True Love: Forever Reunited
Chapter 24: A Battle, a Goddess, and A Proposal
Jack Sparrow was worried. A rare occurrence to be sure, but he was. He gazed around the silent room; Andrew and Amelia sat near Groves, attending to him as best they could until the doctor arrived; Willy, Charles, and Anna stood nearby, Willy looking like he wanted nothing more than to go after his father; Norrington, Ana Maria, Teague, and Barbossa stood talking quietly with Mr. Riley. Jack meanwhile, just paced back and forth. He was concerned for the Turners; a fleeting glance at Willy told him volumes about how the poor boy was feeling. He was only nine years old after all, and this was a lot to deal with.
Jack's thoughts were interrupted when the door burst open, revealing Andrew and Dr. Sullivan, who, in his hurry, appeared to still be wearing his nightclothes.
"Dr. Sullivan!" cried Amelia, running over to him. "I wasn't sure you'd come! Groves is gravely injured."
"Good medicine doesn't discriminate, Amelia" said Doctor Sullivan with a tense smile. "I know you lot well, and fugitive or not, everyone deserves treatment. Besides, people around here, myself included, are bloody tired of the EITC. I've even heard talk of a revolt…" he trailed off when he started to examine Groves, who hadn't stirred in some time. He started off with cleaning the wound.
"A revolt?" questioned Andrew, looking on warily while Dr. Sullivan tended to Groves. "Really?"
"Really," answered the doctor. "People in Port Royal have suffered greatly at the hands of the EITC: they've convinced the government to raise taxes, soldiers are always running about, and anyone who so much looks like a pirate is thrown in jail or killed. It hasn't been a picnic, I'll tell you. A handful of people saw me coming here, where they know you're hiding. Notice they didn't try to stop me."
He pulled the bullet from Groves' wound without warning, causing Groves' eyes to pop open and let out a yell of pain. Blood poured from the wound, and Dr. Sullivan, with Andrew's assistance, bandaged it. Jack winced. He was glad he wasn't the one getting a bullet pulled out of him.
"Is he going to make it?" asked Jack. He heard distant yells outside the door, but wasn't sure what to make of them.
"Most likely," answered Dr. Sullivan with a grimace, turning toward him.
"Do you think there's any chance of the Port Royal people revolting anytime soon?" questioned Jack. "Because frankly right now, we could use the help: Clinton took off with Elizabeth, and Will went after them."
The good doctor's eyes widened. There was a knock at the door, and canon blasts sounded in the distance.
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Will's and Clinton's swords clashed over and over again. Will hardly believed what was happening; if there was anything he knew, it was that he was one of the best swordsmen in the Caribbean, but Clinton, it seemed, was very talented as well. Elizabeth stood aside, completely unarmed, and desperately looking for a way to help her husband. Will watched her out of the corner of his eye, silently pleading with her to stay put. She was brilliant in battle yes, but he wanted no harm done to her and their unborn child. Not now, when Clinton was in such a rage as Will had ever seen him.
"Surprised, Turner?" questioned Clinton in a scathing voice. "I researched you, you know. Found out you were an excellent swordsman. So I decided to take up the hobby myself. It seems I'm a natural." His face split into a malevolent grin. "I was holding back when we fought before."
"You'll never defeat Will!" called Elizabeth, her brown orbs volcanoes, spitting fire. "You'll get your comeuppance soon enough!"
With the next swing Will sent Clinton flying across the room, landing with a thud in the corner. Blood flowed from his arm, his eyes flashing.
"You grow arrogant," remarked Will, walking toward him, his eyes narrowed.
Will didn't expect what happened next. Before he could move, before he could think, Clinton slashed through his leg, leaving a deep cut that poured blood instantly.
"An eye for an eye," said Clinton, standing up and running at Will. The clash of swords rang again, until noises from outside distracted them both. Through one of the open windows the ring of swords and the earsplitting sounds of gunshots pierced the air.
Elizabeth ran to the window while the two men glowered at each other, wanting to know what was happening, but not daring to take their eyes off each other.
"It looks like the citizens are fighting the EITC agents!" cried Elizabeth. "What are you going to do now, Clinton?"
Clinton's eyes widened slightly, showing his surprise, but his voice came out a low growl.
"It seems you two will be the first fatalities of this short-lived rebellion then," he said. "What do you say, Mrs. Turner? I wound your worthless husband now, he can die, slowly, and you stay with me, as my slave. Or you die. Then I'll go after Sparrow and you son."
"NEVER!" shouted Elizabeth.
"We shall see," remarked Clinton in a calm tone. He charged at Will, who was ready.
Will's sword sliced against Clinton's legs, cutting them deeply and causing him to fall. He grabbed Elizabeth and ran outside into the fray, desperate to find Willy and the others. He knew the battle with Clinton was not over, but he wanted Elizabeth away from the maniac.
"Will, what exactly is the plan?" asked Elizabeth, holding onto Will's hand tightly as they ran through the battle.
"No idea," answered Will. "I'm just hoping to find Willy and make sure he's safe before anything else happens."
Canon blasts sounded from the fort; there was, it appeared, a fight over who was controlling it. Townspeople wrestled with EITC agents to control the weaponry. Smoke from the gunpowder contaminated the air, making it hard to see, making it hard to breathe. Will spotted Mr. Riley's shop, and bowling two EITC agents aside, entered with Elizabeth and locked the door with a click.
"Papa! Mama!" called Willy, sprinting over to them. Anna and Charles followed in his wake. "The people of Port Royal are revolting! Everyone's gone to fight!"
"How did this happen?" questioned Will, breathing a sight of relief that his son was alive. "What happened to Groves?"
"They put Mr. Groves to bed in the little room in the back of the shop. They say he'll make it" answered Willy, "We heard shouts and canon blasts, and someone came to the door asking if we wanted to join in. Uncle Jack wouldn't let me though." He crossed his arms, looking disappointed.
"That's one of the rare sensible things he's ever done," remarked Elizabeth, engulfing her son in a fierce hug before turning back to Will. "Will, we have to join the fight. Clinton will come looking for us."
"We don't have to do anything. You're staying here." Will eyes his wife, fully expecting the livid expression she afforded him.
"Will, you can't expect me to just stay here!"
"Elizabeth, please, now isn't the time to argue."
"I would be of great help out there! Don't play damsel in distress games with me!" shouted Elizabeth. "You know better!"
Will shook his head, exasperated.
"But Auntie Elizabeth," piped up Anna, twisting her dark hair around her finger. "What about the baby growing inside you? Won't it get hurt?"
Elizabeth's eyes shifted from Will to Anna. Her expression softened. "In all of the chaos, I think I must have lost my head. You're right Anna, the baby could get hurt."
"And Uncle Will is just trying to protect the baby."
"Yes, he is," answered Elizabeth. "I'll stay here Will. But so help me God, if you're gone to long…"
"You'll come looking," answered Will, finishing her sentence, not able to stop himself from smiling slightly.
"Papa, what can we do to help," asked Willy. "We want to do something."
"Barricade the door after I leave," said Will. "Do it as best you can, so no one can break down the door."
Willy nodded, his expression resolute. Will gazed at him for a moment, trying to memorize his face, before ruffling his hair.
"Uncle Will?" asked Charles, "If you see our mother and father, can you tell them… can you tell them to be careful?"
"Of course," replied Will, unsheathing his sword. Before he could rush out into the fray, however, Elizabeth seized his wrist and kissed him. He fingered a lock of her honey colored hair, taking it all in.
"You come back to me," she said, her eyes blazing. "To us."
Will nodded, tearing his eyes away from her face and the faces of the children. He heard the door lock behind him and heard Elizabeth's voice directing the children to begin barricading the door. The battle outside had reached new heights while Will had been inside. Hundreds were still battling, canon blasts still sounded, but blood streaked the walls of nearby buildings and lay in pools on the ground. Dead and injured people were every few feet. A haze of gun and canon smoke covered Port Royal like a blanket. Will ran directly into the battle, seeing a red bandana popping in and out of the crowd.
"Jack!" shouted Will. "Jack Sparrow!"
Jack whipped around, a relieved expression on his countenance. "Bloody hell, William! What happened to your leg? And your nose looks broken!"
Will looked down at his left leg, which was still bleeding. He had forgotten all about it, ignored the pain in order to get done what he needed done. "Clinton," answered Will. "I only just got Elizabeth away. But he'll be looking for me. Is everyone else okay?"
Jack shook his head. "I don't know," he said. "I've lost track of them all, even Anna."
Before Will could answer however, a sneering voice was heard behind them.
"Turner and Sparrow. What a pair." It was Gillette.
"Gillette," said Jack with a mock bow. "How nice to see you again."
"Silence. Let's get down to business, shall we?"
Will and Jack gladly accepted, and the clang of their swords added to the ruckus already present. It was two against one, and Will knew for sure who had the advantage. Jack did well until he stumbled over someone lying on the ground, giving Gillette the chance to slash his left arm, blood staining his already filthy shirt. He fell, but got back up and resumed the fight. He was about to tell Jack to leave Gillette to him, until he heard a voice so icy it sent shivers down his spine.
"Greetings Captain Turner," said Clinton. "Thought you could get away so easily did you?" His sword was inches from the back of Will's neck.
Will turned, forced to leave Jack to battle Gillette. Clinton looked like he'd been to hell and back; his legs and arm were covered in blood, but his gaze looked more crazed than ever. His black hair was loose, blowing in the night air. He had lost control like Beckett never had; the cold, calculating stare was replaced with one of revenge.
"No," admitted Will, "I knew you'd come looking for me. But I got Elizabeth to safety, and that's what counts."
"We shall see about that," said Clinton, an evil glint in his dark eyes. He glanced over at Gillette and Jack, who were still locked in battle. "Brilliant. If Gillette disposes of Sparrow, he will be one less person I must dispose of. Less blood on my hands. I was hoping to do away with you both personally, but I'm not particular."
"Let's have less talk shall we?" said Will.
"Gladly," responded Clinton, swinging his sword at Will's with a reckless violence. His face was contorted with rage. He looked inhuman. "My uncle would be thrilled with what I've accomplished," he commented. "The sea will be mine soon enough!"
"Are you mental?" asked Will, pushing down on Clinton's sword with his. "You're not even close. You'll never divulge the needed information, and the residents of one of your strongholds are revolting!"
"It doesn't matter!" yelled Clinton, slamming his sword into Will's. "I'm getting revenge on those who killed my uncle!"
"Your uncle's death was his own fault!" argued Will. "If he hadn't been such a power hungry wretch…" he stopped at seeing Clinton's face split into a malevolent grin.
"It looks like my orders are being carried out just as expected," remarked Clinton. "You might want to look behind you, Mr. Turner."
Holding his sword behind his back, Will whipped around to see a sight that knocked all the breath out of him. Two EITC soldiers had set fire to Mr. Riley's shop, where Elizabeth, Willy, Anna, Charles, and Groves were locked inside, the door barricaded. Will didn't even look back at Clinton, but ran toward the house looking for anyway inside that wouldn't burn him instantly to a crisp before he could save his loved ones. The entire crowd stopped their fighting, each staring at the little shop now engulfed in orange flames against the inky night sky.
"Oi! That's my shop!" shouted Mr. Riley from across the crowd. "There's innocent children in there, you bastards!"
Jack, Ana, Amelia, and Norrington all came to Will's aid. Will attempted to break down the door, the only part of the building that wasn't totally wrapped in flames, but it absolutely refused to budge. It vaguely registered with him that Andrew was missing from the group. He could hear the screams of terror coming from inside.
"Elizabeth!" he called frantically. "Can you hear me? Can you move the furniture out from in front of the door?"
"No!" came a faint reply. "It's all on fire!"
"Dammit!" shouted Norrington, who, along with Jack, Ana, and Amelia had been kicking and pushing on the door as hard as possible to no avail.
Will was lost for words. He could barely breathe, he couldn't think. His whole world was inside there and he couldn't even find a way inside!
"It looks like you've lost!" called Clinton. "There's no way to escape your fates!"
Then it happened.
Water came churning out from the sea like a tornado, whipping through the air. Every face in the crowd turned to look, astonished.
"Calypso…" muttered Will, dumbstruck. "Move!" he called to those in the water's path. "You don't want to be drowned!"
The funnel of seawater moved just like a tornado, finally coming to rest over the little shop, drenching it completely, leaving no trace of a flame in sight. Calypso stood before them all, in the form of Tia Dalma.
Will and the others ran to their loved ones, Will gathering Willy and Elizabeth in his arms, and Amelia gathering Charles and Anna in hers, and Will couldn't help but wonder where Andrew had gotten to. Groves, who was still recovering, and trembled badly on his feet, was assisted by James Norrington.
"Will, Elizabeth, are you all right?" asked Will, dropping his sword to check them for burns. "I thought I'd lost you for sure!"
"I think we're fine," answered Elizabeth. "Somehow." Noticing the fray around her, she put her arm around Willy, pulling him like glue to her side.
"Did Calypso do that?" asked Willy, looking over at the goddess.
"Yes," answered Will. Beckoning Elizabeth and Willy to come with him, he made his way over to Calypso, who appeared to be arguing with Jack. Clinton, in the meantime, looked frightened beyond all measure at the sight of the sea goddess, and didn't move an inch.
"What do you mean, you can't help us!" shouted Jack. "What do you call what you just did?"
"That, Jack Sparrow, was my thanks to William for not giving away the information on how to bind me," answered Calypso, her brows furrowed. "I saved the lives of those he cares about. But I will not interfere in this. It is not my battle."
"But you said we would have your favor," argued Jack.
"You do not see me helping the Company, do you, Jack Sparrow?" asked Calypso.
Jack opened his mouth to argue, but Will spoke up.
"There's no use in arguing with her Jack." He turned to Calypso. "Thank you, Calypso. I cannot thank you enough."
"Yes, thank you!" said Willy, looking unsure and bowing slightly.
Calypso gave him a small smile. "He be turning out just like you, William Turner. Always noble, always polite." She turned to Elizabeth. "You are a brave woman, Elizabeth Turner. But also a lucky one in having two such men in your life."
"I know," answered Elizabeth. "And thank you."
"Are you sure you will not stay to help?" asked Jack, pleading in his voice.
"She's sure," answered Ana Maria, who had found Jack in the crowd. Will noticed she sported a rather nasty cut on her cheek.
"I have done what I will," answered Calypso. With that, she disappeared in a shower of crabs, but not before sending a huge wave of water over one of the EITC ships that was docked in the harbor, smashing it to smithereens.
A thick silence fell over the crowd of pirates, EITC agents, and Port Royal citizens. Will spotted Barbossa and Captain Teague off in the distance, not at all awed at Calypso's appearance like the people of Port Royal were.
"I can't believe her!" yelled Jack. "How can she just leave like that?"
"She can do whatever she wants," remarked Will, eying Clinton coming in their direction.
He, Jack, and Elizabeth stayed where they were, allowing Clinton to come to them. He looked furious, but smug at the same time.
"No sea goddess to help you now, scum?" he asked.
"Did you happen to notice that she did, in fact, help us?" questioned Elizabeth sharply, still holding Willy to her. "It's too bad about your ship. And too bad that you didn't manage to do away with me," she continued, sarcasm lacing her tone.
"That will be remedied," spat Clinton. "I have a proposal for the three of you."
"What's that?" asked Jack, his eyes narrowed.
"This," answered Clinton. "In the eyes of the EITC, each Port Royal citizen who revolted and their families are now considered pirates. We can either continue the bloodbath currently ongoing, or…"
"Or what?" asked Will.
"Do not interrupt me, Mr. Turner. Or, you, Mr. Turner, can duel me for the lives of everyone. Along with this, two on your side will fight two on mine. A three on three. At least two from each side must win to secure victory. If you win, all those with you go free… if not, all will be killed. Men women, and children." He emphasized children, eyeing Elizabeth and Willy.
"And if you lose," Will went on, restraining himself from belting Clinton, "every EITC agent will leave this island…forever."
"You have an hour to prepare," seethed Clinton. "It is a fight to nothing less than death."
Without answering, Will turned away.
"He'll have a surprise coming to him," said Jack.
"Why's that?" asked Will. "He's got some good swordsmen. He's got Gillette."
"No he hasn't" said Jack, looking up at Will. "Gillette is dead."
Will stopped dead in his tracks. Maybe they could win this.
"It was either me or him, mate, and he lost," said Jack. "I'm not much for killing, but under these circumstances it's kill or be killed."
"Yes, it is, unfortunately," answered Will. "Clinton really will be a in for a surprise when he hears that; he'll be livid. If we two others in addition to myself to fight, I was thinking you, and James Norrington, if he will consent."
Jack nodded in agreement, looking wary.
Will was about to make his way toward the group of Port Royal leaders who had led the revolt when he heard his name called.
"Will!" called Elizabeth, an unusual fear lacing her voice.
Will and Jack turned in the direction of her voice, seeing a small group of people, Elizabeth, Amelia, Willy, Charles, and Anna included, gathered around someone. Will's stomach sank. He had a good idea of what had caused this. He ran over, Jack following in his footsteps with Ana Maria not far behind.
"Elizabeth, what…" he began.
She took his hand, nodding in the direction of the center of the circle, toward the person who lay on the ground, his breathing ragged, his left side covered in blood. It was Andrew.
A/N: Again, sorry for the cliffhanger everyone, I just couldn't help myself! The next chapter will provide all the needed answers, I promise, and there will be happy chapters to come, that I can swear by. I hope you all enjoyed it!