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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
- 6
- 7
- 8
6.
Alf

Scarlett
woke just after sunrise and realized immediately that something was wrong this
morning. She wasn't alone in her bed. Soon the memories of the previous night
came flooding back into her brain. Oh shit, she thought, the bloody
storm. Carefully she tried to untangle her limbs from Jack's embrace without
waking him but luckily he was fast asleep.

Damned,
why do I always have to go and make things complicated?
she asked herself while dressing quickly in some comfortable cloths, a wide
shirt and baggy trousers that were rolled up to her knees. She was just about to
leave her cabin when there was a knock at the door. Opening it swiftly she faced
young Will Turner's worried face.

"What's
up, mate?" she asked as politely as she was able to so early in the morning,
and that wasn't very much.

"Oh�
um� sorry for disturbing you Miss- um, Captain Scarlett I was going to
say�" Will seemed to be uncertain how to handle this situation before he
came up with his worries. "It's my wife, Elisabeth. She's sick."

"Sorry
to hear that." Scarlett quickly closed the door behind her, not wanting him
to see the mess in her cabin. She shrugged. "Well, there was quite a heavy
storm last night so she's probably seasick, lad. Don't worry 'bout that. It'll
pass as soon as we've reached Tortuga "

"My
wife's definitely not seasick. I know her; she never gets seasick. Besides, the
storm's long gone by."

"Oh,
really? Thanks for reminding me." she said sarcastically while making her
way to the galley. Will was close on her heels like a dog- does Jack call him
'whelp' for that reason? she wondered.

"Wait!
This is presumably something worse. You know a great deal about healing as
you've healed Jack, so please go and have a look at her."

Now,
this was funny. She'd only managed to dig a bullet outta Jack's shoulder and
suddenly she was a master of medicine? Well, actually she had no idea about the
skills of healing.

"Hey
lad, lemme have a sip of tea 'n a good look at me ship first before I'll look
after yer wife, aye?" she told him when they entered the mess, where Rashid
eagerly handed a mug of tea to his Captain. She nodded thankfully and drank her
tea.

Will
became furious. "I've should have known better. You're a typical pirate-
caring more about your ship than a person's life."

"Nah,
not say that." Rashid interfered. "Me Maharani is good Capitano, good
pirate. Cares muchas about crew, so you shut up. Silencio, savvy? No talk to her
early in the morning before first cup of tea."

Scarlett
emptied her mug, handed it to Rashid for a refill, and smiled a little. He's
such a good soul, she thought as Will actually fell silent for a while. With
the mug in one hand she went up the companions way to the deck and looked up the
masts. All sails were set, flapping lively in the breeze. She should have
checked them, as well as she should have checked the hull for leaks after the
storm, but she shouldn't have gone straight to her cabin. She got a little
nervous and then she had to tell herself to calm down again. Everything was
okay. The crew would have locked her in her cabin if she'd started an inspection
of the Jewel right after she'd manoeuvred her ship through the storm; there had
been heated discussions about this before. A captain should command a
ship and not trying to do everything by herself, her crew had once decided.
Therefore she knew that everything was ship shape, yet she had to go and
question Marris. In addition, she still had a bone to pick with him...

"So,
your ship looks okay to me. Now, would you please come with me and have a look
at my wife?" Will plagued her again.

As
she had no greater knowledge of healing than the first time he'd asked her, she
just sighed. But one thing she knew for sure. "Lad, if yer wife 'd be
feverish, throwing up blood or be bleeding to death you'd stormed me cabin
instead if knocking politely, so it can't be that bad. Also, if she'd do so
there'd be nothing I could do 'bout it. Better wait 'til we've reached Tortuga
and consult Santiago. I promise, she won't die within the next few hours."

They
had entered the afterdeck. Marris was in charge of the helm and greeted them
joyfully, flashing a cheeky smile at Scarlett.

"'ello,
my dearest Captain- you'll be pleased to hear that Peter's already repaired the
mizzen mast and as far as I'm informed that's the only damage been done by the
storm. Needless to say ye did an excellent job, as usual. By the way, did ye
have a pleasant night?"

She
really had to get a grip on herself not to beat him while Will was watching
because the whelp didn't have to know what Marris apparently knew, due to that
suggestive look he gave her. Luckily she saw a man passing by and stopped him.

"Peter!
It's so good to see ye. I want to introduce you to someone. This is Bootstraps
Bill's son, young Will Turner. Maybe ye'll tell him a bit 'bout his father and
how awful it's to become a pirate."

"But
Captain, it's not awful at all. Though I'm still suffering from acrophobia, you
and Santiago have been very patient with me and encouraged me to discover my
talents."

He
was right; he was still too scared to climb the rigging, but he had gifted hands
working with wood so he had become the Jewel's carpenter by now. Peter gave Will
a warm-hearted glance.

"I'm
so glad to meet you as your father told me a lot about you and he really is a
hero to me. Do you know what he'd risked�"

Peter's
voice faded as he walked away with Will, both being engrossed in their talk.
Scarlett watched them disappear to the main deck before she turned to Marris
again.

"Bloody
hell, why did ye have to accommodate Sparrow in my cabin?"

"Thought
ye'd liked it." he joked but then he got serious after recognizing that she
wasn't in the mood for his jokes. He tried to defend his doings. "Well,
actually there was no other bed left.
I've given Santiago's cabin to the lovely honeymoon couple and I
couldn�t have let him sleep with the crew as he's Captain Jack Sparrow. So
what? Ye don't sleep in your cabin that often anyway as ye prefer the jig's net
and�"

"Not
after a storm!" she interrupted with great intensity but he just kept on
smiling.

"Ah,
but then ye're in a very- well, let's say special- mood. Come on, I know
ye. Ye could have chucked him easily if ye'd wanted it, but apparently ye didn't."
He reached out to stroke her cheek, something, which only he was allowed to do.
"Now, Rowan, don't blame me for messing up things; you're quite good at
doing that on yer own."

"Okay,
it's my mistake." she sighed, still not very happy with the situation.

"Was
it really that bad?"

"Ye
don't expect me to go into details, d'ye?" She looked at him with a stern
expression in her face that was in a strange contradiction with her ambiguously
sparkling green eyes. Of course he wanted to know some details but she wasn't
willing to tell more and only elbowed him. Marris put an arm around her shoulder
to hug her.

"So
we better keep it to ourselves, aye?"

She
agreed laughing and returned his hug, as it was impossible to be angry with him;
they were just too close.

At
that moment Captain Jack Sparrow appeared on deck being in a splendid mood. He
swaggered up the stairs to the afterdeck with casualness as if the world would
be his own- or at last the Jewel. When Scarlett saw him coming up to her so full
of himself, she immediately regretted what had happened last night. Although he
was anything but a lousy lover, he shouldn't go getting any big ideas just
because of this little success. After all, he wasn't that irresistible and she
hadn't fallen helplessly in love with him; nothing had changed between them. So
it was time to put him in his place again.

"Captain
Sparrow, ye'll be pleased to hear that we're reaching Tortuga in an hour or
so." she informed him with cool politeness before he could come any closer.

The
words 'hello luv' just froze on his lips and he stood rooted to the spot, gazing
at her with raised eyebrows. She had figuratively slapped his face and he really
didn't know what for, though he was quite sure that this time he didn't deserve
it at all. He indicated an exaggerated bow, as it was just his typical manner,
yet he still seemed a little bit crossed. "Can't wait to get aboard my
Pearl again, Captain Scarlett."

Marris
shook his head slightly while watching both of them.

-

An
hour later the Jewel was entering the harbour of
Tortuga and anchored next to the Black Pearl, which was lying at the docks. Jack
Sparrow couldn't wait to get back on his own ship again, to feel the familiar
planks under his feet. He was expected by Anamaria who gave him a very special
welcome. Scarlett couldn't hear what she was saying but she raised her hand to
slap his face before hugging and kissing him in great relief. So, everything was
back to normal.

That was before she saw Santiago
walking up the companions way of the Pearl to face Jack and the infamous Captain
Jack Sparrow turned as pale as if he'd seen a ghost- or at least met some
unwanted memories that were hidden somewhere deep inside of him.
"Alf?"
he gasped. "What 're ye doin' on my ship?"

"You're
as ungrateful as ever, lad. Not a word of thanks for repairing the Pearl. You
always take what you can but give nothing back."

"Pirate!"
Jack smirked, but he didn't really sound like being his typical self. He was
still much too perplex.

Scarlett
came closer as she was interested why Santiago got away with calling Jack
Sparrow 'lad' instead of 'Captain', and why Jack had called Santiago 'Alf'.

"Why's
he calling ye Alf?"

"Because
his little brain was overtaxed with my full name, Miguel Alfonso de Santiago,
how I introduced myself when we first met, many years ago. As I said, nothing
much has changed." Santiago's voice was strangely cool, almost chilly, but
that changed when he looked at Scarlett. His eyes lit up and he gave her a very
warm embrace. "Ah, I'm so glad you returned safe, my dear. You've got to
tell me everything."

"She's
quiet a smart 'n tough lass, mate, a bit too hot tempered sometimes but she's
really doing well." Jack dared to say while shooting an ambiguous glance at
Rowan who tried not to blush. Bloody bastard, she thought. Luckily
Santiago didn't notice that as the mere presence of Jack Sparrow was enough to
make his blood boil, so there was no use to make him boil over. Nevertheless she
still wondered what had been between Santiago and Jack, as she's never seen her
foster father in a mood like this. He probably would kill the pirate if he'd
ever found out what happened last night, no matter that it had been she
who started it, and that's why she really hoped that Jack would stop making any
further, ambiguous comments. Or was it only she who thought them ambiguous?

"Ha,
do you really think you're able to judge my girl?" Santiago snorted
scornfully. "You, who can't even distinguish between the scum you usually
love to surround yourself and decent people? Ah, just shut up and get out of my
sight!"

"Oh,
I'd really love to but unfortunately yer still aboard my ship, so even if
I gave the orders to weigh anchor and set all sails, that wouldn't solve our
little problem, aye?" Jack replied sarcastically and - apparently recovered
from his first shock of seeing Santiago again- was now back to his typical
manner again.

"By
the way, what is this little problem between the two of you?"
Scarlett was curious to find out yet she already knew that she would hear two
different truths- or maybe half-truths.

"Well,
I'd say it's some sort of difficult father-son-relationship that would've never
worked as he's not my father and I'm not his son�" Jack began but he was
cut off by Santiago.

"That's
an easy way to describe it, lad. However, fact is that he's unable to respect
anybody but himself. He lacks discipline, is determined to get his own way
regardless as well as he likes to offend people who mean well with him. Instead
of accepting a critically comment, he'd rather surround himself with scum that
says want he wants to hear- and then they betray him. Nevertheless he's not
willing to learn anything from that but prefers to make his mistakes over again.
Oh, I wished I could have stopped Rowan from risking her life to safe yours.
Maybe the rope around your neck would have taught you better."

"Come
on, Santiago, I really can't believe ye're sayin' this! Don't tell me it's wrong
to spring a man from jail when the bloody Royal Navy was torturing him before
he's going to have his appointment with the hangman. That just isn't
right."

"See
what I mean, lad? My dearest Rowan does know how to distinguish between right or
wrong although she tends to overshoot the mark if it's about a ne'er-do-well
like you."

Now
Scarlett was really embarrassed. Though she liked to get an approval from time
to time she certainly didn't liked to be praised to the skies if someone else
was torn off a strip at the same time. Yet unfortunately she didn't know how to
defend Jack without leaving the impression she could have fallen for him. Once
again she regretted last night's activities as they only complicated things.
Luckily a little angle with Elisabeth's beautifully face appeared on deck of the
Jewel just at the right moment to save her from doing anything stupid. Elisabeth
looked absolutely stunning to all men including Santiago who hurried to welcome
her very politely.

"Mrs.
Turner, I've already heard so much about your beauty but even the most vivid
stories can't match with the vision before me. I'm really delighted to meet you
and I'm overjoyed that Captain Rowan Scarlett could persuade you to visit me in
Tortuga. Therefore I've already sent for the carriage so that none of the mob by
the docks will bother you."

Speechlessly
Scarlett watched them exchanging even more courtesies. Apparently Elisabeth
wasn't as sick as her husband has thought- maybe it was just some sort of early
morning indisposition that could even happen to the finest women when they're
married... That didn't surprise her, but it was Santiago's behaviour. He hadn't
left out any opportunity to criticise Jack in a slashing way yet there was
something in his eyes that only she could see as she had known him nearly her
whole life. It had been there when she had set sails to rescue Jack and it was
still there, somehow. He couldn't fool her. He liked Jack as much as he despised
him- or was it the other way round? However, he didn't want to let him go now,
no matter if he'd told him to get out of his sight just a few minutes ago.

"Come
on, into the carriage with you, you little creep." Santiago shouted to
Jack, and Scarlett was astounded that Captain Jack Sparrow obeyed at once though
Anamaria tried to hold him back.

"Captain!
You don't really intend to go with them?" The way she pronounced the
last word it sounded like an insult.

He
rolled his eyes, looking at the sky and then back to her, dramatically waving
his hands before they finally rested in a pleading gesture. "Luv, it'll be
far worse not to go with them. Besides, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow!"

-

Since a carriage
drawn by four horses couldn't possibly pass the small alley of Tortuga's old
town, they had to make a detour around the whole town to get to Santiago's
house. First their road led to the north and they followed the shoreline for a
mile or so until the horses turned west, trotting
into the countryside. Tortuga was very mountainous in the northern part
of the island, yet here in the south there were only softly rolling ranges of
hills covered with green forest alternating with plantations. Tobacco grew here,
sugar cane and fruits.

Will and Elisabeth looked out of the window for a while,
comforted with the sight. So not all of Tortuga was dirty, rotten pirate's nest
and the nature of this island actually resembled Jamaica. Will was also relieved
that they'd found such a friendly and cultivated gentleman like Santiago
as a host. It was a pity that he didn't keep their company in the cabin of the
carriage as he would have talked to him. Santiago had been the last one to see
his father, it had been him who took Bootstrap Bill Turner to a Buddhist
monastery somewhere near Shanghai, and he wanted to know everything about it. At
once, if possible. On the other hand he could wait, as he's nearly waited a
lifetime to find out anything about his father. Also it really might have been
better that Santiago had taken his seat outside next to the coachman because
inside the atmosphere was already tense enough even without him. He tried to
ignore this and was happy that Elisabeth sleepily snuggled her head against his
shoulder.

The sun was high in on the sky now and it was getting
warmer in the carriage, the soft rumbling
got all of them a bit drowsy.
Scarlett realized that her eyelids got heavier with every minute. Did Santiago
chose a longer road to his house? She remembered his house clearly; it was a
two-story building situated on a hill overlooking Tortuga's harbour. It was of
Spanish style like many other houses in the older parts of the town still were,
and it had a shady courtyard with a fountain. She could almost smell the scent
of the jasmine and oleander bushes growing there when she suddenly felt
transported back in time� she was a little girl again and saw this house for
the first time after Santiago had picked her up from the dirty streets of
Tortuga�

�it was a different world, only a few blocks away
from the one she used to know. No comparison to the dock area where debauchery
was the agenda and where filthy, stinking pirates ruled. She was impressed-
nevertheless she didn't trust the man who'd brought her here. Though he wasn't
one of these filthy pirates like Barbossa or the ones who visited the brothel
were she had been raised, she was cautious. Simply because he was a man. No
matter how neatly he was dressed. Like a fine Spanish Don�like the ones who
have accused her mother being a witch. Oh, she already knew how men could be. If
they didn't intend to thrash a woman and rape her, they liked to see her burn
for being a witch, no matter if witchcraft
existed or not.

"I suppose you're hungry." The man said with
a gentle voice, but then he made the mistake of putting a hand on her shoulder,
of touching her. She whirled around
to threaten him with a dagger she'd just nicked from him.

"Lay yer fingers on me again 'n I'll chop 'em off
'n eat 'em."

"Excuse me, missy. I didn't mean to offend you."

"Then don't call me missy, me name's Rowan."
she snapped.

"Ah, the red one." He looked at her for quite
a long time and managed not to laugh at her though she knew she looked
ridiculous with her badly shaved head as there were still some strands sticking
out. "Well, Rowan, you're a very hot-tempered young girl and you've already
proved as a pickpocket- it looks to
me that you possibly wouldn't intend to become a fine, decent lady one day. Am I
right?"

"Damn right, mate." she stressed. "Being
a lady's boring. They sit in their fine houses doing needlework all day. I'd
rather learn how to use a sword."

"To do what?"

"To kill Barbossa."

"Oh." He would have laughed at any other
little girl of eight years who'd said that, but there was so much determination
in her big, sparkling green eyes that it was better not to misjudge her. "But
is this all you want of life? Revenge?"

He's a funny guy, she thought, asking a girl what she
wanted of life. Though still being very young she had already realized that this
was a men's world where women had to obey and stay quiet. Now, wouldn't it be a
challenge to turn the world upside down? After all, this weird Spaniard had
asked her a question and she was bold enough to answer it freely.

"No. I wanna be a pirate captain on me own ship-
though I don't like pirates actually. But I like ships and the sea, and I
wanna sail the world. I wanna break all these bloody laws 'bout what a woman's
s'pposed to do 'n what not. I wanna set up me own rules. I wanna learn how to
use a sword - can ye teach me how to fight with a sword?"

"Aye, I can teach you that. Actually I'm quite
good with a sword."

From the look she gave him it wasn't to be ruled out
that she would have turned around and decided to leave if his answer hadn't been
pleasing to her. "How
'bout pistols? Can ye show me how te use a pistol 's well."

"I can teach you all you
want to learn."

"Well� um, I also need to know all
these things 'bout ships 'n sails 'n masts- all this nautical stuff, ye know?"

"I know. But for navigation you have
to know how to calculate, to read and to write�Do you want me to teach you
this as well? Knowledge might be as powerful as a sharpened blade."

In these times, woman usually weren't
taught how to read or write- unless of course they were born into a wealthy and liberally orientated
family. Little Rowan Scarlett knew that.

"Sounds cool." she expressed her
enthusiasm and held out her small hand to Santiago. "Now, do we have an
accord?"

Jack Sparrow had tried to make a conversation with Will but the whelp
seemed to be much more interested in fondling his wife's curls, so he gave up
after a while. The drowsiness in the carriage
was catching yet he didn't want to fall asleep. This was a strange day.
He didn't even know why he was here at all. Certainly not because Alf had
asked him so friendly to join them. Alf- or Santiago or Don Miguel or all:
Miguel Alfonso de Santiago. Maybe it was curiosity. It had been quite a shock to meat him today though he should
have known better. There weren't many Spanish weirdoes in these waters and
Scarlett had mentioned his name a couple of times- the penny should have dropped
sometime before. For so many years he had repressed all memory of him and he
didn't know the reason why, as it all had begun fairly promising once�

�he had been a street urchin with a head full of dreams but not a
single penny in his pockets; his life hadn't been easy yet he'd had the rare
talent to make the best from any situation, so he always came through somehow.
However, Fortuna had really been on his side when he met Alf. Soon he had a roof
above his head, a bed to sleep in, clean clothes and always enough to eat. He
could have gotten used to it if only this house hadn't been much too far away
from the sea and the harbour. Though he could see the sea from the window of his
room it wasn't the same hearing and smelling it. Also it wasn't really his cup
of tea to sit in a room and to decline verbs of a language that was too old to
be used anymore when the sun was shining brightly from a clear blue sky. He knew
he owed Alf a favour so he tried it at least sometimes yet he knew as well that
he would never need it, as one day he's gonna
be a famous pirate captain. Now, did pirate captains ever need Latin to do their
plundering and looting? The answer was no and that's why he preferred to spend
most of his time in the docks where his old friends
hung out, although it was quite embarrassing that they'd already started
to tease him about being better
dressed and- even worse- educated.

"Ye'll never be a pirate, Jack, let alone a pirate captain."
they mocked.

"Ah, one day, me name's gonna be bloody well known in the Spanish
Main- no, in the whole world actually. Mark me words, mates. Ye're gonna hear 'bout
the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow."

He already had his characteristic way to get people hung on his every
word no matter how much nonsense he talked, so he managed to impress the harbour-rats once again. Only Steven Bonnet, who had already sailed
the sea as a ship's boy on a pirate's ship, kept on teasing Jack.

"Come on boy, ye've ne'er been on a ship before so stop talkin' 'bout
becomin' a pirate."

"Alf's promised me a ship, me own ship."

Steven laughed. "Ye're quite na�ve, aren't ye? D' ye really think
ol' men 're really carin' for cute li'le boys like ye 'cept they're perverts? Me
guess 's that ye'd rather end as a rent boy than an infamous pirate captain."

"Take that back!" he hissed furiously as he didn't allow
anybody to speak ill of Alf.

"Or�?"

Steven was older, bigger and stronger but he was Jack Sparrow and would
have started a fight with anyone who spoke ill of Alf. He'd already done it many
times and he knew a lot of tricks. A little later he had a broken tooth plus a
few more bruises but the other guy looked even worse. Steven lay on the floor
and seemed to be absolutely surprised about what had happened to him; the little
boy had beaten him.

"Ne'er say again Alf's a pervert. 'n 'bout me becomin' a pirate-
gimme a year. I'll sign on the same ship like ye 'n I'll
prove ye that within a year I'm gonna be the one who gives orders
to you, savvy."

"So it'd be. It's a fair bet but in the end ye'll lose, sucker!"

So he signed on a pirate ship for the first time. He was young and the
world lay at his feet but in his enthusiasm he'd forgotten to tell Alf about it;
he just ran away thoughtlessly. However, it had always been easier for him to
fight for Alf's reputation than to tell the man himself how much he cared for
him, that he actually liked him a lot and that he owed him a lot. No word of
that had ever passed his lips as he'd never been able to lay his heart bare to
anyone. But, he'd proved it to
Steven and within a year he'd already made a name for himself among the
pirates of the Caribbean. When he returned to Tortuga he was as proud as a
peacock and Alf was really mad with him, nevertheless he'd awaited him at the
docks.

"Guess I've told you to wait for the opportune moment, Jack."
he said offended and would have liked to tweak his ears if that
hadn't been a much too ridiculous thing to do.

"I did, honestly, but that was the opportune moment to me 'cause if ye wait too long
it'll pass 'n ne'er returns, aye?"

Alf couldn't help it, he had to smile at him. When they went to his house
in the hills he was eager to hear all about Jack Sparrow's adventures and maybe
he thought everything was gonna be the way it's used to be. But he was wrong.

The sea takes all and gives nothing back. Once infected by her she's
gonna be in your blood for a lifetime, floating though your veins and calling
for you. You can't stop her- can you stop the earth from turning, the fire from
burning, the wind from blowing?- she calls you and you'll return as you can't
bear this yearning for her any longer.

He had to follow her call again but this time with Alf's blessing and his
best wishes. This time he was asked to join the famous Captain Henry
Morgan on his way to Panama. He couldn't believe it. He was asked to join the
man who'd sacked Portobello town and looted more than 250000 Pesos- he's gonna
be a rich man soon!

Well, actually he didn't get
rich. Fifteen Pounds wasn't that much but he gained plenty of experiences when
they raided Panama town� yet he's never ever talked about it with somebody and
after that, all pirates who'd sailed under Morgan's command scattered in
different directions.

When he finally returned to Tortuga once again he didn't find the way
back to Alf's house anymore as the taverns in the dock area were much closer,
and the promise of rum and doxies was much too tempting. Alf became a distant
figure of his past yet he thought of him quite often during the years to follow.
They've met once or twice by incident but then the memories faded�until now
when he was to return to the place where it had started a long time ago� it
was a warm, comforting feeling�

�it was only a daydream and his return to reality was quite a harsh one,
as someone elbowed his ribs hardly
to remind him that he had crossed forbidden borders once again by resting his
head on her shoulder..

"Oh, why didn't you leave him?" Elisabeth chirped with delight.
"He looked so cute cuddled close to you."

Before Scarlett could give an answer, Jack did. "Sorry, Lizzie, but
ye surly don't wanna spoil me reputation, aye? I'm Captain Jack Sparrow- I don't
intend to look cute, savvy?"

"By the way, me neither." Scarlett hissed sharply.

Elisabeth just sighed, thinking about what a pretty nice couple they
could be if only they would stop this nasty bitching at each other- and if it
was suitable at all to regard two pirate captains as a nice couple. The sudden
stop of the carriage interrupted her thoughts. Santiago opened the door to
welcome them to his house.

"Oh, this is really beautiful Will, isn't it?" she gasped
enthusiastically when she saw an inner courtyard that was overgrown by oleander
bushes and had a fountain with lions of stone. Yet the
fountain was out of use and the whole place had the atmosphere of being
abandoned for a long time, but it still told of glorious times. Some servants
appeared to take care of the horses.

Will looked surprised as he hadn't expected a house like this in Tortuga;
when he came here with Jack he'd only got to know dirt, stench and debauchery.

"I'm glad you like it, Mylady, though the house is certainly not in
a condition you're used to. I've been away too long and unfortunately didn't
have the time to prepare everything to your satisfaction for your visit as I had
to take care of the poor Pearl as well; yet I hope the room I've chosen for you
will be acceptable."

"Dear Mister Santiago, I'm not the spoiled governor's daughter
anymore, so please don't make any unnecessary effort. Everything will be all
right for me as long as I can be with my beloved Will." Elisabeth
emphasized politely but firmly.

Will smiled gently at her wondering once more what on earth he did
deserve her love, but then something Santiago had said made him wonder even more.
"Prepare everything for our visit? But how could you know we were coming to
Tortuga since that's something I never intended to do? Actually we've been quite
happy living in Port Royal before�"

"Jack came and messed up everything?" Santiago interjected
helpfully but Will shook his head in disapproval.

"Well, actually it was rather Captain Scarlett who did the messing
up; Jack's not to blame."

Jack flashed the Spaniard a golden grin and held up his hands in a big
gesture that seemed to say, you see, it's not me to blame, but Santiago
ignored him completely.

"Dear William, things aren't always what they might seem. The ways
of life are full of twists and turns, unforeseeable for most of us, but one day
we'll meet at a distant crossing and we have to ask ourselves whether this is
coincidental- or predestined." he told Will who wasn't much wiser
afterwards, although he nodded as if he had understood every word. Perhaps he
also thought that these words were just too high for a simple blacksmith.
Santiago recognized his confusion and put an arm around the young man's shoulder.
"Don't worry, William, it had been a long voyage and the sea hasn't treated
you very kindly. I assume that you must be tired, hungry and thirsty, so I
suggest we have some refreshment before we discuss what's happened in Port
Royal."

The door of the house was opened by a slender Asian woman now, who
greeted Santiago with the traditional
wai; her palms were put against each other at the level of her nose to
show her respect for the elder man.

"Welcome, Don Miguel." she said with a voice that sounded like
a sweet song and every movement of her was so full of grace that once again
Scarlett felt rather awkwardly in Mai-Lin's presence. Although the woman was a
few years older than her, the years gone by hadn't done any harm to Mai-Lin's
beauty and she still looked as fresh and pure as a young girl. "Also I
would like to welcome your dear guests, Mr. and Mrs. William
Turner. Please do feel at home here if you may. And my dear Rowan, I'm so
glad to see you again- it's been so long ago, isn't it?"

While Will and Elisabeth imitated the wai in some sort of clumsy
way and Scarlett in perfection, Jack just rushed in with an easy-going 'hello
luv'. Then he stopped, turned around, and bowed to Mai-Lin in a gesture that
vaguely reminded a wai, but only in his quite special and own ways.
Nevertheless, Mai-Lin blushed..

"Oh Jack! You did come back�"

"And he's going to leave us soon." Santiago interrupted with a
voice that could even freeze the Caribbean. He gave Sparrow so a hard push that
he nearly stumbled and warned him to never ever lay his greedy eyes on any
woman of his household again.

Jack was a
little perplex. He hadn't intended to offend anyone but his presence here seemed
to be offending enough to Alf, or Santiago. Suddenly he felt like a little boy
again who'd annoyed him by sliding down the railing of the staircase instead of
using the steps� So nothing's changed.

Santiago had
already opened a door and invited Elisabeth politely in.

"The
interior may be rather unconventional to you yet I hope very much that you'll
find it nevertheless comfortable. As I've
said before I've been in Asia for a long time and got so used to their style
that�"

"My father,
Bootstrap Bill Turner, have you met him there?" Will asked so excitedly
that he forgot all his good manners by interrupting the elder man, but Santiago
showed much more patience with him than with Jack.

"Well,
actually your father travelled to Asia with us, aboard the Jewel Star, and then
he disappeared one day to seek shelter in the dubious arms of Lady Opium."

"But why�?"
Will frowned and ran his fingers through his hair, looking extremely confused.
"I know that this sound's
rather odd, but why is he not dead? I mean, Barbossa did send him to Davy Jones'
locker, didn't he? He couldn't have survived that except if he was cursed but
then again there wouldn't be no use taking drugs since they wouldn't have worked
on him. Please correct me if I'm wrong."

"Your
reasoning doesn't lack a certain logic, dear William, but there are some things
that cannot be explained only with logic. For example, Barbossa had thought he'd
sent your father to death but he was wrong as I was there just in time to
prevent your father's death. Also, good old Bill Turner wasn't cursed and that's
why he did take drugs. Of course there's never any use in taking drugs, but
that's another story- and talking about other stories, lad, I'm afraid that you
have to wait a little bit longer to find out more about your dad. I want to hear
Rowan's story first, and what that scallywag has to tell before I can finally
send him away."

Will didn't
dare object to that although he was quite stunned how cold the Spaniard's
otherwise friendly voice could get if it was about Jack Sparrow.

"Now
rascal, what's happened?" Santiago addressed Jack. "Why weren't you
able to take decent care of your beloved ship? Is it because you've
managed to get cheated once again?"

Jack snorted
indignantly and started with one of his stories but after a few words he
realized that Alf didn't want to
hear that, so he cut it short. "Can't remember much of it, mate. There's a
battle with a huge, grey galleon; I fell overboard and all went black. Woke up
on another ship with bloody Norrington looking at me 'n I can tell ye, he's
really infernally pleased to have caught the infamous Captain Jack
Sparrow."

"Ah, and
why did the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow get caught at all? Might it be that
he'd already had a few?"

"I wasn't
drunk- if that's what ye're indicating. Just a little� well, let's say
indisposed."

Scarlett
couldn't stand it any longer as this was just ridiculous! Who was the greatest
fool of them? Santiago for slagging off or Jack for being too ludicrously proud
to tell the truth? Well, in her opinion both of them were behaving just daft.
Shaking her head she interfered.

"Bloody
hell, why don't ye simply tell him that ye got shot in the back? With a bullet
sticking in yer shoulder 'n an infected wound it probably could happen from time
to time that ye tend to forget a few details, ay?"

"Ah, so
it's not the booze nor the drugs to blame this time- little Jack's got betrayed
once more!" Santiago replied sarcastically while making an astonished face.
"How could that have happened? I'll wonder if you'll ever learn. So, who's
the traitor this time?"

"Surely
none of me crew, they're loyal. Besides, I've no eyes on me back, aye?"
Jack stressed with a voice that sounded quite pissed off yet Santiago apparently
loved to turn the knife in the wound.

"Guess
that's what you have thought about Barbossa as well, haven't you? You're so full
of yourself that it won't come into your mind somebody might not share your
point of view about yourself. Let me tell you that you're wrong to think
so."

Jack gave the
impression that it didn't matter and that his fingernails were much more
interesting than this conversation, yet Santiago had been overstepping the mark.
It hadn't been fair to remind him of Barbossa and he simply wouldn't listen to
it anymore. Actually he should return to his Pearl now; he didn't know why he
came here anyway. Scarlett was much better at telling the story of their
adventures in Port Royal as his part in it hadn't
been too famous. Laying feverish in the Governor's bed surely wasn't a
great story to tell, and getting drugged even less. Luckily she spared him a
humiliation and left out how easy it was for her to cheat Captain Jack Sparrow.
Of course Alf couldn't stop himself from praising her to the skies for
everything his 'dear girl' had ever done� it made him feel sick. Would Alf
also say these things if he weren't here? It seemed to him that this was just
another attempt to offend him and he had to admit that it worked better than any
insult, as there was that little something in Alf's eyes when he looked at her;
something that's called a loving pride. Alf had never looked at him like this-
but after all, he was Captain Jack Sparrow and didn't need it anyway. And he
wasn't needed here but aboard the Pearl, so it was time to say good-bye to this
charming company. Nevertheless, there was still one question that had remained
unanswered and he was the only one knew.

"What did
Norrington want of you?"

Now, that was a
reasonable question if Santiago hadn't added. "Assuming we take it for
granted that Norrington really wanted to find out something and didn't whip Jack
just for being himself."

Enough is
enough, Jack thought and got up from the floor cushion he was sitting on. "Why
don't ye just ask yer dear girl as this pretty butterfly is much smarter
than me anyway."

He hadn't
intended to make anyone's blood boil, yet Alf got really furious now; he
jumped up and headed for his throat. Of course Jack couldn't have known that the
sarong he was alluding to had been a present the Spaniard had given to Scarlett
and certainly not for the reason that a villain like him should see her wrapped
in it� not even to think 'about unwrapping her�

"Damned,
I'll only warn you once, lad! Keep your dirty fingers off HER! Don't.
Molest. Rowan. Got that into your thick head?"

"Santiago!"
yelled Scarlett but the Spaniard had
chosen to ignore her by giving Jack a good shaking instead..

"Now, did I make myself clear, you miserable son of a bitch?"

"Oh,
unequivocally clear indeed. Thanks for inviting me but I'm better off now."

Scarlett was
stunned. Jack was about to leave the room, even the house, and Santiago didn't
do anything to stop him. He only shouted: "If you'll ever dare to pester her, you're a dead man.
I won't allow you to put her into any danger once again!"

"Hey, it's
not me who's to blame�"

"Leave
my house, now!"

"Great
performance!" Scarlett cursed after Jack's finally left the room. "Ye
both 've reacted like two stubborn, stupid boys. Absolutely fascinating! Damn
you Santiago, wake up and don't be so bloody unjust. Do you really think
Jack could have ever touched me if I didn't want him to? He didn't start
anything, it was me."

"That's
irrelevant."

"Bloody
hell, it's not!" Scarlett turned to make her way to the door but Santiago
stopped her.

"Where do
you want to go?" he asked.

"I'll go
'n get Jack back."

"You're
not going to run after that bloody scallywag!"

"I'm not running
after him!" she pointed out. "Damned, we've got to find out what
Norrington really wants from him!"

"That
doesn't matter, dear. Nevertheless he will believe that you're running after him!"

Scarlett
couldn't believe it. She ran her fingers through her hair and thought that
either Santiago was going nuts or she was cracking up. However, she felt like a
volcano shortly before eruption and couldn't hold it back any longer. "Bloody
hell, it does matter! Actually it's of great importance, as Ratbone's no
longer a mentally retarded hunchback but an evil magician and bloody
Norrington's his willing servant and he's tortured Jack to find out a secret.
But ye've sent away the only one who could've shed a little light on that just
because ye're such a stubborn, grumpy old man who's apparently had his pride
hurt by Jack a long time ago and is unable to forget 'bout it."

"It's
not only my pride he's hurt." Santiago sighed and wondered if he could dare
to put an arm around her shoulder yet she'd calmed down by now, breathing as
heavily as if she'd run a long distance. He looked at the Turners who obviously
felt rather uncomfortable. "I'm sorry, I didn't want you to suffer from our
little quarrel. Will you please excuse Rowan and I for a while as we really must
talk about something without delay."

He took
Scarlett by the arm and shoved her gently from the room into an adjacent one
that was stuffed with books. He quietly closed the door.

"So, if we
forget the tiresome fact that you've fallen for Jack's mischievous charm�"

"No need
to assume any romantic motives, it was just the storm and I had the need."
Scarlett interrupted him.

"Dear
Gods, I should have sent you to a convent while you were still a child. The nuns
would have taught you at least a bit of decency." Of course this was
supposed to be a joke but he should have known that Scarlett wasn't in the mood
for jokes at all. She looked at him with dangerously sparkling eyes.

"Bloody
Spanish macho! Now, should I be glad ye didn't do it, as the nuns would have
loved to see if the red-haired devil's child would sink or swim? Oh, ye're so
merciful."

"I
am indeed. I had mercy on the nuns as you'd have probably gotten them drunk and
taught them to sing all those nasty songs you learned at the brothel."
Santiago laughed while opening a bottle and filling two glasses of his best
Scottish whiskey. He handed one to Scarlett. "Come on, relax now, and have
mercy with an old Spanish macho."

"Sorry...
should've known ye're just teasing." She
apologized rather sheepishly gulping down the whiskey. He gave her a hug.

"You're
really wound tight at the moment, aye? Well I can comprehend this- after all,
you've spent the last days with Captain Jack Sparrow."

"Well,
he can be a pain in the arse sometimes but I can handle him." She sighed
and helped herself to the whiskey. "It's Ratbone who makes me jumpy� it
was so weird� like the world's changed into a perverted image of herself. Ye
know, I've never really believed in
magic though I knew it exists somehow. Dunno how to handle that."

"Surely
not by getting drunk on my best whiskey." Santiago tried to keep the bottle
away from her but she was faster, grabbed it and didn't even bother to use a
glass anymore.

"Stop
makin' such a fuss 'bout yer bloody whiskey. I'll just commandeer the next ship
arriving from Scotland 'n all's fine again."

He saw
that there was no use telling her about the different qualities of whiskey now
and this one that had been stored in an oak barrel for many years, as there were
more important things to talk over. He knew as well that his precious whiskey
would calm her tense nerves and this was of the highest importance to him. So he
let her drink as much as she wanted while she finally told him the whole truth
of what's happened in Port Royal.

Scarlett
usually wasn't easy to scare yet even thinking about this golden chalice sent
shivers down her spine and her hands were trembling. However, talking about it
made her doubt her mental state. This was far too insane as it was far too
magical. Santiago had to think she'd gone completely nuts because that's what
she thought listening to herself. But she didn't tell any nightmare about a
freak show, this had been reality although this reality seemed to be quite out
of touch with reality. Bloody hell, what am I talking about?

"You're
sure the source of magic was a chalice?" Santiago asked after she'd
finished her story.

He
doesn't believe me,
was the first thing that came into her mind. "Well, I'm damned sure the
source wasn't the end of a bottle if you're indicating that. I can never get
drunk enough to think up something like this."

"No.
No, I'm not indicating anything; of course I believe you. I just wanted to be
sure about the chalice." Santiago scratched his head thoughtfully and
looked at the bookshelves which rose
to every side of this room, stuffed with books, scrolls and old parchments.
"Haven't I read about that chalice before� sounds somehow familiar� the
answer's here, somewhere� "

He
kept babbling on but he only talked to himself now and almost seemed to have
forgotten Scarlett. Amused she watched him rummage in his books for a clue,
knowing that he wouldn't stop until he's found what he was looking for. Somehow
it was a relief that he picked things up so they're not resting on her shoulders
anymore. She had another gulp of whiskey, feeling relaxed enough to inquire
something else.

"Now,
before ye bury your head in any book and won't be responsive for a while, lemme
ask ye a simply question. What's happened between ye 'n Jack?"

"Ah,
Jack. You're right. Go and get him back. We need to know what Norrington wants
as there might be a connection to the chalice."

Scarlett
looked at him in bewilderment. "Great, um� but that wasn't the question.
Actually I wanted to know why ye're so mad at Jack Sparrow- and no excuses."

"Is
there any whiskey left?" He put away the book he was scrolling through and
walked up to her. After she'd filled his glass, he continued. "Well, you've
nearly died because of his inability to judge people, his damned egoism and his
stubborn pride. It was for Jack's sake I've left you at the wrong moment in
time. I simply cannot forgive him for what he's done to you."

Scarlett
frowned; she knew what he referred to but she didn't
get what this had to do with Jack. She'd been foolish enough to underestimate
Barbossa and that's why she nearly died- it was her own folly.Troubled
with these memories she turned to look out of the window, lost in her thoughts.

"Sorry,
Rowan, I really didn't want to bring up unwanted memories. Do you understand now
why I'm so furious that Jack makes eyes at you? He's only full of himself and
never cares about anyone else but himself."

"And
he's gone!" Scarlett suddenly realized and she didn't mean the well-known
fact that he'd left the house as she pointed towards the harbour where only one
dark ship lay at anchor, and that one was the Jewel. The Black Pearl had
obviously set sails to increase the distance between Jack Sparrow and Santiago
and she felt cheated somehow. "Bloody bastard! Now we might never find out
what Norrington wants of him."

"Don't
worry about that, Rowan. We don't need him as I'll find out anyway."
Santiago promised and gave her a comforting hug. "Rest now, you look tired."

Needless
to remind Santiago that she hadn't slept much last night as she didn't want to
bring on that topic again yet it was also applied to the nights before.
All of a sudden she felt dog-tired, emotionally burned out after all of today's
stress, and a little bit drunk as well.

"Besides, I guess he'll return
soon, as he surely won't miss the chance to sail to Shanghai with you and
Will."

She
couldn't help but giggle as there was a dizzy feeling in her head caused by the
whiskey she'd already had, and the imagination of two pirate captains going on a
vacation trip to Asia was just too weird.
- 6
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The Chalice of Doom