XLI.
Savior

There was a flagpole on the top of the cliffs where Roberts had dangled her and that was where he chained her. She kneeled on the ground, knowing there was no way to hide herself. Edward would come rushing up, desperate to find her, angry enough to spit into Roberts' eye and he would see her. He would run over and go to free her and Roberts would open a vent in his head. Then he'd have a good laugh while her entire world fell apart again and then give her a good dose between the eyes as well. Yes, that was what she saw happening and she was terribly desperate to avoid it.

She pulled on the chain, hoping to weaken it. Then, she began shouting, realizing that there was no other way to warn Edward. She had no idea if he could hear her, but Roberts could. He sent his first mate back out to gag her and to ensure that she couldn't remove it, she was forced to stand and literally tied to the flag pole. She struggled and fought but considering her mouth was full of cloth, she couldn't do much. So she stood there in the dark, waiting for Edward to show up.

It didn't take long for Edward to show up after that. It was full dark and his white clothing stood out stark in comparison with the darkness around them and while he saw her, he hesitated. She shook her head, furrowing her brow, indicating she did not want him to come forward and save her. His face twisted and she could read the emotions on his face even with such distance between them; worry, relief, anger, sadness, desperation and then there was also love. She wanted to tell him she wasn't afraid to die here, that she didn't want him to be afraid of her dying. She wanted to put her feelings into words, just in case she did happen to die, there would never be any confusion on how she felt. He stood there though, looking about for Roberts and perhaps five minutes had passed and he walked out into the open. He held a gun, which he kept pointed at her.

"By jove, Edward Kenway! How can I not be impressed by the attention you've paid me!" He laughed.

"Roberts! Let. Her. Go!"

"Aye, I'll let your wife go…when you're nothing but a bloody corpse!" He fired suddenly at Edward and he was forced to move lest he get hit. Mary saw the blood though! He had been hit! She struggled, despite being weak and she strained to be released. Roberts gave her what she wanted, almost, but cutting her ropes with his sword. He grabbed her wrist and tugged on her, sending her to her knees. "Up, bitch!" He snarled.

He dragged her, fighting him desperately all the way, to the edge of the cliff. He turned, spinning her around as well and she could see Edward was fast approaching, though his fingers clutched his side. She would have shouted for him, but her mouth was still gagged. Roberts dropped his empty pistol and grabbed a torch and began waving frantically. Edward did not stop his advance until Roberts swung her out over open water.

She kicked frantically as the earth left her feet. She had never felt true fear but if it had not been so undignified, Mary might have pissed herself. There was nothing like looking down to see nothing below you and to know the only thing holding onto you was a madman who might let go at any turn. She now clung to him as if he were her only salvation because that might have just been true in this situation.

"Come any closer and I drop her." He warned Edward and she glanced up, seeing Edward had stopped. She wished he hadn't, but the core of her was very thankful he did. Her heart was beating frantically. Fuck pissing herself, if she didn't have the gag on she might have thrown up for all the churning her stomach was doing.

She was so focused on Edward and Roberts, so focused on Edward's stare down with the other man, she didn't realized when the ocean wasn't the only thing beneath her. Suddenly, Roberts was shouting at Edward again and she didn't catch the words because he half turned, grabbing her more sternly and gave her a toss. She might have screamed against the gag, but she wasn't completely sure. Instead of rock or ocean battering her body, she hit hard wood.

More importantly, she was up in the nest of the Royal Fortune. He had been signaling it with the torch and now that it was here, he jumped onto the ship, landing beside her. She ripped off her gag and spat out the cloth and he leaned down grabbing her around her waist and lifting her up.

"Don't get no wise ideas, girl. This night is just starting." Then he grabbed the pulley and jumped down. Mary had done so herself on her own ship and even on Edward's before, but the Royal Fortune was much bigger. She didn't know how Edward's stood a chance. Still she looked back at the cliff where Edward was now frantically signaling the Jackdaw. She couldn't see his face or features but she could see the torch in his hands.

When they reached the main deck, Mary was cast into the First Mate's arms. "Take her down below to her room. Kill her, leave her corpse for Kenway to find"

"What?" She shouted at Roberts but he was already heading to the wheel of his ship. The First Mate folded her arms behind her and forced her into the lower deck. She didn't struggle until they got closer to the room. He ended up throwing her into it and she stumbled, smacking her head off the pipe in the back. The world spun and she was on her knees, a bad way to be in a fight.

She heard the First Mate drawing his sword and she turned to look at him. A cold glimmer was shining in his eyes. He wanted to kill her – he had been wanting to do this for a long time now. How long she couldn't say, but she wasn't going to lay here and die. He came closer and she waited for her chance. She rolled into her back and she kicked him right in the knee cap once, twice and a third time as quickly and as hard as she could. He cried out, the sword dropping from his fingers and he pitched backwards.

She jumped up and found herself on top of him, fighting with him for his sword. They rolled, fingers scraping the wooden floor. She heard the boom of cannons and she knew Black Bart was now fighting for his life. She was fighting for her's too and she knew she had to win. Finally her fingers closed around the blade – yes the blade itself. She felt its sharp edges cut her fingers but she didn't care. She used it like a knife, stabbing straight into the First Mate's throat, right through it and into the floor. She climbed off him and stole the bandana from his head, using it to tie over her own hair. She hoped to blend in with Bart's crew at least until Edward's could board. She took another piece of cloth off the First Mate and used it to tie around her now bleeding fingers.

She took the sword and his two pistols and stormed up to the deck as fast as she could. What she found there was slaughter. Blood ran down the main deck in a sluice, bodies and body parts lay scattered in the thick puddles, eyes that no longer saw were staring at her. She heard Black Bart shouting orders to his crew and she heard Edward shouting "Shorten the royals! Prepare the boarding hooks! Heave ho, lads! Heave ho!"

They were boarding already? Where was Roberts?

She moved to the upper deck and by the wheel, but no one was there. She stumbled forward as the ship rocked violently and then someone grabbed her from behind. They forced her to turn and held her tightly against them, nails digging into her skin, a wicked dagger at her throat. She realized it was Roberts, of course it was Roberts.

"Where are you Kenway? Look what I have here! I have your kitten here!" He called, scanning the deck for Edward. She looked for him too. "Let us see who has a more wicked blade! May the best of we two sing praises of the second!" There was no answer and Mary wondered where Edward was. He always boarded with his crew. "Edward Kenway!" He shouted – or tried to.

'Kenway' was broken off with a strangled gurgle and Mary was pushed away from him, blade lifting just in time to keep from slitting her throat. She stumbled and turned to see that Roberts was being hung by a rope dart. She looked up and saw Edward balancing on one of the masts, holding the rope. His side was bleeding but he didn't seem to pay it any mind. Roberts was his target and he was going to kill him. Roberts was no fool and took the dagger he had been threatening her with and slit the rope hanging him. He fell to his knees, dagger spilling from his hand, gasping for air.

Mary grabbed it and she glanced up, Edward was already gone. He was coming though, she knew that much.

Roberts began to stagger to his feet and Mary struck, the dagger sinking into the area above his collar bone. He gasped in shock and then fell back onto his back. Mary let go of the dagger, letting it stay in his flesh as he fell back.

"Ah…got me at last, lass" He laughed but it must have hurt because he stopped. Edward was there then, right behind her.

"Mary!" His voice was raw with emotion and he grabbed her from behind, hugging her tightly to him. Roberts watched with a nearly jealous look in his eye.

"A merry life and a short one, as promised!" Robert said, distracting them both. Edward let go of Mary and stepped around her, kneeling close to Roberts. "How well I know myself…and what of you Edward? Have you found the peace you seek?"

"I'm not aiming so high as that. For what's peace but a confusion between two wars?" Edward stated, sounding very wise. Mary glanced at him, wondering when he had figured that out for himself. Yet for his words, she knew that he desired peace – she knew because she did too.

Roberts laughed though but it quickly cut off once more with a gurgling sound. "You're a stoic then! Perhaps I was wrong about you…She might have had some use for you after all" His eyes became a little distant as he said that.

"She?" Mary muttered but Edward's words overwrote her's.

"Of whom do you speak?"

"Oh…She who lies in wait." He groaned and she saw his teeth were stained red. "I had hoped…to find her, to see her again. To open the door of the temple and hear her speak my name once more" He paused a moment. "Aita…"

Aita?

"Talk sense man!" Edward demanded.

"I was born too soon…like some many others before…"

Edward had clearly had enough though. "Where's the device, Roberts?"

Roberts removed the device from his coat and handed it with a trembling hand. He didn't have much longer. Once Edward had the strange looking device in his hands, Roberts grabbed the dagger still embedded in him and yanked it out, allowing a tide of blood to flow from the wound.

"Destroy this body, Edward." He begged. "The Templars…if they take me…" But his breath left him and his eyes went glassy. He was gone. Mary looked down at him and she felt a weight lift off her shoulders. She felt a tear run down her face and she didn't realize Edward was looking. He had turned to hear the cheers from his victorious crew but he saw the tear on her cheek.

"Mary…" he said her name softly.

"It's over. I survived" She whispered, mainly to herself but Edward had her in his warm arms. He didn't care that his crew was watching. She didn't care either. She buried herself in his robes and he hugged her tightly against his chest as if he might never let her go again. She could almost hear the pain in his heartbeat.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Mary! I searched and searched but he always eluded me – he hid and back tracked and I tried to find you so hard. I'm so sorry it took so long. I'm sorry. I'm sorry" He repeated the words but she didn't blame him, not in the least. She'd say as much but her face was against his chest and she doubted he'd hear her if she did attempt to tell him anyway. He held her for a moment longer and then gently let her go. She looked up at him finally, brow furrowing.

"It ain't your fault Edward. None of it is. I'm safe now, that's all that matters." She turned her eyes to Robert's body. "Let's get him in the drink, eh?"

"And then I could use one." Edward sighed. She smiled softly and the bent to held with Robert's body but Edward grabbed him himself and tossed him gently overboard. They both looked down, watching as Bart Roberts sank beneath the surface and yet another Sage disappeared from the world.

A/N: Alright guys, that's it for today methinks. Hope you enjoyed another enthralling segment of this fanfiction. Much love to you readers, you reviewers and those who have joined the boat by subscribing and favoring. You're all awesome and I hope you'll all stick around for another couple chapters because goodness knows theres more!