"In order to affect a timely halt to deteriorating conditions and to ensure the common good, a state of emergency is declared for these territories by decree of Lord Cutler Beckett, duly appointed representative of His Majesty, the king. By decree..."

Amelia walked away from the window. The study overlooked the center of town, and that's where the gallows were set up for the pirates. When she looked away, they were getting a barrel for Sam, the young cabin boy who had worked aboard the Kehl Monara.

"This is lunacy," she whispered to herself. Her husband was down there, overlooking the executions. Hundreds of pirates, a lot of them her friends or acquaintances, were lined up to die. She would be down there too, if she hadn't married James. She was a coward.

Something else caught her ear. She went back to the window and opened it.

"The seas be ours and by the powers, where we will we'll roam."

All the pirates joined in. Amelia sang quietly to herself.

"Yo ho. Haul together. Hoist the colors high. Heave ho, thieves and beggars. Never shall we die."

The lever was pulled. Amelia squeezed her eyes shut.

"That's a dangerous song."

She whirled around. There was a person she hadn't seen in a long time. Almost ten years.

"Tia Dalma. What are you doing here?"

"The question is, what are you doing here? Your father lies waiting for rescue at World's End, and you're living the high life with your man."

"That's not...wait, what do you mean? My father is alive?"

"For certain. Are you willing to fetch Wicked Jack from the ends of the earth?"

She ran across the room. "Yes! I'll do anything."

"Good. Because 'anything' might be just enough. If you want to help him, you'll meet me at the docks tonight." Tia Dalma nodded towards the window. Amelia looked, and when she turned back around, the other woman was gone.

She heard the front door close and James' voice in the foyer.

"Is my wife here?" He said to the maid.

"Yes, sir. She's in the study."

Footsteps on the stairs. In the hall. And he was there. Immediately, he kissed her and held her close to him.

"I'm sorry, my dear."

"It's not your fault, James." She kissed him on the jaw and walked out. He followed her.

"Amelia, I'm going away for awhile."

"What? How long is awhile?"

"Only a week or so. Beckett wishes the militia to accompany him to him meeting with Jones."

"Because he's a coward."

James sighed and gave her a look. "Will you be alright here on your own?"

"Of course."

"Good. No more...business?"

"No, James. I'm reformed, remember? I'm not a pirate. When do you leave?"

"Immediately, I'm afraid."

"Well, I'll tell Estrella to pack your things."

"Thank you, my darling."

She did as she said, and then set about getting her own things together. She would rescue Jack from World's End. And she would do it without James' help or knowledge.