The Second Swann ---///--------

Chapter 29

           

A long hiatus, but finally, I've returned.  Hoping everyone had a good holiday!

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They'd been sailing for a while now, without any indication of interruption or danger. Port Royal had succumbed to another defeat, but Charlotte knew it was only a matter of time till they'd strike back. For now, they did not have to worry.

She leaned against the rail, the small of her back to it, as she fiddled with the pouch she and Elizabeth shared. She had pulled the drawstring to measure her wrist, and was now attempting a sailor's knot.

Her mind was focused upon the simple task, brushing away the previous scares she had endured hours before. Still, the stiffness in her shoulders and the shakiness of her fingers gave way that her body hadn't forgotten the swirling arms of the currents of the sea.

Twice now, she had jumped into the unknown abyss of the sea, and already she had enough. She had no intentions of doing it again. Though she had this sneaking suspicion she might have to. She wasn't sure which was more unpredictable, the wildness of the sea, or the rogue, liberated pirate captain.

She glanced at her wrist, checking the strength of the knot, and gave it a shake to ensure it wouldn't unravel, then looked up. Will was leaning his shoulder against the mast, his eyes catching hers. Charlotte smiled and he approached her.

"Sorry," he stopped to join her at the rail, "I wanted to see if you were alright."

It hadn't occurred to her how bizarre of a day Charlotte had until she reflected on it. This was, by far, quite unlike a regular day she'd experienced ever in her life.

"Yes..." she nodded to herself and her thoughts, "yes, it has been quite the day. I had never believed it possible to jump from moving carriages, take part in various criminal offenses alongside pirates and swim in the ocean all in just one day."

Will chuckled at that.

"You've certainly handled everything well."

Charlotte grinned then, as she turned to look down at the pouch in her hand, her smiled faltered, "nearly everything," she whispered, "if I had come home sooner, if I weren't so afraid to jump after her—"

"Charlotte," Will's voice silenced her, "there's no use thinking that way. How would you have known they'd attack?" when Charlotte said nothing, Will continued, turning around to face the sea. A gold glow from the setting sun lit up his eyes into deep amber "you might not have been able to even reach her if you did jump. What has happened might have meant to happen. You'll have to accept it, regardless."

What had happened might have been meant to happen. Charlotte didn't like those words, especially while knowing they were coming from someone who might have been in the very situation Elizabeth was in, if the medallion had never been taken.

The sun was disappearing behind the sea, transforming it into a sight she had never seen. It was as though they were sailing through liquid gold. The evening breeze fluttered in, pushing back her hair, refreshing her hot and sticky neck.

"Just as I remember it," Will murmured. His eyebrows were curved in, his jaw tight. "I never imagined myself sailing again. Not since ..." his eyes cast downward. Charlotte knew what he was thinking, what his eyes were seeing. It was a ship, wrecked by a pirate attack, masts broken to splinters, fires feeding on whatever dry surface they found on floating boards in the water. The smell of gunpowder and blood mixed with the natural salt from the sea enveloped them. "Though, if it hadn't happened, then we wouldn't have met. He turned to face her, and Charlotte found herself unable to look away. "I am grateful for it; our meeting has only ever been the only good thing that's happened to me."

His smile had her breathless.

"Land ahoy!" Jack's voice bellowed from behind. They turned to look at the Captain then leaned over the rail to see a small island approaching in the distance.

: 400; letter-s>F