Sorry for the lack of updates! For those of you still following the story, I salute you.
Chapter 6: Safe at Last
The shot was deafening. It echoed throughout the courtyard, causing a few birds in the trees to scatter. Elizabeth realized she had been staring straight ahead, at Norrington who was grasping his leg and yelling loudly. The size of the wound in his leg was small, but on the other side, it must have been the size of an orange. He'd attrack too much attention! She holstered the gun, and ran toward the open door that lay behind Norrington, writhing on the ground. But as she leapt over him, he grabbed hold of the hem of her dress. "No so fast, Miss Swann! You shot me, you're going to pay for this!!!"
Elizabeth struggled against his grasp. It was the clutch of a dying man. But she couldn't be caught, not now, Kimberly was depending on her!! Elizabeth gritted her teeth and kicked Norrington square in the head as hard as she could. He lay still and didn't move. Elizabeth hurried through the door.
She had never been on the streets alone. Even as a child, someone was always with her. But now, it felt so foreign to her. Everyone stared at her as she passed. She got a sickening feeling that they knew what she did. But that couldn't be. It had only happened mere minutes ago. Elizabeth lowered her head and continued down the rich cobblestone road to the blacksmith shop. All the passerby's eyes followed her. She wished they would stop looking at her! Finally, she stood before the door, and walked inside. She was expecting to find Will's boss asleep in the corner. He had given Will the blacksmith shop as a wedding present, but he stayed their during the day, saying he couldn't spend all day at home with his wife. Kimberly was talking animatedly to him. Will's boss was listening attentively. Elizabeth closed the door. Kimberly looked over and ran to her, hugging her tight around the middle.
"Elizabeth," Mr. Brown said, raising from his chair. "Lovely to see you."
"You too, Mr. Brown," She replied. "Have… have you heard about Will?" She couldn't believe the words coming out of her mouth.
"I heard he left on a ship. Just came back from some sailing meself."
"You have?" Elizabeth asked. "You have a ship?"
"A boat more or less. Me and the Misses go out and do some fishing."
Elizabeth's mind was racing. She had to get out of Port Royal before Norrington came to, either that or he had bleed to death. Anyway, someone would soon find him, and those guards would tell what she had done, and they'd be looking for her. "I need to borrow your boat," She said.
Elizabeth's breath caught in her throat as she saw the big ship loom into view, The Widow embossed on her side. She knew it. She KNEW it hadn't been destroyed, that Will and Jack were still alive! She and Kimberly were in Brown's small boat. Her arms ached of fatigue, but she didn't once put those oars down. "Thank God," She whispered. Damn Norrington for doing this!
"Miss Elizabeth?" Kimberly asked.
"What, baby?"
"Who are they?"
"Friends. They're going to help us."
"Will they be able to help my mommy?"
Elizabeth nodded, "I'm sure of it."
Now, to the untrained eye, it would appear that Jack had fallen asleep at the wheel of the boat. But as Jack would say, he was listening to the sea… with his eyes closed… and snoring.
Elizabeth's little boat brushed up against the side of the widow. "JACK!" She cried, "WILL!"
Jack awoke with a start. "Who said that?" He asked, looking around. Will was at the stern of the boat. "Are you talking?"
"No," Will replied.
"Will!"
"I think I'm hearing voices," Jack said. "I must be drunk!"
"JACK!!"
Will stared at him. "I am too!"
"You're drunk?" Jack asked, and looked in his hat.
Will shook his head and ran past him.
"Well if you go crazy, better not to go alone," Jack said, looking under his shoe. "Who is saying that?"
"It sounds like…" Will started.
"WILL! Will, can you hear me?!"
"Elizabeth!" Will cried, running to the port side. His heart did flip flops as he saw her and a small girl clinging to eachother on a small boat. It couldn't be… could it?
Jack looked in his hat, and then put it to his ear, listening attentively.
"It's Elizabeth!" Will cried. "She's here, in the water!!"
A small dinghy was lowered, and soon, Elizabeth and Kimberly were safe onboard the Widow.
"Will!" Elizabeth screamed, and through her arms around him. "He told me you died, I couldn't believe it, I wouldn't believe it!" She sobbed. "I knew it couldn't be true!"
Will hugged her deeply. "It's okay now."
Jack stared at the small child that was hiding behind Elizabeth.
"And who are you?" Jack asked. "You do fast work, lass."
"She's--- not mine. I'm watching over her for a friend." Elizabeth said. "This is your--- this is Kimberly." Elizabeth had caught herself just in time. It wasn't her place to tell Jack. It was Andrea's. And God willing, they'd free her so she could.
"Kimberly," Jack replied with disgust. "That's no name for a pirate at all."
The little girl poked an eye out at him.
"You need a good pirate name, like Red Handed Jill, or Barnacle Bonnie."
Elizabeth interjected, "Jack, she's just a small girl. Perhaps in a few years."
But he didn't appear to be listening. Jack squinted. "You look somewhat familiar…"
"Not again," Will moaned.
"It's not that," Jack said, still squinting. "Squirt could work for now. Well then, Squirt, are you a strong worker? You have to have muscles to be a pirate."
Will surpressed a laugh.
Kimberly stepped out from behind Elizabeth and flexed her small arm.
Jack poked it like examining a chicken bone. "It'll have to do… for now."
"Your beard is funny," Kimberly said, tugging on the two braids that hung from Jack's chin.
Jack jumped back like she was contagious. "I can see the child has no idea what good taste is. I can see she has no idea what a scalawag really is."
"What's a scalawag?" Kimberly asked.
"Uh, hey, beautiful," Will interrupted as Jack opened his mouth, bending down to the small girl and making her blush. "How about Elizabeth takes you down below and gets you into some warm clothes? And then we could get you something hot to drink?"
Kimberly nodded, and grabbed Elizabeth's hand. The two walked below.
"Are you alright, Jack?" Will asked.
Jack had his arms folded, and appeared to be deep in thought, a very un-Jack like stance. Jack nodded, but his gaze drifted back to the sea.