The sun set in a blinding array of dazzling color. Reds, oranges, pinks, and magentas were painted onto the darkening sky. Elizabeth stopped her rowing to watch, for a few reasons. One being that she loved sunsets; two being that her hands needed a rest, and three being that Will was probably watching the sun rise on the other side. And as painful and despondent as the thought was, it also gave her comfort. Even if it was only slight, any comfort lifted her spirits greatly. But now, it seemed nothing could raise her spirits any further, for they were already as high up as possible. She smiled and gazed out in front of her, where the bright lights of a town were glowing in the distant horizon. And not just any town, her town. Port Royal.
She picked up her oars again once the sun had completely disappeared and started rowing in the direction of her home. As it slowly grew nearer and she could begin to make out the dark shapes of buildings and houses, she remembered the first time she had ever laid eyes on the little Jamaican port many years ago.
"Land ho!" a sailor shouted from the crows nest, a golden telescope held up to his eye.
Elizabeth gasped and jumped to her feet, grabbing Will's hand and pulling him up as well. They'd been playing a game of dominos on the deck…or at least attempting to. One of the sailors had taught them the game a few days ago, but they both were having a hard time remembering the rules. They were also having a hard time concentrating, as they both knew that today was the day they would finally arrive at their destination.
They'd been on the sea for nearly two weeks, and Elizabeth wanted nothing more than to collapse on the sandy shore of the beaches that her father had said were scattered all around the outskirts of the town. She didn't know how he had acquired this bit of information, as he had never been to Jamaica before, but it didn't matter to her. She was thrilled at the thought of living so near the sea. She had spent all of her life jammed in the middle of England, central London to be exact, and had never seen the ocean until this very voyage. It had taken her father literally over an hour to drag her away from the crashing blue waves and golden sandy shore.
It was an obvious fact then that since she had never seen the ocean before, Elizabeth had never been on a ship. When the large majestic H.M.S. Dauntless had appeared in her line of vision, she had gasped and pressed her face to the window of her carriage, a wide smile plastered on her face.
"Elizabeth, be patient," her father had said. "And please sit back down."
She had been so excited that she hadn't even realized she had jumped up from her seat. But she had a right to. For years, she had dreamt about pirate ships sailing on the sapphire ocean, chasing the sun as it set on the horizon. And now she was finally living out her dreams. While the Dauntless may not have been a pirate ship, it was good enough for her.
Now, about ten days later, Elizabeth pulled again on her best mate's hand, forcing him to run with her. "Come on Will! Don't you want to see the town?"
"Of course I do," the young boy replied as he struggled to keep up with her. "I just see no point in running."
"Oh, you're so boring," she said, pulling him again.
"Elizabeth, stop!" he desperately called. "Please, I can't breathe."
She instantly let go of his hand, but didn't stop running herself. She didn't even glance back to see if he was following her. Only when she reached the wooden railing at the bow did she turn to find Will walking towards her none too quickly.
"Hurry up! Hurry up, I can see it!" she shrieked, motioning for him to come.
He sighed but ran the rest of the way and grasped her outstretched hand with his own. She pulled him up next to her and began jumping and pointing.
"Look Will! Look, it's so beautiful!"
The little town was growing larger with every passing second and beginning to reveal itself to them as they watched in awe. Pretty little white cottage-like houses lined the dirt roads where the citizens were running around doing their Friday errands. The church bells were chiming up in the bell tower, signaling it was now midday.
Elizabeth's eyes were focused on only one thing, though. Down on the docks by the beach, the whole of the Royal Navy was assembled in two uniform lines with their bayonets crossed overhead. Behind them, a small group of citizens was gathered around what looked like a large white carriage.
She heard Will meekly ask, "Is that all for you?"
She glanced over at him and shook her head. "No. It's for us."
He smiled shyly. "I believe it is more for the Governor, sadly."
She nodded her agreement. "Yes, and Lieutenant Norrington." She grinned and squeezed his hand. "With all the attention on them, we could easily slip away and explore the town. Shall we?"
He bit his lower lip and looked at her warily. "I don't know. I do not with to get into any trouble so early. First impressions are important after all, and I suspect we're going to be living her for a while. Or, at least you are."
"Oh Will, you worry far too much! Who honestly cares if we're a bit too adventurous? We're twelve; what do they expect?"
He sighed and shrugged. "I don't know Elizabeth. I just…"
"Please?" She pouted slightly and looked up at him pleadingly. "For me?"
He was silent for a minute and just continued staring at her, but finally he nodded. "Alright. I guess a little adventure wouldn't hurt."
She grinned. "As into the sunset we sail."
He looked at her curiously. "Excuse me?"
She shook her head. "Never mind. That was uncalled for. Just something from a novel I read once. Terribly romantic it was, though I thoroughly enjoyed it." She smiled again. "As off into the sunset we shall sail, my dear Katherine…"
He grinned. "And keep a weather eye on the horizon."
"Is that from a book as well?" she asked.
He shook his head. "No. It was carved on a grave in London Cemetery, by my mum's."
"It's pretty."
He nodded. "I liked it too."
She smiled. "Keep a weather eye on the horizon."
"Always, Miss Swann."
Elizabeth smiled now as she gazed at the approaching town. She was getting close, and could now make out the outlines of people walking about the streets. Suddenly, she caught sight of the large governor's mansion, towering in the distance. The windows were aglow with the light of candles, making her heart flutter softly. Her home had not been abandoned. Someone was taking care of it.
Her smiled abruptly disappeared as a dark thought crossed her mind. Someone else was living in her mansion, in her home. Yes, its previous occupants had died and disappeared, but it had not been so long ago. Her father's passing had been a month ago, and she had only left Port Royal a month before that. Surely the townsfolk could not have already forgotten her? Her departure had become quite famous she had heard, escaping from prison after her wedding had been destroyed.
At the thought of her Port Royal wedding, a little frown appeared on her face. Her eyes drifted over to the church where the glorious union was supposed to have happened, but never did.
Elizabeth stared out ahead of her, at the grey and desolate ocean. Her pale lips were drawn together in a sorrowful frown, and her large brown eyes were wide and distant. She was kneeling in the damp soil and grass scattered about the church courtyard. Her beautiful golden gown was turning into a ruin as she allowed the rain to drench it. The imported silk so carefully sewn in long billowing layers had lost its shine and the exquisite diamonds and pearls that adorned the bodice and train no longer glittered.
The lovely young bride sighed as she tightened her grip on the lily and jasmine bouquet she held in front of her. Today was supposed to have been the best of her life, but it had quickly turned into a nightmare.
She jumped slightly at the sound of footsteps behind her followed by the ring of a sword. She lifted her head and glanced behind her to see the figure of a man standing between the columns of the church's outside patio. A large crowd had gathered behind him, and at its center was the terrified face of her fiancé. He looked pale and exhausted, and his hands were cuffed together in addition to three guards flanking him. Her heart skipped a beat and she let out a painful gasp.
Quickly rising to her feet, she dropped her bouquet into the mud and ran as swiftly as the heavy layers of her gown would allow her. As she approached the church, she glanced at the mysterious man who had first caught her attention. In the short moment that she saw his face, she realized that an evil smirk was carved onto his thin lips. Elizabeth brushed past him and crashed into her fiancé, locking him in a tight embrace.
"Will," she cried as her tears began to fall. "Why is this happening?"
He pulled her tighter for a minute and sighed. "I don't know."
She continued to cry as the crowd around them watched sadly.
Gently, Will put a finger under her chin and raised her head so that he could meet her eyes. He smiled. "You look beautiful."
She smiled back before swallowing hard. "I think its bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding." But from the sudden change of events, she was beginning to doubt that any vows would be exchanged today. She was right.
Elizabeth closed her eyes and tried to push the memory from her mind. That day had changed her life in so many ways. She would be happily married right now, looking out her window at the blacksmith's forge waiting for her husband to return home after a long day of work. If only things had gone according to plan.
By now she had reached the beach just west of the harbor. She ran her little longboat ashore and sat in silence for a minute, letting realization wash over her. She had done it; navigated her way across the wild seas with not so much as a compass. And now she was home.
She climbed out of the longboat and gasped as her feet came in contact with the cool sand. It was so soft and smooth, different from any other sand she had ever felt. The grains on her island had been beautiful, glittering gold in the sunlight, but they were hard and had cut her feet from walking on them for so long. But now she reveled in the feeling of the shores she was so used to. The very beaches where she had grown up. Where she had spent countless hours racing along the water's edge with Will when they were young and carefree. Those were the days.
Elizabeth carefully picked up the Dead Man's Chest and stuck it under her arm so that she could grab her jian. With a loose piece of cloth she had ripped from her dress, she tied the jian to her leg so that it was shielded from view. It made her feel safe, but she didn't think the citizens would appreciate her walking around with a weapon. Ex-governor's daughter or not, the only people truly authorized to have weapons were the Royal Navy.
She shuddered. The Royal Navy used to be her friend, her ally. They protected her when she was in danger; they rescued her when she was stranded on that island with Jack some nine months ago. But now they were her worst enemy. They tried to kill her, and they had nearly succeeded. The day she was finally married to Will had almost been her last. Thank God he had been there to protect her. But it had cost him his life in the end.
She sighed, shaking her head sadly. As she so often thought, it just wasn't fair. But at least they had been given another chance. This wasn't the end, not by a long-shot. He would come home to her, and they would get the ending they deserved. But for the time being, she would have to be patient. She wasn't particularly wonderful at waiting for anything, but this was one thing that she would happily wait an eternity for. She was so blessed to have been given an amazing man that willingly sacrificed for her, and that loved her with every fiber of his being. The first time he had said those three little words, time had frozen and her heart had stopped beating.
It was warm and humid in Port Royal, as it often was. The hot Caribbean sun beat down on all the civilians that were gathered around the gallows to watch as a free bird was silenced.
Jack stood high on the platform, his hands tied together with a thick piece of rope. He didn't look afraid, but Elizabeth knew that he was. Even the bravest men in the world cowered in fear at the thought of facing the hangman's noose. She knew he was no different.
He lifted his head and she caught his eye for a second. He looked sad, lost, and defeated. The immortal Captain Sparrow had finally given up. She looked back at him desperately, wishing there was something she could do. He had done nothing wrong; on the contrary he had saved her life numerous times. And now she was going to watch him die. The guilt her heart felt was immense, and she thought she might burst into tears.
Elizabeth glanced over at her father, who was standing next to her, along with Commodore Norrington. They both had their eyes on Sparrow as well, though there was no mercy in either of their intense glares. She looked back to the pirate again and sighed.
"This is wrong."
Without looking at her, Governor Swann firmly said, "Commodore Norrington is bound by the law, as are we all."
Before she could open her mouth to retort, she heard her name being called. Her heart skipped a beat, for she knew that voice all too well. She glanced down to see Will standing before her, looking up at her with a smile on his face. She tried to return it, but found she couldn't. She was still slightly angry with him for his simply heartbreaking response to her silent plea a few nights ago at Isle de Muerta. But now she was put into a slight trance by the way he had said her name. Her actual name. Ever since she had been kidnapped a few days ago, Will had started calling her Elizabeth instead of the lifeless Miss Swann, and she couldn't help but smile every time she heard her name rolling off his tongue. But not this time.
She continued to watch him, but didn't say anything. She tilted her chin up slightly, adding a touch of arrogance to her already displeased character. She would let Will know how much his words had hurt her, and she would do it without ever opening her mouth. She knew that when she ignored him, it stung. He had told her so when they were sixteen years old. And as far as she knew, that fact hadn't changed one bit over the past four years.
"Elizabeth," Will said again, making sure he had her eye. Once she had given him her full attention, though a bit annoyed she looked, he continued. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes for a second and felt his heart hammering in his chest. This was it. No turning back now. It needed to be said, before it was too late. He swallowed nervously and looked back into her dark intimidating eyes, but suddenly he had the courage to go on. "I should have told you every day from the moment I met you…"
He stopped for a minute, awaiting some sort of reaction from her. She frowned slightly and creased her eyebrows, obviously confused. It seemed she had not been expecting any sort of chat from him today, and his carefully chosen words seemed to have bewildered her. He smiled faintly at her expression, and then took another deep breath. Now is the time. The opportune moment.
"I love you."
Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open a bit. She didn't blink; she just kept staring at him. He could tell by the way her chest was rising and falling that she was breathing heavily. He honestly thought she was going to faint.
After a few seconds of silence, he changed a glance at her father and fiancé. Their eyes were wide as well, and the Commodore was staring at him in utter disbelief. Will quickly looked back to Elizabeth, only to find she had not moved at all. She still had that shocked expression on her face, and he was beginning to regret finally telling her. Perhaps he had been a bit too rash, and she was simply not expecting it. But then again, he had always feared that she would not feel the same way, and it appeared that he had been right. He swiftly turned around and pushed his way into the crowd, wishing he could disappear.
Elizabeth stared after him and his words finally began to register in her mind. He loved her. He actually loved her. And he had loved her for years. Her breath caught in her throat as she suddenly realized that she had loved him all along as well. He was her best friend, the one person she had always been able to turn to without the fear of being laughed at or pushed aside. He always seemed to understand, almost like he was going through the same things that she was. She loved him. Loved him with all her heart, and she wanted him to know that.
She craned her neck to see him in the crowd, but he was no where to be seen. She sighed and turned to confront her father when a flash of color caught her eye. She furrowed her eyebrows and squinted in the bright sunlight to see what the brilliant blue and red spectacle had been. Her eyes widened in shock for the second time as she focused in on a large parrot perched on the flagpole of one of the flags flying atop Fort Charles. It was Cotton's parrot.
Elizabeth snapped her head forward at the sound of a sword ringing, followed by the cries and shrieks of the civilians. Her eyes darted around for a second, searching for the owner of the sword. It didn't take her long to realize that it was Will; he had seen the parrot as well. She watched as he pushed through the crowd, sword gripped tightly in his hand, and she knew that he was going to try to set Jack free. But he wouldn't be able to do it alone. He was far outnumbered, and as he moved she saw the Royal Navy tightening their grips on their bayonets. She had to act fast.
Elizabeth sighed. Memories. That's what she was living off of. Memories. Days spent in the company of her beloved, whether it be their dramatic wedding or long summer hours of lying idly under a tree. These were the thoughts that gave her strength. They reminded her of what she had already been through, and told her what awaited when Will finally came home. And was she ever looking forward to that.
She looked up at the dark sky where thousands of tiny stars were glinting; sprinkled all along the vast and endless universe. She smiled slightly, thinking she was not so very different from them. They were all so small; so insignificant, impossible to count just like everyone in the world. Yet each one sparkled with its own personality; no two were alike. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes, letting the mild breeze blow through her hair.
She gazed back at the town and feared her emotions may overtake her. Letting out a final sigh, she slowly began her walk towards the roads she knew so well.
She was home at last.
(A/N:) I love this chapter. I love all the memories...they were really fun to write :) Please let me know what you think of the story so far! I know a lot hasn't happened yet, but there is a lot more to come soon, I promise!
-Elizabeth
