DISCLAIMER: Now, listen carefully. Pirates of the Caribbean wasn't mine yesterday, it isn't mine today, and tomorrow, it still won't be mine. But Adrian shall remain forever mine, my own, my precious! Ahem, sorry! My little brother was doing that all day yesterday and it has somewhat rubbed off on me, gollum, gollum! Okay, I'll stop freaking you all out now
I got on my computer to check my email this morning, and I had five, not one, but FIVE reviews! Well, as many of my former readers know, I get so jazzed when I get a review that I usually proceed to write another chapter to my story. So, here it is!
Adrian arrived at the governor's house earlier than needed. The butler answered the door and escorted her to the room she was to share with Meg.
" Thank you," Adrian said as he dropped her off.
" Oh, Adrian, there you are!" Meg whispered happily. Adrian smiled as she set her bags down on her bed, carefully leaving her hand covered.
" Meg, I need your help," she said.
" What is it?" Meg asked. Adrian pulled out her hand and Meg gasped. Her fist was bruised very badly from punching the drunk the other night.
" You need to wrap that in something! I'll go find an old sheet," Meg said as she bustled out of the room. Adrian waited patiently until she returned, old sheet in hand.
" Are you sure it's okay if we use that?" Adrian asked warily.
" Oh, it will be fine. For goodness sake, Adrian, how did you do this?" Meg asked as Adrian brought her hand closer. Her knuckles were red and swollen, though, thankfully, they were not broken.
" I stumbled in the street and a horse stepped on it," she lied through her teeth. Meg winced, easily swallowing the lie. Adrian was grateful. Meg didn't need to know about what had really happened, it would scare her to death. After she was done bandaging Adrian's hand, Meg stood to her feet.
" Your uniform is on your bed," Meg said. Adrian turned to look at it. It was a simple dress with an apron and cap, typical maid's wear.
" I'll get dressed and be along to help," Adrian said as she began to take off her dress and put the uniform on.
" You are to help me serve breakfast, then there is washing to be done and maybe some errands to be run," Meg said, telling Adrian her duties, which were basically the same as her own.
" Well then, let's get to it!" Adrian exclaimed as she jumped up from the bed and followed Meg down the hall.
Adrian's first week at the governor's house went smoothly. She got aquatinted with all the other maids and the old butler. Her favorite, besides Meg, was Bernadette, who was called Dotty for short, one of Elizabeth's maids. When the three were together, the chatter was endless, even when they were in soap and wet clothes up to their elbows.
" Dotty, what's the big to do up at the fort tomorrow about?" Adrian asked as she washed one of Elizabeth's dresses.
" Captain Norrington is being promoted to Commodore," Dotty said as she scrubbed a sock.
" I hear that he may propose to Elizabeth," Meg muttered as she wrung out a shirt. Adrian thought for a moment.
" He is a good man, but I don't think he is right for Lady Elizabeth," she said softly.
" It will be a good, smart match," said Dotty. No more was said on the matter.
The next day came swiftly and Meg and Adrian didn't see Dotty all morning, for she was helping Elizabeth dress. Adrian's hand was better, although still a bit swollen and achy. She was busy dusting downstairs when a knock sounded at the door. The butler's footsteps echoed in the silent hall as he opened the door.
" Ah, Mr. Turner," the butler said.
" Good day," he said as she entered the house.
" I shall go fetch Governor Swann," the butler said as he scurried off. Adrian kept herself in the other room, hidden in a closet. Mr. Turner, that is the man who tried to help me the night I was attacked. Will Turner she thought as she watched him looking about. He reached his hand up to finger a candleholder on the wall. To his horror, it broke! Adrian stifled her giggle as he quickly hid it in a vase on the floor.
" Ah, Mr. Turner! Good to see you again!" said Governor Swann as he came down the stairs.
" Good day, sir! I have your order," Will said as he placed his case on the table and opened it. Adrian watched as he pulled out a sword and handed it to the Governor.
" The blade is folded steel. That is gold filigree laid in to the handle. If I may," he said, holding his hands out for the sword, which the governor had pulled out of the sheath.
" Perfectly balanced. The tang is the full width of the bade," he said as he held it on one finger just below the hilt. With one swift movement, he flipped it lightly into the air, then caught it and gave it back to the governor.
" Impressive, very impressive. Commodore Norrington is going to be very pleased with this. Do pass your compliments on to your master," Governor Swann said. Will smiled.
" I shall! A craftsman is always pleased to hear that his work is appreciated," he said happily. He made that sword, Adrian thought, judging by the way he smiled.
" Ah, Elizabeth, you look stunning!" Adrian heard the Governor remark.
" Will! It's so good to see you! I had a dream about you the other night," she exclaimed.
" About me?" Will asked uncertainly.
" Elizabeth, I don't think that is entirely proper - " the governor began.
" About the day we met. Do you remember?" Elizabeth went on.
" How could I forget, Miss Swann?" he asked.
" Will, how many times must I tell you to call be Elizabeth?" she asked.
" At least once more, as always, Miss Swann," Will responded.
" Well, see? At least the boy has a sense of propriety. Now, come Elizabeth," Governor Swann said as he began to usher his daughter out the door.
" Good day, Mister Turner," Elizabeth said dryly as she walked out the door. Will followed them.
" Good day, Elizabeth," he said quietly. Adrian judged it was safe to come out now. She quietly walked over to where Will had put the candlestick holder. She pulled it out of the vase and examined it. It often fell off when she was lighting the candles. All you had to do was slip it back on. As she was doing this, the door opened again. Adrian turned swiftly and looked into the eyes of Will Turner.
" Oh, you are fixing that," he said.
" It does this all the time," she muttered as she deftly slipped it back into its place with a clank.
" I was afraid I had broken it," he said sheepishly.
" Oh, no, it's nothing to worry about! I thought the same when it happened to me while I was lighting the candles," Adrian said with a soft laugh.
" Well, thank you, miss," he said as he began to head out the door. Adrian moved to close it behind him when he turned.
" Pardon me for asking, but how did you hurt your hand?" he asked as he looked up at her face.
" I fell and a horse stepped on it," she lied again. He looked a bit doubtful, then headed down the lane without another word.
" A horse named Herb," Adrian said to herself as she shut the door.
There was a big commotion when the Governor and Elizabeth returned that evening.
" Meg, what has happened?" Adrian asked her friend.
" She was attacked by a pirate!" Meg whispered excitedly. Adrian nodded and went downstairs to get Elizabeth's dinner, which she would be eating in her room.
" Milady, I have your dinner," Adrian said softly when she reached Elizabeth's door.
" Come in," Elizabeth said. Adrian entered.
" Here you are, Milady," she said softly as she sat the tray in Elizabeth's lap. She waited a moment, then spoke.
" What was his name?" Adrian asked Elizabeth softly.
" Whose name?" Elizabeth asked.
" The pirate's name," Adrian continued.
" Captain Jack Sparrow," Elizabeth answered. Adrian hid her surprise.
" Good night, milady," she said as she walked out of the room. When she was in the hall she put her hand to her chest, feeling the warm gold coin. Adrian had been feeling strange since earlier that afternoon, and she didn't like it. She walked over t one of the windows and looked out across the bay. The full moon reflected from the water. Adrian watched as an eerie curtain of fog ascended onto Port Royal. Fear of the unknown gripped her heart. She quickly closed the window and walked down into the kitchen. Meg was standing at the sink, washing dishes.
" Adrian, come help me with these?" she asked. Adrian nodded without a word and began to wash. A loud rumble was heard from the bay.
" What was that?" Meg asked. Adrian listened. She knew very well what it was, for she had heard it often when she was young. It was cannon fire. Adrian thought fast.
" Dotty, get up to Miss Swann's room! The rest of you, make for the fort!" she said sharply. The others obeyed without question. A resounding knock echoed at the door. Adrian ran into the hall at the same time Elizabeth ran down the stairs. Adrian watched in horror as the butler headed for the door.
" No!" she and Elizabeth yelled at the same time. They were too late.
" Hello, chum," said a gravelly voice. A pistol was fired and the butler fell dead. Elizabeth screamed along with all the other maids who had come into the hall. Adrian whirled and ran back into the kitchen.
" Adrian!" Meg screamed in terror.
" Calm down and stay close to me," Adrian commanded her coolly as she grabbed a large butcher knife from the counter. She knew she needed to get Meg to the fort. Adrian grabbed Meg's hand and led her out of the kitchen. A pirate came directly at them. At the last moment, Adrian pulled the knife from her skirts and drove it into the pirate's chest. Without waiting to see if he was dead, Adrian pulled it out and pulled a crying Meg out the door and down the drive. Down in the town, buildings were burning and people were screaming.
" Come on, Meg!" Adrian yelled as they neared the fort. Soon they were safe inside. Meg was hysterical.
" Meg, it's alright, we are safe now," Adrian said, trying to sooth her.
" The butler, Elizabeth, horrible, you stabbed a man!" Meg stammered.
" Meg, listen to me! That pirate would have hurt us if I had not stabbed him," Adrian tried. It was no use. Meg was too upset to be comforted. Adrian sat and listened to the cannon fire and thought about Jack Sparrow and her coin, which was tucked safely in her black dress.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" So there is a curse. That's interesting." (Jack)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oh my, that was a long chapter! But hey, Jack will be in the next one, so sit tight! And go review!
Pandagrrl: yes, it would be a bummer to not be able to eat chicken tacos! Wow, of course you can put a link to my stories on your website! I feel so special!
Kris: Wow, I have never had a German girl read one of my stories before! Cool! I am glad you like it and can understand it!
Happy Bunny904: I am glad you like it!
Movielvr: glad you like my fic! Here is your update, since you asked so nicely!
Thank you all so stinking much for reviewing! More updates soon!