A/N: Thank you very much for all your wonderful reviews!

Disclaimer: Disney owns POTC.

Chapter 41

The sight of Poseidon, and the sense of the ceremony being about to begin, put Elizabeth back into a grimly sardonic mood.

"You didn't even tell me what this plan is going to be", she whispered through her gritted teeth, shooting Jack an irritated look.

"You wouldn't like it even if I've told it to you, Lizzie", said Jack with a smirk, briefly pondering over her unbelievable ability to shift from one mood to another in virtually no time, yet, there was nothing artificial or unnatural about her behaviour. It crossed his mind that she was more of a pirate than he was... The idea startled him, and make him smirk even more.

Elizabeth looked at him with her eyes narrowed. She thought that perhaps he was laughing at her nervousness, and it rather irritated her. After all she was the one to stand there in front of an altar with some sea madman, not even knowing what would happen, and what Jack's plan of action was.

"Would it be too difficult to at least once come up with a plan that I might actually like?", she asked, looking anxiously around the room, as all the wedding guests began to place themselves in the rows of strange green chairs, and the room was gradually becoming more quiet, as conversations had ceased when Poseidon had walked into the room.

Jack smiled at her, but his answer was cut off by Philip Fairwood's approach. "How are you, Elizabeth?", he asked, handing her a glass of water.

"I can recollect a few occasions on which I felt better", replied Elizabeth with a sigh, taking a sip of water. "Thank you."

Philip Fairwood smiled.

"So", said Jack. "Time to go."

Elizabeth shot him a grim look, and wanted to put the glass away, but Jack caught her hand.

"No, no. Drink it all, luv", he said tapping the glass.

Elizabeth looked at him suspiciously, but Jack only smiled innocently. And in case of Captain Jack Sparrow an innocent smile could only be a sign of mischief.

Nonetheless, she drank the water obediently. When she finished, the three of them walked towards the aisle in the middle of the room.

Poseidon already stood by the altar. Elizabeth took a place beside him, not even bothering to look up at him. She was just waiting for something to happen, Because something was going to happen. Something is going to happen, because Jack has planned something to happen. Yes, it was a simple, and logical conclusion.

Alright. Perhaps "logical" is an exaggeration. Elizabeth sighed.

"Is something wrong?", Poseidon's voice suddenly caught her attention.

She looked at him blankly, thinking that she perhaps sighed too ostentatiously. "No", she said unsmilingly.

"You look pale", he said studying her face.

"Do I?", Elizabeth raised her eyebrows, quite annoyed by his absurd concern. But then, she suddenly began feeling rather strange indeed.

"If everything is alright, let us begin, then", replied the god of the sea, ordering the minister to start.

The minister (who instead of ears had snails, which Elizabeth noticed with some disgust) coughed, and welcomed "all who were present on this joyous day."

Elizabeth had to look at him, although he would rather look behind her to see what Jack, her father, and everybody else were doing. If they were doing anything, of course. She sighed again, but then she realized that sighing became quite of a task for her right now. She had some difficulties catching her breath, and her head began to ache.

The minister began delivering the words that they were supposed to be repeating, when Elizabeth felt that she was not able to stand anymore, and she collapsed to the floor, causing a general commotion in the ball room.

Jack reached Elizabeth first. He scooped her in his arms, propping her head, so it would rest on his shoulder.

"Elizabeth!!", the Governor exclaimed, rushing towards Elizabeth. "What have you done?", he shouted solemnly, giving Poseidon a very hard look.

Jack glanced at Governor Swann, who coughed slightly. "What have you done?", the Governor repeated more calmly, but still rather angrily.

"Good Lord!", bellowed Gibbs, making his way through the crowd of guests, who quickly formed a circle around the god of the sea, and unconscious Elizabeth. "What has happened here?", he exclaimed in a very loud voice, causing Cotton who stood right beside him to grimace, and cover his ear with his hand.

Jack rolled his eyes, but it went unnoticed. He stared at Gibbs, who continued ask pointless questions full of worry.

"What has happened to my daughter?", asked the Governor in a harsh tone of voice, directing his question to Poseidon, who looked sincerely perplexed, truly worried, and rather stupefied by the incident.

"I...", he started, but then thought better of it, and called his secretary. "What has happened?", Poseidon asked the seaweed-haired man, as soon as he appeared by his side.

The secretary blinked. He would have never wished to anger the god (and leaving Poseidon's question unanswered would most certainly enrage him), however he really did not have an answer to that question.

"I do not know, Your Majesty", he stated hesitantly, looking around the room.

Poseidon seemed dissatisfied with his answer.

Meanwhile, as Gibbs continued to ignore him too preoccupied with his exclamations, Jack shot Cotton a meaningful look. The sailor noticed it immediately, and poked Gibbs on the ribs. It made Gibbs winced, but also finally look at Jack. A glimpse of realization flickered in his eyes.

"Is there", he shouted, "a doctor in here?"

"That's right!", agreed the secretary, content to find an idea to hold on to. "Is there a doctor?"

"Here, here", a muffled voice came from the crowd, and soon Philip Fairwood emerged from among the guests, carrying his doctor's box under his arm.

He squatted down beside Elizabeth, who laid unconscious in Jack's arms.

Jack could not help but smile lightly, as he sat on the transparent floor holding her. She looked so beautiful. She was beautiful, and she loved him. This latter thought, especially, would never fail to amaze him. She wanted to be with him, she intended to change her life completely, and leave everything behind to spent all her days with him. Days and nights. He grinned inwardly, but the grin quickly faded as he remembered what was going on right now, and what will she say... He swallowed hard. A slap? Two slaps?... A bottle of rum landing on his head?... Fortunately, at least the Kraken was no longer an option.

Philip Fairwood took Elizabeth's wrist in his hand, and leaned down towards her. It seemed as if the entire room held its breath.

"And?", asked Poseidon impatiently.

"How is she?", asked the Governor in a faltering voice. Too faltering, perhaps.

"Well", started Philip Fairwood grimly. An ominous look on his face.

"Is she alright?", asked Gibbs worriedly, taking a step forward.

Philip Fairwood sighed.

"Come on, do something to wake her up", said Jack urgently, wrinkling his eyebrows.

The doctor sighed again.

"What is it, tell us!", exclaimed Poseidon, rather irritated by Philip Fairwood's reluctance to present the diagnosis.

The wedding guests watched the scene with bated breath, shifting their eyes from each speaking person to the other.

"Why is my daughter unconscious?", asked Governor Swann, knitting his eyebrows.

Philip Fairwood shook his head.

"What?", asked Jack sharply.

"What is it!", shouted Poseidon, dangerously nearly thrown off balance.

"Well", Philip Fairwood staggered to his feet. "She is not unconscious. She is-"

"What do you-", Gibbs and the Governor started in unison, unexpectedly cutting the doctor off.

"What do you mean?", cut in Jack, glaring briefly at the two men. Gibbs coughed apologetically.

Philip Fairwood gave out yet another frustrating sigh, and said at last: "I'm afraid... that she is... dead."