Many days passed. The sun was merciless, causing sweat to run down from every man's brow to the bulge of his chin. For every drop of sweat they wished earnestly for a drop of rain.

The crew of the Black Pearl had been sailing without making port for longer than necessary Will realised. They were about to run out of water, and rum. Everyone was becoming quite weary.

Young William was pained by small blisters on his cheekbones, making his skin red and sore in the heat. The whole crew had certainly gotten their fair share of sun.

"Your hair reminds me of gold." Camilla teased heartedly as she ran her fingers through Williams hair. He resembled his father very much in every sense, but his hair was something he had gained purely from his mother.

"I might as well remind you of a skinned dog." He said, referring to his burning face.

They had both taken cover in the temporary shadow beneath the stairs on deck. She was sitting on a barrel and William was sitting right below her on the wooden floorboards.

"You'll get nice scars." She said with an encouraging nod. "More befitting for a pirate." Camilla had also managed to gain a few burns, but then again hers weren't as severe as William's.

The boy smirked and continued to fiddle with the bandana in his hands.

"Land ho!" man yelled from the crow's nest. In the light of the sun he appeared as a black dot far up in the sky. Elizabeth squinted as she looked for the spot of land the man was pointing at.

"Finally." Mr Gibbs said, joining her by the railing.

"Do you know where we are exactly?" She asked.

"If I'm not mistaken, we should be by west the coast of India by now."

"And we are to make port?"

"That seems to be the plan." Mister Gibbs said, nodding.

"Jack's plan." Elizabeth added, mostly to herself. A bitter taste of annoyance made her bite her own tongue when thinking of the subject.

"Aye." Mr Gibbs said and raised his brows while glancing at her curiously. He then looked around, expecting to find Jack close by, however the man did not seem to be on deck.

It wasn't long before they reached land, but the wait seemed longer than the journey when every living person aboard thought of nothing than to be able to satisfy their thirst. The port they eventually reached was full of life and commotion – like any trading port by these waters.

The anchor crashed through surface of the water, and sunk steadily with its heavy form. A few men of the crew needed to stay behind and the others were to go ashore and fetch necessities.

"You'll need this." Will said as he handed her a leather bag containing coins. Elizabeth was engaged in putting her hair up amidst the heat when he appeared behind her. She shot him a glance and saw that Will was a little more tender in his gaze than he had been in a very long time.

She took the little bag in her hand while meeting Will's dark eyes. "I wish you could come with us."

Will flashed a weak smile.

Elizabeth was struck by a sudden urge to embrace her husband tenderly, yet she remained still. As he looked into her eyes once more, he knew of her intention, yet appreciated it in stillness. She smiled, almost shyly, in response - enjoying their quiet conversation.

Suddenly she moved closer and to her immediate astonishment he did not shy away. While resting her forehead on his, Will closed his eyes and sighed, predictably.

"Elizabeth…" he breathed. Her warmth was penetrating and as pleasant as he remembered it. It reminded him of a simpler time; when he dreamed of her and she appreciated him – and that with hopes of a possible future. Now, his destiny was sealed, and she was bound to a husband who could not give her the freedom that she yearned for. It seemed, life, did not wish to see them truly joined. The inconveniences had rained down on them like dirt and debris would during a thorough scrap.

Elizabeth could not contain herself, and why would she? She thought to herself as she locked lips with the indignant man. Will let her, although it made him suffer an ordeal. E desperately wanted to be with her, but he could not – and she could not come with him. As her hands found their way to his neck, his collar, he stopped her roaming hands and pulled away; she had almost reached his distorted skin. He knew the look of disappointment in his eyes, and therefore he resisted from looking at her.

Jack appeared suddenly. It seemed he had been below the whole time. He viewed the colourful port before them while scratching his moustache with the remaining fingers of his left hand. "Ah… the memories are returning to me now – it's a rather vivid little town." He smiled, knowingly, and glanced at the pair. His smile weakened as he felt the distinct tension; however, this was soon followed by a grin.

"No time to lose, aye?" Jack said happily as he neared Elizabeth. "My heartfelt sympathies, mate." He then added with a more sombre tone as he looked at Will before stepping down onto the dock.

"Off we go." Elizabeth said, feeling no possible excitement. She expected Will to say something, or perhaps she was just hoping that he would. Motionless, she waited – there was nothing. Eyes interlocked, her anticipation reached its peak and then fell down heavily, making a heavy weight in her chest.

She reached for his fingers, but only managed to brush them before Mister Gibbs hurried past them. It made her come out of her trance of emotions, causing her hand to fall to her side.

"You should hurry." Will said. He appeared relieved that she had hesitated to touch him. Elizabeth swallowed her bitter feelings and followed Jack.


The street was crowded, strong colours hit their vision pleasantly and the smell of spices from the market made them hungry for nourishment. Elizabeth was quick to buy herself freshly cooked chicken from the market, with rice on the side; which Jack wanted to share but she smacked his hand away at every attempt. However, Jack seemed to have other things in mind than the simplest of needs, and therefore quickly gave up in order to eye the sea of people around them. Mister Gibbs had found himself a bottle of rum already and took large swigs from it. They had split from the rest of the crew, who had been given the duty of collecting food, beverage, and other necessaries for a continued journey.

Elizabeth suddenly stopped as her smooth hands caught a beautiful shawl in between her fingers. Jack did not seem to notice the halt and continued to stroll further in between the displays.

The woman who sold the shawl urged her on and Elizabeth could not resist the fine fabric. She did not miss being a governor's daughter with all the concerns for clothes and attires, but she could appreciate fine silk, and so, she threw it around her shoulders without much hesitation; and of course, paid for it with the coins given to her by Will.

She caught up to Jack. The motion, and foreign rabbling amongst sellers and buyers brought energy to the group of people who were walking with tired minds on energised feet. The newcomers observed it all with fascinated interest.

"Bought ye'self something pretty, have yeh?" he said tauntingly.

"I have." She concluded. "I thought Will might appreciate it as well." The red shawl was wrapped around her shoulders and the ends dangled along the sides of her trousers.

"He certainly will. He has an eye for beauty." Jack said, and before Elizabeth could remark his words he continued: "Especially considering it's bought with my money."

"Your money?" she asked.

"That's right! But don't press yourself a blush for my sake darlin', we both know Will haven't pulled in much of an income these past couple of years – unless he loots his corpses which I rather doubt considering his gallant nature. However, I'm delighted to assist the situation – just consider it as a gift – from me to you."

"You're unbelievable." She said, feeling irritation stir her insides, making her head hot in the process as well. "If it's a gift from anyone, it's a gift from Will."

"Technically…" he said. "It's a gift you bought for ye'self – with my money. Will's not involved in the gift exchanging, except for being a sly thief that is."

"I-" Elizabeth began heatedly, yet was interrupted as Jack shushed her and without warning pulled her into an open doorway they were about to pass. Elizabeth found herself pinned against a wall, having his boozy not so pleasant breath in her face, about to curse the madman that Jack was. However, Jack seemed to have no interest for her at all. Instead he peeked inside one of the rooms from where soft smoke emitted.

As Jack peeked inside, the view made him smile delightfully. He placed himself in the entrance confidently and threw his arms out enthusiastically. "Jivanta!"

The small space they were in was covered with rugs on the floor and on the walls. The space was dark, especially compared to the sunlit street they had just strutted on. Elizabeth felt her eyes struggling to adjust to the new darkness.

A woman gazed up through the dim air. "A sparrow at my doorstep." She muttered. Her voice was clear and she did not seem to have any difficulty responding to Jack with his native tongue, rather than her own.

"Ye mind if I brought a grieving mother with me?" he asked courteously.

She made a movement with her hand which made him presume it was quite all right.

Elizabeth stepped further inside and saw that the woman was dressed in very plain garments; it seemed her attires did not quite fully match her more luxurious surroundings. She did not appear as delighted as Jack upon being reunited.

"Sit." She said and nodded to the cushions around her. The smoke was coming from a metal platter placed next to her amongst the many colours and textures belonging to fabrics around her. Red hibiscuses placed in different vases decorated the room – the sight of them partly explained the deep scent. A man with a shaved head then walked into the room and spoke in a language Elizabeth could not understand and she could not figure out if Jack could. Jivanta answered him and then waved him off; making him leave.

They all sat down as she had told them to, and Jack was quick to take a raisin when offered it. That managed to bring a smile to Jivanta's face which made Jack somewhat suspicious.

"What is it that you want?" she asked and turned to Jack. He watched her dark eyes through the smoke of essence and sensed she was as attentive as a cat watching a bird sing its last tune.

"We're in quite the calamity m'afraid. And I've always held a fondness for you – as you know – and I would like to borrow-"

"No." She said, with intention of bringing an end to the near not begun conversation.

"Now Jivanta – I know ye' and I didn't depart on the finest of terms, however -"

Jivanta laughed without humour. "You could express it as such."

"Now let's be reasonable."

"And you were reasonable when you left me to smugglers? As soon as you didn't need my assistance any further you handed me over."

Elizabeth gave him an accusing look, to which Jack felt deeply insulted.

"Now – I never said she would be able accompany me for the whole venture." He defended.

"You certainly implied it." Jivanta said with a sly smile.

"Leaving her to smugglers? Sure, sounds like you." Elizabeth pouted.

"Lucky me, I knew how to fend for myself." The woman made a thankful sign.

Jack felt Elizabeth's stare sting into him. "Now, I knew those smugglers – I actually did it for her safety. You don't know of the strains and dangers I endured afterwards; I assure you, she was much better off with the smugglers than with a pirate such as me'self."

Jivanta rolled her eyes. "I'm sure." She said, unimpressed.

"Now let's lay all possible grudge aside and help – not me'self – but this desperate mother and her son… and the lass – although, if you need a blood sacrifice - away with her!"

The woman could not possibly know of what he was talking about. However, that was not what she was seeking. "Give me a reason, Jack."

"You'll be given - giving life." He said with a sudden stutter, knowing this would draw her in. "Or for ol' times sake. Let me make it up to yeh."

Jivanta hesitated for a moment before actually accepting the offer. "Very well."

Jack was dumbfounded by this, considering she had agreed so quickly, however he soon recovered and exclaimed: "Great!" Jack clasped his hands together with both delight and surprise; making the smoke whirl around their faces.

"And if we need a blood sacrifice, we'll for certain take your blood, Jack." Jivantas eyes rested on Jack with a profound seriousness, even though it gleamed with a bit of hilarity, something hard to pin down was making it seem untrustworthy.

Jack discarded the thought which made his stomach twist, and raised his brows. "Now I would argue against, but we're in quite the hurry m'afraid."

He jumped on his feet, quite vigorously.

"How did you know?" Jivanta then asked.

"Of it's qualities?" Jack asked, as if the words belonged to a dark tale. He then paid a quick glance at the necklace right below her neckline.

"Yes." She answered in a hushed voice, she stepped closer to him simply to keep the conversation as private as possible. "Who told you of this?" she asked while placing a protective hand over her chest where the stone rested.

"No one." He said, as if confused that she would assume such. "I remembered how tightly you held onto it when you fell into the water that night, even though you'd told me it was just a piece of glass…" He grinned mockingly at the thought. "I assumed it was a ruby or something akin… But then about a year ago Mister Gibbs, me first mate… told me of an ol' legend…" His eyes grew catlike for a second before he reduced the squinting. "And I realised that stone of yours might have been of further value."

"It took you long enough."

He grinned, making her feel as charmed as ever before; she could not even hold back a smile which was on its way to curve the corners of her mouth. His dark eyes were reflecting her own. The steady gaze created a perfectly glazed surface in which it was hard to miss a single detail.

"Also… you haven't aged a day." He said with a smooth voice. His eyes trailed slowly downward. Then, breaking his charming façade, he said: "Literally." But he was quick to return to his well owned charms and held out his hand anticipatingly. "Thank you for lending it to me. I will not disappoint."

Now she laughed softly with delight. "I'm coming with you." She said, and felt thrilled to see his eyes widen.

Jack swallowed.


"Did he say how long they would be gone for?" Camilla asked, her voice revealed her boredom. She paced the deck with restless steps. The crew was back with all the provisions but Jack and Elizabeth were still missing.

"He won't be long." Will said as he watched the borderline carefully for any sign of the pair. The thought of them alone together, as Elizabeth was still not quite fully repaired from the mistreatment in Groves care, made him anxious; however, he needed someone to keep an eye on Jack, and he, nor the young ones, could go ashore. He could not step on land for another four years and they were bound to him.

Another worry has started to nag him, his son and Camilla were bored out of their wits surely, but there was also another reason for their weariness; they did not belong here. Their souls should be taken to the other side and Will knew one should not meddle with the laws of nature.

Elizabeth's face appeared amongst the commotion in the harbour and Will sighed with relief; like the mother hen he was. At the sight of Jack, he sighed with something else entirely.


Jack had taken the liberty to steer the vessel, and after what seemed like a few hours Will departed below; It did not escape Elizabeth's notice. She decided to follow. They had not spoken properly to one another for days, and nothing had been as unbearable as that. Not the heat, nor the famine, but the lack of interaction.

With light feet, she went down the steps of the stairs, and found Will right below in the shadows. As he heard her presence with the light creaking of the wooden steps, he turned away, and discretely buttoned up the last two buttons of his shirt.

"Will…" she said softly, even with utmost care, as she drew closer to the shadows.

"Yes?" He said, with a voice struggling from weariness.

She knew something was wrong.

"Speak to me." She begged, with a voice light as a feather.

He turned slightly towards her, yet not fully.

Elizabeth then could not stop herself and went closer until she reached him. She let her own hands caress their way about his neck and shoulders before they settled on each side in a fond gesture. Gazing into his eyes she saw a glimpse of pain.

"Elizabeth… I..." He began, but then settled for a hopeless sigh.

"Tell me." She whispered encouragingly.

Will closed his eyes as her cheek brushed against his. The heat of her body was suddenly pressed against his before he could gain the power will to pull away. But as Elizabeth's lips trailed along his temple further back to his ear, he came to his senses and leaned back; away from her caress. His wife's eyes revealed her disappointment evidently.

"We're not here to celebrate…" he began.

Elizabeth swallowed bitterly.

"We're here to ensure our son's safety. That is why I'm here - I should not be here… One day, I was given… no more, no less. For ten years fulfilling the duty brought upon me… I should not be here..."

"So it is…" Elizabeth said, nodding lightly with understanding. "Let's therefore take what is possible during these terrible happenings, and make something wonderful of it, instead of wasting our chances." She came closer, and as she was about to lay a hand fondly on his collar, he twitched.

"There are no more chances." He said. "It's too late."

Elizabeth blinked uncomfortably as she felt her nerves breaking. She was looking at him steadily, but it was tearing in her heart for every second. "What do you mean?"

"I belong to the Dutchman, and nothing is given freely. I do not have any right to step away from my duty as a Captain, and it's giving me a reminder to where I belong."

And so, he revealed what was hidden beneath his tainted shirt to give her a look of the reality of the situation. Moist, sea-adapted skin, had replaced his former human texture all over his chest, and he resembled a creature of the depths; It was even on the verge of spreading to his throat.

Elizabeth opened her mouth in miserable shock as she stared.

"You see… I belong to the sea now. To Calypso." He said the name without love, but with clear and unmistakable devotion.

Elizabeth's eyes flashed and her stare interlocked with his. "It must be so." She then said, bitterly defeated.

Will was now the one who took a step closer. "I did belong to you; from the very moment I first saw your face…"

His eyes suddenly revealed old memories which came rushing back to Elizabeth. A boy, left alone against the world, with the brand of a pirate hanging about his neck. She had thought it wise to take that part from him, as if to spare him from his fate; but it didn't. He ended up a pirate regardless and she would not want to have him as any other.

"…till the last vision of you before my heart stopped beating…" His features flashed with a strike of pain due to an inward battle, before they became still with a soft wave that seemed to wash away emotions attached to memories. "My body and soul now belong to the Dutchman. I'm not the same man as you once married."

Elizabeth continued to shake her head stubbornly, trying to hold back vicious tears.

"You've never belonged to me." Will then said softly.

She looked at him as if he could not be further wrong. "I've always loved you." She defended herself.

"Yes…" Will smiled, with true happiness gleaming in his eyes for a second. "But you've never belonged to me… I was, and am, content with that notion." He clarified. "Miss Swann."

"And I was, and am, perfectly content with being Mrs Turner." She insisted, returning his smile. Her fine features became softer as she saw the hardness in his eyes falter. "How many times must I ask you to call me Elizabeth?" she said, though her words did not have more strength than a whisper.

Will took a breath of soft delight and nodded understandingly. After a moment of peaceful silence, he squeezed her hand and left for the stairs. Leaving her warmth felt once again as difficult as the day he departed from the cell she was staying in, awaiting her execution, and as the day he left her alone with the sunset before beginning his true duty on the Dutchman.

Before taking the first climb on the stairs, he stopped and Elizabeth waited patiently with some curiosity.

"I may belong to the sea… but my heart is my own to give; And it has, and always will, belong to you."

Elizabeth smiled with heart wrenching content as his shadow surpassed her when he climbed the last steps of the stairs into the broad daylight. The sound of his steps above made her heart tremble.