A/n: Yay, another update. This isn't the greatest chapter, but its really more of a 'set-up' chapter, if you know what I mean. I hope you like it anyways. And once again, a massive thank you to all my reviewers! You guys are awesome! Enjoy.

CHAPTER 9

Will studied the map more as the ship glided along into the hidden dock next to the place labelled "The Fire Swamp". There was a star beside the name "The Lake", there was a tiny star and a then at the very bottom of the map in tiny print was what appeared to be a footnote. It read, "NOTE: Eel infested waters!" Will found this extremely odd. He re-read the tiny note, then leaned over the edge of the boat and studied the water. It didn't look eel infested...

A long dark form slid past the ship deep in the water, not even further rippling the surface as the ship continued on its way and the form disappeared from view. Will shivered at the site and sat back down, making a mental note never to swim in this particular body of water.

The ship finally made it to the small dock at the edge of the trees, and Will saw it was indeed an unknown dock as Jack had said. There were weeds and other plants growing over the dock, and the land just beyond he dock behind a small cover of trees gave the impression of once having a path, but had since grown over with plants and fallen leaves.

The crew flew to their chores, getting the ship ready to stop as it edged up to the dock. Once the anchor had been dumped into the water and all the necessary procedures were finished, the ship made a graceful stop not too far away from the overgrown dock. The water was surprisingly deep for a mere lake. Right away the crew pushed out a long plank of wood so one could walk down it like a bridge from the large ship to the small dock.

Will walked down the gang plank that was connecting the ship to the dock and inhaled deeply. The air was fresh and smelled like trees and earth. He looked around. The dock couldn't be more than a six or seven feet wide, and ten or twelve feet long. Past the dock were scattered trees, and beyond that was a wide clearing as if a road had once been there, running parallel to the dock. In the distance past the old road were dark sinister looking tress. Will glanced at the old map once again in his hand and guessed those dark trees must be the beginning of the Fire Swamp. He dreaded having to cross through such a place.

As he stared at the map, his eyes lit on another landmark: The Castle. He sighed, thinking of Elisabeth and how she must be feeling at that very moment. Probably trapped and depressed at having been forced to be in the clutches of the pig-King of this foreign land.

'I'll find you soon.' he thought as he sadly re-pocketed the precious map. 'Hold on.'

Jack suddenly interrupted Will's thoughts and observations, shouting, "Will! Look sharp!"

Will broke out of his thoughts and unsheathed his sword in a flash. A tall man dressed in black appeared from behind a tree. The top half of his face was obscured by a black shiny mask. He had blonde hair and he half-smiled. "Turner, I presume?"

Will lifted his chin. How did this man know who he was? "Who are you?"

The man smiled fully. "Good. Nice and cautious." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small burlap square. Sewn clearly onto it was an embroidered white lily. He held it out for Will to see, and took a few small steps forward.

Will held up his sword defensively, just in case, until he could see what was on the little burlap square. He let out a small breath of relief when he was able to discern the symbol on the brown square. He lowered his sword and dug into his own pocket.

He smiled and held out his own burlap square with a lily on it. "Westley, I presume?"

The man in black, Westley, bowed slightly. "Indeed."

"Is this the chap the Fullerbutton fellow was talkin' 'bout?" Jack called from the ship.

Will turned around. "So it appears."

Jack sniffed the air. "I don't like him."

Will ignored Jack's comment and instead he turned back to Westley. "What's your wife's name?"

"Buttercup." Westley answered readily. "And her uncle is Sir Thomas Fullerbutton, who is living in Port Royal. Anything else you'd like to know?"

"I'm sure you are who you say you are, sir." Will smiled reassuringly.

Westley nodded, his eyes twinkling. "And I am quite sure you are who you say you are."

Will already liked this Westley fellow. He just had a feeling about the man, and it was not a bad feeling in the slightest. His eyes were kind, and as a lovely blonde woman emerged from a dark patch of trees several feet behind Westley, Will knew that must be Buttercup. Just before he left, he'd gotten to see a picture of her from Mr. Fullerbutton. Although her hair was pulled up in a tight bun, and she too was wearing a black mask over the top portion of her face, there was no mistaking the rest of her features.

Will bowed. "Pleased to meet you both."

Jack cleared his throat loudly from the ship, and Will tried not to grin too widely as he turned slightly to introduce Jack. "This is my good friend Jack Sparrow. This is his ship."

Buttercup and Westley both smiled. "Hello Jack." Buttercup said, and Westley nodded in greeting.

Jack still seemed to have some reservations about the pair, but he kept them to himself. He removed his hat and grandly waved them aboard the Black Pearl. "Welcome to my ship. Take care not to dirty it up." He winked at Buttercup as she climbed gracefully aboard wearing shining black boats, a loose white shirt and slim-fitting black pants. Westley and Will followed her, and shortly Westley and Buttercup met the entire crew. After all introductions had been made, the crew, including Will, set to work with their usual chores.

About an hour or so later, when the ship and its crew were fully settled at the Unknown Dock, it was decided that Jack and the crew would stay overnight, gather supplies and head off again in the morning, as it seemed Anna Maria and Jack had some unfinished business to attend to. They would return in five days to pick up Will and Elisabeth.

Will only hoped he would have Elisabeth by that time, and they would both be safe and unharmed.

Elisabeth sighed again and switched hands as her left was beginning to fall asleep with pins and needles. She lifted her head to do so, the let it rest back down on her right hand. Her hair was pulled back loosely and her eyes stung from hours of crying.

Shortly after she'd arrived in the castle, she'd been taken up to one of the towers and locked in. Three guards stood outside her doorway at all times, and a maid come up every few hours to give her a meal. The room contained one large bed, a small desk and two or so chairs. There was a large faded red rug on the ground, though it was so thin it might as well not have been on the floor at all for she noticed.

She'd watched the sun go down, the stars come up, the sun come up and the stars disappear. She couldn't guess what time of the day it was, simply that she was miserable and she didn't really care what time of day it was.

She spent most of her time thinking of Will. Where was he... how is he... is he alright... what is he doing right now... does he miss her...is he coming for her... how long will it take...

And if it was not endless unanswerable questions with numerous thoughts and mind-contrived images to go with, it was memories of him and her together. When he'd dropped off the Commodore's sword and she'd told him about a dream... when she'd been kidnapped by pirates and seen him so far away as she was whisked away... when he'd found her in the cave and taken her to safety... when he'd taken her place to be killed among the pirates because... when they fought pirates together... when they'd first kissed...

Then of course, if her thoughts weren't centered on Will in any way, they were on her situation and how could she possibly get out of it. Could she get out the tower window without killing herself... could she somehow lock the guards outside her door in her room and escape that way... could she fake illness or death to get let out the room... would she ever get out... would she die here... what will happen...

Every question only brought her tired paranoid mind to make up more dramatic scenarios causing her to feel worse and worse. Often cried, especially when she thought of how she couldn't find a solution to her problem.

She had no tears left however, so when she cried it was really more dry racking sobs. And when sometimes she had tears, they rolled down her face and she didn't bother to wipe them away. Her hope was draining so much each passing hour, she scarcely hoped for any kind of rescue. By the next day, she would probably be positive she would have to die in Saradon's wretched castle.

She hadn't slept since she'd arrived and had hardly eaten. The maid kept telling her that if she didn't eat, she'd lose her beauty. Elisabeth would have snickered at such a remark as she somehow found it amusing, but she felt she had lost the ability to smile. If she turned out to be an ugly Queen for Saradon, so be it. Maybe then he would set her free...

And her mind went reeling once again.

A/n: A little shorter then it ought to be, I suppose, but again, it is a 'set-up' chapter. So tell me what you thought. I love getting reviews - they make me very happy - and long reviews are even better. Reviews make me happy and happy authors update faster (hint hint). Lol. Talk to everyone later, and be sure to check my bio every once in a while so you know what's been updated, alright:)