AN- Hello again! (*Peeks out nervously*) I won't delay you further. Here's Chapter Eight! Thank you for all the feedback and I really appreciate it! Posted on Ao3 and on .The links are in my masterlist post and on the contents page post

"Sorry. It's for your safety!"

"Don't care what the Commodore ordered!" Elizabeth screeched.

"Unhand us Gilette!" Ellie's eyes flashed with frustration.

Much to the dismay of the girls, they were being dragged to the Captain's cabin to be locked away under James' orders. Their pleas fell on deaf ears no matter however they tried.

"The pirates! They're cursed- they can't be killed!"

"Listen to her for God'sake!"

They were unceremoniously pushed in and Gillete strode forward blocking their way, with a sarcastic smirk.

"Don't worry Misses. He's already informed of that. A little mermaid flopped up on deck and told him the whole story!" He gave them a smug grin and slammed the doors shut.

"Oh! The nerve of him…"

"This is Jack Sparrow's doing!"

"It is going to be a slaughter if nothing is done." Ellie mused out loud, fuming, rubbing her temple. Either Jack had not informed James or he had not been taken seriously.

Lizzie who was quite frazzled and at a loss looked at Ellie. Things were going to get ugly. Jack, James and most of the men were already on the rowboats waiting for the pirates to emerge. Will was still a captive. Ellie paced back and forth quite restlessly. She took a good look at the cabin. It looked opulent and practical enough for a Naval Captain. The floor length windows opened into a balcony. She quickly crossed the threshold, opened one and looked down to see a rowboat just under the balcony.

"Are you thinking what I am thinking Ellie?" Elizabeth asked behind her.

Ellie looked on as Lizzie safely got on to the rowboat. Just as Ellie tried to go down the improvised rope made of sheets, she heard knocking on the door.

"Elizabeth? Are you there?" Governor Swann called out.

Ellie swore under her breath and frantically motioned Lizzie to start rowing. Thankfully Lizzie took the hint and began rowing. At the same time Ellie heard soft thuds and rustles coming from the below decks. She quickly crossed the threshold just as the exasperated Governor walked in.

"Where's Elizabeth? Eleanor, what is the meaning of this?" Governor Swann strode straight to the open window and looked down.

Ellie ignored him and focused on the faint thuds. Her gut feeling was telling her something was terribly off. Without losing time, she made a beeline towards the cabinets hoping one of them contained a cutlass. She missed her own cutlass and pistol quite terribly with both confiscated and aboard the Black Pearl . Ellie continued to rummage and came across one. She sprang up to her feet and once more ignored the baffled look on Governor Swann's face.

"Barricade yourself in, Sir. I fear something is quite wrong."

Without waiting for his reply she darted out and closed the door behind her, hoping the Governor would lock the doors. Another prominent thud caught her attention and she ran out to the main deck, half expecting to be shoved back in the cabin. Ellie looked up just in time to see one of the undead pirates, about to slit a soldier's neck.

"Watch out! Behind you!" she screamed, chilled to the bone seeing the mangled body of the undead pirate. Just as she shouted, a gun shot rang out and the pirates descended upon them in earnest now that their stealthy approach had been foiled.

Trying to swallow her nervousness and the dead weight of fear, Ellie began fending off the pirates who had swarmed around her like locusts. A cacophony of clashing steel and gunshots enveloped the eerie silence. Ellie knew they were terribly out numbered and James had to be alerted immediately. Parrying a blow, she ran up to the bell on the intent of ringing it but was beaten to it by a soldier, who began ringing it with all his might, sounding the alarm much to her relief.

Wishing she had her pistol for the millionth time, she ran up to the defence of the injured soldier. The pirate advanced in on her with fury, a lecherous grin on his face. To her mounting horror, she heard canon fire. Ellie fervently hoped none of them was injured. She looked around the deck, noticing they were being decimated.

They were given no respite as the pirates pressed on. Gunshots rang out and more soldiers scrambled on to the deck signifying James' arrival.

" 'Ello lassie" a pirate rasped, jumping in front of her. "Come to play with the big boys?"

Ellie resisted rolling her eyes before moving forward and jabbing him with the cutlass. She had to give it to the pirates. They were quite adept at dueling.

James moved across the deck shooting and dueling with deadly accuracy when he noticed a quite familiar feminine figure fending off attacks and delivering her own quite gracefully. Flabbergasted, James shot a pirate, who tried sneaking up to her, bits of bone blowing into smithereens.

Making quick work of the pirate together, James grabbed her arm and dragged her towards the cabin, defending them from the attacks simultaneously.

"You are supposed to be inside!" James gave her reproachful look assessing her for any injuries, relieved to find none except for a few nicks and bruises.

"And do nothing even though I am clearly capable?"

James was silent at that

"Duck!" Without ceremony Ellie shoved him aside, parried a blow meant for him and sent her own which ripped out a piece of spine.

"See? I can hold my own."

"I am trained...you are…not!" James called out, doubtful of his own statement when he took in her stances and strikes which suggests years of practice.

"For the love of God James it is not the time!"

"Watch out!" James yanked her quite violently that they almost toppled overboard together.

The duo fell into a rhythm, parrying blows and defending each other. Gradually, Ellie felt her strength waning. Her body ached with exhaustion, the adrenaline rushing through her powered her on. Jack and Will better hurry up.

James drew back his sword which was coated in blood. The fighting in the vicinity stopped and everyone held their breath, the pirates hoping the curse would not be broken. Ellie saw the terror and confusion on the faces of the pirates as they realised they could be killed even in the face of the moonlight. Their weapons clattered onto the deck as they accepted defeat and surrendered.

"The ship is ours, gentlemen." James firmly declared.

Ellie sagged with relief and leant against the railing, catching her breath. Cries of huzzahs rang out and she gave a weary smile, moving off the railing.

"Eleanor."

Ellie sighed and turned to look at James who had an unreadable expression. She looked at him a bit sheepishly.

"Can't the scolding wait for a while? There is…"

Instead of the scolding she expected, she found herself in his arms, pulled into a tight embrace. Ellie felt herself melting into it and she wrapped her arms around him, returning it.

As James held on to Eleanor, he felt contentment wash over him in waves. He relished the feeling of Eleanor's presence in his arms. After a moment, they withdrew and much to Eleanor's shock (and delight), James pressed a kiss onto her forehead.

"Never frighten me like that again."

Eleanor felt absolutely tongue tied and all she could do was nod her head dumbly, hoping that the dim moonlight hid the raging blush on her face.

AN- Let me know what you think of this chapter! As I mentioned on Tumblr this fic is my baby and I would never give up on it. Updates may be a bit spaced out but I will try my very best to keep them regular. Favourites/Follows and comments are welcome!

I haven't mentioned it previously. English is not my first language and if there are any errors please point it out to me.