Norrington come to trust in that claim. Him making an incredulous smile as his irises also rose to see the pirate at the helm, the man letting out a doubtful laugh as walked away, however facing Elizabeth again just before passing me.
"So you never wondered how your latest fiancé ended up on the Flying Dutchman in the first place?"
Both me and Elizabeth were stunned by this notion, me not because it was something I hadn't already thought of, but because of Norrington's conscious slip of tongue turned me then slightly anxious. My grim irises trailing after him once the man passed the capstan with a shake of his head, where Elizabeth's eyes were cast down in deep thought before she gazed at Sparrow in turn. Dithering yet again, until with a doubtful tilt of her head she yanked the compass from her own belt, opening it confidently. Me following her disbelief to turn into realization and all the way to dismay as she followed the needle to find its course, anger flaring up once I saw her stupefied eyes to shift back to Sparrow until she shut the compass hastily. Her irises wandering about in bemusement until her reverie was cut by the sound of my booted leg hitting the ship's hull, me swallowing my resentment as conjured up a smile. Elizabeth watching me to hurl the apple core far into the sea, me shadowing my eyes to see it land approximately 65 feet away, letting out a whistle until leveled a mischievous look to her direction.
"My arm is still as good as it used to be", I mused, leaning against the gunwale in turn as smiled at Elizabeth, not causing her to retreat even an inch unlike Sparrow had while this close to her. Elizabeth returning my smile as made a slow nod, me straightening my posture after tipping my head towards her. "Remember that time when I accidentally broke your window while arriving to help you sneak out of the manor to go stargazing to that nearby cliff?"
Elizabeth seemed taken aback by my abrupt act of bringing up that certain remembrance from our youth, but her warm smile filled me with joy as she spent a moment in silence, letting out a laugh.
"Do I? How could I not, father was furious. He threatened to send the perpetrator straight to Tower of London when he would find the rascal who had dared to climb up to my balcony in middle of the night", Elizabeth replied with a loud giggle, shaking her head. "Granted that you could've used a little less force in tossing that stone not to wake the whole house... Your mother and sister had to spend the rest of the night in my room because father was too concerned to leave me alone should the prowler return."
"For my defense I must argue to have gallantly waited at the bottom for the dear lady to climb down on her own", I corrected her, us exchanging an amused look until she broke into a slight laugh.
"For both of our defense I must point out that we were just children back then…two foolish 12 year olds who deemed it completely proper to spend the night prancing about the town in our nightwear."
"Those were the times…"
The longing tone of my voice caused Elizabeth to face me, me being able to tell that the keen look in my eyes bemused her a bit, but that was my very intention. Next offering her a gentler smile as leant closer, lifting a questionable eyebrow. "Do you miss it? That time when we were free to be young and didn't have to care for the rules of society, were able to follow our hearts without a care for anyone but ourselves... Do you find yourself going back to those days, Elizabeth?"
"I do. More often than I can probably recall", she agreed, sighing. "Things were a lot simpler back then…to have been able to be with whoever you wanted, when you wanted and where you wanted without someone as much as waving a reproaching finger at you…I do miss it, Peter. And at times wish to be able to return back to that carefree moment in life. To that balcony, waiting for you to step out of the bushes with a basket of goods you filched from the kitchen."
I shared a grin with her, however my eyes remaining on her beautiful face as I couldn't bring myself to look elsewhere, me sensing my features to soften as I slid an arm across the railing to set it behind her back, bringing myself closer to her with another inquisitive tilt of my head. "It's still not too late. You can still find that moment right here…with me."
Elizabeth met my gaze in bafflement, me releasing a slow breath as allowed myself to lean a tad closer to her during our short stare until brushed aside her face while stretching out to recover a piece of holystone I discovered to have been left by the rail by someone, Elizabeth following me curiously as I tossed my ammunition in the air, before flinging it across the air towards the quarterdeck. Succeeding in hitting the First Mate to the back of his neck once the man was ascending the steps, Gibbs' hand flying to feel the sore spot the stone had left upon impact (after letting go of the railing he'd clutched to with both arms to prevent him from falling), him twirling around in shock. Earning a nonplussed frown from his Captain who dropped the spyglass at the sound of Gibbs' startled exclaim, Elizabeth placing a hand over her mouth not to start to laugh at the man's dismay until one more confident lift of my eyebrows from me made it impossible. Her breaking down to furious giggles as I pouted a little in chagrin, calculating the trajectory with my hand as if I was trying to set a course by the stars.
"It could've gone slightly to the left…"
"You're terrible", Elizabeth told me, shoving me slightly as I joined her at the gunwale again, us both leaning against it as I looked at her with a wide smile on my lips. Landing a brief hand on her wrist.
"And that is why you wouldn't want anyone else to betake in any mischiefs with you besides me."
"No, I wouldn't."
We were silent for a moment, for my surprise Elizabeth at first clasping my hand in hers before she separated from the railing to face me with a thankful expression. Although surprised by her abrupt endearment me receiving her eagerly as she embraced me, Norrington who at the same moment returned back from the lazarette stiffening at the sight of us by the gunwale. Me however ignoring the man as closed my eyes briefly, accepting her without a complaint. Squeezing her slightly as my left hand set to the small of her back to bring her closer, me hearing her sigh.
"Thank you for coming after me, Peter. I don't know what would I do without you here."
I nodded, in turn detaching myself from her, as swept some hair out of her eyes when the sudden, so far close to nonexistent east breeze came upon us and caused her locks to push against her visage. Elizabeth taking hold of her hat, where I allowed my fingers to inadvertedly brush against her cheek and forearm, just lightly before my hand fell to take hold of the hilt of my rapier with a bow. "I'd follow you anywhere to ensure your safety... My lady."
It tugged at my very heartstrings to see her look back with such a sweet smile that could've caught my breath, me measuring her for a few seconds until placed a fleeting hand on her shoulder upon directing my steps towards the entrance to the lower deck myself. Walking past Norrington who'd swiftly turned his eyes away once he'd noticed me to leave Elizabeth's side, them now locking with mine curtly as I nodded my head towards the entryway. With lowered voice telling him to wait for five minutes before following me down to the lazarette, the said minutes later when I was electing another apple from the concealed barrel I'd come upon soon after setting sail from the pirate port, me hearing the significant footsteps. After a few seconds of more waiting me seeing Norrington to walk to sight behind the stack of crates that prevented him from locating me in the dim light of the hold, me fingering the fruit in my hand as lifted my stern gaze.
"Did I not underline the importance of secrecy, Commodore?"
Norrington flinched at the sound of my voice coming from his left, him turning around to see me stand not but a couple of paces away from him, him following me deeper into the depths of the lazarette due to another demanding shift of my head. The man appearing impassive as faced me.
"I don't see to have not but honored that stipulation", he answered, me lifting a challenging eyebrow at him.
"Then the reason behind your intention to tip off Elizabeth about the duplicity of Sparrow wasn't quite conveyed to me."
"I consented not to utter a word about the Company's offer, not to deter myself from voicing out self-evident verities about the man. Sparrow's deceiving her into believing whatever he says, and I felt obliged to warn her for trusting him any more than she already does."
"And if she is to come to suspect Sparrow, what then?" I questioned with narrowed eyes, taking a step closer to the older man. "He needs her for some reason, that's the only explanation why he allowed her to board this vessel and came up with that whole charade with the compass and the Chest to have her help him on her free will. But if any of your discrediting remarks are to unsettle her faith in the pirate, he'll lose the only cause to keep us aboard should she eventually come to question his motives concerning Will and this whole voyage she believes in on account of saving him."
"You know Sparrow's not to be trusted", Norrington stated, matter-of-factly. "You know he lies to her only to achieve his own ends without a thought given to hers, so why are you encouraging me not to speak of his deceit?"
"Are we not in the very same boat with him?"
Norrington paused at the sound of my statement and he looked to me momentarily stunned, in the end realizing me to be right as I continued, wiping away the juice of the fruit that dripped down my jaw after taking a big bite out of it.
"As little as she knows the better. We cannot risk her bringing the search of the Chest to a halt by developing a sudden distrust to Sparrow, who with the compass or without it regardless is our best bet in finding it."
"You don't think the compass works, do you?" Norrington questioned, measuring me as I locked quizzical gazes with him.
"Do you? I have no faith in that compass to lead us anywhere near the Chest, but am certain that Sparrow knows where it's hidden. Why would he have steered us so far from the mainland in search of something that he wouldn't already know where to find? Looking for a single chest from this part of the ocean would prove as difficult as finding a pirate free of any felonies."
Short silence descended as Norrington thought about my words, soon welling up regret softening his earnest features as he was lost to his own thoughts for a moment. Only the scrunch of my teeth piercing through the pulp of the fruit bringing the quiet to an end, as I focused on eating for a few seconds while waiting for the man to voice out the doubts I could see him to be plagued with. Him frowning slightly as he finally looked up to me.
"Must we keep the truth from her?" he questioned, sighing. "I don't mind surpassing Sparrow in his own game of deception, but what I don't care to do is to lie to Elizabeth under any circumstance that would advocate rectitude."
I released a heavy sigh myself, cursing the man's conscience that decided to come knocking right when I'd been about to have him come over to my side, spitting some seeds out of my mouth. "Even if she knew, she wouldn't see the bigger picture. Just the part that concerns Will and would in fact refuse to act in the best interest of everyone involved in this matter if it saved his hide."
"And I suppose you do? By tricking her to play in your hands as much as Sparrow does…Is that why you were fawning over her just now, or was that mere sport to spend the time?" Norrington remarked, his voice reflecting his clear disapproval to my procedures, presumably regarding both my means to take advantage of Elizabeth's gullibleness and the previous dalliance I'd directed to her, me however surprising him by smiling as bypassed his insinuations.
"That is why I said us not to differ from Sparrow in conning Elizabeth to pursue a goal that would serve everyone's interest one way or another in this hunt for the ultimate prize... You wouldn't have agreed to listen to me if you didn't think so too, James. Because you know that people are controlled with lies, and that it's the outcome that justifies them in the long run. I'm just looking out for her when she'd too blinded by her devotion to do it herself."
"I don't think she would see your lies as any more attending to her needs as Sparrow's", Norrington countered sharply, his disgruntled expression nevertheless getting replaced with brief hesitation once more as I examined him. Coming as close to him as the narrow passage between the stacked cargo let me, the look in my own eyes poignant.
"Am I to take your sudden reluctance to proceed as refusal to the Company's offer?" I queried, our height difference allowing me to gaze at the former Commodore slightly downward as he cringed at the face of my grim expression. Me squinting at him as folded my arms.
"I did not say so…it's just…challenging to keep misleading Elizabeth", Norrington replied, me stepping back now with a compelling lift of my eyebrow.
"Then go ahead and tell her if you wish. But I'm convinced that she won't see your sincerity as kindness, when the truth is you to have been part of our little intrigue from the beginning even if only as my confidant, and were going to help me carry out my maneuver behind her back as much as me by keeping my secret…And there are always the consequences you have to consider while deciding where is it that your allegiance lies."
"What do you mean?" Norringotn asked, not following, or was aware of the meaning behind my previous remark but just wasn't sure how to interpret it.
"Simply that even if I would release you from the obligation to consent to the proposed agreement, my uncle might not be so tolerant about you having second thoughts", I responded curtly, Norrington blinking at me in disbelief.
"Is this your way of blackmailing me, Martins?" he questioned, tense edge coating his previously so distinctively civil tone, as I simply leaned towards him again.
"Just reminding you of the only hand that is going to feed you by stating out the facts surrounding the situation you're in, which truly does not leave room for wavering. As the truth is that if you think better of what you've been asked to do to, that very same hand is equally prepared to escort you to the gallows as it is to save you. You can take me as a friend or regard me as yet one of your enemies, James... It's your call to make and I can only go as far as encourage you to make the right decision."
"You might be the nephew of the man holding the keys to my freedom, but you have no stand to order me around", Norrington retorted, me narrowing my eyes at his defiance that if continued wasn't going to further his chances to wade back to shore from those at all time deepening waters he was drifting farther and farther to with each opposing word.
"Until otherwise appointed, you either don't have any stand to do otherwise than to follow my orders, Commodore. You may set your mind in remaining uncommitted and instead stoop so low as to be enjoined by a mere pirate, decide to bow your head to keep polishing his boots for the rest of your life, or you can do as I say and earn yourself a right to answer to no one but yourself."
"To the Company, you mean", Norrington corrected wirily, me glancing down in frustration until an enticing smile rose on my lips.
"With the benefit of becoming your own man again."
Norrington remained quiet for some time as our exchange had left him even more conflicted, my gaze never leaving his as I followed the man to weigh my proposal once more. With time and some deep consideration me breaking into a contended smirk as I saw my former employer's eyes to be filled with determination as he finally came to agree on the sensible side of the bargain. Straightening his posture as I pushed a hand under my jacket, taking out a small pouch I then handed to the momentarily bemused man.
"I think we have arrived to a sufficient arrangement?"
Norrington nodded rigidly, after a brief stare him accepting my outstretched hand, shaking it firmly. Finalizing the deal we'd already initiated back at Tortuga. "Yes."
I inched the door of the Captain's quarters open silently, the hinges although old and maintained who knew when however not creaking the slightest and allowed me to step inside without arousing the pirate currently snoring away in his cot. So deep in sleep that I could just waltz right inside his cabin without any care to be caught, me directing an amused look at Sparrow who was half sprawled out of his bed, empty rum bottle in his hand. He was too out of it to wake up even if I would blow a hole to the ship's stern, the fact only confirmed when I crept by the bed and placed the tip of my rapier on his neck. Sparrow simply shifting the position of his head as his arm pushed under it, causing me to lift by brows when he did as little as but scratched the spot my weapon had pressed against. The little extra in his drink had seemingly served its purpose... Luckily for me I hadn't spent it all after buying the substance from that voodoo sorceress, as it had after all proven quite handy.
Heartened by this satisfying notion I now threw away all caution and strode across the room and rounded the writing desk, my eyes sweeping over the piles of different objects, papers and maps. One certain type in my mind as proceeded to leaf through the stacks before my search moved on to the drawers of the desk, me however not finding anything worth my current interests. In the following twenty minutes or so me scouring the cabin from top to bottom, down to the last hidden compartment and crack of the wooden boards I came across, rummaging through the several trunks and the large closet, inspecting every single pocket and seam of Sparrow's articles of spare clothing. Having no luck even when I'd probed through his jacket he always wore and returned by the sleeping pirate to go through the pockets of his current attire. Not finding anything that would've referred to the Chest, nor its location which I'd been set on uncovering by drugging the Captain and sneaking into his quarters after nightfall.
I let out a frustrated scoff as slammed my hands against the table, leering about the dim room in frustration. Sparrow stirring shortly but he eventually turned on his side, his back turned to me now when the loudest snore yet put an end to the silence as well as my ponders. I couldn't understand it. There had to be a map or even a small piece of parchment that would've hinted towards the Chest and where Sparrow knew to search for it, me still refusing to believe him to be just trying his luck with his faulty compass and sailing about randomly so that perhaps by some chance he would come across the Chest's whereabouts. Because he had to know where it was buried, ergo there should've been something amongst his personal belongings that would've pointed me to the right direction. But alas I had to admit defeat once all I found were several others maps and descriptions of myths, them all addressing different legends and fabled treasures, but just not the one I wanted to learn more about. Not even the many books depicting different tales and beliefs sitting by the few shelves helping me to find out more about the Chest, the last pieces of the mystery surrounding it still remaining as utter private information of Sparrow.
I turned around to stare at the asleep pirate sternly, thinking a moment as closed one of the drawers that had been left open. Me falling into my thoughts again as I then came up with a nice surprise for the dear Captain that he'd be able to enjoy upon waking, in middle of my walk over to the cot my attention however getting caught by a certain large object that I hadn't noticed until now at the corner of one of the bookshelves. The thick volume half covered by a velvety fabric it was wrapped in, my curiosity taking the best of my spiteful scheme and I pulled it from the shelf. Unwrapping the book and narrowing my eyes at its plain, battered appearance. My eyes reading the volume's name a few times, some bells ringing distantly when I mulled it over my mind, although the two single words gave me a good idea what it was.
"Pirata Codex", I stated pensively, now truly interested me opening the book from somewhere in the middle. Dust flying from between its old, worn pages and causing me to cough slightly, me glancing up to Sparrow before cast my eyes down onto the book. My forehead scrunching up the more I read, page by page my expression turning more serious as not long after I realized to be holding actual instruction manual of pirates in my hands. A collection of laws they allegedly adhered, the thought of such a book to actually exist feeling but contradictory to me taken the lifestyle men like Sparrow indulged in on daily basis, me then recalling to have actually heard about this legislation once or twice long ago from Sparrow during our journey to Isla de Muerta. With a sceptical shake of my head me keeping on reading for awhile, eventually finding some interesting nuggets of information from its pages such as mentions to something the Code referred to as Pirate Lords and Brethren Court… A board of elected pirate Captains who seemed to hold the highest quorum amongst all pirates of seven seas, each carrying a certain item that signified their status within the Court and which had to be presented at the moment of possible gatherings to gain their right to attend…
I lifted my eyes from the book curtly, even more thoughtful as slowly my irises skimmed through the written lines of the page I'd been reading before all my focus was on Sparrow again. The pirate turning around once more, me blinking in wonder as a certain trinket that had been woven into his dreadlocks fell to his forehead.
The book didn't go into detail what these important items were, but as that beaded bauble seemed a bit showy compared to the rest of the decorations mixed in with his hair, I couldn't help but wonder…Was it possible Sparrow was one of the Pirate Lords? If so, such fact surely was truly interesting to take into further account. My uncle sure would be pleased to hear about this Brethren and Pieces of Eight that frequented the text within the Codex.
I shut the book and wrapped it with the cloth again, returning it back to its original place as not all that disappointed with my findings any longer I started to walk back towards the entrance. Only to be surprised when I saw the door knob to turn and I had to vault against the nearby wall, the opening door shielding me from the eyes of the arrived First Mate as well as Sparrow whom he'd come to collect. Me letting out a relieved sigh as I remained undiscovered as long as Gibbs went over to the bed to shake the pirate awake once he didn't respond to his calls, and the slowly woken, extremely groggy Captain had finally risen to join his First Mate on the deck to check the bearings. Them leaving without having any knowledge about me standing just a few inches away from them behind the door, my lips turning upward into a content smile once they were gone. Me clearing my throat as went back to the writing desk on a whim, chuckling inwardly as took a quill and made a certain change in one of the maps Sparrow had spread out upon it. Adding a little challenge to the eventual locating of the x this certain chart was pointing to, before twirled around and went to the door. After peeking outside to see the deck to be deserted me stepping outside and swiftly walking away from the cabin, shielded by the shadows. Not anyone finding out about my secret visit, not even the occupant of the cabin, who'd slept happily through the whole search.
Scottish vocabulary:
Pronouns etc:
o'= of, th'= the, 'em= them, oor= our, 'n'= and, intae= into, 'er= her, 'im= him, me = my, nae = not
Recurrent & other words
aboot = about, hert = heart, braw = good, brilliant, ye = you, aye = yes, maist = most, awready = already, juist = just, noo = now