Thanks for all the reviews, you guys! I was listening to a lot of Dashboard Confessional while writing this chapter, so blame that for all the vindication stuff.
Chapter Four: Silent Battles
Was Zachary justified to do this?
Yes, he thought so.
He warily peered out his dirty window, watching the people on deck. He saw Captain Jack, ordering his crew around like usual.
Ah, Jack. What a cunning and smart man he was; always coming up with a plan and a backup one to that. But would he be shrewd enough to read between the lines?
No, he didn't think so.
But then again… He could be wrong.
He slowly bit his lip as he watched Jack saunter right by the window and Elizabeth came into view. She slowly looked around and then slumped against the side of the wall unceremoniously. He could only see the outline of her slender figure and her profile. He didn't want to attempt to wipe the grimy window, in case he startled her.
How sweet and naïve Elizabeth was. She was obviously very much in love with Will – How could she not be? They were smitten. They needed each other to live.
He turned his face away from the window, a rosy blush creeping up his neck. He looked down at his hands, which were folded leisurely in his lap. His restful manner hid a complex web of thoughts and regrets.
Was all of this really necessary? He frowned as he silently battled with his own gamut of emotions.
Yes, he decided as almost-guilty vindication took place inside of him. I need to do this. I have no choice.
He brushed his hair away from his face and sighed softly. He then glimpsed at his wrists as his almost unnaturally blue eyes gradually glazed over. Two almost identical, jagged scars lay across both of his wrists, slightly rising at the veins. After staring at the deep scratches for what seemed like perpetuity, he yanked his sleeves down over the marks and scowled. The last thing he wanted right now was to remember that.
He leaned back on his heels and closed his eyes. The picture of Elizabeth's beautiful face came into his mind, and he grimaced. He was always thinking about her. But… If anything were to happen between them, it would interfere with his business. And he didn't want that, now, did he?
No. Of course he didn't.
He opened his eyes a fraction and glanced around his dusty room. He then reached for the candle snuffer, ready to at least try to forget about his attempt at justification for himself… As of right now. He silently extinguished the candle's flame, trying to focus his whole mind on the embers of the slightly glowing wick.
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"Alright, what goes to whom?" Jack asked, eyeing the lumpy pile of Will's belongings that was laid in front of him and Elizabeth.
She pursed her lips and got down on her hands and knees, her wavy hair slightly falling in her face. "I'm not sure." She carefully sifted through the heap, setting aside some items from the others.
"Do you have a will of some sort?" he asked, crouching down beside her. "How would we know what goes to everyone if we don't have one?"
"You're right," she said, meticulously digging to the bottom of the load. "There must be something." After a moment of effort, she reached the bottom of the pile. Sure enough, at the floor underneath the heap, was a crumpled and yellowing piece of parchment. Elizabeth quickly scrambled for it, eager to know what her now deceased fiancé would give to Jack and her.
She smoothed out the sheet and opened the curling edges. "I'll read it," she offered, tucking her hair behind her ears. She began to read out loud while Jack listened intently.
William Turner II's Last Will and Testament
"With my last will and testament, I, William Turner II, will give my belongings to Commodore Norrington, Governor Swann, Captain Jack Sparrow, and Elizabeth Swann."
She read the first half of his will, in which he gave most of his money to the Commodore and her father ("D'you really think they need the money?" Jack angrily protested.). He also gave some of his swords and other blacksmith work to the Commodore. After a little while of reading, the part of his will about Jack came up.
"To my dear friend Captain Jack Sparrow:
If I hadn't met you, my whole life wouldn't have been changed for the better. You showed me the freedom and independence inside of me that I failed to see before. With this in mind, I will give you more swords that I haven't given to Commodore Norrington, which is, in fact, most of them. If I hadn't crossed blades with a pirate, I would have never known you or rescued Elizabeth with your help.
Secondly, I would like to give you my hat. It may seem foolish, but if we had not worked together to rescue you from your undeserved death at the noose, you wouldn't have been able to compliment me on the hat and escape from the British Royal Navy unscathed. And as for the day that they almost caught Captain Jack Sparrow? May it always remain in their memories. I will always remember you, me, and our fantastic journey together."
Jack couldn't help but smile weakly at this. He reached for the long, leather pouch in the pile and opened it. Inside were many shiny, silver swords, obviously from the very hands of William Turner II. He then picked up the pompous musketeer hat and slowly stroked the fluffy, white feather that was tucked into the side.
Elizabeth gave him a watery smile and turned her eyes back to the piece of parchment. She was fighting back her tears as she read on, her voice wavering slightly.
"To my darling Elizabeth:
We have come a long way. You will always–"
There was a large portion of the will ripped off near the bottom, and she stared at it, perplexed.
"Where's the bottom half?" Jack asked after a long moment of puzzled silence, peering at it the same way that Elizabeth was.
"I don't know," she said quietly, scanning it. She turned the parchment over and gazed at it, almost trying to find some kind of hidden message written in invisible ink. She searched on every single corner of the will, wondering where the unfinished portion about her was.
"It's… gone," she said in an astonished tone, staring at it. "Where could it be?"
"We'll find it," he assured her, carefully taking the sheet from her and studying it.
We can only hope that we will, she thought, frowning.