While Elizabeth tried to overcome her surprise, Jonathon Barbossa cast her one last pirate grin, and turned to his two companions.
"Muggs, yar with me. James, you stay with our lasses. Make sure that they have a wonderful time."
He then turned towards the stairs, Muggs right behind him. Just as Muggs was about to exit the hold, he sent Elizabeth one last look of anger. She only smiled.
The door was dropped with a loud clank, and the brig was once again enveloped in darkness. Elizabeth looked over to see if her daughter was alright, but Willow was already immersed in the world of sleep. The poor girl had been through a lot in the past few days, and Elizabeth was glad that her daughter would be able to rest.
Sighing, she looked over at the new pirate, James, who had quietly sat down in the far corner of the room. Face hidden partially by a hat and partially by shadow, she couldn't tell if he was young or old. Intrigued by this, she called over to him, her naturally curious personality taking over.
He looked up at the mention of his name, and Elizabeth beckoned him over. Taking no chances, not even with a woman, the man stood well out of her reach, even though she was bound in chains.
"Yes?" he asked.
Elizabeth paused for a moment, not having thought about what she would say when he came over. "Where are you taking us?" she asked after a time.
"Aruba." he answered curtly.
"To become slaves?" she asked, but already knowing the answer.
He nodded, then turned to sit back down in the corner.
Feeling utterly defeated and devastated, Elizabeth could feel the tears pulling at her eyes once more. Fighting the urge to cry, she directed her blurry vision to the ceiling.
"Where are you, Will?" she whispered, thinking of her long-lost husband, the man she still loved.
James' back stiffened up, and he stopped walking, as if he had heard Elizabeth. She looked over at him with tearful eyes and a curious mind. Using her bound hand, she brought her face close and wiped the moisture away.
The pirate turned to face her, an odd tone entering his voice. "Will?" he asked.
Elizabeth was puzzled. Could it be that yet another pirate knew her estranged husband?
"Will Turner." she clarified, "He is, well, used to be my husband."
James stepped closer, and Elizabeth felt her suspicion rising. "Used to be? Is 'e dead?" he asked, his voice becoming slightly husky.
"Not that I know of." answered Elizabeth cautiously, all but forgetting her devastation. "Who are you?" she questioned, wondering how this man knew Will.
Wordlessly, the pirate stepped into the dim moonlight streaming in from the windows, and removed his hat.
She gasped. The features were all the same: long black hair drawn into a ponytail, chiselled features, and even those deep brown eyes. As she looked closer, though, the features were aged past what Will's would have been. Strands of grey contrasted the black locks, and lines were common on this man's face.
"My name is William Turner." stated the man, his eyes locking hers. "Otherwise known as Bootstrap Bill."
Elizabeth became speechless. "Wi-Will's father?" she asked, her voice stumbling a bit.
James-no, Bill, nodded once more. "And yar his wife?" he asked.
She too, only nodded.
"And is that his daughter?" he asked, gesturing over to the slumbering Willow.
She repeated the same action.
Bill sighed, and dropped down beside Elizabeth, looking right at her. For a moment, she was lost in those eyes, eyes that were so like her Will's.
"I'll help ya escape." he said softly, almost whispering. "But it's gonna be hard."
Elizabeth offered him a small grin. "I didn't expect it to be easy."
