DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything. Disney owns it all. The name meanings were taken from bostonuk . com
Elizabeth
Gentle, affectionate and tolerant, you are nonetheless determined and ambitious with the ability to lead. Sympathetic and understanding, you are a humanitarian who wishes to improve the lives of others less fortunate. You have a keen intellect, strong intuition and creative ideas which are always put to practical purpose. You are loved by others for your inspiring optimism and for being a genuine friend.
The town of Port Royal seemed to never stop moving. From the street venders to the militia, something was always stirring and buzzing with the newest sales pitch or the beat to keep in step with. As the morning slowly faded into the afternoon and the hot Caribbean sun sent rays of heat down onto to the cobbled streets, the women still busied themselves with idle gossip as they strolled down the street, their bodies sweating and over heating under their layers of clothing; all except one.
She had grown tired of propriety and all the things that came with it. She was tired of corsets, lace fans, and big, empty houses. She had become weary of the evenings spent gossiping with her neighbors or doing needlepoint in large overstuffed chairs. She didn't need this to be happy. All she needed was adventure, her love by her side, and the blessing of a friend.
The dress she wore was simple, just a plain blue fabric that fell around her booted feet. Her golden hair fell down her back in raged curls, but her appearance didn't matter to her in the least. In fact, she hadn't even looked in a looking glass that morning. She had to talk to one man and one man alone and she knew that she could show up covered from head to toe in mud and he would still talk to her. Her knuckles raped lightly on the door of his office and she heard his muffled footsteps as he crossed the room, the heels of his shoes clicking on the cold, wood floor.
The door creaked open and Commodore James Norrington stood in the doorway. His uniform was wrinkled and his eyes tired from a lack of sleep. His powered wig sat perfectly on his head, but it was obvious that he wasn't expecting company.
"James," She greeted him a smile before stepping inside. "How are you today?"
"Fine," He replied as he eyed her curiously. "Are you alright Miss Swann?"
"Oh yes, I'm perfect James, just perfect." She said, her smile filling the room. "I do have a rather dire need to speak with you though. It is a matter of the most importance and it cannot wait until later."
"Please, have a seat." He motioned to a stiff brown chair in front of his desk as he made himself comfortable in the large armchair behind the desk. Her attire was anything but proper and this struck James as odd. Elizabeth, of all people, was always one to look her best. "Are you sure everything is alright?"
"Yes, yes, I'm sure." Elizabeth said as she sat into the chair. The stiff back pressed against her own was only another reminder of why she was here. "Although, I do have some news that may surprise you." She took a deep breath, her lungs expanding and then shrinking as her heart pounded in her chest. "Will and I are leaving."
"Oh?" His eyes widened a bit, but he refused to accept what he knew was coming. "Where are you going this time of year? I'm sure I can get a ship to escort you-"
"No, James, we're not going on holiday." She said her hand reaching across the table and landing on his to quiet him. "We're taking to the sea," She paused, her hand slowly falling back into her lap. "For good, James."
"Elizabeth I-"
"You understand perfectly well." She said. Her smile lost the shine it once hand and took on a hint of sympathy and sorrow that the Commodore didn't like to see burden his lost loves face. "After the adventure with-"
"Adventure? Is that what your calling it?" Norrington stiffed and his eyes bore into Elizabeth's. "You almost dying and me having to save not only your own life, but the lives of the two reckless pirates who tried to save you in the first place? Elizabeth, that wasn't some fairytale story. Those were real undead pirates and that was no adventure. It was a brutal kidnapping and attempted murder of a governor's daughter."
"Is that all I am to you James? The governor's daughter?" Elizabeth too stiffened and her eyes flared. "It's true, I owe you my life and the lives of my future husband and his best friend, but James," She said her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. "You are my best friend, my oldest friend, and my most dear. I respect you James, and that is why I came here today. Not to anger you, not to speak unkind words to you, but to tell you that I'm sick of all this; this constant game of pretend. The world isn't about gossip and tea!"
"Then what is the world about?" He asked, his eyes tired and sad. "If you are so wise Miss Swann then tell me."
"I don't know that James," She said, her head shaking sadly. "That's why I'm leaving. I want to discover that. I want to discover the freedom, the independence, the glory, and the love that Jack has. I want to find what I mean, what all this means, I want to go out there and live James, really live."
"Then who am I to stop you?" He said, refusing to meet her eye. "If your heart is so intent on sailing to the horizon, then who am I to tell you that you can't?"
"I didn't come here for permission; I came here to tell you. Also, to get your blessing." Her eyes were welling with tears and she stood up, indignant and unwilling to show any amount of weakness in front of this man.
"That's something I can't give you." He said, his eyes still fixed on the grain of his desk.
"Then I will leave anyway, with the burden of knowing that it upset you. I'm sorry you're so damn hard to please James."
"Haven't even left port and already you are swearing like a sailor. Jack Sparrow taught you that I suppose. Maybe I was wrong in giving him a break. Pirates are traitors to society and their country; who says they deserve to get what they want when even I can't."
"It is not always the same thing to be a good man and a good citizen." Elizabeth said, her hand resting on the door handle.
"Who said that? Jack Sparrow?" James said, his eyes finally meeting hers.
"No," She said, her head rising proudly. "Aristotle."
With that she left, the door clicking shut softly behind her. James stood there in his empty quarters. They suddenly felt all the more hollow and he felt so utterly alone.
"Damn it all," He said before walking briskly to the window and throwing it open. As soon as Elizabeth shut the door of the fort he called down, "May you have fair winds and fine seas my friend."
Elizabeth's chocolate eyes stared up at her best friend before she smiled; a smile that filled James Norrington's empty heart. Her mouth slowly formed the words, "Thank you" before she disappeared into the quickly moving crowds of Port Royal.
The town of Port Royal seemed to never stop moving. From the street venders to the militia, something was always stirring and buzzing with the newest sales pitch or the beat to keep in step with. As the morning slowly faded into the afternoon and the hot Caribbean sun sent rays of heat down onto to the cobbled streets, the women still busied themselves with idle gossip as they strolled down the street, their bodies sweating and over heating under their layers of clothing; all except one.