Will pushed himself off Elizabeth and stared into the harsh daylight, trying to discern the intruder's identity.
"Turner!"
Will was on his feet in an instant, recognizing the regimentals if not the man wearing them. Will's eyesight had not adjusted enough to distinguish the individual features, but he was sure that he wasn't going to like the outcome.
A solider catching him in such a position would be enough reason and evidence to have him hung for rape, even if the woman in question was as much, if not more the instigator.
By this time Elizabeth was on her feet and both their eyesight had adjusted enough to make out their intruder.
"Gilette!" Will was relieved it wasn't the commodore, or worse, the Governor. For a moment he allowed the horrifying notion of the Governor catching him in such a compromising position with his daughter to wash over him. That would have been much more terrifying than a ship full of undead pirates.
He forced himself to abandon such nightmarish thoughts and focuses on the pressing matter at hand. It was good, yes, that the commodore or the Governor had not found them, but he was not free yet. Captain Gilette could prove to be a most prickly thorn in his side if Will did not hand the situation efficiently.
"Captain," he said quietly. He nodded his head and gestured to his workspace. "You are here to pick up your order, I assume?"
With a grace and swiftness worthy of comparison to Captain Jack Sparrow, Will had smoothly led the bewildered solider to his workbench and picked up the hinges and sword that comprised the soldier's orders.
Gilette did not stay bewildered for long. Seeing this as a chance to redeem himself in Norrington's eyes after his horrific blunder earlier in the day, he grasped Will's outturned wrist and started binding it to his other hand.
"You are under arrest Mr. Turner."
Fighting with remarkable self control, Will did not immediately throw the smaller man off him. He instead allowed Gilette to continue binding, his mind wracking through plans and notions at a fervent pace.
"Captain Gilette, I beg of you, what am I being detained for?" Will asked innocently, enjoying the way Gilette's face turned an interesting shade of plum.
"You are under arrest for the attempted rape of the Governor's daughter, Miss Elizabeth Swann!"
Will instinctively looked around for her at her name. His partner in crime however, had disappeared. Probably to salvage her reputation.
This sobering thought immediately quieted any of his good humor. His Jack Sparrow flash of inspiration left him as quickly and unexpectedly as it had come.
He was a fool, an utter fool. He had allowed his passion to go on unrestrained. And now Elizabeth's reputation would be forever sullied! She would never marry well. The notion of Elizabeth marrying someone else was like a blade running through his heart, but he forced himself to think of it. The self inflicted punishment made his breath ragged and his eyes take on a malevolent tinge.
Captain Gilette was prattling on about some offense or the other, but he heard nothing of it. Indeed his anger was mounting to a feverish pitch, but it was all directed at himself.
He was an idiot! A first-class fool. He had ruined Elizabeth. He had ruined her. Let him be hung, let him die. Maybe then the shame he had inflicted on Elizabeth might abate somewhat out of respect for the dead.
The moment these ideas entered his head, the same self preservation that had helped him retrieve Elizabeth and himself safely kicked in.
No, he would not die at the gallows.
He would escape Port Royal, sail to Tortuga, find Jack and spend the rest of his days ruing the day he was born and trying to guard the tattered remains of his heart.
It was not a pleasing picture, but it was one he would have to face. He had to protect Elizabeth's reputation at all costs, and if that meant leaving her forever, killing himself in the process, he would do it.
He had resigned himself to his fate and was about to inch his way to a nearby sword when a flash of silver stopped him dead in his tracks.
Elizabeth stood, her feet squarely apart, her sword in her hand.
"Unbind my fiancé."
"You're what!" Gilette nearly screamed. The news of her betrothal seemed to be more surprising to him than the fact that she was wielding a sword.
This was news to Will as well. He could only stare dumbly at his unexpected rescuer.
"I said my fiancé, are you deaf sir? Release him at once."
"Miss Swann, I do not know what kind of magic or pirate… tricks this scoundrel has employed against you, but it has obviously muddled your mind." Gilette tried to take a kindly approach. "But if you come with me, this man will be hanged and therefore, your mind will be released from his treachery."
Gilette obviously was not entertaining the idea seriously than she would use the blade if met with opposition. Her steady hand and correct stance might have convinced some smarter than he that she was not to be taken lightly, but instead he gave her his most convincing smile.
If he got Will Turner out of the way, there would be both a promotion and perhaps impending nuptials! He thought merrily, instinctively tightening the slack rope around Will's even slacker wrists.
Will was trying to process the turn of events. Elizabeth was holding a sword. Elizabeth was calling herself his fiancée. His eyes widened even more when he saw the telltale, almost imperceptible movement of her back leg.
She was about to strike out.
"Release him Gilette, or I will not hesitate to cut you through." She asked through gritted teeth, hoping to God she would not have to.
Gilette laughed easily, entertained by her antics. She was spirited, yes. He liked that.
Elizabeth lunged, using all her strength to push herself forward. Will stood in astonishment, as with a visible effort, she yanked the sword back at the last moment, effectively stopping it a hairs breadth from Gilette's throat.
"Release him."
Gilette cowed before her, shock stilling his features.
"Release him!" She shouted fiercely.
With trembling hands, he did as was told. Will made a move to go to her but the ferocious glare she was sending Gilette's way shifted to him as he started to move. He froze in his tracks and let her do the talking.
"You will not mention this to a soul." She said sternly.
Gilette nodded, but she still did not trust him.
"If you do mention this to anyone I will inform my father that you forced yourself upon me and left this," With that she used her free hand to yank the collar of his dress down slightly. A purplish red mark was there, compliments of William Turner.
Will shrank down in embarrassment, but understood Elizabeth's logic. If Gilette spoke of it to anyone, one gesture from her would have him hung for rape.
By God she was brilliant.
Gilette fairly ran from the shop and never turned back, leaving Will staring at Elizabeth with a mixture of astonishment and respect.
"That, my love, was worthy of Captain Jack Sparrow."
"It was compliments of you, Mr. Turner."
Will colored a deep red. Then he tried to stammer out the words to address the issue most pressing on his mind.
"You-you told him we were affianced." He stammered out.
"Yes," She said. She smiled at him, looking if possible, more beautiful than he had ever seen her.
"You told him we were affianced." He repeated, unable to say anything else.
"Is that a problem Mr. Turner?"
At that, Will's face broke out into a huge smile. "You mean to say that you wish to marry…me?"
"If it is quite alright with you," she said primly, the merriment in her eyes betraying her proper tone.
"Oh Lizzy!" Will threw his arms around her and spun her around joyously. "I love you."
Elizabeth smiled against Will's warm neck and murmured that she returned his affection.
"This certainly has been an unconventional courtship," he said smiling.
"I would not have it any other way William Turner."
With that, she pulled his head down to hers and kissed him in such a way that left him no doubt of her intentions toward him.
El Fin.
So, what did you guys think? Any comments, suggestions would be welcome. Flamers can rot in hell for all I care. : ) Thanks for the support and see you guys around the POTC fan fiction block.
-Laura