AN: There's only an update or two left for this year for both of my stories. I can't believe how fast the year's past! I had to put an evil cliffhanger. I know you just love me for it, too. But don't you worry; next chapter, not only will I continue, Will is coming:). His royal hotness… I'd be much obliged if you'd review! Read, review, and enjoy!
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Shipwreck Island was quite a pretty sight; a majority of the exterior was covered by lush grass and large rocks that the waves lapped at. Jack informed me that there was a river-like channel that led to where the Brethren Court tended to meet, but we were going to bypass it and go to the small cove-like, beach area. "Lizzie stayed there, figuring that it was a decent place to wait for ten years," Jack explained, his hands gesturing to the approaching beach. "She's the Pirate King, so I decided it best not to argue with her. I figure it best not to argue with any woman, although it is decidingly fun…" I glared at him, his face producing a handsome smirk.
"I'm sure you find it very fun," I countered, rolling my eyes as I followed him to a long boat.
Gibbs rowed while I chatted with Pintel and Regetti. Jack sat in front of us, shaking his head. I found the two men rather amusing and good company. "There's poppet," Pintel commented, pointing to a figure in the distance.
"Aye, there's Lizzie," Jack replied. From my seat behind him, I could see his smirk from the side.
"Jack?" She questioned as we treaded through the surf towards solid ground. "Jack!" Her sun-kissed blonde hair followed her and flew in the breeze as she threw her arms around Jack's neck, pulling him into an obviously unexpected embrace.
His face twisted into an expression that showed his uncertainty. I snorted, causing his dark eyes to glare in my direction. "'Lizabeth, how've you… Bugger," he whispered, staring at her abdomen. Despite her thin frame, her stomach was protruding from her body. "You're with child." It wasn't a question; it was his shock in words.
Elizabeth nodded, smiling slightly. "Well," Jack began, "at least we know what you and dear William were up to that one day on land." She glared at him, her honey eyes shining with love for her somewhat-dead husband. "Speaking of William, what say you to paying him a visit?"
"What, why…?"
"This is Natalie Emerson," he gestured to me. "She's the newest governor's daughter. Ironic, isn't it?"
"Nice to meet you," I smiled gently at her, extending my hand.
She shook it, returning my smile as she continued to talk with Jack. "What does she have to do with Will…?"
"We're delaying unevatable encounters with the Royal Navy…"
"Running away," Barbossa cut in, trudging to where we stood. Cotton and Marty followed from their longboat.
"Am not! It's a coincidence that we happen to be anticipating to run into them. I just wanted to be kind to poor Lizzie…"
"You're runnin' away, Jack, and you know it."
Elizabeth met my gaze and grinned. "They never cease arguing, do they?"
"No," I laughed. "They don't."
She turned to Jack. "I hate to interrupt, but if I understand what you've told me correctly, they you're wanting to go to see Will." He nodded, glaring at Barbossa. "When are you going?!"
Jack grinned as Barbossa replied, stealing his limelight. "As soon as you're ready, Missus Turner."
"I have old things upon the Pearl," she replied as she began to walk towards one of the longboats.
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"You'll be sharin' a room with Natty," Jack hollered to Elizabeth as we took off towards my cabin. I'd sat in a longboat with her, Jack, and Gibbs on the way back.
"I think we got on his nerves on the way back," I said as we made our way down the steps. The entire time we'd chatted about our old lives as governors' daughters.
She just laughed as she opened the door. However, a shriek soon took its place as Molly darted towards us. "Sorry," I murmured, picking up the small puppy. "I meant to tell you about her."
"It's alright," she replied, smiling slightly as she extended a tanned hand to pet the pup.
"Her name's Molly," I said, watching as the small creature sniffed and nipped at her hand gently. "She nips, but I assume it's just a puppy thing."
"Aye." I sat Molly down as she began to squirm free.
"I've worn some of your things, I hope you don't mind. We bought me some new things in Tortuga, though…"
"It's alright. I doubt I can fit any of these, anyways." She commented as she dug through the trunk at the foot of the bed. After digging for a minute, she pulled out a small pile of white shirts that looked larger than hers. "These were Will's," Elizabeth said, bringing one to her nose, inhaling deeply.
"You miss him," I stated, my heart breaking for her. I'd known her for not even an hour, but I could tell that the Will I'd heard so much about wasn't your ordinary guy; and I wasn't talking about his being bound to the Dutchman.
"Yes. But we'll see him soon enough."
I nodded, sitting on the bed as I watched her place the shirts atop the trunk. I supposed we would have to share the bed, and it was large enough so it didn't bother me. Besides, I figured that Jack would stall for a while in the Locker, so she'd probably go spend some time on the Dutchman with her husband. "How's the babe?" I questioned, at a loss for words. What was I supposed to say to someone who was in her situation; with child and estranged from her husband.
"Alright, I suppose." Her voice was full of tears, making me regret opening my mouth. "When I found out, at first I was in shock. I didn't want to have a reminder of Will, whom I love. But as the truth began to dawn on me, I slowly realized that it wasn't a painful reminder, but that this child is going to be a way to distract me from the ten, long years to come." I met Elizabeth's gaze as she sat next to me, watching as she bent to pick up Molly, who was pawing at her shoes. "Why does Jack need to run from the Navy?"
"Barbossa had come into Port Royal and gotten caught. Jack and he stole the ship, along with my assistance. I am- was –engaged to an admiral. I suppose the engagement's off," I tried to joke, finding that I couldn't smile.
"I was engaged to an admiral," she piped up, grinning in the light of our coincidences. "It's odd, isn't it? We just met, yet we seem to have everything in common."
"Yes, although," I pondered aloud, "I suppose it's because our fathers both thought that we deserve the best protection. Navy men, Admirals in particular, tend to travel and move around a lot. I doubt our fathers realized that."
"Yes," she whispered, her eyes shimmering with memories of her past. "My father died, you know, at the hand of Cutler Beckett. That horrible man."
"I know." My voice was gentle as I watched my puppy chew gently on my new friend's fingers. "Pirates are held responsible for the latter's death."
"And they were. The Pearl and the Dutchman fired at his ship from both sides. The Endeavor didn't have a chance." She was quiet a moment, watching Molly intently as she absentmindedly stroked the pup's stiff fur. "So Jack's running from the consequences of his actions?" I nodded, rolling my eyes in amusement. "That's just like him. He hasn't changed a bit over the years. He really is a good man. Despite the fact that I know for certain he came and fetched me just to stall, I think he also did it out of pity. You should've seen the looks of the crewmembers that I received as I'd left the Pearl to join Will on the beach. Their sympathy just made it worse."
Elizabeth Turner was definitely an outspoken woman, not afraid to share her emotions. If I hadn't known that she was a governor's daughter, I'd never have guessed it. She was free-spirited enough to be considered a pirate, although she definitely had some aristocratic ways upon her. I assumed that some of my old lifestyle ways would probably remain with me; habits that I'd had for all my life would probably never go away.
"Jack had incredibly good timing," she began softly. "My upset stomach hasn't occurred for a while, and if I would've had it while on a ship…" She shook her head at the thought of it, meeting my gaze. "The men would be in for a treat cleaning up after me had I not been able to reach the railing." I laughed.
"Aye, that would've been a real treat indeed, considering I'm the one who would've had to clean them up. Jack even bought me a new mop," I added, blushing at the ridiculous statement.
"Well, at least you'd put to good use." I smiled gently as she handed Molly to me. "It's getting late. I think I'll turn in."
I nodded, more than happy to oblige. As we began to rid of our boots and effects, I decided to use her knowledge of our journey to the Locker to my advantage. "How long will it take to reach World's End?"
"I think we could just flip the ship, but if I know Jack at all, then we'll sail into the cold until we reach the waterfall we arrived at last time. It'll take longer."
"Flip the ship?" I wondered, puzzled by her explanation.
"Aye," she replied as we slipped beneath the covers. "Everything is opposite there; sunrise there is sunset here. So up is down; if we flip the ship at sunset here, we'll arrive at sunrise there."
I nodded, still not quite grasping the concept but not thinking twice on it. Without another word, we were both asleep within the next ten minutes.
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Jack growled in frustration as he spun the sections of the Chart. He knew they needed to head towards a waterfall, and the closest one he could think of was one on an island a few days away. But he didn't want anywhere close; if he could help it, he wanted to go out of the Caribbean to avoid any unexpected run-ins with the Navy. Natalie would probably second my reasoning, he argued with himself.
Barbossa had offered assistance, but since Jack didn't want to hear the elder pirate boast about how helpful he was, the younger man was determined to get to the Locker on his own. If nothing else, he concluded as he rolled up the chart and put it away, going to his room for the night, we'll just sail for a while to stall, and then flip the ship. That's easy enough.
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The next day, I began to doubt our plan of escape, for I discovered from the horse's mouth that Jack was planning to sail for awhile until we found a waterfall or until we were out of the Caribbean. According to his path of choice, we were heading towards a bundle of islands towards the spot where seas intersected. It would take a few days to arrive at the general area, where we'd leave the Caribbean if nothing else.
We sailed for another week, the crew becoming restless. The days were hot enough that Jack excused me and Elizabeth from chores, although I was rather certain that he was just wanting Lizzie to rest and for me to keep her company. She shared this theory with me the night before we were due to arrive at the border.
"He doesn't want to deal with you if you were to get bored." I realized the rudeness of my remark, quickly trying to correct it. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean it the way it sounded…"
"I know," she reassured me, patting my hand. "I agree with you. Also, Will would have his head if I'd worked too much, given my condition."
I watched her face, searching for any sign that she would lose control of her emotions. When I was certain that she wouldn't, I took my chances. "If Will hadn't become Captain of the Dutchman, would you two have continued to sail? And would he make you do what Jack's making you do?"
She laughed, her eyes seeming to dance in the fading candlelight. "We probably would've continued to sail, aye, but I doubt he'd make me sit in here and do nothing. Jack's just enforcing me to sit here because he's afraid of Will's wrath." I laughed with her, relieved that I hadn't upset her.
"We won't… die, will we?" I gulped, my mouth becoming dry.
She eyed me curiously, questions burning in her eyes. "If we go off a waterfall, then yes, that's the general idea. But the Pearl will survive with us, and we'll be able to sail on it. When we're ready to come back, we'll flip the boat. We'll become alive again. Why?"
I gulped once more, feeling childish. "I hate any mention or thought concerning the word 'death'. I suppose it's an irrational fear, but I've had it ever since I was a child. I suppose it has something to do with my mother dying without deserving it. She died giving birth to me."
"My mother did, too," Elizabeth replied, her voice quiet and gentle. "Why did you escape with pirates, then?"
"Freedom," I replied, not thinking about my answer.
"Aye, I remember the feeling well." She lay back upon the pillows, closing her eyes.
Our conversation about death had left me dizzy. I'd never openly discussed the reason, not even with my father, whom I'd used to be close to. Aaron had never come close to discovering that about me, and that would've been even more reason for me to become his wife; I would've had to stay home and do 'womanly' things while he dealt with deaths. "I'm going to go out onto the deck for some fresh air," I murmured as I got off the bed, fleeing the room.
The air was thick with the smell of rain, and the salty smell of the ocean seemed to calm me, as it always had seemed to do. I climbed the steps to the quarterdeck, seeing Jack at the helm. He merely nodded a greeting, for he seemed too wrapped up in his thoughts to do anything.
As I stood at the railing, I stared down at the water. For the first time, I noticed that open ocean no longer surrounded us, but instead we were traveling down a wide channel. The stars reflected in the dark water, making it appear as if we were traveling upon the sky. Elizabeth and I hadn't went above deck at all that day; we'd cleaned our cabin and spent the day chatting. We'd only left the main cabin to use the privy and to get food from the nearby galley. Not once had we left the belly of the ship.
As I became consumed by my thoughts, something about the dim water caught my eye; it was beginning to churn, its speed increasing by the second. I leaned over the edge so I could look ahead of the ship. I could hear the source of the sudden speed before I saw it; we were heading for a waterfall.
I stared in fear, my eyes unblinking as I watched our certain fate approach at agonizing speed. I backed away in shock and I flew down to the cabin that I shared with the Pirate King. "'Lizabeth," I panted, not sure if my running had left me breathless or if it was the fact that I was about to experience death. "We're heading towards a waterfall."
She met my gaze, nodding. "Sit down." I did as I was told, closing my eyes and trying to fall asleep. Panic, however, prevented me from doing so, and the sickening feeling of everything shifting as we began to fall over the edge didn't help in the slightest bit. Not at all.