A young soldier came down the winding steps into the prison to check on the large amount of pirates that had been captured only a month before. He was bewildered they hadn't been put to death sooner then this, but the time was drawing near. They would be rid of one by one in a few days.

"I've brought your food." He said, reaching the bottom step. A perplexed look crossed his face as all the pirates grinned at him. One of them, a shorter fellow with gray hair raised his eyebrows and nodded to the other pirates.

"Lo', sir." He said politely. The young man looked nervous as he pulled the keys from his pocket. He shook as he tried to fit the key into the hole. Glancing up from time to time he saw the pirate crew watching him. Finally he pulled the door open so slightly and slipped the plate in. As he stood to get up he was grabbed by the collar and pulled against the bars by a large, brawny looking man. He struggled to get free but the man was as strong as he was large. Two of the other pirates led out the door. One of them was the man who had nodded at the others, the other a thin man with a wooden eye.

"Alright mates, ye know the plan." Another man called. This one mainly clad in yellow, with a yellow cap atop his head.

"Aye!" The crew chorused.

The thin, one eyed man grabbed the keys and the sword from the guard. He tossed the keys to the men in the cell opposite to the one he had exited and tossed the sword to his, mate, the gray haired man who was leading their escape. "You wanna finish im, Pintel?" He asked, a wicked, goofy little grin across his face.

Pintel tossed the sword back. "I'd like to see you try instead." The thin man caught the sword off guard and juggled it for a moment then seizing the hilt and looking down at it, a worried look crossing his face. He sighed and did just what Pintel asked him. Once he was sure the man wasn't going to do anything, the brawny man who had been holding him exited the cell.

"Alright, mates, we can make it to the armory without being seen. If we are seen in the hallway, it will be by only a few men, and even with weapons we can over power them." Pintel grabbed the sword from his mate's hand and pointed it skyward. "Alright then, les' finally follow through." He lead them all back up the steps to the hallway, his one eyed friend right behind him.

.....

Chapter 1

We'll be waiting at the docks

Elizabeth watched on boredly as Will worked. She wasn't quite happy with the certain circumstances of the moment.

"Will." She sighed. "We have to go back and talk to him. He's not going to agree with us if we don't come to basic understanding." She gasped as Will slammed down his hammer.

"Not yet." He said, calming himself. "Your father and Commodore won't listen. Last time they didn't, and it's no different this time." Elizabeth stood up a strolled over to where Will was, placing her hand on his shoulder. "We can't avoid my father forever, you might be able to for while, but he'll wonder where I went." She tried to lighten the mood.

"Elizabeth," Will turned to her. "They won't go for it."

"Do they have a right to tell me who to marry? Sure I may heed any of my father's regard, but I'm certain Commodore Norrington has no say in this." Elizabeth said, taking her hand away from him.

"He may not say a thing, but he certainly will show his disagreement." Will took a deep breath. "I have no difficulty believing he really cared about you. So much so he let you be with the one you loved." Elizabeth frowned. "What are you saying?"

"Nothing besides that the Commodore is a good man." Will said. "A very good man. And so is your father."

"We'll go talk to them then?" Elizabeth looked hopeful. Will smiled. "Aye, but not now. Shall we wait, perhaps until your father calls for us?"

"But he might think we shall come to him first." She looked at him for a good long while. "All right, we'll wait until he calls for us." That was sooner then she thought. Just then there was pound on the door. Elizabeth motioned Will to stay and she went to open the door. "Who is it?" She called.

"We have been sent by Admiral Derrae and Commodore Norrington. The pirates escaped from their prison!" Elizabeth swung open the door. "No! They couldn't have." Will hopped up and pulled his jacket on, walking over to the two men standing the door.

"Where are they now?" He asked, grasping one of the men by the shoulder.

"The fort still. They broke into armory and stole some weapons and now they're fighting their way free. Commodore and Governor Swann want to talk to you." The man replied. Elizabeth gave Will a worried look. "Come on."

They followed the two men to the fort. All the way up to the gate. "Problem is," Started one of the soldiers. "There's not enough people outside the gate to fight them off if they can get through."

Elizabeth looked up at Will. "We'll be fine." Will brushed her hair from her cheek. He spoke to soon. At that moment the gate burst open. Navy men and pirates pouring out. Elizabeth screamed as the crowd over took them, along with the few soldiers stationed outside. The two soldiers who had gotten her and Will led them through the melee. As they ran through the crowd of fighting men Elizabeth saw some memorable faces. One of the pirates stopped another and pointed at her.

"Ey, Pintel, ain't that... Bootstraps' kid an' his lass!" Pintel swung around and looked right at them. "Raggeti. I think I gotta plan..."

.....

Elizabeth and Will made it safely into the commodore's office, where Governor Swann already was. He ran over to Elizabeth and hugged her tightly. "Oh thank God you're safe." He said, gripping her arms. Will looked on.

"Father, where is Commodore Norrington?" Elizabeth asked, taking a step away. Although she didn't love him, she certainly didn't want him killed or missing.

"Don't worry, he'll be here shortly. The Admiral is taking care of matters." Governor Swann turned to Will and held out his hand to shake. Will took it and shook it. "G'day, Governor." Will gave a respecting nod. The door behind him creaked open and Commodore Norrington slipped inside. He still hadn't even sheathed his sword yet.

"Governor." He bowed to Governor Swann. "Miss Swann, Mr. Turner." Elizabeth curtsied him. He took off his hat and nodded, giving a backward glance at the door. "I don't know what those pirates plan to do, but we can most certainly overtake them." He paused. "Please, have a seat." he motioned them to a few chairs a bit away from his desk. Elizabeth sat down and crossed her ankles. Governor Swann sat with his back perfectly straight. Will, on the other hand, plopped down into the chair and leaned to one side of it.

"I don't really mean to talk precisely about the pirates, although they have brought a few things before me." The commodore started. "It is to my knowledge that Captain Sparrow is sailing close to here from Cuba, where he had been waiting me out." Will and Elizabeth smiled when he used the title 'Captain'. "And," he continued. "There have been a few robberies around the area. Large robberies, towns destroyed.

"Jack's no idiot, he'd know better then to do that close to Port Royal." Will protested. Commodore Norrington looked at him hard. "Hear me out, Mr. Turner. I only wish to speak with Jack. Hopefully gather some information. I thought you would both like to know, is all."

Elizabeth looked at Will. "You see." She said, looking a bit annoyed with him that he disrespected the commodore. Will kept his eyes away from her.

"And I have something I'd like to talk about also, while we're all here." Governor Swann piped up.

"We're all ears." Will said.

"You came to me, about a week ago, with the request I would help you arrange a wedding. I declined your request, but I did not mean to stop you. I simply think that a longer engagement would... benefit." Governor Swann looked up at Norrington, who looked dismayed. Elizabeth glared at them both.

"Well father, I simply think that isn't possible. It was my decision to marry Will, if you do not want to take part in the wedding then you may not." Elizabeth said haughtily. Governor Swann looked hurt.

"By all means, Elizabeth, please. I wish to attend your wedding and help with it, but I see no downside to a longer wait."

"Well I do." Elizabeth said strongly. Will looked away and rubbed the back of his neck, trying get as far away from the conversation.

"Elizabeth, we need the money we have for other things. Lately I've been engaged in trading with other English colonies and I can't afford to even do this wedding at the moment. Which is why we should wait."

"If you can't help me with the wedding plans then I'll fund it myself. Somehow." Elizabeth said sternly, turning away from her father.

"Governor Swann," Norrington spoke up. "Speaking in matters related to the wedding, I believe I could be a matter of help in funding, if you would accept my offer."

Elizabeth beamed and turned back to her father. "Please, father! Please, accept." She was acting like a child, she knew, but she couldn't wait for the wedding day to come.

"Well, if you insist. And thank you for the kind offer." Governor Swann smiled at Norrington. So did Elizabeth.

"Oh, how can I ever thank you, Commodore?" Elizabeth cried. Norrington lowered his head. "It's fine, Elizabeth, I don't wish for anything in return.

Elizabeth slipped around the desk and gave Norrington a hug, causing him to blush lightly. Will followed her and shook hands with Norrington heartily. "Thank you, this means a lot."

.....

Pintel took Raggeti away from the fight, leading him by the arm. "Here's me plan. We 'af to get lovely Miss Swann, to use as ransom." Raggeti followed Pintel's every word, grinning wider and wider. "We'll give her back, but our request will be for the new navy ship, The Aaralyn." Pintel chuckled. "She's the governor's daughter, so's I figer it won't be hard." Raggeti started to giggle.

"An' will we give Miss Swann back?" He asked. Pintel looked at him.

"I may be a pirate, but I's be a man o' my word. We'll give her back." He swiped at Raggeti, who looked highly disappointed. Raggeti jumped away, lowering his head hoping Pintel won't do that again.

"Come on mate, we've gotta go git the res o' em, an' Miss Swann."

.....

Will and Elizabeth were once again escorted from the office, and the whole time in the fort there were no pirates left to worry about. When they got on the streets the guards asked for the help of two other soldier in protecting them. Fortunately, one of they soldier knew a safer way through other roads to get to the governor's house to drop off Elizabeth.

"Don't worry, Elizabeth, we'll be fine." Will smoothed out Elizabeth's hair as they hurried along.

"I know." She answered, somewhat unsure of herself. "Will look!" She cried. She saw Pintel and Raggeti had been following them this whole time.

"Speed up the pace men!" One of the soldier called. Will grabbed Elizabeth by the arm a dragged her along, since she couldn't run so well in her current attire, a long, flowy, yellow dress and black high heels.

As they pursued, Pintel lagged behind Raggeti somewhat. Obviously Raggeti would be faster though. While Pintel was still getting to them Raggeti reached the group and grabbed Elizabeth by the shoulder.

"Will!" She screamed. Will spun around with his sword out, pointing it at Raggeti's face. Raggeti crossed his eyes, er, eye to look at the point. His wooden eye just sort of strayed to the side.

"Let me go!" Elizabeth cried, pulling away from Raggeti. He didn't refuse, as he was so captured by the shine of the blade in his eye. The other men pulled out their swords and held them to him.

"Hey hey hey." They heard a sharp whistle and all looked up at Pintel who had his pistol out. He had it cocked and aimed directly for Elizabeth's head.

"Alrighty, now put your swords away from Raggeti's face..." The soldiers and Will did so and Pintel continued. "Now we'll be taking the poppit with us." Raggeti took a few steps back and stood next to Pintel, drawing his sword.

"Come on now, come here lass." Pintel ordered. Elizabeth stepped forward bravely, but Will grabbed her by the shoulder. "Come on now!" Pintel rasped. Elizabeth looked at Will sternly, then stepped forward once more. Raggeti grabbed her and held her around the neck as Pintel continued to point his pistol.

"Farwell." Pintel said, walking back wards with Raggeti dragging Elizabeth with him. "And, we'll be waiting for you at the docks."

.....