Siren Song: Curse of the Black Pearl

Prologue

(I don't own Pirates of the Caribbean or the plot, just Roxanne and Victoria)

Elizabeth Swann looked over the edge of the ship's railing, her mousy brown eyes staring out into the nothing. Her blonde curls had been pulled back neatly, and the pretty blue-gray dress she'd chosen today seemed to reflect on the all around atmosphere of the world.

The Caribbean sky was dark and gloomy, the thick fog surrounding them doing nothing to relieve the tension on the ship. But Elizabeth, despite the warnings from her father to not wander far on the ship, had always been a curious and imaginative child, and paid no heed to her father's and some of the ship member's warnings.

She did not care for the tales of superstitious sailors, though the fantastical stories they spun of pirates certainly did nothing to put out her day dreaming of epic battles and lost treasures. Of freedom on the high seas with no laws to be bound by.

"Yo, ho, yo, ho, a pirate's life for me
Yo, ho, yo, ho, it's a pirate's life
For me..."

Elizabeth swayed in time with the ship as she softly sang, staring out in the abyss, her mind worlds away.

"...Drink up me hearties, yo, ho..."

Suddenly, she felt a hand grip her shoulder, causing her to jump and whirl around to see the old worn face of one Joshamee Gibbs.

"Quiet, missy! Cursed pirates sail these waters. You want to call 'em down on us?" He warned, and Elizabeth stared at him wide-eyed.

"Mr. Gibbs." They looked to the source of the voice. Approaching them with a stern expression on his face is Captain James Norrington, a handsome young man with brown curled hair. Beside him, the newly appointed Governor of Port Royal, Weatherby Swann, young Elizabeth's father.

"That will do." Captain Norrington chastised, and Gibbs frowned.

"She was singing about pirates. Bad luck to sing about pirates, with us mired in this unnatural fog, mark my words." He warned, and Captain Norrington gave him a dismissive smile.

"Consider them marked. On your way."

"'Aye, sir." Gibbs grumbled, skulking off. "Bad luck to have a woman on board, too. Even a mini'ture one." He continued under his breath, and returned to his deck-swabbing duties, but not before taking a surreptitiously quick swig from flask.

"I think it would be rather exciting to meet a pirate." Elizabeth mused thoughtfully, not seeming to notice the weary look on her father's face.

"Think again, Miss Swan Vile and dissolute creatures, the lot of them. I intend to see to it that any man who sails under a pirate flag, or wears a pirate's brand, gets what he deserves: a short drop and a sudden stop." Norrington growled, looking out into the fog. Elizabeth doesn't know what a 'short drop and a sudden stop' means, and as she glanced at Gibbs, he helpfully mimed out a man being hung, and she took a sharp intake of breath.

"Captain Norrington..." Her father interrupted. "I appreciate your fervor, but I am concerned about the effect this subject will have on my daughter."

"My apologies, Governor." Captain Norrington apologized hurriedly, and walked off to do other Captain things... Elizabeth looked up to her father, frowning

"Actually, I find it all quite fascinating." She said, and he sighed deeply.

"And that's what concerns me. Elizabeth dear, we will be landing in Port Royal very soon, and beginning our new lives. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we comport ourselves as befits our class and station?" Her father said in a familiar chastising tone, and she pouted.