Full summary:
Life story of a maid of Governor's household doesn't appear as great matter of interest to anyone, like one of Miranda Martins, Scottish girl born to serve the Swann family. But now at adulthood, things take an unexpected turn in her life and love for the town's blacksmith when pirates suddenly invade Port Royal and she's falsely mistaken as the Governor's daughter. Now involved in an adventure of not her choosing Miranda receiving far more than the desired heart of her beloved as a birthday gift.
A/N:
Hi all!
So okay, I've received comments about this story which say my usage of Scottish styled writing to be too hard to follow, even though I've kept it in this far for the sake of the story itself. Well by now I've come to reconsider it, even at the risk of going against my own vision a bit, as since so many users have said to would have loved to read this story but haven't been able because of the used Scottish dialect, I've decided to re-write the series with traditional English. I will however keep the Scottish dialect in a form of my main character's (and some others') speech, as after all the dialect represents their origin, and as the story is told through the eyes of my OC as a certain kind of memoire type of narrative, it will remain as a relevant part of the stories. But only in form of her spoken lines, and everything else shall be edited to normal English.
I hope this change will not affect the opinion of those who've supported my previous decision to write everything with Scottish dialect, nor won't make you who've so far favorited or otherwise liked this story like it less. I just want more people to be able to read my stories, as I've come to understand many to be eager to do so if they only could…And since it has been some time since I wrote this series, some more prominent editing might take place, but nothing major besides the layout of the text. So no inclusion of new plot twists or shifts from the original story, as I still like the fics as they are!
Like before, the included Scottish has been translated with an online translater, so the words might not be fully accurate. I am going to trim down the used words, but the ones that remain I try to list at the end of each chapter.
So, here goes. The first edited chapter coming up!
I keep re-posting more once I have the time to go through the rest of the chapters.
DISCLAIMER I don't own Pirates of the Caribbean, I claim ownership only over this story, added original characters and events outside of the original script presented in this fic.
"Be careful wi' th' fabrics, Miranda darlin'. Governor Swann does nae want stains oan th' fabric which is to be lassy Elizabeth's new gown", my mother, Jane Martins reminded me and nodded towards the scrolls given to my possession to carry, while my twin brother stopped the horse at the head of the little wagon we'd been lended for running our errands. The animal coming to a halt in front of a shop which sold coverlets of the finest quality.
"Aye maw", I told her, sighing to myself. As if I didn't already know that these textiles needed to be kept at top condition.
As the acting matron of the Swann residence, and as her position obliged her to note such matters, my mother had discovered the a little bit shabby state of the manor's linen, so she had taken it to our that afternoon's task to acquire new textiles from bed sheets to all kind of linen necessary. With the Governor's blessing of course, even he usually left everything under Jane's consideration when it came to running the household. So in return mother aimed to fulfill her responsibilities thoroughly and without a chance of animadversion, as she only wished to repay the great kindness first late Mrs. Swann and then later the widowed Governor had showed her and her children. Or so she always kept telling Peter and me, reminding us of the great debt we owed to the Swann family, and that also both of us had to do everything in our power to repay that debt to our lord.
Mother climbed down from the wagon, telling Peter to move it aside for the time she and I would spend in the shop, and him to wait there for us to return and watch the other purchases of value loaded aboard. I also stood from my seat, careful not to drop the scrolls of expensive brocade and lace to the muddy ground, as my intention to follow my mother who already had entered the boutique. But it had went fully past my notice that during our voyage along the road my dress' hem had gotten caught into the wheel of the wagon, trapping it, and then unfortunately causing me to lose my already lacking sense of balance while stepping down. So now losing my footing I released a surprised exclaim, for my horror my grasp from the fabric scrolls loosening with a flicker of fright, and while swinging dangerously towards the edge of the wagon, on my way to land in the filth of the street, I as well watched how the precious brocade was too in danger to fall for its ruin.
But for my following as great and unexpected surprise all of a sudden a gallant arm appeared out of nowhere and caught me before I dropped flat on the ground, me directing my perplexed gaze up to witness how the other arm of this arrived stranger was balancing the scrolls securely in its grip. Next me finding myself staring into the gentlest brown eyes I'd ever seen, a young man few years of my senior smiling down at me, inclining his head as our short stare lasted.
"Are you alright?" he questioned from me, his smile courteous as the strong hold of this young lad's thin arm released me, me once again regaining my stable footing. Me experiencing fleeting confusion, not finding words to respond due to the embarrassment I then felt turn my cheeks red, too busy studying the out of the blue appeared lad before me until I managed a bashful smile. My gaze averting his as it dropped to the ground sheepishly.
"Aye. Thanks to ye", I replied, eventually directing a glance up to him to behold his surprise, as he possibly considered my accent rather surprising to come across so far away from English soil. Some recognition however in his irises due to the sound of it, and that same recognition then caused a new, wider smile to spread over his lips as he handed the scrolls back to me. Then noticing my hem that remained stuck between the tillers of the wagon's wheel.
He was evidently amused, his eyes having a spark of mirth in them as he pointed at my gown remarkably. Me as well giving my dress one more ashamed look, until my curious eyes hit on a well crafted sword at his hip, me then performing a quick observation over his demeanor, and taking notice of his hands which seemed to be quite quenched by work. I could not go guessing what was his profession, but by the look of the soot covering his pleasant features and the considerably dirty, sweaty clothes he wore I deemed he spent a lot of time about a forge.
"Let me help you with that", he offered and so gallantly removed my skirts from their bind, the friendly smile never leaving his lips. Me returning it nothing but shyly, as always when I came into contact with males besides my brother, and I curtsied to him.
"Ta", I said simply. Him returning my curtsey with a slight bow, while alerted by my previous tumble and our exchange my brother now jumped down from the wagon in turn and walked beside us. Me feeling myself strange as I stared at this young lad I didn't know into eyes, this being indeed the first time we met, but so did he. Both of us somehow entranced by each other's gaze, or like so it seemed to me, them locking. But then he broke free from our shared sense of reverie by blinking, continuing.
"It was my pleasure…After all if I hadn't caught you, we'd be both lying on the ground about now", said the lad, causing me to smile at him a little amused too, widely, but he then spent a short moment examining me and my brother's faces. Next looking a bit quizzical as he eyed at us in wonder.
"If you don't find me so bold, may I enquire are you from England?" he did then ask. Peter and I glancing at each other, and it was he who responded. Stepping forth.
"Aye. We've lived at Port Royal since oor birth, but oor maw is originally from England. She moved 'ere 14 years ago from Scotland", Peter told him, now gauging at our new acquaintance in turn until a smile made its way on his lips too. And so Peter kind of brushed me aside while stepped before the stranger, offering his hand.
"Peter Martins at yer service", he introduced himself equally cordially, the stranger also bestowing him a smile and took his palm, answering the greet with his own firm shake of a hand.
"Pleasure to meet you", was his response. But before he could say his name our mother's impatient voice called out to me, interrupting the lad.
"Miranda, what are ye doin' oot 'ere? We must hurry", it said, our mother stepping out of the shop, but was stopped by the sight of the unfamiliar young man in our company. Her examining us for a moment, giving me a slight remarkable browlifting, until the young man now bowed to her too politely and caused her to sigh after she'd returned his act of courtesy with a small curtsey herself. Next turning around and waving at me to hurry.
"There will be time efter for ye tae go strolling wi' young men, but noo we must conclude oor errands 'n' return back tae th' manor. Come along darlin'", she said to me, although smiling, me then remembering my duties as well and now turned towards the young man in question, meeting his gaze after a fleeting abashment due to by my mother's gentle banter.
"Good day to ye, 'n' ta once again", I wished for him, however not being able to stop myself from staring into his so warm eyes maybe a bit too long, until he nodded to me. Wishing me the same and took my hand, kissing it lightly, me then finally going after my mother into the linen shop. My cheeks bright red.
But as Peter then immediately started to familiarize himself with him, them starting a rather lively conversation together, I once again could not deter myself from stopping at the doorway to send one more thoughtful glance towards this stranger. Peculiar smile rising to my lips without me even noticing it, as I spotted his gaze to linger on me as well for quite awhile, before turning to take in my brother's talking form. This unexpected encounter leaving an odd feeling to dwell inside my chest when I thought about this young man, in my confounding ponders finally joining my mother in rummaging through the produce of the boutique.
And so it was, that on that certain otherwise ordinary afternoon from the rest, I met William Turner, the apprentice of the town's blacksmith for the very first time... Not yet knowing how important part of my life he would come to be in the years that followed.
Scottish words:
General pronouns etc:
o'= of, th'= the, 'em= them, oor= our, 'n'= and, intae= into, 'er= her, 'im= him
Words:
maw= mum/mother, aye= yes, efter= after, oot= out, ta = thanks/thank you
Jane's dialogue
- "Be careful wi' th' fabrics, Miranda darlin'. Governor Swann does nae want stains oan th' fabric which is to be lassy Elizabeth's new gown" =
Be careful with the fabrics, Miranda darling. Governor Swann does not want stains on the fabric which is to be lady Elizabeth's new gown.
- "Miranda, what are ye doin' oot 'ere? We must hurry" =
Miranda, what are you doing here? We must hurry.
- "There will be time efter for ye tae go strolling wi' young men, but noo we must conclude oor errands 'n' return back tae th' manor. Come along darlin'" =
There will be time after for you to go strolling with young men, but now we must conclude our errands and return back to the manor. Come along darling.