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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
- 4
- 5
- 6
4.
a party in Port Royal

Scarlett
rose from the bed and left Will in a mess of emotions. Though this had been one
reason for returning to the Caribbean- to find the son of a father who's thought
his son is dead and to tell the son that his father isn't dead. To disentangle
this muddled situation and to knot together loose ends- there was no time to do
this now. Also there was no use racking her brains over how and why Santiago
knew that young Will Turner was alive. While she'd to wait for a hint that Jack
Sparrow gave her. She hadn't even being sure until this night. No one would ever
be able to tell what's inside Santiago's head but that should be the least of
her problem today.

Instead
there were many other questions that required her attention more than the
mysterious ways of a weird Spaniard. What's
going on in Port Royal? was the most pressing one straight followed by what's
Norrington up to? Why had he not reported
either Jack Sparrow's capture or his escape? Why did he keep both secret? Was he
even bothering to look for him? Well she was quite sure about this, because it
was quite obvious that he had a personal dislike of Jack as the lashes on his
back proved. So why wasn't all of Port Royal in a state of alert, why hadn't
Norrington knocked on the Governor's door yet? She had to find out but
that was something she couldn't do from this room. In addition it was also
necessary that everyone present acted as usual, like nothing had happened. That
included Governor Swann doing what a governor usually does as well as Will
working in his forge.

"Gents,
I'd like to remind you once again that Elisabeth is still my hostage." she
addressed Swann specifically in case he might have happened to forget about this.
"So you better not even think about doing anything stupid. A bullet in the
brain can be a very nasty thing."

Though
using drastic words Scarlett put away her pistol the same instant the governor
had left the room, and then she smiled conspiratorial at Elisabeth. "Now,
my dear, let's see what kind of secrets Port Royal keeps for two pretty ladies
like us. Shall we go for a walk and stroll 'round this lovely town?"

Elisabeth
raised her eyebrows in surprise. "You do want me to take a walk with you?
Everyone can see that you're a pirate."

"Aye.
That fore, I'm gonna disguise myself. I recommend that ye borrow me some�
well, let's say suitable clothes."

"Captain!
You're gonna wear a dress? Like a fine lady?" Marris gasped. "Now, I
really wanna see that."

"No
way, my dearest one. You're gonna hold your position assisting Mr.Gibbs taking
care of Jack." Scarlett said but as well she meant to say, and
to keep an eye on Mr.Gibbs. She couldn't help it- of the two first mates in
this room Marris was the only one she trusted.
Then she turned to Elisabeth asking her if she was willing to help her
get dressed like a lady, and the younger woman seemed to be amused by that, so
she agreed.

-

The
room they went had the atmosphere of a museum. The furniture was covered with
white clothes to keep the dust away but the dust of years had been stronger. It
whirled up when they entered and tiny flakes danced in the sunlight that fell in
through a window overlooking the harbour. There was a picture on the wall. The
woman in the portrait looked just like Elisabeth, only a couple of years older.

"These
are my mother's things. Father couldn't stand the thought of leaving it back in
England when we were set off for Jamaica so he packed up all of it. In the first
years he came here quite often to remember her but I haven't seen him doing so
lately. Therefore I don't think he would be bothered if you wore one of my
mother's dresses." Elisabeth explained and opened an old wardrobe. It was
stuffed with clothes but not all of them seemed old enough to predate
her mother's death. Thoughtfully she shook her head.

"Guess
the servants have changed this room into a stock for unneeded things."
Scarlett said pointing at the footsteps that were quite visible in the dust in
front of the closet, but   the
closet itself wasn't as dusty as the rest of the room. She stepped closer to
have a better look at the contents. "Hmm, I suppose you don't want me to
dress up as your lady's maid and a schoolmarm would be even more ridiculous. I
need to be a woman of the same rank as you are."

"How
are you going to explain your presence
in Port Royal anyway as nobody has ever seen you here before?" Elisabeth
asked while watching the pirate irresolutely rummaging through the dresses,
taking one or another out of the wardrobe before putting it back again with a
sickened face.

Scarlett
paused and looked out of the window to the ships down in the harbour.
"Well, you just have to tell me which one's arrived just lately and I'll
spin a yarn."

Then
she concentrated on the contents of the wardrobe again, already regretting her
idea. She had never thought she'd
be that vain yet she was indeed. However, she couldn't imagine herself in a
dress printed with tiny flowers or in a pale blue one as it simply wouldn't fit
with her hair. Her hair- that was another problem. She had to hide as much of it
as possible because the colour was just too flashy to go unnoticed, and though
she had been away from the Caribbean for nearly ten years now it was possible
that some still remembered her.

Finally
she discovered a black veil and a dress that matched with it, but Elisabeth
wasn't very happy with her choice.

"Oh
no, Captain Scarlett, you can't walk the streets of Port Royal wearing a black
dress as that colour is reserved for widows in grief for a beloved one."

"Dear,
my beloved husband has just died, how can you be so cruel to remind me all the
time?" Rowan Scarlett faked a sob that made Elisabeth burst out in helpless
giggles.

"By
God, you are a good actress, Captain Scarlett�"

"Ah,
just call me Rowan!" the elder woman interrupted smiling.
She placed her weapons on a table. There were two pistols, a sword and a
cutlass from her belt, the dagger she had used to pick a bullet out of Jack
Sparrow's shoulder, a third pistol she had pulled from somewhere in her shirt
and another dagger hidden in her boots. Then she undressed with a naturalness
that didn't know any modesty.

Elisabeth
knew that decency should have demanded that she to keep her eyes off the naked
woman in front of her yet she couldn't help but stare at her in curiosity. Of
course she hadn't seen many naked people in her life let alone a naked pirate-
thanks the Lord! Anyway, she realized that there weren't much anatomically
differences between a female pirate and herself, except for the smooth lines of
muscles flowing under Rowan Scarlett's dark golden tanned skin. Then she watched
her clumsily attempt to get dressed again. There was a rustle of many layers of
textile followed by a choked cry for help.

"Oh
no Rowan, now don't tell me that you can
sneak into Port Royal unseen, pull off a jailbreak, make the boldest plans and
even know about the art of healing, but that you can't
dress properly."

"Hey,
no one's perfect."

Carefully
Elisabeth helped her strange new friend to handle the complicated problems of
dressing like a lady and specially enjoyed the part of being the one to lace a
corset instead of being laced.

"Not
that tight! Bloody hell, I'm here to solve a secret 'n not to be in the market."
Scarlett groaned before looking in a mirror next to the wardrobe. She saw a
strange but yet familiar image of herself and faked a smile to her reflection.
"Now, where do fine ladies hide a pistol 'n a dagger just in case they
might need it?"

"Well,
fine ladies wearing fine clothes usually don't even know how to use a pistol or
a dagger therefore they don't need a place to hide it. But as I'm sure that
you're never going anywhere unarmed I recommend you to wear a handbag."

Scarlett
flashed a thankful smile and off they went straight into the streets of Port
Royal. Though they passed many soldiers on their way no one seemed to be on
alert. They nodded politely as they had to when two fair ladies walked by and
then continued with whatever they'd been doing
before being interrupted, nothing much. There was some gossip about last
night's jailbreak but no one ever mentioned the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow.

Finally
they reached the harbour. There was a galleon lying at anchor at the entrance of
the bay, cannons aligned to give any intruder the deserved welcome. It was the
Dauntless, Elisabeth explained before pointing to three smaller ships at the
navy's pier, two brigs and a ketch.

"And
these are Commodore Norrington's new toys, just arrived from London to replace
the Interceptor. They're called Challenger, Huntress and Executer, and they're
here to bring an end to piracy in the Caribbean."

"A
pompous plan, I hope he fails." Rowan said and asked for the huge, grey
two-decker that Mr.Gibbs had seen. Elisabeth shrugged her shoulders.

"The
Dauntless is the Royal Navy's biggest ship as Mr. Gibbs should know."

"Hmm..."
Scarlett wondered about that. Though Gibbs might have been a superstitious old
seadog she figured that he wasn't that superstitious to mistake an unknown, grey,
two-decked vessel with the Dauntless, even if he had been in a state of shock.
So instead of solving one problem she was outright confronted with the next.
Anyway, at least the sight of a well known merchant-ship gave her an idea what
yarn to spin if someone would ask for her origin. She was from Spain, a Spanish
lady�

"Why
did you become a pirate, Rowan?" asked Elisabeth all of a sudden and
therefore interrupted her thoughts without warning.

"For
freedom." she simply answered before considering that her answer surely
wouldn't be enough to please a woman like Elisabeth. But would Elisabeth
understand the plain truth? She had started to like her so she tried to explain.
"Well, unlike you I wasn't born to a wealthy family and I became an orphan
when I was about five. So I knew from the beginning that I only had a few
choices but I wanted to be free of predetermined ways. I didn't want to be a
maid serving the upper class nor did I want to become a whore. That's why I've
decided to become a pirate, and Fortuna had been kind to me by sending me a
Spaniard who- for what reasons - spread his wings over me. He taught me
everything I needed to know about ships, nautical things and the ability to
protect myself. So here I am, being exactly what I ever wanted to be. Why be
satisfied with less?"

Elisabeth
took her time to think about it and eventually had to agree with some points
that Rowan had stated about predetermined ways. If her father hadn't love her so
much she would've had to marry Commodore Norrington and not the man she loved
though this one was of a much lower rank, a blacksmith.
Fortune had been good with her as well. Nevertheless she had to think
about pirate's ways and means, how harsh, rough and cruel they could be. She
thought about slaughtering, raiding, plundering, maybe even raping�

"We're
not like that." Rowan said calmly as if she could read her thoughts. "Being
a pirate doesn�t mean to be like Barbossa. We avoid cruelty. We don't plunder
villages. We don't take slaves, we free them. We only rob the rich, never the
poor. We lively trade but without the East India Trading Company getting its
share. Some might call this smuggling but I prefer to call it free enterprise.
We disrespect the monarchs of this world who incite wars for profit, and our
community proves that English, French, Spanish and even Indian men can get along
with each other. Well, actually I think that we're the only good ones in this
world."

Elisabeth
chuckled. It was so easy to believe every word that Rowan says and maybe she was
even right with her theory. She couldn't tell; she hadn't seen enough of the
world yet besides she had never cared much about politics as this was something
young ladies shouldn't care about. In fact there where other things that
interested her much more. She had to ask Rowan about her relationship to Jack
suggesting that she was still risking her life to save his.

At
that moment the bells of St. Paul's started ringing and saved Scarlett from
answering this question as Elisabeth once again misjudged her reasons to be of
romantic nature and there surely wasn't any romance. Instead there was a hustle
and bustle of people in the streets now, all hurrying toward Fort Charles.

"Oh
my God, how could I have forgotten about that? Today's the official welcome for
the Captains of the new ships. They're going to be presented to the people of
Port Royal and everyone is asked to be present." Elisabeth gasped. "Hurry,
we have to get Will."

They
made their way to the forge when Will Turner already walked towards them wearing
the fine clothes of a respectable gentleman. He stared at Elisabeth as if he
would have liked to embrace her before remembering that was a taboo in public,
so he just offered her his arm. Then he saw a black-dressed woman at his wife's
side yet it took him a while to recognize that the 'widow' was Captain Rowan
Scarlett in disguise.

"Oh�"
was all he managed to say.

Together
they walked on to Fort Charles where all seemed to be in wait for them to start
the ceremony. Governor Swan was so happy to see Elisabeth well that he didn't
even wonder about the new member of his family as Scarlett had naturally joined
them on the VIP stand.

What
followed was a dreadful boring ceremony of exhibiting military honours with a
preacher man blessing it all and especially the three Captains for serving their
country and the king, and God bless the King. Scarlett nearly got sick of it.
They represented just everything she had ever despised and even underlined her
despite once more. Yet she had to endure it. At least Will seemed to be as bored
as she was stepping from one foot to another, waiting for an end. They changed
glances of understanding.

"That's
the punishment for marrying a woman far above my rank." he secretly
whispered to Scarlett. "I really, really love her more than anything in
this world but I'll never get used to this representative stuff her father's so
keen on. And of course I can never meet his high expectations..."

To
prove his words Governor Swann shot him an annoyed look and Elisabeth gently
elbowed kicked his ribs to remind him that silence was appropriate. Nevertheless
she rolled her eyes to show him that she was bored as well.

The
ceremony was ended with a salute. All canons were fired three times and in that
deafening noise the assembled crowd broke into many different directions. People
went back to work, soldiers to their position, and some chosen ones set to make
their way to the Governors residence where a more distinguished party was to be
held. Servants in livery awaited them with trays offering everyone a glass of
champagne. Scarlett took one glass and made the inexcusable mistake to thank the
man who was offering it, a huge Negro looking rather ridiculous in his livery
and white wig.

"Hush-
he's a slave. Fine ladies never thank a slave and you better keep to it if you
want to keep your disguise." Elisabeth informed her.

Scarlett
turned up her mouth. "I'm against slavery as I've told you, and I can
imagine a strong guy like him doing much better work on my ship than doing the
flashy Harry here."

"Please
Rowan- even saying something like this can get you in trouble if it falls into
the wrong ears."

The
Negro watched both with a frozen face and only a slightly lifted eyebrow
indicated that he had followed their conversation attentively. Scarlett met his
eyes for a second, seeing the pain of a caged wild animal in them. Then her
attention was drawn by Commodore Norrington entering the hall and she used the
occasion to have a closer look at him.

He
was dressed in his best uniform with shiny buttons and golden braids, highly
decorated with medals. His boots were polished until they gleamed; his wig
fitted perfectly without even a single hair sticking out of the elegantly curled
locks. He looked as pale, stiff and absolutely correct as an English Gentleman
possibly could, and he seemed to lack any kind of humour.

"Gosh,
ye can feel damned lucky that ye didn't have to marry him, Liz. Just imagine
that he's the same in bed like he represents himself here."

Elisabeth
blushed, looking frantically around in case someone might have picked up that
but fortunately it wasn't so. She felt really embarrassed. This was something a
lady should never talk about, not
even with her best friend and certainly not with a pirate in disguise who she
had met for the first time only a few hours ago. Yet- reconsidering it- Rowan
Scarlett was surely right.

Scarlett
had no idea how her word had aroused Elisabeth as she kept on watching the
Commodore secretly. His whole appearance made it clear that he was indeed a very
ambitious man who wouldn't rest until even the very last pirate of the Caribbean
is swinging at the gallows- but he definitely wasn't a man who would furiously
whip the skin off another man's back even if that man was Captain Jack Sparrow.
Also he wasn't a man to keep the capture of an infamous pirate secret as he
seemed to be quite mad about medals and climbing the ladder of hierarchy to
become an Admiral.

She
was still thinking about it over when he came over to them after having spotted
Elisabeth without her husband. He addressed her as Mrs. Turner, asked for her
state of being and with a heavy heart for that of her husband as well. She
replied to these courtesies as politely as she could and hoped that he would
leave them alone as soon as possible. Unfortunately he didn't leave but caught
sight of Scarlett and bowed to her.

"Mrs.
Turner, I am inconsolable and please forgive my thoughtlessness nevertheless I
cannot remember having ever seen your lovely company before. Is the Lady a
member of your most honourable family?"

"May
I introduce you to�" Elisabeth chose the first Spanish name that came to
her mind. "�Isabela�"

"Isabela?"

"Isabela
is a distant member of my family." Elisabeth
explained.

"Si. Isabela de la Rioja. My mother was the niece of Mrs. Swann's- God blesses her- cousin second
degree that went to King Philipp IV and Queen Maria Anna's court during a short
period of peace, where she married a Spanish Lord." Scarlett lied with her
sweetest smile gracefully offering her hand to the Commodore that he may
courteously kiss it. "Oh it is so nice to meet such a fine highly honoured
English gentlemen."

"I
am delighted to meet a very charming lady."
Thoughtfully he looked at Scarlett. "How can it be that I never had
been so lucky to meet you before, Lady Isabella?"

"I
have just arrived in Port Royal with the Gavina, dear Sir." Scarlett
answered formally, proving that she could handle the situation perfectly. That
was before the Commodore suddenly frowned.

"I
didn't know that the Gavina carries passengers, however- there is Captain
Escobar. I will ask him to join us."

Oh
no, Scarlett thought and stared at the floor hoping in would open and swallow
her. Of course it didn't. Then Norrington returned with an elder, grey-haired
and very distinguished looking Spaniard whose face was dominated by a huge
moustache.

"Lady
Isabella de la Rioja was so kind to tell me just a minute ago that it was your
pleasure to take her from Spain to Port Royal." she heard the Commodore say
before she had to look up to welcome Capitano Ruiz Escobar. First he gazed at
her in bewilderment but he regained his composure quickly.

"Do�a
Isabella, how nice to meet you again. I hope you had no reason to complain about
the voyage." he said.

"Muchas gracias,
Capitano. How can I complain if someone is so kind like you are?" Scarlett
answered very relieved 'cause Captain Escobar had apparently decided to join her
little game.

"Only
on rare occasions does the Gavina carry passengers and most surely none of them
had ever been such an entertaining one as Do�a Isabella. She also has a
profound knowledge of good wines."

"You
certainly remember that my recently deceased husband was a winegrower." She
faked a sob and turned to Norrington. "After he died I was desperately in
need of the comfort only relatives can give."

"I
see. Furthermore, I would like to express my deepest sympathy for your terrible
loss, Mylady. It must be awful to become a widow being so young at age. May I
require how your husband died?"

"Preguntas
locas." Rowan said kindly, eyelashes fluttering like butterflies, and with
an ever-so-sweet smile on her lips. She's just too glad that he didn't
understand any Spanish at all.

"You
must excuse me for not knowing this kind of disease. I hope he did not have to
suffer that much."

She
just bit her lips in what seemed to be despair, though it was only the despair
not to laugh. Norrington bowed to her stiffly as he was, apologised for
bothering her with questions while she was in grief. He turned in order to get
drinks for the ladies.

Scarlett
addressed Escobar who seemed to be very amused. "Well, muchas
gracias, for not
giving me away. One word from you and you'd never have me troubling you or your
Gavina again."

"Oh,
your head is much to pretty for the noose." He smiled at her gently. "Now,
would it be too presumptuous to ask a mourning widow for one dance, Do�a
Isabella?"

"I
can hardly refuse your request, but I doubt that it'll be suitable for a
mourning widow."

"I'm
old enough to be your father so no one should care." he said and led her to
the dance floor. A slow waltz was being played and while dancing with her he
warned her in Spanish. "Whatever you're doing here Captain Scarlett, I
highly recommend that you leave Port Royal as soon as possible. They don't like
pirates in this town and they've just tightened up the security precautions in
the harbour. There is a lot of gossip. I've heard soldiers saying that Commodore
Norrington has somehow changed and they said it with fear far beyond respect.
There was also talk of some 'agents' that work for him, strangers not serving
the Royal Navy and always proceeding secretly. His Grey Army they call
them."

"Speaking
of grey- has anybody ever mentioned a grey ship?"

"Yes
indeed, but I wouldn't put too much faith in it as it was a drunk talking about
a phantom ship and curses. No one in the tavern believed him."

"Very
interesting. You've helped me again Capitano Escobar and I don't know why you're
doing it."

"As
I've said your head is much to pretty for the noose and I do enjoy your company.
So take good care of yourself."

Escobar
guided her back to Elisabeth politely and said goodbye to the two ladies.
Elisabeth welcomed her with a frown.

"Who
was he? Another pirate?"

Scarlett
shook her head still wondering. Then she explained that Captain Escobar works
for a winegrower and had been in bad luck of being seized by her a couple of
times that they apparently became friends.

"The
first time we took the whole cargo. The second time only the vintage I'd
preferred and at the next time he started a conversation about wine, and we all-
his crew and mine- got friendly drunk together. The last time he begged me to
spare him as he would get into trouble, so I did. Nevertheless he gave me a
barrel of my favourite wine he had smuggled especially for me as if he'd known
that we'd meet again. Yet I wasn't sure if he wouldn't betray me given a chance�
oh it is such a nice party, Elisabeth, isn't it?"

The
last words she nearly chirped, speaking louder than before to warn her friend
that Norrington was returning, offering each lady one glass of a sweet liquor
that was very popular with Jamaican ladies. Not with Rowan Scarlett though. He
tried to start a conversation again but was interrupted only a little later by
his adjutant who handed him a very important note. After he had read it he bowed
to the ladies assuring them that he was inconsolable
to leave them but urgent affairs forced him to. If there maybe was the slightest
chance that Mylady Isabella de la Rioja would accept an invitation for dinner
tomorrow evening?

"I
would be so pleased to dine with such a fine English gentlemen." Scarlett
lied to him with a smile. She waited until the Commodore had vanished in the
crowed before she turned to Elisabeth. "Time to leave the party, lass. We
go 'n say good night to yer dad to remind him that yer me hostage, so try to
look frightened. Then you can go home with Will. Savvy?"

"But
how about you and Jack and the others?" Elisabeth asked concerned.

"They'll
be all right as long as your father thinks you're my hostage. Just give me time
to find out what Norrington's up to, please."

-

It
was difficult not to loose Norrington in the crowd as she couldn't hurry after
him; this would have been much too conspicuous and of course not very ladylike.
So she had to follow him at a secure distance trying to be as inconspicuous as
possible. The music and laughter of the party slowly faded behind her when she
reached a long dark corridor. She feared she had lost him as there was no one in
sight and all was quiet. On tiptoe she moved on sneaking as good as she could in
her rustling dress. Suddenly she heard voices.

"Miserable
son of a bitch! I've just asked for a simple favor but you've managed to fail
even this. Ah, you're gonna be a splendid Admiral!" someone cursed loudly

"�tried
with all means, Sir, please believe me� close to the vest� wouldn't give
coordinates to me� no compass, Sir�" the second voice was much lower
speaking in a servile tone, quietly lamenting. Though she could only understand
some fragments it sounded somehow familiar to her- yet it seemed to be
impossible that it was really Commodore Norrington's voice.

"You're
such a fool. He had walked straight into the trap and all you had to do was to
tickle him with the cat-o'-nine-tails to wring out the secret."

Scarlett
couldn't understand the answer so she went further, reached a corner and then
saw an open door just a few feet away; the light of candles flickered into the
corridor. She crept closer trying to get a look at the two men of which she
believed Norrington was one.

Indeed
it was him as she could see a little later. He just explained his version of how
the jailbreak could have happened, guessed it might have been rebels that hid in
the jungle like the maroons. However it was not the Commodore Norrington she had
met as he seemed to have lost all his power, control and honor in the presence
on the other man in the room- and this one was a real surprise, even a shock to
Scarlett. Apparently the existing world had collapsed and twisted into a
perverted reality where nothing was any longer as it had been before. Where a
respected man of high merit could become a groveling servant while a formally
unobtrusive, bootlicking, obviously mentally retarded creature was his
reverenced master.

The
creature was Ratbone but nothing remained of the wretched hunchback she had seen
in Tortuga. He stood upright now and wasn't dressed in grey rags anymore but in
a charcoal-grey brocade coat embroidered with strange symbols and ornaments; an
aura of gloomy power was about him.

That
should have warned her to be more careful or better to vanish instantly instead
of being too eager and curious in view of solving the secret she had been after.
There were still too many open questions waiting for answers.

"Sir,
I did all I could to find him but please allow me a little more time to satisfy
your desires. My agents have already fanned out to comb�"

"To
satisfy my desires? Wasn't it you who called me for help to fulfill your
desires? Wasn't it you who wanted to be Admiral of the Caribbean, Sovereign of
all islands, a sublime and most powerful ruler? I've promised you to give you
all of that and even more� Hush!" Ratbone broke off his speech with a
warningly raised hand, listening hard. "Haven't you heard anything?"

Norrington
slowly turned his face towards the door and Scarlett had to gasp shocked as
there was no expression in at all. But his eyes were even worse. They had become
totally black, a blank, impassive and absolutely emotionless stare.

It
was then when someone grabbed her from behind, put a big black hand over her
mouth to prevent her from screaming and drew her into a dark niche that was
covered with a curtain. Here he let go off her but warned her to be quiet. She
nodded though she knew he could hardly see it as it was so dark that she only
spotted the white of his eyes. Yet she knew who he was.

Silently
he led her some secret ways to the kitchen of the residence where it was secure
enough to speak again.

"Dangerous
people." he said. "Much too dangerous to sneak after and secretly
listen. Never meddle with magician's evil plans. Don't want to find out.
No good."

Scarlett
took a deep breath and ran her fingers through her hair forgetting that a veil
covered it, so she messed up all due to the state of relieve, surprise and shock
she was still in.

"Well,
thanks a lot. Nevertheless I guess you've risked much more. Why did you help me?"

"I
not have anything to loose and you're nice lady. Thanked me twice today. That is
more nice words than hearing in two years." the huge slave said.

"What's
your name?"

"They
call me Joshua." he paused for a moment. "But me name's M'leh."

"All
right M'leh, I'll remember you name as I never forget a man who's helped me. And
I still can imagine
you doing better work on my ship,
get it?"

He
just looked at her solemnly, not allowing himself to show more expression than a
tiny flash in his eyes.

-

The
Governor sat in his armchair next to the fire trying to concentrate on some
documents but failed due to three noisy pirates and constant worries about his
beloved daughter when Scarlett entered the room through the window, dressed and
armed as usual again. He stared at her horrified.

"Where's
Elisabeth?"

"Well,
going to bed with her husband I guess." she snapped.

He
blushed- maybe he still hadn't realized that Elisabeth wasn't a little girl
anymore but that wasn't one of her worries. She saw that Jack Sparrow was awake
looking much better than the night before, and that Marris had obviously managed
to keep him in bed. Now what a talent. He was so good at telling stories and
entertained Jack as well as Mr. Gibbs with one of their Asian adventures while a
bottle of whatever circled between the three of them. The casualness of this
scenery suddenly annoyed her. She took the bottle from Jack and emptied it in
one swallow.

"What's
up Captain?" Marris asked as he could feel her strain.

She didn't answer at once but had to
think about it. How could she tell him what she had seen? Well she had seen
Santiago doing strange things that
were beyond reason, had heard him talk in riddles, had learnt about curses and
undead pirates- she had took it all for granted without ever believing in magic.
But today she had realized that magic actually exists and that it was scary. It
was powerful and evil, dark and frightfully dangerous.
"Now,
if something can scare you, Rowan, then it is really serious. We should get away
from here soon." Marris said after she had finished her story. They had
separated from the others while talking and now Rowan glanced at Jack Sparrow.
He followed her concerned look. "Yeah I know he'd better have another day
of rest but�"

"And
besides, we can't leave the Turners behind. They'll be in danger if they stay
here."

"But
if they come with us as they'll never be able to return."

"I've
considered this as well 'n that's why I already had a little talk with an old
friend of us, Capitano Escobar. He will take the Turners on a honeymoon trip to
Europe and is sailing tomorrow morning. So
Governor Swann has one day to inform all important people about this happy
event- have you heard Governor?" Scarlett turned to the old man in the
armchair and instructed him with what she wanted him to do. He didn't seem too
happy about his daughter leaving for Europe but at least that was better than
knowing she was in the control of a pirate. "Well thanks for yer approval
Governor. Now- if you don't mind gents- I'm gonna take a nap."

She
settled on one side of the bed that wasn't occupied by Jack and closed her eyes.
Although she was dog-tired sleep didn't come easy. There was something she
hadn't told Marris and that came to
her mind again now. She suddenly began to shiver what Jack misinterpreted in
using the chance to share his blanket with her. Oh what a noble gesture! But
then again it felt quite comforting to feel human warmth after she had seen too
much insanity� it was the same moment that M'leh had drawn her back when she
had gained a closer look into the room.

She
saw whirling clouds of impenetrable blackness forming a paralysing void and
releasing visions of nightmares far beyond bearing. Shattered hopes and dreams
gave birth to monsters when maddening voices like howling banshees splintering
into blinding outbreaks of silence. It was like someone had legalized insanity
to rule the world, magnifying a chaos of devastation and despair; yet there was
a tempting offer of sweet whispering voices to join in. Finally she saw from the
corners of her eyes the source of it all for an instant.

It
was a golden chalice.
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The Chalice of Doom