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"Are you ready?" Kitty took a long deep breath and looked over at both Lydia and Elizabeth. None of them had set foot in their childhood home since the death of their father. It almost felt like a barrier; like he would genuinely be gone once they collected their things from the estate. Lydia stared wordlessly at the front door and took the hands of both of her younger sisters.
"Together," Lydia said. The three sisters clutched hands as they walked up to the door. Elizabeth turned the handle and let the door swing open slowly on its own. They stepped into the threshold, their footsteps echoing off the bare walls almost deafeningly. Everything was so... empty. "Well, at least it's in a better state than I expect."
"Thank God," Kitty said. She let go of Lydia's hand and turned to her sisters. "I'll handle packing Alice's room." Elizabeth nodded wordlessly and made her way upstairs towards where her bedroom was.
"I'll help you," Lydia said. "Most of my belongings are still at Beckett's estate. There's really only one thing I wanted to come here for." Kitty let out a 'huh' and stared at her elder sister. Lydia let out a soft chuckle and made her way up the stairs towards her bedroom. Kitty had no choice but to follow to satisfy her own curiosity. Kitty watched from the doorway as Lydia turned around in a slow circle as if taking in the memories associated with her bedroom.
"What's on your mind?" Kitty asked, leaning against the doorframe.
"I'm never going to be in this room again after today," Lydia said. She let out a sad smile. "I'm going to miss waking up at dawn and watch the sunrise out of the window."
"You're going to see the sunrise over the ocean every day when you're sailing the seven seas with your new husband," Kitty said with a smirk. Lydia let out a laugh and smiled an earnest smile.
"Yes," Lydia said. "I'm still going to miss this place, though. Perhaps Hector and I can figure out a way to visit without getting arrested the moment we're spotted."
"It's an optimistic thought to entertain," Kitty replied. Lydia nodded slowly. She finally sighed and walked over to the side of her bed. She knelt down and pulled out a sturdy looking chest from underneath the bed. She took the key sitting atop the chest and unlocked it. She let out a deep breath as she opened the chest and smiled at whatever lied within. "What's inside?" Lydia let out a laugh and pulled out what looked like a long, maroon garment. Kitty narrowed her eyes. Wait a minute... wasn't that...
"Recognize it?"
"You still have that dress?" Kitty asked incredulously. "From all those years ago?" Lydia looked down at the red garment in her hands from over three years ago when she was brought onto the Black Pearl under the guise of a parley. It was the dress she'd been wearing when they rescued her from the clutches of the "evil Captain Barbossa." Kitty never imagined that she still possessed the dress, though. She thought it'd been disposed of after Lydia's rescue.
"Hector was dead," Lydia said. She kept looking over the dress with fondness in her eyes and added, "This was my way of holding onto his memory. I left it behind when I married Beckett so it could stay safe. I'm relieved it's still here after all this time."
"Does Barbossa know you still have it?" Kitty asked as she knelt down next to her. Lydia let out a smirk and shook her head. Kitty narrowed her eyes and asked, "What are you planning?" Lydia glanced over at her sister as she folded the dress back up.
"Surprising him with it somehow," Lydia said. "I'm not entirely sure yet, but I know the look on his face is going to be entertaining." Kitty let out a giggle at that. She may not have known Barbossa that long, but she knew Lydia would be right about how hilarious his shock would be. Kitty almost wished she could be there to see his face when Lydia finally wore it again. She still couldn't completely understand how and why Lydia had fallen for a notoriously slippery pirate, but if he made her happy, Kitty wasn't about to stand in her way.
Strange how all the sisters fell in love with men who had been involved in piracy, at least for a while. Alice and Lydia may be meant to live a pirate's life for the rest of their days. Still, Kitty certainly wasn't, and neither was Elizabeth. Not truly, anyway. Could she survive as a pirate? Undoubtedly. She was the Pirate King, after all. But was it the life she wanted for herself? No. Kitty could clearly see how much Elizabeth held a distaste for the lifestyle. "Go on," Lydia said. "You know Alice the best out of all of us. You'd know what she'd want me to bring back to her."
"Of course I would," Kitty said with a small smile. "Maybe I'll find some things for Connor too." Lydia nodded softly and turned back to her things, sorting out what she wanted to keep and what she could live without as she sailed the world. Kitty turned around and made her way just down the hall to where Alice's room had been. Kitty almost hesitated to open the door. No one had really set foot in that room since Alice threw herself off that parapet to join Jack and his crew three years ago. Kitty took a deep breath and finally forced herself to turn the handle.
The room was just as she remembered it and exactly as Alice would've left it. Her bed was hardly made, the window was cracked, untouched dresses hung messily in the armoire... it was all completely in the style of sixteen-year-old Alice. She still had various books on pirates and myths lying in seemingly random places throughout the room. Kitty approached the one lying open on Alice's bed and turned it over to look at the cover. A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious Pyrates by Captain Charles Johnson. Kitty looked back at the page that Alice had left on. She let out a laugh when she saw the name of the pirate she'd been reading about. Captain Jack Sparrow. Of course, she was...
Kitty found a nearby trunk and emptied it out. She could sort through the contents later; for now, she needed a place to put the things Alice would probably want back. That book would definitely be one of them. Kitty bent down to see what she might have stashed under her bed. It was no secret that it was Alice's favoured hiding place for all goods Father would've disapproved of. Sure enough, she found a knife, some boys clothing, and a set of lock picks. Kitty carefully put the knife and lock picks into that trunk as well. Alice might want them for the sake of nostalgia.
Kitty picked up a few more books that Alice might want not just for herself, but for Connor as well. Stories of pirates, monsters, villains, and heroes... Funny how Kitty had a fantastical adventure story of her own now. Would their adventures be written down one day? Would the truth of their journeys be doubted? Would they be believed? Passed on? Perhaps Kitty could put those stories down on paper one day. Perhaps when the world was ready to hear the stories of Captain Jack Sparrow and his lover Alice Swann. Stories of the infamous and unkillable Captain Hector Barbossa and Lydia Swann, the powerful Nereid who managed to tame him. Stories Elizabeth Swann and Will Turner, who went to the ends of the world for each other with a love that could last ten years apart. Stories of Kitty Norrington, who left the comforts of her world to find her husband when he was almost lost beyond salvation.
One day the world would be ready for those stories, but now wasn't the time. Kitty finished putting the books into the trunk, along with a few of Alice's childhood games and toys that could be passed on to her daughter. Kitty remembered playing some of these games with her. She remembered how they would race whip tops down the hall, much to their father's annoyance. Lydia would always scold them and tell them to take it outside, but Kitty and Alice never listened. Perhaps now Alice would get a taste of her own medicine once Connor was old enough to annoy her with them.
"Are you almost done?"
Kitty turned around and looked at Elizabeth, who was leaning against the doorframe. She looked back at the trunk now filled with relics of Alice's former life and gently closed it, locking the contents within. "Yes," Kitty said. "Hopefully Alice likes what we decided to keep for her."
"She will," Elizabeth said softly. She sighed and looked around the room. "It's strange to think we'll never see these walls again."
"It is," Kitty said. "I'm going to miss it." She looked back at Elizabeth and said, "You could probably keep it if you wished." Elizabeth shook her head and looked around.
"It's far to empty without Father," she said. "I-I couldn't." Kitty nodded slowly and rose to her feet.
"I understand," Kitty said. She almost immediately hugged Elizabeth. Elizabeth desperately needed that hug from her sister. She felt Elizabeth hold back tears of her own as she let out a shaky breath. "I know it's hard to be without him."
"How did you get through it?" she asked.
"By focusing on who remained," Kitty said. "Little James, Father, Lydia, you... It was always hardest at night. I'd go to be alone, and it reminded me that he'd left... that he was gone. You know he's coming back for you. Ten years is a long time, but he'll be back. The two of you have a love so strong that it can transcend the years." She felt Elizabeth's head move against her shoulder as she nodded. "You'll always be welcome to stay with James and I. Little James loves his Aunt Elizabeth, after all." Elizabeth laughed and let go of Kitty.
"Are you sure?" she asked. "I wouldn't want to impose."
"I'm sure," Kitty said. "You shouldn't be alone while you wait for him. We have more than enough room." Elizabeth let out a smile and gave Kitty one more quick hug.
"Thank you," she said.
"You're my sister," Kitty said. "I'll always be there for you." The two sisters picked up the trunk, which was far heavier than Kitty had expected, and attempted to make their way back down to the foyer. The two of them laughed at their struggle to get this damned trunk down the curved staircase. It was actually funny how many little breaks they needed to take to get it down. Meanwhile, Lydia was just waiting down there with a teasing smirk on her face, carrying only the large satchel of what few things she was deciding to keep from their childhood home.
"You could help, you know?" Kitty grunted as they rested the trunk on another step.
"And miss this? Never," Lydia said. She looked at the trunk and shook her head. "How much did you pack for her?"
"Just some books, lockpicks, toys for Connor..." Kitty said. She and Elizabeth took in a sharp breath as they lifted the trunk once more, getting down the last few steps. "At least you won't have the lift it until Tortuga."
"Lucky me," Lydia said. Kitty and Elizabeth finally managed to drag that trunk out the door and into the carriage that waited for them. Lydia followed behind and slid her bag into the back of it as well. The three sisters took one last, long look at their childhood home before shutting and locking the doors forever.
Lydia took a deep breath as she made her way to the fort. No doubt there would still be many of Beckett's supporters who had heard of the catastrophic defeat of the East India Trading Company at the hands of "filthy pirates." Luckily for her, those same men would be under the impression that she'd been kidnapped by pirates and supposedly knew nothing of her husband's demise. She smirked as she thought of their reactions when she strode into the fort as if she owned it and collected what she was owed from that arse Cutler Beckett. She glanced down at the large sapphire and gold ring on her thumb with a smile. Thank God for Hector. The knowledge that he'd be waiting to marry her in Tortuga would give her all the strength she needed to get through this.
"Are you sure you're ready to do this?"
Lydia glanced back up at her brother-in-law and nodded. She still didn't know how she'd repay him for agreeing to stand beside her as she walked headfirst into a possibly stupid and dangerous situation. Lydia wasn't unarmed by any means, but she definitely still needed the backup. After all, she still wasn't entirely sure what the higher-ups in the East India Trading Company knew in regards to her disappearance. The more shock, the safer and better this would go... hopefully.
"Yes," she said. "The sooner we do this, the sooner I can leave this godforsaken place."
"Don't let the memories of one bastard ruin Port Royal for you," Norrington said quickly. "I don't want you to hate this place. You had a lot of good memories here with your father and sisters. Don't let him take that away from you too." Lydia let out a sigh and closed her eyes. He had a point. She did have a lot of fond memories of her childhood in Port Royal.
She remembered playing in the estate gardens with her sisters, getting their skirts muddied and leaves in their hair as they ran around. She remembered the time she had to get Father because Alice decided to climb up a tree and got stuck. She remembered her favourite palm tree that she loved to read her books of poetry under, especially under the light of the setting sun over the horizon. She remembered nights when the four sisters would sneak out to the beaches and lie in the sand, staring at the bright stars and the full moons.
Yes, she had a lot of fond memories of Port Royal. But that's all they were to her now; memories. She knew this wasn't where she belonged anymore, but Norrington had a point. Just because she no longer belonged didn't mean she had to hate this place.
"You're right," she said, albeit grudgingly. "Enough stalling. Let's get this over with. I'm ready to get my late husband's will read and funds distributed."
"Kitty and Elizabeth have a meeting with a lawyer this afternoon," Norrington said. Lydia arched an eyebrow. This was certainly news to her. They'd found a lawyer so quickly? Interesting... "I realized I'd forgotten to tell you. While we're handing Beckett's will, they're going to figure out how to sue the East India Trading Company for all it's worth for the unjust murder of the Governor."
"Good," Lydia said. "I want the entire damn Company to fall for Beckett's crimes." She let out a huff and glared at the glistening white fort. "No more stalling. Let's do this." She didn't even wait for Norrington's response as she marched her way up the hill to the gates of the fort.
Tear them a new one! She heard Thetis shout in the back of her mind. Lydia couldn't help the smirk that escaped her lips. No doubt Thetis would have a few choice words of her own once they were face to face with the superior officers... Perhaps letting Thetis take a little more control than usual would work in her favor today.
The looks on the guards' faces when they saw Lydia approaching were hilarious to her. They stood there slack-jawed, sputtering to themselves as she strode past them. "L-Lady Beckett," one of them stammered. "Y-You're alive?"
"I'm well aware," she said as she just continued on walking, Norrington following close behind her with a hand on his sword.
"Y-Your husband-" the other guard stuttered.
"Dead," Lydia said. "Yes. I know. I was there." She paused and spun around, glaring down the two men. "Do me a favor and get me whoever is supposedly in charge now? There's much to be discussed. I'll be waiting in my late husband's office." She turned on her heel to walk off, but paused and glanced over her shoulder, saying, "Oh, and have him retrieve Lord Beckett's Last Will and Testament. I want it read immediately."
"Uh... y-yes, Lady Beckett," the guard stammered. Lydia non-so-subtly smirked to herself as she strutted her way through the fort, not bothering to stop until she reached her intended destination. She didn't bother with the men running frantically around her, asking for their orders or a shred of an idea of what they should do. She didn't bother with the two soldiers standing guard at Beckett's former office, telling her she couldn't enter or had to wait outside. She didn't even bother paying attention to their sputters as she made her way to Beckett's desk and sat down in his chair.
When Lydia made herself comfortable in that chair, she finally turned her steely gaze to the two soldiers staring slack-jawed at her. Norrington had crossed around to where he was standing just behind her, almost as if he were her dutiful guard. One thing was abundantly clear to everyone at Fort Charles; Lydia was entirely in charge in this situation. She wouldn't rest until she got exactly what she wanted.
"I'm sorry, what? He left how much to him?"
Lydia tensed her jaw as she looked at the document before her. The poor attorney looked as if he were about to wet himself as he stammered out the words in Beckett's Will.
"O-only a small portion of his assets have been allocated to Lady Beckett," he stammered. "H-He left the rest to James Lawrence Norrington II."
That sneaky bastard.
Of course, he left most of his fortune to Little James. Beckett had complete control over the Norringtons and visited Little James so often that the boy could easily have been manipulated into faithfully serving his beloved Uncle Cutler. If Lydia wasn't to bear him a child, the deaths of both Kitty and James Norrington do so. Beckett would have been the next-of-kin, and Little James would've been left in his care. He would've been trained to be Beckett's perfect successor, and he would've no doubt been told of the cruelty of pirates and how they'd killed his parents. It was a near-perfect arrangement should Beckett's own plans fail him.
Asshole.
"He will not have access to his inheritance until he comes of age, however," the attorney continued. Lydia bit the inside of her cheek and pursed her lips. She was, of course, glad that it was Little James who was inheriting Beckett's fortune rather than someone else with more sinister intentions. However, she was really counting on having some money to suit her needs. The amount he left behind could do, but it was far less than she'd hoped for. She let out a huff and rose to her feet. Almost immediately, everyone else in the room rose to their feet as well.
"Very well," Lydia said. "Bring what he left me to the former Governor's estate."
"Yes, Lady Beckett," the attorney sputtered. "Of course. But, my Lady... he did leave you his estate as well." Lydia arched an eyebrow and rushed over to the will. Her eyes scanned through it, and sure enough, she was left the Beckett estate on Port Royal. It wasn't what she was expecting, but it was definitely something she could sell or exchange.
"Sell it," she said. "I don't have a use for that estate, nor do I desire to keep it."
"Of course, Lady Beckett," the small, wiry man said. "Whatever you wish." Lydia didn't even look back as she left the office. Being back in there once was one time too many for her. She just wanted to get her money and get out of that place. She heard the quick footsteps of James Norrington behind her.
"Are you alright, Lydia?" he asked.
"Yes," she said as she strode hurriedly through the fort. "I was just taken off guard by more than just the will." Was she going to have a complete breakdown in her room later that night because of the flashbacks being in that office brought her? Yes. She didn't think being within the walls of Fort Charles would've affected her this way, but she should've expected it. It was where she was engaged, where she was married, and where she escaped from Beckett's clutches. The entire time she sat in that office, she put on an air of confidence and control. Inside, though, she was a swirling storm of anxiety and fear. Every inch of her screamed at her to get out of that place. She paused and glanced over at him. "I'm happy Little James got most of that fortune. It'll be in far better hands with him than anyone else, especially with you and Kitty raising him. I just didn't expect Beckett to-"
"I know," Norrington said. He let out a breath and shook his head. "I didn't expect that at all. You have enough to do what you wanted to do, right?"
"I should, yes," Lydia said. "Especially once the estate sells. I imagine someone will buy quick enough. Despite the atrocities of the former owner, it's a beautiful place." Norrington nodded and looked out towards the carriage that sat waiting just beyond the walls of Fort Charles. "Shall we, Mr. Norrington?"
"Of course, Miss Swann," he replied with a small smirk. Lydia let herself take a deep breath before holding her head up high and making her way out of the fort. Now wasn't the time for her to show any sign of weakness. Soon she'd be at the Norrington estate surrounded by the comfort of her family, a place where she'd be safe from the eyes of the upper-class.
This was it.
Lydia was departing today. Kitty felt happy for her eldest sister, yet she couldn't help but mourn the fact that she would never see her again. At least, it wasn't likely. Lydia had always been the mother figure for the Swann sisters. Kitty didn't remember their mother, but she remembered Lydia always being there to kiss cuts and bruises, help with studies, read them to sleep at night... It was like saying goodbye to a parent instead of a sister. Kitty knew Elizabeth had hardly gone a day without crying over the last week, ever since Lydia finalized her departure from Port Royal. Kitty was doing the same, though behind closed doors and only in the company of James. Even James had been lamenting the fact that Lydia would be leaving.
The five of them stood at the docks, watching the men Lydia had hired load the ship and prepare it for sail. Lydia was dressed much more casually now than she'd been over the last three weeks, wearing only a simple violet dress. After all, fine clothes would serve her no use once she began her life with Hector Barbossa. It wasn't as if pirates had to impress rich families and show off their status. It was a life Lydia had never truly been suited for, but one Kitty knew was where she belonged.
Kitty held Little James' hand in her own as he watched the surrounding docks and workers with a light of wonder in his brown eyes. She loved seeing that spark of curiosity in his eyes. It reminded her of Alice in a way, as much as her husband would hate that. Lydia sighed as she looked up at the ship. It really was a beautiful ship to behold; it was formerly one of the East India Trading Company's fastest vessel. Now Lydia was using it to travel to Tortuga, one of the most notorious pirate ports in the world. The irony of it was truly hilarious to Kitty.
"Tortuga feels so close, yet so far away," Lydia said. She turned around, and her smile fell just a little. "I'm truly going to miss you all."
"I know," Kitty said. "But you're going to lead the life you were always meant to live. You're going to be happy. That's all I've ever wanted for you." Lydia was practically beaming at Kitty's words and wrapped her in a tight hug.
"Thank you," Lydia said. She turned to James and smiled. "I'll miss beating you in chess."
"I'll miss coming close to not losing," James replied with a smirk. "Take care of yourself."
"Trust me, I think I have enough in my arsenal to protect myself," Lydia said with a laugh. She gave him a quick hug and bent down in front of Little James.
"Go bye-bye?" the toddler asked, his eyes big and inquisitive.
"Yes," Lydia said softly. "Aunt Lydia's going bye-bye."
"Forever?" Little James asked. Lydia nodded slowly and took a deep breath.
"Yes," she said. "Probably." Little James pouted and hugged her. Kitty knew it'd be hard for him to understand now. She'd do her best to cheer him up later that night, but the most Kitty could do was contain herself so that she didn't upset her son any more. "I'll miss you." She let go of the toddler, who was now sniffling and clinging to Kitty's skirts. Lydia finally stood before Elizabeth and smile. "If I hear anything about the Dutchman, I'll write."
"Thank you," Elizabeth said. "I love you, Lyddie."
"I love you, Lizzie," Lydia said. She hugged Elizabeth tightly and added, "I'm glad I said 'parley' that night and glad you were the one with me." Elizabeth laughed at that. "Thank you for everything."
"Lady Beck-" the sailor gulped, and then stammered out, "I-I mean, Lady Swann. We're ready to depart when you are." Lydia's smile faltered, and she turned around to give the sailor a quick nod. She sighed deeply and turned back to her remaining family.
"Keep an eye on the horizon," Lydia said. "And whatever you decide to do with the rest of your lives, make sure you do something that brings you happiness."
"We will," Kitty said. She and James had been speaking at length about the possibility of starting a trading company of their own. The East India Trading Company was all but dismantled, leaving room for another company to rise in its place. All they needed were ships and partners. Kitty herself planned on educating the children of the upper-class families of Port Royal in music. Perhaps she'd even start funding musicians who struggled to get by. No matter what, the Norringtons were going to do some good in the world.
Lydia gave each of them one last hug and then turned around. She made her way up the gangplank, paused halfway up, and then gave them one last smile. "Good luck," she said.
"Goodbye, Lydia," Kitty said. Lydia turned back around and finally stepped onto the deck of the ship. The gangplank was lifted as the captain of the ship shouted orders for their departure. Kitty, Elizabeth, James, and Little James all stood there, waving goodbye to Lydia and holding back tears as the ship slowly disappeared into the horizon. Lydia was gone now; off to new adventures and new stories at the side of her Pirate Lord. Kitty wondered what stories Lydia was going to experience in her new life. Surely far more fantastical things lied in the seas. Perhaps Davy Jones and Calypso were just the tip of the iceberg. But that wasn't the life Kitty was meant to have. Kitty's pirating experiences were over, but part of her knew that this wasn't quite the end of her story.
One day they'd all see each other again. She just knew it.