Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome! Welcome to readers both familiar and unfamiliar with my humble works. This is the sequel to my story A Tale to Tell and, as it usually is with sequels, I recommend reading my take on Curse of the Black Pearl before commencing with this work. However, each work can stand alone (as can each POTC movie), should anyone be so inclined.

Chapter One

Knock, knock, knock. "Open up by order of the Royal Navy!"

I pulled open the door with a smile. "Good morning, gentlemen." I greeted the soldiers. "How are you this fine morning?"

"We're looking for Mr. James Norrington." Gillette spoke loudly, ignoring my greeting. "Lord Beckett has issued a warrant for his arrest. May we search your estate?"

Furrowing my brow, I queried, "On what charges? Mr. Norrington just recently resigned from your ranks, as I'm sure you recall. I hardly think he is the sort to turn so quickly against the King."

"The charge is conspiring to set free a man convicted of crimes against the Crown and Empire and condemned to death, for which the punishment is also death."

"So I see," I sighed, keeping my expression expertly schooled. "I do wish I could be of more assistance, sir, but I must prepare myself for my sister's wedding this afternoon."

"Miss Swann, we have reason to believe that Norrington may be hiding here as the warrant for his arrest was issued alongside those for Ms. Elizabeth Swann and Mr. William Turner."

"Beg pardon?" I choked, feeling suddenly ill. "Will and Elizabeth have been arrested as well?"

"I apologize, miss. I've been told their wedding has been cancelled in light of their arrests."

Dropping all facades, I took a hold of the doorframe, feeling my knees beginning to tremble. "Miss Swann, are you alright?" Gillette inquired.

"No, I… I feel faint." I stammered. "Excuse me, sir."

Stumbling backwards, I closed the door without so much as a send-off to the soldiers and staggered to the sofa. "J—James!" I called before collapsing on the cushions.

"What is it?" my suitor questioned, rushing in from the dining room where he had been overseeing the preparations for lunch.

"You… Elizabeth… Will… Under arrest… Conspiring… Pirate…" I stuttered.

"Breath, Rachelle, what's happened? What did the soldiers want?"

"They're searching for you…" I spluttered. "Will… and Elizabeth… they've… already been arrested."

"For what?" he asked, although it looked as though he already knew the answer.

"Gillette, he said it was for conspiring to set free a pirate. For which the punishment is—"

"Death." James completed with a grim look on his face.

I broke down into tears, something I had not done for months. He lifted my chin and said, "I'm not going to be killed, Rachelle. I'm going to flee. And you're coming with me."

"What? James… I can't. Think of Governor Swann—we cannot force him to lose both daughters in one day."

"Please, Rachelle, come with me. We can start over, away from all this frivolity. We'll have a new life without the burdens of our past."

"Where could we go? Every English town will be on the lookout for you."

"Tortuga."

"No! James, I can't go back there."

"That's the only place where I can be safe." he protested. "Please, come with me, Rachelle. I would not take you there unless it was absolutely necessary."

"James, if we are to have a new start, mine cannot be in Tortuga. That is my childhood home and every millimeter of that place oozes memories of my past."

"But it's a start. We can sail the seas, become merchants with the ship and crew we can obtain in Tortuga."

"Yes, alright." I consented hesitantly. "You'll leave tonight, but I must see my sister one last time before she is put to death. I will find you."

"Elizabeth!" I cried, spotting my sister as I descended into the depths of the prison.

"Rachelle," she exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

"I heard the news from the soldiers searching for James—"
"James! He hasn't been arrested, has he?"

Shaking my head, I replied, "Not that I know of. I believe he's already left Port Royal." I added, eyeing the prison guard warily. "Where's Will?"

"Thank goodness. Beckett's sent him off on a mission. Supposedly, if he succeeds, we'll be pardoned."

"Elizabeth, what's happened? What's what did the three of you do that got you in so much trouble with the law?" I asked, glancing at the pirates who were trying to lure her over from the adjoining cell.

My sister remained silent for a moment before replying, "We tried saving Jack."

I felt as though all the oxygen had been sucked from the air. "J-Jack?" I stammered. "Jack is… alive?"

Elizabeth hesitated before shaking her head regrettably. "Jack's gone. And he's never coming back."

As she spoke, I felt my heart die just as it had twelve months ago. I should have known not to allow hope to momentarily creep into my soul. Although it appeared as though I was soon to be engaged, my heart still beat for that witty pirate who'd first loved me.

Just then, Governor Swann approached with a soldier, who unlocked the door to Elizabeth's cell. "Come quickly." he ordered. "You as well, Rachelle. They'll blame you for her escape."

"Where are you going?" the imprisoned men from the adjoining cells crowed after us, disappointed that we were leaving.

"You've got to tell me what's happening!" Elizabeth exclaimed as her father led us out of the jail.

"Our name still has some standing with the king. I've arranged passage to England…" his words faded as I trailed behind with a sudden jerk.

"What—?" I gasped, glancing down to see what my dress had caught on.

One of the pirates had clutched onto the flowing fabric and refused to release his grip. "I just want a little love," he croaked. "Do you know how lonely it is in here?"

"Yes," I frowned, attempting to pull my dress from his bony grip, but to no avail.

With a frustrated growl, I pulled a sword from the wall and held the blade to his wrists. "Release me," I seethed. "Or, if you're lucky, I let you get away missing only your hand."

Sensing the truth in my words, the man wisely slinked away, allowing me to stride hurriedly after my adoptive family.

"Even if Will succeeds, do not ask me to endure the sight of my daughters walking to the gallows. Do not! Perhaps I can ensure a fair trial for Will if he returns." the governor was saying when I caught up.

"A fair trial for Will ends in a hanging." Elizabeth spat.

"Then there is nothing left for you here."

We were shoved into the carriage, which my adoptive father drove to the shipyard. Upon our arrival, Governor Swann stepped away from the carriage to speak with the captain, but Elizabeth and I slipped out the opposite side and ran back towards the port.

"I'm going to find Beckett. I want those Letters of Marque he spoke of." my sister told me. "You must go in search of Will. Beckett send him in search of the Black Pearl. I will follow as soon as I can."

I nodded, pulling her into a deep embrace. "Be careful." I murmured.

"You too, Rachelle. Take care of yourself."

With that, we parted ways. As Elizabeth ran off to find the gracious Lord Beckett, I turned back towards the harbor and snuck aboard a merchant ship that looked ready to depart from the port. I abandoned my dress for breeches and a shirt before I could be spotted, wondering how I'd make it to Tortuga to meet James and manage to search for—and find—Will. Maybe I'd get lucky and dear William would be on that wretched island.

Little did I know that it would be a long adventure before I ever set eyes on the pirate-infested port of Tortuga.