A Civilization Gone with the Wind
Disclaimer: If I owned PotC, AWE would have been way different!
I'm too Young to be a Widow
A/N: Okay, this story is now officially AU.
Elizabeth wondered how in the world she would face the funeral. It didn't seem possible that Will was dead. The funeral would make it final, irreversible. She couldn't believe it. It all seemed like a terrible nightmare. She felt she would wake up at any second, but she didn't awake. Her heart was so empty, it was unbelievable. She didn't even have the comfort of tears.
She ran from the house and to the shore. She felt that she couldn't stay shut up there any longer. She needed a place where she could breathe. Elizabeth looked out at the horizon with dull, unseeing eyes. Then she started.
There was a ship sailing towards her. A ship with black sails. Even from so far away, she knew it the Pearl, returning with its captain. And he didn't know. Jack didn't know Will was dead.
She watched it sail into the hidden cove where she was standing with heavy eyes. Suddenly, she ran towards it. Jack was the first one to swing down from the deck on a rope. He alighted right next to her.
"Lizzie, this is surprise!" he exclaimed. Then, catching sight of her face, "What's wrong, love?"
She looked at him, but still, she couldn't cry or even speak. He put an arm around her shoulders and led her away from the ship and the crew's interested eyes. Jack didn't say a word, but led over the dunes. She walked automatically. Suddenly, he stopped and she stopped, dully. They were out of sight of the ship, hidden behind a high dune.
"What's wrong, Elizabeth?" he asked.
She still couldn't speak, but she fell down limply into the sand. Jack knelt down by her.
"Is it Will?" he asked, very softly. She had never heard his voice sound to kind. She nodded limply.
"Is he – dead?" Jack asked. Again she nodded. And then it came over her. Will was dead. Never again would he be there to help her, to kiss her, to love her. And finally, she cried. Tears ran down her cheeks, until she thought she could cry no more, but still they came.
"Will's dead," she kept on whispering. "He's dead. He's dead."
And Jack put his arms around her, and held her to his chest. She sobbed into his shoulder, and his arms gave her some small comfort. He held her as if he would never let her go until she could bear to stand alone. She wanted to stay there, with Jack, in the sand, forever.
And it was so wonderful to be held by him like this, not as if he loved her, but as a friend. He didn't love her and she didn't love him. He was just an old friend, comforting her in her grief. His arms were strong and she was so weak.
Will was dead and no one could take his place. She didn't want to get up and go one. She wanted to stay right here. But she knew she couldn't. She had to stand up and face the world, alone. And what a hard, cruel world it was without Will. Jack could never help her. In a moment she would get up and go home and get ready for the funeral tomorrow. But not just yet. She would stay here for a few more minutes.
"Elizabeth," Jack whispered. "I know. He was a good man. A good pirate."
With those words, Jack helped her more than any condolences to words of comfort would have done. A good man. A good pirate.
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