Goodness, super long chapter for you guys. I am so happy to be writing again! It's like breathing. I'm actually gonna fix myself some buffalo tenders and vitamin water then sit down and write another, It's gonna be a long one too so Yay!
Wow…I just wanted to thank everyone for the AMAZING reviews. I can't believe it…100…that's an awesome number lol. I love you all so much. You make me very happy with your reviews. Also it was pointed out in the last chappie that I beg for reviews…well I do, sue me. I like to have feed back and I'm sorry if that bothers some of you, but I just like to know what you guys think! It encourages me! Also thank you Janet Tripper! You made me feel better!
Also, I am sooo sorry that it took me so long to update! I swear I wasn't trying to make you guys suffer, I had a spontaneous camping trip, so I'm dreadfully sorry. I promise I will NEVER go that long without updating again. Pirates honor! So alert for you guys, There will be about 4-5 more chappies, then that will be the end of book one! I shall move onto book two then after that! RAHH! Chapters will be getting longer so I can please you people, because I love you guys and I want to make you happy! I heart Heart HEART you all so much. :D
Disclaimer: I swear on my double mint gum that I do NOT own Pirates of the Caribbean in any way…so please don't sue me, cause I love the movie and I am an insanely devoted fan! SO yeah…..back to my chewing gum!
POTCPOTCPOTC
11- Send My Regards
"Oh Will!" Elizabeth cried as she flung herself into Will's arms.
She had just spent the better part of two days by his bed side praying to whatever God would listen. She had been utterly relieved with she heard that Will was most surely not dead, but her relief had turned into despair and worry when her father informed her of the boys condition.
Apparently he had received a fatal injury by way of a dagger which had been found lodged in his lower abdomen. The physician had made I very clear that he had lost a vital amount of his blood and that his chances of survival were slim. He had prescribed some ointments and herbs to sooth the angry looking stab wound, but other than that there was nothing he could do except for neatly stitch the wound back up and instruct Elizabeth to hope for the best.
And she had. She had hoped with all of her might that it nearly killed her to even let her mind meander to the possibility that Will could be lying on his death bed. So she had fully immersed herself into nursing him as best she could, cleaning his wound and maintaining his body temperature.
She had spent her waking hours telling him of her adventures at sea and the stories she had heard while riding upon the waves. She hadn't known if he could hear her, or if her talk was just pointless drabble that would be heard by deaf ears, but it soothed her aching heart and brought her peace of mind, it also happened to conveniently distract her from thoughts of his could be impending death.
It was when, finally, after Elizabeth had cried as many tears as humanly possible while holding Wills hand his eyes cracked open to reveal the glorious shining pools of brown she had so longed to see, she then proceeded to throw herself into his still weak arms and kiss his cheeks and face while whispering thank you's and softly calling his name.
"I was so worried…" She said as tears fell from her eyes. He brought his weak hands up to the sides of her newly tanned face and pulled back to drown in her gaze. God, he was so happy to see her, to know she was alive and not sinking in the bottom of the ocean or rotting away on some island….she was here, in his arms and smiling so brightly at him he feared he would go blind.
"As was I." He rasped quietly.
Suddenly he forgot. He forgot where they were, and who they were. He forgot that she was no longer his fiancé. He forgot that she didn't love him as he loved her. The only thing that William Turner was aware of was the over whelming happiness that was bubbling up inside him, threatening to explode over the edge, and the fact that whoever this dazzling creature was that was standing in front of him with diamond like tears shining in her eyes, was indeed the love of his life.
Before Elizabeth could register what had happened his lips were upon hers in a tender kiss that spoke volumes…it also clarified things up for Elizabeth, who swiftly pulled her head away before Will could attempt to deepen it. She wasn't upset with him for doing it. The situation was completely understandable. She had been gone for nearly three months, he was injured, and he wakes up and there standing over him the love of his life….but things were different now, and even though Elizabeth didn't know it yet, she was undoubtedly, fully consumed by a pirate captain who would be returning for her in four days time.
A look of confusion marred Wills face and he stared stupidly at her for a moment, not seeing what the problem was. His eyes widened when he realized what he had just done and he began to apologize profusely. One of her delicate fingers gracefully floated to his pale lips, and a small smile formed on her features.
"Your forgiven Will."
Something sprung up in him at that moment. The look on her face, that slight gleam in her eyes when she had pulled away from him. The iridescent glow that seemed to radiate from her thin frame…it was unnerving to think of it…completely preposterous…but then again, Will imagined that the thought of Elizabeth being with any other man but him, did indeed sound preposterous, but to him and him alone. It was then he recognized the sparkle in her endless brown pools. She was in love…with someone who was not him…
Again, Will felt a jolt shoot thought his stomach…he might as well have been given another knife in his gut.
POTCPOTCPOTC
Will and Elizabeth were walking along the shore of the beach. The water lapped at their bare ankles and the last rays of the sun gently caressed their skin as it slowly sunk down below the horizon.
They had decided on a walk less than an hour ago, actually to put it more correctly it had been Will who decided on a walk and Elizabeth who reluctantly tagged along. She had been all for Will residing in his bed beneath the goose feather downs and fluffy white pillows, Will however had brought up the statement that "Another day spent in this room and I'll surely go mad" and Elizabeth complied with his wishes.
It had been two days since Will had woken, and four days of him being "incapacitated" in his bed. Elizabeth had been a dutiful nurse maid, fetching him whatever he needed and waiting on him to and fro always ready to jump at his beck and call. It had been wonderful at first, but after two days of Elizabeth fussing and fawning over him Will had decided that it was clearly time for some fresh air, so he took it upon his self to "relieve" Elizabeth of her motherly duties and instead accompany him on a walk down the shore. Indeed it had done wonders for him to be out of the room that seemed to be getting smaller ever hour.
Silence was key as the strolled down the beach, and Will was determined to break it…he just didn't know how. There were so many things that he wanted to as of her, things he wanted to know, things he wanted to tell her, but every time the words hung on the top of his tongue he found himself nearly choking to get the words out and in the end passed it off as a coughing fit. He was at his wits end, so he was not surprised when he randomly started spiting out words.
"You look lovely…It's different, I mean, it's a wonderful different and it suits you, I'm not meaning to sound uh…Look! The beach!"
They had stopped walking in the middle of his sort rant and Elizabeth was now looking at him with an amused smile.
"Thank you Will." She said as she smiled at him. It was a beautiful smile that seemed to glow along with the rest of her. It made Will feel slightly delusional and he swallowed before smiling back. It was odd what she did to him. A few months ago they were to be wed, now he felt like a nervous school boy, caught up in his words and tripping over air.
"So, uh, I can only assume that you have returned to stay?" His voice was hopeful and Elizabeth suddenly felt a hint of sorrow that she would be the one to crush that hope.
"Actually…I am to leave within the next few days…" Came her quiet reply. Shock over took him for a moment as he stared at her. The word disappointed didn't even begin to cover what he was feeling. She had just arrived and she was already to leave? "I'm sorry Will…but…I've found happiness and I don't intend to leave it behind to return here…"
"I would not expect you too." His reply sounded bitter to Elizabeth's ears, and her pirate like temper flared up and stepped forward to defend herself.
"If you then me selfish then I have no reason to contradict you, but I have found happiness and as I said I do not intend to come back here and settle for this when I have found something that pleases me far greater…" It was not said nastily, but more defiant and strong than anything else.
His eyes widened as her words echoed in his head. They bounced around and he studied them a bit before coming to a shattering conclusion. Those words…the way she had said them, the meaning they held…they were the words of a pirate. She was taking what she wanted…taking what pleased her, what made her happy. Going for the gold instead of the silver.
"You've become a pirate." He stated simply, too shocked to muster up any real emotion. There was a slight tick in her jaw. She really couldn't understand why every one was so surprised. She had made It quite obvious all her life that pirates were something of great interest to her.
"I don't see why everyone is so bloody surprised, when all of you clearly remember me having a certain fascination with pirates." She said in a clipped tone.
"I know this Elizabeth, but id never thought you'd become one." He countered. Turning her back to him she gazed out at the sea and a wistful look over took her features. She swore then and there that she could hear the sea calling softly to her. Its cry floated along with the winds, a lured and alluring melody that filled her entire being with want. She found herself praying for Jack to hurry back…she needed to be out in the ocean.
"Will…I'm happy. For once in my life I am truly happy. I thought you wanted that…" She had abandoned her defiance and instead adopted a sort of sad air. God this woman was going to drive him completely off his rocker.
"I do want you happy Elizabeth…that is all I want…but not at the expense of your own life…Pirating is dangerous, you could be killed or-"
"Anything you do in life will be held at your own expense…" She interrupted him and simultaneously turned around and gripped on of his calloused hands in her own. He absent mindedly registered that her hands were just as roughed as his were, they were no longer soft and dainty, but strong and weathered, yet they still held their femininity. "Will, I know this. I know that being a pirate is dangerous and that my life is at risk…but it is what makes me happy Will! I assure you nothing will happen to me when I have Jac-" Elizabeth fumbled with the last word as Wills eyes widened.
"You have been with Jack all this time?" Silence stretched out for a moment before she gave a small nod. Jealously sprang up in him, but relief was coiled snugly around it as well. It brought him to some ease knowing that Jack had been looking after her for the past few months. It also made him slightly jealous to think that Jack and Elizabeth had been together all of this time. He was about to question her further when he suddenly remembered something that he shouldn't have forgotten. Something he would most likely regret forgetting. He had been so caught up in having her back within arms reach the fact Barbossa had been the one to stab him completely fled his mind.
"Barbossa!" He spat the name out with venom laced in his voice. Her eyes quirked at the random out burst. Well that was just strange, here they had been talking about her pirating and all the sudden Barbossa rudely makes himself known into their conversation. Her inner musings were interrupted "It was he who stabbed me!"
Elizabeth felt like the wind had been knocked out of her. What? Barbossa was dead! She had seen him fall, seen him die, he couldn't possibly been up and walking around. He couldn't have possibly stabbed Will. She shook her head frantically. No. it was simply not possible.
"That's impossible. Barbossa is dead." Her answer came out blunter than she intended it to.
"I thought that as well, but I know he is not! He was here in Port Royal, he is the bastard who stabbed me!" Elizabeth began walking towards the town, desperately trying to mark Will of as delusional and forget that he had ever brought up Barbossa, that is until he said something that made her blood run cold, and she stopped dead in her tracks with a fearful look in her eyes.
"He's looking for Jack."
She whirled around to face him with a fear and a glimmer of fire flaring up in her face. Her gaze was hard and her stance was stiff and she observed Will. Slowly what he had said began to sink in. She had wanted to forget it, she knew now that she could not. Everything seemed to fall into. Barbossa's body wasn't at the Isla Del Muerta, and some of his crew had escaped their hanging…Then suddenly there is another attack on Port Royal and William Turner, the one who had played a fair share in Barbossa's death just happens to be stabbed by none other than Barbossa himself, and now it seems that Barbossa is out for Jack, no doubt with a grudge as Jack had indeed been the one who did him in. It all fit…she just didn't want to believe it, apparently she had no choice.
"Are you certain?"
POTCPOTCPOTC
"Elizabeth! Stop this, this instant!" Her father shouted at her as she rushed about her home gathering all her possessions.
She had rushed up from the beach less then ten minutes ago and stormed through the doors of her home, startling her father and Norrington who had been having a late tea, she then proceeded to rush about her house picking up what few possessions she had brought with her. She had to get out of Port Royal. She had to find Jack and warn him of Barbossa, and no one was going to stand in her way.
Her father had been pleading with her to calm herself as she hurried about. He didn't exactly like the idea of his daughter leaving for the sea again when she had just arrived home. She was safe, she wasn't dead and he intended to keep it that way. He was not just going to let her run back to her life of piracy and get herself killed. She was his daughter, and his only daughter at that.
"Elizabeth, please! Just calm yourself!" Her father begged her as she quickly checked her pistol to make sure all was intact before she stuck it into her sash.
"I'm sorry father, I truly am but I must be leaving." She nearly flew down the stairs as she made for the front door, her father scurrying right behind her pleading with her for it least an explanation as to why she was fleeing from Port Royal once again.
"Elizabeth what is going on?" Norrington asked as he watched her fumble with the lock and iron handle of her front door. He had just heard a full five minutes of the Governor begging and pleading with his daughter, and had witnessed her practically flying down the stairs. Obviously he was curious.
"I assure you James it is a problem of my own." She said aggravated as she couldn't get the door to cooperate due to her trembling hands. Will had been standing next to the door watching the entire spectacle, and he jumped when she swore in a rather unlady like manner and loudly at that. Norringoton's eyes widened and her father scolded her on her language as he came up behind her and placed a hand firmly on the door just as it popped open, effectively slamming it shut. They gasped as she let out what could only be described as a snarl and tired to violently open the door.
"Elizabeth! If you think that I am just going to allow you to walk out of this house so you can run back to the Black Pearl and continue your life of piracy you are highly mistaken!"
Out of all the three men Norringoton was the one man who actually hadn't looked surprised upon hearing of her new found passion. It had been pretty obvious she had a soft spot for pirates ever since she was ten…He had been involved in many of their conversations concerning piracy after all. After meeting Sparrow, it was only a matter of time before she succumbed to her curiosity.
"Father. Open the door." The anger was barley contained in her voice as she gritted out the words through her teeth. There was no way In hell her father was going to stand between her and Jacks well being. Her getting to him before Barbossa did could be his only shot at survival, therefore it was exceedingly important that she find him and inform him of her disturbing discovery.
"The pirate who stabbed me nights ago…it was Barbossa." Will said to Norrington and Governor Swann. Although they had never met Barbossa and were lucky enough to never have witnessed his cruelty they had heard stories from Will and Elizabeth…they were not pleasant stories.
"But you said he was dead." Governor Swann said, his face aghast at the thought of more skeletal pirates.
"Apparently not as dead as I had thought." Came Wills gritted reply.
"Now that everyone is informed may I please take my leave?" They turned their heads back to Elizabeth who was glaring at her father from her position in front of the door. She did not look happy in the least, in fact she looked ready to kill anyone who made to even speak to her. The Governor however, did not shrink back.
"What makes you think I am going to let you go gallivanting off if that dreaded pirate is supposedly alive and sailing the seas!" He asked her, his voice rising with every word.
"Frankly it is not your decision to make! I am leaving with or without your consent!" Her anger matched his and they were basically nose to nose, their faces flushed. Governor Swann's wig was messed and his face was beat red while Elizabeth's hair was wild and her eyes were blaring. It was an odd sight to see a refined man screaming at a young woman who appeared to be a pirate.
"You are not leaving this house Elizabeth Victoria Swann, that is final!" A sudden clam rushed through her and she straightened her posture and folded her arms across her chest. It was a dangerous and uncomfortable calm that even made the Governor shrink back a bit.
"If you think that for a moment I am going to sit here and simply wait for Barbossa to find Jack…then you are highly mistaken." He winced as she mimicked his words.
"Elizabeth, I am sure Jack can handle himself." Norrington added sounding just as calm as she.
"That is beside the point! The point is Barbossa is out there and he is searching for Jack, and I guarantee you he is not going to want to have a pleasant chat with him…"
Will suddenly felt the room spinning and he had to rest his hand on the wall to steady himself. That same odd emotion had crept into her voice. That same look over took her features as she spoke of Jack. It couldn't be…but it was…Oh god, it really was. He wondered if she even knew yet.
"My God…" Will started amazed and saddened. "You're in love with him…"
It was still. For a moment it seemed that time had frozen, as all three men stared at Elizabeth, waiting for her reply. Wills admission had suddenly made things seem more real. It was like she had been living in a dream, and someone had just woken her up…what he had said was so true; she just didn't realize it until now. She was in love with Jack Sparrow. Elizabeth Swann was in love with the infamous pirate, captain Jack Sparrow. Pulling herself out of her thoughts, she ignored wills statement and gripped her hand on the handle of the door.
"I am going to find Jack. You don't have to like it, but you must accept it. "
Her father and Norrington were too shocked to say anything as she turned around to leave. She hadn't agreed with Will…but she hadn't declined either. There was a lot to speculate. Did she love Jack Sparrow? Really love him?
Things just got a whole lot more complicated.
POTCPOTCPOTC
"Elizabeth, wait!"
She looked up from the docks when she saw Will jogging towards her. Worry etched itself on her features as she saw his face contort with pain that the jogging was causing his injury. Quickly, she rushed the rest of the way towards him so he would not aggravate his wound further, and lightly scolded him. Stopping in front of him she looked at him questioningly as he attempted to catch his breath.
She had been trying to catch a ride to Tortuga from any sailor that was willing to bring here within fifty feet of the pirate island, sadly she had found no one to aid her and she had been trying to barter passage with a gruff looking Jamaican man when she had heard Will calling out to her.
Elizabeth wasn't pleased in the least; in fact she was almost at her wits end with Port Royal. No one, not even one of the sailors had been willing to give her passage to Tortuga. They had given her unreasonable excuses about how they feared the pirate island, or how they were busy making runs…it was all crap, but it was crap that had made her very angry none the less. She had almost found herself in tears at a time or two when she let the thought enter her mind that she would not be able to get to Jack and that he would indeed be captured and most likely killed by the vengeful Barbossa, It pained her to even think of it, but if she could not find passage to Tortuga, then it was a very likely possibility. She had to find a way…for the life of her…she had too.
"What is it that you want Will?" Her tone was a tad harsh and clipped as she stood there with her hands on her hips and a solemn look in her eyes. Will tried not to let it affect him, for he understood that Elizabeth was having a very hard time dealing with everything that had happened within the given span of a week.
"I'm coming with you." Her stiff posture instantly dropped as she stared at him wide eyed.
"What! No! Your injured, and I could never ask you to do-"
"This choice is my own. I am not asking you, I am telling you that I will aid you." Moving to speak, he shut her up once again. "You mustn't be forgetting Elizabeth that Jack is also a friend to me…"
Her eyes flickered to the ground at his confession. It was indeed true that after the ordeal with the undead skeletal pirates, Will and Jack had become seemingly mutual friends. Will was the noble type. It was in his blood to defend his friends and his family, and he most likely felt that it was also his duty. Elizabeth knew then that Will would be coming with her whether she approved or not, it was who he was…it was what made William Turner a good man.
"You're a good man William Turner." Came her whispered reply.
POTCPOTC
They had spent the better part of the early evening looking for a way off the aristocratic island. Asking every sailor for passage and being turned down all times. The last rays of sun had long since disappeared and the bright stars had begun to speckle the sky while a full moon cast the ocean and its waves in a beautiful haunting glow.
Elizabeth and Will were sitting on one of the docks as they concocted their plan of escape. By now all of the sailors were either up at the Tavern, or sleeping soundly in their docked boats. It was the perfect time to escape…the perfect time to commandeer a vessel by which means of travel were on the waves…the perfect time for piracy.
Seeing that there was no other way to leave Port Royal willingly accepted aboard a ship, they decided that unwillingly stealing a ship was their only option. Time was of the essence here, the twisted part was, that they didn't know exactly how much time was left. They didn't even know if there was still time. Barbossa and his crew had left Port Royal near a week ago…it was quite possible they could have run into Jack in that time.
Quickly, they finalized the last details of their plan and then hopped to it.
They had decided on a good moderately sized ship that floated a good thirty feet away from where they now stood, and it bobbed gently as the soft waves of the sea caressed its hull. Oh yes…this would be fairly simple. Within the span of five minutes they had stolen a row boat and were currently paddling their way to the vast object.
There was a look of determination on Elizabeth's face that Will had never before witnessed. It was obvious that she knew what she wanted and it was apparent that nothing was going to stop her from getting it. He then suddenly realized that she had automatically switched into pirate mode. Deciding on her plan of action and following through, no stops in between. Current action was commandeering a ship, which for all they knew could have had a sleeping crew on board.
They floated gently up to the side of the ship in which the anchor chain sank down into the shallow water, and before Will could blink Elizabeth had jumped up and wrapped her arms and Legs around the thick barnacled chain and began to work her way towards the deck. Will sat in the boat still, waiting for her to drop down a long boat so he could also board. Being that he was injured, climbing up a twenty foot chin didn't seem to be a very thrilling Idea to him…more like a painful one.
Glancing up, he saw her right leg disappear over the railing, and he chuckled when he heard a faint stumble. She must have tripped. A minute or two passed before he heard the splash of the long boat being lowered to the other side of the ship, and he hurriedly rowed himself over to the others side, before hopping in. Elizabeth slowly cranked the mechanism and all in a matter of three minutes Will was aboard the ship as he and Elizabeth tiptoed around the deck of the ship, raising sails, tying knots, and fastening ropes. It was best that they get the ship out to sea before rising up any dramatic from the crew that could possibly be on the ship.
They had everything settled all within a matter of minutes, and the last part left to go was the anchor…which sadly was the one of the hardest and noisiest tasks aboard the ship. Elizabeth and Will had expected the worse as they made their way to raise anchor, but fortunately everything ran smoothly. Turns out that the anchor system was, in fact, the most modern one of their century, it rose with ease and made little noise much to their delight.
So far all had been going incredibly well…which was odd in a situation such as this. Elizabeth was beginning to get a bit paranoid as they turned the ship and headed for open sea. She had been expecting it least a bit of trouble from someone, anyone that was most likely occupying the ship. She was not disappointed.
Just as they turned in the direction of the endless horizon she heard the unmistakable sound of the hammer of a pistol being cocked back. She froze when she heard a gruff, cold voice behind her.
"And just what is it you think your doing?"
Taking her hands of the wheel she turned slowly to look at the voices owner. She was shocked to find a young man who looked no older than twenty five with a pistol aimed at Will, who stood, caught like a deer in head lights as he stared at the gun that was aimed directly in the middle of his eyes.
This was not what she had expected. He was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful men she had ever seen. He didn't' hold a candle to Jack, but she had to admit that she was indeed stunned speechless. He looked to be about 5'll with a wiry, thin, muscular frame not unlike Jacks. His pale grey eyes bored into hers with a fury that sent chills down her spine. A shoulder length mass of almost black hair was tucked behind his ears, and it complimented is very angular features…this most definitely was not what she had expected. Clearing her throat she clasped her hands behind her back and sent Will a wide eyed glance.
"It would appear that I am borrowing your ship." She said evenly. Anger shot through his features, and the barrel of his gun made contact with Wills forehead, and his finger tightened on the trigger.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but it would appear that you were attempting to steal my ship." The young man replied coldly. Elizabeth smirked a smirk that Jack himself would have been proud of. She was attempting to keep up a fearless façade…however her inner emotions were bouncing of the walls as she tried to keep her cool. She was a pirate, or it least a pirate in training, so acting like one did seem to be required.
"I shall correct you then kind sir." His face contorted in brief confusion, but his hand that gripped the pistol did not falter. "I was in fact commandeering your ship."
"Oh…I see." A dark smile flitted across his lips as he gazed at her. "Well then, I'm afraid that I shall have to cut your attempt to commandeer my ship short my dear, seeing as I'm about to blow away your partner in crime." Her eyes widened double there size, and she lunged for him just as his finger pulled the trigger.
Blood. Everywhere. Wills blood.
Or so she had thought.. Instead of hearing the deafening boom as the pistol launched its bullet out through the barrel, she heard an empty "click". Apparently the brave young lad had forgotten to load his pistol. Good for them…bad for him.
Will had literally saw his life flash before his eyes when he saw the stranger pull back the trigger. Images and sounds played out before him, ringing in his ears as he saw himself at 5, 8, 11, 15, 19, and twenty two. All the forgotten memories whooshed around in his head at lightning speed, catching him up on things long forgotten. So you can see why he nearly went into cardiac arrest when he realized that gun wasn't loaded. Seeing your life flash before your eyes was a bit of a life changing experience. The only thing he could think about at that moment was what if it hadn't been empty?
A brief moment of stunned silence stretched out before the three for what seemed like an eternity. It was broken when Will suddenly felt an over powering urge to have the pistol out of his face, and he whipped his arm out and caught the young man by surprise, knocking it out of his hand, and it clattered onto the floor.
Elizabeth took the opportunity to unsheathe her cutlass from her sash, brandishing it in a perfect fighting stance as she approached her opponent. The reasonable side of her said it was a tad unfair seeing as he had no weapon, however it was beaten down by pirate Elizabeth when she saw him grab the first available object within reach. Said object happened to be a boat oar.
Grabbing the end, he held tight and swung around in a 180 degree angle at Elizabeth and Wills knee level. On impulse, she jumped over it, Will however wasn't so lucky seeing as his injury prevented him from doing such things, and the hard wooden oar made shattering contact with his left shin. And he fell to the ground with a cry of pain, clutching at his newly battered shin.
A brief look of triumph washed over the young man, but it was short lived as Elizabeth dropped her cutlass and charged at him full speed. Her arms wrapped around his mid section and she kept charging forward with the man practically draped over her shoulder. Her eyes widened when she went to take her next step and instead encountered a whole lot of air. Trying to regain her balance and hold a full grown man on her shoulder she failed miserably and tumbled down the stairs to the main deck, crashing into the man as she stumbled down the short stair case. Elizabeth cried out when her elbow hit one of the steps and a rippling pain made its way up her arm.
Doing her best to ignore it, she jumped up to fight, slightly dizzy from her tumble down the stairs. Her opponent was stumbling over himself to get up, and she used his distress to her advantage. Her eyes quickly scanned her surroundings and she found an object suitable for the purpose she had in mind. Thrusting out her arm she grabbed the round iron handle of the burning lantern and swung it around.
There was a sickening crack as the glass shattered against the young man's head, and the gross looking yellow wax oozed down the side of his handsome face. He stood dazed for a moment, and then toppled to the ground, landing on the wooden deck with a loud thud.
Breathing heavily, she stared at him for a moment before bending down to check for a pulse. It beat lightly over her fingers and she sighed half in relief that she hadn't killed him and half in annoyance that she didn't. Coming to the conclusion that he was out cold, she tripped up the stairs back to the helm to check on Will.
He was lying on the floor, groaning and clutching his bruised shin to his stomach. Worry fluttered inside of her and she rushed to his aid, helping him sit up and running a hand affectionately through his air, asking him hurriedly if there was anything that she could do to help him. He didn't answer and instead gritted his teeth as he tried to deal with the pain.
She took it upon herself to check his new wound as she brought her gentle fingers to his stocking and rolled it down to his ankle. It was not a pretty thing to look at. The front of his shin had instantly blossomed into a colorful array of purples, blues, blacks and a slight tinge of green and yellow. Trying not to hurt him, she brushed her fingers lightly over the wound and Will gasped in pain. From the looks of it, it wasn't broken, just severely bruised. It would most likely cause him a great deal of pain for a while.
She coaxed him to stand up, and wrapped an arm around his wais and his shoulders, while he did the same to her. They slowly hobbled over to a crate and she sat him down, she then rolled up his pant leg and began to unbutton her vest. Will was stared at her through his pain filled eyes, what in the name of all that was holy was she doing?
"Elizabeth…what are you-" He was silenced as she began to rip the vest into shreds. Taking a moderately large piece, she began to wrap it around his leg, but stopped short. He saw her eyes roam about the deck and land on the oar that was a few feet away.
Crawling over to it, she stood up and brought it down hard on the side of the ship. She winced as it cracked in half, leaving a mark on the railing and she looked to be almost apologizing to the boat for her mistreating it. Grabbing a splintered piece of the oar, she brought it up to Wills face and he looked at her with a look that asked "what they hell am I to do with this?". He opened his mouth to as her what she wanted him to do with it, but instead of words coming it, the bitter tasting wood was pushed in between his teeth, and before he could even wonder what had gotten into her, pain exploded in his shin as she wrapped the cloth tightly around his leg.
Now he knew why she had shoved his mouth chock full of wood. He bit down hard, stifling shouts as she handily worked away at wrapping his leg. By the time she was finished Will had almost bitten through the entire chunk of wood. He silently thanked her when he realized that he probably would have chewed out his teeth or tongue.
Apologizing she stood up and brushed off her pants. Without saying a word she moved below deck, leaving Will alone on the helm to ponder the fact that he had almost been shot in the face with a pistol.
POTCPOTCPOTC
Elizabeth gritted her teeth as she gave her last knot another hard yank, effectively tightening it to the maximum. She had taken to tying up the young man to the mast of what she assumed was his own ship. A series of complicated knots and ties had been made to ensure that he wasn't going any where.
She stared at him for a moment. She felt bad, she really did, I mean, common she hit the guy in the side of the face with a lantern…ouch.
Swallowing her pride, she used a stray bucket to pull up some sea water, and used a piece of her torn vest to peel the wax off his face. Tiny bits of glass also were pulled from his skin as she picked and washed all the gunk out of his hair. His face was a tad red due to the hotness of the wax, and there was a small scar that cut through his eye brow, but other than that, he seemed to be fine…well she hoped he was fine.
Tossing the water overboard, she grabbed her pistol from her sash and made to explore below deck. Surely someone would have heard the ruckus they caused on deck, if there had been anyone else on the ship, but it didn't hurt to check. Walking down the steps, she saw the main bunk cabin with about ten or eleven hammocks. They were all empty and swinging aimlessly with the rocking of the boat. Quickly she searched the captains quarters and the cargo hold. Finding nothing, she rushed on deck and back up to the helm.
Will sat on the crate looking lost and she put a hand oh his shoulder and gave him a concerned look. Opening his mouth to speak, he stopped and looked up at her. There was a slight glaze of tears over his eyes, and she wondered if it was from the pain or something else.
"I can't feel my leg…" He said quietly to her. Eliizabeth sat shocked for a moment. He couldn't feel his leg? What? He seemed to read her thoughts. "I cant feel anything at all…no pain…nothing…"
She swallowed and searched for something to say, anything to make him feel better. Nothing came. Did this mean he could never walk on that leg again? Did this mean he was crippled? What the hell did this mean? Suddenly her face brightened when she remembered something Jack had told her while the had been at sea.
"You'll be alright!" Elizabeth assured him with a small smile. "Your shin must have been hit hard enough that it became temporarily paralyzed. You will be fine within a day or two."
"And if I'm not?" He asked rather reluctantly as if he dreaded the answer.
"You will be."
She believed every word.
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The sun beat down on the deck of what Elizabeth had Nick Named The Sparrow. It didn't really matter to her what its name had been, for she had officially marked it as The Sparrow, and any one who told her other wise would be damned to hell.
She stood at the helm, steering the ship that she had grown so fond of given the short amount of time they had been on it.
It had been less than twelve hours since they had first boarded, and Elizabeth hadn't left her spot on the helm for even a second. She had a purpose, and a very important one at that, Find Jack Sparrow, alive and unscathed. Every so often she would take out the compass and follow to where the needle led, keeping her eyes peeled on the endless horizon for a black ship with black sails.
Will was sitting at the helm caught up in watching Elizabeth. They had struck up conversation every now and then but it was mostly silence, as they were both to busy thinking about their own lives, and the sudden complications that had arisen. Their inner ramblings were interrupted however as a low groan rang out on the main deck.
The young man seemed to be coming to, as his head lolled up and he blinked the sleep out of his eyes, trying to clear his vision. He was on his ship. He was on his ship that was moving without his consent. He was on his ship…tied up to the main mast? Frantically he looked around and glared when he spotted Elizabeth up at the helm, staring at him curiously. That stupid wench had beat him in the head with a lantern, commandeered his ship, then proceeded to tie him up to his mast while she stood up at the helm steering his bloody ship…SHIT!
She offered him a small smile when he glared at her. She actually abandon her spot at the helm and perched herself on the steps that led to the main deck, with her hands folded in her arms. Over the last hours Will and Elizabeth had found themselves talking about the courageous ex captain of The Sparrow, and Elizabeth had gotten fed up with calling him him, or it, and boy…so she had chuckled when she had taken it upon herself to name him. And she bequeathed him Johnny. He looked like a Johnny.
"I see you've joined the land of the living." She said amused as he glared holes through her.
"You bloody strumpet!" Johnny began to sputter as he cursed at her. She had innocently placed her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands as she observed him. What a funny character.
"I believe you have made yourself quite clear Johnny." Elizabeth interrupted his ramblings with the blunt statement. He looked at her for a moment dumbfounded. Johnny? What the hell?
"Who the hell is Johnny?" "Johnny" Spat the question from his lips, venom dripping off every syllable.
Smiling brightly, she slowly stepped down the steps and stood next to his tied form. Shrugging she looked out at the ocean.
"Well I hadn't a clue what to call you, so I named you Johnny."
He had to be dreaming. Yea that was it. He was on his ship the Freedoms Flight, lying in his oh so comfortable captains bed dreaming. Yep dreaming….so why did the ropes bite into his skin and why was the sun scorching his forehead? It felt so real…but it had to be a dream right? Wrong.
"I happen to have a name." Came his cold reply. She gave him a dazzling smile.
"And what might that be Johnny?"
"Not that you have a right to know but it happens to be Zachariah's Devain." Johnny replied snippily.
She cocked her head to the side as if to think about it, absently twirling a piece of her sun bleached hair in her fingers.
"Zach…Zachy…" Playing with the name a bit just to tease him, she bit her bottom lip before replying all too cheerily. "I think not. Johnny is much better!"
He opened his mouth to screech a biting comment but she stopped him by bringing up her hands to silence him. Placing her hands behind her back, she looked at him silently all amusement gone from her beautiful face.
"Mr. Devain…I have a proposition for you…" Her tone was serious and he pretended to look nonchalant and as if he didn't care. Frankly, curiosity was his weak spot.
"I want no dealings with you Ms…" He searched for a name and she supplied without hesitation.
"Sparrow."
Will nearly fell off of his crate when he heard her utter that name. To say he was shocked would have been an understatement, but then again, he recalled a time when she had stolen his name also. Jack was a lucky man.
Johnny's eyes widened a bit. Sparrow? As in the Jack Sparrow? He hadn't even known he was wed, but here this striking young woman was standing in front of him. A pirates wife. The wife of the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow. He had remembered listening to sailors telling stories of Jack Sparrow and all his amazing tell tale adventures. They were daring and exciting, scary and comical. He was it. The most notorious pirate ever. He hid his amazement behind bored eyes.
"I want no dealings with you Ms. Sparrow."
A hard look washed over her face and she came nose to nose with him, fury shining in her deep brown eyes.
"I'm afraid you're not understanding me Johnny. I'm not giving you an option. Either you comply or you don't…failure to comply…well you will find yourself in a most uncomfortable situation." Her eyes showed she told no lie and she absent mindedly flicked the small dagger that was tucked neatly away in her sash.
Johnny was not a stupid man. He valued his life above all other things, and he would do whatever it took to live is along as humanly possible on gods green earth…Even if that meant complying with the orders of a Pirate. Sticking out his chin defiantly, and trying to maintain an air of pride he looked at her with frosty eyes. She matched back with an equally rabid stare.
"What is this proposition?"
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So, how do you like Zachariah's "Johnny" Devain huh? Well I Love him! He is my own creation and I adore him, so be nice. In this chapter I wanted to make Elizabeth's pirate side more prominent! She is a pirate, or something like it! Hope you guys liked this chappie! It's extra long for you. Misses and Kisses!
:Review:x333
