Let me first appologize for the French in this chapter, and possibly the chapters to come. I have NEVER taken French nor do i care to. I merely got my information off the internet so blame the scholars for my mess ups. I hope you enjoy this! And remember, any suggestions or critiques are welcome, just e-mail me :-)
Will picked up and carried Elizabeth in his arms. He went below deck to their cabin quickly before they drew any attention. He laid her on the bed softly as he drew her hair away from her worry drawn face. She struggled to set up as Will knelt by her side.
"Does it hurt?" He asked attentively
"It's a throbbing pain… it's not sharp like Mrs. Yates said it would be." She spoke, her voice slightly quivering.
Will placed his hand on the side of her cheek. His eyes were switching from her face to her stomach and back again. "Maybe its alright. Maybe everything will be fine. It will be fine Liz."
She simply nodded and placed a quick complacent smile on her lips. Will stood and kissed her on the forehead. "I'll go and tell Jack to hurry. We need to get you to a doctor as soon as we can." He turned to go to the door and put his hand to the knob then paused. "You know…we're close to Port Royal. It wouldn't take long to dock and find –"
Elizabeth shook her head furiously. "No. We don't know what to expect if father knew we were back. Not yet Will… please."
"Alright" He said quietly as he stepped out the door and above to the deck.
He found Anna, Gibbs, and Jack engaged in a conversation near the helm when he approached. "'ow is she?" Jack enquired.
"She is in pain, a throbbing pain, I'm not sure if we should be relieved or not… We need to return home as soon as possible."
"Right." Jack agreed. "But 'bout the boy…"
"What about him… He's fine isn't he?"
Anna threw her hands up in frustration. "Sure! He's fine all right. He's so fine that when he woke up, he wouldn't stop yelling at us. He ran over to the corner of the room and hid from Gibbs and I."
"What was he saying?"
"Hell if I know! Some other language… when we left him he was still in that bloody corner with red cheeks and teary eyes." She said with a sigh.
. "Is that all? Can we not move forward…please we need to be in some sort of rush here." Will said, slightly frustrated with their ignorance of Elizabeth's situation.
"One more thin'." Jack replied. "The boy… Gibbs saw a ring on 'is necklace. It held the crest of the Deveau family. One of the most prom'nent French families in the Caribbean."
"So why did we find him, captured by the Shaman?" Will asked quizzically.
"It's a popular story circulating tha' the boy's father, Sebastian, was a rich land owner with as many slaves as money could buy 'im. He treated 'em poorly with long hours and unjustly punishment. The slaves planned a revolt not too long ago, headed by Daktari an' his followers. They killed the man and 'is wife, his son must have escaped…or the Shaman had other reasons for saving 'is life. Perhaps he took mercy on the boy."
Will thought for a moment. Then complied that when Elizabeth was better she might be able to talk to him. He knew she was learned in other languages during her time in school. He left the threesome on the deck, lit by the yellow moon's rays. Below deck he found his wife where he left her, with hands clenching to the sheets. He gave her a sympathetic look of admiration for her pain. He leaned down and put his arms around her as she placed her hands behind his neck. Gently he lifted her as he whispered, "Let's get you cleaned up hmm?"
Slowly he brought her to the tub that he filled with warm water. She sat on the side as he helped her undress. Soon she was naked and stepped in the tub with quivering legs. Liz sunk slowly in the water that enveloped her with security. Will washed her just as she had done for him when he was weak with his illness. They barely spoke, instead they merely looked quietly at each other while the rag washed away the blood, tears, and sweat left on her thin frame and round belly. Just before Will had finished, Elizabeth spoke up. "I'm sorry Will… If anything goes wrong I'm sorry."
He shook his head and talked with a gentle edge in his voice. "No love, there is nothing to be sorry for. We're going to have a healthy, happy baby soon…"
She said nothing; the worry in her mind was plaguing her thoughts. The idea of her child being hurt before it was even born, the difficulty of the birth, and the difficulty the pregnancy had already presented was heartbreaking for the soon-to-be mother.
"Will, if we have a boy – he'll carry your name." She said simply, after a moment of silence.
Will smiled and bent down to kiss her forehead, but Elizabeth tilted her head back further so his lips met hers in a sweet kiss. When he drew back a smile was back on her face, though quickly it faded again.
"And if it's a girl she will have your mother's name." He replied.
She looked up at him, surprised. "Katherine?"
He nodded. "I like Katherine…my little Katie will be then envy of all the lads." He laughed. Elizabeth returned the amused reaction. "But what of your mother? She deserves just as much of an honor as mine does…"
Will shrugged his shoulders. "If it is a boy, he has my name. If it is a girl- she will be her mother's daughter, I know she will. She deserves a more of her mother's side… But if you like she can have both: Katherine Abigail Turner." He smiled.
Elizabeth was silent in thought for a second then nodded. "I do like it… Katherine Abigail or William Benjamin… I think I'm getting the hang of this." Liz smiled.
"You see – everything will be fine…" Will reassured her. He stood up and got her robe that hung on the door. Slowly Elizabeth stood up in the luke-warm water as Will placed the robe around her shoulders then took her hands in his and helped her out of the tub. He reached around her and took the robe's belt and tied it loosely around her waist.
"Now, do you feel any better?"
"Much." She said, giving him a small smile. "The pain has stopped… I just need to rest now."
Will nodded and walked her to the bed, but just before she was to lay down there was a knock at the door. Will sighed and opened it slightly to find Jack immediately in the way.
"Has she gone yet?"
"What?"
"Has she talked to him yet? We're all a bit curious you know…" Jack replied eagerly.
Elizabeth could hear from across the room what the two men were talking so furiously about.
"No Jack she's tired, just let her rest."
"Will?" Elizabeth enquired to her husband; he turned to face her but didn't stray from the door.
"Is that Jack? What does he want me to do?"
"Nothing, its of no importance –"
"Aye it is!" Jack said, pushing past Will and into the room to talk face to face to Liz. "That boy in there is French. I have some speculation that you know what the bloody hell he's saying…so would you be so kind…" He said, placing his grungy hands together. "As to have a word with the lad?"
Elizabeth looked at Will's apprehensive face, and then looked to Jack who was anticipating her answer, wondering why it was taking so long to reply. "Yes I suppose I could try and speak to him." She said quietly.
Elizabeth stood and wrapped the robe tighter around her, then put up her damp hair into a nice bun. She went to Will and kissed him on the side of his cheek. "Don't worry, I won't be long." She said before giving him a reassuring smile and turning to the door. He nodded and followed her out, but instead to go above on the deck, with Jack behind him.
Liz cracked open the cabin door; she glanced around to see no one in the dimly lit room. Slowly she stepped inside and continued to look. Suddenly she heard a small creaking sound coming from the opposite side of the bed, out of site. She approached the bed and lifted her head around to see a small young boy, knees to his chest, face hidden, trying to be invisible. Elizabeth bent down to get closer and attempted to place at hand on his arm. "Bonjour" She said gently.
The child jumped at the sound of her voice and let out a small whimper as he jumped on the bed, away from her.
"Ce n'est pas grave" Liz spoke, again with the same softness in her voice, telling the child it was all right.
He looked at her skeptically, but with growing trust – seeing that this new lady spoke his language, and urged him to talk to her. Elizabeth showed him a friendly smile and moved slowly to sit on the bed, careful not to scare him. "Je m'appelle Elizabeth…Tu t'appelle comment?" She said, attempting to enquire about his name.
His small face softened as his bright blue eyes stared into her friendly brown orbs. " Tristan."
Liz's face lit up, as she knew the boy was starting to trust her. "Tristan, Tu as quel age?" She asked, guessing that the child could be no more than five years of age. He hesitated for a moment, then stepped closer to her with his small hands behind his back, and his round, dirty face, fully staring up into hers. "J'ai quatre"
Elizabeth nodded and pursed her lips in thought, and asked him apprehensively if he spoke English, for her knowledge of French was running out. "Tu parles anglais?"
His nose crunched up in deep thought, then his small voice replied: "Yes."
Elizabeth was surprised at this, he was four years old with knowledge of two languages, his bravery of the whole situation had impressed her so far and this was just another amazement that the boy presented her with. "Oh, how do you know how to speak English?"
His face dropped, then he struggled to find the right words. "My mama, she…. talked like you. She was of Angeland … like you." He said, quite pleased with himself for speaking so plainly. "She showed me her way of talking. But papa did not like for us to talk like that with him." He said, a slight wave of disappointment covering his features.
"I see." Liz replied. "Well you are safe here. No one will hurt you, I promise." She smiled.
The child's brow furrowed with confusion. "What is… promise?"
Elizabeth was amused with his innocence and wit. "Promise is to make sure what you say will happen, will come true…. You understand?"
He nodded with agreement. For a moment neither of them spoke. Instead the boy walked closer, and with child-like intentment sat nearer to the friendly, pretty woman. "Mama and papa are not coming for me…"
Elizabeth was shocked by his bluntness with the subject. But assumed that the boy was smart enough to figure out what had happened to his parents. "Yes…I'm sorry" Was all she could say, apologizing for what was really none of her fault, but feeling every burden for him. His face was sullen as he looked down at his swinging feet from the bed, his tattered shoes – once shining, were now torn and dirty, along with his trousers and smart fitting shirt. His light brown hair was long and brushed his lashes when he moved his head. The grubby little hands would constantly move it out of the way for his blue eyes to see. The candle flickered as the ship rocked across the Caribbean's clear waters. "Je suis fatigue" Tristan said quietly through a yawn, forgetting the agreement to speak English.
Liz nodded and stood to pull the sheets down for him to crawl in. She pulled off his small worn shoes then allowed him to get below the thick covers.
There was a knock at the door, which automatically got the child's attention and broke him out of his secure feeling. Elizabeth went quickly to the door and opened it to find Will. He slightly stepped in the room and glanced at the boy lying in bed. "Is everything alright?" He asked.
"Qui est que?" Tristan asked in panic as he pulled the sheets up to his chin with little fists, enquiring to the strange man who had entered the room.
"Ne t'en fais pas" Elizabeth said, assuring him not to worry. She went to his side and sat near him on the side of the bed. "Voici mon mari, Will" She said with a smile, indicating that Will was her husband. Will took his as an introduction and nodded his head with a smile to the young boy. "Hello."
"It's alright, everything is fine." She reassured him. Again she tucked him in and this time she planted a light kiss on his tousled hair. She put two fingers to her lips then pressed them against the wick of the candle next to his bed to extinguish the flame. Will opened the door for her when she came closer. "Goodnight Tristan."
"Bonne nuit" He replied the same in his small voice.
She smiled and started to walk out the door and into the hallway, but was stopped by the child calling her.
"Madame Elizabeth…"
"Oui?" She replied, putting her head back in the door.
"Merci beaucoup" He said sincerely, his eyes poking out from under the sheets.
She smiled and nodded her head. "De rein" she said, returning the sentiment. Liz shut the door quietly behind her and joined Will in the hallway. He placed his arm around her shoulder as she sighed with a heavy heart. Liz put her head on his shoulder as he held her there in his arms in the midst of the open corridor. "You're going to be such a good mother…"