A/N: Thanking you to all those who are reading and reviewing. And welcome to those who have just hopped on board. Nice to see so many new faces amongst you! I'm glad I've recieved so many encouraging comments about this story so, as a reward, here be the next chapter! Enjoy (and remember to review!)
As soon as the H.M.S Dauntless had put out to sea, Will felt as if he had come home. Of course they had forced him against his will to go with them. There was nothing else for it; they had given him little choice. He was to aid them in hunting down Jack, Elizabeth and the Black Pearl, or face the prospect of an unjust execution. And he was not ready to depart this world just yet. Yet as they had forced him along the gang plank, his hands chained firmly together, Will could feel the tremors of excitement pass through him at the prospect of being aboard a ship once more. He watched eagerly as the sailors loaded the ship with all that would be needed for their expedition; even once or twice he felt compelled to go and aid them in their task. He had rebuked himself for the excitement he couldn't help but feel; this was not how he should be feeling. Anticipation was to be expected; but concern, not excitement should have been coursing through his veins.
He sat, hands still bound in front of him, at the helm of the ship; his eyes scanning the horizon expectantly with the lust of a pirate. He felt the warm sun lighting his face as he closed his eyes, exhaling deeply the scent of the frothy foam that broke against the ship as it skipped along the waves. Suddenly, a voice from behind seemed to break this happy seclusion, and he was surprised to hear Norrington say as he approached;
"Beautiful, isn't she?" For a moment Will was unsure as to what he was referring to yet, watching the way his eyes flitted across the scene that he himself had been starring at, he realised he was referring to the sea. Will sighed before nodding,
"Yes. I suppose, in many respects, she is."
Norrington smiled briefly towards it once more, before tuning to face Will.
"Unpredictable, untameable yet completely captivating." Norrington stopped, but was unable to prevent himself adding a remark that would cause Will to doubt whether he was speaking of the sea, or of Elizabeth. "She was meant to have no master."
Will watched Norrington for a moment, attempting to decipher the metaphor. With a smile he acknowledged it and, on standing, Will added,
"But men may try."
Norrington laughed, slightly uneasy at the new found comradeship between them. In many ways they were natural rivals; but in so many other ways, they were so alike. Secretly Norrington had always looked on men like Will and Jack with abstract fascination; acknowledging that without the restraints of the law, he may have ended up very much like either of them.
Eventually, the laughter dissolved and, after shifting awkwardly on his feet for a moment, Norrington cleared his throat before beginning,
"Mr Turner, I think you know me well enough to know that I am a stern but honest man. If you were to give me any proof of your innocence in the crime that has been levelled against you, I would no longer continue as I have."
He watched as Will thought for a moment, a dark cloud of secrecy descending across his features as he replied,
"I believe you would not."
Norrington waited for yet another protestation, yet none came, as Will turned his eyes out to the sea once more. There was certainly more to this than he had originally suspected; Elizabeth's disappearance was enough to confirm this. Either Will was guilty and was attempting to protect Elizabeth from disgrace, or he was innocent and was foolishly protecting someone else. Norrington scoffed inwardly as this thought crossed his mind; it didn't take a genius to work out who that someone was.
"You are either a fool or you're guilty. I have yet to decide on which title suits you best."
Will remained silent, not taking the bait that Norrington was tempting him with. It would have been easy enough to have lost his temper, but that's exactly what he would have wanted. No…it was no use…he wouldn't be duped into revealing more than he had to. After all, that would only ruin the plan.
After observing the silence long enough to make sure that he was not going to say anything else, Norrington asked,
"So, Mr Turner, where is it that you think we should be heading to? Do not think that this little detour is one of pleasure. It would do you well to remember that."
"And it would do you well to remember Commodore," Will retorted briskly, "That I am not here of my own accord. The only pleasure that I can possibly derive from this will come from watching you attempting, and failing, to capture the Pearl."
Norrington's checks darkened and with a voice that betrayed his anger he replied, "You know for a man in your position Mr Turner, you allow yourself a remarkable margin for jest. Honestly, I believe you grow more like the infamous Jack Sparrow by the day."
Will took a threatening step towards Norrington, his eyes fixed decidedly on the patronising frown of the man in front of him.
"Rather resemble him in every respect, than mirror you in the slightest."
"That will be a little comfort to you I suppose, when he joins you on the gallows."
That was enough…yet as Will stretched his hands out to grasp Norrington around the throat, he realised that it was impossible with his hands chained together. Yet his temper would not be subdued and, in an attempt to avoid the confrontation that he was doomed to lose, Will turned away.
"If you are protecting him then I suggest this is the point where you desist. He's a pirate…he has no sense of loyalty."
Again Will remained silent; knowing that Norrington's provocations we're only designed to entice a response. Instead Will surprised him by changing the direction of their conversation.
"Apart from anywhere in the Caribbean, I suppose there's only one place that the Pearl could possibly be."
Norrington raised an eyebrow, and waited patiently for Will to reveal the destination.
"Tortuga."