The Black Pearl was, according to Barbossa, a few hours out from Shipwreck Island, and Elizabeth was trying, in vain, to track down one Jack Sparrow.

She located him eventually, in the crow's nest, a bottle in hand. His dark gaze narrowed as she plopped herself down beside him. "What d'you want?"

"To ask you questions, and to drink." She produced a bottle for herself from somewhere in her clothing and uncorked it, taking a swallow.

Jack's head tilted as he studied her. "Alright. Ask. I can't promise answers, but ask."

Elizabeth crossed her legs under herself, leaning back. "Sparrow," she said slowly, "is it really your last name?"

Taking a drink from his bottle, Jack rolled his eyes very slightly.
"Yes. It's me mum's last name, if you must know. No, I didn't give myself the name, it's not a nickname or anything like that-I've heard all those stories, but this is the truth. My mum kept her name as it was, and when I was being named, it had a safer association than my dad's surname, which is an old pirating name, so they named me Sparrow to try and keep me safer growing up. Jack Sparrow is genuinely, legally my full name."

"But aren't Sparrow's-"

"English aristocracy, yes. Next question."

After a second of thought, she asked, "Where are you from? Where'd you grow up?"

Jack glanced out at the horizon. "Nationality wise, half English, half Irish. Grew up at sea, in Ireland, in Madagascar and in Shipwreck Cove. Spent five years in England too."

"Sparrow!" Barbossa's call interrupted Elizabeth's next question, and she looked down at the deck to see the older man gesturing impatiently. "Devil's Throat."

"Aye, right. Keep your hat on, I'm coming." Jack called back irritably, starting his descent to deck. "Elizabeth, stay there. Your first sight of Shipwreck Cove is better from above, trust me."

She watched in amazement as the ship passed slowly through a narrow passage in rock, littered with the wrecks of ships, understanding now how the island got its name. As they approached a gently curved bay, she saw other ships docked, colours flying from every mast.

The Pearl dropped anchor next to a galleon that was even bigger than her, an emerald-green flag fluttering from it's main mast. Elizabeth looked at the other ships curiously, fingering the Piece of Eight in her pocket.

"Elizabeth. Time to go." Jack called, and she hurriedly joined him on deck, leaving the ship along with him and Barbossa.

She noticed a change in Jack's demeanour as she followed him through the maze of the city. He carried himself differently, a touch of arrogance in his swagger, head held just a little higher than usual. People in the narrow streets occasionally did a double-take as he passed, whispers following the three of them as they made their way to the building where the Pirate Lords gathered.

Barbossa and Jack had somehow already taken their places by the time she entered the meeting hall. One of the Lords was inquiring about Sao Feng, which Elizabeth took at her cue to enter. She added her sword to the globe. "Sao Feng is dead. He was killed by the Flying Dutchman. I am now Pirate Lord of the South China Sea."

"And who might you be, exactly?"

Standing at the head of the long table was a woman. Her brows were drawn in the beginning of a frown as she looked Elizabeth over slowly with a calculating hazel gaze. The candles illuminated features that seemed strangely familiar, although she knew they had never met.

Lifting her chin a little, Elizabeth stepped forwards to stand at the table.
"My name is Elizabeth Swann."

"Piece of Eight?"

Dropping the token Sao Feng had given her into the woman's outstretched hand, she shot her a inquiring look. "Who are you?"

"Captain Roxanne Sparrow, Pirate King, and Pirate Lord of Madagascar, if you really must know."

"Captain Roxanne-" Elizabeth stared at her in astonishment, then her eyes found Jack, who was sitting at the bottom of the table with his feet propped on it.

Roxanne raised an eyebrow. "I'm going to presume you know Jack?"

"She sails on me crew when she isn't off getting involved in the deaths of Pirate Lords or tangled up in trouble with her blacksmith boyfriend," Jack stated without bothering to look in their direction. "Lizzie, I guess you can consider this your formal introduction to my mum."

Elizabeth gaped at Jack for a moment, as Roxanne also glanced in his direction. "Get your feet off the table." Her tone suggested this was a frequent reprimand. "Very pleased to meet you at last, Captain Swann, I've heard a lot about you."

Not sure how to react, she dipped her head slightly, sitting down in the chair she was gestured towards. With the exception of the first time she'd met Barbossa, she couldn't remember the last time she had felt so intimidated. Curiosity drew her gaze back to Roxanne, watching the power the woman wielded over the room as the meeting began.

These men, who controlled other men all day long, who led their ships with unquestioned authority, all submitted before the words of a woman. These were pirates, dangerous, notorious pirates, and it was a woman at their head, who had the final say on their affairs.

As the meeting slowly progressed, with Roxanne settling personal disputes between the Lords, she just listened, thinking back to all the times her opinion had been discredited in high-society London due to her gender. Here, when Roxanne spoke, the men listened.

"While we're on the subject of thievery..." Jack said slowly at the end of another man's complaining, pulling Elizabeth's thoughts back to the present. "I'd like to address the continued thievery of one very fast, very beautiful galleon by the name of the Black Pearl by one Hector Barbossa."

Barbossa's head swivelled and he scowled at Jack. "Complaining to your mother, Sparrow? Really mature, what an adult way to solve your problems. "

Jack scoffed under his breath. "Because takin' someone else's property without permission is so very mature, Hector," he drawled, dislike dancing in his eyes.

"Jesus Christ, enough you two!" Roxanne snapped, causing Barbossa's scowl to direct at her.

"Jack, stop niggling, I happen to know you currently have the Pearl, so shut up about it. Hector, if you lay a hand on that ship again without permission, I will personally string you from the Troubadour's mainmast by your balls."

Her voice was cold, clipped, her stare direct and steady, a slight lift to her chin.

"Apologies," Jack murmured, looking more abashed than Elizabeth had ever seen, while Barbossa just curled his lip, eyes lingering on Roxanne's form.

The Pirate King ignored his gaze, looking over the table. "Anybody else have anything to bring to the table? Captain Swann, you're awfully quiet."

Jack's head turned to Elizabeth. She stood a little straighter under his mother's gaze.

"How on earth does an English aristocrat end up at the head of a council of pirates?"

From the silence that fell, Elizabeth knew that she'd spoken wrongly.

Roxanne merely smiled dangerously. "I've been a pirate a lot longer than I was an aristocrat. How I ended up here, well, that's a long story which I'll have to tell another time."

"Well I want to-"

"Do you have anything of importance to contribute to this meeting?" Roxanne asked slightly sharply.

"No ma'am," Elizabeth murmured, more demure than she had ever been in her life.

The older woman looked her over for a long moment. "If nobody is going to bring anything important to my attention, you're all dismissed, apart from captains Sparrow and Swann."

Jack straightened in his chair, attention fixing on Roxanne. "What the fu-"

"Ssh." His mother watched coolly as the Lords filed out, leaving her alone with the two of them.

"Captain Swann." Roxanne said slowly. "How did you find yourself at sea?"

"Captain Barbossa and your son both had a hand in that."

Roxanne looked amused. "Wait until your father finds out that you're corrupting English aristocracy, Jack." She bent to ruffle the fur of a scruffy grey dog that had appeared beside her. "Hello Hector, I presume your master has moved if you're down here."

Footsteps sounded behind them. "You will not be puttin' Hector Barbossa's balls anywhere near my Troubadour, thank you very much, Asthore. Who's our new Court member?"

Chuckling, Roxanne turned. "I'm no longer the only posh Pirate Lord. Love, this is Elizabeth Swann. Captain Swann, Captain Teague, Keeper of the Pirate Code, and my husband."

Elizabeth stared at the man now standing in front of her. His dark gaze narrowed, chin lifting slightly. "Swann..." he said slowly, voice low with a lilting Irish accent. He paused. "Welcome to the Brethren Court."

She had a feeling that was not what he'd originally intended to say. "Thank you."

"So...you followed Jack into piracy?"

"Not exactly. Barbossa kidnapped me."

Captain Teague took a step back, one eyebrow raised incredulously. "Barbossa kidnapped ye?"

"Long story involving lying and Aztec gold," Jack interjected. "I've told you the gist of that, may have left out that detail."

Teague addressed Elizabeth again. "How did you find the transition to living at sea?"

She wasn't sure what to say. "It all happened so quickly, I didn't really have time to think about it."

"An' now you're a Pirate Lord."

"He didn't even know me. Sao Feng, that is. I...kind of tricked him and-"

"I don't really care how you got the title. I care whether or not you're going to be of any use to this Court." Roxanne said bluntly.

Elizabeth squared her shoulders under the weight of the ceremonial Singaporean attire she was wearing. "I will do my best to meet your expectations of me, whatever they may be."

"Alright, well-what?" Roxanne glanced at her husband, who looked rather amused.

"I'm being strongly reminded of a certain someone, about thirty years ago."

"Oh, shut up. My circumstances were completely different."

"Not really." Teague grinned, then looked over at Elizabeth. "Governor's daughter, ran away to piracy, became involved in pirate politics."

"Shut up," Roxanne said again, though a smile had curved her lips.

"You certainly seem to have done well for yourself in this lifestyle."

"Mm. Marrying into a pirating family helps." The Pirate King drew her elaborately embroidered coat around her frame. "Shall we move elsewhere?"

"Preferably somewhere with alcohol. Lead on. And hello, properly, by the way." Jack slipped up to hug both his parents briefly before falling into step with them to leave the hall.

Elizabeth followed too, walking quietly through the dimly-lit corridor and up a flight of narrow stairs.

Shedding boots, coats and weapons, they entered the quarters set aside for the Pirate King.

During the next few hours, Elizabeth learned a few things about Jack's parents and the Brethren Court and what her position as Pirate Lord actually meant. This information was served with multiple glasses of alcohol so her head was pleasantly dizzy when she and Jack eventually took their leave.

"I could get used to politics."

Jack laughed. "I think my mum now has an admirer, hm Lizzie?" He steadied her as she stumbled slightly, guiding her back towards where the ship she was now captain of was anchored.

He walked her into her cabin, then bowed with a flourish. "I take my leave."

Her gaze met his briefly, full of words unspoken. After a moment, she nodded. "Thank you, Jack."

Jack gave a rare, genuine smile. "My pleasure, Captain Swann."