Disclaimer: Heh. Forgot this last time. Well...I don't own any of the characters from PoTC unfortunately, but I do own the idea. No stealy ideas, savvy?

:: Chapter Two ::

The dying scarlet sunrise beamed the last of its cautionary rays into the large rectangle windows of the Governor's office. Elizabeth gazed at the glittering pattern it made onto the mohagony desk, her mind numb with her father's news.

"I would have appreciated it if you had told me before," Elizabeth murmured softly, trying to mask the poison threatening to drip from her voice. How could her father do this to her? Sighing, she sat down in the velvety maroon chair in the corner of the office. "So, you mean to say that you have been chosen for a seat in Parliament? That means we will have to move back to England. And soon."

"Yes, 'tis true, darling." Wetherby Swann smiled sadly at his daughter, "This house no longer belongs to us. It belongs to Sir Beeston. We shall depart on the 'Marie' in a few days..."

"A few days!" Elizabeth exclaimed, jumping to her feet. "I've spent almost ten years of my life here, you can't just expect me to abandon it? How can I possibly say goodbye to all my friends in a few days?" What else could he conjour up to ruin her life even more than he already had? She frowned at her father's seemingly unscathed expression. He just didn't care did he? "Can you at least think of me?" Elizabeth pleaded, her amber eyes filling with salty, hot tears. All she wanted to do right now is run up to her bedroom and sob into the pillow like she did when she was a child.

"I already have Elizabeth. I wanted you to enjoy your time here without your departure looming in the back of your mind. Now that it's time to leave, you need to face it like a lady your age does. People can't always cater to you...someday you have to realize this. I've treated you like a child for way to long. You need to grow up." Whetherby sighed deeply after that little speech, and slipped from the room. He needed a breath of fresh air, but mostly, he didn't want to hear Elizabeth's reply. He made a mental note never to listen to Commodore Norrington's advice again, especially on when to inform his daughter of important matters.

Elizabeth walked slowly on the bluffs overlooking the harbor, her heart heavy with shock and grief. She could not believe what her father had just told her...he had always treated her so kindly, almost like a princess. She couldn't imagine not having servants to tend to her every whim, to give her a hug and say, 'I'll be alright sweetie...' And to grow up? What in the world did her father mean by that? Every other twenty-year old lady she knew would put on a fit if they were in her situation. What was her father expecting?

Elizabeth sighed, and sat down on a large boulder, her now salt-stained silk dress hanging limply on her figure. Maybe she did need to grow up...she shouldn't have been running around the beach at half-past dawn with a blacksmith. But he was a handsome, kind blacksmith...someone she loved. Yet in her father's eyes, he was only a lowly tradesman, and half-pirate. It would never work...her father was right. He would never make enough money to support her. And Elizabeth was not about to get a job somewhere...

Then, Elizabeth remembered something her mother had told her, soon before she died, 'Elizabeth, never give up. If you want something, work towards it. Sometimes you can't expect others to give you what you want. You have to go after it yourself...no matter what the consequences.' Elizabeth's eyes filled with tears again, at the slight memory she still had of her mother. Her mother, Emily Bishop Swann, had died in childbirth when Elizabeth was only eight years old. Her mother had always looked towards the future optimistically, and she was always quite different from other women. She had always spoke up for what she believed in, and she was always so confident and proud. Many of the other women looked upon Emily with scorn, but Elizabeth always suspected they were jealous.

How come she couldn't be like her? Deep inside her heart, Elizabeth knew she had an expectation to live up to – her mother's. Why was her father afraid to let Elizabeth grow up like her mother? Perhaps...perhaps because it would degrade his image. Wetherby had always resented his wife's carefree attitude, and he did not want Elizabeth to grow up to have no respect for the great men of society. It was quite ironic that almost immediately following Emily's death, Wetherby acquired a higher position in the government. High-ranking officials were supposed to have calm, indifferent wives that cared only for sewing, fashions, decorating, and idle gossip. Quite frankly, they were only for decoration.

With a rather insecure, worried look on her pale features, Elizabeth rose and started pacing at the edge of the cliffs. Straining her neck slightly, she could see the waves crash gently against the ? Granite ? rocks below. The white froth from the tidal motions had traced a pale mustache on the sand where the last wave had pushed onto the shore. And on the unscathed beach of the small, hidden cove lie two seals, sunning themselves on this strangely calm, balmy morning. Elizabeth smiled when she spotted the seals, and she stood in a rather precarious position to watch them. The mother and baby were snuggled up close to each other, enjoying the sun together. Elizabeth wondered if perhaps someday she'd have a child of her own, a child that she too would love and cherish...

"Elizabeth! Get away from the edge immediately." A strained voice commanded, huffing to get up to the top of the bluff. "What are you doing up here anyway? You shouldn't be here."

She was jarred out of her thoughts quite rudely, and Elizabeth turned quickly to face Commodore Norrington. Definitely not a person she wanted to talk to, especially here. This was her own special place where she came to think and dream. She glared at him and snapped, "Is that all you do, demand people to do things? I am not some soldier if you hadn't noticed." Elizabeth blinked. Had she really said that?

"Why Elizabeth!" Norrington stared at her strangely, and frowned. So now she was going to be rude to him? "I...I was just concerned for your welfare. I was sent to keep an eye on you, as your father is now quite caught up in moving affairs and teas with the new governor."

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, and turned away. "I am not a dog either," she muttered. He wouldn't come up here for no reason...and 'keeping an eye on her' wasn't a good excuse. He must be up to something...they were alone. Nobody could see them...she did not feel comfortable around him. What if he tried something? Red flags were raised in her mind, and she started to flee back down the bluff, but Norrington caught her arm. Surprisingly, his touch was gentle.

"I know that you're not soldier or a dog," Norrington began slowly, measuring his words carefully, "nor had I ever thought of treating you like one." He paused for a moment, "I'm sorry if I offended you Elizabeth. As I said before, I am concerned for your welfare. And...and I know that you don't want to leave Port Royale. There's a way..." Norrington trailed off, and flashed Elizabeth another smile, "Oh ne'er mind."

Sorry? Commodore Norrington? He must /really/ want something. "Of course I don't want to leave Port Royale. Is there a way..." Elizabeth stopped, her eyes lighting up, excitedly, "Is there a way that I can stay?" She was getting desperate now...there was no way she was going to leave Port Royale unless she really needed too.

Norrington laughed slightly, and nonchalantly sat down on a large rock. This was going exactly as he had planned...

AN: Thank you all for the reviews!! I luff them! It gives me a nice confidence boost.

catgirlutah: Thank'ee so much! I tried the best I could to get the characters' personalities right. I promise Jack will come in later...but I might have to practice role-playing with him for a while. You really shouldn't hog him...can I borrow him fora while? giggles Now where did you put him?

sunkist3208: A sparkly blue pen! Whee! My favorite!! Thank'ee! Now hopefully I shall be able to write better. Ah, and believe me...Norry was pissed. Fancy Elizabeth taking a blacksmith over him. What /was/ she thinking?

meggumscat: Thanks for the review!! Here's the chappy...'tis kind-of boring, but I wonder what Norry's up too...