-Afternoon the next day-
"Beckett?" Gibbs asks.
"Yes, they're signed. Lord Cutler Beckett of the East India Trading Company." Elizabeth responds.
"Bluergh!" Jack groans, looking at the letters of marque.
"Will was working for Beckett and never said a word. Beckett wants the compass. Only one reason for that." Gibbs says.
"Of course. He wants the chest." I say.
"Yes, he did say something about a chest." Elizabeth confirms.
"If the company controls the chest, they controls the sea." Gibbs says.
"A truly discomfiting notion, darlings." Jack says.
"And bad. Bad for every mother's son what calls himself a pirate. I think there's a bit more speed to be coaxed from these sails. Brace the foreyard!" Gibbs yells.
"Might I enquire as to how you came by these?" Jack questions, walking closer and closer to Elizabeth.
"Persuasion." She answers.
"Friendly?" He asks.
"Decidedly not." She replies.
"Will strikes a deal for these and upholds it with honor. Yet you are the one standing here with the prize. Full pardon. Commission as a privateer on behalf of England and the East India Trading Company. As if I could be bought for such a low price." Jack says, going to walk away.
"Jack, the letters. Give them back." Elizabeth orders.
"No. Persuade me." Jack says with a smirk.
"You do know that Will taught me how to handle a sword?" She questions.
"As I said. Persuade me." He says, trying to be seductive. She and Jack were almost nose to nose, making me quite uncomfortable. Elizabeth turns around and walks to the starboard side railing. I casually make my way over to her, but Norrington makes it there first.
"It's a curious thing. There was a time that I would have given anything for you to look like that when thinking about me." He tells her.
"I don't know what you mean." She says.
"Oh, I think you do." He tells her.
"Oh, don't be absurd. I trust him, that's all." She argues.
"So, you never wondered how your latest fiancé ended up on the Flying Dutchman in the first place?" He asks, walking away, smirking. She opens up Jack's compass and glances up at Jack. She slams the compass shut as a conflicted look makes its way across her face.
"Elizabeth? Is there something troubling you?" I ask.
"No," She says, stubbornly.
"I know what that compass does Elizabeth. It was pointing at Jack, wasn't it?" I ask. She nods.
"Elizabeth, if you break Will's heart I swear on pain of death..."
"I won't Rose. That's a promise." She tells me. I nod. Caspian grabs my hand and motions for me to follow him to the crow's nest.
"Are you threatening people again?" He asks.
"That's my job birdbrain,"
"Bloody hell no need to be mean."
"Well, as Quarter-mistress, it's my job to threaten those who threaten the captain's safety."
YOU ARE READING
Hoist the Colors
FanfictionSixteen-year-old Rose Mirilla Black wakes up one morning to her best friend, Will Turner, shaking her awake, screaming at her that they took Elizabeth Swann, the governor's daughter. The story picks up when they're on their way to the fort to help f...
