When he awoke he was lying in a soft bunk, dry at last and fresh, if large, clothes draped over his slight body. He smelled broth, and sat up slightly to examine his surroundings. The interior of the ship was far more elegant that his father's had been, with polished wood and carpeting. Next to his spacious bunk sat the beautiful girl, and she was holding a bowl full of broth and spoon expectantly.
"You slept for so long, we thought you had died." She greeted him rather bluntly, staring. Will gawked at her, then the soup. "Are you a simpleton? Say something, are you hungry?" He continued to stare. The beautiful girl wanted to know if he was hungry; she cared about him.
"Y-yes." He stammered, sitting up higher and accepting the food. She watched him eat, nibbling on a few of his biscuits herself. Finally she grew tired of watching broth be consumed and fished for conversation.
"I am Elizabeth, if you don't remember me telling you on deck. We rescued you." Will nodded, taking one of the biscuits before she nibbled all of them unknowingly.
"Thank you." He watched her with an interested expression.
"What were you doing out here? Who do you belong to?" Elizabeth pressed.
"My father—" Will began, suddenly caught in the realization of what had happened. "He—I don't know where he is. I was sailing with him and—and some men started plundering our ship. I think he was thrown overboard or shot or—or something."
"I did see a pirate ship for a split second as we rescued you. Maybe they have him." She informed, eyes widening with interest.
"No, no he's—my father is dead. Killed by pirates." Will's eyes had a strange, angry red haze in them. He shook his head, feeling tired once more, but attempted to arise from the bunk.
"Rest William. I am sure you have had a tiring time." Elizabeth stopped him, standing to ascend to the deck. "We are sailing from England to Port Royal, by the way. Father says we are nearly there. Your clothes are being prepared." She left.
Will watched her, eyes following her ascent until he could see her no longer. He sighed and touched his chest to feel the comforting weight of the medallion. To his dismay, it was gone. He leaned heavily on his pillows, defeated. "I've failed you, Father." He whispered, the gentle rocking of the ship lulling him back to sleep.
He awoke fully refreshed, finding his clothes clean and ironed to perfection. He dressed quickly and strode up to the deck in search of Elizabeth. The crew eyed him warily; men of the sea were superstitious. But, Will thought, how could he blame them? He was found floating amongst the wreckage of an obvious pirate raid and alive at that. The sea held many mysteries, and to the crew, Will Turner was one.
Will found Elizabeth standing primly on the bridge with a tall young man and an older gentleman who was obviously her father. They were all dressed in the manner of the gentry, and suddenly he felt very out of place. Elizabeth sensed his presence and turned about, a half smile gracing her lips. Her father was the next to greet him, offering a large, kindly hand. As Will shook it, he found it to be soft from leather gloves and little hard labor of any kind.
"William Turner, I am Governor Swann, and this is Lieutenant Norrington. You have already met Elizabeth; she takes her job of looking after you very seriously." The governor had a kind tenor voice that warmed Will despite his unease. The younger man's eyes were like steel as the boy shifted his attention to him.
"Elizabeth talks of little else." He said, voice hinting displeasure. Will felt his cheeks warm and at the same time felt very cold. Norrington's icy stare was probing about his being, deeming him unworthy of any further pleasantries.
"Land, ho!" Came a cry from the crow's nest, freeing Will from the unasked for scrutiny. The mist of early morning was rolling away to reveal a bustling island town and harbor full of merchant vessels and swift war ships, a place once known as home but now felt alien to the young boy.
It was Elizabeth's first time here, having lived in England since she was born. She leaned forward in excitement, giving Will the feeling that she might have shouted if she had been of lower breeding.
"Ah, here at last! Elizabeth, welcome home." The governor said with pleasure. Norrington merely nodded in faint approval. The girl turned her head excitedly to speak with Will.
"When we land, we must find your home. Does your mother place residence in Port Royal?" She asked, biting her lower lip in sudden apprehension.
"Aye, she does." He replied eyes searching the green and blue coast for the street where he knew his heart had once been. He looked back over the sea, then closed his eyes. The sea held sway over him, but his head said that his future lay with his mother and their small home.
