/I don't own anything you recognize in this story. /

Chapter Three

The air had become brisk and cold as I emerged on deck. It was an unpleasant contrast from the warmth down below. Seeing the crew at the other end of the deck, I hurried over, rubbing my hands together to gain the warmth back. Finding Will in the middle of the group, I made my way over to him and stopped beside him.

Will glanced over at me and his eyes narrowed in disgust, but didn't protest. He merely took my hands and they instantly felt warmer. Whether it was just because it was Will holding them or him pressing them together to keep them warm, I didn't know, but I felt a comfort standing there.

"I thought I said the girl wasn't to come up on deck," a gruff voice said behind us.

The crew turned and I saw that it was Barbossa and his face showed opened anger that I had dared to come up here. As I looked at him, I also felt a bit of anger. How could he be the one judge and tell me when and where I can go? I was just as valuable to the crew as anybody else. Before I could stop myself, I pushed my way through the crew to stand before the captain.

"And why can't I be up here like anybody else here?" I shouted at him, unable to contain my pent up anger anymore. "I have every right to be here as they do."

"Oh, Elizabeth," I heard Will breathe behind me. But I didn't care what Will said now. I had a right, as well.

Barbossa stared at me for several moments, aghast. Apparently this wasn't what he expected to here from me, but why shouldn't he? He has met me before and knew my stubbornness. Then suddenly, a soft rumble emitted from Barbossa and soon it became a loud roar of laughter.

"You have a right to be here, do you?" Barbossa said, finally gaining control of himself. "Please let me remind you, Elizabeth, that you are a woman and a woman only has as much right as her husband or father tells her to be. You are lucky to be here at all, Miss Turner, and you better be lucky and count your blessings or you'll be at the bottom of Davy Jones' locker. Some say it's bad luck for a woman to be aboard a ship."

I was about to retort with a good response myself, but I bit my tongue against temptation. He was right, in a way, if it was anyone else, I would have been sent back to Tia Dalma's hut in the least or find a port where the navy could keep me safe until they came back. And I didn't want any of that.

Barbossa watched me silently for several moments to see if I was going to say anything else, then chuckled softly. I gritted my teeth, fighting back the words I so dearly wanted to say, just to make him mad. I hated pirates sometimes.

"Soon as we got that settled up, why don't you go back downstairs and have a bite to eat? Or how about something to read, they had a whole cartload on this ship," Barbossa said with a smile.

I glared defiantly at him. Why does he think he has so much power just because Tia Dalma and the crew elected him captain, however inadvertently by the crew's part.

"I don't read when other's lives are at stake, Barbossa," I stated. "And I'm not Miss Turner."

"And why's that?" Barbossa drawled. "You were so eager to use the name last time we met."

I huffed. "Because I thought you wanted me because I'm the governor's daughter."

Barbossa's eyes widened in surprise. "The governor's daughter? Why, that makes the dealings so much more fun."

"She's not the governor's daughter," Will exclaimed, pushing past Cotton.

I stared at Will in surprise. I wasn't the governor's daughter? Then what was I, if I wasn't one? Will came over and stood beside me.

"Her father had been taken out of position of governor of Port Royal, not too long ago, as a matter of fact," Will said defiantly.

I looked at Will in shock. How could he know all of this? I hadn't seen my father in a couple of months now. Will hadn't either and I was curious to know how he had found out. But now wasn't the time to ask.

"And how did you find this one out?" Barbossa asked.

"It doesn't matter how I found out, I just know," Will exclaimed.

Barbossa scratched his beard. "But she was one once, aye? That still makes her valuable." He chuckled and a few of the crew nervous laughed with him. No one knew how to approach him anymore. Not that they knew how to approach him before.

"You will do nothing to harm Elizabeth, or I'll see to it that you're out of the position of captain," Will retorted.

Barbossa laughed and gave a mock bow. "Forgive my forthrightness, Mr. Turner. I was out of line."

Will studied him with mistrust. "Then I hope you will realize it and get yourself back in line."

"Of course, Turner," Barbossa scoffed. "Now, will you allow me to get on with my work? I'm afraid we're losing valuable time if you want Jack Sparrow back among your able-bodied crew."

Will turned towards me and put a hand on my shoulder. I instantly began to protest, but he put a hand on my lips. The protest fell from my mouth, but I still held my doubts in my eyes. I wanted Will to know that I distrusted Barbossa even less now.

"We might as well do as he says, Elizabeth," he said in a low voice. "At least for now."

"But I'm just as capable as anyone else in this crew," I exclaimed. I wasn't going down without a fight.

Will sighed and nodded. "Don't know it? But sometimes we must make a sacrifice to get ahead. Barbossa is one of the worst pirates out there, but so far that's all we have. And we must do as he says. We must follow his orders to get Jack back. Who knows what Davy Jones will do."

I stared stubbornly in his eyes. "I will not be put off as some mindless woman who know nothing about the world around me. Everyone treats me as if I'm ignorant. You, of all people should know that I'm not."

"Elizabeth, please—" Will begged, but I looked away from him.

"If that's what you want, William Turner, then that's what you will get. Don't expect me to be so understanding next time," I said angrily.

With the whole crew watching, I turn on my heel and rush back down below. I couldn't bear it any longer. If Will wanted me to be mindless, then I was going to get off the ship at the next chance I could get.

Reaching my room I went inside and slammed the door behind me. Crossing the room, I pulled my kerchief off my head, allowing my hair to spill around me. This was all too much for me. All I wanted was everything to be back the way it was, that I was at home in bed and it was all a bad dream.

A sob rose up from my chest and soon I had my face buried in my pillow crying my heart out. Several hours later, I lay on my bed exhausted. So much for a happily ever after, I thought bitterly and I turned over on my side and fell into an uneasy sleep.

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Author's Note: Chapter Three for everybody, I hope everybody likes it so far. Thanks to the reviewers who reviewed last chapter. It has been brought to my attention that Will/Orlando's eyes are brown instead of blue and after some research that they are in fact brown, a stay piece of information that slipped my mind because I don't really pay attention to eye color when I'm watching a movie. However, despite the mistake, it's a minor thing and it won't harm the story or make the world come to an end anytime soon. If it's so annoying that it ruins the movies and/or story for you, I beg forgiveness, but I'm afraid it's not going to be changed and not in a long time if ever as I have a busy life. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Other than that, I hope you enjoy the story and I'll update when I can. Don't forget to review, I'll much appreciate it!