In the Hands of Fate II: Dead Man's Chest

Chapter Three

Me? A goddess? Impossible.

'You 'ave always 'ad a touch of destiny about tou, Luna,' Tia's voice says in my head yet again as one of Elizabeth's maids shove me into a corset.

As much as Elizabeth and I both argued, Governor Swann insisted that we wear them. I did manage to win him over with my magic but it turned out the dresses wouldn't fit without them.

The dress I was wearing was a pastel green color that complimented the creamy yellowish beige of Elizabeth's wedding gown.

Right as Elizabeth and I arrived at the ceremony it began to pour. Pitiable Elizabeth lost herself to tears as the guests began to leave for cover. I stayed out in the rain with the bride.

"Don't worry, Elizabeth," I murmured as I rubbed her back, "It rains on most wedding days."

Neither one of us spoke the true reason for her sobbing, which of course almost brought me to tears. Will had never arrived.

The sound of solders marching pulled our attention to Will as he was being brought in irons.

"Will!" Elizabeth said as she ran to him. "Why is this happening?"

"I don't know," he answered honestly. "You look beautiful."

The bride looked up from her ministrations with Will's coat and half smiled. "I think it's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding."

"Make way! Let me through!" Governor Swann called out as he pushed through the crowd. "Stand your men down at once. Do you hear me?"

The man in the powdered wig that which the governor was addressing turned around and his second-in-charge took his coat. "Governor Weatherby Swann, it's been too long."

For some reason, other than the fact that he had Will arrested, this man sent chills down my spine.

"Cutler Beckett?"

My eyes widened at the name. He was the man who branded Jack and nearly killed me. And the man who caused me to become captain of the Gypsy Curse.

"It's Lord now, actually."

The men blocking the governor's path raised their weapons and allowed him to step forward. "Lord or not, you have no reason and no authority to arrest this man."

"In fact, I do," Beckett said smugly. "Mr. Mercer?"

The man who stepped forward just oozed danger. He was the second in command, not the other guy. Mr. Mercer held out a leather case full of parchment.

"The warrant for the arrest of one William Turner," Beckett said as he took a paper and handed it to the governor.

He, in turn, looked at the paper, to the three of us, to Beckett, and finally back to the paper. "This warrant is for Elizabeth Swann."

"Oh, is it? That's annoying. My mistake. Arrest her." He looked back to the case and handed the governor another paper. "Here's one for a Luna Church. Arrest her as well."

My eyes squinted at the use of my married name.

"On what charges?" Elizabeth and I asked together as we were shackled.

"And.. ah ha! Here's the one for William Turner." Beckett handed that one off to Governor Swann as well. "And I have another one for a Mr. James Norrington." He stepped forward and waved the last warrant in the air. "Is he present?"

"What are the charges?" I asked again, more forcefully.

"Commodore Norrington resigned his commission some months ago," the governor answered.