Chapter 15
Will stood in a stunned silence, hardly believing what he was hearing. Stories of mermaids, or better yet, that his beloved Elizabeth was a descendant of one? Surely the governor must have lost his mind from grief.
"If I may say so, Governor. I'm sure you suffered a tremedous loss when your wife passed away, and for certain it's an equally tragic event to lose your daughter to pirates, but I think it would be in all of our best interests to stay grounded" Will spoke up.
"Are you saying, Lieutenant, that I'm nothing but a broken down old man whose mind is playing tricks on him during his time of grief?" he shot back, angered at Will for not taking him seriously.
"I'm saying" Will replied, "that perhaps the trauma of recent events has caused your memories to play tricks. I'm sure it's a common occurance and..."
"Lieutenant Turner!" Admiral Norrington interjected. "I can assure you there's nothing wrong with Governor Swann's memory."
Will looked at Norington, shocked.
"You see, I was there. I was one of the new recruits he had onboard during that initial crossing and t'was I who helped wrap and carry Mrs Swann's body for her buriel at sea."
"But that doesn't mean the rest of the story is accurate, my apologies Governor if my opinion seems strong, but surely you can both see my logic?"
"Come sit down, son" Govenor Swann beckoned softly for Will to take a seat. "There's more to this story."
"You! Norrington, is it? In light of recent events I hereby put you in charge of the crew for the remainder of the voyage. As soon as we reach port, unload, restock provisions as quickly as possible and be sure to have Hector Barbossa arrested. In the meantime, help the others search the ship for Barbossa and lock him in the hold once you find him."
"Aye, Captain" James acknowledged, then went about executing his orders.
Weatherby returned to his cabin and his daughter who still lay sleeping in her bed. Dressed in clothes more suited for a boy, Elizabeth was a picture of beauty, even at a young age. She looked remarkably like her mother.
Sitting next to the sleeping child, keeping watch, was another new recruit. A little older than Norrington, with a year's more experience but just one look at this man and you could see that he thought himself superior to just about everyone onboard, including the captain.
"Captain Swann! Your daughter is sleeping soundly. Now that you've returned I shall unburden you from the concerns of running this ship for the return voyage, if you so choose."
"I thank you, Beckett, but I've already appointed that detail to James Norrington, I'm sure he'll do a fine job. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to be alone with my daughter. I'm afraid I'm going to have to break her heart."
Cutler Beckett, looking angered by what he has heard, pulls himself together before he responds.
"Of course, Captain" heading for the door to leave, he stops and turns "Apologies captain, but I must ask. Do you think James Norrington is the right choice for this task? He's only been a member of this crew for nigh on 3 months and is only just getting his sea legs now. In light of what has happened, perhaps it would be better if a more experienced sailor were to take charge of the crew?"
The captain knew he was right, but he really didn't like this man at all, believing in his heart of hearts that Beckett would go for blood if given the chance. But, in that same instance, he was also a coward. Many times he'd shirk his duties on deck during a potential hostile takeover, most usually pirates, and during these times Cutler was nowhere to be seen. Once the squirmish was over, he'd magically reappear and dismiss his absence as that of necessity, usually due to having to deal with a problem in the cargo hold. Captain Swann knew different, he often saw the fear in the young Officer's eyes and he wondered how or why he had ever wanted a station onboard a merchant ship...or any ship for that matter.
"I appreciate your concern, but Norrington has proven himself quite capable of commanding these men. They admire and respect him, I believe he's to be the proper choice in this situation. Now...go about your duties."
"Aye, Captain" Cutler responded, but it was obvious by his tone, he wasn't happy.
A few hours later, Norrington returned and broke the bad news to Weatherby, Barbossa had left the ship in Singapore, nobody was quite sure how but a thorough search and he was nowhere to be found. The captain, expecting this sort of news, simply nodded his head, resigned. He'd send message upon his return to England and a full search would be done. The shore officials in Singapore had been made aware of the situation, but seemed barely interested in finding a rogue sailor who killed a mere woman.
"If we're fully stocked up I'd like to set sail, is everything in order?" he asked.
"Aye, Captain. On your word."
Captain Swann sent the orders and they were on their way again, for the longer than long return trip to England.
A sullen mood hung over the ship during this voyage. Although the men had only seen the captain's beautiful wife in passing, they were all quite captivated not only with her beauty, but with a cetain enthusiasm that she exhibited while onboard. She never said much to them, only smiled, but when she looked out to sea something warmed that smile of hers and made it contagious to all that gazed upon it. Now, that was gone. It was like it was she who kept the morale up, even at a time when it was teetering on turmoil, now the men neither fought nor celebrated, they simply wanted to go home.
About 3 days short of their arrival back in England, a terrible storm brewed up one evening. The waves were so turbulent and forceful that every available man was needed on deck just to keep the ship upright and on reasonable course. Captain Swann kept young Elizabeth closer than usual this night, something did not sit right in his mind and he didn't want her out of his sight. As the sailors fought the driving rain and wind, the captain noticed just off the port side, a dark shadow appoaching. With the rain and sea spray hitting his eyes, stinging them and making them difficult to focus, he thought he made out the shape of a ship. What seemed so very odd, was that this ship wasn't fighting the elements nearly as hard as they. He watched cautiously as the ship drew closer and eventually he could make out it's figurehead which looked to be that of a woman. She was wearing boots, her hair was long and fell down across her back, her dress was pulled aside revealing both of her breasts in a shameless display, her right arm was raised to the sky as if in a wave. Weatherby studied the ship carefully and was suddenly caught offguard by some movement behind him. Instinctively, he turned back inside his cabin and gathered his daughter, something was telling him that things weren't right. Before he had a chance to leave to the safety of the others, a shadow stood in his doorway, blocking his path.
"What is the meaning of this? Get out of my way!" Captain Swann commanded.
"Where is she?" the shadow replied.
"Where is who? I don't know what you're talking about. There are no women onboard this ship!"
"The woman. The one you picked out of the water 4 years ago. Where is she?
"This is ridiculous. I picked no woman from the water."
The shadow steps in and closes the door. In the darkness of the cabin his voice is low and ragged.
"I know your little secret, Captain Swann. I know about your wife. Now tell me, where is she?"
Starting to tremble, Weatherby didn't exactly understand what was happening and thought perhaps he was being blamed for his wife's murder.
"It wasn't I!" he cried. "It was Barbossa. I tried to stop her, tried to warn her and protect her, but she had such a strong will. How could I deny her any sort of pleasures on land when I was responsible for taking her away from her true love. I just couldn't. But I made it right in her death, I returned her to the sea. Believe me if I could do it all over again, I'd have left her free. Now my only memory I have of her is our daughter, Elizabeth."
Tears rolling down his face as he speaks his confession, he pulls Elizabeth close, she holds his hand and looks wide-eyed at the man who she see's making her father cry.
The shadow stands silently for a moment then speaks in an angry tone.
"You killed her?"
"I didn't. I tried to..."
"You did! Had you left her where she was meant to be, she'd still be safe, but you didn't. You stole her from where she belonged. From where she was loved and cherished and all for your own selfish reasons, no doubt. Now, you want to deny that same opportunity to her daughter? I can't let you do that."
The shadow reaches for the little girl, but Elizabeth pulls away and clings to her father's leg in fear. Tears start to fall from her eyes and the man pulls away, clearly she does not want to leave.
"You can't do this to a child! I don't know who you are or what you intend to do, but Elizabeth is my daughter as well and I won't let you or anyone else cause her any harm or grief."
"What I intend to do, Captain, is bring this child back to where she came from. She may be your daughter, but she's also her mother's daughter, and we both know what her mother was. She deserves that life just as much as she deserves the life of a human, don't you think?"
"Then because she deserves it, don't you think it should be left up to her to decide? Clearly she does NOT want to go with you."
"I'll make you a deal, Captain. The girl stays with you for now, but on her eighteenth birthday, if she has proven to have the same desires and longings as her mother, she can be given the choice of leaving and never stepping foot on land again if she so chooses."
"Never!" the Captain cried. "I'll not agree to such terms!"
"Then I'm afraid she'll have to come with me or else I'll have to turn you in for poaching, Captain Swann. You do realize that the penalty for poaching is to be hanged by the neck?"
Weatherby, not happy with what he has heard but realizing he has no choice, agrees.
The shadow kneels down in front of the child, the room much to dark to see his face. He notices the red scarf she wears around her head and begins to untie it.
"What's this? Why is she dressed like a pirate?" the shadow asked as he carefully removes the scarf
"What are you doing?" the captain cried out. "That belonged to her mother and she always dressed Elizabeth like that. Please give it back to her!"
"I'll be needing this for the time being, captain, but don't worry. I've no intention of not letting her see it again."
He stands and walks to the door but before he goes out he reminds Weatherby of their deal.
"Remember." was his only word.
Once outside, the shadow makes a silent vow to the slain mother of the child. He promises to keep her safe and to bring her home where she belongs.