PRINCIPLES OF COMPROMISE
- Dis/Claimer-
. Chapter Eight .
Elizabeth felt an unsual, out-of-place happiness as she went to her room that evening. To think, she and James conspirators thinking up creative ways to get out of marriage. And something told her that even if they weren’t able to weasel out of this (highly unlikely, for she knew they would find a way), being married to this Commodore wouldn’t be as harrowing a thought. She didn’t love him, however, though she knew he still held a candle to her. Now, they were partners, friends, and ready. Ready for whatever was to happen.
Though a deep fear plummeted in her stomach at the thought of Jack; Beckett had the pearl because of her carelessness after she had sworn never to loose it. How shallow her thoughts of it had been! She was not used to a black pearl dangling from her neck, but she still felt a relentless guilt for letting it fall into Beckett’s possession. Who knows what he could have asked it. In the back of her mind, she had a feeling he had used it, though – why else would he have proposed to her? Surely he didn’t love her. The man seemed void of any affectionate emotion.
This is where she smiled, knowing James was with her.
She also frowned, wondering what had become of Jack. He had left. She looked at his aid of escape sitting in the open top drawer of her vanity, wishing he had not left. She had no answers about Will. She had no comfort.
She had nothing but a restless night, wondering what Beckett would do when he found Jack’s cell empty the next morning before the hearing.
x x x
After leaving the prison, Beckett made for the docks to meet with the King that was to arrive shortly. He repositioned hit hat to make sure he was perfectly presentable upon exiting the carriage where he came face to face with Mercer. The eerie man smiled crookedly.
“Did she decline?” was his greeting.
“As expected,” Beckett said with a sigh. He fitted on his gloves, somewhat offended, but not surprised, at the thought. “But not to worry; we can still make it work.”
“Confronting the governor?”
“I hardly feel that he would willingly give me his blessing,” Beckett said levelly. “Besides, I don’t think marriage was a necessity to the plan. It can work otherwise.” He led a group of men towards the docks, straightening his coat. “However, things have taken a considerably fortunate turn in our favor.”
Mercer shouted as a group of horsemen galloped passed. “In what respects?”
Beckett stopped, turning to Mercer with a malicious smile. “Haven’t you heard? Well I suppose you haven’t seeing as I am the only one whom, at this point, knows…” Mercer narrowed his eyes, and Beckett smiled.
“James Norrington and Elizabeth Swann are ‘promised’ to one another.”
Suddenly, Mercer’s face twisted into a deformed smile.
“So we can still use the ship…”
“When will it arrive?” Beckett asked, assuming his position at attention.
“She’s coming from Port Solomon with the next few days, sir, also holding the provisions you requested.”
A satisfied smile rested on Beckett’s face. “Excellent.”
x x x
A knock. “Elizabeth?”
Elizabeth looked away from the sunrise resting just above the horizon. Her body tensed.
“Yes?”
“Are you ready?” he father asked from outside her door.
Ready? There was a hearing? Had Jack been captured before he could leave? Her mind began to rattle with questions while it looked for answer to provide her father with at the same time.
“R-ready?” she stammered, suddenly dashing around her room and collecting items to change into (she had not thought there would be a hearing after Jack’s exit the previous night). She ran behind her changing screen, coming up with an excuse. “I thought the hearing wasn’t until half past eleven.”
“It is promptly at eleven, and the King will be present,” Governor Swann said. “Now do hurry. We leave in fifteen minutes.”
Maids then came inside, helping Elizabeth to get ready.
Jack was still here?
x x x
“After seeing your master lying dead in the blacksmith’s shop, what did you do?”
The boy stammered. “I… I ran to the Governor’s manor, sir, and then to Fort Charles for authorities. And… A-and when I returned, he was there. Standing over him.”
Jack chewed on the bottom of his lip while staring off into empty space. Whispers rose from behind him, some gasps. Elizabeth sat with her father watching anxiously as Lord Beckett stirred up the emotions of the courtroom and conjured them into hate towards the pirate. She made eye contact as often as possible with Norrington as he stood next to the seat Will’s young apprentice Nathaniel occupied.
“Anything else you’d like to say?” Beckett asked, pleased with the reaction of the court. Nathaniel shook his head timidly, gripping his hat uncomfortably. “Very well, then,” Beckett pardoned him, “you may step down.”
Nathaniel swiftly moved to the back of the room, the whispers heightening the tension. Elizabeth wanted sorely to stand up and defend him, to earn the right to speak, but according to law, she could do nothing at a hearing. If a trial were held, the law permitted her to speak, but for now, she had to sit silently and leave Jack defenseless.
Beckett met her eyes wearing a hint of a smile, and she fought to keep herself from becoming outlandish in expressing her anger. He began to speak, eyes still on her.
“As you can conclude, Jack Sparrow returned to the scene of his crime.” Beckett retrieved an item from Mr. Mercer and glanced over at Jack. “Probably,” – he unwrapped the item and held up a shining sword – “to recollect his weapon.”
He walked up to Jack, holding out the sword. “Do you deny that this is yours?” Jack glanced at the beautiful blade, sorry to have never gotten the chance to use something so perfectly crafted. Much as he wanted to, he could not deny the sword. He looked up at Beckett’s strong eyes.
“No. I do not deny it.”
Talk now came in a scornful manner. Elizabeth’s heart lurched as she sat further on the edge of her seat, looking over at Norrington again. He looked sideways but kept a straight back, thinking what a fool Sparrow was to admit to such a thing. The Governor put his hand over Elizabeth’s to control her, but she looked back over at Jack frantically.
No. No, he didn’t do it! These people don’t know anything!
“Elizabeth…”
She pulled her hand out from underneath her father’s and placed it on the front of the wooden box they were seated in. From before Jack, Beckett closed his eyes and took the floor at the center of the courtroom again.
“He does not deny owning the sword,” he repeated loudly. “But he denies his most guilty actions-“
SLAM
All heads turned to the back of the courthouse as two rough-looking men stood against the gray sunlight, one wearing a hat with a terribly weathered and unmistakable feather.
“A cannon would’ve been quieter,” the one not wearing the hat remarked lowly.
Elizabeth stared while most turned up their noses with disgust. Norrington was sure this wasn’t happening while Jack slowly turned back around in his chair, knowing he was now done for. Beckett recognized both of them, and rage began to quiver inside of him. The Governor leaned into his daughter’s ear.
“Who are they?” he asked, sensing their familiarity.
“It’s Gibbs and Barbossa,” she barely whispered to herself, still staring at them almost desperately.
Barbossa made eye contact with the judge. “I object.”
Together, the two of them walked down the aisle; Gibbs nodding to a few ladies who looked very stricken, and Barbossa smiling at the judge and Beckett the entire way up. Finally, when they stopped at the end of the aisle, Beckett glared at them.
They were not in the black pearl’s projection, but they seemed a threat.
He wheeled around to the judge. “Your honor, arrest them,” he said. “These are adversaries of Jack Sparrow, and they serve under his name, partaking in piratical crimes against the crown.”
The voices rose as Barbossa touched Beckett’s shoulder. He turned, facing Barbossa’s toothy, rotting grin.
“I don’t serve under anyone, especially Jack Sparrow,” he said. Barbossa’s eyes drifted sideways, and he turned toward Jack who was still seated at the table staring at its surface. Jack finally looked up. He stopped biting on his finger, very nonchalant at this point. His eyes lit up with an idea. Elizabeth could see it from across the room.
“Ah!” He stood, immediately shaking their hands. “Stan, Brutus, good to have you! I just knew you would come. And right in the knick of time, too,” he said with an extravagant series of gesticulations. Barbossa and Gibbs looked thoroughly confused while Jack just smiled at them. He pointed at them and said quickly to Beckett, “My lawyers.”
Beckett laughed. “Hardly.”
Jack frowned. “I’m entitled, my good man. So says the laws of this court.”
Murmurs broke out as Jack smiled around the room, waving to someone. Elizabeth tried to figure out what he was up to while Norrington thought it a poor attempt at obtaining justice. Barbossa met Jack’s eye, wanting sorely to give up on the charade. However, he didn’t know what was going on that Jack was in the middle of a hearing. Jack shot him a pleading look for half a second, still smiling about. Barbossa grinned wickedly.
“Your honor, do these look of honest law-abiding men to you?” Beckett asked of the judge. “They are not whom they claim to be.”
“Sure we are,” Barbossa said, facing the judge. “I’m Stan, and he’s Brutus,” he said, motioning to Gibbs. “We hail from Tortuga. And let that be that.”
More voices. Gibbs nudged Barbossa. “Why do I have to be Brutus?” he whispered rigidly.
“’Cause I’m Stan,” Barbossa said with a clever grin.
“Mr. Sparrow, you are not entitled to have defense at this hearing,” the judge said. “If a trial is held regarding your case, these men may accompany you, given I can see their proper documentation upon request.”
“With all due respect, they have no honest documents,” Beckett said with a steel gaze on the judge. He was overly annoyed and upset that the judge had been so blind to Jack’s charade. “They are pirates.”
“Am not,” Barbossa tauntingly drawled, showing the judge a brand-free forearm. Gibbs did the same as Beckett twisted his face, the rage beginning to rise from within him. He grabbed Barbossa’s forearm forcefully.
“I’ll put that brand on you before long,” he said in an acidic tone. Barbossa jerked his arm away, a dangerous stare shared between him and Beckett. Soon the voices died down at the sound of the gavel wrapping sharply on the judge’s desk.
“Lord Beckett, you claim to know these men as pirates,” the judge stated. “If this is so, why are they not branded?”
“They are slippery, my lord,” Beckett said through gritted teeth.
“Can anyone in this room come forth and say that these two men have committed acts of piracy against them or caused them harm?”
Beckett slowly looked over to the wooden box at Elizabeth. He sent a pulsating glare at her to which she merely pressed her lips tight together, intending very much to stay silent. The court remained so for half a minute, at which time the judge spoke again.
“Then these men are to remain untouched,” the judge said as Beckett closed his eyes, trying to control his anger seething under his skin. Elizabeth sighed in relief. “They are welcome here as guests to the port, but you both must return to your vessel after nightfall. Is that understood?”
“Yes it is, your honor,” Gibbs said with a satisfied tone. His smile met Beckett’s scorn soon after, and it instantly vanished.
“And regarding Mr. Sparrow…”
Beckett looked up. This was it. He would get to bloody murder Jack Sparrow and enjoy it thoroughly. Finally. And-
“I find the evidence against him in lack thereof,” the judge said. Beckett’s face hardened even more. “There is not enough substantial proof that he has committed the crime you charge him with, but we will reassemble this court for an official trial in… five days, in which you will have time to collect more evidence as need be. Until then, Mr. Sparrow will be limited to stay in Port Royal.”
“Without supervision?” Beckett asked calmly.
The judge sighed as if he weren’t happy about it. “He’s not required to have supervision the days preceding the trial, no,” he said. “But he must stay within the settlement. Ehm… Do you have a place to stay, Mr. Sparrow?”
“My ship,” he said immediately. Barbossa looked over at him.
“My ship.”
“Is not,” Jack retorted immaturely.
“I brought it here.”
“I told you to bring it here!”
The gavel hit the desk again, quieting them. “Guards will be placed at the ship’s dock at all hours to monitor activity on board and the persons coming to and from the ship. If any qualms become uprisings, imprisonment will be imminent. As with your legal advisors, you will not be permitted to leave the ship after nightfall. Am I clear?”
“Crystal.”
The judge nodded, and the gavel fell a final time, much to Lord Beckett’s displeasure. “Court is adjourned.”
Jack clapped his hands together loudly as the attendees of the hearing began to exit in a swarm of voices.
“What’s say you to a lot of rum?” Jack asked, turning to Gibbs and Barbossa. Before either could reply, Beckett stepped right into his view. Jack leaned back in surprise.
“You do not have me fooled,” he said threateningly. The tone of his voice sent tensed his spine before it iced over briefly. “You will be at my mercy, Jack. And I shall savor every moment that you beg for that which you will not receive.” Jack’s smile was entirely gone now as Beckett bored into his eyes more.
“I will be the last person you see before you die, Jack. Make no mistake of that.”
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