Disclaimer:
Mimi- I don't own it.
Ragetti- Now that's what you'd call ironic
Mimi- No it isn't . . .
Note: I'm sorry for killing off Gibbs, but it was necessary for development . . . I liked him too, and it was sad to see him go. I'm beyond ecstatic that you really like all of this and it makes me want to go on forever! But, alas, the end is fast approaching and I have to get there one of these days, so here it goes!
Here's To Freedom (Chapter 20) --bake me a cake, I've lasted 20 chapters . . . yay!
After staring blindly into the mirror for almost an hour, hating herself for being wretched enough to garner her own father's loathing, Natalie left her quarters, slipping along the corridor, down the spiral staircase, and out the front door. She moved quietly along the deserted trails, not wanting to attract anyone's attention, and sat down on one of the wooden benches in the front gardens so she could clear her head.
As it stood, in less than two hours hundreds of people would be crowded around her, asking questions about things she needed to forget, and she would, officially, be betrothed to a liar and a cheat.
If he had asked her to marry anyone else on earth, she wouldn't have been happy, but she would have done so without question. But Geoffrey and his half-wit of a son weren't to be underestimated. They stood to gain a fortune that they did not deserve, and she was the only person left to stand between those scalawags and her vulnerable father.
Even though he had lost sight of his affections for her, Natalie still loved him. Weatherby Swann could hate her for eternity, but she refused to allow any harm to come to him.
How she planned on helping him, exactly, was still a mystery, unfortunately.
With a hopeless sigh, her eyes drifted shut and her trembling hands drifted over her face with frustration. "When is this going to get any easier!?" she moaned, wishing that she could have had a nice, normal existence instead of the melodrama her life had suddenly become.
"When I find out I'll let you know."
* * * *
"Okay now, luv," Jack said, nervously coming to a stop at the garden gate, "I have kept up my end of the bargain. You are here, and safe, so give my regards to the good townsfolk and I'll be on me way."
Elizabeth and Will eyed him strangely as he stood in front of their home, tapping his boot against the cobbles and whistling, as if he was waiting to be dismissed.
She opened her mouth to speak, but suddenly a maid hurried over to her side, whispering excitedly and giving her a hug. Her eyes widened and she asked, "Won't you come in, Jack, dear?" Motioning to the front door, she smiled to herself. It was all too perfect!
His eyes moved from one friend to the other, and back to the floor, before finally ending up square above their heads on the building behind them. Will had apparently done quite well for himself as a blacksmith, if their home was any indication.
"You know, I really shouldn't. I still have problems leaving my crew alone with the ship . . . the whole multiple-marooning incident left its fair share of scars, I fear. So, I'd love to, darling, but it just isn't possible."
Will shook his head and smiled, "What would you say to a drink then?"
* * * *
From behind her perspiring palms, her eyes flew open at the sound of the familiar man's voice. Why, oh why, couldn't she have had her nervous breakdown away from the eyes of others!
Quickly, she leapt to her feet, straightening the folds in her deep burgundy skirt and clasping her hands in front of her before offering a smile to welcome the hidden guest.
From the shade of the palms, Commodore Norrington stepped out onto the moonlit path and greeted her with a polite nod and a conservative grin. "I think the two of us have quite the knack for finishing one another's private musings, hum?" he joked, "I apologize for interrupting."
Natalie beamed up at him and replied, "Don't be silly, James. Actually, I would be very much obliged if you would accompany me back to the palace."
"I would be delighted, Natalie," James said, presenting her with his arm, which she accepted. Together, they walked along the packed dirt and cobbles towards the great, illuminated home of the governor, which grew closer with each step.
He noted her contemplative silence and inquired as to the reason. "Are you alright? You seem a bit troubled this evening." Glancing over at her, James watched her shake her head as her eyes averted his, and he added, "It's Clark Eaton again, isn't it?"
It was obvious that he had struck gold with his deduction, and it wasn't much of a surprise, considering tonight's soirée was in honor of her recent engagement. With a heavy hearted sigh, Natalie confided in him.
"I suppose I would rather marry a dead carp than that man," she said, her voice full of conviction, "Clark is trying to get to my father, James, I just know it."
Looking up to the star-filled sky, she blinked back tears and admitted the most painful part of the entire ordeal. "But he refuses to see it. Every day, I have to hear about how much of a disappointment I am and how Elizabeth would never do this to him, and I just take it. It kills me, but I know I'm right."
James couldn't believe his ears. He had been forced to tolerate the poor governor when both she, and her sister, had gone missing, and never before had he seen a man more besotted with his daughters. This whole thing was tearing the Swann family apart, tearing her apart, and he refused to allow it.
His own mother had died while birthing his little sister, Lissie, and his father had been a devoted servant to the king's navy until his death, leaving James with little more than a generous inheritance and his instincts to raise her. In later years, the pair of them had grown apart. Hell, he didn't have a clue as to where she even was or if she was still among the living!
No, it wouldn't be right to sit back and allow this unfortunate, but manageable, situation to destroy her family.
"Natalie, you need to know that he still loves you. He's only a bit cross. Once Elizabeth returns and everything is settled, you'll see," James offered, giving her hand a comforting squeeze.
She leaned her head against his shoulder for a moment and smiled. "I hope you are right, James. He won't speak to me unless I marry Clark."
The feeling of her seeking solace from him sent the cogs in his head to spinning. Raising an eyebrow, he put forth a suggestion that could possibly end the needless torment of many.
"Well, are you certain that you may ONLY marry Clark Eaton?"
* * * *
Being the highly predictable animal he was, the mere mention of his very favorite poison of choice was enough to lure him inside the home of the Turners for some coercing.
Upon entrance, they gave him a brief tour of their modest abode to take his mind off of the drink he had been promised though, because, in Elizabeth's opinion, he was drunk enough.
Finally, in the finely decorated sitting room they voiced what they had been pondering for hours. "Jack," Elizabeth began, sitting demurely in her wingback chair by the fire, "Natalie is engaged to Clark Eaton and tonight there is going to be a party in their honor."
He straightened in his own chair, eyeing the couple suspiciously with a sidelong glance. "And . . . is that all?"
"No. We think that you should go."
Both the pirate captain and the blacksmith snapped their heads in her direction, looks of complete disbelief slapped clearly across their faces. In unison they shouted:
"I do?!"
"You do?!"
William turned to his wife and choked out, "You can't be serious, darling?" Motioning to the man covered in dirt, hair, and alcohol who was currently looking beyond ridiculous against a backdrop of understated beauty and majesty, and added, "I mean, no offense to you, my friend, but there is no way you can pass for a gentleman without being recognized."
"As he is now, I'd have to agree, but . . ."
* * * *
Mimi- I don't own it.
Ragetti- Now that's what you'd call ironic
Mimi- No it isn't . . .
Note: I'm sorry for killing off Gibbs, but it was necessary for development . . . I liked him too, and it was sad to see him go. I'm beyond ecstatic that you really like all of this and it makes me want to go on forever! But, alas, the end is fast approaching and I have to get there one of these days, so here it goes!
Here's To Freedom (Chapter 20) --bake me a cake, I've lasted 20 chapters . . . yay!
After staring blindly into the mirror for almost an hour, hating herself for being wretched enough to garner her own father's loathing, Natalie left her quarters, slipping along the corridor, down the spiral staircase, and out the front door. She moved quietly along the deserted trails, not wanting to attract anyone's attention, and sat down on one of the wooden benches in the front gardens so she could clear her head.
As it stood, in less than two hours hundreds of people would be crowded around her, asking questions about things she needed to forget, and she would, officially, be betrothed to a liar and a cheat.
If he had asked her to marry anyone else on earth, she wouldn't have been happy, but she would have done so without question. But Geoffrey and his half-wit of a son weren't to be underestimated. They stood to gain a fortune that they did not deserve, and she was the only person left to stand between those scalawags and her vulnerable father.
Even though he had lost sight of his affections for her, Natalie still loved him. Weatherby Swann could hate her for eternity, but she refused to allow any harm to come to him.
How she planned on helping him, exactly, was still a mystery, unfortunately.
With a hopeless sigh, her eyes drifted shut and her trembling hands drifted over her face with frustration. "When is this going to get any easier!?" she moaned, wishing that she could have had a nice, normal existence instead of the melodrama her life had suddenly become.
"When I find out I'll let you know."
* * * *
"Okay now, luv," Jack said, nervously coming to a stop at the garden gate, "I have kept up my end of the bargain. You are here, and safe, so give my regards to the good townsfolk and I'll be on me way."
Elizabeth and Will eyed him strangely as he stood in front of their home, tapping his boot against the cobbles and whistling, as if he was waiting to be dismissed.
She opened her mouth to speak, but suddenly a maid hurried over to her side, whispering excitedly and giving her a hug. Her eyes widened and she asked, "Won't you come in, Jack, dear?" Motioning to the front door, she smiled to herself. It was all too perfect!
His eyes moved from one friend to the other, and back to the floor, before finally ending up square above their heads on the building behind them. Will had apparently done quite well for himself as a blacksmith, if their home was any indication.
"You know, I really shouldn't. I still have problems leaving my crew alone with the ship . . . the whole multiple-marooning incident left its fair share of scars, I fear. So, I'd love to, darling, but it just isn't possible."
Will shook his head and smiled, "What would you say to a drink then?"
* * * *
From behind her perspiring palms, her eyes flew open at the sound of the familiar man's voice. Why, oh why, couldn't she have had her nervous breakdown away from the eyes of others!
Quickly, she leapt to her feet, straightening the folds in her deep burgundy skirt and clasping her hands in front of her before offering a smile to welcome the hidden guest.
From the shade of the palms, Commodore Norrington stepped out onto the moonlit path and greeted her with a polite nod and a conservative grin. "I think the two of us have quite the knack for finishing one another's private musings, hum?" he joked, "I apologize for interrupting."
Natalie beamed up at him and replied, "Don't be silly, James. Actually, I would be very much obliged if you would accompany me back to the palace."
"I would be delighted, Natalie," James said, presenting her with his arm, which she accepted. Together, they walked along the packed dirt and cobbles towards the great, illuminated home of the governor, which grew closer with each step.
He noted her contemplative silence and inquired as to the reason. "Are you alright? You seem a bit troubled this evening." Glancing over at her, James watched her shake her head as her eyes averted his, and he added, "It's Clark Eaton again, isn't it?"
It was obvious that he had struck gold with his deduction, and it wasn't much of a surprise, considering tonight's soirée was in honor of her recent engagement. With a heavy hearted sigh, Natalie confided in him.
"I suppose I would rather marry a dead carp than that man," she said, her voice full of conviction, "Clark is trying to get to my father, James, I just know it."
Looking up to the star-filled sky, she blinked back tears and admitted the most painful part of the entire ordeal. "But he refuses to see it. Every day, I have to hear about how much of a disappointment I am and how Elizabeth would never do this to him, and I just take it. It kills me, but I know I'm right."
James couldn't believe his ears. He had been forced to tolerate the poor governor when both she, and her sister, had gone missing, and never before had he seen a man more besotted with his daughters. This whole thing was tearing the Swann family apart, tearing her apart, and he refused to allow it.
His own mother had died while birthing his little sister, Lissie, and his father had been a devoted servant to the king's navy until his death, leaving James with little more than a generous inheritance and his instincts to raise her. In later years, the pair of them had grown apart. Hell, he didn't have a clue as to where she even was or if she was still among the living!
No, it wouldn't be right to sit back and allow this unfortunate, but manageable, situation to destroy her family.
"Natalie, you need to know that he still loves you. He's only a bit cross. Once Elizabeth returns and everything is settled, you'll see," James offered, giving her hand a comforting squeeze.
She leaned her head against his shoulder for a moment and smiled. "I hope you are right, James. He won't speak to me unless I marry Clark."
The feeling of her seeking solace from him sent the cogs in his head to spinning. Raising an eyebrow, he put forth a suggestion that could possibly end the needless torment of many.
"Well, are you certain that you may ONLY marry Clark Eaton?"
* * * *
Being the highly predictable animal he was, the mere mention of his very favorite poison of choice was enough to lure him inside the home of the Turners for some coercing.
Upon entrance, they gave him a brief tour of their modest abode to take his mind off of the drink he had been promised though, because, in Elizabeth's opinion, he was drunk enough.
Finally, in the finely decorated sitting room they voiced what they had been pondering for hours. "Jack," Elizabeth began, sitting demurely in her wingback chair by the fire, "Natalie is engaged to Clark Eaton and tonight there is going to be a party in their honor."
He straightened in his own chair, eyeing the couple suspiciously with a sidelong glance. "And . . . is that all?"
"No. We think that you should go."
Both the pirate captain and the blacksmith snapped their heads in her direction, looks of complete disbelief slapped clearly across their faces. In unison they shouted:
"I do?!"
"You do?!"
William turned to his wife and choked out, "You can't be serious, darling?" Motioning to the man covered in dirt, hair, and alcohol who was currently looking beyond ridiculous against a backdrop of understated beauty and majesty, and added, "I mean, no offense to you, my friend, but there is no way you can pass for a gentleman without being recognized."
"As he is now, I'd have to agree, but . . ."
* * * *