Hearts Across the Sea

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

Original Characters such as Julia Carlisle and Abigail Peterson are my own creation.

Characters: James Norrington, Theodore Groves, Murtogg, Mullroy, William Turner, Elizabeth Turner, Julia Carlisle, Abigail Peterson.

Setting: A few months after The Chosen.

 

Hearts Across the Sea

 

Chapter 5: A New Mission

-

Julia Carlisle had spent hours since the nightmare trying to get back to sleep. Her mind had felt like it was torn into several directions. One part told her she should go back to sleep. Her body needed to rest so she could prepare herself for the next best course of action. Another part was already formulating what she should do, and who else should it also involve. Then there was the third part of her mind, the part that was guided souly by her heart that told her she had to leave Port Royal at that moment and find out where James was and rescue him.

“I’ll tell Captain Groves,” Julia yawned as she continued her ongoing battle with insomnia. “I’ll tell him and Elizabeth.” She yawned again and rolled over on her side and closed her eyes. While her plans were still not decided, she knew she could not to the task alone.

-

Julia could not wait for her morning routines to be completed. She had told Mary that any dress would be fine and ate very little and very quickly, much to the chagrin of her father who wanted to engage in conversation with her. He had noticed she hadn’t slept well the prior night and inquired if she had another nightmare. She lied that she was dreaming about her wedding day and that was it.

Harold had insisted they used the fastest horses during the carriage ride to Fort Charles, but they were still not fast enough for Julia, every second that was wasted, meant that James and his crew were closer to the fated event that would happen to James. Julia had chewed on the bottom of her lip to keep from verbally lashing out at Harold and the horses. She had to be at fort yesterday.

She wasn’t the only one who had to see Captain Groves.

“I am only here for a simple visit,” Abigail Peterson insisted to the guard. She was wearing a gown the color of cream and a lace trimmed headdress. She held onto a basket, covered with a cloth. “You let others come in to visit.”

The guard was unmoved. “We only allow relatives to visit.”

“Relatives are allowed inside, but not friends?” Abigail blinked. Her grip around the handle of the basket increased. “What about fiancées and those they have been courting and seeing romantically.”

“Only relatives,” the guard was unmoved.

“Is she romantically linked with Captain Groves?” The other guard asked.

“I,” Abigail’s cheeks turned on a slight pinkish tone. “Am a friend of his. You can go and ask him.”

“Abigail,” Julia approached her friend.

“These men are being impossible,” Abigail rolled her eyes. “I just want to give Captain Groves a basket of fresh baked bread.”

“You baked him some bread?” Julia asked. She had thought there were some feelings brewing between her friend and Captain.

“Mother baked him some bread and she had asked me to deliver it to him.” The crimson had returned to her face. “You know I cannot bake at all.”

“Of course not,” Julia had remembered the last disaster that happened in the oven thanks to Abigail, although she was certain her friend had asked either her mother or one of the servants to bake the bread for her so she could deliver it to Groves.

“Will you allow her to enter?” Abigail pointed to Julia. “Admiral Norrington has been wooing her.”

“Abigail,” Julia felt her own face flush from embarrassment.

“The admiral is not here,” the first guard said.

“We know that,” Abigail glared at him. “We are not stupid.”

“It is important that we both see Captain Groves,” Julia recovered. The image of James treading water and the ghastly hands reaching for him remained fresh in her mind.

“You can see him when he leaves.” The cold guard said.

“What if it is an emergency?” The second guard asked.

“It is an emergency,” Julia answered. “We need to speak with Captain Groves at once.”

“Here now,” Murtogg shouted out, causing Julia to sigh with relief. “What is this all about now?”

“Good morning Sergeant Murtogg,” Abigail used her most honeyed voice to address him. “I have come to visit Captain Groves and bring him a treat and these two will not allow us inside.” She pointed to the two guards. The first one just glared at her while the second one blinked and swallowed.

“I need to speak with Captain Groves,” Julia said. She was going to half to explain her secret and both the captain and Abigail would know about her gift. “It is an emergency. I fear something will happen to James.”

“You think something bad will happen to the Admiral?” Murtogg asked.

“It is hard to explain,” Julia stared at her hands. “I cannot explain you but, but I can to the Captain. Will you please allow us inside?”

“Certainly,” Murtogg nodded and turned to the guards. “Lower your arms and allow them inside.”

“Thank you,” Julia smiled at the Marine as she walked past the guards.

“We will make certain Captain Groves hears of this,” Abigail said icily to the two guards as she passed them by.

-

“I am not going mad,” Theodore cradled his face as he sat down at his desk. He had only seen the mysterious child a few times yesterday. He hadn’t seen her at all today. Hopefully he would not be plagued by such visions. He kept telling himself he didn’t really see her yesterday, possibly it was a side effect from the medicine. He did take the last spoonful of the substance yesterday, but then again he never had any other visions, unless it had to build up in his system for a while until he was able to see such an image.

“I see what everyone else sees,” Groves sat back. “It was a one time thing; surely I am not loosing my mind.”

The one who is about to get into trouble, your friend he is. She wants him for herself, but like all her other toys she will grow bored and forget and he will be in the worse kind of pain, far worse than when a former love stood between him and the pirate, far worse than the storm.

The words had returned to his mind. Was she speaking of James? She had to be and if only Theodore could see her then it meant she was relaying an important message to him.

“Captain Groves,” Sergeant Murtogg knocked on his office door. “Miss Peterson and Miss Carlisle are here to see you.”

“Allow them inside,” Theodore said. Speaking with the young ladies will help him take his mind off the subject.

“Captain Groves,” Abigail was first to enter. “Your guards are rude and refused us entry until Sergeant Murtogg had stepped in.” She paused in front of his desk. “I want you to be aware of those serving under you.”

“I am aware of all those who serve under myself,” Groves stared into her dark eyes. Was she wearing a new dress? He was certain he hadn’t seen that one before. The headdress wasn’t entirely new. She had started to wear one week ago. “May I inquire what is in the basket?” He could not ignore the heavenly aroma that was wafting from under the cloth.

“Why of course,” she smiled. “Mother baked you some bread and asked me to deliver it.”

“I accept the gift,” Groves smiled, despite the slight disappointed feeling he had felt. Why did he want the idea to come from her and not her mother? Why did he wish that she visited him because she wanted to and not on the insistence of her parents? “Was that why you wished to see me?”

“Yes it is,” Abigail grabbed the hem of her gown and curtsied.

“Then it was not a dire need for you to visit me and they were simply doing their job.” He rose to his feet. It was bad enough that she had undermined him in the past, but he would not have her speak ill of the men who served under him.

“They wouldn’t allow Julia to enter either,” Abigail pointed at her friend. “And she does have an emergency.”

Groves stared at Julia, almost expecting her to stare at the ground and step back because Abigail had embarrassed her, yet again. Instead Julia did not back down, but stared into his eyes.

“I fear something will happen to the Naiad,” Julia said in a calm voice.

“We all worry that something might happen to Admiral Norrington while he is on duty.” Again he thought of the strange girl and her message towards him.

“It isn’t just a feeling,” Julia glanced at the entrance where Murtogg was still waiting for them. “I don’t want everyone to hear.”

Theodore nodded. “Sergeant Murtogg, you are excused, please do not allow anyone to enter this room.”

“Yes, Captain.” Murtogg nodded and left the room, making certain to close the door behind him.

“It is more than just a feeling,” Julia began. “I had a nightmare the Naiad would be attacked by a monster, or destroyed in a storm, I am not certain which, but I saw James being pulled under by something that wasn’t human.”

 The one who is about to get into trouble. Groves thought about those words. They did mean James and Julia had possibly dreamed about what kind of trouble? She wants him for herself. Could the inhuman creature that pulled James down beneath the waves possibly be the she in question?

“Was this creature female?” Groves asked.

“I am not sure,” Julia shrugged. “It could have been.”

“Why would you ask if it was female?” Abigail stared him strangely.

“I am beginning to think something is trying to warn us what is about to happen to James.” Theodore walked around from his desk. “They were trying to speak to those of us who are close to him. I would not be surprised if Mrs. Turner had also received such a message in some form.”

“You had a similar dream?” Abigail asked.

“It wasn’t a dream,” Theodore stared at his hands. “More like a hallucination. I saw a child out on the lawn, and no one else could see her. She told me something was going to happen to the Admiral and mentioned a woman, or a female creature that would end up hurting him.”

“No,” Julia shook her head. “I won’t allow it.”

“Correction,” Theodore grabbed onto her hand. “We won’t allow it.”

“You are going to organize a mission to rescue him,” Abigail smiled. “Will you be taking the Atlantis?”

“I will certainly be taking my ship,” Theodore nodded. Abigail certainly read him like a book. If it was just Julia’s dreams he would have balked, but her dream plus the imaginary child were two messages, two dire warnings about James. “I will tell some of my men, convince them we will be on a routine patrol for possible pirate activity.”

“We should go and prepare for the trip then,” Abigail said.

“We?” Theodore arched an eyebrow. “This is a mission for the Royal Navy.”

“I am going.” Julia said. “You can’t keep me behind. I was the one who had the dream. I was meant to join you.”

“I can’t,” he already know he was going to loose this argument.

“I am going. I know how to fire a pistol. I had some lessons on how to use a sword. I am going with you.”

“Miss-“He did not get far before Julia grabbed his hands.

“I will not be able to sleep or eat if I remain here,” Tears formed in Julia’s eyes. “You keep me here and I will grow ill. I have to go. He would do anything for me and I will do anything for him. I have to go after him, Captain. I have to. I-I love him.”

“I know,” Groves tried to steady both his hands and her. “I have a feeling you would try to sneak aboard even if I forbid it.” He admired the determination in her spirit. James was lucky to have a lovely woman to care about him this much. “You may come, but I do not want you to do any fighting. If something happens to you, then Admiral Norrington would have me sent to the gallows.”

“I am also coming,” Abigail crossed her arms.

“You will certainly not,” Theodore pointed at her. “I already have one woman to worry about, I will not have two.”

“Then don’t worry about me. You worry about Julia. I will be fine.”

“You do not know how to use a pistol or a sword.”

“I have fired a pistol before and I am skilled with hammers. You have seen me fight with them.”

“Yes you are,” he remembered seeing Abigail use hammers to deflect other weapons and strike Minions in the leg or arm before she kissed them.

“And if you think Julia is sneaky then you should see me,” her smug smile grew even larger.

“You will follow my orders this time,” Groves sighed.

“Yes Captain,” Abigail gave him a small salute.

“You knew she won’t relent until you give in,” Julia shook her head slowly.

“I believe she gets it from her father,” he had seen Mr. Peterson in action in the courthouse. The man could convince a judge that even Jack Sparrow and Barbossa were as innocent as newborn babes. From what he had heard, Mr. Peterson had never lost a case.

“I do not back down easily,” Abigail said proudly.

“I have come to know that,” Theodore smiled. “I will escort you out myself.”

“Will your leg be troubling you during the mission?” Abigail asked.

“It has healed completely,” Theodore assured her. He hadn’t felt anything that day or the day before. “You do not have to worry about me.”

“You don’t worry about us and we won’t worry about you,” Abigail said, earning a smile from both Theodore and Julia.

-

“Six hours from now we will set sail,” Theodore said as he and the young women approached the entrance. He lowered his voice. “Make certain you are prepared, pack light. If you are not here when my ship is ready to leave, then I shall leave without you.”

“We will be at the docks and we will be ready,” Abigail said.

“Won’t those guarding the docks not allow us passage?” Julia asked.

“I will be sending both Murtogg and Mullroy to relieve those men on duty once you leave here, and I shall have two more replace them so they can also travel with us.” Both Marines had faced a slew of supernatural disasters. They would be prepared to face anything.

“Good day gentlemen,” Abigail said coolly to the two guardsmen, one look at both her and Theodore and they both stiffened.

“You two do not have to worry,” Theodore stared at Abigail. “She had only made threats that only confirmed you were doing your job.”

“There are two others who wish to speak with you,” the older man with the steel blue eyes said.

“Who might they be?” Theodore asked.

“The Turners,” the younger and shorter guard pointed at the entrance where the young couple stood waiting. Both Elizabeth and William had worried expressions on their faces.

“Elizabeth what is wrong?” Julia asked.

“We feel something is going to happen to James,” Elizabeth said. “We came to warn Captain Groves, but they wouldn’t allow us any entry.” She pointed at the two guardsmen.

“I am not surprised,” Theodore approached the young woman and whispered. “Did you also have a bad dream?”

“None of us had any dreams,” Elizabeth pointed towards her husband. “Will heard a strange song.”

“Mr. Turner?” Groves raised his eyebrows.

“I was writing down an order from a customer,” William explained. “I heard humming in my head and then singing. After the customer had left I focused on the words. It is hard to explain them, but they were warning me that something was about to happen to Admiral Norrington.” He pulled on the chain hanging around his neck and removed the crystal dove that was hidden under his clothes. “This was also glowing.”

“It appears I will be taking four civilians with me,” Theodore said. “You two do not have to explain any further. I need you both to prepare yourself for a voyage. We will leave within six hours. You two need to be at the Atlantis by then.”

-