Mary finds herself writing a series of letters to Edward after they first meet in Nassau, just because she wants to. What questions, experiences, and emotions will she uncover about him and herself through this pastime?
Rated: T
Genre: Romance/Adventure
This story follows the scenes between James Kidd/Mary Read and Edward Kenway through Black Flag.
**Spoilers ahead. I own nothing. Please see author's note at the end of this final chapter. Thank you!**
May 7th, 1721, Tulum
Epilogue
Edward walked amongst the groups of Assassins, most of them quietly mourning after Mary's burial. His own heart was leaden as he remembered his exchanges between her. In a drunken stupor the week before, he had hallucinated she was with him on the Jackdaw, like a quartermaster. But she was furious with him, screaming, begging him to change his course before it was too late. That's when he had struck a rocky island and his ship was nearly destroyed. Why had she been the last one to speak to him in that vision? Why had he only yelled back at her? It was his last chance to talk with her, and he did what he had always done—ignored her words.
He shook his head and stopped in front of Ah Tabai, who looked sterner than ever. Edward wondered if the Mentor had taken Mary's death as hard as everyone else.
"Once more, you have our thanks, Edward," Ah Tabai spoke, first in his own language, then in English. "You are welcome here." Edward bowed his head respectfully.
"Thank you, sir." He said. "I will rest here for a time before starting off if I may." Ah Tabai nodded in agreement, and Edward looked over in the distance, where Anne was sitting alone under a tree.
"How is her child?" At this, Ah Tabai's eyes softened as he too gazed at Anne.
"She is a strong woman, but not invincible." Knowing what he meant, Edward quietly went over and joined Anne under the tree. At first, he thought she didn't notice him until she looked up and spoke in a quiet, sad lilt.
"Edward…" her voice was cracked.
"I am sorry for your loss." And the loss of so many others during my selfish plight, he silently added.
"If I had stayed in prison, they would have taken him from me. He might be alive." She closed her eyes and turned away. "Maybe this is God's way of saying I'm not fit to be a mother yet, carrying on like I do. Cursing and drinking and fighting—"
"You are a fighter, aye," Edward protested, kneeling down beside her, "In prison, I heard stories of the infamous Anne Bonny and Mary Read taking on the king's navy together, just the pair of you." A tiny smile graced Anne's lips as she confirmed the stories, describing how she and Mary had fought while the others were too full of drink to resist. At this, her voice broke again.
"Edward, everyone's gone, aren't they? Mary, Rackham, Thatch, and the rest," Anne's eyes fluttered shut as tears began running down her cheeks. "I miss them so, rough as they were." She glanced over at Edward, who was now sitting against the tree. "Do you feel it, too? All empty inside-like?" There was a long pause.
"I do," Edward said quietly, "Devil curse me, I do." Anne covered his hand with hers and there was silence between them as they gazed into the distance together, drinking in the feeling of complete loneliness as thoughts of everyone they had lost filled their minds. For Edward, Mary especially haunted him. If only there was a way to go back and change it all. He would've listened; he would've gotten closer to her. He would've...
"Oh," Anne gently exclaimed, "Edward…this may or may not be my place to say, but Mary…said some things in the prison."
He jerked his head towards her. "Mary? What did she say?" Anne bit her lip and slowly began to explain.
"It was during her labour…I reckon the fever was already starting to addle her mind more than she let on, but while she was having her baby, she kept calling for you. Then after her baby was taken away, she got even worse. She would talk in her sleep, and it often involved you. I heard her yelling to "change your bloody course," and to find her. She also mentioned letters."
Edward shut his eyes at the thought of Mary suffering without him there to help. "Letters? What letters?" Anne shrugged a shoulder.
"I'm not exactly sure. But it sounded like she had written some letters and hidden them away somewhere…where was the last place you saw her?"
"Great Inagua, but—"
"That was it!" Anne cut him off. "Oh, Edward, she must have left those letters there. You must find them."
"But Anne, I cannot leave you to suffer alone—" Anne smiled a little more, and gave his hand a squeeze.
"You are a good man, Edward, but your need to find the letters is greater than my own needs. Go on, now. I'll be here when you return." Edward nodded and sought out Ah Tabai, telling him there had been a sudden change of plans, and he was setting off that night for Great Inagua.
As soon as Edward docked in Great Inagua, he went past the harbour master, general store, and all the other renovations he would generally stop to admire on his island, and headed straight for the manor. The letters had to be there, he just knew it.
At first, he began tearing the place apart, kicking open every chest, flipping through the books in the library, and even pulling apart the sheets of his bed until he stopped. Mary wouldn't have wanted to torture him, as much of a pain in the arse as she was at times, but she was fond of riddles and liked helping him discover prizes.
His eyes flickered to the locked-up gear in the corner, still guarded by four remaining locks since he and Mary had last been there together. He had obtained the rest of the keys in between missions and warned the encampments of Torres, just in case Mary got word that he did nothing to help and picked at his conscience for it. Slowly, with slightly shaking hands, he unlocked the gate and studied the armor carefully. It was well-crafted and would protect him, to be sure, and seemed quite valuable. But for once, he wasn't interested in thinking of what riches it may offer him. Instead he looked all over the display for a sign of letters, and finally caught sight of an envelope on the floor. He snatched it up and found the rest all tucked away in the corner. He couldn't help chuckling. Mary always knew how to tease his brain.
Letters in hand, he made his way back to the bedroom and sat on the edge of his bed. With a deep breath, he sliced open the first letter and started to read:
July 17, 1715, Nassau, Bahamas
Kenway—
I write this to you without quite knowing why, since I don't plan on giving it to you…
**Author's note** Thank you all so, so much for reading For Want of Wit, my first fanfiction. I had so much joy writing this story and getting inside Mary's head, as well as reading all your lovely, encouraging reviews. As for the announcement, I am planning out a full-length fanfiction in which *drumroll* Mary lives. I hope you would all be interested in that. :) Once again, thank you so much. This has meant the world. "Good night and joy be to you all."