When Elizabeth had at least fallen asleep Narcissa returned above deck. Walking to the railing as had become a habit when she was thinking Narcissa recalled how she first came to be part of the Swann family.
*Flashback*
Orphanages were not pleasant places. Narcissa had come to this conclusion upon being taken to the slightly dreary if reasonably well kept building. Back home she had spent most of her time either with her mother or the few other children of the barmaids in Port Raphael. Even when not around other children she had never felt lonely.
Here she was surrounded by her peers and felt more alone than ever. The orphanage had a variety of little social groups formed by the girls but Narcissa never seemed to fit in with any of them. She knew that since she came from a town known to be somewhat friendly with pirates many of the girls suspected what her father did for a living. Even though she had kept silent about her parentage nobody wanted to be friends with anyone even POSSIBLY related to a pirate.
The ringleader of the meaner girls was Victoria Williams a pretty brunette of around 10 With her dark hair an fair skin Narcissa thought she looked a bit like an angry china doll. Victoria always picked on those she considered lesser. She'd at first tried to go after Narcissa only to to find that the red head was more than willing to give as good as she got when it came to verbal lashings.
So Victoria had taken to making sure all the other girls avoided Narcissa. Todays target was Myrtle a mousy little girl with a lame leg. Victoria and her cronies were crowded around the poor girl.
"What a pathetic little cripple. No wonder your parents didn't want you," scoffed Victoria. Narcissa stepped forward as Myrtle cowered.
"That's rich considering with an attitude like your's any parent would abandon you as soon as possible."
"Oh like the pirate's daughter can talk," snapped Victoria she pushed Myrtle who stumbled back on her bad leg.
"Leave her alone and pick on someone your own size," growled Narcissa.
"Or what?" sneered Victoria. She made to shove Myrtle when Narcissa slammed into her. Victoria pulled Narcissa's hair and they were soon fighting. It came to an end when two of the nuns who ran the orphanage wrested the two apart. Victoria had a black eye and Narcissa sported a bleeding lip.
"Shame on you girls!" said Sister Margaret. "You'll both be getting the cane and in front of Mr. Swann too boot!" Narcissa looked up and saw a well dressed man in a long curled wig.
"I apologize sir."
"I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation."
"Oh sir it was that horrid Narcissa. She attacked me with no cause!" simpered Victoria. To Narcissa's surprise the man who she supposed was Mr. Swann gave Victoria a skeptical look.
"On the contrary. It appeared like she had great cause if the way you were treating this little girl was an indication. Lying is a sin young lady." Victoria flushed. He turned his gaze to Narcissa who stared back.
"I'd like a word with this one," he said. Narcissa wasn't entirely sure what the man wanted but followed Sister Margaret and Mr. Swann back to the mother superior's office. Mr. Swann spoke with the nuns outside the office for a few minutes before coming back in. Now Narcissa was seated in a stiff wooden chair and left alone with Mr. Swann.
The older man pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to Narcissa.
"For your lip," he said.
"Thank you sir," she said holding the expensive cloth to her bleeding lip.
"Why did you defend little girl? Surely you knew you would get in trouble for fighting?" he asked.
"Myrtle didn't deserve to be treated like that. If I take a caning for stopping Victoria from hurting another girl then it's worth it. Myrtle is all alone. More so then even me."
"You're very protective aren't you?" he commented.
"I suppose. Those most would say troublemaker," said Narcissa with a shrug.
" Protectiveness isn't a bad quality. It just depends on how you channel it."
"All due respect sir but what are you getting at?" said Narcissa. Mr. Swann chuckled.
"Right to the point then. You see I have a daughter just a little younger than you who's lost her mother. She's all alone as you might say and I think it would be good for her to have someone her age to bond with. Someone to look out for her. And I think you might be a perfect fit."
"You want to adopt me? The girl you just saw give little miss perfect a black eye?" she asked in disbelief. This time Mr. Swann laughed.
"Well, I'm afraid you may have to act a bit more lady-like in the future but yes. I'd rather have a an honest and brave if slightly less polished young lady looking out for my daughter than say someone more duplicitous like Miss Williams."
Narcissa was beginning to like this man. He had kind eyes. And it was clear he was offering her a way out of the orphanage. She wasn't certain if she would like this daughter of his but she certainly wasn't going to waste the opportunity. Narcissa stood and curtsied.
"Well, I'd be honored sir." The Governor smiled.
"Then I'll have the paperwork prepared and we can leave today." He offered her his hand and together they walked out.
*Flashback*
Governor Swann had treated her very well over the years. She had expected originally to be treated more like a servant since she was his daughter's companion but to her shock she was given near equal privileges including her own room, nice clothes, and a good education. Looking back, she regretted not thanking him more often.
The pain she now felt at losing him wasn't as severe as what she had felt when she lost her father. But there was a deep ache within her. Narcissa heard her father walk up behind her. And waited for him to speak.
PotC
After a good half hour Hector saw his daughter emerge from below decks. Her face was a mixture of anger and grief. She walked to the railing and after a few minutes he followed her.
He had to admit he was grateful to Governor Swann. Slightly jealous that the man had gotten to watch his Narcissa grow up. But grateful that he had treated her as his own.
"How are ye?" he asked gently. He knuckles tightened on the railing white against the brown wood.
"Angry. Sad. Weatherby was never my father but he was the closest thing I had to a parent for years. He knew I was the daughter of a pirate yet he treated me as his own. For no other reason than that he was a good man. I despise Beckett for trying to take away our freedom and threatening those I love. But this is OUR war. Weatherby, he was innocent." Barbossa placed a hand on her shoulder.
"It's the reality of war, though I wish ye didn't have to experience it."
"Poor Lizzie," she murmured.
"Aye, tis unfortunate," agreed Barbossa. Truthfully over their journey he'd become slightly fond of Elizabeth Swann. She was stronger than she looked and clever as well. She'd also been instrumental in his daughter's life and he couldn't overlook that kindness. Well. He could have but he wouldn't.
"When I lost you, it felt like my whole world was falling apart," Barbossa stayed quiet. He had always done his best to comfort his daughter, though Lydia had been better at him. And there were times he still wasn't sure how to handle his daughter's softer emotions. What do you say when your daughter watched you die in her arms?
"It was the worst feeling in the world, having to let you go. But at least I had time to mourn and process what happened. Elizabeth doesn't have that time. And I doubt a resurrection is in the cards." Narcissa glanced up at him.
In her eyes he recognized a similar sadness to the one he had seen as he died. But with it was also mixed a need for an answer. Parents were supposed to have all the answers weren't they?
"Then Miss Swann is lucky she has ye," he told her. Narcissa nodded before hugging him. Barbossa returned the embrace.
"Please don't leave me again," she whispered into his chest. Barbossa knew that wasn't a promise he could be sure to keep with everything that was happening so instead, he merely tightened the embrace.
PotC
Narcissa was fairly certain Jack had officially gone off his rocker when he began running back and forth across the ship.
"What the bloody hell is that man up to now," she asked as more crew members joined him running to each side.
"He's rocking the ship!" said Pintel. Narcissa looked down at the charts where the words "up is down" were written and it hit her. The ship needed to go upside-down!
"Aye, he's onto it," said Narcissa's father. Immediately Narcissa ran to help the others in the rocking.
"Time it with the swells!" she yelled. Her father ran below and she heard him calling
"Loose the canons ye lazy bilge rats! Unstow the cargo! Let it shift!" They all rushed up the incline of the deck as the ship rocked. Each rock made it steeper. They all lunged for the railing and one Chinese crew member lost his grip falling back. He hit the rigging and was crushed by a canon. As the ship tipped Narcissa felt her grip slipping she felt herself falling only for a strong arm to catch her. She looked up to see her father had grabbed her by the waist and was holding her to him as the ship tipped.
"I've gotch ye," he said. Narcissa took a deep breath as they went under holding tight to her father's coat. For a moment they all seemed to hang there nothing happening and then it was as if the water flipped. Suddenly the ship began to go upward and burst from beneath the water. They were back in the land of the living.
Author's note: Gotta say I love that scene with the swap. Hope you all like Narcissa and Weatherby's backstory. Please comment below with your thoughts. Until next time!
