Disclaimer: Pirates of the Caribbean and all related characters belong to Walt Disney, Gore, Jerry, Ted and Terry.
Setting: Takes place right after CotBP
Chapter four: Witch
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The nightmare was over; at least James hoped it was when he opened his eyes and found himself on the comfortable and familiar bed of his cabin. It felt like home, but was he on The Dauntless or The Dauntless Spirit? His question was answered when he held up his arm.
“Bloody hell,” he brought his arm down against the other side of the bed with enough force to cause the bed to shake and a feather to shoot out of a tear. “When will this farce end?” He sat up and brought his hand across his face, fingers raked across the stubble. There had to be some form of a blade he could use to shave with.
He slid out of bed when someone knocked at his door. If it was Anamaria he wanted to be sure to be properly dressed. Pirate or not, she was still a woman and he wanted to preserve what little honor he had left.
“Captain are you awake?” It was Gillette.
“I am awake,” James said. A shirt was in one hand and a pair of trousers was in the other. “Mr. Gillette, you are aware it is not proper to wake your captain unless he had requested you to do so?”
“Sorry sir,” Gillette apologized. “I just wanted to know if you preferred to dine with the crew for breakfast or stay in your cabin?”
“What time is it?” James stared at the clothing in his hands. He should bathe first, that is if can find a bathtub aboard. He had found a basin. If he couldn’t have a proper bath then he would use that to clean himself. He may dress like a pirate, but he refused to smell like one.
“According to my pocket watch it’s just a minute past seven.”
“Six bells,” James muttered. “Yes, it is a good time to wake up. Mr. Gillette I need a pot of hot water and vase of cool water. I need a blade and some form of soap. I will bathe before I eat.”
“Sir?”
“Mr. Gillette, I order you to find me those items I have requested.”
-
James tried not to sigh as he combined the hot and cool water in the basin. He was aware Gillette was still in his cabin; fumbling with that ratty scarf he wore around his neck. “Is there something you wish to address, Mr. Gillette?”
“Not really sir.”
“I have to say it is unsettling to have you here while I clean myself.” He had never found Gillette to be the type to engage in buggery. Then again this wasn’t the Andrew Gillette he knew and respected.
“I am concerned about your well being.”
James raised an eyebrow. “This is about what I told you last night?”
“Yes sir. I know you have lost some memories, not all of them, because you remember the names of your crew, and it may explain why you spent nearly all of yesterday in your cabin, but your behavior is a bit odd.”
“How odd?” James dipped a cloth into the water and ran it across his chest. He would not remove his britches until Gillette had left. “Is it the fact that I am bathing?”
“Well you do wash at least once a week.” Gillette brushed his fingers against his scarf once more. “I know you keep your beard groomed, or at least you did when you had it.”
“Miss Swann and Mr. Turner had come up with the idea of a disguise for me,” He scrubbed the cloth against his shoulders. “I do not know many women with full beards.”
“There is that one woman on Tortuga. The one wench even Theodore wouldn’t go near.”
“Were we certain it was a woman?” James did not want to think of Groves at being a lecher who would chase after every woman. The Groves he knew liked women who were comely of the face and he had preferred brunettes and blue eyes. Groves wouldn’t think of courting them unless they had some form of intelligence and a sense of humor. “The most beautiful sound is the sound of a woman’s laughter.” He had often said.
Gillette laughed. “No sir. We are still trying to figure it out.” He cleared his throat. “I understand why you had shaved it off, but I wonder why you are not allowing it to grow back.”
James paused the cloth halfway down the center of his arm. “Once it was gone I realized how much trouble it was to keep it groomed. It would just be easier to shave everyday instead.”
“Understood,” Gillette did not remove himself form the cabin.
“Mr. Gillette,” James turned to stare at him. “I cannot finish bathing with you standing there. Is there something else you wish to address?’
“I am wondering if you wish to dine alone.”
“You and Mr. Groves may join me for breakfast.”
“What of Anamaria? You never leave her out when you invite Theodore and myself.”
James shrugged. “She may join us as well.”
-
After he had finished bathing, dressed, shaved and even managed to tie his hair back with one of the ribbons Elizabeth had used James was ready for breakfast and he informed Gillette.
James tried to eat at least one bite of the griddlecakes, Mullroy had prepared. He had drenched his in honey, but every time he took a bite he could feel the eyes of others on him.
“Are none of you hungry?” He asked once he set his fork and knife down. “None of you are eating.” Well almost no one. The ferret was chewing on the pieces of fruit and egg Groves had given him.
“I explained why you are no longer keeping the beard,” Gillette said before he took a bite of his own eggs.
“You still haven’t explained why we are headed up river,” Anamaria just stared into James’s eyes. “You want to see her again.”
“Her?” James gingerly ran his fingers against his chin. He wasn’t accustomed to the blade he used to shave and a few small areas on his face were raw, thankfully he hadn’t cut himself.
“Have you also forgotten Tia Dalma?” Groves asked before he took a sip from his cup.
“It appears I may have.” Was this one of his other self’s lovers? “Please help me try to remember.”
“She is a swamp witch,” Anamaria answered. “She knows all about the legends of the sea, knows your past and future.”
“You also had a few dallian-off,” Gillette shuddered along with the table before he turned towards Anamaria who in turn glared at him.
“A witch. She would be able to cure my amnesia.” And more importantly, help him to return to the world he knew.
-
James barely had any idea of what to expect when he entered the swamp. Most of his crew had become more anxious as they neared his destination. Their eyes were lined with fear as they whispered small prayers and drew symbols of the cross in the air with their fingers. James knew they would not accompany him in the long boat.
The few who did join him were not exactly pleased with the idea. Gillette and Groves understood why and even though Anamaria nodded and voiced an understanding she was still upset and appeared to seethe while they were in the longboat. Mullroy, Murtogg, and Marty rounded out the group and while they were not as frightened as the other sailors they kept darting their heads at the slightest sound.
James could understand some of the fear as they continued their way through the humid swamp, the moist air weighed down on him and his nose turned up from the odor. The fireflies were beautiful, creating an enchanting whimsy to the environment and James would have enjoyed the scene if it were not for the few locals seated on large rocks and in trees, watching them as they traveled through. Their constant gazes created the sensation of icy fingers running down his spine.
“Mr. Murtogg, Mr. Mullroy,” James turned to his crew as soon as they had docked against a rickety shack on stilts. “You two will guard the boat.”
“Yes sir,” Murtogg sounded almost too eager to stay behind. He was twisting his wool knit cap the whole time.
“I hope the crew doesn’t get too hungry,” Mullroy ran his hand against the half formed beard on his chin.
“We shouldn’t be gone too long,” Groves assured him as soon as James had stepped out of the boat and onto the ladder.
“Miss Tia Dalma?” James called out as soon as he stepped into the shack. The light from the candles had cast the entire room in a rich golden shade of autumn leaf. His eyes had honed in on several of the jars hanging from the beams. The sight of eyeballs floating in thick syrup like substance was enough to satiate his curiosity to wonder what were in the others.
He shifted his gaze to the woman seated near the back of the hut. She was dressed in a dark and raggedy gown. Her hair was gathered into several dreads. She had appeared to have been staring at several colorful stones on the table.
“James Norrington,” the woman pulled back her ink stained lips, revealing gray teeth. “You have questions floating around your head.” She stood up, impressing James with her height. She would have been able to fit into the dress Elizabeth had bought for him.
“You are correct, Miss Dalma.” James nodded. He turned when he heard the others had followed in after him.
Tia Dalma stopped a few inches from him. Her smile faded from her face. “You are not him.”
“Not who?” Gillette asked.
“You are not Captain James Norrington.” Tia’s bloodshot eyes did not leave James for a second. “You are the scourge of piracy. You are Commodore James Norrington of the Royal Navy.”
The others blinked before they started talking at once.
“Was that why you returned to Port Royal?” Anamaria asked.
“All this time you were really part of the Navy?” Marty pointed at him. “You only were a pirate in disguise?”
“That cannot be right,” Groves shook his head. “This cannot be right.” Arrow squeaked in agreement.
“You said it was a dream,” Gillette continued to stare at him. “In your dream you were in the Royal Navy and became a Commodore, and I was a lieutenant.”
“It is true,” James pulled back his sleeves revealing the brand and the tattoo. “And so is this.”
“This is our James,” Tia’s fingers brushed against the brand before traced along James’s jaw line. “This is where he belongs.” She stared deep into his eyes. “Not in here. The navy man is within.”
“Where is our captain?” Anamaria had stepped forward as soon as Tia Dalma had touched him.
“Possibly where I belong,” James suggested.
“How do we get him back?” Groves asked. While Anamaria had stepped forward he had stepped back.
“I believe that is what we all would want,” Gillette said.
“I also like to know who did this,” James had a few possible suspects in mind. It was either the bar keeper of the Crystal Rose who sent him the whine or the serving girl. He did notice how her eyes seemed to have shone brighter than usual for a few seconds.
“Step this way,” Tia gestured with her hand before she approached a different table with a small bowl placed on top. She filled a quarter of it with lamp oil before she tossed in handfuls of what appeared to have been ashes. “This may be painful.”
“How painful.”
“Not much,” she pulled out a small knife. “Give me your hand.”
James was certain he knew what she had planned but still held out his hand. He did not flinch nor wince when she brought the tip of the blade against a finger and held his hand over the bowl.
“That shall be enough.” She released his hand after several droplets of blood fell into the oil and ash. “This shall not take long.” She stared intently into the bowl.
James stared at the new cut and reached for the ribbon he used to tie his hair back.
“I have it,” Anamaria whispered as she wrapped his finger in a scrap of cloth.
“Thank you,” James studied the cloth. It was the exact same material as Gillette’s scarf. Looking up he could see the frayed edge of the shortened material. “Thank you both.”
Gillette nodded and said nothing. Groves continued to glare at him and Marty watched Tia.
“Rosemary,” Tia sat up. “Her name is Rosemary.”
“Who is Rosemary?” Anamaria asked.
“She is the one who put the spell on James.” Tia said. “She is the one you have to find.”
“There is one problem,” James said. He pretty much knew who Rosemary was. “She is a serving made in a Port Royal tavern.”
“That would be the Rosemary you know,” Tia wagged a finger. “The Rosemary here is someone similar but different, like this world is to you.”
“How do we find her?” Marty asked.
“The compass,” Gillette nodded towards James. “He now knows who to find.”
“Yes the compass,” James tapped the broken compass. Was there more to it? “Thank you Miss Dalma for your help.”
“Why didn’t it point to the direction of this Rosemary?” Anamaria asked
“That is a good question,” Gillette added.
“You think you know how it works,” Tia brushed her fingers over the lid and closed it. “But you do not know exactly how.” She raised a finger. “James wanted to know several things. He wanted to know who and how and the why as well as a way.”
“I thought he wanted to return,” Groves said in a tone so cold that it spooked James. “He wanted to return back to his life.”
“It did waver at first,” James stared at the compass before he secured it back to his belt. “I did want to know the answers.” He looked up at his crew. “When you mentioned Miss Dalma and what she could and can do I believed she would be the one who could make things right.”
“Can’t she?” Marty asked.
The witch shook her head. “It is never wise to mix magics. The one who cast the spell is the one who can break the spell.”
“What do you know of this Rosemary?” Anamaria asked.
Tia Dalma shrugged. “I only know her name, and know the level of her skill. I also know she will want something in return.”
“Like this,” Gillette pulled a necklace out of his pocket. It was a slender gold chain with an emerald hanging from the center. “It was taken from a man who had ripped it from a gypsy girl he had beaten.”
James raised his eyebrows and frowned at the idea a member of his crew was going to pay Tia Dalma with something he had stolen, unless it was James’s pirate self who stole the necklace.
“A fair payment indeed,” Tia accepted the necklace.
“Thank you, Miss Dalma,” James turned to his crew. “I am sorry I haven’t told you sooner.”
“You don’t have to apologize,” Gillette shrugged. “This wasn’t your fault.”
“Nobody would have believed you,” Marty smiled briefly.
“Before you leave, James I should give you some advice.” Tia brushed her fingers against James’s shoulder. “You may think you and the other James have nothing in common, but you are both the same.”
“I will keep that in mind,” James said before he turned to the door.
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Replies: Sudoku, thank you. Alt realties are fun to explore and I like to think James is a well-educated man.
Ogreatrandom, Thank you. I hope you enjoy the next chapter