I'm trying a different kind of doc for this chapter.we'll see if it turns
out OK *crosses fingers* Sorry about the last two chapters.if I figure out
what went wrong I'll fix 'em. I know they're awful hard to read! I
apologize. Thanks for sticking with me through them though.I'll fix them as
soon as I can.
The song is called "Silver and Cold," for all you AFI fans out there.
~*~
Chapter Fifteen
The Commodore's Departure
~*~
Light like the flutter of wings
Feel your hollow voice rushing into me As you're longing to sing So I will paint you in silver I will wrap you in cold I will lift up your voice as I sink Cold in life's throws
I'll fall asleep for you
I only ask you turn away I only ask you turn away as they seep into me Oh my beautiful one ~*~
"Commodore," said Elizabeth, trying to keep her voice steady and even to not betray how frustrated she was at him. Of all the days she had picked to go out walking, it had to be the day that Norrington was also up and about. If she hadn't been fretting over what she was going to say to him if he decided to propose to her again, she would have noticed how much more attractive he looked then usual. He had lost the wig momentarily, and instead of wearing the heavy coat that proclaimed him as a Commodore he was wearing the regular light shirt and breeches of an ordinary sailor.
"Please, Elizabeth," he said, taking her soft hand in his own and kissing it gentlemanly. "Call me James."
Elizabeth nodded rather curtly and twirled her parasol around on her shoulder. She could hear the rustle of her maid's dress a step behind her fill the silence as she waited for the commodore to say something.
"It's a lovely day out," was his way out of the uncomfortable silence.
"Indeed," she replied. "A rare one." It had rained steadily for the past week and Elizabeth had grown tired of being cooped up inside her enormous home, all alone. So she had elected to take her maidservant and come out to town for a walk. She couldn't have guessed that the commodore would also be out, off duty, and wearing something other than his work clothes.
"I would be honored if you would join me for tea in the café," said James, gesturing with his left hand towards a cozy looking building across the road.
The maid piped up at his suggestion. "Miss Swann, your father wanted me to remind you that you have an appointment with the dressmaker at three"-
"Tea would be lovely," interrupted Elizabeth, lacing her hand through James's offered arm. Anything would be better than an appointment with that horrid dressmaker, even tea with dear Norrington.
The café was decently sized, but trellises laced with greenery partitioned off tables to provide the diners with some amount of privacy. James led Elizabeth to a table for two in the back corner of the restaurant, to make it even better. The maid took Elizabeth's parasol and went to wait outside. Elizabeth sat in the chair that James offered to her and arranged her skirts around the wooden legs as he sat down.
Tea and scones were brought and they ate in silence for a few moments before Elizabeth set down her teacup in the china saucer and said, "So, have you any news of Jack Sparrow?"
James raised one eyebrow. "Captain Jack Sparrow," he corrected with a smile, "And no, we have not."
Elizabeth hid a grin. "He is a cunning devil," she said.
"Indeed," said James. "But, if we could get your friend Mr. Turner to talk, we could have Captain Sparrow in irons before the day was out."
"Will would never give Jack away," Elizabeth said airily.
"I know." They sat in silence for a few moments as he sipped from his cup. Elizabeth finished her tea and a pudgy bewigged man with several chins and a frilly vest took it away. She could tell that James was about to make some sort of pronouncement and steeled herself for the worst, which included nightmare visions of him getting down on his knee in front of her and offering her a splendid ring.
"You really do love him, don't you," was what he actually said, and there were no knees involved. His dark eyes gave away nothing. He just wanted an answer.
Elizabeth raised her chin and gave a small shrug. "I do," she answered, even though it hadn't really been a question that he was asking.
James nodded. "I know we've been through this before, and I apologize," he said in what Elizabeth called his 'commodore tone'. "But I just wanted to make sure." He rose from the table and exited the café, putting his hat back atop his head as the door swung closed behind him. The prissy maid, who had been waiting outside, noticed the commodore's departure and stuck her head back inside the café to make sure her charge was all right.
"Miss Swann?" she said tentatively.
"We're leaving," Elizabeth answered shortly. "I mustn't be late for that appointment."
~*~
Serenity found herself in Will's arms again, for about the millionth time since she had been rescued, leaning back against his warm body and looking out over the vast expanse of ocean that stretched out before them. Although their actions had yet to suggest anything beyond intimate friendship, Serenity knew that they shared something that she could never share with anyone else. She had loved him, and he had saved her. They had not yet kissed, because she knew that there were still walls that stood between them, but maybe they could knock them down. Together, they would knock them down.
"I'm so happy you're safe," said Will into her hair.
"Me too," Serenity said, craning her neck upwards so that she could see his face. Their lips were so close together.but once again they shied away. Serenity turned back to the ocean and Will brushed his cheek against her shoulder, staring in the opposite direction.
"They look so cute together!" said Jack happily, out of their earshot at the helm.
"Yeah," said Anamaria shortly, "better than him'n that other wench."
"'Lizabeth?" asked Jack. "What's wrong with 'er?"
"Ech, she'd look better with tha' comm'dore whelp, Norrington," said Anamaria.
"Aye, that commodore whelp," said Jack. "Ye know who else would look good t'gether?"
"Who?" asked Anamaria, rolling her eyes and taking the bait.
"You an' me," the captain said heartily. Anamaria made a frustrated noise, pushed Jack roughly out of her way and climbed down the hatch.
"Aye, then," said Jack to the helm of the Pearl, "guess it's just you'n me, boat."
Back at the bow of the ship, Will was trying to ignore his conscience. Just let me be happy, his inner voice said angrily. But Elizabeth still loves you. He tried to forget Elizabeth in the salty scent of Serenity's hair, but it wasn't working very well.
"You're thinking about Elizabeth, aren't you?" said Serenity, not sounding hurt or betrayed. She just wanted to know.
Will sighed. "Only a little."
Serenity nodded and shifted a bit in his arms until she was comfortable against him again, the top of her head resting on his shoulder.
"Let's not think about that until we get back to Port Royale," she said sadly.
"Agreed," he replied. Serenity turned around in his arms and looked up at him.
"Thank you," she said simply.
"For what?" he asked.
Serenity closed her eyes, smiled, and shook her head. "For everything," she said. "For helping me and that little boy during the hurricane, for taking me off that ship, for not trusting Daniel but trusting Connor all the same." She looked up at him. "I've felt so alone." She shook her head again. "Not anymore. Thank you for that. For everything."
Will smiled disbelievingly down at her. They had gone through so much.
He gathered her small body against his and pressed his lips into her hair. He knew that he didn't have to say 'you're welcome.'
The song is called "Silver and Cold," for all you AFI fans out there.
~*~
Chapter Fifteen
The Commodore's Departure
~*~
Light like the flutter of wings
Feel your hollow voice rushing into me As you're longing to sing So I will paint you in silver I will wrap you in cold I will lift up your voice as I sink Cold in life's throws
I'll fall asleep for you
I only ask you turn away I only ask you turn away as they seep into me Oh my beautiful one ~*~
"Commodore," said Elizabeth, trying to keep her voice steady and even to not betray how frustrated she was at him. Of all the days she had picked to go out walking, it had to be the day that Norrington was also up and about. If she hadn't been fretting over what she was going to say to him if he decided to propose to her again, she would have noticed how much more attractive he looked then usual. He had lost the wig momentarily, and instead of wearing the heavy coat that proclaimed him as a Commodore he was wearing the regular light shirt and breeches of an ordinary sailor.
"Please, Elizabeth," he said, taking her soft hand in his own and kissing it gentlemanly. "Call me James."
Elizabeth nodded rather curtly and twirled her parasol around on her shoulder. She could hear the rustle of her maid's dress a step behind her fill the silence as she waited for the commodore to say something.
"It's a lovely day out," was his way out of the uncomfortable silence.
"Indeed," she replied. "A rare one." It had rained steadily for the past week and Elizabeth had grown tired of being cooped up inside her enormous home, all alone. So she had elected to take her maidservant and come out to town for a walk. She couldn't have guessed that the commodore would also be out, off duty, and wearing something other than his work clothes.
"I would be honored if you would join me for tea in the café," said James, gesturing with his left hand towards a cozy looking building across the road.
The maid piped up at his suggestion. "Miss Swann, your father wanted me to remind you that you have an appointment with the dressmaker at three"-
"Tea would be lovely," interrupted Elizabeth, lacing her hand through James's offered arm. Anything would be better than an appointment with that horrid dressmaker, even tea with dear Norrington.
The café was decently sized, but trellises laced with greenery partitioned off tables to provide the diners with some amount of privacy. James led Elizabeth to a table for two in the back corner of the restaurant, to make it even better. The maid took Elizabeth's parasol and went to wait outside. Elizabeth sat in the chair that James offered to her and arranged her skirts around the wooden legs as he sat down.
Tea and scones were brought and they ate in silence for a few moments before Elizabeth set down her teacup in the china saucer and said, "So, have you any news of Jack Sparrow?"
James raised one eyebrow. "Captain Jack Sparrow," he corrected with a smile, "And no, we have not."
Elizabeth hid a grin. "He is a cunning devil," she said.
"Indeed," said James. "But, if we could get your friend Mr. Turner to talk, we could have Captain Sparrow in irons before the day was out."
"Will would never give Jack away," Elizabeth said airily.
"I know." They sat in silence for a few moments as he sipped from his cup. Elizabeth finished her tea and a pudgy bewigged man with several chins and a frilly vest took it away. She could tell that James was about to make some sort of pronouncement and steeled herself for the worst, which included nightmare visions of him getting down on his knee in front of her and offering her a splendid ring.
"You really do love him, don't you," was what he actually said, and there were no knees involved. His dark eyes gave away nothing. He just wanted an answer.
Elizabeth raised her chin and gave a small shrug. "I do," she answered, even though it hadn't really been a question that he was asking.
James nodded. "I know we've been through this before, and I apologize," he said in what Elizabeth called his 'commodore tone'. "But I just wanted to make sure." He rose from the table and exited the café, putting his hat back atop his head as the door swung closed behind him. The prissy maid, who had been waiting outside, noticed the commodore's departure and stuck her head back inside the café to make sure her charge was all right.
"Miss Swann?" she said tentatively.
"We're leaving," Elizabeth answered shortly. "I mustn't be late for that appointment."
~*~
Serenity found herself in Will's arms again, for about the millionth time since she had been rescued, leaning back against his warm body and looking out over the vast expanse of ocean that stretched out before them. Although their actions had yet to suggest anything beyond intimate friendship, Serenity knew that they shared something that she could never share with anyone else. She had loved him, and he had saved her. They had not yet kissed, because she knew that there were still walls that stood between them, but maybe they could knock them down. Together, they would knock them down.
"I'm so happy you're safe," said Will into her hair.
"Me too," Serenity said, craning her neck upwards so that she could see his face. Their lips were so close together.but once again they shied away. Serenity turned back to the ocean and Will brushed his cheek against her shoulder, staring in the opposite direction.
"They look so cute together!" said Jack happily, out of their earshot at the helm.
"Yeah," said Anamaria shortly, "better than him'n that other wench."
"'Lizabeth?" asked Jack. "What's wrong with 'er?"
"Ech, she'd look better with tha' comm'dore whelp, Norrington," said Anamaria.
"Aye, that commodore whelp," said Jack. "Ye know who else would look good t'gether?"
"Who?" asked Anamaria, rolling her eyes and taking the bait.
"You an' me," the captain said heartily. Anamaria made a frustrated noise, pushed Jack roughly out of her way and climbed down the hatch.
"Aye, then," said Jack to the helm of the Pearl, "guess it's just you'n me, boat."
Back at the bow of the ship, Will was trying to ignore his conscience. Just let me be happy, his inner voice said angrily. But Elizabeth still loves you. He tried to forget Elizabeth in the salty scent of Serenity's hair, but it wasn't working very well.
"You're thinking about Elizabeth, aren't you?" said Serenity, not sounding hurt or betrayed. She just wanted to know.
Will sighed. "Only a little."
Serenity nodded and shifted a bit in his arms until she was comfortable against him again, the top of her head resting on his shoulder.
"Let's not think about that until we get back to Port Royale," she said sadly.
"Agreed," he replied. Serenity turned around in his arms and looked up at him.
"Thank you," she said simply.
"For what?" he asked.
Serenity closed her eyes, smiled, and shook her head. "For everything," she said. "For helping me and that little boy during the hurricane, for taking me off that ship, for not trusting Daniel but trusting Connor all the same." She looked up at him. "I've felt so alone." She shook her head again. "Not anymore. Thank you for that. For everything."
Will smiled disbelievingly down at her. They had gone through so much.
He gathered her small body against his and pressed his lips into her hair. He knew that he didn't have to say 'you're welcome.'