( Well, I'm back with another chappie!!! I hope ya'll enjoy this one and to answer your question about whether or not she knows that she is adopted, the answer is no. She thinks that Jack is her father. But in this story, oddly enough, she has not picked up on much of the pirate slang, though she does carry a bit of vulgarity(you will notice this later). I know it may sound weird but bare with me here. Sorry about the Anamaria typo. So... enjoy the next chap. R&R....)



Chapter 2: The Truth is Out



As the sun began to set slowly on the horizon, the Black Pearl came alive in the night. The crew was bustling about on and below the deck. Lia wondered what all of the fuss was about. It wasn't the first time that they had tread on dangerous waters (no pun intended!). She had been to many places that she had risked life and limb to be. Places where pirates were forbidden. she called to the stocky crew member.

He walked over to her as he wiped his brow, Yes Lia, what can I do for ye? he asked in a worn voice.

She looked at him, then at the mass of land that they were trying to sail around. What is our mission? I ave' not yet been informed. Jack usually tells me everythin', but this he has failed to fill me in on. Would you by any chance know the nature of our mission?

Gibbs looked her up and down for a moment and answered, Ye' father is a busy man, I fear that he is goin' ashore on business reasons. Has he invited ye' along?

She nodded and answered, Aye', he told me to ready meself, that we would be droppin' anchor at Port Royal. Though, he did not tell me why. Strange... She turned and walked away.

She walked to the hatch that led below deck and ran swiftly down the eighteen stairs. She passed slowly by the crew members below and calmly made her way to Jack's room. When she reached the door, she could hear low voices inside. Though she knew that it was wrong to eavesdrop, she strained to make out the conversation. The first voice that she could hear was Anamaria's.

Do ye' think it wise to bring er' ashore? I for one could think of many reason' not to. Why do ye' insist on puttin' er' in danger? Will ould' not be pleased-

Don't ye' dare tell me what Will would be sayin'! It is me own judgement that will come to clear er' passage. Not ye' or Will's. It is my decision... She could hear Jack reply.

What are they talking about? she wondered to herself. WHO are they talking about? She got her answer in seconds.

She is goin' Anamaria. There is nothin' ye' can do to stop er' if she chooses to go. Lia is sixteen years old now. I be thinkin' she is old enough to make er' own decisions now. she heard Jack answer calmly.

When are ye' goin' to tell her? Hmm..? When she turns eighteen? When you are on ye' deathbed? When she is on her deathbed? Whichever comes first?

There was no reply to this question.

At the end of that sentence, she could hear footsteps coming toward the door. She ducked behind a coil of rope as Anamaria passed by her, obviously not pleased with Jack's decision to let her come ashore for some reason. As she watched Anamaria's back retreat down the corridor, she slowly eased up from her hiding place and walked lightly to Jacks door. It was slightly ajar, for Anamaria had forgotten in her rage to close it. She raised her fist and rapped lightly on the door frame, only loud enough to let Jack know that she was there.

His back was to the door. He was standing at his open window, staring out into the night. She walked over quietly to stand beside him. His eyes never left the window. She looked into the night to see if there was anything special. What she saw was simple, but intriguing all the same.

The horizon was dotted with small flickers of light. She guessed that they had reached Port Royal and were looking for a safe place to drop anchor. the night wrapped the city in a humid fog, casting an eerie glow upon it. Fog was often seen on the sea, so this was no rare omen. Though fog was usually a wonderful cover for incoming pirate ships, she despised it just the same. There was just something about fog that made her skin crawl.

It was several moments before either person made a movement toward the other. When it eventually did happen, it was Jack that moved first. He turned his head slightly to her and inquired, What do ye' think we are aiming to plunder in this fine city?

She looked up at him, then back to the Port. When she looked back to him, she answered, I feel that we are not here to plunder or pillage at all. I feel that we are here for a different reason. A more personal reason. Don't ask me why, but I do.

Jack looked at her for a long moment before speaking. When he did speak, it was a solemn voice. Ye' know that I never kept a secret from ye' before, don't ye?

She nodded her head and said, Of course. Should that concern me?

Jack walked to the door and swiftly closed it, turning the lock, then walked back to the window. I aven't' been completely honest with ye' in ye' years. There are some things Iv'e been keepin' from ye', though I had no choice...

What are you gettin' at father? she asked hurriedly, knowing that the time that they had to enter Port Royal was drawing near.

He looked at her with a look of pure sadness on his dark face. Don't call me that... he said softly.

She was taken aback. What do you mean? Why not? She walked over to him and placed a hand on his bare arm, stroking his tattoo of a sparrow on his wrist.

He looked into her eyes and asked, Have you ever wondered who you looked like? Why you are so different from everyone else?

She was suprised at the question be said, Sometimes I wonder why my skin is so fair when your and mother's skin is so tan. Other times I wonder why my hair holds curl when neither of Orcs does. Why do you ask?

He looked deeply into her eyes and said with sorrow hiding in his voice, Because your not mine...

She did a double take as she shot her eyes up to meet his. What in God's name are you talkin' about? She backed a few steps away from him.

He stood up and walked toward her. I mean exactly what I say. Ye are not mine. Ye are related to me in no way, other than a guardian relationship. Ye are not of mine or Anamaria's bloodline. Though ye are the bloodline of this ship, ye are not of mine.

She looked at him with a bewildered and disbelieving look. Why do I doubt this highly? She asked suspiciously.

Jack looked at her sadly and said, Cause' it sounds hard to believe. Though I speak the truth. Ye' mother was a fair noble woman. The daughter of a governor to be exact. Ye' father was a blacksmith. He was the son o' Bootstrap Bill Turner. So ye' are of pirate blood.

Lia looked at him like he was crazy and burst out laughing. Y' know father, this has to be the lowest joke that you have ever played on me. Ten points for you dad, you almost had me convinced. She continued to laugh.

Jack, though, was not laughing. He didn't find this the least bit humorous. He continued, When ye were born, there was a conspiracy surroundin' ye'. Ye' mother was killed and ye' were in danger. Ye' father entrusted ye' to me for safekeepin' until the conspiracy was over. He asked me that when ye were sixteen, to let ye know of ye past. He wanted ye to know that he loved ye unconditionally and that he always would. He also wanted me to give ye' this.

He walked over to her and took her hand. In her palm, he placed the dragon medallion. As the cool silver hit her palm, she looked down at it. She studied it for a moment and marveled at it's craftsmanship.

Ye father made that himself. From his blacksmith equipment and free time. Look on the back. Jack said hurriedly.

She turned the medallion over in her hand and ran her fingers over the engraving on the back.

Dare to Dream, and Dare to Live the Dream. ~ W.T. ~

Her eyes widened as she read the words. Jack had always told her these words. But what did W.T. mean. Who's initials were they?

They were ye father's initials. They stand for William Turner. Ye name is not Lia Sparrow. It never was. Jack answered.

Then what was it? she asked, the first words that she had spoken in a long while.

He cast his eyes downward and said, Cordelia Turner.

She looked up at him and said, Daughter of the Sea. That's why you called me that. I understand now. Why did you wait so long to tell me? Why could you not have told me sooner. Now this is all that I will think of for the rest of the night.

He kept his eyes downcast and said, You'll see why I told you tonight soon. Let us be going now, He placed the medallion around her neck and kissed her forehead, Port Royal calls to us.

And with that, he took leave of his quarters, leaving Lia, or should we say Cordelia, to her thoughts. The only thing that she could say of was.

What in the Hell is going on?!?



(So, what do you think? I hope that I didn't rush into this too quickly. I just feel that this needed to come out this chapter to prepare for the next, which should have a little action in it. Anyway... Review me if you like it. I have to go now. I will update again soon. Night Everyone!!!)