A/N: This chappie is a wee bit short, I'm afraid… And a little dull, as well, but it gets better next! That's when our dear Black Pearl shows up!
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"Leah? Leah, are you still in here?" a voice called softly as nimble footsteps moved quickly through the door and shut it tight behind them. Blinking her brown eyes, groggy with sleep, the teenager squinted through the darkness of the curtained room towards whomsoever had woken her up. All she could think about was how she was actually having a dreamless, good sleep for once, and someone had Woken Her Up.
"Yes, yes, I'm up…" she muttered, and forced herself to sit up, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. She still felt like lying back down and closing her eyes tight, but it was time to get up now. What hour was it, anyway? Taking one look at the curtains, the ones that faced the sunset, she could see a sharp glare coming in from the slight area they did not cover. Yes, it was sometime in the evening.
"You must be famished," Elizabeth observed, kneeling down beside her sister. Leah nodded, and looked up to fully take in her sister's appearance… before freezing open-mouthed. She was in a dress and corset, yes, but her hair was a downright mess; Lizzy had probably stopped her maids from brushing it out to check on her first.
"Lizzy! What happened to you?"
She shook her head, appearing irritated. "Two things, actually. I was threatened by a pirate, and, oh yes! The Commodore proposed…" She was frowning now, but Leah hadn't seemed to absorb the latter, the part Elizabeth was frowning at, as much as the first part of her statement.
"Threatened by a pirate?"
"Hmmm? Oh, yes. Jack Sparrow. He's to be put in the gallows tomorrow morning. I'm sure the populace will find the whole thing especially enjoyable."
"But, are you all right? Did he hurt you at all?" She was still quite worried over this piece of news. "It's all right, really. Now, I'll return in a moment with a candle and food for you, all right, Leah?" She nodded, and watched her sister leave the room without a sound or comment. The rest of the older Swann's statement was beginning to sink in… She'd heard that Captain Norrington was to be promoted to Commodore.
And he had proposed to Elizabeth? It made Leah feel… strange inside, really. She, herself, hated how all women seemed to be good for was to be married off, and she never wanted to be, but Elizabeth married? Was she jealous, feeling sorry for her sister, what? She couldn't even discern her own feelings!
Lost in this little reverie, she didn't notice when Elizabeth came back a few minutes later and informed Leah just what she had now brought her, food, a fresh napkin, and a light. Thanking her, Leah began to dig in, pushing troublesome thoughts away. Best not to think of it.
"So Lizzy," Leah said the moment she was finished and properly tidied up. "Tell me about your little spot with danger, and the proposal of course."
Elizabeth sighed and sat down, skirts puffing about around her. "Well, it wasn't as dreadful as you may suppose, really. The pirate rescued me when I fainted from this bloody corset, and then took me hostage. The Commodore's men have it all taken care of now, though. He's going to be on the Gallows tomorrow."
Leah considered these words for a moment and decided that the pirate would rightly hang for threatening her sister, but was still curious on which pirate it was.
"Who was it?"
"Jack Sparrow, remember, from all those recent histories we've read? About time he was captured, although he did save my life…"
"He still threatened you," Leah pointed out, and then, while her sister mused over this, realized that Elizabeth had still not answered her second question. "And the proposal?"
"Ah yes, the proposal. Truly, I hadn't expected him to ask for my hand in marriage just yet, but now that he has…"
Leah nodded in understanding now that Elizabeth had trailed off, but she only understood some of what her sister was telling her, actually. She, herself, never wanted to marry, to be trapped that way under complete authority of a male figure, but that was her curse. Still… she understood her sister's dilemma to a point; she knew about William Turner.
Suddenly, Elizabeth jerked up. "Elizabeth, what is it?" the younger sibling inquired.
"I promised Father I would meet him and we would talk in a few minutes…" she told in explanation, looking warily to the door. Obviously, she'd just remembered, and Father always did appreciate punctuality.
"Go, I'll be fine, go," Leah urged, nodding to the door. Elizabeth gave her one last glance before saying her goodbye and leaving the room, careful that no one saw her, and leaving Leah alone with her thoughts once again.
