Title: Dragonfly
Author: Muse a.k.a. Viorith
Rating: R for sexual content and violence.
Pairing: Will/OFC, Jack/Anna Maria
Feedback: Hell to the yeah!
Archive: Ask first please!
Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with PoTC, I'm just playing with them. I do own Sabine. So please ask if you want to play with her.
Summary: Sabine has loved Will since she was 16, but since his eyes were for Elizabeth only, she settled for his friendship. A year after the curse is lifted, Sabine now needs him to teach her the way of the blade so she can avenge her father's death on a man that once called himself his friend.
Note: "Words in italics inside quotations are spoken in Spanish."
Chapter 6
Seven days later, Will waited patiently in the garden of the Governor's mansion. Weatherby himself was not there, but that was just as well, it wasn't the paternal Swann that the blacksmith was there to see. Under his arm was a mid-sized box neatly wrapped in wedding paper. He walked nervously back and forth down the path, took a seat in the gazebo, only to rise again a few minutes later.
He turned, ready to pace again when he saw Elizabeth making her way down the path to the gazebo. It used to be their meeting place, late at night when no one would notice the young man's coming or going. Many a kisses had been stolen in that gazebo by the young couple.
No smile touched his lips like it used to when watching Elizabeth approached, he knew all too well this was the last time he would see her as Miss Swann. He wasn't sure when or if he and Sabine would ever return, but he knew it would be well after her marriage date. Able to read his mood in his dark eyes, the lightness in Elizabeth's heart at seeing Will disappeared and became a heavy stone.
She cast her eyes to his, searching their depths before looking to the gift under his arm. "You're leaving, aren't you?"
Mutely he nodded. All the things he had thought to say, that he had rehearsed on the way to the mansion were unable to make it past the lump in his throat. It felt like there was a fist around his heart and it was constricting, once again.
"Why have you come?" she demanded in a cool detached voice. "We are nothing to each other anymore, you own me no goodbyes."
He blinked slowly and cast his eyes to the ground, even though he knew the words were not from her heart, the sting of them was real enough. "I came to give you your wedding present," he announced finding his voice. He held the gift out to her, but after several seconds passed and she refused to take it, he set it down on the bench. "I– I hope– I wish you all the best in your future," folding his hands into fist he turned and began back down the path.
"You're leaving with her?"
Will turned back to face Elizabeth and answered softly, "I am. She needs me right now, more so than ever," he wasn't sure why he added the last part. It was really none of Elizabeth's business or concern as to why he was leaving.
"And of course you need to be needed," she held a hand up when the frown creased his brow. "It is not meant to be insulting. Some men need to be surrounded by beautiful women, some need money and power to make them feel alive... you thrive on being needed,"she tried to smile but it never quite touched her eyes. "I'd like to say I'm surprised, but I'm not."
"What exactly do you mean by that?" he demanded approaching her once again.
"You don't see it, do you?" she stated after searching his dark features.
"See what?"
"Sabine," she answered plainly, "I see it when you look at her. You love her."
Will rolled his eyes, "Of course I love her. Sabine is the closest thing to a family that I have."
"No," she shook her head. He had moved close to her once more, and like always when he was near, she longed to touch him. His lips, his cheek, his arm, or hand, it didn't matter, so long as she had physical contact with him. It was almost impossible for her to resist the urge, but somehow she managed. "You're falling in love with her."
"That's ridiculous," he scoffed.
"Is it? When you look at her, what do you see? Do you see the friend you've known since you were a child, or do you see the woman standing before you."
At that moment, the words didn't sink in and were immediately dismissed. Of course Sabine was a woman, that was what young girls grew up to become. He looked away, there was so much he wanted to say to her, but he felt it would probably be best if left unsaid. "I have to go," he whispered.
He raised his left hand and cupped her face as he had done countless times in the past, stroking her cheek with his thumb. His fingers shifted to the back of her neck and pulled her close. His lips touched hers for one fleeting moment. Without a backwards glance, he broke from the parting kiss and walked the path from the gazebo one last time.
~~~
Sabine stood at the dock where Will instructed her to meet him. In one hand was a loaf of bread, a round of cheese, and a bottle of wine, all wrapped and tied in a cloth bundle. In the other hand was a suitcase. She hadn't been sure what to pack, so she picked and chose a few different items, mostly necessities from Gezana's suggestions.
She was nervous and scared, but there was a part of her that was thrilled and excited. She'd never been off the island of Jamaica, had never been too far from Port Royal. And even though she was born in Spain, she had left before her first birthday and had no recollection of the country.
The young artist looked around the island, at the people hustling and going about their regular lives. She didn't feel like she was about to embark on a revenge quest, she felt like she was about to undertake a great adventure. It also made her realize something else... Sabine Arroyo had lived an extremely sheltered life.
Most of the faces that worked or passed by were unfamiliar to the young woman, and for the first time she saw the lecherous looks Will had spoken of days ago. She sucked her bottom lip in between her teeth trying not to fidget nervously under some of the unfriendly gazes. She looked like a lady, but that didn't mean they would treat her like one. To most of the men on the pier, Sabine was just another darkie. A darkie that apparently didn't have a master.
Two men near her whispered, and laughed softly between themselves while nodding in her direction. Her heart rate picked up, her pulse hammering away in her throat when one of the men turned and began to approach her.
"Sabine," a startled cry escaped her lips at the sound of her name. Turning to see Will, the young woman felt an embarrassing blush rush to her face. "Are you alright?"
She nodded, and turned back to the man only to see his approach had been halted and reversed. Will's eyes traveled to her destination and narrowed slightly at the two men still watching them.
"Did they bother you?"
"No," she replied feeling foolish.
"Are you sure?"
"I am fine Will, just... anxious," she shrugged, "I've never been on a ship before."
He paid another glance to the men before taking the suitcase from her and gesturing down the pier. "Our boat is down here. It's called the Leda, a passenger ship that will take us to Tortuga," he paused touching her arm lightly. "There's something I should tell you about our passage."
"Oh," she perked up cutting him off, "That reminds me, Gezana packed a lunch for us," she held up the wrapped bundle. "And I brought this," she pulled a purse from the bundle filled to the brim with golden guineas.
"Put that away," he hissed. He took the purse and shoved it back into the food bundle before anyone could see it let alone guess what was inside. "How much gold is in there?" he questioned in a hushed voice and began again leading her to the boat.
"Fifty," she answered in an equally quiet tone. "But there's over a hundred in my suitcase," she grinned slightly at his obvious surprise and it almost melted the blacksmith. It was the first time she had grinned since her father's murder. It was also too fleeting as it faded as soon as it appeared. "Papa used to keep it hidden in the shed, he never trusted banks. Most I left with Gezana for safe keeping. The rest is what I have left from paintings I've sold."
She raised the hem of her dress to make the accent of the ramp easier, closely following Will. Ahead of them at the top of the ramp an elder man held his hand out offering to take the suitcase from the young blacksmith.
"Welcome aboard Mr. and Mrs. Turner. I've got your cabin all–" his words faded when his eyes fell on the woman behind Will. "I didn't realize you had a servant. Will she be staying in your cabin or–"
"Captain Andrews," Will interrupted, "This is my wife."
The shock on the captain's face was rivaled only by the matching expression on Sabine's. Will, who knew the proper captain would be aghast by the notion, was barely successful in suppressing the smirk that pulled the right corner of his mouth up. For extra measures, he slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. A barely audible gasp slipped from his "wife's" lips, but she was a quick thinker, and managed to turn the look of shock to one of pleasantness.
She offered a hand to the Captain, who held it as aloof as possible without being rude. He bowed his head slightly and quickly let go.
"My… my first mate, Mr. Drathers, will show you to your quarters," he muttered, beckoning over a tall thin middle aged man and retreating as quickly as possible.
Unlike his Captain, Reginald Drathers readily accepted Sabine's hand, kissing it in polite customer before offering his arm as he escorted the pair below. Sabine, for her part, played the charming wife of the blacksmith. Not cutting her eyes and narrowing them as she wanted to do— or leap for joy as she longed to do. For years, Sabine had dreamt of life as Mrs. William Turner, now she was getting to play the part… even if it was a rouse.
Drathers lead them to the second deck and to the rear of the ship where he unlocked the door, presented them with a key, and departed, assuring them he would return for a proper tour of the ship after they were under way.
The quarters they were to share were huge, far larger than Sabine imagined. She had thought they would make their way to Tortuga in a space that was only large enough to hold a sleeping cot, not a space that held a bed, table, changing screen, dresser, several chairs and a desk. It looked more like a bedroom than a cabin on a boat.
"How on earth did you afford this?" she questioned taking a seat on the bed and running her hands over the velvet blanket. She bounced on it slightly, testing the mattress' softness.
"You nor your father are the only ones that have had money stashed away," he answered placing her suitcase on the floor next to his. "Do you like it?" he questioned hopeful, "I know it's your first time sailing, I wanted it to be special."
Sabine stared at him, the longing in her to kiss him swelled up and threatened to take on physical manifestation. As she had done countless times in the pass, she pushed the desire away, and instead decided to fall on the old familiar arena of teasing banter.
"I think it's very fine… Mr. Turner," she teased. She leant back on the bed and ran her hand suggestively over the blanket. "And is this to be our honeymoon? A Caribbean cruise?"
Will grinned as he moved to the bed. "We're going to visit your sister in Tortuga," he answered.
Sabine raised an eyebrow. Will raised an echoing one. Her next intent was to grab a pillow and smack the young blacksmith square in his face, but his quick reflexes had him snagging the pillow in mid flight. He threw the cushion to the floor and began his tickle campaign. If asked, the young artist would swear she hated when he tickled her, but her wild laughter and the glint in her eyes told a different story. As always she put up a valiant struggle, but it wasn't long before his brute strength gave him the upper hand.
Forcing her to her back, he straddled her waist and captured her slender wrists into his left hand. He raised her arms, pinning them on the bed above her head, the fingers of his right hand finding the spot on her side that made her squeal with delight.
"I submit! I submit!" she cried laughing so hard, tears fell from her eyes.
The grin on her face was matched by the one on his, as he kept her in the submissive position. A grin that slowly leeched from both of them as the seconds stretched on and Will continued to stare down at the woman laying beneath him. Her smile touched his soul, and made him realize how long it had been since he'd seen it. She had the kind of smile that could put a person, man or woman, at ease. The kind of easy grace that made people feel completely welcomed in her presence. Added to which, when she smiled, she was absolutely beautiful. The darkness of her skin and the whiteness of her teeth was breathtaking. He wondered why he never noticed it before. All the times he had heard Diego assure his daughter she was beautiful, it never dawned on Will that them man wasn't speaking from paternal bias.
She wasn't the kind of classical beauty that would make most men notice her as soon as she walked into a room the way Elizabeth did. Her skin was a rich cocoa brown with whispering undertones of red. Her eyes were a dark brown as rich as the soil, so dark they could have past for black, and so large and unassuming they were like windows to her soul. The world of Sabine's thoughts resided in the depths of her eyes. The black lashes curled around her eyes with a length that almost had them brushing her cheek when she slept. Her black hair was usually kept in one long braid that reached to the middle of her back, but on the rare times she allowed it down, it was a mass of tight curls.
Her lilting Spanish accent voice was musical, but still had men turning their noses skyward as it showed her breeding was more than likely not of noble class. She was tall for a woman, standing just two inches under Will, and she was more voluptuous than most of the fair skinned women that populated the island. But she wasn't big by any stretch of the imagination, and resting over her Will realized just how soft she was. Her hips giving way easily under the press of his thighs. She stared up at him, the trust she had for him radiating in her eyes, her lips slightly parted with the in and out take of breath. His eyes focused on her lips and he wondered why he never realized how full they appeared. He knew for a fact she'd never been kissed before and he found himself longing to be the first.
He then saw her lips move and realized she hadn't heard a word she said. "Pardon?" he questioned hoping the blush in his cheeks wasn't as apparent as it felt.
"I asked why we must pretend to be husband and wife?" she repeated with an over dramatized sigh.
"You don't approve?" Where in heaven's name did that come from?
"I was just wondering why I must be made to suffer you affections as a husband, when I already suffer them as your friend," she teased grinning at him.
Will's body unexpectedly reacted to the grin in a way it only had for Elizabeth in the past. He leapt from the bed praying she hadn't felt the change in him, and thankful the vest he wore covered the growing swell in his trousers.
Sabine caught the frown before it creased her brow and masked both her disappointment and confusion at his sudden retreat from her. She tried to read his eyes, but Will was a master at being a complete enigma when he chose to be. She had liked him touching her, liked the way his eyes kept wandering to her mouth. For a moment she thought he was going to kiss her, but now… Don't be a fool, he sees you as a friend, he will never see you as anything more than a friend. She pushed herself into a seated position before she stood and smoothed her dress out.
"It was for your protection," he answered struggling to regain control of his body.
"From Jacinto?"
He shook his head, "From the ship's crew. Leda is a merchant vessel, most of these men have been at sea for months and you will be the only woman on board. An unescorted woman is not safe on a ship, and you never would have passed as my sister."
"You could have said I was your servant or slave," she pointed out standing to retrieve her suitcase.
"It wouldn't have been believable," he countered, "Besides even then they would have simply viewed you as property, making the taking of your virtue even less meaningful in their eyes."
He watched her as she lifted the suitcase and set it on the table next to a large dress box. She paused, her eyes falling on the box before her fingers touched the silk ribbon holding it close.
"What's this?" she asked, turning to him with a half smile on her face.
"A gift. Open it," he encouraged moving to he could watch her expression.
She pulled the end of the ribbon, unraveling it enough to move it aside and remove the lid from the box. Inside folded neatly, a corset laid on top of a dark rose-hued dress. She set the corset aside and pulled the garment from the box, her eyes looking past the beauty and craftsmanship to the obvious plunging neckline.
"It's for when we get to Tortuga," he explained. "Your other dresses are a bit—"
"Prudish?" she filled in.
"Sedate," he amended. "Like here, I deduced the best way to keep you safe was to alter the world's perception of you a bit."
"By making me look like a whore?" she questioned holding up the dress.
"By helping you to blend," he corrected. He took the dress from her and put it and the corset back into the box before setting both of them under the table. "Trust me, you won't stand out. And you shall need to purchase some trousers."
"Why?"
"You wish to climb the riggings and masts in your dress?" he challenged with a raised eyebrow.
Sabine wanted to protest more, but the sharp knock on the door captured both of their attention.
"Enter," Will called.
Drathers opened the door and stepped inside with a slight bow of his head. "We shall be getting underway shortly, I thought perhaps, Mrs. Turner would enjoy watching the ship make way from the port."
Sabine smiled sweetly and slipped her hand through the first mate's offered arm," That would be lovely, Mr. Drathers, thank you," she supplied, casting a glance over her shoulder to Will.
He pursed his lips together and rolled his eyes to the ceiling with a single raised eyebrow, before following the pair out to the upper deck.
~~~
Four hours later the sun was making pretty patterns in the western sky as dusk quickly approached and Will found himself alone at the bow of the ship. Sabine had retreated just over an hour ago after throwing up the earlier consumed dinner. Leda was a large ship, but the Caribbean Sea was particularly rough that day, and the young woman's maiden voyage turned out to prove she was prone to seasickness.
Upon her husband's recommendation— and that of the Drathers— she took her leave to her cabin, which was low enough on the ship to ease the constant rocking. Will had been glad to see her leave for more reasons than the well being of her health, however. The hungry looks of the crew hadn't gone unnoticed by the blacksmith, and contrary to his belief, the presence of a husband didn't abate their lust.
More over, Will was relieved at her departure for his own well being. The more the sickness held onto her, the more she held onto Will, and the more his thoughts began to take a turn for the improper. He couldn't stop his eyes from snatching glances down her dress, even though little more than the swells of her breasts were visible. The hand around her waist wanted to stray down to curve against her hips and her ample backside. And the smell of her…
He blamed Elizabeth for his body's reaction. Before her words, Sabine had been a sister to him, but he couldn't escape what the Governor's daughter had said. He remembered his thoughts when he saw Sabine when he went to retrieve her on the fateful night that changed both their lives. He recalled the brief desire the sight of her provoked.
Could Elizabeth be right, he pondered. Could my feelings for Sabine have changed without my knowledge or will? He adored her, and he loved her… he would die before he let anything happen to her that was in his power to prevent, but was he in love with her? For that matter was he still in love with Elizabeth? And if the answer was yes to both of those questions, how was it possible to be in love with two people?
Had Diego been there, he would have discussed the matter with him. Although the young blacksmith had male friends his own age, they knew no more than him, and he had always turned to Sabine's father for advice. Will would have thought Diego was like a father to him, save he never had one, so it was hard for him to judge. He did know, that Diego was the one he strove to make proud of him. As a lad, the Spaniard's approval had meant the world to him. I doubt that he would approve of my current intentions towards his only child. That thought made the blacksmith take pause… what were his current intentions towards Sabine?
"Mr. Turner?" the voice of the ship's first mate brought Will out of his revelry. "I was asking about your missus. Might she be feeling more like herself?"
"No, I'm afraid she's still trying to get her sea legs," the young man answered.
Drathers raised the small lidded tin cup in his right hand and offered it to Will, "This be something that should put the color back in her cheeks… so to speak," he added with a slight flush.
Will took the cup and pulled the lid off, smelling the contents inside. Getting no particular odor he took a sip and had to force the exotic contents down his throat.
"It's ginger, honey and a bit of sea water," Drathers explained, "It'll help settle her stomach."
"Really," he replied wearily. From the small taste he got it seemed the remedy would cause more distress than it would relieve. "Thank you, I shall take this to her directly."
The blacksmith made to leave and play the part of a dutiful husband, but was stopped by the first mate's further questions. "This may be none of my business, Mr. Turner, but some of the lads and I were curious as to your union with your wife."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Well, you know with your being…different than her, it seems rather odd."
"She takes care of me," he replied truthfully before turning and heading below deck. It seemed in some form or another, Sabine had been taking care of him since his arrival in Jamaica.
He headed down to their cabin, nodding to the crewmembers he passed along the way, paying no attention to the soft murmurs in his wake. He had debated on tossing the concoction in the cup overboard, but decided to leave the choice up to Sabine. Who knew, if she could choke the awful mess down, maybe it would help her to feel better. However, when he entered the room, all thoughts of her nausea disappeared.
Curled into a fetal position on the bed; turned away from the door; Sabine wept bitterly.
Gone was the light jovial mood that had accompanied her onto the boat. As the sickness began to take over her body, the core of her mission, the reason she was there began to set in. She wasn't there to have fun, or to explore the world, even though this felt like a great adventure to her. She was there to avenge her father's death.
She cried for his loss, but she also cried at her behavior. Will's closeness, and the way he had been looking at her conspired to make her forgotten about the man that had meant the world to her. He was dead and already she had forgotten about him.
"Sabine?" he called softly adding his weight to the bed and doing his best to uncurl her body. She fought him at first, but slowly allowed him to pull her into his arms. Her face immediately pressing into his chest, her tears wetting the front of his cotton shirt. "It will be alright," he assured.
"I miss him so much, Will," she sobbed. She wanted to add that she felt she had let him down, or at least let him memory down. She wanted to tell the blacksmith that it was her feelings for him that had her feeling this way, but she couldn't talk past the lump forming in the middle of her throat.
"Your hurt will ease with time," he whispered, placing a kiss on the crown of her head and holding her tight.
He knew what she was going though, he had gone through the same thing when he was a lad. It was a touch thing to be left all alone in the world, but Diego and Sabine had accepted him into their family.
"You're not alone, Sabine, you've got me," he assured her, "No matter what the future holds or what paths our lives take you shall not have to walk it alone. I shall always be there for you. I promise."
He wanted to convince her to let go of her quest. To mourn her father, but not to let the hate for Jacinto consume her whole, but he knew now wasn't the time. Her revenge was all she had to sustain herself. Since he couldn't protect her from the future she pursuit, he protected her then as much as possible. He squeezed her tight and wrapped as much of himself around her as possible, hoping she felt safe and loved.