Lyra sat, dumbfounded, gazing at James. "You really went through all that?" She whispered. "Just to get a heart".

"You've no idea how much I regret it now. It nearly cost me my life, and has already cost poor Elizabeth's father his. I don't think I can ever forgive myself. Too many good people have died because of me, I only wish I was strong enough to go after Beckett myself and destroy that infernal heart…but I'm not." His green eyes sparkled, but not from joy, but from tears, which by now had created two little rivers down the sides of his cheeks, salty droplets collecting in a pool upon the sea cave's floor. Lyra was overcome with pity for this poor wretched man that sat beside her.

Suddenly James's features become curiously alight, as though he'd just had an innovative idea. Slowly he turned back to face Lyra.

"You could do it for me" he said in a voice that was barely a whisper, so soft in fact, that Lyra had an immense amount of trouble in hearing it over the crashing of the waves overhead.

"I beg your pardon?"

"The heart, you could destroy it! Listen to me Lyra" he suddenly grabbed her wrist; he had a maddened glint in his eyes. "Find the Black Pearl, on it you will find a pirate named Jack Sparrow. He has a compass, a compass that just so happens to point to whatever you desire most in the world. Use it to find the heart Lyra, it must be destroyed! Please, if you don't, more will die...and…." He broke off, and made a funny noise, as though he was choking. His eyes rolled backwards and he collapsed back to the floor.

Lyra gasped.

"James! No, wait, don't die, not now!" she shook by the shoulders, but to no avail. She felt his pulse, and nearly collapsed herself.

In relief.

She placed a blanket over him and moved him closer to the fire that she had made (a tricky job considering how wet it was in there). She sat next to his slumbering body, hugging her knees and rocking back and forth, pondering what he had said.

"The heart, you could destroy it!"

It had seemed like a crazy idea at first, but now it was starting to grow on her. After all, she had joined the navy in the hope of some adventure as well as escape. So far, all she'd encountered were depressing men. But how to go about tracking down the Black Pearl? It seemed like an impossible task. Perhaps James would know when he woke up…..

5 hours later

The fire had long since died out, leaving the cave in pitch darkness. It was a very spooky place, with sounds of crabs scuttling about and waves washing overhead in the inky blackness. James stirred and sat up, trying to adjust his eyes to the gloom, but it proved an impossible task. Instead he felt for Lyra's hand. When he failed to find it, he decided she must be lying further off. He stretched out his hand a little more. It was becoming obvious to him that she was no longer there. Then a creeping sense of dread overtook him as he recalled the conversation they'd had earlier. She'd gone after the heart. James hadn't meant it – he'd been in a state of delirium! He stumbled blindly to the caves entrance, and called out her name in desperation, only to have his words whipped away by the violent winds.

"You idiot, James." He'd surely sent the poor girl to her death.