Chapter 15: Wedding Blues
Elizabeth held Emily in her arms as Will held Jessie on his shoulders. They stood outside Harriet's home waiting for someone to open the door and invite them in. The day of the execution Will was released and since then the Turner family had returned to their home. After hearing what had happened after the rescue they have come over to Harriet's household to check on Katerina Benikins; the only crewmember of the Black Pearl to be marooned under Captain Sparrow's orders. It has been two days since she had rescued Jack, and not once has she ventured outside her room. Except for the rare occasion to get food. She explained that she was in mourning, but she was not going to starve herself.
Robert, Harriet's husband, opened the doors for the Turners and let them in. Will set Jessie on the ground and watched as he took off to look for little Olivia. Robert smiled at Will and ushered them into the bigger living room. Harriet stood by the window, looking out at the dock where the new 'Interceptor' was being loaded for a new voyage.
"Harriet, we have guests," Robert said politely leading the other two adults and baby into the room.
Harriet turned around and smiled when she saw the friendly faces of the couple. She walked up to Elizabeth and gave her a hug, careful not to disturb the sleeping Emily. Will leaned over and gave her a peck on the cheek.
"It's nice to see some people as concerned for her ad Robert and I are," she said looking from Will to Elizabeth.
"How is she fairing?" Elizabeth asked sitting down with Harriet.
"She got out of bed yesterday to come to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water and a croissant," Harriet looked up at the stairs, "I have yet to check on her today."
"Has she said anything?" Will asked leaning on the mantle piece.
"Nothing that we have heard," Robert replied from the doorway. He didn't look at the others, but kept his eyes on his daughter and young Jessie playing together. Olivia wore what looked like an old, blue rag on her head and had a large spoon in her hand as if it was a sword. Jessie used his hand like a pistol and began to 'shoot' at Olivia.
"She only mumbles how it was her fault," Harriet murmured, "I think it was mine."
"We must not blame ourselves on this incident," Elizabeth rocked Emily, "Jack did what he thought was best for Kat. He thought she would have a better life here, right? He thought it would be too dangerous for Kat to go with him, so he left her here. To protect her."
"And made it to where she may never be able to recover," Harriet lowered her head, "If I hadn't been so protective of Kat, e wouldn't have taken it the wrong way. I wanted him to take her, but to watch out for her. But who needed to tell him that, he was doing it all along."
Everyone sat in silence for a few moments, but soon enough the silence was broken with the two three year olds rushing into the room. Olivia waved her spoon as Jessie dodged behind Will's legs and pretended to shoot at Olivia.
"You can't get me, Cattewine!" Olivia shouted, "I'm Jack Spawow!"
"I will get ye!" Jessie shouted in his best pirate voice. They played out the scene that Kat had told Olivia before she left for the execution that day. Olivia almost didn't let her out of the house when it was time to go. She wanted to hear more.
"Olivia," Robert touched the top of her head stopping her momentarily.
"Me not Olivia! Me Jack Spawow!" she smiled up at her father.
"Can you go into the other room to fight the evil captain, please?"
"Kay, matey!" she turned to Jessie, "Come and get me Catterwine!" The two children ran out of the room and all the adults looked at each other.
"She really looks up to Jack, doesn't she?" Elizabeth asked.
"Ever since she laid eyes on him," Harriet said slightly distracted.
"What I don't understand," Will started to pace the room, "is that he said that he loved her. That he would die for her, and then he just leaves her behind."
"Wouldn't it better to leave the one you love behind, knowing that they would never be in immediate danger, than to take them with you and have them killed right before your eyes?" Robert reasoned.
Will lowered his eyes and nodded his head, "True . . . I guess I was still thinking of the old Jack I used to know. The one who didn't – or should I say couldn't- attach himself to one woman and one woman only."
"So what are we going to do?" Elizabeth spoke up. The rest of the room went into deep thought about what was to happen next.
Robert got up from the arm of the chair where his wife was sitting, "I think we all could use some good tea. We will be here quite a while."
***
The next day the Turners wouldn't come back to discuss the next step. They hadn't come up with anything in the past three days, and the Turners decided to take a break on the plan for a day, and decided to use the day to spend with their children.
Harriet stood at the railing of the staircase in the early morning. The sun still hadn't made it's appearance and neither had Katerina. Harriet was very worried that her cousin would start to waste away if she did not do something with herself soon. Olivia began to think that she wasn't even with them any longer. She barely even knew that one of her favorite people was only a few doors down from her bedroom.
Harriet heard a door behind her open and turned to see Kat actually out of bed and walking along the side of the window. She smiled and stood to walk over to her cousin, "Well, I've never seen you up before the sun."
"Well, how many times have you been up before the sun?" Kat asked looking out the East facing windows. She stared out and watched the horizon with such intensity, as if she was waiting for something to happen.
She didn't look like a person that was trapped in her room for three days without any communication with others. Her eyes were not bloodshot as Harriet thought they would be. She was getting sleep, and her body still held her healthy form. For all Harriet knew, she was normal. As if she was just starting another day, maybe another life.
"You are right. This is my first time that I have been awake this early," Harriet said watching the face of her cousin search the bay, "But what about you?"
"I have done this every morning since I was on the Black Pearl."
"Done what?"
"Watch the sun light up the sky with the colors of the legendary phoenix and give birth to a whole new day," Kat turned her head to her cousin and nodded to the windows, trying to get her to watch also, "Just bring me that horizon."
Harriet followed her lead and watched as the golden orb of the sun brought to the sky more colors than she ever thought possible. The dark sky lit up with oranges, reds and light lavenders. The colors danced with each other with such majesty that Harriet could not believe her eyes.
"You got to see this every morning?" she asked Kat with awe reigning through out her voice.
"If the night before didn't tire me out too hard."
"How did you know to watch it?" Harriet couldn't turn her head away from the sight unfolding before her.
"Jack showed me," Kat said above a whisper as the stars began to fade.
Harriet now turned to her cousin to see if she had involuntarily brought back more harmful memories. She watched the reds and purples cross Kat's features, waiting for the shining trails of tears to cover her cheeks. After a few minutes Harriet's face went to confusion when no tears or signs of mourning were visible. Was she perhaps over the misfortune? Was she better? Before she could ask Kat began to explain.
"I cannot cry any longer," Kat turned away from the window, seeing the sun projecting the shadows of the hung pirates out of the port, "No matter how I try the tears will not come."
"Perhaps you have done all your crying," Harriet offered an explanation of her own.
"No. I have realized that not one human body could possibly cry all the tears that I want- or need to," she and Harriet walked back to her room and sat on the chairs beside the bed. She fumbled with her hands, trying to get her body to react, yet no emotion could be seen in her face or her once exuberant eyes.
"What is wrong?" Harriet asked placing her hand on both of Kat's.
"What is wrong!?" Kat jumped up from the small chair, "I cannot cry and I want to! I want to show the pain that is in my heart! I want to mourn properly! I want to be able to sit out by the table with you and your family and not shut myself away in this room! I want to walk the streets and smile at strangers as I used to do!" she paused for a moment and then continued, "Tears will not come to these eyes! Pain will not show in my face! My eyes are slowly growing to a dull color no more recognizable than my father's! Don't you see, Harriet? I am turning into the person whom I hate the most . . . my father."
"Katerina . . . don-"
"But I don't care anymore," Kat whispered, looking out the open window of her bedroom that looked over another part of the bay.
"What?"
"I'm giving up. Let my father do what he wants with me," Kat laid down on the bed, "It does not matter any longer."
"It does too matter!" she stepped up to the bed, making sure her cousin could see her, "Your father wants you to marry Belstrude, when you know he is not the one you love."
"Because the one I love left me here and it is my entire fault!" Kat screamed.
"It is not your fault, Kat! It is mine!" Harriet let out a breath of frustration, "I'm sorry."
"How is it that you come to that conclusion?"
"When I went to tell Jack about the alleyway . . . I told him to think of what was best for you and he took it the wrong way. I am so sorry . . . I just wanted what was best for you."
"So he did," Kat said.
"Then if you understand, why do you blame yourself?"
"Because I just have to be so damn fragile! Everyone treats me as if I was going to break. At least Jack and the Pearl's crew understood that I was trying to make something of myself. But then again, Jack always knew when I was going to get into trouble and was there to save me. Maybe that was another reason he left me behind, he didn't want to save me anymore."
"He saved you because he loved you," Harriet sat on Kat's bed, "Listen Kat, are you willing to marry Belstrude and forget about the love that left to sea, which you will not even follow?"
"That's the problem! I cannot forget him!" she sat up straight on the bed, "Jack ordered me to stay here until I forget what we had together. I can never forget that. I can never leave."
"I never thought I would see the day that I'd see you in such a pitiful state," Harriet shook her head and got off the bed, "You are a true idiot if you do not see it."
"See what?"
"Do you even know what you two had?" Harriet asked watching Kat think and then shake her head, "Think about that, Kat. How can you forget something you do not understand?"
"But I know I love him!"
"Yes, and I know he loves you, but neither of you knew what you had," she looked at Kat to see a small glint of hope flowing back into Kat's eyes, "Hopefully you will give my daughter the pleasure of seeing one of her favorite people today. I hope you understand that she admires you . . . both you and Jack."
Kat laid back into her pillow and turned to Harriet when she opened the door to leave, "Harriet . . ."
"Yes?"
"Tell Olivia that I will try- no, that I will see her at breakfast today," Kat whispered and Harriet nodded as she closed the door.
***
Later that morning at breakfast, the whole family sat at the table, trying to keep Olivia in her seat. Her mother kept pushing her down while Robert just looked on with an amused smile.
"You're much help, Robert," Harriet smiled pushing Olivia down for the tenth time.
"But you are doing such a good job of entertaining me."
"Maybe I can tame the little rascal," Kat stood at the doorway of the kitchen.
"Kat!" Olivia popped up from her seat and turned to see Kat walking toward her.
"Now what have I told you about listening to your mother?" Kat tickled the little girl in her seat, "You always listen to your mother. She is a very wise woman."
Kat and Harriet smiled at each other and nodded their heads.
"I see that the dead do arise," Robert commented, scooting out a chair for Kat, "And right on time . . . three days."
"Very funny, Robert," Kat commented piling food upon her plate and took medium sized bites.
"How is the day treating you?" Harriet asked after Kat finished her meal.
"Better that yesterday," Kat said before drinking the rest of her milk.
"Olivia wan' go shops!" Olivia tugged at Kat's arm, "Kat take Olivia?"
"I would love to take you, Olivia," Kat said surprising Harriet and Robert, "It is about time that I got fresh air. Do you object me taking her out shopping today?"
"Not at all," Harriet said surprised.
"All righ then, I'll race you to your room," Kat started to walk fast toward the staircase as Olivia ran to catch up.
"She seemed in high spirits today," Robert said.
"It seems that way, yes. She is just hiding her pain, Robert. . . . for Olivia."
Up in Olivia's room Kat helped her to get dressed in a casual dress. As Olivia tried to find her favorite dress- the one she met Jack in- Kat looked around the room and found her old bandana on the edge of Olivia's bed.
"Olivia, where did you get this?" she held the bandana in her hand.
"Found in dress," Olivia explained while bringing over her dress, "Wan wear this one."
Kat took the dress from the little girl and looked blankly at the bandana. Olivia came up to her and touched her hand.
"You wan' back?" she pointed to the bandana.
"No," Kat smiled, "You keep it, darling. Just make sure that no one throws it away."
The little girl nodded and got Kat to help her with her dress. After they were done dressing Olivia it was Kat's turn to get dressed up again. Kat let Olivia pick out her dress and quickly dressed into the cream colored dress and they were off to the market.
Three hours of shopping went by. Kat watched Olivia as she skipped from shop to shop humming ht song 'A Pirate's Life for me.' Kat caught her arm and asked her where she had heard the song. Olivia simply told her that her 'Uncle Jack' was humming it when she last saw him. Kat stopped at the sound of his name and how Olivia called him her uncle. She turned toward the direction of the sea and gave a loud sigh.
"You miss Uncle Jack?" Olivia tugged at her dress.
"Very much so," Kat said trying to keep a small smile on her face.
"Don' wowy . . . Uncle Jack come back. He pwomised Olivia," she said proudly, "When I old enuff, Jack says he come back to take Olivia on big ship!"
Kat smiled and giggled at the small girl's movements to emphasize the word 'big', "How are you so sure, Olivia?"
"Gave his wowd!" Olivia said in a final tone while stopping her foot down, "Jack come back!"
Kat took her by the hand and started on their way home, "All right, I believe you. But I think that it is just about time for lunch."
"Olivia want to stay at shops!"
"How about this? While we are walking home, I can teach you the words to Jack's song. Then you can sing it, instead of just humming it? How does that sound, to you?"
"Yea!"
***
As Kat and Olivia entered the home, Harriet stood waiting for their return.
"Hello, what's the matter?" Kat asked seeing the stern face of Harriet, "I'm sorry for being late, I was teaching a song to Olivia. Did we miss lunch?"
"Olivia, would you please go and find your father?" Harriet knelt down to eye level with her child, "Will you go show him the pretty things you bought at the shops?"
Olivia nodded and began to kip down the hall, shouting parts of the song as she went. Harriet turned back to Kat and held her shoulders, "I have more than a bit of bad news."
"No . . . Jack-"
"He is fine, Kat. This is about Dena," Harriet looked her in the eyes, "Dena was killed a few weeks ago. She was found by your father's stables. Apparently someone wanted your horse, but Dena protected it."
Kat found a chair and nearly collapsed in it from the shock, "Why did not you tell me about this sooner?"
"Because I just heard it myself."
"By whom?" Kat stood up, demanding the answer.
Before Harriet could reply, Olivia came back running into the room and clasped herself to her mother's skirt, "Olivia, what is the matter, darling?"
"Bad man in woom," Olivia pushed herself hard on her mother.
"What?" Kat asked stepping toward the door, but stopped as soon as a figure stepped into the hallway.
"Hello daughter," Arthur Benikins stood before her, "You know what glorious day this is?"
Kat sneered and glared at her father, "Wednesday?"
"Good guess," he snickered and walked over to her, grabbing her so she wouldn't move, "Today is you wedding day. Your dress awaits you in your room."
Kat was thrown at the stairs, but she stopped herself and looked back at him, "Why didn't you tell me about Dena?"
"She was killed. Quite simple actually. I didn't want to deal with it . . . you know, with females being so emotional and all I wanted you to be happy this day."
"You think that forcing me to marry someone I do not love would make me happy?" she yelled from the bottom of the staircase.
"It would once you appreciated it," he looked at her, "Now get dressed."
"Father!"
He ignored her and looked at Harriet on his way out, "Make sure she is ready in three hours," he didn't wait or a response and walked out the door.
"What are we going to do?" Harriet wondered, looking down at Olivia.
"Get ready for my wedding," Kat slowly trudged up the stairs to her room to find an absolutely beautiful gown. In stead of commenting on its beauty or wonder how much it must have cost, she wanted the rip it in two. She wanted to see it sink to the bottom on the ocean.
Another knock came at thee door and Harriet opened to find Will Turner, "I saw her father, what is going on?"
"Will, we need your help," Harriet took him to the side, "Do you know of any ships that may leave to day and let a woman on board?"
"I know a good ship that would not ask questions," Will told her getting the hint.
"Perfect," Harriet commented, "Tell them they will have one more joining them soon."
***
At the end of three hours Kat found herself at the end of a red carpet and at least a hundred people to either side of her. She felt her lungs fighting for breath underneath her corset and the tight fitting wedding dress over that. It was a beautiful dress that she would have usually found herself envious of, but she would give it up, just to be free. She dragged her feet, hoping that at any point during the walk she would see Jack and the crew jumping over the walls and take her back to the Pearl, but no such help was found. She kept her head down feeling as if this was her own execution, because after the ceremony, she would have no soul. She saw Elizabeth and Will on one side of the aisle, and saw Will give her half smile. She was about to smile back if it wasn't for the people standing at the other end of the aisle.
At the end of the aisle Timothy Belstrude waited for her and her father along side him. She closed her eyes remembering the warning her father gave her just an hour ago, 'If you decide to run, you will be hunted down and tried for piracy.' She cringed when he patted her back as he left her room, and as soon as he closed the door she tore open on of her smaller pillows in anger.
Kat made it to the altar and stood facing Timothy. He wore a happy smile that could not even compare to Olivia's joyous face. Kat didn't look into his eyes . . . she couldn't. Btu she could pierce into her father's.
The ceremony began and Kat's mind raced, 'I can't do this! I can't give up! I got find Jack!'
Harriet's words came back to her mind, 'Nothing in this world . . . No matter who says it isn't right . . . It's up to what you two have together . . .'
'And I still have to figure out what that is. And there is only one way to do it!' Kat thought, picking her head back up and looking at the Minister.
"Katerina Benikins, do you take Captain Timothy Belstrude-"
"No," Kat said slipping her hands out of Timothy's.
"Katerina . . ." her father warned, "You don't do through with this you will be charged with piracy and hanged!"
"Then I will die with pirate dignity!" she shouted and started to walk down the aisle. Will jumped up from his seat and raced down the street and into a small shop that no one saw. Kat's father raced after her, grabbing her arm, "Let me go father!"
"Marry or die!" he yelled at her. She looked around her and couldn't find one sword or pistol that could have been some assistance.
'These people are just waiting to be robbed,' Kat thought to herself, 'Was I really that oblivious?'
Her father wasn't going to let go and no one else seemed to be doing anything to help her. She had to take matters into her own hands. She turned around to face her father and directly connected her closed fist to his face. It gave him a good enough shock to release her arm.
Kat saw the expression on Belstrude's face, "I'm sorry, Timothy. Find yourself another girl, mate." She ran down the aisle as best she could with the long skirt and went around the same corner Will had only a moment ago.
Harriet grabbed her as she ran through the street and flung her into a small shop. The shop was near empty and apparently closed. Kat gasped for air in the constraints of the tight, whale bon corset. She let Harriet walk her to the back of the shop while Robert kept a good eye out for the guards.
"I knew that you would come. Thank goodness Will gave us a head start that you were coming," Harriet smiled, helping Kat out of her dress, "How did Belstrude take it?"
"Don't . . . know . . ." Kat strained to get her corset off, "Now I know why they make us wear these. So we can't escape so easily if we deicide to run."
Harriet laughed as she handed the riding clothes to Kat from the front of the changing doors, "So how did you get away, may I ask?"
"Easy, I ran as fast as I could with that blooming dress and bloody corset on," Kat stepped out from behind the changing doors with a pair of black riding pants, and white silk shirt and the good pair of boots that Jack had given her. She let her hair down and shook her head a few times to make sure none of it was still up.
"That's it?" Harriet asked a little shocked, "I mean your father was standing right there."
Kat looked out from underneath her hair, "Well, I had to punch my father, but I think I can live with that decision."
Harriet handed her a bag which was filled half way, "I has everything that you might need, and a few things that you always said you couldn't live without. I got it together just in case."
Kat smiled and hugged her cousin, "You know that I will not be able to come back?"
"Oh you will eventually come back," Harriet looked at her, "You're always up for a good challenge."
"I will miss you," Kat said, "Give Olivia a kiss for me."
"Oh!" Harriet brought something out from her bag sitting nearby, "Olivia wanted me to give you this. She says you told her to keep it, but she knew how much it meant to you."
Kat smiled and took the blue bandana from Harriet's grasp. She quickly tied it around her head o keep her hair down. Robert soon motioned them to the door.
"There's the ship as Will said," Robert said pointing to a small merchant ship.
"All right," Kat put the bag on her shoulder and took a breath, "Before I go . . . Harriet, make sure that Dena is properly remembered here. She deserves at least to have that."
Harriet nodded and gave Kat another hug. Robert kissed her on each cheek and nodded when the coast was clear. Kat ran to the ship and made sure the captain understood her situation and nodded. She climbed on the ship as the rest of the crew followed.
Harriet and Robert held each other and watched the ship set sail. The guards ran around the port, looking everywhere they could and still couldn't find Kat. The couple smiled at one another seeing a waving form from the boat.
"I will miss her terribly," Harriet said.
"It defiantly will be a little less busy around here without her."
"I hope she finds him . . . I really do."
/////////
The sun was setting when Kat lost sight of Port Royal. She hugged her bag into her chest and heard something start to crinkle. She opened the bag and took out a rolled up piece of paper. She unrolled it to see an illustration of Jack staring back at her. It was the wanted poster she hid in her bottom drawer.
"I swear Harriet, nothing is hidden from you," Kat shook her head and her brow suddenly furrowed when she saw a handkerchief.
She slowly too the handkerchief out of the bag and carefully unwrapped a small painting of herself. She looked at it and remembered that it was the same one she gave Dena years ago. She looked at it with a faint smiled and turned it over to find a small note to . . . her.
Dear Katerina.
I don't know how much longer your father is going to put up with me. Ever since you have left . . . nothing seems worth it anymore. Worth the pain. I pray and hope every night that you are happy and loved. No matter what, do not give up, dear Katerina, everything will work out for the better. I love you as any mother would lover her daughter. You have grown up to be a fine woman and one day will make a man very happy. I hope with all my being that you will find love where ever you are. And once you do, hold on tight and never let go. Don't make my mistake . . . don't ever let go.
Your Dena
"Oh Dena," Katerina sighed, "I only wish I got to say good-bye to you."
The sea turned black as the night overcame the sky, "But do not worry, Dena. I cannot lose my heart. You taught me better than that. Nothing on this world or beyond will stop or end my love . . . true love," Katerina stared at the moon and stars . . . and for the first time in quite a while, she thanked God that she was alive.
A/N: So wha' now? Wha' do ye think? Good . . . bloody bad? Give me feed back. Sorry there was no Jack in this chapter, but Kat had to get away somehow righ'? Righ'. I promise jack will be in the next chapter. No worries, mates! Kat is on her way to find Jack! Keep Reviewin'!
^-~ Ana