"GOOD EVENING WILL," the girl said in a whisper of amazement. She had an uncertain tone and a trembling voice. She was surprised to land in front of him.

She hadn't really expected to see him there, at least not tonight. But the surprise wasn't so bad.

The young man smiled at her and admired her in all her splendor. He was a little better dressed than usual, although Asteria would admit that she liked his outfits. Wearing a shy expression, he questioned the young girl.

"You looked scared, or bent out of a shape," he said.

"My father took Norrington as a spy, he's here to watch me. I am not a child!" she whispered.

"Is it because you invited the lower classes? People like me?"

"Don't talk nonsense. How do you know that I was the one who invited the people?"

"Everyone knows that, miss. You are a real hero down there."

"Truly? That's not what I was looking for. I just wanted to see public and people happy, celebrating."

Will couldn't stop his grin from blooming.

On the other side of the room, the Commodore watched his sweetheart closely, and decided to join them.

"Good evening, Mr. Turner," he began.

"Commodore Norrington," Will said.

"Very nice sword, by the way. Your services are greatly appreciated."

"I am delighted, then."

Asteria was confused, but tried not to show it. She stood up straight and smiled.

"What are you doing with young Swann?"

"We're talking, isn't that acceptable?"

"I would like you to stop speaking on my behalf as if I were not there, Commodore."

"Your name which will soon be mine."

"I beg your pardon?" she said, raising an eyebrow.

Will was surprised and touched.

"You are going to wed him," he stammered.

He wore an expression of disappointment and trouble, but he expected it.

"Absolutely not. I told the Commodore that I would consider his proposal but that if he continued to strut like a noble peacock, my answer would already be formulated."

Will found a smile and chuckled slightly, he estimated the audacity of the young girl.

"Don't forget that our destinies are closely linked, miss. In a letter, I can have you mine, so if I were you, I would measure my maxims."

"Is that a threat?" Will irritated. "How dare you admonish a young girl under her own roof."

"Turner, I have far more power and influence than you. I can have what I want when I want and..."

"...and I would not fail to expose your vanity and your dazed ego and say a few words about it to my father who considers you so much. In a letter, I can degrade you very low, so if I were you, I would measure my maxims," she finished.

The Commodore was surprised and decided to leave, ashamed. Despite the altercation, it took nothing away from the love he felt for the young girl. Rather, it only fueled her, contemplating how much guts she might have.

Asteria took Will's hand and they ran through the dancing figures, all social classes mixed. Asteria had noticed something over the years; the nobles, wearing masks as much as jewelry, were in despair. Behind their smiles was a deep misguided sadness, just waiting to find its way among the light.

On the contrary, the poorest seemed to be satisfied with the necessary, dancing until they suffered physiologically. Families, couples, friends, they twirled at the stroke of midnight, dancing as if it were the last day of their miserable lives.

Will was dumbfounded that Asteria held his hand, a tether between two bodies, two essences. The touch of their skin made him feverish and he couldn't control his emotions. The young man stopped in the middle of the track and moved his hand away to tighten it.

"Would you like to... dance?" he asked, a hint of promptness in his voice.

"That would be my pleasure, Mr. Turner," the girl said.

They then danced, as if nothing else mattered. From her memories, Asteria kept only laughter, lots of outbursts, and a cavernous joy that she hadn't felt for a long time.

It was then that a dull noise was heard, which could be identified sticks a cannonball. Neither once nor twice did Asteria then walk in fear towards the next landscape: through the still open window, one could see houses on fire, cannons flying and exploding, the cry of thousands of villagers.

Two ships stood out in port. One with large dark black sails. He wasn't attacking and seemed asleep. The other was simpler, but you could see men coming out in abundance like an anthill. She sighed in surprise. All the guests fled the house and she survived alone.

She was even more shocked to hear the cries of the cleaners, by the sound of the sharp blades. She covered her mouth to keep from screaming. Panic gripped her body. And her father? Where was he? Was he safe? Questions that the monarch should worry about in place of his daughter.

The door opened to let in two men. One was tall and thin, with a bright wooden eye. He had a smile whose honest intentions could not be detected. The other was more his opposite; small and chubby, he imposed much more fear. But the young girl was not impressed by two impetuous. They smiled at him cynically, before starting to come to blows. One of them touched Asteria's mouth and asked hoarsely:

"Are you the governor's daughter?"

"I'm just a servant," she replied.

"Yet you wear very nice clothes, despite the fact that you would be much more tolerable without..."

She looked at the men in disgust and ran away, taking advantage of their reckless inattention.

"She ran away!"

She was running at full speed, feeling the ardor seize the very movement of her legs, as if she no longer had control of them. Asteria could hear them running behind her but she kept her composure.

As she ran, looking back to check their position, she missed the stairs and fell face first.

She got up in time and left the manor as quickly as she could, rushing through a messy and crumbling Port Royal.

Asteria ran through the streets until she fell right in the middle of the action. A man approached the young girl, who was afraid of him. But she wouldn't let go.

Will reappeared and immediately rushed to save his friend. But when he was about to save her, he saw a surprising sight and was amazed. Asteria grabbed a sword that had been thrown away by men who died earlier and bravely defended herself.

She did not know the intentions of the man but guessed that they were murderous. Should she kill him so he couldn't do any more harm? Will settled the matter by stabbing the sword into the back of the thief, who fell to the ground, revealing a mortified Asteria.

"Will, you...you killed a man."

"I know it sounds like a horrible act, but the path we're on is ruthless."

Asteria tried to stay strong. Wasn't that what she wanted? Live fully and feel the vitality of your youth flow through your veins? But hundreds of people had died before his eyes, and the spectacle was not the easiest to bear.

Will liked to fight and save people. Every saber sound made him feel his importance for which he was serving a good cause. He would never have joined the Navy, which he felt was too strict and austere.

The Governor arrived with a bang, hurtling down the aisles to find himself in front of the two young people.

"Asteria? What are you doing here? Return to the mansion!"

She didn't have time to answer when she was shocked to see a blade pierce her father's heart. Nothing moved, everything was frozen.

Weatherby's gaze fell on his daughter, whom he loved so much. Until then, she could not conceive the loss of her father as close as she was now.

The world was cruel. Take everything she loved from her.

Fatefully, the governor fell and the man who had killed him fled. Asteria also fell, like a shooting star at full speed in the sky. She cried her heart out and brought herself to her father's level.

"I finally join you Mary, my love."

And those were his last words.

Will rushed to Asteria to comfort her, when he was caught by the Commodore who took her in his arms. Asteria snuggled up against him, crying like a child whose toy had been taken away. It was intolerable.

The blacksmith stood in front of this spectacle which could have been the subject of a painting by Gericault and the world stopped.

Asteria was so sick at heart; it was like losing a part of his physiological system. Like a missing arm or leg, everything was gone. an empty space was available, destabilizing the young girl. Would she ever be complete again? Had she ever been? Asteria came to her senses and between sobs, managed to point a finger in front of the two men.

"Orion."

"Please?" The Commodore Norrington declared, who did not let go of the young woman, taking the opportunity to approach her.

Using a woman's moment of vulnerability, pathetic, Will thought.

"In Greek mythology, Orion was a formidable, over-equipped hunter who recklessly tried to abuse Artemis. A Scorpion was sent by the gods to sting him to death; since then, they have been poles apart in the sky. The stars are the map that no man can read," Asteria said, as if reciting a script already implanted in her head while weeping.

"It was said of my mother that she often told this story. I believe Orion is telling me that they have both found each other, and may they rest in peace in Heaven."

And, just when the pain was at its peak, it dissipated, like the mist of a terrible lake. Asteria knew how to look high in the sky to find the comfort she was looking for, as always. The stars were mainly the reasons for everything.

Will wanted to shed a few tears and hug the young woman to him, to give her all the support he could give her. But there she was, with the Commodore, in his arms as if she were ready to marry him.

"We should find a place to rest," the Commodore suggested.

Asteria and Norrington started walking when the latter added:

"Will you join us, Mr. Turner?"

"I couldn't refuse, miss. Also, it looks like my house sank with half the coast during that night raid."

"I'm sorry. Come, quickly."

The three of them went to an old inn, the commodore apologizing for the lack of comfort. Asteria didn't complain at all, very little was enough for her.

"Me and Mr. Turner are going to see if we find anything to satiate you, miss. We won't be long."

Both men tried to put their egos aside and work together for the woman they liked.

They took provisions and when they returned, Asteria was no longer there.