(OT: This is officially during AWE, on their trip to Singapore. Obviously, they are almost there. Here's a little hope from Will, but as usual, confusion bounds into the picture. I know it might feel like I'm pulling them back and forth and ending with the same product, but in my mind it is like Will and Elizabeth are attached to opposite ends of a bungee cord. Will tugs one way, and Elizabeth has slack, but is then pulled back by guilt, and then Elizabeth yanks again when she sees a small degree of her cruelty toward Will, but is eventually held in place by guilt, once again. Hopefully this makes a little sense. Anyway, next you will find out why exactly they needed a new ship from Sao Feng. After all, as these chapters state, they did have a ship... They had to have one to get to Singapore... But they lost it somehow... And of course, thanks for the reviews and encouragement. And sorry for the gaps. I've been very sick lately.)
William quietly descended the short staircase, aware that a few sailors were already slumbering, and slid around the crowded cargo. He shifted the large bundle in his arms as he padded through the chamber, squinting in the dim lamplight. He soon discovered the woman's still figure sitting upright in an ivory colored hammock.
Elizabeth lifted her eyes to the man's face as she slung her legs over the edge of the collapsible bed and noted the articles of clothing that he gripped with both hands. She also gazed at the object that was tucked under Will's arm, but her attention was brought back to his face when he spoke blandly.
"We will arrive in Singapore within a few days." Elizabeth scooted to one side of the hammock, as if to form a seat for the man, but Will remained standing. "Barbossa requests you wear these… As a disguise." He stepped forward and laid the pile of clothes beside her, avoiding eye contact. Will then grasped the large straw hat from under his arm and handed it to the woman, who promptly plopped it on her blonde head.
"How does it look?" she asked as the Asian hat tittered.
"A little large, but other than that you will blend in just fine."
"Good. I would hate to look silly." Elizabeth's smile vanished as she removed the hat and chucked it beneath the hammock. The pair gazed at one another in silence for a moment, and Will shifted his weigh from one foot to the other in uncertaintly. He considered leaving, but her gentle voice made him stay. "Promise me you'll be careful when you sneak into the temple." she said, imagining the horrors Will might face.
Will's eyes flared at her tender tone, invigorating his hope all the more that they could salvage their relationship. "I promise," Will replied in an identical tone.
"What is the vestment for?" Elizabeth inquired as she hoisted the black narrow vest into the air, slipping her fingers through the various pouches and slits.
"To conceal weapons… Pistols, knives, hand grenades…" Will averted his eyes, suddenly remembering his other purpose of visiting Elizabeth.
"Oh," Elizabeth answered softly. "Does Barbossa plan on blowing me to pieces?" It was a light hearted jest, but apprehension still lurked behind her voice and her remorseful brown eyes.
William veered around Elizabeth's hammock and began rummaging through heavy-laden crates as he responded, "He assumes they will not suspect a woman of treachery. Although, these foreign men don't seem the type to take risks."
Elizabeth rose from the bed, and the cool planks chilled her bare feet as she strolled over to Will's kneeling figure. "What are you doing?" she asked quizzically, but Mr. Turner was too preoccupied to reply.
He yanked a thin wooden box from one of the crates, and he waved for Elizabeth to follow him back into the light. She curiously observed him, and she crawled back into the warm hammock, wrapping her feet in a single wool blanket. After fingering the bronze hinges for a moment, Will offered the long package, and Elizabeth accepted it greedily, but paused to gaze at his frail eyes.
"Your birthday. It is tomorrow, if I'm not mistaken." he tenderly explained, with one hand still lingering on the container.
"Oh Will," she murmured. "You remembered." She slid her hands over the case, recognizing his craftmanship. He was so wonderful, but she did not deserve such a gift.
"How could I forget?"
Elizabeth immediately realized it was a rhetorical questions, and it yanked her heartstrings with the knowledge that she was causing or had caused him distress. She fiddled with the latch, partially wondering what it concealed while also wishing she had never accepted the gift.
"It's not much." Will attempted to explain his meager offering. "I just thought you might need one of your own…And if you dislike it, you don't--"
"Will," she interjected, tugging a glistening jian out of the container. "It is beautiful. You made this… for me." Elizabeth allowed the box to clatter to the floor as she turned the steel sword over in her palm, admiring the glinting blade.
"I saw them in the last market and decided it might be useful…They were once considered the most elegant and civilized of the Chinese weapons." Will abruptly cut off his speech, realizing how stupid he must sound. What are facts to Elizabeth? And yet, her eyes were alight and gazing into his, interested in his words and in the curve of his mouth. "I think every pirate needs their own sword. I realize it isn't the best gift… I'm sure it wasn't what you expected, but it was all I could do with our limited access to supplies."
Elizabeth bit her lip at the title-at the horrid brand-and nodded as she replied, "No, Will, it is wonderful." She winced uncontrollably, brushing her blonde locks behind her ears in nervousness.
Will noticed the woman's anxiety, but he refused to succumb to her concealed burden. The man outstretched his hand and slid his fingers up to the flat hilt, spinning it in Elizabeth's soft palm once more as he leaned toward her. "See," he said, tapping a spot on the narrow blade. "If you look here…"
Elizabeth felt her nerves grow taut at their proximity, and she considered scampering away or leaning out of his grasp, but instead, she raised the jian to eye-level to investigate his notion. There, at the base of the sword, were two initials engraved in a pretty cursive writing.
E.S.
She read the letters softly to herself and then repeated her own name as she traced the curled letters. "Elizabeth Swann…"
"You did this?" she asked, suddenly yearning to embrace Will for a present so lovely, but guilt locked her in place. He had created something for her… A precious sword that he must have known would mean so much more than the simplicity of a weapon.
"Of course," Will replied a little too eagerly. Their faces were extremely close, and her hot breath grazed his cheek, making Will's eyes blaze with vibrant memories of the good-natured past. As the man rose, he impetuously kissed Elizabeth's forehead, attempting to thwart her gaze of disgust or confusion.
She looked up to him, locking onto his gaze with such fierceness Will could not break away. "Thank you, Will." she said emphatically, impulsively clasping his hand for a brief moment. "It means more to me than you can imagine."
He nodded, now thoroughly confused, and then swiveled around, approaching the staircase in silence. "I do only want the best for you, Elizabeth. Whatever that might be." he announced softly, his head slightly sagging as his footsteps clomped against the staircase.