Author's Note: Thanks everyone for continued support of this fic. I've started planning the sequel out, because it always takes me ages. I want to write the next one, then a different version of DMC using my characters. (So Vertigo and this one are set after CoTBP.) Anyway, review!

Chapter Eighteen: Morta

The night was cold and wind shook the window of James Norrington's cabin. A storm lashed outside, and the sea was rough. Lying in his bed, Carmen was curled into a tight, cold little ball. She knew that she should be happy; she was engaged to a fine and decent man. But there were tears rolling down her porcelain cheeks. Tears for Jack. His hesitation had told her that he was certainly not in love with her, but she was starting to believe she was in love with him.

She definately did not love James. She respected him, liked him, even enjoyed his company, but she felt something entirely different for Jack. It had to be love.

Her fingers gripped the Heartstone tightly as she closed her eyes and tried for a moment to pretend she was back in Jack's bed, so long ago, when her feelings for the pirate had first began. His bed had been rich with the scents of rum and salt, and something spicy. The quilt had been thick and soft. It was so hard to imagine it in Norrington's bed, which smelled only of the soap used to wash the stiff, hard sheets.

Jack had saved her when she was a child. She owed him everything, and now it seemed she had given him the thing any person treasures the most; their heart. It pained her to think that he was not willing to give his own heart back to her. Even if he did love her, he would never have her, because she was a princess and he was a pirate.

James, on the other hand, wanted her. He had told her he loved her when he had proposed, and his eyes had been bright with honesty. She had melted at the sight of that.

Over a clash of thunder, she heard shouting on deck. Perhaps they had reached Morta. Standing up, she reached for the clean white robe James had left her to pull over her nightdress, and headed for the door, long hair streaming behind her. She tugged it open and shivered as she swallowed a mouthful of cold raindrops.

People were running about on deck, apparently getting ready to leave and fight. On the Black Pearl, still beside them, she could see the pirates acting in a similar way. She heard someone shout to lower the anchor, and she went to the railing, leaning over to see an island ahead of them. It was not much more than a shapeless grey rock, sprouting out of the water in a sinister way. Docked beside it was the Martyr.

She gripped the railing, looking at the Black Pearl hopefully. But she couldn't see Jack. Her heart sank a little. Suddenly, a hand grasped her shoulder, and she turned to see James. A blush stained her cheeks, and she felt sure he would be able to see her thoughts of Jack in her eyes.

"Carmen!" he exclaimed, sounding surprised. He was soaked through, clutching a rifle. His grey eyes narrowed. "What are you doing out here?"

"I came to see what the shouting was about." She looked back to the Martyr and shuddered. "Is that Morta?"

"Yes, it is," he replied, cupping her face in his hand and kissing her forehead. "Don't worry."

"I'd best go get ready," she said.

"Ready?" James asked, before his face darkened. "Carmen, you are not fighting. For your own good, please return to my cabin." His tone was firm.

"Very well," she replied quietly, and she gave into his kiss, all the while planning how she was going to fight. James never had to find out she had gone against his order, and she had to help save her friends. As James kissed her, she couldn't help but remember that Jack had let her fight and be free. She missed that. She missed Jack.

xXx

Edward tossed his head back angrily, getting his long black hair out of his face as an ugly, deformed pirate bound his hands tightly before him. The rope was tight and rough, but he said nothing. He narrowed his green eyes in distaste at the pirate's yellow teeth and looked around the brig. Will was having his hands bound by Bill, who looked as though he was about to cry. Elizabeth and Ana already had their hands bound, and Pussy and Tobias were standing by them, grinning coldly.

Edward wondered what was going to happen. The ship had anchored. He was sure that couldn't be good. All he knew was that he would protect Ana if it cost him his life. Not that she needed much protecting. He exchanged a warm glance with her.

There were heavy footsteps on the stairs, and Aron Chiltingham appeared, smiling. "Ready to leave, are we?" he asked, his eyes twinkling.

Edward grunted in surprise as the ugly pirate shoved him towards the stairs. He felt himself stumble up them, pressed between the pirate and Elizabeth, who was apparently being dragged up the stairs by Pussy. This close, he could smell Elizabeth's perfume.

They came out into the night, and all around them a storm raged. Edward's hair whipped around his face, and he almost fell over as he was pushed towards one of two small rowing boats. He was pushed into it, into the seat beside Elizabeth. Opposite them, Ana and Will were sitting. Bill was sitting behind them, looking completely depressed. Edward watched Chiltingham, Pussy, Tobias, and a few other pirates climb into the other boat. Then they were being lowered to the water.

"What's going to happen?" Elizabeth asked fearfully.

"I don't know," Edward admitted, as they hit the water. The ships seemed to move alone, without anyone rowing. They were heading towards an ugly grey island.

"Father," Will said, then hesitated, as though saying the word had felt strange. "Wh-what's going to happen?"

Bill did not answer. There was doom and hopelessness in his eyes. It did not help Edward feel any better. He looked to the black water, rushing dangerously around. Was this going to be his end? He thought back to when he had been kidnapped by Will Turner and forced onto the Black Pearl. He had made the decision to stay. Edward knew he was a pirate a heart.

They were sailing into a tunnel. It was dark, and the only light was coming from a lantern in Pussy's hand. Edward looked to Elizabeth. Her face was chalk-white, her lips thin. Will was looking to his father, his expression one of anger. Ana looked as she often did; impassive.

As the flickering light of Pussy's lantern moved over the banks of the water, Edward could see sparkling treasure mixed with the decaying bodies of dead men. He swallowed and looked away. They soon came to a stop at a opening to a large cave, from which a golden glow was coming. Wondering what horror was awaiting inside, Edward said nothing as he was tugged from the boat by a pirate, shoved forward into it.

It was large and the air felt old. It was stiff and cold, despite the many flaming torches on the walls. At the opposite end to the door, there was an raised platform, upon which there was a large stone table. A book in a golden cover lay on the floor beside it.

"Your souls shall become mine in this very cave!" Chiltingham laughed. Edward felt Ana move closer to him suddenly. "How do you feel about that?"

"Father!" Will choked out, looking to Bill, who was standing behind them. There were tears rolling freely down Bill's cheeks, but he merely shook his head.

Chiltingham stood on the platform and lifted the book in his gloved hands, opening it. He pulled out his sword and pointed it at Ana. "You first, my darling."

Ana didn't move. "No," she hissed acidly. Pussy laughed and pulled out her pistol, pointing it at Ana's head. Still, Edward's love did not flinch. "I would rather die than be owned."

Edward heard more pirates arriving behind them. It sounded as though the whole of the Martyr had arrived to watch. There was surely no hope. Apparently bored of waiting for Ana to make a move, both Pussy and Tobias had grabbed her and were dragging her.

"Ana!" Edward cried.

xXx

Carmen found, to her delight, that in Jack's cabin, there were all manner of weapons and clothes. She had snuck in right after James had left her and, trying not to lose herself in memories and misery just at being back in here, starting searching around. It didn't take long to find what she wanted. Quickly she changed into a loose white shirt and some black breeches, praying that nobody would walk in. She found two odd boots that were too large for her feet, but she stuffed them with some silk handkerchiefs she found in his top drawer. She found a slightly bent sword and an ancient-looking pistol on top of a pile of clothes in the corner, and a belt to attach them to curled around three empty rum bottles. She had hidden her night-things in the pile of clothes, figuring they probably wouldn't be noticed.

She needed a hat. Her face had to be hidden. She pulled open a cupboard, then froze as she heard footsteps approaching the cabin. Without thinking, she rolled under Jack's bed, lying stock still. She held her breath as the door opened, and she watched Jack's boots move about. Tears stung her eyes. This had happened before, the very first time they had met.

As he walked around, she realised her hand was on top of something. Slowly, she turned her head to see a hat. She smiled grimly, then jumped as she heard the door close. Jack was gone. Exhaling slowly, she climbed out from beneath the bed, hiding her hair beneath the hat, lowering it so that her face was hidden. She took a deep breath, then went out of the door herself, seeing Jack heading down to one of the longboats. She hurried down after him, praying he wouldn't recognise her. Despite letting her fight before, she had a feeling that this time he might attempt to stop her.

"Hurry up!" Jack called back to her, and she hurried forward. He obviously didn't know it was her, and she climbed into the opposite end of the boat to him, finding herself next to Mr Gibbs.

She checked her hat was still in place as the boat hit the water, and watched Jack closely as they rowed their way over to the island. Four or five more small boats moved along with them, all full of pirates. The Navy boats were behind. Jack's face was shadowed beneath his hat, his eyes as black as the kohl around them. He looked deeply troubled and she felt her heart ache.

She was soaked through, from the pouring rain of the relentless storm. What a horrible night. She shuddered.

They were sailing through a narrow cave, into an internal cavern. The place was dark and cold. It made the hair on Carmen's neck prickle. From a wide opening in front of them, she could see golden light spilling out, and hear pirates chanting. Then, above that, a familiar voice shouted Ana's name. It was Edward.

The pirates jumped silently from the boat, and Carmen followed them up a narrow ledge that looked over the cavern in which the Martyr crew was gathered. Carmen stared down, horrified, as she took in the pirates gathered around, Edward, Elizabeth and Will standing bound, looking scared, and Aron Chiltingham, reading from a large golden book. Ana was lying on a stone table.

She looked along the row of pirates from the Black Pearl but nobody seemed to be doing anything. Something had to be done. Throwing caution the wind, Carmen pulled out her pistol, cocked it, and shot at Chiltingham. It hit him in the chest and the book toppled from his hands.

All eyes down in the cavern were now on Jack's crew and the Marines. Before she knew what was happening, everyone was rushing towards each other, a fight breaking out.

"What do yer think you're doing?" a voice demanded at her ear, and she realised with a start it was Jack. For a moment, she thought she'd been caught out. "You wait for orders before you shoot, savvy?"

She didn't look around, terrified he'd realise it was her. But then someone leapt at them, and Jack drew his sword, engaging the man. Carmen took her chance, hurrying away, going down to Will, Edward and Elizabeth. She drew her sword without looking at them, cutting through the rope on their wrists easily.

"Thanks," Will said, inclining his head.

"It's alright," Carmen replied without thinking. She coloured as she felt Elizabeth, Will and Edward stare at her.

"What are you doing here, Carmen?" Edward demanded.

Will punched an enemy pirate in the jaw as he ran past. "Now really isn't the time for brotherly concern, Edward. We need to fight."

"Will's right," Elizabeth said.

They dispersed, and Carmen stood still for a moment, watching Edward rush off to save Ana. She sighed, and turned to join the fight...

... Only to find herself face-to-face with Aron Chiltingham, who smiled.