I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean, Disney does. I only own the characters that weren't in the movies. You know, the ones I made up. Anyway.
Misty sighed. She was sitting in the parlor, looking out the window. The maids had once again stuffed her into a corset. The dark purple silk dress was pretty, though. She smiled. She had been distracted by thoughts of a certain someone to object.
She was so bored! James was at work, Sarah had been invited to an invitation only tea dinner and Samuel and Carol were taking naps. To top it all off, she hadn't seen Theodore in a week, since the night of the party. So now she sat in the parlor. A wooden pennywhistle sat next to her.
Sighing, she picked it up, studying it. She had fond memories of grabbing this pennywhistle and dashing out the door with it when she was in the Colonies. She would run outside with it after she'd been fussed at or hurt by her drunken father, going off to a quiet place and allowing the music to sooth her.
Now she picked it up for simple enjoyment, to occupy herself. Placing her index, middle, and fourth finger on each hand on the six holes, she wet her lips and placed the mouthpiece to them. Blowing gently, she willed the notes to gently flow out. Ah, now she felt relaxed, feeling as though the notes were swirling around her. When she took the pennywhistle from her lips, she was startled to see someone standing in the doorway of the parlor.
"Theodore! I'm sorry, I didn't see you standing there." She said as she got to her feet.
He smiled. "It's quite alright, the butler showed me in. I didn't want to stop you, you were playing beautifully! What is the name of that piece?" He asked as he walked to her.
"Oh, it's just something I made up." She furrowed her brows. "Don't you have work today? Not that I'm not happy to see you." She added quickly.
"It's my lunch period. I was hoping to spend it with you, that way I could give you that tour of the town I promised you last week." He said hopefully.
She nodded. "Of course. Where will we be eating?"
He smiled again. "Ah, that will be the start of the tour. A little tea shop that I grab lunch at every day. So, are you ready?"
"Yes, let's go."
A few minutes later found Misty and Theodore at a table outside of a tea shop called 'Port Royal Tea Time'. Theodore pressed his tea cup to his lips, sipping slowly as he watched Misty over the rim. Setting his tea cup down, he folded his cloth napkin and wiped his mouth.
Now he sat back, watching her as she finished of the last few bites of her muffin and the last couple of sips of tea. When she finished she also patted her mouth with her cloth napkin, turning her gaze toward him.
He smiled. "So, you enjoyed it"
She chuckled. "So it would seem."
"Right then, we've a little more time left. If you want, I can show you around a little more before I go back to work."
She stood. "Lead the way."
"I'm afraid, this is where the tour ends." Theodore said as they stopped infront of the fort.
"Thankyou for doing that during your lunch period, Theodore. If I didn't get out and do something, I'm sure I would have lost my mind from boredom!"
He chuckled. "No problem."
"Oh, Theodore? Did you hear about the party next week that the governor is throwing in our home?"
"Yes, I received the invitation only yesterday. It is next week, correct?"
"Yes." She paused. "Will you be there?"
He smiled before replying in a soft tone, "Only if you wish it."
She offered a soft smile and replied in a whisper, "I wish it."
He took her hand in his and kissed the top. "I'll be there. I apologize, but I really must be going back to work. I'm afraid I won't be able to see you until the party, it looks like this will be a busy week. Until then, good day."
With those words, he turned and entered the fort.
A week had gone by and once again, Misty found herself being shoved into a bodice, a corset being painfully tightened around her waist and yet, the navy blue silk dress made it all seem worth it. Shooing away all of the maids so she could finish dressing herself, she slipped her slippers on which matched her dress and brushed her hair. She began to reach for a ribbon, when, again she looked in the mirror.
She studied how her short golden hair caught each little cast of light, running her fingers through it favorably. Deciding it looked nice enough down, she put the ribbon back on her dresser and stood, taking a deep breath as she prepared to meet the guests.
Misty walked around, weaving through the forest of people, taking in the music and laughter. Once again this was an invitation only party, so there weren't so many people, to Misty's delight.
"I say! Miss Norrington, you look absolutely stunning!" Offered Lieutenant Gillet.
She turned and gave him a sincere smile. "Thank you, Lieutenant. You look nice as well."
With a nod and smile, he walked off, going to greet other people. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She couldn't help but feel happy. She had made quite a few friends with some of the officers in the Royal Navy and the town, thanks to Theodore.
Speaking of which, where was Theodore? Scanning the crowd and not finding him, Misty went off to the side, back to her corner where he had found her last time. Maybe if she waited there, he would look there first. But what found her wasn't charming or delightful at all. As she stood and leaned against the wall, she didn't notice the same group of girls that had bothered her at the previous party were on the second floor.
What they all held wasn't delightful either. It was a large bowl filled with water and ice, resting on the railing and begging to fall. Giggling, the girls tipped the large bowl, causing the freezing water to fall and splatter all over poor Misty. Holding in her scream of shock from the freezing water, only a whimper escaped her lips. The guests turned, all staring at the soaked and shivering Misty.
Some gaped, some tried stifling their laughter, and others just mumbled to the person standing next to them. Her eyes watery and threatening to spill over with tears, she dashed as quickly as she could up the stairs and to her room, closing the door firmly behind her. Now allowing her tears to spill over freely, she nimbly kicked off her slippers and pulled her dress over her head.
Next she reached behind her back, slowly untying the strings to the corset and quickly tossed it to the floor. Now taking off her bodice she revealed her bare and shivering body. Making her way to the dresser, she began digging around in the drawers.
Within minutes she was dressed in her black pants, her white long sleeved shirt tucked in with her brown leather belt resting on her hips. She tucked her pant legs into her brown leather boots and tied her hair back with a navy blue ribbon.
What now? She couldn't go out the front door, all of the guests would see her. She sighed, thinking of her options. Furrowing her brows, she walked over to her window and threw it open. Looking down, she found that there was a trellis, roses growing up it and weaving all through it. Knowing it wouldn't be easy but also knowing she would rather climb down it than face her guests, she began to climb down the trellis.
It wasn't as hard as she thought it would be, but it wasn't so easy either. By the time she'd reached the ground, her hands and wrists had small cuts all over them from the thorns of the roses. Blowing cool air on her hands she began to make her way to the stables, which were located behind the mansion.
Were those...footsteps she heard coming her way? She began to quicken her pace, taking off at a slow jog. When the footsteps behind her also quickened, she moved to a fast jog.
"Misty!" Someone yelled behind her.
Taking off at a run, she reached the barn and quickly put a bridle on her horse. Not even worrying with a saddle, she led her horse out of the barn. Only to almost run into Theodore.
"Misty I..." He stopped in the middle of his sentence when he found that she was wearing mens' clothing. "Misty, you're wearing..."
"Mens' clothing, I know." She hung her head, rubbing her eyes which were now starting to look glassy.
"Misty..." He said softly.
She snapped her head up, looking desperately at him. "I can't take this anymore! I can't do this Theodore! It's not me!" Not able to hold back any longer, she allowed her tears to stream down her face.
His eyes softened, and tried with a soft tone, "What are you talking about? What's not you?"
"I'm not rich, Theodore. The side of the Norrington family that I come from is very poor. I never wore dresses, it was no use. They would just be ruined because of the work I did because I used to live on a small farm. I'm not the rich young lady you thought me. I've come to live with James and Sarah because my father would come home drunk almost every night and beat me. But, it appears that I'm not wanted here either. If you don't like the real me, it's alright. You can go."
With a swift move she swung herself up on her horse, preparing to gallop away.
"Wait!" He yelled as he grabbed the reins, stopping her from being able to control the horse. "I don't know the real Misty. But until you tell me what the real Misty is like, I can't honestly say I don't like her. Now please, come down off the horse and tell me about her. It's only fair."
Reluctantly, she nodded and dismounted. Putting the horse back in her stall, she offered him a seat on the bench located in the inner part of the barn. Fumbling around in the dark, she found a match and lit a lantern on the opposite wall. When she put out the match she sat down next to him.
"Now, can you start with who dumped water all over you and why?" He asked softly.
She leaned back against the wall, allowing the back of her head to softly thump against it. "Well, at the previous party, those girls that you rescued me from at the fort were saying some things about one of my dearest friends and about me that I didn't take kindly to. Being successful in irritating me, they kept going. I finally lost my temper and said something inappropriate and it made them leave. That's why they did what they did to me nearly half an hour ago."
She took a deep breath. "As for the real Misty, I like wearing mens' clothing because its easier for me to move around in. Like I said, I'm not used to wearing dresses because of the work I did on the farm. I don't mind getting my hands or myself dirty, you're bound to when you muck out horse stalls and groom horses. When I'm alone and have free time, I like to ride horse or walk at the water's edge in my bare feet at the beach."
She paused to see how he was taking this so far.
He was just watching her, waiting for her to continue.
"As for what people say about me, I usually don't care. But in the case..." She let out a sigh. "Anyway. As for my character and the way I've acted around you for the weeks I've known you, nothing is different." She looked at him again. He continued to watch her, not saying a word.
She stood, hanging her head. "Its alright, Theodore." She started softly. "If you don't like the real me, its alright. You don't have to call on me anymore. I wouldn't blame you after I posed as something I'm not meant to be." She started to walk away, when he gripped her arm.
"Wait."
She stopped and turned.
"Sit back down." He said softly.
She did, still hanging her head, tears streaming down her face. She felt his finger beneath her chin, gently forcing her to look at him.
Slowly, his face inched toward hers. Before she could think to do anything, he had claimed her top lip and wrapped his arms around her. She was frozen for a moment, stunned. He continued to kiss her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, willing him to continue as she responded. After a few more breathless moments, he pulled away, staring her directly in the eyes and whispered,
"I like the real Misty. She sounds very free spirted, not worried about what the world thinks of her."
She whispered back, "I worry what you think of me."
"I love you." He whispered as he claimed her lips again.
She kissed him back, this time longer as she allowed her hands to stray to his face. When they broke apart for air, still cupping his face in her hands she said,
"How do you know if you love me, if I've just now told you who I really am?"
He wiped away her remaining tears. "You told me, just now that your character is the same as when you hadn't revealed your past to me. I can see it in your eyes you're telling me the truth."
"I love you too. I'm just ashamed to say I was too afraid to say so."
"It's alright to be afraid." He whispered as he brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
She let her hands slide down to his chest. "I love you."
Those words being said, he claimed her top lip again. She was shaking. Shaking more than someone should be with the warm night that it was. He pulled back, looking concerned into her eyes.
"You're shaking." He felt her hair. "Your hair is still wet. You must be freezing."
Thinking quickly, he untied the ribbon holding her hair back. He then ran his fingers through her hair, trying to make the strands not stick together so much. Next he took off his Lieutenants' coat, wrapping it around her. He wrapped his arms around her as well, pulling her closer to him in an attempt to get her warmer faster.
"They'll wonder where I am." She said weakly into his chest. "I'm not going back in there."
"We'll wait for all of the guests to leave, and I'll take you back inside. Right now, just rest. You're tired, you've had a long day."
Without another word, she relaxed against him as she felt warmth coming back to her body.
All of the guests were gone, and James and Sarah still hadn't seen Misty. Thinking she was still in her room, they sat at one of the tables that was still set up.
"Do you know who it was that pulled such a horrible prank?" Sarah started.
James shook his head. "No. I'll find out though. Has she been in her room the whole time?"
They were interrupted when Theodore entered the room, carrying Misty bridal style. His coat was still wrapped around her, and she was still shaking even though she was asleep. The couple leapt to their feet and rushed over to Theodore.
"What is the meaning of this?" James demanded, his eyes darkening with anger.
"I have a logical explanation, sir. I found her in the stables. I realized she was shaking and her hair was still wet, but she refused to go back inside. I guess she was afraid of what the guests would say. I wrapped my coat around her and she simply fell asleep as she waited for all of the guests to leave."
Feeling a bit more relieved, James nodded. "Follow me. We need to get her to her room."
He turned and led Theodore up the stairs and down the hall. Upon reaching her room, James opened the door and pulled the covers back on her bed. Theodore, as cautiously as he could, laid her down on the bed, successfully doing so without waking her up. James removed Theodore's coat, handing it to him.
"Help me get her boots off." James said simply as he grabbed the heal of one of her boots.
Theodore did so with the other. Once they had gotten her boots off, James pulled the covers to her shoulders. The two just stood, watching she shivered less and less. Finally her shivers stopped, and James looked to Theodore.
"Thankyou."
"It's nothing to thank me for sir. I was simply there when she needed someone."
He nodded. The two men silently left the room, shutting the door behind them. When they made it down the stairs, Sarah was there to greet them.
"Is she alright?" She asked a little worriedly.
"She's fine. She finally stopped shaking and she's still asleep." James answered.
"Thankyou for looking after her, Lieutenant." Sarah said as she turned to Theodore.
"Any time." He replied tiredly. "If you'll excuse me, I find myself falling weary."
They bid each other goodnight, and Theodore exited the house. Though he was growing wearier by the second, he couldn't push away the happy feeling of knowing he loved someone, and she loved him in return.
Lieutenant Theodore Groves's heart has been stolen.
Aww! Yay! (Lol) Please review! Thankyou!