The Map

A/N: Thanks to AniSparrow for checking this through for me. Usual Disclaimer in that I hold no claim to anything except what you don’t recognise from the movie. i.e. Nell etc.

Chapter 42

Nightfall

Norrington and Bryant were sitting opposite Jack in his cabin, after Norrington had filled Gillette in, and both ships were still lashed together. Beaumont had made it clear that if they were followed then Nell and the Governor would be killed, and Jack knew he wasn’t bluffing. He had had put sailors on watch and they were keeping a sharp eye on the Heron’s progress.

Elizabeth was sitting on the edge of the bed with Will; her face was pinched with worry, one thumb in her mouth, her teeth tugging on the nail.

Gillette was standing by the door; his face a mask of distrust and disbelief but it wasn’t directed at Jack and that concerned Commodore Norrington. Hock was standing by the cushioned seats staring out of the window, his face reflecting his anger and concern.

“We keep tabs on them, we never lose them and we wait for darkness; the moon is fully waned and is with us, thank God, the nights are dark, just as we need.” Jack spoke quietly; one hand tugging at the braids from his chin, the other stabbing a dagger repeatedly into the map spread on the table with four bottles of rum holding it in place.

“Do you want us to follow you?” asked Norrington. A small squeak came from Gillette who looked as if he’d swallowed a lemon whole.

“No, I don’t want any naval vessel within three hundred miles of them…” snorted Jack. “You’ll stick out like…”

“A whore in a church,” Bryant remarked dryly and rubbed his fingers over his eyes. “We can’t hide in the dark like you can, but I’ll be buggered if I let you sail off without knowing what happens. Commodore, permission to sail with the Pearl.”

“What?” The squeak turned into a furious shout. “What are you doing? You can’t plot with pirates, sail with pirates? What on earth are you thinking of?”

“Bringing the Governor and Miss Nell back alive, Captain Gillette, that’s what!” Norrington’s voice was sharp and brooked no argument.

“Lock them up in the brig and then go after the Heron!” Gillette was almost hopping on one foot he was so aggrieved at the current circumstances. He had been called across with two marines; but the mere thought of standing on a pirate vessel and not be killing anyone was almost his undoing.

“If you have nothing valid or worthwhile to add, Captain Gillette, I’d appreciate it if you would remain silent!” Norrington spoke coldly and the colour that flooded Gillette’s face rivalled the colour of the curtains around the alcove that held Jack’s bunk.

“I cannot stand by and see a Commodore of the Navy consorting with pirates.” Gillette stammered.

“As you wish,” Norrington replied and stood up. He crossed to the door and opened it to look out. “Mister Peters, escort Captain Gillette back to the Reclamation and then return here please.”

Norrington turned to Gillette and indicated the open door with his hand. He waited until the blustering man had left the cabin before he shut the door behind him and raised his eyebrows at Bryant.

“I know you want to find them, Josh, but I need you to take command of the Reclamation. I can’t trust Captain Gillette to stand back and let us do what we have to. He’ll fire on us given the chance.”

Bryant’s eyebrows lifted at the frank words of his commanding officer but a small thrill went through him at the thought of commanding his own ship. He closed his eyes in sudden guilt at the thought; he should be thinking of Nell not feeling elation at being captain of the Reclamation.

“Well, Captain Bryant,” Jack slurred and buried the dagger deep in the table. “I’ll be needing you to haul the Heron back to Port Royal; your brig will be full of sailors waiting to be hung and your cabin will be full of the ten percent share of the treasure but Beaumont and De Mornay will be dead by then.”

Bryant looked at Jack for any signs of mockery at his title but Jack showed none and Bryant realised he was acknowledging his position; it really was a strange world. He nodded and scratched at his head. “You want me to follow at a distance, keeping out of her sight but in yours?”

“Aye, that’s the plan.” Jack looked up at where Norrington was leaning back against the cabin door staring into space with a concentrated frown on his face. “You’ll be sailing with us, Commodore?”

“Of course,” he replied vaguely and then looked at Jack sharply. “I can bring half of the red-coats aboard, but I’d rather not leave her unprotected…”

“We won’t need any of your red-coats, and in fact, your red-coats aboard may leave with Captain Bryant here if they wish.”

“We’ll stay with you, Jack,” Elizabeth spoke up.

“You’ll leave with Captain Bryant,” Jack corrected her firmly.

“We will not!” She jumped up from the bed. “They have my father, Jack!”

“Aye, and you’re carrying Will’s baby,” Jack didn’t even acknowledge her discomfort at having it announced unceremoniously to everyone; he only cared about having his own way and in this instant, his own way meant keeping them safe.

A murmur went around the cabin as Elizabeth went a fire red and Will was torn between pride and concern over the situation. He reached out his good hand and caught hers. “Elizabeth, sweetheart, Jack’s right, we’ll only hamper things, neither of us can do anything but be in the way. And we have to think of the baby.”

“Jack’s underhanded!” Elizabeth glared at Jack but sat back down with Will still holding his hand.

“Congratulations,” Norrington smiled at them. “It’s a shame we can’t celebrate more, but once your father and Nell are safely back with us we will celebrate then.”

“Indeed,” Jack nodded. “So, tis all decided. We’ll use cover of darkness to sneak right under their noses and…” His face went tight as he drew the dagger from the table, staring at the wickedly sharp blade.

“I think you should return to the Reclamation, Joshua; any problems with Captain Gillette send him across and I’ll put him straight.” Norrington said quietly.

Bryant stood up and crossed to the door. “There will be no problems, Sir.” He smirked at Norrington before opening the door,

“Captain Bryant,” called Jack making him look back. “I’m really thinking you should
make destroying those boats a priority.”

“And, please, not too harshly with Captain Gillette,” Norrington sighed shaking his head.

Bryant nodded at him grimly and went out shutting the door behind him.

“I’m never going to have any respect again, am I?” Norrington asked no one in particular and pinched the bridge of his nose with two fingers.

“You have respect, Commodore,” Jack replied firmly. “In fact, so much respect that men would die for you and it has nothing do to with rank, either.”

Norrington blinked at his words and then a small smile of pleasure crossed his face as he realised the truth behind Jack’s words. “It’s reciprocated,” he murmured.

“He knows,” Jack muttered and with one movement stood up sending his chair crashing backwards, but he didn’t turn, just looked at Will.

“I need you to leave, we’ll set up the bo’sun chair for you and…”

“I can manage the plank,” Will spoke quickly and stood up, his face was pinched and his eyes dark. “I should be with you… I…”

“Elizabeth is going to need you more,” Jack replied quietly and crossing to him touched his good shoulder understanding the struggle Will was in.

“Jack… I…” Elizabeth stopped and reaching out gripped his hand.

“Relax, lass,” Jack murmured quietly. “Tis the time justice was finally done.”

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Governor Swann was feeling his age today; in fact he had been feeling his age for quite a few months now. Something he’d done his best to hide from Elizabeth and Will, although after his last bout of illness and now this, he wasn’t certain he wanted to hide it any more. He was getting older and there was nothing he could do about it. Elizabeth was his last born, his baby girl; Victoria, his beloved wife had died in childbirth with Elizabeth. Theirs had been a happy marriage and he had been devastated when he lost her; she had given him two other healthy children but Elizabeth had come along completely unexpectedly when Victoria was 40 and he was 45. Childbirth had taken its toll on her and she had expired shortly after seeing Elizabeth for the first time. It had broken his heart and almost taken his ability to live himself; but he had been rallied by his married older children, Mary and Robert, and in truth, baby Elizabeth. He had regretted none of his choices since deciding to leave England, until now.

He had been with Captain Gillette in Port Royal when the Heron had limped into port; the first mate had told tales of the Black Pearl raiding on her when a naval ship and another ship, the Ardent had come to their rescue. The Black Pearl had sent the naval ship and the Ardent to the bottom of the ocean, taking onboard the survivors. Gillette had immediately sent out for the Reclamation to be readied and within the hour, Gillette and himself were heading out to sea, calling for Sparrow’s blood.

He should have realised that Jack wouldn’t fire on The Ardent; he should have known! He knew that Elizabeth and Will were still in touch with the pirate, despite the fact that he was a wanted man. He wasn’t sure why they insisted on being Sparrow’s friend, but he was aware that the friendship was returned; so he should have realised there was more to it than the first mate stated. But he had allowed himself to be buoyed along by Gillette’s hatred of Sparrow.

“Will you let me see to your arm, Sir?” A cool voice from beside him broke him free from his thoughts and he looked up into the worried eyes of Nell.

“It hurts like the blazes!” Governor Swann replied quietly and nodded his acceptance of her offer of help. “Why do you suppose they’ve left us in here rather than the brig?”

Nell helped him to ease the coat from his arm, watching in sympathy when he winced as the cloth eased past the wound in his upper arm. She looked towards the locked cabin door and shrugged. “I’m not certain, but I do not trust them.”

“Who are they? What are they planning?”

“Beaumont is, was, my guardian and De Mornay is my uncle. It’s a long story…”

“Then you must start at the beginning and tell me all, especially how Elizabeth has herself mixed up in all this…” He stopped talking and Nell realised the pain was getting too much for him as she cleaned the wound. She started to tell him everything that had happened to her from the age of nine.

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Norrington watched as the crew, including the few remaining red-coats that had elected to remain on the Pearl, listen to Jack as he paced back and forth on the deck; his arms were akimbo as usual and he swayed rather than walked. Norrington could see the crew’s attention was fully on their Captain as he instructed them exactly what he wanted them to do. The sun had slid below the horizon and the half light was fading fast; darkness was creeping over the sky and Norrington knew that Jack was waiting only for complete darkness before he made all haste in the direction the Heron took. Jack had a watch in the crow’s nest, keeping a sharp eye out, and he had ordered for every light on the ship to be doused. The stove in the galley was out and the curtains had been drawn at the cabin windows; nothing would be giving away the progress of the pirate ship that night. The Pearl would be nigh on invisible when the light finally faded and it struck him what an amazing ship she was. He sighed and looked back at where Bryant had command of the Reclamation. They were allowing the Pearl to gain distance but not so far that they wouldn’t be able to make out the shape of the ship in the semi-darkness. Bryant had followed Jack’s example and the lights on the Reclamation were all doused; even the leading light was extinguished.

“Sail ho!” came the hushed call from above. “So’west, Captain, and showing no lights!”

“That’s her!” Jack nodded and adjusted the wheel accordingly. “Hold her back, Mister Gibbs; we don’t want to catch her too soon.” He checked his compass and squinted slightly as he tilted it sideways. “Mister Hock, remind the men that there is to be complete silence aboard!”

“Aye, Captain,” Hock replied quietly and left the quarterdeck, his bare feet making no noise on the wood.

“No mercy, Captain Sparrow?” Norrington asked quietly watching the pirate through narrowed eyes.

“None.” The slur was edged with cold steel, but Norrington was not surprised. “If they surrender then they’ll enjoy your hospitality aboard the Reclamation; if they fight we’ll kill them all.”

Norrington drew in a deep breath and pushed himself away from the railings to grip his hands behind his back. “And if it’s too late…” He didn’t say any more, he didn’t need to; Jack knew what he was referring to. He watched as the pirate closed his eyes briefly before lifting his head in a shaking gesture, his beads swinging across his face in denial.

“It won’t be,” he said firmly. “It can’t be,” he added quietly, so quietly that Norrington only just caught his words before the wind blew them away.

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Nell stood silently in the middle of the cabin; frowning as she ran her fingers over her rosary in an endless prayer.

“There isn’t a single thing we can use in here as a weapon,” Governor Swann said tiredly from where he was sitting on the bed, his arm in a sling made from one of the pillow cases that Nell had utilised to tend to his wound.

“Which is why we’re left here untied,” replied Nell as she looked around her one last time. The cabin was empty of all the things that usually lay about a captain’s cabin; there were no instruments for course or bearing, no charts, no papers or journals and certainly nothing that could be implemented as a weapon.

“They have no further need for us, do they?” Governor Swann wiped his sweaty face with his good hand. “Why haven’t they thrown us overboard?”

“Because they know Jack will follow us. They know that as soon as it’s dark enough, Jack will come after us.” Nell lifted a thumb to her mouth and bit on her nail. “I’m just hoping that Jack will realise that Beaumont will be watching for him. I know the Pearl is almost invisible when it’s dark, to unsuspecting ships, but to Beaumont?”

“I think Sparrow is well aware of that, my dear,” he sighed and turning lay flat on the bed, wincing in pain as his abused arm came into contact with the sheets. “You love him a lot don’t you? What is it with you young girls these days? Falling in love with the most unsuitable men.” He shook his head as he stared at the darkening ceiling above them.

“Yes,” Nell crossed to the window and stared out into the darkening skies. “Yes, I do love him a lot and he’s most suitable to me,” she murmured quietly and leant her head against the mullioned window.

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“Capt’n, we got ourselves a problem,” came the hushed voice of Beaumont’s first mate. “We ain’t ‘olding course!”

“What do you mean?” He demanded and looked at De Mornay stood beside him.

“We keep trying to alter course but she won’t respond. Got a mind of ‘er own and ain’t no changing it.”

“But….” He frowned staring at the De Mornay in the dying light of day. Already the shadows were growing and he knew that once darkness settled, Sparrow and the Black Pearl would be right behind him.

“What course is she holding?” demanded De Mornay harshly.

“East, Capt’n… Ain’t seen nothing like it; the crew don’t like it, neither!”

“You’re not paid to like or dislike!” Beaumont spat and dismissed him with a wave of his hand. “What the hell can it be, Tristan? We have nothing at all on us that came from that blasted island, so why the hell are we drifting that way?” His voice was tinged with worry.

“Maybe it’s just Helen, maybe she’s the link…” De Mornay frowned even though he suggested it, he realised it was unlikely. “Throw her overboard and be done with it.”

“And lose our leverage with Sparrow?” Beaumont shook his head. “He won’t do anything that’ll endanger her; and I don’t see how it can be her anyway.”

“Then what can it be? It must be something, James… on the Pearl it was the boats… it has to be something that came from the island and is still with us.”

“We need to speak with your dear niece!” Beaumont replied and they crossed the darkening deck towards the locked cabin doors.

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Nell stared at them as if they’d lost their minds, but true fear coursed through her.

“What island?” asked Governor Swann from where he had sat up as soon as they had come in.

“Benedictus,” Nell replied vaguely. “The monks must be aboard, but how?”

“That’s what we just asked you, Helen!” snorted Beaumont angrily.

“I had nothing from there; all I had on me was this rosary and the dagger. The rosary and the dagger were Jack’s….”

“Where is the dagger?” asked De Mornay suddenly and looked at Beaumont.

“I thought you had it!” Beaumont replied with growing realisation.

“I didn’t even think of it!” De Mornay replied, level with Beaumont’s realisation. “Where did the dagger come from?”

“Lady Clarence; she gave it to me, thought it belonged to Jack…” Nell’s eyes closed in realisation and then panic set in. “You have to find that dagger and throw it overboard!”

Beaumont rolled his eyes at her and motioned to De Mornay to follow him as he strode out of the cabin. They didn’t close the door and certainly didn’t bother to make sure it was locked behind them. They could see no danger from Nell or the Governor and finding the dagger had taken priority before they were swept back to Benedictus. Nell didn’t follow them; she waited till they had left the cabin and then she closed the doors behind them and turned to the Governor.

“We need to make ourselves some crosses and pretty damn quickly!”

“I think that might be a little late,” came the slightly breathless high-pitched voice of the Governor.

Nell saw his attention was taken by something over her shoulder and when she looked around her heart stopped and her stomach sank with nausea. A single monk was standing beside the closed doors, hood down to cover his face, hands folded into his sleeves.

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“We’re truly buggered!” Jack hissed and consulted his compass again for the third time in as many seconds. “Are you certain, Mister Peters?” he called up to the marine in the crow’s nest.

“Aye, Capt’n!” came the shout from above them. “‘eading due east and picking up speed!”

“East?” Norrington was standing beside the railings, watching the darkness creep across the sky; the temperature was dropping and he was beginning to feel the chill in the wind.

“They’re headed back to Benedictus!”

“What?” Norrington came striding towards Jack trying to see the compass in his hands but Jack pulled the compass away and frowned at him.

“They’re course changed slowly but surely. We are following them back to Benedictus which means one thing.”

“The monks are on board that ship!” Norrington lifted his head and closed his eyes. “Is this bloody nightmare ever going to end?”

“Apparently not yet,” Jack murmured and squinted up at his crow’s nest, wondering if Beaumont was aware of his course change yet. “Mister Peters? Any change on the Heron?”

“Nothing!” came the reply. “Lights out, no movement on board save for the sails, Capt’n.”

“Keep a sharp watch!” called Jack and turned back to Norrington. “What’s on the bloody ship that came from the island?”

“Nell?” Norrington shrugged and almost winced at the fury in Jack’s eyes.

“I don’t think so, Commodore.” Jack leaned forwards over the wheel. “Mister Gibbs, take the helm! Mister Hock, with me, now!”

If there was surprise at the sudden hollering of their captain, none of the crew showed it; Gibbs took the helm with only a sharp glance at Norrington and Hock waited for Jack to talk to him.

“The Heron has changed her course and is heading due east, straight back to Benedictus, which leaves me with only one conclusion; that the monks are aboard the Heron. Which also means, somehow or other, something from Benedictus has gone aboard the ship; leading by sheer logic to either Beaumont, De Mornay or Nell, having something on them that came from the Island. Any ideas?”

Hock frowned and racked his brains as he stared at the deck beneath his bare feet. “The rosary?” he asked and shrugged. “No, that can’t be right, it had a cross on it and they don’t react well to crosses.”

“Commodore, signal Captain Bryant and inform him of the details. Instruct him to remain close to us but they are not to engage the Heron in any way, shape or form.” Jack nodded at Norrington who turned towards the pennants immediately.

“The dagger?” Hock asked hesitantly. “Although that was yours, so I don’t see how that can…”

“What dagger?” asked Jack sharply and turned on his heel to pin Hock with dark narrowed eyes.

Hock’s head came up quickly. “Tilly had found a dagger in the bunk of the cabin; she assumed it was yours and gave it to Nell this morning before we left for Isla De Muerta.”

“Where is she?” asked Jack and looked around him as if she was behind him. “Bring her up here Mister Hock, please.”

“She’s in your cabin,” he replied as he started down the steps. “She doesn’t like the dark so she’s sitting by the windows…” He was still talking as he disappeared into the corridor beneath them.

Jack turned back to look out over the now dark sea; there was no sign of the Heron at this level, she was too far to see. He checked his compass again and adjusted the wheel to follow the course that he knew would take them back to hell.

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“What do you want?” Nell took a step backwards; her voice shook as she stared in horror at the hooded figure.

“I’m never sailing again,” Governor Swann panted as he wiped again at his sweaty brow. He was eyeing the unmoving monk with fear and trepidation. “First it’s skeletal pirates and now it is monks? What is the world coming to?”
Nell lifted the rosary and held the cross out in front of her, her hand shaking as her heart hammered in her chest.

“You’re here to finish what was started on the island aren’t you?” she stammered and took another step back away from the doors.

“You belong to us, you all belong to us. We cannot allow you to win again.” The words were whispered, no movement from the monk at all as he spoke.

“We do not belong to you,” Governor Swann said firmly and got to his feet. “Leave us alone!”

“You trespassed onto our island. You know things about us that we can never allow to be known.”

“You gave me those memories!” Nell shot back finding comfort from the Governor stood beside her. “I didn’t want to know anything…”

“It’s too late,” came the reply. “You must die.” He drew his bare hands from his sleeves and pushed his hood back to reveal his shaved head and pale face.

“Do not look into his eyes!” Nell cried out.

“You will die now,” the monk intoned and stepped forwards towards them.

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“Activity aboard the Heron, Capt’n!” Peters high above them shouted down in sudden urgency. “Lights are on and the sailors are crawling all over her!”

“They’ve realised…” Jack murmured and seeing Hock coming up the steps with Lady Clarence motioned him forwards quickly. “Bring out the sweeps, Mister Hock; take us to her with all speed. Commodore, signal the Reclamation again, make sure they stay close to us.”

“What did you want to know about the dagger?” asked Lady Clarence as Hock turned and jumped back down the steps, already shouting to the crew to move themselves.

Norrington looked at her briefly before re-signalling Bryant. It was getting too dark to really see the flags and Norrington knew that Bryant wouldn’t see them clearly enough to understand. “I need to use the lantern, Jack; flags won’t show in the dark!”

“What you will, Commodore, what you will,” Jack replied and indicated Lady Clarence to step closer to him. “About this dagger, darling’; where did you find it and what was it like?”

“I found it at the bottom of Nell’s bunk. I assumed it was yours, so I hid it because the Commodore and Mister Bryant were with us; I didn’t think Nell would thank me for compromising her by handing it to her then.”

“And what was it like, this dagger you found?” Jack prompted her when she stopped talking and stared at him.

“Very ornate with a jewelled handle and a blade this length.” She held up her hands about six inches apart to show him the length. “Wickedly sharp, it cut the fabric of my dress pocket!” Her voice was slightly miffed at the damage done to one of her dresses.

“And not one belonging to me,” Jack muttered and turned to Norrington who was watching the return signals carefully.

“It’s the dagger, Commodore, if they work it out and find it maybe they’ll do us all a favour and throw it overboard.”

“If they work out,” came the dry response. “Captain Bryant will be right behind us. Unfortunately there has been a problem aboard the Reclamation…” he stopped, realising that he was talking to a pirate.

“What problem?” demanded Jack sharply ignoring where Lady Clarence was rubbing her bare arms to keep warm.

Norrington shut the lantern down and turned to look at him. “Captain Gillette was more formidable than expected. He tried to overrule Captain Bryant… we now have half the crew in the brig and the other half loyal to Josh!” He pinched the bridge of his nose and swore crudely in a manner that had Jack looking at him in admiration and Lady Clarence giving a cry of shock. “Forgive me, Lady Clarence, the situation is frustrating to put it mildly.” He half bowed to her and giving a huge sigh looked at Jack. “What now?”

“We make all haste to the Heron, we board her armed to the back teeth with crosses and we bring the Governor and Nell back aboard the Pearl. Then we set fire to the Heron and send her to her rightful place in the lowest circle of hell.”

“And Beaumont and De Mornay?”

“Are mine!” Jack replied coldly and turned to look out as the sweeps began to make good speed for them.

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A/N: Yes, I believe this could qualify as a cliffhanger. Sorry about that… ;-p
I’m going to try and get another chapter up before too long…

Thank you very much to everyone who has reviewed and emailed and read this. I really wish that I could reply to every review left but I just don’t have the time the way I used to. But I really do appreciate the time you take to leave reviews.

Take care of yourselves and have a great weekend.