Chapter 8

Author's note: Okay so finally found some motivation to continue with this story. Thank you to all who are still with me!

It was a rainy and gloomy day in Port Royal. In fact it had been raining for nearly a week relentlessly. A few brutal storms passed by and in fact one was happening right now. The thunder clapped loudly and the lightning struck the earth viciously. Elizabeth sat at her vanity table writing in her journal.

"Today marks the twelfth week that James has been gone. I grow worried about his welfare. The Dauntless was due home yesterday; my father had told me so a few days ago. James has always in times past been home on time. He never seemed to delay but now he is late. I cannot help but worry. I asked father about it this morning. He told me he had not heard any news regarding The Dauntless…"

Suddenly there was a knock on the door and she was interrupted. Quickly she snapped her journal shut and looked at the door.

"Come in," she said.

Her father, Governor Swann stepped inside her room. She met his eyes and they were very troubled. Elizabeth felt her stomach tighten up. He had that very same expression when he told her that her mother had passed away. "Father, are you alright?"

"Elizabeth, Lord Beckett is here. He has something to tell you. I thought it would be best coming from him," Governor Swann said solemnly." He is in the study," he added. Elizabeth nodded and exited her room to begin to make her way to her father's study but noticed her father not follow her.

"Father?" Elizabeth questioned.

"It's fine Elizabeth. Go to him," Governor Swann urged her. Elizabeth again nodded her head and continued the path to the study. This was definitely not going to be good news, she knew that for certain. Anxiety was killing her as she walked and made her want to get there as quickly as possible.

Finally she was there and slowly entered the room. Beckett stood by a window watching the storm and drinking some port. The lighting she noticed was quite eerie. She had not seen Beckett for a couple weeks. He said that there was "Business" to attend to out at sea.

"Lord Beckett," Elizabeth said to get his attention. Beckett turned to look at her and greeted her with a warm smile.

"Elizabeth, you look beautiful as always," he walked over to her and hugged her. "I've missed you," he said into her hair. He then pulled away. "I wish this was only a visit for pleasantries," he said as he pulled away.

"Yes father said you had something to tell me," Elizabeth said. She was happy he was here but at the same time wished he was not. He clearly was about to drop some bad news on her, she just knew it.

"Yes, well I suppose there is no easy way to say it," Beckett paused for a brief moment before continuing. "As you have already figured out the Dauntless is late on her return. That being said there is a reason for this and unfortunately it is rather grim. The ship and her crew have been lost to the sea; we found parts of the ship…"

Oh God Elizabeth thought. James…no she did not just hear that. She felt her breakfast threaten to come up from her stomach tightening into a knot. Her legs began to tremble.

"What…what happened?" She managed to choke out.

"We believe a hurricane was responsible," Beckett said.

"A-and no survivors" Elizabeth said. Beckett shook his head and hot tears welled up in her eyes. She tried so hard to fight them and quickly turned around to attempt to compose herself. Her entire body was now trembling.

"Elizabeth… I know that the Commodore was a close friend of yours. I'm so sorry," Beckett said putting his hands on her shoulders comfortingly. There was no way this was actually happening. James was not gone he could not be gone! Elizabeth was really breaking down now, her control quickly slipping as she felt the tears slide down her face now. Her knees finally buckled but luckily Beckett caught her. He turned her around and embraced her and she now cried hard into his shoulder. He said comforting words to her softly to try and calm her down. She then flashed back to a favorite memory of her and James.

"Elizabeth where are you?" James said.

Elizabeth giggled at James' cluelessness of her whereabouts. She could tell he was becoming frustrated with this game. Irritation was written all over his face.

"Seriously James you are terrible at this game," Elizabeth said as she stepped out from her hiding spot.

"Yes apparently so. That is why I don't like this game…" James said irritably.

"Aww, don't be grumpy," Elizabeth said with a fake sad pout on her face.

"I'm not being grumpy," James protested.

"Yes you are. You have a very sour look on your face, like this," Elizabeth attempted to recaptured his expression and looked quite ridiculous doing so.

"I do not look like that," James huffed. "Anyway I have something else for us to do, that we will both enjoy."

"Really? What?" Elizabeth was excited.

"Well you see that boat over there?" James pointed toward the water. Elizabeth nodded. "I'm teaching you how to fish today."

"I thought you said that ladies don't fish?" Elizabeth was skeptical. She had been begging him for months to teach her.

"Well fortunately for you I've had a change of heart. Come on let's go!" James said, he actually seemed a bit excited.

"Okay! Thank you James!" Elizabeth was beyond herself with excitement.

After James showed her the basics, she was fishing like a pro. She seemed naturally talented at it as she had already caught two fish. He admittedly was impressed. They joked and talked for hours as they fished. By the end of the day Elizabeth's porcelain white skin was at least a good three shades darker. She knew her father would have a fit but she really did not care. She had the time of her life.

Elizabeth looked on that day very fondly. She was fourteen at the time and had really been starting to develop feelings for James then. He was always so good to her. She felt a new wave of tears come on. She would never have a moment like that with James again and it tore her apart.

Governor Swann happened to come into the room just then to check on them. Beckett quickly noticed and started to pull away from Elizabeth but the Governor shook his head no. He knew that Elizabeth needed the comfort and right now Lord Beckett was the best she had. The Governor too was mourning. James was a very good friend of his as well, in fact he had come to think of James as the son he never had. He actually had thought at one point that Elizabeth and James would one day marry. But now any hopes of that were gone as the Dauntless was now in ruins. Her crew it seemed was lost to the sea forever.