We landed in the water and quickly swam to the pearl, none of us speaking as we climbed the ladder that Mr Gibbs had thrown out. Elizabeth climbed up first and instantly rushed off to a quiet corner of the ship. I set off to follow her, but I realised she needed time, she needed to let herself feel it first.
"Lily, Jack, thank goodness!" Mr Gibbs called out as we climbed back onto deck. I smiled back at him, somewhat weakly, following the recent occurrences before looking around at the crew, hoping to see the familiar faces I'd grown to care for.
I caught Hector's gaze and he smirked at me, a warmth filling his eyes as he nodded. I smiled back widely, thankful he had come out unscathed. No words were spoken between us but I knew we could both feel it.
"The armada's still out there. The endeavours coming up hard to starboard and I think it's time we embraced the oldest and noblest of pirate traditions," Mr Gibbs waffled slightly.
"Never actually been one for tradition," Jack mumbled. I glanced up at him upon hearing his words but he wasn't looking at me, instead he was facing the opposite way, looking out at the seas where the rest of the armada lay waiting.
"Close haul her! Luff the sails and lay her in irons!" Jack called out, instantly going into Captain mode.
"Belay that! Or we'll be sitting ducks!" Hector called out.
"Belay that, Belay that!" Jack shouted in response. I rolled my eyes at them, disbelieving that they would argue like this mid-war.
"But captain-" Mr Gibbs tried to protest.
"Belay!"
"The armada-"
"Belay! Belay! No! Shut up!" Jack said in a firm tone, raising his arms in a way that showed he wasn't going to be questioned. He then grabbed my waist and pulled me along with him, up to the top deck where Mr Cotton stood minding the helm.
I smiled at him, bowing my head and he mirrored my gesture.
Jack stood tensely against the deck railing, looking out at the fleet. It was clear he wasn't going to disclose the information of what happened just yet. We could only hope that the Dutchman would resurface and come to our aid, Will or not.
We waited in anticipation, Jack's hand clutching at my dress firmly, showing his tension. We hadn't spoken a word to each other since being onboard the Dutchman, and I didn't want to be the first one to speak. Elizabeth was now stood a few years away, frozen to the spot with a pain in her eyes I understood only too well. I wanted to go to her but it seemed fruitless, we needed to survive this first.
The endeavour was advancing on us quickly and my nerves were beginning to falter. Suddenly, a loud noise rang out across the seas as water began lapping only a moment before the Dutchman resurfaced.
After the water had cleared and the Dutchman crept closer to us, a very familiar face greeted us at the helm, a bandana now tied around his head.
"Ready on the guns!" Will's voice called out and I finally let out the sob I'd been holding in. I looked at Elizabeth who looked elated and I was so, so happy for her in that moment. Looking at Jack, he too looked ecstatic, like the spring had been put back into his step.
"Full canvas!" He beamed, his eyes wide with excitement.
"Aye, full canvas!" Hector relayed, shooting a smirk at me.
The crew instantly began running the ropes, dropping the full sails so that we could gather the speed we needed.
Hector moved towards the helm, pushing Mr Cotton away as he turned the ship hard to port, working in tandem with the Dutchman as we mirrored each other, forcing the Endeavor between us.
"Ready the cannons, hard Port load! Hold for the captain's signal!" I shouted down to the men who rallied to load the cannons below deck.
The endeavour was slipping between us now as we crept forwards in line with the Dutchman.
"Cap'n?" Mr Gibbs urged but Jack held steady.
After a few tense moments, Jack turned with a menacing look, "fire."
"Fire!" Mr Gibbs shouted to the men.
"Fire all!" I relayed, prompting the men below me to begin their assault on the endeavour.
We began to fire, as did the dutchman, and we watched as the endeavour took our beating, the destruction so bad that only thick clouds of smoke could be seen. With a loud bang, the remaining hull of the ship exploded, fire surging out of the ship as each and every window aboard shattered.
She never fought back, no cannons were fired and right before our eyes Beckett and the endeavour sunk down into the sea.
"They're turning away!" Marty cried out upon seeing the rest of the fleet begin to retreat. The men then all cried out in a defiant victory, each one of them raising their weapons above their heads, just as they had with my call to war. They then each took off their hats and threw them to the wind in celebration.
I glanced up at Jack to see him smiling, as was Mr Gibbs and Hector.
"Mr Gibbs!" Jack called out.
"Aye cap'n?"
"You may throw my hat if you like," he said, still looking forward as he pulled off his hat, offering it to Mr Gibbs.
"Aye Aye Captain!" Mr Gibbs beamed, reaching for Jack's hat and tossing it into the air.
"Now go fetch it," Jack said with a straight face. Mr Gibbs shot him an incredulous look before loyally walking off to locate his hat. I elbowed Jack in the ribs as he started smiling, clearly amused at his little stunt.
Jack suddenly reached out and grabbed my waist, pulling me to him. His left hand gripped my waist tightly as his right came to rest in my hair before he pulled me into a passionate kiss. His hand slipped down to my waist so that both of them were resting there and he began to lift me, still kissing me. I squealed into the kiss, grabbing into his shoulders as he broke out in a wide smile, chuckling against my lips.
A throat cleared to the side of us and we pulled away from each other. Ragetti stood there looking bashful as Jack glared at him.
"Mrs Captain," he said almost trembling, holding out the pistol and hat that I had thrust into his hands when we freed Calypso. I smiled widely at him and reached for the hat. He then extended the pistol further towards me but I placed my hand on his, stopping him.
"Do you have one of these Ragetti?" I asked, gesturing to the pistol that still lay in his hands.
"N-no Mrs Captain," he trembled, looking away.
"Now you do."
His eyes shot up to mine and I smiled gently with warm eyes, thankful that he had saved my life earlier in the battle. His mouth opened widely and then snapped shut as he whispered thank you. He then awkwardly curtseyed again and scuttled off, now holding his pistol.
When I turned around, Jack was smirking gently at me with a look in his eyes that looked like pride.
"Mrs Captain eh?" Jack smirked, throwing his arm over my shoulder. I didn't know how to respond, a little bashful about the new nickname I'd apparently earned. "I like it."
I rolled my eyes at him and playfully shoved him with my elbow.
"What say we celebrate this little victory in our cabin love?" He wiggled his eyebrows and I couldn't help but laugh at him, pulling him in for a quick kiss before he dragged me over to the cabin.
—-
Elizabeth had been leant at the rail for what could have been hours, gazing out at the Dutchman as Will stood in the same position, gazing back longingly at her.
I walked over to her, my heart clenching at the scene before me.
"Elizabeth," I said gently, not wanting to spook her. She turned to me with a sad smile as I stood beside her on the rail, looking out.
Will turned to look at me and I smiled, nodding my head to him in respect. He smiled back and offered a bow of his head back.
"You do have one day ashore you know," I said to her as we looked out at her husband. "No better time than the present."
She turned to me, a look of her face that showed she was contemplating my words and turned to look back at Will.
"Ragetti!" I called out, turning from the rail to look back at the crew. "Ready a longboat for Mrs Turner!"
"Aye Mrs Captain!" Ragetti shouted, instantly fleeing to fulfil my command. Elizabeth turned to me in confusion at the nickname and I just shook my head with a look that said don't ask.
"Where will you go?" I asked, my voice ladened with sadness. She smiled, turning back to me.
"I'll follow the horizon," she said wistfully and I couldn't help but smile in return.
"Your chariot awaits, your highness," Mr Gibbs spoke out as he walked onto the top deck, "Er, the oars are inside."
Following behind Elizabeth, Mr Gibbs and I walked down the stairs into the main deck as the men gathered in a line to bid her farewell.
"Mrs turner," Hector said with a respectful bow of his head, Jack the monkey perched on his shoulder. She sent him a soft smile from what I could see, but offered no other reply.
"Goodbye, Poppet," Pintel said bowing his head as Ragetti saluted her slightly.
The rest of the men fixed her with bows of the head and tight lipped smiles until she reached Jack who stood at the end of the line.
"Jack." She made a move to embrace him but he stepped back slightly, holding his hands up as if he was uncomfortable yet he still smiled gently.
"One Swann is enough for me," he smirked, causing her to chuckle.
"She's right, you're a good man Jack," Elizabeth smiled. Jack's eyes seemed to warm at her words. "Take care of her."
"Always," he smirked, shooting a look at me.
Elizabeth then turned to me and my breath caught in my throat. I could see her eyes were beginning to tear up and I pushed down my own, not wanting to get emotional in front of the crew. She walked over to me and threw her arms around my neck as we embraced each other fiercely. When we pulled apart, still holding each others arms like we weren't ready for the embrace to end, there were no words to say, nothing could vocalise our current emotions.
"Congratulate your husband for me, he'll make a wonderful captain," I smiled, causing her to smile back with a nod of her head.
"Lily, I'm so happy you found Jack. Keep him in line," she mocked. My eyes flashed to him, seeing him watching us intently, as were the rest of the crew.
"Impossible," we laughed. "You're always welcome aboard the pearl. Now go, your husband awaits."
With one last embrace, we parted as Elizabeth climbed into the longboat that was being lowered. I watched as she rowed towards the shore, a tear slipping from my eye as I watched her and Will embrace.
I flinched upon feeling a strong but compassionate hand on my shoulder, only to realise a moment later that it was Jack. I turned to him, seeing him smile down at me.
His thumb swiped at the tear that had fallen from my eye and he meant forward to press a delicate kiss on my forehead.
"Mrs Turner, eh?" He said with a soft tone.
"They were married on deck by Hector during the battle," I explained. He didn't reply verbally but offered a mock-offended look at not being chosen to perform the ceremony, before smirking again.
"Mr Gibbs!" Jack called out suddenly.
"Aye Cap'n."
"Set sail for Tortuga," Jack grinned, still looking at me.
"Aye Cap'n!" Mr Gibbs replied excitedly, instantly running off, relaying orders to the crew to weight anchor and lift the sheets.
"Tortuga?" I asked, curious about our next location.
"Aye love," he said throwing his arm around my hips, "by my reckoning there be the finest jewel merchants in these islands," he smirked, "made yer a promise didn't I?"
My smile spread over my face as my stomach flipped nervously with flutters at the mention of his promise to me of a proposal.
"That you did captain, and I know you're a man of your word," I teased.
"Darling, I'm a man of many words," he smirked, "s'pecially the ones that make your cheeks turn that opulent glimmer of blush."
He winked, clearly implying the dirty words he often spoke to me when we were intimate. Just the thought of them made heat rush to my face.
He chuckled when he saw the pink tint appear on my cheeks, his hand reaching up to caress my pink cheeks with his thumb.
"Just like that."