The carriage rolls back and forth reminding me of a ship sailing over rough seas. I remember the last time I was in this situation. I was on my way to Norrington's promotion. Although it wasn't too long ago, it feels a lifetime, an age, away.
The carriage slowly rolls to a stop and Father, with a discouraged sigh, leads the way and exits into the warm, early morning sun.
Elizabeth takes this moment of solitude to grasp my hand encouragingly, before following Father.
Knowing full well, that I couldn't possibly stay in the carriage, unfortunately, I grab the skirt of my high-necked gown and step out.
Thankfully, there isn't anyone around but we quickly head it where a multitude of townspeople have shown up. At the arrival of their governor, the crowd turns to face us.
One look at me and shocked whispers swell up over them. I lower my head, self-conscious.
Elizabeth had offered to use powder and cover up the scar on my face but I had refused. I couldn't possibly wear powder every day for the rest of my life. People would soon find out of my scar and then even more gossip would take place, questioning my vanity and character.
No. It would be better that everybody know from the get-go. No hiding. No covering up. Just me, plain and simple. If people were disgusted, if young children cried, it would be their problem, not mine.
Even so, the whispers cut deeply and have to withhold myself from turning away.
We quickly walk between the wall and a row of soldiers, separating us from the rest of the people, until we reach the stone stand where Norrington waits.
Elizabeth and I take our places beside Father who stands beside the Commodore.
Solemnly, we turn to face the gallows where Captain Jack Sparrow stands.
Upon seeing me, he gives a small wave which I return with a pain-filled smile.
Father gives me a disapproving shake of his head but I just ignore him. When it comes to things like pirates, I no longer respect his opinion.
The drums start playing and we all turn our attention to the stand on which the gallows are situated.
"Jack Sparrow" The official starts reading the official proclamation, "Be it known that you have been charged, tried, and convicted, for your willful commission of crimes against the crown. Said crimes being numerous in quantity and sinister in nature, the most egregious of these to be cited herewith: piracy, smuggling..."
"This is wrong." Elizabeth breaks out in disapproval.
"Commodore is bound by the law, as are we all." Father replies with finality.
I bend my ears back to the words of the official.
"...impersonating an officer of the Spanish Royal Navy, impersonating a cleric of the Church of England..."
Even through the dire circumstances, I can't help but smile. That must have been an interesting situation.
"...sailing under false colors, arson, kidnapping, looting, poaching, brigandage, pilfering, depravity, depredation, and general lawlessness."
Between all these words, I hear a familiar screeching. I lean over and spot a parrot that looks an awful like the parrot that belonged to Cotton, one of the pirates that sailed with Jack.
I notice a man in the crowds whose attention had also been grabbed by the bird. After a look at the colorful parrot, he turns and heads straight for us.
"And for these crimes, you have been sentenced to be, on this day, hung by the neck until dead. May God have mercy on your soul." The official finishes before walking off the stage.
The man reaches us and is revealed to be Will, dressed in all finery, bought with some of the treasure from the Isla de Muerta.
"Governor Swann. Commodore. Anna." He greets us. "Elizabeth, I should have told you every day from the moment I met you." Will takes a breathe, "I love you." He spins on his heal and walks off, back into the crowds.
Father and the Commodore stare at Elizabeth in confusion and Lizzie looks shocked, but I just watch as Will pushes his way through the people, as the drum beats quicken and the noose is tied around Jack's neck.
The Commodore, realizing what Will plans to do, calls for his men.
"I can't breathe!" Elizabeth cries, also noticing the situation, before falling to the floor.
Father and the Commodore turn to her and lean over her, worry marked across their faces but I can't worry about Lizzie just now and my gaze is fixed upon Will, sword unsheathed and shouting for the crowd to part.
The drum beats stop and the executioner pulls the lever, sending Jack through the floor, just as Will throws his sword into the wood of the stand, making a step for Jack to stand on so he doesn't choke.
A smile beams onto my face until Will jumps onto the stand and the executioner takes his axe and takes a swing at Will. Deftly dodging it, Will holds his own under the barrage of fatal swings from the large, burly, man and his razor sharp weapon.
The Commodore, seeing through Lizzie's well thought out trick, gathers a group of his men and pushes his way through the crowd towards the stand where the executioner, having already disarmed Will, lets Jack go after accidentally cutting the rope tied around his neck.
Having no more means of defending himself, Will lunges at the executioner, sending him toppling over the side of the stand, nearly crushing the Commodore and his men.
Jack, having recovered from his fall through the stage floor, cuts through his ropes with the sword and sends Will one of the ends of the rope that had previously been his noose.
The run towards the stairs leading to the edge of the fort, when a triplet of soldiers appear, running full speed towards them. Using the rope, Jack and Will tripping the soldiers before coming face to face with another three, whom they also send sprawling to the ground.
I jump down from the stand into the panicking crowds, despite the desperate pleas from my father to return.
Running through the crowd is difficult as they rush in the opposite direction, trying to get as far away from the mayhem as possible. A wall of guards follow them, herding them into a corner, and not letting anyone in or out.
I almost get trapped in the herd of people but manage to sneak under the guards and ignore them as they call for me to come back.
I run up the stairs where I had last seen Jack and Will disappear.
I reach the top where a group of twenty or so soldiers surround the two men, their bayonets pointing and their expressions grim.
The Commodore pushes his way through his men, followed closely behind by Father and Lizzie.
Norrington sneers as he holds his sword out at Will's neck, "I thought we might have to endure some manner of ill-conceived escape attempt, but not from you."
Father looks completely betrayed, "On our return to Port Royal, I granted you clemency . And this is how you thank me? By throwing in your lot with him? He's a pirate!"
"And a good man." Will argues, throwing his sword to the ground.
Jack turns to the guards surrounding them and mouths, That's me, proudly.
"If all I have achieved here is that the hangman will earn two pairs of boots instead of one, so be it." Will says, "At least my conscience will be clear."
"You forget your place, Turner." The Commodore says, anger clearing sketched upon his features.
"It's right here." Will says, with certainty. "Between you and Jack."
Elizabeth speaks up, "As is mine." She says taking her place beside Will and grasping his hand.
"Elizabeth!" Father looks aghast but turns to the guards, "Lower your weapons. For goodness' sake, put them down!"
The guns are hesitantly lowered and the men look slightly confused.
The pain etched in Norrington's eyes is heart-breaking, "So this is where your heart truly lies, then?" He says to Elizabeth, trying his hardest to hide his feelings.
"It is." She confirms.
Jack suddenly pipes up from behind the couple, "Well, I'm actually feeling rather good about this." He says walking around to Father and getting right into his face, "I think we've all arrived at a very special place, eh? Spiritually. Ecumenically. Grammatically."
He moves on to the Commodore, "I want you to know that I was rooting for you, mate. Know that." Norrington just looks disgusted.
Jack then faces Lizzie, "Elizabeth, it would never have worked between us, darling. I'm sorry.
He walks up to the final stairs of the fort, before turning back. "Anna,"
"Thank goodness." I say with a smile, "I thought I had been forgotten."
Jack grins, "Just know that if you ever want to learn to loot pillage or impersonate a cleric, come find me. You have the real makings of a pirate. You even drink rum like one."
Father spins towards me, furiously and I can only blush and grin embarrassed, knowing that a sever conversation will be taking place as soon as we return home.
"Nice hat." Jack finally says to Will.
Will look up at his luxurious new, feathered hat and grins with pride.
Jack jumps up to the level and turns towards the crowd of soldiers surrounding him, slowly backing up towards the sheer edge of the fort. "Friends! This is the day that you will always remember as the day that-" Jack suddenly trips over the small wall that borders the edge and plummets out of site.
Everyone races to the edge and peers over, only to see him land with a large splash into the water.
"Idiot!" Gillette says with a contemptuous smile, "He has nowhere to go but back to the noose."
"Sail ho!" A sentry suddenly calls, pointing to the shadows of the cliff opposite the bay, where the Black Peal suddenly appears.
"What is your plan of action?" Gillette asks the Commodore.
Norrington looks speechless.
"Sir?"
"Perhaps on the rare occasion," Father cuts in, to the relief of Norrington, "Pursuing the right course demands an act of piracy, piracy itself can be the right course?"
Norrington smiles slightly at the advise before walking back down the steps. "Mr. Turner." He calls.
Will and Elizabeth turn away from where they had been watching Jack. Lizzie's face is filled with worry but Will says, "I will accept the consequences of my actions."
Reluctantly leaving Elizabeth at the edge of the battlement, Will walks down to face the Commodore.
Unsheathing the sword that Will had made for him at his promotion, Norrington holds it out in front of them both, "This is a beautiful sword. I would expect the man who made it to show the same care and devotion in every aspect of his life."
Surprised, Will can only thank him before turning before Norrington turns with his soldiers to leave the fort.
"Commodore!" Gillette calls, stopping them in their tracks. "What about Sparrow?"
"Well, I think we can afford to give him one day's head start." Norrington says, a small smile tugging at the edges of his mouth, before leading his men away.
Father turns to Will and Lizzie, "So, this is the path you've chosen, is it?" He doesn't look disappointed. More sad, than anything, "After all, he is a blacksmith."
"No." Lizzie look up lovingly at Will and carefully removes his hat, "He's a pirate."
Father does the closest thing I have ever seen him do to a roll of eyes before escorting me down the steps and back into the courtyard of the fort. I sneak a glance back only to see them locked in a loving embrace.
My cheeks reddening, I quickly swivel my head back to face the front.
Father quickly leads me out of the empty fort and out to where out carriage is waiting for us, to bring us back home.
He cordially opens the door for me, and with a sickingly sweet smile, says ."Now, lets talk about the rum."
