A/N: I'm so sorry people! Ive been so busy with exams and studying and projects. but i have not abandoned this story! ...yet. heres chapter 2 dedicated to KatrinaKaiba. my first reviewer! thank you so much! takes rum bottle cheers!

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At around nine o'clock that night, Elizabel and Brigitte stood outside the palace door, waiting to greet the guests.

The whole world must've shown up, Brigitte thought. There are Kings and Queens, Dukes and Duchesses, Governors an –

Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice shouting, "Elizabel!"

Elizabel looked up to see a young woman of about her age running in her direction. She recognized her cousin immediately. "Elizabeth!" Elizabel called back.

The two hugged each other and Elizabel introduced Brigitte. "Who's this dashing young man?" Elizabel said, gesturing to the man standing beside Elizabeth. "Is this the infamous William Turner I've heard ever so much about?"

"It is," Elizabeth said, smiling up at the dark-haired man.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, m'lady," Will said, bending down and kissing Elizabel's hand.

"Well, you have yourself quite a catch, Elizabeth Swann," Elizabel commented.

"Soon to be Elizabeth Turner," she replied, holding out her left hand to reveal a sparkling, diamond ring. She then took Elizabel's hands in hers. "I want you to be my Maid of Honour."

The two squealed, then hugged again. "I shall with utmost appreciation, however, I do not desire the same fate for you, when I marry Prince Gerard."

"Ah, talking about me, I see?" came a voice from behind them. "Well, how can you not?"

Elizabel closed her eyes, then opened them and turned around. "Good evening, Gerard," she said coolly.

Gerard stood there for a moment, as if waiting for something.

Elizabel rolled her eyes. She made to kiss him on the cheek, but he turned his head, so it was on the lips. "Have you met my friends?" she managed after they broke apart, suppressing a grimace.

"Probably." Gerard hardly acknowledged their presence. "But let's not waste half the night introducing one another. And I do hope you have improved on your dancing since we last partook. My feet were sore for a fortnight."

Gerard walked off, and Elizabel turned back to the others. "Oh, how many nights I dream of my hands around his stupid, fat neck."

The others laughed, and then went inside.

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After dancing for a bit, Elizabel returned with champagne to where Brigitte was sitting. "Having fun?" she asked her.

"Oh, yes," Brigitte replied, smiling. "I've danced with a lot of princes. But I feel so…out of place."

"That's quite natural. But at least you're having a better time than I am. I've just had the most boring conversations with the most boring people in the world. A lot of 'mmm-hmming' on my part. One gentleman talked so much about his famous, stupid horse that I swear I could describe any day in its pointless life from birth until now."

Brigitte smiled.

"Would you care to dance, m'lady?" said Gerard.

Brigitte looked up, expecting to see Prince Gerard staring at Elizabel, but in fact, he was looking at her. Brigitte glanced over at Elizabel who said quietly, "Your loss, not mine." So she shrugged and got up to dance with Gerard.

"You're quite a good dancer," Gerard said, spinning Brigitte around. "Do you go to balls much?"

"Uh…" Brigitte said. "I hardly have the time. Being a princess is ever so demanding."

Gerard gave a skeptical look, but the two kept dancing. Just then, Will came up from behind Elizabel. "Can we dance?" he asked, with a worried look on his face.

"Sure," Elizabel said, standing up.

Will escorted her to another part of the room, where he then said, "Your fiancé, Prince Gerard, is planning something. He is marrying you for your money."

"I suspected as much, but what can I do?"

"Your father outranks Gerard's father – can he not say something?"

"He wants this marriage to happen more than anyone. He will say I am being foolish and thinking rashly."

Will pondered this. "When is your wedding?"

"Unfortunately it's my birthday present. It is the first of August."

"That only leaves you two months."

Elizabel nodded, as the song ended and they moved back to the side of the room.

"Well, Elizabeth and I will come by here tomorrow. We are staying at an inn in Havana."

"Thank you, Will. I really appreciate this. It's so wonderful to have friends like you and Elizabeth."

"And it is always a pleasure to have a friend like you," he said, holding her hands in his. He smiled warmly. "Now, I had better return to Elizabeth, before she thinks I have begun to favour her beautiful cousin over her."

Elizabeth laughed lightly and watched Will walk back to her cousin. She walked back over to where her glass was and picked up, taking another sip. Elizabel looked around the ballroom and noticed that Gerard and Brigitte had stopped dancing and were having a pretty engaging conversation, but, by the look on Brigitte's face, she was trying hard not to yawn.

Brigitte's gaze shifted from Gerard to Elizabel and she politely excused herself. "I don't know how you can stand him! All he talks about are the many new expensive sculptures that have been put around his palace, and the way his father takes care of important business. How is it that you can stand him?"

"To put it simply – I can't." The both let out some giggles to that.

"Hello Elizabel," said a young man, coming up between the two.

"Why, hello Lucas. Have you met my dear friend Brigitte yet?"

"Actually I was just wondering if she would like to dance with me," he said and then turned his gaze to Brigitte.

Brigitte hesitated.

"Go and have your fun!" Elizabel encouraged her with a smile.

Brigitte returned the smile and followed Lucas on to the dance floor.

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Later that night, King Henry talked to his daughter and told her that he was sailing to France with Prince Gerard.

"I must converse with his father, King Richard," Elizabel's father said.

"Why?" she asked.

"That business does not concern you, my dear. But I shall return in a couple of months, just in time for your wedding."

"Do not remind me," Elizabel said, trying not to sigh too loudly. "Do you trust me enough to look after this castle by myself?"

"I do. As long as Marie's here."

Elizabel rolled her eyes. "Yes, Father."

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In her room, Elizabel heard a light knock at her door. "Enter," Elizabel said, putting her book down on her bedside table.

"It's just me," Brigitte said, placing down a silver tray on Elizabel's four-poster. "I thought you'd like a snack."

"You thought right," Brigitte said, picking up a piece of toast. "I'm starved! You're quite welcome to join me if you so desire. But it's awfully hard to eat anything with this bloody corset on."

Brigitte smiled and sat down on the bed. "I wanted to thank you for letting me attend the ball."

"Oh, it was my pleasure. It made that night more enjoyable."

"But I do get the slight feeling that Sarah rather resents me for it."

Elizabel smiled. "Yes, I admit I do feel bad about not letting her attend…but then again, I consider you more of a friend."

Suddenly, a loud bang like a gunshot was heard throughout the castle. The two girls jumped and held each other in fear.

"What was that?" Brigitte said in a hoarse whisper.

Elizabel, eyes wide, opened the door slowly. There were numerous screams and sounds of glass breaking.

One of the guards abruptly appeared at Elizabel's door. "M'lady," he breathed. "We are under attack."

"By who?" Elizabel questioned, her eyes now shaking. "Who's attacking us?"
The guard took a deep breath and replied, "Pirates."

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A/N: yes i realize it was short. yes i realize it was crappy. lol it'll get better, it just seemed like a good place to end it. i promise you another one soon! i mean it