Chapter 2: A Pirate in Port Royal
Port Royal, the jewel of the of British Colonies in the Caribbean shone in the early morning as the sun crept slowly and lazily up the grey horizon. It bathed the entire town in comforting warm shades of pale gold and pinks as in the distance, a rooster took to his post to herald the start of a new day.
It truly was a beautiful sight to wake up to through his bedroom window.
Or it would have been to those who weren't determined to squeeze in as much sleep as humanely possible.
Hmmm…it's morning? How can it be morning already? I only just closed my eyes. William Turner thought as he rolled over onto his back, eyes still tight shut to keep out the first rays of sunshine hitting his face. He winced as the familiar ache of yesterday's wear and tear on his body made itself known to each of his muscles individually.
Perhaps he should not have stayed up so late practising his swordsmanship with his newest creation, but he wanted to make sure it was perfect before it's delivery. And it was perfect. Truly some of his best work so far and that was saying something, for Will was one of the best blacksmiths in Port Royal.
"My heart is pierced by cupid; I disdain all glittering gold. There is nothing that can console me, but my jolly sailor bold."
Will's eyes cracked open a smidge as a woman's gentle singing wafted softly through the door to his small room.
"A fig for his riches, His merchandise and gold. True love has grafted my heart, Give me my sailor bold."
Eyes shutting again, Will felt the corners of his mouth twitch upwards into a small fondly exasperated smile. Of course, she would be up and singing at the crack of dawn. Since he first found her on that beach ten years ago, Will had never known a day when she woke up later than him unless she was ill or overworked but those days were few and far between.
He wished he could say the same for his old master.
SMASH!
Will jolted up in his bed as the singing woman's voice yelped, her squeaks drowned by a gruff rumble of drunken fury.
"Ruddy lil' brat! Whaddaya think yer doin' with me rum? Why ain't yer started on the food yet?"
"S-sorry Mister Brown." The young woman sighed tiredly "But it was about to spill and I-I just thought-"
"Oh, so yer were thinkin' again were ye? Typical. Lil' Peggy always thinkin' but never doin' 'er chores. I knew it was a bad idea lettin' you read all 'em books."
"Mister Brown please, it's morning. Think of the neighbours-"
"Sod the neighbours and gimme back me bloody rum!" Mister Brown shouted, so loudly that it reverberated off the walls of the small dwelling. Will quickly swung his legs over the side of his narrow bed, pulling his trousers and boots on at top speed. Of all the days his master had to wake up in a temper it had to be this one. Why couldn't that drunk dullard ever have one morning where he didn't cause a raucous?
"I can't give the bottle back Mister Brown, you just broke it." The woman tried saying in a much calmer reasonable tone.
"Don't get smart with me lass!"
"I was not getting smart with you sir. Though if I did it would not be that hard." The woman added more to herself than to Mister Brown but not quietly enough for both he and Will heard the comment very clearly, much to the latter's dismay as he managed to belt his pants.
"What did yer just say?" Mister Brown growled like an angry drunk dog.
"Nothing sir. Nothing." the woman sighed, more annoyed than afraid of the man, even as his footsteps thudded heavily across the floor, masking Will's steps as he opened the door to his room.
Before him lay a small humble kitchen and living space where a hearth was still burning warm while a steaming kettle filled with mushy porridge bubbled gently at a simmer over the coals. On the table was a warm skillet resting on a cloth while a small stack of Johnny cakes lay within, browned and perfectly toasted. In front of the hearth, holding a pewter porringer in one hand and a spoon in the other was a young woman only a year or two younger than twenty-three-year-old Will.
She was shorter than him, the top of her head only coming to Will's chin, slender but wiry and strong from years of manual labour. Her skin was lightly tanned and covered in soft freckles, her red copper hair tied up in a bun beneath her cream-coloured bonnet, though one stray curling lock had escaped its prison to dangle by her cheek. She was already dressed in a dark brown dress with a white apron over her skirts to protect them from the fresh stains she had already accumulated courtesy of the rum bottle that was smashed by her feet by Mister Brown who had leapt up from his dilapidated chair set by the stove for warmth.
He was a scruffy, dark-haired and bearded man with grubby skin and dark eyes that were fixed on the young woman before him with a slightly glazed but fierce glower. Will had seen that glower so often throughout his years as Mister Brown's apprentice. The man was so chronically inebriated that he made the roadside drunks look sober. He certainly spared his victim of the morning no venom as he snarled into the young woman's face.
"Barely mornin' an' already yer causin' trouble ey, Peggy?" He leered, not noticing Will quietly start to stalk into the room and around the table. "Maybe I really should send yer to work with Ol' Baxter's girls down by the wharf. He'll set yer to some real work. Probably make more money too what with tha' pretty face o' yours." The older man slurred, glazed eyes wandering almost hungrily over the pretty face before him. "Who knows, maybe he'll gimme a discount if I come ter pay fer yer services-argh!"
Mister Brown cried out as he crumpled over, both his grubby hands clutching at his privates as Peggy swiftly withdrew her closed fist, only to fling it straight into one of his eye sockets. Will watched half torn between worry and amusement as the old blacksmith fell with a heavy thud to the floor on his back, unconscious.
"Don't worry I didn't kill him." Peggy snorted, shaking out her hand as Will gingerly stooped to check the man's vitals.
"I should hope not," Will grunted as he dragged the older unconscious man by the scruff of his neck back into his chair by the hearth. "The last thing we need is for the officers to arrest you for murder. Especially on a day like today."
"I know, can you imagine? James Norrington's first act as Commodore of Port Royal, arresting a lowly washerwoman for murdering the blacksmith. What a courageous feat that would be." Peggy rolled her eyes as she looked around for a scuttle and broom to clear the broken shards of the rum bottle from the ground.
"Arresting you would be a courageous feat." Will smirked, grimacing slightly as he dusted his hands of the dirt he had felt on his master's grimy vest "I've never yet met a man or lad who has escaped unscathed from your wrath."
"Oh, good sir please stop, your flattery makes me weak in the knees." Peggy rolled her eyes as she carefully swept up all the glass from the floor and threw it in an old basket she had set next to the stove for disposal.
"I'm fine Will. He didn't lay a hand on me." She shook her head as she caught sight of Will's worried face from across the room.
"Are you sure? What about the glass?" he murmured, eyes going up and down her form. She did not look rattled, and the only signs of disarray or damage he could see was her stained apron, but still, he had to be certain.
"No, no damage done to me. And even if he had tried something I would have never let him get far." Peggy smiled reaching into her brown leather belt around her waist where a pair of sharp sewing scissors, with the handle designed to resemble a squid with two tentacles curled, were sheathed in a leather slip, ready to be taken out at a moment's notice. It had been a gift from Will for her last birthday, made for her in the forge to replace her old ones that had rusted and blunted months ago. In addition to being a very pretty tool for a young working woman, it came in handy as a defensive weapon if needed. Though Will dearly hoped she never would need to use it for cutting anything other than string.
"You should be careful." He murmured as he walked over to the dresser by the hearth to pick out his porringer from its customary spot as Peggy tested the consistency of the porridge on the hearth. "He's been making more and more of these threats as of late. I would not put it past him to try and sell you off to Baxter the next time he sinks into debt."
"I'd like to see him try," Peggy muttered, not meeting his eye. "Besides I doubt he has the guts to act on his threats. The drunk fool knows he cannot survive without someone picking up after him. He won't try anything truly terrible while you're around."
"Maybe, but I won't always be around." Will sighed heavily as he extracted a pair of small mugs from the dresser and searched around for a small bottle of ale. "What if you're alone here while I'm in the forge and he tries something? Or worse, what if I fell ill or dropped dead tomorrow?"
"Will you're being dramatic. You're not going to drop dead tomorrow. You're too stubborn to die. If anything, you're probably going to outlive us all." Peggy chuckled only to falter as his hand reached out to stop her from stirring the porridge.
"Peg please be serious." Will frowned holding both her hands in his. "You've only just come of age. You're unmarried and your landlord is a drunkard who spends the money you and I earn like water. You need to be more careful. As I said before I won't always be there to look out for you, and you can't just keep throwing punches to solve your problems or stab them with scissors…or challenge them to sword dual like you did with Harry Thompson." He added with a quirked brow.
"Oh please, even you said the little rodent deserved to be taught a lesson after the stunt he pulled." Peggy rolled her eyes as she tried to tug away but Will only held her hands tighter.
"Even so, there were other ways to solve the situation without swords." He tried again. "If the officers catch you duelling in the streets they'll-"
"I know-I know I'll be a good little woman from now on, so you don't have to worry so much."
"But I do worry. I worry a lot. And it's not about being a 'good little woman', Peggy. It's about your safety. Your future. Promise me you'll be more careful from now on-"
"Will-"
"Peggy-"
"Alright-alright I promise." Peggy pouted, keeping her face fixed on the porridge on the stove, only to have two of his fingers gently tilt her chin up to face him.
"Good. Now look me in the eye and say that again."
"Will-"
"Come on Peg. Please. For my sanity if not for yours?" he added, those big brown eyes of his widening pleadingly as she finally met his gaze.
"You and your puppy dog eyes." Peggy huffed with fond exasperation. "Fine! I promise I'll be more careful about how I handle things with Mister Brown from now on. And that includes not murdering him in his sleep with my scissors. Happy now?"
"I suppose that'll have to do," Will smirked and was pleased to feel the heavy atmosphere lift slightly as she once again rolled her eyes at him and snorted.
"Good. Now if you wouldn't mind releasing me from your bone-crushing grip, I might be able to finish serving breakfast."
"Forgive me." Will let her hands go quickly from his firm grasp, relieved when he saw no sign of mark from the point of contact.
"Relax William I was only joking. I know you would never hurt me like that." Peggy patted his arm consolingly before pulling the wooden spoon out and putting it up to her lips for a taste. "Hmm. That seems about right. Why don't you finish setting the table while I put the last finishing touches."
Breakfast was peaceful after that. Mister Brown slipped from unconsciousness into loud boorish snores as Will and Peggy both ate their morning meal and chatted idly about their plans for the day. Or rather Will fretted about his newest and possibly biggest delivery of his life while Peggy did her best to steady his nerves with calm reassurances and many gentle pats on the hand and arm.
Once they were finished, the pair of youths were quick to put another bottle of rum on the table for Mister Brown to find alongside his lukewarm bowl of porridge and a dismal half of a johnny cake (his punishment for disturbing the morning peace). While neither Will nor Peggy liked their employer-slash-landlord's drinking problem, keeping him well-supplied was the only way they could keep him safely out of their hair while they went about their daily schedules.
Also, if they supplied him it meant they could keep an eye on how much he spent on drink. Luckily for them, Will had been quick to pick up blacksmithing in his youth and had created a very strong lockbox in which they safely kept their earnings, all hidden neatly beneath a floorboard under Peggy's bed in her tiny room, along with a small ledger in which she managed and kept a record of all their finances. Only Peggy had the key, which she always wore under her shift around her neck on a chain along with a second key that fit into the extra padlock for her bedroom door, again one of Will's creations.
The young blacksmith offered to do the washing up as was his custom after breakfast, but Peggy was swift to herd him away from the sink.
"Oh no-no-no mister. You are not going anywhere near these dirty things until you've finished your delivery. Which reminds me-" she waggled a dishcloth-covered finger at him as she pointed to a small corner of the living space which was partitioned off by an old heavily patched curtain "I took a visit to the well earlier and filled the tub. I was able to launder and press your best clothes yesterday during my shift so all you have to do is scrub up and shave. Don't argue-" she put a finger over his lips even as he opened his mouth to protest. "This is a very important delivery for a very important occasion. Also, what would dear Lizzy think if you turned up at her stately house smelling of rum, soot and lye? Ahh, I see the light dawning in your eyes. Good. Now get moving." She swatted his chest playfully and was about to turn away when she felt Will's strong pair of arms grip her shoulders and pull her in for a firm but affectionate peck to her temple.
"Thank you."
"Yes-yes. You're welcome. Now off with you!" Peggy grumbled, her cheeks flushing dark crimson. "Don't want people thinking I'm a softy. I've got a reputation to maintain." She sniffed haughtily as she scrubbed hard at the spot his lips made contact.
"Yes, heaven forbid the neighbours start realising how sweet and charming you really are-Ow!" Will grinned as she swatted at him again with a washcloth. "Alright, I'm going! I'm going."
By all the sea gods and their minions, why did Missus Berry have to send me out ALONE to the docks today? Why? Where the hell is Lucy? Probably fooling around with her new beau. Peggy groaned softly to herself as she carried the loaded washing basket on her hip and tucked her coin purse in her dress pocket. It was barely mid-morning and already she had been put to work like a carthorse around the Fort Charles washhouse.
To top it all off she had been sent away on an errand by the head laundry maid to barter for more lye from the dockside merchants since someone forgot to place their usual order last week. Then she had to travel down the side of the Fortress's bluff to deliver the freshly cleaned linens for the HMS Interceptor before taking any dirty laundry back from the blasted ship because another certain someone also forgot to do that yesterday.
Normally Peggy did not mind going to the docks to barter for supplies. She enjoyed a good haggle and was good with money so Missus Berry trusted her with the task implicitly. However, carrying a heavy laundry basket up and down the high bluff above the harbour on her own was not something she enjoyed.
What was his name again Lewis? No Lewis was the last one? No…no his name was something-something Green? Richard. I want to say, Richard Green…I think. No that can't be right. Agh, what does it matter? If Lu does not slow down with the lads she could get in big trouble. The last thing Missus Berry wants is a repeat of what happened with poor Gracie. Peggy rolled her eyes as she approached the HMS Interceptor, which bobbed gently in the water at the end of the pier, just under the shadow of Fort Charles.
Sounds like the ceremony is already underway. Peggy craned her neck up to look at the edge of the Fort. Even from down here, she could hear the distant flutes and drumrolls of the Marine's parade. The stronghold itself was not that special. If anything, it was rather ineffectual as a means of defence. It had too few guns to ward off enemy ships, it was too high and far away for the citizens of Port Royal to flee to in times of crisis and the garrisons were far better at parades and stomping about on drills than fighting. Peggy would bet her left ear that she could beat nearly every officer in that fort in a sword fight, barring some of the senior officers like Lieutenant…no-no Commodore Norrington.
Something prickled on the back of her neck and Peggy turned around.
Nobody was behind her. Or rather, there were people behind her but they were all focussed on bustling about on their own business. Mostly it was men with carts and crates of wares being carted to and from the ships docked at port, boys running errands for their masters, or women manning some of the market stalls and the occasional, very bold whore standing by the entrance to one of the inns to lure in new customers.
And yet, Peggy could not help but feel as if she were being watched.
Probably one of the drunks taking a good leer. Peggy snorted as she turned back to her task, grateful for the sharp scissors that she had kept holstered on her belt since that morning. She had only ever had to use them once or twice to defend herself and they made a very good piercing weapon.
"Good morning Officer Murtog, Officer Mullroy." Peggy bobbed her head politely to the two red coats standing guard before the docked Interceptor.
"Mornin' Miss Blake." the officers said in unison, each of them blushing bright pink as she flashed them her sweetest smile. Contrary to what Will thought, Peggy was more than capable of not resorting to violence to get her way.
"Just you today Miss Blake?" Murtog stuttered, doing his best to swallow down his nerves as he looked around Peggy as if expecting someone else to pop out from behind her.
"Afraid so sir. Missus Berry has poor Agatha up to her elbows in dirty linen." Peggy grimaced apologetically at the poor, now crestfallen man. "But Agatha did say she would try to come down to visit you tomorrow and that she is counting down the hours till she can see dear John again. Excuse me" She stepped past the two officers, smirking with great amusement as the poor lovelorn man's shoulders sagged heavily.
"Don't worry mate. Your Aggie is bound to come around sooner or later." Officer Mullory patted his partner companionably on the shoulder "Besides, you know how strict Missus Berry is. Bet the old hag did it on purpose."
I would not be surprised if she did. Peggy agreed in her head as she strode up the gangplank and onto the deck. She smiled and sighed as the salty sea breeze hit her pleasantly in the face, countering the burning heat of the sun above. If only there was some way to attach a parasol to the back of her dress so she could keep her hands free for work.
Gods, she is a pretty ship. Peggy sighed wistfully as she meandered to the captain's quarters by the stern of the deck. Oh, how Peggy wished she could just pack her bags and sail aboard such a fine vessel. It had been too long since she'd been out at sea. Far too long. But unfortunately for her, she could not afford to board any boat, let alone leave Port Royal. If she was found she could be-
She was jolted out of her grim thoughts as something warm, soft and fuzzy slid past her legs.
"Goddammit! What the-Oh…hello there." Peggy's face split into a warm smile as she spotted a fluffy snow-white cat standing by her feet with two big bright yellow eyes. It did not have a collar or any ribbon or string around its neck so clearly it did not belong to the ship.
"You're very pretty, did you come from the docks love?" she cooed down at the animal as it wound its way around her shins, impeding her progress towards the captain's bed. "Oh-careful now! Whoa! Close one. Come on kitty please I need to get-oh come on! Yes, yes you're very sweet and I'd very much like to pet you but I need to change these sheets first."
Her progress in changing the sheets was slow as the cat continued to rub up against her and paw at her for attention. She, for Peggy had checked, was also a very vocal little critter mewing and chirping with every headbutt to her body.
"Are you hungry? Huh? Is that why you're so clingy?" she sighed as she finally finished loading the basket, scratching the kitty behind the ear. Boy, this feline was pining for something hard. Funny that it did not look too thin. Then again there were plenty of rats along the pier for it to feed on…there were also plenty of rats lurking around Mister Brown's Smithy.
May not be a bad idea, she might keep the forge good and clear of vermin, and it would be nice to have some company in the long evenings. Peggy mused with a small smile only to pause as she heard a series of thuds above her head. Footsteps, she realised, but their gate was very, very odd…and eerily familiar.
"That's strange?" Peggy frowned up at the ceiling, only to wince as she heard a voice shout.
"OY! YOU! Get away from there!" it was Murtog or Mullroy. Peggy could not tell which officer it was, but it was one of their voices. "You're not supposed to be aboard here mate!"
But if Murtog and Mullroy were shouting at someone to go away then who was standing above her head?
She heard someone answer above her head in muffled tones. It was a man, even his gate as he thudded above seemed to suggest a man's weight. Gods where had she heard those steps before? It was on the tip of her tongue…
"What's your name?" one of the officers barked warily.
"Smith, or Smithy if you'd like?" the voice was clearer now as it passed by the frosted panes of glass that decorated the doors of the captain's quarters.
Again Peggy was hit by a massive wave of de-ja-vu. Oh, she had heard that voice before. It was too familiar to be a stranger. No, she knew this man and she knew him well.
Carefully as she dared she crept out the door and chanced a peek over the stairs to the helm.
She could see Mullroy and Murtog with their backs to her, their rifles drawn and muskets armed at the tips, both of them aiming straight at a man who stood by the ship's wheel.
"And what's your purpose in Port Royal Mister Smith?"
"Yeah and no lies."
"Oh no." Peggy gasped softly as she beheld the figure.
He was a man of average height, with heavily tanned skin that shone with sweat and grime after days of not being able to wash. His brown hair was heavily dreadlocked with a red bandanna tied around his on which a lock of hair was beaded and tipped with a small coin. He wore a brown coat and hat over dark hard-wearing linen trousers that reeked of rum and salt. Around his waist was a red sash and many belts tied over a faded blue waistcoat and stained and ripped white undershirt while his brown leather boots were stained and faded with wear and tear. But it was his face that held Peggy's attention as she caught sight of his profile beneath the old scratched black hat. Dark brows, a goatee with two thin twin beards…and a pair of wicked and intelligent dark brown eyes lined with black kohl that sparkled with mischief as he beheld the two nervous officers.
"All right then. I confess. It is my intention to commandeer one of these ships, pick up a crew in Tortuga to rape, pillage and pilfer me weasely black guts out."
"I said no lies!" Murtogg almost whined, the sound so pathetic it almost made Peggy roll her eyes.
"I think he's tellin' the truth," Mullroy muttered confusedly.
"If he were tellin' the truth, he wouldn't have told us."
"Unless of course, he knew you wouldn't believe the truth even if he told it to you." the strange man smirked, and it took Peggy all she had not to clock her head on the deck.
Oh, this was bad. This was really, REALLY bad! Why, oh why was HE of all people here in Port Royal? Did he follow her here? Was he the one that had been watching her earlier?
Which one of the sea gods hates me? Seriously what did I do to deserve this today of all days? Peggy groaned softly to herself as she darted back into the captain's quarters and began shoving all the dirty laundry back into her basket. She didn't even care if she missed an item. There was no way in any of the Circles of Hell she was sticking around while HE was on this ship.
Peggy had worked too hard and too long to make a decent life for herself here in Port Royal for the likes of him to come and ruin everything. And he would ruin everything. He always found a way to stir up trouble, and this time she was NOT going to be in the line of fire.
As he was led down to the main deck by the two blundering buffoons in red to explain his story, Jack Sparrow watched as the maid did her best to sneak out of the ship's captain's quarters with her large laundry basket, a fluffy white cat following hot on her heels.
The first thing he could not help but note was her comely figure, half hidden beneath that awful brown dress. All natural curves and yet strong and toned from years of hard labour. A single curl of fiery copper had escaped her silly little cap and shone brightly under the Caribbean sun as she chanced a glance back at him from the gangplank, revealing a young face with soft freckled cheeks and light tan from hours in the sun.
Jack flashed her one of his most charming little grins, one that always flustered the wenches and made them blush and titter about. However, all he received in return was a pair of pale grey-blue orbs narrowed back at him with such ice and venom he almost took a step back.
Yikes, what crawled up her knickers and died? He grimaced, though strangely his eyes refused to move away from the woman's back. Something about that glare had tickled the back of his mind something fierce.
He had seen that look before. Then again he had broken a lot of hearts and many women across the seas had been angry at him for some reason or another. But no. This lass was far too young to have been one of his past conquests, and he would certainly have remembered bedding a pretty little redhead like her. Had he slept with her sister? Her mother? Oh heavens if she was an offspring of his that would be the giddy limit, and yet she did not look a fig like him, nor had he ever visited Port Royal in all his years travelling the seas so the chances of her knowing him were slim. And yet…he felt like he knew her somehow…
His thoughts were interrupted when the two red coats before him quickly wheeled about to see what he was looking at and almost jumped in surprise as they found the tips of their muskets pointed directly at the woman's face.
Jack almost sneered with annoyance at the two officer's lack of care as one of the blades at the end of one of their guns came so close to the tip of the woman's nose it was nearly grazing it.
Yet to Jack's admiration, the woman barely flinched at the blade's proximity even as she gently pushed it aside.
"Gentlemen."
"O-Oh Miss Blake, we're very sorry. We forgot you were on board." The plumper of the two men spluttered as he and his friend both lowered the nozzles of their muskets as they tried to plaster pleasant smiles back on their faces.
"Blake…" Jack muttered under his breath.
Blake…Miss Blake…Now that does ring a bell…
"That's quite alright Officers." The young woman nodded graciously at them, her voice impressively calm despite the fact she had had two guns pointed right at her face mere seconds ago. "I just wrapped up here so I'll leave you to deal with Mister Smith shall I."
The two officers blinked as they suddenly remembered their earlier tasks.
"Aye, that would be for the best miss. You run along now and stay safe." The thinner of the men nodded with relief as she turned on her heel and stalked off towards the gangplank.
That's interesting. Jack mused to himself as he watched her leave. Was it just him, or was Miss Blake desperately trying to cover her face from him?
That's very interesting.
Dammit-dammit-dammit!
Peggy cursed herself as she sped across the gangplank and back onto the pier. Of all the times she had to run into that bloody bugger it had to be today!
And stupid, STUPID Mullroy had to go and say her name aloud. Yes, he only said her surname but still Jack Sparrow was a clever man. Even if he hadn't recognised her at first, it would not be long till he put the pieces together. And Jack would figure it out she was sure of it. For all his oddities and cavalier attitude, the man could not leave a mystery alone once it caught his attention.
She was quick to reach the upper level of the dock where she paused to catch her breath, her hand clutching to her throbbing chest. Gods when she had made eye contact with him earlier she had thought her heart would leap out of her throat.
He had not changed much in the ten years since she last saw him. Perhaps his hair was longer, and he was looking a tad thinner and more grubby, but he was still very much good old Jack. The smell of rum and musk even from a distance was certainly unmistakable as had been his little smirk at her.
How many times had she seen him flash the same charming smile at the wenches he lured back to his bed? Ugh! Too many times. The fact he had turned that look upon her almost made her want to throw up.
Peggy smirked as she wondered if he would still be so flirtatious once he realised who she was. Oh, the look on his face when he realised who he was flirting with would probably be so priceless.
But now was not the time to test out this theory, not when his mere presence threatened the existence of her humble and quiet hideaway. She had to get to the washhouse, she'd be safe near the fort. Or would she? He had seen her with a laundry basket on a naval ship so there was a chance he could track her down to her place of work.
No, not the washhouse, that would not do. Should she pull a sick day and head straight back to the forge? Will would be there; he would gladly keep her out of sight…but he would also start asking questions if Jack came poking his nose into-
A loud splashing sound caught her attention and Peggy turned her head back to the ship just in time to hear a man's distant voice scream from high above:
"ELIZABETH!"
"What the-Elizabe-Agh! OW!" Peggy cried out clutching at her right wrist as the skin began to burn, eyes shutting tight so that she missed seeing the second splash of water, and the strange pulse that throbbed throughout the water's surface.
However, what she lacked in sight, she felt through the soles of her boots…and it rocked her to her core.
"Shit." Peggy dropped her basket to the ground and ran back to the Interceptor, hiking up her skirts to her knees as she ran, propriety be damned. So panicked she was that she did not notice the once very subtle calm wind suddenly start whipping around her, stirring the water and stripping the bonnet right from her head so that her coppery red curls streamed out behind her.
"Mullroy! Murtog! What happened?" She called to Murtog and Mullroy who were both standing at the port side of the deck in shock.
"Miss Blake-she-they-he-" Murtog sputtered face flicking in shock between Peggy and the water where a foamy white patch was dissolving as a dark shape moved beneath the surface.
"Someone fell from the bluff!" Mullroy shouted. "A lady! Mister Smith dove in to save her."
"A lady?! But who-" Peggy stopped as she remembered the man's screams from high above. "Oh my god Lizzy!" She cried out as Mister Smith's head broke through the surface of the water briefly, only to sink back under as something heavy weighed him down.
Must be that dress of hers. All that silk weighs a ton when it's wet. Peggy bit her lip as she saw said garment, a beautifully embroidered gold silk mantua, strip away from one of the shadows beneath and float just beneath the surface
It did not take long for Jack to swim back up to the surface with his damsel, but for once Peggy was not focussing on the man. Her attention was on the young woman he dragged up onto the nearby dock with Murtog and Mullroy's help.
"Lizzy!" she cried out as she slid to her knees. On her back lay a woman in her white shift and corset. Her dark blonde hair was damp and her pretty dainty face was pale, the lips tinged slightly blue from hypothermia as she struggled to draw breath. Peggy's eyes fell to the corset and down to the woman's waist.
She sighed and rolled her eyes. Good lord no wonder she could not breathe. Some idiots had sinched her in far too tight. Elizabeth Swann was a slender woman it was true, but she was not that tiny.
"She's not breathing!" Mullroy cried out as Peggy whipped out her scissors and shoved him aside.
"Yes she is, move over!" she swiped down. Peggy found herself silently thanking Will in her head for his skilled craftsmanship, for the scissor blade easily slid and sliced through the flimsy laces like butter, allowing Jack's hands to rip the cursed undergarment apart with ease.
There was a cough and a wet splutter as a pair of bright blue eyes suddenly snapped open in relief.
"That's it Lizzy. Let it all out." Peggy cooed gently, pulling Elizabeth's long blonde locks away from her face as her fellow woman rolled over to her front to cough up salt water.
"P-Peggy?" Elizabeth gasped as Peggy rubbed her shoulders soothingly.
"Yes, it's me. Don't worry you're safe now Lizzy."
"Never would have thought of that!" Mullroy said with admiration as Jack shoved the ruined corset into Murtog's shocked grasp.
"Clearly you've never been to Singapore. Not like you and I 'ey Peg?" Jack smirked softly in Peggy's ear, enjoying the way her whole body seized up as she narrowed her eyes at him dangerously.
He was grinning at her, his deep brown eyes twinkling with wicked glee as they drifted over her face and up to her hair.
With a jolt, Peggy reached up and felt to her horror her copper curls trailing in the wind behind her free and loose.
She looked around wildly for her bonnet, only to see it floating in the now rough, choppy waters behind her, too far away for her to reach from the safety of the dock.
She turned back to snarl at Jack, hand gripping her scissors tight at the ready, only to see he was now looking down on Elizabeth's prone form as she rolled back over onto her back, a grubby hand reaching out to her chest.
Peggy was about to swat his wandering hands away when she noticed something gold gleaming in the now-grey sunlight.
It was a medallion on a gold chain, ornate and very old, with a grinning golden skull at the centre.
Oh no…oh no-no-no-no-no! Peggy felt all the blood in her veins turn to ice as Jack lifted the eery piece to inspect it. He too was looking at the trinket with dark, wary eyes.
"Where did you get that?" he breathed as he locked eyes with Elizabeth.
But as the woman opened her mouth to speak the metal tip of a sword suddenly seemed to materialise between Jack's eyes.
"On your feet!" a man's voice snapped coldly.
Peggy looked up and cursed silently as she caught sight of a whole squadron of red coats led at the front by the navy-coated form of the new Commodore James Norrington looking all clean and official in his new dress uniform and white wig. Behind him an older aristocratic man with a long powdered grey wig, and a large hat with a blue feather rushed forward quickly, shedding his baby blue long coat as he bent to scoop Elizabeth to her feet.
"Elizabeth! Are you alright?" Governor Swann's hands trembled as he fumbled to draw his coat over his soaked daughter.
"Yes. Yes, I'm fine" Elizabeth shivered as she felt Peggy's hands reach out to help her father in his task, pulling her back and safely away from Jack's reach.
Noticing her wariness, Governor Swann looked at Jack and gasped as he took in the appearance of his daughter's saviour. It did not matter which way you sliced it, the man before him was a pirate.
"Shoot him!" Governor Swann cried out but Elizabeth steamrolled over him.
"Father! Commodore, do you really intend to kill my rescuer?"
There was a silence as Commodore Norrington met Elizabeth's beseeching gaze, the coldness in his eyes softening just a tad as he noted her wet and sorry state. With a quick nod, his men lowered their muskets, and he sheathed his sword.
Despite the tense situation, Peggy could not help but smirk as she spared a glance at the Commodore's sword hilt. She had to hand it to Will, he had outdone himself this time. The gold filigree did look lovely on the hilt and seamlessly fit in with the rest of the Commodore's dress uniform.
"I believe a thanks are in order." Norrington held out a clean and pale hand towards Jack, who carefully took it in one of his grimy ones, the many rings on his fingers glinting in the sun as he was jerked forward hard.
Peggy braced herself by grabbing Elizabeth's hand tight in hers as Norrington moved his grip up to Jack's wrist, his other hand roughly pulling up a ripped sleeve to expose a burnt brand on the skin. A brand in the shape of the letter P.
"Had a brush with the East India Trading Company did we, Pirate?" Norrington almost spat out the word with such venom that Peggy had to turn away.
"Hang him!" Governor Swann ordered and at once the officers all raised their muskets once more as their commanding officer barked.
"Keep the guns on him men, Gilette, fetch some irons!" Norrington spared no time in exposing more of Jack's arm revealing a tattoo of a sparrow flying over an ocean horizon. "Well, well. Jack Sparrow isn't it."
"Captain Jack Sparrow. If you please, sir." Jack corrected the Commodore as he yanked his hand away, sparing a tiny glance at Peggy.
What are you doing? Don't look my way you fool! She bit her lip, purposefully looking at anywhere but Jack's face. No way, nuh-uh was there any way she was going to be hung alongside him. Nuh-Uh! Nope, not on her watch.
Luckily for her Norrington did not seem to notice the silent exchange as he sneered at Jack mockingly.
"I don't see your ship, Captain."
"I'm in the market, as it were," Jack replied quickly.
"Said he'd come to commandeer one." Murtog piped in helpfully.
"Told you he was tellin' the truth." Mullroy grinned almost gleefully as he brought out an armful of various items including Jack's coat and hat "These are his sir."
Norrington quickly reached his hand towards the bundle and took out a black pistol. A very familiar black pistol.
"No additional shot, nor powder."
It almost hurt Peggy to watch as Norrington put the gun back and picked up a small black compass with a small snort of disdain.
"A compass which doesn't point North."
"And it never will," Peggy muttered under her breath, wincing as both Norrington and Jack glanced at her for a moment, the latter's brown eyes glinting with faint amusement.
Thankfully neither man focussed on her for long and Peggy sighed with relief as Norrington slid Jack's sword an inch out of its sheath with a small sneer.
"And I half expected it to be made of wood. You are without doubt the worst pirate I have ever heard of."
"But you have heard of me." Jack grinned impishly, especially pleased when Norrington's nostrils flared with anger at his cheek.
"Commodore I really must protest!" Elizabeth her father off as Norrington dragged Jack away towards his lieutenant who had a pair of iron cuffs ready to be fastened.
"Carefully lieutenant." He commanded briskly only to be cut off from the new prisoner as Elizabeth placed herself between him and Jack, dragging Peggy alongside her by the hand.
"Pirate or not this man saved my life."
"One good deed is not enough to redeem a man of a lifetime of wickedness." Norrington said being careful to keep his rage in check, though the veil seemed to thin even more as the pirate chimed in:
"Though it seems enough to condemn him."
"Indeed." Norrington spat, not noticing the way Jack's lips twitched upwards as the shackles were secured around his wrists.
But Peggy had seen the look as well as the glance he shot at her face as he whispered:
"Finally."
"Look out!"
With the swiftness of a snake he lunged forwards bringing his cuffed hands around so as to wrap his chains around his front.
But to his surprise, it was not Peggy he had managed to snag in his grip, for she had been pushed bodily towards Norrington, the impact almost bowling him over.
No, it was around Elizabeth's pale throat that the chain tightened around. Jack was quick to adjust his bearings of the situation and was even more pleased to hear Governor Swann's desperate cry:
"NO! Don't shoot!"
"I knew you'd warm up to me." Jack hissed into Elizabeth's ear, keeping his gaze fixed on Norrington's now stiff form as he picked himself and Peggy back up, gallantly pushing the red-haired woman behind him to shield her. "Commodore Norrington my effects please, and my hat! Give them to Miss Blake there. A smart lass like her should know what to do with them. Commodore!" he barked.
"Elizabeth, it's Elizabeth isn't it?"
"It's Miss Swann" Elizabeth spat.
There was a silence as Norrington, defeatedly, gestured for Mullroy to give Peggy Jack's effects. Peggy took them gingerly, her fingers unconsciously tracing the handle of the black pistol.
Now that she got a closer look at the gun, she realised with a jolt, that it was the same one he always used from ten years ago. How many times had she watched him shoot it in battle, or when he was drunk?
"Come on love we don't have all day." Jack jerked his head at Peggy sharply.
Peggy cursed as she felt her body obey on autopilot. Even after all these years, the bastard still knew how to order her like a dog.
She quickly handed the effects to Elizabeth, hoping that her face betrayed nothing of her nerves as Jack quickly snatched the pistol first from the top and directed it at the noblewoman's temple as he spun her around to face him.
"Now, if you'll be very kind." He smirked.
Peggy had to give Elizabeth credit, she was not whimpering or cowering under the pressure. Instead, her face hardened into a stubborn frown as she carefully placed his hat on his head before turning to strap on his leather belts and holsters.
"Easy on the goods darling." Jack grinned as the noblewoman drew herself in close to buckle his belt diagonally across his shoulder and chest.
"You're despicable." She snarled softly under her breath.
"Sticks and stones love." Jack chuckled at her boldness as he felt her slender hand tuck his compass into his sash. "I save your life you save mine, we're square."
The officers all raised their muskets quickly as Jack spun Elizabeth around, keeping his gun pressed hard against her jaw.
"Gentleman, ladies." He winked at Peggy whose lip curled as her cheeks flushed with rage. "You will always remember this as the day you almost caught…Captain Jack Sparrow!" the last words came as a loud shout as with a great effort, he withdrew the chains from around his captive's neck and threw her right into Peggy, who in turn fell backward into Norrington who promptly fell back onto his behind on the deck.
As half the shocked officers shouted and rushed forward in confusion, Jack was quick to grab on a nearby rope and kick away the weight holding it down. With a rush of air, he zoomed up one of the pully systems supporting an airborne swivel cannon, the large device smashing straight through the wooden deck and sending soldiers toppling straight into the cold water below.
Meanwhile, high above, Jack Sparrow started swinging around and around the pully post like a tennis ball on a string.
Peggy could have almost facepalmed at the sight. Of course, Jack would find a way to escape most dramatically and obscenely possible.
"Now will you shoot him?!" Governor Swann
"Open fire!" Norrington yelled and Peggy quickly drew Elizabeth back down to the ground.
"Stay low!" she shouted, throwing herself on top of Elizabeth to shield her from any falling or potential ricochets as several guns blasted off right next to them.
High above her she could hear Jack's yells of terror as he was swung around and around a few more times, each loop his body getting slightly lower to the ground. Luckily for him, there was just enough of a pause between gunshots for him to land a safe way away on another high beam on another pully system.
"Burn his heels!" Norrington shouted as the pirate quickly looped his chains around the top of a rope and sliding down it like a flying fox.
It did not take him long to zip down to the ground where he quickly burst into a haphazard sprint towards dry land.
I see some things don't change. Peggy sighed as she watched the pirate run, his arms flailing about in every single direction like a puppet left to hang in the wind.
"Men after him!" One of the lieutenants shouted as he led several officers after the pirate's path.
"Gillette," Norrington snapped at his second in command. "Mister Sparrow has a dawn appointment with the gallows. I would hate for him to miss it."
Oh, Jack…Peggy gulped as she watched the lieutenant's face split into a smug, arrogant grin. What have you brought upon yourself this time? and why did you have to bring me into it?
Will Turner sighed as drained the ale from his small tin cup.
It had been a good morning for him thus far. He had delivered his latest commission and it had been received well by the Governor. True, the nobleman had mistaken his work for Mister Brown's, but Will did not mind. Heaven forbid, if they found any fault with the blade he could always pass the buck onto his drunk master. Will always prided himself on being an honest man, but even he was not above occasionally bending the truth if it helped rather than hindered.
And he needed to maintain some semblance of respectability. How else would he be able to get better work from the nobility? Better work that could help keep him and his small foster family safe and secure, as well as afford him more chances to see Elizabeth.
He knew it was foolish of him. Elizabeth belonged to a whole other world so far above him that he was but a speck on the ground. Though it was clear from their meeting this morning that she still valued their childhood friendship it was foolish of him to hope she would ever give up her perfect life for someone of his calibre.
She was a noblewoman and the daughter of the Governor. He was just an orphaned blacksmith apprentice to the town drunk. The idea of such a match might sound romantic to many but even Will, as hopeful as he was, knew deep down there was little he could do to make it a reality.
So he settled for loving her from afar and being there for her if she ever needed him.
"Quick check upstairs!"
"He must have gone this way!"
Will blinked and quickly rushed over to the window to look down at the street below.
Soldiers were running hither and thither; some had their muskets raised and ready to fire while others shoved civilians aside or into the safety of their homes.
"Bloody Pirate! Spread out he can't have gone far!"
"Pirate?" Will's eyes widened in alarm.
Pirates were few and far between at Port Royal, but most of them were usually apprehended before they could leave the docks. Many of the sailors and merchants that came into the harbour were only too happy to rat out the miscreants if only to earn a few extra coins and gain favour with the navy.
The docks…
"Peggy." Will breathed, horror seizing him as he scanned the bustling street below. She was often sent down to the docks for Missus Berry's errands. If there was a dangerous pirate wandering the streets of Port Royal…Will sucked in a deep breath to calm the racing thoughts in his head.
No-no. Peggy was probably fine. Even if she had been at the docks when the pirate was lurking about she was more than capable of defending herself or at the very least running and finding somewhere safe to hide. She always seemed to be oddly calm in the face of danger.
Still… it did not sit well with him knowing she was out there with only her tiny scissors at hand against a foe that would probably have at least one cutlass or a gun.
He sighed with relief as he spotted a familiar head of coppery red curls at the end of the street limping quickly in the direction of the forge. Wait limping?
"Will!" She cried out as she caught sight of his face in the window.
Heart hammering, he rushed downstairs to the front door and pulled it open just as the woman to whom the bright head of hair belonged to, ran up to the stairs and promptly slipped on them in her haste.
"That bastard. That ruddy, crummy, slippery little jackal!" Peggy snarled in frustration as Will grabbed her by the elbows and guided her inside shutting the door behind him, completely unaware of a pair of brown eyes watching both of them in the shadows behind a metal statue right next to the door to the nearby forge below.
Will quickly led Peggy over to a stool by the nearly dead hearth where she was quick to hike her skirts up above one very bloodied and scraped knee.
"You're sure you're not hurt anywhere else?" Will's voice came out in a rush as he began sponging off the blood from the grazed skin.
"I'm fine! I'm fine!" Peggy growled irritably, wincing as he accidentally pressed to hard into the wound. "That bloody pirate has got everyone in a right tiz."
"The pirate, he did this to you?" Will's nostrils flared as he carefully brought her hand to hold the cloth against the wound while he searched for another cloth to bind it.
"No. This is the work of those redcoats outside. Stupid headless chickens the lot of them. Shoved me to the side and I slipped. I tell you; they make that sodding pirate look like a right gentleman."
"You saw the pirate?!" Will's eyes widened in alarm. "What happened? He didn't-"
"No-no! it wasn't like that" Peggy shook her head. "Look here's what happened."
She quickly explained what happened at the dock, leaving out a few small details of course hoping to god Will was too worried to notice. But whatever hopes she had of avoiding the pirate were dashed when she told him about his failed attempt to hold her hostage and take Elizabeth instead. She had never seen her friend so angry in her life. She just hoped to the Sea Gods he would not lose his temper and storm off to find Jack and try to challenge him to a duel to the death.
"How dare he." Will growled as he carefully started to wrap her injured limb with a bandage. "If only I could have walked you to the pier."
"And done what? He wasn't being a threat until the Commodore arrived with all his men."
"I could have fought him."
Peggy pinched the bridge of her nose. "Now who's the one being reckless."
"This is different." Will protested hotly. "This is a pirate we're talking about."
"Exactly." Peggy put her hand over his to stop his wrapping. "He's a pirate Will, and not just any pirate, but one who's evaded capture by the EITC and the Royal Navy for years. People like him don't last that long without getting some blood on their hands." she bent forward to look Will in the eye, her hand gripping his tight.
"Just promise me you won't seek a fight with him."
"Peg-"
"You asked me to promise you not to be reckless this morning. Now it's your turn to promise me you won't go looking for trouble."
"Very well, I won't go out looking for the pirate." Will grunted mulishly as he finished tying the knot of cotton "But if I do cross paths with him do not expect me to let it slide."
"Hrrgh!" Peggy groaned. "Will-"
"Peggy you're one of my dearest friends. And Elizabeth…" Will trailed off with flushed cheeks and shook his head out like a horse trying to dislodge a fly "Look the point is, this man threatened to hurt the both of you. You cannot expect me to just sit around and let either yours or Elizabeth's honour to be disgraced by him."
They both glowered at one another, but Peggy was quick to break eye contact as her injured knee began to throb.
"I'm fine. It's just sore. I just need to rest a bit."
Will chewed on the inside of his cheek as he chanced a glance back at the door. He did not have anything else he needed to work on today. Even if he did, he was sure that no one would begrudge him for staying to protect his home from a dangerous pirate. Still, he did not like the idea of leaving Peggy alone in their dwelling with a lame leg and without any weapon to defend herself.
"Wait right here. I just need to pick up something from the forge. I won't be long."
"Five minutes." Peggy quirked a brow at him. "I mean it, Mister Turner. You better be back home in five minutes, or I'll hunt you down and drag you back in here myself."
Jack Sparrow peeked out from behind a few empty crates as the young, dark-haired blacksmith he had seen with Peggy entered the door of the smithy's forge.
It was turning out to be a strange day and no mistake. First, that noble lass falling off a cliff because of some stupidly tied corset, the stupid navy officers trying and failing to catch him. But the true cherry on top of the crème had to be coming face to face with little Peggy Blake after all these years. Only she was not so little anymore.
Now she was a woman, a very fetching one at that, he mused as he recalled seeing her on the dock. If she were a stranger to him he would have felt no shame nor hesitation to try and woo her back to his bed for some fun. But alas, given their past, such actions would make things too complicated and messy even for him. Speaking of relations, he wondered what her relationship with this blacksmith boy was.
What had she called him again? Bill or Will?
Whoever he was, he was handsome, Jack would give him that. Youthful face with a boyish charm and warm brown eyes. But there was such a clear air of sickeningly wholesome whelpishness that made the pirate grimace in disgust.
Seriously Little Peggy? This is your chosen beau? I bet he can't even handle a sword that well.
Then again, Peggy had always been incredibly fierce, even as a little 'un. Perhaps she liked whelps because they were easier to bend to her will. Yes, that did seem more her style. Someone weak-willed and simpering that she could boss around and would obey without question. It would explain how she had managed to survive as a single woman in such a big port like this.
Jack watched the lad carefully as he stripped off his jacket and loosened his collar and vest. He did not seem to have any weapon on him. Still, Jack found his fingers carefully sliding around the guard of a nice sabre nearby. It was, Jack noted, a rather well-made weapon, with a good grip and decent balance. He just hoped it was sharp enough.
The whelp meanwhile had not noticed the movement for his attention was on the much older drunkard sitting on a rickety old chair in the corner of the forge, rum bottle held tight in his grip.
"Right where I left you." Young Will shook his head with an exasperated smile which was quick to fade as something in the corner of his eye caught his attention.
Ah…knew I was forgetting something. Jack cursed silently to himself as the whelp caught sight of his hat which was sitting right next to where a hammer had been carelessly left on top of a heavy anvil.
"Not where I left you." the boy reached out with curious fingers, only to jump slightly as Jack tapped the flat of his blade against his knuckles.
The shock only lasted a moment on the young blacksmith's face before twisting into a dark glower.
"You're the one they're looking for. The pirate!" he spat the title out like a curse as he stepped out of range of the sword's point.
Jack paused as he looked the lad up and down, the familiar tingles of de-ja-vu tickling the back of his neck once more as he took in the boy's face. Now where had he seen that grimly determined expression?
"You seem somewhat familiar, have I threatened you before?" he asked.
"I make a point of avoiding familiarity with pirates" the boy hissed, and Jack found himself grinning. Avoiding familiarity with pirates? Oh, the irony.
Now it all made sense. No wonder little Peggy was so displeased to see him. He was ruining whatever con she was pulling over this poor, stupid whelp's eyes. Well, loathe be him to disrupt a lady's well-laid plans.
"Ah, is that so?" Jack said out loud, willing himself not to give the game away too quickly. No, this delicious morsel of information he was going to keep for later. "Well, then it would be such a shame to put a black mark on your record, now if you'll excuse me." He turned to grab his hat only to turn around and find a sword now pointed between his eyes.
So not just stupid, but reckless as well.
"Do you think it wise boy? Crossing blades with a pirate…" Jack stalked forward and was impressed when the boy only raised his sword with a calm level gaze.
"You threatened Miss Swann and endangered my friend."
"Only a little," Jack smirked as he tauntingly dragged the sharp edge of his weapon against his adversary's.
Then he lunged.
Where's Will got to? I told him five minutes. And it's now well over ten.
Peggy scowled as she gingerly pulled herself back onto her feet and hobbled towards the front door. Her knee wasn't too bad after a bit of rest. It only looked worse than it actually was. Still, she was careful not to move too fast down the front stairs as she made her way to the forge below their home.
Ye God if he's gone after Jack I'll bloody kill him myself. She growled as she carefully unlocked the Forge door only to stop dead in her tracks.
There was a sword embedded in the wood of the door. The flat of its blade almost hit her in the face, and her eyes reflected blurrily back at her in the dull metallic surface.
What the? She looked into the forge but that did not help her confusion for the sight that met her eyes was even more chaotic.
Ethel the donkey was anxiously pacing round and round her wheel, bleating shrilly as two figures spun around the posts, their swords sending red hot sparks flying into the air.
"You've got to be joking?" Peggy facepalmed as she recognised Will's determined scowl and Jack's sweaty confused glances at all the swords that spun around on the racks above and below. They were so engrossed in their fighting one another they hadn't even noticed Peggy was standing there gaping at them like a fish.
"Who makes all these?" Jack asked.
"I do!" Will grunted as he aimed an attack from around the rotating beam. "And I practice with them." he ducked as Jack haphazardly threw a sword at his face "-three hours a day."
"You need to find yourself a girl mate!" Jack leapt off the device to fling a hammer at Will's head, which the blacksmith was quick to dodge before jabbing his weapon forward in a quick succession of lunges that Will parried.
Peggy had to hand it to Will, he was holding his own against the pirate quite well, and this was saying a lot as Jack was one of the most skilled swordsmen she had ever met. But unlike Jack, whose entire body was relaxed and calm even as he parried and blocked on the defence, Will was far too angry in his attack. Too angry, wide and aggressive. Whereas Jack moved around the space as smoothly as if taking steps in a dance even as he taunted:
"Or…perhaps the reason you practice three hours a day is because you've already found one and are otherwise incapable of wooing said strumpet." Jack paused and looked down at Will's pants before grimacing back over his shoulder at Peggy "He's not a eunuch is he love? If he is then I'd advise you to cut your losses and find yourself a new pet. One that's better endowed and can take care of all your needs." He waggled his eyebrows cheekily and Peggy rolled her eyes.
Will, however, was incensed at the jibe. He could not care less about the insult to his manhood, but the gall this pirate had. How dare he speak to the woman he had tried to threaten barely an hour ago as if she were one of his filthy fellow pirates. Just where did he find the audacity?
"Keep her out of this! I practice three hours a day so that when I meet a pirate I can kill it!" He snarled, thankful that Peggy took that moment to quietly slip out of the forge as he re-engaged the despicable disgusting cad in combat. If she could just get the soldiers here they might be able to arrest the pirate and cart him off to the gallows where he belonged.
Sea Gods give me strength. Peggy groaned to herself as she quickly shut the door behind her. Of course, Jack could not settle for crashing into her life at the docks, he just had to slither his way into her home too.
Ah well, at least Will was able to hold his own for a little bit.
Now where are those blasted officers? I could have sworn I saw a patrol dash past a few seconds ago. Peggy bit her lip as she marched through the street to check on a nearby corner. Drats. Just when she needed those damned naval officers there would be none to be found.
Typical. Just typica-oof! She winced as she ran headlong right into the chest of a man and bounced backwards off of him.
"Oy watch where you're going! O-oh…shit." She gulped as she recognised the pair of hands that grabbed her to stop her from falling back onto her rear.
"Miss Blake. We meet again." Commodore Norrington sniffed haughtily; eyebrows raised. However, despite his appraisal of her rather dishevelled, less-than-stellar state he was gentle as he helped her steady herself on her feet. Behind him, a small band of several red coats stood with their muskets at the ready.
"Commodore." Peggy coughed, avoiding his eye. "Forgive me sir, I did not mean to bump into you."
"You are forgiven Miss Blake, though I am surprised to see you out and about. I gave orders for you and all the other civilians to take shelter in your homes until we catch the pirate."
"And I obeyed those orders to the letter sir." Peggy smiled coldly through gritted teeth as she pulled her arm out of his grip. "Only, when I arrived back at home it was to find said pirate inside and waiting for me."
"I see," Norrington's face hardened as he gestured to his men to raise their guns. "Well, then it is most fortuitous that you were able to escape so quickly. Now if you would be so kind as to lead me and my men to Sparrow that would be most helpful."
"Of…Of course sir. Right this way." Peggy nodded stiffly as she turned on her heel to stalk back to the forge, doing her best to squash the uncomfortable churning in her gut as she saw the new commodore draw his own pistol from its holster.
God, Will please don't do anything foolish. She crossed her fingers behind her back as she led the small squadron to the forge door only to get pulled back by Norrington before she could unlock it.
"Best leave this to the professionals Miss Blake. The last thing we want is to give the pirate another hostage to use."
Peggy seethed but kept her mouth shut as the soldiers began shouldering the door hard, throwing all their weight on it with inelegant thuds.
Those fools they're going to damage the hinges if they're not careful. Peggy pursed her lips and folded her arms as one man finally managed to break through by landing a very hard kick right into the centre of the door. And there goes our security against thieves.
Peggy quietly and calmly followed Norrington as he and his men rushed in her eyes darting warily around the forge. Aside from the haphazardly strewn hammers and swords that had been thrown during the fight nothing seemed damaged and there was no blood that she could see.
Will was standing looking dazed at the ground, his face and hair covered in brown sawdust. Mister Brown was on his feet, drunkenly swaying even when stationary, a broken half of an empty rum bottle held tight in his grip, and there on the floor completely face down and unconscious was Jack Sparrow himself.
Wow…who'd have thought Mister Brown would end up being useful after all?
Peggy raised her eyebrows as Norrington gently prodded the fallen pirate with his boot.
"Excellent work Mister Brown. You've assisted in the capture of a dangerous fugitive."
"Just doin' my civic duty sir." Mister Brown slurred and Peggy could not blame Norrington for wincing and drawing away as the man's horrible alcohol-scented breath hit him full in the face. However, ever the professional he did not comment and instead took a step back to smile politely at Peggy with a respectful nod.
"And my thanks to you Miss Blake for keeping me and my men so promptly informed."
"Just doing my civic duty sir." Peggy echoed her landlord, before quickly coughing "As was dear William. If it had not been for his courage in keeping Captain Sparrow occupied I might not have been able to fetch you or your men."
"Indeed. Well done Mister Turner." Norrington nodded briskly to Will who for some reason was still staring down at Jack with confusion in his eyes even as the commodore followed his gaze with a small smug smirk.
"Well, I trust you will always remember that this is the day that Jack Sparrow almost escaped. Take him away."
And that's chapter 2. Hope you enjoyed getting to know Peggy, you'll learn more about her in the chapters to come.
I had a lot of fun going down the rabbit hole and researching a little bit of colonial 1700s life, especially the food. I had no idea what a Johnny Cake (aka Hoecake or Journey Cake) was but now I want to try making them because they sound freaking delicious.
Anyway, hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please post a review if you enjoyed it, and fave/follow if you'd like to continue reading.
Thanks
FuzzyBeta