AN- Here's Chapter Six! Thank you for all the feedback and I really appreciate it! Posted on Ao3 and on Tumblr. The links are in my profile
The group made their way to The Faithful Bride. It was in chaos as usual. Ellie grabbed Will's arm and made a beeline towards the corner booths avoiding the rambunctious brawls taking place. Mr. Gibbs followed at a leisurely pace and took a seat. Finally Jack arrived holding two tankards filled with rum.
Jack took one look at the two very uncomfortable looking people. "Keep a sharp eye." Will gave Jack a puzzled look and in turn looked at Ellie who had decided to remain by Will's side.
They looked at the chaos unfolding in front of their very eyes. A few moments passed when Will turned to Ellie and questioned her. "You've been here before?"
Ellie gave a shudder as the memories began to surface. She nodded, "Yes I have. It was some time ago. Though it might sound silly when I tell you."
"Please, do tell." said Will, trying to desperately avoid a woman making flirtatious advances on him.
"It was the first time I visited Tortuga with.." Ellie paused. "I was this wide eyed girl who was intrigued with the world. A fellow named John had apparently set his sights on me. He wouldn't stop following me around no matter how I insisted that I was not interested. Long story short, I punched him in the face when it became too much. Looking back it might have been a bit harsh but I was extremely annoyed with him. I didn't linger in Tortuga for long afterwards."
"Remind me to never get on your bad side", chuckled Will.
Mr. Gibbs had managed to find a ragtag crew by morning. They were all assembled at the dock in a raggedy line.
"Feast your eyes, Captain." The group followed Mr. Gibbs. "All of them, faithful hands before the mast. Every man worth his salt…and crazy to boot." Mr. Gibbs looked at Jack expectantly.
"So this is your able-bodied crew?" questioned Will, looking skeptical.
Ellie kept silent. She had learned not to judge based on appearance.
Jack continued to walk down the line and stopped at a sailor with a colourful parrot perched on his shoulder.
"You, sailor!"
"Cotton, sir", Mr. Gibbs answered for him.
Jack continued, "Mr. Cotton, Do you have the courage and fortitude to follow orders and stay true in the face of danger and death?"
Mr. Cotton glanced at Mr. Gibbs.
"Mr. Cotton! Answer, Man!
Mr. Gibbs confirmed Ellie's suspicion. He was mute.
"Poor devil had his tongue cut out. So he trained the parrot to talk for him. No one's yet figured how."
Jack and Will could only blanch when Mr. Cotton opened his mouth to prove the point. Ellie looked at him pityingly.
Jack addressed the parrot, "Mr. Cotton's parrot, same question."
"Wind in your sails! Wind in your sails!" he chirped out.
Ellie smiled at the parrot.
"Mostly, we figure that means 'yes'"
"Of course it does."
Jack turned to Will. "Satisfied?"
"Well, you've proved they're mad!"
All of a sudden a voice cut through the air, halting any further squabbling between Jack and Will.
"And what's the benefit for us?"
Jack almost hesitated on hearing the voice but made his way down the line, a grimace on his face. He stopped and took off the hat to reveal an angry young woman. In her mind, Ellie pictured what would happen next. What was with Jack and angering women?
"Anamaria!"
Ellie's prediction was right. Jack was slapped again!
"I suppose you didn't deserve that one, either." was Will's smug reply.
"Oh no Will! By the looks of Anamaria's face he did deserve that", stated Ellie trying not to grin too much.
"That one I deserved." Anamaria nodded in response.
"You stole my boat!" spat Anamaria, quite angrily.
"Actually…" Another slap followed. Jack looked exasperated and scowled at Ellie whose eyes had filled with mirth while bearing a fully fledged grin.
"Borrowed. Borrowed, without permission, but with every intention of bringing it back to you."
"But you didn't!" Jack winced.
"You'll get another one!" Jack tried to placate her.
Anamaria pointed a finger at Jack to warn him. He leaned back to avoid another possible slap.
"I will", she resolutely answered.
Will interjected, "A better one."
"A better one!" Jack beamed at her.
"That one!" Will pointed to the Interceptor.
"What one?" Will made a gesture indicating to the Interceptor. Jack looked at the Interceptor and back at Will, incredulously. Ellie saw the other heads turning with Jack. "That one?" Jack looked extremely conflicted. Everyone waited for his verdict.
"Aye. That one. What say you?"
Shouts of 'aye' were heard throughout.
"Anchors away" Anamaria grabbed her hat and stormed off.
"No, no, no, no, no! It's frightful bad luck to bring a woman aboard, sir."
"That sounds a little far-fetched Mr. Gibbs", responded Ellie, removing the hat to reveal herself as a woman.
"Good grief! You were a woman all this time?" a shocked Mr. Gibbs blurted out.
"Aye."
"It'll be far worse not to have them", Jack muttered.
No sooner had they set their course for the cursed island, they ran into a terrible storm. The rain poured down in torrents and lightning streaked through the inky dark sky. Colossal waves hammered the ship left and right, the water pouring onto the deck knocking the crew off their feet. Almost as if the storm was trying to prevent us from reaching the island, Ellie thought savagely as she wiped the water from her stinging eyes.
All of them were soaked to the bone and hanging on to the rigging partially for dear and to make sure that the sails were working smoothly. Ellie could hear the shouts of the other crew members over the din of the storm who were trying their very best. She was assisting Will and Mr. Gibbs when a gigantic wave came crashing onto the deck sweeping them off the deck. Ellie could feel the breath being knocked out of her. They had no time to mull about, as they got back to the rigging as soon as possible.
"How can we sail to an island that nobody can find, with a compass that doesn't work?" Will shouted.
"Aye, the compass doesn't point north, but we're not trying to find north, are we?"
Ellie glanced at Jack who was grasping the wheel with one hand and the other gripping the compass. He was constantly looking down at the compass making sure their bearings were right. Mr. Gibbs handed part of his rigging to Ellie and he stumbled onto the upper deck.
Will and Ellie tried to pay attention to the conversation but unfortunately the duo was knocked down by a wave…again.
Luck was on their side, as all of them managed to escape the storm relatively unharmed. Jack had informed them that they were getting closer and it was just a matter of time till they reached the island.
"Dead men tell no tales" crooned out Mr. Cotton's Parrot, startling Ellie from her thoughts.
From her position from the railing Ellie could see, through breaks in the dense and grey fog, countless shipwrecks littering the water. If she squinted hard enough she could see schools of sharks swimming in the water. Ellie shuddered, thinking about the fates of the countless unfortunate souls that were lost here.
Mr. Gibbs echoed her very thoughts, "Puts a chill in the bones, how many honest sailors have been claimed by this passage".
"How is that Jack came by that compass?" questioned Will.
"Not a lot's known about Jack Sparrow 'fore he showed up in Tortuga with a mind to go after treasure of Isla de Muerta. That was before I met him, back when he was Captain of the Black Pearl."
"What?"
Mr. Gibbs choked on his rum.
"He failed to mention that."
"He plays things closer to the vest now. And a hard-learned lesson it was."
Ellie paid close attention to Mr. Gibbs's tale.
"Three days out on the venture, the first mate says, 'Everything's an equal share. That should mean the location of the treasure too', so Jack gives up the bearings. That night there was a mutiny. They marooned Jack on an island and left him to die. But not before he'd gone mad with the heat."
A look of realisation passed on Will's face. "Ah…So that's the reason for all the…"
Will began making some strange looking faces which Ellie guessed were mirroring Jack.
"Reason's got nothing to do with it"
Mr. Gibbs sat down. "Now, Will, when a pirate's marooned, he's given a pistol with a single shot. One shot…Well, that won't do much good hunting, nor to be rescued. But after three weeks of a starving belly and thirst, that pistol starts to look real friendly." Mr. Gibbs made a shooting motion towards his head. "But Jack, he escaped the island, and still has that single shot. Oh, he won't use it though, save on one man. His mutinous first mate."
"Barbossa"
"Aye"
"How did Jack get off the island?"
"Well, I'll tell ye. He waded out into the shallows, and he waited there three days and three nights, till all manner of sea creatures came acclimated to his presence." Will looked slightly enthralled by Mr. Gibbs's story. And on the fourth morning, he roped a couple of sea turtles, lashed them together and made a raft."
"He roped a couple of sea turtles?" That would be something Jack would definitely do, Ellie thought fondly.
"Aye. Sea turtles!" Mr. Gibbs confirmed.
"What did he use for rope?"
Mr. Gibbs paused as he was not exactly sure.
Jack came to Ellie's side and observed the duo.
"Human Hair. From my back."
Mr. Gibbs grinned at Will.
"Let go the anchor" commanded Jack.
"We are to go ashore," announced Jack looking at Will and Ellie.
"Captain. What if the worst should happen?"
"Keep to the code."
"Aye. The code."
"Come on Will. Let's go." Ellie squeezed his shoulder. Into the unknown they go.
The more they got closer to the treasure hidden inside the cave the more sinister the atmosphere became. Jack and Ellie maintained a steady speed in their rowing while Will held a lamp, illuminating the way. From the corner of her eye, Ellie saw the remains of a man, impaled by a sword. Shuddering, she focused on rowing once more. Apparently Will had noticed it too and inquired in a shaky voice.
"What code is Gibbs to keep to if the worst should happen?"
"The pirate's code. Any man who falls behind is left behind."
"No heroes amongst thieves, eh?"
"You know, for having such a bleak outlook on pirates, you're well on your way to becoming one."
Jack continued, "Sprung a man from jail…commandeered a ship of the fleet, sailed with a buccaneer crew out of Tortuga…" Jack turned to Will who was staring spellbound at some treasure in the water, "….and you're completely obsessed with treasure!"
"That's not true. I am not obsessed with treasure."
They landed on a rocky ledge and made their way to the cavern where the treasure was held and paused on a ledge.
"Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate."
A voice from the cavern caught their attention and the three of them peered over the rocks. A vast cavern filled to the brim with glittering treasure greeted their eyes. Barbossa was standing near the Aztec treasure chest giving his speech to the pirates scattered throughout the cavern. Elizabeth was standing in front of the chest, her hands bound and an uneasy look on her face.
Barbossa continued to rally the crowd and all of a sudden kicked the lid off the chest. Elizabeth took a step back with a start.
"The cursed treasure of Cortés himself." Ellie heard Barbossa say. The three of them observed with rapt attention.
Will got up and tried to rush towards Lizzie. Ellie and Jack grabbed him and shoved him back again.
"Not yet. We'll wait for the opportune moment…Despairing of ever finding the lass." They scrambled down the ledge.
"When's that? When it's of greatest profit to you?"
"May I ask you something? Have I ever given you reason not to trust me? Do us a favour. I know it's difficult for you, but please, stay here, and try not to do anything stupid." Jack motioned at Ellie to follow him. The two crept over to another ledge which was on more level ground.
"What are we going to do? We can't just storm in", whispered Ellie frantically, noticing a knife in Barbossa's hand.
Jack remained silent. Ellie heard footsteps heading in their direction. They both turned around only for Jack to be knocked down by an oar."
"Will?! What was that for?"
"Sorry Jack. I'm not going to be your leverage."
The shouts of the pirates diverted their attention. Ellie looked at Jack, reluctant to leave him unconscious but ultimately making the decision to get Lizzie first. The shouts increased and all of sudden, they stopped. Ellie silently followed Will. A gunshot startled them both. They reached the water's edge when they saw Lizzie tumble down to the base of the rock. Will silently dived in and reached Elizabeth who quickly grabbed the medallion and followed Will. Ellie quickly helped Lizzie up with a smile. How glad she was to see Lizzie. Ellie gave her a quick hug and moved to help Will up. Behind them the pirates started squabbling and Ellie was very glad to be out of sight. With the two safely on dry land they made haste towards the cave entrance.
They reached the spot where Jack was lying unconscious only to see Jack missing. Ellie quickly turned to Lizzie and Will.
"Listen, the two of you. Take their oars. That will buy you all some time. Get off the island as soon as you can and make haste. I need to find Jack. Don't worry we'll be fine." Ellie whispered to the two.
Immediately the two started to protest.
"Trust me. We'll be fine. Just leave quickly." Ellie gave them a slight nudge. Confliction and anguish reflecting on their faces, Will dragged a crestfallen Elizabeth away and they were soon out of sight.
Ellie snooped around looking for Jack. The pirates were not in a good mood and stumbling upon them would not be a good idea. Besides they were hot on their heels and could find them any moment.
Ellie turned around a sharp corner to see Jack looking disoriented, holding an oar. Ellie rushed up to him. Will had whacked him really hard it seems. She grabbed his shoulders and shook him.
"Jack? Jack? Come to your senses!"
"I am quite fine darling", he slurred back and stumbled right into the opening revealing him to the pirates before Ellie could pull him back. Ellie bit back a groan.
"You!"
The pirates had a dumbstruck look on their faces.
"You're supposed to be dead!"
"Am I not?"
"Oh!" Jack tried to stumble back but it was of no use because they were surrounded. Pistols and swords were drawn out. Ellie glanced at Jack who seemed to be in deep thought. Ellie sincerely hoped her plan would work.
"Parley," she exclaimed.
"Parley?"
"Yes, Parley. According to the code of Brethren, set down by…"
"Parley?! Damn to the depths whatever muttonhead thought up parley!"
"That would be the French." Jack supplied helpfully, lowering a pistol that was pointed at him.
The enraged pirates proceeded to drag the two away to meet with Barbossa.
The pirates congregated around them waiting for Barbossa. Ellie stood quietly ignoring the jeering around them. Barbossa arrived a few minutes after, his face incredulous.
"How the blazes did you get off that island?"
His gaze landed on Ellie and a look of recognition passed his face.
"What are you doing here?"
"Reasons." Ellie shrugged not wanting to prolong the conversation.
"When you marooned me on that godforsaken spit of land, you forgot one very important thing, mate.
Jack paused, "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow." he grinned.
"Ah, well, I won't be making that mistake...again. Gents, you all remember Captain Jack Sparrow? And some of you all remember her don't you?"
The pirates grinned maliciously. Ellie noticed the pirate who recognised her back during the attack on Port Royal and she nervously gulped.
"Kill them." Everyone aimed their pistols at the two.
"The girl's blood didn't work, did it?" Jack calmly questioned.
This caught Barbossa's attention. "Hold your fire!"
Disappointed groans ran through the crowd.
"You know whose blood we need?"
Oh no! Things are going to get complicated. Ellie stifled another groan.
"I know whose blood you need."
After the scattered oars were collected by the extremely irate pirates whose cursing astonished both Jack and Ellie. The two had to try very hard to contain their laughter which had drawn some dirty looks, they finally reached the Black Pearl. Almost immediately they were taken for questioning. Jack relayed his tale to Barbossa.
Barbossa wasn't so easily convinced and remained sceptical.
"So you expect to leave me standin' on some beach, with nothing but a name and your word it's the one I need, and watch you sail away in my ship?"
"No. I expect to leave you standing on some beach with absolutely no name at all, watching me sail away on my ship, and then I'll shout the name back to you. Savvy?"
"That still leaves the problem of me standing on some beach, with naught but a name and your word it's the one I need."
Ellie sighed from her corner. These two were egging each other on.
Jack walked over to the table and picked up an apple. "Of the two of us, I am the only one who hasn't committed mutiny." Jack picked up another apple and tossed it to Ellie. It was then she realised that they hadn't eaten for a long time. She smiled at Jack and took a quick bite much to the irritation of Barbossa.
"Therefore, my word is the one we'll be trusting." Jack took a seat. "Although I suppose I should be thanking you because, in fact, if you hadn't betrayed me and left me to die, I would have an equal share in that curse, same as you." Jack took a bite out of the apple, clearly meant to goad Barbossa. "Funny ol' world, isn't it?" He offered his apple to Barbossa.
The door suddenly opened, "Captain! We're coming up on the Interceptor."
Ellie was dismayed! Wasn't the Interceptor supposed to be the fastest ship in the Caribbean? She quickly followed the others out into the deck where she saw the Interceptor in the distance. Ellie was filled with dread. She could hear Jack trying to negotiate with Barbossa but she had a feeling it would be futile. Her suspicions were confirmed, when they were to be locked up in the brig.
The two were dragged down once more. Frankly, Ellie was tired of being dragged and she tried to shrug off the iron grip on her shoulder but to no avail. They were unceremoniously shoved into a cell.
"Apparently there's a leak." Jack noted seeing the water.
"Well spotted Jack. You will have some major repairs to make, " Ellie commented, peering out of a hole in the wood. "Are those barrels? They're reducing the load!" Ellie made way for Jack to peer out.
The cannons were drawn out and the oars were used to help propel the Pearl. The ship tilted all of a sudden and Ellie could see the Interceptor in sight. She could hear the screams and chaos.
"Jack get back!" She grabbed him in the nick of time saving him from a cannonball that came right through.
"Stop blowing holes in my ship" It was to no avail. The firing continued on both sides. Jack picked up a rum flask only for Ellie to knock it off his hand.
"Not the time Jack. You can drink later. Now come on!" She hauled him up and pointed to the cell door. The cannon had blasted the lock off. They dashed up to the deck to see absolute mayhem. Jack snatched a rope from a swinging pirate who lost his grip and dropped down.
"Thanks very much."
Ellie followed suit and snatched another rope. Together they swung onto the Interceptor, which was half destroyed. Ellie managed to jump aboard just in time but Jack was not so fortunate. He swung back with a shout and managed to land on the second try, knocking out a pirate.
"Jack" Mr. Gibbs exclaimed in surprise.
Jack tossed him the flask.
Ellie picked up a discarded cutlass and ran towards Elizabeth who was facing two pirates. Together they punched a pirate in the face and whirled around to face the other to see Jack restraining the pirate's hand.
"That's not very nice." Elizabeth knocked him out with her gun. They ducked down to escape the gunfire, Elizabeth looking furiously at Jack.
"Where's the medallion?"
Ellie looked around for William in the mayhem.
"Lizzie? Where's Will?" she asked frantically.
Panic crossed Lizzie's face as she looked at the hatch leading below deck.
Ellie and Lizzie rushed to the hatch which was barred by the fallen mast.
"Will!"
"Elizabeth!"
The girls desperately tried to shift the mast away but it was too heavy as it wouldn't budge a single inch.
"We can't move it"
Four grubby hands grabbed Lizzie and Ellie and hauled them away. Resisting was futile as their grips on them tightened.
The entire crew aboard the Interceptor was hauled on to the Black Pearl. Ellie saw the cursed medallion in Barbossa's grasp.
"Any of you so much as thinks the word parley, I'll have your guts for garters!"
Ellie scoffed and rolled her eyes. In a quick move Lizzie escaped the bonds and raced off towards Barbossa, fury in her eyes. A massive explosion stopped her in her tracks. Ellie's heart sank. The Interceptor was no more!
Lizzie began attacking Barbossa with renewed anger.
"Welcome back, miss. You took advantage of our hospitality last time. It holds fair now that you return the favour!" With that, Barbossa pushed a protesting Elizabeth into the hands of the pirates.
Her friend's screams were too much for Ellie. Anger clouded her vision as she too escaped her bonds and made a beeline towards Lizzie. She managed to pull her away when-
"Barbossa" Will's voice rang out as he jumped down to the ship's deck and grabbed a pistol.
"The ladies go free!"
"What's in your head, boy?" Barbossa moved towards Will
"The ladies go free." Will aimed his pistol at Barbossa.
"You've only got one shot and we can't die." drawled Barbossa.
"Don't do anything stupid." Jack implored. Will took one look at everyone and ran to the railing and hauled himself up.
"You can't," Will aimed the pistol at himself, "I can."
Barbossa looked puzzled, "Who are you?"
Before Will could answer, Jack intervened.
"No one! He's no one!" Jack hurried towards Barbossa. "A distant cousin of my aunt's nephew, twice removed. Lovely singing voice, though. Eunuch!" Jack rattled on.
"My name is Will Turner! My father was Bootstrap Bill Turner." Jack looked crestfallen. "His blood runs in my veins."
There was silence as everyone connected the dots.
"It's the spitting image of ol' Bootstrap Bill, come back to haunt us!"
Will continued, "On my word, do as I say, or I'll pull this trigger, and be lost to Davy Jones' Locker!"
Barbossa conceded. "Name your terms, Mr. Turner."
"Elizabeth and Eleanor go free."
"Yes, we know that one. Anything else?"
Jack began frantically pointing at himself.
"And the crew! The crew are not to be harmed!"
Barbossa gave Will a nasty grin.
"Agreed"
The Black pearl made port near a spit of land. Elizabeth and Eleanor were to be marooned on the island much to the anger of Will. They pulled out the plank and forced Lizzie onto it first. Ellie was seething at this point. No amount of struggling or screaming could deter the pirates.
"Go on, poppet. Walk the plank." They grinned lecherously. Lizzie moved forward cautiously, fear in her eyes.
"Barbossa, you lying bastard! You swore they'd go free!" Will shouted, fighting against his captors.
"Don't dare impugn me honour, boy! I agreed they'd go free. It was you who failed to specify when or where."
A restraint was put over Will and he was dragged back.
"Though it does seem a shame to lose something so fine, don't it, lads?"
"Aye!"
Barbossa looked at Elizabeth. "So I'll be havin' that dress back before you go."
Elizabeth looked defiant as she began to remove the red gown. She bundled it up and hurled it at Barbossa. "Goes with your black heart!" she spat.
Elizabeth took small steps forward. She looked at Will and Ellie, apprehension in her eyes.
"Too long!" With that the plank was jerked and Lizzie fell into the water, a scream leaving her.
Ellie had enough. She used all her strength and yanked off the hands holding her captive. If this was her fate, so be it. She walked up to the plank with her head held high. She stood over the edge and turned around to face Barbossa and his crew.
"You all are despicable!" she spat out venomously, glaring daggers at them. With that, she took a deep breath and jumped in after Lizzie, consequences be damned!
AN- I am extremely sorry for the delay. I was extremely busy the past couple of weeks and to make matters worse I was sick for about a week. Let me know what you all think about this chapter. Follows, Favourites and Reviews are welcome!