He's a Pirate -- Chapter Ten
Title: He's a Pirate
Author: megansleevwillo
Disclaimer: The POTC characters belong to Disney and the originals belong to me. They're my brain chillun and I will treat them as such.
Pairing and Characters: Will/Liz, Captain Jack Sparrow, Commodore Norrington, the crew of the Black Pearl, and OCs abound.
Rating: PG-13, will amend if certain chapters breach this.
Warnings: None this chapter.
Summary: AU after The Curse of the Black Pearl. Will and Liz married and settled in Port Royale and shortly after became the parents of a little girl named Alice. The family was happy until the day pirates raided the Jamaican capital and Elizabeth and Ali were taken hostage. After a lengthy search with no results, Will was condemned to forever wondering where his family was until the quartermaster of a certain pirate ship shows up...
Chapter Ten
Commodore Norrington
The woman looked at Ali, confusion all over her face. Ali walked forward and held out her hand. "Mummy."
Chris shook her head. "Ali, it can't be… John Malcolm said -"
"I think she is, Auntie Chris." Ali reached up and slowly moved the woman's hair out of her face. The woman's lip trembled as she was touched. "It is mummy!" She exclaimed and without hesitation she threw herself onto the woman, her arms wrapping around in a hug. The woman recoiled at this show of affection but after a moment she reached up and softly began stroking Ali's hair.
Back aboard the Pearl, Will finished telling Norrington the story of all that had happened with the Malcolms, Ali, and the attack where his daughter and the quartermaster of the Black Pearl were kidnapped. Will ended the story with, "And that is why we are wasting precious time and we need to get under way as soon as possible!"
Norrington arched an eyebrow. "Your story is very farfetched, Mr. Turner. Too farfetched for my tastes."
"What?" Will blew up. "My daughter is out there, torn once more from the hands of her father -!"
"Hold your tongue, Turner!" Norrington commanded. "John Malcolm is a privateer for His Majesty's Navy! It is sad to see his passing, but his son is just as innocent as he ever was, and he is a close friend of my stepfather's!" The Marines bristled at the sudden shouting match.
"Was his son innocent when he shot me in the chest? Was his father innocent when he tried to kill Will when he tried to reclaim his daughter?" Jack asked, cocking his head to the side.
"As I have said, he is a privateer for His Majesty's Navy!" Norrington proclaimed as loudly as he could.
"Shut your hole!" Jack snapped. "Listen, I sailed with Edward Malcolm once when I was between ships, and that man is no gentleman. If the crew did so much as haul the anchor too fast or too slow, he'd cut off their lips, boil them, and make them eat 'em." Norrington recoiled at Jack's remarks. Jack leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Now think about this, Commodore. His father bamboozled the king and the Navy for a great many years. Think of capturing his son, the heir, and taking him right to the king. Could you imagine the limitless rewards?"
Norrington looked as if he was having a conflict within. He sighed and finally spoke. "Fine. Captain Sparrow, the Dauntless will follow your ship, and if you show any signs of trying to fire upon us, or lead us into danger, or run, what is left of your… ship will be blown to pieces. Do I make myself clear?"
"Unavoidably." Jack replied, smiling. "Ye'd best get back to the Dauntless and release us so we can get under way then!" He climbed to the bridge and Will was just about to follow him when Norrington stopped the blacksmith.
"Gillette, get the men back to the Dauntless and ready to make way." Norrington's lieutenant nodded and obeyed his orders. Norrington leaned closely to Will and said softly, "Mr. Turner, I hope you do not think that I am doing this to gain position or profit."
"Why would I think that?" Will asked sarcastically. "Jack all but laid it out for you."
Norrington closed his eyes and opened them. "You know that I loved Elizabeth. I still do even though she is gone." Will bowed his head. "But, if there is a chance that her daughter is alive… your daughter, someone she loved, someone of her blood, I cannot let that chance be blown away. That is why I am doing this."
Will took Norrington's hand and shook it. "Thank you James."
"It is not needed." Norrington replied. With that, each of them parted ways to ensure that their separate ships were making sail.
Back on the island, Chris felt slightly awkward observing Ali hugging this woman who was stroking her hair. The surface of the water below was not entirely smooth, and Chris saw that half-eaten carcasses of rats were floating in the water. The only thing she could deduce was that the rat's had been the reason why this woman was the only one left alive onboard the Tempest. Chris found her voice and asked, "Are you Elizabeth Turner?" The woman looked up at her, her mouth open. "I don't mean to hurt you… We just…" Chris sighed. "My name is Chris and I'm a friend of Jack. Captain Jack Sparrow."
The woman's face changed little. "Yes, I am Elizabeth Turner." She said, her voice sounding as though it hadn't been used in a long length of time. She looked down at the child she held. "Is this really my Alice? My Ali, is it really you?"
"Yes, mummy, yes!" Ali crowed. "And daddy's going to save us; daddy's going to find us!"
"Will?" Elizabeth asked, looking to Chris. "Where's my husband?"
"First thing is first, Elizabeth, let's get you out of this hold." Chris walked forward and offered her arm. Together, she and Ali helped support the frail, malnourished woman up onto the deck and then down the rigging and into the water. Chris situated Elizabeth on the island of treasure and asked Ali to make sure she ate what was left of the bananas and coconuts. Chris returned to the ship and the captain's cabin to see if she could find something to clean the woman up with. She was surprised to find the monkey following her, as if making sure she was not disturbing the ship. She found a chest full of dresses, corsets, hats, ribbons, and combs beneath the captain's desk. What a captain was doing with such items, Chris did not know, but she plucked a comb and a dress from the chest and returned to the treasure island, the monkey following behind.
Chris laid the dress and comb next to Elizabeth, who was slowly chewing a banana. "Will is with Jack." Chris informed her. "We rescued Ali from John Malcolm, the pirate that took both of you, and he told Will that you were dead. After that, Malcolm's son tracked us down, attacked the Pearl, and nabbed Ali and I." Chris sucked in a breath. "Ali and I threw ourselves overboard Malcolm's ship and swam here. Ali's the one who found the cavern, and here we are."
"I think it was God's way of telling me my mummy was here." Ali giggled.
Elizabeth reached over to Ali and touched her hand. She swallowed the banana in her mouth and said, "John Malcolm sold me to a pirate crew. And they sold me to another. And I was sold again and again. While the lure of any reward was tempting, they didn't really like my attitude." A smile cracked her face open. "It seemed this last crew was Hell-bent on obtaining it. But through all that madness, the only thing that kept me going… was knowing that Will and Ali were alive. When the cave-in happened, most of the crew," Elizabeth's eyes darted to her daughter as she wondered whether to continue. She decided to. "The crew was killed by the captain and he ate their remains to survive. But when I was the last, I picked the lock on my cell and I - I…" Her voice cracked and she looked down, falling silent. Ali scooted closer to her mother and laid her head on her arm.
"Anything to survive, eh?" Chris asked. It wasn't really a cheery sentiment, but it wasn't damning either. "I'd do the same, Elizabeth." She looked to the vine hanging from above and announced, "I'll go find some more food to last us through the night. I'll be right back." She left the treasure island and waded to where the vine hung down. The monkey followed and jumped onto Chris' shoulder as she grabbed the vine. She looked to him and asked, "Along for the ride, mate?" The monkey did not reply. The sun was just sinking over the horizon, staining the sky a blood red as Chris pulled herself and the monkey from the hole.
The monkey leaped from her shoulder as soon as Chris was free of the hole and bounded into the vegetation. Chris watched him go and thought of the freedom he was probably enjoying after being cooped up in that rancid cabin for who knew how long. Not far from the clearing, she spotted a banana tree that was closer than the previous one she had picked fruit from. Her entire body was aching with the events of the previous days, but she had a malnourished woman, a growing child, and (if he ever came back) a starved monkey to feed, not to mention herself. Using skills acquired from years of climbing rigging and ropes, Chris climbed into the banana tree and twisted a large cluster of bananas from the top. It fell to the ground and Chris slid down after it. She slung the bananas over her back and started to walk back to the hole when she heard masculine voices. She dropped to her knees, the bananas rolled to the side, and she held her breath.
"Cap'n Malcolm wants that brat and that wench found!"
"The sun is setting and he didn't give us any blimey torches! The brat and wench will stay until morning." The Spaniard and white haired man from the day before were walking through the foliage about twenty feet away. Chris could only see their heads, and she prayed they wouldn't see her.
"Guess you're right. What'll they do, run away?" The white haired man laughed and he and the Spaniard slowly faded from sight. Chris let out a sigh of relief too soon, for the monkey suddenly came bounding through the bushes behind her and leaped on her back. She clapped her hands to her mouth to keep from screaming and whirled around, throwing the tiny beast from his perch.
"You little git!" Chris gasped, seeing the monkey now shoot a death glare at her. "Hey, it's not my fault you almost made me wet meself! Now come here." Chris reached for the little ape, and he jumped back, teeth bared. "Fine. I guess I'll just have to eat all these delicious bananas myself." Chris picked up the bunch and balanced it on her hip, and then it occurred to her that she had no idea why she was speaking to the monkey like he could understand. Slowly, cautiously, the monkey walked forward, climbed up her pants, and came to sit on her shoulder. Chris supposed she was forgiven.
Chris returned to the hole, chucked the bananas in first, and then slid down the rope. She turned to Elizabeth and Ali and said, "Malcolm's men are on the island and we need to come up with a plan, now."
Jack guided the Black Pearl as the sun sank beneath the waves. The crew had been rather quiet after the encounter with Norrington, and now Jack didn't have anyone trying to persuade him to give up the helm so that he might get some sleep, which he was beginning to long for. Will exited the forecastle, carrying two bowls of steaming burgoo. Burgoo was an oatmeal porridge made with previous meals' leftovers tossed in. Will climbed the stairs to the bridge and handed Jack a bowl. "Thanks, mate." Jack said, tipping the bowl to his mouth so that some of the oats and leftover carrots by the taste of it entered his mouth.
"Of course." Will said, eating his own with a spoon. After a short silence, Will said, "The crew is not too happy about our cooperation with Norrington and his men."
"I thought so." Jack said, turning the wheel with one hand and tipping his bowl with the other. "They'll get over it. I hope. Just pray that we're on the right course and not chasing mermaids."
"Mermaids?" Will asked.
"Pirate expression, ye wouldn't get it." Jack said dismissively.
"I hope that my prayers will be answered in with finality this time. Ali is all I have left of Elizabeth, and…" Will breathed in heavily, "I just don't want to have really lost her for good this time."
He and Jack ate in silence for a few moments. As Jack emptied his bowl, he breathed in deeply and said, "Will, I am sorry about Elizabeth."
"No, you don't have to say that." Will waved his words away.
"I don't say it, I mean it. Elizabeth was... She was one of the fairest lasses I've ever set eyes on, and quite a feisty one at that. After I left… I always wished you two happiness, I never wished either of ye any ill. I mean, things would have never worked out between us anyway…"
Will breathed in deeply through his nose and chuckled wryly, shaking his head. "Thank you Jack."
Jack grinned, his teeth glinting in what light there was on deck. "No worries."
Author: megansleevwillo
Disclaimer: The POTC characters belong to Disney and the originals belong to me. They're my brain chillun and I will treat them as such.
Pairing and Characters: Will/Liz, Captain Jack Sparrow, Commodore Norrington, the crew of the Black Pearl, and OCs abound.
Rating: PG-13, will amend if certain chapters breach this.
Warnings: None this chapter.
Summary: AU after The Curse of the Black Pearl. Will and Liz married and settled in Port Royale and shortly after became the parents of a little girl named Alice. The family was happy until the day pirates raided the Jamaican capital and Elizabeth and Ali were taken hostage. After a lengthy search with no results, Will was condemned to forever wondering where his family was until the quartermaster of a certain pirate ship shows up...
Chapter Ten
Commodore Norrington
The woman looked at Ali, confusion all over her face. Ali walked forward and held out her hand. "Mummy."
Chris shook her head. "Ali, it can't be… John Malcolm said -"
"I think she is, Auntie Chris." Ali reached up and slowly moved the woman's hair out of her face. The woman's lip trembled as she was touched. "It is mummy!" She exclaimed and without hesitation she threw herself onto the woman, her arms wrapping around in a hug. The woman recoiled at this show of affection but after a moment she reached up and softly began stroking Ali's hair.
Back aboard the Pearl, Will finished telling Norrington the story of all that had happened with the Malcolms, Ali, and the attack where his daughter and the quartermaster of the Black Pearl were kidnapped. Will ended the story with, "And that is why we are wasting precious time and we need to get under way as soon as possible!"
Norrington arched an eyebrow. "Your story is very farfetched, Mr. Turner. Too farfetched for my tastes."
"What?" Will blew up. "My daughter is out there, torn once more from the hands of her father -!"
"Hold your tongue, Turner!" Norrington commanded. "John Malcolm is a privateer for His Majesty's Navy! It is sad to see his passing, but his son is just as innocent as he ever was, and he is a close friend of my stepfather's!" The Marines bristled at the sudden shouting match.
"Was his son innocent when he shot me in the chest? Was his father innocent when he tried to kill Will when he tried to reclaim his daughter?" Jack asked, cocking his head to the side.
"As I have said, he is a privateer for His Majesty's Navy!" Norrington proclaimed as loudly as he could.
"Shut your hole!" Jack snapped. "Listen, I sailed with Edward Malcolm once when I was between ships, and that man is no gentleman. If the crew did so much as haul the anchor too fast or too slow, he'd cut off their lips, boil them, and make them eat 'em." Norrington recoiled at Jack's remarks. Jack leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Now think about this, Commodore. His father bamboozled the king and the Navy for a great many years. Think of capturing his son, the heir, and taking him right to the king. Could you imagine the limitless rewards?"
Norrington looked as if he was having a conflict within. He sighed and finally spoke. "Fine. Captain Sparrow, the Dauntless will follow your ship, and if you show any signs of trying to fire upon us, or lead us into danger, or run, what is left of your… ship will be blown to pieces. Do I make myself clear?"
"Unavoidably." Jack replied, smiling. "Ye'd best get back to the Dauntless and release us so we can get under way then!" He climbed to the bridge and Will was just about to follow him when Norrington stopped the blacksmith.
"Gillette, get the men back to the Dauntless and ready to make way." Norrington's lieutenant nodded and obeyed his orders. Norrington leaned closely to Will and said softly, "Mr. Turner, I hope you do not think that I am doing this to gain position or profit."
"Why would I think that?" Will asked sarcastically. "Jack all but laid it out for you."
Norrington closed his eyes and opened them. "You know that I loved Elizabeth. I still do even though she is gone." Will bowed his head. "But, if there is a chance that her daughter is alive… your daughter, someone she loved, someone of her blood, I cannot let that chance be blown away. That is why I am doing this."
Will took Norrington's hand and shook it. "Thank you James."
"It is not needed." Norrington replied. With that, each of them parted ways to ensure that their separate ships were making sail.
Back on the island, Chris felt slightly awkward observing Ali hugging this woman who was stroking her hair. The surface of the water below was not entirely smooth, and Chris saw that half-eaten carcasses of rats were floating in the water. The only thing she could deduce was that the rat's had been the reason why this woman was the only one left alive onboard the Tempest. Chris found her voice and asked, "Are you Elizabeth Turner?" The woman looked up at her, her mouth open. "I don't mean to hurt you… We just…" Chris sighed. "My name is Chris and I'm a friend of Jack. Captain Jack Sparrow."
The woman's face changed little. "Yes, I am Elizabeth Turner." She said, her voice sounding as though it hadn't been used in a long length of time. She looked down at the child she held. "Is this really my Alice? My Ali, is it really you?"
"Yes, mummy, yes!" Ali crowed. "And daddy's going to save us; daddy's going to find us!"
"Will?" Elizabeth asked, looking to Chris. "Where's my husband?"
"First thing is first, Elizabeth, let's get you out of this hold." Chris walked forward and offered her arm. Together, she and Ali helped support the frail, malnourished woman up onto the deck and then down the rigging and into the water. Chris situated Elizabeth on the island of treasure and asked Ali to make sure she ate what was left of the bananas and coconuts. Chris returned to the ship and the captain's cabin to see if she could find something to clean the woman up with. She was surprised to find the monkey following her, as if making sure she was not disturbing the ship. She found a chest full of dresses, corsets, hats, ribbons, and combs beneath the captain's desk. What a captain was doing with such items, Chris did not know, but she plucked a comb and a dress from the chest and returned to the treasure island, the monkey following behind.
Chris laid the dress and comb next to Elizabeth, who was slowly chewing a banana. "Will is with Jack." Chris informed her. "We rescued Ali from John Malcolm, the pirate that took both of you, and he told Will that you were dead. After that, Malcolm's son tracked us down, attacked the Pearl, and nabbed Ali and I." Chris sucked in a breath. "Ali and I threw ourselves overboard Malcolm's ship and swam here. Ali's the one who found the cavern, and here we are."
"I think it was God's way of telling me my mummy was here." Ali giggled.
Elizabeth reached over to Ali and touched her hand. She swallowed the banana in her mouth and said, "John Malcolm sold me to a pirate crew. And they sold me to another. And I was sold again and again. While the lure of any reward was tempting, they didn't really like my attitude." A smile cracked her face open. "It seemed this last crew was Hell-bent on obtaining it. But through all that madness, the only thing that kept me going… was knowing that Will and Ali were alive. When the cave-in happened, most of the crew," Elizabeth's eyes darted to her daughter as she wondered whether to continue. She decided to. "The crew was killed by the captain and he ate their remains to survive. But when I was the last, I picked the lock on my cell and I - I…" Her voice cracked and she looked down, falling silent. Ali scooted closer to her mother and laid her head on her arm.
"Anything to survive, eh?" Chris asked. It wasn't really a cheery sentiment, but it wasn't damning either. "I'd do the same, Elizabeth." She looked to the vine hanging from above and announced, "I'll go find some more food to last us through the night. I'll be right back." She left the treasure island and waded to where the vine hung down. The monkey followed and jumped onto Chris' shoulder as she grabbed the vine. She looked to him and asked, "Along for the ride, mate?" The monkey did not reply. The sun was just sinking over the horizon, staining the sky a blood red as Chris pulled herself and the monkey from the hole.
The monkey leaped from her shoulder as soon as Chris was free of the hole and bounded into the vegetation. Chris watched him go and thought of the freedom he was probably enjoying after being cooped up in that rancid cabin for who knew how long. Not far from the clearing, she spotted a banana tree that was closer than the previous one she had picked fruit from. Her entire body was aching with the events of the previous days, but she had a malnourished woman, a growing child, and (if he ever came back) a starved monkey to feed, not to mention herself. Using skills acquired from years of climbing rigging and ropes, Chris climbed into the banana tree and twisted a large cluster of bananas from the top. It fell to the ground and Chris slid down after it. She slung the bananas over her back and started to walk back to the hole when she heard masculine voices. She dropped to her knees, the bananas rolled to the side, and she held her breath.
"Cap'n Malcolm wants that brat and that wench found!"
"The sun is setting and he didn't give us any blimey torches! The brat and wench will stay until morning." The Spaniard and white haired man from the day before were walking through the foliage about twenty feet away. Chris could only see their heads, and she prayed they wouldn't see her.
"Guess you're right. What'll they do, run away?" The white haired man laughed and he and the Spaniard slowly faded from sight. Chris let out a sigh of relief too soon, for the monkey suddenly came bounding through the bushes behind her and leaped on her back. She clapped her hands to her mouth to keep from screaming and whirled around, throwing the tiny beast from his perch.
"You little git!" Chris gasped, seeing the monkey now shoot a death glare at her. "Hey, it's not my fault you almost made me wet meself! Now come here." Chris reached for the little ape, and he jumped back, teeth bared. "Fine. I guess I'll just have to eat all these delicious bananas myself." Chris picked up the bunch and balanced it on her hip, and then it occurred to her that she had no idea why she was speaking to the monkey like he could understand. Slowly, cautiously, the monkey walked forward, climbed up her pants, and came to sit on her shoulder. Chris supposed she was forgiven.
Chris returned to the hole, chucked the bananas in first, and then slid down the rope. She turned to Elizabeth and Ali and said, "Malcolm's men are on the island and we need to come up with a plan, now."
Jack guided the Black Pearl as the sun sank beneath the waves. The crew had been rather quiet after the encounter with Norrington, and now Jack didn't have anyone trying to persuade him to give up the helm so that he might get some sleep, which he was beginning to long for. Will exited the forecastle, carrying two bowls of steaming burgoo. Burgoo was an oatmeal porridge made with previous meals' leftovers tossed in. Will climbed the stairs to the bridge and handed Jack a bowl. "Thanks, mate." Jack said, tipping the bowl to his mouth so that some of the oats and leftover carrots by the taste of it entered his mouth.
"Of course." Will said, eating his own with a spoon. After a short silence, Will said, "The crew is not too happy about our cooperation with Norrington and his men."
"I thought so." Jack said, turning the wheel with one hand and tipping his bowl with the other. "They'll get over it. I hope. Just pray that we're on the right course and not chasing mermaids."
"Mermaids?" Will asked.
"Pirate expression, ye wouldn't get it." Jack said dismissively.
"I hope that my prayers will be answered in with finality this time. Ali is all I have left of Elizabeth, and…" Will breathed in heavily, "I just don't want to have really lost her for good this time."
He and Jack ate in silence for a few moments. As Jack emptied his bowl, he breathed in deeply and said, "Will, I am sorry about Elizabeth."
"No, you don't have to say that." Will waved his words away.
"I don't say it, I mean it. Elizabeth was... She was one of the fairest lasses I've ever set eyes on, and quite a feisty one at that. After I left… I always wished you two happiness, I never wished either of ye any ill. I mean, things would have never worked out between us anyway…"
Will breathed in deeply through his nose and chuckled wryly, shaking his head. "Thank you Jack."
Jack grinned, his teeth glinting in what light there was on deck. "No worries."