Hearts Across the Sea 11

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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 11: Mysterious Stranger

-

Julia Carlisle felt numb all over her body. She did not remember returning to the carriages, nor when they the driver commanded the horses to move. She barely even felt the movement of the carriage. She had noticed she wasn’t the only one silent on their way back to The Atlantis.

“No one is going to say anything?” Abigail asked. “We had just learned some vital information and no one wants to discuss it.”

“Of course we want to discuss it,” Elizabeth said softly. “But look at Julia. Does she want to talk about it?”

“Yes,” Julia forced her tongue to move. It felt like lead in her dry mouth. “Yes I do. I know some immortal siren wants James, and she plans on transforming him into a merman.”

“An immortal merman,” Abigail added.

“I did not forget,” Julia wanted to hold he pocket watch again, but what good would that do? Remind her of the fate that would befall the man she loved. “I will never forget.”

“The last one said it was a possible outcome,” Will said. “There is nothing that is set in stone, not yet.”

“I know what you are about to say, Elizabeth,” Julia did not look at her friends seated across from her. “You are about to say that we are going to save him and he will be fine. I know he is fine as of now, if that one Fate had told the truth, and we are saving him as we speak. I just can’t shake the thought of this sea queen altering James, becoming romantic with him, and then casting him aside centuries from now.” Her fingers curled into a fist. “How could anyone do that to anyone? I do not care if you are immortal or not, but just love someone until they no longer suits your fancy.” She gritted her teeth.

“Julia,” Abigail gasped in a frightened tone.

“What is wrong?” Julia stared at her friend and noticed the way Abigail just stared at her. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

“I have never seen you this upset before,” Abigail answered.

“It is quite frightening,” Elizabeth added.

“I am sorry,” Julia felt her entire face warm up. “I did not mean to frighten any of you.”

“Don’t be,” Will smiled at her. “You know now that you can be quite fierce when you want to.”

“Will,” Elizabeth gave her a husband a look.

“I am just saying that at the right moment she can use that inner strength, use it against those that had take Admiral Norrington and the others.”

“I can look fierce,” Julia stared at her hands. They were frail and almost as pale as clotted cream, how was she going to be able to fight for James? “I do not believe I will be any use in battle.”

“Don’t say that,” Will raised a finger. “Elizabeth has told me you fought well against my minions.”

“I am still a novice when it comes to using a sword.”

“And with a few more lessons you will become quite a fighter,” Will nodded. “Abigail, if you wish to learn-“

“Save your words,” Abigail held up her hand. “I have been learning a few techniques with my weapon skill.”

“You have taken up carpentry?” Will raise an eyebrow.

Abigail rolled her eyes. “You will see.”

“We are stopping,” Elizabeth said once the horse and carriage had slowed down.

Julia stared out the window. She could see the piers and docks once again. She was even able to locate The Atlantis amongst the rest of the ships. “I’ll be ready, for him I will be ready.”

-

“I hope you are not too uncomfortable,” Theodore said once he fastened the buttons of his naval coat. “I know it may feel a bit suffocating and heavy.”

“She can ride on top of my head,” Mullroy pointed to his hat. “Right under my hat.”

“She isn’t that small,” Murtogg stared at his friend. “People are still going to notice.”

“She can make herself any size,” Mullroy held up a finger. “And if she made herself smaller and rode under my hat, then she won’t be uncomfortable.

“Thank you all,” Whitecap’s muffled voice carried through the coat. “You do not have to do that for me, Mr. Mullroy and I have told Captain Groves that I am comfortable riding under his coat.

“I thank you both for your help,” Theodore nodded at the marines before he turned towards the other carriage. William Turner and the ladies were stepping out. “But please no more arguing for now.”

“What arguing?” Murtogg asked. “We were just discussing things, what we have heard and our plan to rescue Admiral Norrington.”

“I know,” Theodore nodded. He had heard their discussions. The two had talked about how they were going to cover up their ears to keep from being entranced by the mermaid’s singing, they wondered how they were going to get down into the aquatic home of said mermaids, and then they had left their main tangent and tried to figure out the meaning of what Atropos said about the new unknown.

“We need to find the person who knows the way,” Murtogg brought up another important point. They knew what had happened to Norrington and what also would happen if they do not rescue him in time. They did not know the direct path.

“That one strange lady said he was going to be waiting for us,” Mullroy reminded them.

“They were not strange,” Murtogg frowned. “They were weird.”

“Is that not the same?”

“No it isn’t, they used to spell it with a y and it meant fate.”

Theodore stared at him for a few seconds before he could hear the others talking behind him.

“Abigail, how could you say such a thing?” Elizabeth asked.

“I was just wondering,” Abigail shrugged. “I am sorry if I have upset you, Julia.”

“You haven’t upset me,” Julia said.

“What have you said now, Miss Peterson?” Theodore wasn’t certain he wanted to know what Abigail Peterson had said. He knew it was bold. She was one of the brassiest women he had ever met.

“I had just brought up the point that if we don’t rescue Admiral Norrington and he does become an immortal merman he may take his own life,” Abigail said. “It was what the third sister had said.”

“I do not understand why one would want to take their own life if they become an immortal,” William Turner had said.

“Because you will end up alone,” Whitecap said from under Theodore’s overcoat. “All those that you care about will grow old and die, after you have seen it all, done it all you will be dissatisfied. Immortality may mean forever, but it also can be a lonely state, can cause one to go mad, it is better to die with the rest of the world than be alone forever.”

“That is tragic, and a logical reason,” Elizabeth said. “Why would anyone want to be immortal if they knew this?”

“They don’t,” Whitecap said softly. “They never think it through before they perform a spell, or make a wish. They do not understand it can be more of a curse than a blessing.”

“And you would know this truth,” Abigail said.

Theodore stared at her, ready to reprimand her for her words, but Whitecap’s chime like giggle caused his tongue to stay still.

“I am not immortal. Humans tend to think faeries are, but we do grow old and die, it just takes a few centuries longer.”

“We learn something more about you everyday, Miss Whitecap,” Turner stole the words from Theodore’s mind.

“Keep your eyes open,” Theodore instructed as they neared The Atlantis. “We need to look for someone who may know the way to where the Admiral and the others are being held. The three sisters have told us they would be here.”

The group paused in front of their ship. Standing a few feet from the pier was man dressed in a ragged long-coat and a large hat that appeared to have been weighed down by water. He was surrounded by several marines, all pointing their muskets at him.

“I think that may be the man we are looking for,” Mullroy pointed at the group.

Theodore nodded. “We shall see.” He cleared his throat. “Gentlemen, may I inquire who this man is and what is going on?” He quickly turned to the others. “Wait here.”

“Captain Groves,” One of the marines had turned to face him. “This man insists on boarding the Atlantis, sir.”

Theodore stared at the man in question. He appeared to be at least fifty years in age. His gray and unwashed hair hung limply beneath his hat and framed his sunburned face. The stranger did not have a full beard, but he had gone a few days without taking a blade to his face, and from the looks, also went a few days without washing. He leaned to his right, using a wooden cane to support himself.

“He is?” Theodore stared into the man’s blue eyes. “What is your name sir?”

“Saris,” the stranger answered in a gravely voice. His teeth were various shades of yellow and brown and he was missing at least five of them.

“Mr. Saris is it?” Theodore didn’t wait for him to nod. “Why do you wish to board the Atlantis?”

“Because I know the way to Lorelei’s grotto,” Saris answered.

Theodore blinked at the mention of the name. It was the name of the mermaid queen, the one the three had used.

“Captain,” one the marines stared at him weakly. “You cannot be considering taking this man aboard.”

“You do not have to take me with you,” Saris said. “I can give you the coordinates.”

Theodore nodded at the offer. The coordinates would be enough, but they do not know how to enter the actual dwelling. Whitecap might know though, but then again she did not know where to sail exactly.

“Do you know how to get to her kingdom?” Theodore asked.

Saris nodded. “I know of the exact location.” He leaned forward and whispered into Theodore’s ear. “Your little friend will provide the exact means of reaching her home.”

“You know of Whitecap?” Theodore asked. He could feel the nixie squirming around under his coat.

“I know a lot,” Saris nodded. “I also know that you haven’t been quite straightforward with your own crew.”

“Are you able to fight?”

“I am skilled with a blade.”

Theodore stepped back way from the strange man. “Mr. Saris has informed me Admiral Norrington is in danger and he knows of a way to rescue him.”

“That is correct,” Saris nodded.

“Welcome aboard the Atlantis, my crew will give you something to eat,” Theodore smiled. ‘And something to help clean you up’.

-

It had only taken a few second for James to realize where he was after he had woken up. He was in his bed, not his true bed, but the longboat turned bed Lorel had given him. He was still her prisoner, and—he stretched his arms—he still had his wrists tied.

“I tire of this,” James opened his eyes. He was right, once again he was dry. He had a feeling Lorel was standing on the other side of the cloth that served as his door, once again standing on two legs. “I know you can hear me.”

“I knew you were awake,” Lorel was indeed standing on the other side. “I did not put you under for long.”

“So you do admit to using your siren song to make me fall asleep,” James frowned. He most likely sounded like an idiot. He didn’t have to have her admit it to know what she and her kind were capable of.

“I believe you had known for a while,” Lorel slipped inside. She wore a gold colored gown, with no sleeves at all. “Why must you ask such questions?”

“I have always asked such questions and made such statements,” he stared at her. It was almost hard to believe that an hour ago she had a golden fish tail, gills, fangs and large fan shaped ears. “It was part of my job.”

“To hunt down disgusting pirates,” Lorel stared at him with a a hungry look in her eyes, it made him feel uncomfortable. “Such a fine hunter you are.”

James wished he could retreat further beneath his blanket. “And you have no scruples.”

“A human annoyance, we will soon remedy that.”

“Ah yes,” James clenched his teeth. “You plan on changing me into one of your merman servants.”

She shook her head. “Not a servant, you will be immortal like me. They will bow down to you, wait on you hand and fin.”

“I will not eat what they serve,” he felt disgusted at the fact that had possibly eaten human flesh. “I am not a cannibal.”

“Soon human kind will no longer be your kind,” Lorel grabbed the edge of the blanket. “Once we have mated in the sea you will be quite ravenous. I would not be surprised if you swam out to the nearest corpse and eat the entire body.”

James shrank from her touch. “Have you tried to prepare me for that adjustment? Have you already poisoned my stew with their flesh?”

“Oh no,” Lorel chuckled. “You are not ready for that. Although you may be ready for this.” She removed the blanket, revealing James’s naked body.

“I absolutely refuse,” he felt his entire body tense up. “I will not lie with a woman who is not my wife.”

“Do you have a wife?”

“No,” James closed his eyes and thought of Julia. He had planned on proposing to her, not long after he returned to Port Royal.

“This should not bother you,” she frowned. “But I see that it does. This is why I decided to do this here, than in the water. I had thought you would be more comfortable.”

“You can remove that thought from your head.”

“You may not be so snappish after this.” She removed her gown; there was nothing underneath, just her pale body. “Am I not beautiful?”

“You are beautiful,” James could not remove his eyes from her. He was entranced. “But that does not mean that I will engage in the activity that you desire.”

“We will not do the deed,” Lorel climbed on top of him. “But I will make you feel good.” She brushed her breasts against his chest. “Do you want to feel good?” She kissed his neck.

“I do,” James gulped from the sensation of her soft lips against his neck. “But not with you.”

“You may say that now,” her voice softened as she covered his throat with her kisses. “But once I have revealed to you my talents you will change your mind.”

“Are you that confident?” His eyes widened when her kisses trailed up to his chin.

“Always,” her lips found his and her kiss was soft at first, soft and gentle, before she kissed him repeatedly, each new kiss rougher than the first.

“Stop,” James closed his eyes and tried to pull away from her affection.

“You had enough of this?” Lorel sat back.

“I had more than my share.”

“There is still more,” she crawled backwards, not stopping until she was seated near his ankles, her eyes were staring at his betraying arousal. “Just close your eyes and relax.” She licked her lips and lowered her head.

-

A/N:

The three, yes they are the Fates, and here they don't spin the threads of life, but know all about the past present and future. They have been given different names by the different cultures and being immortal I felt they should choose which names the like the best. In Harpy High by Esther Freisner they called themselves Buffy, Muffy, and Snuffy.

Atropos's  first prediction. The first settled of the new world=Florida. Becomes the launch to the new Terra Incognita; some would say space is the new Terra Incognita. The message in the bottle=the voyager message.

Murtogg, when he called them weird he did mean wyrd and it does mean fate, that was why the three witches in Macbeth were called the Wyrd sisters, they were the fates

Mermaids, there are a lot of mermaid tales in the PotC ficverses and I did try my hand at one. Splash was a bit of an influence...hence the switching to legs when their tails are dry.