Jack led Elizabeth into the Captain's cabin. Elizabeth stared around, and then looked blankly at Jack. He had a slightly smug look upon his face. "Well," he said proudly, "welcome to my new mobile home."
'Home' was a large cabin, inside it a green hammock, strung up between two posts, and junk EVERYWHERE. There were chests on the floor, presumably holding clothing or something valuable, like treasure or love letters or memories from its past Captain. There were barrels (presumably filled, Elizabeth thought, with rum). There were hooks on the wall to hang clothing and hats – and there, sure enough, was Jack's infamous hat and coat, strung up on the wall. And there was also a desk with God-knows-what on it. There was junk pushed to the side, but Elizabeth didn't look to see what the junk was. In the middle of the desk were Jack's possessions, and equipment that he had obviously been using before Elizabeth showed up. His compass, the Navigational Charts, a large bottle of rum, and what looked to be......
"Jack," Elizabeth questioned, "what is that?"
What she meant by 'that' was what looked to be a miniature gong. Elizabeth thought why Jack would have a gong on his desk. Perhaps he was sailing to Singapore? But Jack had said they were going to find The Fountain of Youth. Perhaps it was a great treasure he intended to steal along the way.
"That, luv, is a gong" Jack said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, which it was.
"I know that, I'm not stupid," Elizabeth said, annoyed. "But why do you have a miniature gong on your desk?!?"
"Oh," Jack said, smugly. "That, dearest, is the gong which is found in the Fountain of Youth. Whoever enters the gate of the Isle Fountaineis must ring that gong. He (or she) will then not be harmed until the area of the Fountain itself."
Elizabeth was puzzled by that comment. "What do you mean by 'until the area of the Fountain itself'? You mean there will be dangers at the Fountain?" She was feeling a bit nervous about this adventure now.
Jack was confused. "What, you expected this to be easy, simple, just ramble up and take the water? Aye, there be dangers at the Fountain. Dangers and horrors beyond your imagination. Why do you think no-one has ever succeeded in collecting the water??"
By now Elizabeth was really scared. Dangers and horrors beyond her imagination? Then Elizabeth shook herself. She was a pirate king. She had been the leader of over one hundred pirates. She had already faced the weird and horrible, many times. Didn't she have a husband with no heart?! This shouldn't be too hard.
"I'm in. When are we due course?"
Jack smiled. "As soon as your ready, your majesty."
Elizabeth smirked and then walked back on deck. "All hands to braces. Trim that sail, hurry!!!"
The crew were happy to have Elizabeth back on board once again. Elizabeth turned around back to Jack, and stopped. Jack was glaring at her. "What?" Elizabeth asked, confused.
"I am sure that this is my ship and therefore I give the orders." Jack then repeated Elizabeth's orders to the crew. "And now, Elizabeth, I am also sure that you are also part of my crew. Therefore you are also expected to work just as hard as the rest." Elizabeth nodded and started walking towards the sails. But Jack shook his head. "Nay, Elizabeth, your duties shall be different."Jack then pointed to the cabin.
*

Elizabeth wiped her forehead, making sweat cling to her fingers. She was tired, annoyed, and worse of all, had a sore buttocks from sitting on the floor. Elizabeth was angry at Jack. Why couldn't she be on the deck, trimming the sails and checking the ropes? That's what she did – she was a pirate for God's sake. Her job was to run a ship and to pillage and plunder. It was NOT her job to be cleaning a Captains cabin.

After appointing Elizabeth to Jack's cabin, he supplied her with bucket, brush, and an old rag. He then instructed her to clean his cabin, throwing away all things unwanted and keeping anything worthful or sellable. For 3 hours Elizabeth had been at Jack's cabin, and it was nearly complete. She had been amazed at what she had found. Old clothes (certainly not Jacks), bits of junk, spare quills, merchant letters, boring objects, treasured love letters, gold, trinkets, anything. She had been amazed at the pile of junk to throw away, and, looking back over her work, saw that it was much, much cleaner than the space in front of her. Her work had payed out – the floor was empty, books in order on the shelf, the desk tidy. Now all she had to do was clean a humungous chest. Sighing, and using all her muscles, she opened it.

Elizabeth knew immediately that this was all Jacks stuff. There was a huge pile of it. And right on top was Jacks beloved pistol. Pulling out the pistol, she dove further into the chest. It was all his. Spare clothes, his sword, rings, lace, everything she recognised as Jacks. Amazed, she cleared out the box until there was just one thing in it. A single sheet of paper. This must either be worthless or precious to be on the bottom of the pile. Picking up the paper and reading it, she realised the paper was precious . Very precious.

The paper was a Letter of Marque.

But why would Jack want a Letter of Marque? Did Jack think that being a privateer meant that he was free to sail the seas? But Jack never took the easy way. He never wanted those Letters. So why did he have one now?

Elizabeth looked over at Jack, seeing if he had noticed her discovery. He was sitting at his desk, boots up, drinking a bottle of rum. He was staring at the gong, and muttering something that sounded mysteriously like ....we pillage we plunder we don't give a hoot, drink up me hearties yo ho.... . Turning back to the chest, Elizabeth had to decide wether she should reveal her findings or not. Will Jack be angry, or simply unaware. The Letters of Marque may not even be his for all she knew. But this was definitely a chest full of HIS things. Elizabeth decided not to ask, as she knew the probable answer – he stole it. Elizabeth put the Letters back at the bottom of the chest as if nothing had happened. She then piled everything back in, not daring to throw anything out. She then came across a small figure, and she recognised it. She picked it up, and held it in her palm. She squinted at it. Sure enough, there was the name, inscribed on the side. The cannons were in the exact spot they should be, the sails trimmed. In her palm was a miniature model of The Black Pearl.

Elizabeth then thought of something – where was the Black Pearl? It was not a question she had thought about nor asked when she came onto the ship. But now it had occurred to her, it was a real mystery. She had thought that Jack would have it in his possession, as surely he couldn't lose it after 6 years. He wasn't that bad a Captain was he?

Obviously he was.