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 Nine

I was leaning over the side of the Interceptor when Gibbs came up behind us, followed by Will.

"The Pearl is going to luff up on our port quarter. She'll rake us without ever presenting a target." Gibbs was talking to Anamaria, but I knew his words were meant for us all.

"Lower the anchor on the right side." I said, and Anamaria gave me a puzzled look. I turned to Gibbs. "On the starboard side!"

Gibbs looked at Will, who shrugged. "It certainly has the element of surprise."

"You're daft, lady!" Anamaria said to me, and I wasn't sure how I was supposed to take it. She then added Will in. "You both are!"

"Daft like Jack!" Gibbs added grinning, then turned to lean against the rail, looking down on the lower deck. "Lower the starboard anchor! Do it, ye dogs, or it's you we'll load into the cannons!"

While Gibbs was talking, Will went past him to help with the operation, leaving me with Anamaria.

I leant on the side of the ship, and dug my nails into the wood as I felt the ship lope side.

"Let go." I yelled to Anamaria, who released the steering wheel, which furiously began to spin to the left, opposite of the ship.

I watched as The Black Pearl came along side of us. All the pirates, from both ships, were yelling and preparing to fight.

"Now." I heard Will say.

I heard a pirate, who I suspected was Barbossa yell, "Fire."

I turned to the crew and yelled "Fire all."

I then felt the ship swing violently, as cannons from both ships were fired. I was standing next to Will, who was firing a pistol at the pirates on the opposing deck. I ducked as bullets came flying my way.

"We could use a few more ideas, lass." Gibbs yelled at me from the other side of Will.

"It's your turn." I yelled back, grabbing hold of a rope from one of the sails.

"We need us a devil's dowry." Gibbs yelled back."

"We'll give them her." Anamaria said from behind me, and I noticed she was holding a pistol to my throat.

"She's not what they're after." Will said, and once again met my eyes.

I suddenly looked down, to find the medallion gone.

"The medallion." I said, shocked. Will looked at me for a second then ran off across the deck, to look for it down below.

I noticed then, that Anamaria had put her pistol away, and had continued the fight.

One of The Black Pearls cannons hit the main mast, and we all crouched down, with the hope of not getting hit as the mast fell. The fallen mast, went to act as a bridge between the two ships, allowing Barbossa's pirates to come onto the Interceptor.

I continued to pull on the sails rope, and direct them. I then saw a pistol, and pointed it at The Black Pearl and shot it. The impact was quite shocking, and knocked me back a little. I was surprised, as this was the first time I had ever shot a pistol in my life. That didn't stop me, however, and I rose from my crouching position, to aim my fires at the now invading pirates.

I found myself in the middle of a true fight, and one pirate got to close for me to shot, so I hit him with the end of my pistol. It was all a matter of survival.

There was then a pirate on either side. I hit one square in the nose, then turned to the other one, who held up his sword. Someone grabbed the man's wrist.

"That's not very nice." The man was jack Sparrow. I saw him, and didn't know what to think. So instead of thinking, I gritted my teeth, and hit the pirate in the face with my pistol. A few fires, came towards us, and Jack grabbed my shoulders, and pulled me down to hide behind the side of the ship.

"Where's the medallion?" he asked, and I felt anger bubble.

"Wretch." I said, and went to hit him.

He grabbed my wrist and saw the bandage around my hand.

"Ah." He said looking at the bandage. "Where is dear William?"

I felt fear again as he said those words. Fear towards what he knew, but mostly, fear because I hadn't seen Will since he went to find the medallion.

I looked back towards the deck, and murmured. "Will" before running across the deck to find him.

I ran across the deck, and saw some fingers through a grate. I ran over it, to find Will trapped inside, with rising water. I leant over the grate, and heard Will yell out;

"Elizabeth."

I hastily tried to move the mast, which was blocking the grate, trapping Will inside. I was unsuccessful.

"I can't move it." I cried out with frustration, leaning onto the grate. Two pirates came up behind me and grabbed an arm each, and started to drag me away.

"Will!" I screamed out and fought against the pirates with all y might, but they were stronger then me and took me back onto the dreaded Black Pearl.

I soon found myself tied to the mast along with Gibbs, and the rest of the crew.

"If any of you as much as thinks the word "parley," I'll have your guts for garters." One of Barbossa's pirates said, while holding out a knife and circling around us, much like a shark.

Impulsively, I pulled the rope that was around me, over my head, and went to the side of the ship, when I felt the air ripple, and the Interceptor exploded before my eyes. I felt tears form, and whispered "Will!". Even the very word pained me, as I knew he had been on the Interceptor, and it was because of me. I wasn't strong enough and now I've lost him.

I heard Barbossa laughing, and saw him in front of me. I could practically taste my fury, and I attacked him from behind.

"You've got to stop it! Stop it!" I yelled.

Barbossa turned around and grabbed hold of my wrists, despite my fight. "Welcome back, Miss." He smiled, and grabbed the top of my dress, holding me close. "You took advantage of our hospitality last time. It holds fair now that you return the favor."

With that, he pushed me into the crew. The next second I felt their hands all over me, and I started to scream with fear and disgust.

"Barbossa." A voice yelled out.

I felt the pirates release me as they turned to look at the speaker, as I did. I smiled when I saw who it was.

"Will." I whispered.

Will jumped down onto the deck and grabbed a pistol. "She goes free." He cocked the pistol and pointed it at Barbossa.

"What's in your head, boy?" Barbossa replied and started to walk forward. I felt a pirate behind his hand on my forehead, and pull me back into him. He placed his other arm around my neck. Much to my disgust.

"She goes free!" Will repeated determinedly, his pistol still pointed at Barbossa, who was merely an inch away from it now.

"You've only got one shot, and we can't die." Barbossa replied calmly.

I saw Will look to the side. I tried to look in the direction and saw Jack there, his hands held together in plea. I could have sworn he said, "Don't do anything stupid."

Will ran back, and grabbed hold of a rope, to help him balance on the side of the ship.

"You can't." He said, then pointed the pistol up against his chin. "I can."

I tried to get to him, but the pirate behind me grabbed hold of my hair, painfully keeping me in place.

"Who are you?" Barbossa asked, and I silently joined Jack's plea and hoped he wouldn't do anything stupid.

"No one. He's no one." Jack interrupted, going to stand in front of Barbossa. "A distant cousin of my aunt's nephew twice removed. Lovely singing voice, though – eunuch."

"My name is Will Turner." Will said, contradicting Jack's statement. "My father was Bootstrap Bill Turner. His blood runs in my veins."

"He's the spitting image of ol' Bootstrap Bill come back to haunt us." One of the pirates yelled out, pointing at Jack.

I once again made a half-hearted attempt to escape to Will, but once again, without success.

"On my word do as I say, or I'll pull this trigger and be lost to Davy Jones' Locker."

There was silence after this statement, while Barbossa thought.

Barbossa finally interrupted the silence by saying "Name your terms, Mr. Turner."

"Elizabeth goes free." Will yelled out, and I felt pride in my heart, which was mixed with fear, as I knew that Will was swapping his freedom for mine.

"Yes, we know that one. Anything else?" Barbossa asked slyly.

Jack looked to the side, then removed the pistol from his chin and started to point it in the direction of the crew, before bringing it back. "And the crew – the crew are not to be harmed."

"Agreed." Barbossa said, in a tone that made me instantly distrust him.

A few hours later I found I was right to distrust him, as I found myself meters from a deserted Island, on the edge of the plank with pirates pointing swords at me, yelling for me to jump.

I looked back at them, with a look I hoped was defiant, but was probably fearful. I held the dress up, and slowly turned around and walked towards the end of the plank. I looked down into the deep blue water. It was so very blue. And while looking into the water I felt fear rise from my stomach, burning my throat. I didn't want to jump into the water, because I had no idea what was beneath the blue exterior.

I heard Will's voice over the cries of the crew.

"Barbossa, you lying bastard! You swore she'd go free!" He yelled as he struggled against the pirates.

Suddenly, everyone was quiet to hear Barbossa's reaction.

"Don't dare impugn me honor, boy. I agreed she'd go free, but it was you who failed to specify when or where." Barbossa started to laugh, and all his crew followed him in the act.

I saw Will get gagged and dragged away.

"Though it does seem a shame to lose something so fine, don't it lads?" Barbossa said, turning his attention to me.

"Aye." All the pirates yelled in agreement.

"So I'll be having that dress back before you go."

I felt anger come siding along with my fear, as I removed the dress, and threw it at Barbossa.

"Goes with your black heart." I practically spat in my rage.

Barbossa hugged the dress and threw it into the crowd of pirates. I turned around and walked back to the edge of the plank. Instead of looking into the water, I turned around and looked at Will.

I felt our eyes meet, as they so often do, and felt an immense desire to stay and be with him.

"Too long." I heard a pirate yell, and someone kicked the end of the plank, making it wobble.

I gave a little scream, and fell off the plank. I seemed to be falling forever, before I hit the water. I fell down deep, feeling my skin sting at the impact of the fall. I quickly pushed my way to the surface, gasping for air as I broke away from the waters hold. I then began to swim towards the island, not wanting to stay in this water for any longer then I had to. As I swam, I heard a splash behind me, which meant Jack had also been thrown overboard.