Please, please forgive me for the lack of updating. Three words: school is evil. It's been crazy hectic so I haven't had the time. Forgive me. So here you go, and enjoy! I love my reviewers!!!!
Chapter Six: Alone Again, Naturally
Ellie spent the remainder of the day sobbing in her new bedroom. She had run down to the hidden cove, but Jack was gone. Elizabeth had tried talking to her, but eventually discovered it was best too leave Ellie alone. She curled up on the window seat, looking out to the sea, clutching her locket. Was it only an hour ago she was certain Jack would always be in her future? Now with him gone, anything seemed possible. Closing her eyes, Ellie shut out the harsh realities life presented. Light began to fade, but Ellie did not move.
"Ellie?" Will crept into the dark room. "Would you like supper?"
"No thank you," she croaked miserably.
"He'll be back, Ellie." Will gave her a small hug. "Jack's a pirate, but he's a man of his word. And he loves you."
All Ellie could do was nod.
"Come eat."
"Thank you." Ellie wiped her damp face and took Will's arm.
"You will be alright," he promised.
Ellie sniffed. "I hope so, Will. I hope so."
¯ ¯ ¯
However sad and lonely Ellie was, she pitched in with all chores. Each morning she rose at five to feed the chickens, water the garden, and make breakfast. Once they all had eaten, she cleaned house. In the afternoons and evenings, Ellie sewed and knitted. The work was tedious but she was glad to have a distraction. At seven, she retired to her bedroom after lengthy prayers for Jack's safety. At five, her day began again. The days became weeks and the weeks turned into a month with no word from Jack. The only person Ellie continued to hear from was the Commodore. Although she had more than hinted that she was not interested in him, he continued to pursue her. Lonely for companionship, Ellie accompanied Commodore Norrington on walks, but for friendship only. Any man who hated Jack so violently was off Ellie's list of desirable men. She did like Norrington. He was intelligent, courteous, and honest. His interest in Ellie mounted daily, despite the fact she was without connections or wealth.
"Miss Fly, I must ask," he said one day as they walked along the docks. "Why do you wait for this pirate to return?"
"Commodore I-"
"I realize that you never stated directly that you were...romantically involved with the man, but it is quite clear you love him."
Ellie sighed, wrapping her shawl closer around her. "It is true. I love him. And I wait because I still love him. As long as there is a hope he shall return to me, I wait."
"Even unto death?"
"Yes."
Norrington shook his head. "That is very foolish, Ellie."
She met his eyes, startled. "Why Commodore! You called me Ellie."
"Yes, dear." He took to one knee. "Because I love you and desire your hand in marriage."
"Commodore! Oh, oh!" Ellie's hands flew to her face. "I don't know how to respond to your kind proposal but-"
"The answer is no?"
Ellie nodded. "I am sorry, but you do understand."
"No Miss Fly, I do not," he rose. "I cannot understand how you could choose a pirate over myself. But this is your decision. I beg of you, please reconsider."
"I will not forget your proposition, Commodore, but I make no promises."
"Very well."
In silence, they returned to the Turner home. There, Norrington left Ellie, still determined to win her by any means.
¯ ¯ ¯
"Proposed? Oh my!" Elizabeth dropped her dinner fork and Will made a snorting noise.
"I said no, naturally," Ellie said calmly, taking a second helping of roast beef.
"Good." Will gave her a quick smile. "Can't have you marrying Elizabeth's old beau, can we?"
"Will!" Elizabeth swatted his arm.
Ellie finished her meal in a cold silence. "Excuse me if I retire early," she said softly, not wanting to break the hush.
Will and Elizabeth nodded, looking sympathetically after her.
"When will Jack return?" Elizabeth asked when Ellie was upstairs.
"I do not know." Will took her hand. "But I hope it is soon..."
Chapter Six: Alone Again, Naturally
Ellie spent the remainder of the day sobbing in her new bedroom. She had run down to the hidden cove, but Jack was gone. Elizabeth had tried talking to her, but eventually discovered it was best too leave Ellie alone. She curled up on the window seat, looking out to the sea, clutching her locket. Was it only an hour ago she was certain Jack would always be in her future? Now with him gone, anything seemed possible. Closing her eyes, Ellie shut out the harsh realities life presented. Light began to fade, but Ellie did not move.
"Ellie?" Will crept into the dark room. "Would you like supper?"
"No thank you," she croaked miserably.
"He'll be back, Ellie." Will gave her a small hug. "Jack's a pirate, but he's a man of his word. And he loves you."
All Ellie could do was nod.
"Come eat."
"Thank you." Ellie wiped her damp face and took Will's arm.
"You will be alright," he promised.
Ellie sniffed. "I hope so, Will. I hope so."
¯ ¯ ¯
However sad and lonely Ellie was, she pitched in with all chores. Each morning she rose at five to feed the chickens, water the garden, and make breakfast. Once they all had eaten, she cleaned house. In the afternoons and evenings, Ellie sewed and knitted. The work was tedious but she was glad to have a distraction. At seven, she retired to her bedroom after lengthy prayers for Jack's safety. At five, her day began again. The days became weeks and the weeks turned into a month with no word from Jack. The only person Ellie continued to hear from was the Commodore. Although she had more than hinted that she was not interested in him, he continued to pursue her. Lonely for companionship, Ellie accompanied Commodore Norrington on walks, but for friendship only. Any man who hated Jack so violently was off Ellie's list of desirable men. She did like Norrington. He was intelligent, courteous, and honest. His interest in Ellie mounted daily, despite the fact she was without connections or wealth.
"Miss Fly, I must ask," he said one day as they walked along the docks. "Why do you wait for this pirate to return?"
"Commodore I-"
"I realize that you never stated directly that you were...romantically involved with the man, but it is quite clear you love him."
Ellie sighed, wrapping her shawl closer around her. "It is true. I love him. And I wait because I still love him. As long as there is a hope he shall return to me, I wait."
"Even unto death?"
"Yes."
Norrington shook his head. "That is very foolish, Ellie."
She met his eyes, startled. "Why Commodore! You called me Ellie."
"Yes, dear." He took to one knee. "Because I love you and desire your hand in marriage."
"Commodore! Oh, oh!" Ellie's hands flew to her face. "I don't know how to respond to your kind proposal but-"
"The answer is no?"
Ellie nodded. "I am sorry, but you do understand."
"No Miss Fly, I do not," he rose. "I cannot understand how you could choose a pirate over myself. But this is your decision. I beg of you, please reconsider."
"I will not forget your proposition, Commodore, but I make no promises."
"Very well."
In silence, they returned to the Turner home. There, Norrington left Ellie, still determined to win her by any means.
¯ ¯ ¯
"Proposed? Oh my!" Elizabeth dropped her dinner fork and Will made a snorting noise.
"I said no, naturally," Ellie said calmly, taking a second helping of roast beef.
"Good." Will gave her a quick smile. "Can't have you marrying Elizabeth's old beau, can we?"
"Will!" Elizabeth swatted his arm.
Ellie finished her meal in a cold silence. "Excuse me if I retire early," she said softly, not wanting to break the hush.
Will and Elizabeth nodded, looking sympathetically after her.
"When will Jack return?" Elizabeth asked when Ellie was upstairs.
"I do not know." Will took her hand. "But I hope it is soon..."