Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom

to fight a ship-to-ship battle against three or four adversaries, I would
want Jack as the captain of the ship that was fighting alongside me. If I
had to invade a fortress, and I wanted to make sure I’d get out alive, I’d
have him at my side. If sword-wielding enemies surrounded me, I’d
want him at my back. As long as Jack’s own precious hide is at risk,
you could ask for no better comrade in battle. He’s a clever and
experienced fighter—when he’s cornered. That maneuver he tried with
Borya verged on brilliance, for example.”
“Except that it didn’t work.”
“True. But if it had, it would have been brilliant.”
“So in what instances would you not trust him?”
“If he asked me to lend him money, and I gave it to him, I’d do so
knowing I’d never see it again. He’d promise to pay it back, and he’d
mean it—but he’d never do it. I wouldn’t give him valuable jewelry of
mine and trust him to return it to me six months later. He’d likely get
into some kind of scrape and have to sell or pawn it. He’d be sorry, but
it would be gone.” Esmeralda smiled a bit grimly. “And if he ever
asked me to marry him, I would refuse him.”
Ayisha’s eyes widened. She’d wondered if the two were…
promised. Hearing that they weren’t made her heart stutter. “You
would? Why?”
“Because he’d never show up at the altar. No woman is ever
going to tie Jack Sparrow down to home and hearth. He’s not that kind
of man.”
Ayisha nodded. That one definitely rang true. “The sea is his
woman. I don’t think a flesh and blood one could ever replace it in his
heart.”
Esmeralda gave the princess a glance of mingled surprise and
respect. “Very sagely put, Ayisha. And true as true can be.”
The lady pirate poured more wine. They sipped in silence for
several minutes. Finally the princess asked quietly, “Have you ever
wished he would ask you to marry him?”
“I did, for a while, when I first knew him. Then I realized that if by
some chance I dragged him to the altar, he wouldn’t stay. Or, if
somehow I forced him to stay, he wouldn’t be Jack any more. Who
wants a sparrow with broken wings?”