Chapter 1 The Dream

"Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho."

Will was bent at the waist over the Aztec chest with the cursed gold medallion hanging from his neck . The chanting ceased, and Barbossa took a gold knife in his right hand, and in one swift stroke he slit Will's throat. Will's head dropped, and rolled onto his chest. Barbossa took the medallion from Will's neck once blood had dripped onto it, and Will's body collapsed, never to move again. Elizabeth screamed as he disappeared behind the chest, and Barbossa dropped the bloody medallion into the chest. The scene vanished before her eyes, and was replaced with blackness. Someone grabbed her arm, and whirled her around to face them. She recognized the filthy pirate.

His dirty-blonde hair was grimy, tangled, and teased from wind at sea. His skin was sun-burnt and weather beaten. On the left side of his face, under one of his piercing black eyes, ran a long scar slanted vertically towards his nose. His chapped and dirty lips were split into a menacing grin. Black, brown, and yellow teeth shown, rotting in their places, ready to fall out as soon as they were pulled from his gums. "I've found ye," he said, his voice as frightening as his image.

The scene around her changed again. Jack lay beaten, bruised, and bleeding in a cell. Several pirates began kicking, punching, and beating him at the same time.

"Stop!" she yelled at Barbossa.

He laughed at her, and the pirates continued. After a long while Barbossa left her side, and took his sword from its leather sheath at his hip.

"No!" she screamed at him. She knew what he was going to do.

The pirates cleared away for Barbossa. Jack lifted his head slightly, looking up at the shadow covering him.. Blood dripped from his mouth to the floor, and he lowered his head back down to the floor wearily. Barbossa raised his cutlass above Jack, aiming for his heart.

"No!" she screamed again, this time louder. She wanted to run to Jack and block him, but her feet wouldn't move. It was as though they were nailed to the floor.

"Elizabeth," came a faint whisper.

Down fell Barbossa's stroke, plunging deep into Jack's heart.

"No!" she screamed again. "Stop!" There was nothing she could do. " No!"

But no matter how hard she cried and screamed for Jack's safety, for his life, it wouldn't be granted to her.

"Elizabeth...Elizabeth...Elizabeth! Wake up!"

She jolted awake. She could barely make out the outline of her fiancé leaning over her. She brought a shaking hand up to meet her face, and discovered that she really had been crying. "Oh my God," she whispered. Her heart was hammering against her chest.

"What happened?" Will asked. He was still leaning over her. He knew that she had been having these reoccurring nightmares every night. Each night the nightmare extended longer than the night before.

"He killed him," she whispered.

"Who killed who?"

"Barbossa killed Jack!"

She realized that her breath was unsteady, and her heart was still hammering as fast as ever. Will pulled her into a sitting position, and gathered her in his arms in an attempt to calm her.

"It was just a nightmare," Will told her. His voice was tender, and comforting, but she wasn't comforted.

"I think it's a sign," she whispered.

"Do you want to take a walk," he asked pulling her away from him, and looking her in the eye. This was what she normally did to ease her mind. She nodded in agreement, and went behind her dressing screen while Will pulled on his shoes and jacket.

Her dreams had become vicious in her mind for about a week or so. She feared what would come if they continued to torment her. All week she couldn't seem to think about anything but them. Her mind continuously wandered, and she couldn't concentrate on anything. To make matters worse, the thing that she was supposed to be concentrating on was her wedding. There was at least one thing always going wrong in the kitchen in preparation for the banquet. The decorators couldn't place things yet, and the orchestra was confused about some ballads that were requested. But, of course, no one ever said that weddings were simple to plan.

She glanced up at the moon that was full in the black night sky. Several stars twinkled, like diamonds scattered through the black curtain that hid the world. Salty air reached her senses, and she realized that the beach surrounded her. The journey through the cobblestone streets of Port Royal seemed to have gone by without her notice. Will had also been very silent during the journey. Or, perhaps he may have said something and she hadn't heard. She glanced side-ways at him, but he was staring at his feet. The wind blew at them, whipping the skirts of her dress that she had exchanged her nightdress for. She hadn't thought to bring a shawl, and she shivered as the sea's breeze kissed her skin. That seemed to catch Will's attention. He slipped his jacket off, and draped it around her shoulders, kissing her neck.

"Thank you," she whispered, and she stopped walking. He walked past her accidentally and, when realization caught up with him, he returned to her side.

"What is it?" he asked, standing behind her. She was now facing the bay where the water, like a mirror, reflected the black sky and the moon.

"I could have sworn I saw someone standing in the water," she explained, scanning the black water but found no sign of anyone.

Suddenly Will playfully grabbed her from behind. She jumped and screamed, frightened, then turned to face him. "Mr. Turner," she whispered, her voice full of amused warning. She hit him on the head.

"Ow," he laughed. "You'll pay for that." His eyes were dancing with amusement. He lunged for her, but she jumped out of the way.

"No!" she screamed, laughing. He started to chase her, and she ran through the water's edge, which met the sandy shore. She wasn't good at running in leather slippers, which she had refused to replace with shoes. Will caught her easily, grabbing her around the waist, and pulling her down. They both collapsed onto the sand, and rolled twice before coming to a halt. Will kept his arm around her waist, and leaned over her.

"What do I have to pay?" she smiled.

He leaned down, and kissed her long and deeply.

"Just that," he breathed, releasing the liplock.

She smiled as the water crept silently up the shore, and wetting the bottom of her dress. Will lay next to her on the sand, his arm still around her. It was the perfect moment, and she never wanted it to end. She glanced back at the ocean and sat up straight.

"What?" Will groaned, apparently not wanting her to move.

There was no mistaking it. There was a man standing in the bay, about 20 feet away. It slowly faded away once she had seen it.

"Will," she said and her own voice scarring her. "There's someone standing in the bay."

"What?" he asked sitting up as well. But the person was gone.

"I've found ye," Barbossa's words replayed themselves in her mind.

"He knows where we are," she told Will. "We have to go. We can stay at my father's."

"What? Why?"

"I'll explain once we're there."

"Mr. Turner and I are here to see my father," she pleaded with the naval soldiers guarding the gate to her father's home.

Will had bought them a home about a week ago, and they were going to live in it after they were married. Truly, her father's home was her home, but she didn't consider it so. She had asked Will if he would stay with her tonight because of her nightmares. But he had insisted on her staying with him at the shop because he didn't want her father to suspect anything. Her father was at the fort tonight, and was predicted to come home in the early morning hours which made it easy to sneak to the shop.

"He's not here tonight," one of the soldiers answered.

"I know," she answered impatiently. "Just, please, let us in. I still live in this house, and you work for my father, thus you work for me." Her voice rose, she was tired, and these guards were wearing her patience thin. Even Will took a step back. "Now, please! Let - me - in!"

"Yes, Miss," they both jumped and, instantly, fumbled around to unlock the gate. They swung it open and let them in.

"Thank you," she said as she and Will passed through. They walked silently up the gravel and dirt path, dust lightly gathering at their feet. After the path came several circular slate steps with black wrought iron railing. She knocked three times on the brown wooden door. It was almost instantly opened by Mr. Stevens, the butler.

"Miss Swann," he said, and she could tell he was confused.

"Mr. Turner and I are here to stay for the night," she told him urgently as the wind picked up and thunder rolled in the distance.

"Come in," Mr. Stevens said.

She and Will stepped into the house. At that same moment, she saw her maid, Estrella.

She was carrying several white table cloths in her arms. "Miss Swann," she exclaimed, jumping in surprise. A couple of the white table cloths toppled out of her arms to the fine polished floor.

"Estrella," she answered, and began to help her pick up the table cloths.

"I can get it Miss," Estrella, the ever cautious maid, answered.

"You put those down," she ordered her maid. "I'll bring these to you."

Estrella obeyed the command. As ever the faithful maid she was it didn't take much to scare Estrella, she was like an explosive, ready to go off. If anything made her scared, angry, or stressed, she was hysterical. But she was also kind, gentle, and obedient. She would never put a toe out of line, or disregard her position, and class, in life.

Will, who had been watching the scene quietly, rushed forward to help her.

Once they had folded the table cloths, she carried them to the next room where several tables were set up for the reception for their wedding tomorrow. Estrella began laying the table cloths on the tables, and Elizabeth followed in suit. Will watched, apparently amazed at what she was doing. After she and Estrella finished Estrella sighed as though she were exhausted.

"Is thereanything I can do for you Miss?" she asked, stifling a yawn.

"Mr. Turner and I are here to stay the night."

"I'll set up a room," she said heavily.

"I'll be in my room," She interupted. "Mr. Turner can stay in the one beside it. There is no need to prepare either."

Estrella looked about to protest, but decided against it.

Thank you Estrella," she said and left the room, Will following her. Up the winding staircase she and Will climbed. Finally they came to the landing, and she went to her room. She turned the door handle, but remembering about her promise, she turned back to Will.

"I promised I'd explain," she said heavily, "come in here, and I will."

She led Will into her room. "Sit," she instructed, and he sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her intently. She sat at her dressing table. Thunder rolled and rain pattered the roof as they sat there in silence, staring at one another.

"Barbossa knows where we are," she said. "I don't know how, but I think he was standing in the bay, watching us."

"But, Elizabeth, Barbossa's..."

"Dead, yes, but it could have been a ghost or... or... his soul. It's just what I saw.

"If it was him, then why is he here and not on the seas?" Will commented staring out the window. She folloewed his gaze and watched the rain that rolled down the roof glide towards the ground, creating a beaded curtain infront her window.

"I don't know," she whispered.

Silence filled the room except for the soft beating on the window pane. Lightning split the sky like a vile knife cutting away all that was once good in the black sky. Where had once been clear sky, were now clounds. Dark, gray bunches, luming over the earth like an endless piece of land. Where had once been dryness, was dampness. It was as if the world ahd been poisoned with an elixer that could never be taken away. It gave her an uneasy feeling, like she was standing on the edge of a cliff. Something was going to happen, something was going to change them, and it wasn't for good. Will sighed heavily and she was brought back to Earth with a jolt. She stood and went behind her dressing screen. She slipped her dress off over her head.

"Is that all?" Will asked still sitting on the bed.

"I suppose," she replied, hanging her dress over the top of the screen. She pulled off her bodice as well and hung that over the screen as well.

"Well then," Will said as she tugged her crisp white nightgown over her head. "I'll go to bed." She heard him stand and she grapped a dressing gown. Throwing it on she stepped from behind the screen.

"You didn't think you weren't getting a good night kiss, did you?" She inquired.

"I was hoping I might." He admitted.

She crossed the room to him and threw her arms around his neck. He pulled her into him in a deep, embracing kiss.

"I love you," she breathed after pulling away.

"I love you too." And he left.

No matter how hard she cried and screamed for Jack's safety, for his life, it wouldn't be granted to her.

"Stop! No!" she screamed as she watched Jack dying at the end of Barbossa's sword.

"Elizabeth! Wake up!"

She jolted awake as she had the time before. Will was leaning over her. The door to her room was ajar and a candle was lit on her bedside table.

"What happened?" Will asked.

"Nothing... N-Nothing changed," she stammered.

He sighedas though releived. He lifted her much like a child and lay down on her bed with her laying ontop of him. He slid his arms around her waist and she lay back on him, resting her head under his chin.

"How much noise was I making?" She asked him, closing her eyes.

"I could hear you next door."

She sighed. "Sorry to disturb you."

He shifted his head. "You're worth being disturbed over."

"Really?"

"You're worth anything." He kissed the top of her head softly.

There was a long silence, which was broken by Will. "Once I had gotten Jack to help me rescue you from Barbossa, he asked me how far I would go to save you. I said I'd die for you."

"Really?"

"Yes."

He smiled as the memory crept back into his mind.

"We're going to steal the ship?" he asked the pirate before him, and gestured toward theInerceptor. Then he followed Jack's gaze to theDauntless. "That ship?" Will confirmed as they hid under a bridge.

"Commandeer," Jack corrected him. "We're going to commandeer that ship," And he pointed to theInterceptor. "Nautical term... One question about your business boy," he turned around to face him. "There's no use going... This girl how far are you willing to go to save her?"

"I"d die for her," he responded honestly and forcefully.

"Oh good," Jack answered, patting his shoulder and turning back to look at the bay. "No worries then."

He hadn't known what Jack had meant by that, but he had found out. His blood, well more his father's blood, was needed to lift a curse that made a crew of pirates immortal. He would have to trade himself in for Elizabeth's safety, which he did. But he was double-crossed, which had resulted to Elizabeth being deserted on an island with Jack.

He shifted and Elizabeth moaned ever so slightly. Apparently she was asleep. But she was in a deep slumber and didn't wake.

"I love you Elizabeth and nothing will ever change that," he whispered a promise to his soon-to-be wife. Even though she wasn't awake, he knew that his promise reached her in her slumber.