The rest of the evening progressed quietly. Remembering her place as his guest, Scarlett backed down and the discussion fizzled out to an awkward end. Her and the Commander's disagreement, however, weighed heavily in the air. But ever conscious of reputation and representing his King, Commander Hughes stood gracefully and respectfully, though curt, and bowed to Scarlett and William when it was time to retire to their sleeping quarters.

Once under deck and safely in their room with the door shut, Scarlett collapsed on the edge of her bed. William carefully crawled onto the cot across from her, holding his breath hesitantly. She didn't dare look at the worry on his face in the warm glow of the candle beside them.

"Scarlett," William said, in a slow, quiet voice. "What was that back there?"

"It was nothing."

"Yelling at a commander of the Royal Navy is not 'nothing.'"

"I didn't yell at him," she said, defensively. "Now go to bed. We need to get some sleep."

"Stop avoiding it, okay? That's all you've done ever since your return home." William paused, collecting his frustration to speak calmly. "What happened when you were with those pirates?"

"You're just like those men up there, aren't you? You're wondering why I opened my bloody mouth and said all those stupid things." She closed her eyes, tears sliding down her cheeks. "You might as well know. You're the only person I can talk to now, anyway. I fell in love."

William nodded slowly. "With Captain Jones."

"Yes--so quickly that I didn't realize what was happening."

"Is that why you've been sad?"

She scoffed. "Is it that noticeable?"

"We've all noticed--Mother and Father, even Joseph knows you're not the same."

"Oh, Mother." Scarlett placed her face in her hand. "I couldn't even tell her. When she gave me Grace's letter, she asked about Alexander and what he's like. Then she asked me if he mistreated me. I wanted to tell her everything but I couldn't gather the courage."

"Wait--did he mistreat you?"

Telling by the concern on her brother's face, she knew she owed him the truth. "At first, yes. I even tried to escape a couple times. Once, I got far and stayed with this lovely family, Edmund and Claire--in Ireland."

William raised his eyebrows and his mouth gaped open but he didn't speak.

"Anyway, he found me and then things became worse. He had his men beat me, threw me in the brig and then almost killed the cabin boy, who helped me escape. But I stopped him. I got between him and the Captain's cutlass. That's when he changed. He told me everything about our sister, how I reminded him of her and then he confessed his feelings."

"Scarlett, why didn't you tell me?"

"Do you think it's easy? No one would understand."

"But he's a pirate! A man who is infamous for terrorizing whole towns--a man who has killed people and Heaven knows what else. Plus, he has treated you this way just to get to our sister. And you're in love with him?"

"I know, Wiliam, you don't need to tell me." She wiped her tears furiously. "Now you see what's been bothering me?"

"I'm sorry. I just don't want to see you hurt."

"I can take care of myself."

William smiled sadly. "Do you wish to see him again?"

She peered at her brother. "I do. Every day. But it doesn't matter because it won't happen. He's moved on."

"I just hope you can realize what he did to you--it's unforgivable. You deserve better."

Scarlett nodded compliantly. "We should sleep, William. It's a long journey ahead."

Without another word, she cupped her hand around the candle and blew out the flame.

----------

The following day, Scarlett kept her distance from everyone, even William. It wasn't difficult to stay away from the Commander, as he seemed to be doing the same. She had upset him and nearly insulted everything he stood for, which she regretted immensely, especially after being his invited guest. However, the longer she thought about it, she couldn't disagree with anything she had said.

As for her brother, she wasn't angry with him but what he had said still rang loudly in her ears. After keeping her secrets about the Captain closely hidden in her heart, she felt dismayed by someone pointing them out so bluntly. But he was right. The Captain had mistreated her. She played out the events in her mind as clearly as if they had occurred the day before and realized it was the first time she had thought long and hard about it. She had allowed herself to be whisked away by her newfound love and longing for the Captain that she seemed to forget the bad things--the unforgivable things, according to her brother. How could she let herself fall in love with such a man?

These thoughts dwelled uncomfortably in her mind as two days at sea passed slowly. But she had to remind herself of her mission: to find her sister and reunite their family. Keeping her goal in mind helped her to focus on the present and not what stayed in the past.

It was nearing evening and Scarlett woke abruptly from her nap to the commotion surrounding her. The ship no longer rocked and lulled with the waves but stood still as the anchor lowered noisily into the sea bed. Men shouted orders and footsteps obeyed swiftly. They had arrived at their destination.

She lifted herself from her cot and threw on her cloak before leaving their room and climbing above deck. Glancing around eagerly, Scarlett saw that instead of miles of water, there was finally land. A whole town sat before them, speckled with warm glowing lights. She could just make out the little buildings and pathways amidst the incoming fog. Despite the cold and fading daylight, it was a bustling town with many ships in port and merchants milling about in the marketplace. It nearly reminded her of home.

"This must be Swansea," Scarlett said as her brother approached her side.

"Yes, I'd better gather our things," he said, before heading down underdeck.

Scarlet stood still, watching the sailors around her moving quickly to dock their ship. The Commander and his Lieutenant stood on the stern deck, directing orders at their men while carrying on in deep conversation with each other. She wondered what they discussed and what their assignment in Swansea involved. As if sensing her gaze, the Commander spotted her in the crowd and made his way over to her.

"Well, we have reached the end of our journey together," he said, watching as William returned and lugged their bags onto his shoulder. "Again, I am very sorry I couldn't take you all the way to Plymouth but I do hope your stay with us was a good one."

"Yes, thank you, Commander," Scarlett said. "If there is any way we can repay you--"

"Nonsense, it was my pleasure."

The sailors had finished lowering down the plank to the dock and Scarlett saw this as their cue for departure. However, before she could say her farewells, the Commander stepped forward.

"Just one thing, Miss Scarlett," he said. "The world is a dangerous place and this, unfortunately, is not the safest town. Pirates lurk in these harbor waters. Do be careful who you consider your friend." A knowing glint was in his eye as he lowered his voice.

"Duly noted, Commander," she said with a nod. "Thank you. I think we'll be alright."

With that, she led the way down the plank with William trailing close behind. He shot her a concerned glance, indicating he had heard everything they said. Scarlett ignored him, though, as much as she ignored the Commander's warning. But as they drew closer to the town, there was an uneasy feeling in her gut that she couldn't resist. Suddenly, she realized the familiarity of her surroundings. They were approaching the same town she had visited while in Blackbeard's captivity. Memories flooded back of how she had been bound and escorted to the tavern, how hopeless she felt under his watchful dark eyes and her relief and elation when the Captain came to rescue her. The image of his blue eyes hidden underneath a tricorn hat remained crisp in her mind and she felt a fluttering in her stomach. But she shook the thought away quickly. It did little good dwelling on such things now.

"Well, it's getting late," William said as they stopped in the marketplace and glanced at their surroundings. "We better find some lodging for the night."

"Yes, you're right. But I want to try finding a ship to take us in the morning. I'd like to leave as soon as possible. How about you go find an inn and I'll look for a merchant in the meantime?"

"Are you sure? How will we find each other again? I don't feel comfortable leaving you by yourself."

"William, I was by myself for many days with pirates. I can take care of myself."

He shook his head but she ignored the worry on his face, glancing around at the various storefronts and wooden signs labeling their businesses until her eyes landed on one. "That bakery there. We'll meet on the doorstep at six o'clock. Does that sound like a plan?"

William sighed. "Okay but I don't like it. But I know there's no use arguing with you either." He attempted to hide the smirk on his face.

"Good," Scarlett said with a smile. "Now hurry. I'll be right along."

He heaved the bags onto his shoulders again and took off into the depths of the town, disappearing behind the crowd of vendor carts. Scarlett turned her attention toward the dock, scanning for the men in charge amidst the bustling workers. Eventually, her eye caught a man shouting orders to his men, who carried large barrels down from their sloop. He wore tattered clothing and a scruffy beard but it was worth a try.

"Excuse me, sir," she said.

"What d'you want?" he said, whipping his head around at the intrusion of her voice.

"I'm sorry to bother you. I'd like to ask if you are taking any passengers aboard your ship?"

He looked her up and down. "No, I'm not. Can't afford any more cargo and if I could, I wouldn't be taking a woman. It's bad luck."

He turned his back to her and continued yelling at his crew, regarding her no further.

She took in a breath. "Well, do you know who I could ask?"

He sighed and turned back around. "Yeah, check the tavern. There's travelers in there all the time."

"Where would I find this tavern?"

"That a-ways," he said, pointing up the pathway. "Not much place for a lass, though."

"I'll be alright. Thank you for your help." She left his side and set off on her search, climbing up the hill across the wet cobblestones.

Soon enough, she found herself on the doorstep of the White Stag. An overwhelming dread washed over her as she quickly recognized the tavern. Of course, it was the same one she had entered with Blackbeard, as it was likely the only one in town. Her memories now clear, she hesitated to open the door.

Scarlett glanced around the street behind her. Daylight had disappeared and fog had settled in. Nearby, a man emerged from a door and tended to the lantern hanging above his head, lighting the candle inside. The street was cast in a warm glow, matching that filtering out of the smoke-clouded paned windows of the tavern. It did little to invite her but she gathered courage and pushed through the door.

The hinges creaked loudly as she entered but her presence wasn't noticed over the din of the room. Patrons crowded around tables, bellowing with tankards in hand and barmaids in the other. If not interlocked in a kiss on a drunk man's lap, they flitted around to serve them and fill their stomachs with ale. Averting her eyes from the debauchery around her, Scarlett moved forward to the counter where a man tended to the spirits.

"What'd ya like?" he said in a flat voice, not bothering to look up from the spilled ale he wiped up.

"Actually, I'm looking for someone," Scarlett said.

This caught his attention and he squinted at her. "You don't look like you belong in these parts."

"Well, no, I'm a traveler. My brother and I are searching for a merchant ship willing to take passengers."

He glanced around the room. "Not many merchants in 'ere needing passengers, I'm afraid. And if there are, they're too plastered to talk, dearie."

"Are you sure? It's important. I'm hoping to leave in the morning."

He sighed. "Well, there may be one man but it depends 'ow desperate you are. He's not befitting for a lady but you didn't 'ear me say that."

"That's quite alright," she said with a smirk. "Where is he?"

"Over in that corner." He pointed but she couldn't spot the man through the crowd. "But I warn you, lass. I'd recommend you look elsewheres."

"I'll just talk to him--no harm done there. Can you take me to him?"

He nodded and reluctantly stepped away from the counter. She followed as he led her to a darkened corner of the room, where several men sat around the table. A couple barmaids hung on their arms but aside from that, the rest of the tavern's patrons seemed to distance themselves.

"Sir, excuse the interruption," the barman said, licking his lips nervously. "I have someone 'ere who wishes to speak with you. She is interested in passage aboard your ship."

Scarlett stepped out from behind the man to see her prospective merchantman hidden in the shadows. She gasped and her heart began to pound out of her chest. Suddenly, she understood the reason for the barman's timidity. What had haunted her endlessly in her dreams was now coming to life but there was no escape this time as she stared into the cold, dark eyes of a man she had long wished to forget.