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Chapter Thirteen: More Meetings

The Black Pearl. Commodore James Norrington couldn't believe his luck as he stared at the ship docked so casually by the fort.

"Search every cabin," he ordered Gilette, who was standing beside him. "Search every hold. If there's anybody aboard, clap them in irons. And-" He paused, remembering Jack Sparrow with Carmen. He suspected Jack had taken her. She had been missing. "And look for her Highness."

"Yes, Sir!" Gilette replied, and he and his marines ran aboard.

James walked aboard alone, running a hand along the railing lightly. This was the famed Black Pearl. The ship that had almost cost him his job. And he had it.

He reached a cabin door and pushed it open gently. A strong scent of rum, salt, and spices hit him hard. He gasped at the sight of a man sitting on the bed. A man he recognised.

"Mr Gibbs?" he demanded. It couldn't be. It couldn't be the marine who had sailed with him all those years ago.

"Aye, Captain Norrington- though I hear it is Commodore nowadays," the man replied. The beard and sideburns were grey instead of dark, but it was definately the same man.

"A pirate now?" James asked, unable to hide his disgust.

"Aye, tis better paid." Gibbs nodded sagely. Then he turned serious. "I sup'ose ye and yer men think yer damn clever, gettin' hold o' Jack Sparrow's ship so easily, eh, Commodore? But I'm afraid Cap'n Sparrow ain't here- and neither is yer lovely friend, Miss Carmen."

James swallowed at the mention of Carmen. "That's Princess Carmen to you. Where is she?"

"She's with Jack, o' course," Gibbs said, clearly enjoying the jealousy that surged through James at that statement. "And Mr Turner, and his lovely wife-ter-be. And her stepbrother and Miss Ana-Maria. Oh, and Aron Chiltingham."

"Aron Chiltingham?" James asked slowly.

"Aye. Captain o' the Martyr- yer've heard the stories?"

"He's a myth," James said bluntly. "A story invented to spook young sailors, foolish sailors."

"Believe what yer like, Norrington. Either way, Carmen's still with 'im. Pity her soul."

James had his sword in his hand and he pointed at Gibbs. He surveyed him with cool grey eyes. "What is it that Jack Sparrow is after? Why has he sent you here, full of folly and fairy tales?"

Gibbs didn't flinch. "He wants yer ter help save Miss Carmen. That's all."

James was torn. To believe his sworn enemy, Jack Sparrow, and to assist pirates, or to leave Carmen to an unknown fate? He swallowed. He had to admit, he was in love with Carmen. Even when he had cared for Elizabeth, it had never been like this. He had no choice. "Fine. What does Sparrow require?" He spat the words out bitterly.

Gibbs smiled without humour.

xXx

"Somebody's coming," Ana said, her hands on the bars of their cell in the brig. Will watched her dark head with empty eyes. Jack had let them down. Not that he'd had much chance, but now there was no Sparrow to give them a little hope.

"It'll be alright," he said automatically to his wife-to-be, who was sitting in his arms, silently. She looked up at him and gave him a grim smile, her pretty face grubby.

"Ana," Edward said, taking her back into his own arms, his face hidden underneath his veil of hair.

Footsteps came down briskly, and the four of them stared coldly at Tobias Hawke. He smirked and stared at Elizabeth hungrily before turning his eyes to Will.

"You," he said. "You're wanted."

Will felt Elizabeth's arms tighten around him. "What for?" he demanded.

"Don't ask questions, Turner." Tobias produced a length of rope and unlocked the cell door. Nobody dared try anything. They saw the pistol in his hand.

Will rose. He wasn't going to risk having Tobias shoot any of the others. Elizabeth looked up at him with pleading eyes but he shook his head.

"Always brave, aren't yer, Turner?" Tobias smirked. "The honourable pirate."

Will ignored him, and looked at Elizabeth. She was so beautiful, so brave. "I love you," he told her. Her soft eyes were filling with tears. She nodded at him. Will looked at Ana and Edward, who both looked grim. He nodded, unsure of what to say, then headed out of the cell, facing Tobias. He grinned coldly back at Will before locking the cell door again and binding his hands.

"Come on then, Turner," he snarled.

Will looked back at Elizabeth as Tobias shoved him towards the steps. She was against the bars, tears rolling down her face. She obviously thought he was going to die. He wondered if he was. Then he was stumbling up the stairs, out into the light. Sunset had come, and the golden ball of light was meeting the horizon with a pink glow.

Chiltingham stepped forward. "Mr Turner! Beautiful evening, don't you agree?" he asked.

"Aye," Will said shortly. Tobias still had his hand on his back.

"I have someone to show to you. Someone you must miss terribly." Chiltingham's green eyes were glittering. He was smiling calmly. "I present to you 'Bootstrap' Bill Turner!" And he turned to the water, raising his hands dramatically, his face set. Will knew there were tears in his eyes as the water became disturbed.

Then a figure rose out of the water. He was pale, with long tangled brown hair. He wore a long black coat over his clothes and a small hat. About him, there was an air of despair. And Will knew who he was, because in this man's face, eyes identical to his own stared back at him.

"William!" the man choked out, water coming out of his mouth. He was floating over the water.

Tears fell freely down Will's cheeks as he stared. "Father," he whispered. This was his father. His poor father, who he had long thought dead, was really a slave to Chiltingham's will. He turned to the Captain, his eyes flashing. "Free him!" he demanded.

"Nay, boy!" Chiltingham roared, waving his hand. Bill flew violently forward and landed with a crash on the deck. "This man's soul is mine! He will never be free until I am dead." He smiled. "And I can't die."

"Bastard!" Will cried bitterly, stepping forward. He felt Tobias grab him.

"I've heard that all before," Chiltingham said coldly. "Now, Bill here is controlled by me. He can speak and think freely, but his physical actions are controlled by me. He's going to escort you back downstairs. And if you try anything- he's going to kill you. Ironic?" And he laughed.

Will bit back the insults building in his throat and watched as his father stood up and came over to him. His face held an expression of hearbreak, but his grip was strong as he grabbed Will and tugged him back towards the steps. "Father," Will whispered.

"I never wanted this life for you," Bill said in a strange voice. "I'm so sorry."

Will didn't know what to say. His father... More tears fell. He had longed for this so much, but now it was so wrong, so flawed. They reached the cell, and Elizabeth, still against the bars, smiled. Then her eyes fell on Bill, who unlocked the cell door, pushed himself and Will inside, then locked it again.

"What the-?" Edward asked, looking up at their new cellmate with suspicious green eyes.

"This is my father," Will said, in a choked voice, as Elizabeth fell into his arms. He looked back at Bill. "I promise I'm going to free you."