The Map

Jack knew the perfect island to hide out in



Usual Disclaimer: Own
nothing, not making any money… at anything!

 

Warnings: When I was
typing this chapter it got huge! So I’ve
split it into two and uploaded both parts.
In the next chapter there is an attempted rape and other gory
things. Nothing graphic or stomach
turning, but if you feel this is not right for a PG13 rating let me know and
I’ll up it.

I don’t think there is when I think about some of the films
that I’ve watched that are rated a 12A, so it should be okay!

 

Anyway, onwards and forever downwards.

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

Jack knew the perfect island to hide out in. He could take the Pearl
up one of the rivers that lead into the bay and it would be hidden from
sea. But more importantly, the island
was uninhabited and complete with fresh water.
They could probably hunt a few of the wild animals and replenish their
dwindling supplies.

He knew that the merchant ship would turn and follow them as
soon as the navy had gone from their sight.
He also knew that Beaumont
would head straight to Tortuga.

He would wait there enough time for Beaumont
to get as close to Tortuga as he could and then Jack would
slip out and head straight to Port Royal. He would sneak in under cover of night, drop
her Ladyship, take a few minutes to see Will and Elizabeth and then he’d head
back to the l. l. It wasn’t a perfect plan, but then there were
no such things as perfect plans, only perfect intentions. But then he was after all, Captain Jack
Sparrow.

He took his compass from his pocket and checked his bearing,
making a small adjustment to the wheel.

He looked down across the deck from his place by the
wheel. He could see Nell talking to Hock
and by the uncomfortable way he was holding himself he imagined that Nell was
thanking him and probably informing him his his soul had earned a seat in
heaven.

He smirked at he watched them, her hand on Hocks arm as she continued
to speak to him, he could only imagine what she was saying but he was surprised
to see the man relax and even laugh a little.

Jack tilted his head to one side as he watched her. She was walking away from Hock now and over
to where Gibbs was standing. He wondered
what she was up to now and he watched closely and Gibbs seemed to be thinking
and then he pointed at something and Nell crossed to the buckets and took one
up ready to start working.

He shrugged, she had the opportunity to just sit in her
cabin or wander round the deck all day.
He had given that right to her when he’d told her she was a guest. But there she was picking up the bucket and
getting to work.

He suspected it was partly because of her upbringing in the
convent where no one was idle, and partly to force her mind from dwelling on
everything that had happened to her.

He was aware that she had gone from thinking she was just a
nun starting on a new life, to being kidnapped by pirates, and finding out that
the person who was supposed to be her guardian had tattooed a map onto her back
without her knowing. He was also aware
that she’d have to deal with it soon or it would consume her. And that was something he could not allow to
happen. Now he had the map he had no
intentions of giving it up and if she were to go off the deep end so to speak
he could very easily loose the map if she did something stupid in a moment of
anger or grief. He would have to watch
her closely.

He had seen touches of the person she could be, he had seen
glimpses of her temper and he had a feeling that there was more depth to her
than he had previously thought. His
earlier ideas of having some fun with her had changed into a real desire to bed
her. He had played with her in his
cabin, watched her dress and it had been enough to ignite a flame of lust
inside him that was second only to finding the treasure. And now he had all the time in the world to
seduce her. He rather suspected that
therein lay most of her appeal to him, her innocence and the challenge she
created. He couldn’t really remember the
last time he’d had to sweet talk his way into someone’s bed. Well, yes he had, the last time he’d been to Tortuga
and had to explain to Scarlet why he had visited another lass
called Beatrice first, but that was different.
Scarlet was a known entity, a sure thing if he had the correct coins and
the sweetest words. Nell was…
un-chartered waters, a challenge; and when did he ever pass up a challenge.

But having said that he couldn’t afford to forget what he really
wanted from her. Which was her… he
stopped and turned away from her frowning.
What was it he wanted from her?
His face cleared as he looked out over the wide expanse of sea. The map, he wanted the map from her, the way
to fortune so grand he’d never have to raid, pillage and plunder again for
money and treasure.

No, he could raid, pillage and plunder just for the sheer
fun of it.

A large grin spread across his face as he began to sing to
himself.

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Most of the crew were on deck even though the sun was
setting.

Jimmy had cooked supper along with Soames who Nell knew now
to be his father. She saw them all coming up on deck to eat their food, but she
wasn’t hungry.

She said quiet hellos as she passed them and walked to the
very front of the ship. She climbed up
onto the railings and sat there with her feet braced against the mast that
jutted forward.

She’d taken jobs from Gibbs or Hock and had worked
hard. If she worked hard and wore
herself out enough when she went to bed she knew she would sleep and not lie
there all night going round and round in circles. She often saw Jack watching her but he made no move to talk to her and for that she was
relieved. If he didn’t bring it up and
she didn’t think about it, then it wasn’t real.

But nothing could stop her mind when it came to evening and
there were no jobs that she was physically capable of. Nothing to take her mind
away from her thoughts.

So as she braced herself on the bowsprit and stared out over
the red stained ocean her thoughts turned once more to her predicament. She
wasn’t sure how she felt any more. She
had lost her direction and was unsure whether she’d ever find it again. For two days now she’d been living in a
daze.

Even though she’d had no idea what she was going to do once
she arrived at Port Royal, it had still been her
decision to make. But here, now; she was
no better than she had been in the convent.
There she’d followed strict rules, strict codes and paid the penalty if
she slipped up. Here she was allowed a
bit more freedom but it was still her prison.
It wasn’t her choice to stay here, she wasn’t deciding what to do with
her life, once more she had no control over her actions and it angered and
frustrated her. At every turn someone
directed her fate.

She looked down at the churning waters but there were no
Dolphins racing them today.

She could see the sun setting and it turned the sky to a
shade of deep crimson, and orange. It
was a beautiful sight and she she would never forget.

She fingered the band on her wedding finger and slowly drew
it off, it left a white mark where it had lain.
She had left her convent, left her vows and she knew she could never
turn back, even if she wanted to. It had
all been a lie anyway. But what would
happen to her now? If Beaumont
got hold of her what would her fate be?
If Jack managed to find the treasure what would happen then?

She was lost, and she wasn’t certain whether she would ever
find herself again. Everything that had seemed to fall into place earlier,
before she knew about the map, had come undone again. Her earlier feelings of liberation had
evaporated. She was caught just as she
had been in the convent. Except this
time walls and vows didn’t hold her, tattoos did. She had no control over her life, she had
never had control. She had lurched from
one jail to another. But one thing was
certain. She would never return to the
convent. Not even if they did manage to
find the treasurd nod not even if she did manage to evade her guardian. That part of her life was over.

She closed her eyes against the brilliance of the setting
sun and fought to keep the tears from falling.

She clenched the ring in her palm and brought her hand
behind her head to throw it far out into the sea. She tried to bring her hand forward but it
was suddenly caught in a larger firm hand and held tight.

“You don’t want to do today something that you might regret
tomorrow. Savvy?”

She didn’t need to turn to know who was gripping her hand
tightly.
“I don’t want it.” She said quietly.

“Aye, that may be true.” He tugged her hand till she turned
to face him. He turned her hand over and
opened her palm with the fingers of his other hand. He lifted the ring and let go of her. She watched as he brought the ring to his
mouth and bit it between his teeth, his dark eyes holding hers all the time.

“Tis solid.”
He let it settle into the palm of his hand and jiggled his hand as if weighing
it.

“You keep it if you want it.” She said quietly and turned
back to lean against the railings.

“Well, that’s mighty kind of you.” He said and leant next to
her playing with the ring in his hand “I feel especially special now.”

He grinned at his hand and held up his left hand. The ring was on his little finger but it
didn’t go down past the second joint.

“Aww!” he said “It doesn’t fit.”
and slid it off. He took her left hand
and slid the ring back in place before she could even blink. He looked up at her, but her face was
twisted bitterly as she sought to take it off again.

“I don’t want it.” She repeated but he gripped her hand and
pulled it away from the ring.

“Leave it. It’s solid
gold and worth a bit.” He said and waggled his fingers at the offending ring.
“You may not want it now but you can always sell or trade it.” He pointed out
“Something you can’t do if it lies at the bottom of the sea.”

Nell nodded at his logic and left it in pace, but it felt
heavy and obvious now.

“If its worth so much I’m surprised you haven’t liberated it
from me already. And
my crosses.” She added quietly with a frown.

He shrugged and wiggled his own finger with the ring upon
it.
“Some things are not meant to be
purloined. Even I know that, greedy
heathen pirate that I am.” He said softly, a hint of mockery colouring his
words.

“Why do I find that hard to believe?” she asked but he
merely shrugged and gave her a sideways wink.

“Tomorrow I’ll be
pleased to take a copy of the map on your back.” He said changing the subject
abruptly.

Nell was startled by his statement.

“A copy?” she asked dumbly.

“Aye. Unless of course ye que quite happy standing
up there with me, your back on display so I can navigate by it. Tis up to you, your choice.” He grinned
pointing back at the wheel over his shoulder. “But I’m fairly certain the crew
will enjoy the view.”

Nell pulled a face and shook her head at the thought of
standing around half naked.

“I’ll come to your cabin?” she asked by way of an answer.

“Indeed.” He clapped his hands together in a silent ‘thank
you’ his eyes gleaming at her in the fading light.

She sighed and turned back to looking out over the vast sea.

“You know what I see
when I look out there?” he indicated the sea with a wide sweep of his arm. Nell was almost getting used to his abrupt
change of conversation.

“I see… freedom.” He
carried on “I see endless possibies, es, a horizon waiting to be explored.”

“I see a lot of water that hides dangerous sharks waiting to
eat you up.” She replied quickly.

He chuckled and turned his head to look at her briefly
before looking back out, his hands clasped together quickly before dancing
apart as he replied.

“You’re looking too deeply.
Look above the surface not below it.” His
slightly slurred voice was melodic and soothing. His hands making the
movement of waves across the air in front of him.

“Fact remains, no matter how much you look at the surface
though, those sharks are still there, waiting for you.” She said.

“Then you have to make sure you never fall in.” he replied.

“Well, it doesn’t matter much anyway.” She laughed “I can’t
swim so I’d probably drown before they even took a little nibble.”

He looked at her affronted and even his hands remained still
for once.

“You can’t swim?”

Nell shook her head not looking at him. Someone behind them had brought out a concertina
and was starting to play an energetic tune.
Sounds of happy shouting and raucous singing made her wince.

“The only water I ever went in was a basin in my room ever
morning.” She raised her voice slightly to be heard over the noise.

“Did you not swim when you were at Port Royal, you were nine
when you left?”

“Seven.” She replied vaguely. “And no I don’t recall going
in the water at all, let alone swimming.” She frowned “I don’t actually
remember much of it at all to be honest, just the fact it was never cold and
the sun always seemed to shine.” She smiled as she remembered “Although I do
remember the storms that would hit every now and then. I hated the thunder and lightning, it scared
me and I remember that I would hide beneath my parents bed knowing that they’d
come and find me, they would let me sleep with them, between them.” she faded
out and her face clouded. “I can’t remember what they looked like.” She had
never spoken that thought out loud before and it startled her to hearing
herself saying it.

She held her breath waiting for him to laugh at her but he
didn’t, he just carried on looking out to sea.

She looked out seeing the island that they were headed for
getting closer and closer.

“Are you still afraid of it?” he finally asked.

“Not afraid exactly. I mean, the terror that drove me to my parent’s
bed has gone, but I don’t like the loud noise, although I do love the rain.”
She sighed.

“I’m still afraid of it.” He said quietly with no hint of
humour in his voice.

She looked at him quickly, her eyebrows rose. He looked at her sideways and she saw the
wicked gleam in his eyes, he wiggled his eyebrows at her and then drew them
together in a mock frown.

She laughed and nudged him with her elbow.

“You devil you!” she grinned at him.

He merely smirked and looked back out over the sea beginning
to hum along to the tune been played behind them.

 

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**


Nell sat in her cabin and clutched her hands into her hair. If she had to listen to it again she was
going to scream. She had tried hard to
sleep before Lady Clarence came in, but her thoughts had been going round and
round in circles.

“I have no idea what he thinks he’s doing but I can tell you
now that when Henry finds out, not only will he make sure Sparrow hangs, he’ll
hang him where he can be seen by all.” Lady Clarence was pacing back and forth,
her dark hair hanging loose around her shoulders.

“Why isn’t he taking us to Port Royal
like he first said?” she demanded for the umpteenth time. “Have you seen that
island out there? And he expects us to
go ashore? It could be full of cannibals,
how does he know there is no one there?”

“Well I expect he’s been here before and don’t you want to
feel the land beneath your feet again?” Nell tried to imagine what it would
feel like to have her feet on ground that didn’t rock gently. She couldn’t, which perplexed her a little.

“I want to feel Port Royal harbour
beneath my feet and I wish to see him hanging from his neck!” she shrilled out.

Nell shook her head and climbed up into the bed above. She buried her head in the pillows, hoping
that Lady Clarence would take the hint.
But she didn’t. She continued to
pace and angrily complain. Her voice was
high and it grated on Nell till she really thought she’d strangle the woman.

“SHUT UP!” Nell finally screamed at the top of her voice, it
had the desired effect and Lady Clarence stopped in mid pace and mid complaint
to stare up at Nell.

Nell was leaning over the bed, her hair in a wild mess
around her red angry face.

“Just shut up!” Nell shouted at her “I’m sick to death with
your constant whining, moaning and complaining.” She yelled. Her feelings were going to boil over, her
emotions were about to explode. She
vaulted down from the bed and Lady Clarence stepped back with a short scream.

“Shut up!” Nell yelled at her, her hands going to her own
hair “You think you’re the only one who is suffering here? You think you’re better than the rest of us
so this must be sheer hell for you mustn’t it.
You think that I like it here?
Miles out in the middle of nowhere and not sure what will happen to me?”


Lady Clarence narrowed her eyes at her, the red flush making
her face look even more attractive. But
all it did was make Nell madder as she stared at her.

“You have no idea.” Nell began to , he, her hands let go of
her hair and clenched into fists by her hips.

“I don’t.” Lady Clarence said, her voice rising in anger “I
know you are suffering too. But you must
remember I’m not used to this sort of thing.” She all but wailed “You are used
to depravation and going without. It’s
your calling, but for me….”

Nell stood stock still and stared at her like a mad woman,
her breathing was heavy and she was so mad she was literally seeing a red haze
around things.

“My calling?” she ground out. “You think I really wanted to
be a nun? You think I really wanted to spend
half my life starving. You think I like
being woken several times a night to pray.
You really think I wanted to spend hours prostrated in front of a seven
foot cross and crawl on my hands and knees across stone floors?” Nell was
shouting louder than she had ever shouted in her entire life. She was bent almost double at the waist as
she screamed at the woman.

“You selfish, stupid bitch!” Nell
yelled at her “You have done nothing but whine and moan and I’m sick of your
bloody Henry too.” She threw her hands in the air.

“How dare you speak to me like that!”
Lady Clarence shouted back, now her initial surprise at Nell was gone she was
just as angry. “At least I’ve spoken up
against it. I haven’t cowered in the
corner like a mouse. Agreeing to
everything they said. I know you didn’t
come back the other night. I was willing
to give you the benefit of the doubt, think perhaps you’d be forced, but your
attitude today makes me wonder. At least
I haven’t kowtowed to them like some two penny whore.” Lady Clarence looked as
shocked as Nell was for a moment.

Nell hissed at her and her hand came up and slapped Lady
Clarence hard across her cheek.

The sound of the sharp slap brought utter silence into the
cabin. Lady Clarence gripped her cheek
tears springing to her eyes as she stared at Nell in shock.

Nell stared at Lady Clarence; her anger disappeared quickly
as she looked down at her hand in shock.
She turned and ran for the door yanking it open.

Three crew members fell forward and landed in a heap at her
feet.

“What?” she looked down at them in confusion and then up at
the crowd of sailors all crowding around her door. It hit her then that they’d been making so
much noise most of the crew had come down to listen to them. Humiliation, horror and desolation swept over
her as she saw Gibbs and Soames start to pull the laughing men away. She could hear things being said to her but
none of it penetrated her numb brain.

She stood hesitantly in the doorway, unwilling to go back in
and face Lady Clarence and equally unwilling to go out there and face their
stares and comments.

It was Hock that decided it for her. He stepped forward, paying no attention to
the woman behind them.

“There’s a pile of washing that needs attention.” He said
quietly and Nell looked up at him blindly.
He cast a narrowed eyed glance at Lady Clarence and gripping Nell’s arm
pulled her out the door and shut it behind them.

“C’mon Miss.” He said and began to tug her down the
corridor. Finally her senses returned to
her and Nell blinked as if waking from a dream.

“Oh my lord I slapped her!” she suddenly stopped in her
tracks; he stopped and let go of her arm. “I actually slapped her.” She covered
her cheeks with her hands and stared at him in horror.

“And this worries you?” he mocked her “Ya’
did something that most of us ‘as been wanting ta do
since she got ‘ere.” He laughed.

“I’ve never hit anyone before.” She said, wondering why she
didn’t feel guiltier.

He laughed again and folded his arms as he looked down at
her.

“Well, welcome to real life Miss. I guess you’ve been missing for awhile.” He
chuckled and nodded with his head towards the stairs leading up on deck.

He followed behind her silently as she climbed the
steps. Sometime in the early morning
they had lowered anchor in the river and either side of her were banks of thick
trees. So thick she couldn’t see more than three trees deep before it became
too dark to make anything out. The river
was still and wide and it seemed strange to see land after seeing nothing but
sea for so long.

 

Nell worked her way through the washing quicker than normal
and it disturbed her greatly to know why.

Whereas before she’d had to fetch each bucker of water
herself, today it had already been done for her. The tub was filled and the clothes were in a
pile waiting with a block of soap.

She didn’t know quite what to make of it. Was it because she’d slapped Lady Clarence,
something that had greatly pleased them all, or was it because they figured
she’d work quicker and better if she weren’t so tired by pulling water.

The latter reason was fine, but if it were the former then
that meant they saw her as fitting in.
And Nell wasn’t so sure she wanted to fit in on a pirate’s ship.

She forced herself to believe it was the second reason and
she pushed it to the back of her mind as she finished the washing and began the
task of emptying the tub.

“’ere.” She turned and saw Jimmy
advancing a w a wooden mug of watery beer and two apples and a suspicious
looking roll.

She thanked him taking the apples and the mug.

“You gotta eat the roll miss, apples won’t stop you from wasting.” He sighed and
held out the roll to her.

She pulled a face at him and took it, placing it quickly
down on the deck.

He grinned at her and turned to move away.

“Jimmy.” She sank down cross legged and looked up at him.

“Yeah?” he half turned.

“I appreciate the tub, I’d like to
thank whoever did it.” She said and he smiled cheekily at her.

“Don’t know what on aon about.” He
grinned “But if I did I’d let ‘em know for yer.” He turned and ambled away whistling happily.

Nell ate her apples quickly and drained her beer; it no
longer turned her stomach. She was just
grateful they were willing to water it down with some of the fresh water they
still had than make her drink it neat.
She eyed the roll and picked it up bringing it close to hace;ace; she
picked at every dark bit she could see till finally hunger made her take a
nibble.

It tasted good and Nell gave in and ate the lot. She was just brushing the crumbs from her
shirt when she looked up to see Jack stood watching her on the other side of
the deck. He was grinning mockingly at
her.

She coloured up and glared at him, aware he had watched her
eat the roll after swearing she wouldn’t.

He mockingly half bowed to her before striding away, one
hand behind his back the other arm slightly stretched out in front of him.

Shaking her head Nell couldn’t help but smile. A smile that faded
instantly when Lady Clarence came up on deck and looking about her spotted
Nell.

She came over and Nell jumped to her feet worried about what
the other woman would do.

“I have thought about your behaviour and I have come to the
conclusion that you have been mentally affec I I will therefore overlook your indiscretion
upon receipt of your apology.” Her voice was icy cold as she looked down her
nose at Nell.

Nell looked at her; she had brushed her hair and arranged it
as best she could. Despite her parasol
the sun had still had an affect on her and Nell had to admit she looked
beautiful; cold and arrogant, but beautiful.

“Well.” Nell took a deep breath and looked around her for
evidence of an eavesdropping crew but it looked as if this time they weren’t
being overheard.

“I thank you for your… words but find myself unable to avail
myself of your generous offer.” Nell drew herself up slightly and was still
several inches shorter and, to her self esteems dismay, several inches wider.
“To do so would require my actually feeling remorse for slapping you, which I
do not. You insulted my character…”

“What kind of character consorts with pirates? Especially one who claims
to be a nun?” Lady Clarence asked tightly, her face white and pinched
with indignation and anger.

“I have not consorted with pirates. I have done nothing that makes me ashamed
and…” Nell stopped and drew a deep breath “You have judged me without knowing
the facts. However since none of this is
any business of yours I shall not be informing you of the facts and instead
would ask that mind your own business.”
Nell ran a hand through her messy hair and realised vaguely what kind of
state she muook.ook.

She absently began to comb her fingers through it trying to
get it into order again.

“You shall burn in hell.” Lady Clarence informed her and
turned to leave.

Nell lowered her arm and took a step forward.

“It’s been my experience that hell takes many forms and I’m
already in one, so I think God must be one step ahead of you.” She said and
sailed past her, her nose in the air.

It would have worked excellently had Nell looked where she
was going. Her foot caught on a pile of
ropes and she fell clumsily to the ground.

Lady Clarence picked her way over Nell and sneered down at
her before carrying on to go below deck.

Nell got to her knees and stared down at the deck, tears of
humiliation, anger and self-pity in her eyes.

“Get up lass, no one but yourself can get you up.”

Nell looked up and saw Hock coming down from the quarterdeck
with an armful of papers and charts. He
had tied his hair back today and the scar running down his cheek was more
prominent, making him look quite dangerous.

Nell closed her eyes and realised the truth behind his
words. She got to her feet and brushed
her hands down her britches.

“That’s a girl.” He said casually “Now ye can take this lot
down to the Capt’n.
He wants to see yer anyway.”

He shoved the charts at her before she could say anything
and turned away, beginning to whistle tunelessly.

Nell made her way down to the cabin and knocked on the door
best as she could. She heard him call out
to come in and she went in, dropping a chart in the process.

“Ah!” Jack looked up from where he was leaning over his
table, studying a map that lay opened.
Four bottle of rum holding it down, one in each corner.

“Mister Hock gave me these.” She stepped forward and a few
more slipped out from her arms and fell to the floor.

“Fine, fine!” he indicated her to dump the rest of the maps
on the chair by the desk.

She did that and then turned to pick up the fallen maps but
he had already retrieved them.

“If you kneel by the bed it’ll make it easier.” He said
casually.

Nell blinked stupidly at him as he turned to look back at
the desk.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Why? What have you
done?” he asked slurring slightly and searched through his desk to draw out a
quill, inkpot and some clean parchment.

Understanding dawned on Nell and she sighed heavily.

“You want to copy the map.” She said dully, fatigue settling
over her. She was so tired; her earlier
rush of anger had faded leaving her exhausted.

“But of course!” he swayed towards her, indicating with the
quill to kneel by the bed. “What else did you think I had in mind?” he asked
feigning an innocent wide-eyed look.

Nell blushed and sank to her knees beside the bed, bracing
her forearms on the bed.

“I expect that’s a position familiar to you.” He said
casually and knelt behind her. His eyes
travelled the length of her back and down over her hips and back up again. He set the items down on the bed by her arms.
“Seeing as you pray a lot.” He added when he saw her
stiffen.

“Actually no.” she said “I used to pray laying face first on
the floor, with my arms stretched out to form the shape of a cross.” Her voice
was high and nervous.

“Really?” he arched an eyebrow in surprise and sank back
onto his heels. “Now that’s interesting.”

She looked over her shoulder at him and frowned.

“Was that a personal preference or common to all nuns?” he
asked and fingered his braid as he watched her.

Nell shrugged and looked back at her hands clasped together
on the covers.

“It was how we all prayed in our order, I don’t know about
otordeorders though.” She said quietly “Can you please just get on with it?”
she asked and her voice was so low he had to strain to hear her.

He knelt back up and took the inkpot and quill. He set them beside him on the floor and then
reached forward to slide her shirt up her back.

Nell moved away from him instinctively so he let go of her
shirt and leaned forward till he could look at her face. His body resting slightly against her back;
she could feel his warmth through her shirt.

“You need to relax.”
He said and his words were slurred slightly “I need you to rest forward on the
bed and relax.” He pushed against her shoulders till she was lying hon ton the
bed, her face turned to look at him.

“I’d offer you some rum to loosen you a little but I’m
afraid of what you’ll do to my bed covers.” He grinned and saw the tiny light
of humour in her eyes at his words.

“Now then…” he drew the parchment towards him “I’m going to
draw your shirt up but you’ll need to hold it up in order for me ave ave both
hands free, savvy?”

He slid her shirt up to her neck and waited as she lifted
her hand and caught the material leaving her back on display.

He sank back again and let eyeseyes run over the markings on
her back.

He picked up his quill and with quick firm accurate strokes
began to copy the map.

“I hear you did us all a favour this morning.” He said
lazily.

Nell frowned as she rested her cheek on her other arm. She couldn’t see him but she could hear the quill
as it scratched over the parchment.

“What do you mean?” she asked quietly.

“Her ladyship got herself a slapping.”

She could hear the grin in his voice and she flushed as she
remembered.

“I lost my temper.” She said and even she could hear the
shame in her voice.

“I think you’ve been a saint to put up with said wench’s
complaining the way you have.” He murmured “Saint Nell.” He mocked her and
reached out a finger to brush the end of her plait over her shoulder.

“Have you finished yet?” she asked unwilling to discuss Lady
Clarence with him.

“Nay, not quite.” He lied and continued to scratch the quill
idly over the lines, reinforcing them.
He reached out his finger again and let it trail down one of the lines
that represented a coast line. It wasn’t
an area he was familiar and he could see that it was going to take him awhile
to pinpoint exactly where the map led.

Nell sucked in her breath at the feel of his warm fingertip
brushing across her skin. It made her
shiver and Goosebumps rose on her flesh.
A strange feeling seemed to overtake her senses making it virtually
impossible for her eyes to stay open.
She felt a strange urge to arch her back into his touch but she clamped
down on it as she clamped down on her lip.
She had no idea what he was making her feel and it disturbed her
greatly. It started as a tingle under
her skin where he touched her, but the tingle spread and grew till it felt like
pins in her toes and an aching deep inside her.

Jack leaned forward slightly to look at her face and he was
pleased with what he saw. Her eyes were
closed and her bottom lip was firmly in her teeth, a gentle flush was spreading
across her cheeks. He wondered what she
would do if he leaned down and took her lip into his own teeth. But it was too soon. If he was going to get anywhere with her he
would have to exercise patience. To get
her he knew that he would have to take her to the point of no return. To the point where she would die rather than
say no to him; and he had to find a way to get her there without her realising
what he was up to. Tricky, even for him,
but he was sure it would be worth the effort.

He sat back from her his finger reluctantly leaving her
back.

“All done.” He said quietly and got up to cross to his
desk. He swept the bottles aside and
rolled up the map he had been looking at.

Nell got to her feet, wondering why the devil she missed the
feel of his finger on her back. She was
beginning to think Lady Clarence had been correct in saying she was out of her
mind.

She crossed to him as he set the parchment of the map down
and bracing himself on his hands he leaned over it.

Before anything else could be said, someone knocked on the
door. Jack looked up quickly and rolled
the map and placed it in the desk of the drawer.

“Come in!” he called out and held his finger to his lips
when Nell caught his eye. It became
apparent to her then that Jack was the only one who knew what lay upon her
back.

The door opened and Gibbs came in. He looked from Nell to Jack, but his face
remained impassive.

“Boats are ready to go ashore Capt’n. Lads are awaiting your instructions.”

Jack cld hid his hands together and grinned widely at them
both.
“Let’s go then!” he said happily and
shooed Nell forward in front of him to leave the cabin.

Nell looked back at the table drawer and frowned. She wondered why he was keeping it a
secret. Was he worried that some of his
crew would try and steal it. She
realised then that it would do her well to make sure no one else became aware
of it being on her back.

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

The island was bigger than Nell had first thought and when
they pulled the boats up onto the banks of the river, Nell felt uneasiness wash
over her.

The trees were so thick she couldn’t see far into them,
although the banks of the river were grassy with inlets of sand.

Jack ordered the boats to be pulled high onto the banks and
then when the crew were finished he sent them off to look for food.

Lady Clarence had found a grassy knoll and was perched on
top of it with the parasol over her head.
She looked very much the quintessential English Lady and Nell felt hot
and dirty and ugly compared to her. Not
wanting to face the woman she turned and headed out in the opposite direction
to her.

“Where are you going?” Nell heard Hock calling after her.

“For a walk.” She called back
neither turning to look at him nor stopping.
She kept going and moved into the edges of the trees, she didn’t go deep
and stayed where she could still see the river.

She could hear the calls of the other men around her and the
occasional bang of a pistol as they tried to find dinner. She found a smaller river, more like a stream
that fed into the river and she decided to follow it away from the river. She didn’t think she could get lost as long
as she kept the stream on her left going up and on her right when she re-traced
her steps later.

It was a beautiful day and the pistol shots of the sailors
had set off every bird that lived here.
The sounds of birds chirping as they sought to find safer perches and
the gurgling of the stream lulled her into a calmness she had lacked before.

The clear bank that edged the stream became covered in mossy
boulders and dead tree branches and she found herself climbing as the ground
edged up higher.

She began to hum the tune of one of the songs they had sung
last night on deck. It was catchy and
she found herself singing some of the words as she walked.

It felt good to be on her own and
in such a beautiful place and before she realised it she had found the source
of the stream. It bubbled up through an
outcrop of rock.

Kneeling down she cupped her hands and drank deeply from the
stream. It was the sweetest water she
had ever drank and it made her feel refreshed and
cooler.

She carried on climbing up over the rock and turned to look
out over the way she had climbed. She
was surprised to see how high she had climbed.
She could see right down to where the Pearl
was anchored in the river. From here it
looked really small, and she couldn’t see anything of the grassy bank where
they had set camp.

She followed the winding band of silver
river to where it fed the bay.
She cupped her hand over her eyes to avoid the glare of the sun and
looked out over the bay and out into the sea.

Her breath hitched in her throat as she saw the ship
ploughing towards the bay. Her hand fell
from her forehead as she stared in horror at the closing ship. He had found her. How had he found her? Jack had said he would head to Tortuga,
why was he coming here? Why had Jack got
it wrong? What would happen when he got
here?

Feat trickled over her as she stumbled to her feet and began
to climb back down hastily. She had to
tell Jack, had to get to him.

She lost her footing and slid down the rock and into the stream getting her boots and the bottom of her britches
wet, but she didn’t care nor even notice.
She got up and began to race back down the hillside.

She picked up speed as she entered the trees again, she fell
several times, grazing the side of her face but she didn’t notice. She was too frightened and too intent on
getting back to camp.

She jumped over a dead tree branch and barrelled straight
into someone. Her forward momentum sent
them both flying as she landed heavily on top of them.

“Well… aign’t that the welcome.” Came a grunt.

Nell lifted her face from the front of a faded shirt and
looked directly into Hock’s eyes.

“Oh Mister Hock!” she gasped and her fingers clutched into
the front of his shirt. Her breath was
coming in pants as she struggled to breathe after her headlong descent down the
hillside.

Hock regained his breathing first and squinted at her, she
was lying completely on top of him, her weight on his chest and stomach, her
legs between his outstretched legs.

“I…” he found himself at a loss for words. Her weight was having an interesting effect
on him. But then he saw the graze on the
side of her temple and he frowned darkly.

“What happened?” he demanded and lifted his upper body from
the floor. Nell slid downwards and he
groaned, going slightly cross-eyed as he fell backwards. “Don’t be moving like
that miss.” He groaned and put
his hands on her shoulders to lift her away from him.

“I had no idea I would be interrupting such an interesting
sight when I perchanced upon such a pretty little
place as this” Came a slightly drunken slur that held no humour whatsoever.

Nell looked up at Jack and relief spread over her face. She struggled up from Hock managing to elbow
him in the stomach and knee him slightly lower than his stomach in the
process. He groaned again but for
different reasons this time.

“I’m sorry. I’m
sorry.” She repeated herself as she struggled to her feet and turned to face
Jack, her hands wringing together.

“A ship… coming in here!” she pointed back up the hill as
she spoke.

Jack frowned and fingered his braid, his dark eyes on Hock as
he struggled to his feet wincing in pain.
He looked from Nell to Hock and then back to Nell again.

Nell who was unused to seeing him so silent and stationary
became impatient.

“Did you hear me?” she cried out “There’s a ship coming into
the bay.”

Jack inclined his head to one side and regarded her
silently.

“How do you know this?” he inquired and reached out with one
hand to grip her chin. He turned her
face sharply to one side and narrowed his eyes as he took in the graze. He looked at Hock quickly before looking back
at Nell.

“I saw it.” She said as if he was completely simple. “I was
following the stream and I found its source, it’s quite high and from up there
you can see right out over the bay. The
ship is coming in here; it’s not just passing by.”

Jack let go of her chin and indicated with his arms and head
for her to show him.

Taking a deep breath she led them back up the stream and up
the hill till she stopped on the rock.

Jack motioned for them to keep close to the ground as he slid
his spyglass from his pocket.

Nell lay sprawled beside him with Hock next to her.

“I’m sorry I landed on you.” She whispered to Hock “I didn’t
see you till it was too late.”

Hock grinned at her and winked.

“Tis nothing miss. You may land on me any time you choose. Just give me some warning next time.” He
laughed.

Nell blushed and bit her lip, not certain about his meaning
at all.
“I really didn’t see you there. Had I seen you…” she broke off her voice
little more than a whisper still.

“Why are you whispering?” Jack slurred the question as he
supported his arms on his elbow and squinted through the spyglass.

“I don’t think there is much chance they’ll hear you from
here.” His voice was heavy with sarcasm and Nell blushed furiously.

Hock made a choking sound in his throat that Nell now came
to recognise as a repressed laugh.

“Sound… can travel.” She defenderselrself lamely.

“Aye maybe if you were inclined to shout at the top of your
lungs, or ed ied if you were her ladyship on one of her rants they may hear
absolutely nothing at all, but as you’re not I would safely say that talking
normally will not endanger our position.”

She humped at him and glared out at the approaching ship.

“Well? Is it the
merchant ship? Is it….” Jack rolled over
so quickly and thrust the spyglass at her so that her words were cut off.

“Tis nothing to fear.
Have a look yourself.” He grinned at nothing in particular looking
mighty pleased with himself. He reached up a hand and began to wave it
about in the air as he spoke before jumping to his feet suddenly.

Nell looked at Hock but he merely took the spyglass from her
and squinted through it.

“Tis the Ardent.” He said in
surprise.

“Ardent?” Nell looked at him in surprise.

“Tis indeed
Mister Hock.” Jack reached out for his spyglass “Would you be so good as
to inform Mister Gibbs we’ll be having guests tonight. And organise a look out from here.”

“Aye Capt’n.” he laughed and
jumping to his feet he raced down the hillside a lot surer footed than Nell
had.

“Who is it?” she asked and struggled to her feet. Jack began to walk down more slowly than Hock
had, his arms spread wide to help him keep his balance.

“Jack, who is it?” she demanded and
followed him frowning.

“It’s Captain Jack, or just Capt’n. Whichever is easier for you.” He replied
lazily and kept going.

Nell gritted her teeth, really hating him in that moment.

“Fine, be vexing.” She growled “I’ll just go and ask Mister
Hock.” She moved to go past him but he caught her wrist and pulled her to a
stop beside him

“Am I vexing you?” he asked eyeing her mockingly. “Well I’m
sorry but I really feel that I ought to protect my crew from you throwing
yourself at them again so I really can’t have you charging after Mister Hock.”
He looked skyward and tipped his head back slightly and then looked directly at
her down his long nose. “What was your question again?”

“I was not throwing myself at him. He was in my way and I was asking who or what
is the Ardent?” she said frostily, the fear still rippling through her that it
could be her guardian along with a healthy dose of anger at the infuriating man
stood in front of her.

“Tis friends.” He said shrugging
her question off casually.

“Friends?” she demanded suspiciously. “Whose
friends? Not
yours surely?”

“I’m not sure I like the tone of that question miss.”
He slid the spyglass back into his coat pocket.
“I’m deliberating here as to whether you doubt the likelihood of my
having friends or whether it is my accord with you that you doubt.”

“Maybe both.” She said sharply.

“Now you do wound me.”
He complained and waved his hands around in dismay as he continued on.

“I may be occasionally dishonest when the occasion calls for
dishonesty; but I can be honest enough to act honestly when the occasion calls
to be honest savvy?” He informed her, his head slanted back slightly to look
down his nose at her.

“And that is supposed to fill me with relief?” she demanded
putting her hands on her hips as she glared at him “You admit to being
dishonest, but you want me to believe that in this instant you are being
honest?”

He arched an eyebrow at her and shrugged.

“Well yes, and I fail to see why you would be having such a
problem with said statement.”

“Because it made no sense!” she cried out and flung her
hands up in frustration.

“It made perfect sense from where I’m standing” He disagreed
slightly petulantly.

“Yes well, that is probably because you are quite mad.”
She snipped at him.

He shook his head sadly the beads clinking together as he
watched her.

“Always you insult me.”
He said quietly but she heard the mocking tone clearly and it angered her even
more.

“Well you do leave yourself open to it.” She snorted her
hands copying some of his more elaborate gestures “And I’m not staying around
here discussing your moral standards or lack thereof, when that could be my
guardian out there!” She turned and began to climb back up the way they had
come.

“And where do you think you’re going now?” he asked her in
exasperation “And why would you imagine your guardian would be one of my
friends? Or indeed more to the point
what do you think you’ll accomplish by running up there?”

Nell blew out her breath on a grunt and turned to glare down
at him, her hands going to her hips.

“I don’t know!” she ground out “Maybe I’ll get lucky and fall
off a cliff somewhere and then neither of you conniving bastards can get that
treasure.”

She turned and carried on, not hearing him until his hands
curled around her upper arms and yanked her back against him.

“I had no idea you were capable of such colourful language.”
He pressed his mouth close to her ear, no hint of humour or mockery colouring
it. “However I have to stop you here in case you do manage to fall of said
cliff. I really can not allow you to
destroy the map in that way.” She struggled slightly but his hold tightened and
she gave up, holding herself stiffly against him.

“I have an accord with you, one I shook upon, and I intend
to keep to my side of the bargain. Now I
told you that on that ship are friends.
You can think what you like about my character, it doesn’t really bother
me much and I can assure you it won’t be keeping me awake at night. But I would
like a little bit of respect if it’s not too much for you to manage, even
though I am ‘quite mad’.” Now he was clearly mocking her.

“Fine.” She ground out and added “Captain.”

“Good.” He replied
and turned her around to face him. “I’ll not see you in his hands willingly
luv.” He spoke softly making Nell blink as she looked at him.

He lowered his head slightly, but kept his eyes on hers.

“Of course you won’t.” she said quietly, and tried to pull
backwards “At least not while my back is of value to you.”

He half bowed to her his eyes never leaving hers. For once his hands didn’t dance to his words
as he gripped her.

“Is that what is worrying you?” he laughed and slid his
hands down her arms to grip her wrists.
He lifted her hands up and pressed her palms together between his palms.

“I will make anr acr accord with you, here and now.” He said
his eyes glistening with humour “When we find the treasure you shall have your
share to do with what you will. You will
not want for money again and you may do as you wish. I will set you down wherever your heart
desires, Tortuga not included, and you shall be free to
choose your own destiny. I will swear
this to you on pain of death. Do you
agree to this accord?”

Nell blinked at him, the thought of never having to worry
again, to be free to go where she choose, do what she wanted filled her with a
joy that clearly shone in her eyes but quickly faded as it didn’t really answer
the question about what she would do about her guardian. But then she reasoned quickly, if she had
money and he was willing to set her down wherever she wanted maybe it would be
easy to disappear completely this time.

“Yes. I agree.” She
said quietly, the worried frown still puckering her forehead.

“Good.” He brought their joined palms to his chin in a thank
you gesture, and she took a step forward to keep her balance.

“Why not Tortuga?” she asked him as it
suddenly occurred to her what he had said.

He grinned at her and his gold teeth glinted in the
sunshine.

“Tis not the place for someone
such as yourself is all.” He replied quietly and let go of her hands. The loss of his warm hands around hers made
her bite her lip to stop a protest leaving them. She felt completely turned around and it
confused and frightened her. One moment
she hated him so strongly it almost burnt it and the next she was wishing for
his touch.

He leaned forward slowly his eyes on and and her breathing
hitched and then stopped as he neared.
Was he going to kiss her? Her
eyes slid from his eyes down his nose and to his lips, framed with the jet
black hair of his moustache she felt anticipation flow through her, she could
feel his breath on her face, could smell the slight tinge of rum and it sent
her nerve endings tingling. She wanted
him to kiss her, wanted to feel his lips against hers. Her hand drifted up by its own accord till
her fingers touched the skin of his cheek, the hair lining his jaw was
surprisingly soft, and his skin was warm to her touch. She slid her fingers along his jaw to rest on
the charm that was braided into his hair, her earlier anger forgotten as her
entire world narrowed down to his face.
Her eyes fluttered closed unable to stay open any longer. Waiting, waiting for his
touch. She felt him move and his
lips grazed against her cheek as he pressed his lips close to her ear.

“We’d best be going down.” He muttered and stepping away
from her, the beads in his hair slipped through her fingers as he turned and
carried on walking down the hill, the usual swagger in place, along with the
swinging arms.

Nell’s eyes flew open as she stared after him in complete
shock. She had been sure he was going to
kiss her and even more sure of the fact that she had wanted him to.

Hot, burning humiliation spread through her at how she must
have looked to him. Stood there, all but
begging him to kiss her, even after he had made it perfectly clear that he
didn’t find her attractive.

And what about Scarlet? The woman he truly loved, why would he
honestly turn to her when he had a woman in Port somewhere.

She should feel glad that he hadn’t kissed her, relieved
even. Why should she want his kiss
anyway? He might be handsome in a darkly
mysterious, ‘right round the may pole’ sort of way and she couldn’t deny that
his eyes did something to her insides that she couldn’t explain, but he also
smelt like he’d fallen into a bottle of rum and looked like he hadn’t washed in
decades. Not to mention the fact that he
was a Pirate of all things.

She should feel relieved so why did she feel disappointed?

And what kind of woman had she suddenly turned into
anyway?

She had never in her life had such feelings about another
man. She blushed as she suddenly
remembered that this wasn’t strictly true.
Father Donnely had arrived at the convent
shortly after her sixteenth birthday and she remembered now the strange
feelings that had seemed to tighten her chest whenever she saw him. He had been dark as well, but his hair was
shorter and his skin clean shaven and he was pale from lack of sun. She had felt strangely about him although she
had never spoken to him nor got as close to him as she had Jack. So maybe it wasn’t Jack so much as the fact
that he was male.

But if that was true why hadn’t she felt the same when she
had landed on top of Hock?

Fear! She had been
terrified about the approaching ship.
That was the reason and now she understood it she could control it.

Satisfied with her reasoning she watched his retreating
figure as he swaggered on down the hill, she could hear the words he was
singing, his voice deep and even.

 

It's all for me grog, me jolly, jolly grog,
All gone for beer and rum,
Spent all me tin on the lassies drinking gin,
And across the western ocean I must wander.


I feel sick in the head and I haven't been to bed,
Since first I came ashore with me plunder.
I see centipedes and snakes and I'm full of pains and aches,
And I think that I should push out over yonder

 

She shuddered and wrapped her arms around feeling cold
despite the sun. She would push it to
the back of her mind along with everything else that had happened recently and
ignore it.

Feeling resolute again she set off down the hill, making
sure she didn’t catch up with him, intent on seeing whose these friends were.

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

It was almost dark when the Ardent anchored behind the Pearl
and a small boat was lowered to the river.

Nell stood on the edges of the camp watching as three figures
climbed down into the boat and began to row to the bank.

Jack and Gibbs were stood waiting and as soon as the boat
drew close enough they caught the rope and tied it to a rock to secure it.

Jack stood forward and held out his hand and Nell saw a lady
stand up and take his outstretched hand.
She was surprised to see the lady and even more surprised to see Jack help her out onto the bank and then take her into his arms
for a quick hug. Two more figures that looked like men came out of the boat and
Jack embraced one of them with another quick hug as the other man moved off
with Gibbs.

“Here miss!” Nell looked around from the sight to see Jimmy
stood beside her holding out a metal plate with food on it.

The smell of the roasted pig along with some of the root
vegetables they had found made her stomach rumble and she took the plate
gratefully.

“Thank you Jimmy.” She took the plate and crossed to sit
closer to the fire in between a couple of sailors. She looked around her and saw Lady Clarence
eating from her place still perched on the grassy mound just outside the edges
of the camp.

For several minutes all that could be heard was the slurp
and chewing of the men as they ate their meal and drank bottle after bottle of
rum and beer. To Nell it was the best
meal she’d ever eaten and it didn’t take her long to polish it off. Bit by bit as the men finished they started
talking and Nell listened with half and ear.

“She be perched up there like a toff.” Came a hoarse laugh from across the camp and Nell
looked over to see Coals eyeing Lady Clarence with a sneer. “Aye, if only the Capt’n would let us at ’er we
could make ‘er sing like a canary.”

“Aye that we would.” Daniel agreed
lustily “Sing like a pretty birdie she would, ‘especially if I were to give it
to ‘er.”

“What you?” howled another man Nell knew as Timms “ye can’t get it up ‘cording to that whore Eliza in Tortuga.”
He laughed and the rest of them laughed along.

Daniels glowered at Timms and
stood up suddenly his plate falling to the floor.

“Eliza is a lying bitch who I slammed and then stole me
money back after. That why she be bad
mouthing me.” He looked across at
Nell and his face changed subtly. “Want some proof?” he demanded and his hands
went to the lacings of his britches.

Nell’s face flushed as she looked down at her plate. She knew she should get up and walk off but
it was if she was glued to the spot in horror.

“Put it away Daniels.” Came the
lazy voice of Hock. “Wouldn’t want to frighten us now would ya?”
he said around a mouth full of meat.

“Or make us laugh!” came another comment from Soames “Seeing
as it’s so small!”

Everyone roared with laughter and Daniels spat into the fire
in anger, the rum starting to talk.

“Yeah well, I still think the Capt’n
doing us out of a tasty bit.” He snapped “’e doing both of them and that aign’t fair.”

Nell almost choked at his words.

“Capt’n aign’t
like that.” Came another voice and Nell saw Soames leaning forward.

“Then ‘e don’t seem much like a pirate to me then.” Daniels
swore. “Last Capt’n I sailed wit would’ve had them
both passed round like dessert. Now ‘e were a true pirate.” He looked down at Nell again, but she
couldn’t look up if she tried.

“And that seems mighty close to mutinous talk mate.” Hock
said lazily “Best be sitting down and shutting up afore you find yerself in the brig.
Or left behind.”

Daniels grunted something and walked away from the fire
heading towards Lady Clarence. Nell
tried to get to her feet but Timms beside her held
her arm and pulled her down while Hock got to his feet quickly.

“Don’t be stupid.” He called after Daniels. Daniels flicked his fist at Hock and went
right behind Lady Clarence making lewd hand movements to her. She stared at him as if he were mad and got
up quickly.

Hock moved forward, his hand going to the pistol at his hip
but Daniels moved on and disappeared into the descending darkness.

“Best be coming into the light miss.” Hock called to Lady
Clarence. She stared after Daniels and
hastily walked towards Hock who led her closer to the fire.

Nell shifted uneasily aware of the sudden tension that had
fallen on the men sat around the camp.

She picked at the food on the plate unwilling to look up at
Lady Clarence as she sat down.

“Take no notice of ‘im miss. ‘e be all mouth and britches that one.” Timms said beside her and patted her arm before letting go
to reach for a bottle of rum.

“Aye, no brains and not much brawn either.” Someone else
shouted and the tension was broken by laughter.


Soames reached behind him and drew out his Concertina and he
began to play a Shanty that had them all singing along.

Nell looked behind her to where Jack was still stood by the
small rowing boat talking to the two people that had arrived on the
Ardent. She saw the three of them get
back into the boat and make for the Pearl.

She sighed and brought her knees to her chest watching the
men singing. Lady Clarence looked as if
she’d swallowed one of Jimmy’s Limes whole, but nothing would make her sit
outside the relative protection of the men.

Nell felt her eyelids drooping as the fire crackled and the
music got softer and less rowdy.

One of them men had started singing a Capstan Shanty and its
rhythmic lyrics and his husky voice lulled her gently.

She felt Timms move beside her but
she didn’t open her eyes as he began to sing along with the other man, their
voices harmonised and she felt safe and for the first time in a few days
full. Her head lolled to the sidd
ld
landed on something soft. No movement
was made to move her and she couldn’t bring herself to even open her eyes as
sleep overtook her.

Timms looked down at her and
raised his eyes to Hock across the fire.

“She’s out cold.” He said quietly, her head resting on the
crook of his elbow.

Hock laughed and looked down at Lady Clarence.

“Where will you be bedding this even?” he asked her and Lady
Clarence looked indecisive. “By the fire or on board the Pearl?”

“Which is safer?” she finally asked and
Hock could see by her face that it almost killed her to ask him that.

“By the fire. Only a few of the men are staying on board,
the rest of us are camping here.”

“Then I shall stay here too.” She said “Although I doubt I
shall sleep a wink tonight.” She added petulantly.

Hock ignored her and crossed round to where Nell was leaning
on Timms.

“Let’s get the le mle miss tucked in then.” He laughed and
reaching down he scooped her up into his arms.

Timms moved away from the area and
spread out the blanket they had been sitting on. Hock laid Nell down on the blanket, watching
as she curled into a ball sighing in her sleep.

Soames handed him another blanket and Hock covered her
before standing up and looking down at her.

“Tis the devils work y’know.” Timms said softly from
beside Hock.

“Aye.” He agreed quietly and abruptly turned to take two
more blankets from Soames who had the pile behind him. He threw them at Lady Clarence who just
caught them.

“Would you be wanting me to tuck
you up too?” he asked her mockingly and laughed at the colour that flooded her
cheeks.

“Right then.” He said when she merely glared at him.

He stepped forward and took the blanket from her and laid it
next to Nell. He indicated the blanket
with his hand and smirked when she stood up and crossed to kneel down on
it. He waited till she curlcurled up
much like Nell and then he draped the blanket over her before touching his
forehead in a mock salute. He turned to
move away from her when he heard her speak softly.

“Thank you Mister Hock.”

He stopped and looked back at her before shrugging and
moving back to settle down on the other side of the fire with several bottles
of rum.

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

Jack sat back on the chair his booted feet resting on his
table.

“So how did you two young doves find out what I’d been up
to?” he asked cheerfully.

“We were intercepted by a Merchant Vessel two days out of Port
Royal, the Master of the ship told us he’d picked up survivors of
the Rose and warned us that a pirate vessel was still in the area and had taken
the Lady Clarence from the Rose. They
were heading in to Port Royal to enlist Norrington’s help in her retrieval.” Will said from where
he sat beside Elizabeth.

Jack raised an eyebrow and contemplated his bottle of rum.

“Headed for Port Royal you say? Now that’s interesting.” He remarked and sat
up suddenly, his feet clattering to the floor. “And did you talk with anyone
else besides the Master?”

Will frowned and Elizabeth
shook her head.

“No, he just said he was bound for Port Royal
and saw you in the distant and the Rose sinking. The minute we heard black sails we knew it
was.” Will stated firmly.

“Jack!” Elizabeth
sat forward slightly “Do you realise what you’ve done?” she demanded “You’ve
stolen Lord Davenport’s wife!” she all but cried out.

“Aye! A misfortune indeed.” He lamented sadly “Had
I known the lady’s disposition I’d have left her to drown.” He shook his head. JackJack don’t you think you ought to tell us what happened?”
asked Will softly, laying a hand on Elizabeth’s
arm.

“Well it was like this.” Jack took a swig of his rum and
with a wave of his hands began to tell them what had happened.

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

A/N: Okay I had to
end it here for length reasons, but I have uploaded the next chapter as well so
there is more…

 

The sea Shanty is a real Forecastle / Ballard Shanty, the
lyrics are by Captain Jesse Schaffer.