Chapter 3

AN- Here's Chapter three! Thank you for all the feedback and I really appreciate it! Posted on Ao3 and on Tumblr. The profile names are in my bio

Elizabeth's eyes snap open suddenly, fear and apprehension clouding her brown eyes. The dream playing before her eyes. Seeing the destruction of the shipwreck, meeting Will, finding the gold medallion on his neck, hiding it, seeing a black ship with raggedy black sails and the menacing looking Jolly Roger flag flying in the wind. She takes a deep breath and her eyes scan the room, she half expects to see someone in the room. Lizzie gets up and takes the oil lamp across the room to her dressing table. She opens a little drawer, takes out the items to pull out the false bottom to reveal the gold medallion sitting there collecting dust. What prompted her to see it again after all these years she did not know. It had not lost its shine or the off putting aura surrounding it. She moved to replace everything when-

A booming knock made her jump out of her skin. Heart racing, she jumped up accidently knocking a chair down. The knock followed by her father's voice asking if everything was fine and if she was decently attired. A shaky yes escaped out of her before she quickly sprang into action, grabbing her dressing gown and putting on the medallion.

Governor Weatherby Swann entered his daughter's bedroom along with Estrella and Mary. Her father jovially asked why she was still in bed on this beautiful day. Estrella strides forward and throws back the heavy curtains to open the windows. Elizabeth winced a little, the sunlight hurting her eyes a bit. It was a beautiful day indeed! Clear skies and the ocean looking incredibly blue. At the mouth of the port, Fort Charles stood quite menacingly.

"I have a gift for you" announced Governor Swann, opening a box that was in Mary's hands. Elizabeth let out an admiring grasp at the beautiful ivory coloured dress with intricate embroidery.

"It is beautiful. May I inquire as to the occasion?"

"Does a father need an occasion to dote upon his daughter?" came her father's fond reply.

Elizabeth grinned at him and made her way with Estrella and Mary to the screened dressing area to try it on.

Governor Swann went on, " Actually…I had hoped you might wear it for the ceremony today." Elizabeth was a bit puzzled. What was the occasion today? Was her mind addled due to the medallion? "Ceremony?" she trailed off in an unsure voice.

"Captain Norrington's promotion ceremony"

Of course! It hit her like a ton of bricks. How could she forget about it! How forgetful of her! Lizzie bit back a grin. Ellie would also be there. Elizabeth could remember how much of a hassle it had been to convince her to wear a dress. Elizabeth had tried numerous reasons. All failed but one did the trick. It was James that was getting promoted. He would expect you to be there. You would not want to let one of your best friends down would you?' Ellie had finally given in. Both idiots were head over heels for each other but neither gave in and confessed which was frustrating to see after all this time. Lizzie had gladly taken her to the seamstress and got Ellie fitted out for a dress. Elizabeth was excited to see the end result as she had missed the final fitting appointment.

She peeked around the screen and confirmed that she remembered about it.

Governor Swann went on, "Commodore Norrington as he's about to become. A fine gentleman don't you think?"

What was her father up to? Does he think..?

The Governor, noticing her silence went on, "He fancies you, you know"

Elizabeth let out a loud gasp, partly outraged and partly in pain because the tightening corset was squeezing the life out of her. Was father blind? Could he not see James pining for Ellie. His claim was quite ridiculous!

"Elizabeth? How's it coming?"

Elizabeth kept on wincing, holding her hair and the medallion out of the way of Mary and Estrella, who kept tightening the laces of the corset even tighter. "Difficult…to say" she choked out a reply.

"I'm told it's the latest fashion in London"

"Well, women in London must have learned not to breathe" she snarkily replied, sounding breathless. At that very moment, Estrella finished tying the laces. Elizabeth was feeling a bit light headed already. How were women supposed to function wearing these torture devices?

At the healer's residence, chaos was unfolding, similar to Elizabeth's but with slightly raised voices.

"Quit struggling Eleanor Katherine Carter!" Agnes yelled at Ellie, who was squirming quite a lot which made the already difficult job of tightening the corset laces even harder.

"I can't breathe Agnes! I literally can't breathe! I will faint if I take one more step! Latest fashion in London I was told. Ha! How in the name of the Good Lord can a woman breathe wearing this? Let alone move? Why can't I just bind my chest and be done with it? Ouch! Ouch! That hurts!" ranted Ellie, looking on the verge of crying and she did NOT cry for frivolous reasons!

Agnes sighed. She then moved to loosen the laces and Ellie let out a huge sigh of relief. That was certainly an improvement from before. It was tight but at least her breathing was not impaired. Agnes helped her with her dress and once everything was done, she could believe the person staring at her from the mirror.

She was clad in a light blue dress that clearly flattered her figure, black tresses piled into an elegant bun with strands of hair falling down to her nape. Devoid of any jewellery, she looked simple and elegant and a far cry from the regular Ellie who was known to run around in skirts and blouses along with a herb stained apron tied to her waist.

"That's why corsets are used, my child. You look gorgeous. Now run along. You would not want to be late." Agnes said, kissing her on the temple.

"Thank you Agnes." Ellie looked at the old kind woman who had helped these past eight years. "Please forgive me for shouting", a sheepish Ellie implored.

"It is alright dear. Run along now or you will be late"

Ellie made the short walk to the Fort in a matter of minutes. Smiling at the guards flanking the doorway, she made her way into the congregation of people ready to witness the esteemed Captain to be promoted into the admirable rank of Commodore. She saw Elizabeth in the crowd and went to her side.

"Greetings Lady Elizabeth. Fancy seeing you here" Ellie did a little curtsy and rose up to see her properly.

"Ellie! Oh my! Look at you! You look stunning! This is an absolute miracle!" Lizzie gushed looking at Ellie in admiration. "A certain to-be-Commodore will not be able to take his eyes off you", grinned a slightly breathless Elizabeth.

Ellie ignored the teasing while trying not to go all red. Without missing a beat she shot back, "You also look stunning dear Lizzie. I bet a certain blacksmith was rendered speechless seeing you today"

Elizabeth could not retort to that as the band started playing. Ellie grinned in victory. The red and white clad soldiers march into the parapets, obeying the command. James arrived at the entrance. He certainly did look smart Ellie mused. The command was given for the soldiers to face each other and present arms. Elizabeth at this point was a bit restless, trying to adjust her dress discretely and began fanning a bit faster, her breath shallow.

"Lizzie? Are you feeling alright", came Ellie's concerned whisper.

She nodded her head in reply. She could bear it for some time.

James walked a rather dignified walk over to the Governor who was on the opposite side of the parapet. He discreetly scanned the audience present. His eyes landed on Ellie and Lizzie. Seeing Ellie almost made him trip over his own feet.

She was looking ethereal in the sunlight and she was wearing a dress! Knowing her all these years, he picked up her dislike of dresses. She had told him how impractical it was, how the skirts of a dress would always get in the way and how uncomfortable it can get most of the time but here she was looking absolutely beautiful. She caught his eye and gave him a little grin that made his heart beat faster. He made his way over to Governor Swann without any embarrassing mishaps, who had taken the sword out of the case and was holding it vertically over to him.

James took the scabbard from the Governor and drew the sword out, flourishes the blade and snaps the sword up in front of his face. The Governor then moved to pin the medal that signified him as a Commodore. James does the final salute and with another flourish he returns the blade to its scabbard.

The crowd broke into applause, Ellie clapped enthusiastically. Lizzie applauded briefly and winced. She was feeling very uncomfortable and breathless. Ellie noticed her discomfort and asked if she was feeling fine and suggested she help loosen the laces of her corset. Lizzie turned the offer down and insisted she was fine which made Ellie look at her doubtfully.

The band began playing a jolly tune when Ellie and Lizzie made their way over to the Governor. Ellie exchanged greetings with the Governor. James approached her and politely waited till she exchanged pleasantries. Ellie turned to James,

"Congratulations Commodore!" she beamed, her smile sending shockwaves in him.

"You look absolutely beautiful today Eleanor", James blurted out. "I meant you are always looking lovely and.." he began to ramble which was quite adorable to Ellie.

"Thank you James" interrupted Ellie, knowing he will regret his rambling later on. "You look quite dashing in the Commodore uniform. So when will you assume duties, O esteemed Commodore of Port Royal !" Ellie beamed.

"Just after the ceremony, I have some busy days ahead…Hello Elizabeth. You look lovely today."

Elizabeth gave James a slightly pained smile.

"Indeed…Shall I bring some drinks? It is quite warm today isn't it? asked Ellie looking at the two. Both nodded, Lizzie looking paler than before.

James took this chance and asked Lizzie if he could talk with her for a moment. They walked to the edge of the parapet. James was quite nervous, he knew that Elizabeth and Eleanor are very close. He had seen how their friendship had blossomed into the strong sisterly bond they had today. He knew they were very protective of each other and he hoped it would go well.

Elizabeth leaned against the wall fanning herself and waiting to hear what James had to say. James was feeling extremely anxious as he began "This promotion throws into sharp relief that which I have not yet achieved. A marriage to a fine woman. Eleanor has become a fine woman. I wish to ask your permission to court Eleanor and later ask her hand in marriage. I asked you of this because you and Eleanor are very close and I thought it prudent to ask your permission."

Lizzie was bursting with joy. She was feeling incredibly happy for James and Ellie. At last after all this time, her two friends would be together. Apparently being breathless and excited was not a good combination. "I can't breathe" came Lizzie's choked reply, clinging to the wall for balance.

James smiled, turned around and nervously replied "Yes, I'm a bit nervous, myself…"

Elizabeth was grasping the wall for dear life. Her hand slipped and so did her balance. She fell over the wall into the ocean below, narrowly avoiding the sharp rocks.

James was alerted to this by Ellie frantically shouting out Elizabeth's name.

"And then they made me their chief…" Captain Jack Sparrow concluded to the slightly spellbound Murtog and Mullroy, the two guards assigned with the duty of guarding the docks. As soon as he concluded, Jack witnessed a splash. He heard the frantic cries of "Elizabeth" up from the fort. The three look on, still in shock. Jack knew she would not last long until help arrived from up the Fort.

"Will you be saving her, then?" Jack asked the two sailors.

"I can't swim'', came Mullory's panicked voice

Jack looked at Murtogg. He shook his head. Jack looked incredulously at the two. These were the men enlisted in the Royal Navy?

"Pearl of the King's Navy, you are!" scowled Jack, handing them his hat, sword belt and coat. "Do not lose these." He climbed onto the railing of the Interceptor and dived in gracefully.

Murtogg and Mullory noticed a slight shockwave spread across the water, noticed the wind dying down and suddenly picking up, the bright and sunny day turning cloudy and menacing.

"What was that?"

Up at the fortress, it was absolute chaos. Ellie and James stood at the edge of the wall, with James removing his coat and preparing to dive in. The frantic cries of the two had alerted the other officers.

"The rocks! Sir, it is a miracle she missed them!"

James saw reason and with a glance at Ellie, everyone took off in a frenzied run. Ellie was panicking! She picked up her skirts, ankles be damned. She hoped they would reach the docks in time to save her but she felt they had a slim chance.

They raced down to the docks with James shouting "Make way" at every twist and turn. A quick glance at the sky told her something was not right. The bright day had turned dark, cloudy and foreboding. The group kept up their pace and reached the docks to see Elizabeth rescued and looking quite alive with a man very familiar looking to Ellie.

Oh no! It can't be…Ellie started panicking even more. He had landed right into quite a predicament. In her haste and panic she missed a step and almost tumbled right into the sea when a strong hand grabbed her by the waist and held her close. She gripped James's arm for dear life. Glancing at her to see if she was fine, James drew his sword on Jack, the other officers following suit.

"On your feet"

This was not how Ellie envisioned seeing Jack again.

AN- I hope you all liked it and I hope I did not mess anything up. Favourites, Follows and Comments are welcome!