My First Pirates Fic, it is Norribeth
Title: The Calm Before The Storm
Genre: Romance, Humour, it is rather General
Rating: A very safe PG
Word Count: 1, 288
Pairing: Norribeth
Summary: Norrington and Elizabeth have a scene on the eve of Elizabeth's debut. Pre-CotBP. This fic is set right before Elizabeth looses interest in Norrington or the introduction of Jack Sparrow to Port Royale it is up to you to place it in the timeline. I do not know when debuts took place at the time period Pirates is set in, and I'm not even sure what that is.
Author's Notes: This was supposed to be a much shorter flashback for a longer post-AWE Norribeth fic, but it kinda grew, and so it became its own one-shot (the I mused for awhile about making a series based on scenes that took place on this veranda, but I don't really have the patience to work on two longer fics at the same time, but I do reserve the right to expand). This is my first posted Norribeth, and indeed Pirates fic, so comments on characterisation would be lovely. Also this was not betaed (my betas seemed to have disappeared), so sorry for any stupid mistakes but it should be readable, if it isn't please tell me and I'll give it a more through once over. Sorry for such a long author's note but it is late, and I ramble with little sleep, so yes onto the fic.
At Elizabeth's official debut, her father spared no expense, not even on the wine. There was enough of it to last all of Port Royale for a month, and its quality (and strength) are fantastic. So fantastic in fact, that by everyone's third glass no one was actually aware of the quality of it. It was a party, which ended up being quite legendary in Port Royale society, because the men of Port Royale's society were largely not seen for a day, (and most certainly not the morning after). And the hostess of the party was the only female member of Port Royale's Society to be seen before two days were up.
It was a clear and warm, but luckily not too stifling, night that the party was held, and anyone who could be invited without breaking the most basic rules of society (thus excluding one Will Turner) were invited, including Captain James Norrington. Captain Norrington had always been followed about by Miss Elizabeth when he was a Lieutenant. Now as Miss Elizabeth was becoming Ms. Swann he was becoming enamoured with her (it would only be later and in a very intoxicated state that the ex-Commodore Norrington would realise how ironic it is that they just weren't enamoured with each other at the right time, except for that one night). And so it was that Captain Norrington found himself on a veranda at the Governor's mansion, right outside the debut of Ms. Elizabeth Swann. Still with her old habits of following the Lieutenant about, Elizabeth had followed the Captain to said veranda. He had exited the party that was going on only a couple of metres behind him in an attempt to clear his head, although the moment he stepped outside the drunker he seemed to become. A beautiful, imported drape separated the veranda from the rest of the party and so the definitive sound of rustling silk and heels clicking closer on stone alerted him to Elizabeth’s presence.
"You left my party, should I be offended." Elizabeth said resting herself against the same stone railing which James was most heavily leaning himself against.
He turned from looking out at the well-kept gardens and the sea to look at Elizabeth. She really was beautiful he admitted to himself, she was wearing a large chocolate coloured dress that seemed to make her eyes twinkle wickedly, and the fact that there was two of her was not really helping his quickly growing adoration. He shook his head gently when he realised as lovely (and decidedly dangerous) as it would be having two Elizabeths there actually weren’t.
"Are you alright?" She asked, her teasing grin slipping to concern.
"Your father's taste in wine seemed to have gotten to me."
Elizabeth giggled (which he thought was entirely un-Elizabeth-ish and she should stop such nonsense). "Yes it seems to have gotten to me as well. Although," The wicked smile was back and he steadied himself for an onslaught. "One would expect," And she took a step along the rail closer to where he stood. "A captain in His Majesty's Royal Navy," Another step. "To be considerably," Another step. "More," Another, if he reached out he could touch her now. "Experienced," And she drew out the word so that it was long and sensuous, he was struck by the fact that she was flirting with him. The thought was unsettling. She took one last step and she was nearly leaning on him, "Than a helpless girl like me." She was looking right into his eyes, and was behaving entirely, well entirely unsettling James concluded.
"Oh, Ms. Swann." He said entirely serious, though he was finding very hard to be so composed, and he never had been good at flirting. "I would hardly call you helpless."
Elizabeth attempted to give him a show of offense and horror at such a statement. With her first step away from him, and the railing, however the wine decided to affect her balance, and she was only caught by James at the last instant (and an amount of luck, which she was not aware of, since her twin had decided to reappear). They were left after a few moments of excitement (where Elizabeth was quite pleased to discover just how perfectly his large hand wrapped around the side of her waist, and where James was quite startled to realise he had ended up, well, manhandling the Governor's daughter) in an intimate embrace. Elizabeth was resting herself quite firmly against the Captain, and the Captain was relying quite heavily on the support of the banister against his backside. He was afraid that if he had been standing without support the sheer volume of the girl's dress would have had them in an even more compromising situation (though as the seconds ticked by and neither attempted to extract themselves, such a situation seemed less and less likely).
"You know," she said after several moments of silence, and to be honest contentment, in the arms of Captain Norrington. "I think it would be quite unwise for us to try and extract ourselves from this position."
"Oh would it." James replied, he was shocking himself at how his voice wasn't cracking.
"Yes, most likely one of us would fall over, recieve an injury, and I don't think either of us want to mar my debutante ball with such a memory."
"Of course, that would simply be rude."
"Precisely."
And so it was that Miss Elizabeth Swann found herself quite comfortable resting against Captain James Norrington on the eve of her debutante ball. They found themselves standing there for an indeterminate amount of time (though with the changing music, James would estimate more than half an hour), until a giggling girl and one of James' older superiors came out with quite a ruckus ("Oh, Admiral you naughty, naughty man." "Not as devilish as you child." "Oh-" Giggle, giggle, smack on the arm to the older gentleman with her fan.).
"Oh sorry dear boy." The man said to James. "Didn't realise the spot was taken." And with that the two disappeared back into the party leaving a very slightly sober James looking like a fish out of water, and a very slightly intoxicated Elizabeth having to hide her giggles in James' chest.
The two then left each other's embrace. "I have a feeling my father's wine, is going to be the cause of many such a scene tonight." Elizabeth said when some semblance of composure was attained.
"Do you have any idea who that was?" James asked obviously concerned by the identity of the older man.
"An Admiral apparently."
"Admiral Stone I've had to serve under him, I have never seen him be less true to his name." Elizabeth let out a small laugh at this. "That isn't the worst bit though, his wife, oh his wife is a terror, she'll have his guts for garters." Elizabeth's composure was lost again and was laughing, an arm grasping her side as she doubled over (in which position she realised that the ground still wasn't staying still). "I'm serious Elizabeth."
Elizabeth struggled for a few moments, finally standing straight before responding. "I am sure you are, come dance a set with me and tell me about the terror that is Mrs. Stone." Elizabeth said once again regaining a sense of composure as she reached an arm out for James to take. As the silk drapes once more opened, this time to allow re-entrance to the party, a loud laugh resounded over the music into the otherwise silent night, before the heavy drape enclosed the party only letting the music and general part noises filter out.
A stray wind brought a leaf onto the veranda. A storm was coming.
And remember, you want to comment. You know you do. :D
Genre: Romance, Humour, it is rather General
Rating: A very safe PG
Word Count: 1, 288
Pairing: Norribeth
Summary: Norrington and Elizabeth have a scene on the eve of Elizabeth's debut. Pre-CotBP. This fic is set right before Elizabeth looses interest in Norrington or the introduction of Jack Sparrow to Port Royale it is up to you to place it in the timeline. I do not know when debuts took place at the time period Pirates is set in, and I'm not even sure what that is.
Author's Notes: This was supposed to be a much shorter flashback for a longer post-AWE Norribeth fic, but it kinda grew, and so it became its own one-shot (the I mused for awhile about making a series based on scenes that took place on this veranda, but I don't really have the patience to work on two longer fics at the same time, but I do reserve the right to expand). This is my first posted Norribeth, and indeed Pirates fic, so comments on characterisation would be lovely. Also this was not betaed (my betas seemed to have disappeared), so sorry for any stupid mistakes but it should be readable, if it isn't please tell me and I'll give it a more through once over. Sorry for such a long author's note but it is late, and I ramble with little sleep, so yes onto the fic.
At Elizabeth's official debut, her father spared no expense, not even on the wine. There was enough of it to last all of Port Royale for a month, and its quality (and strength) are fantastic. So fantastic in fact, that by everyone's third glass no one was actually aware of the quality of it. It was a party, which ended up being quite legendary in Port Royale society, because the men of Port Royale's society were largely not seen for a day, (and most certainly not the morning after). And the hostess of the party was the only female member of Port Royale's Society to be seen before two days were up.
It was a clear and warm, but luckily not too stifling, night that the party was held, and anyone who could be invited without breaking the most basic rules of society (thus excluding one Will Turner) were invited, including Captain James Norrington. Captain Norrington had always been followed about by Miss Elizabeth when he was a Lieutenant. Now as Miss Elizabeth was becoming Ms. Swann he was becoming enamoured with her (it would only be later and in a very intoxicated state that the ex-Commodore Norrington would realise how ironic it is that they just weren't enamoured with each other at the right time, except for that one night). And so it was that Captain Norrington found himself on a veranda at the Governor's mansion, right outside the debut of Ms. Elizabeth Swann. Still with her old habits of following the Lieutenant about, Elizabeth had followed the Captain to said veranda. He had exited the party that was going on only a couple of metres behind him in an attempt to clear his head, although the moment he stepped outside the drunker he seemed to become. A beautiful, imported drape separated the veranda from the rest of the party and so the definitive sound of rustling silk and heels clicking closer on stone alerted him to Elizabeth’s presence.
"You left my party, should I be offended." Elizabeth said resting herself against the same stone railing which James was most heavily leaning himself against.
He turned from looking out at the well-kept gardens and the sea to look at Elizabeth. She really was beautiful he admitted to himself, she was wearing a large chocolate coloured dress that seemed to make her eyes twinkle wickedly, and the fact that there was two of her was not really helping his quickly growing adoration. He shook his head gently when he realised as lovely (and decidedly dangerous) as it would be having two Elizabeths there actually weren’t.
"Are you alright?" She asked, her teasing grin slipping to concern.
"Your father's taste in wine seemed to have gotten to me."
Elizabeth giggled (which he thought was entirely un-Elizabeth-ish and she should stop such nonsense). "Yes it seems to have gotten to me as well. Although," The wicked smile was back and he steadied himself for an onslaught. "One would expect," And she took a step along the rail closer to where he stood. "A captain in His Majesty's Royal Navy," Another step. "To be considerably," Another step. "More," Another, if he reached out he could touch her now. "Experienced," And she drew out the word so that it was long and sensuous, he was struck by the fact that she was flirting with him. The thought was unsettling. She took one last step and she was nearly leaning on him, "Than a helpless girl like me." She was looking right into his eyes, and was behaving entirely, well entirely unsettling James concluded.
"Oh, Ms. Swann." He said entirely serious, though he was finding very hard to be so composed, and he never had been good at flirting. "I would hardly call you helpless."
Elizabeth attempted to give him a show of offense and horror at such a statement. With her first step away from him, and the railing, however the wine decided to affect her balance, and she was only caught by James at the last instant (and an amount of luck, which she was not aware of, since her twin had decided to reappear). They were left after a few moments of excitement (where Elizabeth was quite pleased to discover just how perfectly his large hand wrapped around the side of her waist, and where James was quite startled to realise he had ended up, well, manhandling the Governor's daughter) in an intimate embrace. Elizabeth was resting herself quite firmly against the Captain, and the Captain was relying quite heavily on the support of the banister against his backside. He was afraid that if he had been standing without support the sheer volume of the girl's dress would have had them in an even more compromising situation (though as the seconds ticked by and neither attempted to extract themselves, such a situation seemed less and less likely).
"You know," she said after several moments of silence, and to be honest contentment, in the arms of Captain Norrington. "I think it would be quite unwise for us to try and extract ourselves from this position."
"Oh would it." James replied, he was shocking himself at how his voice wasn't cracking.
"Yes, most likely one of us would fall over, recieve an injury, and I don't think either of us want to mar my debutante ball with such a memory."
"Of course, that would simply be rude."
"Precisely."
And so it was that Miss Elizabeth Swann found herself quite comfortable resting against Captain James Norrington on the eve of her debutante ball. They found themselves standing there for an indeterminate amount of time (though with the changing music, James would estimate more than half an hour), until a giggling girl and one of James' older superiors came out with quite a ruckus ("Oh, Admiral you naughty, naughty man." "Not as devilish as you child." "Oh-" Giggle, giggle, smack on the arm to the older gentleman with her fan.).
"Oh sorry dear boy." The man said to James. "Didn't realise the spot was taken." And with that the two disappeared back into the party leaving a very slightly sober James looking like a fish out of water, and a very slightly intoxicated Elizabeth having to hide her giggles in James' chest.
The two then left each other's embrace. "I have a feeling my father's wine, is going to be the cause of many such a scene tonight." Elizabeth said when some semblance of composure was attained.
"Do you have any idea who that was?" James asked obviously concerned by the identity of the older man.
"An Admiral apparently."
"Admiral Stone I've had to serve under him, I have never seen him be less true to his name." Elizabeth let out a small laugh at this. "That isn't the worst bit though, his wife, oh his wife is a terror, she'll have his guts for garters." Elizabeth's composure was lost again and was laughing, an arm grasping her side as she doubled over (in which position she realised that the ground still wasn't staying still). "I'm serious Elizabeth."
Elizabeth struggled for a few moments, finally standing straight before responding. "I am sure you are, come dance a set with me and tell me about the terror that is Mrs. Stone." Elizabeth said once again regaining a sense of composure as she reached an arm out for James to take. As the silk drapes once more opened, this time to allow re-entrance to the party, a loud laugh resounded over the music into the otherwise silent night, before the heavy drape enclosed the party only letting the music and general part noises filter out.
A stray wind brought a leaf onto the veranda. A storm was coming.
And remember, you want to comment. You know you do. :D