Disclaimer: Yes I own Will and Jack. Now please go look up gullible in the dictionary and wonder why your picture is there. Duh they're not mine!
Summery: The hunt is on for the Jewel of Legends, finding it is a matter of honor for pirates and royal alike. However, the Map has fallen into the hands of the most unlikely person imaginable. And what happens when she is picked up by the Black Pearl? Will be Jack/OC
A/N- Takes place about a year after Curse of the Black Pearl.
Chapter One: A Map and A Locket and a Bunch of Pirates, Oh My!
Charlotte Black leaned on the railing of the ship breathing in the salty air. Her long, dark hair swayed in the wind. Fondly, she ran a hand through her tight curls. Her eyes were dark like her hair and her skinned lightly tanned from weeks at sea.
"Pirates incoming! All hands on deck!" The peace of the night was shattered with the Captain's shout. "Woman and children below!"
Charlotte hurried to the cabin of her mistress, the captain's words echoing in her head. Pirates… The most dreaded people in the Caribbean. Charlotte had heard more than her share of horror stories concerning them and their barbaric acts.
"Lady Anne!" Charlotte cried bursting into the cabin.
"Charlotte, what is the matter?" Lady Anne asked her, putting down her needlework. "And what is all that awful commotion on deck?"
"Pirates, milady."
The needlework clattered to the floor.
"They're after the Map." Lady Anne said more to herself than Charlotte. "And we have so little defense."
"Don't fret, milady." Charlotte reassured her. "Our crew is quite able. We can hold our own."
The White Tiger had been separated from its escort in a raging storm and had not met up with them yet. Lady Anna and Lord George Rutherford were traveling from England to the Caribbean to claim the Jewel of Legends. The map of its location had passed through generation after generation of Rutherford's, and finally Lord George decided to go after it. Charlotte accompanied them as Lady Anne's personal maid. Unfortunately, it seemed that they were cursed with bad luck. Accidents happened frequently leading to lost lives and broken ships. Then came the storm and they thought things couldn't get worse. How wrong they were.
"Anne stay in the cabin and keep the door locked. Do not open it for anyone!" Lord George commanded from the doorway. He was gone before the lady could answer.
Quickly Charlotte closed and bolted the door shut. Picking up the needlework she gave it back to the lady and convinced her to work on it. Before long sounds of battle were heard above them. Charlotte was terrified. Soon it became clear that the White Tiger was losing.
"Charlotte. The Pirates must not get the map. You must take it." Lady Anne said.
"Milady?"
Lady Anne strode over the desk and unlocked the drawer. She pulled out the map and began folding it into a tiny square. When it was no larger than an inch she unclasped her locket, opened it and stuffed the map inside.
"Take this and jump out. Grab onto a piece of debris and wait until the rest of the fleet arrives. The map is to go to our nephew, Fredrick." Lady Anne ordered Charlotte, giving her the locket.
"I can't leave ye milady. Ye take the map, save yourself!" Charlotte protested.
"No. I refuse to leave without my husband. Go! That is an order Charlotte!"
Lady Anne pulled the window open just in time to see one of the crew fall into the water dead. Charlotte's breathing became ragged and she shivered in fear.
"Go!"
Taking a deep breath Charlotte jumped onto the window sill and leaped into the dark water of the Caribbean. Instantly her dress floated around her and her thrashing limbs got caught in it. The water soaked her cloak, dress and boots weighing her down and slowly she began to sink. Charlotte began to see spots as her need for oxygen grew. In one swift movement she freed herself from her cloak then kicked off her boots. Kicking furiously she finally broke the surface and immediately began gasping for air.
The sight which met her eyes was not very optimistic. A fearful looking Pirates ship was docked right next to the White Tiger and Pirates were jumping from ship to ship. Straining her eyes for something to grab onto Charlotte finally saw a small barrel floating nearby. After several long minutes of struggling through the water with ever increasing fear of being spotted she attached herself to the barrel.
Weakly she began to kick herself away from the battle. Her waterlogged dress had other ideas. It hindered her every movement and she could make no progress. Surrendering to the inevitable Charlotte untied her dress and watched it float away. Wearing just her shift she was not particularity looking forward to being picked up by the fleet. Kicking gained her much more progress now and Charlotte was able to get a good distance away from the two vessels.
Stopping to rest Charlotte observed the ships with a heavy heart. Gunfire had ceased some time ago and she knew the pirates must have taken the ship. As she watched a great flame grew on the White Tiger and soon consumed the whole ship. Resting her forehead on the barrel hot tears rolled down her cheeks. She remembered all the children all board and their parents. Most of all Charlotte cried for Lady Anne who had always been so kind to her after her parents died. Someone must have been watching over her because as the pirates left they sailed off away from her. Now all Charlotte had to do was wait.