Elizabeth walked slowly down the aisle. Her yellow wedding dress was trailing behind her like a shimmering river. The guests were assembled in their various seats both sides of the aisle. All of them were looking on and she recognised many faces. But she felt proud- this was her wedding day, she was finally going to be married. Her father was beside her taking her to the altar. Nothing could ruin this; no words could describe the happiness she felt right now. The groom was standing next to the priest his back to Elizabeth and the guests. He was wearing well-cut clothes and a very ostentatious hat. But Elizabeth didn't mind she loved him and was finally getting married, that was all that mattered. In due course she reached the altar and smiled at the priest.

'I love you.' She whispered to the groom.

'Feeling's mutual love.' He said smiling at her- showing his gold teeth.

It was Jack. She woke up with a start.

They'd been on the ship for three days. Three days. And every night Elizabeth had dreamt of her wedding, and every time the groom was Jack. Her heart was beating fast and her head was full of unanswered questions. The first time she'd had the dream she woke up screaming. Will had come to her aid quickly but had regarded her with suspicion when she had said it was 'just a bad dream'. Elizabeth looked around the cabin, it was dawn, and ultimately decided to get up. She got out of her hammock with images of Jack still floating in her head.

Meanwhile Catherine was stood on the deck, observing the sunrise whilst sharpening a long cutlass. The deck was almost deserted- too early for most of the crew. She was, unfortunately for her, sober. Barbossa had told her that if she got drunk she'd be thrown off the ship. Gibbs had told her everything, about Davy Jones, Jack, Will, Elizabeth and even how Tia Dalma had brought Barbossa back to life. Of course he had also told her of Bootstrap's fate. All this time she had wished he was alive- but not like this. And just to add salt to the wound she couldn't drink. It was a dangerous thing; leaving her to her own thoughts, not able to numb the pain.

Catherine had hardly talked to anyone in the past three days. The only words directed at her were orders and she followed them silently and without protest. Many of the crew avoided her, some seemed scared, especially Pintel and Ragetti who knew full well what she could do when crossed. Everyone stared at her though. When they looked at her their eyes always flickered to her scar. Scars weren't uncommon in the pirate world but that didn't stop their stares. She hated it so much- not because she was vain but because it gave her a distinguishing mark. People remembered people with scars; she just hoped the darkness of the 'Fool's paradise' had hid the lower half of it from Beckett. She looked at the cutlass mulling her thoughts in her head. One thing she had noticed was the coldness between Elizabeth and Will- they seemed more like enemies than fiancés. Catherine sighed; she would kill for a bottle of rum right now.

Elizabeth made her way to the deck carefully; trying not to wake those who were sleeping. She wanted to be alone and find out what the dream really meant. As soon as she got to the deck she heard a scraping sound: like metal on metal. Catherine was stood at the edge of the ship- staring at the horizon. In her hands she had a cutlass and what looked like a small brass knife. Elizabeth guessed she was sharpening the cutlass. Although she didn't want to admit it to herself- Elizabeth was a little bit fearful of Catherine. Her past was a mystery and her true reasons for going on this journey were never explained. Barbossa had mentioned some sort of debt and Gibbs had just answered her questions with riddles. Well, she thought to herself, if I want answers I guess I just have to find them myself, and she strode over to where Catherine was standing.

When Elizabeth reached Catherine she looked at her with a raised eyebrow before returning her attention to the cutlass.

'Yes…?' Catherine asked finally. She was slightly angry Elizabeth had disrupted her.

Elizabeth's cheeks went red and she bit her lip. She stared into Catherine's face and found herself studying her scar intently. Suddenly she realised what she was doing and looked away, her cheeks still flushing with embarrassment. Catherine rolled her eyes and continued sharpening the cutlass. Elizabeth could smell raw meat in her breath but no alcohol.

'If you think this is bad you should see the rest of me.' Catherine sighed.

'I…Umm… What do you mean?'

Catherine took off one of her black gloves. Elizabeth looked at the back of her hand; there was nothing there except pale skin. Then she turned the hand over and Elizabeth almost stumbled backwards in shock. The word 'Beast' had been carved into her palm with rough jagged letters. They looked very deep and painful. Elizabeth opened her mouth to speak but she couldn't form words. Who would do such a thing? There was just a scar on her palm but the letters were so prominent.

'That,' Catherine started 'isn't the worst of them either; granted most of them are just battle scars and what not. But as you can see this, this was done for a reason.'

'What reason?' Elizabeth asked unable to take her eyes of her palm.

'I needed to be taught a lesson.'

'What lesson could ever warrant such a thing?'

'The lesson of obedience.' Catherine's voice turned into a harsh, grating laugh. She shook her head and carried on. 'But that lesson was wasted on me- just caused me to be even more disruptive.'

'But who?'

'Lord Beckett. I take it you've met him? A great nobleman: rich, honourable and a complete bastard.'

'Did he… Did he do the one on your face?' Elizabeth questioned surprised by her own straight-forwardness.

'What? No. Hector did that, or should I say Captain Barbossa.'

'You seem different from when I first met you in Tortuga.' Elizabeth said breaking the silence that had followed.

'I'm sober.'

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. 'Sober?'

'First time in three years.'

'Is that why you told me this?'

'I told you this because there'd be no point in lying.'

Elizabeth nodded and left Catherine to her 'work'.

The next few weeks passed without anything interesting happening. Will, Elizabeth, Barbossa and Gibbs had been trying to interpret a map that supposedly led to the 'End of the World' in the day. Catherine hadn't talked to Elizabeth anymore and usually spent her nights with Gibbs. He was the only crew member she seemed to actually get along with. The others still distrusted her. Will kept to himself mostly and never let Barbossa out of his sight.

Shouting was coming out of the cabin- Gibbs and Will were arguing with Barbossa. They both thought they were heading in the wrong direction while Barbossa said their course should not change. They had been fighting for what seemed hours. Elizabeth had unsuccessfully tried to split them up but had failed.

'I'm not even sure this map is genuine!' Shouted Will.

'Look lad, navigating ain't your thing- ye should just stick t' makin' swords!' Barbossa boomed- towering over Will.

Suddenly Will drew his sword and pointed it to Barbossa's neck. Even Gibbs seemed surprised Will had dared do this.

'We should have got there a week ago.'

'Just trust me lad.'

'Trust is not something I associate with pirates.' Will snapped.

There was a knock at the door and Barbossa used this distraction to draw his own sword and point it at Will.

'Looks like we're evenly matched.' He smiled.

The knocks became even louder, Barbossa and Will still kept their swords at each other's throats.

'Who is it?' Gibbs croaked looking intently at the battle of wits going on before him.

'Catherine and if you don't open this bloody door I'll-' She said irritably

'What be your business Miss. Vane?' Barbossa asked with more than an edge of anger in his voice.

'There's something… Outside… Come and see, we've no idea what it is.'

Will lowered his sword and made for the door. Barbossa edged his way past him and opened the door to find Catherine looking very annoyed. She made a beckoning motion and led them all to the deck. All of the crew were looking at the front of the boat at something on top or underneath the water. They pushed their way through the crowd and gasped at what they saw.

A/N This chapter is longer. (Again?) Yes I know the start was clichéd but I thought that was a good idea. And having a cliff-hanger isn't that nice either but maybe you'll be able to guess what it is. As always please review- if you think this is bad just tell me so I can alter it and stop writing bad fanfic. Hopefully still not a Mary Sue story and this is not a story to get my OC 'hooked up' with some character. Of course I'm kind of dreading the next chapter as it will involve me writing Jack who will be rather hard as I am not a witty person.