Author's note: I'm indefinitely sorry that it took me so long to do this chapter: Sorry…

This is a birthday present for my best friend. She was the one who would always nudge me to finally get my ass in gear and finish it.

B-Chan, you are the best!

12. Chapter: Departure

It was several hours after the three women had left the smithy that Will Turner prepared to leave for the Governor's mansion, strapping his sword to his hip. Happily humming to himself he mused about his present for Elizabeth, wondering if he should really give it to her this afternoon at their scheduled practice. What if she doesn't like it...?

Sighing he looked at the narrow box that still harboured the sword he'd forged for his beloved. It's not really the average gift for an educated, well raised woman...then again she is anything but average... He smiled, lost in thoughts.

Finally deciding to trust the opinion of his love's father, he picked the box up, made sure all of his earlier used tools in the shadowed room were in place and neatly put away, then he made his way out the door, locking it behind him.

While the young blacksmith sauntered along the streets towards his goal he smiled at the townspeople around him. Watching the men at work, women buying groceries, watching and playing with their children; all that filled him with a sense of peace. This was what simple life was about.

He desperately hoped those fine people never again had to live through another attack, like the one towards Port Royal nearly a year ago. Nobody should have to live in fear of getting slaughtered by a bunch of gruesome zombies. Least of all women and children.

He was so engrossed in his thoughts, that he nearly lost his balance when a small sturdy body crashed into him at the next corner. Fortunately Will managed to catch them both, keeping them from a painful tumble to the ground. As he caught his breath he looked down to see who was in such a hurry. Of course he immediately recognized Jamie, the little boy from the Swann residence.

"Mr. Turner!" The boy cried out with a red, sweaty face. "I'm so glad I found you. Governor Swann sent me to fetch you, sir. He said to hurry, 'cause it was really important."

Jonathan has sent for me?

"Jamie, calm down, please. Do you know why the governor wants to see me?" Will asked, somehow dreading the answer.

The still breathless boy shook his head. "He didn't say. Just to hurry, sir."

Dismayed with the answer, he gave the small head a little friendly pat. "Thank you, I will do that." With those words the young man was on his way again, his hurried steps now longer than before.

What could he want? We don't have our discussion day for another few days, and there is no talk in town or any gossip about immediate problems. What happened? What if…'Liz? William shuddered. No, I just saw her at noon; surely nothing could have happened to her in those few hours…, could it? Oh please, not Elizabeth! His pace grew faster and faster as his thoughts raced through his head.

By the time the manor finally came into view Will was nearly at a full run.

The blacksmith burst through the front door without even knocking, heavily relieved that all of the stuff were used to him by now and wouldn't try to keep him from moving in the house.

He raced up the stairs and to the left where Elizabeth's chambers were located. Normally she would be there if they planned to go out for training, always waiting for him to pick her up. She should be here. Dear Lord, she just has to be here!

Just as before he couldn't bring up the patience to knock, nearly taking the door out of its hinges as he entered.

Even should he be running into her still dressing he wouldn't care, as long as his beloved was save behind those doors.

"Elizabeth?" Eyes scanned the room for the beloved form, but nobody was in the room and Wills worry increased tenfold. There on the bed was her 'fighting dress', a pair of wild leather breeches and a shirt for freer movements while exercising.

No, no… She would never be late…why were her clothes still here?

"'Liz…" The young blacksmith whispered desperately, hoping, praying to hear the precious voice, even as he knew there wouldn't be one. Yes, now he just 'knew' that the woman he loved was in trouble, the fear gnawing painfully at his heart. Liz…

Abruptly he turned on his heels, now heading for the Governors study. As he moved he vowed silently, that he would let no hurt come to his Love. He would help her, regardless what the costs.

A few memories of the year before flittered through his mind, making him shudder violently.

Elizabeth being dragged away, while the pirates raided Port Royal.

Elizabeth kneeling over him, desperation in her eyes, when she couldn't get him out of his wet prison in the hull of the 'Interceptor' .

Elizabeth as she was forced to go over the plank.

No, no, no, not again…not her…

He had to do something, and like a man on a mission he stormed into the study.

The first thing he noticed, not without some irritation, was Norrington being there again. Deciding to ignore him for the moment, he focused on the only important thing now.

"Where's Elizabeth, what happened, Jonathan?"

Governor Swann immediately tried to calm him down a bit.

"We don't know." Seeing Will was about to argue, he quickly added: "She and my mother-in-law were abducted this afternoon. Caitlyn was with them, but the men ambushing them didn't take her. We don't know why."

Up to that moment the young man hadn't noticed Caitlyn Witherby as she sat in the huge armchair behind the desk. She was holding a wet washcloth to her temple. Will could see that there was blood on it. She looked really exhausted and guilt flowed through him. Shouldn't have barged in like that.

"What happened?" He asked softly.

"We were on the way back to the manor when those thugs jumped out of nowhere and surrounded us. I don't remember much, it all happened so quickly…one of them hit me on the head. I don't know what happened after that. I woke up when a passer-by shook my shoulder. He got help and they brought me here." She finished her tale, closing her eyes.

"And nobody has seen them since? What about the citizens in the streets?", the blacksmith demanded to know.

"Don't think yourself clever, Mr Turner." Norrington answered snidely.

"I thought of this as well and sent some officers into town. Nobody witnessed the ambush, but several people saw a new ship docked in the harbour. We were assured that it wasn't a merchants or trading ship. By the time somebody went to check the ship it was gone. I suspect that both women were smuggled onto the ship."

William sighed wearily. "So we don't know who took them where? Is that it?"

"Well, at least we know they're not on this island anymore." The commodore snapped back.

In his thoughts Will would have preferred to know were the women, in fact, were, not where they weren't, but he didn't say anything.

"So, when will you sail out after my mother and my niece?" Cait still looked a little bit worse for wear, but she seemed determined.

"Mrs. Witherby, we don't know who took your relatives, and where they are being brought to. The reasonable course of action would be to get this information and then act on it. I can't very well send ships in all directions with no evidence whatsoever as to where to search and what to expect from my opponent. It would be an unnecessary risk to my officers this way."

"But what about Elizabeth and her grandmother and the dangers they are facing?" Will jumped out of the chair he'd sunk into only moments ago. "By the time you know everything you insist you need to know it could be too late for both of them!" He sent an apologetically glance to the governor who had blanched at his words.

His opponents face, though reddened in utter fury. "I have found Elizabeth once. And I will find her again!" he managed to grind out.

"But only because Jack and I managed to safe her from getting her throat cut open! You would have been too late otherwise. We need to set sails now immediately!"

Cait spoke up again and, although relucantly, she agreed with the young blacksmith.

"He is right. When will we leave?"

Norrington sputtered at that, clearly taken by shock and surprise. "My lady, a ship is no place for a woman. It is way too dangerous for you to accompany me and my men." He glared at Will. "And I'd rather sink every one of the Royal Navy's ships than see a pirate set even one foot on board of them, if he isn't in irons."

"I won't stay here and let you mess with two lives!" Will went to the window overlooking the bay, staring out onto the sea that now held his beloved, somewhere.

"Well, you won't go on board one of my ships!"

"Gentlemen!" The Governor stepped between them. "Now Commodore, I think it might not be a bad idea to let the boy come with you…"

"What? With all due respect, Governor Swann, have you already forgotten who, or rather what he is? He might be in on this whole thing for all we know." It was obvious the man could barely keep his tongue in check and be civil.

"Commodore Norrington," Jonathan wanted to calm down the situation, while in his mind he only worried for his family. He glanced at Will who was still staring out of the window as if he could find the solution to their problems right out there, in the ocean.

The older man just started to continue when Will whirled around.

"Don't bother; I won't need one of your nutshells, Commodore." He threw the man a glance, mocking him by using his given position.

"I have a ship." William turned to Caitlyn with a measuring glance. "Are you sure that you want to go in search for Hannah and Elizabeth?"

She nodded firmly, daring him to give her the same speech the Norrington had. She clearly expected it, that much was clear.

The more she was surprised when he nodded back at her, giving her a choice, "You can wait around here and wait for him," he jerked his head at the Commodore, "which may take a few days, or you can accompany me, though I am going to leave right now." He waited, hoping he hadn't made a grave mistake.

Norrington was turning purple. Cait looked uncertainly at him. Was he making fun of her? But there was only honesty and underlying worry as well as determination is his eyes, she realized. She turned to her brother-in-law.

"You will stay here in case they demand a ransom?" It was a possibility after all.

He nodded seriously, but didn't say anything.

She looked at Will, took a deep breath and nodded her acceptance at him.

"Alright, let's go then." The blacksmith apprentice left the study in a fast pace, snatching up his box he'd put down. At the door he looked back over his shoulder at Jonathan. "You know we will bring her back!" It was said with determination and conviction. Then he left, a confused Caitlyn hard on his heels.

She was a bit perplexed as he actually made his way out of the manor and into town, straight towards the harbour. A thought came her, and she worried briefly about the things she should have taken with her, but discarded the idea immediately. The young man was right; there was no time to be lost.

They didn't speak on their way and only as they reached the harbour Caitlyn began to have her doubts.

"You…we are not going to steal a ship, are we?" She asked, trying to keep the fast pace up.

Why hadn't she thought of this before…if he was a pirate…

Will didn't slow down, but called back to her, "Commandeer a ship. Nautical term." She could practically hear his grin.
"Don't worry, we are not going to commandeer one. We have our own means." As he said so he stepped onto a quay heading for a small dinghy.

"Jack!" He called out to the person who was about to climb out of the small boat. The man looked up, surprise on his face but also amusement.

"Well, well, if this isn't the lil' whelp." They met and shook hands, clapping each other onto the shoulder.

Then William got serious again. "Jack, I need the Black Pearl."

The inveterate pirate let out a colourful curse.

"Then I'm too late. Bloody hell, I came 'ere to warn you an' Elizabeth. Someone is out to get his hands on your lass."

William nodded with a deep sigh. "Yeah, somebody kidnapped Elizabeth and her grandmother, about 3 hours ago. We need to follow them, Jack. Is your ship nearby?"

Jack grunted. "On board with ya." He motion at the rocking boat.

The young blacksmith motioned behind him at Cait who'd stood silent until now, staring at the pirate in morbid fascination. "Jack this is Caitlyn Witherby, she's Liz' aunt. She'll come with us. Mrs. Whitherby, this is the feared Captain Jack Sparrow, a friend of Elizabeth and myself. "

Jack gave her a measuring glance then indicated a bow. "Welcome on board my ship, m'lady." She could only nod at him.

To Will he said in a stage whisper. "You know Gibbs would say; 'Women on a ship are bad luck', don't you?"

All he received was laughter. "Yeah, and by the gods, Ana would wipe the deck with his sorry ass if she heard it."

The three of them got into the boat and William and Jack started rowing out of the harbour and the bay.

"So...Jack, do you know who abducted my niece and mother?" Cait sat and watched the two men work.

"Yeah, and you two won't like what I have to say."