Disclaimer: I still don't own anything. Isn't it redundant for me to say so?

Note: Thanks for all those who reviewed, and I'm sorry it took me so long. I was away from my computer for a week, but here's the update! Enjoy!

The Way the Wind Blows

By: MJ

Chapter Two

Fighting for Our Lives

"Elizabeth, maybe you should just lie in bed. I'm sure the rest of us could handle it," Jess said; as Elizabeth got dressed in the bedroom they shared. Elizabeth scoffed as she tucked her shirt into her skirt.

"Where's my apron?"

Jess sighed, removing the thin cloth from her own apron's pocket. "I picked it up in William's room when I grabbed mine." She handed it over to Elizabeth, who tied it around her thin waist. "So there's no way to convince you out of it?"

"Not a chance…" Elizabeth said, taking out her white hair ribbon, and putting her hair up in a tight bun. She turned and smiled at Jess. "So… Ready?"

Jess sighed, and stood up straight, fixing up her own uniform. "I guess."

"Then let's go…"

"Mother, I am fine, so could you please stop fretting over me?" Will asked, backing away from his mother's touch, as she tried to readjust his shirt for the millionth time. She held up her hands.

"Excuse me for caring."

"Oh, come on, mother!" Will whined, turning to watch her fold her arms over her chest and turn away from him. "That's not fair! You've been 'caring' all day, and I'm nineteen—I am absolutely able to get dressed by myself."

"Fine. Come on downstairs when you are ready, I believe dinner is ready to serve," the governess sniffed, walking out of his room. Will sighed, grabbing the scratch piece of cloth off of his dresser and pulling back his hair with it. He brushed the few stubborn curls behind his ears and admired himself in the mirror. Once pleased, he walked out of his room and down the stairs.

He could hear the haughty laughter and conversation from the bottom of the stairs. He rolled his eyes, looking around quickly for a way to stall from going in there as long as possible. Incessant giggling reached his ears, and he turned to the left, to see the kitchen, bustling and full of work.

"So, is he the apple peddler, or that oh-so-gorgeous baker?"

"Please, Jess. Let's pretend I have a bit more taste than that!"

He smiled as Elizabeth's voice reached his ears. He leaned against the stairway.

"Oh, c'mon, Liz! Why don't you just tell me who he is?"

"Because I don't want everyone to know! C'mon, let's just go serve some soup, and then we can go back to our room, and I'll tell you there. Okay?"

"Fine. But don't expect me to smile while I serve the soup. I just want to know!"
Will looked confused; what were they talking about? He sighed, and waited, but the conversation ended there. He placed his hands in his pockets, and walked towards the dining room. When he got there, he pulled them out, fixed his shirt, and clasped them behind his back in the manner his mother thought was very gentlemanly.

He walked inside, and everyone turned to look at him. He also turned to look at everyone else. His mother was at the head of the table, with Annette Norrington to her right, and James Norrington to her left. Next to them was Will's old tutor and a man and woman he recognized to be Mister and Mrs. Kingsley from the cotton plantation from the American colonies, who were a relative of his father's. Their sixteen-year-old daughter, Rose, filled the other seat. Will sat at the foot of the table, and smiled at everyone.

"Will! Your mother was just retelling the story about how you saved that poor servant girl!" Annette exaggerated the simple sentence, leaning halfway across the table to make eye contact with him. The governess smiled.

"Yes, William. I was telling them how brave you were, jumping into the waters over that girl. I wouldn't have bothered; I was sure that the fall had killed her."

"Well, Mother," Will said, forcing a smile at the harsh comment, "I guess Elizabeth's lucky that I have a heart."

Will's mother glared across the table in a way that he knew that he'd later get in trouble for that statement, but it was irrelevant. He could care less about anything she had to say, especially after that last comment. Annette pretended she hadn't heard.

"So, William. How is it to be nineteen?"

"Not much different from eighteen, I can assure you," Will said, placing his napkin on his lap, ignoring the look his mother was sending him. "Just a few more pressures."

"Oh? Like what?" Annette asked, seeming to be intrigued.

"Like… To get married, for example. To start taking over in the governor position… Things I've expected most of my life came crashing down suddenly," Will said, smiling as Elizabeth and Jess walked into the room, a piping hot bowl of soup in both hands.

"And here's the woman behind the bravery, Will!" Annette exclaimed as Elizabeth served her the soup. "Why were you in the fort again?"

"The soup is a vegetable medley with fresh chickens from the market," Elizabeth announced, before walking out of the room.

"Don't embarrass her," James said across the table to his sister before Will could even open his mouth to say something similar. For once we have something in common, Will mused. James ruined it, however, when he added, "Besides, we really shouldn't converse with…" he struggled to find a suitable word for Elizabeth's job, as he didn't want to appear rude, "…the help. We're not here to see her."

Will wanted to point out that James really wasn't here to see Will, and frankly just wanted to kiss his mother's—

"Will, dear. You haven't touched your soup."

He stared at everyone as they turned to look at him. He smiled faintly, his stomach twisting in unsettling knots.

"Lost my appetite. Still feeling rather… Out of it." He said, taking a sip of his water.

"Perhaps you should lie down, Will! It be absolutely dreadful if you became ill," Annette said, looking to the governess for approval. It looked as if she was trying hard not to roll her own eyes; she looked cross-eyed. She corrected herself, and smiled grimly at Will.

"Perhaps."

"If you insist," Will said, excusing him from the table. He smiled at the company, "Thank you for coming. I'm sorry, but I'm really not in the mood for entertaining right now. Good night."

He left the room abruptly, brushing swiftly past Jess, who was carrying the last of the soup. He began up the stairs, when he heard his mother hiss.

"What is wrong with you?"

She was talking in that slow, seething voice she often got when angry. He felt stupid when she talked to him like that. He turned.

"What is wrong with me? What is wrong with me?" He hissed back, walking down to meet her. "You've got all the people who are close to you in there. Isn't it my birthday?"

"Yes, William, but you should know by now that the people who are close to me, are the people that are going to be close to you when you become governor!"

"Mother, becoming governor is the farthest thing from my mind right now! I'm nineteen—you didn't have to rule this port until you were twice my age! Until Father died, you didn't do anything!"

"Don't you talk to me like that!" She hissed back, now even more livid as the subject of Will's father came up. He had died at sea shortly before William's seventh birthday. "Don't you bring up your father! You didn't know him like I knew him!"

"I didn't get to know him! He was too busy with his job. You were, and still are, too busy with this job! What if I just want to raise a family, get my hands dirty—make a living for myself! I don't want to live off of the money you and Father so lovingly set aside! I don't want to attend stupid parties, laugh at stupid jokes, and watch stupid pirates hang because it's my job to do so!" Will said, his voice dropping lower as he heard the conversation in the other room stop. "Give the damned job to James, if you need to find someone so quickly. He wants it. Why not give it to someone who wants it?" He said, watching the power of his words sink into his mother. She stared at him for a moment in a quiet trance. It was like the calm before the storm, and he couldn't take it. "Why don't we talk about this when there isn't a half dozen people in the other room eavesdropping? Can't I get a good night's rest, and we can discuss this in the morning?"

"Fine, William. We will discuss this in the morning. But you should know something. Yes, being governess is my job, but this job was the same thing that kept the both of us off the streets. This was the only way that you and I weren't tossed out of this house after your father died. Think about that one, William," she seethed. "Jess!" The governess called towards the young girl. Jess came up behind her, holding a large tray of fruit.

"Yes, Miss?"

"Please, turn down William's bed. Start the fire… You know the drill…"

"Yes, Miss. Right after I put this--"

The governess tsked. "No, no. Go and continue serving the supper. Elizabeth!" When the girl didn't come, she yelled again. "Elizabeth!"

"Elizabeth… Had gone upstairs, Miss."

"For--?"

"I don't know, Miss… Am I excused? This is awfully heavy," Jess said, shifting the large tray uncomfortably. The governess smiled.

"I suppose. Go on. William, try to find Elizabeth. I really do not want her anywhere near my room. My precious jewels…" She said, thinking about it. She touched the emerald necklace draped around her neck as if to assure her that it was still there. "After supper, I shall be in the library. Doing my job." She said, before she turned and followed Jess back inside. William sighed, standing there for a second.

"Did someone call my name?" Someone said softly from the top of the stairs. A faint sniff was heard shortly after the statement. William turned to face Elizabeth.

"My mother. Jess handled it."

"I'm going to get fired," Elizabeth whispered, walking down the stairs quickly. "I'm going--"

"—to help me. I'm going to bed. Jess is needed down here—would you—well…"

"It's my job, Mr. Turner," she turned around and walked up the stairs as quickly as she came down. She hiked up her skirt, so as to not trip over it.

"Right. Your job." Will repeated, standing there dumbly. At the top of the stairs, Elizabeth realized that no one was following her. She turned around.

"Aren't you going to bed? Or do you just want to make sure I have my exercise?"

"Right. Sorry," Will said, following her up the stairs.

She placed the heated iron full of coals under his mattress, and William immediately was flooded by their warmth. She straightened out the sheets, and drew the curtains so that they were covering any offensive lights from the streets of Port Royal below. She turned and smiled, before she walked to his bedside, and turned down the oil lamp.

"Good-night, Mister Turner."

"Good-night, Elizabeth."

"Will."

"Yes?"

"…Thank you. For… for standing up for me. You honestly shouldn't of, it wasn't your place but… well… I appreciate it. Good night."

Before he could say anything else, the door closed with a click, and she was gone.

The ship was massive in its size, the wood upon it stained black and obviously was worn in. The various cracks and holes looked almost antique-esque, as if they were that way on purpose. The sails were black and were so holy that one might wonder how it was moving along the water, and at such great speed, too! Oh, it was a wonder… Unless one were able enough to watch it… A rarity, it was, after all—the ship was said to leave no survivors…

The ship seemed to be… flying on the water. Not flying in a literal sense, but it certainly wasn't moving because of the wind. The bottom grazed the top of the ocean, causing the vast blue waters to ripple under it. One of the pirates on board would most likely be arrogant enough to say that the water rippled to get away. After all, everyone fears the Black Pearl.

The bow of the ship, decorated with a singing mermaid at it's bowspirit, was pointed towards a single destination; Port Royal. Faster and faster it glided along the water, moving at record-breaking pace. Perhaps Jack Sparrow was right; maybe the Black Pearl was the fastest ship on the ocean.

It turned as it neared the port, anchoring on the port side, the long cannons pointing towards the fort from the starboard side. A tall man with a large hat walked out from his cabin, a monkey on his shoulder. He grinned at his crew, looking overly-malicious with his rotted, yellowed teeth.

When he spoke, his voice rattled and shook. It was raspy, as if he had just woken up, but held enough power to make the largest man in the world squeal like a little girl. Even his beloved monkey jumped from his shoulder as he looked about the crew and shouted, "Fire away!"

The ground shook as the cannon balls hit the streets of Port Royal, as the military men hurried to the fort in a desperate attempt to save the small town. Up in the governess's household, a maid jumped up in her sleep. Her friend rolled over in the bunk next to her, replying, "Liz, it's only thunder."

By that time, the maid was at the window, peering out. She gasped and backed up.

"It's not thunder, Jess… It's pirates."

A particularly loud cannon shot caused the governess's son to shoot upwards in his bed. He kicked his feet over the side, and moved to the window. He opened the curtains, and saw the ship, far, far out into the ocean. His eyes widened, and he heard raucous laughter. He looked down to see half a dozen pirates making their way up the drive to the house.

His breath quickened, and he ran to the door. The bell sounded down the stairs, and Joseph—the butler—went for it. "No, don't!" Will cried, but it was too late. He had opened the door.

A rather fat pirate cocked his gun and pointed it at Joseph's head. "'Ello, chum."

The shot caused Joe to fall, the thud from his body causing Will to flinch. He wanted to vomit, but instead he just groaned rather loudly. The pirates, having been looting Joseph's overcoat, looked up. Will groaned again, and ran for his room. He shut the door behind him, and locked it. He turned around, and jumped as he ran into someone.

"It's me," Elizabeth whispered, grabbing onto his arms. The dim light from the dying fire lit up her face. He could see that she was nervous. "Will, you've got to get out of here!"

"Me! What about you! What are you doing here?"

"I… I thought this would be the safest place. I came up through the servant's stairway… No one saw me, Will! Use it and get out of here!"

"Why? Why would they be after me?"

"You're the governess's son… A nice fat randsom for your head, I'd imagine."

The door creaked as someone seemed to be throwing themselves against the other side. Will hurried to his armoir. He opened up a drawer and threw out some on his things. He turned and handed her a dagger, a large "W" engraved on the blade. "Take this. For protection. Go to the fort and find my mother. I'll be fine from here."

"Will, what do you plan on doing?" The creaking was becoming louder and louder. Will placed a sword in his belt loop, and stared at the door determinedly.

"I plan on fighting. I mean, I took lessons… why not put them up to practice?"

Elizabeth still looked worried, but couldn't say much more as the cracking from the doorframe became louder and louder. The door was about to give in. "Just… just be careful, Will!"

"I will. Hide behind the door."

She followed his orders, and hid behind where the door would open. Will hid in the washroom doorframe, the pot of hot coals in one hand, his sword in the other. Finally, the door gave in, and two pirates came in. The looked around, and saw Will's boot from the doorframe. The grinned at each other and went after him. After a quick, silent prayer, Elizabeth left the room.

The pirates turned in the door, completely unaware. Will hit the one square in the face with the pot, and swung at the other. The other pirate, a tall, skinny, rat-like man, grabbed the handle of the pot and smirked at Will. "Boo," he whispered. Will smirked back, and pulled the trigger, the red hot coals falling on the man. As he brushed the offending coals off of him, Will ran out of the room. He ran down the spiraling staircase, but heard their footsteps behind him.

One jumped from the top story to right in front of Will. The other came from behind, and both brandished their swords. Will drew his own sword, and that's when it ensued. The came at him from both sides, and Will ducked and rolled away, leaving them baffled as they began to battle themselves. He ran for the dining room, and looked around—a place to hide! That's all he needed. A place to be far, far away from them. A place where he could simply hide and attack them when they least expected it.

That's when he remembered the large closet on the southern side of the room. He opened the doors, and settled himself in amongst the miscellaneous coats and things that called the closet home.

He heard the swords stop clashing, and heard their thick-soled boats against the polished, perfect wooden floors. Mother's good taste has worked for at least one thing, Will thought. His pulse quickened as he heard the door creak open, and the pirates called to him.

"We know ye're here…maggot. Ye've got something that belongs to us… It calls to us…" He heard a pause and some motioning before he heard their voices become scarily closer. He held his breath. "The gold calls to us."

He wanted to close his eyes and pray for the best, but realized what was going to happen. So much for a hiding place, he mused, as he watched in horror as a single, yellowed eye stared at him through the crack between the two, large closet doors.

"'Ello, maggot."

The doors were opened, and Will lunged at them. The skinny man, however, was too quick for him, and he grabbed him around his middle. The other man helped to wrestle the boy down. The fat man sat on Will as the skinny man opened his side pouch and extracted some rope and a piece of cloth. "Sit still, maggot."

"Maggot," the skinny pirate giggled.

"Shut yer pie-hole an' tie 'im up! 'E's squirming like a damned squid under me!" The fat pirate yelled. Before Will knew it, he was bound and gagged, and being lead through the town.

His chocolate eyes were alert as he watched in horror as the pirates pillaged the towns and the like. Although he wanted to look away, he couldn't; he was making sure Elizabeth had returned to safety.

"Will!" He suddenly heard. He jerked his head around, and saw her. She was defending herself from a pirate, it looked like. He made a move to break free from his bondings and run for her, but the fat pirate kicked him to the ground. He kept his eyes on her, as she threw the dagger he gave her. It swung through the air with such grace and ease, that he wondered if she had done it before.

It hit the pirate that was chasing her square in the chest, and he smiled in his gag. But his eyes widened in horror as a pirate behind her—carrying a wagon-full of gold and jewels—hit her in the head with a large, golden goblet.

"No!" He yelled, but his gag muffled the blow the scream of horror would have caused. The pirates picked him up and grinned.

"Don' worry, maggot. I'm sure she's not dead," the skinny one said, in a very reassuring voice.

"Yet," the fat one muttered, pushing Will towards the looming Black Pearl.

"Ewizzabiff." He said in his gag, hanging his head sadly as he left his love lying in the middle of the cobblestone road, all the while blaming himself.

Once on the Black Pearl, Will was a wreck. The only things that kept him from openly weeping for Elizabeth were the two idiotic pirates to his right and left. Was she dead? Why… why did he let her roam so freely? She was right; it was safer in his house… Oh, Elizabeth! His mind screamed.

He couldn't feel much anymore, and didn't notice when they hoisted him up to the deck. He didn't remember being untied, and the gag being removed from his mouth… And he honestly didn't remember being spat upon by the other pirates…

But when a large pirate kicked him in his back, causing him to fall to his knees, he slowly came back to his senses.

"What's yer name, maggot?" He barked. Will didn't look up, he couldn't bring himself to. Elizabeth, he thought miserably. Poor Elizabeth… she's just lying there. Vulnerable. "I asked ye yer name!" He shouted, kicking Will again.

"Will." Will whispered, panting from the pain.

"What be yer full name, maggot!"

"William…" He slowly remembered what Elizabeth said—he was the governor's son! A hot ransom for him… Oh, god—Elizabeth—"William Swann."

"Cap'n!" The large pirate called. "Cap'n—ye won't believe yer ears!"

The man, whom had been standing at the helm watching the goings-on quite closely, rolled his eyes, and slowly made his way down to the main deck. He walked down the stairs quite slowly, as if dragging it out for dramatic effect. When he finally made his way to the group, Will had the strength (and courage) to stand. Unfortunately, the large pirate didn't think Will should be standing, and kicked him again. "It best be important, Bo'sun, I'm really not in the mood fer a practical joke."

"No, sir," the large pirate, Bo' sun, replied. "Tell 'im yer name, maggot."

Will, who's mind was still on Elizabeth, replied, "William Swann."

The captain took a step backwards, as if Will's words knocked the wind out of him. "What'd ye say?"

"I said my name was William Swann."

"Pick 'im up!"

"But, sir--"

"Ye heard me! Pick 'im up!"

"Yes, sir." He grabbed Will by the collar of his shirt and lifted him up. Will's feet weren't touching the floor when he was right-side up, as Bo' sun had picked him up so that Will and him were at eye-sight. Unfortunately, Bo' sun was a good foot taller. Will was choking when Bo' sun figured out his mistake and dropped him. Will clambered to his feet, and was coughing up a storm. Barbossa merely stared.

"Where is it?"

"Where… is what?" Will panted, trying to regain his breath.

"The medallion—boy, where is it!"

"Oh. That." He pulled the medallion out from under his shirt. He ripped it off of the chain and held it. "There."

"Where'd ye get it?"

"I didn't steal it, if that's what you're implying."

"Well, then, you wouldn't mind handing it over would you?"

"Why? It's not worth anything, is it?" Will asked, staring at what he considered to be a rather obnoxious piece of jewelry, obviously not worth much, as it was so old-looking. The gold was no longer shiny.

"Of course not!" Barbossa said, hoping that Will would merely hand it over if he thought it wasn't worth anything.

"Well, then, you won't mind if I toss it over the edge, would you? If it's not worth anything to anyone." He made an attempt to toss it, and watched the other pirates lunge for the medallion. He hadn't tossed it, though, as he still held onto the chain. He jerked on it, and pulled the medallion upwards. "Or, is it worth something?"

"What do you want?" The captain asked, taking a step forward.

"I want you to stop firing on Port Royal, get out of here, and never return."

"Agreed. Now hand over the medallion." Will exchanged the medallion. No sooner was it out of his hands, that Barbossa nodded to Bo' sun who hit Will over the head with the butt of his pistol. He fell to the floor, unconscious. "Take 'im to the brig," Barbossa ordered. "But tie 'im up and gag 'im. I'm not a fan of noise very early in the morning."

"Yes sir!" Bo' sun shouted, and other pirates closed in. The captain handed the gold to the monkey and grinned.

"Hoist the anchor, and let down the sails! Put this town to our rudder!"

Yes, I know; What about Jack? That's in the next chapter, as I was told by my beta--and my dearest cousin, Lizzie--to shorten up my chapters. So, Jack will be in most of the next chapter. Which will be up soon, I should imagine, as this story is mostly writing itself. Hope you liked it. 3MJ