CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Back to Port

Hours ran into days and days ran into a week. Elizabeth had no idea it would take so long to get back to Port Royale. Elizabeth sat at the bow of the ship watching two dolphins swimming alongside them. The creatures dove and resurfaced in perfect unison. Elizabeth smiled as she watched their silvery shadows swim under the clear water. Almost home, she thought to herself as she saw the Jamaican shoreline come into view, Elizabeth couldn't help but let a tear run down her cheek as she thought of the extreme possibility that Will was not waiting for her on the sandy shores.

So far Jack, Faye, Elizabeth and Irving had managed to run into no trouble whilst sailing back to where this whole tragic mess had started. Jack stood at the wheel, his braids flapping wildly in the Caribbean wind. They had found a merchant ship to trade with and bartered the whole contents of a chest Jack found in a trapdoor underneath the deck for food and clean water, however Jack and the crew had conveniently forgotten to inform the merchants that the chest was only full of old clothes as oppose to silver and gold as the merchants had initially presumed.

Elizabeth turned around and saw Faye sitting below the mast on a wooden crate, braiding her hair with beads Jack had found her in the chest of clothes he had given to the merchants. Elizabeth walked over to her and smiled, pulling up a crate and sitting on it.

'Could you do mine?' Elizabeth asked as she watched Faye's hands move quickly around her hair.

'Sure.' Faye smiled and twisted to face Elizabeth. She took a bead from a pile next to her and gathered some of Elizabeth's hair at the front of her face. Faye began quickly braiding the strands. She secured it with the bead and tied a small knot at the end of Elizabeth's hair.

'Thank you.' Elizabeth smiled and flicked the braid from her face, feeling oddly like Jack Sparrow.

'You're welcome.' Faye went back to her own hair, she now had five plaits placed randomly through her hair, all fastened at the bottom with bright coloured beads.

'Elizabeth!' Jack's voice sounded from the helm. He beckoned her toward him with his hands.

Elizabeth bid farewell to Faye and walked to Jack, resting a hand on the wheel. 'Yes, Jack?'

'We're almos' there.' Jack smiled and placed a hand around Elizabeth's shoulder and hugged her to him. 'You'll get ter see yer father again.'

'And hopefully Will…' Elizabeth said quietly, staring into space. Irving was now sitting beside Faye, Faye trying to braid his hair, the two were laughing at how hopeless it was because Irving's hair was too short.

'Wha' was tha', Elizabeth?' Jack removed his arm and placed his hand back on the wheel, he too watching Faye and Irving with an amused expression.

'Oh, nothing.' Elizabeth replied watching the sight of Port Royale come closer into view.


Governor Weatherby Swann sat in the library of his Port Royale manor. He traced a finger along the black grand piano his daughter used to play almost each day. Governor Swann had not heard his daughter's fingers touch the black and white ivory keys for almost a week now and he missed the soft music she used to play. He feared for his daughter's life, as did many in Port Royale. Commodore Norrington had tried to reason with him telling the Governor that his daughter was most-likely dead or dying. James had since married the maid, Lucinda, and was in unusually high spirits. The Governor, on the other hand, spent his days being reclusive in the library and his nights tossing and turning, worrying for the health and well being of his only child and her fiancé.

Suddenly someone else burst into the room.

'Governor Swann! They're back!' Gillette skid into the library at full speed, almost knocking over one of the chair-side tables.

'Who is back?' The Governor asked, walking away from the piano.

'Will Turner and a group of others.' Gillette walked closer to the Governor. 'You must see them.'

Governor Swann hastily walked out of the library and out of the Manor, Gillette at his heels. Governor Swann may finally have news of his daughter. He did not care if she was dead or alive, he just wanted to know what had become of her, after all, some information was better than none at all. The Governor continued to walk through the streets of Port Royale, people turning their heads, slightly stunned to see someone of so much esteem walking through the streets without any guards by his side.

As the Governor made his way to the docks he saw the image of the Black Pearl, in considerably better condition than it was when he had last seen it up close. Though he hated to say it – or think it, the ship was actually nice, for a pirate vessel that is.

The Governor saw a figure step off the ship and onto the dock. Will slowly walked toward him and smiled solemnly.

'Governor Swann.' Will greeted the Governor and looked downwards, trying to avoid Weatherby Swann's gaze.

Will looked tired, Governor Swann observed, the brightness that usually inhabited his eyes was dim and almost gone. He possessed lines on his young face that were not there before. He seemed to have grown older and wiser.

'Will.' The Governor replied looking behind Will and to the rest of the crew of the Black Pearl. 'What news of Elizabeth?'

Will sighed, knowing the question would come up sooner or later, and Will would prefer to answer it sooner rather than later. 'I'm sorry, sir; I have not heard from her or of her in many days.'

The Governor cast his eyes downward once more and looked at his shoes. Would he ever see his daughter again? Would he ever be able to hear her play the piano? Hopefully the answer would be yes.


Elizabeth could see a ship, at least the silhouette of a ship. Elizabeth suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder, and she spun around to see Irving behind her, he too watching Port Royale come closer and closer toward them.

'Nervous?' he asked, taking his hand from her shoulder and standing beside her, flicking some sandy hair from his eyes.

'A little.' Elizabeth replied, still watching the sight before them. A powerful gust of wind picked up the sails and the ship, Elizabeth shut her eyes as the vessel quickened its pace toward shore and hopeful salvation.

'He'll be there, I promise.' Irving smiled and turned around only to see Jack teaching Faye how to steer the ship.

'I hope so.' Elizabeth looked at Irving and smiled slightly at him. 'Thank you.'

'For what?' Irving asked, nonplussed and completely confused about what Elizabeth meant by thank you.

'For everything.' Elizabeth smiled. 'If you hadn't of come onto the ship I probably wouldn't be here and if you hadn't helped Jack he would probably have a bullet in his head now.'

'Well…' Irving began 'You're welcome.' It seemed like a slightly odd thing to say you're welcome to, but what else was there to say?

Elizabeth laughed and she too turned around just in time to see Jack walking over to them.

'We're almos' there.' Jack smiled and draped an arm around Elizabeth's shoulder. 'Almos' there.'

Elizabeth felt her heart skip a beat as she thought about the possibility of Will being back at Port Royale. She would see her father once more. She would be back in her familiar environment and she would finally be able to play her piano. As they came closer, Elizabeth saw the ship she had been staring at earlier. There was no one on it, yet it seemed Jack knew it instantly.

'It's the Pearl.' Jack said, a small smile creeping up onto his face.


'What's that?' Gibbs looked out to the sea and nudged Will in the side.

'Just a merchant ship.' Will replied, he too squinting against the bright sun up ahead. The two had been looking out from the dock for some ten minutes and still hadn't seen any sign of Elizabeth, Jack or anyone else.

Joshamee shrugged and took Will by the elbow. 'Come on, let's go back to the manor.'

Will nodded and walked with Gibbs back to Swann Manor. The two were cast odd glances as they walked. The town had obviously heard of Will and Elizabeth's disappearance and now were eager to see Will up close to check if he was the Will Turner who had gone in search of the wayfaring pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow.

Swann Manor had slowed down considerably since Will and Elizabeth had left. The maids, doormen and housekeepers were treading carefully around the Governor and obviously aware of the hurt Elizabeth and Will's disappearance had caused him.

Will and Joshamee walked up the gravel pathway toward the grand double doors. Two guards stood on either side, jaded looks plastered across their faces, but their expressions changed when Will approached the door.

'Mr. Turner?' the guard on the right squinted and looked questioningly toward his partner who shrugged and looked back at Will.

'Yes.' Will nodded slowly.

'I thought you were…' the man trailed off, but picked his sentence up again. 'we all thought you were…dead.'

'Well, I am alive, as you can see.' Will said with a forced smile. 'May I see Governor Swann?'

'Certainly.' The guard said and opened the door for Will and Joshamee to walk through.

An all too familiar sight confronted Will. Memories began flooding back to his mind; memories of times spent with Elizabeth in the various rooms of the house. The library where they would sit by the fire and talk, the garden where they would walk and marvel at the topiary hedges, the dining room where the two often enjoyed a quiet supper and their bedroom, the most sacred room in the house for both of them.

Governor Swann was sitting in the library behind Elizabeth's piano, playing a few arbitrary chords, before picking up a music book and attempting to play one of Mozart's symphonies. The Governor shut his eyes and let his hands rest on the keys.

Will watched the man as he had his time with the piano. Will found it strange to see Governor Swann like this. The blacksmith was normally used to seeing him with a pleasant and rather happy look on his face and, on occasion, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, but not today. Today his eyes were closed, his mouth straight and his usual happy disposition replaced by a state of hopelessness.

'Governor Swann.' Will said, his voice cracking slightly. Joshamee just stood beside him, his face inert, but still in some way kind and reassuring.

The Governor opened his eyes and stepped away from the instrument, walking over to Will and his companion.

'Yes.' He said quietly, making Will feel even more guilty for interrupting him at such a solemn time.

'We need to talk about Elizabeth.' Will began, sitting down in one of the armchairs.

'I'll give you two a minute.' Joshamee said and he began to walk out of the room, looking back and smiling kindly at Will.

Will nodded at the pirate and turned back to the Governor, dreading what he was about to say. 'There is a large chance that Elizabeth may not have made it during this trip.'

Will almost choked on his words, he had rehearsed this conversation so many times in his mind, but when it came to actually saying it, Will found it was harder than he could ever imagine.

'I know.' The Governor said, once again his face was tired and emotionless. 'but how can we be sure?'

'We can't.' Will said, resting his head in his hands before looking up again. 'but it is a chance we must take.'

Governor Swann nodded sullenly and sighed. 'Well, what are we supposed to do?'

'I have no idea.' Will said. 'We should expect the worse, but I hate to think like that.'

'So do…' but Governor Swann could not finish his sentence because once again Gillette appeared at the door, his uniform ruffled and his breath staggered.

'Governor Swann,' Gillette did not bother to address Will, it seemed the young Lieutenant had still not warmed to Will Turner as much as the Governor had. 'You have to come outside now!' Gillette hastily shut his mouth and rephrased the sentence. 'Sorry sir, please come and see this.'

The Governor stood up, as did Will and they quickly walked out of the library following Gillette to where he desired to take them.


Jack tied the rope to the pier, fastening it in a tight and secure knot. His stomach skipped as he realized how risky it was coming back to Port Royale after Commodore Norrington had deported him. Jack exhaled deeply and called Elizabeth, Faye and Irving over to him.

'We're 'ere.' Jack said as the others joined him at his side. He could see tears in Elizabeth's eyes and joy in those of Faye and Irving.

'This is Port Royale?' Faye asked, a dark eyebrow raised.

Jack nodded. 'Why? What were yer expectin'?'

'I don't know what I was expecting.' Faye replied, then looked at Elizabeth who was standing quietly, waiting for the ship to stop swaying.

Jack stepped off, followed by Faye who then helped Irving who then threw his hand out to Elizabeth.

Jack swaggered across the dock, only to be met by a man with white hair and a clipboard, a small dark-skinned local by his side.

'It's a shilling to tie your boat at the dock.' The man said, flicking to the next available page on his pad of paper. 'And I shall need to know your name.'

'Forget it.' Jack said and dismissed the man, continuing to walk down the dock. He looked back at the harbormaster and smiled wryly.

'Shouldn't we pay him?' Faye asked, walking by Jack's side.

Jack shrugged, 'I've paid 'im triple the amoun' before, no need ter pay 'im again.'

Faye looked at Jack and smiled, slightly unsure by what he meant by the sentence, but soon shrugged it off as a navy guard ran into view.

'Oh…not good.' Jack said under his breath as Gillette stood before them.

'Jack Sparrow.' Gillette narrowed his eyes at the pirate in front of him.

'Captain Jack Sparrow, if yer don' mind.' Jack smiled and he too narrowed his eyes at the Lieutenant.

It seemed Gillette was about to throw another smart remark back at Jack, but was soon stopped at Governor Swann came running down. Jack found this slightly amusing to see the Governor actually run.

'Father!' Elizabeth broke her silence and ran past the trio and to her father, wrapping her arms around his neck and smiling.

'Elizabeth…' the Governor whispered, running a loving hand through his daughter's hair. There were no words to describe how he felt, just sheer relieve and perhaps even gratitude to Jack Sparrow for bringing his daughter back to him.

Elizabeth cried into her Father's shoulder, tears of joy ran down her cheeks. She finally looked up and saw someone behind her father. Elizabeth could have fainted, was it really Will Turner standing there in front of her.

Elizabeth unwrapped her arms from her father's neck and ran to Will, jumping into his arms. Will, not ready for Elizabeth's weight, almost dropped his fiancé as she jumped into him.

'Will…' Elizabeth whispered breathlessly. He was back, the man she loved and thought she had lost was finally holding her in his arms once more. She had dreamt of this moment for the whole time they were apart, but it only seemed a dream, nothing more and she would never have thought in her wildest dreams that it would become a reality.

'Elizabeth.' Will smiled and could not hold it in anymore. He kissed his fiancé deeply. She was back. Finally, she was back to him and they could be married as they had planned many weeks before.

As they broke apart, Elizabeth smiled, jumping down from Will's arms as Will had obviously spotted Jack standing next to an unknown woman and a young man Will had never seen before. Elizabeth went back to her father and smiled at him.

'Thankyou so much, Jack.' Will said, tears of joy springing from the corners of his eyes.

'All in a days work.' Jack smiled and laughed flicking a braid from his face and looking back at Will. 'This is Faye.' Jack winked at Will knowingly and Will knew exactly what Jack meant.

'And I am Irving.' Irving stepped forward a grasped Will's hand, shaking it in greeting.

'It's wonderful to meet you all.' Will smiled. 'Is there any way I can thank you all for bringing Elizabeth back to me?'

But the three could not reply, as Anamaria, Joshamee and the rest of the crew of the Black Pearl came running down to greet them, Anamaria running the quickest and jumping into Jack, almost knocking him off his feet had it not been for Irving who caught him quickly.

'Jack!' Anamaria hugged her Captain tightly and stood back as if to examine him. She smiled, but her smile soon faded as she noticed the unfamiliar woman by his side. 'Aaah…I do not believe we have had the pleasure of meeting?'

'I am Faye.' Faye smiled and flicked a stray strand of hair from her eyes. 'And you must be Anamaria…Jack has told me so much about you.'

'Oh, has he?' Anamaria asked, eyeing Jack slightly. 'All good things I hope?'

'Only the best.' Faye replied with a smile.

As Jack watched the two women speak, a smile crept up onto his lips. Will was now conversing with Irving and Elizabeth and her father were still by each other's side, obviously glad to have each other back again. Jack turned to Faye who was absorbed in conversation with Anamaria; Jack caught them saying something about herbs and ointments or something of the sort. And finally, there Jack stood, admiring the scene before him. His friends all reunited after a long separation; his life put back together and his mind at ease once more.

'Marry me.' Will said as Elizabeth washed her face at the basinin their bedroom.

'Will, you do realise that you asked me that about six months ago?' Elizabeth dabbed her face dry with a white cloth, now stained brown from the dirt on her face.

'I know.' Will replied with a laugh. 'I mean marry me tomorrow.'

'Tomorrow?' Elizabeth relayed the thought in her mind. 'Will, don't you think that's a little hasty? I just got back!'

Will walked over to Elizabeth and wrapped his arms around her. 'I don't want to take another chance. I don't want to lose you again.'

'You won't lose me.' Elizabeth turned around to face Will and smiled up at him. 'And yes, tomorrow it is.'

Will smiled widely and played with a lock of Elizabeth's light hair. 'I missed you so much.' He said still entwining his fingers in her strands.

'I missed you too.' Elizabeth replied, running a hand through Will's hair in return. 'Come on, I need to get cleaned up.'

'Tomorrow!' Will exclaimed to Jack as he walked down the stairs of the Manor. 'Tomorrow!'

Jack, who had been speaking to Faye at the foot of the stairs, staggered back as Will bounded down toward them. 'What's tomorrow?'

'Elizabeth and I are getting married!' Will jumped off the last stair and smiled widely.

'Will, that's fantastic!' Faye congratulated the blacksmith, she too seemed as excited as he was.

Will had not shared many words with Faye since they had arrived back only one hour ago, but already he had taken a liking to her. She and Jack made the perfect couple, they interacted well and Will could tell that there was nothing but love in Jack's eyes when he looked at her.

'Yes, fantastic!' Jack said to Will, clapping a hand on his shoulder.

Will was positively jumping out of his skin with excitement, but soon relaxed as he heard footsteps behind him.

'Elizabeth…' Jack said, seeing the Governor's daughter walk down the stairs, now changed into her usual formal dresses and court shoes. 'I jus' heard the news. Congratulations.'

Elizabeth smiled and stepped off the last step, standing next to Will. 'Thankyou Jack.'

Faye stepped forward and hugged Elizabeth tightly. 'Come, you must show me your dress!'

Elizabeth nodded and took Faye's hand, leading her up the stairs and toward her room.

'They sure do get along well, don't they?' Will asked as he watched he two women disappear up the stairs.

'Indeed, they do.' Jack smiled after them and led Will to the library. 'So, may I inquire as to 'ow you managed to lose Elizabeth along yer journey?'

'Pirate attack.' Will replied simply, sitting down in a chair, Jack across from him. 'Pintel, Ragetti and their crew took her from us, I think they wanted information regarding your whereabouts.'

Jack nodded, obviously deep in thought.

'And how did you get out of wherever you were? Steal a ship I presume?' Will asked, crossing his legs.

'Commandeered.' Jack corrected, holding his two index fingers up for emphasis. 'And we were in Singapore.'

Will laughed, Jack had always made a point of saying commandeered rather than stole.

'My mistake, Captain.' Will was about to say something else when a loud laugh was heard from upstairs in Elizabeth's room. 'They really are getting along well aren't they?'

Jack nodded and smiled. Moments passed with silence before Faye and Elizabeth appeared at the door, smiling widely as if they had known each other for centuries. Faye walked over to Jack and Elizabeth to Will, both sat down beside their respective partners and their respective partners placed their arms around them.

Together at last, Jack thought. His mind drifted back to when he had first arrived back at Port Royale, he would never have expected all of this to happen and he would never have guessed that right now he would be sharing a chair with the most wonderful woman in the world.

(Hi Guys, Thanks for the reviews...uuum...just so you know this will be the 2nd last chapter...but wait drumroll there is a SEQUEL coming! Yay! ahem anyway, I am probably more excited than you but still...now review review review)