Author's Notes: This is in answer to the Pieces of Eight challenge on the Black Pearl Forum. Thanks to ShahbanouScheherazade (AKA Zaydee) for beta reading this piece. There are eight other stories in this challenge. Links to them can be found here:

www dot fanfiction dot net/topic/67105/19502591/3/PotC-Fanfiction-Story-Recommendations#80473192

Sao Feng and Elizabeth Swann: jade captain's knot

Jade

A stone which was born out of mountain and water;

A legacy, nine thousand years in the making.

As dynasties flourished and dynasties foundered;

A stone without equal, all others forsaking.

The smooth, gleaming surface, the purest of symbols;

The sureness of wisdom, stone-hard and compact ;

The clear ringing music, released upon striking;

Proud justice, in angles precise and exact.

All flaws, seen in detail, sincere and transparent;

The shimmering hues echoed loyalty's worth;

The brightness reflected the glory of heaven;

The mountains and water, a part of the earth.

~0~

This stone graced the tombs of imperial ancestors;

Valued much higher than silver and gold.

Intricate carvings, fine jewels and embellishments,

All intertwined in the legends of old.

Of jadeite, or nephrite, proclaimed "stone of heaven";

Connecting the earth and the heavenly skies.

An emblem of virtue; of long lasting beauty,

Of dignity, blessings, and all that is wise.

In kingfisher green, or as milky perfection,

In shades of the spectrum from white to deep blue;

Much more than the product of mountain and water,

A history written in each subtle hue

~0~

Silk from the trade routes; each strand deftly knotted

To cradle a jade stone, securely preserved;

No eye-catching dazzle, like diamond or ruby;

But a deep inner glow; calm, restrained and reserved.

An heirloom passed down to the next generation;

Silken knots, broken, replaced and repaired;

Each owner moved on with the world ever changing;

A constant reminder of all that was shared.

This stone travelled far from its source in the mountains;

Departed the shore for the South China Seas

And jouneyed beyond, to the distant horizons,

From cold arctic wind to soft tropical breeze...

~0~

Her hands touch the twisted silk knots on her necklace

And the smooth polished form of the single jade stone.

Mistaken identity, unforeseen circumstance;

Now a burden encircles her neck, hers alone.

From governor's daughter, to pirate and captain;

From tightly laced corset to tunic and sword;

Returning with those who command other oceans;

And taking her place as a true pirate lord.

As she traces the shape of the gem at her breastbone;

She is gently aware of the strength at its heart;

Her courage increases; her spirits are lifted;

She's ready to face the next step, play her part.

~0~

The Brethren Court gathers, she answers their summons;

Returns to the shore with her jade captain's knot;

Observes all the discord, distrust and disharmony;

As harsh words are spoken and tempers blaze hot.

Impatient and angry, she clasps her jade necklace;

Frustration calms down and her boiling rage cools.

So she's ready to act when the voting is over;

And Elizabeth Swann, as the pirate king, rules.

As war is declared, and the crews head for battle,

There is one chance remaining before it's too late;

The goddess Calypso, released from her bondage,

Destroying those nine random pieces of eight.

~0~

The necklace is torn from her neck, silk strands fraying;

A soft incantation is whispered again;

But as the flames rise and the nine pieces vanish,

She knows that the heart of the jade will remain.

~0~

AN: This is one of nine stories in the Pieces of Eight Garden Party Challenge on the Black Pearl Forum. The rest of the stories can be found here:

www dot fanfiction dot net/topic/67105/19502591/3/PotC-Fanfiction-Story-Recommendations#80473192

The qualities of jade mentioned at the start of the poem are based on the words of Confucius.