Imagine this, just for me. Imagine a world that has no boundaries, a place where anything can happen, where the world is huge again, and anywhere is possible – where freedom is taken for granted. Now let me tell you a secret – this world...it exists. It does! It's here, and over there, and anywhere that you can hear the slow crashing of waves and the sharp cry of gulls. Those sounds, that tangy salt smell...that is freedom.
The campfire spat and hissed, sending angry orange sparks up into the black of night where they vanished. The crew sat around it, tight and close, still wary after all these weeks of something so different to their beloved ocean. When sparks flew too close to one of them, they would jerk backwards, not yet used to the fact that the sparks were as harmless as bright red butterflies. Their faces were dark and haggard, and any breeze that reached them caused their heads to lift, hoping to catch the scent of the sea. They had passed from the place where that would be possible days ago. The crew were getting more and more restless regarding their journey, which seemed to be going nowhere. They were all sick of seeing trees and grass and leaves. They each longed for the ocean more than they would ever admit to. Only the thought of rescuing Jack kept them going.
Elizabeth was also sick of the journey. The compass had not wavered from its original course the whole time, which she took as a good sign. It meant that they couldn't be lost. The way she saw it, they had to be close or they would be hitting the other side of the island, and would be forced to return. Only the thought of rescuing Jack kept her going.
Will, on the other hand, was enjoying the whole experience a lot more than he would admit too. Getting away from the ocean, and the constant physical demands, seemed like more of a holiday to him than a task, as the others saw it. Sure, the thought of rescuing Jack, and through him his father, kept him happier about it.
In the morning, the crew picked themselves up off the ground and prepared for another day of riding. The sun was breaking over the tree laden horizon, but its light was weak and did nothing to warm them. They shivered and cursed as they saddled their horses and ate their cold broth. The ground shone with frost.
They had been riding for a few hours when they first noticed it. The sky was an effortless blue pool, and Elizabeth was actually enjoying the ride. Her stallion, Prego, was almost dancing. His obvious enthusiasm for the ride made her smile as it rubbed off on her. She tilted her head back and laughed on impulse, and that's when she saw it. A huge eagle, silhouetted against the sky, was circling them as it cried out eerily. Compulsion made Elizabeth grasp the compass and flip it open. She watched, amazed, as the needle of the compass followed the exact movements of the eagle. As it flew across her left shoulder, the point swung that way too. It was enough for her. The eagle had swung to the right, and was soaring in that direction.
"Follow the eagle!" she yelled out. The men, tired and grumpy, glared at her.
"A bird? Ye want us to follow a bird?!" piped up Gibbs, who generally spoke for the group. "No offense, Miss Elizabeth, but I sincerely doubt the accuracy of that birds navigational skills." The crew nodded in general agreement. There were a few muttered "ayes".
"A bird?" asked Will softly, his brow creased in curiosity. Elizabeth looked at him, seeing the trust in his eyes.
"Yes. A bird. I know it leads the way."
The crew grumbled for a while, but then agreed to follow Elizabeth. She had the compass, after all.
A few hours later, they had arrived at a mansion in the middle of a large copse of trees. Smoke trailed lazily out of the chimney, and Elizabeth watched in awe as the eagle swooped into the middle of the black haze before promptly disappearing.
Gibbs gasped beside her, obviously having just witnessed the same thing.
"This place is cursed, Miss Elizabeth," he whispered. "I wouldn't be going in there if I were ye. We best just turn back now, me says."
The crew around them murmured their mutual agreement. Elizabeth sighed and rolled her eyes, exasperated.
"You want to save Jack, don't you?" The crew shifted uncomfortably, some nodding uncertainly. "Right! So we need to do this. For him!" The crew still seemed hesitant. Will nodded to her, and she swept to his side.
"I'll come with you," he whispered. "The crew can wait for us here. I think they might prefer that arrangement."
Elizabeth surveyed the men, deciding that Will was right. It would probably be better for them if Annabelle didn't freak out at the sight of so many pirates anyway.
"Alright. Sounds like a plan," she whispered back. She turned and announced the idea to the crew.
While she spoke, Will studied the house of the famous pirate, taking in any small detail he could. HE eventually decided that it looked ominous. Not good. Elizabeth was suddenly at his side.
"Ready?" he asked. She nodded, putting on a brave face.
"Let's go."
The pair began the long descent to the mansion at the bottom of the hill, trying to appear calm while so close to the mysterious goal they had chased for so long. Will, slightly apprehensive, watched the excitement on Elizabeth's face with curiosity.
She would never tell him, but she was jealous of Annabelle, this girl she had never met but knew all about. She had once had everything Elizabeth longed for: freedom, love, adventure and respect. Sure, she was overjoyed that their long journey was finally ending – that Jack would be saved. But, more than that, she had that sense of being a part of something much bigger than herself, bigger than her world.
And Elizabeth couldn't contain her excitement.
