A/N: Thank you, dear reviewers! Again, I took something from AWE...
Disclaimer: PotC belongs to Disney.
I let go of the rope and stepped forward a little. Please please please don't leave without me!
"Careful, James," I said coolly, all the while telling myself to be careful, "You don't want to turn into one of the murderers you detest."
"A young lady, brought up well, ready for a respectable life. All ruined by that one time the Black Pearl's crew kidnapped you. What a shame,"whispered Norrington. "What is your father going to think of you?"
"It doesn't matter anymore," I said.
"We shouldn't have let Sparrow live that day, when he was fated to die. And that Turner, protesting! We should have killed him, too."
"He's dead now--"
"I'm quite afraid that the sea has ruined your wits," continued Norrington. "Or Sparrow. Yes, I've heard he can be quite irresistable and seductive..."
"What a shame," he repeated after a pause.
"You're not going to fire," I said, and I felt confident that he wouldn't, though he held the gun resolutely.
"What makes you say that?" he asked sharply, and cocked the gun.
"It's not so easy," I whispered. "It's not as easy as you think."
"Contrary to what you think," he said, "I have done this before."
"Yes," I said, walking up to him, "but you have never done this before."
I put my arms around him gently, raised my head, and pushed my lips to his. I leaned in, heard the gun drop on the deck with a hollow crack, felt his hands grip my waist, and started stepping back. I'm doing this for Jack; I'm doing this for Jack! And even as I thought that, I could feel a tiny drop of pity for Norrington. But I have to leave. I continued stepping back, encouraing him, and he stepped forward to meet my lips, until I hit the railing. I let go of him, groped behind me and found a rope. Then I drew back.
Norrington looked at me, surprised, perhaps, and disappointed.
"Elizabeth," he said softly. "Please... Come with me...?"
I shook my head.
"It's too late. And I've made a bargain with them."
He stared at me longingly.
"Let me go," I whispered. "Just this once."
He said nothing, his hands still around my waist.
"You want to," I said, my voice sleek and beguiling.
He looked past me at the ship behind.
"Go," he said suddenly, his voice rough, as if hiding something underneath. "Go!"
I kissed him again, this time briefly.
"Thank you, James. I knew you would do it for me." I grasped the rope and swung myself out over the water, gripped the rope with my feet as well, and inched slowly along without looking back. When I finally reached the bow of the Lady, I leapt and landed on the wood. From the other side, I saw Norrington draw his sword and slice through the ropes. Then he turned away, and after a while the Dauntless moved slowly away.
"Welcome aboard," said Henry, "... Miss Elizabeth."
"Don't call me that," I said distractedly, as the ship set sail. "How are you going to find the Pearl?"
"Our captain has some treasures for navigating. If you would come with me..."
"Jack's not the only one, then," I muttered, following him to the captain's cabin.
Henry showed me a map of the Caribbean Sea. It was detailed and beautifully drawn. He handed me a quill.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Write the name of this ship," he said. Bewildered, I wrote Lady of the Sea in the middle of the map. It felt strange to hold a pen. I hadn't done so in months.
"Oh!" I whispered. A miniature drawing of the Lady appeared on the map, moving slowly through the water.
"It shows where ships are," said Henry. "Now write the name of yer ship." I wrote Black Pearl on the map, and a drawing of the Pearl appeared too, nearby. It was moving away.
"Aye. Now we have a heading, and if ye would like to rest, we have a cabin for ye."
He showed me to it, and I sat down on the bunk.I sighed, exhausted, with only one thought left now.
Where is Jack and what is he doing?!