Norribeth Marriage AU
Title: Stages of a Marriage
Chapter: 1/7
Author: Naja_Nivea
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Norrington, Elizabeth
Pairing: Elizabeth/Norrington,
Genre: Romance/Angst
Warning: AU for the second and third movie. Some mention of sexual situations but nothing graphic.
Status: WIP
Word Count: 1750 ish
Beta: None
Disclaimer: I do not own anyone you have heard of.
Summary: A series based on the premise that the two married, almost entirely from Elizabeth’s point of view.
Acceptance
Elizabeth, after much goading from her father, agreed to marry the Commodore after all. Will had fled to the sea with Jack and the Black Pearl and she had no better prospects. She hadn’t realized that her father had had to persuade James to take her back as well. Much more than his pride had been wounded that day at the fort.
They spoke little during their engagement and he was away often. She wondered what had happened to the James she had known when she was younger, the one the sometimes smiled and told her stories. The one that gave her books about sailing and introduced her to whiskey. He did promise her though, that if she ever wanted to leave, he would do nothing to stop her. He promised he wouldn’t even say a word to dissuade her. She clung to that because it was a way out.
There engagement party was held on the Dauntless. Her father had hated the idea at first, which only made her like it more. She loved her father but she blamed this entire thing on him. They sailed around the bay and she saw the first signs of James rather than the Commodore that she had seen in a long time. The sun and sea did something for him that no society party or polite cotillion could. It made him come alive. She joined him at the leeward rail of the quarterdeck. He seemed disinclined to mingle with his guests. It didn’t surprise her; he always seemed disinclined to mingle with the polite society of Port Royal. Many thought him stern, proud, or even snobbish; she had learned over the years that he was really just somewhat shy around those he didn’t know well.
“Miss Swann,” he greeted her, not moving his eyes from some distant point.
“Commodore,” she answered. She didn’t miss his wince at the use of his title. She wondered if he hated this forced formality as much as she did. They had known each other for over eight years and there had been a time, not so long ago, when she would have done anything to be his wife. That was of course before she learned what real passion and real love were. Two things she didn’t think the commodore was capable of unless it involved his ships and battle. She began to stutter something about the weather or the tide, when he interrupted her.
“Will you be honest with me, Miss Swann?” She was surprised.
“Yes,” she answered startled.
“Will you be happy?” He still didn’t look at her.
“Yes.” She had already broken her word to him.
The next day Mr. Gillette, James’s adjutant, came to call on her at home. It surprised her because the two had never gotten on well with each other, even before the whole mermaid thing. Even if James could forgive her that dishonesty, Mr. Gillette could not. She almost turned him away but curiosity won out. She entertained him in the garden and he refused to sit.
“I will be plain, Miss Swann, are you marrying him because you wish to or because you have to?”
“You think there is a reason I would have to marry?”
“Your father made you wait long enough to clearly prove you are not with child, but you are sullied and therefore not nearly as desirable as you once were.” He was as venomous as ever to her and she answered in kind.
“I’m sorry you are jealous that the Commodore has found someone else to pay attention to, but you are going to have to get used to the fact that you are no longer the most important person in his life.”
“That has nothing to do with it,” he sighed, “Miss Swann, please don’t hurt him again.” He looked her dead in the eyes as he told her.
“As if I could.” She shot back haughtily not even considering what the man had said. He left without taking leave of her father.
The wedding was a grand affair, even though neither the bride nor groom wished it. They were married at the fort because James refused to set foot inside of the church and Elizabeth’s father refused to have it on the beach. He smiled at her as she walked down the isle. His smile faded, when she called him Commodore in her vows. Mr. Gillette was the best man and he and Elizabeth shot nasty looks at each other over James’s shoulder through the entire day. There was much congratulating, much food that neither of them touched, much wine that they both touched, and a great deal of nervousness. She both dreaded and anticipated going to her new home. James kept a smallish house on a hill just outside of the city proper. It was really too small for one of his status but it had a private cove, beach, waterfall, and view of the harbour and his beloved navy ships. She had been there many times before and approved whole heartedly of it, even if it was not the mansion beside her father’s that she had always envisioned living in. She realized long ago that James would be miserable that far away from the water but Will would have loved it.
It was dark by the time they arrived and he stopped her at the threshold. “Tradition,” he had said as he picked her up as if she weighed nothing and carried her in. She felt like a child and a woman all at the same time. He showed her to her room, at the top of the stairs to the right. It was large, airy and the balcony over looked the garden. His was down the hall and was smaller but overlooked the sea. Her maid was already there, ready to help her undress. It felt wonderful to take off the hot and heavy gown she had suffered through all day. She ignored Estrella’s chatter and concentrated on staying calm. This would have been so much better with Will but James was a fine man and probably experienced.
She wondered if he would come to her or if she should go to him. She worried her lip until she felt like exploding then jumped up and stormed into his room. How dare he make her wait? He wasn’t there. She searched the house in her shift until she found him in his office, going over logistic reports. She barged in, all nervousness forgotten in the face of his nerve. “What are you doing?”
“Finishing up some reports,” he answered as if it was the most natural thing in the world. He had divested himself of his coat, hat, wig, and cravat. The flickering candle light made his eyes look so very green that she could look at nothing else for a moment and swallowed involuntarily.
“On our wedding night?”
“I figured you were tired.”
“Tired of waiting for you.”
“Oh.” He looked down and ran his quill through his fingers. They were long and elegant; she had always liked his hands.
She was confused. Did he not find her attractive? Had he only married her because she was the governor’s daughter? Did he think her sullied as Mr. Gillette had said? She began to grow angry. She would have him tonight regardless of what he wanted and regardless of the fact that she had been partially dreading it. “Do you not want me?”
“Of course I do. It’s just.” He trailed off, more uncertain than she had ever seen him.
“I’m your wife now. I belong to you. It is your right.”
“You don’t belong to me. I keep no slaves and I am no pirate. I will not take that which is not freely given.” If only he were a pirate, she would be happier, a pirate with wide cheek bones and brown eyes.
“You can not take what already belongs to you.” She pointed out, unwilling to feel touched by his reticence to do anything she didn’t wish. He had always done his best to make her feel comfortable and up until recently, she always had.
“Elizabeth,” he began, tasting the name like a fine wine, “we are married but we are on decidedly uneven footing. I maybe the husband but you are the one that holds the reigns.” He kissed her on the forehead and walked away.
She caught him before he reached the door. “You are taking nothing, Commodore, it is freely given.” She was so focused on her goal she missed the stiffening of his shoulders. She stood on her toes and kissed him. She would win. He allowed the kiss then turned away. “Wait!” She commanded and turned his face back to her, capturing his mouth. It took longer than she thought it would, but he responded. “James, my James,” she murmured to him and something changed. He swept her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs. She no longer felt like a child.
The next morning she woke late, feeling more relaxed than she ever had before. He had done thing with his mouth she hadn’t even dreamed were possible. The pain she had dreaded had been negligible and completely forgotten in the wake of the pleasure. The only complaint she had had was that it would have been better with Will.
Two days later she wandered absently about his, or rather their house. It was not as large as her father’s but she swore just as many people had come to visit. The amount of well wishers and advice givers had been staggering. She had actually laughed at one older woman and her spinster daughter, when she had warned that she must grin and bear being taken into his bed and she could always feign a headache. They had both been quite scandalized when she pointed out that she didn’t want to let him out of bed.
That night James came home from the fort and taught her to play chess. The next night she taught him strip chess. She lied in bed later at night, her head cradled on his shoulder and their legs intertwined. She found that things could always be worse and she could accept her situation even if it would be better with Will.