Key To My Desire
-Renewal-
"A broken heart can be mended when all the pieces of the story are finally heard."
..:-:..
The atmosphere in Tia Dalma's hut hadn't changed much. Everyone was weary and she wouldn't press on about how they would find him. She had given everyone a blanket, as it was all she could afford to give. The candlelight flickered without cease, and outside in the dark green murky waters of the swamp, one by one, each mourner had left. Stillness encompassed the air, eating away her thoughts. Elizabeth was through with thinking about the past. Her decision was made right before she was going to go to bed; she would allow herself to only think positively about finding Jack Sparrow once again.
Will watched as the woman he loved began to fall asleep. They had not spoken to one another and he was absolutely sure that she thought her secret kiss was a in fact, secret. Everything seemed to gnaw at his thoughts and the venomous hatred he felt for Jack spread like the mark he had on his hand, condemning him to Davy Jones' locker. Will desperately wanted answers from her, but he also saw how much pain she was in, how weak she had become, and he didn't want her to be in any other sort of emotional turmoil. He was looking out for her, even though she had betrayed him, leaving his heart behind on the Black Pearl. With a profound weight on his shoulders, he turned away from her and closed his eyes, trying to let sleep overcome his exhausted soul.
Elizabeth stared at the wall vacantly, trying to do anything but think of him. Suddenly she yawned and her eyes closed. When she tried to open them again, nothing happened and all she could do was fall into a pit of irresistible darkness.
Elizabeth opened her eyes and she gasped. Everything spilled around her as if the waters wouldn't cease to flow. The crushing foamy waves splashed against the ship, causing her to lose balance. Something was coming and it was going to take her down to the depths of the sea, she knew it. Her heart started to race and Elizabeth looked around in a craze. Time was passing by swiftly and there was nowhere to run. Suddenly, the legs shot out of the water and rose many feet above her head. They blocked the sunlight and her mouth dropped in awe and fear. Her body was as frozen as ice and she couldn't feel anything anymore. The legs of the beast came crashing down and she screamed. All of a sudden, she felt a force pummel her down on the deck and as the legs slammed down, a thunderous boom resounded in her head. All she could do was close her eyes and hold onto him tightly. It was then that she heard his voice.
"Shoo, be gone I say!"
Her eyes jerked open and she saw the creature's legs slip back into the water below. His head turned towards her and he smiled with adoration. Jack stroked her hair and leaned in closer, brushing his fingers across her cheek softly.
"I wouldn't let anything happen to you, love."
She cried as she inhaled the mixed scent of his breath. Tears welled up in her eyes and she looked into his shamefully. He pulled her in close and stroked her back.
"Lizzie, dearie, why the water works? A pirate doesn't cry."
At once his warm comforting presence became cold and distant. Elizabeth looked into his eyes and his face displayed something she hadn't seen before. Jack Sparrow was hurt deep down inside. She reached for him as he stood up, but he stepped away.
"Jack, I'm sorry. You don't know how sorry I truly am."
He turned back towards her and then leaned in suddenly. His lips were a moment away from touching hers, when he stopped. His face was all she could see and everything around them started to disappear.
"Prove it."
Elizabeth woke with a start, and when she stopped heaving, she put her head in her hands and let the tears finally escape from the jail cell they were locked inside in. She quietly sobbed to herself; for the second time she had to go through the process of losing Jack. It was only a dream, but the disappointment and hurt in his eyes, told her what was lying behind the cocky smirk after she had kissed him. Elizabeth was in a state of utter despair, and she would continue to be clouded bye it until they had found him again.
The candles were all low on light and the flames were barely bigger than the wick itself. Will's eyes flickered open and then her trembling body came into view. The first thing he noticed was that no one else was in the room. Distant shouts echoed outside, and at once she looked up to the door. Will stood near her, and the silence diminished the distance between them. He could no longer keep it inside of him; it was time to find out the reasoning behind Elizabeth's actions. His voice shook and he looked at the back of her head anxiously.
"Elizabeth?"She turned slowly, the tears drying on her cheeks, her eyes worn out and puffy. Her shield of strength was gone and when she looked up at him, her expression made him feeble. Elizabeth gazed down to the ground and let out a small short laugh. She clenched her mouth and pressed her lips together. The whole time, she had done nothing but think of Jack, when she should have been thinking over what her actions really meant. As Elizabeth looked up once again, Will stretched out his hand, shattered determination written all over him. How would he react when she told him the truth? All thoughts scurried away as she put her hand in his. An electrifying current raced up her arm and when she stood up she jumped slightly. They let go of each other's hands, and Elizabeth looked away. It had felt bizarre to her, Will's touch. The tingling sensation stayed with her and she decided to finally wipe away the traces of the tears on her face. Will saw her fiddling and his heart felt shallow and unoccupied. There were more noises coming from outside and he knew he didn't have much time left. Once again, he called to her softly.
"Elizabeth… you seem… distressed…"
She looked up into his eyes and immediately regretted doing so. Inside, she realized he knew what she had done. Her mind began to spin; thoughts of what she should say swirled and blended together.
"Yes, everything has been so strenuous Will, ever since…"
He watched Elizabeth close her eyes and take a deep breath. Agony crawled through his lungs and it was suddenly hard for him to breathe. Will wasn't ready for her to dismantle his heart for the last time. Nonetheless, he stood firm and found his voice.
"Ever since… you kissed him?"
As she heard the words come out of his mouth, Elizabeth turned directly towards him, her mouth gaping, her eyes swelling with tears once again. The reaction was what he had expected, but the pain in his blurry eyes was all Elizabeth needed to know that she couldn't do this to such a loving and caring man as he was. Will lifted his hands but then clasped them into two fists, letting them fall to his sides.
"I'm so sorry Will."
He turned his head away for a moment, but looked back when he heard a loud thud behind him. Elizabeth had fallen to her knees, and she sobbed freely, letting her emotions fly away from her. Without thinking or any hesitation, Will came to her side and put his hands on her shoulder to keep her from falling. Through the tears, her cracked voice stained his ears, the unforeseeable knowledge shaking him inside like an earthquake.
"It's all my fault Will… I did it to him!"
He looked at her with deep confusion and his pain subsided.
"What do you mean?"
She looked up at him and her eyes widened with misery.
"I betrayed Jack. I lured him into a kiss, and I chained him to the Black Pearl. I… I killed Jack Sparrow… I thought it would give us the best chance to survive, but now…"
She began to sob once more and Will wrapped his arms around her protectively. The confession was bittersweet for him. As he rocked Elizabeth in his arms, he felt overjoyed because she hadn't betrayed their love; she had only done it as a trick to get rid of Jack. On the other hand, the pirate had pressed his lips on hers, leaving a mark that wouldn't go away so soon. The only thing that mattered to him though, was that his spirit finally felt free of all burden. He finally knew what had really happened, and his love for her began to fill his heart again.
"It's all right Elizabeth. What you did was for the best. We'll find him again, don't worry."
Elizabeth looked away as the rest of her tears fell down her face silently. Her heart's true feelings were still locked inside, because she wouldn't bring herself to tell Will that she didn't love him like she had before. As he calmed her down, her mind wandered through her past. The memory of first meeting Will Turner flashed in front of her eyes. The golden medallion sparkled, and she could feel its ridges underneath the tips of her fingers. It had all started from then on. Her interest in pirates, the attachment she had with ships, the reason why she wasn't afraid to try rum on that isolated island. She took a deep breath and grabbed onto Will's sleeve. Its scent was of soiled water and there were hints of burned cinders mixed inside of it. Even though she had called Will a pirate, she hadn't understood the true meaning until just recently. Will wasn't a pirate at heart, no, that was what Captain Jack Sparrow was. It was what she longed to be all of her life. With the consent of the Captain, he had named her as one, and she couldn't feel anything besides the instinct of a pirate. Will pulled away and Elizabeth sighed desolately.
"I feel absolutely awful and I don't think I will ever be able to live with the consequences of my actions. Please don't tell anyone though… I am such a ghastly human being."
He smiled and let his hand fall through her hair gently. She closed her eyes and sighed, wishing it was Jack and not Will she was with at that moment. With this thought, everything was confirmed; she was definitely a ruthless, selfish, lying, good for nothing pirate.
"We will find Jack, I promise, and then you won't have to live with the guilt anymore. Besides, I want to see you smile again."
Her lips twitched slightly, but the smile didn't form. Will leaned in closer, and cautiously kissed her cheek. They stood up and Elizabeth opened the door. A dark shadowy light filled the swamp, and she assumed that it was sometime in the middle of the afternoon. She saw the rowboat, which they had come to the hut in, and Pintel and Ragetti occupied it. The swamp waters were still except for a few occasional air bubbles, which popped around the boat. Will walked over to Tia Dalma who was standing near the boat and looking around curiously. Elizabeth wrapped her arms around herself and she stared absently into the waters. The deep crawling feeling wound up in her heart and she jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Oh, Mr. Gibbs. I am sorry, I didn't see you…"
He watched her somber expression and he sighed sympathetically.
"It's all right Miss Swan. We are all very gloomy at this time, but there is still hope. Here, take this."
She looked at his outstretched hand, and for the first time, she smiled weakly. The bottle of rum glinted and when she touched it, warmth spread through her fingers and up her arm. Gibbs smiled at her and she nodded her head.
"Thank you."
Elizabeth looked at the bottle and began to remember that special bonfire, the first time she had felt the strong husky liquid on her lips, and how it spilled down her tongue. Her fingers clasped the top and pulled at it, a pop lasted for about a second. The bottle rose up to her mouth and when the rum poured down into her mouth, and then her throat, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath of air. Nothing was quite like rum when it came to sorrowful heartaches. She almost half expected for Jack to come up to her with a witty remark, but that didn't happen. Instead, she looked to her left and saw Will talking intently with Tia Dalma.
"So, you think there is a way?"
The woman smiled mysteriously and narrowed her eyes.
"Of course der is a way. You might remember a certain Captain…"
Suddenly everyone turned around to the hut and the door squeaked open. Their jaws dropped as the bright green apple went to his mouth and he bit into it. Elizabeth froze still and Will pushed his head up defiantly. Captain Barbossa chewed the apple with a smirk on his face as he observed his new crew.
"What are you looking at me for like that? I want the same thing as you, my deepest desire is to find my good friend, Captain Jack Sparrow."
Elizabeth clenched her fists and shut her mouth close.
"So that you can find him and kill him yourself?"
Barbossa turned around to her and smiled as he cocked his head.
"Well if it isn't Miss Swan. I heard that you are willing to do anything to get him back… as the rest of you are, correct?"
A frog croaked in the distance and Will craned his head as he stepped up to the Captain.
"Yes, that is correct. If you will help us, we will follow your orders. Jack will be able to get his way around you, just like before, so I believe we have no worries."
He looked at Elizabeth and she nodded her thanks to him. Gibbs sighed near her and climbed into the small rowboat. She walked down into it and scooted away from where Barbossa sat. He laughed to himself and pointed to the exit.
"All right crew, we are going to go find Jack Sparrow, if it's the last thing we do!"
Elizabeth squirmed in her seat, unable to remain calm at the sight of the previously dead captain. He sent shivers down her spine and she could only think of all the horrible things he would do to Jack once they found him, if he was alive by some miracle. There was no way she would feel at ease. There had been too much she had dealt with to pretend like everything was okay. Will sat across from her and he observed how wrecked she seemed to be. Even though she had told him what had happened, and her purpose for her actions, there was something in her face that gave him the hint that maybe she hadn't told him the entire truth. But Will wasn't going to think like that, because he only wanted optimistic beliefs in his head.
Suddenly, as they rowed out of the dirty swamp, sunlight filled the air around them and the island came to life. Palm trees swayed in the wind and Elizabeth's hair pulled back. She took a deep intake of the sea air and her spirit was calmed for the moment. The soft waves lulled her, and the voyage began, in search of her Sparrow.
A/N: I'm so sorry for the long delay for this chapter… a lot of things happened this week that I don't want to mention and therefore this had to wait until now… again, I'm so truly sorry for the wait. If it is humanely possible for me, the next update should be within four days :) I know this chapter didn't have much… but it sets up everything from here on out :D And if you didn't know… the quotes and the titles at the top explain the chapter as a whole :) Thanks for reading and I hope you have a wonderful day! Could you please leave a review? I might update quicker ;) Because it's your support that keeps me going! Lol
-Monika-