AN: I swore I'd never write a fic with OC s in it, but Norah convinced me to. That and I read an
author's note that was in the fic I believe was "Finder's Keeper" or something to that effect. It
was very mature and cool like. Yes they aren't Mary-Sues if they one. Aren't perfect. And Two.
Are well written. I know that these two aren't perfect (notice the lack of description of their
bodies, I'll leave that up to the reader) and I can only hope that they are well written. The story
won't revolve around them. And I hope that there will be some readers. So enjoy and try not to
read this note, realize there are OC s and click back, give it a try. Eh.

Disclaimer: Don't own Pirates or the poem inside. The mouse owns them and Norah owns the
poem.

Whispers
Part 1: Just to Follow
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Cloth hung over the doorway, colorful spools of red and green, blue and yellow. Flowers
decorated the walls and door frame, hand painted with oils to mingle with the Orient and Hispanic
designs. Strings of beads hung over windows and creating a different sort of shutter that Port
Royal have yet to see.

A new store was set to open along a cobble stone street, not far from the archway marking the
entrance to the harbor. A sign was tacked up on the window proclaiming the store's name, the
wooden one to replace it as soon as the paint dries.

"Whispers" is the name.

Will was carrying some supplies back down to the smithy when he noticed the shop. Curiosity got
the better of him as he decided to step in. Maybe the shop had something to offer as a gift for
Elizabeth on their one year anniversary.

A small bell tinkled at his entrance at which the sound brought a woman out from a back room.

"How can I help you?" she asked, pushing dark hair out of her face. Will idly noticed a smudge of
paint on her face.

Will looked around the main area of the shop. One wall offered shelf upon shelf of books, each
spine gilded in gold with their title. On the opposite wall, canvases were stacked against each
other, the top most painting showing a picture of the sea with a small row boat being tossed
helplessly amongst the waves, the excess water falling off the side of sea, like a floating, flat disk.
All of this superimposed on a background of the stars, with both the moon and the sun high.

He stared at it for a few moments, transfixed. It was a beautiful painting, strange and surreal. He
snapped back when he realized that he still hadn't answered the shopkeeper's question.

"Uh, sorry. I work down the street from here, and I just happened to notice this place opening up.
Thought I'd look inside. What is it do you sell?" Will asked, turning back to the woman.

She smiled and tried to shove her hair back into place, though it fell right back. "Well here we
specialize in two things. Books and paintings." she gestured to the two walls, "As you can see."

Staring back at the painting Will mulled over the idea of buying something here for Elizabeth. But
what would she want, a book or a painting? She had plenty of both. But maybe something with
pirates in it, she had yet to shake that obsession. Even after their adventure with Jack Sparrow
and the Black Pearl.

"Do you have anything with pirates in them?" he asked.

The woman cocked her head and thought. "I don't believe I've painted any pirates, maybe my
friend has some books." she turned back to the cloth covered back door. "Amiee, get out here."

Another woman, with lighter hair, came out. She smiled at the sight of Will standing the store.
"Hey there, how can I help you?"

The first woman walked over to the stack of paintings and began to flip through the paintings,
"This lad would like to know if we have anything with pirates, I don't believe that I've painted
any, so I was wondering if you had written any."

Amiee brought her hand up to her face in thought. Will could see that her fingers were stained
with ink. "I believe that I do." she moved quickly over to her shelves of books and plucked one
out.

"Here, it's a book of poetry, about pirates and their needs to be free." she smiled, green eyes
sparkling. "I use to dream of being a pirate as a child, so I penned these little things. My friend,
Lene, here thinks I was mad." she gestured to the painter still digging through her art.

"I still do." Lene shot back, an accent shining through, Will realized.

He took the offered book and carefully cracked open the emerald covered book. 'Just to Follow'
was stamped on in silver gilding on the top of the book. He read the first poem he saw, written in
a beautiful curly ink.

"Nightly, the wind changes;
Tides in crescendo as the moon hides her face
To bring forth the morning sun.
The laws we live by aren't written with ink
But with our spirits; guided
By the warmth and frost of summer sun and winter snow
Nature holds laws, without rules,
So freedom glows on the morning horizon"

Will blinked and looked up at Amiee. "Amazing." he whispered. "That is simply amazing."

Amiee laughed lightly, "Oh please, flattery won't get you half price. I wrote those when I was a
child!"

Will looked back down and re-read the verse. He knew that he wasn't the most intelligent person
in the world, he also knew that he wasn't as talented in the arts as he wanted to be. He could
make beautiful swords, yes, and he could recognize art when he saw it. "It is amazing."

"Did you want it?"

"Yes." Will sat the bag of smithy supplies down on the floor and retrieved his coin purse. After
paying her, he turned back to the other girl, still shifting through the canvases. She had flung one
painting at his feet unintentionally.

It was a painting of a golden horizon, the sea was reflecting the bronze hues and the reds and
yellows splashed amongst the waves and foam, it was utterly serene except for the dark blot
against it. A dark ship with even darker sails. Will knew that ship.

"When did you paint this?" he demanded sharply. He dropped the book and picked up the small
canvas, it was only about two feet wide and three feet long.

Lene looked up and stared at the one he held in his hands. She impatiently pushed at her hair to
make it stay, but ended up only smearing more paint on her face. "About a year ago, why?"


"I know this ship." Will murmured in a daze.

"You do?" she asked, surprise seeping into her voice. "How?"

"I know the captain. This is the Black Pearl. Where did you paint this?"

Lene straightened up and shared a look with Amiee. "I painted that when I was still living in
Germany."

"Anywhere by the sea?" Will pressed on.

"No. Germany has only has two coast lines. The Nordsee and the Ostsee. I come from southern
Germany. I left because, if it wasn't a threat from the Ottoman Empire, it was from France. They
were always attempting to seize those lower states. I had never seen the sea until I crossed the
English Channel, met Amiee and sailed here." she gave him a confused look. "Why do you ask?"

Will stared hard at the painting. "Have you ever seen this ship before this?"

Lene shook her head. "No I just paint from images, whispers, in my mind."

"You saw Jack's ship in your mind." it was more of a statement than a question. "Here, can I buy
this too?"

Lene shook her head, "Just take, it. No need to buy it, it means something to you."

Will nodded in thanks and gathered up his purchases. He needed to see Elizabeth.