What Would You Do? *1*

Author: Pilgrim
Title: What Would You Do?
Rating: NC-17 by the end possibly sooner depends on how the story progresses again
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the PotC characters or movies (unfortunately); anything you recognize isn’t mine (god damn them to hell!) Before anyone asks yes, Oria is mine who else could have thought up such a creature?
Feedback: Please! First time fan fiction writer and desperate for tips, tricks, advice, stuff me full of info please! I want to improve and take over the world with my genius mwhahaha! Lol, only kidding but feedback would be fantastic, send it to raukarwen_deomene@yahoo.com or review!
Notes: So far unread, so really need feedback on it.

Chapter 11 - Brands

“Uh-huh. Well Mr Turner, I’ve changed me mind. If you spring me from this cell I swear on pain of death I shall take you to the Pearl and your bonny lass. Do we have an accord?” He offered a hand through the bars.

“Agreed.” Will frowned slightly before offering his hand; Jack smiled as the warm fire roughened fingers clasped his own. He stepped backwards and waved his arms enthusiastically, he was itching to get out of the damned cell.

“Agreed! Get me out!” Will pushed down with all his strength on the bench, the door groaned and clanged free. He pushed it aside to let the pirate through.

“Hurry, someone will have heard that.” Jack skipped through and headed in the opposite direction to the door.

“Not without my effects.” He slammed his hat onto his head and drew his sword; he pointed it at Will.

“What are you doing, we had an accord.” Jack smiled, how he loved this lad, so sweet and trusting. The insult on the lads face was almost endearing, if only he had been that way inclined.

“Aye, and I intend to honour it if you help me with a little something first. See I’ve got a friend here who I have no intention of leaving. My services are yours as long as my little friend comes too, trust me if we free her, she’ll come without question.” Will nodded slowly suspecting some useless wench the pirate had collected in one of his wayward travels.

“All right, we get your ‘friend’ and then we go for Elizabeth.” Jack smiled and sheathed his sword as they headed towards the door.

:/

Oria watched as James stoked the fire and held out a cold brand for her to see. A ‘P’ was glaring back at her, she rolled her eyes. It wasn’t the first time she had seen one and it wouldn’t be the last she was sure.

“Unless you give us some information I am going to have to do this.” He nodded to his men who quickly unshackled her wrists and retied them with firm rope to the arms of the chair; her gaze never left James’. She could feel the muscles in her shoulders, arms and back begin to unwind as they were stretched back into where they were supposed to be.

“Do not worry, you will not hurt me.” He frowned at her; there was too much confidence behind that voice.

“Put this in the forge.” The iron was placed in the forge silently, James rose smoothly.

“Leave us, I wish to speak with the pirate alone.” The soldiers quickly filed out, the Commodore watched them leave before kneeling before the girl.

“I won’t cry.” His hands gripped hers tightly.

“Just tell me where Elizabeth is, I do not want to do this.” Oria’s eyes hardened, the man was weakened by lust for flesh, even now when he wasn’t aware of it. His thumbs were running over her palm lovingly, she leaned forwards.

“Over… my… dead… body.” She spat in his face, he released her hands harshly and stood up with a glare.

“You are a fool; I am offering you anything you can dream up! Still you turn me down.” He glared at her over his shoulder, she remained silent her eyes down turned focusing on the floor. He stormed back over and grasped her chin tightly dragging her eyes back up to meet his.

“Can’t you see what I am offering you? Redemption, freedom, respect and honour, you could marry anyone you sought with your looks if only you would turn away from piracy.” His hand fell down to her throat his eyes sinking lower, “You could tame any man if you let me free you.” She snarled at him furious that he would even suggest such a thing.

“You are weak… you can not even restrain yourself from me never mind attend to your duties. You are not fit to be a Commodore.” His gaze hardened and he strode towards the forge lifting the burning brand from it. He strode back and tore back her sleeve, “Go on, be a man.”

He met her gaze and slammed the brand into her flesh, she didn’t even flinch, tears didn’t appear in her eyes and she held his gaze with arrogance. The stench of burnt flesh reached his nostrils and he lifted the brand away, a perfect angry red P rested on her otherwise flawless skin. He stared at it dumbly as it slowly sunk in that he had branded her and she had done nothing. She turned her head away from him and gazed out over to the ocean longingly.

A loud thunk and the heavy fall of a body drew her attention back to the scene in front of her. James Norrington was now at her feet unconscious and Jack stood holding his sword cockily, a hand resting on his hip as he grinned down at her.

“Miss me?” She smiled as he cut through her wrist bonds swiftly and another set of hands set to work at removing the ankle manacles. Jack paused as he saw the fresh brand on her skin, “Why is it whenever you meet a man they insist on branding you as their own?” She grinned as her wrists came free and stood only to find one ankle still chained to the chair. She stumbled slightly falling into Jack who was all too willing to catch her. Will was glaring up at her accusingly.

“You’re the pirate who pushed me overboard on the transport from England.” She gazed down at him calmly slowly easing herself out of Jacks’ unrelenting grasp. He was gripping her like an octopus.

“There is no time to discuss that now, free me and I will explain as soon as situation dictates.” He nodded slowly his eyes still suspicious and unfastened the manacle, he needed Jack and if that meant taking the female with them then so be it.

Oria strode past them and sank her branded arm into the pail of water with a sigh. Jack grinned as he buckled her belt with swords and pistols about her slender frame and plonked her hat onto her head, she grinned gratefully over her shoulder at him. Will stood at the doorway and gazed out worriedly.

“We’re going to have to move, the soldiers are beginning to get suspicious.” Oria shook her head.

“Not yet, there is something I have to do.” She drew a dagger from her belt and slashed the seat three times in the sign of the tiger; the Commodores’ right sleeve received the same treatment. Jack stared down at it curiously.

“You’ve decided to come out then?” She nodded admiring her handiwork quietly.

“Aye, it’s time these idiots started believing in the old ways again. When pirates were… ‘Gods’.” Jack grinned and reached for her but she was already out of his reach and by Will gazing around the doorway into the street.

“Let’s take the back exit.” Jack frowned, since when had she gotten so slippery, he followed several steps behind and grinned as that all too familiar sultry piratey walk was displayed. At least that hadn’t changed. He would have been sorely disappointed if it had.

:/

Once they were clear of the fort and hidden in the shade of an alley Jack turned to Oria, she watched him warily already guessing what he was going to say but giving him the benefit of doubt.

“So where’s Sara being kept?” Oria shook her head; forget benefit of the doubt then, he’d leapt straight for the kill.

“We are not going to get her now. She stays here where it’s safe; you want to see her we have to get rid of Barbossa.” Jack scowled, he didn’t want to wait, he wanted to know now. Eight years had been quite enough in his opinion.

“He doesn’t know?” She shook her head; Will was stood at the end of alley looking worried at the amount of soldiers pouring out of the fort as the news that the two pirates had escaped spread.

“Would you have told him that you had a child? You think he would have spared it?” Jack nodded, she had a fair point, the man did seem to hate his guts and he doubted that a child would have been spared that hatred.

“I suppose.” He still looked disappointed. Oria placed a hand on his cheek gently giving him a gentle smile.

“It needs to be safe Jack. Unless you are happy to risk Barbossa having another shot? She doesn’t even know you’re her father.” He spluttered looking affronted, now that was really unnecessary.

“Why the hell not! She has a right to know.” Oria nodded with a smirk, he was still one step behind of the game.

“She also has a right to see her father alive and not on the end of some noose. She knows all your tales, you’re already her idol, if she discovered that you were her father do you honestly think anyone would not be aware of the fact? She’d go around telling everyone under the sun!” Jack still looked affronted but noticed Oria had another point. Damn the woman for being able to think things through. Will leapt back into the shade of the alley suddenly.

“I think we need to get a move on.” Jack nodded and began to lead the trio through the back streets of Port Royal down to the port.