The Defeat of Captain Blackheart

A reposting of a pirate story for a contest- chapters 1 and 2

 

  

                       The Defeat of Blackheart

 

       On a gray bleak morning, Eliza rose. She had decided to take over her husbands ship, whether or not the crew liked it. But it was taboo for a woman to be on board a pirate ship. So Eliza devised a plan to disguise herself as a man.

        She knew this was going to be a hard job, but was willing to take it on. She would do anything to keep Captain Blackheart from gaining her husbands ship. For years he has wanted this ship since it was in far better shape than his own, and had far more cannons!

 

     Eliza stood in front of her mirror and began the transformation. For days now she had quit putting up her hair, so it looked like she had been on the high seas. There was nothing she could do to hide her beautiful face, but she needed to take care her womanly figure. Taking some clothe she wrapped it around her breasts, then put some undergarments on. Then she donned her husbands outfit, put on his hat then stared into the mirror.

 

   To further conceal her identity she began talking with a deeper voice, just like a man's. Eliza grew up hearing the way pirates spoke, especially her husbands gruff manner. She felt ready to take on the dutiful task of saving the name of her late husband. She would claim to be his brother,  one Captain Juniper B. Hampshire, Esquire.

 

   As Eliza walked onto the ship the men turned and looked. They didn't recognize her, which was good. She walked up to the men to begin her speech, the one she had practiced ever since Theodore had died at the hands of Captain Blackheart. Eliza stood straight and tall, and looked the men squarely in the eyes:

 

       “Good Morning men, I am your new Captain; Captain Juniper B. Hampshire, Esquire! I am Theodore's brother, and will be taking over the helm of the ship. If any of you have a problem with that, you may leave now.”

    (she paused and looked around-none of the men moved)

 

    Continuing, she said “I want to do everything in my power, with your help of course to keep this ship out of the hands of Captain Blackheart! My brother, God rest his soul; took pride in owning the finest vessel on the high seas. He also highly regarded his crew, and said ' you were the best men he could ever find.' Now I want you...those who are willing to stay on, to prepare the ship. We will set sail at dusk, as I have a devious plan to surprise the good Captain. Then I will avenge my hus... I mean my brothers' death. Well let's start getting the ship ready, I will be in my quarters looking over some maps. I will be scouting out the best spot to ambush the tyrant Captain Blackheart! 

 

    The men stood staring at her, and still quite unsure of what to do. As she started to walk away, Eliza turned and sternly yelled “ Quit lolly gagging around... we have work to do!”

 

    When the men heard that, it was like Theodore was standing before them. They began running around preparing the ship, checking the cannons to make sure they were ready, and doing all the other odd jobs that hadn't been done since their former Captain had died. When he was alive, Theodore ran a tiptop ship, and took pride in how the Exeter looked.

 

     With her head turned away from the men, Eliza smiled. 'So far things are going well', she thought as she walked into the Captain's quarters. After sighing, she exclaimed out loud “I will get back your good name as the fiercest pirate on the high seas Theo, mark my words.”

 

     As Eliza walked over to the set of maps on the desk, she said “ Oh Theo, guide me and show me where he is hiding. Then we will do this together, as I can feel your spirit with the ship. Please show me the best place to avenge your death!”

 

    Just then there was a knock at the door, and Eliza said “Enter” in a high pitched voice. Almost forgetting that she needed to sound like a man all the time. She cleared her throat to make out like something was caught, then gruffly yelled again “Enter!” It was the first mate, Charles, and as he walked in he said “ Sorry Captain- just wanted to let you know everything is ready to set sail.”

 

      Eliza or Juniper stared at the maps, then asked “We have enough food supplies? We will be gone a long time, and where we're going there are no ports.

 

       The first mate exclaimed “ Yes sir, I believe we do, we have a good years supply, longer if we ration that.”

 

       Eliza pulled her pocket watch out, stared at it-then said, “ We set sail in four hours!”

             ( she paused) 

    Then said,” Tell the men to eat and rest up....for where we are going it's treacherous waters.”

 

    The first mate was curious as to where they were going so  he peered over at the Captain and asked, “ Ah Captain just where are we going?”

 

   Eliza answered gruffly, “ You'll see, just go tell the men. I have a lot of thinking to do.”

 

     The first mate answered, “ Yes Sir!” then turned and walked out shutting the door behind him.

 

       Eliza walked to the porthole and looked out. Even though she was more than ready, Eliza wondered about the men. Were they ready for the battle she knew that would ensue. Theodore always talked about ambushing Captain Blackheart at Donavon's Cove. He was sure to get trapped, and with the “Exeter's” fire power- defeat was eminent.

 

  She wouldn't tell the crew where they were headed until they were well away from this port, the only home she had known. Now the ship the  beautiful and illustrious “ Exeter” would be her home. That is until she defeated the ruthless enemy, the infamous Captain Blackheart!

 

 Soon the “Exeter” set sail with Eliza/Juniper at the helm. The crew were all eager to hear where they were heading. But she never said anything, and had decided to just let them stew until she felt it necessary to share with them their final destination. The left the bay as the men went about their given duties. They had always been a loyal bunch, so Eliza knew they would do whatever was needed to protect the famous ship “The Exeter!” 

 

 

                Chapter two- The Impending Battle

 

        The Exeter sailed for many months, and the men grew more restless not knowing their destination. And so far Eliza did a great job concealing her true identity. She herself was forgetting that deep down she was a beautiful woman!

 

       Since Theodore died she had done without many things. It was hard, but she kept her mind on the task at hand. Many times she thought about confiding in one of the men, then she could fulfill her sexual urges that crept up in her body. But she couldn't risk him not telling everyone else. So Eliza kept quiet and suffered in silence.

 

          Seeing the men growing more restless, she called the first mate into her cabin. She pointed at the map- at Donavon's Cove. Eliza spoke   “ See this spot, Charles. This is our destination- we are going to ambush Captain Blackheart there.”

 

       The first mate, replied “ Oh good spot, but what makes you think he will be there?”

 

       Eliza continued speaking in a solemn way, “ When my brother wrote to me, he told me about this place and claimed it was Captain Blackhearts hide out. I'm sure he is hiding out after he bludgeoned my brother to death.”

 

       Charles stood thinking, then said “ Sounds like a good plan, but what will we do to keep the men in good spirits. The haven't pillaged anyone in ages, and many are growing more restless everyday.”

 

       “Hmmmm...... seems that is something to take in consideration. Tell the men where we are headed, and the next ship they see to pillage it and destroy it. After they have taken all the valuables and food supplies. After all we are a pirate ship, and need to let everyone know the “Exeter” is still afloat. Go now, and tell the cook to prepare a snack for me.... bring it quickly I'm famished.”

 

       The first mate said, “ Yes sir, Captain. I'll send the cook in right away!”

 

      After he shut the door, Eliza sighed. She began thinking 'this was more than I thought it would be.'  She walked over to the porthole, and while looking out she wondered how long she could keep this up. Just then she felt a presence come over her, a warm feeling.......and she knew she could do this with the help of Theodore.

 

     The cook knocked and walked in with the snacks. Eliza said, “ Just put them down on the table, and tell the first mate I don't wish to be disturbed.”

        The cook said, “ Very well Captain,” and walked out.

 

     As Eliza sat eating her snack, she heard the men excitedly yelling and screaming. The first mate told them the good news. They were all happy to get to pillage a ship, and best of all getting to avenge the death of their former Captain. And many looked forward to be pillaging a ship again. As Eliza sat in her quarters, she began to doze off. She had wild crazy dreams, it was the same one she was always having. Where Captain Blackheart sneaked on board the Exeter, and took Eliza hostage. Upon seeing her real identity the crew sided with the diabolical Captain Blackheart.

 

    She tried getting away but his grip on her was to good. Captain Blackheart was just to strong, and to spare her life would be against the pirate's code of honor. In her dream, she kept hearing him say “ Unless.... unless..” then she would wake up. Never finding out what the  'unless' meant.

 

     Eliza laid there staring at the cabins ceiling wondering if this was an omen? Would he actually be able to get on board the ship? If so, would he actually kill a woman, no matter what it was for?

 

    She got up looked out the porthole and saw a storm looming off to the east. Something dreadful was ahead, just what she wasn't sure but felt her re-occurring dreams had something to do with it. As they neared the ominous clouds Eliza began feeling something terrible was coming. What she hadn't realized was that there was a spy on board, one of Blackhearts own men. He had been on board and was slowly getting others to take his side, wanting Captain Blackheart to own this vessel!

 

    The first mate knocked on the door, and Eliza answered weakly, “Come in.”

 

    As he walked in, he asked. “Are you alright Captain. You seem troubled about something?”

 

       Eliza answered, “ Oh just a bad dream, Charles. The same one I always have.... where Captain Blackheart takes command of the ship.”

 

      Charles said, “ Oh sir don't take mind to such nonsense, its just a dream. Nothing to worry about, we.... your crew won't let anything like that happen. The men would like to know if we should head toward the storm looks like a messy one?” 

 

       She stood staring out the porthole, and said “ Yes it's going to be rough, but we will manage, the 'Exeter's' a sound ship. My brother has written to me about fiercer storms that you have weathered. Tell the men continue forward, but batton down the hatches as we venture into the rough waters. Oh.... and Charles tell them I'll be out to say a prayer that we survive anything that comes out way!”

 

      Charles looked her way saying “ Yes sir will do.”

 

  He had never heard of a Captain saying a prayer before, but knew they all had their own ways of doing things. He turned to walk out, stopped then said, “ Is that all sir?”

 

    Eliza replied, “ Yes now go!”

 

 Charles answered “ Very well, sir!”

 

         Eliza stood looking out and quietly said “ He knows Theo, I don't know how but he knows I'm a woman.”

 

      As they approached the edge of the storm, she walked out and the men gathered in front of her. She began looking at them......then began:

 

     “Men, I am going to rely on your strength and courage to get us through this storm. I have never dealt with anything like this, and whether any of you are religious I feel it would be appropriate to say a prayer. To have God's help that we all survive what's inside the storm. It could very well be where our adversary is hiding. We must never underestimate what the Captain is capable of doing. After all he was able to ambush Theodore when he wasn't looking. So let us bow our heads and pray we all remain safe.”

 

     They all slowly bowed their heads, and all were very loyal to Theodore. But this new Captain they weren't to sure about. After a few moments, Eliza looked up and saw the storm. As she felt the wind getting fierce, she said “ ok men here we go!” They began going back to their stations and getting ready for the rough seas that were ahead. 

 

         What Eliza didn't realize was that, Captain Blackheart was hiding just on the other side of the storm....... waiting for the Exeter to come out.

 

       

      Eliza wanted to avenge her husband's death, but didn't realize that Captain Blackheart was expecting her. He just didn't realize the lengths she would take to get to him. Dressing up, and acting like a man was something he never dreamed she would do. He had been plotting the take over of not just the Exeter, but to make Eliza his wench.

         When she finally got to him Eliza wasn't sure what she was planning to do. For she had no thought of doing the actual killing. That she would leave to the faithful crew of the Exeter. But if she had to, she wondered if it would satisfy her. Getting revenge wasn't the answer she longed for..... it was more about why. Why he had killed Theodore in such a brutal and vicious way.

 

    As the ship tossed and turned, Eliza watched as the men did all they could keeping the Exeter afloat. They couldn't see anything for a good two days, then off on the horizon there the blue skies of Donavon's Cove was in view. The men were happy, not only do they get to avenge their former Captain's name, but they made it through the storm.

 

    As they got neared Eliza stood at the porthole. She was deciding on when they should go into battle. The men would need to rest up after the fierce storm, so Eliza thought it would be best to wait a few days. She rang the bell alerting Charles she wanted to talk with him.

 

   Charles knocked on the door and heard her say “ Enter” and he walked in.     

 

  

Charles, I know the men must be very weary from weathering the storm. So I have decided to let them rest up for a couple of days. Then we will decide who would like to avenge his death. You were the closest to my brother, so I can't let you risk your life because he lost his.  You may end up being Captain one day, that is if I decide this is to much for me” Eliza spoke solemnly.

 

        This surprised Charles, but out of respect he said, “ Captain Juniper you have done a fine job so far. And I will surely let the men know you are giving them ample time to regain their strength. And anyone of them would happily avenge your brothers death!”

 

        Eliza stood waiting for him to say more, but when he didn't she said, “Well what else, I sense you want to say more?” 

 

         Charles looked down, and said “ Regretfully I feel the need to tell you....... that someone on board is in cohorts with Captain Blackheart. I have heard some conspiring to take over the ship, what shall I do with them?”

 

         Eliza shot a look of disgust his way, saying “ They would turn against Theodore? The one man who gave them such an honorable job, being a pirate on this fine vessel. Bring them to me, then I'll decide what I should do with them.” 

 

       Charles said “ yes sir right away.” He turned and walked out of the cabin to gather the men.

 

    Eliza never thought about any of this,  but the men should be dealt with- to set an example. Theo would not tolerate any man going against her, or disrespecting the Exeter.

 

     ' Walk the plank' is what she heard a voice inside her say. “Yes Theo, that is what I will do!” Eliza said right before  Charles knocked on the door again.