Silken Sails Outline
I got two asks saying this was their favorite. Unfortunately, Pirate Loki fell victim to the pandemic and I just don’t think I will be getting back to it. But I did have a pretty detailed outline for this fic done. So I share it.
Note: The Spanish and French is Google, I apologize for any mistakes.
Chapter 3: The Betrayal
Loki and Charlotte become paramours. She helps him with strategy and issues with the crew. Before long, she is as well respected as Loki on the ship. Charlotte sings when the musicians play. He calls her his magpie for her singing and her penchant to like shiny objects.
They speak about why he wanted to the logbook so badly. He tells the legend of L’homme de Fer or Antonio Áspero and the Diamond Azure. Charlotte drifts to sleep.
The Legend of Antonio Aspero: He was one of the Queen of Spain’s most trusted advisors. He knew all the secrets and kept them well. He was tasked to accompany the niece of the Queen as she set sail to the Americas to marry a governor of one of the colonies in hopes to strengthen ties between Spain and America, rather than France. They set sail with three ships including La Viuda Negra. Within the ship’s hold, is the niece’s dowry which included the famed Diamond Azure. But what the queen did not know was the Antonio was in love with the niece. He convinced enough of the crew to mutiny and he became a pirate along with his love. But they were caught in a storm in the Caribbean and the ship and its treasure were never seen again. But there were stories of one crewman who made it back to Nassau and told of an Island of Ghosts were the ship ran aground and where Antonio buried the treasure.
Le Méfait docks at Nassau and sells its bounty to a local merchant. Loki is feared by the locals. The barkeep, Natalie, warns Charlotte of Loki and his quick temper and tells the story of Loki’s past. Charlotte is shocked to hear.
Loki’s past: He was the second son of his father, a well to do royal in France. But his older brother was always favored. Rather than lead a life of being in the shadows with no inheritance, he became a merchant and then quickly turned pirate. Loki thinks that if he can find the treasure it will prove to his father that he is worthy and he would return to France.
Back on ship, Charlotte waits until they are alone to ask about his father. Loki asks where she heard about that, she tells the truth. He confirms everything. She asks if this legend of the Iron Man is a feeble attempt to one up his father. Loki yells and storms away.
The ship starts to wander at sea while Loki attempts to locate the wreck of La Viuda Negra. They start to talk of mutiny. They approach Charlotte about helping and becoming the new captain. She agrees. As they approach a deserted island, the crew mutinies. Loki does not expect Charlotte to side with the mutineers. They leave him on the island and name Charlotte the captain. She renames the ship the Magpie.
Loki is near death when he is found and taking onboard on the HMS Valiant. The crew member that helps him is the Midshipman Steve Rogers.
Chapter 4: The British
Charlotte establishes herself as the captain of the Magpie, which is what she renamed Loki’s ship. Fearsome but fair. The crew prospers and the treasure of the La Viuda Negra and the former captain Loki is forgotten.
Upon their most recent docking at Port Royal, everyone is on edge because of the increased British presence. There is a talk of the new commander Rogers who is hellbent on ridding the seas of pirates. While there news also spreads that Captain Loki has escaped his imprisonment and obtained a ship he has named the Verity. Sounds like he is determined to find the treasure.
This spurs Charlotte to speak to her quartermaster James Barnes, about Loki’s efforts to locate the treasure. Barnes explains why Loki needed the logbook but explains that Loki never divulged the full plan but suggest they head to New Providence Island because he knows a man who can help decipher the logbook.
As they set for New Providence, they run afoul of the British Royal Navy. In the skirmish, the British board the Magpie. They managed to capture or kill the British and get away. Among the captured is Commander Steve Rogers.
Charlotte speaks to the prisoners and tell them to join the crew or die. Some of them choose to join but some remain loyal including Steve. Charlotte promises to kill them at first morning light. As the night wanes on, Steve can’t sleep. He listens to the crew talking about Captain Loki and La Viuda Negra. Steve devises a plan to save his life.
As he is brought on deck for his execution, he asks for an audience with the captain. She denies his request. She draws her sword and he blurts out that he knows Loki’s plans. Charlotte lowers her sword and has Steve taken to her quarters.
Chapter 5: The Hunt
Charlotte slams the door and throws Steve across the room. She demands he tell her what he knows. Steve balks. He wants assurances that he and his men will not be killed. She gives her word as a pirate. Steve mentions that his ship was the ones who capture Loki and he served as the guard for the travels back to port. During that time, Loki became sick with a fever. He mumbled on about an island of ghosts or île de fantômes and someone named le forgeron or repeated the name “Bruce”. Charlotte thanks him for the information. She releases his bonds. Steve comments that she remains him of a girl he met once in Bristol. Charlotte mentions that was a lifetime ago before heading out to free the rest of the men.
Charlotte assigns Barnes to keep an eye on the British soldiers particularly Rogers as she doesn’t completely trust him. Barnes agrees. They continue to sail towards New Providence. Steve quickly endears himself to the crew for being quick to help out. Charlotte has even begun to develop feelings such that Steve spends his nights in her quarters.
They make it to New Providence and Charlotte, Barnes, and Rogers go to find Bruce Banner, the Blacksmith. They hear mutterings as they make their way through the port. They find the blacksmith’s workshop in shambles. Bruce is found shirtless, his pants torn. His hands are bloody. They ask what happened and Banner answered that Loki’s men made him angry. They attempted to kidnap him and force him to go with them to île de fantômes. Charlotte asks why he won’t go. Bruce says the island eats ships and he has left the pirate and cartography life behind. He has a family. Charlotte pulls out the piece of logbook and asks Bruce if he knows what the markings mean. Bruce puts on his glasses and asks where she got it from. She says she stole it from Loki. Bruce’s eyes widen and he asks if she has a death wish angering Loki, She says she will take her chances. Bruce indicates that the markings are the safe passage to land on île de fantômes safely. Charlotte thanks him and they make their leave.
They set off for île de fantômes but not before a small skirmish with Loki’s boat as they leave dock. Barnes sustains an injury that renders his arm lame. Steve asks Charlotte about her exact relationship with Loki, she lies and they continue an amorous relationship.
Chapter 6: The Face-Off
It is a race to the Island of Ghosts and they sail into a fierce thunderstorm which delays their voyage. The crew is starting to show discontent but Steve rallies them with the stories of what the treasure holds. Charlotte sings.
They reach the outskirts of the Island of Ghosts there is a heavy fog. Charlotte ordered the boat drop anchor and stop as Bruce indicated. She orders that they continue on longboats. The crew is skeptical but they comply. As they row through the fog, they see the remnants of many a ship, Spanish, French, and English. They hear yelling and row towards it, they discover that Loki’s ship Verity has crashed into the tall rocks and the ship is sinking. There are a few row boats going ashore. Charlotte send one of the three longboats back to the Magpie to have them salvage what they can from the Verity.
As they continue along they come across the near pristine remains of La Viuda Negra. They board it but find no treasure aboard. It appears that the treasure was dragged ashore. They make landfall and head inland where Bruce’s notes indicate they will find some caves.
They find the caves and they entered with caution. Once inside, they confront Loki and his minions. A fight ensues and Loki and Charlotte face off. They trade barbs and swipes with the swords. Charlotte mentions to Loki he wouldn’t want to kill the mother of his child which momentarily dazes him and Steve hit him over the head with a Spanish “shield” he found in the cave. They tie Loki up on Charlotte’s orders.
They continued into the cave and come up the skeleton of Antonio Áspero, which is noted by the heavy metal plate across his chest. He is perched in front of a rock wall which is inscribed with Spanish words. They push through the wall and locate the treasure. They are all now rich beyond measure. Charlotte tells them to load as much as they can onto the long boats. Steve hugs and kisses her despite the news of her impending pregnancy.
Chapter 7: The Departure
the treasure has been divided amongst the crew of the Magpie and they set off for Port Royal to unload their prizes and drink their profits away. Steve asks Charlotte what will become of him now that the treasure has been claimed. She says he is free to go if he wants or he could join the crew. She is in need of a new quartermaster as Bucky is planning on captaining Loki’s ship which he has renamed Winter. Steve isn’t sure. They don’t make decisions that night.
When they arrive at Port Royal, they are immediately boarded by the British Navy. Charlotte and the pirates are all captured. Charlotte pleads the belly and Steve looks shocked. As she sits in jail, Steve comes around the corner. He is free but not in uniform. She asked how he managed to bargain his freedom. He mentions his uncle is well to do in Jamaica. Charlotte narrows her eyes and says “Woodes Rogers?” Steve averts his eyes as he displays a key and opens her cell. She asks what he is doing? She has been granted a pardon on the condition that she and her “husband” and father of her child leave the Caribbean. She asks where they are to go. Steve says he doesn’t know, Boston maybe New York.
Steve comments that he is aware he may not be the father and she probably doesn’t love him but once the baby is born, she will be executed and this way she can stay alive. She agrees and Steve smiles as she leaves the jail
Several years later, Steve returns to the home in New York, hoping to find Charlotte but the home is dark. He finds a note on the desk. She tells Steve she can’t stay anymore. She tried to make a go of it but being a wife and someday a mother is not the life for her. There was never a baby all those years ago. She is going back to the sea. Steve smiles wistfully. He knows he could never tie her down.
Flash forward several months. Charlotte is back in her pirate gear and at the helm of new ship which she has named the Ghost Queen. She is part of Loki’s crew once again, who somehow managed to escape île de fantômes, and they have continued the pirate life together and continued their relationship.