The Chosen 15

[spacebabie]

Disclaimer: Pirates of the Caribbean and all related characters belong to Walt Disney, Gore, Jerry, Ted and Terry.

Rating: T for now. 

Characters: Most of the entire cast

Pairings: Will/Elizabeth, Jack/Anamaria,

Setting: After At World’s End

 

The Chosen

 

Chapter 15: The Meeting

 

-

 

“Take small steps Mr. Carlisle,” Elizabeth firmly held onto the arm of Julia’s father as the two of them slowly made their way down the way of the plank to the docks. “I remember my first time on a ship. It was when we journeyed across the Atlantic to Port Royal. I was so excited about my new home that I did not heed my father’s words and ran down the gang plank.”

“I take it you did not exit the ship in a graceful fashion.”

“I ran like a drunkard,” Elizabeth smiled at the old memory. “I would have fallen flat on my face if a man hadn’t caught me. I still remember that man.”

“Do you remember his name?” Mr. Carlisle asked.

“He is right there.” Elizabeth pointed at James. He was still speaking with Julia. Both of them were smiling. “He helped me to my feet and guided me to the dock and did not let go until my legs were strong enough and steady. The Captain at the time made certain my father was able to make it safely down the docks and a sailor helped Will.” She fell silent. The young innocent boy who they rescued is now possessed by something evil.

“I am sorry.”

“Thank you,” Elizabeth kept watching James and Julia. She knew her friend fancied James; she hoped he would see her in the same way. They both deserve to find a true love.

“Some might not think this arrangement is not proper,” Carlisle said. “You helping me instead of Julia.”

“I think Admiral Norrington should be the one to help her.”

“You also see it?” Carlisle smiled. “Or at least hope it is there. They are becoming friends.”

“Julia has admitted she has become smitten by James.” Elizabeth remembered the last time her friend was smitten with a fine man. She, Abigail and several others had urged her to speak with him, but Julia never had formed the courage.

“They are both shy when it comes to speaking to those they fancy.”

Elizabeth nodded and felt a twang of guilt in her heart. The memory of James proposing to her after his promotion ceremony returned to her mind. The poor man was trying to keep from blushing. How long had it taken him to work up the nerve?

“You have noticed he is shy as well?” She asked once they had stepped on the dock. People from the other ships were slowly making their way to the docks. Several were pointing at James and a few children were inching their way closer to him. “And I most likely have made it harder for him.”

“You cannot fight what your heart wants,” Carlisle shrugged. “I was there. I knew you chose your current husband over the Admiral, although if you did not intend to marry him why did you accept his proposal? Unless I am being too bold?”

“I was desperate to rescue Will.” She clenched her fists. She knew as soon as the words had flown out of her mouth that she should not have said them and the guilt had formed when she was alone with James. He was not a fool, he suspected it was a lie and she had continued to dig herself even further.

“It was a difficult situation.”

“I should have not made that promise.”

“I may be a bit bold in asking this question,” Carlisle sighed. “But why did you not want to accept Admiral Norrington’s proposal in the first place?”

“He is a fine man,” her eyes widened, as a very curious child was only a few inches away from James’s tail. “But marrying him would be like marrying an older brother.”

“I see.”

“Sparrow,” James voice was in a low growl. The curious child had grabbed onto the end of James’s tail.

“James,” Elizabeth pointed at the boy. “It isn’t Jack.”

“It isn’t?” James blinked before he turned around, his tail slipped out of the boy’s grasp. “May I ask what you are doing?”

“You have a tail,” the child was around six or seven years in age and stared up at James with large round eyes. “We were told you had a tail, but seeing it was amazing. The other boys told me to grab onto it.”

“The other boys,” James turned to face the group of children. The other boys were older than the curiouos child and were stepping back. “I see.”

“Admiral Norrington,” Elizabeth folded her arms. She could understand the scenario. The older children had most likely jibed and insulted the child until he had agreed to grab onto James’s tail.

“I will be able to take care of this,” James held up a hand before he turned to the children. “I do frown down on those who gang up against those who are smaller, younger and weaker than them. However I am not a father to any of you and I will leave your discipline to your parents.”

The boys swallowed and nodded before they turned to come face-to-face with a group of stern faced women, most likely their mothers.

“Am I in trouble?” The curious child asked.

James regained his smile. “No you are not.” He gave the child a gentle pat on the head. “In the future ask if you can touch someone’s tail. I had thought you were someone else. Someone who is not a child, but acts likes one.”

Elizabeth’s hand flew to her mouth as she tried to suppress a laugh. She had to admit, James’s description of Jack was a bit accurate. It may have explained why Jack had frustrated her in the past.

“May I please feel your tail?” The child asked.

“Yes you may,” James spun around allowing the child to be able to grasp onto his newest appendage.

“It has a soft covering all over,” the child said before his fingers grasped onto the end. “It’s like feathers.”

“I have been told,” James said once the boy had let go.

“Admiral Norrington,” Julia had been silent during the whole event. “You have a good heart.”

“I cannot be too harsh with the child.” James shrugged. “He should not give in to the demands influenced by such bullies.”

“I am certain many people are curious about your new features,” Elizabeth said.

“Thank you for helping my daughter,” Mr. Carlisle said.

James shrugged. “I could not consider myself a proper gentleman if I did not offer to help her.”

“Admiral Norrington,” Captain Groves strode up to them, not pausing to look back over his shoulder, despite the fact Abigail Peterson was following him. “What is your next order?’ Elizabeth was not certain, but it almost sounded like the man was desperate for a command.

“I need for you and Captain Boone to seek out the local marines and naval officers. We are to meet within a few hours. If you can, find some way to spread word to all the ports on the island.”

“Very good,” Groves smiled and turned to Abigail. “I believe I no longer require your services.”

“Do you not need someone to record the notes of the meeting?” Abigail asked. She had held up the parchment and held the quill up, ready to write.

“That would be enough for now.” Groves removed the parchment and quill from her hands. “You have done excellent work.”

“Excellent work?” Elizabeth stared t her friend in shock. “Abigail what were you doing?”

“Captain Groves had offered me a job.” Abigail said in a proud tone.

“Captain Groves?” James raised an eyebrow.

“Abigail,” Julia sighed. “You pried too much.”

“She just needed something to do,” Groves shuffled his feet. “She had grown a bit bored on the ship.”

“I see,” James nodded. “Miss Peterson you have done well. It would be best if you remained with your family, or with your friends.”

“As you command, Admiral.” Abigail said in a pleasant tone.

“If you excuse me ladies, and Mr. Carlisle.” James edged past them. “I have more work to do, actually Elizabeth and I have some work to do.”

Elizabeth remained silent for a while before she cleared her throat. “Abigail Peterson, what were you plotting at?”

“Me?” Abigail asked so innocently. “Where would you get such an idea?”

“I shall leave the three of you alone,” Mr. Carlisle said before he walked away.

“Captain Groves was quite agitated with you,” Julia said.

“Yes he was,” Abigail shrugged. “He would not answer my questions truthfully.”

“I can imagine what kind of questions you had asked,” Elizabeth shook her head. The battle was going to be hard enough. She would have to fight against minions, convince her husband to fight the evil within and until they returned to Port Royal she had to keep Abigail from causing even more trouble. “Try not to get into further trouble.” She turned around to follow after James.

-

James knew he was going to have to think of some way to explain his condition to the minister when the poor man sees his tail. He and Elizabeth were given the directions to the nearest church.

“What are we going to do?” Elizabeth had followed closely behind. “Are we just going to walk in and ask for some holy water?”

“We are going to tell them the truth,” James answered before he pushed open one of the two double doors for her.

“You know how difficult it will be for them to believe the truth?”

“Some people are better at handling it,” James knew how much of a sting those words were going to be to her. “Sorry if I have said anything hurtful.”

“If you have said anything that may hurt me, then I have probably deserved it.”

James felt his tail twitch as he  walked under the exposed beams of the chapel, he heels of his shoes made hollow echoes. He studied in stained glass windows. He could make out the images of Mary, and Jesus. He  saw one off a king on a throne and holding a baby, most likely king Soloman. He saw a man praying next to a lion and another man helping a wounded man to his feet.

“James,” Elizabeth whispered and pointed at the opposite side, towards a different window. The stained glass was placed together to form a picture of a winged angel with a tail similar to James’s. “Like Julia’s painting.”

“It might not be too hard to explain the situation.”

“Don’t be shy,” the voice of an elderly gentleman greeted him. “The Lord’s house is always welcome to his children.”

“Greetings sir,” James turned to the minister. “We need you assistance.”

“Many come through those doors seeking assistance,” the minister pointed at the entrance. He was a thin and wiry man, his speckled head was framed by white wisps. “God and I are both listening.”

“We need some holy water,” Elizabeth explained. “It is for my husband.”

“Is he ill?” The man steepled his fingers.

“In a way,” James answered.

“And he feels the holy water will help?”

“We all feel that way,” It was not a lie, but skirting the edge between truth and lie. James felt it would be best to not fully explain.

“We all need a little faith,” The minister motioned to where the basin was. “Take all that you need.”

“Thank you,” Elizabeth removed the cork from the small pewter flask and dipped it into the basin.

“What is the name of your husband?”

“William,” she replaced the cork. “His name is William Turner.”

“I will pray for William’s health.”

“Thank you,” James said once Elizabeth was by his side. “We shall combine the ingredients after we leave.” He whispered to her.

“My tears, your blood and the holy water,” Elizabeth followed behind him. James wasn’t sure if she was trying to obscure his tail from the minister’s view or not.

“All we need is Sparrow and the cross.” He stopped in his tracks. “I cannot believe I just said that.”

“He will meet with us soon.”

“That is the reason why we need to mix it quickly and why I have to speak with the other captains stationed here.”

 

-

James waited until his wine glass was filled halfway before he held up his hand. “Thank you,” He said to the serving person before they went to pour wine into Captain Grove’s glass.

“Do not let their stares get to you,” Theodore whispered into his ear. “Just let them know the truth.”

“I intend to.” James said before he took a small sip from his glass.

“Admiral Norrington,” one of the men from the other side of the large circular table had addressed him. “Many of us are waiting for an explanation of why we are all gathered here.”

James nodded. “I know many of you have questions, Commodore Taylor. I have asked all high ranking officers of Captain and higher to meet with me here.” It was a pity the only other Admiral on the island; Admiral Payton could not meet with them as he was on the opposite side of the island. “It is about a few events that have unfolded recently. Many of you have heard about what had happened with The Naiad.” He stared into the eyes of the other officers, some of them nodded. “Something similar has happened in Port Royal.” How was he going to get it out? They were men who often prayed and paid visits to various chapels, but would they believe the battle between good and evil as about to unfold? Groves and the other captains who have traveled with him already know the truth and had been made into Favorites.

“We had heard of various stories,” Captain Murdock said. He was a man a few years shy of forty and wore a thick mustache, kept neatly trimmed and waxed. “Many people have gone mad.”

“Not mad,” Captain Boone said. “More of inflicted with a disease.” His eyes met with James’s and he shrugged.

“A disease that caused madness,” The commodore confirmed. Half of the local naval officers nodded along.

“A disease would make it a bit simpler in trying to describe it,” James said. “It isn’t quite simple. The inflicted have yellow eyes that are dark in the center and black and long fingernails. They obey the original carrier and plan to spread their illness around with a scratch.”

“A scratch?” The youngest man at the table asked. Bye his age, James could tell he was only recently promoted to captain.

“Those they don’t scratch they make ill in a different way,” Groves added.

“Captain Groves is correct. I have seen many unconscious forms as I helped with the evacuation. The inflicted also try to destroy as much as they can.”

“Madness,” Captain Murdock said.

“It isn’t madness. It is evil.” James clenched his teeth. He shouldn’t have phrased it in such a way. Now the locals were going to think he was mad.

“Evil?” Commodore Taylor said with a derisive snort.

“Yes,” Groves stood up. “The source of the illness is from hell itself.”

“Theodore,” James stared up at him before he turned to face the other men. Half the table was laughing at them.

The young captain was the first to stop. “They are not laughing.” He stared at James and the Favorites with wide eyes. “They are serious.”

“Serious?” Commodore Taylor stared into James’s eyes. “Is this true?”

“They have a bit of madness themselves,” Captain Murdock said.

“No,” the commodore raised his hand. “They have seen something quite frightening. If we had seen this we may have also believed it was from hell.”

“Not just believe, but know.” James slowly rose to his feet. “This is why I need you. I know you will think I am mad, but I have been gifted by an angel and I have passed the gift on to my captains.”

“How are you gifted?” Taylor asked.

“Captain Groves break your glass.”

“If you insist.” Theodore drained the remaining contents in his glass before he slammed it against the side of the table, not too hard. He did not shatter it, only broke it into a few large pieces.

James gathered the pieces together and concentrated. He pictured how the glass appeared before it was broken. By the gasps he had heard from the others he knew he was succeeding. When he had opened his eyes the glass was whole once again.

“As you can see I can repair what is broken.” He stared at the wide-eyed men on the other side of the table. “I can heal those who are injured and sick.” He removed his hat. “And I can protect.” He removed his wig. “The source of the infection is a young man who I consider a friend. I have been chosen by Heaven.”

“Admiral Norrington,” one of the lieutenants standing guard had entered the room. “We have received news that a fleet of ships are about to make port.”

“More naval officers and marines?” Groves asked.

The lieutenant shook his head, “Pirates.”