Chapter 17

In the dark cabin of the Pearl, Elizabeth is wrapped in Jack's protective arms, holding her tightly against him as they lay on the bed. She has never felt so content or so in love.

"I don't know why," Elizabeth begins "but I feel like I've never been gone. It's strange."

Jack pushes her on to her back and looks into her eyes as he begins to speak, his tone quite serious.

"Elizabeth, I need to show you something, but first you have to tell me that you trust me."

"I trust you, Jack. I know you'd never harm me."

"Well then, I need you to close your eyes for a moment, savvy?"

Elizabeth closes her eyes and waits. She hears Jack fumbling and the rustle of something soft, then she feels his hands running down her cheeks.

"Now then, in a moment I'm going to have you open your eyes, you may be shocked by what you see but I assure you there's no reason to be frightened. Are you ready, darling?" he whispered.

Elizabeth nods her response, her mouth to dry with anticipation to be able to speak.

"Alright. Open up."

She opens her eyes and see's that Jack has removed his bandana, he reaches out and pulls her to an upright position then begins to wrap the scarf around Eliabeth's head. He finishes tying it off and says a single word - but it's enough to hit it's mark.

"Remember" he whispers.

All at once, Elizabeth did remember. She remembered her mother with crystal clarity, she remembered a life beneath the waves that she had never lived herself, but most of all, she remembered a love that ran so deeply, that not even the separation of him from her and her from him, nor death in it's most final form, could keep them apart. She remembered.

"Jack? I remember everything. I'm carrying my mother's memories too. You loved her, just as you love me, and she loved you just as I do. How did you do this? How am I able to remember such things?"

"Do you remember the sea?" he asked

"Yes, I can see myself swimming through the water, as well as any fish of sea creature and I can breathe as well. Jack! I am the sea!"

"Look closer, love. You'll see the whole truth."

Elizabeth did look closer, and she did see the whole truth. She saw herself, not as a young society woman, but as a beautiful mermaid who was able to swim as freely as any sea creature could possibly swim. But, she also saw something else, she saw even deeper into herself and realized that being a mermaid was only the surface of her true self. She was a goddess, just as Jack had said, and she was his. The last few lines of her favorite verse ran through her mind.

"Tis an empty mockery to set me free

While my heart in prison still remains with thee.

Well in troth, wil I endure extremity

I could find in heart to lose my life for thee."

So that's how she survived waiting for him for so long. He had married her because he loved her and to give her heart something to help endure the years she would spend locked up in her prison of high society while he was away. He knew that she would perish without a bond to him. He too, had set her free.

She opened her eyes and removed the scarf then reached over and began to put it back on Jack.

"No love, it's yours. I promised your father I'd give it back to you. It once belonged to your mother before it belonged to you and the only way I could make you remember your true self was to take something of yours that represented your magic. Now that you remember, you're free to return to the life that was taken from you." he said, looking rather downcast.

"But I'm a goddess too, and if I stay a goddess not only can I walk on land, but I can stay with my husband. Together, we can sail just like you said. Wherever we want to go, we'll go. We've got the Pearl, we're finally free."

"Are you sure, Elizabeth? I made a promise to your mother to bring you back, and I don't want you to make this decision on my account. You've sacrifced enough."

"I'm sure, I've never been so sure, actually. Does my decision disappoint you? she asked, rather concerned that she had let him down.

"Not at all, love. I've never been so happy, actually."

She smiles at him then reaches in and kisses him.

"Then keep my scarf, I trust you with my life." she replies as she draws back from the kiss.

"One question about my mother. You loved her. Was she beautiful?" Elizabeth asked with much curiosity. She couldn't remember what her mother looked like.

"Darling," he whispered as he stroked her hair, "She was the most beautiful creature I've ever seen, and when I look at you, it's like she's standing in front of me again. I love you, Elizabeth."

He smiles and lays her back on the bed, they wrap their arms around each other and two beings who had been separated for so long were finally together again. Nothing could keep them apart, and nothing would separate them again. Their love would last an eternity.

Night had fallen on the small mexican town, festivities could be heard and laughter and music filled the air. The citizens were oblivious to the dark ship that anchored just over the horizon, two figures standing on it's deck locked in each other's embrace, watching the shore, waiting to embark on another journey - another adventure. A pirate and a goddess. There was gold to be plundered and an Aztek curse to be placed.

Back at Port Royal a young Lieutenant carefully studies a gold medallion. He knows the origin and wonders why the pirate placed it around his neck after he left the burning ship. Perhaps tomorrow he would give the matter some more thoughts, but for now, he closes his eyes and dreams of pirates.