A/N: I don't own POTC, or any of its characters. That's Disney's business. This story is completed, and I hope you enjoy it. It kind of took a long time.
Lydia walked into the Faithful Bride, not quite sure what she was getting herself into. She stopped in the middle of the room and looked around. She saw many people who could have been the man she was looking for, but she chose the one who looked least likely. She sat down across from him. His face was hidden by a hood, and his accent was bordering on Irish. "Glad you could make it, lass." He took a drink from his mug. "Now, I got a job for ya. It won't be easy, mind, but the pay's well worth it."
"I'm up to it, whatever it is," Lydia leaned forward, eager to hear what his offer was. She was desperate for money, having lost nearly all of it on gambling and of course, rum.
"Well, I need you to steal something for me." He took another drink and continued," Nothing big like a ship, mind. No, something much more important." Intrigued at his last comment, Lydia leaned in slightly closer. "It's a necklace," he chuckled to himself. "At least the chain isn't important, it's more like what's on the chain. A gold medallion about this big," he shaped his fingers in a circle to demonstrate the size, "hangs on a chain, and is in the possession of one Captain Jack Sparrow." Lydia had heard many stories about Jack Sparrow. Most were nonsense in her mind, a curse placed upon gold that turns the men who steal them into skeletons? No curse she had ever heard of has come true yet, so why should she fear, or for that matter believe them?
"Jack Sparrow? That mad, half drunken excuse for a pirate?" She leaned back in her chair now, all apprehension gone.
"Aye, one in the same. But he's got something of mine. He stole it off me, see? And now I want it back, but you'll need to follow precise directions." He lifted his mug, about to sip, but put it back down. Lydia thought to herself, directions for stealing a piece of jewelry? It sounds as if she could get it back tonight, if she played her cards right.
"But it's just a necklace, I'm sure I could get it to-"
"If it was an ordinary piece of jewelry, I'm sure you could," he interrupted. "But he'll be protecting this well, though. He knows I want it back." He took another swig from his mug. "Now here are your instructions." Lydia leaned in to hear every word. "He'll be hiding the necklace on his ship, The Black Pearl. The only way you'll ever get on that ship is by becoming one of the crew. The Pearl is big, there's always room for one more. Tonight Sparrow'll probably get so drunk he won't know the way back to his own ship. That'll be the perfect time to corner him and force him to let you become part of his crew. Once you're on the ship, all you have to do is earn his trust, and at the right time take the necklace. He's leaving at dawn. I know where they are headed, so don't worry about finding me; I'll find you." After that lengthy explanation, he took a long drink from his mug, seeming to drain it. He let out a belch.
"But if you know where Sparrow's headed, why don't you just steal it from him at his destination?" It seemed to Lydia that it would be more trouble to hire someone like her than to just steal it themselves.
"You're a sharp one; you don't miss a thing do ya? I'll put it to you like this; I need that necklace by a certain day. Sparrow will be arriving at his destination by that day. We need you, love, to save time. We can't be taking over his ship, stealing the necklace, and expect to get it all done by our deadline, now can we? I think not, love." He leaned back in his chair and she did the same. What could be so important that she would have to go through this? He spoke again, bringing her back to her surroundings. "Do we have a deal? You'll get your reward when you give us the necklace. It shouldn't be too hard. I hear Sparrow has a soft spot for ladies."
"I'll need some payment up front of course," she answered, buying some time. Her mind was saying yes, she needed the money, but her heart was saying no, this wasn't right.
"Of course, poppet. Here you are." He pushed a bag of coins to her. She opened it, and tried to conceal her surprise. Coins of gold and silver shone from the bag. "So you accept?" His voice hinted a smile.
"Yes," that was all she could manage at the sight of the money.
"There's a good lass. I'll be seein' ya in about a month," and with that he got up and disappeared in the crowd. All Lydia could think was what have I gotten myself into?