Fic for challenge #1: 'Solace'
Title: Solace
Author: geekmama
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Disney's
Word Count: 550
Summary: Elizabeth's last glimpse of her father, and the aftermath.
A/N: My deepest thanks to hereswith for beta reading and encouragement.
~ Solace ~
Elizabeth pulled herself together and stumbled to the rail again, Will hovering protectively, the others averting their eyes. Too late. She could no longer tell which was her father's boat. Her fingers slowly clenched the rough wood, painfully marking her flesh with its pattern, and she stood there watching until the small vessels carrying the dead were entirely gone from sight.
She was cold. Cold as death.
She needed to be alone.
She turned to Will. The concern on his face was like to undo her. "I'm going below," she choked, and was thankful when he didn't follow.
Down, down the companionway, flight after flight into the darkness, into the bowels of this ship of ghosts. Starlight and the company of friends were not for such as Elizabeth Swann, a soul alone, whether by an ill fate or her own doing. Fleeting, vivid memories of happier days came to her, and the contrast with the horror of the present was so sharp, so exquisitely painful that she whimpered, close to crying out, longed to cry out with each fresh cut.
By some instinct she found her way through the black to a place deep in the hold, a niche between the barrels and crates, where there were rough sacks on the planks and the Pearl's hull the only thing between her and that sea of dead. She crawled in and sat, drew in her knees, her arms, a sobbing breath, and wailed.
But not for long. A body flung itself down, and her wail ended in a startled yelp as strong hands grabbed and shook her and a familiar voice growled, "Shut up! Shut up, damn you!"
It was Jack!
She was so shocked she obeyed him, her breath coming harsh in the darkness.
"What the devil're you thinking?" he spat, maneuvering in the cramped space, squeezing in beside her. "You'll spook the whole crew carrying on like that and they're already nervous as cats." And for a wonder, he put his arms around her and drew her against him.
She turned to him, awkwardly, thankfully, clutching his coat, hiding her face against his chest, shaking, still weeping. He was muttering things against her hair, more scolding, or even curses, from the tone of it, but she didn't care. His arms held her tight, held her close. Held her together.
*
Some indeterminate time later, when she could manage it, she sat up, snuffling.
Jack said to her, "He's not gone to the Locker, Lizzie. You heard him?"
"Yes," she whispered.
I'll give your love to your mother, shall I?
Her lips trembled, and she sniffed, then wiped her nose with her sleeve.
Jack said, "I don't have a handkerchief, so don't ask."
She gave a choking laugh. Her fingers smoothed the edge of his coat. She still could hardly believe he was real, here, after all these months. "Does this mean you forgive me?"
"No."
She frowned. "Then why…?"
"Doesn't matter-"
"But it does!"
"-if I forgive you or not."
She tried to work this out, but failed. Yet her heart was eased somewhat.
He struggled to his feet, then, and took her hand and pulled her up, too. "Distressing damsel," he said, muttering again.
"Yes."
She couldn't see, but she thought he might have smiled.
~.~
Author: geekmama
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Disney's
Word Count: 550
Summary: Elizabeth's last glimpse of her father, and the aftermath.
A/N: My deepest thanks to hereswith for beta reading and encouragement.
~ Solace ~
Elizabeth pulled herself together and stumbled to the rail again, Will hovering protectively, the others averting their eyes. Too late. She could no longer tell which was her father's boat. Her fingers slowly clenched the rough wood, painfully marking her flesh with its pattern, and she stood there watching until the small vessels carrying the dead were entirely gone from sight.
She was cold. Cold as death.
She needed to be alone.
She turned to Will. The concern on his face was like to undo her. "I'm going below," she choked, and was thankful when he didn't follow.
Down, down the companionway, flight after flight into the darkness, into the bowels of this ship of ghosts. Starlight and the company of friends were not for such as Elizabeth Swann, a soul alone, whether by an ill fate or her own doing. Fleeting, vivid memories of happier days came to her, and the contrast with the horror of the present was so sharp, so exquisitely painful that she whimpered, close to crying out, longed to cry out with each fresh cut.
By some instinct she found her way through the black to a place deep in the hold, a niche between the barrels and crates, where there were rough sacks on the planks and the Pearl's hull the only thing between her and that sea of dead. She crawled in and sat, drew in her knees, her arms, a sobbing breath, and wailed.
But not for long. A body flung itself down, and her wail ended in a startled yelp as strong hands grabbed and shook her and a familiar voice growled, "Shut up! Shut up, damn you!"
It was Jack!
She was so shocked she obeyed him, her breath coming harsh in the darkness.
"What the devil're you thinking?" he spat, maneuvering in the cramped space, squeezing in beside her. "You'll spook the whole crew carrying on like that and they're already nervous as cats." And for a wonder, he put his arms around her and drew her against him.
She turned to him, awkwardly, thankfully, clutching his coat, hiding her face against his chest, shaking, still weeping. He was muttering things against her hair, more scolding, or even curses, from the tone of it, but she didn't care. His arms held her tight, held her close. Held her together.
*
Some indeterminate time later, when she could manage it, she sat up, snuffling.
Jack said to her, "He's not gone to the Locker, Lizzie. You heard him?"
"Yes," she whispered.
I'll give your love to your mother, shall I?
Her lips trembled, and she sniffed, then wiped her nose with her sleeve.
Jack said, "I don't have a handkerchief, so don't ask."
She gave a choking laugh. Her fingers smoothed the edge of his coat. She still could hardly believe he was real, here, after all these months. "Does this mean you forgive me?"
"No."
She frowned. "Then why…?"
"Doesn't matter-"
"But it does!"
"-if I forgive you or not."
She tried to work this out, but failed. Yet her heart was eased somewhat.
He struggled to his feet, then, and took her hand and pulled her up, too. "Distressing damsel," he said, muttering again.
"Yes."
She couldn't see, but she thought he might have smiled.
~.~