Disclaimer: Pirates of the
Setting: Takes place right after Curse of the Black Pearl.
Characters: Norrington, Gillette, Groves, Anamaria, Murtogg, Mullroy, Marty, Will, Elizabeth, Jack Sparrow, Tia Dalma.
Parings: Will/Elizabeth, Norrington/Anamaria
Chapter 12: Escape
-
Anamaria choked down the small yelp she felt try to escape her throat as she spun around. The tight fear drifted away when she saw that not only it was not a member of the Royal Navy or Marines, but it was a familiar face; Daniel Havers. She released her breath with her hand across her chest.
“I’m sorry,” Daniel apologized. “I had thought you heard me approach you. I didn’t mean to scare you, Miss Anamaria.”
“You didn’t,” Anamaria said when she felt she could work her voice again. “I have been on edge, we all have been. James said he was going to deliver the medicine and he did, but he did not come back and now we have seen the Navy.”
“They took him,” Daniel said. “They were waiting for him, and they took him.”
“We assumed the worst,” Marty stuck his head out from where he was hidden. “We should have known he was captured.”
“I saw it happen,” Daniel continued. “Grandfather did not want me to follow, but I did and they took him to the inn where the Navy was staying.”
“Why an inn?” Gillette furrowed his brow. “Why did they not want to take him back to their ship?”
“They might want to rest and take
him in the morning,” Anamaria was not sure where they would go, perhaps one of
the other islands, or perhaps they would return to
“He won’t die,” Andrew placed a hand on her shoulder. “Calm yourself. You know we are going to rescue him.” He nodded at Daniel. “We know where he is.”
“Just the three of us,” Anamaria chewed her bottom lip. They could find away to send word back to their ship and a few others would join them. Many pirates would follow the code and leave James to his fate, but they were not like the others. Crew was equal to family and family meant no one was left behind, no one was forgotten.
“Four,” Daniel added and pointed to him.
“No,” Anamaria shook her head. “You should not jeopardize yourself on behalf of us.”
“I want to do it for Captain Norrington,” Daniel’s jaw was set in a determined clench. “He saved us, could have let us drift, but he didn’t.”
She couldn’t help smiling at the youth. “I know you want to do more, and showing us where he is, would be enough.”
“It’s not enough.”
She grabbed the youth’s wrist. “Yes it is,” she waved a finger in front of his face. “We will get through this much faster without worrying about your safety. There is a possibility we may even fail and the three of us would be sent to the gallows as well. I cannot have the idea of a fifth pair of boots hanging on our conscience”
“If we do make it out alive, your grandfather would kill us.” Andrew added.
Anamaria stared at him for a full second before she returned her attention to the boy. “No more fuss. You have done us well by telling us what happened. You will help us by showing where he is.”
Daniel was about to open his mouth to protest, but clamped his lips shut and merely nodded.
“Good, we will find a way to send out word first and then you will take us to the inn.” Hopefully by the time they make it to the inn they would have figured out a plan.
-
James Norrington stared at Pintel and the half full bottle of rum. It was the third bottle and he could feel his mind overtaken by a fog, his thoughts were numb, eyes watered from the warm swill the forced down his throat. The collar of his shirt was damp from the liquid that escaped his mouth and traveled down his chin and neck. The right sleeve of his coat was almost as damp from the few times they allowed him to wipe his mouth.
“How are you feeling, Captain?” Lieutenant Gibbs asked from behind, his hands still had a firm hold on James’s shoulders.
“Sparrow,” James sputtered the name. “Where is he?” After he had consumed the second bottle of rum, Commodore Sparrow had left the room.
“I am right here Captain,” Sparrow waltzed into view. “Seems to be changing your thinking faster than I thought. That is interesting.”
“Different life,” James blinked his watering eyes. “Same blight. This one fouls the uniform of pride instead of wearing his beads and brand.”
“It’s starting to work,” Pintel grinned. “’Cept he just talking funny instead of what we want to hear.”
Sparrow nodded and held up his index fingers. “The truth can be found in riddles, not matter how ruddy the riddle might be riddled with nonsense.”
Ragetti blinked “Commodore isn’t making any sense.”
“Of course he isn’t.” James tried to stare at the skinny marine. “He is Jack Sparrow.” He rolled his eyes when Sparrow was about to protest. “Oh excuse me, Commodore Jack Sparrow.”
“Thank you for remembering.” Jack smiled. “Now will you do the honorable and honest duty and inform us of where your dearest mates are or do we have to give you more to drink?”
James responded by opening his mouth and leaning back.
“Looks like you are still thirsty,” Pintel shoved the bottle against James’s mouth and tilted it.
James gulped down the liquid, no longer feeling the need to fight it off. The rum did not taste as bad as when it was first forced down, and he almost welcomed the warm liquid, hopefully he would consume enough to pass out, foiling Sparrow’s plan and keeping his crew safe, not that he felt a need to reveal anything.
“What if this doesn’t work?” Ragetti asked. He was holding another sealed bottle. “What if he doesn’t tell us anything?”
“He will give us something,” Gibbs released his hold when James shook his hands, indicating his need to come up for air. “It may be a small clue, but we will dig it out of him.”
James coughed as more rum dripped down his chin. “Mr. Gibbs were you once a pirate?” He licked his lips.
“Hmmm,” Jack pressed his finger against the bottom of his mouth. “Now he is asking questions. Curiouser and Curiouser it seems.”
“I was never a pirate,” Gibbs responded. “Always were an honest sailor, even before I joined the Navy.”
James was ready to ask him another
question, but the bottle was brought back to his mouth and he drank more until
he shook his hands. “You were on the Crowning Jewel eight years ago, with
Governor Swann and Elizabeth. Came from
“That is correct.”
“Sparrow,” James managed to get out before the bottle was shoved into his mouth again.
“I was lieutenant Sparrow at the time,” Sparrow said while James consumed the remains of the bottle.
“Did you say anything about Gibbs
harassed young
Gibbs just stared down at him. “That was exactly how it happened.”
“Us?” Ragetti asked.
“She saw Turner in the water and the burning ship.”
“What’s he doing?” Pintel asked.
“Getting close to telling us what we want to know,” Sparrow said. “Mr. Ragetti, another bottle.”
“Aye, Commodore,” Ragetti removed the cork and handed the bottle to Pintel.
“Nice to see that you clean up
well, Mr. Gibbs” James said before he grabbed the bottle from Pintel and took a
long swig. “Shouldn’t be in those uniforms, should be at
“Our trial?” Pintel took the bottle back, and ignored the knock at the door.
“What are we on trial for?” Ragetti asked as a serving maid entered, carrying a full picture of water.”
“Piracy,” James made a swipe for the bottle and missed. “Kidnapping Miss Swann, murder, resisting arrest.” He swiped again and only succeeded in stumbling forward.
“If he wants to help himself get even more drunk then let him,” Gibbs said.
James smirked in triumph when he was handed the bottle. His smirk faded when he laid his eyes on the serving girl. After he had met Anamaria and grew to know her, it had become quite hard from him to picture her in a dress, much less a servant’s dress and a bonnet. She was still holding the pitcher to her chest and was only rarely looking up, but she wasn’t looking at James but past him.
“Mr. Gibbs,” James held up the rum to toast the lieutenant. “Never thought I would see the day you would achieve such a rank.” He took a long sip while staring at the lieutenant and behind him. James blinked at the pair of hands scraping at the windowsill with a knife on the other side.
“I knew this would work,” Sparrow’s grin grew even wider. “Last stalling tactic before the truth does pour out.”
“I had this rank for over five years,” Gibbs frowned. “Keep drinking, Norrington.”
“Captain Norrington,” James corrected. “Surprised the Commodore has just the four of you here to keep me company.”
“There are two others just outside this door,” Pintel pointed at the entrance. “Several more in the halls.”
“Where is your tattoo, Sparrow?”
“What are you talking about?” Pintel frowned. “He-“ His words were cut of when Anamaria struck the back of his head with the pitcher she wield, spilling water everywhere.
Ragetti and Gibbs sprung into action, both unsheathing their swords when Anamaria removed the blade from Pintel’s sheath.
“Save some of them for me,” Gillette opened the window and crawled inside, unsheathing his own sword once his feet struck the ground. Marty climbed in after him and was already brandishing his sword.
“Officers,” Gibbs shouted out before he brought his blade against Gillette’s.
James rose to his feet, and tried not to stagger as he made his way to Anamaria and Ragetti. It was a shame to waste the bottle. He took one last sip before he slammed the glass down hard on the back of Ragetti’s head and grabbed the sword from his hand.
Sparrow and had already removed the sword from Marty’s hand.
“Sparrow,” James growled the name of his enemy. “You are mine.”
The doors slammed open and the two naval officers guarding the door rushed inside.
James swung his blade against Sparrow’s while Anamaria and Marty fought against the blades of the two officers
“Back to the window,” Anamaria said as she deflected another strike.
“Right,” James deflected the blade from his opponent. He struck Sparrow the side of his head with his fist, sending him back.
“Now,” Sparrow’s hand flew instantly to his head. “That wasn’t very nice was it.”
“Not your usual style,” Anamaria said after she had defeated her opponent and rendered him unconscious.
James shrugged while still keeping his sword pointed at Sparrow. “I have been drinking.”
“We can see that,” Gillette said. He had used Gibbs’s sword to pin the lieutenant to the floor. “Lets leave before more arrive.”
He had spoken too soon. Four more naval officers entered the room.
James smirked at the challenge. “We can take them.”
“Best not to push our luck,” Anamaria said as she climbed out the window.
“Come on,” James shouted. His eyes were on Sparrow who was rushing towards him. “Who wants us? We can take you all on.”
“James,” Anamaria clamped her hand across his mouth. “You are drunk and not thinking.” She pulled him out onto the ledge, followed by Marty and Gillette.
“I’m not thinking right?” James stared down at the sudden drop.
“There is a rope,” Marty pointed at the rope that was tied to the edge.
“Then we run?” James raised his eyebrows at him before he stared down. To his surprise a carriage pulled up, just under their ledge. “You have thought things through.” James grabbed onto the rope and climbed down, slipping half the way before he released his hold and landed on the roof, followed by Anamaria and Gillette.
“I didn’t know you sent for a carriage,” Anamaria said once the horses galloped towards the docks.
“I didn’t,” Gillette said. “I thought it was either you or Theodore.”
“Neither,” the driver removed the cloth hood that was concealing his face. “Young Daniel Havers informed me.”
“Eric?” James asked, astounded at the fact that it was the unconscious man they had rescued
“I’ll get you to a boat as fast as I can, Captain,” Eric said.
Anamaria shook her head. “If we were not in such a hurry I would want a word with that boy.” She ran her fingers through James’s hair and stroked the back and top of his head.
James leaned against, nestled his head against her chest as they continued to the docks.
-
James’s skull felt like an active hornet’s nest when he woke up. Several places in his head hurt and he could hear buzzing and droning. His mouth felt like he had removed his tongue and set it to dry on a sandy beach and his stomach felt like it was filled with maggots, slowly crawling around inside.
“James?” Anamaria sat up in the chair next to his bed.
“I need,” he clamped his mouth shut when he felt his stomach lurch.
“Here,” Anamaria handed him a large bowl.
James emptied the contents of his stomach, groaning half way, before he held the bowl out. “How much?”
“How much did you drink last night?” Anamaria removed the bowl. “I was not there.”
“I didn’t want to drink.” He buried his face in his hands. “They poured the rum down my throat. They wanted to get me drunk.”
“Why?” She handed him a glass. “Its just water, sip it, don’t drink too fast.”
James brought the glass to his mouth and sipped some of its contents. “They thought they could get me to confess if I was drunk enough.” He took another slow sip, ignore the desire to gulp it down and quench his throat.
“Foolish idea,” Anamaria shook her head.
“Some men do become incredibly
honest and stupid when they are drunk,” James took another sip from his glass.
So far his stomach did not protest. “I didn’t tell them anything, other than I
accuse a couple of the marines of being pirates and detail trip of Governor
Swann’s voyage from
“They would have thought you mad, if it were not the rum.”
“Sparrow’s plan backfired.” He slowly drank the last from the glass. “I’m not surprised a man like him would come up with something so asinine.”
“We have to be careful,” she took the glass from him. “No more bringing supplies to people we barely know.” She poured more water in the glass. As she lowered the picture she tensed up briefly. “We have to achieve our goal.” She removed the cork from a vial and poured in some powder.
“I will try,” James pulled back the covers. His coat and waistcoat had been removed, leaving behind his shirt. His boots had also been removed, but his breeches were still on.
“You still need more water,” she handed him the glass. “I put some powdered willow bark in there to help with the pain.”
“Thank you,” he took another sip. “You should take some yourself.”
“What are you implying?”
“You may have injured your shoulder when we were battling last night. I saw you tense up.”
“It is nothing.”
He took another long drink before he stood up, ignoring the throbbing pain that still lingered in his head. “Do not try to hide it, especially not from me.”
“I am not hiding anything.”
He approached her. “I care about my crew and want them to be of best health.” He set his glass down. “And it will be hard to know if they are suffering if they do not tell me.”
“Is this an order?” She stared into his eyes.
“A request. You know how I feel about you.”
“Do I? You never tell me, always letting your sense of honor gets in the way.”
“I care deeply for you.” He grabbed her, pulled her close before he grasped her shoulders, not to firmly and began to rub and squeeze. “You have healed me several times, now it is my turn.”
“You won’t heal all the pain,” Anamaria did not protest, and leaned her head back. “Tell me how you feel.”
“I am falling in love with you,” James felt his chest tighten. “And it hurts.”
“It shouldn’t hurt.” Her fingers found his hips.
“It hurts because I am falling in love with someone else’s intended, again.” He closed his eyes.
“You are both the same.” She spun around.
“It is dishonorable.” He opened his eyes when he felt the familiar lips on his
“You are a pirate. They do not care, they want, they take and they have.”
“I want you,” he parted his lips briefly before he went in for another kiss.
“Take me, have me,” she whispered while he kissed her neck.
His legs trembled as he continued to cover her in kisses. He felt her hands guide his to her chest and he slowly undid the buttons.
“James,” she went in for a deep and long kiss. “Please.”
“Oh God,” he gulped, realizing what his hands were grabbing. They were soft and warm and he never wanted to let go. Respect and honor infiltrated his head and he stepped back. That feeling left his mind when she undid his buckle and slid his belt and breeches down past his knees.
“Please James,” she removed her shirt and pressed her body against him, her lips brushed against his neck. “Say it.”
He could no longer resist. “I love you.” He fell back down on his bed pulling her down on top of him.
-
Replies:
Ogreatrandom, thank you. Respectable in the eyes of society maybe.
Sudoku. Thanks, yes, cliffhangers are fun to make
SallyJT, thank you for the kind words
Sweet-and-sexy-that’s-my-jess: Thank you. Glad you enjoyed Jack.
Mayhem O’Mally. Thank you. I think I did remember T and T mentioning James would have been the Dashing hero type of pirate.
Atticus620. Nope, it wouldn’t have worked on Jack
Nimrondell. Thank you
Sea Breeze. Thanks, I kept picturing Jack’s expressions as I wrote him. Johnny is very talented, and then again so is Jack Davenport( Loved his expressions in both Pirates and Coupling) and thanks for alerting me to the types. I will fix them as soon as I can.