The Witching Hour

Disclaimer: Don't own "Pirates of the Caribbean." Ack...this is getting annoying. I hate having to put this here all the time. Not that I mind the whole disclaimer idea, but it's the idea of having to type the same damn thing over and over again. *Sigh* Well, here goes the third chapter, anyway...
Another note: I did NOT write the poem below. In fact, it was put to a choral piece I did one summer. I don't remember the name of the writer, but I can say with truth that I did not write it. Thank you.

Chapter 3
Awakening

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I have to go.

We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.

Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me; so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.

This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.

Otluta was having fevered dreams. The song of her ancestors ran through her mind and she began to toss and turn, joining in with them here and there. This all however seemed like fevered nonsense to the people outside of her mind.

"Hear my being dance......Great Nature.....shaking keeps me steady...."

Gibbs, who had been watching over her while Jack steered the Pearl, was startled awake by her voice. He had thought it was Otluta, ranting and raving, but it sounded more like singing. Indeed, it was. For though Otluta did have a musical speaking voice, she had an ethereal voice that was captivating. Though it was horribly segmented, it was singing. Gibbs was quite confused. Usually people who had high fevers like Otluta did did not have the strength to sing. Though it was not Otluta's usual strong singing voice, she was still singing weakly. She still had the strength. Well, she IS a witch Gibbs thought with a shiver. Suddenly, Otluta let out a shriek, so loud that the usual noise on board the ship stopped. Everyone had heard her. Otluta was being tormented by specters in her mind.

As the voices of her ancestors faded, a ghostly presence began to cloud her mind. She feverishly began to chant the words again and again, but it was not working. They were surrounding her, and besieging her mind, tormenting her with every bad thing she did, reminding her of every evil thought she had.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" she cried out finally as she fell out of the bed with a thud. Another crack sounded and it seemed that her arm was injured even more. Gibbs couldn't help it. Even though this was a witch, he could not bear to see a woman in pain.

"Miss," he said hesitantly as he got up and ran toward her. When she didn't respond and began to convulse, Gibbs became alarmed. "MISS!" he cried out touching her shoulder trying to wake her.

"Gibbs, I think you should probably step away from the lady," came the cool voice that now came from the doorway of the cabin. Jack stood there, looking calmly, first at Otluta, and then at Gibbs, the rest of his crew behind him.

"Sir, I swear, I didn't do nothin.' She was just sleepin' an' then--"

"It's all right Gibbs, I'll take care of her. You can go back to work now."

Gibbs stood up slowly and looked as though he were reluctant to leave the poor maiden.

"It's all right Gibbs, I promise. She'll be all right."

Gibbs, looking more relieved, walked toward the door of the cabin and pushed past the rest of the baffled crew.

"That goes for all of you!" Jack cried suddenly stern, "All of you! Back to work!"

The crew obeyed immediately without the slightest backward glance, but muttering darkly to themselves as though they had been denied a real treat. Jack ignored them and walked toward the poor twitching Otluta. The promise that he had so blithely thrown out to Gibbs, had, of course, been a pirate's promise. He couldn't guarantee that the girl would be all right. Though he knew how to treat basic injuries, this was far beyond his abilities. Even Gibbs, who had done his best to treat her wounds and put her arm in a sling, could do no more. But it was obvious. She needed better treatment. They needed to dock somewhere, and fast. Jack picked her up gently and placed her on the bed. Suddenly, he felt as though something were probing his consciousness....like a hesitant tendril of mist and fog. At first, he blocked it out instinctively. Though he had claimed to Gibbs that he was not afraid of witches, he was still cautious of them. The tendril that was trying to grasp at his mind seemed to give up, and Jack let down his barriers. He couldn't explain how he had known how to guard his mind like that. But then again, it wasn't the first time he was dealing with something not human. Suddenly, the tendril came back with so much force that Jack fell to his knees writhing and crying out quietly in pain. This tendril was pulling at his mind, prodding him.

"STOP!" he cried out, his eyes watering in pain, "WHAT DO YOU WANT!?"

I want you to listen. came the same musical voice in Jack's head. Jack said nothing, for he would have to do as he was told if she was ever going to relinquish her grasp on his consciousness. I sensed your presence when you entered the room. I know you are the one who rescued me. I trust you and I thank you. It seems that I owe you a debt. Jack still said nothing, but flinched every time she talked, for it seemed as though his ear drums had become speakers that magnified the serene voice and seemed to make his ear canal into an echo chamber. It was silent for a moment, but Jack knew that she wasn't finished speaking, for she had not yet let him go. Where are we going? she asked suddenly. Jack was so surprised at this question. She had though that she was going to command him to do something now that she had him under her complete control.

"T-Tortuga," Jack stammered finally.

Ah, Tortuga. I have been there only once and it was years ago. Tell me, is it still the wonderful and peaceful place that I visited years ago?

Jack had no idea what she was talking about. Tortuga? Nice? Peaceful? When had that ever been? This made Jack even more confused, but he answered her question nevertheless.

"No," he said shortly.

Oh, came the voice with a slight touch of disappointment. By the way, you do not need to speak aloud. You may think your thoughts. I can hear you this way...

This made Jack shiver. So all those thoughts he had thought about when he was picking her up and saving her....had she heard them?

No came her reply, I can only hear your thoughts whilst I am in this trance. I do this to keep the specters away from my mind and sooth and heal my injuries. I could wake up if I wished, but I choose not to. I am not well enough.

Jack looked at her incredulously, You can HEAL yourself he thought awkwardly, for he was not used to this type of communication.

Yes, but depending on how bad my injuries are, it can take a very long time, and eventually, I will have to wake from this trance to eat and drink. I should not talk to you for much longer, for my strength is waning, and I need it all to heal. I just wanted to thank you and tell you not to be afraid, for I am not going to hurt you.

"You're welcome," Jack said, forgetting that he could just think his thoughts. And then he heard no more. The ringing in his ears from the echo of her voice vanished gradually, and he felt the tendril of her consciousness disconnect itself from his, and he felt as though he could breathe properly again. He shook his head and looked at her again. Did that really happen? He looked at the young and beautiful face again. If she was as young as she looked, how could she ever have seen Tortuga as beautiful? Then it hit him. What if witches were always older than they looked? He gazed at her a bit more, and felt her forehead once again. It was hotter than before, but it was probably because she had used some of her energy to communicate with Jack. He sighed. Though he could gaze at her all day, he had to return to his duties as captain. He stood up and bowed at her, even though she was not aware of it. Then he realized that he hadn't even gotten her name! He smacked himself on the head for not bothering to ask. But then again, he was shocked by this experience, he could hardly blame himself. Feeling that it was best not to frighten his crew by relating what had just happened, Jack swaggered to the door, and bowed yet again to Otluta, tipping his hat, and closing the door gently.