Disclaimer: I don't own anything about this. 'Pirates of the Carribean' as a concept belongs to Disney, 'Horatio Hornblower' to AE (I think.). The actors belong to themselves… sadly, I have nothing to do with it.

AN: A few months after the Pearl left the stage of the Carribean. Will finds himself in a difficult position and thinks about leaving. Then a strange ship enters the harbour.

Chapter 2

--------------

The whole crew of the ship Indefatigable, or the Indie for short, stood on deck for the arrival in the town of Port Royal. This had not been a planned stop, but the need of supplies was dire and the captain had found the fortress a good place to rest for a day or two, perhaps even three if the crew was lucky enough.

"You, boy! Send word to the Governor that the Indefatigable has arrived!"

It was shouted from the deck and Will wanted to give a stern answer, that he was not an errand boy in this town, before he realised that the voice was not directed to him, but to a ten year old boy who had been hanging around the dock for the last week, in search for food and shelter. Will had given him a few coins, a bit of money he could spare, but it did not seem to be enough as the child kept returning.

"Aye, sir."

Within the second, the boy was on his way to the large house on the hill, the residence of the governor of Port Royal. Inside the house it was quiet and everyone seemed to be at ease, due to the hot sun of the Caribbean. This seemed to be the cause of all in these days, as Governor Swann directed his daughter not to go outside, for the conditions of the weather, so that her fair skin would stay so and not bronzed like a peasant maid. Although she had objected to it, he found it his duty as a father to keep her in.

And so it came that the young woman sat behind her window ,conveniently in the shade and utterly bored. In older days she could go to Will and keep around him in the blacksmith shop, or even convince him to go outside for a walk with her. People talked behind their backs, but she had not cared, as she had been happy right at that very moment. But that had all been before the day that Captain Barbossa decided to enter the bay of Port Royal with his crew of the damned.

Elizabeth sighed as she glanced in the mirror for a moment. She had not changed very much since that day. She wore a soft yellow dress, perfect for these kind of warmer days. A little parasol normally accompanied it, but she was not allowed to use it as she could not go outside. She had cursed her father for this, but softly and behind his back, because although she was not a child anymore, he would still let her mouth be washed out with soap.

Then there was Commodore Norrington who watched her like a hawk everytime she dared to venture out of her room even. There had been a time when she actually liked this man. Serious he was, but he had a kind of wisdom about him, although it was mostly about naval affairs, from which she shouldn't know anything of.

It had all started after the Black Pearl had left the shores of Port Royal and Jack Sparrow wasn't there to watch out for Will anymore. He probably wouldn't always deny it, but he looked at the young man like a father would a son and had protected him from worse faiths than death. In return, Will had done the same and had gotten Elizabeth as a reward, for she had since long loved the young man. It wasn't enough however.

He had stopped visiting her after two months. Just like that, without a word or a letter, he didn't come around anymore. At first she had cried until her eyes were left red and there were no handkerchiefs left in the entire house. Only afterwards she had started to realise that the Commodore and her father did anything to not let her go out of the house. There was something more behind Will not coming around anymore, but until now she hadn't been able to figure it out.

As someone rang the doorbell, she was quick to be downstairs, but the Commodore already stood waiting for the visitor, like he expected someone. In reason, he did not, but you never knew when Turner showed up again.

"Sir… the captain of the Indefatigable wished to tell you that he has arrived."

"Of the Indie? Or you sure, lad."

"Yes, sir."

"Good."

The Commodore gave the young boy some change for his effort and then closed the door, before walking away towards the office of the Governor. It was only in the last moment that he saw Elizabeth at the foot of the stairs.

"Who was that?"

"A message from one of the finest navy vessels, Elizabeth. The Indie has arrived in Port Royal, although I can't gather why."

"The Indie?"

She only sounded vaguely interested, but for once the Commodore seemed to be in a good mood about her questions and answered them without regard. The Indie was more likely to be a dream ship like the Pearl, according to the words of Norrington.

"Who is her captain? Have I seen him before?"

"Perhaps, although I doubt it. The normal base for the Indie is Plymouth and she mostly resides there. Captain Edward Pellew is one of the best war captains that our country has. Last time I heard he had the youngest Lieutenant in his crew as well."

"Sounds intresting."

"Nothing to break your little head about, Elizabeth."

It had been said with a smile, but it angered her nonetheless. With a few angry steps, she ran towards her room again. Edward Pellew and the entire crew could go to the bottom of the ocean for all she cared.

"Governor Swann, the Indie has reached our shores. Quite important visitors, I fear."

The Governor turned from his study and frowned, just like the Commodore had done as he heard the message.

"They are quite far off their course, so it seems. Perhaps we should hear what they have to say. Have they docked already?"

"For as far as I know, yes, Governor."

"Good, then we will see to their welcome, won't we? Would you ask Maria to prepare the food for us, Elizabeth and the officers of the Indie? Would we say for… six persons?"

"That would be good, I think ,sir."

"We shall take my carriage, on to the dock!"