Work Text:
It had been humid the whole ceremony, and once it had concluded and the after party started, half, if not all the guests moved to the shadows to make do with the cooler heat. At least the sun wouldn’t be causing heat stroke to those hidden in the shadows.
Upon getting his congratulations and well wishes for his career ahead as a Commodore, James finally made his way over to where he saw Elizabeth and Governor Swann talking to others. Well, Elizabeth more so was trying to fan herself to cool down.
Taking a deep breath, he walked toward her. Admiring her absolute beauty. Hoping that in some way he wouldn’t make a fool of himself for what he would ask her. When she turned to face him he smiled, “May I have a moment?”
At her nod he led her toward the open area near the edge of the fort. He wanted to overlook the sea, admiring the beautiful waves and ocean blue. He took a deep breath, steadying his mind as he turned to look over at Elizabeth, “You look lovely, Elizabeth.”
She smiled, although it looked strained as her hand was on her chest. Mouthing a small, ‘Thank you’ as he turned to look back out at sea. Elizabeth could feel her vision blurring but she tried to focus on whatever James was saying, and at his mention of marriage she looked up, “I can’t breathe.”
“Yes I’m a bit nervous myself.”
Elizabeth saw black, her body falling of the edge of the fort and into the sea with a loud splash, her lungs filling with water.
James turned, noticing the absence of her. He called her, before he looked down, seeing the ripples of the water that was big enough that caused his heart to drop into his gut. “Elizabeth!!” He yelled, immediately moving to take off his coat.
Yet, before he could stop he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned, seeing Lieutenant Gillette. “Sir! The rocks, it’s a miracle she missed them!”
James looked down, before he pushed Gillette aside. “And she will die before we can make it down to port.” He dropped his coat and hat, then removed his belt as he looked down, finding a decent spot he immediately jumped down. Diving into the water.
The water was an honestly refreshing sensation, it was warm by the sun but it at least felt much better than the sweat coating his skin. His eyes opened, looking around the water as he saw Elizabeth and he swam down. Reaching out his right arm he grabbed her waist and pulled her up to him.
Damn her dress! It was heavy with water. He reached down to his knife, managing to cut open a part of her dress as he also cut a tiny bit of their corset. God forbid he hoped Governor Swann wouldn’t be too upset with him.
Once the dress was removed he pulled her up with him, swimming to the surface as he breathed in a deep breath of fresh air. He looked around, then down to Elizabeth as she still wasn’t breathing. “Elizabeth!” He tugged at her dress and the corset, deciding now was not the time to worry about how improper it was.
Soon he heard her cough harshly, vomiting water out of her mouth and just narrowly missing his shoulder. “James…”
“You’re alright,” He moved his hand down to rub her back, attempting to soothe what agony her body might be in. “I apologize for ruining your dress.” He sighed, slowly making their way to the dock where his men and the Interceptor were docked.
He guided Elizabeth up, before he climbed up himself. He heard other footsteps, looking up as he saw Governor Swann.
“Governor!” James started but immediately got cut off.
“Oh! Commodore Norrington, you saved my daughter's life!” Governor Swann immediately removed his own coat and wrapped it around his daughter’s shoulder. “You are forever in my debt, Commodore.”
James just nodded, “There’s no need for that, Governor, I was just doing what I knew what would be best.” His eyes glanced over at Elizabeth, before dismissing his soldiers as they walked away. Offering his arm, James forced a small smile. “Elizabeth, would you like to accompany me?”
“Where?” She questioned, voice still slightly shaky from her ordeal.
“My apologies. To your home, of course.”
Elizabeth nodded, taking his arm as she let him guide the way back to her home.
By the moment they arrived, Governor Swann ordered the maids to get Elizabeth out of her soaked clothes before she got sick, meanwhile he had guided James to the spare bedroom and insisted he got changed into some new clothes and dried up.
Of course, James wouldn’t argue with Governor Swann. Not when he felt the clothes sticking to his body. After getting some spare clothes he got out of his soaked uniform and dried himself off before he put the new clothes on. They were big, but it wasn’t better than being soaked until he got home.
Leaving the bedroom he occupied as he walked down the hallway he looked up, seeing Elizabeth as he smiled softly at her. “Elizabeth.”
She smiled, crossing her arms. “I think you looked better soaked head to toe, James.”
All he could do was blink, a soft blush coming across his features at her admission. “Oh.”
“Would you like to accompany me to the gardens?” She asked, “Thankfully I don’t have a corset on so I shouldn’t be passing out.” She walked toward him, before raising her eyebrow and leading the way downstairs. Pausing on a stair she looked back up at him. “Besides, I do think we need to continue our conversation.”
“Of course.” James followed her, allowing her to lead the way before she sat down on a bench in the gardens where he sat down next to her. Thankfully, the area was shaded enough to provide a comfortable space to finish what he mentioned.
“I cannot deny I’m thankful that you saved my life, James.” Elizabeth started, “I just, quite frankly didn’t expect that you would propose.”
James looked over at her, “It’s my sworn duty to protect you. Even if it was quite dangerous for me to jump after you, thankfully I avoided some rocks that could’ve caused temporary damage to my body.”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened, “Christ! James-“
“I know, Elizabeth. It was reckless. But I didn’t hesitate, not when you had passed out from heat exhaustion.”
“More so my corset was suffocating me because my maids insisted it was entirely tight enough. Apparently, people in London don't know how to breathe.”
James knew he shouldn’t laugh, but he smiled, “I apologize. I don’t mean to laugh.”
“By all means do, I’m quite annoyed with my maids. Who tightens a corset that tight! It’s ridiculous! Never in my life had I felt like breathing was a luxury while I wore a corset!” Elizabeth crossed her arms, shaking her hand. “I swear I will not wear a corset again!”
James laughed, immediately he covered his mouth. “But, as I said. You did look absolutely stunning. Despite the…restrictions it caused you.”
Elizabeth scoffed, “Thank you. Though, now what is this about you proposing to me?”
He looked down, taking a deep breath in and slowly letting it out before turning his attention back to her. He shifted in his seat. “I would like you to marry me Elizabeth. You are a wonderful, and beautiful woman.” He paused, a beat or two passed before he added much more quietly. “But due to today’s events, I would like for you to think about it. I don’t want to rush you due to what happened today.”
Elizabeth nodded, accepting his suggestion, “Alright James.” She soon thought, biting her lip before she reached forward, taking his hand in hers. “Would you like to stay for dinner? I’m sure my father would appreciate you staying, it’s the least we could do, for saving my life.”
James smiled, “I’d love to.”
—
The time when James had to leave after dinner had been long over he kept stealing glances over at Elizabeth. He couldn’t help it, she was beautiful in the loose clothing she wore. No doubt after her ordeal she changed into it to actually breathe.
After saying his goodbyes to Elizabeth and the Governor he finally left, returning back to the fort to retrieve his coat and other things he had dropped earlier in the day to save Elizabeth’s life.
After a few days went by he focused on work, and the one night he returned home he saw a familiar figure sitting on the front steps of his home. “Elizabeth? This is an unexpected surprise.”
She looked up, and immediately stood as she walked over to him. “Hello, James. I’ve been thinking about your proposal. And, I accept.”
James blinked, surprised and shocked as he tilted his head slightly. “You accept my proposal?” He repeated. “You’re serious?”
“Yes!” Elizabeth smiled, “I genuinely mean it, James. After you saved me from drowning, and the past few days you have been on my mind. Quite frankly I had wanted to leave home to come visit you in the fort, but father stopped me and kept asking where I was going so late.”
“So you snuck out today?”
“Of course I did. I didn’t want to wait for you to come by again, leaving you constantly wondering if I’d accept your proposal or not. Besides, father won’t yell at me if I’m with you.”
James smiled, “That’s very true. Though I have no doubt he will yell at you for sneaking out.”
“Not if we don’t tell him I snuck out.”
“Elizabeth!”
“What?! You could say you picked me up.” Elizabeth shrugged. “Anyways, may I stay the night?”
James rolled his eyes, stepping closer, “Alright, because I know I also don’t want to be reprimanded by my future father in law.”
“Oh please. He’d be more ecstatic that I accepted your proposal.” Elizabeth took his arm, gently guiding him back to the front door.