Chapter 10
Will Turner's promotion ceremony was exactly as Elizabeth expected it to be, a long, drawn out, boring event that left her on the verge of falling asleep standing up. She was happy for Will, he had changed dramatically from the young lad that had been pulled from the water 8 years prior. He had indeed grown into a fine man, his handsome good looks attracted the attention of more than one local tavern wench, as well as the many aristocrat's daughters who frequented these social occasions. Elizabeth was the envy of those girls, for what they longed for, she already had...the heart of William Turner. She and Will had grown up together, and although they were friends in childhood, they drifted apart in their mid-teens mostly because Elizabeth found her interests laid down a different path. Will was brave, strong and gallant but Elizabeth never outgrew her fascination with the sea and piracy, and as she grew older she found it calling her more and more with each passing day. Will remained devoted to her throughout, and he worked hard at fighting against the one true desire that lay deep in Elizabeth's heart. She often wondered if he'd fight so hard to end the reign of pirates if he knew her dark, little secret, but she wasn't about to risk it all to find out.
The hot sun of the caribbean beating down on her, she thinks of the irony of her attending this event. She loved pirates, and the man who loved her hated them, yet here she stands out of duty, and urgence from her father, to honour the man who was responsible for trying to end her dreams. She stifles a small, ironic giggle but quickly composes herself when her father shoots her a warning glance.
The ceremony coming to a close, Elizabeth was feeling quite frustrated and hot, she see's Will accepting congratulations from her father and the Admiral, and a long line of people await to extend the same. He see's her looking his way and politely excuses himself from the crowd and approaches her.
'Oh great!" she says to herself. "Now what do I do?"
She offers him a smile and wonders if she should congratulate him or slap him.
"May I have a moment?" he requests of her.
She guides him to the edge of the battlement, wondering just how she's going to get herself away from him without embarrassing anyone in the process.
"Uh, you look lovely, Elizabeth." he says nervously.
Elzabeth smiles and nods politely, wishing he would just get on with it.
"I apologize if I seem forward, but I must speak my mind. This promotion..."
"Lieutenant Turner!" Admiral Norrington interrupts.
"Miss Swann, please forgive me. I must speak with the Lieutenant, somethings come up that he should know about" the Admiral explains.
Will looks back at her and kisses her hand "Do forgive me, Elizabeth?"
"Of course, Lieutenant" she smiles back.
Will returns her smile then turns and joins Norrington and a group of soldiers at the far end of the battlement. Elizabeth turns her attention to the sea and scans the horizon.
"What are you up to?" she asks quietly.