Thud. Thud.
Her eyes suddenly widened, shocked and incredulous and her heart began beating faster than ever before. Finding no sign of life on his pale face, Elizabeth pressed her ear against his chest, listening intently for a heartbeat. The world seemed to slow down around her, and it was silence for a while until. . .
Thud. Thud.
It was there, she had heard it! Faint and weak, but Will was alive. . .he was alive. Grinning lightly, relieved and yet anxious, Elizabeth knew she had never been happier in her life.
"He's alive! Jack, he's alive," she declared enthusiastically. "He's made it!"
Jack wrinkled his brow, as he studied her with a suspicious look on his face. Then he crawled over to them, and checked Will's pulse carefully with a serious expression. 'Aye, the whelp lives."
The other pirated erupted into cheers, but were silenced when their King asked, "But. . .how, though?"
She'd been there when a sword was run through her fiancée, and she was there when he took his last breaths—memories she would do better without. So how had it happened? "Is there and explanation for this?" she asked the men, though her eyes were on Will.
Jack and Gibbs exchanged glances, with realization dawning in their eyes, and—Elizabeth noticed with a heavy heart—anxiety. How bad could it be, if it brought Will back to life? "What is it?" she urged impatiently.
"The curse," they answered in unison. "Calypso's curse."
'Curse," she echoed worriedly, searching their eyes frantically. Protectively, Elizabeth pulled Will closer and tighter to her, as if she was scared someone might take him from her again. "What curse?"
"Long ago," began Gibbs sagely. "When Jones and Calypso were still lovers, and nigh inseparable at that, he'd gotten wounded in battle . . .before he was immortal, of course. She was there in a flash, but he'd died before she even set her eyes on him."
"Legend has it, she used all her magic," Jack continued. "To bring him back—"
"—to life," Ragetti finished excitedly. Jack glared at him, pointing to himself, and Ragetti mumbled a sorry. Gibbs shook his head, rolling his eyes at the two.
"Anyways, the magic Tia Dalma—I mean Calypso—bugger. . .the magic she had cast, was bound to true love, but only the truest, and the purest. Love, love that could triumph over death itself, Lizzie," he finished solemnly. "It's rare—very rare, actually. Although, I do not get why the sea goddess with see fit to grant you this miracle." Jack smirked.
Elizabeth scoffed. "So is he going to be alright?"
"Aye, as long as. . . ."
Voices. He could hear voices around him. But he was dead, wasn't he? Suddenly, he could feel again: pain, life, love, and he realized, it was not eternal darkness he was in, but on the deck of the ship he had died in. He had so many questions: Why was he here? How was he not dead at that moment, when he was sure he'd given up his life for Elizabeth? And. . . where was she? Open you eyes, he commanded himself. Look for her, Elizabeth.
Slowly, he opened his eyes: life seemed to have given him a second chance to live, and to be with the one he loved most. And for that he was grateful. And then he saw her, his Elizabeth. She looked even more beautiful than he remembered, but more scared and anxious than he'd ever seen her, talking to jack and Gibbs.
Say something, anything to her. . .she needs you.
"Elizabeth," he breathed, with all the strength he had in his body. Groaning in pain, Will lifted a shaky hand to his wound, touching it lightly.
Elizabeth glanced down at him, eyes full of hope and joy upon seeing those familiar brown eyes gazing unwaveringly back at her. She took his hand in hers, beaming and laughing in a relieved way. "Will. . .you're awake,' she said quietly, smiling. "You're alive."
Will could hardly suppress a smile. "Because of you."
"No, because of a curse, mate," Jack quipped, shooting Elizabeth a sidelong glance to see if she would reprimand him. But she didn't, after all: she had eyes for Will alone.
Elizabeth stared worriedly at the gash on Will's chest, her happy demeanor fading into a frown quickly. "Does it hurt much? Will, are you alright?"
"No it's fine," he lied, smiling weakly. But no sooner than those words came out from his mouth did a sharp pain erupted in his heart; his face, though determined not to, crumpled in pain.
"Will," she reprimanded him sternly. "Please, tell me if it hurts. It's not something to take lightly. After all, you almost died."
He nodded weakly, not wanting to upset her more than he's already had.
The sky seemed so clear, and the sun was already setting; whisking all traces of a storm away. She beamed, letting the warm sun touch her face as the wind blew by her. She smiled happily at Will, whose eyes could not leave her face. "We're free, Will. No more curses, or dead pirates or Jack Sparrow. We're finally free."
The joy in her eyes, and the smile on her lips amused him, and made his heart wrench in a good way. "Aye," he said softly. "We're free."
"And Elizabeth?"
"Hmm?" she asked curiously, eyebrows raised.
"I love you," he said earnestly.
Well, I think it's over—the story I mean, not Willabeth. They could never be over, no matter what Sparraeth says. It's been a nice run, guys. . .but I think it really is over. I hope you liked it, and I just wanna say I'm so grateful to everyone. Love you!