Chapter Three

Elizabeth shivered, despite all the covers she was under. Her maid had just heated up the bed pan and left Elizabeth to read after commenting on what an exciting day it had been. Liz stared at the words in the book she held, not actually reading. Still she thought of the day's previous events. Also, she'd heard that Jack had been arrested and would be hung first thing the next day. Liz was saddened to hear that, feeling that Jack did not deserve his punishment. True, she'd heard of the terrible things he'd done in the past, but she wouldn't be alive if it weren't for him.

Suddenly the candle by her bed went out, though there was no breeze because her windows were closed, and Liz felt a strange sense of foreboding. All was silent for a brief moment, before the sound of cannon fire tore through the air. Liz gasped and ran to her window. A strange, almost rotting, ship had arrived at Port Royal and was now opening fire upon the battlements. Quickly, Liz threw on an over-gown and took the back stairs to the kitchens. She could see better from there. She watched as ragged, dirty men poured from the ship and invaded the town. Pirates!

Will heard the commotion and looked out the window of the shop to find people running amuck. Women were screaming as filthy men chased them, while the men of Port Royal took up their weapons. It only took a moment for Will to realize the town was being attacked by pirates. He figured that the one he'd met earlier had led this crew here to pillage and plunder their weasely black guts out. Will did not intend to stand idly by. He quickly grabbed a sword and small axe.

Once outside Will attacked the first pirate he saw, throwing the axe into the back of the disgusting man. The pirate hit the dirt with a thud, and as Will jogged by, he removed his blade, though he failed to notice the lack of blood upon the edge of the axe. Young Turner ran through the town, other men at his side, doing his best to rid the place of pirates.

He had been doing well until he encountered two men trying to break into the Swann household. One was a short, round, balding man with yellowed eyes and teeth. The other was tall and lanky with what appeared to be one wooden eye. He shouted for them to come fight.

They obliged, drawing swords, but paused once they got a good look at Will.

"Bootstrap?" The tall one asked, rubbing his real eye.

"What?" Will's brow furrowed.

"He's come back to haunt us!" The skinny one said to the fat one. "To get revenge!"

The fat one peered at the boy, while Will stood uncomfortably trying to find out what they were talking about. Who was Bootstrap?

"No. It's his boy."

"What are you talking about? Are you going to fight or not?"

"No boy, we'll not fight you. You're going to come with us, Turner."

"How do you know my name? What are you talking about? I'll go nowhere with you scoundrels! Stand and fight!" Will raised his sword and axe, ready to throw both at the hearts of the men before him.

The two men looked at each other, rolling their eyes and then the fat one looked beyond Will and nodded. The man, standing unnoticed behind Will, brought the hilt of his sword down hard upon the back of Will's head, knocking him unconscious. Had Will been awake, the scene would have seemed very familiar. The three pirates dragged Will back to their ship and to its captain.

"Ah, Turner's boy! Looks like we've found more than we bargained for. Raise anchor!"

The skinny man looked at his captain, slightly puzzled. "But Captain, what about the medallion? We know it's here. Just give us more time to find it."

Captain Barbossa shook his head. "No. We leave now. The medallion will follow, I can feel it in my bones. Let's get going boys!"

The Black Pearl left Port Royal as quickly and mysteriously as it had arrived.

The morning came slowly, revealing all the damage that had been done to the town. Liz woke to find herself on the floor of the kitchens, not remembering having fallen asleep. She'd been watching the ship and the battlements fire at one another, and then the ship left. She wondered what they'd been after. Her hand drifted to the medallion that still hung at her neck and she felt that it was somehow related to the events of the night passed.

She dressed herself and headed to the battlements, where her father and the commodore stood talking about the damage that had been done. It seemed a few lives had been taken, and many buildings would need to be repaired, but little had been lost.

"What of Will?" Liz knew not why she felt the urge to ask of her longtime friend. She wasn't even sure if she considered him to be a friend anymore. Over the years he'd grown strange. He was too sure of himself, cocky. And he seemed to think he owned Liz. He'd turned into quite the ass.

James and her father looked at Elizabeth, just as confused as to why she'd asked about the blacksmith. They exchanged an odd glance.

"Well?" Liz put her hands on her ruffled hips, not at all enjoying the look that had been passed between the two men.

"Well..." James bit his bottom lip. "It would seem that Mr. Turner is missing."

"What? The pirates must have taken him! We've got to help!" Just because he was an ass, didn't mean Liz didn't still care. He'd been taken by the pirates; who knows what they'd do to him! This was her chance for the adventure she'd always longed for.

"Help? How do you propose we do that? We know nothing about the pirates that arrived last night, nor why they took Turner. We don't even know where to start looking. That ship was almost as fast as the Interceptor; it could be anywhere by now." James went back to discussing damages with the governor.

"Jack Sparrow, he's a pirate. Ask him. I'm sure he could be of service."

James turned back to Elizabeth, a look of pity in his eyes. "I'm touched that you care so much about William, and I'm sure he would be too. But really, Elizabeth, we cannot and will not make a deal with a pirate. As soon as things are back to normal, Jack Sparrow is in for a short drop and a sudden stop. Now please, go back home."

"Yes, it would be wise to do as the Commodore says, Elizabeth. I shall be home in a few hours, in time for lunch." Her father shot her a look that told her there was no negotiating.

Elizabeth turned away sharply, a flurry of cloth. She stormed off in the direction of her house, but once she was out of view, she changed paths. If Norrington and her father would do nothing about Will's kidnapping, she would do something herself, with the help of Jack.