Sorry this took a bit, guys, I wanted to try to make it good.
Anyway, this is the last chapter of this story. Before I start, I just want to say thank you to everyone who has read it. I love all of you guys, especially if you reviewed! I need to give special thanks to Alori Kelsi Aldercy and williz, who have been reviewing almost every chapter I have written. So, my thanks to every reviewer. I never thought that I would get 34 reviews on my very first story!
Disclaimer: You probably know by now that none of the characters are mine.
Scene 10 – Here Comes the Bride?
The morning of the wedding dawned bright and clear. Elizabeth sighs as she looked out her window into the rolling blue waves of the Caribbean. It is a perfect day for a wedding. If only...
Abruptly, she tears her gaze away from the window and proceeds to get dressed. She had promised herself that she would not think of what she was about to do or she might scare herself. She knew that she was making the right choice, but that didn't make it any easier for her to carry out. No regrets, she tells herself firmly. NO regrets.
Meanwhile, in the small room behind The Church of Porte Royale's main hall, Comodore Norrington finishes adjusting his ceremonial sword. He quietly pushes over part of the heavy curtain that separates the rooms and looks outside. He is greeted with the sight of thousands of well-dressed, excited people awaiting the coming of the beautiful daughter of the Governor. In front of the crowd, the priest is preparing his sermon and the bridesmaids and ushers are beginning to line up.
The Commodore gives an involuntary shudder and pulls himself back inside the small chamber. He quickly whirls around when he hears the governor's voice, "Are you quite alright, James?"
"I think so, Sir."
"Good."
Governor Swan turns to leave when he is stopped by a sudden nervous outburst from Norrington. "Actually, Sir, I'm not quite alright. I'm not even sure if I want this."
The governor is horrified. "What?!"
"Well, Sir, it's just that Elizabeth obviously does not love me. She might have once, but now..."
"She will be happy with you, Commodore."
"I would hope. Still, I just... Honestly, I almost wish that something would go wrong today. Is that ridiculous, or what? I don't think that I can do this in good conscience, Governor."
Now the governor is angry. "That is ridiculous!" he snaps. "You will go out there, you will marry my daughter, and you will be happy with her. I have risked everything to bring you two together, and I will not let it be destroyed!"
Norrington looks at him for a moment before hesitatingly responding, "Okay, Sir. If it is your will."
Taking a deep breath, he walks outside and takes his place on the altar. Satisfied, the governor smiles and takes a seat in the front row. The bridal procession begins. Everyone turns to watch, but it all blurs before his eyes. All this pomp and ceremony, he ponders. But is anyone here really happy? Does anyone really care about love, faith, respect, all the things that I am about to pledge? Can I really go through with this?
He looks up to see his bride standing next to him. She is dressed in a huge white dress with a tent-like veil that he can't even make out her face through. The sight of her doesn't make him any happier, though. She must hate that dress. She always said that she wanted her wedding to be simple and serene. This is most certainly neither of those.
James was so absorbed by his thoughts that he did not hear the ceremony. The next thing he knows, he hears his wife saying, "I do." The priest looks towards him. "Commodore James Norrington, do you take this woman, Elizabeth Swan, to have and to love forever, through good times and bad, in sickness and health, until death do you part?"
James feels all eyes on him. "I..." He stops. The church is dead silent. All he can hear is the terrified whimpering of the woman next to him. "I..." What am I thinking?! This is all I ever wanted, all I ever worked for. Isn't it? The crowd was beginning to be aware of the bride's crying. No, he answers himself. I wanted to love and be loved in return. Not to force a noble and kind woman to marry me against her will. "I'm sorry, but I do not."
The church echoes with shocked gasps and whispers. The governor rises and strides angrily up to the altar. "What do you think you are doing, fool?" he hisses in James's ear. "As your commanding officer, I order you to say your vows and marry my daughter. If you do not, I will strip you of your rank and ship you up to Nova Scotia!"
James barely hesitates. "I said that I do not take this woman as my wife. I was trained to give my life for what I believe is right. I will hold my head high and go to Nova Scotia if that is what it takes to save both this woman and myself from a life filled with grief, regret, and longing."
"Then pack your bags, you will go tomorrow."
"So will I." Both men turn to the bride, shocked. James leans closer to her. "Elizabeth, wouldn't that defeat the point. If you want to be with me, then..." His eyes widen. "Then this entire honorable stand that I have taken has been totally pointless and humiliating."
"I do not think so, I think that it was quite brave and heroic. And I do love you and I do want to go with you, but I do not want to deceive you one moment longer. I am not Elizabeth." She takes of her veil to reveal the tight, dark curls of Pamela. "Forgive me, Sirs, but I could not condemn my mistress to this fate. Commodore, if you want me, I would travel with you to the ends of the earth. I have loved you my whole life long, and now that love grows stronger seeing what an honorable man you are."
Smiling, James takes her in his arms. "So, it's off to Nova Scotia with us. Let us hope that Elizabeth has found as much happiness as I." He kisses her to the delight of the watching crowd.
Even as they start wildly cheering, Governor Swann curses and storms out. He begins to walk angrily, but he trips on the church steps and ends up on his knees, peering out at the seemingly endless ocean. Pausing, he takes in a deep breath of the cool salt air. Yes, my darling, I wish you happiness as well. Wherever you are.
Slowly, he rises and heads back to his mansion, where a small note us awaiting him on his dresser...
On board The Black Pearl, Captain Jack Sparrow confidently twirls the steering wheel. "We're bound up North this time. Better plundering, I've always said. The people are too cold to fight back. Hah!"
Anamaria shakes her head. "You are quite insane, Captain."
"I know. That's what makes me the best of the best. You need a little insanity, you know? Speaking of the insane..." He turns and calls up to the crow's nest. "How are my little runaway lovers doing?"
"Fine, Jack."
"Captain Jack to you, missy!"
Elizabeth laughs and turns to Will. Both are now clad in pirate's garb. Smiling, he takes her into his arms. "Are you totally sure about leaving Port Royale and the commodore behind?"
"Even if I wasn't sure, wouldn't you say that it's a bit too late for me to change me mind now?"
Will turns serious. "Don't joke like that, Elizabeth. You chose a hard life over an easy one, I know that. If you regret your decision at all, we can take you back. I couldn't stand to be the source of misery for the woman I love."
Elizabeth is touched. "Of course I don't regret. I love you. And Pam was wrong, love isn't just some silly feeling. True love is so much more. It's something that fills you with joy and makes you capable of things that you never even dreamed you can do. It... Oh, I can't even describe it!"
"You don't have to. I love you. I know." He leans in to kiss her, then pauses for a moment. "Do you plan to go back there?"
"Well, I left a note for my dad. I told him that we'd be back in a year, at least just to visit. He goes about things the wrong way, but he is my father and I do love him deep down. Maybe we'll have our wedding there, who knows?"
"Wedding?"
"You wouldn't want to be married?"
"Of course I would, I just didn't know that you were... I don't know. Ready? Committed yet?"
"I do want to marry you, Will. Right now, though, we need time to just be. I need to be happy for once, to be loved, to be free..."
"Funny. I just need you."Both smile. "I was saving my top priority for last of course."
"And that is?"
Instead of responding in words, she pulls him close and kisses him. That kiss was enough answer for him. It was also enough for both of them to realize that they could make it through anything together, because this could be nothing else but true love. The kind that makes you many times better than you ever thought you could be.
So there we have it: the end. I hope everyone has enjoyed this story and that my writing was able to make people happy, at least for just a few minutes. Please review one more time and tell me what you thought of the story.
Again, and I can't say this enough, I love all of you! Thanks for reading and goodbye!
