Quickly Francis rolled to the side, the knife stabbing into his pillow instead of his chest. The weapon was yanked free and again it was descending upon him so he forced himself out of the way.

However he was already on the edge of the spacious bed and his movement caused him to tumble to the hard wooden floor.

"Stay still!" his attacker ordered.

"N-Non! Jamais!" he panted back, still quite weak from his injuries. "I'm not going to lay here and let you kill me!"

"I can't let you tell him who I am! I worked too long and too hard to get here!" The man walked around the bed to stand before him. "Now don't move!"

Kneeling, he pinned the injured Frenchman with difficulty.

"Arrêt! Stop! Help! Help!"

He continued to struggle but his strength was quickly fading yet fear and a will to live fueled him somewhat. He was barely managing to avoid most of the attempts to stab him and his attacker was growing frustrated.

A quiet creak reached their ears and they looked over to see Matthew standing in the doorway, eyes wide and scared.

"P-Papa…?" he asked quietly, staring at the scene in front of him. His papa was being held down, multiple wounds on his face and body, by a large man holding a bloody knife.

"Run, mon petit! Go find the captain! He'll protect you!"

"W-Wha-?"

He was cut off by the man suddenly standing up and approaching him. Before either Francis or Matthew could even begin to protest, the man grabbed him and hoisted him into the air.

"Put him down!" Francis tried to demand, voice weak and shaky. "Leave him alone!"

"He's a witness. I have to get rid of him too."

"Non!"

"Or…" the man said lazily. "I could just follow the original plan instead…" He pretended to deliberate. "I'll just do that. It ends better for me."

The man spun on his heel and strode from the room, leaving Francis lying on the floor watching his son be taken from him once more.

"We are nearly there," Arthur said, looking over his shoulder at the men following him. "I will not attempt to detain you in your quest. I simply wish to reunite you with your captain and the boy."

The sailors watched him closely, looking for any sign of betrayal or that they were being led into a trap, but found none.

"Why are you helping us? Why have you changed your view on this issue?"

Arthur stopped, turning around to face them fully.

"While it was true in the past that I was bloodthirsty and practically dying to have revenge on your captain," he started, face somewhat stern. "However, while he has been in my…care…I have that I was mistaken. He did not do the terrible act that I thought he had so my opinion on him has changed to fit this new information and my desire to end his life by my own hand has faded as well." He paused to catch his breath, lowering his head. "My life is going to be thrown into chaos for a time while I reevaluate my life choices and attempt to correct the wrongs I have made in my days of piracy. I no longer wish to be the heartless ruler of the seas I currently am. I instead wish to find a respectable job and raise my son." Raising his head, he stared directly into the eyes of the second mate. "That is why I am doing this."

The second mate seemed to deem this answer as fine and nodded.

"Alright. I believe you."

Arthur nodded back and resumed walking, silent.

The group slowly made their way to the edge of the forest before Arthur spoke once more.

"Once we pass these trees my home will come into view. Your captain will be resting in my chambers and I will lead you to him and the boy." Stepping out of the forest, he looked at his home only to falter and fall back.

Servants were scurrying about the place, carrying countless priceless possession after countless priceless possession out of his home and to several wagons in front of the large manor. Windows had been broken and more durable items were being thrown through them to be collected by another servant. Smoke seemed to be emanating from one side of the house which led him to believe a fire had been started in one of the far rooms that had been cleared of any worth possessions.

As he stared wide eyed and shocked, he saw two servants run out through the front doors, each carrying a large bag that appeared to be moving. The bag was quickly tossed into the back of a wagon which took off once it was inside.

Snapping back to himself, he dashed toward his home. A servant spotted him and yelled to the others who all jumped into the remaining wagons and were out of sight in moments. Terror ran through him as Alfred popped into his mind so he burst into the burning building, determined to find and save his son. The sailors followed him, wanting to rescue their captain and their boy.

Arthur ran from room to room, poking his head into the burning ones for only a moment to make sure Alfred wasn't inside them. When he reached the boy's room he felt his heart break; the door was broken, furniture all over the place, and the walls had strange stains on them that made his head spin. It looked like some sort of fight had taken place, one he did not think his son had won.

Collapsing against the wall, he slid down it until he was sitting on the floor. He couldn't believe something like this could happen. His son was missing. If he had just allowed him to come with him then he might not be but he really wasn't sure what those sailors would have done to him. Those traitorous servants had taken the most prized possession he had, his own child. The child he had tried to raise alone since the boy's mother had passed away and while he had never truly loved that woman he did truly love his son. It was true that his work required him to spend much time away from the boy, not only for his ship to run smoother but also for the child's safety, but he despised leaving him.

After a time the sailors found him, still on the floor with his head in his hands.

"We don't mean to make this harder on you but if could possibly lead us to our captain, we'll help you find your son."

Slowly Arthur looked up at them, eyes distant and red from crying. He blinked slowly. Truthfully he had forgotten all about the Frenchman and his little boy in all the tension.

With a short nod, he pushed himself to his feet, beckoning the men to follow him to his room.

AN: Matthew has been taken again! And what happened to Alfred and Francis?