Chapter 13: Visitation Rights

The return to the ship was slow and quiet, each person lost in their own thoughts. They arrived alongside the Dauntless and were hauled up, immediately being greeted by Norrington and a smattering of naval men. Norrington had Jack and Will put in irons and sent to the brig, but the two girls were sent to the cabin. The governor was happy to see Elizabeth; he also showed some relief at seeing that Alice was safe, but he eyed her warily. The girls went inside, Alice collapsing into the nearest chair. Elizabeth slowly sunk into the chair beside her, handing her a bottle of wine. Alice thanked her with a sad smile and noticed that she, too, had a bottle. They both drank, much as they had done the first night aboard the Pearl. Governor Swann entered and stood at the table, watching both of the girls. He eyed the bottles disapprovingly, and sighed.

"We will be back at Port Royal in about two days time," he said, and Alice glanced at him before returning her gaze to the table. "I understand the need," he gestured to the bottles. "It has been a trying time, I'm sure, for both of you." He paused for a moment before speaking again, this time uncomfortably. "Norrington wishes to speak with each of you, but I have entreated him to wait until after we return." Alice clenched her teeth tightly. Great, just what I wanted to do, she thought angrily. The governor watched them for a moment further, but they remained silent. He cleared his throat. "Get some rest, the both of you… Please," he added softly and then exited slowly. The cabin door closed and they sat quietly for a long while.

"You loved him, didn't you?" Elizabeth finally asked quietly and Alice closed her eyes tightly before nodding her head and swigging more wine to hold back the tears. "I'm sorry, Alice."

"I am, too," she replied softly, her voice gravelly from her earlier sobbing. The pair returned to silence, drinking the bottles dry before trudging to the soft bed. Alice crawled into it uneasily, trying even harder not to remember the bed aboard the Pearl where she had slept beside Barbossa only a night ago. Elizabeth sat on the edge, her shoulders slumped.

"What do you think will happen to them?" Alice finally asked Elizabeth. The girl looked over at Alice sadly.

"The gallows," she whispered, and Alice saw tears in her eyes.

"Even Will?" Elizabeth shrugged and closed her eyes. "Elizabeth," Alice propped herself up on one elbow, "why are you marrying James?" The girl's eyes flew open in a mix of anger and sorrow, and Alice almost regretted asking the question.

"I made a bargain with him. It was the only way to save Will," she answered, quickly wiping away tears. Alice swallowed hard and took a deep breath.

"You love him," she whispered and Elizabeth just stared at her. "Will." Elizabeth looked away quickly and stared at the ceiling, her hands fidgeting. She finally sighed and looked down at the ground.

"It doesn't matter," she said, and this angered Alice.

"It does matter! You can't just give up on him…"

"What am I supposed to do?" Elizabeth snapped. "I've already told Norrington I would marry him. I can't simply go back on that!"

"Why not?"

"Because…" Elizabeth looked around, fishing for reasons. "I have to do it. I've given my word, and it's what's expected of me," she answered in annoyance.

"That doesn't seem like a good reason to me," Alice said, deliberately being antagonistic and Elizabeth glared at her. Alice sighed loudly. "Look, all I'm saying is, when you love someone, you have to be willing to do what it takes to be with them. That's what love is all about," she trailed off into a whisper.

"Like you and Barbossa," she said and Alice looked at her for a long moment before nodding sadly, tears welling up in her eyes again. She wiped them away quickly.

"James is a good man, but he hasn't learned to live his own life, and I doubt he ever will. Could you live a life of controlled routine, Elizabeth?" she stared the other girl in the eyes. "Will… He may not be some high standing official in any capacity, but that shouldn't matter. He braved his life to save you, caring little for his own in the process, and now he may face the gallows for that. This would all be some tragic romance if not for the fact that you love him, too. Do what you can to save him, but don't condemn yourself in the process." Elizabeth stood up and walked away, rifling through a cabinet. She returned with another bottle of wine, which was swiftly uncorked. She took a long draw before handing it to Alice, and sighed.

"I know what I should do, and I know what I want to do… But I am unsure of whether I would even be able to," she said quietly. Alice sat up and leaned against the headboard, drinking the wine.

"When the time is right, you will know what to do, and you will make a decision. Whether that choice is the right one or not, I cannot say. Just trust yourself, and your heart." Elizabeth sighed sadly and lay back on the bed.

"If only it was that easy…"

"It may not seem like it but, trust me: Whatever happens to you in that moment will not compare to what happens after that, whether good or ill. The heart, though it seems to often conflict with the brain, always knows what's right. Listen to that, and you'll be fine," Alice finished softly, giving Elizabeth a weak smile, which she returned. They both fell silent and Elizabeth was soon fast asleep. Alice drank until her head spun and tried not to vomit as she closed her eyes, sleep following soon after.

The following day trudged along slowly, but at least there was food. A heavy breakfast was laid out, though neither Alice nor Elizabeth could particularly eat much, and the governor and Norrington joined them. The girls remained largely silent during the meal, aside from some pleases and thank you's. Lunch and dinner followed in the same fashion, and they stayed in the cabin, drinking wine and pretending to read books so they could concentrate on their thoughts.

The day after found them slightly brighter, as they knew they were nearing Port Royal. They were only slightly more talkative at breakfast, but neither of them had much to say to Norrington especially. The two men left them to their own devices, and they were silent for a short time before Alice spoke up.

"We should go to the brig," she stated and Elizabeth looked up at her. "Do you think they would let us?"

"If they try to stop us, I could always appeal to James," Elizabeth answered, her eyes slightly hopeful.

"Let's give it a go, then!" The two girls crept out of the cabin slowly, wincing against the bright sunlight. Some of the men nodded and greeted them as they looked around carefully. James and the governor were standing near the bow, and they slipped belowdecks, trying to avoid being seen. More men greeted them as they headed for the brig, being stopped by the guards there when they entered. The prisoners below clambered to their cell's bars.

"I don't think you're supposed to be down here," Murtogg said uneasily. Elizabeth stood up straight, gazing at them snootily.

"As the daughter of the governor of Port Royal, and the intended of the commodore, I think you'll find we can," she said haughtily.

"These men are dangerous," Mullroy chipped in, but the gazes of the two girls silenced him quickly.

"They are bound in chains and behind locked bars, unarmed," she continued. "Do you really think them a threat in this state?" The two men looked at each other, communicating wordlessly, before finally conceding.

"Five minutes," Mullroy said, and the two men went up the stairs. Once gone, Elizabeth immediately ran to Will's cell, falling to her knees as they both clutched the bars.

"Will, I'm so sorry," she started, but he shook his head.

"I knew the price before I began," he said. "But it's one I am willing to pay." Alice felt it would be rude to listen further to their conversation as they spoke in hushed tones and she walked past Jack to the crewmen.

"Get us out of here," one man pleaded, and others followed suit. Alice shushed them angrily and Pintel and Ragetti pushed their way forward, both looking sorrowful.

"It's not fair, is it?" Pintel said quietly. Alice shook her head.

"We miss 'im, too," Ragetti said, and she could tell he was trying not to cry. She smiled sadly.

"Our first breaths in ten years, only to be wasted on the gallows," Pintel said.

"At least you had those ten years," Alice responded. "I don't think there is anything I can do—"

"We aren't asking you to, Alice," Pintel cut her off, but the other men groaned out their complaints to the contrary. Alice ignored them.

"But I will try," she finished, and the pair smiled at her, their faces doubtful, but still appreciative. "Thank you, both of you," she smiled sadly at them, and they held her hands through the bars for a moment. She turned and walked over to Jack. He sat cross-legged on the floor, his hands resting limply on the ground between his legs. He glanced up at her, but she just stared at him.

"I did what I had to," he said quietly, his dark eyes tinged with sorrow. Alice swallowed hard. "You can hate me all you want, but it doesn't change what happened. The Hector you knew was not the same man who once sailed under me. Ten years is a long time, mate. It was too long to hold a grudge, as I did, and an eternity, I'm sure, for him to have suffered as he did. I thought I needed that closure, and some part of me did. But do I feel better for what I've done?" He shook his head, gazing at the floor. "The past never changes, love, no matter how you try to do so," he finished and Alice snorted softly. He eyed her quizzically.

"When the future is your past, it makes it even more daunting," she said with a sad smile, and he squinted at her puzzling words.

"I suppose it doesn't matter," he sighed. "I wasted too long chasing me own past, and now my only future is a hempen jig," he gave a pained smile. The guards returned down the stairs.

"Time's up," Mullroy said and Jack chuckled darkly.

"Indeed it is," he said aloud to himself, and Alice looked at him sadly as Elizabeth stood. Alice could see the girl didn't want to leave, but they had to. She said her goodbyes to Will, with an assurance that she would try to help him somehow, and the pair slowly headed to the stairs.

"Could at least bring us water next time," one of the pirates growled and Alice snapped her head toward them.

"Maybe the hangman will be so kind as to provide you some. But I doubt it," she sneered, and they climbed the stairs. They made it back to the cabin without running into Elizabeth's father or Norrington, and sat at the table. Alice mulled over Jack's words, and found she did feel sorrow for him now. She groaned softly and sighed.