Chapter 01: Child at the crossing

At nine years old, Victoria left her home in England to cross the Atlantic. Her father and sister had been very excited to start anew, to discover new places, to meet new people; Victoria on the other hand felt as if a certain part of her life was ending, slowly transitioning to something she could not explain. She is a smart girl, she read books and studies under the tutelage of the finest educators money can afford, yet she could not find the words to explain this foreboding feeling inside her, and so she settled for what is to come, she is only a child after all, and what does she know of life.


They picked up a boy from the water, a boy with dark hair and a fair face. At first glance Victoria could hardly care for the boy; he is scrawny and dangly like a piece of string yet her older sister, Elizabeth, fretted over him with obvious fascination. When the boy finally came to, he said his name is William Turner, Elizabeth clung to this little piece of information; her eyes alight with excitement. Victoria knew her sister well enough to know that she has taken an immediate liking for the boy, while she on the other hand was too entranced by the sight in front of her to pay any mind to the hapless lad.

At first it was just smoke mingling with the thick fog then it was a ship; shattered and half sunken in the dark waters, the sails eaten by flames that spouted black fumes of suffocating smoke. It is a terrifying sight but Victoria could not look away, it doesn't seem real as if she is watching a scene play out like some dreadful dream. She could hear screaming and a loud flatline tone echoing in the distance, the pitch getting higher and higher by the second until it became deafening.

"Miss Swan!" The voice snapped her out of her trancelike state, turning her attention to the speaker. Lieutenant James Norrington stood behind her, his vibrant green eyes that often reminded her of the sea is now tainted with the shadows casted by the flames.

"Please, come away from the railing Miss Swan. This is not something you and your sister should stand witness to." He told her firmly, offering her a hand. He lead her away from the ledge and back to the awaiting arms of her father, he too seemed shaken by the scene they've witnessed; Weatherby Swan was never one for such excitement.

"Lieutenant Norrington is right, ladies go back to your cabins. I trust the both of you will take good care of Mr. Turner." Governor Swan ushered his daughters to their reserved cabins.

Victoria took one last glance at the tall Lieutenant barking orders to his men with practiced ease; his steps swift and precise like a soldier. There is not a single trace of fear on his cool facade, he is as composed as ever; Victoria wondered if there is anything he could not face head on. James Norrington, she decided right then is indeed a very fine brave man.


Mr. Gibbs is a strange man, and he always smelt of rum and old leather but he had great stories, and Victoria loved stories, specially ones about the sea and pirates and mermaids. Particularly mermaids. And Mr. Gibbs even with his incessant muttering about having women aboard a ship brings bad luck, still he tells her mermaid tales and shanties; he made sure to tell her how mermaids like to lure men to their watery graves using their unearthly beauty and ethereal voices.

"When the sea is calm and the moon shines full mermaids rise to the surface." Victoria repeated the words the old sailor once told her. She peered over the bow and railing of the ship down to the dark depths below hoping to spy a mermaid lurking about.

"Miss Swan." Victoria jumped out of surprise when Lieutenant Norrington suddenly appeared beside her, draped in layers of brocade. "How many times must I ask you to step away from the ledge." He sighed almost tiredly.

"I was only trying to see the mermaids. Mr. Gibbs said they swim to the surface when the moon is full." She pouted. He is so dreadfully tall; towering over her, all stiff and proper.

"Mermaids?" He asked, humoring her childish fantasy.

"Well I'm afraid you won't see any tonight, the moon is not yet at its fullest." He looked up at the pale moon, the only specter watching their lone ship sail across the calm sea. Victoria studied the stern lieutenant, he is very handsome and a good man she childishly thought. "It is rather cold tonight, best you go back to your cabin Miss Swan, I assume your father must be looking for you."

It is the second time James Norrington sent her away from the edge of the ship, as if he fears the sea would swallow her up if she got too close. Maybe he is right.


At thirteen Victoria discovered what it is to fall in love. She could have fallen for any boy her age — should have fallen for a boy her age, instead she felt giddy and breathless for a certain captain of the navy with piercing green eyes. James Norrington had found his way to her young and tender heart without even knowing it.

She knew how preposterous it was, how undeniably impossible it is for him to return her feelings, to even look at her in such a way; to James she will always be the governor's youngest daughter, the skinny little imp that likes to pester him every opportunity she gets. But still she kept her hope, held it close to her heart until she is sure it could not get away. Like the endless sea he so tirelessly study she too wants to unravel his mysteries, but there are no charts to lead her, no map to show her the way, rather she must sail upon uncharted waters not knowing if she'll ever reach that most coveted horizon.


She is fifteen when James first asked her to dance; he still towered over her like he did when she was a little girl, but now it is not as bad as she used to think it was. Back then he was like a tower, a pillar that cannot be reached, but now there is safety in his arms, his large hand cupping her own in a gentle grip.

"You look lovely Victoria." He always calls her lovely and every time she could not help but smile. James she realized is a very sweet and tender man; he humors her, tells her about his adventures at sea, he does not patronize her age or her being a woman.

"Thank you James. I wish I could say the same to you, but you are far too fussy to be called lovely."

He chuckles quietly, green eyes bright and alive under the chandelier lights. She likes teasing him, and pushing his buttons, she also likes making him smile—not everyone can make James Norrington smile, and Victoria loves the fact that she can.

"I like to think I am decorous rather than fussy." He smirks handsomely. They spun in circles and swayed to the orchestra; their steps did not always match, it is after all their very first of many dances to come.

"Is there a difference James?" Victoria asked cheekily, soft laughter escaping her smiling lips. In that moment it could not have been any clearer to Victoria that James Norrington is her sun, her world indelibly attracted to his gravity, and he would be the pulling force that she can never deny. She knew that he would be her greatest heartbreak.


Victoria had known James since she was but a child of nine, he had been her greatest friend for the past seven years—to say that she is now very well acquainted with his quirks would be a great understatement. She loves him, it is only natural to want to know everything about him, she thought. Victoria can tell if he is happy or frustrated, she knows when he is hiding something from her or if he is troubled. He had always been quite open with her without ever overstepping the line of propriety. But James did have a way about him of always taking her breath away. They had been dancing at another one of the governor's fancy banquets when he asked her a question that almost stopped her heart.

"There is something on your mind, captain." Victoria stated, she could see it in the way he looked at her with his bottle green eyes. "Won't you tell me James?"

James smiled tightly at her, his jaw tense and Victoria found the movement of that particular muscle utterly fascinating. He is so dreadfully handsome, all pristine and clad in wool. He is the very picture of gentry, but she knows James is more than that; more than the wig and the medals and the titles, he is a man of the sea.

"Miss Swan." There is hesitation in his voice. "Victoria have you ever been in love?" His eyes never left her face as they danced arm in arm; their bodies a mere few inches away from each other—Victoria feared he might feel her frantic heartbeat if he was to move any closer. She stammered and stuttered, unable to give him the answer he so wants to hear.

"My apologies if I was too bold." James is a man of propriety, he value the rules and protocols of both the law and of society, so it was indeed a surprise when he suddenly blurted out his inquiry.

"No, don't apologize James." She paused for a short moment, unsure of what to say. "I don't think I've ever been in love. My governess told me I'm too young for love and romance, and I do believe she might be right." She lied. She wanted to tell him it's him, it's always been him. It was him when they first met at the crossing from England, it was him when he stood beside her on the 'Dauntless' talking about mermaids, it was him when he told her about his travels, it is him every time he calls her lovely, it is him every time he looks at her with his sea green eyes. It will always be him. But she could not bring herself to tell him, and she felt like a fool and a coward for it.

"How about you, have you ever been in love James?" Victoria asked hopeful, she waited with baited breath as he slowly spun her in a circle until her back is against his firm chest with his arm securely around her. They lingered there for a few moments, too long to be considered proper.

"Yes." Was his simple answer and her world came crashing down, the sun in her world suddenly faded to black and darkness invaded every crevice of her heart.

"Who ever that lady is, she is a very lucky woman James Norrington." Said Victoria, her voice low enough to be a whisper but she knew he heard her, James did not answer. And that was answer enough.

That night Victoria cried till sleep came to claim her. James Norrington is the sun and she realized that she is the moon, always chasing the morning light, circling each other in an endless dance that always left the moon wanting and lonely. As she finally closed her eyes she wondered why can't she be the sea instead, enchanting, wild, and beautiful.


Two weeks after James admitted to having fallen in love with another woman he had been called to duty aboard the 'Dauntless' to provide support for the blockade against the Spanish; he would not be returning to Port Royal for a long time—a year at most. He did not even say goodbye much to Victoria's chagrin, she knew that his affections lie elsewhere but had they not been friends for the longest time? Did she not even merit a visit from the young captain to say his farewell before going off to carry out his duties to the king?

"Are you quite alright Victoria darling?" Weatherby Swan inquired worriedly at his youngest daughter sitting quietly at the breakfast table, her gaze fixed upon the tall window overlooking the glittering Caribbean sea.

"Oh. Oh yes father, I'm fine." Said Victoria, her voice quiet and subdued, an odd contrast to her normally cheerful disposition.

"Are you sure my dear, you seem distant as of late." Weatherby may be an old man but he knew his daughters well enough to tell if they are lying to him. "Could it have something to do with Captain Norrington and his abrupt departure from Port Royal?"

Victoria looked up at her father with sad eyes, her lower lip caught between her teeth. A knowing look settled on the Governor's aged face. Ah, young love. How they do grow up so fast, Weatherby thought.

"He did not even call upon me to say goodbye, knowing that it would be so long till he can return." Said Victoria. A sad smile made its way to her father's lips.

"My dear, James is a very busy man. His departure had been one of great importance and necessity, you must understand that. And I am sure the dear boy did not mean any injury upon your feelings by it." Weatherby laid a comforting hand on Victoria's shoulder before going off to do his own duties as governor.

Victoria stood by the window, gazing out at the infinite horizon of vibrant blue. "I know he does not owe me anything, not an explanation or even an apology. He is not mine." She said to herself, knowing full well that James Norrington did not belong to her in any manner of speaking. She is but a child in his eyes, and perhaps it is time to bury this deep seethed longing in her heart. He is her greatest friend and nothing more. The moon could not possibly hope to keep the sun.


I am editing this fanfic, and planning to continue this story after years of hiatus.