Chapter 11: Unwanted Rescue and Unwilling Escape

How will he ever forgive me? Elizabeth asked herself in remorse.

As she sat secluded from everyone, she reflected on her actions. Will was doing everything to save William and Elizabeth didn't see that. She only saw Will's plan to betray Jack and Guinevere. Elizabeth knew she had treated Will unfairly. He never led her astray once and she blamed herself for forgetting that.

"Mind if I join you, King Turner?" Bootstrap asked casually.

"Not at all, Bootstrap," Elizabeth said welcomingly.

"While on this voyage I can see that you are troubled," Bootstrap said considerately.

Elizabeth sighed. "Is it really obvious?"

"Clear as mud," Bootstrap replied, half smiling.

"I feel like I'm losing him," Elizabeth said apprehensively. "The closer we get to saving William, the further we are driven apart."

"Do you love him?" Bootstrap asked.

"With every fiber of my being!" Elizabeth replied passionately.

"Well, that's good to know," chuckled Bootstrap.

"Why is that?" questioned Elizabeth.

"If you didn't then this pain wouldn't be worth it," Bootstrap said sagaciously. "If you wanted to give up now you'd lose him for certain. But you're willing to keep going."

"How do I face him after what I've said?" Elizabeth asked.

"If you choose to shut your mouth you'll never get out of this mess," Bootstrap advised. "Pain is only temporary, Elizabeth. If you can fight that and talk to Will, everything will be worth it. If you don't well…you get the point."

"Indeed," Elizabeth agreed. "Where did you learn such wisdom?"

"You know the answer to that," Bootstrap replied wittily.

Elizabeth glanced to Will. "I do."

"I think I've dispensed my wisdom," Bootstrap sighed in satisfaction.

"Thank you, Bootstrap," Elizabeth said warmly.

"Now can we focus on escaping, please?" Bootstrap asked, rolling his eyes.

"I would if there were a way," Elizabeth groaned.

"Where there's a will, there's a way, and we have a will, literally and figuratively," Bootstrap said stoutly.

"We need a signal fire but we have nothing to make fire with," Elizabeth pointed out.

"Look what I found!" exclaimed Will.

Elizabeth and Bootstrap raced down the beach to join him and James.

"Is it an escape?" Bootstrap asked excitedly.

"No, I found some rum and by the looks of this place, it's been long out of business," Will said, pulling out a few bottles of rum from a tree.

"Rum!" Bootstrap groaned. "For once, I don't want rum. I wish we had an escape."

Elizabeth's eyes lit up. "We do have an escape."

"How's that, Elizabeth?" James asked.

"Gentleman, what does rum create?" Elizabeth asked brightly.

"Rum creates fire!" Will gasped. "Elizabeth, you're a genius."

"I do try," Elizabeth said smugly. "Quick, gather up as much wood as possible. We need this fire to be as big as we can get it! Step to!"

"Aye, King Swann!" Will said cheerfully. "You heard the King. Gather up the wood. With a will, men!"

Elizabeth, Will, James, and Bootstrap hurriedly ran about collecting as much wood as possible to be used for their signal fire. Soon, they had a great pile of wood from the trees and fallen branches. They even used the coconuts and anything else they could find. Elizabeth then poured the rum and scraped to rocks together. Soon, they had a fire. The fire grew larger and larger until it could be seen by anyone on the sea.

"Amazing what rum can do," commented Bootstrap.

"You're brilliant, Elizabeth," James said happily.

"Thank you, James," Elizabeth said humbly. "If you keep a weather eye open, you'll soon see white sails on that horizon."

"Hopefully they're white sails and not black," Will commented.

"We're stuck on a deserted island and you're picky about the colour of the sails?" Elizabeth asked, wrinkling her nose.

"There's only one ship with black sails that I know of and I hope it doesn't come," Will said with a shiver down his spine.

And so began the wait for a passing ship to find the signal fire. Elizabeth was assured help would come. She then gazed at Will, who sat alone on the sand. Bootstrap's advice echoed in her mind as she looked at him. Elizabeth knew this was her chance. She then headed for the beach and sat down next to her husband.

"You look a bit lonely sitting here by yourself," she said casually.

"The more the merrier," Will said with a half smile.

Elizabeth sighed. "Will, I've been thinking and I've realized I haven't been at all fair to you."

Will said nothing.

"I know all you are trying to do is save our boy," Elizabeth told him. "I was a fool to ever doubt you. I cannot agree with betraying Jack, but whatever chance we must take to save William, I will be happy to take with you. I'm perfectly willing to do whatever must be done for William as I would do for you. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?"

"I've already found it," Will said with his charming smile. "I don't blame you for not agreeing with me. I never did. I do not want to betray Jack. I just want to find William. I promise you that I will get him back and no harm will come to Jack, Guin, Juliet or the new Sparrow."

"And when Will Turner makes a promise, the task will be done," Elizabeth said, squeezing Will's hand.

"Precisely," Will replied with a confidant smile.

By the late afternoon, just as Elizabeth predicted, there was a ship on the horizon. Everyone was ecstatic.

"We're going to get off this island!" James said gleefully. "We're going to save William!"

Shielding his eyes from the sun and flames, Will squinted into the distance. As the ship got closer, it was clear to him what the ship was.

"Uh-oh," Will groaned.

"What do you mean 'uh-oh'?" Bootstrap asked, baffled.

"It's the Pearl," Will replied.

"Things are going to get a bit complicated," Elizabeth sighed.

Just then, Jack came rowing out on one of the Black Pearl's boats. "Funny seeing you here."

"We could use your help getting off this island, Jack," Bootstrap said.

"It seems you could," Jack replied. "Blimey, what is it with you people? I leave you people for a few months and look what happens!"

"Jack, it is quite imperative that we get off this island," Will said.

"Well, dear William, you already have your distressing damsel, or rather, damsel in distress, so what could be so imperative about you getting out of here?" Jack asked pointedly.

"My son is missing," Will told him. "So, if you wouldn't mind letting us on your ship so we can find him."

"Aye, all aboard then!" Jack agreed.

Jack, Will, Elizabeth, James and Bootstrap then hopped into the boat and rowed for the Pearl. Will, Elizabeth, James, and Bootstrap were overjoyed to leave that island and continue their search for William.

"So I noticed you never told me how you came by this island," Jack said wisely.

"You didn't ask, Jack," Will countered.

"All right then. How did you come by the island?" Jack wanted to know.

"We were stranded. Our boat had a leak and we went down and had to make for this island," Will explained.

"Judging by the burning island, I suspect dear Elizabeth was behind your escape," Jack said knowingly.

"Indeed. We found a few bottles of rum," Elizabeth replied.

"Why is it, whenever you're around, the rum's always gone?" Jack said, rolling his eyes.

"Jack, we must make way for Port Royal with all haste," Will explained. "William's kidnapper desires the Pearl. If we deliver her, my son will go free."

"Are you serious, Will?" Jack asked.

"Yes, Jack," Elizabeth answered. "We must get to Port Royal now."

Jack sighed. "I shall take you to good old Port Royal if you will help me find this."

Jack pointed at the Agua de Vida on the charts.

"You want us to help you find the fountain of youth?" Will asked incredulously.

"Once again, you want you to find the fountain of youth," Jack corrected. "If you find the fountain of youth, both of you can discover a way of detecting a way to save your precious William Junior. Savvy?"

"How can the fountain save William?" Elizabeth asked dubiously.

"Do you know anything of Ponce de Leon?" Jack asked.

"Not much," Elizabeth replied.

Will simply shook his head.

"The fountain's gonna save William," Jack declared.

"Where's Guin?" Will asked.

"She's resting below decks," Jack answered.

Immediately, Will, Elizabeth, James, and Bootstrap hurried down below to visit Guinevere. They found her lying on a hammock, running her hands along her bulging round belly.

Will covered her eyes. "Guess who."

"You think I wouldn't know that voice after nearly fourteen years?" Guinevere questioned in jest. "What are you doing here, Will?"

Elizabeth, James, and Bootstrap then popped out from the door.

"Elizabeth, James, Bootstrap!" Guinevere gasped.

The three then crowded around Guinevere and embraced her.

"Goodness, give us some room to breathe!" Guinevere laughed.

"How are you two faring?" Will asked.

"I've gotten little, if any, rest," Guinevere sighed, placing Will's hand on her rotund belly. "Feel how strong it is."

Will waited a moment then felt the powerful kick of the baby inside Guinevere. "Well, he or she is certainly strong, like his or her mother."

"You didn't answer my question, Will. What are you doing here?" Guinevere asked.

"We were stranded on an island looking for William," Will explained.

"William is missing?" Guinevere gasped.

"He was kidnapped," Elizabeth told her.

"Where's Juliet?" James asked.

"She has been kidnapped, too," Guinevere sighed. "By that Spanish peacock who calls himself Ponce de Leon."

"How?" James asked, the shock in his voice.

"I was trying to save her from Leon," Guinevere explained. "I tried to help her escape, but Leon caught up with us. Last I saw her, she was being tied up and locked in his brig. I trust you got my message?"

"We did," Will replied. "We knew it wouldn't be hard to find you after we got the message. I always knew you were clever."

"It's a natural trait I have," Guinevere said. "Now that you are here, it will be easier to find them both."

"And we will find them. I promise," Will said earnestly.

Just then, Jack ambled down below decks. "If you all wouldn't mind, even if you did, I'd enjoy some privacy with my wife."

Immediately, without another word, Will, Elizabeth, James and Bootstrap vacated the room and headed for the boat deck. Jack was left alone with his wife. For a long moment, they just stared at each other. They hadn't spoken since Guinevere was brought back to him after her escape attempt. There was so much that needed to be said and now was the time it was going to come.

"Darling, after I've seen what he did to you and knowing what he did to our girl, I'm sorry I doubted your intentions that day," Jack said apologetically, placing his hand on Guinevere's protruding belly. "I understand you were only trying to do what was best for us."

"No, my love," Guinevere said solemnly. "It is I who should ask your forgiveness. Escaping Leon without you was foolish. I should've known better to trust you to help us escape. How could I ever doubt that Captain Jack Sparrow, the man who escaped death more than once and saved my best friends and piracy, could not protect me and our children? I've been nonsensical lately but I've come to my senses now."

"Peas in a pod, my love," Jack said with a devilish smile.

Guinevere took Jack's hand and squeezed it. "I know that one way or another, you will find a way to save us."

"Where there's a will, there's a way, dearie," Jack said cheerfully.

Jack placed his ear on Guinevere's stomach. "The little one is quite feisty today."

"She gets that from me," Guinevere replied wittily.

"Since when did you decide it was a girl?" Jack questioned.

"Since I was right the first time when I had Juliet," Guinevere answered. "I even bet Will five shillings and he had to pay me said five shillings."

"Whatever our baby is, he or she has the best traits from both of us," Jack said lovingly. "Quick thinking and charming like me as well as devastatingly attractive, stubborn, and brave like you."

"You forgot to mention how sweet I am," Guinevere said in jest.

"Well, I'm sure the child will be sweet like you, too," Jack added.

"I only wish Juliet were here to…" Guinevere said wistfully, but she trailed off.

"Guin? Sweetheart, are you all right?" Jack asked in concern.

Guinevere did not speak. She felt the coolness of water spilling on the hammock and the floor. She then gasped as it felt like something punching her belly.

"Guin? It's the baby, isn't it?" Jack asked anxiously.

Guinevere shook her head. "Fetch Will and Rose now."

"Is something wrong?" Jack asked worriedly.

"In case you didn't notice, darling, my water broke!" Guinevere groaned.

"Then that means…" Jack trailed off.

"The baby is coming now!" Guinevere finished. "Don't just stand there! Get Will and Rose down here!"

"Aye, Mrs. Sparrow!" Jack said hastily as he ran up to the deck to find Will and Rose.

Later that night, Leon's men and his men, assured of their victory, got drunk on the rum stores. This gave William an idea. He could not bear for Juliet to be away from her parents, especially when her mother was about to give birth any day. Juliet was growing weaker and weaker by the hour, he noticed. Juliet grew as white as a sheet and her coughing fits became more powerful and frightening. She also continued to cough blood. William feared the worst if he did not help Juliet escape. He decided that the time to act was now. Quickly, he roused Juliet, who lay sleeping next to him.

"Juliet, wake up, love," he whispered.

"William?" Juliet asked groggily. "What is it?"

"You're getting out of here, that's what it is," William answered determinedly.

"How?" Juliet asked.

"Leon and his men are drunk. There's nothing they could possibly do to stop you from escaping," William explained. "Come on, not a minute to lose!"

William took Juliet by the hand up to the boat deck. He and Juliet pulled the pins securing the lifeboats. Just then, Juliet stopped.

"What about you, William?" she asked in concern.

"I didn't say I was escaping," William answered.

"But what about your mother and father?" Juliet protested. "What about James? What about me?"

"I will find you all again. I promise," William said earnestly. "You mustn't be frightened."

"But why can't you go?" Juliet pleaded.

"It's too dangerous for both of us to go," William told her. "Besides, you're not well and your mother as well as your baby brother or sister needs you."

"But I need you!" Juliet argued, tears in her eyes.

"Please, Juliet, you must go," William said gently. "I will die before Leon hurts you anymore. Go, now!"

Reluctantly, Juliet, with aid from William, hopped into the boat. Just then, Ramos, Leon's right hand man, was behind them. He was as sober as ever as he faced William.

"You, boy!" he shouted. "What are you doing?"

"Get away from her, you fiend," Will growled.

"You can't leave the ship!" Ramos said. "All hands, prisoner escape!"

Using as much strength as possible, William punched Ramos in the gut. Ramos doubled over. With his enemy distracted, William then lowered the boat into the water with Juliet safely aboard. When he turned around, Ramos hoisted him up by his shirt.

"The captain will teach a naughty boy like you some manners," he said menacingly.

From below, Juliet watched as William was taken away to face his punishment.

"William! No!" Juliet screamed futilely, tears staining her white cheeks.

Not wanting William's sacrifice to be in vain, Juliet then took advantage of her freedom and began to row away as fast as she could. She rowed so much that her arms ached for rest as did the rest of her. Her frequent coughing fits did not make matters better, either. Juliet willed her body to keep rowing, even if she truly desired sleep. Finally, after about two hours, Juliet gave in and fell asleep, leading the boat to drift off to an uncertain destination.