Chapter 2
Back down the hill, the "mistress" was still getting ready. Her hair and make-up were finished, and her dress was all laced up, there was nothing left to be done now, and yet she was still in the dressing room (and taking far too long, in the opinion of her father who was standing outside.) She stood in front of a dresser, staring at her reflection in the mirror and fingering something in the top drawer. All that could be seen of it was a slight glint from the lights when it was tilted just so, but she didn't need to see it, she just needed to hold it for a moment, to feel its comfort.
The cold, golden piece lay in her warm hands within the drawer. Her rubbed all over it, covering up the skeleton's face that was etched into it on both sides in her nervousness. There were no butterflies in her stomach but snakes as she prepared to leave the room and walk down the aisle. The man whom she was to marry had made her the trinket that she now held, in remembrance of a journey the two had been on not too long ago; it was the reason that they were doing this now, getting married. If it had not been for the original, one of 882 identical pieces of Aztec gold, they would have never admitted their love for each other. She would already be married to a richer, more socially acceptable man, and he would be in his shop making swords. Their paths, which had been crossed for so long, would have parted, all because of a dumb piece of gold.
She stood there contemplating this for a while. Were they really meant to be together? After all, if such a small thing was the only reason that they were together, was there also a very small thing keeping them together? How long would they last? Maybe her father and everyone else were right.maybe she should have married.
"Elizabeth, are you almost ready?" came the Governor's voice from outside.
"Yes, father. I'll be out in a minute," she said, thrusting the gold piece away and heading for the door. This was the right thing to do, she thought to herself as she reached the doorknob and twisted it. "I love Will," she whispered so silently that no one heard it but her, as the door opened and her father's figure appeared.
"Oh Elizabeth, you look absolutely stunning," he said, his eyes getting teary.
She smiled at him and nodded in thanks as he pulled her into an embrace.
"This is the right path for you, I can feel it," he said a tear finally leaving his eye. He smiled brightly to cover it up and wiped it off with the back of his hand. Then, offering his arm, which she took, he lead her down the hallway to the main hall of the fort. It was the same place where Elizabeth had stood two years ago, watching Commodore Norrington's reception just hours before the adventure that had changed her life and ended her with a pirate's love had begun.
The two stopped when they reached the doorway, ready to walk in at the 'opportune moment.' When that moment came, the doors were opened by two male servants and then, Elizabeth caught sight of Will. She smiled warmly at him, the snakes that ailed her now gone, and he returned the smile. Governor Swann and led his daughter in step, carefully noting everyone of importance around and half-bowing to each of them. He was a bit disappointed that Commodore Norrington was not present, but he had had pirate battles to take care of just off the coast and would be away for the next month.
The two reached the front of the procession after what seemed like an hour to Elizabeth and after a brief hug, her father sat down in the front row, leaving her to her fate. Will reached out for her hand, surprised by its coldness, but glad for the comfort it gave him. This is the right thing to do, he thought to himself as they turned toward the priest. "I love Elizabeth," he whispered so silently that only he heard it, as the priest began to speak.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today." he began, but the rest of the speech was lost as a loud bang sounded from behind the nervous couple.
Back down the hill, the "mistress" was still getting ready. Her hair and make-up were finished, and her dress was all laced up, there was nothing left to be done now, and yet she was still in the dressing room (and taking far too long, in the opinion of her father who was standing outside.) She stood in front of a dresser, staring at her reflection in the mirror and fingering something in the top drawer. All that could be seen of it was a slight glint from the lights when it was tilted just so, but she didn't need to see it, she just needed to hold it for a moment, to feel its comfort.
The cold, golden piece lay in her warm hands within the drawer. Her rubbed all over it, covering up the skeleton's face that was etched into it on both sides in her nervousness. There were no butterflies in her stomach but snakes as she prepared to leave the room and walk down the aisle. The man whom she was to marry had made her the trinket that she now held, in remembrance of a journey the two had been on not too long ago; it was the reason that they were doing this now, getting married. If it had not been for the original, one of 882 identical pieces of Aztec gold, they would have never admitted their love for each other. She would already be married to a richer, more socially acceptable man, and he would be in his shop making swords. Their paths, which had been crossed for so long, would have parted, all because of a dumb piece of gold.
She stood there contemplating this for a while. Were they really meant to be together? After all, if such a small thing was the only reason that they were together, was there also a very small thing keeping them together? How long would they last? Maybe her father and everyone else were right.maybe she should have married.
"Elizabeth, are you almost ready?" came the Governor's voice from outside.
"Yes, father. I'll be out in a minute," she said, thrusting the gold piece away and heading for the door. This was the right thing to do, she thought to herself as she reached the doorknob and twisted it. "I love Will," she whispered so silently that no one heard it but her, as the door opened and her father's figure appeared.
"Oh Elizabeth, you look absolutely stunning," he said, his eyes getting teary.
She smiled at him and nodded in thanks as he pulled her into an embrace.
"This is the right path for you, I can feel it," he said a tear finally leaving his eye. He smiled brightly to cover it up and wiped it off with the back of his hand. Then, offering his arm, which she took, he lead her down the hallway to the main hall of the fort. It was the same place where Elizabeth had stood two years ago, watching Commodore Norrington's reception just hours before the adventure that had changed her life and ended her with a pirate's love had begun.
The two stopped when they reached the doorway, ready to walk in at the 'opportune moment.' When that moment came, the doors were opened by two male servants and then, Elizabeth caught sight of Will. She smiled warmly at him, the snakes that ailed her now gone, and he returned the smile. Governor Swann and led his daughter in step, carefully noting everyone of importance around and half-bowing to each of them. He was a bit disappointed that Commodore Norrington was not present, but he had had pirate battles to take care of just off the coast and would be away for the next month.
The two reached the front of the procession after what seemed like an hour to Elizabeth and after a brief hug, her father sat down in the front row, leaving her to her fate. Will reached out for her hand, surprised by its coldness, but glad for the comfort it gave him. This is the right thing to do, he thought to himself as they turned toward the priest. "I love Elizabeth," he whispered so silently that only he heard it, as the priest began to speak.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today." he began, but the rest of the speech was lost as a loud bang sounded from behind the nervous couple.