~Chapter one: The fastest ship~
Commodore James Norrington stood proudly on the ship 'Dauntless', his hands clasped behind his back as he observed the obedient crew.
Governor Weatherby Swann (finally listening to his order, rather than advice) was currently in his cabin, taking his mind off the circumstances surrounding his only child's abduction, delving into random and somewhat pointless parchments and contracts to be signed.
James walked over to the edge of his ship, gazing out as the sun finally seemed to be setting. He had a deep hidden hope that maybe, they'd find Elizabeth before the day was out, even with the Black Pearl and Interceptor far ahead.
It was a silly little hope that he might rescue her like he always rescued people. He saw her as the damsel and him the gallant hero who would swing in, cut down and kill all the despicable creatures that were her captures and have her swoon in his arms. Of course he left it at the simple swooning, his morals kicking in and trying to suppress the devilish images of him actually kissing her and holding her tightly in his arms.
He loved her, it was true, however he wasn't in love with her. Even his own feelings new that. He didn't see her as an object, but he found her beauty wonderful and her sweet character endearing. He thought she'd make him a good wife and that the love he had for her would grow into something wonderful that he'd only ever heard from stories and such as a boy (most of which he'd overheard from his mother telling his sisters).
"Captain! Ahead!" A voice knocked him out of his senses and he composed himself again, quickly walking up the stairs towards where a small gathering was occurring.
James stepped over to the side and observed what seemed to have been a small battle. His calm, rational mind allowed him to keep his composure even though his heart was beating wildly at the sight before him.
It seemed that along the way of the Black Pearl's course, they'd encountered a small merchant ship.
The fire had just began to die out, the smoke not too thick and everyone gazed, a solemn quietness descending over the crew. They'd seen this type of destruction before, but still, the sight of what had once harboured good, innocent men, now destroyed and not a single soul left alive, still struck something deep within each one of them.
Even Norrington had fallen into the quietness, until something caught his eye.
For a while, he merely observed what appeared to be another body, floating on another bit of broken mast as it slowly drifted past the ship. But as he watched it, he realised a couple of important matters.
The body was that of a young woman, who was covered in now blood, no scars and seemingly unmarked by all that had happened upon the ship.
Another, was that the water wasn't causing the body to sway back and forth and that small vibrations around the body were caused by shaking.
"Men! We have a survivor!" Norrington yelled and quickly gathered an emergency line, a strong impulse coming over him to take the matter into his own hands.
He skilfully and quickly clambered over the side and down the ladder, not caring if his shoes and breeches got wet.
The body came just up against him and he reached out, carefully pulling the broken mast with the girl on it closer to him.
He only had a while to look upon her, but he managed too get a good glimpse at her face.
Although pale and covered in strands of hair, she had a pretty face, no where near as beautiful as Elizabeth, but still pleasant enough too look at. Her hair came just to her shoulders and most of it was laying in a small ribbon, the rest having escaped and covering the rest of her features.
"Miss," James called to her, his hand laying upon her cold one, "Miss, can you hear me? You're safe now."
Slowly, very slowly, the girl shifted and her head lifted off of the wood, turning slowly to face James.
"Miss...," Jamie' breath seemed to be taken away for a second as he gazed into her eyes.
Never had he seen such relied and exhaustion in one glance. It was as he had imagined it to be with Elizabeth. That one look that meant everything.
"Thank God." She croaked and smiled softly, before her head came back down to rest against the wood, her eyes closing but her smile staying.
James quickly swallowed the saliva that had gathered in his mouth and got back to the task at hand. He wrapped his arms around the girl, now realising she was somewhere between consciousness and sleep. Coaxing her, she wrapped her arms around him quickly as he lifted her up and pressed her body against his for a while. As the arms of his men helped him gather up the girl, he allowed them to pull him up, something within him not wanting to let go of the girl. He struggled, but managed to get her on board and stand himself, his now free arm looping under her legs and adjusting her weight so he could now carry her like a bride. He was surprised his morals stayed intact as he realised the referencing he'd just used about her being a bride and the wet clothing clung dangerously tight against her body, the thin layers underneath almost giving away what lay underneath.
"Men, gather all the dry fabrics you can. Change of clothes, warm water," Jamie began to walk hurriedly towards his own cabin, not realising his feet were taking him there, "something for her to eat and make sure Hughes is notified. We'll need his medical expertise and someone to stay by her side to check her condition."
Slowly, as the men drifted away to obey his orders, Jamie found himself walking down the steps and heading into his cabin, his heart still beating wildly and his mind now (for the moment) only on one thing: the girl he held within his arms.