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Savarna	By : BrethlessM Category: Pirates of the Caribbean (All) > Het - Male/Female > Jack/Elizabeth Views: 5383 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
A/N: Hello again! I hope you like chapter ten! I want to thank everyone of AFF.net who responds. This is the only site where I'm not able to answer my reviews, and it makes me sad because you have such wonderful things to say! I want to mention a very special present I received this week from one reviewer on LiveJournal - she drew a wonderful picture inspired by one of the scenes from 'The Flying Dutchman', and I'm so thrilled and honored. Go give her a look-see, and tell her what you think! It's on DeviantArt, at:
http://emthiessen.deviantart.com/art/The-Flying-Dutchman-Fic-Art-61712039
Thanks so much to emthiessen for the love! See you all next week in Chapter 11!

Chapter 10

Sand begat bone. Bone begat muscle, tissue, and flesh. As flesh formed, it slowly regained the faint impressions of its previous attributes: cheeks, nose, mouth, and eyes. The tattered scraps of water-worn clothing still clinging to its frame began to fill out as muscles redefined themselves � though still retaining the putrid viscosity of death.

It was Becoming, although what it was Becoming, it didn�t know. It was aware that it had existed before this, and that eventually it would recover all of those elements that had previously defined it, but for now, its needs, drives, and principles were a mystery.

Its pace was steady; never tiring, never failing. It had no need of sleep or respite of any kind, even though all of its energy was aimed in the fullest towards two specific tasks � moving, and Becoming. It did not need to think about the Becoming� that would continue on its own whether the creature wished it to or not. It had no thought of what it had been, or what it would be, for that was out of its hands.

Instead it focused all of its attention on what it did know - a destination. This was the one bit of knowledge it possessed, and that minimal detail held the utmost significance in whatever part of it was now sentient. The source of this information did not matter, nor did the reason for going there. It was enough, for the moment, to have a purpose, no matter how small. So it walked � slowly but surely � making its way towards an unremembered, but somehow vaguely familiar location� a place called Port Royal.
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The woman sat upon a rock by the side of a river descending through the lush tropical forest over glittering stones. Between her knees a boy of twelve sat, absently throwing pebbles, twigs, and leaves into the swift-moving water and watching the objects rush away downstream. The woman tenderly ran an ivory comb through his hair, and though the child was restless, he obviously enjoyed the attentive grooming.

The boy spoke. �Mother?� he asked curiously. �You�ll always protect me, won�t you?�

The woman smiled, and the expression made her already beautiful face, exquisite. �What is it you fear, that you are in of need protection, my son?�

The boy shrugged indifferently. He had no fear � that was not the point of his question. �But you would protect me� from anything, right?� he pressed.

The woman�s hand froze in mid-brushstroke � so briefly that her child never noticed it, or gained any insight from the pause. When she spoke her tone was light and even, and the only hint that something significant had occurred within her was a slight tightening around her eyes, which he could not see. �There will come a time when you will be a man, and you will neither want, nor need the help of your dear mother.�

The boy laughed, and jumped up from the ground, doing a proud little dance. He turned to face her jubilantly with his hands fisted on his hips, elbows out on either side. �I�m already a man,� he announced proudly.

His mother laughed, not mockingly, but out of sheer admiration and joy for her son. �Yes,� she acknowledged, wiping tears of mirth from her sparkling onyx eyes. �And soon, you will have all you need in life to care for yourself, with or without me.� As he resettled at her feet and she resumed combing his hair, the woman said thoughtfully, �But I suppose I would always do whatever it is within my power to, in order to keep you safe, my love. Does that satisfy your inquisitive mind?�

The boy looked thoughtful. �Yes,� he said. It was clear from the expression on his face that he had not yet reached the heart of his query. Hesitantly, he asked, �Don�t all mothers want to protect their children?�

The woman�s sad smile went unobserved by her son. �I fear there are some mothers who are not as concerned with the well-being of their off-spring as I of yours, love.�

He nodded, as if he already knew that was what her answer would be. �Like� like your mother?� the boy asked carefully. �Is that why you�re upset with her being here?�

The woman stopped her movements, and the boy turned to look up at her face. With a gentle smile, she said, �No� that is not the reason. My mother is a formidable woman; always remember to treat her with respect - but be mindful, and cautious.�

The boy frowned in thought, as though he still did not have the answer to his question. Before he could probe any further though, the image of mother and child became hazy, and the mother�s voice filled the air, saying, �Watch him � protect him.�

Elizabeth woke with a start and looked around the cabin, as if searching out the voice that still rang in her ears. Even as she realized where she was, and that she was alone, the clarity of the images began to fade, and her quickening pulse slowed steadily. She was safely aboard the Savarna. It had only been a dream.

Wiping the sweat from her face, Elizabeth realized it was night. The moon was absent from the sky visible through the cabin�s window, and it was only when she heard the ship�s bell ring once that she realized it was one o�clock in the morning. She had slept most of the day and well into the night, and though her first thought was to wonder where her son was, Elizabeth found she could not get out of the bed quite yet.

A tremble of uncertainty and fear held her immobile, and she found herself irritated by it. There was nothing for her to fear � except that the goddess who had essentially caused her husband�s death, was now turning her attentions towards the rest of Elizabeth�s family and friends; she had no home; her undead husband was in danger of turning into a sea urchin because of her, and on top of all that � she was falling in love with a rum-soaked pirate who was bound to break her heart.

No� nothing to fear at all.

Exhaling deeply, Elizabeth forced herself to forget about Jack for the moment, and all her other worries, so that she could focus on the most immediate of her concerns: making sure her son was all right. She was not afraid that Jack had lapsed in his care for William � he had proved himself quite capable in that area, one hundred fold �
but the strange dream that still hovered vaguely in the corners of her mind had left her uneasy, and with a strong desire to see her child.

Holding her breath, she put one foot on the floor, and then the other. Elizabeth had not bothered to undress before falling heavily onto Jack�s bunk, and she paused now only to splash some cool water on her face to help her wake up before venturing out onto the deck.

She didn�t get far; she was back inside the cabin mere seconds after opening the door. The air was so cold outside that it had knocked into her with a physical weight. Quickly digging through Jack�s surprisingly neat trunk, Elizabeth donned a spare coat of silk tweed and a pair of leather boots, several sizes too large for her feet. Shuffling towards the door, she braced herself against the shock of the cold and stumbled outside.

The chill air bit deeply into her face, and Elizabeth found herself longing for her old familiar hat � now lost to the sea with the rest of her possessions in Port Royal. If there was anything she�d have to see to acquiring, it was definitely a proper hat and a descent pair of boots. Though the pair she�d borrowed of Jack�s was well made to withstand constantly being soaked by the sea, the air crept into the places her tiny feet didn�t fill, further leeching the remaining heat from her body.

Trying not to race back to the safety of the smaller of the two cabins, Elizabeth steeled herself, setting her jaw and straightening her shoulders, before striding out for a look around deck, as best she could in her current footwear.

It appeared that there was no moon at all that night; the sky was so dark, she could see only a few small flickers of light from the minimal lanterns along the length of the ship. Elizabeth knew the crew she sailed with was scant, so she supposed it was not surprising that no one was in her immediate view as she scanned the deck with her eyes.

From behind her, a gruff voice said, �You just missed him.�

Elizabeth spun around, trying not to look startled. Captain Teague stood watching her from the helm, and she suddenly felt foolish for not having thought to look there first. �Pardon?� she managed to ask, grateful that the darkness hid her blush. She had never actually spoken to the elder Sparrow before.

Captain Teague nodded in the direction of the hatch leading below deck. �Jackie� he went to make his rounds.�

�Oh,� Elizabeth said, feeling awkward. �I was actually looking for my son� do you know where he is?� she asked politely.

Teague looked at her for a long moment, then inclined his head in a short, but respectful bow. �Forgive my presumption � I should have known.� He nodded again, this time in the direction of the crow�s nest. �The lad�s on watch,� he told her.

�Up there? In this weather?� Elizabeth turned to gaze upward, and then climbed the stairs to stand beside Captain Teague for a better view. �He must be freezing.�

�Never you mind� Jackie�s been popping up there with blankets and� other fortifications.�

Elizabeth whirled on him. �You don�t mean� is Jack giving him rum? Again?�

Teague put a hand up to stay her before she stormed off in search of his son. �Enough for the sailor, but not too much for the lad� Jackie does right by your boy � you needn�t worry about that, my lady.�

Only slightly mollified, Elizabeth nevertheless calmed herself. There was truth in the Captain�s words. �Yes� he does seem to have a way with William, doesn�t he?� Teague grunted in agreement. �I suppose I shouldn�t be surprised � after all, Jack often behaves like a child himself.�

Teague raised an eyebrow at her and chuckled softly. �Well, I suppose he�s making up for lost time� he didn�t have much in the way of a childhood.�

Elizabeth nodded, unwilling to venture into such sensitive territory with a man like Captain Teague Sparrow. She hugged herself for warmth, rubbing her arms briskly.

�Seems like you could use a touch of fortification yourself, Captain Swann.� Teague observed. Reaching inside his velvet frockcoat, he withdrew a silver flask and passed it to her.

Elizabeth smiled wryly in thanks. Unscrewing the cap, she took a quick swig and enjoyed the current of warmth that invaded her body, heating her briefly from head to toe. �How is it you don�t appear to be afflicted by this abominable weather?� She asked, passing back the flask.

Teague grinned � not an unpleasant thing, Elizabeth realized � and took a healthy drink of his own. �I�ve spent many a year at sea, in all kinds of weather. You learn to adapt to the vagaries of fortune� or at least to the vagaries of drink.� He toasted her with a serious expression and drank again before offering her the flask once more.

Unable to restrain her curiosity, Elizabeth asked, �Have you always been a pirate?�

Her tone had been innocent, but he eyed her keenly, though he did not seem to be put off by her questioning. �That isn�t the question you want to ask,� he said shrewdly. �You want to know why I was never around when Jackie was growing up.�

�No, I mean� I don�t mean to pry� and, at least, I think I understand about that,� Elizabeth said in an embarrassed rush of words. �It was Calypso, wasn�t it? Jack told me she put you under a curse. So, you couldn�t have come to land whenever you liked, could you?�

It wasn�t a question, and Teague didn�t treat it as such. Instead he asked, �Jack told you that, did he?� The Captain stared musingly out at the sea, as though deep in thought. Finally he said, �I was born in Ireland to a family of farmers. The English stole our land � killed them when they fought back. I watched from a nearby hill as they burned our house and threw the bodies of my kin into the flames. That night I stowed away on a merchant ship and never looked back.� Teague looked up towards the crow�s nest. �I was no older than that lad of yours, and I�ve been a pirate ever since.�

Elizabeth didn�t know what to say to such an unexpected glimpse into the impenetrable Teague Sparrow. She wanted to apologize, but she felt as though that would take away some of the quiet dignity that had given strength to his words. There was no trace of sorrow in his voice when he spoke; he had told his tale as impassively as he said everything else. At last, all she could think to ask was, �Why did you tell me this?�

Teague shrugged, his eyes sparkling in amusement. �You asked.� Elizabeth shook her head in confusion, as if she wanted to protest, but he continued, �I�m an old man, Captain Swann, with but two things to my name � this ship, and a son who knows nothing of the past beyond himself. Surely the King of the Pirates can find a suitable use for such information?�

Nodding slowly, Elizabeth found herself beginning to smile. Teague was crafty, and she admired him for it. Jack would reject any overture of peace made by his father openly, purely on principle. But armed with a little bit of information � and a decent knowledge of how Jack�s mind worked � Elizabeth could be instrumental in helping the Sparrow men to understand one another.
She looked at Teague and accepted the flask he was offering her again. Taking a drink, she wiped her mouth on the overly long sleeve of Jack�s coat. �Calypso was right about you,� she commented. In response to his raised eyebrow, she added, �You�re a clever man.�
Teague grunted noncommittally.
For a moment, the two stood at the helm in companionable silence, sharing the flask of rum. It was good, quality liquor, Elizabeth realized, much better than the cheaper stuff Jack was usually able to lay hands on. Even her own, meager, supply back in Port Royal was nothing compared to the richness of the stuff in Captain Teague�s personal stock, and it gave Elizabeth a little more insight into the enigmatic man at her side. His taste for finery had not fallen victim to the hardscrabble life of a pirate. He was a man who desired the best that life had to offer, and settled for nothing less.
As Elizabeth took another swallow of rum into her throat, Captain Teague said, �I hear you were the one responsible for killing my son.�
It took a moment for Teague�s words to sink in, but when they did, Elizabeth choked on the rum. Coughing furiously, eyes watering and lungs burning, she stared at the Captain with wide eyes. After a few minutes, in which Teague did not meet her eyes, continuing to look straight ahead, she managed to say, �The bloody Kraken was after Jack at the time - it would have taken all of us down with him. I had little option but to - � she paused to gasp for air again, and this time got a better look at Teague�s face. His eyes were sparkling and he was trying hard not to laugh. Her eyes narrowed and she exhaled slowly, shaking her head. �Blasted pirates,� she muttered.
Silently, Teague�s shoulders shook for a moment as they both recovered. Then he said, �Aye, I figured it would be for some noble reason, seeing as how it was you that did the job. What I�ve been wondering though, is how you managed to do it?�
Elizabeth wasn�t sure how much she should reveal. She hoped Captain Teague couldn�t see the red stain creeping out from under the collar of Jack�s coat. �We were leaving the Pearl in the longboats and when it was just he and I left, I shackled him to the mast and left him for the Kraken,� she finally summarized, trying to sound as dispassionate and matter-of-fact as possible.
Teague shot a quick glance at her and then shook his head. �That�s not all there is to it. I know my son � Jack may be peculiar, but he�s no fool. He�d not be easily tricked� as I�m certain you know.�
Elizabeth shrugged uncomfortably. �Sometimes people can behave quite foolishly about certain things.�
He looked at her again, this time with a penetrating gaze. Elizabeth looked away from his stare and quickly finished off the remaining rum in one long gulp. Teague smiled again � funny how she�d thought it charming the first time � and suddenly laughed out loud. The sound was startling.
�I thought so,� he wheezed after a few minutes. �Sparrow men always seem to lose their wits when it comes to a lass.�
Elizabeth frowned, and pulled Jack�s coat tighter around her. �Yes, well � Jack has been known to lie on the receiving end of more than one Tortuga whores� slap,� she muttered.
Wiping tears from his eyes, Captain Teague noticed that Elizabeth was disgruntled and put a hand on her shoulder, shaking his head. �You don�t understand, lass� I�m not comparing you to any common doxy. I only meant that� well,� he paused a moment. �The only wholly selfless act I�ve ever committed was done because of Savarna, and my pap was just the same. It was me mam that turned him from a shiftless lay-about into a prosperous farmer � and he died fighting to keep the life she�d made for them.� He nodded at Elizabeth, chuckling only softly now. �That�s all I�m saying, my lady� it�s in Jack�s blood � Sparrow blood � we�re only truly ourselves when with the one we care for most.�
Elizabeth looked down at the deck in silence, grateful that Captain Teague suddenly decided to check the direction on the standing compass and compare it to their position by the stars. At last she handed him back the emptied flask, and he took it from her, winking at her so quickly as he did that she had to smile. He was an inscrutable man, Captain Teague Sparrow, but she found she liked him anyway.
From the bow of the ship, Jack and Ina appeared, talking animatedly. Ina was gesticulating wildly � in an obvious imitation of Jack, but the man in question only glared good-naturedly at her mockery, and Ina laughed in response. As she watched them approach, Elizabeth felt he stomach tighten as it had earlier when she�d been in Ina�s presence, and she finally recognized it for what it was� jealousy.
Elizabeth frowned at the realization. She was jealous about Jack Sparrow... a definite first. She decided she didn�t like it, and when she turned to look away from the pair, she found herself face to face with Captain Teague�s knowing stare. She blushed, and at this distance, Teague couldn�t help but notice.
Jack stopped talking when he noticed Elizabeth, but the pleasure he might have felt at seeing her up and about, dissipated at the way in which she and his father were standing together. He didn�t smile when she turned to look at him as he and Ina mounted the stairs to the stern deck, and he noticed that his father was holding his flask just seconds before the older man slipped it into his coat.
�Enjoying ourselves, are we?� Jack asked, glaring at his father.
Teague gave him a brief nod, which served to further inflame his son. �Captain Swann was kind enough to offer me the pleasure of her company,� he said.
�Did she now? Wasn�t that thoughtful of her?� Jack said, finally giving Elizabeth a tight smile. �You�re quite the humanitarian, love.�

Elizabeth glared at him before turning to give a nod to Captain Teague. �Goodnight, Captain� thank-you for the rum.� Brushing calmly past Jack and ignoring Ina the best she could without being overtly rude, Elizabeth headed towards the mast holding the crow�s nest, and within that, William.
�So what did you and Sir Roguery discuss, love,� Jack�s voice called out from behind her. �Comparing notes on deceit and treachery?�

Elizabeth whirled around. �You�re insufferable.�
�Or was he using his charms to fatten you for the slaughter? I must say, Elizabeth � I didn�t figure you as one to fall for such shallow posturing, but- �
�Jack!� Elizabeth stopped him. �What are you babbling about?� She stared at him incredulously. �We were just talking� much as I�m sure you and Ina were,� she couldn�t help but throw in, unable to hide the edge in her voice.
Jack frowned. �So, you�re old chums now, are you? Drinking mates? He�s old enough to be your grandfather, you know.�
�What is wrong with you?� Elizabeth demanded exasperatedly.
�I don�t like the two of you conspiring together� you might give one another� ideas, is all,� Jack waved one of his hands wildly.
�Conspiring?� Elizabeth laughed. �It�s not like he�s out to kill you, Jack� he�s your father. And he care about you, I might add.�
Jack ignored the obvious point and instead said, �So you were talking about me! What else did you discuss?�
�You�re being foolish,� Elizabeth sighed. �He told me a bit about his childhood, that�s really all,� she left out all the more personal details � she still had to consider those herself, and she somehow didn�t think Jack would react well to that part of their conversation.
Jack stared at her. �He did what?� He asked in surprise.
�He told me that he became a pirate after his family was killed in Ireland by the English and his house destroyed. He was only William�s age.� Elizabeth explained.
Jack narrowed his eyes, and turned away for a moment, thinking. When he looked at her again, he said, �He never told me any of that.�
�So he said,� Elizabeth confirmed. �He also said you never asked.�
Jack was silent, staring off into space. A thought struck her and Elizabeth asked, �Are you jealous about me talking to your father?�
That caught Jack�s attention. �Jealous? That�s perfidious calumny and slander!� He eyed her carefully. �Should I be?�
Elizabeth felt her heart jump. �Should I be jealous of Ina?� she asked.
Jack raised an eyebrow at her question. �Are you jealous of her, love?� he asked in a low, humored voice, stepping closer to her.
Elizabeth stepped back from him, finding herself pressed up against the mast. �Don�t be ridiculous,� she denied, shakily. �Just because she hovers around you like a shadow�� her voice trailed off at Jack�s grin.
�Does she then? That is indeed, an interesting observation� and you not having been on this ship more than a day.�
Again, she was blushing � it was becoming a frequent occurrence, she realized.
Jack was standing toe to toe with Elizabeth, his eyes suddenly captivated by the nervous flicker of her tongue as she wet her lips. When he spoke again, his voice was husky. �It seems you and I need to reach an accord,� he stated.
Elizabeth nodded � her mouth too dry to speak.
Slowly, Jack put his left hand on Elizabeth�s waist, bracing his right on the mast at her back, just above her head. He leaned in an inch closer, staring directly into her eyes. �What�s it to be then, love? What shall we say to appease the disquieting uncertainties that are plaguing us, ay?�
When she said nothing, Jack went on. �In Port Royal, you as much as told me you loved me � before the world went to hell around us. Did you mean what you said then, Elizabeth?�
Elizabeth couldn�t tear her eyes away from his. There was an intensity there she�d never seen before, and it prompted her to be honest, for once and for all, despite any consequences. �I�� she cleared her throat. �I did,� she said quietly.
The air between them stilled, but before he could make any response to her statement, Elizabeth raised a quick hand and placed a soft finger against his lips. �When I sent you away from Port Royal the day Will returned, I overheard you tell William you �thought� you loved me.� She searched his face for the answer to a question she was afraid to ask. �What is this to you, Jack? Am I just another conquest for the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow � or were you telling the truth?�
Jack blinked, continuing to stare into Elizabeth�s eyes. They were deep and brown, and at that moment he wanted to fall into them and drown, never to come out. �I�m not sure I know what love is, love� I�ve never felt it � not the way the poets mean. I loved my mum; I love the sea, and I love the Pearl. I love freedom. But what I feel for you?� He shook his head. �I�ve never felt that before either � so I�m of a mind to believe that these two elusive emotions are one in the same thing.�
The breath caught in Elizabeth�s throat and it hitched, producing a little gasping sound. Tears rose in her eyes, and she blinked them away. Lowering her head to rest it against Jack�s chest, she did not wipe away the shallow streams of moisture dampening her cheeks as Jack drew her close, wrapping her in his arms.
�There�s so much still� so many things that are uncertain. Will� and Calypso��
�Forget it,� Jack said softly, lifting Elizabeth�s chin with one finger while drying her face with the opposite hand. �The incommodious particulars can plague us on their own time� for now, there are more pressing matters that must be attended to.�
He kissed her, and for once his lips on hers were not hot and demanding, but soft and pleading. It was a honeyed warmth that intoxicated more slowly and fully than anything they�d shared before. A low baritone rumble vibrated through his chest and into hers as he pressed closer against her, and Elizabeth�s hand slid like silk across the back of his neck while the other ran the length of his abdomen and up his chest, coming to rest over his heart.
Jack�s stomach flip-flopped, and he swallowed the soft sigh that escaped Elizabeth�s mouth as he reached up to gently cup her face. He drown himself in her � in the scent of jasmine that followed her everywhere; in the warm liquid depths of her fathomless eyes; in the heat that radiated from her body as it pressed closer to his. If he�d doubted for a moment whether his words of just minutes ago were true, there was no denying what he felt now. He�d let her go once, twice, even three times � but from this moment on, if she expected him to walk away again, he knew he could not.
Freedom was Jack�s most treasured possession, and yet with the greatest threat to that very thing enclosed in his arms, he had never felt more free. The thought made him dizzy, and all of a sudden, he was gasping for air, his forehead resting against Elizabeth�s. He studied every detail of her face; the full lips, high cheekbones and delicate nose. He could not understand how this pampered, well-bred, governor�s daughter had stolen past his defenses, but here she was, and he wouldn�t let her get away.
As Jack lowered his face to kiss her again, Elizabeth�s eyes fluttered closed, and she realized, for perhaps the first time, the value of all that she held in her grasp. The thought terrified her, and she could do nothing but lose herself in intoxicating liqueur that was Jack�s kiss, and pray that this time, she could keep what she wanted.
*********************************

Onward, the being trod, for it was no longer a creature, but the vague representation of a man. He had been a man before, though he still could not remember the details of that life, or any other before crawling out of the muck on the sea floor. He was patient though � he knew that everything he had known before would come again in time, and time was something that meant very little to him anymore.

He was no longer alone, either, for on all sides, other creatures had arisen to follow him � and they were Becoming, just as he had. There were about sixty all told � he knew that somehow, just as he knew that these creatures would become men he had known in his former life. There was no understanding it � this font of information running into his head � but he knew enough to trust it.

As around him sand and bone and tissue began to regenerate and fall into line beside him, he maintained his now normal pace. He would get to his destination in time, and it seemed he would have company there, too. There was nothing else to do but continue on, and wait for the knowledge that was sure to come to him in time.
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Savarna