Ch.26 The Balcony "This is the commons," Norrington said. He gestured around him. "All meetings, promotions, and military ceremonies are held here." The room was fairly plain. It was open air and made of stone. He led them out through a set of pillars on the far side of the room. "This is the balcony. From it you have a great view of the ocean and of Port Royal as well," Commodore Norrington said. He turned and walked back through the pillars to the opposite side of the commons and down a set of stairs. He showed them the barracks and the arms room. Then he proceeded to the kitchen. "This is the kitchen. The cook makes six meals a day, do to the different shifts," Norrington said. They walked around the kitchen and then out into the hallway by which the kitchen, the barracks, and the arms room were connected. They walked to their left, out onto the main firing bridge. "Here you see our main firing bridge. We currently have about 50 canons, all equipped with several iron balls, and several pounds of gunpowder. They, as you can see, are facing out into the harbor, so we are prepared for any menace that might sail into are harbor," Norrington said. He led them back to the commons. "You may wander as you wish for as long as you like," he said. He saluted to governor Swann, and then bowed to Elizabeth and Josephine before turning on his heel and marching smartly down the stairs. Elizabeth pulled at Josephine's arm. "What?" Josephine asked. "Come with me," Elizabeth said smiling. Josephine followed her out onto the balcony. Elizabeth walked over to the edge and sat down. Josephine followed her. "What?" Josephine asked. "I wanted to tell you about this balcony, in more detail than Commodore Norrington would," Elizabeth said. "Many things happened on this balcony." "Like what?" Josephine asked. "Well, Commodore Norrington proposed to me on this balcony, for one. I also fell off this side here," Elizabeth patted the ground, "And this is where Will helped Jack escape from the noose. They ran over here and were surrounded. Will stood up to the Commodore in Sparrow's defense, and I, well, I helped to." "What happened?" Josephine asked. "The soldiers lowered their weapons when I stepped in between the Commodore and Jack. Jack then escaped by jumping off this side, and then he was picked up by the Black Pearl, which had just come around into our harbor." "No, it was not manned by Barbosa," Elizabeth said hurriedly seeing Josephine's confused look, "This was after Barbosa was dead and all his fellow pirates were captured. The pirates on the ship were the ones that Will, teaming up with, Jack had gotten to come and rescue me." "Really? What else happened on this balcony?" Josephine asked. Elizabeth smiled and thought back to the past days. "Here? Definitely. Will and I kissed for the first time."

*****
"So, where do you want to go first?" Elizabeth asked as she and Josephine climbed back into the carriage.
The carriage started.
"I don't know; you know the shops around here," Josephine said.
"Let's go to Will's shop first then," Elizabeth said.
A few minutes later the carriage pulled up in front of a blacksmith shop.
Josephine climbed out of the carriage and Elizabeth followed her.
"Here," Elizabeth pointed. A sign hung over the door. It said Browns and it had a blacksmith symbol.
Elizabeth walked to the door and opened it. She walked inside and Josephine followed her.
Josephine turned and shut the door behind her.
A loud clanging noise greeted her ears.
By the fire in the rear of the shop a man was working.
Elizabeth walked towards the man. "Will," she called.
The man, not hearing kept working.
Josephine looking on, smiled. She walked towards a collection of swords. She picked one out and took it out of it's sheath.
Elizabeth, treading lightly, positioned herself at Will's right elbow.
The clanging stopped and Will turned his head right. In the act of wiping his brow, saw someone standing there and almost dropped his hammer.
Josephine positioned herself at his left elbow , sword still in hand. "Elizabeth!" Will exclaimed. "Is Josephine here too?"
"Right here," Josephine said.
Will jumped startled. He turned and looked at her.
"So..." he started.
Josephine flicked her sword up and by his neck. "Nice sword," she said smiling.
"Who is this Brown?" she asked, lowering the sword.
"Oh. Over there," Will said pointing to a man over his shoulder asleep with drunkenness.
"Ah," Josephine said. She handed him the sword. "There's a flaw right there."
"Where?" asked Will examining the sword.
She pointed to the man over his shoulder. "Right there." She smiled. "Your craft work is excellent, Will. I can't believe you fell for that."
"Me either," Elizabeth said. "Unfortunately, we are going to have to break up this fun fest. Josephine and I have a date with shopping."
"Really? How about a date with me?" Will asked Elizabeth.
"Sorry. This is women only," Elizabeth said. She kissed him on the cheek.
"Great to see you, Will," Josephine said.
Elizabeth turned and walked out, followed by Josephine.