Disclaimer: Until Disney puts up Pirates of the Caribbean for sale and I buy it, I don't own anything it. Also, any insults against Captain Jack Sparrow written here are entirely untrue (except for maybe the drunken pirate and crazy pirate ones) and only there for the sake of the story. Will Turner insults on the other hand . . .
Summary: Ummm . . . . When Will decides that Jack is a pirate and thus deserves to hang, he doesn't reckon with Elizabeth's opposite view of the situation. Taking action of her own, the ending of POTC is given a twist.
And now, the feature presentation . . . For What It's Worth!!! (Applause all around.)
For What It's Worth
Prologue: Not Worth It
The sun was setting over the horizon, sending brilliant rays of orange and scarlet dancing over the decks of the Royal British Navy man o' wars sailing gently towards Port Royal. Sailors scrambled over the decks and rigging, preparing the Dauntless to glide into port. Commands could be heard bellowing from the officers to the sailors, urging the on. Beneath the shouts, the splash of the sea could be hear and the wind whistling through the ship's rigging.
All this filtered through Elizabeth Swann's consciousness as her brain processed the last words William Turner had just said to her. Out of habit, Elizabeth reached down to adjust her dress, a action she did whenever she was nervous or needed time to think but she couldn't do that now. The last few days had been too busy and frantic to bother finding time to change into more feminine clothes and to tell the truth; Elizabeth hadn't exactly tried to make the time. The chance to wear comfortable, practical clothes, albeit male, was far too rare for her to want to change into a confining dress.
As these thoughts passed swiftly through her mind, Will's words were echoing around, bouncing off her skull.
"Elizabeth, what are you thinking? Rescue Jack? That's . . . that's absurd," Will had said.
When Elizabeth had told Will of her intent to rescue Jack, it had never crossed her mind that he would not agree. That he wouldn't like the risk involved, yes. That he wouldn't want her involved even, yes. Ever since the confrontation with Barbossa, Will had become protective, inordinately so, especially considering she had held her own in the fight against the cursed pirates. All that had gone through her mind. But that he would disdain any type of rescue for Jack at all? Unthinkable. Or so it had been until now.
"What?" Even after running the sentence over in her head for a minute, the words jangling through her head that was most intelligent thing Elizabeth could come up with, her constant lessons as a young lady in the art of conversation having deserted her. Realizing her mouth was open in shock, she collected herself. "Will, we have to. How can you even think not doing anything; he saved your life, remember?" Elizabeth said in disbelief. "For God's sake, he saved my life despite your stupidity."
At her words, Will flinched as though slapped. Will's head sank down. Ever since Barbossa had kidnapped her, he had realized exactly how precious Elizabeth was to him. The memory of her near death and the trials she had went through haunted him and he couldn't stop blaming himself for it. And now, he must not put Elizabeth in such danger any more. She needed to be protected and admired and loved, not sent off to fight cursed pirates. She was a lady not a common soldier.
Pleadingly, he said, "Elizabeth--"
She cut him off. "And all you're going to do is stand there and watch him hang? He's your friend and you're just going to leave him for the noose?"
Finally, Will managed to get a word in. "Elizabeth, calm down. Aye, Sparrow saved your life, but he did it because we made a bargain. He's nothing more than another one of the scheming, filthy pirates that sail the Caribbean," Will spat out. He looked up at and pleaded, "Elizabeth, we're alive, and on our way back to Port Royal. You're alive and well. The Commodore is set to marry you. You're life is set out ahead of you like a fairy tale. Don't risk it. Saving Sparrow would be a noble deed. But you're worth so much more than he is." Seeing Elizabeth only becoming more livid, he desperately tried one of his last ploys. "Sparrow wouldn't."
"If you were about to hang, Captain Jack Sparrow would be there to save you. Not that you're worth it."
"Jack would just say good luck and sail off. A lot of good that did me in Barbossa's clutches." Seeing Elizabeth grow furious at his words, he said understandingly, "Elizabeth, you've had a hard time these last few days. Anyone would understand that. Nevertheless, don't make this mistake. Sparrow isn't worth you risking your life or high station."
How could her Will be saying things like that? Acting like her reputation and status was the most important thing. The Will she had known and loved hadn't cared about that. He had loved for her personality and just herself. At least she had thought he had but it turned out she was wrong.
Elizabeth stared at him. In disgust, she replied, "Saving Jack wouldn't be a mistake. Making the negotiation with Commodore Norrington to save your life obviously was if you care that much about my 'high station.' I once thought I loved you. That you were a man I wanted to spend the rest of my life alongside. That you were as noble—or more!—than the Commodore. I was wrong. You aren't worth that."
Will stared in shock at Elizabeth. He couldn't believe that Elizabeth, his Elizabeth, would think that. "What . . . . But . . . . How . . . ." Will stuttered. Getting over his alarm, he tried one last time. "Elizabeth, I . . ."
She looked at him and told him with no more emotion than a distant wisp of sorrow and pain, "I believe we will be docking at Port Royal presently. I must go and attire myself properly. It would not do for a Governor's daughter and Commodore's fiancée to be seen in such clothes as these. You seem to understand that. Good day, Mr. Turner."
With that, Elizabeth inclined her head and left the cabin.
Will stared after her. How could his Elizabeth say such things? He was only trying to protect her as best he could. He loved her; didn't she get that? Even if she became the Commodore's wife, he would still love and protect her. No matter what. She needed to be protected; look what had happened to her. She had been kidnapped, nearly raped, marooned on an island, and almost killed at least three times. She was the Governor's daughter; not some soldier to go chasing after pirates.
He had loved her since his first glimpse. She had been an angel looking down on him. She had deserved much more than a common blacksmith's love. He had been content to cherish his hopes and worship from afar. After rescuing her, he had allowed himself to hope. Nevertheless, even with her engagement to the Commodore he had been happy. The Commodore was worthy of her, but a pirate? Never.
Bloody Sparrow would just use her and discard her. What didn't she get about that? Sparrow would simply say good-bye and be off. They'd never see him again and all they'd have for their efforts would be a wrecked reputation.
Couldn't she see the long view? What was it with women; they could never get that you couldn't just go off and do what you please. They just focused in on one thing and ignored everything else. Like Anamaria with her boat and Elizabeth with her returning obsession of pirates. Women. They were so unpredictably irrational.
That reminded one of J—Sparrow's rum-induced ramblings. It's the honest ones you want to watch out for, because you can never predict when they're going to do something incredibly… stupid. That was certainly true about women.
In Will's mind, another, not so welcome reminder of Jack spoke up.
Don't do anything stupid.
The memory of his disastrous conversation with Elizabeth ran through his mind.
Like that.
So, how was it? The next chapter will be a lot longer and hopefully better. This is just to set up everything.
Calling all beta-readers, calling all beta-readers. If anyone would be willing to beta-read this, I'd really appreciate it. I don't need help with the grammar and punctuation as much as characterization and plot pacing. Just email me or review me. Thanks.
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