WILLOW ━ Jack Sparrow

chapter seven.

CHAPTER SEVEN
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a shot not wasted

         𝓗eading back to Isla De Muerta brought them back into the dark and cold of the night, and even though Elizabeth and Alice were on hardly any sleep, they were determined to stay awake and get to Will as quick as possible. He had gone against his beliefs in order to try and save them, only to be taken himself. They weren't going to leave without him.

Even in the dark, the island wasn't hard to miss as they arrived, the slight fog and the whistling wind made the surroundings more eerie to those that had never come close to it before. Some of the marines couldn't quite believe that the island was actually real and that they were standing not that far from it. But as surprised as they were, they were marines, so they had to put the worries they had aside in order do their jobs.

The Dauntless was steered into a spot that kept it from potentially being seen by the Pearl and it's occupants, with the anchor being dropped to keep it in place. As soon as the ship was steady, James and his marines dragged Jack down to the boats and out they went towards the cliffs in order to survey the surroundings and the Pearl if possible. The fog did make it hard to see whatever was in the distance, but luckily the island and the lights of the Pearl were close enough to be visible.

Alice and Elizabeth stayed on the ship and awaited any news as they stood together on deck and leaned against the side. They had both been given marine uniforms as well as red jackets to be more comfortable and warm in. It certainly beat their dirty underdresses. A minute or two passed and nothing was said between the women, the waves of the sea and the footsteps of the marines walking around the deck were the only sounds that could be heard.

"Did you mean it?" Alice spoke and filled the silence. "When you said yes to marrying James, did you mean it?" She looked to Elizabeth for an answer.

"Of course I did." Elizabeth replied but didn't look away from the island in front of them.

"Really? It's fine if you just said it so we could get to Will, but you need tell James that. He doesn't deserve being lied to."

"I'm not lying, Al." Elizabeth sighed and looked to Alice. "I said yes and I meant it."

"Liz. You know what I'm about to say."

"I do know but I also know you're going to say it anyway, no matter what I want to say."

"Correct." Alice replied and turned to face her, putting her arm on the side of the ship. "How long are you going to lie to yourself, Elizabeth? I have known you since you were this high-" She briefly held her hand up to just above her hip. "so you can't pull the wool over my eyes. It's fine if you don't love James, but you have to tell him that. You know he feels for you; you can't string him along. It's not fair.  He is a good man that protects what he cares about. A good man that deserves a woman that truly loves him. And I know this society has an obsession with marrying for convenience, but please, he doesn't deserve to be strung along for the rest of his life. And you don't deserve to be in an unhappy marriage for yours. And you can call me bold all over again, but I think we both know who you have true feelings for." Alice only nodded towards Isla De Muerta. "It's fine to fancy someone that's not expected."

Elizabeth was silent and looked down to her fingernails. She began to wonder within herself whether Alice was right, and she started to question whether the feelings she had were actually all for Will instead of James, and whether it would be okay for that to be the truth. But she sighed and brushed some of her hair behind her ear, seemingly letting it go.

"Liz-" Alice started, but footsteps were heard coming back up the side ladder near where the women stood, cutting her off. It was Gillette coming back onto deck, and as soon as he saw the women, he walked over to them.