Disclaimer: I don't own Pirates of the Caribbean.
Chapter Five
The murky light shone through the web floor creating intricate patterns across the ceiling of the attic. A lamp shone in
the darkest corner casting hopeful light around the two occupants of the room. Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann are
propped against the wall in the corner carefully going through the decrepit trunk with patient hands and thoughtful
smiles.
"Will, I'm surprised that my Father kept all of my Mother's personal things. When she died, he was utterly destroyed
for years. He disappeared for a month, and I stayed with Mrs. Connor, one of my Mother's closest friends. When he
came back, he was different…closed off to everybody including me. He didn't laugh or joke anymore. He never
mentioned Mother again and all her personal belongings disappeared within that night. I was surprised when he said
that her wedding dress might be up here."
Will found it hard to see the Governor as he once was compared to as he was now. However, he did know that the
Governor desperately loved Elizabeth, even if he wasn't great at showing it recently. "He must have loved your mother
very much." Will did understand that.
"Oh, he did. Both of them were so much in love. She was so beautiful with long golden curls and illuminating blue
eyes. Her name was Guinevere. She used to read me a bed time story every night when she tucked me in." Elizabeth
turned to him with a slight smile, "I got my love of pirates from her. She told the most wondrous stories of the legends.
Father always tolerated the tales because she loved the adventure and sought to instill in me that being a lady did not
mean being meek and humble. When she died, any mention of pirates was met with a thunderous roar. He refused to let
me listen to any more tales."
"Your Mother sounded like a wonderful person. I would have quite liked to have met her."
"She would have loved you Will." Elizabeth replied while lifting a package tied with a fraying pink ribbon. "Oh,
look at this! It is a collection of letters. Maybe they are love letters between my Father and Mother."
Slowly untying the faded satin ribbon, the letters spread out like a fan across the wooden floor. Will adjusted the
light and leaned over Elizabeth's shoulder glancing at the addresses on the various letters. "Looks like there are several
letters from different people. Look at this one; it has been to Singapore, Egypt, and Cape Verde."
"Some seem to be to my Mother while others to my Father." Scattering the letters more, Elizabeth unearthed one that
had been slightly hidden underneath an envelope. "I wonder why this one is hidden unlike the others." Slowly opening
the crease, papers spilled out covered in hurried scrawl unlike the aristocrat penmanship of the others. Elizabeth bent
over trying to read the faded writing. "It looks like it's to my Father about a prospect he took on. Squinting in the dim
light, Elizabeth began to read,
This is a very hard letter to write to friend. Our wives where girlhood friends and continued their
correspondence until the death of your dear Guinevere. Even though we never could see much eye to eye, we
respected each other. When Annette heard the news, she could barely stand the fact that her longest friend was gone
and leaving her small daughter alone. Annette loved Elizabeth as if she was her own child. I tried telling her that
she had you still, but she seemed desperate to tell Elizabeth something. However, I received word that my dear wife
died of illness the past month while I was off on the merchant ship. She never told me what the secret was, but I
have my inclinations about its contents. I'm afraid if it is what I suspect, lives will be destroyed.
However more desperately, I have no idea of what became of my son William after her death. I had arranged for
him to meet me, but I heard that his ship was attacked by pirates. I think you know what that means. I was perhaps
wondering if you could inquire about his whereabouts. I'm terribly concerned about him, and what I might have
done to him through my actions.
With my regard,
Bill Turner
Will and Elizabeth looked at each other through stunned slanted eyes. "My Mother's name was Annette," Will
whispered.
Elizabeth looked at him bewildered, "Our parents knew each other?" Hands slightly shaking, Elizabeth reached into
the envelope again. "There is another letter dated several years later."
Dear friend, how glad I was to receive news that my dear son William was found. Not only found, but by you! A
blacksmith apprentice you say? I know you will make sure that he is provided and cared for. It is too dangerous for
me to come back right now. We must never tell our children our connection to each other. As long as the two
families are kept apart, we have hope that everything will not be destroyed.
I have heard rumors along the coast towns, but nothing is for sure. This may be the last letter you hear from me, I
am going to try to make everything right. Please keep my dear Will safe. I will always be in your debt.
With much thanks and sorrowfulness,
Bill Turner
With tears annoyingly starting to prick at the edges of her eyes, Elizabeth searched Will's own staggered eyes for
answers. What she saw was a man about to break. He looked everywhere but her as if searching for the answers in the
dark nooks and crannies. Slowly she reached over and took his face between her cold hands, "Will…Will…look at
me."
His gaze locked on her own, and she felt her own pain mirrored in his. "Elizabeth," he choked, "my Father might be
alive all this time and…"
Elizabeth finished his shuddered sentence, "and my father knew all along…"
To be continued….
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