Staring Into Darkness
Disclaimer: I own nada! 'cept for me plot and obvious characters. ::shakes her head:: 'Tis a shame.
Summary: PG-13 for language. Jocelyn Ingram-Hollingsworth runs away from her home and straight into the arms of the famous Captain Jack Sparrow.
II. The Choice
As my chambermaid and best friend Sarah was helping me get dressed for my father's engagement ball, I stood in front of my guilded mirror and stared at my reflection closely. Who am I? I don't even know anymore. I gingerly touched my emerald green eyes, nose, and rosy lips and thought of my mother. My father always mentioned that I was practically an exact replica of my mother and could possibly pass as her twin. How I missed her dearly. I wish so much she were here..
' Why did you leave me, mother?' I thought.
As I ran my fingers through my long silky black hair, I heard my father's voice on the other side of my closed bedroom door.
"Are you decent, Jocelyn my dear?"
"Yes father", I half shouted as I nodded to Sarah to go ahead and let my father in. Like I had a choice. God, if only.
She nodded as she did so and returned with my father holding something behind his back, grinning like a fool.
"What are you up to father?" I sighed as Sarah continued to put my hair in an up-do style, allowing a few curls to fall around the frame my face.
"Up to? Why, dear, I'm not up to anything", he replied, his grin not faltering in the slightest.
"Oh really? Then what is that you are hiding behind your back?" I pointed out with a small smile.
"Turn around." He's not serious, is he?
"Father, what is this all about?"
"Jocelyn. Turn around or else you won't get to see." Nope. He's serious.
I sighed heavily and turned, praying this was all just a horrible nightmare.
"Alright, you may look now."
I turned back around to face him and gasped loudly. What father held in front of me was the most beautiful dress I had ever laid eyes upon. I caught a small gasp escape from Sarah's lips, as well.
"This dress was crafted from snow white silk...it was your mother's."
"Oh father..its beautiful." I slowly took the dress from him and looked at it closely. It had a low square neckline, which I noticed, was embroidered with tiny white roses, as was the hem of the skirt. The dress had small cap sleeves that were trimmed with white lace, and the bodice was tied under the bosom with a narrow band of white velvet.
I looked at my father, and for the first time in years, I saw pure glee on his face. "Go ahead, put it on."
Without hesitation, I went behind my dressing screen and beckoned to Sarah to help dress me.
"Why would you give me my mother's dress today of all days?" I asked with slight difficulty as Sarah tied the laces on my corset.
"So you could be the belle of the ball."
"Wouldn't Ms. Carrington dislike the idea of me taking away all of her attention?" The very thought of her made me shiver.
"Darling, Alana is your step-mother. You shouldn't address her with such informality."
"She's not my step-mother. Not yet." Not if I could help it.
I stepped out from behind the screen and stood in front of my father. I couldn't help but twirl a bit.
"Well, what do you think?" I bit the bottom of my lip, awaiting the criticism to pass from his lips.
"You look just like your mother. Exquisite." I was shocked. Did he say what I think he said?
"Th-thank you, father."
"Oh yes, there is..one more thing."
I knew it. It was too good to be true.
"You should be pleased to know that someone has asked for your hand in marraige."
Another one? Why doesn't he just trample me with a carraige and get it over with? Same effect.
"Not again, father. I thought you promised no more suitors, I was going to find my husband my way and marry for love."
"Well--yes, but this is a grand exception."
I sighed and the temptation to drown myself washed over me. "Who is it this time, father? A Duke? A Commodore?" I asked, slightly laughing.
"Well, yes, actually."
"Yes what? Which one?" This is unbelieveable.
"Commodore Norrington." What?!
"You better be kidding," I stated with a small laugh.
"Now Jocelyn, don't act so ungrateful. I will not have it in this house."
"No! Absolutely not! I am not going to marry Norrington. How could you even accept this?"
"Do not question my authority, young lady."
"Father I'm twenty-six years old! I'm not a little girl anymore."
"I will not have it!"
"Oh then what will you have, father? Please tell me, I'm dying to know!"
Then suddenly, his hand had flown out of nowhere and grabbed my forearm, shaking it roughly.
"Now you listen to me very carefully. You will do what I say and marry Commodore Norrington no matter how much you protest."
"But father, he doesn't love me. He loves cousin Elizabeth!"
"That will be enough out of you, Jocelyn!"
I thought about it for a moment. I could bite my tongue and act like the proper woman I grew up to be...or I could tell him how I really feel. The latter would do.
"That's why you gave me mother's dress, isn't it? So I could wear it to impress Norrington! I refuse to marry him father, no matter how much you protest," I stated mockingly.
"That's enough! I will hear of this no longer. I shall see you later tonight. And prepare yourself appropriately for the Commodore." And with that, he left.
I collapsed on the foot of my bed in shock. ' Prepare yourself appropriately for the Commodore.' My father's words echoed through my head. Prepare myself? What am I, some wench getting ready to be put to auction? I couldn't believe this.
"Are you alright, miss?"
I looked up into the blue eyes of the owner's voice, and smiled.
"Sarah, how many times must I ask you not to call me that?"
Sarah laughed lightly. "I apologize miss--Jocelyn. It seemed more appropriate at the time being."
"Its alright, Sarah." I sighed heavily.
"Would you like my opinion, Jocelyn?"
"Yes I would, very much."
"I personally think you should attend the ball and hear him out."
"Commodore Norrington?"
She shook her head. "Your father. All he wants is your happiness."
I sighed heavily. She's right. I should hear what he has to say about the matter..I mean he obviously has to have a valid reason to accept the Commodore's proposal without me being aware of it.
I stood up. "Alright Sarah, off to the ball I go."
She smiled brightly. "Have fun, miss."
"I shall. Goodnight." I gave her a hug and a small kiss on the cheek, then left, making my way down the stairs and towards my uncharted future.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's Note: Hey! I'm back and in full blast. I apologize for my long absence but alot has happened since I last updated my story, including my friend's grandfather passing away. So here's the chapter I promised you and hopefully I'll have the time to work on the third chapter before I go back to school next wednesday. I stopped here because I wanted the ball to be its own chapter. Oh! And I promise Jack will show up soon. I hope you enjoy what I have! Until then, later days!
To my darling reviewers:
Jehan's Muse - Thank you so much for your advice, and you inspired the plot for my second chapter. Thank you!!
Rori - Thank you so much for your review.
Constance Nightingale - Here's a chapter for you! Thanks for your review and I promise to write the next one a lot sooner.
Phaidra - Thank you for liking my story! :)
Disclaimer: I own nada! 'cept for me plot and obvious characters. ::shakes her head:: 'Tis a shame.
Summary: PG-13 for language. Jocelyn Ingram-Hollingsworth runs away from her home and straight into the arms of the famous Captain Jack Sparrow.
II. The Choice
As my chambermaid and best friend Sarah was helping me get dressed for my father's engagement ball, I stood in front of my guilded mirror and stared at my reflection closely. Who am I? I don't even know anymore. I gingerly touched my emerald green eyes, nose, and rosy lips and thought of my mother. My father always mentioned that I was practically an exact replica of my mother and could possibly pass as her twin. How I missed her dearly. I wish so much she were here..
' Why did you leave me, mother?' I thought.
As I ran my fingers through my long silky black hair, I heard my father's voice on the other side of my closed bedroom door.
"Are you decent, Jocelyn my dear?"
"Yes father", I half shouted as I nodded to Sarah to go ahead and let my father in. Like I had a choice. God, if only.
She nodded as she did so and returned with my father holding something behind his back, grinning like a fool.
"What are you up to father?" I sighed as Sarah continued to put my hair in an up-do style, allowing a few curls to fall around the frame my face.
"Up to? Why, dear, I'm not up to anything", he replied, his grin not faltering in the slightest.
"Oh really? Then what is that you are hiding behind your back?" I pointed out with a small smile.
"Turn around." He's not serious, is he?
"Father, what is this all about?"
"Jocelyn. Turn around or else you won't get to see." Nope. He's serious.
I sighed heavily and turned, praying this was all just a horrible nightmare.
"Alright, you may look now."
I turned back around to face him and gasped loudly. What father held in front of me was the most beautiful dress I had ever laid eyes upon. I caught a small gasp escape from Sarah's lips, as well.
"This dress was crafted from snow white silk...it was your mother's."
"Oh father..its beautiful." I slowly took the dress from him and looked at it closely. It had a low square neckline, which I noticed, was embroidered with tiny white roses, as was the hem of the skirt. The dress had small cap sleeves that were trimmed with white lace, and the bodice was tied under the bosom with a narrow band of white velvet.
I looked at my father, and for the first time in years, I saw pure glee on his face. "Go ahead, put it on."
Without hesitation, I went behind my dressing screen and beckoned to Sarah to help dress me.
"Why would you give me my mother's dress today of all days?" I asked with slight difficulty as Sarah tied the laces on my corset.
"So you could be the belle of the ball."
"Wouldn't Ms. Carrington dislike the idea of me taking away all of her attention?" The very thought of her made me shiver.
"Darling, Alana is your step-mother. You shouldn't address her with such informality."
"She's not my step-mother. Not yet." Not if I could help it.
I stepped out from behind the screen and stood in front of my father. I couldn't help but twirl a bit.
"Well, what do you think?" I bit the bottom of my lip, awaiting the criticism to pass from his lips.
"You look just like your mother. Exquisite." I was shocked. Did he say what I think he said?
"Th-thank you, father."
"Oh yes, there is..one more thing."
I knew it. It was too good to be true.
"You should be pleased to know that someone has asked for your hand in marraige."
Another one? Why doesn't he just trample me with a carraige and get it over with? Same effect.
"Not again, father. I thought you promised no more suitors, I was going to find my husband my way and marry for love."
"Well--yes, but this is a grand exception."
I sighed and the temptation to drown myself washed over me. "Who is it this time, father? A Duke? A Commodore?" I asked, slightly laughing.
"Well, yes, actually."
"Yes what? Which one?" This is unbelieveable.
"Commodore Norrington." What?!
"You better be kidding," I stated with a small laugh.
"Now Jocelyn, don't act so ungrateful. I will not have it in this house."
"No! Absolutely not! I am not going to marry Norrington. How could you even accept this?"
"Do not question my authority, young lady."
"Father I'm twenty-six years old! I'm not a little girl anymore."
"I will not have it!"
"Oh then what will you have, father? Please tell me, I'm dying to know!"
Then suddenly, his hand had flown out of nowhere and grabbed my forearm, shaking it roughly.
"Now you listen to me very carefully. You will do what I say and marry Commodore Norrington no matter how much you protest."
"But father, he doesn't love me. He loves cousin Elizabeth!"
"That will be enough out of you, Jocelyn!"
I thought about it for a moment. I could bite my tongue and act like the proper woman I grew up to be...or I could tell him how I really feel. The latter would do.
"That's why you gave me mother's dress, isn't it? So I could wear it to impress Norrington! I refuse to marry him father, no matter how much you protest," I stated mockingly.
"That's enough! I will hear of this no longer. I shall see you later tonight. And prepare yourself appropriately for the Commodore." And with that, he left.
I collapsed on the foot of my bed in shock. ' Prepare yourself appropriately for the Commodore.' My father's words echoed through my head. Prepare myself? What am I, some wench getting ready to be put to auction? I couldn't believe this.
"Are you alright, miss?"
I looked up into the blue eyes of the owner's voice, and smiled.
"Sarah, how many times must I ask you not to call me that?"
Sarah laughed lightly. "I apologize miss--Jocelyn. It seemed more appropriate at the time being."
"Its alright, Sarah." I sighed heavily.
"Would you like my opinion, Jocelyn?"
"Yes I would, very much."
"I personally think you should attend the ball and hear him out."
"Commodore Norrington?"
She shook her head. "Your father. All he wants is your happiness."
I sighed heavily. She's right. I should hear what he has to say about the matter..I mean he obviously has to have a valid reason to accept the Commodore's proposal without me being aware of it.
I stood up. "Alright Sarah, off to the ball I go."
She smiled brightly. "Have fun, miss."
"I shall. Goodnight." I gave her a hug and a small kiss on the cheek, then left, making my way down the stairs and towards my uncharted future.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's Note: Hey! I'm back and in full blast. I apologize for my long absence but alot has happened since I last updated my story, including my friend's grandfather passing away. So here's the chapter I promised you and hopefully I'll have the time to work on the third chapter before I go back to school next wednesday. I stopped here because I wanted the ball to be its own chapter. Oh! And I promise Jack will show up soon. I hope you enjoy what I have! Until then, later days!
To my darling reviewers:
Jehan's Muse - Thank you so much for your advice, and you inspired the plot for my second chapter. Thank you!!
Rori - Thank you so much for your review.
Constance Nightingale - Here's a chapter for you! Thanks for your review and I promise to write the next one a lot sooner.
Phaidra - Thank you for liking my story! :)