PotC: The Daughter of the DeadKatherine Wild

Will had been rowing the boat for quite a while now, and the rhythmic feeling of the waves, plus the fact that I hadn't gotten any sleep for at least the past three nights, lulled me to sleep.

I woke up, gently, as the sun began to rise, to see that Will had stopped rowing, and had come over to my side of the boat and lay down beside me, so that we were nestled like two spoons in the bottom of the rowboat. I realized that his left arm was wrapped around me from behind, and had settled just above my mid riff, covering my own left arm with a warm assurance, and my head was settled comfortably on his right outstretched arm, while my other arm was stretched out as well, and we were holding hands during our sleep. We were covered in my black cloak from our run from "The Flying Dutchman."

I really didn't want to be Elizabeth's replacement, but… this was just so… nice. I gently shifted and stretched, trying not to wake him up, and then closed my eyes again. Mmm. Will's smell was so wonderful to me. . A little sweat, the sea air, a musky odor, it was just so comforting and… male. I breathed in deeply through my nose, so that if I should never be this close to him again, I would have it memorized.

My deep breath moved both of our left arms together, and it seemed to rouse Will from his slumber. I felt him begin to make little movements; obviously he didn't want to wake me up either. I reluctantly squeezed his arm, the one around my waist, to let him know I was awake, and we slowly sat up together, and he wrapped his right arm around us as well, bringing the black cloak tight against the morning coolness. We just sat there for a while, together like that, watching the sun begin to sparkle against the ocean, when finally I knew I had to speak.

I reluctantly unwrapped myself from his arms, so that we were now facing each other. "Will… was that me? Or was that…" I couldn't finish the sentence. I was almost sure that he would say Elizabeth, and I didn't want to hear that answer.

"I was just rowing, watching you sleep. You looked so peaceful, and I wanted to be a part of that peace, I suppose…" He looked into my eyes. "It was you, Catherine. I was sleeping next to you, I wrapped my arms around you, I covered us, you and I, with that black cloak. And you know what?" A slow smile began to spread across his face. "I didn't think I would have the nerve… but Catherine? It was you, definitely you."

I felt my ears turn warm, and looked down into my lap, then suddenly reached across the boat and embraced him. He was surprised; his arms stayed down my his side for a moment, but then he enfolded me in his arms as well. "You're so lovely," he said, "even your smell is lovely."

I laughed, thinking of my earlier ponderings. "Oh really? And what exactly do I smell like, Will Turner?"

He paused for a moment. "You smell of… the sea. And something else- something… I can't put my finger on it. But it's sweet, and salty, and bitter, and warm, all at the same time. I think I could breathe in that scent for the rest of my life." He murmured into my hair, than took a deep breath in.

We let go of each other reluctantly, after all, there was still the small matter of Davy Jones. But he did seem so small now… now that Will was with me, and we had spent the night in each other's arms.

"We've got to think of some sort of plan," Will said. Now that we've got the key, we need a way to get to this island to find the chest, so we can kill Davy Jones, then go back, and free my father from that hell." His face suddenly looked determined, on top of the soft features I had seen just moments earlier.

"Once Davy discovers that key is gone, Will, he'll head straight for the island, to protect one from the other. He just can't set foot on land for another twelve days- not until my 21st birthday. But you can bet he'll send crew members to land, to watch that spot like a hawk."

"We've got to follow him then, somehow. This rowboat won't let us do that anywhere near fast enough…" He seemed to have an idea, but was very wary about sharing it with me. "Catherine? 'The Seven Deadly Sins' is following 'The Flying Dutchman.' At least, if it wasn't, it will be, once they discover you're gone. If we head for any other boat, Davy might set the Kraken on it… even despite the fact you're on the ship. It'd be just like him to have the Kraken hold you up in one of its tentacles while it crushes the rest of the ship."

I shuddered. I could see where he was going with this, and began to realize that it might be our only way out. "And if you deliver me to the Gryffin, you'll get into his confidences even more, Will." He looked relieved that I had caught on so quickly, but the look was replaced quickly with one of guilt.

"You know I wouldn't ask you to do this unless it was absolutely necessary…"

"I know."

"And I'll convince him not to set a finger on you until you're married, which of course, you won't be."

"Of course," I knew I sounded a little doubtful, and a little more than a bit nervous a this plan. But I made my mind up, and looked Will straight in the eye. "Will? Set the course for 'The Seven Deadly Sins.' I just don't have to pretend I'm in love with the man, do I?"

"I think that would be a bit out of character for you, don't you? No, just act as you feel. I have a feeling the Gryffin is not easily deceived." I nodded briskly.

"Yes, it would be very foolish to act as if I'm in love with him, when, in fact, I'm in love with a man who would be very close by." Had I just let that out of my mouth? My God. First the outburst on the "Pearl," now this. I blushed furiously, then determinedly looked away to face the ocean.

Will gently brought out his hand to turn my face back toward him. "Good plan. It'll be hard enough for me to pretend I don't love the fiancée of the man I'm supposed to be working for."

I blinked, slowly, sure that I had heard him wrong. "You… what?"

"Catherine Jones, I love you! Must I proclaim it to the world?" He stood up in the unsteady rowboat and shouted at the top of his lungs, "I LOVE CATHERINE JONES, THE DAUGHTER OF THE DEAD MAN, AND SHE LOVES ME IN RETURN!!" As I helped him sit back down, my mind whirled.

"But Will, what about… what about…?"

"Elizabeth? I'm not sure. But she gave up her first fiancée for me, for what she thought was love. I'm not quite sure that's what it was, now. Elizabeth… longs for adventure. She is as untamable as the sea- much like you in that way." He grinned. "I've been feeling for a while that I'm too tame for her, she longs for more excitement, more adventure, than I'd ever be able to give her."

So it was really happening, then. He was really giving up Elizabeth for me… at an impulse, I grabbed Will and gave him a strong kiss on the lips. "God, but I love you William Turner."

"So you know what the next step is, then, don't you Catherine?" He tried to kneel in the boat, rather awkwardly, and made it into a sort of half kneel/half squat. "Catherine Jones. Will you marry me?"

Again, my brain flipped, but this time in a good way. Everything was happening so fast, it was all so wonderful… I would be going on "The Seven Deadly Sins" with more than a protector, I would be going with someone I loved, and who loved me in return. There would be no stronger bond than that, no surer way we would get out of there.

My old, blustering self made a short appearance. "No."

Will's face crumpled. "NO?"

"Of course I will, you idiot! You complete prat!"

We embraced each other again and kissed strongly, longer this time, more passionately. When we finally let go, I studied his eyes. Nothing but pure contentment and love resided there. I nodded briskly.

"Right then. Don't we have a ship to catch?"

Will grinned, picked up the oars again, and began rowing toward a ship in the distance. Even from here, I could see its massive size and its name written all across one side in golden script- "The Seven Deadly Sins."

Right before we were to call up to the boat, Will tied my hands loosely, than kissed each of them as if they were the most precious objects in the world. "We WILL get out of here. Just like we did the 'Dutchman.' My… love." The word sounded wonderful in his mouth, in his voice, and I leant forward to give him one last kiss before we were to board the ship. Our next, hopefully, would be on the other side of the ship, on the island where Davy Jones kept his chest.

Will rowed a bit closer to the boat, then called up, "Ahoy there! Mr. Will Turner has a gift for the Captain of 'The Seven Deadly Sins,' the Gryffin himself. One that he surely will appreciate!" Will had taken care to cover me in the black cloak so that he would be able to reveal my identity to the Gryffin only.

We had worked out the story many times. Will had seen me trying to lower a rowboat from the "Dutchman," than saw his chance to escape, get over to the "Seven Deadly Sins," and bring favor to the Gryffin, hopefully to become close to him, all in one. The Gryffin would admire Will's deviousness, to be sure, not to mention the fact that he had brought the Gryffin's escaped fiancée right back to where she belonged. We rehearsed the story all the way over, my incentive for learning it quickly was a kiss from Will for every time I recited it correctly, his incentive the same. We had the story down pat within the space of five minutes, and rewarded ourselves with a few more passionate embraces.

Someone called down from the deck of the ship, "Mr Will Turner, eh? And what's this 'gift.'"

"Something I must deliver to the Gryffin personally, my friend. She does not tolerate many sailors well."

"'She,' eh? All right, I'll go get him, but if it ain't worth it, on your own head be the punishment."

"I accept that gladly."

A few minutes passed, and the Gryffin soon popped his head over the edge of the deck. "By God, it IS Mr Turner. Come on lads, get that boat up here. Is that one of the 'Dutchman's?' Well done, Mr. Turner, well done. And as for this mysterious gift, my first mate will show you to my cabin." He turned on his heel and headed back out of sight. I was careful to keep my face straight forward so that the hood of the cloak let out no clues, and Will looked straight into it as the sailors huffed and puffed, bringing up the rowboat. He tied a length of rope to my hands, the same as the hammer-headed sailor had done on the night we arrived at the "Dutchman," and took great care to show that he was doing it rather roughly, when in fact, he had the job done it a trice and spent the rest of the time caressing my hand for reassurance.

Finally, the rowboat made it up to the deck level. All the sailors were trying to peer into my cloak's hood, to see what this "gift" could be, but the first mate shooed them away, while Will took up the length of rope in his hands, and began to follow the first mate to the Gryffin's cabin. He knocked twice, then opened the door, let us inside, and left subtly, closing the door gently behind him.

The Gryffin certainly knew the meaning of luxury. All around us were gold and artifacts from far – off places, and a small pond stood in the middle of the room. There were expensive looking cloths draped everywhere, ornately decorated pillows were placed at random, and divans were placed around the room every so often. The colors of everything were so rich and deep: turquoises, maroons, golds, dark browns, purples, bright blues. It felt as if we had stepped into the throne room of a Sheikh.

The Gryffin soon made his appearance, carrying one small package, and one larger, rectangular one.

"Will Turner. I knew you would make it off that ship. Please, have a seat." He gestured to one of the divans, upon which Will sat upright in a perfect posture, my rope still in his hands." The Gryffin stretched out on one of the divans, and propped himself up on his elbow. He gestured at me. "Now, this 'gift' of yours?" He seemed rather amused. I knew the cloak revealed that I had a feminine shape, so at least the Gryffin was pleased by that.

Will gave the rope two tugs, and I thought to myself to play the role of an Ice Queen as pulled at the strings that held the cloak together, releasing them. I then regally set the hood away from my face, and let the cloak drop to the floor.

The Gryffin was obviously shocked. "How the hell did you find her?" He rose from his divan and came near me, circling me slowly, while I stood perfectly and utterly still.

"She was trying to escape from the 'Dutchman.' I caught her trying to lower one of the rowboats, and so got in with her, and quickly lowered the boat into the ocean."

"But why did you not return her to her father?"

"Gryffin, do you really think that Davy would reward me for escaping from his ship? Besides, you had told me only yesterday that the two of you would be wed. Naturally, I thought that the best place to return her would be to her future husband." I felt myself smile inwardly while my facial expression remained icy cold. "Future husband-" that was Will! "Furthermore, I have been pondering your offer of membership on this ship. Shall we say that this gift," Will gestured to me, "is my initiation?"

The Gryffin let out a great laugh. "I like you very much Will Turner, almost as much as I appreciate your gift." I felt the Gryffin's eyes run over me again. "You may have a place to stay and work here howsoever long you like. And when you want to leave, you may do so. Just make sure that you continue to spread the Seven Deadly Sins like the plague when you leave." The Gryffin motioned for Will to stand, and then stuck out his hand. "Do we have an accord?

"Gryffin, we do. I may leave whenever I want, and for now, I shall do the best, or shall I say the worst, I can under your service."

"Will, before you leave," the Gryffin handed him the small package, which Will opened. His eyes opened wide as he saw two wedding rings inside. "I went for the simple, here. I rarely do, as you can see," the Gryffin laughed, gesturing around the room, "but there is nothing better for this particular occasion than these. Don't you think so, Catherine?"

He passed the box around to me, and I let out an involuntary gasp of admiration. The two rings were slender and silver, one with a very small diamond set in the top. I did not doubt the pureness of either the silver or the diamond- the rings were simply beautiful.

"I thought you would think so," the Gryffin said as he snapped the box shut. "But for now, we need you to get changed out of that… thing." He gestured to my nightgown, and brought forward the rectangular box. Inside was a dress that seemed to have captured the exact color of the sea on a stormy day, the dress was a bitter midnight blue, and was also very simple. "You may use your chamber, back and to the left, to change," he said, vaguely pointing."

The dress in my arms, I walked stiffly back to "my chamber," which was beautifully decorated. I slipped the nightgown off, and swiftly put the blue dress on, trying to be as modest as I could in case there was anyone watching. The dress fit beautifully- its tight bodice which was cut only marginally lower than other dresses I had and sleeves that ended in V shapes, the points at the beginning of my middle finger. There was a sort of belt which was slung low at my waist, a sort of silver rope, which I carefully knotted so that both ends hung the length of the dress, one a bit higher than the other. The skirt of the dress itself was unremarkable; it just flowed exactly the right way and seemed to fit exactly as it should. There were blue shoes as well, with a tiny heel, which I slipped on. I looked into a mirror quickly, to find that the blue in the dress almost exactly matched my blue eyes. My black hair was let down, and was fell in curls to my waist. I timidly stepped back out into the main room, and was greeted by the applause of the Gryffin.

"Just beautiful. But it's missing something." He went round the back of me, and fastened a necklace with a fine silver chain and a small sapphire pendant. "The colors of the sea for the woman of the sea," he whispered into my ear, then followed the trail down to my neck, which he gave a prolonged kiss.

My eyes went to Will, begging for some kind of intervention, but I knew it was hopeless. Will had to gain the trust of the Gryffin before he suggested that I had grown up waiting for my wedding night, and that he hoped the Gryffin would understand that.

In the meantime, the Gryffin was very visibly enjoying the display of the new dress. He took both my hands in his, and twirled me close to him, so that my arms were crossed over my body, and he was pulling them tighter and tighter. "We shall need get to know each other, Catherine. Just eleven more days to go, you know." With that, he pressed his face into my hair and breathed in deeply, a gross perversion of what Will and I had done so lovingly earlier this morning.

"Will? I ask you to keep an eye on her. Make sure she doesn't escape, keep her cheerful, that sort of thing." I felt his lips press just below my earlobe one more time, before he suddenly let go of me and strode out of the room.

I crumpled to the floor, Will catching me just in time. "Good God," I heard him say, before I completely lost consciousness, "what have I done? What the hell have I done?"