The port was in a state of shock the next day. Only one day after the governor's son-in-law's death, the governor himself was murdered in his office in the dead of the night. His body had been discovered early that morning by Commodore Norrington. There were no suspects in the case, and the only evidence they had were several threatening letters that the governor had received. Commodore Norrington himself had delivered the news to Elizabeth.
"How can all this be happening to me?" was all she managed to get out before collapsing to the floor in tears.
She refused to be consoled by anyone and would not leave the house even to see her father's body. It was not until much later that day that she allowed the commodore to return.
"Elizabeth," Commodore Norrington said, "I understand that right now you are hurting and confused, but I have to discuss something very important with you."
She nodded, not looking directly at him, but at a spot on the wall slightly behind his head.
"Your father and I were speaking last night. He mentioned that you had been threatened in the letters. He wanted you to move back in with him, but as that is no longer an option, I have a different proposition to make."
He could tell before he even asked that she would not agree immediately.
"We have no idea who killed your father, Elizabeth. It could be anyone. If you were to marry me- and I would respect any wishes that you have about separate rooms and so forth- then you could live in my home and be under my protection." She was glaring daggers at him. "It would only be to ensure your safety. I think your father would have wanted it this way."
At this she lowered her eyes and stared at the floor for several moments in serious contemplation. "If you truly believe that my father would have wanted it this way," she said softly, "and Will is truly dead," she said even softer, "then I must agree."
The commodore took her hand. "Elizabeth, Will is dead. He would want you to be safe and go on living. He would want you to be happy again. You know that."
"It's just so hard to accept. So much to take in at one time."
"I understand."
The commodore smiled to himself. Phase three was complete. She would be his again. The way she was meant to be.
Will have found water. Now all he had left to do was find food and shelter and survive on that God forsaken island until he could be rescued.
Food. That was his next concern. In the back of his mind, he vaguely remembered one of the soldiers back at the port telling him that certain plant's roots could be safely eaten. He just could not remember fort the life of him which kinds. For some reason, a plant to his left looked familiar. The shape of the leaves and petals… it was a mulberry bush. They were edible.
"Maybe I will make it after all."
Back in Prot Royal, the commodore had wasted no time in setting about the preparations for the wedding. He knew that Elizabeth would never agree to marry him unless she was too emotionally distressed to think about it. They needed to be married before she got back her usually clear mind. His plan was going perfectly.
Elizabeth had been asleep for several hours. Her dreams were filled with horrible images of Will's and her father's bodies and she awoke even tiered than when she had fallen asleep. She was also hungry. It had been more that a day since she had eaten.
She pulled her robe on and slowly walked to the kitchen hoping she could find some good bread and butter. She opened a cabinet and pulled out a fresh loaf of bread and a knife. As she began cutting the bread, she had the most curious sensation that she was not alone. She turned quickly, only to face an empty kitchen. She shook her head and turned back to the bread.
Clunk. It sounded as though someone had just dropped heavily into a chair seated at the table. It startled her, and she whirled around with the knife held out in defense, her mind wildly recalling the commodore's words about her life being threatened.
"Bit jumpy, are we, love?"
There seated at the kitchen table, sat the illustrious Captain Jack Sparrow.
"Here I come, with me whole crew, and I can't even get a proper hello?"