ROPE-WALKER

Written by Jashi

N O T E: And now I'm a scribe…XD…everybody please review…I don't own the Pirates of the Caribbean as I have stated before…I do own Tades…lalala…may Allah bless all who review and/or like Jack Sparrow in a black speedo…

CHAPTER THREE

Will's eyes furrowed as he contemplated this. More singing and yells and crashes nearly drowned out his thoughts, making it hard to concentrate.

"I'd say yes…but I'd have to ask Elizabeth…two or three months…I'd have to leave her all by herself. She can't come, she's pregnant…" he muttered to himself, forgetting that Jack was still there. The pirate captain began to hum and took another few swigs of rum.

"Yes. I will come with you." Will's voice was clear, but a bit shaky.

"Alrighty, mate. We sail the day after tomorrow." Jack raised his pint, and Will grinned.

"Take all you can," said Jack and the two men clunked their mugs together.

"Give nothing back." finished Will and they slammed their pints down on the table.

Jack turned his head and saw Anamarie singing drunkenly along with Mr. Gibbs and a few other men, swaying back in fourth with pints in their hands. He grinned and began to sing along.

It was like that for another hour or so, until a visibly amused Tades dragged the other three pirates out of the pub before it got too violent. Will laughed as he walked out of the pub, and he watched them as they walked far ahead. He could just make out their shapes in the night. And their loud, raucous singing reached their ears, even the sober Tades was singing.

"Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We kindle and char, inflame and ignite,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
We burn up the city, we're really a fright,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho!

We're rascals, scoundrels, villans, and knaves,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho…"

"We're devils and black sheep, really bad eggs, drink up, me 'earties, yo ho." Will sang to himself as the voices and figures disappeared into the night. He straightened his hat and walked home, humming to himself some more. The house was dark, and he walked up the stairs, smiling as he spotted his sleeping wife. He undressed, and got into bed beside Elizabeth, wrapped his arms around her. But he did not fall asleep. He stayed awake for a long while, thinking. He finally fell asleep much later into the night, wondering what he was going to tell Elizabeth.

He awakened the next morning with a nervous feeling in his stomach. Elizabeth was still asleep, and he nudged her gently. She stirred and her eyes fluttered open.

"Good morning, Will." she said drowsily, dark eyes meeting his, "have a good night with Jack?"

"Er…yes…I did…" Will trailed off. Elizabeth tried to give him a suspicious look, but it was hard because she was not quite awake.

"Well, let me dress and then you can tell me about it." she said, and rose from the bed, walking behind a screen in the corner. Will gave a small sigh and rose as well, and dressed. His wife walked downstairs, and after he buttoned his shirt, he followed her.

"So how is the old scallywag?"

"He's better than ever, it looks like."

"I heard them singing last night, it was so bloody loud."

At this, Will laughed. "Yes, it 'twas. They were all very drunk, except for Tades, I guess."

"That woman was there too?" Elizabeth's voice grew a bit hard and cold.

Will had to fight the urge to smile. "Yes, she was. She's quite nice, actually, but a bit…odd."

"What was Jack's message, dear? You have failed to mention that small, insignificant fact." her coldness faded.

The man bit his lip and paused for a moment. "Elizabeth…" he said gently, slowly, "I have to leave."

Her eyes furrowed. She didn't need to hear it again. "Why?"

"Jack's going on a journey, an adventure, a quest, whatever you want to call it," his voice becoming frustrated, "Elizabeth, I'm not making any money. We have a child on the way. Your father is dead. If I go on this journey, we'll have enough money to move and start over."

Elizabeth closed her eyes for a moment, and sat down. "How long?"

"Hm?"

"How long are you going to be gone?"

Will winced. This was the bad part. She could manage him leaving…but three months was a long time to be gone.

"Three months."

"What?"

"Do I have to say it again?"

"My God, Will. Three months? Where in the seven hells are you going?"

"Isla Presentar, it's four islands. Elizabeth, I must go. This is for the future for all of us, if we want to survive…" he trailed off, not knowing what to say more, "…you have to understand."

Elizabeth stood up, and turned away for a few moments. Then he heard words coming from her lips:


"…How am I going to stop you, Will?" she said, her voice soft.

"It'll be alright after this, I promise, sweetheart." was all he could say, and he put a hand on her shoulder. Her hand rose up to meet it.

"Well, that's yer answer then, I suppose?" a familiar voice came from the window, and Will whipped his head around. Elizabeth's eyes widened.

"You?!" she sputtered.

Tades was at the window, leaning in with a small smile on her face.

"Tades, what in God's name are you doing here?"

"I came to make sure yer wife agreed, o'course. Second thoughts are often used with the name 'Captain Jack Sparrow'. I see where Will Turner's loyalties lie now." she drawled.

Will gave her a menacing glare. "You have the most inopportune timing I have ever seen."

Tades grinned. "You should talk. It's a miracle yer married to that lass, that it is. I'm famous…or infamous, matters whose talking…for my bad timing, Mr. Turner. Ye should know that by now." she stuck her head in the window again.

"We leave at ten tomorrow. Be at the Swinging Swan tomorrow at nine. Then Tades the courier will lead you to your new employment. Ta!"

She turned and walked very quickly down the street, and finally broke out into a run. It took all her control not to shout out a whoop of joy. Finally, this caged cat was going to go on a proper pirate quest, with loot and adventure, and mortal peril. Her skin bristled. Yo ho, she thought brightly as she reached the cove, yo ho yo ho, it's a pirate's life fer me.