Jolly Sailor || Elizabeth Swann

13

The depths of the sea were alien to those who lived above. Fathoms below magic dwelled and enchantments coiled. The magic of the sea was both giving and taking, for she was a cruel and changing mistress. Even those creatures, her children, who dwelled in her waters and called her home strayed from the truly deep areas. Where there was no light and no warmth. The beings that called that place their home were the first of the sea's children. They were ancient and for most of the time, they slumbered. Only the Kraken made frequent trips. The beast called out and forced to do it's master's bidding, to hunger and destroy. 

Maybe it was the small part of the beast that remembered the times where it could live and wasn't enslaved. Maybe it felt the same magic of the ocean in the man it had captured. Though the stink of humanity tainted the form, there was the essence of the sea too. Or, maybe it didn't recall anything other than to destroy and it was simply his biology that saved him. The magic of his mermaid heritage reinforcing his body against the pressure as his gills worked to keep him breathing as he disappeared into the unknown deep. Only alive because of the slim amount of magic in his veins.

Either way, when the light grew too far to see, the beast let him go. Benjy drifting in a state of unconsciousness in the black. Vulnerable and alone in the dark. 

A shark found him first. The great white drawn deeper than it would usually go by the scent of blood from his clothes and the cut on the merman's head. The shark bumped him with it's nose once it recognised the scent of mermaid. Confused, the shark left for this wasn't a prey it could eat. The next creature was a pod of Whales. These creatures were far more intelligent and the leader recognised the drifting man. They were far more experienced with mermaids and knew what the being floating on the current was.  They knew that this creature was far from home. 

Benjy wasn't conscious when the whales found him. His body was pushed to it's limit so he didn't stir as the pod leader opened their mouth and encased him. Enclosing him safely as they continued their journey. The pod knew of a mermaid tribe that lived near their migration route. They would leave this foundling there. 

So he was carried gently back up towards the light, held within safe arms. The ocean and her children caring for him as he slumbered through the night and into the next morning. The sun just rising as the whales reached the tribe of mermaids and the caves they inhabited on the edge of a reef. The women and their glittering colourful tails greeting the migrating mammals with songs and care, only to gasp in shock as the pod leader opened their mouth to reveal the man slumbering within. 

Benjy came too briefly to the clicks and whines of his mother tongue in his ears and fingers running over his hair. When he tried to open his eyes, it was the blurry gleaming light through water and a familiar face. "Mother", he muttered as the woman ran her hand over his head. The action soothing and warm and he was slipping back into the warm arms of sleep.

-----------------------

Tia Dalma's house was lit by dozens of candles, wax dripping over shelves and over tables as the flames flickered. It covered the occupants and survivors of the Black pearl with a comforting warmth as they sat in miserable silence. Grief heavy and present in the quiet as outside humming filtered in. The natives of the island lingering like ghosts in the trees outside, their voices a choir of slow humming that was more reassuring rather than foreboding. The only other sound was the methodical thud as Will threw his knife into the wood of the table before pulling it back out. The man's face unreadable as he seemingly stared into nothing. 

Tia Dalma herself drifted between the survivors with a tray of drinks. "Against the cold", she offered as she handed Elizabeth a mug. The woman slouched in a chair as if her strings were cut. "And the sorrow". 

"Do you think he's dead?" Elizabeth wrapped her hands around the warmed cider as if it held the answers. 

Tia Dalma did not have an answer for her, for she didn't know. That was obvious in her expression and Elizabeth slumped as the witch moved on. Her face empty as if she didn't know what to do. Tia Dalma moved to Will and set a mug on the table. She rested a hand on his shoulder and the motion of the knife stopped. "Its a shame. I know that you're thinking that with the pearl you could have captured the devil and set free your father's soul". She paused and spoke again, slower and quieter. "I am sorry, about Benjamin". 

"He might not even be dead!" Will burst out, voice disturbing the dark. "And the pearl is gone, down with her captain". 

"Aye. We should have hope", Mr Gibbs voiced from the open doorway to the porch. "That boy as escaped death more times than I could count, more times than Jack even". His voice faltered on the captain's name. "Jack fooled us all right to the end. But I guess that honest streak really won out". 

"If Benjy hadn't stayed"- Elizabeth spoke up but she cut off wordlessly. 

"To Jack Sparrow", Mr Gibbs raised his glass. 

"Never knew anyone like captain Jack", a crewman voiced. 

"A man of fortune he was". 

"He was a good man", Elizabeth added, unable to take her eyes from the floor. 

"And to Benjamin Bennet", Mr Gibbs added softer. "May he return to us like a bad penny". 

"To Benjamin Bennet", Will sighed half into his cup. "He was beautiful". 

"He was a storm", Elizabeth said in the same tone as her fiancé. 

"He was creepy", a crew member added. "But good in a tight pinch". 

"He threatened to feed me to the sharks once", another mumbled. 

Wil snorted and a smile flittered across his lips. There and gone again as he was reminded of what had occurred. How he and Elizabeth had watched helpless as a figure dived off the edge of the pearl. For a second it had seemed like Benjy would make it but he didn't. They had watched as he was dragged down to the depths with the remains of the pearl. The ship, her captain and first mate all swallowed up by the waves. 

"Sounds like him", Mr Gibbs chuckled as he downed his drink. 

"If I could bring him back, him and Jack", Will swore. "I would". 

"What", Tia Dalma was at his side in a moment. "Would you do it?" She glanced around at the room. "What would you? What would any of you be willing to do? Would you sail to the ends of the earth and beyond to fetch back witty Jack and him precious pearl? If we get Jack, then we can get the compass which will lead us to our darling Benjy". 

"For Benjy?" Elizabeth stood up determinedly. "Anything. I love him". She stated the declaration boldly and without fear as she stared at Will. "I love you too Will. I shouldn't but hes-"

"I know", Will stared back with understanding, voice warm. "I know. I feel the same". 

"Aye", Mr Gibbs spoke up. "I will sail to worlds end". 

"Me too", the remaining crew chorused. 

"Alright", Tia Dalma smiled widely. "But if you go and brave the weird and haunted shores of worlds end, then you will need a captain who knows those waters". She turned to the stairs as the thud of footsteps sounded. The rest of them watching nervously as black boot descended, the pirate walking with a familiar wooden leg as a long black coat dusted his knees. 

"So tell me", Barbosa rasped at them as he entered the room. "What's become of my ship?" 

unedited