A/N: Hello, awesome readers! So I'm sorry this is a little late, but you are getting the best possible chapter that me and my amazing beta, PirateRN, could crank out! I really loved how this chapter ended up. So please review and let me know what you all think! Thanks so much for reading!
Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean....(sigh)
As the sun rose in Port Royal I found myself already making my way to the fort. The flowers were blooming, birds were chirping merrily, and I pondered if love made everything seem brighter. True, I had never before been in love. Yet here I was already on cloud nine and it was only half past eight in the morning. I could not get Will off of my mind. I also acknowledged that this feeling of bliss is better shared, and my suitor of choice currently was behind bars. There must be a way to set him free- albeit all the most current ideas were rather criminal. Lawful or not, I was not going to sit around and let him be hanged; a rope around that beautiful neck right where my lips should be… Stop it, Elizabeth! I argued with myself. Time was of the essence, I needed to keep my amorous feelings at bay! That is, at least until I could act them out without the nuisance of shackles and chains.
As I approached the fort gate I began to feel out of place. It was considered improper for a woman of my station to be walking through town without a chaperone. By the looks of the townspeople, I was not the only person who thought my situation to be inappropriate. This morning father demanded I wait for James to escort me, but a fit of tears later I was out the door and briskly walking down the path towards town.
Unfortunately, James's carriage was already pulling up to the front terrace and he soon jumped out and was nipping at my heels. "Elizabeth!" he roared as he chased after me. My pace quickened and I said a quiet prayer that he would trip. He knew nothing of love, to him a good marriage was made between two men about a woman, instead of being between a man and a woman. He was a Commodore of the Royal Navy, and the governor's daughter was quite the prize to be won. My beauty and father's unwavering consent only made me out to be his trophy bride. It was a book of rules that dictated who I should marry, rules which to me were made to be broken.
"Elizabeth," he stated, quite out of breath, as he lightly grabbed my elbow.
I pulled my arm from his grasp and refused to acknowledge him. I kept my eyes forward and my pace swift.
"Your father said I was to escort you to the fort. Patience is a virtue."
I said nothing.
"I just do not understand what is at the fort that would merit such haste?" He struggled to keep my pace. The more his mouth rambled on about my apparent unacceptable behavior the more I wanted to slap it shut.
"Elizabeth, answer me!" This time he took a firm hold of my arm, and turned me abruptly to face him. The look of disgust on my face did not faze him.
"I was granted permission to see Mr. Turner."
"The pirate?" He sneered. I rolled my eyes. "Elizabeth, I must protest. His actions do not merit your kindness." Freeing my arm from his grasp I continued towards the fort. "His reputation in Port Royal long preceded his most recent admirable arrival."
This caught my attention. I stopped and reluctantly turned to face him, "What do you mean?"
"Records show that four years ago a teenager by the name William Turner came to Port Royal. He was in the company of a pirate named Jack Sparrow." I scanned my memory, Jack Sparrow was an infamous pirate, and news travels fast. If he had ever been on the island, I would have known.
"I do not recall…" I started.
"You were in England with your father at the time." James interrupted, "Knowing the manor was venerable with the governor's absence they attacked and made off with jewelry, currency, and a fair amount of aged rum. The navy attempted to catch them, but their ship was too fast. Soldiers still talk of the ship with black sails that speeds through the sea as if it was pushed by Calypso herself." He ended his narrative quite cocky, and resembled a child who had just beguiled his play mate.
Regrettably his tale was familiar. My father had a business affair in England and I had pleaded with him to take me with him. When we arrived home we found out that bandits had broken into our home. It was the gossip of the house staff that informed me that these bandits were indeed pirates. Infamous pirates at that! This was the spark that set my fascination with pirates afire.
"A ship with black sails?" I questioned. I had seen a similar ship slipping into the night two days prior, the night before I met Will.
"It is known as the Black Pearl. Captained by Jack Sparrow himself, who gloats his ship can out maneuver anything that floats on the Caribbean." James replied bitterly.
I had read of Jack Sparrow. He was the most notorious pirate in the Caribbean. For years he attacked and pilfered local Ports then he unexpectedly stopped. It was as if he had fallen off the globe. Rumor was that a man by the name of Barbossa had organized a mutiny and had overcome his ship.
"Let me take you home Ms. Swan," James coyly responded to my silence. I turned from him and once again started towards the fort. "May I at least offer my company?" He retorted as he stepped in front of me.
"I have offered my services to the prisoner, and have my father's consent to visit him and show mercy." Forgetting to mention my father's wish for me to have a chaperone, I stepped around him, "Good day Commodore." The use of his formal title rendered him speechless, as I hurried off on my mercy mission.
When I arrived to the front gates I gave the same line to the guards who luckily had a similar sense of ignorance and gave me no trouble. It was when I arrived to the entry of the naval prison that my luck seemed to run out.
"I am here to speak with Mr. Turner," I said firmly. "My father has made an arrangement."
"Entry into the prison requires a letter bearing the governor's seal." The guard aggressively replied, remaining firmly planted in front of the gate.
"How dare you accuse me of being dishonest!" I roared. "Have you no clue who I am?" I took a step towards him shaking my finger inches from his face, "I am Elizabeth Swan, daughter of the Governor of Port Royal. Diplomacy itself dictates that I represent your chief therefore I have no need to provide his seal. My actions are his own, how dare you question the actions of the Governor!" Moments later he was guiding me down a dark corridor which soon led to a larger room filled with cells.
The room was dim, light only by the small windows of each cell. Fortunately, there had been a dry spell of crime in Port Royal and only one cell was currently occupied. He was sitting with his legs elevated on the small bench in his cell. His head was resting against the cold bars, and his eyes were closed. Admiring him, I noticed the look of peace on his face. This wasn't the first time he had been behind bars.
"What are you doing here, Elizabeth?" he asked without opening his eyes, a small grin appearing on his face.
His comment took me off guard, "How did you know it was me?"
He opened his eyes and eased himself upright. "If you were going for the element of surprise you should have worn different shoes." I looked down and slightly lifted my skirt, revealing the high heels of my buckled shoes.
"Oh," I sighed.
He stood and walked toward me. "Now, I'll ask again. What can I do for you Ms. Swan?"
Looking at the guard I straightened my skirt and stood tall, "I have come to offer mercy Mr. Turner." I walked closer to the cell watching him closely, "If you will please offer me your hand I will join you in prayer, with hopes that the Lord will spare your soul." Will looked curiously at me, and I looked sternly back at him. I could literally see the light come on as his mind recognized my scam.
"I appreciate your kindness." He lamely replied as his hand reached through the bars and took my hand in his own. The callus feeling of his hands took me by surprise, and I could feel his gentle strength as his thumb rubbed across my palm. I momentarily was back in the clouds, but quickly came back to reality and bowed my head as if to pray. The guard did not move. I sighed loudly and turned to my annoying shadow.
"Repentance is something that done between a soul and a witness. It does not require a crowd." The guard looked stunned.
"But, Ms. Swan, he is a wanted felon!"
"Who is locked behind bars. Now please leave us!" The guard begrudgingly stumbled out of the room. As soon as he was out of sight, I turned my attention back to Will. He now looked at me as if I was insane.
"I wanted to see you," I said bluntly. "Being alone locked in a cell seems quite lonely, but if my presence is not appreciated I can leave." My voice was stern but my eyes pleaded with him to ask me to stay.
He chuckled, "No, I very much enjoy your company." I smiled slightly, relieved. "Your face is far more pleasing than the Commodore's."
I frowned, "Commodore Norrington was here? Why?"
Will glanced at the entry way, "He offered me clemency in exchange for some valuable information."
"He was going offer you pardon?" Will nodded. I let out an angry sigh. My father had made it seem that the law rendered him and James helpless. Yet here he was liberally offering clemency. "Did you disclose this information?"
Will shook his head, "No."
"Why?" I asked with slight alarm. Will did not say a word. He stared into my eyes for a long moment then pulled his hand away from mine. He started to pace around his cell. "He wanted information regarding a friend of mine."
"Jack Sparrow." I stated.
Will frowned, "Yes, how did you…"
"I know of your past in Port Royal. Commodore Norrington graciously informed me of you history with Captain Jack Sparrow." The sarcasm in my voice was apparent.
"Did he?" Will questioned approaching me slowly, resting his forearms on the bars. I took a step forward, closing the distance between us. My body yearned to be closer yet years of sensibility told me to keep my distance. My heart easily won the battle.
"Yes," I breathed. "He was trying to scare me."
"Now why would he do that?" he asked flirtatiously, his eyes dropping to my lips for moment.
I looked away from his eyes shyly, "He is jealous."
"Of what?" He asked quietly. I looked up to meet his chocolate eyes. It was as if he could read my soul, the depth of his eyes was memorizing.
"Of…the attention I give you." He smirked. "James believes my attentions are better suited elsewhere, perhaps more on himself."
"What has he done to deserve your attention?" Will coldly retorted. Looking into his eyes, I momentarily saw a flash of jealously.
"Well, he offered me his hand in marriage at the ceremony yesterday. I needed some fresh air, and time to think so I left the engagement and was then promptly rescued by you." I saw his grip on the bars tighten. "My pending marriage will most certainly be praised by my father. The proposal itself was made in my father's study this I'm sure. The question to me was more a formality." I closed my eyes in frustration, "I do not wish to marry for the sake of propriety. I may sound like a whimsical child, but a life without love is not worth living." A single tear slipped from my eye.
Will smiled, and reached a hand through the bars and placed it on my cheek. He moved his thumb wiping away the tear. "No, to forego your morals and values to please someone else is wrong. No one wishes for a lifetime of servitude." he replied softly.
I returned his smile. Moving my hand to take his, I lightly clutched his palm and moved closer to the cell. Now it was mere inches of iron that separated us.
"Elizabeth, what do you want most?" he asked seriously.
"Love. I want a lifetime filled with love." My eyes surely gave away my heart's desire. A lifetime with you, I added silently. Noting his eyes soften I returned the question, "What is it that you want most?"
He paused momentarily then spoke to my soul, "I want…"
The sudden sound of the door interrupted him. I turned, still holding his hand in mine and saw James enter the room. He frowned "God has not answered your prayers yet I see." My eyes narrowed, and I fought the strong urge to correct him. For God indeed had answered my prayers…he was locked in the cell before me. "Your father sends for you Ms. Sawn. You have been invited to dinner with Lord Matthews. The Governor requested that I escort you home." The guard then reentered the room and stood next to James.
Seeing the futility of the situation, I turned back to Will whispering, "I look forward to seeing your tomorrow Mr. Turner."
He smiled, "My soul is not worth the effort Ms. Swan." He replied humbly.
"I want to see you tomorrow, Will," I boldly corrected. "Until then." I bowed my head and kissed his palm lightly, the same as he had done the day before, then turned to leave.
"Goodbye, Elizabeth," I barely heard him reply with awe.
Moving quickly passed James, I navigated the corridor of the jail alone. Not wanting or needing his escort. As I walked out into the bright sunlight I wished it was night. For night meant that sunrise was closer. Sunset, sunrise, whatever it took to bring me back to Will.