I still feel terrible about how short the last chappie was. Terrible, really. It was pathetic, and NOTHING happened. But, hey, blame school for cutting down on my time! This one won't be quite so long, because the ending of this chappie is the best ending I could find for it. But the chapter after this one will be up very soon.



So, without further ado...



Chapter 13 (I think)

-On the Seastorm-

"This'll be great fun," Barrin cackled. "Ah, 'twill be like a duel wit yer father, lad, 'cept this time, I'll be the one doin' the hurtin'."



Will narrowed his eyes dangerously at the hateful being before him. "I highly doubt that, scum."



"I believe we'd best set down the rules, eh, lad? No weapons other than a sword. That is to say, no guns, hidden daggers, sheilds..." Barrin waved a hand. "You know."



"I think you can trust me. I, after all, have not kidnapped two crews, told bast lies to a young woman, and, furthermore, I am not insane." Will cockily raised an eyebrow, a small smirk lingering on his handsome face.



Barrin chuckled. "We'll see, won't we, boy? We'll see."



"And the crews. They cannot interfere." This rule was set down by Will. "They are to watch, but nothing more."



"Aye, lad, sounds fine to me."



"But not to me. Y'see, if my friend here is in trouble, I'd be inclined to come to his aid, savvy?" Jack waved a hand to indicate Will. "Can't just let me mate perish, y'know."



"Jack, you'll stay where you're to," Will said emphatically.



"That's captain," Jack muttered, but stepped back to sulk.



Will stepped back, accepting a sword from Gibb's. "Knock 'im extra fer me," the old man whispered, and Will grinned, then turned to face his adversary.



The Pearl's crew hooted and roared, cheering for Will, of course. Elizabeth wrung her hands, worried, but not worried enough to allow Norrington to comfort her. Stepping away from the distasteful man, she caught Will's gaze briefly. He smiled. It was an unwise descision, because at that moment, Barrin plunged forward, swinging his shining blade. It caught Will off balance, and he stumbled backwards.



The Seastorm's crew rooted and whooped. "Dat's the way, cap'n, you show 'im, cap'n!" Lumpy screeched, waving his arms in approval. One swung in Jack's face, irritating him, so he clouted the man over the head, knocking him unconcious.



The blacksmith retaliated quickly, stepping back to block Barrin's advances, then jabbing the pirate's arm. A trickle of blood appeared, but nothing more. However, Barrin faltered slightly at the sharp pain, and Will deepened the cut with a well-judged stab.



Now the captain was angered, and the duel picked up. Barrin sliced at Will, panicked for a moment, and the younger man defended himself well. Unfortunately (or, if one was cheering for Barrin, fortunately) Will stumbled over and uneven board. Cursing, he winced as the sword chipped his leg. Now he was limping slightly, and Barrin's sword are was lagging.



The metal of the two swords was rythmatic, striking out the beat to the dance of death. Each sought for an entrance, a pathway into the foes flesh, but none could be found. Soon both were weary, fighting pertinaciously, both obstinately refusing to give up, to lay down the blade and rest. Streams of blood came from both bodies, flowing from a cut above Will's eye, half-blinding him, gushing from Barrin's sword arm.



Barrin pivoted. Will didn't know why, but he did see his opening. He lunged, his sword outstretched, ready to bury the blade in his opponent's back, ready to rid the world of this abominable man. Then Barrin turned back, and Elizabeth was in his arms, like a sheild.



Will's eyes widened. Things slowed down. Time passed leisurely, as though the scene that was playing out before it was enjoyable. The sword in Will's hands kept moving. Why it wouldn't stop, he wasn't sure, but the blade kept going, though his mind screamed for it to stop.



Thoughts roared like a tornado around his brain. Elizabeth, he couldn't kill Elizabeth. It would be too ironic, too hurtful, too terrible. It wouldn't happen. No, but the sword was moving, and it wasn't stopping. How long had it been moving? Maybe half a second, but it felt like a year. He could hear yells surrounding him. The crew of the Seastorm were laughing, cheering, the crew of the Pearl and Dauntless gasping in horror. The sword had stopped moving. Elizabeth's eyes were on his, and they stared at one another in shock and pain. Pain, he saw pain in her eyes!



"Elizabeth..." he breathed...

Okay, is that the most insane-driving cliffie ever or what? Review, and tell me if it did drive you insane.