Disclaimer: I (regretfully) own nothing Pirates…though I wish I had Jack!
AN: After watching so many Pirates of the Caribbean 2 previews and seeing the movie, I decided to briefly go off of my Phantom pathway for a bit. As a result, here is my Pirates one-shot story, which has nothing to do with the new movie and is based on a dream I had. I hope people will like it and review! Thanks!
Freedom, freedom, freedom.
That's all I heard in the cries of the gulls hovering over the ports, their shrill voices calling out the one thing they took for granted and which I was denied. I wanted so badly to be up in the skies or floating on the sea with them, but knew that it was impossible; Father would never allow it, and as of today, neither would my fiancée.
"My lady, come away from the window! You'll ruin your complexion with all that sun!" cried a maid, grabbing my arm and pulling me back.
The last beautiful thing I saw was the sun shimmering on the waves of the port's waters, the gulls hovering over it in search of their next meal. I would rather join them and eat fish heads than go to tea with Sir James Martin and my father, listening to them go on and on about the many luxuries I would have after I was married to Sir James; talks of silk gowns, lace curtains, elegant furniture, silver forks, and a large manor in the English countryside did not interest me one bit. It was heartbreaking enough that I was to be dragged away from the glorious sight and smell of the ocean, but to be reminded that I would likely never see it again for years to come nearly made me weep.
My maid (one of several dozen nameless servants I had attending me) chattered like a squirrel into my ear, telling me how fortunate I was. In two weeks' time, I was to be marrying a tall, blonde, handsome man who was easily twice my age of twenty years. My numerous maids were all unbelievably envious of me, all of them telling me some new sort of thing that they had 'discovered' about him through their observations or gossip. I wanted to slap them all and tell them that if they were so fond of Sir James, then they were welcome to him. I wanted nothing to do with this allegiance of money and titles that my father and mother so desperately wanted. Had I been born somewhat lower than the wealthy merchant's daughter that I was, I could easily have married anyone I chose; instead, I was to be married to the first attractive nobleman who came along, interested in the prospects my family offered through trade and connections around the world. I was a piece of merchandise that my parents were all too willing to put on the table and display to the highest bidder.
Sighing, I turned my head back towards the window, thankful that our home was close enough to the sea to pull in its heavy, pleasant smell without bringing in the stink from the garbage that usually found its way into the water and streets of the harbor. I saw the tall masts of ships standing like a wooden forest, the ropes hanging from them like dull brown vines from which sailors dangled like the drunken monkeys they resembled.
'Drunken monkeys…' I couldn't help but giggle at that idea.
"Something amuses you, my child?"
I closed my eyes and sobered quickly at the stern sound of my father's voice. Normally he was not so serious, his tone usually light and jesting at everything that crossed his path. It was usually his sense of lightheartedness and humor that made him popular with his customers and friends, but since my betrothal, my father's ability to laugh had vanished. I knew that it was from the burdens of planning the elaborate wedding ceremony, and at trying to provide Sir James with every comfort available in our house. It was likely that Mother was buying every exotic food and spice in town to try and dazzle our guest and my future husband, which would likely cost much of our income for the month. However, I could not feel sorry for my father. After all, was he not the reason that I was forced into this?
Glancing once more out the window, I saw one of our servant boys carefully look around before slipping over the wall that surrounded our house. That small bit of observation lit a bit of inspiration inside me and giving me a slight bit of hope.
"Angela, are you listening to me?" my father's voice snapped.
I carefully hid my excitement behind the emotionless mask that I normally wore in public and turned to face him. "I'm sorry, Father."
"Well," he huffed, his face turning as red as his receding hairline. He picked a handkerchief from a pocket and wiped his face. "I hope that I can count on you to be obedient in everything your mother has planned for us for the next two weeks."
As he prattled on and on about the details for the wedding, I merely turned my gaze back towards the window, envying the birds that hovered so freely over the blue water.
At last the house was asleep and it was time to do something I never thought I would do. I pulled out a set of clothing I had purchased from one of our serving boys (along with his silence), and slipped into them. The shirt was too big, and the pants a bit too long, but the boots I had sent the same serving lad to the market for fit perfectly. With the pants tucked into the boots and a belt tight around my waist, I was a fairly presentable boy. Grabbing up my long dark hair into a braid and pinning it under a large hat, I gave myself one last look in the mirror, winking a brown eye at myself for being so mischievous and rebellious.
Tilting my head to the side, I listened. Nothing; the whole house was asleep, and it was time to go. A coil of rope was out and over my balcony in less than a minute, and I was using my own gloved hands to lower myself down to the ground. I knew that I was not very strong, and that getting back up to my room would be nay-impossible later, but it would be worth it, if only for this one night. Biting back a grin of triumph and a groan of pain, I set my feet on the ground, ran to the wall, and was over it and in the town streets quicker than a blink.
Sipping his rum, he knew that the lad in the corner was anything but what he appeared to be. Tilting his head to the side, his hair gave off tiny clinks as the beads connected with one another. A usual smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he stood up, a mug of rum in one hand as the other rested as close to his pistol as it could get without alarming anyone.
'Ah, the price of being a wanted man,' he thought as he made his way to the back corner.
The lad, or lass, he should say, had come in two hours ago and sat down in the remotest corner of the room, a good place to hide, observe, and speak without fear of being overheard. Not long afterwards, the girl had ordered a drink and been nursing on her first mug of rum for over an hour, which was amusing to watch. Apparently the taste of the alcohol didn't sit too well with her, but she still drank the stuff, if a bit too slowly for his liking. Biting back a chuckle, he set his mug down right across from her and took a seat, his chocolate-brown eyes meeting her equally dark ones.
"Evening, luv," he said, smiling at the girl as he looked her over.
She was more of a woman, really, having all of the right curves filled out on her body. The occasional stray bit of brown hair escaped from under her hat, hanging loosely around her face and across her eyes. The smoothness of the skin of her face spoke of her being well-bred and wealthy, though it lacked the porcelain-whiteness that most noblewomen had. This lady had a very slight tan, which was rather unusual, but still very attractive. As he finished assessing her, he saw her eyes widen in surprise and fear.
"No worries, darling, I'm not going to give you up," he said, smiling as he took a quick drink of rum from his cup. "Actually, I won't give you up if you tell me why you're here, hiding in a tavern full of thieves, drunks, and pirates."
He saw her hesitate. "I wanted to be free for just one night," she said, looking down into her glass.
That he was not expecting. Just then, the meaning behind her words hit him. "Ah, getting married, are you?" he asked, a look of sympathy on his face. "A joyful event for some, a prison sentence for others, aye?"
She nodded before lifting the mug to her lips and taking a deep drink before setting it back down. "You have no idea."
A low rumble of laughter escaped his lips. "Oh, you'd be surprised at how many situations are like prison," he said, waving a finger at her. "And believe me, luv, I know what prison feels like."
"You're a criminal?" she blurted out before she clamped a hand over her mouth.
"Not just a criminal, darling…a pirate!" He bowed his head slightly to her. "Captain Jack Sparrow, at your service!"
I nearly swallowed my tongue for the second time that night. Not only had this man seen through my disguise, but it was Captain Jack Sparrow who sat in front of me! Father had told me how this pirate and his crew had robbed several of our ships heading back from the Caribbean, though what he would be doing here in Europe was beyond me.
"You've robbed my father's ships!" was all I could say, failing in my attempt to not let my fear and awe of him show on my face.
The Captain merely smiled and leaned forward so that he was close. "Pirate," he whispered, his breath warm and soft against my skin.
I shivered in delight. Goodness, he was handsome! When he had approached me, I thought him to have the most perfect face that I had ever seen. Even though it was covered by a beard and moustache, it made him look even more dashing; his perfectly shaped nose and high cheekbones made him almost beautiful, and the beads in his hair and beard made him look exotic and unusual. The red bandana covering his hair suited him and made him, if possible, look even better. Right now, an arrogant smirk pulled up the right corner of his mouth, causing the gold and silver metals there to spark and strange sensations to flutter in my chest. From the look in his eye, I knew that he knew the effect he was causing on me.
'Remember the stories you've heard about him,' I thought as I raised my cup to my lips. 'He's very popular with women; I believe the term is 'a woman in every port,' as my maids often say.'
"So, you've come in search of freedom, ay?" the pirate said, looking me over. "Or at least a tiny bit of it before The Big Day?"
I nodded. "I really can't explain it, Captain," I said, my voice soft so that I wouldn't be overheard.
"Jack," he said, smiling.
I smiled back. "Jack," I said as I fiddled with my cup. "It's just that…all my life I've lived by the sea, watching ships come and go from port, sailing away to far-off places and taking goods and people with them. I've never even left my house for the day without an army of servants and guards around me, so even the local dogs have more freedom than I do." I sighed. "For once I'd love to see the world from some other place than the back of a carriage or the front door. I just want to smell and experience the sea while I was standing near it and not from my bedroom window."
Jack gave me a thoughtful look. "Well, luv, if it's an experience you'd like, I can give you one you never forget."
I raised an eyebrow. "I'm not interested in a one night liaison with you, Captain Sparrow," I said, my voice turning harsh as I spoke.
To my surprise, he chuckled. "No, nothing like that," he said, finishing his drink. "How about I take you aboard the Black Pearl and show you what freedom truly is?"
What sounded like an agreement escaped my lips before I could stop myself. "Alright."
"Wonderful!" Jack exclaimed, rising up and holding a hand down to me. "So Miss…"
"Just call me Angela," I said, taking his hand in order to shake it.
"Angela," he said, surprising me by brushing the back of my hand with his thumb before releasing it. "Allow me to escort you to the Pearl."
The woman walking beside him was a puzzle, to say the least. True, Jack had seen a few young women like her in his travels, all of them wanting something more in their lives before marriage tied them down. A certain governor's daughter in the Caribbean was like this, though she held a different fire than this here girl. Miss Swann would likely hold onto that flaming independence long after she married that Whelp, but Angela…
''Twould be shame to watch that bright light go out,' he thought as they approached his beloved ship.
He heard Angela gasp as she looked it over. The entire vessel was a shadow on the water, every bit of it made from ebony or mahogany, the sails a patchwork of dark or black materials. Many times had Jack heard people remark about how lovely the ship was upon seeing it, but never had he seen a woman struck speechless at the sight of it. The look of awe, wonder, and longing on her face made him rethink a few things about the woman beside him, and think up a few new things in the meantime.
"Shall we?" he said, offering his arm.
He felt oddly thrilled when she accepted and let him escort her up and onto the deck.
Freedom.
That's what this ship was. It was something to take this captain and his crew anywhere to do anything they wished with no one but themselves to bar their way. Adventures, treasure, excitement, it was all there, floating on the water as it awaited the return of its dashing Captain Sparrow and his faithful sailors. The entire thought made me smile and shiver with longing.
As he led me aboard the Black Pearl my hand clasped in his, I suddenly felt uneasy. Was this a trick of some sort? After all, he was a pirate and this was his ship that I was on; I was at his mercy, and if he meant to have his way with me or, even worse, wanted to take me prisoner and ransom me back to my father, there was no way for me to stop him. He might not know my surname, but if a cry went up all over town over my disappearance, he soon would.
Just then, the Captain turned around and gave me a kind, reassuring smile, which was the last thing I expected from him. I couldn't help but return that smile as he pulled me up to the helm and released my hand from his. Before I knew what was happening, he had wrapped my fingers around one of the spokes and took a place behind me, one arm wrapped around my waist while the other put my free hand on the wheel.
"Now, luv, what do you see?" he whispered into my ear.
Turning my head, I looked out and into the bay. The entire ocean lay before me, shimming silver and black in the darkness of the night. Overhead, a few stray birds flew on the breeze coming off the sea, the wind pulling the canvas of the sails and causing them to crack faintly. My heart suddenly felt light in my chest as I saw the waves dance and felt the ship move under my feet. Without meaning to, I closed my eyes and let the salty air tickle my nose and brush over my skin.
Suddenly, I could see myself on clear blue water, a cloudless sky above me as the sun poured down light and heat. The ship I was on could only be the Pearl, its dark wooden form cutting though the waves, making me feel as though I were flying instead of sailing. A smile pulled at my lips as I lost myself within my own world of sky, sea, and sun.
For a moment, Jack was lost. Angela had been the one to close her eyes, but for some reason, he was the one who felt blind and in the dark on his own ship. The lady's breathing was deep, but she wasn't asleep; no, she was lost in the world known only to those the sea called to. Placing his head beside hers, Jack could hear her savoring each and every breath of salt-filled air she took. Grinning broadly, Jack tightened his grip on her and simply held her.
It was almost dawn before I returned to my room. An hour after I had slipped into my trance, Captain Sparrow had roused me from my vision and given me a remarkably detailed tour of his ship, proudly pointing out where the wood was different after being replaced from so many violent battles. It was then that the dear pirate launched into a steady stream of talk about his many adventures, battles, and lootings. I was so lost in the rhythm of his words and the smooth, seductive tone of his voice I could hardly believe it when Jack told me that dawn was approaching.
As he led me off of the Pearl, I gave the ship a gentle caress before walking down the gangplank, and could swear that I saw something close to a sympathetic spark flash within Captain Sparrow's deep brown eyes. I pretended to have not seen it and instead gave him a smile.
"Thank you for being so kind to me, Captain Sparrow," I said as I set foot on the dock. "I will never forget last night, as long as I live."
To my astonishment, he shifted from one leg to another, as though he were uncomfortable. "You're quite welcome, Miss, but I never got the opportunity to finish the tale about the island natives and how they made me their chief." He turned those brown eyes towards my own. "How long until The Big Day?"
His question surprised me. "About two weeks," I answered, wanting to kick myself for answering before fully thinking it through. Why would he ask such a thing? Did he want to see me again? If so, why?
"Then feel free to come down to the tavern tonight and I'll fetch you so I can finish my story," Jack said, smiling so that the gold and silver on his teeth sparkled in the fading star-and-moonlight.
I was thrilled. "Oh, that would be wonderful, Captain!" I said, grinning broadly.
"Jack," he said, waving a ringed finger in my face as he corrected me.
"Until tonight…Jack," I said, turning and racing back home.
As I approached the front door, I realized that it was, thankfully, far too early for the servants to be up and about, as it wasn't even dawn yet. I searched for the spare key that was kept hidden near the flowerpots in case someone lost theirs and there was no one to open the door. I quickly unlocked the door, re-hid the key, and tiptoed upstairs to my room, softly closing the door behind me.
I let out a breath as soon as I had locked my own door so that the maids could not come in while I slept. They were good about testing the door, and if it were locked, they would know that they were forbidden from entering and would leave me be until I rang for them. This gave me the chance to remove the rope from my balcony, change out of and hide my men's clothes, and sleep as late as I desired since I had to be awake and alert for when I was to meet Jack.
As I slipped under the covers of my bed, I realized that I was beginning to enjoy the company of one of the most handsome pirate captains in the world. The thought brought a smile to my face, and it would not surprise me to learn that it stayed there the entire time I was asleep.
As I sat down to luncheon with my parents, my rising from bed so late became a topic of conversation. It rather astonished my father, but Mother and my maids claimed that it was likely because of my wedding drawing nearer. Thankfully, Father eventually accepted this and kept silent as he focused on his meal. However, my relief at not being discovered was short; Mother revealed that I needed to have yet another fitting for my wedding gown, and then we were to have tea and dinner with Sir James. I nodded obediently as any girl should and prepared for a very long and boring eight hours.
Once the dinner was over and we were safely at home, I slowly made my way upstairs so as not to arouse suspicion, barely holding onto my temper as five of my attendants removed my hairpins, gown, corset, and frilly petticoats so that I could slip into a nightgown and get into bed. Yet even when I was safely in bed I was not left alone immediately! The servants continued to do an astounding amount of things as I sat in bed and watched, trying not to screams as they tidied up my vanity, folded and hung my clothes, lit a single little oil lamp placed beside my bed, and slid a warming pan under my mattress to ward off the cold of the night.
Finally, they left, bidding me pleasant dreams and a bright tomorrow morning. When the last bit of their chatter faded down the hallway, I quietly leapt from my bed and ran to lock the door, my ear pressed against the wood to see if anyone was awake. No sounds could be heard, meaning I was free to do as I pleased once more. Grinning, I pulled out my sailor clothes and hat.
The crewmen who were keeping watch on the Pearl during the afternoon noticed it as soon as their captain had awoken at around midday. Such a late awakening was not unusual, but when the Captain emerged without a hangover and was as sober as a Royal Navy soldier, it certainly caught their attention. The previous night, they had seen Captain Sparrow enter a tavern in the early evening, and they couldn't understand what could have happened to deprive the man of a night full of drinking his beloved rum. Most were curious, but from the thoughtful (and rather grumpy) look on Jack's face, they thought it best not to disturb their captain when he was in such a mood. Taking a hint from the first mate, Mr. Gibbs, the crew kept quiet and went about their business as Jack Sparrow returned to his cabin and remained there until nightfall.
For some reason that he couldn't explain, Jack had been on edge all day. Now, Jack considered himself a clever, observant man when it came to getting what he wanted and doing whatever it was he needed to do. When it came to women, he tended to be a bit, well, 'experienced' was the word he used as he couldn't think of any other; he always knew what to say and how to act, feeling very confident in himself to woo any woman, be they young or old.
However, this girl, Angela, was different. Sitting at his desk with his maps scattered before him, Jack Sparrow could see the Call of the Sea in her face. He had known few men, much less women, who had heard the intense summons, and Jack thought himself lucky to have both sailing and pirating as a purpose in life. But Angela…well, she was another story all together…
"Oy, Cap'n!" he heard Gibbs yell. "Some lad to see ye!"
The shout had made Jack start in his chair, and he was now aware that it was well after dark. Where had all the time gone? Surely he hadn't stayed in his cabin all afternoon and evening? Well, the pale disk that was the moon hung outside his window, so from the looks of it, yes, he had. Sighing, Jack stood and made his way out the door, stopping in surprise at seeing Angela standing there in the middle of his deck.
Not wasting any time, Jack grinned and waved her inside his cabin.
Two weeks gone, and today is the day…my wedding day.
The time had passed so quickly that it felt as though it were a dream. In that short amount of time, Jack had shown me the world as he saw it. He had painted strange places, exotic peoples, and dangerous sea voyages in the search for hidden or buried treasure for my amusement, enchanting me and making my longing for more than my present life grow ever larger. Jack had even introduced me to his first mate, Mr. Gibbs, who, I think, might have been superstitious of a young woman being onboard, but appeared thrilled to have a new person to tell his tales to.
I had never had such a wonderful time as I had at night aboard the Black Pearl, and returning home grew more and more difficult each morning. The voices of my serving maids and parents were slowly driving me mad, and I found myself longing for the sound of waves against wood, gulls crying overhead, the Pearl creaking under my feet, and…
"Jack," I whispered, staring out the window.
"Did you say something, Miss?" asked a maid standing behind me as she put up my hair.
"No, I was merely whispering to myself," I calmly replied, not taking my eyes away from the waters of the harbor. "Nerves and everything, you know?"
"Oh, yes, Miss, nerves are to be expected!" she said as she fastened the last pin. "There you are, lovely as can be! Just think, Miss, you'll be married in a few hours and get to live in England! I hear the people and the Royal Court are over there very fine!"
Goodness gracious, the girl was going to prattle on at me until the ceremony started! And that wasn't for another two hours! The mere thought of such a punishment on my wedding day began to anger me, but, thankfully, a knock at the door diverted the other girl's attention. As she went to answer it, I attempted to calm my growing anger and bitterness towards everyone who had a part in this hateful ceremony. I took a few deep breaths and calmed down enough to try and hear what was going on. There were some muttered words between my maid and the visitor, and then she returned.
"I'm sorry, Miss, but it turns out I'm needed to help with a rip in the hem of your mother's dress," she apologized. "Will you be alright on your own?"
Oh, thank heavens! Of course I would! "Yes, thank you," was all I said out loud.
The moment the door closed behind her, however, I felt as though I were still not alone. Thinking that it was likely because of my dread of being married, I merely pushed the thought aside and stood up, smoothing down the folds of my white wedding gown. Looking at the creation in which I was to be wed, I couldn't help cringing as I did so.
My dress was made from the finest white silks and lace that my parents could afford, but I hated everything about it. The lace around the arms and neck itched, and the new corset was tied so tightly I could barely breathe. I closed my eyes as one of my hands strayed to the front of my dress, attempting to take a breath. I was shocked when a pair of nimble fingers began loosening the back of my gown and quickly untying the laces of my corset. As air filled my lungs, however, my shock disappeared and was replaced with gratitude. No doubt one of my numerous serving maids had slipped in when I wasn't looking and had remained behind to help me in situations such as this. Imagine my shock when I turned around and looked into a familiar pair of brown eyes, the face they were set into framed by beads and a red bandana.
"Jack!" I gasped. "What are you doing here? Are you mad? What if you're caught being here? You'll be hanged for sure if my father catches you here!"
The rascal merely grinned at me from beneath his hat. "Well, then, we'll just have to make this chat short and sweet, now, won't we?" he said, reaching out.
I would have taken a step back had it not been for the large vanity behind me. As it was, I shouldn't have worried, for his hand merely reached out to toy with one of the carefully curled locks hanging around my face. I watched his amused expression turn into fondness as he pulled the curl around his finger, his thumb stroking it as though it were the most fragile thing he'd ever seen.
"You look beautiful, luv," he said, releasing the curl and pulling his hand away.
A blush crept up my cheeks as I looked down at my dress. "Thank you, Jack," I softly replied. "Um, what did you want to talk about?"
His fingers slid under my chin, tilting it so that our eyes met. "Come with me."
I couldn't believe it. "What?" The word came out as a gasp. "Come with you where?"
"Anywhere…everywhere…just come with me," Jack whispered. "I can't stand the idea of a free spirit like you being locked away like this, luv. It's not right."
"Jack…" My voice trailed off, my mind still unsure even as my heart begged me to say 'yes.'
He sighed. "Darling, I won't take you against your will, but I hope you'll listen to me when I tell you that when the sea calls you and you don't answer, a part of you fades and dies. Don't turn away from it and from what I'm offering you, luv."
I hesitated, my thoughts running so quickly through my head that I barely felt his hands on my shoulders, turning me towards the window and the harbor that sat so close but so far away.
"Look at what I'm offering you, luv," he whispered into my ear. "It's not a house in England or a pretty room full of trinkets from foreign ports…it's a chance to see all of those places for yourself, a chance to live like you want to…" He leaned closer towards me. "A chance for freedom."
I smiled.
Not half an hour later, a large cry went up around the town. Angela Nelson was gone, her wedding dress lying on the floor by the vanity in her room in the church. A search of her home yielded no clues, and all of her maids were in hysterics over her disappearance. Some people claimed to have seen a man and a young boy fleeing from the church not long before the cry had gone up, a smile on both of their faces. The harbormaster was located and his records were confiscated so that each ship could be searched and their captains questioned.
A week passed, and still no sign of the missing merchant's daughter could be found. Every ship in the harbor had been searched and each captain questioned…except for one. The name written down was Smith, but the ship was merely called Ebony. The harbormaster admitted to taking a bribe, giving the captain a false name in exchange for a pouch of gold coins. However, he knew that it was a black ship with black sails, and that he hadn't seen it in the harbor since an hour before the wedding between Sir James and Angela Nelson.
Sailors around the port merely laughed at the officers when they were asked what the name of that ship was, the one with black sails and a captain that did not want to be found. However, when told the actual name of the ship, they were not believed, and the search was sent in a different direction.
"The Black Pearl," they were told.
A pity they didn't listen.
AN: Well, that was my first one-shot. Please be kind and review, I worked on it forever to get it finished! Please tell me what you thought and if it possibly needs a little more. Thank you kindly!