Disclaimer: All characters from Pirates are owned by Disney and all those people. I just "own" Sarah...and maybe a few others.

AN: Oooooh...another chapter up for this story! Amazed yet? Hey, at least it didnt take me a year. Hehehe...anyway, yknow the drill…read and review!

Chapter 2

November 3rd

Sarah awoke with a start as someone began knocking on her bedchamber door. "Who is it?" Sarah asked groggily as she rolled onto her back and closed her eyes again. Just five more minutes…

"My lady, it is Anna. I have your breakfast." Sarah opened her eyes and realized that the dream of sleeping longer would not happen, not this morning anyway. "Oh, okay. Come in please." Sarah was in the process of disentangling herself from the bedcovers when she heard the door thunk against the wall. Standing next to the bed, she turned and saw her brother standing in the doorway. Sarah smiled. "Come in Eric." Eric gave a big toothy smile as he entered and then flopped down onto her bed.

"You slept late today sis." Eric, it seemed, always woke up at the crack of dawn with boundless energy. Sarah smiled, realizing that her brother's energy was contagious. Is it really that late, or was he just bored? "I guess I didn't sleep too well last night. I was up late thinking and writing."

Sarah walked over to the small table next to her bedroom window. Anna had set out her breakfast on the table, complete with fresh mango slices, something she had come to love since they had arrived. "So, munchkin, I see you have already eaten and dressed this morning. Care to keep me company?" Sarah was not surprised when Eric leaped off the bed and came to sit in the chair across from hers. They had been spending a lot of time together since their arrival. They had yet to go in to the village, her mother and father arguing constantly over the safety of the village.

Eric gave Sarah another of his infectious smiles. "I want to go into the village today." Sarah chewed her muffin and swallowed, looking at her brother, who was squirming in the chair. "Eric, you heard what mother and papa said. We cannot go into the village without an escourt."

Eric looked as though he was about to burst with the information he held. Grinning, he stood next to his sister and waited for her to look at him. "Well, isn't it lucky that we have escourts for the day." With that, Eric bounded out of the room, leaving Sarah staring after him in surprise, feeling as though she had just been granted freedom from prison.

Stuffing another piece of mango in her mouth, Sarah stood up. "Anna!" The maid hurried to Sarah's side. "Yes mum?" Sarah smiled at Anna. "Could you please pick out a suitable dress for me to wear? I finally get to go to the village today!" Anna curtsied and hurried to pick out a dress for Lady Sarah, smiling in the process. Lady Sarah was a kind mistress who she felt needed fresh air and the sun to make her happy.

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Sarah sighed and closed her eyes as she took a deep breath of salt-tinged air. The breeze of the day had teased a few tendrils of hair from her coif and was making the dance in the mid-day sun. She had finally managed to ease herself away from the entourage of naval officers that were constantly flocking around her family. They were polite, yes, but all they ever wanted to do was talk with her father. Maggie delighted in flirting with every one of them, but that wasn't Sarah's idea of a good day. She wanted to explore at her own pace, not be lead like a pack of mules through the town square.

Sarah heard the click of boots on the wooden dock coming towards her. Opening her eyes, she squinted out at the sea. The waves were more frantic today, portending of a storm coming. The activity at the dock also told that this storm would be dangerous. All the ships were being secured and all unnecessary clutter was being removed. Sometimes she could sympathize with the sea, always being tossed about by an outside force. Feeling the eyes of the naval officer on her, she turned and bestowed a kind smile on the gentleman.

"Good afternoon, Commodore." Sarah was still miffed at his comments at dinner that night. She could not believe a man who had undoubtedly traveled the world could be so closed-minded. "To what do I owe this unexpected…pleasure?" Sarah smirked as she verbally baited the Commodore.

Norrington had observed the woman throughout the day and was fairly confident in the fact that she was still angered over his comment at dinner over a fortnight ago. She had a spirit about her…her and her progressive thoughts. "My lady, your family is waiting for you at the carriage."

Rolling her eyes, Sarah turned and saw her family and several officers milling around the carriage. Turning back to the sea, she sighed. "Is there some reason why we are leaving already?"

Norrington could tell that she was annoyed…her rigid back could have told anyone that fact. Filled with the sudden desire to see her eyes flash with anger, he became stoic and professional. "It is time for the mid-day meal. You and your family have been invited to a banquet at the fort."

"And what is the reason for the banquet?" Sarah turned and looked at the Commodore. "Excuse me?" He asked, confused at why she would ask such a question. "What is the reason for the banquet? You naval types always see the need to celebrate the smallest, inconsequential events. Have you finally taught your officers to bathe?" Sarah smirked as her eyes challenged the pompous Commodore.

Quickly losing his composure at her baiting remarks, Norrington stared back at the woman. "At least we are not celebrating anything like a woman being admitted to university. Nothing as preposterous as that." His face remained composed as his eyes began to spit dangerous sparks.

Feeling the anger boiling up in her, Sarah turned back towards the sea. Right now she had a desperate wish to push the Commodore in and watch him drown in the restless waves. "At least I know what I want from life," she said so softly that Norrington had to strain to hear it over the wind. Norrington looked at her as if she had lost her mind. She was insulting an officer of the Royal Navy! "Why not stick to what all women know, like how to sew completely useless, trite 'masterpieces', and leave the hard stuff to us?"

Sarah turned quickly, appalled and angered that he would say such a thing. Her eyes full of dangerous flame, she glared at the Commodore. "As if scratching your head trying to figure out how to walk is hard. Oh I forgot! Let me fawn all over you because man figured out how to speak before woman did!" Spinning, Sarah practically ran down the dock to her family, leaving a smug Commodore in her wake. At least I put her in her place…

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After the torture of being stuck in the company of that pompous oaf all afternoon, being allowed to walk around the village for a few hours on her own was pure heaven. She had promised her father that she would meet back up with him at the dock. At lunch, he became concerned when Sarah would not smile. He approached her as she was again turning down a naval officer with impeccable credentials for a dance.

As the officer walked away, dejected at having been so rudely turned down, General Hornwell, approached his eldest daughter. "Sarah my dear, whatever is the matter?" Wanting to get her to calm down, he grabbed her hand and placed it in the crook of his arm as he guided her away from the dance floor.

Sarah sighed as she looked up at her father. She knew she could not tell him of her little spat with the Commodore…it was more trouble than it was worth to let anyone know he had gotten to her. "I'm just a little disappointed, Papa." The General smiled down at his daughter. "What disappoints you?"

"I want so much to see the village, but I fear that I will never be allowed to do it on my own." Sarah looked out at the dance floor where she saw her sister dancing with the Commodore. She narrowed her eyes as a burning hate appeared in the pit of her stomach. I can't believe the audacity of that pompous oaf!

General Hornwell attempted to placate his daughter with an offer. "Well, I have a proposition for you." Sarah looked up at her father with curiosity, waiting for him to continue. "I have business after this banquet down at the docks. I need to verify that everything has been completed to my standards, and that will take me a few hours. How about you escourt me there and then go off on your own?"

Sarah grinned for a quick second, then her face fell into a scowl. She looked away and saw her mother scolding her brother for squirming. "What about Mama? Won't she get all……her…if she knew?" The General smiled at his daughter's concern at her mother finding out she was alone in a strange place. "Your mother will not question me. She knows I have your best interests at heart. And I would rather see you happy and free than scowling at your mother for trapping you somewhere you obviously do not want to be."

Sarah grinned as she saw the truth in her father's words. He always knew what she needed to hear.

Smiling as she looked around the village, she knew she would have a sore neck in the morning. She was constantly turning her head every which way to see everything. She saw children playing in the street, carefree in their abandon- there was no worry of crime here. She saw old women conversing over a plate of fresh bread. She saw young girls giggling as a group of naval officers walked past them. Sarah was completely enchanted with this small village. It was like walking into a family. She felt no fear here.

Realizing that her feet had taken her down a side street, Sarah stopped and turned around. She could hear the pounding of metal from somewhere nearby. She closed her eyes and rejoiced in the sound of clinking metal and the sizzle of hot steel being dipped into water to temper it. Oh, how I've missed the metal shop, Sarah thought with a grin. Opening her eyes, she followed the sound to a small shop towards the main square. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door, hoping that an understanding blacksmith would be inside and wouldn't be threatened by a woman.

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Will Turner felt like he had been working day and night to fill this new order of swords for the officers in town. Since the arrival of the General, there had been a desperate need for equipment that was not run-down or severely outdated. After meeting the General over a fortnight earlier at dinner, he knew why the officers were frantic for acceptable equipment- the General meant business and was a smart man. Poor equipment meant more losses.

Thinking of the dinner, his mind wandered to the brown-haired woman who had quite a temper, from what Elizabeth had told him. Apparently, this Sarah was full of radical ideas, something that Elizabeth was ecstatic over. "Will, there's someone else in this world who thinks like I do!" Elizabeth told him earlier the week during their rendezvous at the beach under the cover of night. It seemed that he only saw her at night now…she was always busy with wedding plans or entertaining the General's family. Not that I mind…the nighttime is the best time, Will grinned as he placed the steel in the water and watched the steam billow.

Becoming lost in his thoughts over the events of that evening, Will did not hear the front door open and close, nor did he respond when the customer coughed to get his attention. If I remember correctly, Elizabeth was quite feisty that evening. Will smiled, then turned back to the fire, catching a glimpse of a young woman in the doorway.

Sarah could not believe it…he was the blacksmith. The cool, calm, collected fiancé of Elizabeth Swann was the blacksmith. Sarah's throat became parched and her heartbeat increase several beats as his brown eyes focused on her. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Sarah collected herself and walked down the ramp towards the young blacksmith, who appeared quite shocked.

"Mr. Turner, I believe?" Sarah stopped several feet from Will, who had jumped slightly as she addressed him.

Composing himself, Will placed the sword back in the fire to let it heat up again and turned back towards the woman who had ensnared him with her eyes. "Miss Hornwell, what brings you to my shop?" Smiling, Will grabbed a cloth and attempted to wipe his hands of the grime as he walked towards a desk in the corner.

Sarah, enthralled with the play of his muscles through his sweat-soaked shirt, followed Will. "I wish to talk to you…about a proposition." Sarah swallowed as Will froze. Hoping he didn't take that the wrong way, she continued, rather frantically at first.

"See, my father's birthday is coming up and I wish to give him a new sword. He has not had one in ages." Will turned and looked at her with shock. He could not believe he was being asked to make another sword when he was already completely swamped with work. "Miss Hornwell, my sincerest apologies, but I have so many orders to fill that I do not believe I could accommodate your request." Will turned back to his desk, hoping that would be the end of the matter.

Sarah laughed. "Mr. Turner, you underestimate me." Will turned back around and saw her smiling. "Madam, is there a reason that you would say that?"

Knowing that she had to go about this the right way, Sarah turned and walked towards the fire where the incomplete sword was heating up. She stopped and looked in to the fire. If I can get him to agree, Papa will love his gift! She turned back towards the blacksmith. "Mr. Turner, I completely understand that you are incredibly busy with countless swords, in no doubt due to my father, but this would be different."

Looking at her wearily, as if expecting a trick, Will sighed. "And how would it be different?"

"It would be different because I would do the work myself!" Sarah could not contain the giggles as she saw the look of complete shock on his face. Knowing a further explanation was needed, Sarah continued, hoping that he would see where the proposition was going. "My father taught me the art of metalworking back in England when I was younger, much to my mother's dismay. I would be more than willing to pay for the materials and the space so that I could do the work."

Shock was quickly becoming entangled with respect in his mind. Will had never met a woman who actually enjoyed the heat of a blacksmith's shop, but here was one who looked as if she had found the Holy Grail. Bestowing upon her a friendly smile, Will walked towards her with his hand extended. "My lady, it would be an honor to see what you have been taught." Sarah grinned from ear to ear and took his hand. Will became mesmerized by the pure smile on her face. With her joy becoming infectious, he smiled back. "We will have to work out some sort of schedule since there is only one fireplace here."

Sarah felt the room get warmer as he smiled at her and still held her hand. Feeling the sudden need for fresh air, Sarah pulled her hand from his and walked towards the entrance. Turning back towards him, she smiled. "I will send over a list of the materials I will need this evening. If everything can be acquired, you will send me word of the times that I can use your shop."

Nodding his consent, Will watched as she turned and exited his shop. This day just got better! Now in an excellent mood, Will returned to his work with a lighter heart and mind.

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That evening after dinner, Sarah retired to her room to write down a missive for Will Turner. She had been in such good spirits that evening that not even her sister's obsession with the naval officers at the banquet that afternoon could bother her…too much. Hoping that he could find all the materials she needed, such as the gold cording and colored dye for the handle, Sarah sealed the letter and called for Anna.

"Yes, my lady," Anna said as she curtsied. "Anna, if you would, please have this delivered to Mr. William Turner. It is of utmost importance…" Anna looked slightly shocked that she would be sending something to Miss Elizabeth's fiancé. Hoping to quiet Anna's curiosity, Sarah explained a little more about the importance. "Anna, I will have to swear you to secrecy with this. It is about a birthday present for my father."

Relieved that it was nothing more and that she had again been silly, Anna curtsied. "Yes mum. I will have it delivered directly. Would you be needing anything else?"

Looking out the window, Sarah sighed. "A bath would be superb, Anna. Thank you."

As Anna left, Sarah stood up from her desk and walked to the window. The moon was so beautifully reflected on the brooding sea. She knew she would never get over the beauty of this simple island's charm. It had completely ensnared her and she was in awe of how at home she felt here.

Walking over to her bed, Sarah sat down on her bed and removed her slippers and stockings. She removed the clips from her hair and ran over the day in her mind. She was still completely miffed at the audacity of the Commodore and his egotistical comments. Wishing to think of something more pleasant, she wound her way to her encounter with the blacksmith. Will Turner was certainly charming…and quite handsome. But there was a sadness in his eyes…as if something was missing from his life. As Anna returned and prepared her bath, Sarah continued to ponder the reasons. Well, maybe it was just my imagination…he certainly seems extraordinarily happy with Elizabeth.

Sarah sighed with delight as she eased her weary body into the warm bath. She closed her eyes and let the eddies of warmth relax her and ease her mind of all its worries. As Anna closed her door, Sarah sighed, content in having some peace after a long day.