The Lost Ingots of Tagus
by Aldesina
Chapter 1: The long awaited wedding is stalled
IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE!!!
Since I began writing this BEFORE movies 2 and 3 came out, I will continue writing it in the same manner. If I were to take into account the last two movies I would not have a story. And besides in my humble opinion the ending was perfect! So writing within cannon terms would be moot. Hello Alternate Universe!
Disclaimer...As you are probably all very well aware, I do not own anything, if I did I would be rolling in it, since I am not, and I do NOT own the story I am poor, and can only write fanfiction about it. Ah sigh, oh well, on with the story
It was a beautiful summer day; perfect to be exact. The wind blew in soft breezes from the direction of the sea causing the salty sea air to tickle the bride's nose. She laughed as she raised her head into the air, smelling the fresh scent of seawater, she always loved that smell.
"My lady!" Elizabeth turned her head toward the intruding voice.
"My lady you really must come off the balcony, what if your groom should happen to pass by underneath." The maid said as she hustled Elizabeth off the balcony.
"You know that it's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding."
"I don't care." Elizabeth declared "Today is the happiest day of my life, and I'm not about to let some silly superstition ruin it."
Elizabeth giggled as she twirled around in her wedding gown. It was inspired from the Elizabethan era, with a low square cut bodice starting at her bosom and ending with a V at her hips. It was fitted but not restrained by a corset. There was a full skirt that was tucked underneath that bodice and it flared out and hung below her ankles, and then pulled out to a mermaid's tail in the back. It was pleated in the back making it look like a true mermaid's tail. The front of the skirt was simple and flat, it didn't look like a full skirt till one looked at the hidden pleats and folds that were hidden underneath the slits on both sides of her dress. Elizabeth had insisted that her dress allowed her to move. None of that silly British fashion. The sleeves on the dress bared her shoulders and were sheer and fitted leaving only a tuft of gossamer fabric covering the tops of her hands.
"Now, stop twirling around like that miss," The maid chastened, "Or else you might miss the ceremony and poor Will Turner will be disappointed."
That stopped Elizabeth from laughing.
"I'm not late am I?" She asked frowning.
"No my lady, but if you don't let me do your hair right away you will be"
"But I don't want my hair up; Will has always liked my hair down."
"Then we won't put it fully up, only a little bit, for propriety's sake, you don't want to seem like a strumpet." Elizabeth pouted her lips and plopped down on the stool that faced a large vanity mirror.
"Will would never have called me a strumpet; he's too much of a gentleman to do so"
"Yes my lady" The maid merely smiled behind her as she set about doing Elizabeth's hair.
"Captain" A gentle voice called out
"Captain…" A snort is heard in the dark
"Only a few more minutes Milady my love,"
"CAPTAIN!"
"Wha?" A very confused looking man sat up from his bed, a beard has been growing on his face, but it doesn't mar his handsome features. He has a strong chin, complimented by a long, lean, and sculpted face. He is fit and handsome; the open shirt that he is wearing showed off a finely toned chest and abs. He is tanned from the many months out at sea and about 40 to 45 years old, one can't tell. The man's full head of raven black hair is free of gray and his skin is still glowing. The only part of him that seemed old were his eyes; a sparkling ocean blue that looked like the waters of the Caribbean. They had shadows in them that men of his age usually did not see. He stands up sort of disoriented and glances over at his cabin's intruder as he stretches to a towering height of six foot, three.
"Bloody hell Diablo! How the hell does one such as yourself inflict the pain of a hangover on a man who hasn't had a drop to drink?"
The young woman who woke him let her cherry lips stretch into a full smirk.
"Talent."
"Demon's spawn." The man cursed. "What did you wake me up for anyway?" He walked over to a basin of water that was by his bed and proceeded to clean his face up.
"We're ahead of schedule" That made him look up
"Are we now?"
"Yes sir, Port Royal will soon be in plain sight."
"Is that right?" The handsome man smiled showing a row of perfectly white teeth.
"Indeed." The girl next to him grinned as she walked over to hand him a shaving kit and flashed her own set of pearly whites.
"And that's not all, The Honorable Governor's daughter is getting married today, and we've been invited."
"Have we now?" The man had finished washing and shaving his face and was currently changing into a fresh shirt and putting on his vest and jacket. When he straightened up he looked like a perfect rogue. Dark blue tailored pants matched his thigh length jacket. Inside was a crisp white shirt covered by a tan colored vest. On top of his head sat a tri pointed hat. On his feet were black leather boots that rode above the knee, polished to a high shine.
"Well, we have been….. unofficially invited that is." The girl smiled again.
"Then we really shouldn't disappoint Miss…."
"Swann"
"Yes, Miss Swann, on her very special day."
The ceremony was to be held in the courtyard where they held all their ceremonies. Elizabeth had wanted to have it in the little courtyard all the way in the back of her father's mansion, but the Governor protested that not all the guests would fit. He also secretly thought that all of the groom's guests might attempt to rob him blind if they held the ceremony anywhere near his house. Will Turner, his new son in law to be had insisted on inviting Jack Sparrow and his crew, seeing as how they had helped save Elizabeth and all. Governor Swann had readily agreed at first thinking that it would be a great opportunity to capture The Black Pearl and all its occupants. However Jack wrote to Will and said that the only way that he and the crew were going to attend the wedding was if the Governor gave them a temporary full pardon for the weekend of the wedding, and allowed them to keep all of their assets and whatever they brought from the ship, aside from the wedding presents that is, those were for Elizabeth and Will.
Damn that Jack Sparrow, Will might be rash about negotiations, but Jack certainly never forgot to negotiate whatever might be most favorable to him. He finally relented after his daughter pleaded with him that it was her wedding, and she wanted all of her friends to be attending guests without having to worry over them being arrested.
Needless to say Commodore Norrington was also most disappointed; he was still after Jack Sparrow after all. He was no longer upset that Elizabeth was simply not attracted to him, he might have been a bit miffed at losing a bride, but in the end their age difference simply would have made the marriage close to impossible. He was a good twelve years older then her, and young Will Turner was exactly her age. Norrington had his admirers, and a throng of women to choose from when Elizabeth turned him down, although none of them could catch his eye, or make his heart skip a beat quite the way Elizabeth could. However, she loved another and well, try as he might there wasn't anything he could do about it. He was happy that he was invited to the ceremony and was pleasantly surprised when Will Turner approached him one night and asked if he would teach him the knowledge and etiquette that was expected of a nobleman.
"For Elizabeth," Will beseeched.
"There is no one else more finely educated in this matter I believe" The young man looked so desperate to please that Norrington finally relented.
"For Elizabeth"
That was four years ago, now at the age of 23, William Turner was actually quite intelligent, well he was book smart and weapons smart and ship smart anyway. But when it came to common sense, Norrington shook his head. Wild boars couldn't gorge it into him. Turner was hopelessly stupid in that area.
Norrington straightened his hat once again as a knock was heard on his door.
"Commodore?" It was Turner
"Mr. Turner, I expect that you are fully prepared for this ceremony?" Norrington turned around to see Will accompanied by Jack, who had cleaned up a bit and had his hair pulled back entirely. He actually passed for a normal human being, instead of a riffraff pirate. Will Turner however was dressed impeccably. Black breeches, crisp white shirt with a collar, and a well tied cravat, gray vest and black tailored coat. His boots just reached his knees and were polished to shine like mirrors. His hair was also pulled back by a ribbon, and a black feathered velvet hat was held in one hand. A black package held in another. Will Turner had made quite a name for himself after he helped Jack escape. He became head blacksmith, since the apprentice's skill far outshone his master's. And his sword making skill was unbeatable in the entire thirteen colonies. He became the chief blade supplier to Norrington's troops, fitting them all with swords of folded steel. As his reputation grew, many lords and nobles of high rank began to seek him out, commissioning him for swords and daggers, and knives, and various other weapons of all sorts. He was now a master swordsmith with apprentices of his own. He owned a large workshop with a forge large enough for ten to work at. It was equipped with the finest blacksmith tools crafted by him, or course, and a storefront in the marketplace where he traded his business and took orders. In addition to this he had a modestly large sized house upon a hill that overlooked the ocean. Elizabeth had helped him design it and they seemed to have built the perfect little love nest for two newlyweds. When the house had been finished, Will had popped the question and of course Elizabeth had agreed. After a seven month engagement, they were set to be married today.
"Well, I see that you brought the infamous Jack Sparrow with you, luckily for him Elizabeth spoke in his favor and he and his crew has a temporary full pardon for the weekend."
"Capt Jack Sparrow, Commodore, It's Capt Jack Sparrow. And besides I'm the best man of this wedding, it wouldn't look good if I was arrested now would it? It would ruin the whole wedding, we'd have to call it off and do it all over again." Will just looked at him and shook his head.
"Commodore, I have a gift for you."
"For me, I would imagine that I would be giving a present to you since it is your wedding day."
"It is a thank you gift" Will pressed, "For helping me in those first few months back. I've learned many things that I would never have known had you not agreed to tutor me" Norrington cringed, he hated the word tutor.
"That isn't necessary..."
"But it is" Will bowed and handed the black package to Norrington.
"If you don't' want it, can I have it?" Jack asked "I really think that young Will should keep it for himself, but if he must give it away, and you don't want it, shouldn't I be next in line being the best man and all?"
Norrington took the box in his hand weighing it in his hands, then opening it up to find two shining twin daggers.
"In fact shouldn't I have been first in line being best man and all?"
"For your boots, I've been developing them in my workshop for the past month, they are the same folded steel as my swords, but lighter, and made so that they go on the insides of military boots seamlessly, the enemy will never see them, and they are undetectable. They are at a perfect length for someone your height Commodore; they will not hinder your walking, or movement of any sort. Each blade has been custom made according to a person's height."
"They are quite……..well, they are very well made, and very stealthily designed." Norrington lifted one of them, then another, testing their weight out in his hand. "Which makes me very happy that you're not a pirate, it'd be perfect for them" he said looking pointedly at Jack
"Which makes me wonder why he gifted it to you instead of me" Jack said looking at Will who was still beaming with pride.
"When am I going to get one of those?"
"Err…."
"Sigh, never mind, figures you'd deliver a perfect pirate's weapon into the hands of a pirate catcher"
"But you're an honest pirate, so there's no need for you to commit such trickery"
"But it's ok for the Commodore to be underhanded and tricky"
"I've never seen the Commodore act that way to date have you?" Will blinked.
"He tried to hang me! That's not underhanded enough?" Jack yelled at him.
"That was done publicly, how exactly is that underhanded."
"Gentlemen, don't we have a wedding to go to?" Norrington asked exasperated.
"Yeees, indeed we do Commodore, in fact if we don't get this procession rolling, Mr. Turner here just might burst." Jack sauntered over to Commodore placing an arm on his shoulder, "Since I found out he ain't a eunuch, he must have been in blue ball hell….eooo!" Ow!" Jack yelped as he was yanked forcefully back by the ear.
"You off telling those damn stories again are ya?"
"Now Anamaria, its true, our young blue ball virgin…" Smack!
Jack's head snapped around from the impact and he turned back to face Anamaria.
"I don't think I deserved that." He said.
"I do," said Will putting on his hat, "Now if you will kindly behave yourself I have my wedding to go to."
"Yea, yea, we're coming. Savvy?"
Commodore Norrington merely shook his head. He took one more glance at the daggers in the box, and picked them up. Undetectable he said? He slipped one down his left boot and then his right. Then he moved around, walking in a circle. No reaction. He lifted one leg up then another, than squatted down before jumping quickly up.
"Lost your marbles there Commodore?" Norrington looked up to see Jack lounging in the doorway.
"Those be a nice pair of daggers, aren't they?" Jack said drunkenly making his way over, "I wonder….. hmmm, how I might be able to obtain myself one of those?" Jack placed his forefinger on his chin, "Maybe like this." Quick as a blink, Jack held one of Will's daggers in his hands and was then slipping it down his own boot.
"Wha?" Norrington started, than regained his composure.
"Capt Jack Sparrow, I don't think it would be wise to add stealing to your already long list of crimes."
"Yes but it's the one crime that made you remember to call me Captain." He cocked his head to the side. "Maybe I should do it more often." And with that he waltzed out.
Commodore Norrington shook his head and checked both his boots. The one in his right boot was still there. I'll get the other one back after the wedding he thought as he strode out the door. He wondered if he could detain them till after their temporary pardon.
"Captain, Port Royal is only a few miles away; it can be sighted through the telescope now."
"Are we in their eye's view?"
"No sir, unless they have telescopes pointing out way, and I highly doubt that to be the case, due to the wedding."
"Good, weigh anchor and we'll go in the rowboats to shore." The roguish captain of the ship turned and prepared to make his way to the small boats latched on the side of his ship; The Dragoness. "Men, ten per boat, we'll row around to the back side of the port and sneak up on them from there, make sure to grab a good deal of those wedding gifts, they're coming from all over the place. Wouldn't want a governor's daughter to get married empty handed now would they. The crew laughed, there were 45 of them, 45 of the best men that he'd ever seen, all hand picked by him and Diablo.
"Captain, there seems to be a new development."
"And what might that be Diablo?"
"The Black Pearl"
"Barbossa" The Captain sneered.
"No" Diablo said softly, her lips curved into a small smile. The captain snapped his head toward the tall girl standing at the stem with a long telescope in her hands
"Not Barbossa," She lowered her telescope and turned to look at her captain. "Jack"
"Jack?" The captain faintly muttered, "Then he's done it, he lifted the curse that Barbossa put on us."
"Captain, do you still want to disembark?" Diablo folded her telescope and placed it neatly into a pocket of one of her wide pant legs. "He seems to know the bride; a friend of hers even,"
"Well then that should just make things even more interesting, now shouldn't it?" The Captain turned his head to smile at her and the crew.
"To the boats!"
"Aye!" The crew called back.
Will adjusted his cravat a bit nervously. The music had just started to play and Elizabeth was due to walk down the aisle any minute now. He looked down for a second and straightened his cuff link when a flash a metal glinting at the corner of his eye caused him to look up sharply. He gasped
What filled his vision was the image of Elizabeth in her wedding finery. It was beautiful beyond words.
"Elizabeth…" he whispered. As if Elizabeth had heard him, she looked up to see him and smiled happily,
"Will…"
He never looked finer in her eyes. A wonderful black ensemble with a matching black sheathed blade by his side made him look like a prince in her eyes.
Elizabeth and her father made their way up the red carpet to face Will. The Governor stopped just short of presenting Elizabeth to Will, and he almost face faulted at the act. Governor Swann simply stepped up to Will and shook his hand,
"I think you've become a fine young man," he said softly, "And I am proud to call you my son in law" Will blinked at him,
"Tha, thank you sir." Will stuttered. "And I am honored to call you my father in law."
"Governor Swann stepped back to Elizabeth, and took one of her hands in his right, and took one of Will's hands in his left.
"With my every blessing," He told the couple as he joined the two hands.
"Hello there Miss Swann, my, my, my, that's a fine wedding dress!"
The whole wedding procession turned their heads up. What they saw was a ring of men around the courtyard wielding swords and pistols all pointing their way. They were lead by a handsome black haired man with a tri point hat dressed in blue. And someone let out a scream
"AHH! Pirates! Run! Run! Pirates!"
Author's Note;
Sooooo, what do you think of it so far? Please read and review! Thank you!