"Why don't you tell me?" Will couldn't keep the bitterness from his tone this time, hard as he tried. He turned his back to Elizabeth and started to walk, unwilling to face her any longer. It was too hard to try and understand her mind, her heart, while his own were in such disarray. Elizabeth stood still, shocked at these piercing words. She'd never seen him like this.
"I can't tell you." She could barely speak, her words a whisper lost amongst the breaking waves. She took a breath of the salty air and spoke louder. "I can't tell you. I don't." He stopped in his tracks, the water splashing against his ankles. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"You don't? Then why couldn't you answer my question before? You said you loved me, Elizabeth. Loved. Not that you love me." He whipped around. He had been almost happy before. It felt like he was being deflated, the air sucked out of him leaving him cold and empty. He dropped his voice. "So you've made your decision. Jack."
She couldn't believe what he was saying. He can't really believe that? "No, Will I—"
"Don't bother. I think I'm starting to understand." He walked back to the house, leaving Elizabeth speechless and alone.
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Lord Beckett de-boarded the Endeavour hastily, but hesitantly. I wonder what she'll say, what she'll think. He hadn't thought of what to say. He had acted rashly, and his paranoia was making him pay. He walked at a brisk pace, determined to get there. He had instructed the crew to stay on board so he was perfectly alone.
The shadows of the island seemed to mock him. They seemed to know his secrets, threatening to tell. He looked instead out to the sea. He could smell the salts, feel the distant spray. He could faintly hear and see a quarrel between two people out on the rocks. Their voices carried far. He heard snatched of conversation, but they made no sense to him. His mind was focused on only one thing—or rather, one person.
When he finally reached the house, he knocked tentatively on the door. A few minutes later, a small boy opened the door. This boy led him into a room where he waited for what seemed like forever. The boy told him the Lady was 'busy' and that he had to wait, The room was rather richly decorated, considering they were in a shanty off the ocean. The furniture was comfortable, the curtains looked rather expensive, and there was a rug worthy of a Governor's mansion on the floor. Where does she find it all?
His examinations were interrupted by a knock on the door, followed with a sharp gasp. His head had whipped around to see a woman dressed in a lilac dress and carrying a darker violet fan. Both looked slightly tarnished, but they gleamed in their imperfection to create a perfect image. He had turned just in time to see her drop the fan from her face. He took a steadying breath; she was even more beautiful than he remembered. She spoke first in a whisper. "Cutler? Is it really you?"
"Cassandra." He breathed the name as if it were second nature. He breathed it not with disdain, but with caring—with passion. He looked different than she had remembered him. He had removed his wig, for one, and his brown hair was pulled back neatly. He was more handsome than ever. His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Where's Jack?"
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Elizabeth walked behind him, not bothering to try and catch up. She knew there was nothing she could say at the moment, so she said nothing. Her thoughts overwhelmed her. He can't believe that. I don't love Jack. I do not love Jack. I love Will. I've always loved Will. She accidentally voiced one thought in a whisper, but as fate would have it, that whisper carried to Will's ears. "I don't love Jack."
Will smirked gently, giving an unwarranted response to her vocalized thought. "If you have to talk yourself into believing it, it probably isn't true." He had reached the house and walked through the doorway and down the hall. Elizabeth ran to keep up and followed him to a small room at the back. He hadn't noticed her until she spoke again.
This time she spoke with more authority, more conviction in her voice. "I don't love Jack. I love you, Will." He had a hard time believing that at the moment. "I have made my choice. I choose you. There was never a choice to be made." She could see he wasn't convinced. No matter what, I can't tell him why. He wouldn't understand.
"Then why, Elizabeth? Why would you do that? You can't love me and kiss Jack. You can't have us both." He sat down on the bed, taking his boots off. He made no invitation for her to come in, so she stood in the doorway. He looked up at her, his eyes daggers. Icy daggers that still burned with the intensity of one thousand suns. He was passionate, he needed this answer, needed it to get through this. But she couldn't tell him.
"You wouldn't understand." She looked at the ground. What I did, Jack was right. I am a pirate. Will's no pirate though. He never goes back on his word, never dishonours himself or anyone else. He has a sense of propriety. No matter what he's done, he's been noble. He wouldn't understand, he'd never forgive me.
He stood up to face her, lifting her chin so her gaze met his. "I wouldn't understand. That's your excuse. I've understood a lot in the past. I risked everything for you, and you don't trust me enough to even try explaining it." He walked over to the other side of the room, staring out the window. I need to think right now. There's nothing more I can do. "Just go, Elizabeth."
Her eyes filled with tears, but there was nothing more to be done, nothing to be said. Reluctantly she turned and walked through the halls, Will's words still ringing in her mind. If you have to talk yourself into it, it probably isn't true… just go, Elizabeth. Just go.