Not All Treasure is Silver and Gold...

Chapter 18- The End

I stayed kneeling on the cool grass, Barbossa's laughter echoing around in my mind. I looked up at him to see him watching me, a disgusted expression on his face as his gaze fell on the tears that were pouring down my cheeks.

"Ah...Rose," he said, feigning sympathy. "It was only Jack Sparrow...his death hardly matters! He was a fool, barely even worthy of the title of pirate," Barbossa said matter-of-factly, his yellowing eyes as empty and emotionless as always. I felt an uncontrollable surge of anger, my blood boiling at the words which had just left his lips.

"You're mistaken. He was a good man, and a brilliant pirate, Barbossa, and if you cannot see that, then I'm afraid that you are the fool," I said calmly, and suddenly I found myself rushing at Barbossa, tearing through the long grass, and before he knew it my hands had pressed firmly onto his chest and given him a sharp push. He stumbled backwards, arms flailing and his feet reached the edge of the cliff precariously, but not before one of his hands had caught a handful of my dress. I screamed as I was pulled forward, as Barbossa lost his balance and fell backwards over the ledge, pulling me with him. Barbossa's crew let go of Will in surprise and he seized the opportunity, sword raised as he sent them over the edge with their Captain. I watched their figures growing smaller and smaller as they fell beneath me, towards the jagged rocks in the sea and clutched onto the rock I'd managed to get a hold on even tighter. I saw Will's face appear over the edge, as stunned as I was to find myself alive.

"Will! Help me!" I gasped, my grip slipping on the rock. Will quickly stuck out a hand towards me and I grabbed it, letting go of the rock, hanging suspended over the sea. Will gave a heave and I was pulled upwards onto solid ground again, shaking so much that I had difficulty breathing.

"Thank you," I gasped, laying out on the grass, somehow exhausted, the last few moments a blur.

"Thank God...thank God you're alright...I thought you had fallen," Will gasped, a smile of sheer relief crossing his face, his brown eyes locking onto mine before a cloud of sadness passed over them as we both suddenly registered all that had just happened. I felt my blue eyes fill with more tears, stinging painfully as I attempted to restrain them, but they spilled freely down my cheeks, warm on my cold skin. I drew my knees up to my chest, unable to look at a pensive, silent Will who simply tugged up handfuls of grass, unsure of how to behave and what to say in our current situation...not knowing how he could possibly console me. He was clearly upset at losing his friend, but he knew to remain quiet so as not to make anything more painful for me. We sat for what seemed like hours, both with our own thoughts as we stared out over the cliff edge and over the gentle, sparkling sea.

"I...I'm sorry, Rose, we need to be getting back to the Pearl and the crew," he sighed eventually, bringing me back to reality. I quickly scrubbed at my eyes with my grubby fingers, wiping the hot tears from my cheeks in embarrassment. I brushed my curls out of my eyes, fixing my gaze on the ground and nodding, my eyes prickling as I thought of leaving Jack properly; leaving the place where he had been killed, but I held back a sob which was threatening to emerge, feeling a lump in my throat. If any other person but Will had suggested it, I would have screamed and stormed at them, and begged and howled, wishing to stay, but Will had just saved my life after all, and I knew deep down he was right. The longer we took to leave, the harder it would be. Harder to let go of Jack.

We got to our feet and wearily began walking down the steep hill, neither of us speaking, just appreciating the silence, still lost in our own thoughts. I glanced over my shoulder one last time at the clearing before it was obscured by the wild, untamed trees.

*

We reached the ship and I drifted back onto it, ignoring the silent crew as they watched us return.