The Fine Line Between Legends And Lies

Chapter 19:

A/N: Okay Will and Norrington both arrive in Port Royal simultaneously. This is going to be a bit awkward considering Norrington no longer trusts Will and his intentions towards Elizabeth. They confront each other but ultimately come to an uneasy accord. Read and review please!

Will inhaled the salty air deeply as he climbed the rigging of the Andalusia. He was headed towards the crow’s nest to relieve Diego from his watch for lunch. Reaching the crow’s nest Will carefully climbed into the small area. “Hola Diego.”

“Hola Will.”

“Captain Delgado sent me to relieve you for lunch.”

“Ah gracias Will.”

“De nada Diego, enjoy your lunch.”

“I will. Enjoy the view from up here.”

“I will.”

Diego climbed down the rigging and headed towards the galley leaving Will alone in the crow’s nest to ponder his future once he arrived in Port Royal. Should he stay there? And if so was it really possible for him to hold out hope for a real future with Elizabeth? When he had last been in her company it was undeniably clear how much she loved Jack Sparrow. How had things managed to become so horribly messed up between himself and Elizabeth? It was all Jack’s fault, it just had to be. Who else could have enticed Elizabeth into a life of piracy? No one held that kind of power over Elizabeth, except for Jack. He was her childhood hero, her lifetime fantasy. And now he was her reality as well. Will scowled as he thought of the way Jack paraded Elizabeth around the seas on his arm like some kind of treasure he had acquired. Giving a dry laugh Will supposed that was more true than false. Elizabeth was a treasure to Jack and being the pirate that he was, he had acquired her in a sense.

Sighing heavily Will began to wonder what could possibly await him when he returned to Port Royal. If Elizabeth desired to stay with Jack, which she obviously did, then really what was left for him there? Nothing at all. If Elizabeth was not his then what did he have in Port Royal? Perhaps he could make the journey back to England and get a fresh start there? A new town, get a fresh start opening up a blacksmith shop and perhaps even meet a new girl. Yes that could be good for him. He frowned as another thought of Elizabeth began to creep into his mind. No he would never be happy without her, not even in a new town in his homeland, thousands of miles across the sea from her. No matter how much distance he put between them she would always hold his heart. Glancing out across the sea he could make out the familiar outline of Fort Charles in the far distance. Scowling once again he began thinking of how Elizabeth had truly started her journey away from him and into her life of piracy with Jack Sparrow.

He hadn’t realized it then, but Elizabeth had began walking away from him the moment that Jack Sparrow had leapt into the depths to save her from drowning. The moment she had opened her beautiful brown eyes to look up at her pirate rescuer she had been lost to Will. Only he wouldn’t come to realize it until much later. Then he thought of how Jack had shot Barbossa when the nasty then undead pirate had threatened to shoot Elizabeth. His scowl deepened as he realized that Jack had been in love with Elizabeth even then. How had he not seen it then? It had always been there. In the way Jack shamelessly flirted with Elizabeth right in front of him. The way he always made sexual innuendos towards her no matter what they happened to be discussing. Will clenched his fists as he remembered a night they had all spent together aboard the Pearl, back when he had really thought of Jack as a friend. They had been leaving Tortuga to head back to Port Royal and Jack had decided they should celebrate for whatever ridiculous reason he had conjured up.

The crew had broken out rickety looking fiddles and began to play a raucous tune and the rum had been flowing generously. A small smile crept onto his lips as he remembered how lovely Elizabeth had looked in the plain pale yellow taffeta dress she had been wearing that night. It’s sleeves were very short ending just beneath her shoulders and it buttoned up the front. The neckline was a low scoop showing off more of her creamy perky breasts than it should have. She had long since kicked off her shoes opting to roam around the deck of the Pearl barefoot. Will’s smile melted as he remembered a somewhat drunken Jack Sparrow approaching where they had been sitting. He stumbled over to Elizabeth making a mocking bow sweeping his worn leather hat along the deck. His slurred words still resonated in Will’s head. “Lizzie darling, would ye be so kind as t’ allow me the pleasure of a dance?”

She had giggled her face turning bright red at his request. Then shoving her half empty bottle of rum in Will’s hands she had stood up thrusting her hand in Jack’s. Will had remembered smiling as he watched Jack twirl Elizabeth around the deck her right hand clasped tightly in his left and her left hand on his shoulder. No that wasn’t right, her left hand had started on his shoulder but had ended up wound around his neck beneath the thick mane of dreadlocks. Will scowled as he imagined her slender fingers had been lightly caressing the back of Jack’s neck beneath the cover of his thick hair. Then he had remembered Jack’s right hand had been clasped tightly and highly inappropriately against Elizabeth’s lower back. So low in fact that had he slid it just a little lower he would have been grasping her bottom. Will’s fists clenched tighter as the onetime pleasant memory began to turn ugly. Jack led Elizabeth around the deck as the crew continued to play for them. Will had stood up to follow the couple with his eyes. He remembered clenching the neck of the rum bottle tightly as he watched Jack dance with Elizabeth. What had seemed so innocent at first now seemed so intimate almost natural between the two of them. His dark eyes had narrowed when he watched as Elizabeth pressed her forehead against Jack’s chin as he pulled her closer to him.

Finally Will had been unable to stand watching their display any longer and approached them. He tapped Jack on the shoulder excusing him from Elizabeth’s company. Jack, ever the so called gentleman, had bowed out gracefully and retired to his cabin. Will remembered smiling down at Elizabeth only to be greeted with a scowl and then her quick departure to the railing to stare out at the sea angrily. Yes it had existed even then, she had been in love with him. The scowl on her face had proved it only he hadn’t known what it had proved at the time. But now he knew, she had been angry with him for interrupting her dance with Jack. What had she been hoping for? Did she want him to take her into his cabin so that they could have been alone in a more private sense? Shaking his head to clear the unwelcome images that were invading his mind. That had been such a long time ago and there was nothing he could do about it now that Elizabeth and Jack really were together and there was no denying how intimate their relationship had truly become.

A tap on his shoulder startled him. Glancing over his shoulder he was met by the smiling face of Javier. “Hola Will.”

“Hola Javier. My watch over already?”

“Yes. You were thinking about something important I take it?”

“No, nothing important, just an old memory.”

Javier smiled. “A memory of a woman?”

“How did….”

“I’m much older than you boy, I know the look of love when I see it. And you my friend are it, a man who’s still deeply in love with a woman who is lost to him. She must be quite a woman.”

“Yes she is.”

“You going to try and win her back?”

“I don’t know. I’m not sure if she desires to have me back Javier.”

“Ah, then there is someone else in her life now?”

“Yes.”

“Does she love him?”

“Undeniably.”

“Well then I suggest you forget about this woman Will. She can only cause you pain.”

“I’m working on it.”

Javier smiled as he watched Will start climbing down the rigging and step back onto the deck. Will approached the helm where Antonio was steering the Andalusia. Antonio smiled at him broadly. “Hola Will, we’re making ready to drop anchor in Port Royal soon.”

“Great. Thank you again for granting me passage back to Port Royal.”

“It was no trouble at all. Thank you for all the help you have given me and my crew along the way.”

“It was my pleasure.”

“If you ever decide to leave Port Royal again know that you always have a place onboard the Andalusia.”

“Thank you Antonio.”

Antonio nodded and gave him orders to begin preparing to make port. Will scurried about the deck of the Andalusia along with the rest of her crew as they sailed into the harbor and prepared to drop anchor. His dark eyes noticed another ship sailing into the harbor just ahead of them. Squinting against the sun he made out the flag of the Royal Navy. Scowling he recognized the ship was the Interceptor returning to Port Royal. Damn, Commodore Norrington wasn’t exactly the person he wanted to deal with right now. The Andalusia dropped anchor and the gangplank was lowered as the crew began making ready to unload the cargo they had brought. Will helped unload barrels and crates onto the pier. He constantly kept an eye out for the Commodore as more and more soldiers walked onto the pier. A smug sounding voice from behind as he bent to place two heavy crates onto the pier startled him. “Ah so you survived then?”

Turning around Will didn’t bother to hide the scowl that spread across his handsome face. “Hello Commodore. Yes I survived, no thanks to your men.”

“I see Jack got rid of you then?”

“Yes it seems that Jack no longer trusts me around his precious wife.”

“So it would seem. And with good reason I suspect.”

“I’m not the only one who’s not to be trusted.”

“Careful not to forget your station Mr. Turner.”

“My station? Ah yes, beneath you right Commodore?”

“Indeed. So how did you manage to make it back to Port Royal then if Jack gave you the boot?”

“Jack dropped me in Santa Marta, Columbia and I managed to barter passage on a merchant ship.”

“What could you possibly have in your possession worth bartering?”

“My services as a sailor.”

“Sailor or pirate?”

“I’m not a pirate Norrington!”

“Careful Mr. Turner, it’s Commodore. Were I not so kind I might have you thrown in jail for that little slip of the tongue.”

“You mean if you could no longer manipulate me into helping you bring Elizabeth back home and Jack Sparrow to the gallows don’t you?”

Smiling devilishly Norrington continued. “Touche. You appreciate your freedom don’t you Mr. Turner?” Not waiting for an answer he went on. “Of course you do. Now then if you desire to remain a free man then you will help me bring Elizabeth home and see to it that Jack Sparrow hangs from the gallows.”

“As if I have a choice Commodore?”

“Oh you have a choice Mr. Turner. Freedom or a nice cozy cell in the prison next to Fort Charles. So what will it be?”

“What else, my freedom.”

“Good. So then we’re in agreement?”

“Completely.”

“Excellent. Then come to Fort Charles the moment you’re finished here.”

Nodding Will watched with a scowl as the Commodore walked down the pier towards Fort Charles. How he hated that man. How Elizabeth could have ever considered marriage to that bastard was beyond Will. Shaking his head he continued on with his work unloading the remaining cargo that was still onboard the Andalusia. Once finished he again thanked Antonio for his kindness and shook his hand. He stood at the end of the pier watching as the Andalusia turned and headed out of the harbor back to Santa Marta, Columbia and back to Isabella. Will smiled as he remembered the pretty dark haired young woman. She had been an unexpected surprise upon his unceremonious arrival in Santa Marta. But she had not been unwelcome in the least.

Onboard the Pearl Elizabeth lay across the bed in their cabin. It had been days since they had abandoned Will in Santa Marta. She had lost track of how long it had been. Perhaps even weeks, she wasn’t sure. All she was sure of was the ever present swelling of her ankles and her lack of energy. All she seemed capable of now was eating, going to the bathroom and sleeping. Elizabeth couldn’t even muster up the energy to make love with Jack anymore. She supposed that she had reached her point in her pregnancy where she was no longer physically able to be intimate with Jack. Her belly was now more swollen with child than it had been just a few short weeks ago. She couldn’t even see her feet now when she looked down at where she knew them to be. And the breeches she had certainly wouldn’t fit anymore. No now she was confined to wearing a large cream colored taffeta nightgown that Jack had acquired for her. She felt like an elephant wrapped in a tent. Her breasts were larger and milk constantly seemed to be leaking from her nipples.

Counting back the time that had elapsed since the night she had given herself to Jack, the night she had conceived, she realized she was nearly in her eighth month of pregnancy. No wonder she felt so miserable. Elizabeth sighed heavily as she lay there on her side. It was now the only position she could lay in. She heard the door to the cabin creak open and the familiar swaggering footsteps of her husband as they approached the bed. He knelt down and began kissing her neck down her chest making a hasty path towards her breasts. Elizabeth’s hands came up to grab his face pushing him away from her abruptly. Jack looked at her with a mixture of hurt and confusion on his face. He tried to lean down again but she held him away from her. “Don’t Jack, please?”

“What’s the matter love? Ye never refuse me.”

“Jack I can’t.”

“What do ye mean ye can’t? Course ye can love, it’s easy. Jus’ turn over an’ spread yer legs.”

She scowled at him before spitting out the words that sprang to her mind. “Oh that’s disgusting! You’re drunk! Just go away and leave me alone!”

“But Lizzie, I’m horny!”

“You’re always bloody horny Jack Sparrow! You’re a big boy, you’ve got two hands. So I’m sure you can take care of it yourself!”

“Yer not really going t’ make me do it meself are ye Lizzie?”

“I most certainly am now go!”

Sighing heavily he left her alone in the cabin once more. She glared at the door long after he left. How could he be so insensitive right now? When she was feeling so horrible. Elizabeth sighed again as she forced herself to get out of bed. She waddled over to the door and opened it. Poking her head out the door she glanced around the deck for Jack. Not seeing him she groaned as she waddled outside of the cabin onto the deck to begin looking for him. As annoying as he might have been she didn’t want to fight with him. Elizabeth slowly made her way across the deck searching for her absentee husband. Suddenly a sharp pain shot through her abdomen making her double over instantly. A strangled cry tore from her throat. “Oh God!”

Elizabeth felt her knees tremble and begin to buckle underneath her as another wave of pain surged through her. “Oh…..help! Help me!” She collapsed onto the deck clutching her stomach tightly. Gibbs who had been at the helm raced over to where Elizabeth had collapsed. He fell to his knees at her side cradling her head in his hands.

“Miss Elizabeth!” He shouted to Marty who was coming out of the galley. “Marty! Go get Jack, something’s wrong with Miss Elizabeth!”

“Aye Gibbs!”

Marty raced back down the steps running through the galley heading down into the hold where he had seen Jack headed. He burst into the hold where all the rum was kept finding Jack slumped against the wall drinking a bottle of rum. “Captain! Captain!”

“What? What is it? A storm? Enemy ship? Commodore Norrington?”

“No Captain, it’s Miss Elizabeth!”

“What’s wrong with Elizabeth?”

“She’s collapsed on deck sir! Come quick!”

Jack nearly knocked Marty over as he jumped to his feet flinging the bottle of rum to the ground to run past him. Marty followed Jack up the steps of the hold through the galley and back up the steps onto the deck. Jack stopped short on deck when he saw Elizabeth sprawled on the deck Gibbs kneeling next to her. Snapping out of his stupor Jack slid to knees beside Elizabeth pushing Gibb’s hands away from her head to cradle it in his lap. “What happened t’ my wife Gibbs?”

“Dunno Captain. I guess she was looking for ye an’ then she jus’ doubled over an’ collapsed.”

“Bloody hell Lizzie!”

Gibbs and Marty watched as Jack gently picked Elizabeth up and headed into the cabin. He placed her on the bed carefully and turned to face Gibbs and Marty who had followed him inside the cabin.

“Orders Captain?”

“Where are we Gibbs?”

“We be close t’ Ireland Captain.”

“Get back t’ the helm an’ prepare t’ make port the first city we come t’.”

“Aye Captain.” Gibbs rushed back to helm to do as Jack had asked him. Marty followed Gibbs on deck to see if there was anything that he could do to help. Now alone with Elizabeth Jack knelt down beside the bed taking her hand in his.

“Lizzie love, don’t do this t’ me! Please open yer pretty eyes an’ curse me for all I’m worth! Please don’t leave me! I love ye Elizabeth Sparrow!”

Elizabeth’s eyes fluttered open and she felt Jack’s hand squeezing hers tightly. Her voice was a low whisper when she spoke. “Jack you’re squeezing my hand too tight.”

“Oh Lizzie darling, yer alive! I’ve never been an overly religious man, but thank God!”

“What happened?”

“Gibbs said ye collapsed on deck. What were ye doing out of bed love?”

“Looking for you. I wanted to apologize for being so nasty to you earlier Jack.”

“Oh love it’s forgotten. Don’t worry yer pretty little head bout that savvy? Now jus’ lie back an’ rest.”

“Where are we going?”

“T’ make port in Ireland t’ visit a doctor love. I want t’ make sure that ye an’ the runt are alright. Now get some sleep, that’s an order.” She smiled as he leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on her lips. Closing her eyes she drifted into a light sleep. Jack sank down into the chair at his table and picked up the bottle of rum that was sitting on it. It was half full so he removed the cork and turned it up draining it completely in one long drink. Leaning his head back he shut his eyes falling into an uneasy sleep.

A/N: Okay I had to give Jack and Elizabeth a little scare in their pregnancy, that just adds to their dilemma. But don’t worry it’s not going to end in tragedy. She’s just going to have to be bed ridden for the remainder of her pregnancy. Please read and review!