ROPE-WALKER

Written by Jashi

N O T E: Once again, Pirates of the Caribbean isn't mine, I'm not making a dime off of this. Um, if anybody at all could help me think of a new title, it would be much appreciated. I implore you to review if you like it, or if you have something you could help me with like *cough* title *cough* or you just wanna shout. No flames, though. I'm spelling Anamarie's name like they spelled it on some theatre website. Watch out for a little Will and Elizabeth fluff this chapter…only a little. Y'know, let's-make-up-I'm-so-lonely-without-you fluff. *smiles* Makes ya feel all fuzzy inside already, doesn't it? May Allah bless you, Maze. And (sorry) if you want to really get a feel for this chapter, listen to Chumbawamba's Tubthumping. XD

CHAPTER TWO:

"Come, come, Tades. We're off in a moment, and if you don't hurry, we're leaving without you." the dark-skinned woman called.

"Aw, you wouldn't do that now, wouldja?" Tades said teasingly as she quickly crawled down to the deck from her crow's nest. "And hurry is my middle name, Anamarie."

Jack Sparrow was already getting in the boat, followed by Gibbs. Anamarie pulled Tades in behind her, and Tades gave a salute to the crew.

"If we should not get back from this local pub alive…" she began, but with a guffaw from the crew they were dropped quite abruptly into the sea.

Anamarie gave a hearty laugh as she tossed the other woman an oar. Tades sighed quietly and began to row.

They neared the shore, making sure they were well away from the docks. The small pirate band pulled the boat up on the shore, and as they were nearing the town, Jack turned around to walk backwards, and started to talk.

"Now, you two," he pointed at Mr. Gibbs and Anamarie, "just walk around and loiter and don't do anything stupid. I'm going to go get a table at the back where it's plenty loud. Tades, go find our little Will and get him to the back of the pub, savvy?"

"Aye aye, captain." said Anamarie, which was followed by a "Yessir." from Tades. Gibbs grunted in agreement, and as they reached the town, he stopped to look over some apples…and the woman selling them. Jack snickered.

He opened the door to the pub, chivalrously letting Anamarie and Tades in first and following behind. The captain kept his hat lowered. He wasn't sure if the whole thing hadn't blown over yet, the great adventure and all. He wanted to keep this conspicuous. Jack grabbed a pint of rum and took a gulp, surveying the bar in search of Tades or Will. He spotted Tades casually strolling around the bar, amidst the drunken men. A bunch of the lushes started up a great song behind them and half the bar joined in. His kohl-lined eyes crinkled in amusement. Yes, this was plenty loud.

***a bit before***

Will and Elizabeth hadn't done a lot of talking since Tades had left. It needed to blow over, they needed to be more comfortable in each other's presence again. Looking at the clock beside their bed, Will noticed it was a half an hour till seven. He pulled on his coat and grabbed his hat. He walked down the stairs again, but laid his hat on the table. Elizabeth seemed to be concentrating extremely hard on mending one of his shirts.

"Er…Elizabeth." he began, noting how unsteady his voice was and he cursed himself for it. She laid down the mending and looked at him.

"Yes, Will?" she remarked, noting how unsteady her voice was, and she cursed herself for it. He looked back at her, and she stood up and went to shut the window. It was open and a cold draft was coming in. Elizabeth utterly hated being cold. She took a deep breath and turned around.

"Let's stop this now, shall we?" she said, her eyes down at the floor.

"Stop what?"

"Oh…" she murmured, beginning to get frustrated with her words and how they wouldn't come together, "being angry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get so…violent and mad. I…I...was just…"

"Worried? Confused? Angry? Any of these words work?" Will offered.

Elizabeth looked up and saw that his dark brown eyes were twinkling, and it put her heart at ease. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her tenderly.

"I've had no consorts with women from the day I set eyes on you, Elizabeth. Only with you." he whispered and kissed the top of her head. The half-pirate held her tightly for a few minutes, then stepped away and grabbed his hat from behind him.

"I've got to go or else I'll be late." he said somewhat sorrowfully. But his wife smiled and opened the door.

"Don't stay out too long, Will." she said teasingly, and he walked out the door, tipping his hat to her as he passed. Elizabeth shut the door and laughed out loud.

***alright, back to the pub (didja like the fluff? *holds up a cue card* "Awww…")***

Will Turner entered the Singing Swan pub, looking around and then getting a table somewhere near the entrance. Tades spotted him immediately, but pretended she didn't know him for another ten minutes. Then as a song started up that made her wince, she casually strolled to his table.

"So, Will. Are you planning on drinkin' with the captain tonight?" she said lowly, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.

"Yes, I am, Tades." he said and stood up quite quickly.

"Then to the back of the pub we go." she nudged him towards the back and he walked, finally spotting Jack. He grinned and Tades was momentarily side-tracked by a drunken man, quite large in size, tripping and ploughing right into her like a ton of bricks. Will heard the crash and winced, but decided not to look back. He sat at Jack's table and whipped off his hat. The woman pirate pulled herself out from the passed-out lush and many men laughed. She straightened up and dusted herself off, and sat down, her head held up high. Jack laughed merrily and took another great gulp of rum. Tades glared.

"I didn't ask for that." she growled and denied a pint of rum. Jack and Will gave her odd looks as they both took a great swig. She shrugged.

"Somebody's got to row us home tonight."

"Oh bloody hell, Tades, lighten up." Jack muttered and took another rather large swig, finishing the pint. He grabbed another one and had guzzled half of it down before he began to talk.

"Well, Will. I heard business is going…rather down lately." he began. Will nodded, a bit ashamedly.

"Not selling all those fine swords…being a half-pirate is a hard life."

"You don't know the half of it!" Will's voice suddenly became angry, and it interrupted Jack firmly, with conviction and real fire in the eyes, observed Tades.

"No one comes to the smithy all day…no one at all. I have a wife to support, and now I have a child on the way…" he said, a certain hopelessness and defeat coming into him.

But Jack's eyes began to glimmer, like a medallion does when it catches the sunlight just right, a look of adventure took over his persona.

"Aye…that's as much as I figured. Well, congratulations." he said, and threw his head back to down the rum in a single gulp.

"You will always remember this as the day you got yer lonely virgin arse saved by Captain Jack Sparrow."

Tades snorted. "He's no virgin anymore, cap'n. A man's gotta do something with a woman to make her have his child…" she trailed off, chuckling.

Will nearly spit out his drink, but managed to keep his head held high and his drink inside his mouth. Tades stood up, still chortling to herself. She gave Will a friendly slap on the back, and cocked her head. Her hand rose up, the fingers moving, counting along with her voice.

"Five…four…three…two…one." and a woman's loud, off-key singing began near the back of the bar, and Tades rolled her eyes.

"That'll be Ana. Make it quick, Jack. I can only subdue so many drunks at a time." she said, and began to make her way over to the other side of the tavern. Will gave an odd glance at her retreating back.

"Ah, that Tades. Can't sail with her, can't sail without her. Now, down to business. The Black Pearl sails in two days for the Islas Presentar, four islands, three of them being named Isla Dolor, Isla Tentació n, and the Island of Culls. The last island is called Isla Alegre Triste…and on that fourth island is great treasure…but you must pass through the first three islands…and then through one hundred eleven miles of enemy pirate territory. It'll be a good two or three month journey, but you must be present to get your share of treasure, savvy?"

Slow realization dawned on Will. "You want me…to come…with you?"

"He can be taught." sniggered Jack and he took another swig of rum from a new pint. "It'll be full of perils and scares and rum and women and more rum…" the pirate said, sipping. Will held back a laugh.

"So, Will. It'll be money to support your babe, your wife, and enough gold to move out of here. And," he continued as the man winced, "you know you have to. People will shun your descendents. If you want to settle down, you have to start over, Will. If you go with us, you're with us till the end. Take it or leave it."

TO BE CONTINUED