Disclaimer: We do not own anything from POTC but oh, how we wish we did. Hopefully this chapter will give you some more insight into Stella and Allen's life and the whole plot in general. ENJOY! And please R&R.

Chapter Five – Reminiscing

Getting off his horse, Allen carefully watched and calculated the dirt road. He knew Elizabeth Swann would come this way. He had already been to the servant's quarters back at the Governors house, and there he received the news that Elizabeth was not in. This however did not deter his plans, but simply delayed them by taking a bit more time. And for the love of God, he had plenty of time. More than he cared to have.

Getting of the horse he spotted a rather large bush and a tree near it to tie his horse. Although it was not the ideal spot, it would have to work. Upon arriving at Port Royal, he had been asking around about the latest gossip and news. And it just so happened that Elizabeth Swann and Will Turner were the towns hottest bit of information.

This had added greatly to his plans. He now knew where she went on what days, and which roads she took to get there. Of course not every day could be the same, but she was pretty typical. Always going to see that pathetic excuse of a man, Will Turner.

So there Allen sat, waiting patiently for her to ride by. He was almost discouraged when she didn't show up within an hour. But his patience had been rewarded as he had seen her riding on her horse, towards her home. Taking his place he crouched down by the bush, and reached into his satchel. There was a squeaking noise inside, and then he slowly pulled out the rodent.

Making sure the timing was right, he let go of the rat just in time for the horse and it to collide. And when it did, it was absolute and utter chaos. He had to stifle his laughter, if he wanted his performance to be convincing.

"Show time" he said to no one in particular. Putting on a concerned face he made his way over.

"Ahhhhhh" Elizabeth screamed. Suddenly she fell of the horse and landed roughly on her side, which would most likely bruise later. In her daze, she didn't see Allen coming over and trying to soothe the horse.

"My lady, are you alright?"

Elizabeth looked up, noticing that he had extended his arm as a means of support for her, she graciously accepted. "Thank you so much" she didn't look him in his eyes.

"I don't know what got in to him, one moment we were riding just fine, and the next minute he acts like his life was in danger"

She looked up at him. He was incredibly handsome. Whoever he chose to court would not have a problem with the way he looked. His eyes were a light brown and looked warm and kind, and his hair was dark blond and short. Not like the men in Port Royal who had longer hair. He must not be from here then.

She turned around to brush the dust off her gown. When she turned back, she was mildly bewildered at the way his eyes suddenly looked dangerous. A startling contrast to the warm and kind look he had before. But in an instant it vanished, and she brushed in of as a trick of the light.

"I'm sorry, where are my manners, my name is Elizabeth Swann". She lightly curtsied.

"No my lady, it is I who should apologize, a true gentlemen would never let a lady introduce herself first, my deepest apologies". He then proceeded to take her hand in his and bent forward to lightly brush his lips against the back of her palm.

"Please allow me to escort you home, I wouldn't want anything else to happen to a lovely young lady such as yourself". His eyes showed that she held nothing but the best of intentions.

Elizabeth knew she shouldn't allow him to accompany her. For starters she didn't even know much about him, and secondly she was already with Will. If any of the town's people saw her riding with someone as dashing as him, there would be talk, and it wasn't the kind of talk that praised people. Suddenly she realized that he didn't give his name.

"I didn't get your name, Sir" she said kindly.

"How clumsy of me, my name is Berkeley, Allen Berkeley".

"Well it's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Berkeley, but I don't think its necessary for you to accompany me home, I assure you I'm in one piece and quite healthy, and I don't want to bother you". She didn't want to be rude, but she had to let him off gently.

"I assure you Miss Swann, that its no trouble at all, as for you being healthy, I might think otherwise, you see my father was a physician, and you took quite a fall over there, I think it would make everyone feel better if I could just accompany you".

Feeling there was no way to win this one, she hesitantly agreed. Allen untied his horse from the near by tree. It was a beautiful white stallion.

"What a beautiful creature" Elizabeth commented upon seeing the animal. "It's positively exquisite"

"It was given to me by my father when I was a young lad". His eyes darkened at the mention of his father, Elizabeth noticed. Something must have happened between the two. But it was not Elizabeth's place to prod him with questions regarding his family matters. The two mounted their horses, and rode in silence, while Allen took the opportunity to think and calculate his next move.

Far away, Stella was having similar thoughts to that of Allen's. She reached into a drawer, and pulled out a glass frame covered in lace. Slowly she pushed the lace aside and there stood a portrait of her father, Allen, Stella and her mother, Victoria. After word of her father's death got out, Victoria died of an unknown disease. But both Allen and Stella believed it was because of a broken heart. Her family had been snuffed out like a candle in the wind. She and Allen both vowed that day to get revenge, no matter what the costs.

She still remembered the day their mother died. Both of Victoria's children had been devastated, but they didn't cry. They promised to never cry again. Because, as of that day, the plotting and the revenge would begin. She remembered looking in to Allen's eyes and saw anger, hurt and pure loathing towards the ones that caused anguish to them and their family. And the same look had been in Stella's eyes. That was the day their bond had begun to grow.

By pure will and determination they stuck together and wouldn't let the remains of their father's fortune be taken by the greedy people around them. They fought for what was theirs, and took any means to make sure it wasn't taken away. Even if it meant secretly murdering someone or seducing them, they would get what was theirs, and in the end they would prevail.

For months they had fought through legal battles for their property and their money. It had taken an intense amount of willpower to not give up. And in the end they were rewarded. But it had taken a large toll on both her and her brother. In the end they emerged cunning and completely ruthless. Nothing would stand in their way. It was the price they had to pay for somebody else's wrong doings. But soon they would have peace…soon.

She placed the glass frame back inside the lace and placed it inside the drawer. She got up and stared out the window with a distant and painful look on her face, waiting for the only one who could truly understand her to come back.

The days had gone by in a haze for Captain Jack Sparrow. No doubt his crew was off gallivanting with others. But Jack preferred lounging around in the bar and drinking as much rum as his stomach would let him. Yes a good life it was.

"You there sir, another drink" he shouted to the server.

The bartender gave him another round of rum, after his 6th round he lost count. So there he sat drinking his rum and humming a familiar tune. He looked around through his hazy eyes, and spotted two men, who seemed to be talking in a deep suspicious manner.

Of course Jack being extremely nosy, he clumsily made his way to a table in a corner. The table was situated in a place where he wouldn't be caught eavesdropping but at the same time he would be able to pick up strands of the conversation.

"Barbossa's whelps are in Port Royal" said the man with a wooden leg. Jack's ears perked up at the words Barbossa and Port Royal in the same sentence, and with that, many memories of his previous adventure rushed through his hazy mind.

"What be their business there?" the second man responded equally interested.

"Something to do with that Turner boy is all I know, something about him killin' Barbossa. It would seem the whelps have a revenge plot." That's all Jack needed to hear before he bolted through the door, in the process he fell flat on his face, apparently his rum tolerance was not as high as he had thought.

The two men watched as Jack left the bar, a malevolent smile grew between their cheeks. Briskly, they existed the bar and cooperatively dragged Jack to the nearest hay stack, where he lay for quite some time, until he was sober enough to get up. The two gentle men made their leave as their plan went just as expected.

(A/N: Sorry for the cliffhanger, you'll find out more about these mysterious men in later chapters, more will be posted soon.)