Chapter 2 – The Crossing
11 years Later
"Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me. We kindle and char, inflame and ignite, Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho. We burn up the city, we're really a fright, drink up, me 'earties, yo ho", the eleven-year-old Elizabeth Swann sang softly at the bow of the ship that slipped silently through the black waves.
"We're rascals, scoundrels, villains, and knaves, Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho. We're devils and black sheep, really bad eggs, drink up, me 'earties, yo ho", Scarlett Swann joined in with her sister's song as she climbed down the shrouds. Her younger sister smiled up at her as Scarlett joined her at her side, less than a year between them, they could not be more opposite in their appearance, or more alike in their minds. Elizabeth had soft, lightly tanned features with beautiful blond curls that cascaded from her shoulders, warm brown eyes. She donned a light blue dress with white cotton frill, very appropriate to her age and class. Scarlett, on the other hand, had dark brown hair, and curls that did not fall elegantly as her sisters did, but stuck out in various directions. Her skin was a pale white, so much so that it appeared near translucent against the fog. But it was her eyes that were her most striking feature, they were of a deep blue, as dark and changing as the sea they sailed on. She, on the other hand, wore a much planer dress of a deep red, which her father thought scandalous, but which she insisted on for it matched her name.
Both sisters gasped in sync as each felt a rough hand clamp down on their shoulders, they looked up to see the quartermaster, Mr Gibbs, looking down at them with a nervous expression. "Quiet little ladies, cursed pirates sail these waters, you both don't want to bring them down on us, do you?"
Elizabeth looked unnerved, however, Scarlett's eyes gleamed with the mischief that had become so accustomed to her, "How invigorating that would be", she smiled sweetly, earning a frown from her sister.
"Invigoratin!" he scoffed, "Won't be so invigoratin if pirates were to climb aboard and cut out your tongue for bein' so bold!"
"Mr Gibbs!" the three turned to face the new voice and found it to be Lieutenant Norrington, "That will do", he warned.
"They were singing about pirates", Mr Gibbs defended himself, "bad luck to be singing about pirates with us mired in this unnatural fog. Mark my words".
"And so is everything on this earth, according to you Mr Gibbs", Scarlett rolled her eyes.
"Consider them marked", Lieutenant Norrington told him dismissively, "Be on your way".
"Aye Lieutenant", Mr Gibbs grumbled as he began to shuffle away, "It's bad luck to be having women onboard too, even wee miniature ones".
"And why is that pray tell?" Scarlett called back in annoyance, from birth she had seemed to have a strong disposition against the prejudices held against her sex, "Perhaps because they could be more competent?"
"Scar!" Elizabeth scolded, "Father will hear you".
"Sorry Lizzie", Scarlett sighed, but her sister only smiled, "I think it would be rather exciting to meet a pirate".
"As do I", Scarlett agreed, "A handsome one at least".
The Lieutenant seemed amused by their childish fancies, and he was as quick to dismiss them as he was Mr Gibbs, "Think again, Miss Swann's', vile and dissolute creatures the lot of them. I intend to see to it that any man that sails under a pirate flag or wears a pirate brand gets what he deserves", he turned to them and smiled, "A short drop and a sudden stop". Scarlett felt her stomach flip at the insinuation and turned to see if her sister shared her horror but saw only confusion. However, it was quickly made evident, the meaning of the Lieutenant's words by Mr Gibbs, who imitated a man hanging at the gallows with his scarf.
"But surely every criminal act cannot be answered with death?" Scarlett protested, but before the Lieutenant could answer, their father saw fit to intervene. "Lieutenant Norrington I appreciate your fervour, but I am concerned about the effect that this subject will have upon my daughters".
"My apologies Governor Swann", Norrington murmured, slightly embarrassed to have offended his superior.
"I find it all rather fascinating", Elizabeth beamed.
"Yes", her father replied worriedly, "That's what concerns me".
"Papa when I am old, I shall become a barrister, and I shall see to it that only the most heinous acts be punishable by death", Scarlett sang happily, only for her smile to disappear at her father's laughter, "Of course not, my dear, you will marry a very fine gentleman and have lots of children", and he patted her lovingly on the head before walking after Norrington.
Scarlett huffed sulkily as she moved to the side of the bow, "I vow now that I shall never marry".
"Of course, you will Scar", Elizabeth laughed, "Do not forget your handsome pirate".
"No", she snapped, "Not even a handsome pirate, I will die an old maid and be happy, rather than tether myself to some horrible old man".
"Oh, scar you are so funny at times", Elizabeth giggled, "how miserable my life would be without my sister to make me laugh".
The two sisters shared a look, before bursting into a fit of laughter, both melodious and light. However, their laughter was soon quickly interrupted, as both sisters watched the waves, and witnessed, to their horror, a young boy, floating on a piece of driftwood.
Elizabeth was the first to act as she leapt into action, "Look, look there is a boy in the water!" she cried out.
All heads turned, and after a mere second's hesitation the crew on the deck ran to the side of the ship, were there he was, to their unified shock and horror, a boy floating on the waves.
Norrington wasted no time as he called out in a commanding voice, "Man overboard! Man the ropes. Fetch a hook. Haul him aboard!" At once the crew sprang into action, and the young sisters could only watch in fear and odd curiosity as the deck became alive with thunderous activity. "Come, men, pull him aboard!" Norrington called out.
The mean heaved the ropes, and by the grace of God the hooks latched into the fragile piece of wood that kept the boy afloat.
He was carried aboard in the arms of one of the sailors and laid carefully before the feet of the two sisters, who could not help but stare blankly at him, too shocked as to know what to do. "He's still breathing", Norrington sighed thankfully, as did most of the crew upon hearing that they were not carrying a dead child upon their ship.
Their relief was short-lived, as Gibbs held onto the shrouds, horrified by what he saw, "Mary mother of God".
All heads turned a second time, and none, particularly the girls, could scarce believe what they saw. A wrecked ship, slowly sinking beneath the waves, engulfed in an inferno of fire.
"What happened here?" Governor Swann trembled in astonishment.
"It's most likely the powder magazine", Norrington attempted to assure him, "Merchant's vessels run heavily armed".
"A lot a' good it did them", Gibbs muttered, albeit loudly.
Norrington shot him a glare, as though to warn Gibbs to hold his tongue, however, on this occasion, he was ignored. "Everyone's thinking it, I'm just saying it", he defended himself once more, and focused his gaze on the carnage, "Pirates".
Scarlett's eyes widened in alarm, surely hers and her sister's singing could not have brought this on? Governor Swann laughed anxiously, although he could not dispel the alarm expressed on his face, "There is no proof of that … it was probably an accident".
It seemed that even Norrington did not like the chances of the Merchant's fate being an accident, "Wake the Captain immediately, heave to and take in the sail. Launch the boats!"
Governor Swann manoeuvred his way through the increasing madness of the deck towards his young daughters, and crouched low, taking both their hands in hands, "Elizabeth, Scarlett, I want you both to accompany the boy. He'll be in your charge. Scarlett, as the eldest, you must watch over your sister".
"I always will Papa", Scarlett told him firmly, and she took her sister's hand in her own. The men quickly began to load the longboats. With that, they knew that they had to proceed with their own duties, in watching over the boy. Elizabeth was the first to approach him, as he lay lifeless on his back.
"Lizzie be careful!" Scarlett hissed as her sister reached out a gentle hand to brush the wet hair from his face. In one of the rarer occasions in their lifetime, Elizabeth ignored her sister, seemingly mesmerised by the boy before her.
Both sisters were alarmed as the boy suddenly reanimated, gasping for breath as he clutched Elizabeth's arm for dear life. Scarlett's first instinct was to protect her sister and grabbed a dagger that had been laid aside by a member of the crew. She held it pointedly in both hands, ready to attack if necessary as she aimed it at the boy.
"It's going to be alright", Elizabeth attempted to soothe him, as her instincts told her, "My name is Elizabeth Swann, this is my sister Scarlett".
"Will Turner", was all he could manage to rasp.
"We're watching over you Will", Elizabeth told him calmly, and it soon became clear that Will's consciousness would be very brief, as he once more laid his head back, sapped of strength, and closed his eyes.
Scarlett watched as her sister beheld the sleeping Will, puzzled by a small flash of colour that she saw around his neck, she dipped her hand beneath his shirt, producing the necklace he wore in her palm. Scarlett could see it clearly from where she should and was utterly bewildered by what it was.
"That's a medallion", she breathed in wonder, "That means he's a –
"Pirate", Elizabeth finished, with equal amounts of amazement.
"Has he said anything?" Norrington asked, catching both girls by surprise as they turned to face both him and their Father, Elizabeth doing so whilst hiding the medallion behind her back, Scarlett whilst still clutching the dagger.
"His name's William Turner. That's all we found it", Elisabeth lied coolly.
"Scarlett, what on earth are you doing with that knife?" Her father gasped, "give that here", Scarlett complied obediently, still too amazed by what they had discovered about Will.
"Take him below", Norrington nodded to his men, and at once Will Turner was ushered from their sight. Both sisters walked toward the opposite end of the ship to the quarter-deck, wanting privacy in which to speak freely. But as Scarlett placed her hands on the polished wood, another, more astounding sight occurred before her. She glanced at her sister, hoping she could see it too, but Elizabeth was too engrossed in the medallion to look up from her hands, and so Scarlett watched on, allowing it to be imprinted upon her memory.
A ship with black sails, bearing the pirate's colours, sailing off at a tremendous speed in the distance.