(Thank you for all the reviews! They really make me want to write new chapters as much as possible!
This one is another angsty one, as you can guess. I'm debating myself on what scenes to create at Tia Dalma's shack, due to the fact that I have written a brief 3-chapter story called "The Distance is Crushing Them" that is set between DMC and AWE from Will and Elizabeth's point of view. I have also written a scene between Jack and Elizabeth, which I might copy and include in this fic because I do think there could be so much more closure, without making it J/E shipping. Well, I will have to dwell on the future chapters for a little longer, but here is this one. Rather shorter than previous chapters, left inconclusive as expected, and nothing extremely important. Just defining the tension and the sorrow. Fresh and full of distressing thoughts.)
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For hours they rowed in complete silence, the image of the Black Pearl descending into the depths reappearing each time a crew member blinked. Will had watched salty tears dribble onto the woman's vest, and she gazed at the black bottom futilely, absent-mindedly grasping the canteen when it was offered. He outstretched his hand a few times and even stroked her knee for a moment, desiring even the slightest remark.
Elizabeth refused to glance at the man, her eyes constantly welling with tears that could not be thwarted. The woman ached when he silently laid his hand on her knee, as if the very contact stung her skin. She did not deserve any kind treatment, no matter the circumstances. And yet, she squeezed his dirty fingers for her own comfort, but then slid his hand away. It was not her right anymore. Not now.
"Elizabeth," he started, his voice low and tender.
"Will, please..." It was all she could say as she attempted to scoot further away from her fiancé. She wasn't nearly composed enough to speak nor was she equipped to deal with her remorse openly. A governor's daughter no more, she thought sorrowfully this time. An incinerating stamp paved her body and pressed on her lips; Elizabeth Swann was branded a liar, a murderess, and a pirate. Her words were chained and drowned with guilt, and her tone was singed with loathing for herself. Elizabeth ducked her head, unwilling to make eye contact again, even though she felt his poignant brown eyes gazing at her in confusion.
When had it began? Did Elizabeth settle for him when she realized that Jack was unapproachable as a pirate? Questions vibrated in his mind, but he finally averted his gaze when the longboat entered the eerie swamp. William lifted his eyes to the sun that was slowly descending into the rim of the serene ocean, thinking of all the times he had spent with Elizabeth and her fervid desires. When he swiveled around, he met Elizabeth's distraught eyes as they entered the mouth of the Pantano River.
"Where are we going?" she asked gently, forestalling another stretch of eye contact by gazing into the winding foliage and murky water.
"To Tia Dalma's..." Will trailed off, but then added, "She helped us find the key."
"Oh," she released softly.
"It will take us the rest of the day to reach her." Will attempted to maintain the conversation, but Elizabeth would not have it, only nodding in reply.
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As the sun pulsated along his back, Will wriggled in the sticky black leather jacket, beads of sweat seeping through his vest and into the open wounds. He slid his arms out of the coat and allowed the moist material to scrunch around his lower back. After sighing deeply, Will turned to Mr. Gibbs, but was interrupted when slender fingers trailed his back, tenderly separated the ripped beige vest, and pressed gently upon his intact white ruffled shirt.
"Will," Elizabeth's voice made his ears tingle. "What happened?" Without a second thought, she lifted Will's already loosened blouse and traced the five lashings that overlapped one another. Her eyes widened in horror at the leaked drops of dried blood that were spread across his back, obviously from the strain of William's battles with the Kraken.
"My father..." Will replied weakly, glancing over his shoulder at her stunned expression. "I failed to secure the mast tackle, and he was forced to flog me." His head sagged solemnly as the rest of the crew gazed at the couple in complete astonishment.
"Oh, Will." Elizabeth bit her lip as she stared at the horrific gashes, and Will trembled slightly when she accidentally grazed the smallest laceration. Tears began to trickle down her masked grimy cheeks. He had suffered so much for her. He had been whipped in an attempt to steal the key... To rescue her. To prevent anything bad from happening to her.
"I am all right, Elizabeth." His blouse fluttered against his back as she released it gently. Will turned back around and grasped her hand. "I hardly feel them anymore." It was a bold-faced lie, but he didn't care. He endured the sting of the lashes each time he shifted position in the wrong way, and for now, he could not recline on his back when he slept. But if this is what it took, to assure Elizabeth that he was there for her, through thick and thin, whether she loved him or not, he was willing to sacrifice anything for her.
"That's not true." she blubbered, her lip quivering in anxiety and guilt. Elizabeth could not believe that those cavernous wounds did not make his entire upper body ache at night.
"Elizabeth..." He leaned across the longboat to embrace her, and the crew wisely turned away, but Elizabeth shook her head.
She did not deserve a loving embrace when her beloved had suffered so much and gained so little. Elizabeth crossed her arms and swiveled around, tears still flowing steadily and images of the past fortnight flashing in her mind. What disgrace she had caused to her heart. And if he found out, if he discovered the revolting self-serving act she had used against Jack, how could he ever see her the same way? Elizabeth refused to allow Will to share her burden. Her heady burden that she would cart around for the rest of her days. She was unworthy of his care. Unworthy of his sentiments. And unworthy of his love.