Disclaimer: POTC should belong to fangirls of the world. But then everyone would be slashed. And that's just wrong.
"You g-get out f-first. It's y-your wedding. I'll come after you."
"But which side should I get out of?"
"The one c-closest to all the guests? People will be watching y-you. They are w-waiting for you, a-after all."
"How about this." Elizabeth's hands flutter like a pair of nervous birds. "You get out that side, and I'll get out this side, and we'll walk towards the wedding together…"
"I t-told you!" Squirrel's eyes fly wide. "I c-can't be your b-bridesmaid! I'll j-just wait behind you or s-something."
"You could just walk behind me, not be my bridesman… Bridesman?"
The two girls exchange nervous glances, then break into giggles. The carriage rolls to a stop, and the porter opens the door.
"You g-go first." Squirrel ushers the bride-to-be out of the carriage. "I'll wait till no-one's l-looking, then slip out b-behind you."
Elizabeth gives a nervous squeak, then composes herself and steps daintily out of the dark carriage and into the sunshine. Squirrel listens to the gasp of the crowd.
Congratulations, Elizabeth! Squirrel takes a deep breath, then follows daintily behind her.
Elizabeth turns and beckons. "Hurry! I'll introduce you to my friends, and they'll show you where to sit."
Squirrel hurries over, trying not to trip under the layers of lace and cloth.
"And this is Miss Rose Grey." Elizabeth is saying. "She's a very close friend of mine." 'Rose' curtsies the way Elizabeth taught her to. The women incline their heads and smile in return.
"Tell me, Rose," One woman says, "Where do you hail from?"
"England, originally." Rose says, forcing the Tortugan accent and stammer away and replacing it with a posher English one. "My grandfather has a manor established on…" Squirrel briefly outlines her life story. At least, the life story that she and Elizabeth came up with. The women flutter their fans and whisper behind them. Elizabeth beams.
"Miss Grey is unable to stay for very long," Elizabeth explains to her friends. "But it is simply an honour that she was able to make it at all." Elizabeth turns to Squirrel. "I would thank you for that, Miss Grey."
"The pleasure is mine, Miss Swann." She pauses, then smiles. "Or should it be, Mrs Turner?"
Elizabeth laughs politely, but pinks slightly. "Alright, now that you're been introduced, I think it's time for me to get ready. Ladies? Would you be so kind?"
And Elizabeth is gone. Squirrel tries not to feel like she's all alone.
The women usher Squirrel towards the church, chatting and asking questions the whole way. Squirrel answers politely and carefully. There is a huge crowd by the church, but Squirrel is looking for a single person. Did he come? Is he here?
"Commodore Norrington is here today." One woman giggles. "Maybe he'll ask me to dance!"
"In your dreams." Another woman snorts. "You know he only has eyes for Elizabeth."
The first girl sniffs indignantly. "A girl has a right to dream, doesn't she?"
"So, Rose," a third woman asks as the gaggle of girls heads towards the church. "Who is your dance partner? Or haven't you decided yet?"
"He should be here soon." Squirrel says, trying to mask her uncertainty. She casts her eye over the crowd of men and women gathered in the courtyard. "He promised to come."
"Ooh!" The first woman squeals. "A mystery man!"
"Shut up, you." The second girl says softly. "We're in the church now."
Squirrel can't help but stare around at the inside of this building. It's so beautiful. She lets herself be ushered to her seat in the pews.
"I can't believe she's marrying a blacksmith." Another woman whispers. "But it's Will Turner, so that's definitely better than any ordinary blacksmith."
"I had my eye on him for ages." The first girl sniffs. "And then Elizabeth steals him from me."
"Oh hush up, Flora." The second woman whispers. "You've had your eye on every man in Port Royal."
"So?"
Squirrel looks up front. Will is standing there, dressed to the nines. He seems to be as nervous as Elizabeth was. Squirrel smiles.
The doors at the back open, and someone starts playing a tune on the organ. Everyone's head cranes back to look as Elizabeth walks slowly down the aisle, a bouquet of flowers in her hands. A small girl walks ahead, throwing fistfuls of flower petals on the carpet. Squirrel smiles gently. Rose petals.
Will can't help but stare at Elizabeth. Under the layers of veil and white silk, he can still see her. She's just as beautiful as she's always been. Maybe even more.
Jack watches as Elizabeth reaches the altar. The priest talks for what seems to be ages. Jack squirms in his outfit. "Trust Will to have such bad taste in clothes." Jack mutters. At least Will didn't insist he wear that stupid feathery hat. Someone turns around to glare at him, so Jack stops squirming. He tries to listen.
Squirrel dabs at the tears in her eyes with a lace handkerchief. Elizabeth said I might cry at the wedding. She thinks to herself. And she was right. It's so, so beautiful…
"If there is anyone here who does not wish this marriage to take place, speak now or forever hold your peace." The priest smiles imperiously. Will and Elizabeth turn slightly, watching the audience. No-one moves.
Jack gives Will a subtle thumbs-up and a grin. Squirrel beams at Elizabeth. Will and Liz turn back to each other. The rings are exchanged, one for Will, one for Elizabeth.
"You may now kiss the bride."
Will lifts Elizabeth's veil, and the two stare deeply into each other's eyes for a moment. Then their lips meet. The crowd cheers, and the organ player starts up again.
Squirrel smiles and claps along with Elizabeth's friends. Maybe, one day, She thinks to herself, That will be me and Jack…Maybe… Some day…
A/N: The 'bridesman' comment was a typo I decided to keep in because it was funny. … And just a note, a bit of action and angst coming up next. -mutters- fluffisevil