Elias leant back in his chair, listening as Marin went over Dugan's instructions with him patiently. The little lad had two different messages to give to the crews of the Pearl and the Dragon, both of which were as important as the other. They were preparing to go after the Maris, something that wouldn't be too difficult, since she was lingering beyond the headland for the Dragon to venture out.

Dugan nodded slowly, letting his friend's words sink in.

'So I'm tae tell Mr Gibbs tae lay off in sight o' the Maris and join the Dragon when she engages wi' Danielson,' he said thoughtfully. 'And old Hopkins is tae hang aboot in harbour until the cap'n and you get on board. Cap'n Jack'll be joining Gibbs on board the Pearl the morn the fighting starts. Aye?'

Marin grinned, proud of him for remembering both messages.

'Aye, you've got it,' she told him. 'And tell them to gather their crews together sooner rather than later.'

'How big do you think my heid is?' he demanded comically, committing this extra bit to memory along with the rest. 'Right, well, I'd best be off then. Wouldn't want tae forget all this noo, would I?'

He slipped from the room, throwing a quick salute to James where he sat going over the plans with Will.

The commodore had decided to go with them after Danielson, feeling the murder of his cousin keenly despite only learning of his relation to Delaney mere days before. He would take the Dauntless out to 'patrol the waters here abouts', and the Dragon would tag on behind. With any luck, Danielson would set on the Dragon, unaware that the Pearl was coming up on his other side. James was to keep the Dauntless out of the fight, only getting involved if the Maris appeared to be gaining the upper hand. At least, that was the plan.

'Do you really think this will work?' he asked Elias. 'A man such as Danielson is not likely to surrender. He'll scuttle his ship to avoid losing his locket.'

The old pirate nodded wearily, seeing the sense in the naval officer's assessment of their treacherous cousin.

'I know that,' he agreed. 'We'll have to be quick in boarding her, or we could lose what we're fighting for. But if losing the locket means Danielson's death also, it's a risk I'm willing to take.'

'And me,' Marin added. 'I owe him for his liberties the last time we met.'

Elias turned to look at her where she stood by the window, watching Dugan hurry down into the town.

'What makes you think ye'll be going with us, lovely?' he asked her, surprised that she would want any part of this.

She fixed him with a no nonsense stare.

'What makes you think you could stop me?' she shot back at him.

Elias sighed, sitting up.

'Look, Marin, I know yer a good fighter and all, but yer very young and Danielson is not one to let a past transgression go unpunished,' he said, trying to convince her to stay behind without sounding too worried for her safety.

'Then I'll fight him,' she said simply. 'You're not leaving me behind, Elias.'

James leant forward.

'I'm afraid that in all conscience I cannot allow a lady to be involved in this battle,' he told her, knowing as soon as she turned steely grey eyes on him that he shouldn't have got involved.

'Do you see a lady in this room?' she asked icily. 'I certainly don't. And I believe, in your own words, cousin, I am a pirate and therefore well deserving of a place in this battle.'

He leant back, conceding her point. Elias glanced up at Jack, but the younger pirate was having none of it. He wasn't going to let anything spoil his chances with her, even if it meant a sleepless night before a fight worrying himself sick over her safety.

'Sorry, mate, I'm not getting involved in this one,' he said warily. 'You're on your own.'

Sighing again, Elias turned back to his stubborn shipmate, unwilling to allow her a chance to put herself in danger once again.

'Marin, please, stay here where it's safe,' he said, resorting to pleading to make her see sense. 'I don't know what I'd do if I lost ye.'

She softened under this, moving to kneel before him, her hands on his knees.

'Elias, you know if the situation was any different I'd be only too happy to obey you,' she told him gently, and he knew, even before she continued, that he had lost the argument. 'But Danielson murdered my parents and left me for dead. If nothing else, I deserve to be a part of his downfall. He's taken too much for me to stand idly by while others take my vengeance for me.'

The old pirate looked down into her eyes, seeing the last of her childlike ideals disappear. She had resisted the darker paths of piracy all her life, and yet now the only way justice could be done was to resort to vengeance and murder. She had accepted this willingly, and he could see that already the acts which were to follow would leave a stain on her innocent soul that she would never be free of.

'Aye, then, me lovely,' he said sorrowfully. 'I cannot stop ye. Ye'll join us in battle.'

James watched, fascinated, as she leant forward into her guardian's arms, thanking him without words for this concession to her stubborn nature, and once again was struck with a deep seated sense of gratitude that he had been accepted as a part of this family. Marin glanced up at him, seeing a myriad of emotion flicker past his eyes.

'Do I have your permission also, cousin?' she asked, moving to kneel before him. 'I can hardly fight alongside you if you're going to spend the whole battle telling me I shouldn't be there, now, can I?'

He smiled faintly, feeling that strange tug at his heart that told him he would worry for her until the smoke had cleared and Danielson's body lay lifeless on the deck.

'How can I refuse when you put it so pleasantly?' he murmured. 'As long as you promise not to get yourself killed, I see no reason why you should not join us.'

Marin returned his smile, seeing the concern in his eyes for her well- being. As she had done with Elias, she leant forward into his embrace, her chin on his shoulder as she held him tightly.

'Thank you, James,' she whispered softly, feeling him relax into her arms faster than she would have expected.

Elias looked up at his companions, seeing the same determination in their faces as he held in his soul. This was one fight they would not lose. By the time they were done, the only thing Danielson would be remembered for would be the efficient way they had rid themselves of him. He would no longer prey on an innocent girl, using memories he had and she didn't against her. If he had to, Elias would kill him himself.

*~*~*

Commodore James Norrington watched from the battlements of the fort as a small boat rowed swiftly from the harbour, apparently into the bare ocean. As far as the eye could see, there was no ship for it to meet with. But James knew Jack Sparrow of old. The Black Pearl would be there, waiting just off the headland to collect her captain.

His gaze shifted across the harbour to where the Red Dragon rolled gently in the swells. There was no sign in her sails that she was ready to sail, but he knew that as soon as men began to board the Dauntless, preparing her to sail, the Dragon would come alive with crewmen, all anxious for the battle to commence.

He turned away, calling for someone to fetch Captain Gillette to him.

'And gather together the crew of the Dauntless,' he ordered. 'Have them ready her to sail.'

Men rushed to obey him, a little thrown by the commodore's sudden wish to explore the waters around Jamaica. The marines were sent back to barracks to pack for an excursion out into the ocean, as were the officers. In the midst of all the bustle he had created, James waited calmly for the man he had sent for.

Captain Evan Gillette was a bit of a novelty in the Navy, indispensable as he was. His father had been a Frenchman, one of many who had landed somewhat unfortunately on the coast of Wales after a skirmish with a British ship had resulted in them being sunk. The locals had accepted him into their community, instead of just outright killing him, and he had married one of the young women. The result had been Evan, who had then grown up to join the Navy. Strangely enough, there weren't many Welshmen of French parentage in His Majesty's Royal Navy.

James heard the captain coming long before he reached his commanding officer's side, his broad Welsh accent demanding of everyone he passed just what on God's green earth was going on. He heard the marines dutifully side- step the captain's questions, directing him up to where the commodore waited.

Gillette threw him a smart salute, his features composed into some semblance of calm.

'Good morning, sir,' he greeted James. 'A fine day.'

Stephen nodded absently, still gazing out at where the row boat was just disappearing around the headland.

'Yes, a fine day,' he said faintly, his eyes on the boat until it was whisked out of sight.

He turned to the captain, seeing all the signs of an impatient man holding himself firmly in check. After all, he should know them. It had taken he himself years to learn to control his emotions whilst on duty.

'Gillette, I will be taking the Dauntless out for a turn about the island this afternoon,' he told the younger man, watching as Gillette's eyes widened in surprise.

'Whatever for, sir?'

The commodore turned to look out over the bustle in the fort.

'I'm feeling a little restricted on land,' he said, truthfully, since he did hate being on land as much as he was. 'And the Nightingale is in to have her bottom scraped, so the waters around us are unprotected. It seemed the best way to get over both problems.'

Gillette's eyes narrowed. He had known Commodore Norrington for over six years now, and could tell a first class cover up when he saw one. The man's expression was identical to the one he had worn when he reported to Vice- Admiral Farnborough about the business with the dead pirates. Still, not one to question his orders in public, he accepted the commodore's explanation with one proviso.

'It would appear so, sir,' he said, carefully ignoring the Nightingale as she slipped smoothly into the harbour, heading straight for the dry dock. 'However, sir, duty dictates that I am the commander of the Dauntless and must authorise her excursions.'

James nodded calmly.

'I know that, Gillette,' he said wearily. 'That's why you'll be coming with me.'

'But who will look after the fort while we are both gone, sir?' Gillette asked, hoping he had caught out his commanding officer with this at least.

He was given one of the most sardonic looks he had ever received from the commodore.

'Captain Leighton will take command in my absence,' he was told firmly. 'No more questions, Gillette. You have a ship to make ready.'

Defeated, Gillette stood to attention briefly, saluting once again.

'Aye, sir,' he said, unable to shake the feeling that things were not what they seemed here.

As he hurried back down into the fort, and down to the dock, James's attention was caught by another row boat drifting across the harbour towards the Dragon where she lay anchored. There were three figures in the stern, one of which was waving to him. The messy red hair was enough to tell him who it was. He smiled secretively. This would definitely be a day to remember.