Ahh! I actually had to do RESEARCH for this one!
Of course, anything for my loyal reviewer … I had actually hoped to make that plural … so please please please review! I'm begging you!
Disclaimer: I don't own PotC or any scenes mentioned.
Daughter of the Dutchman: Birthday's and Weddings
Jack and Angelica kissed. Tearful eyes and smiling faces were all around me. I turned to my mother and asked quietly:
"Was your wedding like this?"
I knew from her eyes I should not have asked. They flashed with sadness and despair. She just shook her head, and went to talk with some old women that usually bought her sewing.
I sighed. Jack couldn't have picked ANY other day. But no, I thought as I picked my way through the crowd. He just HAS to get married on MY birthday!
Sure, his had been a week before, but … still.
I mean it was a beautiful day. The sun was out, not a cloud in the sky. Moderate temperature – not hot enough to make the bride uncomfortable during her outdoor wedding, of course.
The whole town was there; at least, those who could make it. The blacksmith was a wealthy man. Angelica came with a large dowry – enough to start them out in a comfortable house with plenty of whatever they needed.
My eyes light up at the sight of the mountain of food. Fresh meat, pies, my gardens many vegetables (our small contribution), candied fruit and marzipan. And a large cake, covered in white icing.
But before I could eat, I knew, I had to congratulate my brother and new sister.
Jack looked better than normal. A dark blue jacket, with gold braid trims, over a light blue vest over a white shirt. Dark trousers with long, knee-high socks. Black shoes with shiny brass buckles. It was the best he looked in my memory, which may or may not be a good thing.
Angelica was beautiful. Her dress was silk, bronze overdress and a white under dress. The under dress was embroidered with multicolored beads. A sheer white veil covered her red hair, which tumbled down her back in loose curls.
I smiled at the sight of them, but Mother's look resonated in my mood. It did not help that my birthday was not being celebrated in its usual fashion. I was like the tides … they come regularly, and are always the same. I liked things in their usual place.
"Calypso!" Angelica's voice rang out, beaming. She bent down slightly as we hugged. "I was hoping to see you!"
I hugged her back, wary of the careful embroidery on her bodice. "I'm here." I murmured, smiling. "No need to shout."
"But there is reason to shout. It's the best day of my life, and should be celebrated as such. I'll celebrate too when you get married."
I wanted to tell her that I wouldn't be getting married; I'd be on the sea with my father, enjoying life on the sea to its fullest.
"I'd like that." I smiled up at her.
"Calypso." Jack grinned like a fool. "Come, take a walk with me." I nodded, a frown creasing my forehead. He offered his hand, and I took it. He led me to the edge of the feast, silent.
"Calypso." He repeated, staring of into the distance. He did not speak for a few minutes.
"Yes?" I asked, impatient. I wanted to eat!
"A bad turn deserves a good one, don't you think?" He scowled. "I almost killed you a few months ago."
I did not answer, instead trying to find what he was looking for.
Jack pulled something out of his pocket, something small. Wrapped in brown cheese cloth and twine, it was about the length on my hand.
I pulled on the twine bow. The cheese cloth fell away, revealing a knife. It was the knife that had been lodged in Jack's doorframe. The wooden hilt was blackened with aged, as was the blade itself.
Jack sighed, pulling at his collar. "Father gave that to me, the day he came back ten years ago. He said it was his fathers, and that I should have it." He crouched next to me, meeting my eyes. "But it is not mine to have. You have a better claim to then I. Happy Birthday, Calypso."
I tucked the knife in my boots – I had refused to wear slippers like a proper lady – and grinned up at him. "Thank you Jack."
~*~The Dutchman~*~
I fell asleep, my stomach full of marvelous foods. I wondered why people didn't have weddings more often.
Calypso's face swam before me, smiling. "You axed what your moders wedding was like. Sall I sow you?
I did not have time to answer before she launched into the newest vision:
My mother knelt in the rain. Her dress reminded me of Angelica's: bronze silk with patterns. A sheer white veil covered her unbound hair. She was alone.
She glanced behind her. Rows of soldiers in bright red and white uniforms stood at attention. My father, looking like Jack had earlier for his wedding, was walking in with the soldiers.
In shackles.
My mother ran to the rows of soldiers. "Will." She breathed. "Why is this happening?"
"I don't know." He shook his head helplessly. "You look beautiful."
Mother smoothed a wrinkle in his coat. "I think its bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding," she murmured, tears in her eyes. Or maybe it was the rain.
A man with a long, curly, grey wig tried to make his way through the ranks of soldiers. "Make way; let me through!" He exclaimed. Two men with pikes stopped his way. "How dare you! Stand your men down at once! Do you hear me?" The wigged man commanded.
A man in a black cloak turned to face him. "Governor Weatherby Swann, It's been too long."
"Cutler Beckett?"
"It's 'Lord' now, actually." Lord Beckett smiled. The pike men let Governor Swann through.
"Lord or not, you have no reason and no authority to arrest this man!"
"In fact, I do." Beckett said wryly. "Mr. Merser." A hard, old man with unadorned clothes stepped forward with a leather case. He opened it, rifling through some papers. Beckett handed one to Governor Swann.
"The warrant for the arrest of one William Turner."
The Governor read it with a sigh. "This warrant is for Elizabeth Swann!"
"Oh, is it? That's annoying. My mistake. Arrest her."
"On what charges?" My mother exclaimed as she was seized by the soldiers around her. "No!" My father struggled against his captors.
"Ah! Here's the one for William Turner." Beckett handed over that paper with satisfaction. "And I have another one for a Mr. James Norrington." He raised the paper above his head, waving it around. "Is he present?"
"What are the charges!" my mother repeated as she was shackled.
"Commodore Norrington resigned his post some months ago." My grandfather said.
"I don't believe that to be the answer to my question." Beckett said calmly.
"Lord Beckett!" My father said. "In the category of questions not answered-"
"We are under the jurisdiction of the Kings Governor of Port Royal and you will tell us what we are charged with." My mother said, malice threaded through her voice.
"The charge," Governor Swann grimaced. "Is conspiring to set free a man convicted of crimes against the crown and Empire, and condemned to death, for which the pun- puni-" He stumbled.
"For which the punishment is, regrettably, also death. Perhaps you remember a certain pirate named Jack Sparrow?"
"Captain." My parents spat out in unison.
"Captain Jack Sparrow." My mother said with defiance after a pause.
"Captain Jack Sparrow." Beckett repeated with satisfaction. "Yes, I thought you might."
Calypso's face again swam before me. "Dat was deir firs' attempt. Dis is de second, an' last, a few years lader." She faded, and a new vision besieged my dreams.
Humanoid figures boarded a boat with black sails. Rain poured, soaking everyone. I stood in the middle of the deck, watching as my parents fought these things.
"Elizabeth!" My father bellowed, fighting through two monsters. "Elizabeth!" He grabbed my mother's arm as she looked for another enemy. People and monsters were dying everywhere. A Chinese man fell through me to land on the deck, dead.
I moved closer to my parents.
"Will you marry me?" Father asked. Mother opened her mouth in shock, then they both broke away to fight again.
"I don't think now's the best time!" My mother exclaimed.
He didn't answer, just kept fighting. In a small lull, he gasped: "Now may be the ONLY time!" They grabbed each other's arms, their heads almost touching.
"I love you," he murmured. "I've made my choice. What's yours?"
Elizabeth smiled, and then shouted to the tiller: "Barbossa!" My father's face scrunched up in confusion. My dream self blinked in shock. "Marry us!"
"I'm a little busy at the moment!" a man in a floppy hat shouted back. I presumed that was Barbossa.
"Barbossa, now!" my father shouted, before taking on another enemy. The monster died.
"Fine, then." Barbossa said. He clambered up on a box on the high deck, in front of the tiller, fighting monsters the entire way. My parents clasped hands and looked up at Barbossa.
"Dearly beloved, we be gathered here today … to nail your gizzards to the mast, you poxy cur!" He kicked some humanoid in the face. My mother frowned, and then ducked.
My parents fought their way back to each other, cutting down whatever humans and monsters where in their path. "Elizabeth Swann, do you take me to be your husband?"
"I do!" My mother gasped out.
Father looked surprised. "Great!" They broke off, moving quickly across the deck. Their hands met again.
"Will Turner, do you take me …" More fighting, hands still together. "… To be your wife …" More fighting, swords clashing together against the monstrous things. "… In sickness and in health …" Even more fighting. "With health being the less likely!"
And there was even more fighting.
"I do." Father smiled.
"As captain, I now pronounce you …" Barbossa shouted from across the deck. My parents and Barbossa continued to fight. "You may kiss-" Barbossa shoots a soldier and laughs.
My parents try to kiss, water streaming down their faces, but were rudely interrupted by a soldier. My father took care of him.
"You may kiss-" Barbossa tried again. "Just kiss!" He shouted in exasperation.
So they kissed in the midst of a battle, the rain pouring down their faces.
The vision faded, leaving Calypso's sad brown face staring at me."You see? Destiny 'ad its way wid your parents. Love was dere's, but fate … could not 'ave stopped wid just med'ling." She twisted her mouth in a wry smile. "Fate 'ad to sepatae dem so soon a'ter deir union."
With those words heavy on my mind, I woke. The morning sun shone, warm, through my curtains.
And yet, I shivered.