Drabble and a Half: Not All Treasure is Silver and Gold

[honorat]

By Honorat
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: This POTC profit is not meant for me.

Summary: Isla de Muerta. For the “Red” challenge at Black Pearl Sails. __shy__'s drabble Sacrificing Blood and Taffeta reminded me that I had this lying around on my computer, so I decided to post it.



The treasure lies in drifts, like sands along the sea—golden candelabra, statuary, and chains; silver chalices and reliquaries; gem-encrusted goblets and altarpieces; damask, silk, cameline, and cloth of gold; intricately-carved teak and mahogany, ebony and purple heart.

Pale ivory and mother of pearl shimmer from shadowed crannies. Fire flashes from diamonds in the flickering torchlight. Coins of eternal gold scatter ephemeral patterns on stone walls. The plunder of a thousand ports and ships. The ransom of rivers of blood. This cavern is a temple to avarice.

But every man in this labyrinth knows he would trade the last brass farthing of that dragon’s hoard for the true treasure. Nothing so rare as the gold that dusts her hair. No diamond-flame so bright as that which burns in her eyes. No pearl so translucent as her skin, no silk so fine. No ruby so eternally precious as her blood that stains the gold. She is a goddess and a sacrifice. However, only one man has come to worship.

Comments

[hendercats.livejournal.com]

This cavern is a temple to avarice.
I love this line. After detailing all the various treasures the cave holds, this stark statement is riveting. And yet Will notices none of it, for his treasure outshines all the material wonders. Excellent drabble!

[honorat.livejournal.com]

Thank you for dropping by to comment. This was rather an indulgence for me to look at treasure. Yes, Will, who has been practically penniless for his entire life, doesn't even give the gold a second look.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I love the "laundry list" of plunder, fascinating to think where all these things came from, where they were meant to go, who died in the effort to transport them.

And the description of Elizabeth, ending with the ominous, "No ruby so eternally precious as her blood that stains the gold."

And the final line, that hint of Will, watching from the shadows and waiting for his opportune moment.

Very well done!

[honorat.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the lovely comments. I did rather play with lists of treasure here, such fun words to use. It just struck me that I could write the reverse of this for the end of the movie--for it is really Will's blood that is more precious than rubies. And he is certainly Elizabeth's treasure.