Prompt: A touch of destiny. Originally posted 24/5/07. Triple drabble. Thanks so much to those of you who have reviewed; I really do appreciate any concrit-or just hearing about lines you think worked =)
"I don't believe in destiny."
Even to his own ears his defiant words fall hollow, a plea where he intended a dismissal.
"You don' think that you were destined to receive that cursed coin—oh, yes, I know 'bout all that," she says, smiling at his start of surprise.
"You don' believe that Fate, the sister of Destiny, placed you on that ship, doomed it to sink, brought Eliz'beth to rescue you? You don' think you an' she were fated to meet an' love?"
He stares over her shoulder.
"I know only that we did meet, that I do love her; that I will do anything to bring her safety or happiness."
"Anyt'ing?" she queries swiftly, but waits for no answer. "You think you can shape your own future, William Turner?" she asks now, amusement evident in the slow cadences of her voice. "You think you can escape what Fate planned for you?"
"There is no plan," he repeats, but his mouth is dry.
"How many times your life been risked—and spared?" she demands. "From sickness, from battle, from accident in forge—and always, always from the water. You think Destiny not keeping you safe for her own purposes?"
"Those were…fortunate coincidences," he protests valiantly, but there is a cold, sick knot of inevitable dread in his stomach as he at last meets her eyes, wise and dark and old—how old? he wonders suddenly, irrelevantly.
"Maybe. Maybe you right, William." She is silent for a moment, all humour draining from her like the unexpected retreat of high tide. Those eyes remain fixed on him and he experiences a swift rush of—fear.
Her voice, when again she speaks, is deeper and softer than before.
"Coincidences of Fortune? Do you not know, William, the name of Destiny's second sister?"