8. Chapter: Facing them

.

The whole way back through the woods, Will's mind dealt with the oncoming and inevitable confrontation with the people they had left in the study.

He made up scenarios in his thoughts, giving into his imagination, trying to work out a way how to get trough this smoothly. And without having Elizabeth get hurt and sad again. They would have to do this another way.

Of course they could just move straight forward and tell the others, that being Norrington, Cait and Hannah, assuming she was interested, what they had really done. But would they believe it? And if they did, .wouldn't it rise another argument. He could imagine Cait, going on how it was not proper and ladylike and so on. Will made a face.

*Though we would probably make Norrington's day by giving him another opportunity to go over me like he has to protect Port Royal from a dangerous threat. Me.*

But he had to admit, that they were really lucky that 'the old lady' seemed rather calm and cool about the whole thing. Although she was a little bit creepy. Will couldn't remember her saying more than 2 or 3 sentences for the whole evening. But STILL she seemed to know everything.

Stepping over a branch on the path, while squeezing Elizabeth's hand slightly to warn her, he continued his musings.

He doubted that less would be more in this case.

Letting Cait and Norrington think what they wanted was sure to lead them into an even greater mess. They would not leave it as it was, certainly demanding an explanation. And referring to Cait, she even deserved that someone brought a little light into the darkness. After all she'd only been concerned for Elizabeth, from the start on. And though she somehow annoyed him, he was very grateful for her caring.

It meant, that he could leave Elizabeth in her care without having to worry over her too much. He knew for a fact, that he could not and never would be comfortable with Norrington anywhere near his love.though for a different reason.

The path widened now, indicating the clearing of the woods near the manor. As they could walk next to each other now, Will slipped his arm around his beloved's waist. And as always Will marvelled at the natural matter of course with which she mirrored his movement, leaning against him, her head half lying on his shoulder.

The young blacksmith smiled happily, tightening his grip on her waist, if only a little, to allow them to continue walking comfortably. He was about to tear his attentions away from her, back to his up to now fruitless thinking, when he noticed her leaning even more into him.

"Elizabeth?" He whispered quietly.

The only answer he got was a small, mumbled noise that sounded like a 'mhhh?'.

Ceasing walking he turned to her, capturing her cheek with his free hand so he could make her look up at him.

Her eyes were open, but seemed to be heavy lided, for Elizabeth couldn't stop her eye lids from drooping. Opening them with some difficulty she looked at him.

"Tired..Bed." was all she managed as she nearly fell on him.

Will chuckled slightly at her expression, but nodded anyway. "It's fine 'Liz. You want me to carry you?"

Elizabeth couldn't help the smile that stole over her face at his offer and nodded sleepily.

Bending down, he whispered "Hold tight, love." into her ear, before placing one hand behind her knees and lifting her up in a secure grip. Immediately she relaxed, leaning into him fully, her head resting in the crook of his neck.

"Comfortable?" He couldn't help asking as he resumed making his way towards their new destination. Elizabeth's room. The woman in his arms just sighed contently, giving him his answer.

Silently he approached the door through which they'd left the house only hours before. It proved a bit difficult to get the handle, with an Elizabeth shaped bundle in his arms, but he managed to open the door none the less. Gazing down at his 'precious load' he noticed that she had gone to sleep already, breathing softly.

*She must have been really tired, when she can sleep although she just woke up.* The thought certainly did not amuse him, for it just made him realize how much the evening had tired and upset her.

Perhaps it was better this way. With her asleep he would be able to talk and explain things to the others without her near. So nothing that would be said or done would be able to upset his beloved.

Will felt slightly guilty, sneaking through the Governor's house, on the way to his daughter's private chambers..and to make matters even more strange, he had the Governor's daughter IN HIS ARMS. This really felt strange, he had to admit. Not that he had anything against carrying Elizabeth in his arms, be it awake or asleep. He was grateful for every chance he got to do that, for she was not prone to him fussing over her. This included carrying her if they weren't alone. And even if there wasn't anyone nearby, she seemed to think that it made her weak.

A stupid thought, really. She might look delicate and defenceless, but everybody who knew her, knew her well, would know that Elizabeth Swann was in no way weak or defenceless.

Will thought back to the day when she had saved him in that cave on the Isla de Muerta by knocking down one of the cursed pirates. He grinned to himself. He still had to bite back a large grin every time someone mentioned a corset.

His 'Liz was not delicate or frail.

Especially not now, and thanks to him.

After climbing the huge staircase (fortunately Jamie wasn't at the front door anymore, indicating, that the most part of the official guests had already left the house) Will managed to get to Elizabeth's chambers without anyone seeing them, for which he was grateful.

He slipped into the room, carefully laying her down on her big king size bed.

For a moment he thought about getting some maid to help her getting out of her dress, but a tiny voice in the back of his mind warned him, that neither woman would be very happy about being woken. So he just slipped of her shoes and covered her with the part of the duvet she did not lie on.

Caressing her cheek affectionately he bent down, kissing her forehead, whispering a silent "Sleep well, my love.", as he gently pushed aside a strand of hair, which had fallen into her face.

With one last wistful look at her Will left Elizabeth to her sleep, steeling himself for the confrontation which, he knew, waited in the Governor's private study.

Only minutes later Will stood in front of the study door a second time. He knocked cautiously, not wanting to make any more noise in the otherwise silent house than necessary.

"Come in!"

Will entered the study.and was immediately under verbal attack.

"Where is Elizabeth? Where did you bring her, what have you done to her?!" Caitlyn demanded.

As his gaze swept through the room again a little pang of guilt made itself known as he realised, that the three people in front of him had stayed in this room the whole time. Waiting for him and Elizabeth to return. He felt really selfish now, for letting Elizabeth fall asleep in the clearing, enjoying it, while these three waited here, probably worrying too..

On second glance he noticed, that the Commodore wasn't present any longer.

*Perhaps Jonathan threw him out.* he thought, and even he could detect the hint of hopefulness that lay in this words. But it WOULD be a funny thing to witness, he was sure.

"Governor, My ladies, I apologize for my tardiness.again." He did not even come to finish what he wanted to say as Cait demanded again: "Where is my niece??"

"In bed." Will replied as calmly as he could. It wouldn't do to get worked up over this now. He was about to elaborate further, when the Governor offered him a seat.

"You don't have to stand there, William. Make yourself comfortable, have a seat." He motioned for him to sit down in the chair Elizabeth had occupied before. Next to Caitlyn. Will silently groaned but sat none the less.

"Thank you."

A question from the silent old lady surprised him again. "Now, could you tell us, how is she?"

He looked straight into Caitlyn's eyes. "She is very upset, disappointed," he moved his eyes to the other two present, "and very tired. The whole evening has greatly exhausted her. On our way back she nearly fell asleep walking, that is why I've brought her to bed." He glanced at the man still sitting behind the desk. "You may want to send a maid to her, to help her out of the dress. I didn't want to wake anybody..least of all Elizabeth."

Jonathan nodded. "Of course. She is in her room?" Will affirmed this question.

"Yes, she was already fast asleep, when I left here there."

Taking a deep breath, eying the three others in the room, he launched into his speech.

"I think that I should set some things right now. Elizabeth and I have not done anything immoral last night, even if our earlier words may have implied such a thing."

Will's cheeks had gone slightly red by now, and he could see that Caitlyn was fighting a blush of her own. But things had to be said this blunt, for further misunderstandings would do no good.

"Then, by all means, explain to us, what exactly you were doing with Elizabeth!" She was still faintly blushing.

With a questioning look at the Governor Will inquired.

"Do you know what happened 10 months ago? When cursed pirates kidnapped Elizabeth?"

Both, Hannah and Caitlyn nodded.

"Well,.I do not feel .comfortable, knowing that they could manage to get into town and get to her, without anybody stopping them." He looked down into his lap. "That is why I asked her father to allow me to teach her fencing. This way she will be able to fend for herself..if I am, or anybody else for that matter, is not there to help her."

When nobody said a word he looked up again, uncertain. They all looked at him, silent, though with different expressions on their faces. The Governor seemed somewhat proud, though Will couldn't for the life of him say why that would be so. Perhaps because his daughter knew how to do a sword fight? Hannah, 'again', acted all strange, this knowing smile on her lips. This was kind of infuriating, if one thought about it.

The last one was Caitlyn Witherby. She watched him with an unreadable face.

"You want to tell me, that you have taught my niece, for god knows how long- " "3 month and 21 days." He supplied.

"- to fight with the sword, like a man??" She asked incredulously, staring at him.

Will looked her dead in the eye. "Yes!"

"To protect her?" She inquired further.

"Yes."

And it wouldn't have been better for her to learn it from somebody who has more experience than you do? You are a blacksmith, next to being a pirate, if I heard right. You only forge the weapon."

"Believe me Cait, he is a formidable fencer. I have seen him train with a sword. The boy is one of the best I have seen. I wouldn't let him near my daughter with a weapon if I did not think that he knows how to make use of it properly, don't you think?" Cait looked back at her brother-in-law, somewhat surprised by his statement.

"Why doesn't she train with one of the british navy officers?" She asked.

"Because I do not trust them on this matter. They would not take it seriously, thinking her a spoiled child that sweet talked her father into this. She would not learn this way." The young blacksmith answered for the Governor.

"And Norrington?"

Will could not help but snort at the mentioning of his (inofficial) arch enemy. "I can show her just as well. And to set things right: Norrington and Elizabeth are NOT betrothed to each other!"

The woman looked outright confused now. "It is what he told me." she told them , looking at each of them. "Jonathan?"

The Governor sighed. "Through this ordeal with the pirates Will mentioned before, the Commodore asked her to marry him. She agreed, though unhappily. Afterwards she explained to him, that she could not marry him, because she was, and still is in love with William."

"Then why would she agree? I do not remember her to be a girl of rash decisions." She gazed at her mother. "Do you?" But the older woman just smiled and shook her head.

"It was for a private reason!", was all that Jonathan and Will could offer the two woman. This was something that only Elizabeth had the right to speak of.

Again an uncomfortable silence hung in the room, until Hannah rose from her seat and declared that she was going to bed. "It is late into the night already, and I am tired, as I am sure we all are. We can continue this tomorrow." She gave them a meaningful glance.

"Of course, mother." Cait rose as well, drawing the two man, being the gentlemen they were, to their feet as well.

"I wish you a good night, my ladies."

"I will see you two in the morning. Sleep well." They nodded, and mother and daughter left the room. But before the door fell shut they could hear the eager voice of their relative.

"Well, now that we have got them out of our hair, how about this box of yours? Am I right in assuming this is the new masterpiece you have worked for the last days?"

"Aye, it is. I thought you would want to see it."

"You thought right on this, Will. Now show me, if you will."

"My pleasure, Jonathan."



For my reviewers:

Lordlanceahlot: I am glad you liked it! ^^ Sorry, I won't
be able to do fast updates this often.

Silver Eyes Bright: You know, now? ^^

KatAleson: I know, that some of the words don't suit in
the timeline. Do you know some, that would be better? I
would appreciate your help.

Seaspray: I really tried to make Will sound like he
really thought about the whole 'changing' thing.*lol*
Do you have your results for the exam already? Hope
you've done well.

Orli*N*keira: Thanks!!

Orlandolover: I try my best to update. ^^;

PirateAngel: Thank you!! I am glad you like it and that
people can understand, why I let my characters act the way
they do ^__^

Kariana: Thanks for the ball room thing. I wasn't sure
anymore how to write it ^^;

Odango-Chan: I love your long reviews, have I mentioned
that already.? Sorry, I sound like a broken record ^^;.
Love them anyway.
*gg* I know she is one lucky chick, isn't she? And
Will too!
Don't worry about Jack, he will have a word in this.
*eg*

Southern Spell: I will, I promise!

Lady Halwyn: Thanks for the review. ^^
And yes, English is only my second language ^^;.
Sorry about the fault in the storyline ^^; I will try not
to do it again. Thanks for telling me!

Enchanted dreamer: Thanks a lot ^_^
Well I speak English and French, and I am studying
Chinese and Japanese at university.

AnnieBananie279: ^_^ Thank you!




I finally finished this chapter! *cheers*
I had some problems with the dialogue.tell me what you
think of it. I am soo happy that so
many of you like this story. It really keeps me writing. Or
at least it helps a lot! *winks*

One question! Is anyone interested in the conversation
about Will' s 'new masterpiece'. Or
should I skip this part completely? I mean, by now you all
should know what's in it.so, well
tell me what you want!!
I will see you in the next chapter. NightLight4