The night gave way to a red morning, the rays of sun coming in through the barred windows above Will's head. Outside he could hear people going about their normal routines. Men calling orders down at the docks as cargo was loaded and unloaded, the sounds of hooves down below as carriages went back and forth. Everyone's life was going onwards when his was stuck at a standstill. He had barely slept at all and felt worse than before because of it. Nightmares had plagued the uneasy sleep, images of pirates beckoning him and calling him one of their own. He shut his eyes tightly, resting his forehead against his knees hugged to his chest.
This must be some mistake, a mix up perhaps. I may be the son of a pirate, but I am not one myself. Despite the oncoming trial later in the day, his thoughts were on Elizabeth and Emma. He remembered how beautiful Elizabeth looked on the day they were married and at that point thought life wouldn't be able to be better than it was for him. When Elizabeth had announced to him that she was pregnant, he hadn't been able to stop smiling for days it seemed. When she was born, he had sat for hours just looking at the newborn, a sense of pride swelling in his heart. He had become a father and in that moment, he promised her that he would always be there for her and he would protect her.
The sound of footsteps on the stone stairs broke his pattern of thoughts. He got quickly to his feet and moved towards the bars to see who it was. It was James Norrington. The man looked exhausted, his clothes uncharacteristically rumpled and a worried expression on his face. Will guessed that he had just gotten into port and had heard the news.
"Is it true? Have you been accused of piracy?" James asked, almost demandingly, as he crossed the room to stand in front of the bars. Will nodded, leaning against the bars.
"Yes." He said softly. "And they say they have a witness too." That had to prove that it was a mistake. If he hadn't done anything remotely pirate like, how could there be a witness to it?
"A witness?" James asked. His expression became a perplexed one. After a few moments of silence between them, he spoke up. "Did you engage in piracy?" He asked the question carefully, not wanting to make it seem like he was accusing Will.
"Of course not!" Will snapped back. "I've committed no crime here, James." He gripped the bars of the cell almost as if they would draw the anger and the fear from him.
"I wasn't implying that you had, Will. I was merely asking. If this is all the proof that they have, you will most likely be found innocent." Something was not settling right with James about the accusation. There seemed to be something more to it. He glanced up at Will. "I will do everything within my power to see that you are found innocent." He said, turning and heading to the stairs.
"James." Norrington turned to regard Will before he climbed the steps. "If I am found guilty, take care of Elizabeth and Emma for me. They'll need someone to watch over them." It broke his heart to say those words, but they needed to be said. James gave him a stern look.
"There will be no need for that." He said firmly, almost as if scolding Will for thinking that way. "Because they will have you to take care of them." With that said he gave Will a reassuring smile and headed up the steps again. Will sat down on the ground again, getting lost in his own turbulent thoughts again.
--------------------
"Captain, she's sailin' with a bone in her teeth!" Gibbs shouted to Jack. The Black Pearl was moving through the water fast enough to raise a foamy white wake around the bow. Water splashed up on deck as the Pearl plowed forward and a few of the less experienced crewmembers slipped as they ran back and forth.
Jack gripped tightly to the wheel, glancing down at the compass in his hand. No one had questioned or complained that their time off had been taken away once he'd started shouting orders, foregoing the bosun. Time was of the essence and he didn't have the time to explain nor did he need to. They were his crew and they would follow his orders without question.
He didn't owe Will anything and most of the time that meant he could just forget the person. It was the fact that Will was the son of a trusted friend and had managed to leave his own mark in Jack's life that made him act how he was. Jack Sparrow was a pirate, but for a pirate he was an honorable man. William had cursed Barbossa's crew after the mutiny for what they'd done to Jack and he'd been sunk to the bottom of the sea with a cannon tied to his bootstraps because of what he had done. There were also the many times that Jack had gotten him out of trouble, or William had done the same for Jack. In short, the boy was almost family to him.
"He thinks he can get to Port Royal in less than two days." Anamaria told Gibbs as she appeared behind him to tighten one of the lines. She unwound it from around the belaying pin and Gibbs helped her pull it tighter and wind it back around the pin.
"Even if we do, what then? Can't just go barging in there and tell them to unhand the lad." Gibbs hissed back at her.
"He says there's a smuggler's cove outside of town that is rarely used anymore. The ship will drop anchor there and then..." She shook her head. "I trust in Jack. He knows what he's doing."
-------------
"Elizabeth, maybe you shouldn't go in there." Governor Weatherby Swann looked at his daughter as the carriage drove towards the church, where most of the meetings in town took place. He could see the turmoil on his daughter's face and was worried that this would only make it worse. Emma was fast asleep in her arms, making little sucking noises with her thumb in her mouth. Elizabeth looked down at her, brushing the corner of the blanket away from her face.
"Why not?" Elizabeth looked up to meet his gaze defiantly. "Will is my husband and I have every reason to believe he has been falsely accused. That's all I have to say." She looked back down at Emma. It was taking everything in her power not to dissolve into tears.
The carriage came to a stop, signaling that they had arrived at the church. Governor Swann climbed out as the footman opened the door and held his arm out to Elizabeth. Elizabeth got out by herself, holding the baby close to her and headed for the doors. He felt hurt by her brushing him off but he followed behind her anyway. She was his daughter and he would support her in any way that he could.
At the door, Will's best friend Michael Harden met Elizabeth. He took her into his arms, careful of the baby. She went willingly, knowing that Michael believed that Will was innocent as well. After a few moments they broke apart and she looked up, giving him a small smile. He gave her a sad smile in return. "They'll find him innocent." He told her quietly. "There is nothing to point blame at him for." Michael glanced up as Governor Swann approached and nodded his head. "Good afternoon Governor." He said formally. Governor Swann nodded in return. Turning around, Michael opened the doors for them.
The courthouse was nearly full, conversation buzzing throughout the crowd. As the three entered, heads turned towards them and quickly away, not wanting to be caught staring. Elizabeth ignored them, walking up the aisle with Emma safely in her arms and her father and Michael beside her. She slipped into the front row and moved over so her father could sit next to her. Up front, Commodore Norrington nodded to her in greeting. She gave him a slight nod back.
The doors burst open again, and two soldiers marched in, dragging Will with them. He came along willingly, knowing that fighting them would be more reason for them to think he was guilty. The whispers grew even more heated as he approached the judge. Even Judge Matheson was looking at him as if he were some kind of criminal. Elizabeth began to wonder if one simple rumor could turn a town against a man that easily or if there was something more that she was missing.
"Quiet!" Judge Matheson boomed over the crowd. He was a fairly large and intimidating man, and it served to make the room quiet very fast. "Now on to the trial of William Turner, accused of piracy."
-----------------
The tears came, and there was nothing Elizabeth could do to stop them. The room was again filled with conversation the voices shocked, smug, or pitying. Governor Swann held his daughter tightly in his embrace as she sobbed. Michael sat beside her, holding Emma as the little girl wailed, staring straight ahead with a look of extreme surprise on his face. Norrington was angry, arguing with Judge Matheson over the ruling.
"Commodore, you argue on that man's behalf because of your friendship with him and his wife." Matheson rebuked him. "Which is why I had an officer of yours write to your commanding officer and tell him of the nature of the trial. You have no say in this case, sir." He got up from his seat. "Except to give the command for him to hang." Norrington's mouth dropped open in shock.
"This is entirely..." Matheson shoved the paper into his hands and Norrington stared down at it. The document in his hands seemed real enough. The paper was of the same kind his superior would use and the seal was there as well. He remained incredulous though. How could one of his lower ranking officers get a letter of this kind from a rear admiral? It wasn't possible, was it? He thought hard, trying to remember if it was possible in the chain of command and nothing came to him. But here the letter was saying that he was not to be involved in the trial. More than ever something seemed suspicious, but he had nothing to prove it.
Two soldiers grabbed Will by the arms, pulling him from the courthouse. He snapped from his thoughts and this time fought against them. I am not guilty! There's been a mistake! He wanted to cry out, but his voice seemed to have escaped him. Elizabeth broke free of her father, rushing towards him, calling his name. He fought against the guards, reaching for her.
"Will, don't leave me!" Elizabeth cried as she ran for him, pushing past people. He reached for her and their hands met briefly before he was pulled out the door.
"Elizabeth!" He shouted her name but he couldn't see her anymore. He begged with the men dragging him along but they gave no acknowledgement that they even heard him. He couldn't escape their grasps. The blacksmith quit struggling.
Elizabeth was left standing in the middle of the aisle, her hand still out as if reaching for him. Slowly she pulled it back and turned her hand over, opening it. She fell to her knees, sobbing openly, her husband's wedding ring lying on her open palm.
-----------
The courtyard of the fort was full of people the next morning. Elizabeth watched over all of them from where she stood in between her father and Michael. Emma had been left with Estrella back at the carriage. She wanted to hate all the people who had come to see Will hang, but couldn't find it within herself to do so. There were some in the crowd that sympathized with her and pitied her, but there were also the others who didn't know him and thought that maybe he did truly deserve what he was getting. She felt Michael slip his hand into hers and squeeze tightly. She didn't squeeze back as Will was brought out of the jail and up the steps. The noose was fitted around his neck and the executioner stepped back.
Will looked around the crowd at all the faces, trying to be strong and keep his head up, but inside he was already dying at the thought of leaving Elizabeth and Emma alone. He didn't want to die, not with everything that was in his life. His eyes caught hers and held them, full of love for her and the guilt that soon she would be left alone with their child. "Elizabeth..." He said her name so softly that it could not be heard over the man beside him listing the crimes that he had supposedly committed. All of a sudden he wanted to scream that he was guilty of nothing except wanting to be a loving husband and father, but the decision had been made and not even James had the power to overturn it.
James wouldn't look up at him. Instead he stared at the ground, guilt on his face. This shouldn't be happening but it seemed as if very few people knew that. Governor Swann was urging him to give the signal, to end Will's suffering, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Not with an innocent man in the noose. A few moments later, he nodded to the executioner.
Elizabeth's sobs became louder and Governor Swann grasped his shoulder, saying that Will's neck hadn't broken. So not only was the boy robbed of his life, he was robbed of a quick death as well.
Will struggled as the noose tightened around his neck, digging into and ripping the skin on one side of his neck. He tried in vain to draw breath into his lungs and soon felt the burning sensation, as his lungs demanded the air that they couldn't have. Black spots danced in front of his eyes as he began to lose consciousness. His last thought was of Elizabeth before everything faded to black and his struggles ceased.
Norrington refused to look, not even when he heard the footsteps of the doctor on the stairs. There was silence and then the announcement that Will was dead. Tears came to his eyes and he finally looked up to the horrific sight. Down below, the crowd went silent and started to leave the courtyard. No one cheered that he was dead or make a comment about one less pirate in the world. It was all too close to home for them.
Governor Swann laid a hand on Elizabeth's shoulder as she sobbed into Michael's chest. Tears rolled freely down his face as he looked up to Governor Swann. Between the two of them, they got Elizabeth to her feet and started walking her towards the carriage. Norrington looked away and followed after them.
From the shadows of the courtyard, Jack Sparrow could only stare in horror.
This must be some mistake, a mix up perhaps. I may be the son of a pirate, but I am not one myself. Despite the oncoming trial later in the day, his thoughts were on Elizabeth and Emma. He remembered how beautiful Elizabeth looked on the day they were married and at that point thought life wouldn't be able to be better than it was for him. When Elizabeth had announced to him that she was pregnant, he hadn't been able to stop smiling for days it seemed. When she was born, he had sat for hours just looking at the newborn, a sense of pride swelling in his heart. He had become a father and in that moment, he promised her that he would always be there for her and he would protect her.
The sound of footsteps on the stone stairs broke his pattern of thoughts. He got quickly to his feet and moved towards the bars to see who it was. It was James Norrington. The man looked exhausted, his clothes uncharacteristically rumpled and a worried expression on his face. Will guessed that he had just gotten into port and had heard the news.
"Is it true? Have you been accused of piracy?" James asked, almost demandingly, as he crossed the room to stand in front of the bars. Will nodded, leaning against the bars.
"Yes." He said softly. "And they say they have a witness too." That had to prove that it was a mistake. If he hadn't done anything remotely pirate like, how could there be a witness to it?
"A witness?" James asked. His expression became a perplexed one. After a few moments of silence between them, he spoke up. "Did you engage in piracy?" He asked the question carefully, not wanting to make it seem like he was accusing Will.
"Of course not!" Will snapped back. "I've committed no crime here, James." He gripped the bars of the cell almost as if they would draw the anger and the fear from him.
"I wasn't implying that you had, Will. I was merely asking. If this is all the proof that they have, you will most likely be found innocent." Something was not settling right with James about the accusation. There seemed to be something more to it. He glanced up at Will. "I will do everything within my power to see that you are found innocent." He said, turning and heading to the stairs.
"James." Norrington turned to regard Will before he climbed the steps. "If I am found guilty, take care of Elizabeth and Emma for me. They'll need someone to watch over them." It broke his heart to say those words, but they needed to be said. James gave him a stern look.
"There will be no need for that." He said firmly, almost as if scolding Will for thinking that way. "Because they will have you to take care of them." With that said he gave Will a reassuring smile and headed up the steps again. Will sat down on the ground again, getting lost in his own turbulent thoughts again.
--------------------
"Captain, she's sailin' with a bone in her teeth!" Gibbs shouted to Jack. The Black Pearl was moving through the water fast enough to raise a foamy white wake around the bow. Water splashed up on deck as the Pearl plowed forward and a few of the less experienced crewmembers slipped as they ran back and forth.
Jack gripped tightly to the wheel, glancing down at the compass in his hand. No one had questioned or complained that their time off had been taken away once he'd started shouting orders, foregoing the bosun. Time was of the essence and he didn't have the time to explain nor did he need to. They were his crew and they would follow his orders without question.
He didn't owe Will anything and most of the time that meant he could just forget the person. It was the fact that Will was the son of a trusted friend and had managed to leave his own mark in Jack's life that made him act how he was. Jack Sparrow was a pirate, but for a pirate he was an honorable man. William had cursed Barbossa's crew after the mutiny for what they'd done to Jack and he'd been sunk to the bottom of the sea with a cannon tied to his bootstraps because of what he had done. There were also the many times that Jack had gotten him out of trouble, or William had done the same for Jack. In short, the boy was almost family to him.
"He thinks he can get to Port Royal in less than two days." Anamaria told Gibbs as she appeared behind him to tighten one of the lines. She unwound it from around the belaying pin and Gibbs helped her pull it tighter and wind it back around the pin.
"Even if we do, what then? Can't just go barging in there and tell them to unhand the lad." Gibbs hissed back at her.
"He says there's a smuggler's cove outside of town that is rarely used anymore. The ship will drop anchor there and then..." She shook her head. "I trust in Jack. He knows what he's doing."
-------------
"Elizabeth, maybe you shouldn't go in there." Governor Weatherby Swann looked at his daughter as the carriage drove towards the church, where most of the meetings in town took place. He could see the turmoil on his daughter's face and was worried that this would only make it worse. Emma was fast asleep in her arms, making little sucking noises with her thumb in her mouth. Elizabeth looked down at her, brushing the corner of the blanket away from her face.
"Why not?" Elizabeth looked up to meet his gaze defiantly. "Will is my husband and I have every reason to believe he has been falsely accused. That's all I have to say." She looked back down at Emma. It was taking everything in her power not to dissolve into tears.
The carriage came to a stop, signaling that they had arrived at the church. Governor Swann climbed out as the footman opened the door and held his arm out to Elizabeth. Elizabeth got out by herself, holding the baby close to her and headed for the doors. He felt hurt by her brushing him off but he followed behind her anyway. She was his daughter and he would support her in any way that he could.
At the door, Will's best friend Michael Harden met Elizabeth. He took her into his arms, careful of the baby. She went willingly, knowing that Michael believed that Will was innocent as well. After a few moments they broke apart and she looked up, giving him a small smile. He gave her a sad smile in return. "They'll find him innocent." He told her quietly. "There is nothing to point blame at him for." Michael glanced up as Governor Swann approached and nodded his head. "Good afternoon Governor." He said formally. Governor Swann nodded in return. Turning around, Michael opened the doors for them.
The courthouse was nearly full, conversation buzzing throughout the crowd. As the three entered, heads turned towards them and quickly away, not wanting to be caught staring. Elizabeth ignored them, walking up the aisle with Emma safely in her arms and her father and Michael beside her. She slipped into the front row and moved over so her father could sit next to her. Up front, Commodore Norrington nodded to her in greeting. She gave him a slight nod back.
The doors burst open again, and two soldiers marched in, dragging Will with them. He came along willingly, knowing that fighting them would be more reason for them to think he was guilty. The whispers grew even more heated as he approached the judge. Even Judge Matheson was looking at him as if he were some kind of criminal. Elizabeth began to wonder if one simple rumor could turn a town against a man that easily or if there was something more that she was missing.
"Quiet!" Judge Matheson boomed over the crowd. He was a fairly large and intimidating man, and it served to make the room quiet very fast. "Now on to the trial of William Turner, accused of piracy."
-----------------
The tears came, and there was nothing Elizabeth could do to stop them. The room was again filled with conversation the voices shocked, smug, or pitying. Governor Swann held his daughter tightly in his embrace as she sobbed. Michael sat beside her, holding Emma as the little girl wailed, staring straight ahead with a look of extreme surprise on his face. Norrington was angry, arguing with Judge Matheson over the ruling.
"Commodore, you argue on that man's behalf because of your friendship with him and his wife." Matheson rebuked him. "Which is why I had an officer of yours write to your commanding officer and tell him of the nature of the trial. You have no say in this case, sir." He got up from his seat. "Except to give the command for him to hang." Norrington's mouth dropped open in shock.
"This is entirely..." Matheson shoved the paper into his hands and Norrington stared down at it. The document in his hands seemed real enough. The paper was of the same kind his superior would use and the seal was there as well. He remained incredulous though. How could one of his lower ranking officers get a letter of this kind from a rear admiral? It wasn't possible, was it? He thought hard, trying to remember if it was possible in the chain of command and nothing came to him. But here the letter was saying that he was not to be involved in the trial. More than ever something seemed suspicious, but he had nothing to prove it.
Two soldiers grabbed Will by the arms, pulling him from the courthouse. He snapped from his thoughts and this time fought against them. I am not guilty! There's been a mistake! He wanted to cry out, but his voice seemed to have escaped him. Elizabeth broke free of her father, rushing towards him, calling his name. He fought against the guards, reaching for her.
"Will, don't leave me!" Elizabeth cried as she ran for him, pushing past people. He reached for her and their hands met briefly before he was pulled out the door.
"Elizabeth!" He shouted her name but he couldn't see her anymore. He begged with the men dragging him along but they gave no acknowledgement that they even heard him. He couldn't escape their grasps. The blacksmith quit struggling.
Elizabeth was left standing in the middle of the aisle, her hand still out as if reaching for him. Slowly she pulled it back and turned her hand over, opening it. She fell to her knees, sobbing openly, her husband's wedding ring lying on her open palm.
-----------
The courtyard of the fort was full of people the next morning. Elizabeth watched over all of them from where she stood in between her father and Michael. Emma had been left with Estrella back at the carriage. She wanted to hate all the people who had come to see Will hang, but couldn't find it within herself to do so. There were some in the crowd that sympathized with her and pitied her, but there were also the others who didn't know him and thought that maybe he did truly deserve what he was getting. She felt Michael slip his hand into hers and squeeze tightly. She didn't squeeze back as Will was brought out of the jail and up the steps. The noose was fitted around his neck and the executioner stepped back.
Will looked around the crowd at all the faces, trying to be strong and keep his head up, but inside he was already dying at the thought of leaving Elizabeth and Emma alone. He didn't want to die, not with everything that was in his life. His eyes caught hers and held them, full of love for her and the guilt that soon she would be left alone with their child. "Elizabeth..." He said her name so softly that it could not be heard over the man beside him listing the crimes that he had supposedly committed. All of a sudden he wanted to scream that he was guilty of nothing except wanting to be a loving husband and father, but the decision had been made and not even James had the power to overturn it.
James wouldn't look up at him. Instead he stared at the ground, guilt on his face. This shouldn't be happening but it seemed as if very few people knew that. Governor Swann was urging him to give the signal, to end Will's suffering, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Not with an innocent man in the noose. A few moments later, he nodded to the executioner.
Elizabeth's sobs became louder and Governor Swann grasped his shoulder, saying that Will's neck hadn't broken. So not only was the boy robbed of his life, he was robbed of a quick death as well.
Will struggled as the noose tightened around his neck, digging into and ripping the skin on one side of his neck. He tried in vain to draw breath into his lungs and soon felt the burning sensation, as his lungs demanded the air that they couldn't have. Black spots danced in front of his eyes as he began to lose consciousness. His last thought was of Elizabeth before everything faded to black and his struggles ceased.
Norrington refused to look, not even when he heard the footsteps of the doctor on the stairs. There was silence and then the announcement that Will was dead. Tears came to his eyes and he finally looked up to the horrific sight. Down below, the crowd went silent and started to leave the courtyard. No one cheered that he was dead or make a comment about one less pirate in the world. It was all too close to home for them.
Governor Swann laid a hand on Elizabeth's shoulder as she sobbed into Michael's chest. Tears rolled freely down his face as he looked up to Governor Swann. Between the two of them, they got Elizabeth to her feet and started walking her towards the carriage. Norrington looked away and followed after them.
From the shadows of the courtyard, Jack Sparrow could only stare in horror.