Hearts Across the Sea 15

[spacebabie]

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 15: Battle at Sea

-

As the distance between The Atlantis and their destination grew too a close, Theodore felt his body grow more and more tense with the anticipation of an upcoming battle. When the sixth hour had come and passed he felt slightly relieved, then again that would only mean Lorelei and her lackeys have yet to be informed of their presence. It was no longer hours to wait out, but minutes.

“The rest of the crew seems to know,” William Turner approached him while Theodore was still at the wheel. “They do not know anything about Whitecap, but they know that we are going up against something that isn’t human.”

“Have you told them anything?” Theodore turned to look at him.

Turner smiled sheepishly. “I tell them only when they ask me.” He shrugged. “I am sorry, but I cannot lie, not about this. I will not go about and shout everything I know, but if they ask me about what we are about to fight I cannot lie.”

Theodore clamped his lips shut. He did feel a little bit of anger, but it was directed at his own self. He should have been straightforward with his men in the first place. James would have told them about the possibility of mermaids.

“I hold nothing against you, Mr. Turner,” Theodore said after a long sigh. “I have also told the ones who asked. I am certain Mrs. Turner and Miss Carlisle have told done the same, Abigail on the other hand,” He could just picture the brunette gossiping with her friends rather loudly about the soul point of their mission, uncaring if any military man was around.

“One does have to keep an eye on that one,” Turner chuckled. “I already have my hands full with Elizabeth.”

“Some might say she has her hands full with you,” Theodore smiled.

Turner was silent for a few seconds before he broke out into laughter, not a loud guffaw, but an actual boyish giggle. In fact the sound of his own laughter brought another smile to Theodore’s face.

“And we still cannot convince you to enlist?” Theodore asked. He noticed the distant clouds, growing thicker and darker.

“Admiral Norrington feels that if I do enlist then the navy would be at a loss for swords.”

“Ah yes,” Theodore nodded. “We cannot rely on your business partner alone and the quality would not be near as well crafted as your skill.”

“Captain Groves,” Murtogg shouted and waved his arms about. “There is a girl out in the water.”

“What?” Theodore had no idea what they were talking about, or how a girl could be out in the sea.

“She is right here,” Mullroy pointed down towards the direction of the waves. He looked down again. “There are two of them in fact.”

“Two women are in the middle of the Mediterranean?” Turner raised his eyebrows.

“Three women,” Murtogg added. “Now there are three women. They are just swimming about as if it were a game.”

“Man,” Theodore paused. “Women overboard.” He called out.

“There is something not right about this,” Turner shook his head. “Why are they out in the middle of the sea?”

“There are more on this side,” Lieutenant Donnelly pointed towards the starboard side. “I can see at least two more.”

“Bloody hell,” Theodore said under breath. “We have been spotted.”

“They are the mermaids,” Turner nodded.

“Do not-“ Theodore paused when he heard singing. “Rescue them,” the singing grew louder and while he thought Abigail Peterson had one of the most beautiful singing voices of all of Port Royal, she sounded like a tone deaf frog compared to the singing he just heard. “What beautiful singing,” Theodore sighed and felt a dizzying effect over take him.

“Captain Groves,” Turner spoke calmly to him as he held onto the wheel with one hand and held onto Theodore’s arm with the other. “Can you hear me?”

Theodore blinked. When did he allow Turner to take the wheel, and when did it first start raining? One second everything was dry and the next it was showering. He also felt something against his ears, they were light and smooth, no discomfort at all.

“What has happened?” he reached up to his ears.

“Don’t touch him,” Turner stepped back to allow Theodore to retake the wheel. “You and nearly everyone else had this expression on your face and you stopped moving. Whitecap explained it was the Siren song.”

“How did you find this out?” Theodore stared at the dull blue light radiating from Turner’s pendant.

“She explained when she, Saris and the women ran out onto deck,” he pointed behind them.

Whitecap was standing on the middle of the deck and had taken on the form of a small child once again. Her eyes were closed and her hair had defied the law of gravity. She had her hands out in front of her, seeming to hold onto the glowing green light in front of her. She raised her arms, causing the light to rise above her head. She spread her arms out quickly, causing the light to break and scatter, forming into two-dozen pale green bubbles.

“Captain Groves, what are your orders?” Saris asked as he, the women, and Murtogg and Mullroy had gathered up the bubbles in their arms. Both Marines were wearing two bubbles each on the sides of their head, over their ears.

Theodore watched as Elizabeth placed two more bubbles over the ears of another Marine and after a few seconds, the once entranced man blinked and shook his head. There were a few naval officers who also had a few of the same spell blocking spheres over their ears.

“Mr. Turner,” Theodore turned to the young man standing next to him. It was obvious why Turner wasn’t affected by the Siren Song. “I want you and the rest of the civilians to continue to gather these spheres and break the spell.”

“Yes sir,” Turner ran to collect the bubbles from Murtogg and Mullroy.

“I need your military skills,” Theodore pointed at both Murtogg and Mullroy. “Men, aiming the cannons and guns at the mermaids, fire the grapeshot, chain-shot and bar-shot at them.”

“What of the cannon balls?” Murtogg asked.

“They won’t be necessary,” Theodore did not want to waist the cannon balls, not when their targets are significantly smaller than even a longboat. He didn’t even want to use the bars or chains. “Use your pistols as well.” He held onto the wheel. The winds were growing stronger and it was going to be up to him to see that his ship will reach their destination. “Mr. Saris, let me know when we are over their home.”

-

It did not feel like night to James, even if he did know the moon would be out while the sun was still up he had a feeling the spell would only be effect once they sky was dark. James had wished he had a bit more time, wished that time did not slowly drift and allow the inevitable to near.

“Do not put your hands on me,” Lieutenant Chase snarled when the mermaid who had selected him placed her hands on his shoulders to push him into the room like cave.

“You will be wanting to touch me,” the mermaid cooed at him. Her hair was dark and hung in ringlets, her lips were a bit more fuller than the rest and her eyes were an odd color, a mixture of blue and purple.

“I want you to understand this fact,” Chase glared at her. “I will never love you.”

“You will warm up to me soon,” she ran her finger under his chin, causing the Marine to jump back in disgust.

“It seems there are many of you who are like Lorelei,” James said sourly. He was being lead in, not by the nymph herself, but by another mermaid who referred to herself as Tigris.

“There are some of us who take no for an answer,” the brunette mermaid with Cook had answered. Her hair was cut shorter than the others, the ends were just brushing against her shoulders. “There were others who said no and I accepted their answer.”

“Some of us will not settle for bottom feeders,” The dark haired mermaid said in a snobbish tone.

Aria stepped forward. “You will not insult my mate,” her hands were balled up and she was ready to attack the other, and would have if Cook and another mermaid were not holding her back.

“It isn’t worth it,” the blond mermaid told her. Her hair was gathered into four braids, held fast by strips of brightly colored cloth. “You do not wish to upset her, not on our night,” James could not help to notice how Dulcet had referred to Lorelei in a sour tone of voice. “Just be proud that some of us do have ethics.”

“What did you just say?”

“I said some of us have ethics,” Dulcet glared at her.

“Silence,” Tigris raised a finger. “Lorelei will not be pleased if she had to break up a fight.”

“Dulcet is correct,” Aria leaned against Cook. “Do not let her words get to you. You are a very fine man.”

“I am not offended,” Cook smiled at her.

James nodded approvingly at the two of them. From what he had seen he did like Aria and he also liked Dulcet as well. He had to wonder how many others dislike Lorelei and her rules and laws.

“Welcome my love,” Lorelei purred once they had entered. She placed a small bowl down next to an unrolled blanket. “For you and me it will begin within another hour, but they others, they can start now.”

James did not at her. He examined the surroundings, taking in the image of a large and nearly round pool. He could see the pale bottom, meaning that it did not connect to the sea.

“You like the pool?” Lorelei pointed to the water. “It is where the transformation will take place.”

“For all of us, or just the Admiral?” Johnson asked.

“For all of you,” Lorelei removed another dish from the bench and placed it onto another blanket. “You may lead your men to their blankets.”

James did not move. He watched as the other mermaids directed the men to the blanket on the ground. Chase had to be pulled. He barely lifted his feet.

“That one is almost as stubborn as you,” Lorelei pointed to Chase.

“He is a married man,” James stared calmly. “It is a concept some of your kind do not understand or respect.”

“Oh we respect human concepts should be between humans and not those who are no longer human.”

“As of now he is still human,” James wondered why he was arguing with her. She was never going to understand, after all she was forcing him to become her mate.

“It is only a brief annoyance,” Lorelei waved her fingers. “Once they are on the blankets you may remove their clothing.”

“You will not do such a thing,” Chase refused to be pushed down on the blanket and slapped at the hands of his would be mate.

“Tigris help her.”

Trinil grabbed Chase by the shoulders and forced him down. Lola grabbed his legs and pulled until he was seated. Both mermaids forced their weight down on the man while Lola removed his shoes.

“I will not stand for this,” James ran over to Chase, only to be blocked by Lorelei. “Step aside.”

“You will not get in their way,” Lorelei wagged a finger. “Not if you wish any of your other men to be harmed.”

James sucked in his breath. It would do him no good to insult his captor. Instead he turned to Cook and Johnson. “Stand down.”

“I knew you would see it my way,” Lorelei pointed at the remaining blanket. “Sit and relax.”

“Would you allow myself to remove my own clothing?” His fingers grabbed at the buttons of his waistcoat, only to have them slapped away by Lorelei.

“The others can allow their men to undress themselves, but I will not deny myself the fun.” She undid the buttons at a quick pace.

-

Elizabeth aimed the gun at one of the mermaids. With one blast of grapeshot she would be able to kill it. Part of her did feel a bit of remorse of having to kill such a creature. How often had she pretended to be a mermaid herself when she was a child, but these were not the creatures of her childhood fantasies. These were the kind that would hunt down men and if not eat their flesh then subject them to their own personal hell.

The gun nearest to her was fired, striking the water and creating a great splash. By reflex Elizabeth pulled back the trigger of hers and fired at one of the monsters.

“Did one of us succeed?” A naval officer next to her asked.

The bubbles and waves softened and a body was floating near the surface while the water around it reddened. Elizabeth blinked at the sight of the human torso ended in shimmering copper colored scales.

“We did,” Elizabeth smiled. She needed to find more shells and powder to fill the weapon.

Her smile faded when she heard rapid hollow thuds. She stared down at the sea to see another mermaid was climbing up the side of the ship. Her long claws sank into the wood. Another mermaid, correction merman, for his shoulders were broader and chest was flat and features were more masculine had also started to climb up the ship.

“Can the singing of a merman have the same effect on human women?” Elizabeth asked.

“I wouldn’t know,” the naval officer shrugged. “I have only heard the stories of men being lured by the mermaid’s song. There hasn’t been many stories with the women aboard ships either.”

“We need to reload,” she stared at the climbing merfolk. “Is this really worth it?” She shouted down at them. “You are willing to risk your own lives because one of you wants a friend of ours.” She pointed at the one dead mermaid. “Ask yourselves what you are fighting for.”

“What are you doing?”

She shrugged. Her words did sound foolish. Her eyes widened when one mermaid released her grip on the hull and dove back beneath the dark blue waves, a few others in the water sank below surface. Did her words really have such an effect?

“Here,” the officer handed her a small half filled keg.

Elizabeth kept her eyes on the water as she placed more powder in the gun, not removing her focus on preparing the weapon, not even when a  large moth like shape, came near the surface. She didn’t even blink when the strange form shot forward to  one of the merfolk and caused it to go under.

She only turned away from the gun when another similar moth shape, larger though, had leaped out of the water, soared next to one of the climbing mermen and with a strategic strike with it’s long bony tail had caused the man to loose his grip, sending him back into the water. It only took her a second to realize what it was.

“First merfolk and now devil fish?” The naval officer asked in disbelief.

“Don’t hurt the manta rays,” Whitecap called out. “They are helping us.”

“She is right,” Elizabeth said as another shot out of the water and landed on top of another mermaid. “They are attacking the merfolk.” She pointed at another one that had surfaced.

“This is unbelievable.”

“Believe it,” Whitecap placed her child like hands onto the railing and peered over the side. “Mr. Saris said we are right over their lair.

“How are we going to get down?”

“They will help us,” Whitecap said before she made strange hissing sounds, along with squeaks and chirps.

Several of the large rays gathered together in a circle, while the rest continued to fight their enemy.

“Keep firing,” Captain Groves ordered to the rest of his men as he approached them. “Mr. Saris has said we are above.” Saris, Will, Abigail, Julia and Murtogg and Mullroy followed him.

“We have to think small,” Whitecap instructed. “I need everyone who is going to imagine themselves the size of a shrimp.”

Elizabeth had no idea what the disguised fairy had in mind, although she did close her eyes. She remembered the last time she had dined on shrimp. They were sautéed in a cream and butter sauce. She remembered how small they were, each one could fit on a spoon and she imagined herself sitting on a spoon.

“Open your eyes,” Whitecap said.

Elizabeth opened her eyes and stared in shock at shoes that were nearly the size of her bedroom. She tilted her head and stared at the treelike legs and the towering form of the naval officer who had been next to her.

“Giants,” Mullroy shouted out in fear. “And we are on a giant ship.”

“They are not giants,” Murtogg explained. “We were shrunk.”

“We are going to easily drown,” Abigail raised the hems of her gown; while the layer of water on the deck was insignificant it had reached past their shins.

“Now for the next part,” Whitecap had returned to her nixie form, but she was as small as the others. She took a deep breath and pressed her fingertips together. She held her hands like that for a few second before she clapped.

Something formed around Elizabeth and she fell backwards, her bottom would have struck the ground if it were not for the strange barrier.

“What is this?” Julia pressed her hands against the barrier.

“I have sealed everyone in the bubble,” Whitecap explained.

“If we poke it will it pop?” Murtogg tapped a finger against bubble’s skin.

The nixie shook her head. “It might not appear strong,  all we have to do now is go beneath the waves.”

“I can’t swim,” Mullroy shouted.

“I thought you have learned,” Murtogg said.

“I can float and I can paddle like a dog,” Mullroy made paddling motions with his hands.

“We have plenty of air inside,” Whitecap said. “We have to hurry, not only for the Admiral, but these two spells will not last. Everyone should sit down. It will be more comfortable this way,” Whitecap’s wings started to flap and their bubble moved forward at a surprising speed. It slid up the side of the ship, past the railing and over.

Elizabeth closed her eyes and tried not to compare the feeling she felt and how similar it was to when she was at World’s End. She only opened her eyes a second before they came into contact with the water.

-

Comments

[mrs-norrington.livejournal.com]

I was so glad to see another chapter!