HI! Okay, quick note, thanks to the anonymous reviewers for pointing out my technicality (no I do not hate you) and I really hope I'm not offending anyone when I say for the purpose of the story (since it's consistent throughout the first one) I'm just going to keep the name as is. Sorry, I'm an ignorant American. ^.^

Okay, so please review!

-Han

The Price of Freedom

Annabelle shifted uncomfortably in her brides' maids dress. The pink color clashed slightly with her tanned skin and dark curls, but it wasn't her decision. At the moment, she was unconcerned with the color of anything. At the moment, she was concerned with the fact that the groom had yet to show, and the sky had opened up, and let loose its fury.

Rain pelted her on all sides, but she did not move to stand. Elizabeth was kneeling in the courtyard, her head bowed. Anna crouched beside her, lying what she hoped was a comforting hand on her shoulder. The bouquet was dropped at the sound of heavy footsteps and they two of them ran. Soldiers held back a saddened and confused William Turner. Anna glared daggers at the men, who looked only slightly apologetic.

"Will, why is this happening?" Elizabeth asked her voice breaking. She crouched in front of him.

"I don't know," he said, looking her over from his position. "You look beautiful."

"I think its bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding."

"What is the meaning of this?" Anna spoke up. "I demand you release him at once!"

"Make way!" Governor Swann's voice sounded before anyone had the chance to respond to the princess. "How dare you? Stand your men down at once! Do you hear me?"

"Governor Wetherby Swann, it's been too long," a bored voice said. A short man turned rather dramatically from his spot of gazing out over the Port. His face was pale and smooth and his eyes were cold.

"Cutler Beckett?" Swann asked his eyebrows impossibly high.

"It's Lord now, actually," he replied pompously.

"Did you not hear me?" Anna spoke up again. "I said, release him."

"Ah, Miss Windsor, I believe?" he asked, turning his eyes to her. Her brown hair was falling out of the elegant twist she'd put it in this morning and her cheeks were angrily flushed.

"I take my title as seriously as you do yours. Respect mine," she said tersely.

"I apologize, Princess, I had been told you prefer not to be addressed as such," he said.

"Only by those I care for," she hissed. He blinked and bowed, the soldiers followed.

"As you wish."

"Now release him. You have no authority to arrest him!"

"In fact I do. Mr. Mercer," he called with a hand out. "A warrant for the arrest of one, William Turner." The document was passed to Swann, who unfurled the paper and widened his eyes.

"This warrant is for Elizabeth Swann!"

"Oh is it? That's annoying, my mistake. Arrest her," he said with a flick of his hand. Anna opened her mouth to protest but was cut off by the woman herself.

"On what charges?"

"No!" Will shouted, thrashing against the guards.

"Ah! Here's the one for William Turner. And I have another one here for a James Norrington, is he present?" Beckett asked, skillfully ignoring the two being held by Marines.

"Commodore Norrington resigned his commission some months ago," Swann said, looking up from the scroll.
"I don't believe that's the answer to the question I asked," Beckett readily replied.
"Lord Beckett, in the category of questions not answered..." Will started before Elizabeth finished.

"We are under the jurisdiction of the king's governor of Port Royal and you will tell us what we are charged with."

"The charge...is conspiring to set free a man convicted of crimes against the crown and empire and condemned to death, for which the..." Swann trailed off, his voice loosing its power and assurance.

"For which the punishment, regrettably, is also death," Beckett said with a gleam in his eye. "Perhaps you remember a certain pirate named Jack Sparrow?"

"Captain!" Will, Anna, and Elizabeth hissed in unison.

"Captain Jack Sparrow," Anna growled.

"Yes, I thought you might," he said with a smirk. "And before you say anything, Princess, these are signed by the King, you have no influence."

"So it may seem," she hissed, her stormy eyes narrowing. As Will and Elizabeth were taken away, she turned from the crowd, her eyes on the rough seas. Her fingers twisted the sparrow around her neck and she breathed a worried sigh. "Oh Jack, what do I do?"

.