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ye-olde-norrington-stan · 5 years ago

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((Another little potc drabble I did a while ago. This takes place the same year Weebee and Lizzy leave England for Port Royal, shortly before they leave. They're taking a holiday in Bath, England, and my OC, Maevie Fielding went along as a companion to Lizzy, and James and my OC Edward Fielding show up. Then a woodle shows up to cause trouble. Have no idea what that is? Read on!!!))

Bath, England

August 10th, 1720.

Maevie Fielding had never seen a place more lovely than Bath. The soft rolling hills, the lush trees, the river curving like a large blue ribbon through the valley. The elegant buildings of honey coloured limestone that stood among the beautiful parks and avenues, where society could stroll, and of course the roman bath for which the city had been named, which waters were said to have curative properties, pillars of stone surrounding the gently steaming, jade coloured waters.

The parks to promenade in were dotted with bandstands, from which music always seemed to be flowing. Down by the river, a broad pavement path followed the curve of the river, and Lizzy's father, Lord Weatherby Swann, had told the girls that it was a favored spot for the height of society to stroll and show off the latest fashions, and of course there were assembly rooms aplenty for socializing.

"And then there's Beau Nash, the master of ceramonies here." Lord Swann had told Lizzy and Maevie upon their arrival. "He meets new arrivals to Bath and judges whether they are fashionable enough to join the select company who have pre-booked tables."

"And you were of course approved when first you came, weren't you, father?" Lizzy grinned.

"You must have been! No one is more fashionable than you, Lord Swann!" Maevie added. There was no doubt in her mind that Lord Swann had been accepted in. She had heard of this Beau Nash before, her brother Edward had once said that their parents had no doubt bribed Master Nash for a place at the tables.

Maevie doubted very much that her mother and father would have been turned away, for they were always dressed in the latest fashions, but the little joke was still amusing all the same.

"Oh of course! Who would turn away a swan for not being fashionable?" Lord Swann chortled.

"Father said Master Nash also matches ladies with appropriate dancing partners at every ball, pays the musicians at such events, brokers marriages, escorts unaccompanied wives, and regulates gambling," Lizzy lifted up her fan and whispered to Maevie from behind it in her lilting little voice, "by restraining compulsive gamblers or warning players against risky games or cardsharps."

The girls were enjoying a picnic by the river, Lord Swann nearby bird watching, though he kept near enough to keep a close eye on his charges. Maevie counted herself very luckily to have been invited on the Swann's holiday, and even more lucky that her parents had allowed her to go. It was a last hurrah before the Swann's left England in a fortnight, bound for Port Royal, Jamaica, where Lord Swann would be Governor Swann.

Maevie envied Lizzy the adventure she would be undertaking, but was excited for her as well, at the same time dreading the day her dearest friend would be leaving.

"Seems not a thing goes on here in which Master Nash is not involved with." Maevie mused.

"I wonder if Port Royal has a master of cereamonies, and if it shall be as lovely there as it is here, if there shall be anything as fun to do?" Lizzy wondered, leaning to rest her head against Maevie's shoulder. "It shall be dreadfully hot there, and no doubt terribly dull without you to sing to me, or tell me stories. I so wish you were coming, Maeves!" Lizzy lamented.

Lord Swann had asked Maevie's parents to allow Maevie to go along as a companion to Lizzy, assuring them he would care for Maevie as if she were his own daughter, but they had merely replied that they would think on it.

"Oh me too, Lizzy! There's a silver lining at least, they are thinking about it, and perhaps if I cannot leave with you, I may be permitted to join you later." Maevie told her friend.

"And if they should say no, I shall send for you in Nassau once we've sent the Spanish running, take guardianship of you, and send you to Port Royal to be with Lizzy!" A familiar voice said from behind them. The girls turned to see Edward Fielding and James Norrington striding towards them.

"Edward! James!" Maevie cried happily as she leapt up and rushed to her brother and his best friend, hugging first Edward and then James, both young men hugging her back tightly. "What a wonderful surprise!!! I didn't know you two would be on leave!"

"We wanted to surprise you!" Edward grinned. "And we've some news. Tell her, Jamie." Edward encouraged, swatting at his taller companion's shoulder.

"It's Lieutenant Fielding and Lieutenant Norrington now." James grinned, swatting Edward back.

"What?! That's wonderful news!" Maevie beamed. "Congratulations, Lieutenants!!" She remarked grandly, hugging them both again.

"How perfectly splendid! Congratulations, Lieutenants." Lizzy remarked as she joined them. "Well deserved promotions."

"Thank you, Miss Swann." Both young men smiled, tipping their hats to the little lady.

"And did you say Nassau??" Maevie asked Edward curiously. "That is where you're off to next?"

"Indeed. And James shall be..." Edward looked to James, raising his brows in a gesture for him to tell the news.

"I shall be off to Port Royal with Governor Swann and Miss Swann, if you'll have me as an escort, of course." He said politely to Lizzy, as if such great matters were hers to control!

"I suppose I shall allow it." Lizzy snickered.

"What's this I hear? Two new Lieutenants?" Came Lord Swann's jovial inquiry, and soon he was clapping both young men upon the back as he joined them. "Well done, well done indeed, to the both of you! And you're to join us in Port Royal, Lieutenant Norrington?"

"Yes, Governor Swann, thank you for your congradulations." James smiled proudly.

"Splendid! We shall be very glad to have you, and Nassau shall be lucky to have you, Lieutenant Fielding! This is cause for celebration! And a toast! Come come!" Weatherby exclaimed as he ushered them all toward the picnic, like a father swan leading his little cygnets.

Maevie was so very proud of Edward and James, and happy for them, but those feelings were twinged with a little sadness and worry, for they would be so very far away, and in danger. She was used to them being away at sea, that was nothing new, but they had never been quite so far before. As for danger, she was used to them being in that as well, for they had seen battle, always made it through, but she couldn't help but worry, for she cared so deeply for them.

A bit of jealousy crept in as well, that Lizzy and James would be going to Port Royal, and Maevie knew not if she would be joining them. What if her mother and father said no? And then said Edward couldn't send for her once things were safer in Nassau? She tried not to dwell over much on her unsettled feelings, focused instead on excitement she felt for those dearest to her.

"However did you two get past Master Nash?" Lizzy remarked cheekily to Edward a little while later, teasing but not unkind as they strolled along the river promenade, James walking aways back with Lord Swann.

"Are you suggesting, Miss Swann, that we are unfashionable?" Edward gasped. "And we got past him by way of diversion, of course. Released some doves and made a run for it."

"No!" Lizzy giggled.

"You're right, we didn't run. We took hold of the doves and flew right over him. Do tell me if you spot him so that I may have adequate time to conceal myself." Edward whispered loudly.

"Oh no! There he is!" Maevie pointed, Lizzy and her laughing as Edward dove behind a tree, the young man peering out cautiously after a few moments.

"Is it safe?" Edward called in a harsh whisper.

"Not at all!" Lizzy called back.

Edward crept comically to the next tree to conceal himself, like a high stepping villian sneaking about in a play. He placed his tricorn upon a stick and leaned it out, only to quickly draw it back, then slowly peered out before diving and rolling to the next tree.

"Master Nash will definitely throw you out if he finds you now! Look at the state of your coat!" Lizzy taunted.

"Positively dreadful!" Maevie agreed.

"Is it really that bad?" Edward asked as he stepped out, brushing himself off.

"Quite bad. You look a dreadful sight. A terrible ragamuffin." Lizzy teased as she twirled her parasol.

"A ragamuffin woodle." Edward replied as he looked around for some branches.

"-What- is a woodle?" Lizzy demanded, stopping the twirl of her parasol.

"Oh dear. Miss Swann, you mean to tell me you do not know what a woodle is? Best tell her, Maeverly." Edward suggested as he inspected different sticks.

"It's a terrible beast with branch like horns that eats parasols." Maevie whispered worriedly to Lizzy.

"No! Such a beast would not dare to come here!" Lizzy gasped back.

"They're very crafty, they can conceal themselves among trees." Maevie told her friend, before she went still and looked around wildly, quite one for theatrics, given the chance. "I think I hear one!"

"Wooooodle! Woodle wooooodle." Finding some sticks to his liking, Edward stuck them in his hat and stalked around a tree, shaking the branches. "WoooOoooooodle!"

"Our only hope is to run!" Lizzy cried, grabbing Maevie's hand and running back to hide behind her father and James.

"Lizzy, Maevie! What on earth??" Lord Swann laughed, twirling to look at them.

"It's a woodle, father!!!" Lizzy cried.

"He wants to eat our parasols!" Maevie exclaimed.

"Honestly, Edward. You're far too old for such things, and you look ridiculous." James chided as Edward drew near with his branch horns, brandishing a stick as well, which he used to slowly poke James in the arm, the taller man pushing it away.

"That is something someone who cannot fight woodles would say." Edward taunted in a croakey toad voice.

"Oooooooooooo!" Maevie and Lizzy exclaimed as they looked to James, their expressions speaking volumes: Are you going take that from a woodle, James Norrington?!

"A challenge if even I heard one!" Weatherby remarked solemly. "Good heavens, whatever shall we do?!" He lamented, indulging the girls and their silly game.

James gave a long suffering sigh and held out a hand. "Your parasol, if you'd be so kind, Miss Fielding."

Maevie handed over her parasol with much ceremony. "Your weapon, sir." She remarked gravely.

"Godspeed, Lieutenant. That looks to be a most crafty beast." Weatherby warned.

"Do not dismay, I can handle this...What was it? Woozle?" James drawled, folding the parasol down.

"Woodle!" Edward snarled comically, advancing with a swipe of his mighty branch blade. James parried, and the battle was on! Long and fierce it was, until the fearsome woodle was defeated with a piece through the heart (under the arm), the terrible creature giving a haunting death rattle before it fell down dead, James emerging the victor.

"Well done! You certainly showed that beast what for!" Weatherby chuckled, giving a little clap.

"Our hero!" Maevie cheered.

"That was certainly exciting! I should like to see a real battle someday!" Lizzy announced.

"Oh Elizabeth, do not say such things! Such games are one thing, but a true battle...Why that is another thing entirely! One you should never wish to see." Weatherby admonished gently.

"Quite right, Govenor Swann. I assure you, Miss Swann, it is nothing you'd want to see." James warned. "Nor something you should see."

Maevie, having had a similar talk from Edward and James before, said nothing and took her parasol from James when he handed it back to her.

"They're right. The stories we tell of the times we've seen battle may seem thrilling, but the thought of you two being near enough to see one...That is not a pleasant thought at all." Edward added to the conversation as James helped him up.

"There now, you see? Put such thoughts out of your mind." Weatherby gave Lizzy a tender look and her shoulder a pat.

"Oh very well." Lizzy sighed, clearly not agreeing with them, but she did not argue on the matter.

Weatherby gave a pleased little nod, before he looked to Edward and James. "You two shall join us for supper, won't you? The more the merrier!"

"Of course, Govenor Swann. Thank you." James inclined his head gratefully.

"I'm not one to turn down a supper invitation, especially one with such fine company. I'd be happy to join you, thank you." Edward smiled.

"Wonderful! You both must come and see the lovely estate we've let. I shall give you a tour, and then perhaps some parlour games?" Weatherby asked hopefully.

"We'd be delighted, Govenor Swann." Edward smiled.

"It sounds a lovely way to spend the afternoon, Govenor Swann." James nodded.

"Quite so! Come along." Weatherby beamed, offering Lizzy his arm and leading the way.

"You heard him, come along woodle and woodle smiter." Maevie grinned, handing Edward her parasol so she could link arms with the both him and James.

"Hah, I got the parasol in the end." Edward smirked, opening it and twirling it over his shoulder.

"Hush, you're supposed to be smited." James shuushed.

"I've recovered. That was subpar smitage." Edward teased.

"*hmmph*That's not even a word." James drawled.

"I'm going to miss you both so much." Maevie sighed, squeezing their arms gently.

"Oh chin up, Maevie. Surely your parents will allow you to accompany the Swann's to Port Royal, and Edward won't be too terribly far away." James comforted.

"I certainly hope so! It is my dearest wish to go. Well, second dearest." Maevie confessed.

"What's the first?" Edward asked innocently, as if he didn't know it was that Maevie wanted to marry James.

"That no harm befalls either of you out there on the seas." Maevie told them. It wasn't a lie, for it certainly was tied with her dearest wish. Eddie didn't argue her answer. "You're always in my prayers."

"As you are in ours." James told her fondly.

"If something horrid were to befall me, would you take care of me, Maeverly? What if I came back with a peg leg and glass eye?" Edward asked with wide eyes, Maevie looking uttetly distraught by the notion.

"Would be a vast improvement to your current visage." James remarked dryly. "And would serve you right for scaring Maevie with such talk."

"Heaven forbid! But of course I would take care of you, Eddie. And you, James, if anything ever happened to you." Maevie promised.

"That's very kind Maevie, but try not to worry about us. There's dangers yes, so do continue saying your prayers for us, but don't dwell overmuch on it." James told her.

"I shall try not to, James." Maevie promised.

"Good good. Have you learnt any new songs since last we saw you?" James asked, steering the conversation to happier things, for which Maevie was grateful.

"A few, yes." Maevie smiled.

"Let's hear one, then!" Edward encouraged, and Maevie happily sang to them as they made their way to the holiday house.

#potc fanfic #elizabeth swann #weatherby swann #james norrington #original characters #my writing #maevis fielding #edward fielding #potc

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