The Map

A/N: Happy hols to Hils and AniSparrow. WARNING! This chapter is not checked due to Ani’s holidays and my impatience to post it up. That means grammatical and spelling errors will abound! Please forgive all and any such errors.

This is NOT the last chapter, but we are heading that way…. I just hope you enjoy it.


Chapter 43
“Rescued… again!”

“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.

Nell kept her eyes fixed firmly on the robes at the base of his neck. “Leave us be, please!” She begged, the cross still held out in front of her. The cabin was growing darker as the light from outside faded; dark shadows had formed in the cabin and the monk stood in front of her was partially hidden in the shadows that seemed to be part of him.

She heard the Governor moving beside her and gave a startled cry when a rasping sound accompanied a bright flare of light; and then the lantern on the table glowed brightly. He gripped the lantern and held it up before him, more to banish the shadows then defence but the effect on the monk was interesting; he flinched back slightly and Nell’s eyes widened with hope.

“See that!” she cried, but the Governor was in sync with her thoughts and he took a shaky step forwards waving the lantern towards him; the flame danced with the motion and the monk shrank back again.

“Is it the light?” asked the Governor excitedly.

“No, the fire! It’s the fire!” Nell cried. “How did you light the lantern?”

“There’s a tinder box on the table, what do you propose?” He waved the lantern at the monk again sending it further back into the corner of the cabin but only for a few seconds and then it began moving towards them again.

“Go back!” he shouted at the monk. “Go back I say!” he cried and again he waved the lantern wildly towards the monk.

The monk shrank back but only slightly; his empty hand rose as if in defence from the fire inside the glass lantern.

“The fire!” Nell shrieked. “He’s definitely afraid of the fire!” Turning she grabbed the only other lantern she could reach without getting too close to the monk and using the tinderbox lit the wick. She thrust it forwards and felt a glimmer of triumph when the monk shrank back further; but it was short lived when the monk lifted his sword and in a swinging arc sent the lantern flying from the Governor’s grasp. It sailed through the air and smashed against the glass of the mullioned windows; fire exploded upwards instantly catching the curtains and the fabric of the cushioned seats alight. The monk gave a cry of outraged anger and thrust towards Nell, catching the point of the blade into the upper part of her arm. She screamed in pain and threw the lantern towards him; it connected solidly with his chest and smashed on impact. The effect was instant as flames licked upwards catching his robes on fire; he screamed an unearthly agonised scream that echoed through Nell’s head. Staggering forwards, his sword clattered to the floor and he began ricocheting around the cabin, banging into the drapes of the bed, against the mast and the tables; all the while flames flickered and danced until the entire cabin was ablaze with hot burning fire.

“We have to leave!” Nell cried and together they ran for the doors; flinging them open they staggered out onto the deck, becoming suddenly aware that the burning monk was not the only monk on board. The few remaining crew were fighting a growing number of monks with anything they could lay there hands on. Nell looked in shock as the Governor dragged her sideways away from where the burning monk staggered through the door colliding with two fighting monks and sailors. Fire licked from one to the other and the screams of the monks were joined with screams of agony from the sailors.

“Oh dear God!” Nell cried as they were backed up against the railings trying to stay out of the way.

“We’ll burn to death if we stay here!” the Governor used his good arm to point to where the fire had crept up the mast to the rigging and the sails above. “We must jump!”

“I can’t swim!” Nell cried and looked wildly around her. “Here, take this!” She grabbed two stout pieces of wood from the deck and handed one to the Governor. “Jack can’t be far behind us, he must be able to see the fire by now. He’ll come for us!”

“He may not be in time!” the Governor took the belaying pin from her hands just in time to solidly whack an approaching monk. The monk rallied quickly and it took both Nell and the Governors efforts to keep him back.

A ball of flame was hurled from behind the monk and he shrieked as it made contact, the flames catching his robes alight quickly.

“Quickly, set them on fire and haul overboard!” a shout went up and Nell realised that it hadn’t taken long for the crew to realised fire was the only means of defeating the monks. She watched as a long pole was used to push the burning monks towards the railings and over the edge.

“I believe they are winning the fight,” the Governor said quietly and wiped his brow with his dirty handkerchief. They watched as one by the one the monks were disposed over the edge, but the relief Nell felt was short lived when she realised that the fire that had taken hold over the Heron was out of control. It didn’t take long for a bloody and sweaty De Mornay to spot them still by the railings, belaying pins still in their hands.

“Helen!” He came forwards and Nell lifted the pin in defence. “We found the bloody dagger and threw it overboard; but not before you burn my bloody ship down!”

“Our ship, Tristan, our ship.” Beaumont limped forwards, blood trickling down his face from several and cuts. “This really hasn’t gone to plan has it?”

Nell looked from one to the other; neither of them looked as if they could put up much of a fight but Nell wasn’t taking any chances. A crashing behind them had her eyes growing wide as the main mast burnt through and ploughed into the deck; burning wood splintered and flew through the air raining down around them. Small explosions could be heard as the fire made her claim on the ship and it suddenly occurred to Nell that they were sinking.

“We’re going down!” she cried and backed up against the railings, the belaying pin forgotten in his numb fingers. The Governor turned and began to climb the railings awkwardly as he urged her to follow him. De Mornay grabbed him by the back of his coat and pulled him backwards onto the deck.

“Oh, no you don’t!” He snarled. “You’re still our safe passage out of here; we’ haven’t lost yet!”

“There is no safe passage now!” The Governor shouted as he staggered to his feet. “We must take our chances with the sea!”

“But look, the Black Pearl is almost on us!” Beaumont laughed and Nell realised once again how mad they were, but his words brought a surge of relief.

“Jack!”

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Gibbs was standing with both hands on the wheel, leaning forwards slightly as he urged the Pearl to new speeds.

“How close to ‘er do ye want to be, Jack?” he asked to the Captain stood beside him.

“Close enough to board her, Mister Gibbs,” Jack slurred slightly in reply.
“Fire!” Peters above suddenly yelled down to them. “She’s on fire, Captain, and burning fast!”

“All speed!” Jack yelled and turned to where Norrington was behind him still. “Bring Bryant as near as he can without endangering his sails… make him pick up any survivors. I don’t want to loose Beaumont or De Mornay to the sea.”

Norrington nodded briskly and turned to the lantern and began signalling the Reclamation who was still some way behind them.

“She’s burning fast, Capt’n!” Peters hollered from above and even Jack could see the flames now licking their way up the masts and the rigging.

“Keep your eyes peeled for Nell and the Governor!” Jack called out to the sailors on the rigging. “Mister Hock, we’re going to board her, but I don’t think we’ll get much fight from the sailors. De Mornay and Beaumont are another matter. Shoot on sight and shoot to bloody kill!”

“Aye, Capt’n.” Hock turned to where Lady Clarence was still standing staring out at the Heron with open mouthed horror. “Go below, lass, stay in the Capt’n’s cabin and don’t come out unless you’re told to!”

“But…”

“No buts, Tilly!” He ordered firmly and gripping her upper arm began marching her to the steps. “Do as you’re told and stay below.”

Jack cast a glance at Lady Clarence before looking back towards the rapidly approaching Heron. The sailors of the Pearl were giving all they had and her speed was unmatched as they closed the gap on the burning ship.

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Nell could see the Pearl approaching, her sweeps out and all the sails to maximum advantage. She knew that there was little time left and she gripped the belaying pin firmly.

“I’m not playing anymore!” she cried and with a side sweeping blow felled Beaumont to his knees. De Mornay shouted in anger as Beaumont hit his head sharply on the deck making him disorientated for a few seconds.

“You stupid chit!” De Mornay cried and lifted his sword but the Governor was quicker and knocked him with his own pin, sending him flying to the side. He recovered himself quickly but the Governor and Nell were already racing for the side that faced the oncoming Pearl dodging the falling burning timbers. The ship was starting to list and Nell realised it meant they were sinking.

“Come back here brat!” De Mornay hollered and raced after them angrily. “We need you as leverage.”

The Governor heard an ominous crack and gripped Nell pulling her to a halt as the main mast crashed down onto the deck in front of them; it crashed straight through the deck and the ship listed even further.

“We have to jump, Nell!” the Governor cried. “We’ll be sucked down with the ship if we stay on, we have to jump!”

He manoeuvred them around the fallen, burning mast and towards the railings; the prow of the ship was only just beginning to burn and was still relatively accessible. They reached the railings and the Governor let go of her to climb the railings.

“Look!” Nell lifted her hand and pointed at where the Pearl was almost next to them. They were as close as they could get and the heavy anchor had already been dropped into the sea.

“Where do you think you’re going?” came an angry voice from behind her. De Mornay grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked her backwards from the railings. He used his pistol handle to knock the pin from her hand and then he yanked her head backwards till he could look down onto her face.

“Let her go!” The Governor stopped and looked back uselessly. “Let her go I say!”

“Make me, old man!” De Mornay snarled and tightened his grip on her hair forcing her to her knees; she raised her hands trying to loosen his hold on her. Tears coursed down her face from the pain in her head and the sheer frustration of the situation.

“You will give us safe passage!” De Mornay shouted but Nell couldn’t see anything now but his cruel face as he looked towards the railings.

“Don’t be so stupid!” she cried painfully. “There is no safe passage for you. You lost; for God’s sake, when will you realise that?”

“When he meets his maker, I guess,” came a slur that Nell knew very well.

“Jack!” she cried and renewed her efforts on his grasp. “You took your bloody time!”

Jack pulled a face as he let go of the rope that he had used to swing himself across on. “Sorry about that luv, had to wait for darkness.” He raised his pistol and pointed it to De Mornay’s left. “But I’m here now, aren’t I? Let her go De Mornay and I won’t shoot Beaumont!”

De Mornay frowned and looked round quickly at where Beaumont had staggered his way over to them.

“Don’t believe him, Tristan,” Beaumont wiped at a trickle of blood that made its way down his face. He lifted his own pistol and pointed it at Nell’s head. “I’ve had a bloody awful day so far, cursed monks and then Helen sets us on fire…”

“You did this, luv?” Jack asked. “I’m impressed.”

“The game is up!” The Governor suddenly spoke up from his perch on the railings. “Give up the girl and you’ll have a fair trial!”

“And where will a fair trial lead us but to the gallows,” De Mornay snarled. “Not much of an incentive is it?”

“But it’s still better than what I’d do to you…” Jack replied coldly and there was no hint of the slur or the usual drunken manner about him now. Suddenly several of the Pearl’s sailors swung aboard, including Gibbs and Hock, pistols aimed and swords drawn.

“You are out numbered, your crew for what their worth are currently either dying or being pulled aboard the Reclamation where they will be taken to trial in Port Royal. Let go of Nell and step backwards!” Jack ordered sharply.

“Do it!” Norrington landed on the deck, narrowly missing a piece of burning sail as it fell to the deck.

“I’ll fight you for her, Sparrow!” De Mornay laughed and Nell realised that whatever sanity he had was now completely lost.

“Just let me go, please,” she twisted in his grip again but Beaumont dug the pistol into her neck and kicked at her knee.

“Shut up girl!” he spat angrily.

“There is no time, Jack!” Norrington said firmly. “She’s going to sink and soon, unless there’s any gun powder on here and then we’ll blow sky high.”

“I won’t need much time,” Jack hissed and stuck his pistol into the waist band and lifted his sword. “De Mornay, I accept your challenge, but we’ll have to move this to the Pearl or we’ll all burn to death.”

“And this worries me?” De Mornay laughed and taking his sword he shoved Nell roughly aside, breaking the contact Beaumont had on her. She scurried quickly forwards out of his reach and Beaumont shouted angrily.

“Tristan, you fool!” He shouted but Hock had grabbed Nell and dragged her towards him.

“Drop your pistol!” Norrington ordered and stepped forwards quickly, his own sword sticking into Beaumont’s side. “Drop it now!”

Beaumont let the pistol drop and De Mornay threw his sword to the side angrily. “I would have won, Sparrow,” he hissed.

“You still may,” Jack replied quietly.

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The moment Nell’s feet touched the Pearl’s deck, relief so strong went through her that her legs buckled and she sank to her knees.

“Up you come, Nell darlin’,” Jack’s voice was as gentle as his hands on her arms as he pulled her to her feet. “Are you hurt anywhere? Have they hurt you, Nell?”

“I’m fine,” she whispered and turning buried herself in his arms. “Really I am…” she muttered and closed her eyes. “I never want to see a bloody monk again though.”

“Amen to that!” Jack laughed and holding her tightly he looked across to where Gibbs was making his way to the helm. “Take us as far as possible and then weigh anchor for the Reclamation to join us, Mister Gibbs.”

“Aye, Capt’n,” came the shouted reply.

“Is the Governor all right?” Nell pulled back slightly to look around her. She frowned when she saw De Mornay and Beaumont being tied to the main mast by Hock and Dwent; their hands and feet tied and their mouths already gagged.

“Aye, he’s fine, just waiting to be re-united with his daughter and son-in-law.” Jack narrowed his eyes at the frown on her face. “I want them where I can see them, Nell.

Nell didn’t need to ask who he meant. “How far are we from Port Royal?” she asked and turned away from them resting her head on his shoulder and letting the solid warmth of him take the chill of fear out of her.

“About five days or so, given fine weather.” He slid his hands up her arms and suddenly backed away from her. “You’re bleeding! What happened?” He had already started to search her arm for the wound that the blood was coming from.

“Oh I forgot about that!” Nell winced when he found the cut the monk’s sword had made. “Isn’t that strange?” She mused watching as he tore the shirt away from her upper arm revealing blood streaked skin. “It didn’t hurt before, but now… it stings.”

“A persons will to survive takes over sometimes, mutes the pain,” he muttered as he examined the narrow slash. “It’s a nick more than a cut; you don’t have to be stitched.”

“He caught me when he tried to take the lantern from me,” she watched as he traced his fingers down her arm sending a shiver down her spine that had her squirming away from his touch.

“Who caught you?” he asked looking up at her with liquid black eyes.

“The monk… they, Beaumont and De Mornay, realised that something had… oh Jack! The dagger, the dagger Lady Clarence gave me; it came from the island and brought the monks. That’s what was in the cabin, a monk; but he was frightened by the fire and I threw it at him, the lantern that is and it set him and the cabin on fire.” Her words tumbled over themselves in her haste to tell him.

“I know, luv, I know,” he shushed her by placing his fingers on his lips. “Nell, I have to make speed away from here, the Heron is going down and we really don’t want to be too close…”

“Go!” Nell stood back from Jack and watched as he moved reluctantly towards the quarterdeck.

“I shall see to your arm, Nell, while Captain Sparrow takes us from this spot,” came the cool, calm voice of Norrington. Nell turned and looked up at him with a wide grin. Jack nodded at him and made his way quickly up to where Gibbs was standing at the wheel.

“It’s barely a nick, or so I am reliably informed.” She watched as he lifted her arm and inspected the cut; his long cool fingers splayed over the blood streaked skin of her lower arm.

“All the same, it has to be cleaned,” he murmured. “I believe Lady Clarence is still in Jack’s cabin, I shall clean the cut there if you wish.”

“Thank you.” Nell let him lead her across the deck. She resolutely avoided looking at Beaumont or De Mornay and she was grateful that Norrington kept himself between them as they passed. “I never want to see them again; I’m loosing count of the number of times I need rescuing from them.”

Norrington looked down at her frowning. “We do keep loosing you, don’t we?”

“Well, I can’t complain of boredom!” Nell shrugged. “I just would like for a few days of peace and quite and nothing untoward happening.”

“Only a few days?” he asked with an amused glance.

“I think that’s all I’ll have on the Pearl, don’t you agree?”

“I think, maybe, you are quite right,” he replied with a grin as he held the cabin door open for her. “And I don’t think you want it any other way do you?”

“Is there another way?” she asked quietly and returned his grin. She was tired, her head ached and her mind was close to shutting down but she was safe; even the lingering edges of fear and doubt that had been with her since they left Benedictus was gone. Nell knew without a doubt now, that they were free of the monks once and for all and it hadn’t come a moment too soon for her sanity.

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It was an odd sight there was no denying that; the Reclamation and the Black Pearl side by side and not a drawn weapon in sight. Both ships had every available lantern lit and the deck was flooded with the light they cast; sailors from both ships lined the sides watching the pirate Captain and what he would do next. But it wasn’t this which drew Nell’s attention and it wasn’t the Commodore or Mister Bryant; both of whom had refreshed themselves and dressed again in full naval attire. What worried Nell was Jack, or rather what Jack had just told her.

“You’re not serious, surely!”

“Oh, but I am, Nell darlin’,” he replied quietly, he turned his head slightly and regarded her with liquid black eyes. “Completely, utterly, incomparably serious, to be sure.”

“Jack, you don’t have to do this!” She reached forwards and gripped his arm. “Let James take them back to Port Royal.”

“No, Nell, I’m not taking any chances on their freedom again. It ends here and now.” He turned to her completely, breaking her hold on him.

“Can’t you keelhaul them instead? Or hang them by their toes from the rigging, or just shoot them? Or… or… I don’t know, anything but this; please… please don’t fight De Mornay.”

“Hang them from the rigging by their toes?” He arched a soot black eyebrow at her but his face had softened slightly. “I’m liking your imagination; but I can’t Nell, not this time, not with them.”

“Jack, please, what if he hurts you? What if…” Nell shuddered to a stop.

He caught her face in his hands and kissed her gently. “Nell, I won’t be hurt, do you honestly think he can best me?”

“No, I don’t, but I do think there’s a possibility that he could be lucky!” She stared into his eyes. “I can’t loose you, Jack.”

“I can’t loose you either; but I have, three times and every time to them. They cast their lot when they took you from me.” He drew in a deep breath, his thumbs circling gently on her cheeks. “Nell, I need to know something, can you accept their lives end here, or can you not?”

“Jack, I can accept anything but you being hurt in this. They mean nothing to me, you mean everything. I know they will die and it means nothing to me.”

“It will mean something to you,” he whispered quietly. “Don’t think it won’t; especially if you stay here and watch. You don’t have to stay here, you know that don’t you? In fact, I’d rather you weren’t here to see it.”

“I think I need to see it, Jack, this isn’t about what happens to them; that’s not why I don’t want you to fight De Mornay, it’s because I don’t want to see you hurt.”

“Nell, sweetheart, I’m Captain Jack Sparrow; I won’t be hurt,” he grinned wickedly at her before reaching forward and pressing his lips to hers quickly. He stepped back and turned to face De Mornay with his sword drawn.

Nell wrapped her arms around her waist as she was suddenly flanked by Norrington and Bryant. Norrington touched her elbow gently and then placed his hands behind his back.

De Mornay snatched the sword from Hock and stepped forwards taking a classic sword fighting pose.

“I’m going to kill you, Sparrow!” he spat. “And then I’m going to kill, Helen.”

“Well then let’s dance,” Jack slurred and their swords met in a clash of ringing steel.

Nell had never seen Jack sword fight before, but she realised very quickly that she was watching a master. De Mornay was also an accomplished sword fighter and his skill showed, but so did the fact that he was tired, under-fed and injured. His back couldn’t take the constant forward and backward movements and it soon became apparent that Jack was merely playing with him as he parried back and forth. De Mornay laughed manically as he rushed forwards; Jack dodged his blade easily and laughed as he danced agilely out of the way. De Mornay narrowed his eyes and turning away from Jack he lifted his sword and plunged it towards Nell.

Nell hadn’t even see it coming as Bryant suddenly pushed her sideways into Norrington sending them both falling to the floor; De Mornay sailed between them his blade missing Nell by mere inches.

Nell lay sprawled on Norrington, her faces inches from his as she blinked at him. “What happened” she gasped.

She was lifted away from Norrington and was spun around quickly by Bryant.

“Did he catch you?” he demanded. “Are you hurt?” Nell shook her head and looked sideways as Jack came towards her with murder in his eyes.

“Are you hurt?” he repeated Bryant’s words and she shook her head in denial and stepped back away from Bryant. She watched as Jack nodded in satisfaction and then turned to face where De Mornay was being held at pistol point by Dwent and Gibbs.

“Release him,” Jack instructed them and Nell saw them stand down and De Mornay jumped forwards, sword once again raised in defence.

“Tristan, for god’s sake, please!” Nell looked over at where Beaumont had been released from the main mast and was stood watching the scene with despair on his face; Hock and Peters were holding his arms but Nell knew he was taking no notice as he watched De Mornay in fear and trepidation.

“It’s all right, James! I’m winning, can’t you see that?” De Mornay called back and it became clear that his sanity was gone.

“Indeed you are mate, indeed you are,” Jack slurred and in one swift, deadly movement he stepped forwards and ran him cleanly through the heart. De Mornay’s sword clattered to the floor as he sank to his knees and pitched, face first, onto the deck.

“NO!” Beaumont wrenched himself free and flung himself down onto the deck next to De Mornay. He lifted his lifeless body and turned him to rest his head on his lap; he stroked his hand over his face. De Mornay’s open eyes stared up, the spirit of life permanently erased from them. “Oh, Tristan, it was never meant to end this way. Lord knows how much I love you…” He lowered his head and kissed De Mornay’s lips before looking up at where Jack was standing over him, his arms at his side, the blood still staining his sword.

“Damn you, Sparrow, damn you to hell!” Beaumont shouted at him, tears pouring down his face from the pure grief in his heart.

Jack lifted his right hand and aimed the pistol at Beaumont’s heart, he pulled on the trigger gently and the shot hit him squarely in the heart. Beaumont jerked backwards slightly before he fell forwards, his body covering De Mornay’s

“Now it’s over,” Jack said quietly and stuck his pistol back into his sash. He stared down at his sword and then stepped forwards towards Beaumont’s dead body and wiped his blade clean on Beaumont’s shirt. He stood back and put his sword away before he turned to where Nell was stood still flanked by Norrington and Bryant. Both men had a hand on her elbows; at first Jack thought they were holding her up, but a glance at her face made him sigh in relief.

“It’s finally over, isn’t it?” she asked him quietly. He nodded at her and came forwards slowly. She stepped forwards from them and into his arms; he held her close and rocked her sideways gently.

“Aye, luv, it’s over.”

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A/N; Actually it’s not over yet, just this chapter, although I can say that Beaumont and De Mornay won’t be making another appearance, at least not in the flesh, just in reference.

I still have to get them all back to Port Royal and there’s still the delicate matter of Lord Davenport and Lady Clarence to sort out and well…. All I can say is that while it’s almost at the end, it’s not quite.

I would also like your opinion on whether you would be interested in reading a sideline story I wrote awhile back. It’s only a few pages long and deals with how Hock and Lady Clarence get together. It’s all written it just needs polishing. If you are interested, I would say that it will be an adult version and will be rated as such. Let me know and I’ll post it up.

Now, many, many, many thanks for the reviews and wonderful inspiration you provide me with. So many of you have been so generous with your comments and every last review has left me with a warm glowy feeling.

Until the next chapter, take care of yourselves and have a great day/week.