Narcissa Barbossa: At World's End

The Journey Back

When Elizabeth had at least fallen asleep Narcissa returned above deck. Walking to the railing as had become a habit when she was thinking Narcissa recalled how she first came to be part of the Swann family.

*Flashback*

Orphanages were not pleasant places. Narcissa had come to this conclusion upon being taken to the slightly dreary if reasonably well kept building. Back home she had spent most of her time either with her mother or the few other children of the barmaids in Port Raphael. Even when not around other children she had never felt lonely.

Here she was surrounded by her peers and felt more alone than ever. The orphanage had a variety of little social groups formed by the girls but Narcissa never seemed to fit in with any of them. She knew that since she came from a town known to be somewhat friendly with pirates many of the girls suspected what her father did for a living. Even though she had kept silent about her parentage nobody wanted to be friends with anyone even POSSIBLY related to a pirate.

The ringleader of the meaner girls was Victoria Williams a pretty brunette of around 10 With her dark hair an fair skin Narcissa thought she looked a bit like an angry china doll. Victoria always picked on those she considered lesser. She'd at first tried to go after Narcissa only to to find that the red head was more than willing to give as good as she got when it came to verbal lashings.

So Victoria had taken to making sure all the other girls avoided Narcissa. Todays target was Myrtle a mousy little girl with a lame leg. Victoria and her cronies were crowded around the poor girl.

"What a pathetic little cripple. No wonder your parents didn't want you," scoffed Victoria. Narcissa stepped forward as Myrtle cowered.

"That's rich considering with an attitude like your's any parent would abandon you as soon as possible."

"Oh like the pirate's daughter can talk," snapped Victoria she pushed Myrtle who stumbled back on her bad leg.

"Leave her alone and pick on someone your own size," growled Narcissa.

"Or what?" sneered Victoria. She made to shove Myrtle when Narcissa slammed into her. Victoria pulled Narcissa's hair and they were soon fighting. It came to an end when two of the nuns who ran the orphanage wrested the two apart. Victoria had a black eye and Narcissa sported a bleeding lip.

"Shame on you girls!" said Sister Margaret. "You'll both be getting the cane and in front of Mr. Swann too boot!" Narcissa looked up and saw a well dressed man in a long curled wig.

"I apologize sir."

"I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation."

"Oh sir it was that horrid Narcissa. She attacked me with no cause!" simpered Victoria. To Narcissa's surprise the man who she supposed was Mr. Swann gave Victoria a skeptical look.

"On the contrary. It appeared like she had great cause if the way you were treating this little girl was an indication. Lying is a sin young lady." Victoria flushed. He turned his gaze to Narcissa who stared back.

"I'd like a word with this one," he said. Narcissa wasn't entirely sure what the man wanted but followed Sister Margaret and Mr. Swann back to the mother superior's office. Mr. Swann spoke with the nuns outside the office for a few minutes before coming back in. Now Narcissa was seated in a stiff wooden chair and left alone with Mr. Swann.

The older man pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to Narcissa.

"For your lip," he said.

"Thank you sir," she said holding the expensive cloth to her bleeding lip.

"Why did you defend little girl? Surely you knew you would get in trouble for fighting?" he asked.

"Myrtle didn't deserve to be treated like that. If I take a caning for stopping Victoria from hurting another girl then it's worth it. Myrtle is all alone. More so then even me."