Dark Waltz
June 27, 2004
OceanGirl28
Rating: PG-13 for drinking, descriptive kissing and sexual references
Summary: Elizabeth Swann's life is a never-ending waltz from man to man, deceiving each and every one into thinking she loves them... but there is only one man Elizabeth longs to dance with, and that man in out of her reach. Her father forbade her to see Will Turner long ago, yet can she obey such an order? Will she listen to her father... or her heart? What will her actions lead to? Perhaps the end - of both of them. W/E shipping. No flames, please!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and a few characters. Everything else belongs to the creators of Pirates of the Caribbean.
Chapter Three, Lost Without Will
The next morning Elizabeth woke to the sound of her father's angry voice and a loud banging on her door. "Elizabeth! Elizabeth! Open the door this instant!" Elizabeth cursed herself for oversleeping and forgetting to unlock her door. She grabbed her silk robe and rushed to the door hurriedly to unlock it. As soon as she did so it opened and she greeted her red-faced father with a quick curtsy. She realized that a stern faced woman with no laugh lines, yet a few very large wrinkles on her forehead stood behind her father. She wore a black dress that went all the way up to her neck. Her dark hair was tied back in a tight bun at the top of her head with absolutely no stray strands of hair falling out anywhere. She stood up so straight that it looked as if she slouched the slightest bit, her entire body would break and shatter. "Do not stare, girl." she said, coldly, "Tis rude."
Elizabeth blinked nervously and nodded in response. "Why was your door locked?" her father asked angrily. "A woman must never lock her door." the woman stated. Elizabeth fought hard not to roll her eyes as she replied to her father, "I'm sorry, I didn't wish to be disturbed by the maids."
"That is no excuse, Elizabeth." he replied, "Next time I find this door locked, the consequences will be much to your dislike!" She glared at him. "Do not look at your father in such a way, young lady! You must respect your elders." the woman said. "Who are you to say such things?" she couldn't help but yell, "You don't even know me!" She looked taken aback from Elizabeth's boldness as her angry father said, "This is Miss Harrison, your new tutor, Elizabeth. Her ship arrived ahead of schedule." Elizabeth's eyes grew wide. This was the woman she would spend all day with for lord knows how long? What had her father gotten her into?
"Now get dressed and go to the Great Room for your lessons." he said, sternly. A maid entered the room as her father left. The maid, Martha, handed Elizabeth a clean shaft and her least favorite gown, which her father must've requested she wear. As she walked behind to change Miss Harrison spoke to her. "I have brought you something from England." she said, opening her bag.
"How kind of you." Elizabeth said sarcastically, as she walked out in her shaft. Miss Harrison pulled out something and handed it to Elizabeth. "What an unusual hat!" she said, placing it on her head and making faces her new tutor revolted in. "'Tis no hat." she said, grabbing it from Elizabeth, "Tis a corset; the newest fashion in London." Elizabeth looked confused as Miss Harrison motioned for her to lift her arms. She wrapped it around her waist and bosom and began to yank and pull at the strings in the back. Elizabeth gasped at the sudden pain that shot throughout her body as her tutor pulled the strings tighter and tighter. "I can't breathe!" she said, pulling away and placing her hand on her stomach, "You're trying to kill me, aren't you!" she choked out. Miss Harrison sighed angrily and reached for the strings once more, "A woman must suffer to be beautiful." she said, "If the women in London can withstand the pain, then I'm sure you can as well, Miss Swann."
"Well women in London must've learned not to breathe!" Elizabeth said stubbornly as her maid slipped the dark green dress over her head.
That morning Elizabeth learned many things. Women must never raise their voices. Women must never lock their doors. Women must always respect their elders and husbands. Women must never miss tea time. Women must never walk barefoot. Women must always shade their delicate faces from the sunlight. Women of her status must never converse with those lower than her, one she hated the most. She also learned how to sip tea instead of gulp it, and when she was learning how to keep a most uncomfortable posture, she grew dizzy from lack of breathing and collapsed on the floor.
Her days went on the same way, and she eventually grew used to the corset, only feeling sick on nights where the temperature grew high. Soon it was late September and she turned fifteen. Her father threw her a party, inviting all of his close friends. At supper she noticed a man glancing at her ever so often. She said little, unless asked a question. Growing rather uncomfortable by the man's stares, she excused herself politely, saying that she felt over-heated and was going for a walk. Unfortunately, the man stood up and offered to walk with her.
"Thank you, sir," she replied, "But I'm sure I'll be fine on my own."
"Please, Miss Swann." he replied, "I insist."
She bit her lip and accepted, knowing that it would make her father angry if she refused. They walked slowly outside her house in silence. He stopped suddenly and bowed. "I'm sorry, Miss Swann," he said, "Tis rude of me, for I have not yet introduced myself. My name is James, Captain James Norrington. We met six years ago on the crossing from England, do you remember?"
Elizabeth's eyes grew wide. Norrington... Lieutenant Norrington... he had to be at least in his early thirties! She tried to maintain herself as she curtsied. "Yes, Captain." she replied. They continued to walk. She saw him glance at her out of the corner of her eye a few times, and brought her shawl up so that it now covered her shoulders and chest. "Lovely weather, we've been having." he said. "Yes... " she replied, uncomfortably. "The winds will come soon." he added. "Yes... " she said, once more. They walked for nearly ten minutes, saying few words. Elizabeth found herself entirely relieved when they reached her home.
The guests were now in the Great Room, sipping wine and talking of taxes and the weather; nothing that she took interest in. The Captain reached for her hand and placed a kiss on top of it. She smiled crookedly at him as he left, then wiped her hand on her dress.
When the night was finally over, and all the guests were gone, her father and Miss Harrison scolded her for how she handled Norrington. "You were extremely rude!" Miss Harrison said. "We'll be lucky if he even enters this house again, for fear of rejection!" her father added. "Father I did not reject him, I simply was not interested." Elizabeth replied, softly. "He may very well be our source of survival, Elizabeth! I won't be the Governor forever, you know." She shook her head and turned around. "Goodnight, father." she said, "I am weary from the day's events and wish to go to bed." His face grew red in anger. "I am not done talking with you, young lady!" Elizabeth continued to walk upstairs, ignoring him. "Elizabeth Swann get down here this instant! Your father has not yet finished. Obey him, girl!" Miss Harrison said coldly.
Elizabeth stopped and slowly turned around, infuriated. "I am having a few friends over for tea, the day after tomorrow," her father said, "and they would be much obliged if you'd play them that new piece you've been working on." She sighed. "Of course, father." Elizabeth replied, "Anything for you." She spoke sarcastically yet gave him a sincere look, then turned back upstairs.
I'm terribly sorry if any of you died of boredom from this chapter. I didn't have much fun writing it, so you may have noticed the lack of talent. (Not that any of the other chapters have talent either, lol) It's also very short. Anyhow, there very well may be a few other chapters like this one, but they are all needed greatly so that the plot may increase in my story. I have actually thought the entire story through! I'm so proud because all my other stories tend to go on and on and on and I can never think up a good ending.
I've actually written the first thirteen chapters of this story. I'm not posting them all at once though so that I may hopefully get more reviews! So please review if for some odd reason you liked this chapter, lol. No flames, please!
-OceanGirl28
