A/n: I know, it took FOREVER to update. But alot of it was in part to the fact that I recently moved and had no internet for like a month and a bit. Then the rest of the problem was that I had really bad writer's block with this story. I finally got an idea, though, and I know this chapter is kind of short, but ya. I hope y'all like it anyways. Review me!

Chapter 10

Elisabeth sat up straight. What was her problem? Of course she was under the thumb of a frightening and greedy king, but that was beside the point. Here she was sobbing, crying, feeling exceedingly sorry for herself, dredging up sad memories, thinking of anything bleak and dismal that flitted through her head, allowing her morale to slump awfully low.

In all this time, had she really given no thought to when the pirates had raided Port Royal and taken her along? She'd thought of anything that involved Will, to be sure. But how could she not have thought about how scared she was – how utterly terrified – and yet she stayed as tough as she could. Seeing the rotting skeletons of the pirates had thrown her for a loop, of course, and believing she was about to be murdered was easily one the scariest moments of her life.

And yet she had not given hope. What was different now? She was being forced to marry a sickening man. But she was not a living sacrifice to lift an ancient curse. It could be worse, and once a long time ago, it had been.

Elisabeth physically shook herself. How did she let it get this way? Would Will think of her the same if he saw her now? She still felt deeply, coldly depressed, and yet there was something else that she felt at this new string of thoughts. Warmth? Hope? Was it hope?

Elisabeth glanced at the door, ever-present tears swimming in her eyes. She suddenly felt angry and forcefully wiped the tears away. She could figure out this out. She was no soft princess content to stare out the window dismally for all eternity. I survived blood-thirsty pirates! She reminded herself, full of anger at the way she had been acting and her situation combined.

It was a strange feeling, her soul heavy with sadness, sparking with a newfound hope and blazing with anger. No more sitting. No more endless rounds of questions without answers.

"No more tears." She aloud, though quietly.

She closed her eyes and took a deep, steadying breath. Will would come as soon as he could. She knew it and never doubted it – anymore, that is. She would eat, she would sleep… And she would get out of here.

"Will."

A hand gently shook Will.

"Will." The voice said again and the hand shook Will a little harder.

Will opened his eyes and blearily glanced around him as the shaking on his shoulder finally ceased. "What?" he said, trying to rub the sleep from his eyes. It was pitch black inside his quarters and although he could that his door was open, he could see it was still night outside.

"It'll be dawn in a few hours. We should get a move on now." It was Westley.

Will stifled a groan and a wide yawn and the said, "Why are we leaving in the middle of the night again?"

"Because then we can travel the main roads unnoticed – unless of course you'd rather wait until morning, and go through the Fire Swamp." Will could tell by the tone of Westley's voice that the latter was smiling at the last part.

Will smiled also, remembering earlier stories from Westley and Buttercup about the three terrors of the Fire Swamp: Fire Bursts, Lightning Sand, and the R.O.U.S.'s (Rodents Of Unusual Size). Three things which Will quite did not wish to encounter, so although he felt quite sleep deprived, he rolled out of bed anyways after Westley exited his sleeping quarters.

He got dressed right away, took only a moment to inform Jack that he, Westley and Buttercup were off, and then stole into the shadows on the edge of the bank. The air was cool, there was almost no breeze and their footsteps were quite quiet on the grassy ground. None of them said anything, as they had nothing to say.

Will thought about Elisabeth and wondered how she was feeling at that moment, if she was alright and praying that she had not been forced into the marriage just yet.

Buttercup held Westley's hand and was quite content to merely be with her love walking through a pretty tree lined grove in the moonlight. She pushed from her mind the circumstances behind this midnight walk.

Westley's thoughts flitted between various things. Things like how much he appreciated Buttercup and her company tonight, he wondered how Will's love was fairing in her situation, he thought about different routes they should take and which way they should go when dawn began to break and numerous other things. Mostly, though, he thought about a certain letter he had sent some time ago now, and desperately hoped it had arrived.

A tall man with dark hair and dark eyes stood at the very front of his great ship, watching the waves roll across him, highlighted by moonbeams. He never expected to love sailing this much. He smiled a little to himself and glanced up towards the stars, twinkling brilliantly above.

"Sir?"

The man turned around. "Yes?"

"Captain," A younger man with short blonde hair and plain sailor clothes stood a little ways from the man. "McKinley just came back from shore, sir, and he brought a bag of letters with him."

"Good. Tell him to hand them out right away." The captain smiled widely. "I'm sure the men are eager top hear from their loved ones."

"Aye, sir." The younger man said, also smiling widely. "And there was one for you on top." He produced a small yellowed envelope and held onto a lantern so the older man could read the letter.

"For me?" the captain asked confusedly, gingerly taking the letter. He had no loved ones who would write to him and especially no one who would know who he really was…

He carefully tore open the envelope and slid the letter out. The younger man, Douglas, held up the lantern for the captain to read by. The letter read,

Dear Dread Pirate Roberts,

This is The Man In Black. I am sure you know exactly who I am, but just in case this letter is somehow intercepted before it can reach your eyes and your eyes only, I am resorting t speaking in code.

I write to you under grave circumstances. A man by the same name of the cook who made the excellent tortillas is coming from Port Royal because his dearest love was abducted by a pig-headed prince who became king. When he reaches my home land, I will meet up with him and we will be on our way to retrieve his dearest love, with the lady we rescued together by my side (again, I am sure you know of whom I speak).

The reason for this letter is that I plead for your help. I know that as it is now, I really owe you one (for the whole Miracle Pill incident), but I would ask that score be upped so I owe you two. If you're not already, make your way to my home land, and I will meet you at the spot where your vertically challenged friend was "out thought" by yours truly.

I hope you are well, and please say hello to our very large friend. I miss raiding castles with you two gentlemen.

Please send a reply by your fastest courier as soon as you receive this, else I will see you at the designated meeting place.

Sincerely,

The Man In Black

The captain cracked another smile. He looked up at Douglas. "Douglas?"

"Yes sir?"

"It is too late to send a reply, but will you please round up the men immediately."

"Of course sir, right away."

"Set sail for Florin. I have an important meeting to attend."

A/n: Well? Well? Well? Tell me what you thought, I'm dying to know. And I'm pretty sure everyone who has seen the Princess Bride a couple of times should be able to totally decode The Man In Black's letter, but let me know if you're stumped or if you just can't figure out who the captain is. :D More soon!