Thanks for the praise Lizzy!
Ok, it's on to chapter....5? I don't know, don't really keep chapter numbers with these things. Yah, it's five. Anyway. Here's the most recent chapter. I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own the story or any rights to Pirates of the Caribbean Online. This story is merely for fun and an outlet for my imagination. Thank you
Her New World
Before she could step out of the cabin, Lawrence walked into the small room. “Captain says I’m to-” he started before looking at her clothes. “Well Mrs. Crestshot, those clothes seem to fit you very well,” he said, staring at her body.
Kat turned away, blushing. “Thank you Lawrence.” It was truly flattering to her, for she hadn’t had anyone compliment her like that since she had been courted. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to correct you on one thing though,” she told him.
“And what would that be ma’am?” he asked her politely, not worried at all that he was about to be reprimanded. If it was from such a beautiful woman as Kat, he wouldn’t mind anything she said to him. It was too bad for him that she was already taken.
“I am not a Mrs., Lawrence,” she told him, walking up to him and getting very close. “I am merely a Miss. There is no need to go around calling me Mrs. Crestshot when it is, in fact, not true.” She smiled at him from where she was merely a few inches away from him. What was she doing? It was indecent for her to be this close to him. Yet, she didn’t mind it. She minded it a lot less than she had when her husband had courted her.
Lawrence seemed confused at her confession. “But, the ring on your finger-” he began.
“-is from my marriage, yes,” Kat admitted. “However, I no longer have any association with that man I called my husband. Now I am merely Kat Crestshot, and I shall make my own way.” She walked away from Lawrence and towards the door of the cabin, looking out at Port Royal. “To start my own way I must sell this ring. It no longer has any importance to me, and quite frankly I need money. Hopefully I can get what I need and be on my way.”
Lawrence studied the woman facing away from him. There was something different about her, something that made Lawrence want to be even closer to her, to help her, to make sure she was alright, such as when he had rescued her from the ocean. She was unlike the fine women of Port Royal, the baggage of Tortuga, or the hard ones that occupied Padres del Fuego. She was somewhere in between. It was something completely new for Lawrence to see or experience.
“Would you like some help then, Ms. Crestshot?” Lawrence asked, wanting to spend more time with her.
Kat gave a small smile. “You can just call me Kat, Lawrence. And yes, if you know where there is a good jeweler that I can go to, it would be much obliged.”
Lawrence was about to respond when someone from outside the cabin yelled at him. “Oi, Lawrence, you done in there yet mate? We need to get everything unloaded!” Lawrence rolled his eyes and walked over to the door, yelling out of it. “I’ll be right there James, just hold it!” He turned back to Kat. “My apologies. I have to go. I can show you the way to Jeweler Smitty’s later though. Captain usually lets us have a bit of time on land to do what we want before we head back out.”
“Oh, of course, you have to do your work,” Kat replied. “Don’t worry; I’ll wait for you on the dock until you can show me.” She smiled at him once more as he walked away.
Once he had begun working, Kat went out onto the deck of the boat and down the ramp that lead her to the dock. She decided that she could look around a bit, explore what she could for the time being until Lawrence was ready to meet up with her. On the dock, she saw a man with blonde hair and a searching expression. Curious, she went over to him, wondering what could be causing such a look.
“Hello,” she said pleasantly as she walked up to the man. “Ahoy,” he said in return, eyeing her critically. He seemed to see what he wanted, because he motioned for her to come closer, away from the men of the ship. “You match the description of someone a Mr. Sparrow was telling me about. Tell me, you haven’t been in contact with him lately, have you?” He looked at her as if she already knew the answer.
So, Sparrow had gone ahead of her and warned this man of her. Apparently he had connections all over the Caribbean, and wanted to keep track of her. Before she would give this man an answer though…”Who wants to know?” she said defiantly.
The blonde man smiled. “Smart. Very good. I have nothing to hide. My name is Sam Seabones, an acquaintance of Mr. Jack Sparrow. He told me to keep watch for a little piece of flotsam he freed from a jail. Apparently he wants a bit of help with something and believes you’re the right one to grant him that help.”
“What does he want help with?” Kat asked. She had seen the favors Bo Beck and the people in the tavern had owed, and how that had affected them. Jack’s thumb is not something she was looking forward to being under.
The man shrugged at her answer. “With Jack Sparrow, I can’t be sure. He just asked me to pass along a message…that is, if you are said piece of flotsam from a jail.” He grinned, knowing how he was provoking her.
Provoking her he was. Kat crossed her arms and said, “Yes, Jack Sparrow did free me from jail. Now, what is his message?”
Sam brought his mouth close to her ear in a whisper. Kat was ready to shy away from his closeness, but knew she needed to hear this message. Who knows what would happen to her otherwise. “Go visit Tia Dalma,” he whispered above the noise the seamen were making around them by unloading the boat. “Apparently, he feels you have a need for her…special services.” He backed off.
Kat got closer to him again, knowing that this conversation would have to be kept quiet. “Where exactly would I find Tia Dalma?” she asked. “You’re aware that I just got here, yes? Can’t find my way at all.”
Sam sighed, as if this was a much larger job than he had asked for. He grasped her shoulders and turned her in the direction of the town. “Go that way, past the entrance to the fort and through the graveyard, into the entrance through the tree. That’s called King’s Run. It’s where you’ll find Tia Dalma…for now at least. She’s not exactly comfortable here on Port Royal, so you best get there quick, savvy?” Kat nodded her assent. Sam continued. “Oh, and while you’re passing through the graveyard, you wouldn’t mind killing two or so skeletons for me, will you? If you do, I’ll give you a pretty penny for it. You see, they’re an infestation to this island, and every little bit counts.”
Kill a skeleton? How do you kill a skeleton? How would she do that if it was already dead and buried? Then it occurred to her. Sam probably meant one of Jolly’s skeletons. Kat gulped. This was something she wasn’t looking forward to.
As she was contemplating her fate, she heard Lawrence’s voice calling to her. “Kat!” he called over the din of the men working. Sam Seabones let go of her shoulders with a whisper of, “Remember about the skeletons, aye?” before disappearing into town.
Lawrence ran up to her with a smile on his face. “Hey Kat, I’m going to be out of here in just a few more moments. Want to head to jeweler Smitty’s then?” Kat nodded and smiled weakly, making Lawrence worried. “Is everything alright? Did that man do something to you?” he asked venomously. She saw him searching the crowd for Sam.
“No Lawrence, no.” she said, putting her hand on his arm to calm him down. “Everything is fine. We were just having a friendly chat is all; you know, I told him it was my first time in Port Royal and he welcomed me. That sort of thing.” She smiled at him, stronger this time. He seemed pleased with that, brightening up a bit himself. “Ok, just let me know if something is bothering you, ok?” he said before getting back to work.
Soon enough, Lawrence finished unloading the ship and the captain said that the crew was free to do as they liked until morning. He walked up to where Kat was sitting on a box, lost in the thoughts of what she had to do. “You ready to go?” he asked her, offering his arm. Kat smiled at his gentlemanly behavior. It was so different than what her husband had always done. He had always done it because it was expected of him, but Lawrence seemed to do it just because he felt like it was an honor to offer his arm. Kat graciously took his arm and said, "That I am Lawrence. That I am.”
The two walked down the dock and into the town. Lawrence led her past the fort and a mansion on the hill to a walkway surrounded by small businesses and houses. There were some people in the street, like a gypsy making something in a pot, and an old, bent over man flipping a coin next to a grapevine. She smiled at the life the town had as Lawrence led her to a small tavern with the name “Royal Anchor” swinging in the wind above it. Lawrence looked at her sheepishly. “I was thinking that before I took you to jeweler Smitty, we could have a drink or a meal here at the Royal Anchor. I know the owner, and she’s very nice, and has some great food. Is that ok?”
At that moment, Kat’s stomach rumbled loudly. She blushed and said, “I suppose that’s my stomach’s way of telling me yes.” Lawrence chuckled at her and led her in through the doors of the tavern.
When they walked in, Kat was assaulted by the sound of a flute and a guitar playing a cheery song, and the chatter of a few men at a small round table playing cards. Lawrence led her over to the counter where a redheaded woman was standing chatting with a man in a uniform and sweeping behind the bar. Lawrence let go of her arm with a promise to be right back, leaving her standing next to the table playing cards.
“Hello Josie,” he said with a smile, walking up to the redhead behind the bar.
“Lawrence!” she cried, reaching over the counter to give him a short hug. “How have you been?” she asked him excitedly.
“Never better, Josie, never better,” he said with a large grin at her enthusiasm. Josie glanced behind him to where Kat was standing, paying attention to the game of cards going on. She smiled knowingly. “Could it have anything to do with that pretty girl over there Lawrence?” she asked, nodding her head in Kat’s direction.
Lawrence looked behind his shoulder at Kat, who wasn’t paying any attention to their conversation, absorbed in the card game. His eyes zoned out for a moment as he said, “Perhaps.”
Josie looked at him with a playful glint in her eye. “Well Lawrence,” she said, bringing him back to the present, “what is it you need?”
Lawrence continued looking at Kat as he said, “A few drinks and a meal Josie. And, perhaps, a room for the lady here.” He turned back to her with puppy dog eyes, the eyes that always got Josie to do what he wanted. Josie rolled her eyes at him. “The drinks and meal I can do, but the room I’ll do under one condition,” she told him.
“What would that be?” Lawrence asked, confused. It wasn’t like Josie to deny a patron a room.
“I get to meet her first you silly! Honestly, the horizon be as empty as your head.” She smacked him playfully in the side of the head. Lawrence grinned back at his old friend. Then he turned and called Kat over to the bar. She turned form the card game and walked over to Lawrence, nervous about meeting Josie, for reasons unknown. Maybe it was just her day to get embarrassed over everything.
As Kat walked up, Josie offered her hand. “Josie McReedy, owner of this establishment,” she said, cutting right to the chase. “You would be?” Kat put her hand out and shook with Josie. “I’m Kat Crestshot. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You as well Kat,” Josie replied. She glanced down at Kat’s left hand and saw the ring sparkling there. “Goodness Lawrence!” she cried, her hand flying to her heart. “Have you gone to get engaged and didn’t tell me?”
Kat quickly looked down at her left ring finger to see her wedding band sparkling back up again. She covered it up with her right hand. “No, um, no, that’s- that’s not from Lawrence,” she stammered. “Um…” she blushed profusely.
“I’m just helping Kat look for a place to sell it, that’s all Josie,” Lawrence said, equally embarrassed. “I haven’t gone and gotten engaged while I was away, don’t worry,” he told her. Josie looked relieved and a bit depressed at that. Lawrence deserved a nice girl, one who knew how to take care of herself as well, and Kat seemed to hold that standard. However, she would have been surprised to see Lawrence get engaged so quickly. He’d only been away for a few months, and as far as she knew, most of that time had been at sea, with the occasional port here and there.
“Very well then, Lawrence,” she said. “Now, how’s about that meal?”
Kat and Lawrence had a very nice time chatting during their meal. Lawrence laughed at her reaction when she tried rum for the first time. Kat then proceeded to smack him in the stomach, causing him to keel over in a mockery of pain. Overall, they had a very good time just talking and laughing with each other. To them, it felt like they hadn’t just met earlier in the day, when Lawrence had rescued her. They had an easy way, like they had known each other for years, just without knowing each others story.
After they finished eating, they left the tavern with a promise to Josie to return later, after they had bartered the ring. Lawrence led her out on his arm again and led her up a flight of steps outside to a small smattering of shops. He led her into a building with a picture of a ring hanging on the outside with the title “Smitty’s Jewelry Shoppe” underneath. They walked inside and met with Sarah, the business side of the shop.
Kat offered the ring to Sarah, watching her examine it closely with a magnifying glass to determine its worth. She eyed the diamonds embedded in the metal and ran her finger along the edges, as if looking for imperfections. When she finished examining it, she placed it on the counter and turned back to Kat and Lawrence. “Why are you selling this ring?” she asked. “It’s in a very fine condition, and it seems like you need it.” She looked pointedly at Lawrence.
Kat and Lawrence glanced at each other. “Oh, no, we’re not engaged,” Kat explained hurriedly for the second time that day. “Um, look, can you please just tell me how much I can get for it?” she asked, not wanting to go into detail about the situation.
Sarah looked down at the ring again. “Well, with the condition it’s in, and it’s in a rather fine condition, I can offer you…perhaps 50 gold for it,” she said.
“50 gold?” Lawrence asked incredulously. “That’s ridiculous. A ring like that should be at least 100.” Kat put her hand on Lawrence’s arm to try to calm him down a bit and get him to back off. She didn’t want him to make Sarah lower the price.
Sarah raised her eyebrows at Lawrence coolly. “Are you suggesting that my price is unreasonable?” she asked him with a businesslike air. Kat stepped in front of Lawrence, who seemed like he was about to argue and said, “He’s not saying that at all. However, perhaps you could raise the price a bit. I could use all the help I could get.” There she was, playing the poor card. Lawrence looked at her with a bit of admiration. It took guts to do that. He turned back to Sarah, who sighed.
“Perhaps I can increase it to 75,” she said, thinking. “But that is my last offer! The ring isn’t just-crafted, so I can’t offer what I would sell for a brand new one.”
“It is done then,” Kat agreed, shaking her hand. The pair got the gold from Sarah and made their way back to the Royal Anchor in the setting sun.
“Thank you for trying to defend me back there,” Kat said softly, still holding the bag of gold Sarah had given her. “In fact, thank you for everything you’ve done for me so far, starting with rescuing me.” Kat had been humbled by Lawrence’s action the past day. It made her realize that the world was different than the people always trying to get ahead, always thinking about themselves; the world she had grown up in as a high class lady.
“It is nothing, Kat,” Lawrence replied, just as softly. Their words were spoken in such a way that they seemed almost scared of someone hearing their conversation, even though there was nobody around. “I want to help you. It makes me feel good, like I’ve done something decent for someone who deserves it.”
Kat secretly believed that she didn’t deserve it, but she decided not to tell Lawrence that. “Well, thank you for everything Lawrence. Look, here’s something for you.” She opened up the bag and took out a few pieces of gold and put it in the palm of his hand. “For all of your trouble,” she told him. Lawrence looked down at the gold in his palm with disbelief.
“No, Kat, I can’t take this, there was no trouble,” he told her, dropping the coins back into the open bag. “You’re going to need that later, trust me. The Caribbean runs off of money. The less you have, the less you are.”
“Lawrence, I’m insisting you accept this!” she told him stubbornly. Why couldn’t she just give him the gold and he accept it? That’s what her husband would have done, and done it gladly.
Then it occurred to Kat again. Lawrence and Gregory weren’t the same person. That’s why she was so drawn to him in the first place. That’s why she felt no guilt in giving him money, no shame when she was close to him. It was the reason she felt like she could tell him anything, and he would just accept it. He wouldn’t criticize her about it or anything. He would just listen and be there, with no reservations. He could be noble enough to not accept something of importance, like money, because he felt that letting her have money was more important.
“Kat, I refuse to take this now,” he said, equally stubborn. “Perhaps later, when you have gotten further along on starting your own way, you can pay me back. But you need this now, more than I do. So,” he said, closing the bag tight with the drawstring. “Keep it.”
When he reached over to put the money back in the bag, Lawrence unknowingly got closer to her. He felt himself get even closer, as if drawn to her by a magnetic force. Kat felt the same attraction, and their lips almost touched before Kat closed her eyes and backed away.
“We should get back to Josie. She’s probably worried that we’ve taken so long,” she said softly, her eyes turned to the ground.
“Very well then,” Lawrence said, disappointed. He knew that the time wasn’t right though. Perhaps another time. He would get his chance someday. For now, he was content with leading Kat back to the Royal Anchor on his arm. For now, he could take her back to Josie and make sure she was well taken care of before he went back out to sea the next day.
Haha, Sam Seabones is one of my favorite characters. Can't explain why, but I felt the need to include him. Josie McReedy as well. Royal Anchor is one of my favorite places to hang out, and Josie and Captain Job keep my basic self busy a lot of the time.
Anyway, did you enjoy it? For any guys out there reading it, don't gag at Kat and Lawrence. I'm a girl, and a hopeless romantic, so if there was no romance in this story, it wouldn't qualify as one of my stories. Besides, we'll get to the action later. Course, I'm still writing those parts, so we'll see how this works....
So, constructive criticism is invited and welcomed into this whole party. Open invitation, bring your friends, the like...should have the next chapter up sometime next week.
Ok, I am way too tired, I should not be typing things that people should see, so I'm going to stop ranting now. Thanks for reading!
-Kat Crestshot