Arianna watched the ocean with a wide eyed naivety that Will found positively endearing. She stayed on deck all day under the blazing sun; tearing her dress and scrubbing the decks. Unlike Elizabeth, Arianna was not afraid of hard work.
Even when the sun went down in its last blaze of glory over the shimmering water of the horizon, Arianna sat out on deck crunching on an apple and watching the silvery stars wink at her from the velvet of the night sky.
"You'll get cold out here you know." Will warned her as he emerged from the shadows, his long hair tied back in the most becoming way. Arianna shrugged delicately. Will did not know that such a simple gesture could contain so much grace.
"I don't mind, it's such a beautiful night." She replied, her voice vague and yet so touching. Will folded his long legs and sat down beside her.
"You look so at home here." Will spoke with a soft smile. Elizabeth, as much as she loved the idea of being a pirate never fitted in among them. But Arianna did, she did not look down on them, or order them around.
"Well, I have had no better home than this one." She looked out over the sea, and Will couldn't help but stare at her.
Elizabeth had been conventionally beautiful, but there was something about Arianna…Will silently adored the sheer paleness of her skin, which in the moonlight shimmered silver. Her wild red hair was painted gold, her green eyes which would look icy to anyone but Will pierced his own, looking right down into his soul. She was such a poetic creature, so quiet and so oddly passionate.
"Arianna, do you know why Elizabeth left me?" Will asked quietly. He had to stop his voice from shaking.
"Because she is a fool. I know you love her Will…" She began, but Will interrupted.
"No, I loved her. I do not love her anymore." He spoke with such bitterness that it hurt Arianna's ears. To see someone so pure become so bitter right in front of her own eyes was desperately sad.
"Do not speak like that Will. To give up on love is to give up on yourself." She murmured, so only the ocean and Will could hear her. He was startled at the wisdom behind her words.
"And how exactly do I stop giving up?" He asked, not really expecting an answer. She thought for a moment, and turned to him.
"You must remind yourself how good love feels." She said, a small half smile playing around her rose-like lips.
Will felt like he was ripping to pieces inside; he didn't know what he wanted. He wanted Arianna, he wanted Elizabeth…but most of all, he didn't want to be alone. So he pulled Arianna into his arms, and brushed his lips against hers. To his surprise, she didn't pull away. Encouraged by this Will leaned closer and kissed her properly. She purred like a cat, and that one sound made Will shiver. His whole body was aching and responding to hers, his skin felt like it was on fire.
He untangled his body from hers, and took her hand. He stood, and pulled her to her dainty little feet.
"Will, where…" She began to ask, but he pressed his lips against hers and pulled her so close that every inch of their bodies were touching.
"Ssh, come with me…" He murmured to her beautiful neck. She nodded once, and let him lead her below the deck, along a narrow corridor and into his room. He locked the door behind him.
That night, Will forgot about everything. He forgot about Elizabeth, he forgot about the Commodore and Port Royal. Because that night was just about Will and Arianna, about that moment when they gave each other the ultimate pleasure. Will had never felt closer to anyone than he did with Arianna, and as he watched her sleep so soundly in his arms as the sun rose, he realised just how complicated things were about to become.
Because he never wanted to let her go.