7. The Queen's Leash
"You seem to have done well for yourself, Will," said Elizabeth, glancing around his cabin, and the feast set out on the table. She never thought she would see Will in a Captain's uniform of the Queen's Royal Navy. Blacksmith turned seaman, strange indeed.
"I suppose one could say that. I took the East India Trading Company up on their previous offer to hunt pirates, after you left. Searching the seas for pirates seemed the best way to find you again."
"I see. So you're a pirate too, then."
"Not a pirate, a privateer. I was granted letters of mark, and perfect legality to do as I please."
"So long as you stay on the Queen's leash." Will waved the remark away, considering it insignificant. "So, are you going to tell me what happened?"
Elizabeth glanced up from her barely touched food at the Captain's table, to meet Will's coldly staring eyes. Those dark orbs seemed to bore into her from across the table, amplifying her guilt. It was always one thing to follow your own heart, to do exactly what you knew was right for yourself, and run away. The game changed when one was forced to face those left behind who loved you, depended on you, trusted you.
"About what?"
"You bloody well know what. Let's start on the night you freed Jack's crew, and stole the Pearl back."
Elizabeth looked down at her hands folded in her lap. She'd been coerced into wearing a dress once again; after taking to her cabin boy's attire for so long, the heavy folds of the skirt felt utterly alien. The bodice restricted her breathing, clinging tight to her sides, cutting across her shoulders, the neckline scooping low on her breasts. She didn't like it, and wanted her knickers back.
"From there we took the Pearl to the Island of Lost Souls, and freed Jack."
"How?" Will demanded.
Realizing Will didn't intend to let her leave out any details, she related the whole adventure. He listened quietly, intently, up until she got to the part of why she didn't return home. "…And I decide to keep sailing."
In a fit of anger, Will hurled his goblet across the room; it careened into the opposite wall, leaving a red stain. "Please, Will, Don't¾"
"Don't what? Don't be furious that you left me for that filthy pirate? I trusted you, Elizabeth."
"I know, and I'm sorry. Truly, I can't tell you how sorry I am for what I've done to you. But it no longer felt right, Will. I had to go. If I married you, I would¾"
"You would what?" he demanded. "Have a warm, secure home with the man who loves you more than anything? I would choose you over gold any day, but I guarantee that rapscallion Jack Sparrow would toss you to the wind at first inclination!"
Will worked himself up into a grand fit, his face turning redder and redder with fury. "So tell me the rest. Where on the Pearl did he kiss you this time? Was he good in bed? Was it worth it?"
"Jack and I are not together," she protested sharply. "I did rescue him, because it was the right thing to do. I did not fall into his arms, or his bed."
"Oh, so you're just sailing with him?" asked Will sarcastically, not believing a stitch of what he heard.
"I love the sea, Will. I love the adventure, and the freedom of going anywhere you want to go, just because you can."
"But you don't get to go exactly where you want to go, my dear, because you're not captain. Unless you have some sort of influence on his ear."
Elizabeth glared at her ex-fiance. "I'm usually quite happy to go where Jack wants to go. He always leads us to an interesting adventure."
"Is that all you care about? Adventure? What about responsibility? What about the people who love you?"
Turning up her eyes in her most indifferent manner, she shrugged. "I have a whole ship full of people who care for me, the wind in my hair, a pocket full of gold, and a cup full of rum. What more could I possibly need?"
Will's lip twisted with disdain. "Smith!" he bellowed, and the officer entered his cabin. "Toss Ms. Swann in the brig, if you please. And make sure she's not in the same cell as Sparrow."
"Aye aye, sir. Come along." He gripped her upper arm, and pulled her towards below deck. His grip was entirely too light, he underestimated her. She knew she could have easily broken away, but what would it win her? The time wasn't right. So she went along with Smith, who placed her in a grimy cell next to Jack, fine dress and all.
"Well well, ain't we dressed prettier than a peach," said Jack, glancing up. He sat with his back to the shipboards, watching the door, and the rest of the hold around him. "Are you and Will back together, then?"
Elizabeth glared in the Captain's direction. "What do you think?"
He smiled smugly. "Well good, then we can still get married."
She rolled her eyes; the joke was getting tiresome. There were only so many times a man like Jack Sparrow could ask her to wed him, before she would want to take him seriously.
With a deep sigh, she leaned against the back wall of the cell. Suddenly, she felt quite overwhelmed. However she knew the feeling would pass, and then she would formulate a plan, as she always did. "No worries, love," said Jack reassuringly. "We'll get out of this pinch and be back on the Pearl in no time." Reaching through the bars, Jack offered her his hand, gold rings gleaming in the lantern light. Elizabeth stared at the hand for a few moments, puzzled, until she realized what he meant. She placed her small hand in his, taking comfort in the calloused skin, the strength clasping her fingers.
Feeling exhausted, she leaned her head against the bars near Jack. "Don't get any ideas, Captain Sparrow," she said, teasing more than warning at this point.
"I wouldn't dream of it, love." He patted her soft hair through the bars, relishing in the feel of her silky hair under the pads of his fingers. "Sleep tight."
Well, what do you think? Please let me know, even if it's only in a few words….