Title: I wish I may; I wish I might

Author: Marlena & Trav

Email: All feedback email may be sent to bloodflame013@aol.com

Disclaimer: I ( Actually WE ) don't own anything, or anyone. This is based strictly on role-play. It has nothing to do with the real Pirates of the Caribbean. It would be a 'before look' if anything; based on the content. The characters, setting, etc is from the movie, and this is my way of stating I'm NOT claming ownership. So don't screw me, err sue me, okay? The portrayal of Elizabeth Swann is credit to Marlena; while on the flipside, Will Turner is credit to Trav. Comments are always welcome.

Prologue: Elizabeth Swann is the governor's daughter. Will ( William ) Turner, is a simple blacksmith. As far as everything was stated, these two were from two different worlds, and were never to come together in any way shape or form. But can classes stand in the way of true love?

Chapter Six: Inevitable Adversity

"Bad bad business.." Elizabeth muttered softly, as she sighed. She had been pacing for what seemed an hour, after she had received word from her handmaid Captain Norrington had wanted to speak to her. What could he possibly want? As she heard the handle of her door turn, she stopped, rubbing the wrinkle from her pacing from the petticoat of her dress. Captain Norrington had slipped into Elizabeth's room, looking the girl over. Ms. Swann; always...a pleasure. Ms. Swann? Since when did he call her such? "Good afternoon Captain Norrington..." He looked at her, however - it wasn't the same typically warm look he gave her. It was something, shy of disgust? I was hoping you wouldn't mind my coming, I do believe I should tell you what I have heard about. "H-heard about? Please, by all means..." She said shyly, and he raised his chin a little. Looking at her, he took a breath. How often have you seen Mr. Turner outside of these grounds, Elizabeth? He asked, thoughtfully, and Elizabeth blinked. "Only but a couple by chance, captain. Forgive me, but is there a problem in coincidence?" she asked, and he seemed to shrug. I'm sure there's not. Only... "Only what?" Only I have heard some, rather unflattering stories my lady. Just spit it out, for pity's sake... Elizabeth thought to herself; but she looked inquisitive toward him. "Unflattering?" I've heard that you and good Mr. Turner have been, oh, what is the term... His tone had turned lightly sarcastic. Elizabeth wasn't content at all with the circumstance before her. Lip locking in secret. That's it. Elizabeth's heart jumped…damn near stopped. "P-par-pardon me?" She stammered; shaking her head. "There...there must be some mistake..." By the surprise in your voice, I would have imagined such. That'll teach me to listen to a merchant sailor. he said scornfully, Forgive me, Elizabeth. I knew coming to you first would be my best bet. "Right you are, Captain Norrington. But I must insist that you leave me a moment to these...these allegations if you will." Norrington gave a small nod, and bowed before her respectively. As you wish Elizabeth. He left her room, and Elizabeth placed her back against the door hard, as she closed it. "What am I going to do..." She whispered to herself softly, feeling a knot growing in her chest. She knew what she had to do, she had to tell Will. Someone was spying on their private moments? Norrington just HAD to be behind that. She rubbed the finger which, still held the ring that Will had made her. She hadn't taken it off even after he told her the truth about it. She sighed heavily, leaning back up from her place against the door. She opened the door, looking out to make sure Norrington was no longer there. What she saw was her handmaid, running about doing her business. "I need you to me a favour..." Elizabeth said softly, and the girl gave a smile toward Elizabeth. Yes Ms. Swann, anything. "I need you to help me get out of here unseen.." Elizabeth knew where Will would be at a time like this, at his master's shop. Jaquiline always was good at helping her with such, and sure enough, this time would be no different. She snuck Elizabeth out the back door, and showed her a path that would lead her almost right to the shop. Don't you worry yourself Ms., it's completely safe I assure you. She said, which caused Elizabeth to smile. "Thank you so much. You know, why don't you take the day off. Here." Elizabeth slipped something into her hand, which caused Jaquiline to gasp softly. "Go pick yourself up some new robes. I'm sure my seamstress will assist." Oh thank you Ms. Swann. Elizabeth started the venture down the path, and as she reached the blacksmith's shop, she released a small, yet heart filled sigh. Knocking gently on the door, she glanced around, hoping nobody had seen her.

Will had been looking over his shoulder and fearing the shadows since his last meeting with Elizabeth, he was becoming so overly paranoid at being found out. Elizabeth's father would never understand, never permit anything more, even if he did spare Will's life and freedom. Jaquiline, beyond the call of duty or friendship, had been remarkably helpful but he feared to implicate her in this anymore. Elizabeth stood no chance of harm if the truth did come out, poor Jaquiline could be put out, could loose everything she had if the governor so wished. He wasn't so naive as to think that no one had seen them together, it wasn't coincidence that Norrington's men had suddenly taken great interest in patrolling his neighborhood when afternoon rolled around. But overall, he knew they had both been careful, and that none of the three could be accused of telling their secret. So it came as a shock to him that morning when Norrington came to 'inspect' the shop. He'd called it inspecting, it was more like the inquisition. He'd done everything he could think of the try and push Will into a corner cowering. He'd repeated and rephrased accusations about his recent behavior, trying to make him slip up and mention something about Elizabeth. Will stood true, refusing to give in to Norrington and the three men he'd brought with him. Apparently Norrington was going to hear what he wanted, because he eventually out and accused will of lecherous behavior at the least and stealing Elizabeth's innocence at the most. He was mortified that Norrington could even think that of Elizabeth, regardless of what he felt toward Will. He wanted to defend Elizabeth's honor, and that's what Norrington wanted, but he didn't get the chance. Anyone can win a fight when your friends hold your opponent down. Of course, he wouldn't bloody his own hands, that's what the third man was for. Will hated him more than ever now. Not even for hurting him, for thinking that his behavior was somehow avenging Elizabeth's honor. He was a sick man, and he'd already passed Will off as another step on his ladder to the top. Will had leaned against the forge, long after they left, trying to catch his breath after being strangled within an inch of his life. Now, he was simply trying to work, pretending that none of that had happened. In his heart, he knew he should somehow get word to Elizabeth, that somehow Norrington was suspicious. He couldn't very well go to her, and Mary would ask too many questions. So instead he sat, alone in the shop. He'd given up on breakfast, swallowing hurt too much. Instead, he sat at the table, a cold cloth pressed against his swollen -and probably purple- cheek. Norrington's man had clipped him at a rough angle, a mistake he wouldn't let him repeat twice. Let one of them come at him alone, then they'd see what a simple blacksmith was capable of. He was drawn from his thoughts by a knocking at the door. He made his way to the door, cursing under his breathe when he looked through the slats and saw Elizabeth standing there. Quickly, Will readjusted the bandana around his neck to cover any lingering marks there. After a long moment of hesitation, he unlatched the door, opening it just enough to look her in the face. "I'm sorry Ms. Swann, we're closed.. behind on our accounts I'm afraid. Did your father need something?"

She looked at Will, a mortified look on her face. "My god Will...what happened to your face?" She went to reach out and touch it, but refrained, looking a little nervous. "No...my father doesn't need anything...I just...I need to talk to you." She glanced around, shaking her head a bit. She pushed him aside, and stepped into the shop. "Look." She said, sternly, as she slowly closed the door. No more miss goody gumdrop; something has to be done. She thought to herself, looking up at Will. "Norrington came to me...a few minutes ago." I'm sure he really wants to hear this... Elizabeth was leery about telling him the details of the Captain's visit; but decided she had really no other choice. "I - well - he knows. Well, he thinks he knows... about, well, us. Our...meeting." She only stuttered when she was beyond nervous. And here, she was. "He said a merchant sailor told him, he thought it was a rumour, so he came to me. How noble of him..." She said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "I told him nothing happened, so save the pair of us. Even though we both know what happened..." The thought of it, brought a small smile to Elizabeth's face, but, she dropped it swiftly. "I'm sorry Will, I thought everything was safe...secure...but..." She sighed, looking down. "I wish that everything was so easy...everything was secure...it's...it's my fault." She turned away from him, taking a jagged breath. Crossing her arms against her chest, she tried her best to hide the tears that were surely to come. "I just, can't believe all this...everything is...it's all falling apart.."

Why couldn't she take a hint? He sighed, it wasn't her fault, she didn't know he was being watched. "I know Elizabeth, which is why you shouldn't be here." Will couldn't believe his ears. After everything, he'd gone to Elizabeth herself with his accusations. "Your fault? No one could have accidentally seen us Elizabeth, I think he's been having me followed. " It was true, he knew for a fact that no one else had been on that strip of beach and the cove wasn't visible from above ground. Should he tell her what had happened? Could he? He loved her, he knew that for sure now, so could he honestly drag her life through the mud hole that was coming? It wouldn't be long before Norrington spread rumors and Elizabeth was forbidden to see him, that much he knew for sure. Will walked down the steps from the door, throwing the wet rag onto a table. What if the message Norrington wanted to send was that he was just beginning to make Will's life hell.. They had to put him off the trail, or they would never have any peace. "Go to him, Elizabeth. Tell him that you were covering for Jaquiline and myself." Will turned to her, pain in his eyes. "Jaquiline will go with the story if you ask her to, but this has to stop. Before Norrington hurts anyone else." Will winced visibly, that last part had slipped before he could stop it.

"I will do no such thing, Will..." Elizabeth said sternly, crossing her arms. "He has absolutely no right to get involved into my life, nor yours! I am not going to sit here and lie to myself about my feelings. I will NOT sit here and let Norrington ruin my life or your reputation!" She was being brave, here, more so than usual. She strongly believed in her purpose, and strongly believed in the feelings she was feeling for Will. Since that kiss, she hadn't been able to stop thinking of him. Something had to give...something had to be done! Stay cool, but firm. "Will...this is ridiculous. Is there REALLY dictation for love?!" She took a step back slowly, exhaling deeply. "Forgive me, I didn't mean to say that..." But she meant it, regardless, she didn't mean to say something so openly. She began pacing once more, as she shook her head. "But you know what I mean. Norrington is HARMLESS. He's NOTHING without his henchmen, don't you see it? We need to do something, we need to stand up for one another!" She was dedicated to this cause, dedicated to their promises to one another. They always wanted to be happy, and she knew - just KNEW it, that Will felt for her like she did for him. "We can't just hide from this....I...can't hide from this." She paused; "We...can't."

Of course he knew that Norrington was nothing without his henchmen, getting him without his henchmen was the problem. Elizabeth was seen as almost above the law around here, but that didn't mean that they couldn't take their aggressions out on him. He was glad though, that Elizabeth didn't seem to have caught the exact meaning of Norrington hurting people. "It's not my reputation he's after Elizabeth, it's yours. I'm a scamp, a orphan, but you have a family name that means something to a lot of people." He wouldn't put it above Norrington to go after Governor Swann and try to take the title for himself in order to teach Elizabeth and Will a lesson. But there, she'd said it. Love. Of course he understood that one couldn't follow a primrose path, but she didn't understand how hard the path could get. Sometimes you had to hurt someone to help them, but that didn't stop a whole new lump from rising in his throat. "Maybe you can, but you don't know what you're throwing away. I can't stand beside you while you destroy your world, Norrington will go after us, and then your father. Do you think Jacqueline or half your staff will be kept on should you be put out? Or worse, if Norrington takes his seat.." Will shuddered at the thought of Norrington as the authority over all Port Royal. "shadows and whispers Elizabeth, that's all we had…shadows and whispers. any illusion of love was just that, an illusion. I'm sorry, but I won't see your name drug through the mud for the love of some poor fool."

She wanted to scream at him, she wanted to cry. Her emotions were overflowing, and she was trying her best to refrain from doing any of the above. What was the matter with him?! What happened to the feelings they shared for one another?! "Fine Will. I understand what you're saying." She didn't understand. She was trying to hide the fact that she didn't, though. So far, she was managing. "Maybe you're right. Maybe…maybe I should go to him. Then he'd leave you alone." God, that was painful to say. More so, it was her worst nightmare that would come true if she had to give herself to Norrington in anyway shape or form. "I've heard, that my father has planned for Norrington to get his, promotion, if you will." She sighed; turning away from Will. "I've been trying to forget hearing such...his men are all pleased." She shook her head a little, trying desperately not to cry though she wanted to. God, why was this so difficult? Why was it so difficult to ignore these feelings? She had done it before, why should now be any different? "I should probably go, I wouldn't want to inconvenience you further Will." She said, turning toward him for a moment. "Thank you for your time, I just, I guess you're right. We don't really have anything here do we?" Shadows and whispers..."Maybe, maybe one day you'll realize that I cared more about you than my name. And maybe then we can both be happy..." She turned to walk out of the shop, no longer able to suppress her tears.

And maybe, just maybe, she'd understand how much more than her name was at stake. That fleeting fragment of reassurance did nothing to stop the tears that welled. He didn't know what he'd mention to accomplish, but he certainly hadn't meant to push Elizabeth into Norrington's waiting arms, certainly not for his sake. But he knew how much her father loved Norrington, and even about the promotion. He couldn't compete with breeding and military credentials, he certainly couldn't give her the things that the Captain could. He'd gotten what he thought he wanted, he just didn't know now. Walking over to a rack, he grabbed the piece of steel which was to become Norrington's and chucked it across the shop with a furious growl. Why had he let his fear take hold of him? Who was he afraid of? Norrington or himself? He ran to the door, throwing it open, but Elizabeth was gone. He slammed his fist into the doorway, furious at himself. She had given him what he'd wanted, to be alone. But he'd done the right thing... so why did he feel like he'd kicked a puppy?