Edward Teach Died on a Beach (OFMD)

Chapter 15

Stede was hiding his guilt and shame surprisingly well. He'd led them on a few successful attacks of merchant ships. For the most part, all they had to do was tell them they had captured Blackbeard.

It was a fairly easy fight. As Jim threatened all the crew of the merchant ships, the others took whatever they could. Stede carried a box of books off of the ship. He glanced at Ed for a moment before continuing into his quarters.

He still hadn't been able to stay in there, but someone had mopped the floors. The previous day, they'd taken on a boat of fairly important British government officials. Stede had gotten two boxes of books and one of the others had stolen one of their fancy beds.

They'd been leaving the doors open, too, so the rancid smell from the room had mostly disappeared.

Stede stood in his quarters. He felt surprisingly good for the first time in a few days. He set down the box of books and glanced at the bed.

It still didn't feel the same. Stede wondered if he'd ever feel normal again.

As the Revenge steered away from the merchant ship, Stede walked up to Ed. He'd fallen asleep on the deck next to him the previous night and had noticed Ed watching him when he woke up. Still, though, Ed wouldn't talk. He wouldn't eat either. Since the bit of bread and marmalade, he hadn't opened his mouth again.

"We can't force him to eat," Oluwande said.

Jim knelt about a foot away. "Of course we can. We shove a grape into his mouth and hold his mouth shut. He eats it, great. He chokes, great. Win-win."

Stede groaned. "Ed, you've got to be hungry."

Ed wasn't, apparently. He didn't open his mouth. Even when Jim held his nose shut, he kept his jaw clenched until he almost passed out.

"Give him another day and try again," Jim said. "No water."

Stede hummed. "He's going to die."

Jim shrugged. "Eventually, yeah."

That night, Stede tried to sleep in his quarters after he'd told the crew their bedtime story. He only lasted about an hour. Eventually, he ended up leaning against the mast next to Ed again. Ed's fist was clenched. Ed was still awake. He hadn't been sleeping much either.

Stede was nudged awake. For a second, he glanced over at Ed, but Lucius was the one who'd woken him up. And then he glanced back at Ed, who wasn't there. He was gone. Stede's heart began to race.

He looked over at Lucius, who nodded over at the captain's quarters. Stede got to his feet and slowly crossed the deck.

"I think we should be relieved that he didn't murder us," Lucius whispered.

Stede silently went to the door, stopping just outside. Lucius nodded at the door, shrugging slightly.

"Don't let him stab you," Lucius said.

Stede hesitantly opened the door. He froze, staring into the darkness ahead of him. As his eyes adjusted he saw Ed sitting on the bed by the window.

Ed was singing quietly. He was drinking from a bottle of rum. Stede turned back to Lucius with wide eyes.

(Ik I used the Metallica version of Whiskey in the Jar. I did it bc it was funny and I wanted Ed to canonically have started that version)

"As I was goin' over the far famed Kerry mountains I met with Captain Farrel," Ed sang, almost at a whisper. "And his money he was counting."

His legs were pulled up to his chest. Stede saw a dagger glinting as he twirled it around in his fingers. Ed took another swig of the rum. Lucius gently pushed Stede into the room.