Chapter 5

"So, what's the plan?" I asked as I bounded up to the two men.

"We don't have one yet." Said Will looking at Jack coolly then following Jack's gaze he asked "We are going to steal the ship?"

"We are going to Commandeer that ship, nautical term" Jack answered "One question about your business boy, otherwise there's no use going. This girl, how far are you willing to go to save her?" he asked seriously for once.

" I'd die for her" Will responded forcefully, my heart sank as low it could go, what if I can't change his mind, what if his loves too strong, my father said that Wills a special one and that he will fight for what he wants.

Jack noticed the worry in my big, brown eyes and raised his eyebrows at me "Oh good then." He said sarcastically.

We picked up a row boat and crouched under it we were walking out to the sea, Jack at the front Will at the back me in the middle. Well that's my new dress ruined. As we got further out into the sea the air pocket that had formed allowed us to breathe, but I had another problem the men were much taller than me and my feet couldn't reach the sea bed bellow and I was just holding on with my arms to the sides of the boat dangling, like a rag doll. "This is either madness or brilliance." Will said awed but still remembering that Jack was a pirate, to me it was clear that he had done this before.

"It's remarkable how often those two things coincide." Jack stated.

"Umm guys I'm having a slight problem" I said my voice shaky , my knuckles white from clinging on and I was losing my grip on the wood of the row-boat.

"Get on my back love" said Jack as he pulled me onto his back after losing my grip and being weighed down hugely by my dress. Will wasn't pleased but it defiantly was a help to me.

The three of us must have looked a remarkable sight me piggy back style on Jack and the boys walking holding up the boat. CRUNCH, Will had stepped in a crab trap his foot had gone straight through the wood, he couldn't shake it off o he carried it on dragging the barrel floating on the surface of the water behind him.

As we reached the back of the Dauntless and abandoned the row boat, I asked Jack below me

"How on God's green earth are we meant to get up there?" pointing at the deck of the ship towering above.

"Climb, how else?" said Will like it was the most obvious thing in the world, throwing the rope of the crab trap over the ship's rail, after pulling the cage off of his foot that is.

"Well, you don't think I can climb do you? Especially not in this dress." I replied , I could just tell that they were regretting letting me come , they both though that I was more trouble than I was worth...Story of my life, I wasn't really listening to the men's conversation until I was heaved over Will's shoulder like a sack of potatoes

After Will reached the top of the ship he unceremoniously dumped me on the deck on my arse, "Hey!" I shouted at him rubbing my sore rear end.

"Everybody stay calm we are taking over the ship!" shouted Jack, whilst Will jumped over the railing on the stairs onto the main deck and in his best fake pirate voice Will shouted "Aye , avast," at which everybody laughed and I felt embarrassed for him, turning a light shade of rose to match his . Jack simply dealt with the situation by aiming and cocking his pistol at the young lieutenant's head, at which all of the navy's men quickly vacated the Dauntless and alerted Norrington, just like in the plan.

We pretended to pull ropes and fiddle with sails, at which they brought the interceptor alongside the Dauntless to search for us, they assumed I was being held hostage, assumed very wrong. We ran to the side and I swung over to the Interceptor by myself (quite an achievement for me!) Following this in the most unladylike manner seen to man I promptly landed on the deck, yes, on my already sore bum. At which Will laughed and Jack smirked, and then turned his attention to annoying the Commodore, he had it all figured out Jack and Will had dissembled the runner chain... Whatever that was!

I ran below deck whilst Will was sharpening his sword and telling a story about living in England to Jack, I went to show them my new clothes see if they liked them, well if Jack would like them I already knew Will wouldn't. He was going to lecture me about how it was improper for a young lady to dress like that. My new room was great Jack gave me the only cabin other than the Captain's cabin, because I was a girl and he didn't want me flashing myself of to the crew...when we get one that is! I only got the cabin because Will "persuaded" Jack to give me it. Sure the cabin was small, but it was cosy, I had a small dressing table, with a cracked mirror and a stool, a wardrobe and a chair. The best part was though most of the small room was taken up with a double bed, the sheets were grimy and had some questionable stains, but I could always ask Will for some new ones when we reached the next port.

I carefully hung my still damp emerald dress in the wardrobe (it took all of the room) and I put my shoes on the base of my bed. I put my slip in the wardrobe too and removed my corset , taking a huge full breath of oxygen as I went. The bloomers came off and so did my stockings. Then I was just left as me in my purest form, I pulled on some new underwear (with ordinary panties and not bloomers) and I then pulled on my white shirt with puffy sleeves and a plunging drawstring neckline, then my black trousers, my first time in trousers and I felt so free, then the black pirate-y boots and I finally removed Norrington's pearls and I stashed them safely in my dressing table draw and I locked it. When I left my Father had given me an envelope and I was told to open it when I was alone, I pulled open the envelope discarding it , letting it fall to the floor by my feet, I then opened the piece of parchment and out fell a large emerald on a silver chain, I was shocked and I held on to it tightly in my palm, and then read the note, my father's tiny writing said:

Lydia,

There is enclosed another letter and a emerald necklace, read the letter and wear the necklace always, I knew there would be a time when you would have to leave me to follow your heart, in my eyes William is your true love and I hope he will make you happy. I know you will win him over my sweet daughter as you are so bright and kind and beautiful, any man who cannot see that is a fool. Please promise me this Lydia stay safe, I cannot lose you as well.

All my love

Your Father.

I had begun to cry already and I braced myself for the second letter and as I unfolded it I made a silent promise to him to stay safe. The second lot of writing was bigger and swirly and joined clearly a lady writing, and it was clearly quite old.

My darling Lydia,

I always knew there would be a day when I was no longer here on this Earth and your Father promised to give you this when I pass away, and when you are mature enough and more importantly when you need me most .

Now you are reading I must be gone, and I wanted you to know that although you are only seven years old as I write this I know that you are so beautiful, you are already headstrong and brave even though you are incredibly stubborn and know what you want. You have me with you always and I have been since your first breath, it will hurt reading this but I love you and be strong I know you are, this necklace enclosed is mine, always wear it for it will bring you luck, this green always has been a good colour on you, and when you are old and have my grandchildren around your feet give this to your daughter and they shall have both of us with her when you too are long gone.

My final words to you are to always follow your heart but you can be easily hurt I know you but never give up on love, it will always pull through and one day it may even save your life. Live your life to the full like tomorrow shall be your last, love like you will never love again , be happy even when times are hardest and always even in times of darkness and despair see that glimmer of sunlight coming out form behind a cloud.

I shall always be with you my Angel

Loving you forever until the ends of time

Your Mother

By this point I couldn't see for the wave of tears I locked this also in my draw along with the letter from my father, and the picture of Will and I from my birthday I brought that in my bad also. I cannot believe she knew to write this even in the year when she died.

I sat at my dressing table and wiped my eyes, my long dark hair was masking me and so with the one object left on the dresser, some gold handled scissors (from a sailors fiancé probably) I cut it off it had been near my elbows and I kept snipping until I had a bob about an inch and a half pat my ears. I looked alive again less drained and looking in my reflection I placed the emerald necklace on the sliver chain form my mother around my neck. There was an old men's shirt in the wardrobe the same green as the stone in my necklace so with the scissors a cut a piece from that too and made myself a Jack-esse bandana, but in green. I put on the belt and slid in my sword and then tied my newly made bandana on top of my glossy dark bob, and I strode more confidently out onto the deck.

The sight that met me was outrageous Jack was waving a sword at Will who was suspended in the air clutching onto the beam of the sail. Men, honestly! When they saw me Jack gave me a shocked look and Will's mouth fell open to which Jack turned said something crude which I didn't quite catch to Will and then raised an eyebrow. Will turned a bright shade of tomato red.