Chapter 1: An unexpected visitor
12 Days before the Turner/Swann Wedding Ceremony
Elizabeth woke to a knock at her bedroom door. "Yes?" she mumbled sleepily. "It is Millie Miss Swann, your father wants you dressed and downstairs in half an hour." Elizabeth sighed heavily. "Alright, I am getting up." Millie walked into the room and into Elizabeth's closet to pick out an outfit suitable for her to wear. Elizabeth got out of bed and walked over to her chair to sit in front of her mirror and began to brush her hair. "Your clothes are ready Miss." Millie laid an elegant champagne colored dress on Elizabeth's bed sheets, and walked out of the room. Elizabeth got up from her chair, and began to get ready for another day.
Meanwhile, William Turner was running an errand for the governor and he stopped short when he saw a man he recognized. "Gibbs?" Will was quite surprised to see any pirates in Port Royal. "Ah! Young master Turner! Long time no see eh?" Gibbs came up and shook Wills' hand vigorously. Will smiled. "Yes, it has been some time. What brings you to Port Royal?" Gibbs looked a bit uncertain as he began to answer. "Well… you see Will… it's…" Gibbs fumbled around to find the right words. "What is it Gibbs?" Will chuckled to see how much of a struggle Gibbs was having. "Well, I don't rightly know why we came here to be honest. Just where Captain Jack told us to sail too." Will was surprised. "Jack? Jack is in Port Royal?" He began to look around and spotted no man whom resembled Jack Sparrow. "Well, he was 2 days ago. I have not seen him since. He just sort of… disappeared. Said he needed to take care of things and would summon me when it was time to leave." Gibbs stated matter-of-factly. "Sounds like Jack." Will chuckled.
Elizabeth had met her father for breakfast and had just finished telling him to have a good day when Will walked through the gate. "Ah. Good morning Mr. Turner. Did you finish that errand for me?" Governor Swann smiled at Will. "Yes governor. Everything has been taken care of." The governor smiled, "Good, good. Have a nice visit with Elizabeth." And the governor walked down to his carriage that would take him to the town hall. Will continued up the walkway and knocked on the big door to the mansion. "Mr. Turner. Elizabeth has gone into the library." The butler opened the door for Will and let him pass through. "Thank you." Will took a left and went down the hall to the library.
Elizabeth was in the library reading a book about pirates. She had grown fond of pirates… well, one pirate in particular. She smiled. "You are so beautiful when you smile." Will walked into the room without Elizabeth seeing him, which caused her to jump and look up. "Will. You startled me. How are you today?" Will walked over and took her hand, "Very well. I will be marrying my true love in less than a fortnight." He kissed the top of her hand. Elizabeth smiled. "Oh Will." Will's face turned serious. "There is something we must discuss. Where can we go where no one will hear?" Elizabeth grew curious. "The garden. We can talk there." Will smiled and pulled Elizabeth to her feet, and they walked out to the garden at the back of the house.
Meanwhile…
I had just snuck into the garden of the governor's mansion when I heard voices coming towards me. "Bugger!" I whispered to myself. I spotted a hedge and quickly ran to it and lodged myself into it. "But I do not understand." I heard Elizabeth speak. "Why would Jack come to Port Royal knowing that he could be arrested at any time?" Elizabeth had walked towards the hedge I was hiding in and sat down on a bench. Will followed her and sat down. "I do not know. Gibbs wasn't sure why they had come either. They hid the Black Pearl somewhere on an island not too far from here, and rowed in. He said Jack was acting very strange." Both Will and Elizabeth looked puzzled. "Well, at least they don't know where I am." I smiled to myself. "I am going to go and look for him." Will looked very serious. I had seen that look before. It was determination. "Are you sure that is a good idea?" Elizabeth was a bit distressed now. "What if you both get caught together? You will both hang." Will stopped Elizabeth from speaking another sentence. "We will be fine. Jack is good about getting out of trouble." Will smiled, and I knew he was doing his best to comfort Elizabeth. "Alright." She sighed. Will kissed her cheek, and took off towards the front gate.
I watched Elizabeth sit in silence for a few minutes, deciding whether or not I should surprise her. I was getting ready to step out of the hedge when I heard her speak my name. "Jack." I froze. "Jack I miss you something awful. I really wish…" and she trailed off, looking out into the open ocean. "Wish what love?" I said stepping out of the hedge. Elizabeth gasped and jumped up from the bench, backing away from me. "JACK! You scared me!" Her face turned into a smile once she saw me emerge from the hedge. "Sorry, not my intention. Just wanted to surprise you. Guess I took care of that, eh?" Elizabeth ran towards me, enveloping me in a hug. "It is nice to see you to love. Wasn't expectin' such a warm welcome. Maybe I should frighten you more often?" She pulled away from me giggling. "How about a simple knock on the door?" I smiled down at her. "They would clap me in irons love." I watched her face fall. "Jack, you shouldn't be here. You are going to get caught. I cannot bear to watch you hang." I smiled. "It's alright. No one saw me come here. Completely undetected." I could see this eased her worrying and she began to smile again. "What a beautiful smile." I shook the thought from my head.
"So, what was it that you were wishing for right before I popped out of the hedge?" I watched as Elizabeth went pale. "Nothing Jack, I was just wishing that I knew you were alright. And here you are, right as rain." She giggled nervously, forcing a smile. She was so pretty when she lied. She looked… she looked like a pirate. I remembered how she had looked, sailing aboard the Black Pearl. The sea suited her, and so did freedom. "Yes love, right as rain." I smiled. "Jack. What in the world are you doing in Port Royal? You know that Norrington is out looking for you. If he spots the Black Pearl anywhere near Port Royal…" I held my finger up to my lips and shushed her. "Elizabeth, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. You really expect me to get caught by old Norrington? Not likely love. The Pearl is safe, well hidden." My confidence evoked a smile from her. "Oh Jack, I just don't want to see you hurt." Her eyes were sad. "Well, how can I say goodbye and wish you luck with your marriage without actually telling you." I thought this would clear up any confusion.
"Jack, you could write Will and I a letter. Sign it as anonymous or not at all." I frowned. "Why would I write dear William a letter? Makes no sense love." Elizabeth was becoming exasperated. "OH! I see. So, showing up in a place where the Captain of the guard would give his right arm to catch you, where your face is plastered on every corner, in every tavern, and every man, woman and child knows your name is better than writing an untraceable, anonymous letter. Brilliant." I smiled at her and laughed. "Which one sounds more fun?" I watched her mouth fall open. "Elizabeth," I was getting nowhere with humor, "I just wanted to give you my best and say goodbye." Her brow furrowed slightly. "Goodbye?" "Yes love. Goodbye." I watched as her face fell. "Jack, it doesn't have to be goodbye." I moved closer to her and she shifted slightly towards me. "Elizabeth..." I just didn't know how to tell her I couldn't see her after this. "If me trying to see you now is complicated, imagine how much worse it will become." I tried to make her understand, even though I didn't want her too.
"I just need to be getting on. The sea calls to me." I watched Elizabeth frown. "All you want is to find treasure." She scoffed. I gave her a serious look. "Not all treasure is silver and gold love." She was taken aback and her mouth opened in surprise. I leaned into her, placing my hands on her slender waist. She looked up into my eyes and whispered my name, "Jack…" I was about to kiss her when we heard someone call her name. "Bugger!" I let go of Elizabeth and ran to the hedge and jumped inside, hiding myself from view. I watched as Elizabeth was approached by a man I had never seen before. "Miss Swann, the Commodore wishes to speak with you." Elizabeth glanced in my direction, "Alright. Show him to the garden." The man bowed and walked away. Elizabeth ran towards me once the man was out of sight. "Jack, what if James knows you are here? What are we going to do?" I smiled, knowing she couldn't see me very well through the thick brambles. "Elizabeth, if he thought I was hiding in your garden he would bust right in and arrest me, savvy? He isn't going to ask permission." I saw this brought a smile to her face. "I will see what he wants." And she walked back over to the bench she had been sitting on earlier, but this time she faced in my direction.
"I am sorry for my abruptness Elizabeth." Norrington had entered the garden, greeted her, and then joined her on the bench. Elizabeth made sure he faced away from my hiding place. "No, not at all. I was just admiring the garden." She smiled at him. "I have just returned after searching for Sparrow. No luck I am afraid." I could tell from his posture he was disappointed. "Oh, I am sorry to hear that." Elizabeth was trying to be sincere, but I knew she was lying. "Pirate." I thought to myself and smiled. "Well, Elizabeth. I thought maybe you could be of some help to me in the matter." His tone was hopeful. Elizabeth was surprised. "Me? How could I help you James?" she was genuinely curious. "Elizabeth, Sparrow has a knack for getting away, getting out of situations of capture. That is where you come in." Elizabeth was listening intently, as I wondered where old Norrington was going with this little charade. "Sparrow fancies you Elizabeth. He is bound to show up sometime in the near future or try and keep in contact with you or even Will." She had a look of confusion on her face. "You're saying that Jack fancies me?" My heartbeat quickened.
"Elizabeth, you are very beautiful and quite intelligent. Any man with eyes would fall for you. But Sparrow is different. He is a selfish, self-centered excuse for a man who only looks out for himself." I stroked my chin, "What kind words." I thought to myself. Elizabeth cleared her throat. "Jack is a good man, James. Norrington continued, "I know you may think that because he saved you, but he did it for personal gain." "So, what does that have to do with me?" I watched Elizabeth shift herself slightly. "Maybe, he will contact you, try to stay in touch. He may tell you where he is hiding or where he makes port." "James." Elizabeth looked displeased. "I doubt very strongly that Jack Sparrow is going to tell me where he is hiding, knowing full well that you are on the hunt for him." Norrington sighed heavily. "You are probably right. You know the scoundrel better than I do anyway, no offense. I just thought it may be a good lead to him." "I am sorry James, but I am probably the last thing on his mind." She sounded slightly sad as she said those words and then looked out to the sea.
"My apologies Elizabeth. My intentions were not to come here and upset you." She smiled, turning back to him. "I know that, James. You are only trying to do your duty." He nodded his head at her, and took her hand in his. "Are you happy, Elizabeth?" She tilted her head slightly. "I mean, with Turner. Are you… happy?" She smiled kindly at him. "James, we haven't been married yet. But I do love him." "I understand. I hope that you two are very happy together. I want you to know that if your feelings for me ever change, I would like for you to tell me. And if he ever hurts you, I will throw him in prison and see him hanged." "Elizabeth stopped smiling. "He won't hurt me. He loves me too much." Norrington nodded and let go of her hand. "Did you need anything else from me?" Elizabeth stood up, which told Norrington it was time for him to go. "No, that was all I was here for. Thank you, Elizabeth. It is always a pleasure to see you." I watched as Norrington bowed and kissed the top of her hand. I gritted my teeth. "Always a pleasure." Elizabeth bowed, and watched him walk out of the garden, and towards the gate.
Once I saw that Norrington had left, I un-lodged myself from the hedge. "Thought the slimy git would never leave." I said to Elizabeth, smiling. She looked at me, and then stepped towards me. "Jack, why did you come to say goodbye?" I sighed heavily. "That, my dear Elizabeth, is not a conversation I wish to have at present." I stated matter-of-factly. She looked at me, puzzled. "Why not?" I gestured to the sea. "Time and tide love. I am running out of both." I was doing my best to avoid the subject, but she wasn't having it. "Jack, I would like to know why you won't be attending the wedding." She crossed her arms and I knew I was stuck. "Elizabeth." I breathed. She did torment me so. "Meet me out here, tonight, and I will explain everything love." I stated pointing to the spot where I was standing. She nodded. "Alright Jack. Tonight." She smiled and turned to walk back into the mansion. "Oh, and Elizabeth?" She turned and I motioned at her. "Let us leave dear William out of this, eh?" Her brow furrowed slightly. "As you wish Jack. I won't tell Will." I smiled and watched her disappear around the corner. "Right. If I am to meet the bonny lass this evening, I had best find meself some rum." I climbed back over the gate that led out of the garden and around the back of the mansion and into the woods. I needed to get back to my precious Pearl and find me some rum.