Hello again, if you haven't noticed, I've been updating quite quickly. However, with college starting in less than 2 days (arghh!) I may have to slow down my pace of writing and updating. Sorry if this is a bother ...

I hope you enjoy this chapter ...

In the Blacksmiths,

Jack and Lottie hid silently round the corner as guards ran past, both panting softly from the amount of running they had done. Although Lottie was sure she knew the way to the Smithy's, they had to double back to avoid guards and 'concerned' civilians, who were only interested in the rewards and valour of catching a pirate.

Finally, they came up to the shop. Lottie peered into the window, taking note of the empty store, save for one drunken man, who was passed out on a chair. "All clear," she murmured.

Waltzing in, they stopped in front of the unconscious man. Jack bent down, waving his hands in front of his face. Getting no response, he tried to shout. When nothing happened, he went further into the smithy, trying to find something to rid him of his shackles.

Whilst he was doing that, Lottie was peering over the swords displayed on the wall. They were well made. She looked down to her own, which was starting to look a little worn. It had once belonged to a blind pirate and it was said that he could hear even a flea bark from a mile away. Therefore, Jack and Lottie saw it as a challenge.

Paddy, the blind pirate, was amused by their attempts. Both were only young, just pushing 13, and they longed for more adventures. So, he allowed them there fun. What he did not expect was the near perfect teamwork of Jack and Lottie. Both could communicate with little words, just hand gestures and eye contact. It was because of this that they were able to take the sword. Jack had run up to Paddy, rather loudly, to distract him and to unclasp his belt. Then, whilst Paddy dealt with Jack, and being given the signal, she crept toward the sword and swiped it.

Paddy had let her keep it as he was impressed by their initiative. Jack allowed Lottie to keep the sword as he had one of his own which he had been gifted by a Russian man, the Pirate Lord of the Caspian sea. He said that Jack made a grand sailor and would probably go on to become the youngest Pirate Lord ever. They even sailed with the man for a few years, meeting Hector Barbossa, and then left for new adventures. Eventually, the man handed down his piece of eight to Barbossa, as Jack was nowhere to be seen. Of course, he didn't know that, at the time, Jack had tried to make an honest living and joined the East India Trading Company, with Lottie masquerading as a boy and joining him.

Lottie picked up a silver sword with a piece of onyx crafted into the handle. It was lighter than she expected and looked as if it was made for a woman, being slimmer and balanced accordingly. Swapping it for Paddy's sword, she noticed Jack trying to hammer the shackles.

"I doubt that's gonna work Jackie." She rolled her eyes at his pout. He was such a child. Then she noticed him looking up at the machinery. Watching him pick up the red-hot poker, she intervened. "What has that poor mule done wrong, ya mutt. And get that poker outta ma face before I shove it ..."

Jack caught on quickly, wincing and dropping the rod. He watched as she gently coaxed the mule into action and eventually, he broke the chains. Sighing, he stretched his arms out, taking off his hat and relaxing against a pillar.

Suddenly, they heard a noise. The door was opening. Hiding quickly, Lottie pinched his hat, putting it on Jack's head and pushed him behind a barrel. Without time to hide, she pulled her shirt down slightly and turned toward the door, hoping he'd be like most men and give in to a pretty smile and a flash of skin. She noticed Jack frowning and pulled out her tongue.

The boy, well, young man, she supposed, was tall and well-built, obviously the brilliance behind the sword at her side. His hair was tied back and reached just past his shoulders in soft curls. Lottie was reminded of Jack's ringlets as a child and had to suppress her grin. He looked familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

"Right where I left you," he said softly, looking at the man in the chair. He had not yet noticed the woman lounging against a barrel, impatiently tapping her finger against her leg.

"Not where I left you," he continued, the hammer in his hand. Jumping up, Lottie cursed Jack mentally.

"I'm sorry, I was curious about your trade and I couldn't actually remember where it was originally. Forgive me?" Lottie knew how to work men, it was a great advantage in many situations and got her out of trouble well. With her flirtatious nature, it was something she enjoyed doing. However, from the way the boy's hand moved to his sword, he was obviously wary. She felt a tiny bit of respect for him, he wasn't instantly taken by her pouting lips or her heavy lashes. She did notice his gaze fall to her cleavage a second before staring into her eyes. So, that answered the question as to whether he liked girls. Such a gentleman.

"Are you one of the pirates they're looking for?" the whelp asked, his voice hostile. She sighed, willing tears into her eyes.

"Please, you have to help me. He'll be here any minute and I'm scared. I can't go back! Please ..." She ran to the man and hugged him fiercely, sobbing about this great unjustice. She felt his shock, yet, like all good gentlemen, tried to comfort her.

"Your not doing it willingly?" he asked, his anger towards pirates igniting further.

"I'm so scared, he said he'd sell me to these vile men if I didn't do as I was told. You have to help me, please. It's why I convinced him to come to Port Royal. Please." Inwardly, she rolled her eyes at her pathetic display. 'Come on Jack, get a bloody move on,' she thought softly.

Whilst the man tried to stop her sobs, running a soothing hand over her back, Jack stepped quietly behind him, sword already drawn and pointed at his neck.

Like clockwork, Lottie then, with surprising strength, span the man around, his wrists behind his back and captured in her grip. Her voice returning to normal, her face was once again tear free and in control.

"Sorry luv, no hard feelings though, yeah?" Will felt like a fool, he knew he should never trust a pirate, even a lady pirate!

"You're the ones they're hunting, the pirates." He repeated, the sword at his neck not silencing him any.

"You look somewhat familiar," Jack said, his eyes searching the boyish face, "have I threatened you before?"

The boy frowned, obviously insulted. "I make it a point to avoid familiarity with pirates." He had spat out the word pirate as if it were a curse. Obviously, the lad had a problem with them just because of their ... profession.

"Come on, luv, a gals gotta make a living. Pirates aren't to bad," at this, she made her grip looser an his wrists, moving closer to him, her breasts pressed against his back, "I'm sure we could get along famously," she finished, whispering into his ear. The blush on the boy's cheeks were hilarious and Jack was obviously trying to stifle laughter.

"I have no interest in 'getting along' with any pirate, thank you very much!" he spat.

"Your not eunuch, are you?" Jack asked, having watched many fall for his Lottie's charms before. "And, on the subject of familiarity, we wouldn't like to put a black mark on your record, so we'll be off." With that, he pulled Lottie away from the whelp and began heading to the door.

They would have made it, if not for the sword now pointing at Jack. "You think that wise boy? Crossing blades with a pirate?"

"You should listen luv, we wouldn't want ya to get hurt too bad," At this, Jack had become oddly serious, whereas Lottie seemed to be grinning, excited about the prospect of a fight.

"You threatened Miss Swan!"

"Only a little, and Lottie 'ere threatened your Governor. We didn't hurt them though so no harm done. If you'll excuse us," pushing the boy's blade aside with his own, Jack and Will began to fight. Lottie climbed up to the window ledge, sitting contentedly, watching the duel. She would voice opinions and advice to both sides, leaving Will confused and Jack chuckling.

"You know what you're doing, I'll give you that," Jack said lightly, trying to inch his way to the door, noticing Lottie already had her escape route sorted. "How about footwork, if I step here," he watched triumphantly as Will followed. "What about here," soon he was in front of the door and went to exit. Suddenly, a sword flew past, missing his head by inches and sticking into the door.

"Good trick," Lottie praised, her hands behind her head, resting on the ledge casually.

"Yes, wonderful, expect now you don't have a weapon." Jack proclaimed, smirking at his victory.

With that, Will took a heated sword off the fire, raising it to parry the sword in front of him.

"Spoke to soon Cap'n," Lottie was becoming more and more interested in the lad. He had pirates blood, that was definite. He swung the sword naturally. But what was a Pirates bairn doing in Port Royal of all places?

"Who makes all these?" Jack asked, exasperated. He knew they didn't have much time, and this whelp was holding him up.

"I do!" the boy crowed proudly, "and I practice with them! Three hours a day."

Lottie whistled, impressed. Poor lad probably didn't have a girl. She wondered if he was eunuch.

"You wanna get yourself a girl mate," Jack said, trying to distract Will. They parried and continued fighting. "Or is it that you have found one but are incapable of wooing said strumpet." Jack looked the lad over, nodding at his crotch, reminding him of the eunuch comment before. This seemed to enrage the lad and his attack became more violent.

"I practice three hours a day so when I see a pirate, I can kill it!"

"That's a bit harsh," Lottie muttered, trying to find an advantage for Jack. "The cart!" She yelled, to which man, neither knew. Jack slowly pushed him towards the cart and they managed to balance as the cart swayed under them. Will then took a dagger and pinned Jack's chain to the wooden beam behind him, allowing him no movement with his left arm. In response, Jack stomped on a loose floor board, making Will fly to the ground.

Jack finally pulled the dagger out and used the cart to launch Will up into the rafters. Soon, Jack joined him and fight continued. It seemed that Will had won, managing to disarm Jack. At this point, Jack threw some sand into the lads eyes and pulled out his pistol.

"You cheated!" Will exclaimed.

Both of the pirates snorted. "Pirate," they replied simultaneously.

"Lad, you've lost, accept it and let him pass." Lottie asked, her soft voice out-of-place among the chaos.

The boy was stubborn though. "No."

Lottie rested her head in her hands, stupid bloody whelp. The guards were now banging on the door, trying to enter. Jack cocked his pistol.

"Please move, this shot is not meant for you." Both Lottie's and Jack's face darkened. They dreamed of the day when Jack could get their revenge against the mutinous Barbossa.

Lottie looked up, eyes wide at the man creeping behind Jack, bottle raised. Knowing she wouldn't be able to do anything, she jumped out the window, yelling, "I'll see you soon!"

By the time she left, Jack had a bottle broken over his head and was now unconscious. Norrington entered behind with the other guards.

"Excellent work Mr Brown." the Commodore praised, unwilling to speak to the whelp who had caught Elizabeth's fancy.

"Just doing my civic duty, sir." He replied, leaving to got to the pub, no doubt. Will frowned momentarily, annoyed. But he brushed it off. He knew he had helped send a pirate to the gallows, he should be proud.

"I trust you will remember this day as the day Jack Sparrow almost escaped." Everyone knew that someone was missing, that the sentence didn't sound complete without Carter. However, Norrington soon sent his men to find the sinful woman and set extra protection round the prison, hoping she would fall into the trap of trying to free her Captain.

.

Meanwhile, Lottie was trying to find a place to hide until she could rescue Jack tonight. Seeing a woman, most likely a maid, walk towards a manor house, she quickly knocked the woman unconscious and stole her clothes, leaving her in an underdress. How many layers did these ladies wear?

All suited up, she adjusted the cap and made her way up to the manor. She hoped that no one would recognise her. Quickly wiping the kohl off her eyes, she prayed that these people were as dumb as she expected.

Knocking on the door, she waited impatiently. A butler opened the door. He looked down at her, not recognising the young maid. She was a lovely little thing, and the blush that painted her cheeks was adorable.

"Me Aunt ain't feeling well, so she sent me up to 'elp out, sir." She bit her lip, trying to hold back laughter at the sympathetic look. Tears of mirth threatened to spill but the Butler took them to be sorrow.

"You must be Nellie's niece, I was wondering why she was late. Please, come in, and ask Annie for your job rota for the evening."

"Yes, sir. Thank you." She smiled up at him shyly, bobbing into a curtsey.

The remaining daylight hours had been tedious and she sent a prayer of thanks to whichever God blessed her with this luck. Apparently, Nellie had been feeling rather off and she spoke fondly of her family and her niece, who had just arrived from England. She had spent the past hour running a bath for Miss Elizabeth, who thankfully did not recognise her.

Currently, Lottie and another maid, Estrella, she thought, were preparing the coals for Miss Elizabeth's bed.

"It's been an exciting day, hasn't Miss." Lottie asked softly, an English accent flowing from her voice with ease.

"Indeed it has, Becca." That was the name of Nellie's niece, so that was the name Lottie responded too.

"You must have been so shocked," Estrella said, turning down the bed covers.

"Well, yes, I wasn't expecting the Commodore to propose," Lottie almost laughed aloud at that. This girl was something else. Pirates didn't faze her but a proposal from Lord Snooty made her shocked!

"Well, I was talking about all that pirate business, but the Commodore proposed, fancy that. That be a smart match, Miss." Estrella hummed happily, her joy for her Mistress' luck shown freely.

"Yes, any woman would be lucky to marry him," Elizabeth murmured, obviously not one of those women.

"Then again, that William Turner be a smart match too, Miss, if you don't mind me saying." Estrella said coyly, smiling slightly. Lottie froze. William Turner? Bill Turner, as in Bootstrap Bill. A son? Her eyes widened further as she remembered the boy at the Smithy. Pirate blood, she mused. Wait till she told Jack!

"Now that is too bold," Elizabeth said coldly, a slight glare at the maid. Estrella muttered her apology and curtseyed, making her way out of the door. Lottie went to follow, but stopped.

"You know Miss, we were given hearts to fall in love. It'd be pretty useless not to listen to it." She uttered, turning from the room. She heard Miss Elizabeth hum slightly, acknowledging her advice.

Suddenly, cannon fire was heard and Lottie and Elizabeth rushed to the window. Elizabeth gasped, seeing a pirate ship, one she saw so long ago. Lottie gasped at seeing the Pearl, her heart pounding against her chest in happiness. They were so close!

Running from the room, Elizabeth grabbed Lottie's hand and dragged her along. Seeing the Butler about to open the door, both girls shouted, "Don't!"

Too late. "Hello Chum," a pirate smirked.

Pulling Lottie into another room, Estrella ran over to them. "Miss Swan, you have to hide! They've come to kidnap you."

"What?" Elizabeth asked, confused. Lottie was slightly confused too. What did Barbossa want with this slip of a girl. That was when she noticed the medallion.

"You're the Governor's daughter! You must hide." Estrella continued.

"S'not her there after, Miss, if I may. It's that pirate gold round her neck." Both maids watched as Elizabeth gasped, her hand reaching up to the medallion.

Lottie, not wanting to be caught out, soon ran to where she hid her bag. Grabbing it, she kept to the shadows and jumped out of the nearest window, finding safety in an abandoned church. She prayed that Elizabeth didn't get hurt too badly. After all, they weren't who she wanted. Carefully, she made her way to the fort, where the prison was kept. She watched quietly as two pirates, their body's turning to stone in the moonlight, leave the cells. As they left, she crept in.

"Hello Jackie," She said. Jack looked over to her, taking note of her maids outfit. "One word, and I'll hang you off the mast by your bits!" He kept quiet.

"Barbossa's here." Jack wondered where she had been in such clothing, and hoped she wasn't injured.

"I know, he's after the last piece of the Gold." Lottie spoke quietly, and watched as Jack's eyes widened. "Our friend, Miss Lizzie Swan has it. Don't know where she got it from. Either way, that's what there here for."

Jack nodded, taking in the information. As soon as Barbossa broke he curse, the sooner Jack could kill him. "Anything else?"

"You know the lad you were fighting," he nodded, "I have reason to believe that be Bootstrap's bairn."

Lottie and Jack grinned at one another. It was only a matter of time before they were back onboard the Pearl, free as the ocean itself.

Ta Da! Hope you liked, don't forget to comment!