Oh my God! I am SOOOOO sorry for the long wait! I got writers block, was depressed by the Deathly Hallows release, and just couldn't bring myself to write. Not to mention my computer had a virus, so I couldn't use it for about a week and a half. I promise I will not take this long again, but chances are, there is only one more chapter left! You guys have been amazing throughout this story, and I can't thank you enough! Here's the penultimate chapter in our story! Sorry for the shortness, and the next one will PROBABLY be long! I love you guys, and please review:)
.::.Chapter 9.::.
The pitter-patter of rain could be heard through the swollen wooden planks that made up the ship. The sleeping men of the crew were all snoring loudly, and not in unison. Will's hammock swayed slightly as the ship rocked gently with the waves.
His brown eyes stared at the ceiling above him, unseeing and deep in concentration. Elizabeth's falling overboard had really shaken him. She had just come back into his life, he didn't think he could go through losing her again.
Will would not deny that he still loved the female pirate. And he knew he always would love her. She had been his first love, and nothing could change that fact, not even Alese.
Alese. He knew he had strong feelings for her, but when he thought about what love was, what he felt for Elizabeth, he wondered if he was making the wrong decision should he choose to marry her.
Yes, she was beautiful, and yes, they had a lot of things in common, but they didn't have the kind of bond he and Elizabeth had. And for some reason, he never thought they would.
As the young man shifted in his hammock, he began to compare the two girls. Not their looks, for he knew that's not what mattered, but their personalities. He soon realized that the two girls only had three things in common: That they were from royal families; that they were pirates; and that they loved him.
Other than that, the two girls couldn't be more opposite in character. Elizabeth, though sometimes headstrong and stubborn, was non-judgmental and understanding, whereas Alese was quick to judge others and could be hot-tempered.
Elizabeth, who was always told what to do, where to go, and what to wear, had yearned for freedom. After fighting for what she wanted, she had received it, and was grateful. Alese, who had not been raised like Elizabeth, didn't know how lucky she was to be able to do whatever she wanted, whenever she pleased, and took this gift for granted.
Will could think of a list of ways the two ladies were different, one of them being Alese's tendency to become extremely jealous. Anytime he talked to a woman, the Hispanic would get a look on her face, clearly saying she wasn't happy.
Will had a slight feeling he knew what conclusion his thoughts would lead him to, and he felt a tad guilty for leading the other one on. He had a slight gnawing worry, however, if he was making the right decision.
A large difference from the soft sounds of the rain, the once-blacksmith heard the rythmic sound of footsteps walking between the rows of hammocks. Continuing to stare at the ceiling, he waited for the person to speak.
"'Lizabeth," the man whispered loudly as he, Will presumed, nudged the woman. He heard the blonde pirate groan before replying sleepily.
"Jack, haven't I deserved some rest?" she asked in a furious whisper, annoyed at the captain for waking her. "Some of us actually had a rough day, where you, on the other hand, just sat in your cabin drinking rum, no doubt." Will smiled up at the wooden boards. Even when half-asleep, Elizabeth was as sharp as a needle.
There was a moment of silence in where he could just imagine Jack's face, before the pirate responded. "Choosing not to dignify your last comment with a response, I've come because I have, in fact, heard what misfortune took place up on deck today."
"Oh, and you've come to offer your apologies for not being there with the rest of the crew? Why that's very kind of you, now please leave me to sleep."
"I don't recall ever saying that, lass. I've come to tell ye to be more careful around the railings. We don't need you dying for real."
"Thank you ever so much for your warning Jack, but I will have you know," Elizabeth shot back at him, her voice dangerously low, "that I was pushed over the ship's edge tonight."
"Pushed?" Jack asked skeptically.
"Yes. I distinctly felt two hands on my shoulders, throwing me overboard. So I suggest giving your warning to someone else, like Miss Rubizio, before something of the same misfortune happens to her." Elizabeth hinted.
"Well that's all fine and dandy Lizzie dearest, but you have no proof as to who it was-"
"Proof? Jack, the woman has got it out for me! She hates me! She's threatened by me! She's afraid that Will will fall back in love with me, and she's determined to not have that happen! What more proof do you need?" she whispered loudly, her voice almost pleading.
"G'night 'Lizabeth," Jack cheerfully called over his shoulder.
"She pushed me over Jack!" she called after him. "No matter how much you want that alliance, you'll have to face the truth: She will stop at nothing to get what she wants, and that includes murder. Just wait until you stand in her way, Jack!" After gaining no response, she let out a loud sigh before Will heard her head hit the pillow in anger.
Will felt cold. Could Alese really do something of the sort? Would she really go that far?
With that last conversation playing in his head, Will drifted off to sleep, his mind made up.
