Disclaimer:  I don't own any pirates, though if I did, several sequels would already be in the making . . .if they had all survived the first one . . .

AN:  First time writing or posting, though I've been reading fan fic for about two and a half years now, so please be kind.  Constructive criticism welcomed, suggestions welcomed (especially when concerning a better title), flames will be forwarded to Barbosa in that deepest circle of hell that Jack talked about unless they can be put to better use . . .

A Taste of Misery

Part 5

"Will . . .Will, please come to bed."  Elizabeth reached out to her husband, a gentle entreaty in her voice that brought Will into the bedroom instantly, where he gently wrapped his arms around his wife, mindful of her growing abdomen protruding from her robe, the thin white silk nightgown nearly glowing in the gloom.  "Oh, Will . . .why are you doing this to yourself?"

Will stiffened noticeably.  "What do you mean?"

"Screaming at Jack, pacing, dredging up old fears about your 'tainted blood'.  I thought we were past all that."  Elizabeth gently kneaded his shoulders until some of the tension drained out of his body.

"You haven't heard about Jade . . .about what he did . . ."

"Through no fault of my own, William Turner.  The fact that you tried to practically place me under house arrest five months ago when you found out that I was pregnant, that couldn't have anything to do with my ignorance?"

Will smiled faintly at her words, remembering well her reactions to all his entreaties to stay inside and rest.  He had learned within a week what Jack felt like, getting slapped across the face every time he met a girl . . .only his had been one girl . . .but he could still sympathize with the "I'm not sure if I deserved that" part.  The smile faded as he considered how to answer her question.

"Will . . .what did he do?"

"Just over five months ago, Port Jade was attacked by pirates.  This wasn't just a raid, though—it was a slaughter.  The port had minimal protection, as a large portion of the fort had been destroyed in an earlier battle against raiders.  Once the entire fort was destroyed and half the town burning, the pirates landed."  Will paused, closing his eyes, and Elizabeth hugged him to her.

"They slaughtered everyone, Elizabeth, while they looted the town.  The port was still relatively new, but there was still enough blood for the streets to run red with.  I talked with the sailors who came in on the Juggernaut.  Men had been hacked to pieces . . .women skinned . . .children hung upside down from the roofs of their homes and cut until they bled to death . . .pregnant women had the children ripped from their wombs . . .the priest had been stripped, whipped, and crucified on the cross in his own church . . ."  Elizabeth continued to knead his shoulders, pulling him as close as she dared as his voice broke.

"When the Juggernaut reached port, the stench was enough to inform them of what had happened.  They found Silverfirth kneeling in front of his decapitated wife, holding his disemboweled four-year-old daughter, his servant hovering in the background.  Silverfirth didn't speak for two days, and when he did it was give a description of Jack Sparrow and the Pearl—a perfect description, one that was backed up by his servant, Alsworn."

"If they killed everyone, how did Silverfirth survive?"

"He had been out riding, and returned when the cannon-fire started.  He was met at the door to his house by a pirate with black, bearded hair, a double-beard, a red bandana, and the brand of a pirate below a tattoo of a sparrow in flight.  His family was already dead.  The pirate shot at him, and the bullet grazed his shoulder.  Bleeding and in shock, he ran back to where he had left Alsworn with the horses, and they made their escape.  When they returned, the entire port was in ruins and the people dead."

"He was close enough to see the tattoo when the man shot at him?"

"Yes."

"Will . . .you saw Jack make a kill shot after ten years of not firing his weapon, and you honestly believe that he would miss that badly if the man was that close to him?"  Elizabeth turned him around, gently tugging off his shirt.

"I don't know.  Having a four-year-old child's blood all over you might make it more difficult to aim correctly."

"Will . . .Will, look at me."  Elizabeth turned him around again to face her.  "I've read every one of Jack's adventures, and I've heard some his own mouth, and never once has Jack killed an innocent once he has the upper hand."  Will opened his mouth to protest, and was shushed by her finger on his lips.  "Never once, Will."  She gently tugged him towards the bed.

"Why would Silverfirth lie, Elizabeth?  I don't want to believe it's true, but . . .it's been over two years since we saw him, Elizabeth, and that was only briefly."

"I don't know . . .why did Norrington allow them to break Jack's wrist?"

"What?!"  Will stood up abruptly from the seat he had just taken on the edge of their bed.

"Didn't you notice the way it bent when Norrington slammed the flat of his sword against it?  I'm quite certain it's broken, Will."  Will remained standing by the bed.  "Will, I'm exhausted.  Please come to bed.  We can talk to Norrington again tomorrow, and maybe we together we can come up with some reasons for all this."  The pleading look in her eyes bought a small smile and a nod from Will, and he quickly changed before slipping into the bed and settling in, holding her close to him.

He awoke before dawn to the cool feel of steel against his throat.