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The Chalice of Doom	By : Jessica66 Category: Pirates of the Caribbean (All) > General Views: 2364 -:- 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
- 10
- 11
- 12
10.
An invitation for dinner

"All
hands on deck! Hoist the sails!"

Jack
woke up with a start, not knowing where he was for a moment. Then he remembered
that he was on a lonely island, so these commands seemed a little senseless to
him- but who dared to shout orders at Captain Jack Sparrow anyway? He lifted his
head. The sun was shining, a light breeze rustled in the leafs of the trees
above him, and Rowan stirred in her sleep, cuddling closer to him. Her hair
spread around her face like a veil of red wine, flowing down her shoulders to
her round and firm breasts; breasts that were made to fit into his hands
perfectly. He nuzzled her neck and thought that it was a
wonderful morning.

"Scabby
dogs! All hands on deck!"

Damned,
it hadn't been a dream- or everything else had been a dream and now he was cast
back to reality, realizing that they weren't alone on this island. Someone was
watching them. His hand reached out for a weapon, any weapon. Then his fingers
touched the hilt of his sword and he strengthened his grip around it while he
jumped to his feet.

"What's
going on?" Rowan grumbled sleepily.

"Land
ahoy!" someone shouted, although shouted wasn't exactly the right
word as it was more a screeching that came from the branches of the trees above
them. Jack gazed up and saw blue and yellow feathers shimmering in the sunlight
when Cotton's parrot fluttered cheerfully from tree to tree. Then he looked to
the sea. His heart leapt at the sight of black sails offshore- the Black Pearl
was there. But as much as his heart leapt at the sight of her he wasn't so sure
if he really wanted to be rescued from the island since there wasn't any need
for a rescue. After all, this morning had started off promisingly�

"Land
ahoy!"

Jack wished he could roast the bloody
parrot for breakfast and threw a stone at him, of course it missed. Parrot
flapped with his wings, screeching curses. But even if he had hit that
blue-yellow feathered creature there was no denying that a longboat was already
approaching the shore for his rescue. He saw Gibbs, Cotton and four other men in
it, and dressed quickly since it would have been rather unsuitable to meet them stark naked. Then he walked to
the beach.
Rowan watched him amused. It was
incredibly how he changed with every step he took, becoming more and more the
infamous Captain Sparrow, the master of big gestures, the poser and boaster. To
her he had revealed his real face, the part of himself he kept well hidden
behind the legends, but he left that part behind now.
"Jack!" Gibbs shouted,
relieved to see his captain alive. He would have never have spoken it out loud,
but he hadn't liked Jack's plan at all. It was daft to hide amongst foes who
would love to see him at the gallows only to save a woman, a red haired witch.
Also he hadn't liked the thought of Jack being on a godforsaken island once
again since he already had to bear it too often. Yet he had been given an order
and he had obeyed. "I'm glad you're alive."
"Well, ye haven't expected
anything else, have ye? After all, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."
"Never
doubted that, Jack. I'm sure you also managed to save the wi� er, woman, I
wanted to say."

"Aye,
of course Captain Sparrow has managed to save the red-haired witch, Mr. Gibbs."
Rowan said cheerfully when she finally joined them. Ignoring Gibbs's confused
look she climbed into the longboat and avoided Jack's questioning glance as much
as being close to him. "Let's go. I just can't wait to get aboard the
famous Black Pearl."

"What
are ye waiting for, ye scabby dogs? Weigh the bloody anchors and hoist the sails!
We're heading for Tortuga!" Jack was well aware that the whole crew was
watching him- and Rowan- with a certain curiosity. So he barked commands to get
them working instead of thinking; but anyway, it was too obvious even if Rowan
tried to keep her distance and to stay in the background.

He
watched his men scurry to set the sails before he addressed Mr. Gibbs.
"Show Captain Scarlett the way to my cabin and then I need you at the helm,
savvy?"

"Aye,
captain!"

It
is frightful bad luck having one woman aboard but two are even worse, Gibbs thought when he lead Scarlett to Jack's cabin and passed
Anamaria, who didn't look very pleased with the situation at all; there was
trouble in the air. The last thing he needed now were two shrewish women
quarrelling over the captain's affection although the Captain himself might have
liked that.

"You
wait here." he said, opening the cabin door for Rowan. The way he closed it
after she had entered the room sounded as if he would have rather locked her in
the brig, but she had already known that he wouldn't welcome her with open arms,
so be it. She wasn't here to make friends with Gibbs.

Her
eyes roamed through the room and she was a bit surprised that the cabin wasn't
what she had expected it to be, at least it was less messy. And it was big, that
was for sure. As big as a captain's cabin should be if he wanted to represent
himself. There were windows on three sides, giving view of the sea from nearly
every angle, and the light that flowed in brightened up the dark furniture that
was decorated with beautiful carvings. Cupboards or shelves were hidden behind
carved wood to give away nothing personal except for some very few,
selected pieces of loot- a silvern chandelier here, there a precious mirror, and
a large oriental-styled carpet on the floor. Persia, 11^th century,
she guessed. But dominating the room was a big, round table of the same dark
wood as everything else was, and on it was only a flat bowl with green apples.
The bed, broad and luxurious covered with black silken sheets and pillows, was
in a corner of the room one couldn't see when walking in the cabin. Nevertheless
it looked quite comfortable and inviting�

"D'ye
like it, Rowan?"

She
hadn't noticed that Jack had entered the cabin, therefore she winced when she
his arms came around her waist and started to shiver, feeling vulnerable, an
easy prey. He stood behind her, his hands unbuttoning her shirt to cup her
breasts, squeezing them gently.

"You're
a lecherous, insatiable pirate." she moaned.

"Aye.
Welcome aboard the Black Pearl, luv." Finally she was where he had always
wanted her to be from the very first moment he had met her, but now it wasn't
only for fun. If he had ever missed something in his life, even aboard of his
beloved Pearl, it was her, and he felt incredibly happy being with his two true
loves now. He turned her around to kiss her thoroughly. Passion took over
control and they stumbled, bumping against the table.

"Shouldn't
we try it in bed for a change." Rowan yelped but at the same moment she
begged him not to stop� at least it wasn't sandy here�

They
didn't hear the knocking at the door- or maybe there just was none- nevertheless
Gibbs came rushing in, followed by Anamaria.

"Captain!
There's a problem- oh!" Gibbs noticed at once that it wasn't an opportune
moment to disturb them and he would have discreetly closed the door if the
matter hadn't been less serious. But spotting the sails of three ships
approaching the Pearl from different directions was something he considered
rather serious. Also he hadn't expected to see Rowan Scarlett laying half naked
on this captain's table. A skinny lass she was, not so soft and curvaceous as he
preferred a woman to be.

"Take
yer bloody eyes off my woman, mate." Jack snapped while Rowan sat up
with a start, hastily knotting the ends of her shirt beneath her bare breasts.
"Ye can tell me what ye have to say without staring at her."

Rowan
rolled her eyes and it was only then, that she caught sight of Anamaria. For an
instant she wished Anamaria would just storm in and slap Jack like she usually
did, but instead the woman gazed at her with icy-cold eyes, making her remember
the true meaning of hatred. Oh shit, I better do not turn my back on her and
sleep with a pistol under my pillow as long as I'm here, she thought, never
being more aware that she really wasn't welcome aboard the Pearl. Jack certainly
hadn't chosen the best way to make her popular with the crew. And that daft fool
didn't even notice. Too full of himself he'd just boasted as if she was his
favourite possession.

"Beg
your pardon, Captain, never wanted to seem rude, but�" He told Jack about
the three ships the watch in the crow's nest had reported.

"What
colours do they fly?"

"British-
at least two of them. The third one was still
too far away."

"Well, all hands clear for action,
I'd say. Load the cannons, mate!" Jack seemed to be eager to prove the
Pearl's qualities, nevertheless he looked insistently to Rowan after Gibbs and
Anamaria had left the cabin, his hands performing a weird dance of begging,
urging and persuading all at the same time. "Do me a favour, aye? Please
don't do anything stupid. I wanna know ye're safe."
"Fine. Then
I need weapons."
He sighed, obviously that wasn't the
answer he had expected. He would have liked to keep her out of trouble, but he
saw in her storm-clouded eyes that he better not try. She put her arms on her
hips and gazed at him with same insistent look he'd given her.
"Oh
no. It'll never work that way between us, luv. Ye're not gonna pamper me.
Gimme a sword 'n a pair of pistols and then I know I'm safe. That's the
way I am, so either ye accept it or ye better forget me soon."

Jack didn't answer but shrugged and
opened the door of a cupboard hidden behind the richly carved walls, revealing
something like his personal arsenal. There were some pistols, yet mainly swords,
cutlasses, daggers- blades of an excellent quality.
"Gosh!"
Rowan was impressed. She took out a sword, weighing it in her hand- it was
perfectly balanced. "Where did you get all these from?"

"Well,
I guess the whelp wanted to know I was safe. Just take what you like."

Jack
watched fascinated how her eyes began to sparkle as if she was a child who had
been given a nice toy for Christmas- only that she wasn't into dolls but blades.
And she wasn't modest either. She could have just chosen one sword and a pair of
pistols yet obviously she felt much better after she had also stuffed a dagger
in her boots and a bit more here and there, smiling her fallen angel's smile
when she finally looked at him.

"Let's
go 'n look for trouble."

Rowan
wished she hadn't said that since they didn't have to look for trouble,
they really were in trouble. One ship was approaching them diagonally on
the larboard quarter; it was a manoeuvrable brig called Challenger. She had
about fourteen cannons and two flexible ones, falcons, at the bows. These small
cannons were firing occasionally but they didn't do more harm than causing a
stir in the water behind the stern, and they were only used
to push the Pearl further towards the second ship which lay in wait to
block their way. That one was a bigger vessel, a galleon. That one was the
Dauntless, the flagship of the Royal Navy, and it was Commodore Norrington who
was in command of its almost a hundred cannons.

"Bloody
hell, how did that bastard escape the little firework we made of the
Phantom?" Rowan cursed, putting down the telescope.

"Guess
he couldn't wait to bring that compass to bloody Ratbone and if that little
creep really is a mighty magician like you said then he was pretty pissed being
cheated, I'd say." Jack replied with a grim smile before he gave orders to
brace back.

Any
other man- or captain- she knew would have done exactly the opposite, would have
ordered to brace the sails, to catch as much wind as possible, trying to break
out and escape to the starboard side, but not Jack. Some might call him daft yet
he wasn't, no, not at all. She understood his plan immediately and maybe even
better than the crew; they grumbled in confusion but then they obeyed. The yards
were turned and the wind was taken off the sails, the black canvas slapped
languidly against the masts now like broken wings. The Pearl lost speed and
nearly came to a stop.

That
was something the attackers hadn't expected at all. Probably they had thought
the pirates would be so stupid to heave on, yet that would have been a
really stupid thing to do. It was all a matter of the right angle. By heaving on
the Black Pearl would have been sandwiched between the cannons of both the
Challenger and the Dauntless; she would have been an easy prey for them. Also
there was no way at all in escaping to the starboard side since the area here
was famous for shallows and dangerous reefs, and the Pearl had too much draft.
But the unexpected slowdown shuffled the cards anew, because now the Challenger
passed by and might have been in a good position to shoot a broadside on the
Pearl- if the Royal Navy would have been prepared for it. Luckily they weren't,
although the few cannons of the Challenger weren't really a challenge to the
powers of the Pearl. On Jack's command her cannons thundered and after that, the
brig was far less manoeuvrable than before. Wood splintered with a loud crash
when the main mast broke, tearing down most of the rigging. Chaos spread aboard
the Challenger. Only a few men kept calm to reload the cannons, but their shots
were aimed poorly so there wasn't much damage done to the Pearl. Nevertheless,
no cheering came up amongst the pirates since the Dauntless was still laying in
wait for them, giving some warning shots that fortunately just sprayed up the
water. So their situation hadn't improved much and there was still the third
ship to be considered, a speck on the horizon when spotted first; now it had
come closer and everybody could see that it flew British colours as well. Yet it
wasn't a Royal Navy's vessel.

The
three-master was as dark as the Black Pearl but of a slighter shape and
definitely not looking like a warship. One might assume that its sails were
black, but Rowan knew that they were actually the colour of dried blood, a red
so dark it almost seemed black. Her face brightened up at the sight because it
was her Jewel Star. She elbowed Jack to get his attention and pointed with her
head towards the approaching ship.

"What
d'ye say? I'm gonna annoy bloody Norrington a bit with that cute li'le cannons
ye 've at the bow until the Jewel's close enough to give them a fiery welcome,
while ye prepare for a quick change of direction to open crossfire at the
opportune moment?"

Jack
knew a good plan when he was told and that one was perhaps as good as any he
himself might have made up. His lips brushed hers. "I'd say take care,
luv."

Smirking
she hurried to the bow and looked around for someone to help her with the falcon
there. As she had already expected none was volunteering. Then she heard the
fluttering of wings and Parrot sat down on the barrel of the cannon, screeching:
"Wind in yer sails! Wind in yer sails! All hands on deck! Scabby dogs!"

As
a result Mr. Cotton appeared at her side, proving with a wide grin that at least
he was willing to help her.

"Ah,
now I'm glad that Jack didn't roast Parrot for breakfast." Also she was
glad that Cotton couldn't reply to that since he apparently didn't know how to
deal with her humour. He just looked at her in
bewilderment while Rowan aligned the cannon.

The
current had driven the Pearl closer to the Dauntless meanwhile so there was a
realistic chance to score a hit. Alas, there was also the chance to get hit
although the Pearl still provided a small target, approaching the Royal Navy's
flagship at that angle.

Rowan
aimed at the mizzen mast and the shot went off. She missed her aim a little yet
the result was much the same. She had wanted the main-yard to come down and
crash on bloody Norrington's head but it only brushed him slightly. Nevertheless
he lost his hat, wig, and a good deal of dignity. Even from that distance she
could see his face turn purple with anger and she almost felt his black eyes
staring at her; it was scary. Yet, it had been her intention to gain his
attention and to prove the Pearl's crew that she wasn't a just bed-time sweetie
for Captain Jack Sparrow. She had succeeded in both. Now, none aboard the
Dauntless paid attention to the approaching Jewel that had already changed
colours; she flew the Jolly Roger now and her gun ports were open to give the
Dauntless an unexpected broadside. At the same time the pirates braced the sails
again, manoeuvring the Pearl to set the Dauntless under bombardment from all
sides.

When
Commodore Norrington finally noticed that he'd been cheated he ordered the
immediate destruction of the Jewel- only that the Jewel had long passed the
Dauntless. Chaos spread; soldiers scurried hither and thither, none of them
really knowing what to do first or next, and maybe even Norrington himself
didn't know what he wanted in his blind rage. Well, he certainly wanted all
pirates dead and both of their ships sent to Davy Jones' locker but it rather
looked as if both ships would manage to escape justice. The Jewel had just
changed tack by wearing, ready to give the Dauntless another broadside, while
the Pearl tried to sneak past the bow and towards the open sea. Too soon both
ships were out of reach of the Royal Navy's cannons, leaving Norrington behind
cursing as bluntly as the pirates he hated. He could have sworn that they were
all laughing at him.

Actually
the pirates really laughed, they laughed because they have kept their lives and
their freedom. Then Jack manoeuvred the Pearl alongside the Jewel to thank
Marris who was in command of her at the moment.

Rowan
didn't consider the consequences of her actions; she saw her ship, her crew, the
friends she had missed, so she took a rope and crossed the distance swinging
through the air. She landed next to Marris, flinging her arms around his neck to
hug him dearly. She didn't see Jack's face turn pale while he watched her with
the bitter knowledge that she had just left him.

"Damned,
ye really know how to startle us, Rowan. Don't ye ever dare doing something that
stupid again." That was how Marris welcomed her home, yet it was a
warm-hearted welcome and her whole crew seemed to be happy that she was back
aboard the Jewel Star.

"Well,
it was never my intention to be away from you scallywags for so long. Actually I
only wanted to explore a wreck and return with the loot, but that's a long
story. Now, tell me, how did you find me?"

Marris
started talking about a horse that returned to its stable without its rider and
how shocked Santiago had been, guessing that something must have happened to
her. He had then moved heaven and earth to find her- and maybe even hell, how
Marris cheekily assumed�

"I
bet he'd swung a pendulum above a nautical chart to find out yer whereabouts-
you know how weird he can be sometimes- because suddenly he told me to look for
ye at the Seal Cays, so here I am�"

Marris
kept on talking but Rowan didn't really listen to him anymore. Her gaze roamed
across the sea to the Black Pearl, to Jack Sparrow, and suddenly she realized
what she'd just done. She had left him without an explanation, without a word,
without a good-bye kiss. Yet it had never been her intention to leave him that
way, not after all that had transpired between them on the island. Suddenly her
heart began to ache and she missed him immensely.

"Jack."
she whispered and something long forgotten stirred deep within her. Then she
heard Marris saying something about returning to Tortuga as fast as possible and
she could just stop him from giving orders to brace the sails. "No!"
she yelled, since the distance to the Pearl had already increased. "Reef
the sails! Reef the main sails!"

Marris
frowned. "But Santiago told me to�"

"I
don't give a shit anymore on what Santiago wants. We're not gonna leave
the Pearl behind, savvy?"

He
was a bit bewildered first but then he noticed the way the wind was blowing and
smiled cheerfully. "Ah, Jack. I really should've thought 'bout that. After
all, ye've been all alone on a lonely island with him� tell me about it."

"You're
much too nosey." She sighed, looking to the Pearl again.

"D'ye
want me to take ye back to dear Jack?"

The
idea was tempting nevertheless Rowan hesitated, feeling torn. Yes, she
would have liked to say, but instead she shook her head. There were still
Anamaria's icy cold looks and Mr. Gibbs' unfriendly manners to be considered and
therefore she couldn't return to the Pearl, pretending everything was all right;
it just wasn't. There, she would never know if someone might stab her in the
back so she would have to sleep with a pistol under her pillow and be alert all
the time. Not a very romantic thought.

"D'ye
think ye can send a message to the Black Pearl?" she suddenly asked Marris.

"Saying
what?" he smirked conspiratorial, letting her know that he was always ready
for mischief.

"An
invitation for dinner perhaps?"

If possible, he grinned even broader.
"A romantic candlelight dinner? Your wish is my command, Captain."
"Is
it really a good idea?" All at once Rowan was unsure, somehow she didn't
like the words romantic candlelight dinner. What would the crew think?
They had come to save her from a danger she'd never been in, instead she had
enjoyed the few days on that island with Jack, and if she invites him for dinner
now, they all would know. It had taken her so long to gain everybody's respect,
she couldn't afford to lose it just for one more night with Jack.

"Ye
worry too much. The crew's happy when ye're happy, and it's really time for ye
to be happy again." Marris
informed her unceremoniously, reading her thoughts like an open book. He grabbed
her arm and dragged her down the companions way to her cabin. "Once again,
tell me what happened."

Rowan
sat down on the table and started with the day she had discovered the wreck of
the Gavina, the day she had found out about Escobar's death as well as
Santiago's unusually long life. Then she got up again, rearranging some pillows
on her bed while she continued telling her story, how she had fallen into
Norrington's hands, what the Commodore wanted from Jack, and how they had
blasted the Phantom. The whole time she scurried through her cabin doing useless
things before she vanished behind a
paravent. Marris saw her clothes drop to the floor and heard the splashing of
water.

"�
and then we reached that island." Her head appeared from behind the
paravent, giving him her sweetest smile. "Please, could you be so kind and
bring me more water? I really have to wash my hair."

"It's
not fair to stop when it's getting interesting." he mumbled and hurried to
do what she'd asked because he didn't want to miss that part. And although she
only told him a few minor details after she finally stepped from behind the
paravent to have a glass of wine, her eyes couldn't hide that she had a really
good time on that island. He grinned knowingly. "So, it's serious."

"No."
Rowan lied, rummaging about in a chest with clothes. But she wasn't a very good
liar; at least she couldn't conceal the truth from Marris.

"Ye
can't fool me, dear, I know ye better than anyone else. No matter what ye say,
yer eyes can't keep a secret."

"Well,
even if I love him it still doesn't make any sense. I mean, look at me! I've
just washed my hair- if we had a tub aboard I would have even taken a bath- and
now I don't know what to wear. I'm acting ridiculous. I'm acting like a foolish
girl facing her first date. Why? For Jack, I'm only one of many. He'll forget me
soon enough 'cause there's no future for this love anyway. He won�t give up
his Pearl, I won�t yield the Jewel, that's it.
Damned, I'm a pirate, I won't change my ways. And I'm not vain, but I really
don't have anything to wear for tonight."

Marris
stared at her amused and couldn't help but bust out into laugher. "Gosh!
Ye're mad and ye're in love- what a combination! Ye're absolutely mad 'bout Jack
and ye're surely not only one of many for him 'cause he loves ye too;
I know it. I dunno if Santiago will like that but I think that's great
since it's really time for you to relearn love."

"Ye're
sure?" Her voice sounded uncertain and she looked very vulnerable as she
stood there naked beside to a chest with clothes, still not having anything to
wear. Then she sighed and shrugged, forcing away unpleasant memories from long
ago. After all, Jack wasn't like Tyagraja� Deep in his heart Jack was
honest, without any evil, and although he was too full of himself sometimes, he
has definitely never been when we made love. "Well,
if ye're so sure 'bout that
ye better help me since I really dunno what to wear."

"I
wonder if that matters 'cause he's gonna undress ye anyway." Marris
chuckled before he got serious again. "By the way what d'ye want Rashid to
serve?""

"It
doesn't matter since I'm gonna be the dinner." she grinned.

-

He
knew everyone was staring stared at him though they tried to do it as
unobtrusive as possible. After he'd passed them by to go down the companions way
they would start jesting and he couldn't even blame them. There had been so many
ambiguous jokes aboard his own ship ever since he got her message, so it
wouldn't be much different here; yet there was a difference. Her first
mate welcomed him as a friend instead of an intruder, not like his first
mate had welcomed her.

"Captain
Scarlett is already awaiting you, Captain Sparrow." Marris said open-minded
and with a knowing smile.

Jack
took his time to eye the pirate up and down. If he had believed in fairy-tales
he would have thought him to be an elf. Of course Marris had no pointed ears but
his face was much to pretty for a man and his hair was too pale, it almost had
the colour of moonlight. But then again he would have make a rather unusual elf
with his backcombed mass of hair, several silvern earrings and jingling rings on
his arms; also he had a very unelvish tattoo of a nude Asian girl on his left
upper arm.

"Are
ye ready?" Marris asked slightly amused, reminding Jack that he was in fact
staring at him. "Before ye can ask- the tattoo's from Shanghai, and I'm
from a strange country far in the north called Finland, and my real name's
unpronounceable for anyone outside Finland so everybody simply calls me Marris,
savvy?" They had reached the door to Rowan's cabin by now and
Marris opened it with an inviting gesture. "Have fun."

Jack
entered the cabin and was stunned. Well, he had been invited for dinner so he
shouldn't be surprised that the table was set for two, and because it was
already dark outside there were of course candles burning. And Rowan, she just
looked incredible tonight. She wore a green sari that matched her emerald eyes
and her red-wine hair hung loose to the middle of her back.

So
they're gonna have a candlelight dinner. Now that was something he never had
before since that was never needed for a quick lay, also it would have been very
unsuitable for a pirate. But now he liked the idea because Rowan was much more
to him than just a good lay and although the though of a close relationship was
somehow scary, it was no longer unthinkable.
- 10
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The Chalice of Doom