Disclaimer: Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann belong to Disney along with the rest of the Pirates of the Caribbean

characters.

Chapter One

The sound of metal hitting metal filled the humid air muffled by the distant sound of thunder. Each sound was a stroke

of practice care divided by a resounding boom in the distance. The wind rattled the wooden shutters desperately trying

to gain entrance. The pungent smell of rain slowly wafted through the shop. Suddenly a crack was heard and a window

shutter smashed into pieces against the oppressive walls.

Will Turner quickly looked up from the sword he was smoldering surprised at the interruption. His expression

quickly turned from surprise to puzzlement at the prospect of a storm as he strode to the damaged window. Looking out

of the now completely unbarred window into the ebony sky, Will Turner felt his breath catch and puzzlement turned to

fear. Running down the dirt path with reckless abandonment was a woman with masses of golden brown hair flying like

ribbons into the air. Her dress was torn and stocking feet flickered up with each step. But it was her face that made Will

Turner stop with a pounding in his heart. The rain suddenly came with a resounding whoosh drenching everything

within seconds. The woman stumbled and fell and for a second, andWill was afraid that everything was lost. Pushing

herself up from the ground, she continued her desperate run as Will left the window and threw himself at the latch on

the door. It stuck for a minute because of the humid air but with a wrench pried open and slammed as the wind caught

its path. Will felt a human body tackle him, and he felt his arms go around the familiar shoulders. Heart pounding

he looked into her eyes and desperately searched for answers in the drowning chocolate eyes. "Elizabeth," he

whispered softly in her curls as her arms came around his waist and tightened at the words. "Elizabeth…," he began

again but realized he did not know what to say. He had no idea what was going on. No idea why she looked like death

was chasing after her or why she was down at the blacksmith's at this hour. Looking down at her, his puzzlement turned

to fear. "Elizabeth, you're bleeding. What happened?" He looked once again back into her eyes that were covered with

a thin shroud of mist. Suddenly, he understood.

"Will…," she whispered, "I'm so sorry." A single tear trailed down her dirt smudged cheek creating a path without

hope.

To Be Continued…