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Chapter 4: Boundless Horizons
Trapped.
She was trapped. On all sides chanting, leering, taunting faces. Their hollow eyes, void of emotion, bored into her. Ratty clothing hung on their bones as the moon illuminated the cave, glittering with gold and treasure. Thin fingers were jutted at her and several men held knives, glistening with some sort of liquid.
Barbossa stood at her side, the pale, cool blade of bone in his cruel hand. His mouth was twisted into a sneer, exposing rotten teeth slick with spittle. The stained fingers grasped her own and the sharp edge of the dagger met her palm.
The icy air bit at her exposed arms and neck, sticking little pin-pricks of pain in the skin. One word forced itself past her immobile lips, "no."
The answer was a harsh laugh, echoed by the crew.
Abruptly the scene changed and Will stood before her. A peaceful shore lined with cool palm trees. Their neat white home lay just yards away.
But the serenity in the landscape before her did not penetrate her heart. She dashed forward, propelling herself into his open arms. "Will! Promise!"
"Promise what, Lizzie?" His dark eyes flickered with confusion and love.
"You won't leave me?"
"I would never leave you willingly. I love you too much."
Finally, the pressure in her chest eased and she could breathe easily again. "I was so afraid that I would lose you."
"Never." The word was softly spoken and Elizabeth savored it, repeating it over and over to herself mentally. He leaned in for kiss and just as their lips met the image began to fade like a frosty window touched by warm hands.
The colors melted away and without warning she was in the cave again. Furthermore, it was not Will by her side but Barbossa.
"The blood must be paid." He snarled at her then jerked down, slicing the pale skin away, a long jagged gash in her smooth hand.
But to her horror the gash did not stop after the blade was pulled away. It seemed to feed on her blood and almost eagerly snaked up her arm. Suddenly, there was a fierce horrible pain blossoming over her waistline.
"Will!" She screamed to the heavens, praying he would swoop down and aid her. "Please! Help me!"
Elizabeth fairly flew forward, skirts tangled around her ankles. Her hair stuck to her damp forehead and neck. The wintry perspiration clung to her like a shroud.
Her hands shook wildly as she stood and opened several windows, letting the warm Caribbean air flood the cabin.
She leaned out as far as she dared and as far as her growing unborn child would let her. The gales of wind buffeting her were not gentle yet she didn't move.
In those winds she found peace. She was going to find Will. He would be there when their child was born. He would caress away her fears. He just had to be there.
Slowly and reluctantly she unwound herself from the warm cocoon of wind and slid back into the cabin. Her hands reached for the clasps to close the windows when a tiny black dot captured her attention.
Squinting, she stared at the strange object, one hand shielding the fading sunlight from her line of vision. The dot grew and gradually Elizabeth was able to make out square sails.
Her breath caught and immediately she knew who it was, even before the lookout high above her shouted, "Pirates! Port side!"
Wrestling her skirts from catching on the plush seat she darted out of the cabin onto the deck. The area was devoured by activity. Sailors in blue ran from one end of the ship to the other, preparing cannons, rifles, and swords.
Captain Mitchell stood calmly at the helm, every now and then shouting an order for that to be moved there or a sail to be pulled in.
"Captain!" Elizabeth gathered a fist of cloth hampering her stride and mounted the few steps to the high deck. "Captain Mitchell!"
"Mrs. Turner." He acknowledged her crisply. "If you wouldn't mind returning to the cabin, we seem to have encountered a pirate ship."
"Captain," Elizabeth began to tell him that she knew the pirate captain until she realized how preposterous that would sound.
"Mrs. Turner, pirates are not to be trifled with. Please return to your cabin and stay there."
Feeling insulted, she summoned all of her height and said in a haughty tone only she could attain, "Captain Mitchell, I have been a prisoner to pirates before. I daresay I know their tendencies. I also know how to handle myself. I will return to my cabin when danger arises and not a moment before."
Now it was the Captain's turn to get conceited. "Madam, I am aware of your exploits. I merely wished to keep my promise to your father."
"Your promise to my father?!" Elizabeth's very stance demanded an answer.
"I was charged with your well-being, Mrs. Turner, and I take my responsibilities very seriously." He waved a hand to an aide. "I apologize but this is for your own good."
"What?" Two arms linked with hers and she felt herself being propelled towards the cabin. "No!"
She flailed her arms and bucked, all the while having the strange sensation of déjà vu. "No! Leave me be!"
Jack was on that ship. He had to be. And while the rum-logged pirate could grate on her nerves he was clever. She needed the help he could offer.
A part of her mind asked, at what price? But that thought was brutally quenched as the door slammed shut and a lock clicked into place outside.
Nearly seeing crimson in rage, Elizabeth turned and placed her back on the door still seething. She did not mind that they cared for her well-being. However, when they treated her as a dainty morsel not to be taken seriously, her blood boiled.
Sinking down to sit on the wooden planks, she crossed her arms and waited. Jack would take over this ship easily. Then she would have her chance to speak with him.
--
Jack Sparrow was feeling rather confident at the moment. In front of him sailed a sparkling new ship, one that could be taken and then ravaged for fresh canvas, gun powder, and various other supplies.
His one complaint of British ship is that they had a shocking lack of rum. It seemed not many military men drank the golden, liquid form of forgetfulness.
One perpetually dirt smudged hand stroked his compass while the other lay calmly on the hilt of his sword. "Da-da, da, da-da, da-da-da-da, and really bad eggs…"
Gibbs changed the ships course by a few knots and pretended not to noticed his captain's off tune murmurings in song. After several years, he was used to it.
"Drink up me hearties, yo-ho." Jack suddenly lurched forward. "I'll take it from 'ere, mate." He prodded Gibbs from the helm with two fingers.
The crew intuitively knew what to do and Jack stood, gazing happily at his beloved Pearl in action.
"Oi! You!" He bellowed drunkenly at Marty, a stout dwarf with keen eyes and a hardy disposition. "Run out the guns!" a rakish grin spread over Jack's features, "we've got us a ship to catch."
The Black Pearl surged forward with a powerful gust of wind, closing the distance between the merchant ship and the pirate vessel. The wood seemed to thrum as the waves dusted with foam crashed over the dark hull.
"Bring 'er around…" he muttered to himself while aligning his precious Pearl with the Stanford.
Faces white as sheets on board the merchant ship greeted the pirates under Jack Sparrow's command. The Pearl had become renowned for her looting and her reputation had not been stifled in the least by rumors and exaggerated tales in taverns.
Indeed, the Black Pearl and her crew were amongst the most feared in the Caribbean. Stories followed her wherever she went.
The air froze as each ship summed the other up. Then, with a crack of muskets and the roar of cannons the two vessels greeted each other in gunpowder and splintering wood.
The Stanford held her waters well for a large part of the battle until pirates swarmed her decks like bees over honey. Her crew was subdued and Jack sauntered happily over to survey the handiwork.
There seemed to be a commotion of some sort near the captain's cabin. A female's voice…surely the captain hadn't brought along his wife.
Jack peered around the corner to see a shattered door leading to the cabin and a woman, long sandy blond hair streaming and amber eyes flinty in irritation, arguing with a new member on the Pearl rather animatedly.
Sparrow only knew of one woman who could quarrel with anyone and look gorgeous while doing it. Elizabeth.
Said woman whirled hearing footsteps yet halted stiffly seeing who it was. "Jack!"
"Captain, Lizzie, captain."
"Do not call me, Lizzie." Her tone was pure ice.
Jack pulled out a hurt face and lurched around her. "But it fits you, love. And tell me, why should I call you what you want when you still refuse to call me captain, aye?"
"Will calls me Lizzie. No one else." One pale finger was raised in threat.
"Ah, where is the aforementioned whelp?" Jack's eyes alighted over the space they stood in but no sign of Will.
The cold in Elizabeth's eyes melted and she seemed to draw into herself. Her arms hooked 'round her waist, which looked oddly wide to Jack, and she hugged herself lightly. "He's not here." She whispered finally.
Jack got the impression she wished to continue but did not know how to proceed so he waited and sure enough she began to speak again,
"They came a few days ago, English soldiers, saying that Will had to help suppress the rebellion in the America colonies with the British army. He left to go straighten everything out with Norrington...and never came back."
"Lizzie-"
Her glare caused the words to die on his lips.
"Pardon, Elizabeth, I happen to be heading for said colonies." He left the invitation open.
For a moment a light sprung to her eyes but was quickly squelched. "Jack…I can't."
"Why not?"
"Captain Mitchell, he'll tell my father that you kidnapped me. Then where will we be?"
Jack waved her concern off. "Life is been bloody boring since I was in Port Royal. Wha's a few ships on me tail? Besides, no can catch the Pearl."
"Jack, why the sudden urge to help Will and I?"
"When have I not 'elped you and the whelp? Aye?"
"Jack…"
He cleared his throat and tugged at his tri-cornered hat. "I might possibly be in need of some assistance wif a small debt… but wha's it to you?"
"I knew it!" Elizabeth raised a hand to smack him then thought better of it. "Jack Sparrow, if I didn't need you help to find Will…"
"Captain! Captain Jack Sparrow, if you please!"
"Fine Captain, get me on your ship, help me find Will, and we'll help you. Deal?"
Jack shook the dainty hand she offered. "We have an accord."
--
Will stumbled up on deck, blinking rapidly in the sun's sharp beams. His head still ached faintly but the pain was receding and logical thinking appeared within his grasp once more.
Standing in the center of the main deck was Hawthorne. He was surrounded by the motley crew and they stood crisply at attention.
"Roark!" He barked at a thin, sallow man with narrow features.
"Aye, sir?"
"We have a new recruit. See that he is welcomed."
Roark's pale brown eyes alighted on Will and he stalked, over growling a terse order at the younger man, "Come with me."
Will's eyes narrowed in irritation but he followed Roark as the soldier led him below the decks into the bellows of the ship.
"This 'ere is the galley," Roark jutted a bony finger at a tiny hole in the corridor where a tawny man was bent over a steaming pot, "that is the sick bay," Another miniscule cubby with a few shallow cots lying on the floor. He was brusquely led down the hall before even a full minute had expired, wondering when was the last time that infirmary had actually helped someone get better instead of worse. Due to the filthy conditions he didn't think very recently.
"Here," Roark shoved a stiff red coat into blacksmith's face. "You'll wear this at all times." A loose white shirt and a pair of worn boots followed the coat. "On deck in three minutes for crow's nest duty."
Will watched as Roark left then looked down at the clothes. A hole the size of sixpence lay on the right shoulder and a tear at least three inches long marred the fabric just above the left hem.
Elizabeth would have thrown a fit…Elizabeth! The baby! Panic surged through Will's veins. How could he have forgotten about them?!
She would work herself into a frenzy finding him! No matter how he wished to encircle her in his arms and place a kiss on her soft lips, he wouldn't want her in danger. Knowing his Elizabeth, she would go overturning every stone to find a way to free him from these military restraints. And that very possibly included getting herself stuck in mires of danger.
Will wouldn't have minded joining the Army if he knew Elizabeth and the baby would be alright. But being forced…
"Turner! Now!" Roark snapped down the hallway.
When Will emerged from below in the starched uniform looking horribly out of place, he was directed immediately to the crow's nest.
A musket was shoved in his hands and he was given rapid instructions on how to load the weapon. The sailor's head disappeared from crow's nest and Will was left alone with his thoughts and a boundless horizon.
TBC...
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