Disclaimer: Don' own pirates of the Caribbean, or the storyline. All I really own are my interpretations of Elizabeth's thoughts and reasoning behind her actions.

Chapter Eight

"What sort of a man trades a man's life for a ship?" I said my voice showing both anger and frustration. We were sitting below deck, at a table, and there were quite a few candles around. I was also attempting to bandage the cut on my palm, and doing a terrible job at it, which was the origin of my frustration.

"A pirate." Will replied simply, then grabbed my hands. "Here. Let me."

I let go of the bandage and replied with a simple. "Thank you." I was even surprised by how vulnerable I sounded.

We sat in silence for a while as Will bandaged my hand. It felt nice, just to be sitting there with Will. Even though he had always insisted on treating me as though I was above him because of our class, he had been my only real friend, and I was glad to be spending this time with him.

"You said you gave Barbossa my name as yours." Will said, breaking the silence. He looked up, his eyes meeting mine. "Why?"

I looked down, feeling some shame for my actions, as I knew I had used Will's name because it was a lesser class then mine. "I don't know." I replied, then winced and pulled my hand back as he pulled the bandage too tight.

"I'm sorry." Will said, and the tone of his voice made my heart beat faster for some unknown reason. "Blacksmith's hands - I know they're rough."

"No…" I said quickly, then added "I mean yes, they are but…" I paused as Will tied a little knot in the bandage. "Don't stop." I felt foolish, but I had enjoyed the feeling of Will's hands against mine. I didn't want that to end. Because now that it had, I knew I had to tell him about the medallion. It was only right.

He looked from my hand to my face, his eyes showing confusion. I leant forward, and Will did too, his hand coming to rest on my neck and jawbone.

"Elizabeth." He whispered, and I could feel the rush of air with his words. He looked like he was going to kiss me, and that very idea left me almost breathless. Yet I couldn't let him. I put my hand on his and slide it from its place at my neck down towards the top of my dress. As I did this my eyes never left his, and I found no enjoyment in the confused look in his eyes. I then released his hand and pulled the medallion away from its hiding place under my dress. Will's eyes left mine to look at the medallion. His brow creased in confusion as he placed his hand under it.

"Its yours." I said, as I held the chain and pulled, releasing the medallion from my neck.

Will's eyes never left the medallion, it was almost like the sight of it put him in a trance. "I thought I'd lost it the day they rescued me. It was a gift from my father. He sent it to me. " I looked down at the ground as shame overcame me, and when I looked up again I not only saw, but felt Will's eyes on me.

"Why did you take it?" He asked, his voice brushing with slight anger.

I felt tears form in my eyes. I hated this, Will being angry at me. "Because I was afraid that you were a pirate. That would have been awful."

Will's gaze went back to the medallion, only he didn't seem as peaceful now.

He looked back up at me, and his voice was strangely calm. "It wasn't your blood they needed. It was my father's blood…my blood." Will's hand formed a tight fist around the medallion, and he bent his head in anger. "The blood of a pirate."

I felt his anger, and knew it was my fault."

"Will, I'm so sorry, please forgive me." I begged, and saw Will's fist waver, before he released it and slammed the medallion to the table.

I sat there for a few seconds, before I rushed out, not wanting to completely breakdown in front of Will.

I was in my room, when I heard commotion on the deck. I stuck my head up and saw everyone running about.

"Hands aloft to loose t'gallants! With this wind at her stern, she'll carry every sail we've got." Gibbs yelled out to the crew.

I run up to the stairs and leant on a sail rope. "What's happening?"

Anamaria, who was the female pirate I had heard earlier, was standing behind the steering wheel. "The Black Pearl, she's gaining on us."

I quickly pushed past the rope, to look behind us, and to see Anamaria was speaking truth. There was the Black Pearl, not too far behind us.

"This is the fastest ship in the Caribbean." I argued.

Anamaria laughed a little, and replied. "You can tell them that after they've caught us." With a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

"We're shallow on the draft, right?" I asked, desperately trying to think of something.

"Aye." Anamaria replied, and seemed sincerely interested in what I had to say.

"Well, then can't we lose them amongst those shoals?" I asked, looking between Anamaria and Gibbs.

"We don't have to outrun them long, just long enough." Gibbs said, continuing on my idea.

"Lighten the ship, stem to stern!" Anamaria yelled out to the crew.

"Anything that we can afford to lose…see that it's lost." Gibbs added as he turned towards the front of the ship, to face the crew.

I barely noticed the crew throwing things off the deck. I knew that some barrels were being thrown, but paid little attention to them. I looked forward, hoping we

would outrun them, hoping that my plan would work. I don't know what made me want to turn around, though I was sure it was the fact that a lot of the crew were looking behind us. I turned around, and felt my heart sink as I saw The Black Pearl had released its oars and were rowing towards us, meaning that they were currently traveling faster then us. So we now had no chance of outrunning them.

Anamaria turned around and I could tell she saw the same sight I did.

"It was a good plan." She comforted. "Up till now."

"Gibbs." I heard Will yell, and we all turned as he approached us.

"We have to make a stand. We must fight!" Will said, then raised his voice. "Load the guns!"

"With what?" Anamaria asked helplessly.

"Anything. Everything!" Will said, his whole spirit glowing with determination. "Anything we have left." Will turned to Gibbs who looked at him skeptically.

"Load the guns." Gibbs finally yelled out, going back to the lower section of the deck where the crew were.

I saw Anamaria look up to the sky, and I thought it was possible she was silently praying.

"Take shot and langrage. Nails and crushed glass! With a will!" Gibbs continued to yell to the crew.

Will turned to look at me, and our eyes met. I felt a heavy tension, but then he quickly turned away, and went to the lower deck. I quickly followed him. In the middle of this chaos I wanted to do something helpful, I couldn't just stand there. If the situation wasn't so terrible I would have almost laughed. I had always dreamed of meeting pirates and going on adventures to escape the life I was made to lead. Now here I was, in danger and having my adventure. And, for the first time in my life, I can actually help with something.