Unexpected Reunions
folder
Pirates of the Caribbean (All) › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
7
Views:
2,057
Reviews:
15
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Pirates of the Caribbean (All) › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
7
Views:
2,057
Reviews:
15
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter 5 - Jack's Illness
Title: Unexpected Reunions
Author: Hellborne (the_ferret_mom@yahoo.com)
Age Rating: 13+
Disclaimer: Characters, Percy, Tawodigola'A, Dominic, and the OTHER Elizabeth mine. Anyone you saw in the movie, not mine. See the Mouse and Johnny Depp. Story, mine, but I make no money. They do, but not on this.
Typing convention: / is used for thoughts. * - * - * is used for scene changes and passages of time.
Summary: Four years after the movie, the Black Pearl fires on Port Royal, the new governor wants Jack dead, Commodore Norrington tries to save him and fails, Jack finds himself on the gallows again, but it's all a misunderstanding really.
Warnings: Loads of Sparrow-Torture. H/C to the max. Angst, Romance
Betas: The two greatest BetaGoddesses in the world, Pendragginink and Littlebird! You're both truly magnificent, and I wouldn't be able to write half as well without you!
NOTE: I live for reviews. Being quite depressed lately about my health and missing my job, I could really use some reviews...and don't think I'm begging for cudos! I happen to love flames and constructive criticism just as much and sometimes more! Lord knows, without constructive criticism, I'd have never fixed some of the boo-boos I've made!
* - * - * - * - * - * - * - *
Chapter 5 - Jack's Illness
"Sail ho!"
Jack grabbed his spyglass and held it up to his eye. There she was, even larger than he expected. He looked again. "That's not our merchant ship."
Will looked through his own spyglass. "Better, it's a passenger ship; one of His Majesty's own by the name."
Jack whipped around looking at Will. "Name? What's her name?" He looked through the spyglass again as Anamaria brought them about to come up from astern.
"It looks like 'Lady Royal'."
Jack looked yet again and did a double take. "No, lad, that's the "Lady Royale'." He blinked twice. "It can't be. ANY ship but the Lady Royale! Please." Jack whispered as his blood turned to ice water and drained into his boots.
Will looked at his captain and saw the wild look on his face. "What's wrong, Jack?"
"Nothin', lad." He looked up to the heavens and back again. "Young William, have ye ever thought that maybe life is nothin' more than a colossal joke of the gods to see how much torment they can heap on a man? Just for the sport of seeing when he'll crack?"
Will quirked an eyebrow, wondering if the captain had gone completely mad. "No, I never have. Jack? Are you sure you're all right?"
"I'm fine, whelp." He turned to the crew. "All hands listen up! I want no lives taken on this raid, none, d'ye hear? And nothing taken from the main cabin! I'll see to that myself! Now man your posts and stay ready to fire across their bow! Marty! You're on swivel! I don't want any accidents!"
The crew scrambled to get ready for the upcoming battle as Jack turned a progressively lighter shade of pale as he watched the ship get closer.
* - * - *
While Will and Anamaria took care of rounding up the crew and passengers, Jack quietly sneaked aboard and into the great-cabin. Looking around, he immediately saw his target and, carefully slicing it out of its bindings, took it and left, managing to slip back aboard the Pearl and into his cabin unobserved. Closing the door and sagging against it, he let out his breath with a deep sigh, not even realizing he'd been holding it.
* - * - *
Most of the crew of the Black Pearl went through the cabins and into the hold (leaving the great-cabin alone as their captain commanded), several others watched the passengers and merchant crew who were gathered in a small group on deck. Anamaria looked them over and pulled Will aside. "I don't understand. I thought this was a passenger ship. There's naught here in passengers but maids and manservants for the captain and his wife."
Will approached the captain, who was short and wiry. "Sir, what brings you and your entourage on the passage from England, sir?"
"I am the Governor of Jamaica, Lord Percival Naffaugh, Duke of Davenport."
"I'm honored to make your acquaintance, My Lord Duke."
"You are filthy murdering pirate scum, sir, and I shall see you hanged."
Will was surprised. "We've shown you mercy, Your Grace. We have no intentions of killing anyone."
"You are a pirate and no better than the men who attacked and sank the naval vessel my son was serving on. You shall hang, pirate, just as all pirates shall hang, I assure you sir."
"I regret the loss of your son's ship, Your Grace, but..."
Lord Davenport, struggling to keep his temper in check, puffed up like a toad and snapped out, "Ship be damned, sir! I lost my SON! Thanks to your ilk, I have no heir."
"But surely, Your Grace, it was accidental, I cannot think he would have been harmed a'purpose, for the son of a Duke, the ransom alone would..."
The stunning, dark-skinned woman next to the new governor stepped forward and slapped Will across the face, hard, making him reel from the force of it. "Such crust! How dare you feel no pain for others, you murderer! Is nothing sacred? Jonathan was our only child. What next? Shall you chastise me for having no others?"
She started crying as her husband took the dark beauty in his arms. Will supposed she was an Indian from the Americas, but wondered what she was doing married to an English Lord.
Will felt heartbroken for her loss. "Milady, if I may ask, when did this happen?"
She turned to face him, regal as she drew herself up, her face even more beautiful through the tear streaks. Will thought his heart would burst from her pain. "My poor little Jonathan was a midshipman on the HMS Valiant in 1689, when it was lost, sunk with all on board by the cruel pirate Captain Roger Woods. He was only twelve years old." Again, she slapped Will so hard it knocked him over, then buried her face in her hands and turned back to her husband again, wailing.
Will stood up again, with a hand to his chin; he gingerly worked his jaw making sure it wasn't broken. He turned to Lord Naffaugh and bowed. "Milord, I'm very sorry for your loss; we shall endeavor to leave your ship and your people unharmed and allow you, as quickly as possible, to continue on to Jamaica. I must ask, though, out of curiosity. The people of Jamaica aren't expecting you for a couple more months. How is it that you're arriving so early?"
"Early? I wouldn't think the people of Jamaica would be expecting me at all. I have been ordered by His Majesty King George to remove Weatherby Swann from office, as he is far too lax with the pirates in his jurisdiction."
"I regret to inform Your Grace, Weatherby Swann died three and a half weeks ago."
"That will eliminate the unpleasantness from usurping the governorship. Weatherby and I were friends, and I did not look forward to that, quite. I am saddened to hear of his death. What was it he died of?"
"The ague, Milord."
"I shall have to look in on little Elizabeth and see what I can do to make her less miserable. She'd only lost her mother a month before Weatherby received his appointment. It gave her no chance to adjust to her loss."
"Elizabeth is twenty-two years old now, Your Grace, and married to Commodore Norrington."
Lord Davenport appeared surprised. He smiled gently. "I remember when she was only this high." He held his hand up to the bottom of his ribs. "When you told me that her father died, I expected to take her in as my own, as my wife and I are her godparents."
"His Majesty has a droll sense of humor to send you to remove Governor Swann."
"You must keep your place, pirate." Lord Naffautgh's tone was cool and clipped.
"And so I do, Your Grace. As a pirate, I am not even on the social ladder, so I need hold no propriety at all. But my upbringing leads me to show nobility such as yourself the respect they deserve. I'll admit that I sometimes do open my mouth when I shouldn't, Milord." Will gave a wistful shrug, a bit admonished for his earlier unfortunate gaff and unintended rudeness. "But, as a pirate, sir, I won't apologize."
The rest of the crew came forth from the hold and the cabins with piles of swag, moving it across to the Pearl.
* - * - *
Jack stayed in the cabin doorway as the treasure was brought onboard. "Hoy, mates. Let's see that lot." They brought it over and he went through it all before allowing it to be taken below. The crew thought maybe he wanted to choose his shares early and stood by, watching him go through it piece by piece. He passed most of it by, but removed several small items that nobody could believe anyone would consider especially valuable. The men who took them had planned to give them to some of the whores in Tortuga: a wedding dress; a silver rattle; a set of well-used toy soldiers with the paint chipped. But Jack set them aside with a reverence that would make men think they were made of pure gold. When he was completely finished, he called Gibbs over. "Mate, bring these back and give them to the captain's wife. 't is evil to steal a lady's wedding dress, and these things are no good on a pirate ship. Give them back, savvy?"
Gibbs was confused, but saluted. "Aye, Cap'n." He walked over the plank to the other ship and presented them to Lady Davenport. "The Cap'n sends these back with his compliments, ma'am."
Lord Naffaugh looked at Will. "I thought YOU were the captain."
"No, Milord. I'm the first mate. Captain Sparrow decided to stay aboard the Pearl for this raid. Under normal circumstances, you would be invited aboard for dinner, but Jack is a bit under the weather at the moment, so if you wish, I can have our chef bring a proper meal of thanks over for you and your entourage and crew. I guarantee to you that you'll enjoy it, and I assure you that it's not poisoned. I know that Mr. Ragetti would be honored to cook for you."
"Since you've taken so much from my ship, I suppose it would only be fair to take a meal from you in recompense."
Will smiled. "I'll have him bring it over. My Lord Duke, I leave you to your ship." He bowed and went back to the Pearl, directing Ragetti and Pintel to bring the food over, then he knocked on Jack's cabin door.
Jack hesitantly answered the door, reaching out an arm, pulling Will inside and slamming it shut again.
Will stood, staring wide-eyed at Jack, who just plain wasn't acting like himself at all.
"Is the crew happy?"
"Yes, Jack. Just a bit confused is all, as I am."
"Don't worry, mate. I'll feel better once we're under way. Just make sure His Grace, the Duke is well-fed and that Lady Tawodigola'A isn't on the warpath."
"Jack, you know them."
"I've encountered them before, and would rather not have another encounter with Tawodigola'A Kamama in full rage. If you can leave her happy, Percy will be happy."
"Hopefully Ragetti has cooked something especially good then."
"I visited the galley. I'm sure they'll be happy with it."
"Then, you didn't want to be recognized?"
"Aye, lad. I didn't want to be recognized."
Will accepted the answer for the time being and left, still not quite satisfied.
As they were pulling away after leaving the food for Lord Davenport's servants to serve, there was a blood-curdling shriek from the main cabin of the Lady Royale. Jack had them let go all sails to race away from the area, and stood clutching the wheel, willing the Pearl to more speed; upon hearing the scream he cringed as if struck, tucking his head further into his shoulders like a turtle.
* - * - *
TBC
A/N: Hey, only 267 hits? Tell me what's wrong with this story please? I'm curious and want to fix whatever it is! So hit that REVIEW button and tell me what's up...PLEASE?
Author: Hellborne (the_ferret_mom@yahoo.com)
Age Rating: 13+
Disclaimer: Characters, Percy, Tawodigola'A, Dominic, and the OTHER Elizabeth mine. Anyone you saw in the movie, not mine. See the Mouse and Johnny Depp. Story, mine, but I make no money. They do, but not on this.
Typing convention: / is used for thoughts. * - * - * is used for scene changes and passages of time.
Summary: Four years after the movie, the Black Pearl fires on Port Royal, the new governor wants Jack dead, Commodore Norrington tries to save him and fails, Jack finds himself on the gallows again, but it's all a misunderstanding really.
Warnings: Loads of Sparrow-Torture. H/C to the max. Angst, Romance
Betas: The two greatest BetaGoddesses in the world, Pendragginink and Littlebird! You're both truly magnificent, and I wouldn't be able to write half as well without you!
NOTE: I live for reviews. Being quite depressed lately about my health and missing my job, I could really use some reviews...and don't think I'm begging for cudos! I happen to love flames and constructive criticism just as much and sometimes more! Lord knows, without constructive criticism, I'd have never fixed some of the boo-boos I've made!
* - * - * - * - * - * - * - *
Chapter 5 - Jack's Illness
"Sail ho!"
Jack grabbed his spyglass and held it up to his eye. There she was, even larger than he expected. He looked again. "That's not our merchant ship."
Will looked through his own spyglass. "Better, it's a passenger ship; one of His Majesty's own by the name."
Jack whipped around looking at Will. "Name? What's her name?" He looked through the spyglass again as Anamaria brought them about to come up from astern.
"It looks like 'Lady Royal'."
Jack looked yet again and did a double take. "No, lad, that's the "Lady Royale'." He blinked twice. "It can't be. ANY ship but the Lady Royale! Please." Jack whispered as his blood turned to ice water and drained into his boots.
Will looked at his captain and saw the wild look on his face. "What's wrong, Jack?"
"Nothin', lad." He looked up to the heavens and back again. "Young William, have ye ever thought that maybe life is nothin' more than a colossal joke of the gods to see how much torment they can heap on a man? Just for the sport of seeing when he'll crack?"
Will quirked an eyebrow, wondering if the captain had gone completely mad. "No, I never have. Jack? Are you sure you're all right?"
"I'm fine, whelp." He turned to the crew. "All hands listen up! I want no lives taken on this raid, none, d'ye hear? And nothing taken from the main cabin! I'll see to that myself! Now man your posts and stay ready to fire across their bow! Marty! You're on swivel! I don't want any accidents!"
The crew scrambled to get ready for the upcoming battle as Jack turned a progressively lighter shade of pale as he watched the ship get closer.
* - * - *
While Will and Anamaria took care of rounding up the crew and passengers, Jack quietly sneaked aboard and into the great-cabin. Looking around, he immediately saw his target and, carefully slicing it out of its bindings, took it and left, managing to slip back aboard the Pearl and into his cabin unobserved. Closing the door and sagging against it, he let out his breath with a deep sigh, not even realizing he'd been holding it.
* - * - *
Most of the crew of the Black Pearl went through the cabins and into the hold (leaving the great-cabin alone as their captain commanded), several others watched the passengers and merchant crew who were gathered in a small group on deck. Anamaria looked them over and pulled Will aside. "I don't understand. I thought this was a passenger ship. There's naught here in passengers but maids and manservants for the captain and his wife."
Will approached the captain, who was short and wiry. "Sir, what brings you and your entourage on the passage from England, sir?"
"I am the Governor of Jamaica, Lord Percival Naffaugh, Duke of Davenport."
"I'm honored to make your acquaintance, My Lord Duke."
"You are filthy murdering pirate scum, sir, and I shall see you hanged."
Will was surprised. "We've shown you mercy, Your Grace. We have no intentions of killing anyone."
"You are a pirate and no better than the men who attacked and sank the naval vessel my son was serving on. You shall hang, pirate, just as all pirates shall hang, I assure you sir."
"I regret the loss of your son's ship, Your Grace, but..."
Lord Davenport, struggling to keep his temper in check, puffed up like a toad and snapped out, "Ship be damned, sir! I lost my SON! Thanks to your ilk, I have no heir."
"But surely, Your Grace, it was accidental, I cannot think he would have been harmed a'purpose, for the son of a Duke, the ransom alone would..."
The stunning, dark-skinned woman next to the new governor stepped forward and slapped Will across the face, hard, making him reel from the force of it. "Such crust! How dare you feel no pain for others, you murderer! Is nothing sacred? Jonathan was our only child. What next? Shall you chastise me for having no others?"
She started crying as her husband took the dark beauty in his arms. Will supposed she was an Indian from the Americas, but wondered what she was doing married to an English Lord.
Will felt heartbroken for her loss. "Milady, if I may ask, when did this happen?"
She turned to face him, regal as she drew herself up, her face even more beautiful through the tear streaks. Will thought his heart would burst from her pain. "My poor little Jonathan was a midshipman on the HMS Valiant in 1689, when it was lost, sunk with all on board by the cruel pirate Captain Roger Woods. He was only twelve years old." Again, she slapped Will so hard it knocked him over, then buried her face in her hands and turned back to her husband again, wailing.
Will stood up again, with a hand to his chin; he gingerly worked his jaw making sure it wasn't broken. He turned to Lord Naffaugh and bowed. "Milord, I'm very sorry for your loss; we shall endeavor to leave your ship and your people unharmed and allow you, as quickly as possible, to continue on to Jamaica. I must ask, though, out of curiosity. The people of Jamaica aren't expecting you for a couple more months. How is it that you're arriving so early?"
"Early? I wouldn't think the people of Jamaica would be expecting me at all. I have been ordered by His Majesty King George to remove Weatherby Swann from office, as he is far too lax with the pirates in his jurisdiction."
"I regret to inform Your Grace, Weatherby Swann died three and a half weeks ago."
"That will eliminate the unpleasantness from usurping the governorship. Weatherby and I were friends, and I did not look forward to that, quite. I am saddened to hear of his death. What was it he died of?"
"The ague, Milord."
"I shall have to look in on little Elizabeth and see what I can do to make her less miserable. She'd only lost her mother a month before Weatherby received his appointment. It gave her no chance to adjust to her loss."
"Elizabeth is twenty-two years old now, Your Grace, and married to Commodore Norrington."
Lord Davenport appeared surprised. He smiled gently. "I remember when she was only this high." He held his hand up to the bottom of his ribs. "When you told me that her father died, I expected to take her in as my own, as my wife and I are her godparents."
"His Majesty has a droll sense of humor to send you to remove Governor Swann."
"You must keep your place, pirate." Lord Naffautgh's tone was cool and clipped.
"And so I do, Your Grace. As a pirate, I am not even on the social ladder, so I need hold no propriety at all. But my upbringing leads me to show nobility such as yourself the respect they deserve. I'll admit that I sometimes do open my mouth when I shouldn't, Milord." Will gave a wistful shrug, a bit admonished for his earlier unfortunate gaff and unintended rudeness. "But, as a pirate, sir, I won't apologize."
The rest of the crew came forth from the hold and the cabins with piles of swag, moving it across to the Pearl.
* - * - *
Jack stayed in the cabin doorway as the treasure was brought onboard. "Hoy, mates. Let's see that lot." They brought it over and he went through it all before allowing it to be taken below. The crew thought maybe he wanted to choose his shares early and stood by, watching him go through it piece by piece. He passed most of it by, but removed several small items that nobody could believe anyone would consider especially valuable. The men who took them had planned to give them to some of the whores in Tortuga: a wedding dress; a silver rattle; a set of well-used toy soldiers with the paint chipped. But Jack set them aside with a reverence that would make men think they were made of pure gold. When he was completely finished, he called Gibbs over. "Mate, bring these back and give them to the captain's wife. 't is evil to steal a lady's wedding dress, and these things are no good on a pirate ship. Give them back, savvy?"
Gibbs was confused, but saluted. "Aye, Cap'n." He walked over the plank to the other ship and presented them to Lady Davenport. "The Cap'n sends these back with his compliments, ma'am."
Lord Naffaugh looked at Will. "I thought YOU were the captain."
"No, Milord. I'm the first mate. Captain Sparrow decided to stay aboard the Pearl for this raid. Under normal circumstances, you would be invited aboard for dinner, but Jack is a bit under the weather at the moment, so if you wish, I can have our chef bring a proper meal of thanks over for you and your entourage and crew. I guarantee to you that you'll enjoy it, and I assure you that it's not poisoned. I know that Mr. Ragetti would be honored to cook for you."
"Since you've taken so much from my ship, I suppose it would only be fair to take a meal from you in recompense."
Will smiled. "I'll have him bring it over. My Lord Duke, I leave you to your ship." He bowed and went back to the Pearl, directing Ragetti and Pintel to bring the food over, then he knocked on Jack's cabin door.
Jack hesitantly answered the door, reaching out an arm, pulling Will inside and slamming it shut again.
Will stood, staring wide-eyed at Jack, who just plain wasn't acting like himself at all.
"Is the crew happy?"
"Yes, Jack. Just a bit confused is all, as I am."
"Don't worry, mate. I'll feel better once we're under way. Just make sure His Grace, the Duke is well-fed and that Lady Tawodigola'A isn't on the warpath."
"Jack, you know them."
"I've encountered them before, and would rather not have another encounter with Tawodigola'A Kamama in full rage. If you can leave her happy, Percy will be happy."
"Hopefully Ragetti has cooked something especially good then."
"I visited the galley. I'm sure they'll be happy with it."
"Then, you didn't want to be recognized?"
"Aye, lad. I didn't want to be recognized."
Will accepted the answer for the time being and left, still not quite satisfied.
As they were pulling away after leaving the food for Lord Davenport's servants to serve, there was a blood-curdling shriek from the main cabin of the Lady Royale. Jack had them let go all sails to race away from the area, and stood clutching the wheel, willing the Pearl to more speed; upon hearing the scream he cringed as if struck, tucking his head further into his shoulders like a turtle.
* - * - *
TBC
A/N: Hey, only 267 hits? Tell me what's wrong with this story please? I'm curious and want to fix whatever it is! So hit that REVIEW button and tell me what's up...PLEASE?