Authors ramble: all my reviewers have my undying gratitude. That's undying, not undead by the way. Hey, spell check objects to undead. Very weird. Especially thanks to whoever pointed out that its Port Royal not Fort Royal. I knew it was one or the other but couldn't remember which. So I guessed. Wrongly. Ah well .. That's life, or something near enough to see it on a clear day.

Cast of thousands: Get on with it.

Me: Damn, I thought you left. I don't even think this story has a cast of thousands, so far it doesn't even have a cast of ten - at least not ten speaking parts ..

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After Norrington saw Murtogg and Mullroy drag the pirate away, up the hill to the brig accompanied by six other soldiers - just in case -, he turned his attention to Captain Stenson.

"It seems you have been ill-treating Mr Sparrow." He stated.

"Well? So what. He's a bloody Pirate in'nt he? Besides, weren't us that did that to him. We found 'im like that."

Norrington studied the man. He was convinced that he was lying, but to take up against a respectable captain for his treatment of a convicted pirate, due to hang, was pointless to the point of being ludicrous. All the same, it had galled him to see Captain Jack Sparrow - greatest pirate to sail the sea - so helpless.

At first the man had seemed not to recognise him - indeed had seemed entirely unaware of his surroundings. But then, on hearing his name he had looked up, and had made a visible attempt to act normally - well, normally for Jack Sparrow anyway. Babbling his trademarked, insolent lunacy had obviously severely weakened him. After he hit the ground, talking wildly about his hat he had seemed to pass out for a moment, but his eyes and Norrington's had met when Norrington pronounced his fate. He would be hanged. There was absolutely nothing that could be done about that. And he didn't feel sorry for the pirate in the slightest. He didn't. Truly.

Turning his attention back to Stenson, he said at last; "Very well. But I want you off of this island as soon as possible."

"Don't you worry about that, Commodore, we'll have sailed by this evening. Once we've collected the bounty on that piece of scum's head."

James Norrington nodded curtly, turned and left, escorted by his remaining soldiers.

Meanwhile, Jack was being hauled up the path towards he fort. The hands holding his arms were gentler than before, and after a few moments he began trying to walk by himself. He was very unsteady though and half fell against his captors several times.

"Easy there." Murtogg exclaimed. "you'll knock us all over."

Jack peered into his face enquiringly. "I know you." He muttered. "You can't swim." He turned to regard the other soldier holding him and, recognising Mullroy added "Neither can you." He slumped suddenly and it was all the other two men could do to stop him from falling. They exchanged glances, shrugged and began to basically carry him for the rest of the way.

Jack was too tired to object to the indignity. His chest felt like it was on fire, and he could feel the blood soaking through the back of his shirt again. He became aware that the soldiers escorting him were talking to someone, moving them out of the way. He looked up as a wave of dizziness came over him. All that registered with him was a dress.

"A woman then." He mused. "Presumably..."

Elizabeth stared in horror as the soldiers dragged Jack away and out of sight. The one that had grabbed her and prevented her from running over to the pirate remained behind. Still holding on to her in fact. She turned an icy glare onto him.

"Unhand me at once." She demanded. Nervously the man complied.

"Captain Sparrow, what happened to him?"

"Don't rightly know Miss Swan. He was brought in by a merchant ship, looking like that."

"What," She bit her lip. "What will happen to him."

"He's to be hung in the morning." The man deliberately kept his face noncommittal. Everyone in Port Royal knew that the governor's daughter had a certain sympathy for pirates - well, this one at least - and he didn't want to get into an argument with her.

"Oh." Very softly. "Thank you." She knew without even asking that Norrington could not help her, even if he wished to. However fond of her he was, his hands were tied. But she would not see Jack hung. A look of determination crossed her face and she headed back towards the town - and Will - running all the way.

Will had just returned to the blacksmith's shop and was staring at a piece of metal, trying to envision the sword he could make of it. He was startled when Elizabeth ran into the shop and grabbed him, pulling him into a fierce hug.

"Will .. Jack." She gasped.

"What? What is it? What about Jack?"

"I saw him. He was being taken to prison by the soldiers. Will, he looked so badly hurt. He didn't even recognise me. We have to do something."

Will's face tightened - he pushed her away from him gently and looked into her eyes. "Are you sure you know what you're saying?"

"Of course I do! We need to save Jack. Or else they'll hang him!"

"You are talking about Captain Jack Sparrow you know. Maybe he'll escape on his own. Or his crew will help him."

"I told you, he's hurt. He couldn't even walk on his own when I saw him. Will, we have to help him."

"I know, but if we do this, well, Norrington won't give us a second chance. If we get caught, we'll be considered pirates too."

The expression on her face changed. She moved away from him, and looked back, puzzled.

"I never thought you were a coward Will. And I always believed you'd never abandon your friends. And Jack is a friend is he not?"

He could only nod helplessly. He couldn't deny her arguments, and if it had just been him he wouldn't have hesitated. However..

"I can't stand to see you place yourself in danger." He said, looking down.

Her expression softened. She walked over and took his head in her hands and kissed him, tenderly, passionately and lengthily.

"My place is with you. Between them and Jack."

He smiled. "Alright. But we'll have to wait until after it gets dark. And we need a plan."

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