"You really must stop doing this for me" Catherine says with a sigh.
Will Turner smiles underneath the weight of the two flour sacks. "Why is that?"
His smile is contagious and Catherine grins as well. "Because. One day you'll be married with children of your own and you will not be able to help me anymore. I should at least start carrying them half way so I'll be strong enough to do it by myself one day."
"You really think you'll be working in the Governor's house when I'm married?" he asks. A carriage rides by awfully close to the two of them. Will uses his free hand to pull Catherine over to his other side so that she walks alongside the shops and he the road.
Catherine unconsciously glances down when she speaks. "I will work in the Governor's house the rest of my life." Giving the idea a voice almost makes it sound pleasant. "The Governor is very kind to me. He has helped me more than I can repay him."
For a minute there is only the sound of Will's strong shoes pacing over stones and Catherine's light tread. He steals a glance at her but looks away just as quickly. Unspoken words die on his lips as a group of soldiers march by. They eye the two of them walking together casually. It is uncommon in Port Royal for anyone to stroll that way other than the Governor and his daughter, Elizabeth. Everyone else is always in a hurry. Tradesmen are in a hurry to return to their shops. Merchants are in a hurry to sell and return to their ships. Soldiers are in a hurry patrolling the island and keeping the peace between quarrelsome neighbors and the ever present miscreant stirring up trouble. Will would be in a hurry too if it was not for Catherine. She needs him once a week at dawn to carry flour.
When the two of them reach the main entry gates, one of the flour sacks is handed to the brunette girl. "Isn't this a stable boy's job?"
Catherine shrugs and heaves the sack up into her arms. Will watches her carefully. He can see every muscle in her arms straining. "It has always been my job."
"It shouldn't be."
"But it is" she argues back.
They walk past the front entry and around to the stone courtyard. Nearly hidden by ivy growing up the side of the wall is a door leading to the kitchens. Catherine drops her sack at the door and Will follows suit. "Thank you very much, Will" she says, all the while beaming.
"It is no problem at all" he replies and adjusts his shirt.
Catherine's lips drop to a frown. "You have flour on you again." She reaches forward and Will stands perfectly still as she swipes away a mark of white on his shoulder. With her so close, he catches her scent. She smells strongly of night.
"Will you be coming by today?"
Will smiles and stares off into the distance. "I am to deliver the sword for the soon to be appointed Commodore this afternoon."
"Well then I shall see you soon" Catherine says with a smile.
"Good day, Catherine" he responds and waits for her to enter the kitchen before leaving.
The moment she steps foot in the kitchen, Catherine is spotted by the Governor. He watches her pull in the heavy flour sacks and set them against the wall before speaking. "Catherine would you please tend to the foyer. We are expecting a caller today and I wish the foyer to be as spotless as possible. Today is a very big day." Governor Swan is all smiles and jolly as a child.
Catherine already knows the reason. She nods respectfully to the Governor before searching for a decently clean bucket and a towel. The Governor leaves her be as she goes out to fill the bucket in the well in the courtyard. It's just as heavy full as the flour sacks. She hobbles awkwardly all the way to the foyer, only stopping to pick up her rag in the kitchen. With a sigh, she sets the bucket down. For a moment she inspects her reddened hands. There is a sharp crease in each from where she held the bucket. The tips of her fingers are wrinkled from always washing.
The foyer is a rather large room with nothing in it. For all her worth, Catherine cannot see a need for such a purposeless room. Should she ever have her own house, it will not have a foyer. She would be satisfied with a simple one room lodging. Just something to call her own would be marvelous. All that is truly hers is the clothes upon her back and the ribbon tying back a few locks of her hair.
She places the bucket in the far corner of the room, soaks the rag, and gets down on her hands and knees to begin scrubbing the floor. The sun is just breaking through the windows and she can smell the sea blowing in on the wind and through the open windows.
When she is just halfway through washing, another maid is sent upstairs to wake Elizabeth. Catherine cannot imagine sleeping so late into the day. The town was already bustling with activity before the sun rose. Elizabeth has already missed so much of today.
With just a sliver of floor left to be cleaned, there is a knock upon the front door. Catherine jumps to her feet and Gregory, the doorman, waits until she is out of the room to open the door. It is improper for the maids to be seen. Especially when this guest is carrying a rather important package.
Catherine slides the bucket out of the way in a corner of the kitchen and runs through the servants' quarters to the back of the house. Mary, the oldest and wisest of the maids, smiles as Catherine runs past. The entire staff is accustomed to Catherine's walks and growing relationship with the young Will Turner. Secretly, they hope he will propose to her. They have been friends for years and the two are the strongest pair of down to earth and generous people in all of Port Royal. Sadly, he is fighting for what he cannot have. And she is oblivious to how much she needs to be his.
There is an archway leading to the dining hall from the foyer. And Catherine pokes her head into the archway to watch Will present the sword to the Governor Swan. He catches her eye just as he snaps off a candle from the wall. His eyes widen in panic for a split second. Catherine makes a motion with her arms. Will then places the broken part on the floor and kicks it her way. She scoops it up into her arms just as the Governor descends the stairs. "The blade is folded steel. That's gold filigree laid into the handle. If I may…" Will's eyes are alight as he speaks of the weapon. The way he speaks so fondly of his trade brings a smile to her eyes. She jumps slightly when Will tosses the sword into the air and catches it where the tang and blade meet. And he does so with a single finger. "Perfectly balanced. The tang is nearly the full width of the blade."
The Governor draws a frown from Will when he compliments Will's master. Catherine knows that Will's master is no more than a drunkard. Will is the one that makes everything that the blacksmiths sell. All his master is good for is interesting drunken conversations.
"I shall" Will answers anyway with slightly downcast eyes.
Catherine hears the tread on the marble stairs before she hears her voice. "I had a dream about you."
Will's eyes alight and his full attention is on Elizabeth. She is a beautiful woman. She dresses elegantly and Catherine cannot help but be more aware of the smudges on her skirt and the tattered ends of her dress. She slumps back into the wall and disappears back into the kitchen to dispose of the broken candlestick. Mary watches with sad eyes and remains absolutely silent when Catherine starts scrubbing a dirty pan in the sink. The poor girl. She will not admit it and maybe she does not realize it, but deep down she must know that Will is her equal and her perfect match.
"Catherine…?" she whispers.
The girl bolts and then smiles when she realizes that it is only Mary. "Hello Mary" she greets and continues to clean.
A question burns on Mary's lips, but when she sees Catherine's eyes, she lets it go. "Have you eaten today?"
Catherine shakes her head. "I am not really all that hungry."
Mary shakes her head. "Nonsense. Sit yourself down and I'll fix you something."
Catherine does not protest, knowing full well Mary can be as stubborn as a mule. Her will will always be done. Seating herself at the beaten table used only for the servants whenever they have a moment of rest, Catherine braids her hair back while Mary makes breakfast. A plate is set down in front of her and Catherine thanks Mary with a wide smile.
Mary sits across from the girl and watches her eat. "So Miss Catherine, when do you think I'll be seeing your wedding?"
Catherine coughs and sputters for a moment. Ever since word of Commodore Norrington's impending proposal made its way to the servants, everyone had been gushing and glowing whilst discussing weddings past and future.
"I think that would require a groom" Catherine says once she can breathe.
"I have one in mind" Mary says with a smirk. The wrinkles of her eyes increase and deepen with her cheeky smile.
Catherine places her hands on the table. "Now Mary if your intentions are to speak about…" They have been down this path many times before. Mary is always attempting to play matchmaker. Many names pop out of her mouth from the baker's boy to the incredibly handsome carpenter but one is almost always repeated.
"He is a strong, sturdy man. Have you seen how he works in his shop?"
"Mary!" Catherine scolds but cannot help the smile.
Mary holds her hands up in false surrender. "I am only making it aware that a man like that can keep you safe, warm, and loved. Why are you so quick to reject him?"
Catherine shakes her head. "Because his love is not mine to have." With that being said, Catherine returns to the sink and washes her dish. She quickly exits the room but leaves through the side entrance. Days before she had been instructed to pick up a locket for Elizabeth, courtesy of Commodore Norrington. He wished to surprise her on her return home after his proposal. Governor Swan had recommended Catherine for the task as she is the most trustworthy of all the maids.
Catherine sighs once she is alone outside. She takes deep, gulping breaths of the sea air before heading out to the market. She is careful in her steps. A carriage leaves the mansion and she ducks into the shadows so as not to be seen by Elizabeth. For only a moment, she glances behind her and catches the dark outline of Will Turner. Catherine hurries her pace to avoid having to explain. She will not be the one to crush his hope.
While she walks, her mind unconsciously dwells on Mary's words. Catherine is already twenty years old. She is the same age as Elizabeth. Already Elizabeth has had five suitors. And while Catherine does take into account her wealth and power, it is still alarming to know no man has taken an interest in her. It had not matter so much before. But suddenly, marriage is a concept always on Catherine's brain. And she fears it will only get worse once she sees Elizabeth enjoying married life. How wonderful it would be to have someone hold her when she has nightmares. Or someone to keep her warm at night.
When Catherine finds herself in the town, it is mostly deserted. Nearly everyone is at the Commodore's ceremony. In fact, the man who was supposed to give the necklace to Catherine is waiting for her outside of the shop. "You had me worried you would be late."
"My apologies" she says and takes the necklace from his scarred hand. It seems all tradesmen have burned and scratched hands. Hands are the way to see social classes.
"Perhaps I can still congratulate the Commodore" he whispers to himself and hurries around the corner to the fort.
With nowhere to put the necklace, Catherine wraps it carefully around her fingers and holds the charm in her palm. It's actually quite beautiful. The chain is gold and the charm is a silver and gold swan in flight. It's absolutely beautiful. And it's the most expensive thing that Catherine has ever held. Her palms start to sweat. She squeezes the charm as tightly as she can, terrified that she'll drop it or lose it or break it.
What she did not expect was to have it stolen from a pirate.
He runs past her and she only catches a brief glance at him. He has dirty black hair with strange beads and such wrapped in. His clothes are strange and he wears a hat proudly on his head. His face is dirty and dark. The pirate hesitates when he sees the chain hanging from her palm. In one quick move he reaches forward and snatches it in his dirty hand. But the chain is wrapped tightly around her fingers and when he pulls, she follows after him.
"Let go!" she screams, hoping someone will hear. "Help! Help!"
Behind them she can hear the heavy steps of the Royal Navy. The pirate has not slowed down a bit. He takes a glance at Catherine and covers her mouth with his filthy hand. Their hands are locked together because the chain has wound its way around their hands. Catherine screams and the pirate lifts her up off the ground and continues running. She screams when she feels her feet lift off the ground and suddenly her view is obstructed by his shoulder. He smells strongly of rum and dirt and sin.
Her heart hammers in her chest. Everything she's ever heard about the cruelty and viciousness of pirates flashes in her mind. She kicks furiously and tries to get him to stop but he won't. "Bloody vixen" he murmurs when she catches him in the ribs.
"Help!" she screams again but it is muffled by his hand.
The pirate continues to run and as he does Catherine starts to recognize the street. It's the same street as the blacksmith shop. Will, she thinks and screams louder and fighters harder. He can help her. The soldiers get closer and she can hear them shout. The pirate begins to get desperate and in a split second decision, crashes into the blacksmith shop.