"Miss...Miss
Swann?" Elizabeth opened her eyes
to look over at Estrella, standing near her side. She took a deep breath, her
eyes locking on the horizon as the sun rose in the early morning, creating a
soft glow over the sea as the light beams shone through the fog.
"Elizabeth, Estrella. We're good friends. Please call me Elizabeth."
She said softly, looking over at her. Estrella was no longer her maid, Elizabeth had seen to
that. She was too much of her friend and confidante to be serving her in
anyway.
"Sorry, Mi...I mean, Elizabeth. Habit."
The early morning currents caused the boat to rock a little bit more than
usual, and Elizabeth gripped the rail
to keep herself from losing balance.
"It's ok." She turned to Estrella. "Just wanted to see the
sunrise. Always beautiful out here on the ocean. Pity it may be the last I see
out here."
"Are you sure this is what you want?" Estrella questioned.
"Never going back to Port Royal?"
"There's nothing left there that I care about." Tears sprang to her
eyes, and almost immediately she hated herself for crying. Tears were a
weakness to her now. Just because she didn't have anyone, didn't mean she
couldn't survive. Not at all. In fact, it most likely meant that she would be
stronger, and take the challenge to show the world she could be independent and
raise Emma all on her own.
Why had he left her like that? She reached up to wipe the tears from her eyes.
Estrella watched her, concern on her face. Most of the time, Elizabeth was fine, acting
her cheerful self, socializing and playing with her daughter. But she wondered
if it all wasn't a ruse, some kind of game so no one would really know how she
felt. Every time Elizabeth was alone, such
as now, she became quiet and distant.
"It's a beautiful mornin', to be sure." Estrella said finally.
"That it is. He..." She trailed off, biting her lip. "Every time
I see it, it reminds me of him." Her voice shook, as Estrella wrapped an
arm around her shoulder. Elizabeth laid her head on
Estrella's shoulder, closing her eyes, tears coming fast now.
"Will...." Elizabeth stroked the hair back from his face, tears
forming in her eyes. "Don't leave me again..." She sobbed quietly.
"I just found you."
His eyes were starting to close again, too heavy for him to hold open. He was
so tired, and it seemed so easy to just fall asleep, let the pain drift away.
Estrella heard the sounds first, going to the window. Lieutenant Groves and his men were
coming up the drive, coming for Will. She turned around, running to Elizabeth's side.
"We have to hide him." She said, laying a hand on Elizabeth's shoulder.
Elizabeth nodded quickly, turning as she heard more footsteps, and the door to
the kitchen burst open. Thomas came running out, followed by two familiar
people.
"Anamaria, Gibbs." Elizabeth couldn't be
happier to see the two pirates.
"Merciful mother." Gibbs said softly, looking around at the damage,
his eyes landing on Will, barely alive on the floor. Ana stuck the pistol she'd
been holding in her belt, grabbing Gibbs's arm and going over to Elizabeth.
"We have to get him out of here. The soldiers are coming." She said
quickly. Estrella nodded.
"I saw them coming. We have to hide him. You won't get him out of here before
they come in his condition." Will uttered a soft grunt, and Elizabeth looked down,
still running her fingers through his hair soothingly.
Gibbs took her arm. "Ye get rid of the red coats and me and Ana will look
after the captain here. Promise." Elizabeth stared at him for a moment,
before nodding slowly. "Good lass." He said, giving her a gentle
smile before going over to Ana. "Let's get him into the kitchen." Ana
nodded, grabbing Will's feet, while Gibbs grabbed his arms, lifting. Will
winced in pain, gritting his teeth, bordering on conscious and unconscious.
Elizabeth turned to the
door as Groves and his men
burst in. Shock registered on their faces as they saw the scene before them,
Gillette out cold on the floor, Elizabeth's bloody dress,
and the amount of destruction done to the foyer. Elizabeth pointed at
Gillette. "That man is responsible for the deaths of William Turner, James
Norrington, and Henry Swann, among who knows how many others." She said
firmly.
"Mrs. Norrington, you must be...." Groves protested, but Elizabeth shook her head.
"I'm not. He and that other man..." She trailed off as she pointed to
where Michael was, or had been. "Estrella?" The maid shook her head,
as she had not seen him leave either. Elizabeth bit her lip.
"There was another man he was working with, a mercenary."
Groves shook his head,
unbelieving. "Mrs. Norrington, I know your husband's death has hurt you
deeply, but attacking people and pointing fingers is no way to help that."
Elizabeth's mouth opened in shock, but she couldn't find the words.
"He hurt Will. He's a bad man." She whirled around, finding Emma
sitting on the bottom steps, clutching a rag dolly. "He's always been a
bad man." Emma said, nodding her head and staring at Gillette with a
hateful expression on her face. Groves went over, crouching in front of her.
"What's that you're saying, Emma?" The little girl looked over at
him.
"He said he worked too hard and too long for mommy." Emma told him
truthfully. A look of understanding dawned in Groves' eyes as he
stood up.
"Men, clap him in irons." He said. "I'm sorry for the troubles,
Mrs. Norrington. I'll make sure he gets what he deserves." A few moments
later, the still unconscious Gillette was shackled and led away. Estrella
looked down at Emma, before picking her up in her arms.
"Thank goodness for the honest words of babes." She said softly, as
Emma played with her doll. The little girl looked over at her.
"Where's Will?" She asked. Elizabeth's eyes widened, and she brushed
past Estrella, running for the kitchen. The door banged open, and Ana looked
up, pain in her eyes.
She cried the hardest she had in months. That event, now a year in the past,
seemed so close to her heart still. Estrella could give her no words of
comfort, only rub her back and stay quiet.
The cry from the crow's nest broke through the early morning quiet, and
Estrella looked up, squinting in the fog.
"Pirates! Pirates on our starboard side!" He shouted, and suddenly
there was a flurry of activity on board, the boshun shouting orders, men
working on the sails and such. They had no means to fight, being only a simple
passenger and cargo ship. Elizabeth's fingers
tightened on Estrella's arm, turning her head to look.
A black flag rose to the top of the mast, the grinning crossbones flapping
eerily in the early morning fog. Estrella started to pull her away. "Elizabeth!" She
protested, as the woman didn't move. "We can't stay here!" Elizabeth still didn't
move, as the ship came closer.
"Strike our colors! We should be safe as long as they don't raise the red
flag." Elizabeth broke from her thoughts
at the mention of the flag that signaled no quarter given. So far, only the
Jolly Roger could be seen. The speed of the merchant ship was no match for the
quicker pirate ship. It was on them in a matter of moments.
Emma, awakened by the noise, had slipped from her cabin and gotten up on decks.
"Mum!"
Elizabeth turned as the
eight year old ran to her, clutching her hand. Elizabeth held on tightly,
knowing they would never get away now. She shut her eyes tightly. So this is
how it ends?
The crew of the merchant vessel stood in front of the passengers, not a weapon
in sight, hoping to give the pirates what they wanted, and that they would be
left alone after that. To their surprise, one line was thrown across, and only
one man came across. The rest stayed on the ship, quiet.
The man could only have been the captain of the pirate ship. His hat was pulled
low over his features, making it hard to identify him, crossing his arms as he
stared at the crew from beneath the brim of the tri-cornered hat. Finally he
spoke up.
"I'm looking for Elizabeth Swann."
