Chapter Text
It was raining heavily in Port Royal. Two girls, one, a honey-brown haired bride, and the other, a raven-haired bridesmaid, stood at the altar, staring silently at the horizon.
Hearing the sound of heavy footsteps behind them, they turned and saw William Turner being brought in shackles to the open chapel with a stone archway at the back which provided shelter from the tropical rain.
Without a word, the two of them ran to him.
Olivia Thomas placed a hand on his shoulder while Elizabeth Swann ran her hands over his collar and shoulders to see whether he was hurt, still caring for him even though she longed for a certain pirate.
Elizabeth muttered, “Will.”
As glad as she was that her wedding will not be happening any time soon, Elizabeth was angry and confused as to why Will was arrested.
Olivia asked with wide eyes, “What is going on?!”
Will looked at her hazel eyes and got lost in them as he replied, “I don’t know.”
Blinking to break himself from the trance, Will turned to Elizabeth with a smile, trying to be positive, “You look beautiful.”
A watery smile grazed her lips as she spoke in a broken voice, “I think it’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding.”
Will was overjoyed that he will not be marrying Elizabeth soon as he was steadily falling for Olivia and wished to marry her instead, but he still had to make sure that Elizabeth is safe and alright.
They then saw governor Swann and Mr. Thomas pushing through the crowd, shouting, “Make way! Let us through!”
They were met with two soldiers crossing their polearms, blocking their way.
Noticing an official wearing a black cape as a raincoat, Governor Swann ordered, “How dare you! Stand your men down at once! Do you hear me?”
The man then turned, giving the coat to a nearby soldier. He had cold, cruel blue eyes and an arrogant smile on his pale, harsh face, “Governor Weatherby Swann, Mr. Thomas, it’s been too long.”
Governor Swann furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, “Cutler Beckett?”
He smugly corrected, “It’s lord now, actually.”
The two soldiers lifted the polearms, allowing them to walk to the young couple and their friend.
Mr. Thomas’ usually kind hazel eyes were filled with fury as he spoke coldly to Beckett, “Who in their right mind made you a lord?! You are a monster!”
Beckett raised an eyebrow at him, “I see that your hot temper still hasn’t cooled down, Mr. Thomas.”
Mr. Thomas glowered at him as the governor stepped forward and insisted, “Lord or not, you have no reason and no authority to arrest this man.”
He smiled haughtily, “In fact I do.”
He then called out, “Mr. Mercer?”
Mr. Mercer, who seemed to be Beckett’s right-hand man, brought a leather file which he opened, showing some documents inside.
Beckett took the topmost one and, reading it, handed it to the governor, “The warrant for the arrest of one William Turner.”
The governor looks at the paper and looks again, momentarily at a loss as he spoke in disbelief, “This warrant is for Elizabeth Swann!”
He nonchalantly responded, “Oh, is it? That’s annoying, my mistake.”
Taking the paper back, he ordered, “Arrest her.”
As the soldiers grabbed her and put on cuffs, she yelled, “On what charges?!”
Will and Olivia protested, “No!”
Furious at the man, Olivia strode forward and raised her hand to strike him, but never got the chance as two soldiers came forward and grabbed her.
Beckett looked at the papers again, “There’s a warrant for Olivia Thomas as well. Arrest her.”
She glared ferociously at him, anger radiating off her as her hands were cuffed.
As she stood back with her friends, Beckett gave another paper to the governor, “Aha! Here’s the one for William Turner.”
Lifting a paper in the air, he raised his voice, “And I have another one for a Mr. James Norrington. Is he present?”
Elizabeth firmly asked, “What are the charges?”
Relieved that his friend is not currently in Port Royal, the governor spoke with a tinge of victory in his voice, “Commodore Norrington resigned his commission some months ago.”
Annoyed that he won’t be able to arrest Norrington, Beckett turned to him, “I don’t believe that was the answer to the question I asked.”
Still glaring at him, Mr. Thomas retorted, “It means that we don’t know where he is, Beckett. For a lord, you seem to be rather poor in understanding the obvious meanings of what people say.”
Before Beckett to respond to the insult, Will interjected, “Lord Beckett, in the category of questions not answered – ”
Elizabeth interrupted him, “We are under the jurisdiction of the King’s governor of Port Royal and – ”
Olivia cut in, “You will tell us what we are charged with.”
Governor Swann reluctantly explained, “The charge… is conspiring to set free a man convicted of crimes against the Crown and Empire and condemned to death for which the…”
As the governor broke off, shocked at what was stated in the warrant, Beckett filled in with a cruel smile, “For which the punishment, regrettably, is also death.”
He then stepped up to Will, “Perhaps you remember a certain pirate named Jack Sparrow.”
The three of them forcefully corrected, “Captain!”
As he turned to look at the two girls, Elizabeth finally uttered the name of the man who had plagued her dreams ever since her adventure a few months ago, “Captain Jack Sparrow.”
Seeing a fire lighting up in Elizabeth’s eyes as she mentioned Jack’s name, Olivia looked at her curiously.
Beckett smiled triumphantly, making the three of them feel uneasy, “Captain Jack Sparrow. Yes, I thought you might.”
The two girls were dragged away to the cells while Will was taken away to talk with Beckett.
Olivia carefully spoke to Elizabeth, “I saw your eyes lit up at the mention of Jack. Do you have feelings for him?”
Elizabeth felt caught but she hid it and raised her eyebrows, “No.”
She then looked out the tiny window of their cell at the horizon, “The mention of him reminded me of freedom, what I tasted and lost. Something I wish I have, but I don’t and likely never will.”
Hearing Elizabeth’s explanation, she softly smiled even though there was a lingering doubt in her mind, “Me too. Sometimes, I sort of wished that I actually took up Jack on his offer to serve on his ship.”
Elizabeth looked at her and smiled sadly.
Will rushed down the stairs, past the guard and crouched down in front of the girls’ cell. The two girls sat down in front of him, Olivia holding on to the bars while Elizabeth and Will forced themselves to link their fingers.
The guard protested, “You’re not… you can’t be here.”
Governor Swann, who was following behind Will with Mr. Thomas, stopped the guard from going behind Will, “I think you’ll find he can.”
The guard insisted, “Mr. Swann.”
Angry that the guard failed to show him proper respect, he corrected the man, “Governor Swann still”, and sarcastically asked, “Do you think I wear this wig to keep my head warm?”
Will quickly explained to the two girls what Beckett asked him to do.
Confused at why Beckett would want a broken compass, Elizabeth asked, “Jack’s compass? What does Beckett want with that?”
Determined to save their lives, Will replied, “Doesn’t matter. I’m to find Jack and convince him to return to Port Royal and in exchange the charges against us will be dropped.”
Olivia hesitated, “I know I consider Jack a good friend, but do you really think that you can convince him to give his compass?”
Will looked at her worried face and replied, undeterred, “I have to try.”
Governor Swann vehemently rejected it, “No, we must find our own avenue to secure your freedom!”
Will raised an eyebrow, “Is that a lack of faith in Jack… or in me?”
He explained, “You would risk your life to save Sparrow’s does not mean that he would do the same for anyone else.”
Looking around, the governor asked no one in particular, “Now, where’s that dog with the keys?”
Elizabeth made herself caress Will’s stubbled cheek as she declared, “I have faith in you. Both of you.”
Olivia smiled softly at him, “I have faith in you and Jack too.”
As Jack is never in one place for too long, Elizabeth asked, “Where will you find him?”
Will thought for a moment and answered, “Tortuga. I’ll start there and I won’t stop searching till I find him. And then I intend to return here to marry you.”
Elizabeth felt uncomfortable, but she forced herself to smile, staring into the depths of his dark eyes, “Properly?”
Will felt uneasy but leaned closer, if it was possible with the bars, gazing into her light brown eyes, “With your leave, if you’ll still have me.”
She felt nervous, but hid it and smirked, “If it weren’t for these bars, I’d have you already.”
Olivia saw the governor break off a wall sconce with a loud noise, breaking the two’s tensed trance and giggled, earning a glare from them.
They looked at anywhere but each other, a light pink tinge on their cheeks.
After the governor threw it to the side, the two turned back to face each other, pushing themselves to lean closer.
Will whispered, “Keep a weather eye on the horizon.”
He then gladly tore himself away, and giving Olivia’s hand a comforting squeeze, left in a hurry.
Night had fallen and the two girls were leaning on the wall, away from the prisoners reaching out for them when they heard the metallic clang of keys and looked at the door.
A soldier opened the door with governor Swann and Mr. Thomas behind him.
The governor instructed, “Come quickly.”
Without a word, the two girls rushed out of the cell, following their fathers.
Olivia asked her father, “Father, what’s happening?”
Governor Swann answered instead, “I may still have some standing with the king. I’ve arranged passage to England. The captain is a friend of mine.”
Olivia and Elizabeth stopped walking as Elizabeth whisper-shouted, “No! Will’s gone to find Jack!”
Olivia added, “Yes! Show some more faith in Will and Jack!”
Frustrated with them not hurrying to leave the prison, the governor and Mr. Thomas grabbed their daughters’ arms and dragged them away with the governor flatly responding, “We cannot count on William Turner. Come!”
Olivia retorted angrily, “He’s a better man than you give him credit for.”
Her father sighed, “Of course, this is no time for innocence. Beckett has offered one pardon only. One! And that is promised to Jack Sparrow. Even if Will succeeds – ”
The governor interrupted, “You’re not asking us to endure the sight of our daughters walking to the gallows. Do not.”
They led their daughters to a waiting carriage outside the prison as governor Swann offered, “Perhaps, I can ensure a fair trial for Will, if he returns.”
Olivia opened her mouth to protest but Elizabeth cut to it, replying tightly, “A fair trial for Will ends in a hanging.”
As Mr. Thomas looked apologetically at them, the governor expressionlessly stated, “Then there is nothing left for you here.”
They then closed the door and drove the carriage to the docks.
The governor got down and told the two girls, “Wait inside.”
Spotting the captain in front of him, he called out, “Captain! Captain?”
Meanwhile, noticing the soldiers rushing to surround them, the two girls opened the roof and escaped. They quietly snuck into Beckett’s office, took the letters of marque, a gun for Elizabeth and a sword for Olivia. They then retreated to the shadows and watched as Beckett walked to his table with a paper and lantern in hand. He kept them on the table and opened the chest that previously contained the letters of marque.
Without turning back, he spoke out, “No doubt you’ve discovered that loyalty is no longer the currency of the realm as your fathers believe.”
They stepped out as Elizabeth questioned, “Then what is?”
He finally turned back to face them, “I’m afraid currency is the currency of the realm.”
The three of them slowly approached each other, Olivia letting Elizabeth do all the talking, “I expect then that we can come to some sort of understanding. I’m here to negotiate.”
He responded, “I’m listening.”
Elizabeth then cocked her pistol and pointed it at his forehead at the same time Olivia pointed her sword at his throat.
He remained unfazed though Olivia saw a bead of sweat roll down his face in fear, making her smile dangerously as he clarified, “I’m listening intently.”
Holding up the letters, Elizabeth asked, “These Letters of Marque, they are signed by the King?”
He moved his head to the side and answered, “Yes, and they’re not valid until they bear my signature and my seal.”
Elizabeth retorted, “Or else we would not still be here.”
Olivia smirked as Elizabeth continued, “You sent Will to get you the compass and buy Jack Sparrow, it will do you no good.”
Beckett passively requested, “Do explain.”
Elizabeth leaned closer, pointing the pistol to his stomach as Beckett leaned back, “I have been to the Isla de Muerta, I have seen the treasure myself. There is something you need to know.”
He smiled smugly, “Aah, I see. You think the compass leads only to the Isla de Muerta and so you hope to save me from an evil fate. But you mustn’t worry.”
As Olivia and Elizabeth watched in confusion, he turned away from them, moving the tip of Olivia’s sword away from his neck and walked to the large world map on the wall behind him, “I care not for cursed Aztec gold, my desires are not so provincial. There’s more than one chest of value in these waters.”
He then turned and walked to them, “So perhaps you may wish to enhance your offer.”
Elizabeth placed the muzzle of the pistol right under Beckett’s chin and cocked it as Olivia pressed her sword against his neck.
Elizabeth and Olivia then walked to his desk, forcing him to go there as well.
While walking, Elizabeth harshly said, “Consider it in your calculations that you robbed me of my wedding night.”
Stopping at the table, she roughly pressed the papers against his left shoulder.
Taking the papers, he signed them and, melting the end of a stick of wax in a candle flame, put it on the papers and stamped it with his signet ring, “So I did. A marriage interrupted. Or fate intervenes. You’re making great efforts to ensure Jack Sparrow’s freedom.”
He slowly raised his hand, still holding onto the letters as Elizabeth grabbed them.
As much as Elizabeth wanted to secure Jack’s freedom with these letters, she knew that Jack being the witty and resourceful person he is, he won’t need these letters to get his freedom and so looked incredulously at him, “These are not going to Jack.”
He stared at her coldly as he reminded them, “Oh, really. To insure Mr. Turner’s freedom? I’ll still want that compass. Consider that in your calculations.”
Snatching the letters from him, they cautiously backed away to the deck, sword and pistol pointing at the man they despised, before rushing out of the room in to the cold night, unaware that they left behind a grudging admirer of their beauty and talents.