Disclaimer: Don't…. Own…..

I do apologize at this chapter's oh-so-fashionable lateness. Computer troubles, couldn't get it downloaded, gack. But is is almost a page longer than the usual, so be happy.

I noticed that there were no breaks (for time lapses, location changes, you know?) on all the previous chapters, so I'm fixing that.

My Great Reviewer(s):

Kelsey Estel: Sorry if the whole "not being able to defeat them in battle" thing was unclear. You're right though; I meant that the Dauntless can't attack whether Will is there or not; if Will is there, they don't have a reason to attack, because Norrington is looking for him, and doesn't want to kill him (of course), and Governor Dorgan doesn't want the navy to attack any pirates, because (THIS PHRASE HAS BEEN REMOVED TO PROTECT THE PLOT).

Your comment on Elizabeth shall be answered very soon, don't worry.

P.S.: I am really glad you like the imagery. You can almost see the sunrise and that kind of stuff? That's great! Thank you.

erosgirl: Check Chapter Five. "Where away?" has been added! Way awesome, that is cool, hope you aren't insulted because it wasn't there in the first place, etc. I am the author, and I resent that my previous decision to say, "Where?" (LAMO) MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH GASP HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Glad you like the devil figurehead, I liked it too (he he).

EVERYBODY! Take a look at my new Indiana Jones fic, Indiana Jones and the Union of Occupations. OR ELSE, kay?

CHAPTER SIX

The Revenge and the Dauntless were well within firing range, and the navy men were on the ball, alert for any suspicious movement and any sign of hostility from the pirates on the dark ship. Norrington searched the deck with his spyglass; the pirates were standing in lines, after dropping their pistols and sabers in a pile on the deck. The gun ports were closed. It certainly didn't seem as though the pirates intended to attack – it almost appeared that they were surrendering. Norrington pondered, and dismissed the idea. No pirate he had heard of would give up, lay down their arms without even being asked to. But that was exactly what the men aboard the polka-dotted ship were doing. He lifted the spyglass to his eye again.

A fair haired man in a red greatcoat, most likely the captain, was berating a scarred man who refused to release his weapons. He motioned once to the pile; the other gripped the hilt of his sword and scowled. The first paused, then nodded towards his left and moved on to speak to his crew. Following his gesture, Norrington saw that he indicated a ladder from the ship to a jollyboat, down which the scar faced pirate swung after finally laying his arms with the rest of the crew's. Norrington had to smile. This captain was apparently another of those 'pirate and a good man' types Turner had mentioned from time to time in Port Royal. He had offered an incentive to the crewman, being a member of the group to negotiate with the Dauntless, instead of a punishment, for not giving up his weapons.

The fair captain now joined the scarred man and three others in the small boat. But they didn't begin to row just yet. Norrington lowered the telescope again to give himself a wide view of the deck.

The door to the captain's cabin was shoved open after a moment of waiting. He was clothed in black, from square toed black boots, to a gold trimmed black overcoat, and even wore a mask and bandana from under which his dark ripples of hair burst. He ignored his crew (for this certainly must be the captain) on his way to the jollyboat. The man in the red greatcoat rowed with three of the crewmen.

Norrington hesitated only a moment before ordering a rope ladder dropped.

The scar faced man came up first, followed by the red pirate and a bubbly boy who didn't look older than fourteen or fifteen. Norrington started when Will Turner boarded, but returned the smile he received from him.

"I've got a message for you, Will. A messenger, actually."

"Wait until Roberts is done with you." Will grinned again. "He has to say something first. It's just his job." He moved away from the side of the ship to allow Roberts to board.

Roberts was even more impressive up close. He was thin, and held himself with the grace and strength of a master swordsman. He certainly wore a sword befitting one; Norrington wondered who he could have stolen it from. He scanned Norrington and his crew swiftly before asking, "Is there somewhere private that we could talk?"

"My cabin has room," Norrington suggested. Roberts nodded, and strode after the commodore. At the door, he stopped Fiendish Joe and John Skaff, told them to watch the door, and continued inside.


Skaff scowled at the crew. "What're you starin' for?"

"I don't blame them. I stare sometimes too!"

Skaff scowled at Joe.


Inside the cabin, Norrington began to explain that he was only looking for Will Turner, but was interrupted by Westley.

"Introductions first. I thought the Royal Navy was supposed to be polite to all comers."

"If you insist. I'm Commodore Norrington, of the fleet at Port Royal. You're aboard the Dauntless."

Roberts now introduced himself. "I am the Dread Pirate Roberts." Will was smiling again. Roberts noticed and smirked a bit himself. "Captain of the pirate ship Revenge, and I take no prisoners. This is Westley, my first mate. Will Turner you know, apparently. Those two out there are John Skaff and Joe Gist, better known as Joe the Fiendish." Roberts' controlled expression burst into a fine grin. "And I demand to know what you are doing in my waters, Commodore." He finished theatrically.

Norrington found himself dropping his military demeanor. "If you insist. As I was saying, I have a woman aboard this ship that wants to see you, Will, so badly, she threatened to destroy my home where you so trustingly left her and commandeer a ship herself if I didn't take her to you."

"How long did you manage to resist my fiancé?"

"Two weeks."

"You must have been looking for over a month then. I was three weeks searching for a pirate ship to take me in. The Dread Pirate Roberts here had Westley holding auditions."

"Pirate auditions? But not now. Elizabeth has been waiting long enough, I believe." Norrington stood from behind his mapping table and went to the door. Opening it, he called for Miss Swann to be shown to the cabin immediately.

An instant later, apparently having heard Norrington's order, Elizabeth had stormed into the room and was howling at Will, "How could you have just left me at Port Royal! You know full well that I can take care of myself! What do you expect me to do, sit about and sew while you're searching the high seas for that curse Jack Sparrow! We have equal reason to find him, and you left me there! Next time you have a quest to complete, don't tell me!"

"Elizabeth, you could have gotten hurt! I couldn't have lived knowing that. I love you."

"If you really love me you could have told me that! I can take care of myself, and if you don't think I can you should at least know that you are certainly capable of taking care of me. I know you are!"

"I… Alright Elizabeth. I won't do this ever again. I won't apologize, though. You could have gotten hurt and you know it."

"I'd have less chance of getting hurt traveling with you than by myself."

"…. Fine. I'm sorry." Will lowered his gaze to avoid the sight of tears trickling down Elizabeth's face.

"Don't you ever leave me again."

Everyone was respectfully silent for a few minutes. It was Roberts who broke the hush.

"Now I suppose all you have to do is decide whether to continue your search with Norrington, or on the Revenge."

Norrington now looked up. "I'm afraid I must return to Port Royal. I've been overdue on my arrival for some time. You know Dorgan."

Will nodded grimly. "Then I, and Elizabeth, have no choice but to remain with you, Roberts." He faced Elizabeth. "If all is well by you. You deserve to decide if we continue to look for Sparrow anyway."

Elizabeth wiped her eyes quickly. "Why do you think I came all this way, you pirate!"


In the captain's cabin of the Revenge…

"You are getting better at acting, Inigo. Still, I think you agreed to let them come with us a little too easily."

Inigo ceased to polish his sword, and looked up at his first mate. "Are you saying I should have denied them their only chance of finding this Sparrow?"

"No, it's just that you seemed a bit too… helpful. Kind, I don't know."

"Even the Dread Pirate Roberts can be kind sometimes."

Now Westley looked up.

Inigo continued, "The world is a hard place – pirates are hard – but no one is completely evil. Maybe not even Humperdink. Maybe Count Rugen was in love once, maybe he didn't always kill."

Both men were silent the rest of the night.

END OF CHAPTER SIX