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Young Elizabeth Swann stood at the bow of the HMS Daun tless , one hand resting on the rail as she sang an old pirate shanty. The Dauntless was one of the strongest ships in the Royal Navy. The ship was agile and fast and, for those reasons, she had been commandeered to carry Elizabeth and her father to Port Royal, where Elizabeth's father was governor.
The sailing had been smooth and clear for most of the journey. But now, a thick fog blanketed the unusually calm sea, obscuring the Dauntless 's bowsprit and masts. As the wind whipped Elizabeth's light brown hair around her fair face, she continued to sing her shanty. She was unbothered, perhaps even entranced, by the eerie calm of the Caribbean Sea.
Suddenly, a hand clamped down on her shoulder. Startled, she quickly turned and found herself face-to-face with a member of the crew—one Mr. Joshamee Gibbs. He was an older man whose appearance seemed like a record of all the places he'd sailed to and the things he'd done and seen. His face was wrinkled and weather worn and his hair was as gray as a stormy sea. As he leaned close to Elizabeth, she could smell the strong scent of the sea on his skin and clothes. "Quiet, missy!" he snarled. Then lowering his own voice, he added, "Cursed pirates sail these waters. You want to call 'em down on us?"
Elizabeth opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, a commanding voice called out. "Mr. Gibbs. That will do."
Striding over to Elizabeth and Mr. Gibbs, Lieutenant Norrington came to a stop and glared down at the older seaman. Outfitted in the uniform of the Royal Navy with a wig of shocking white hair below his hat, Norrington cut a striking figure. He had been ordered to accompany Governor Swann and his daughter to Port Royal. And to Norrington, that duty included keeping old, superstitious sailors away from his young charge.
Following close behind Norrington was Governor Weatherby Swann—Elizabeth's father. He wore the white, curly wig of a political figure and while he looked uneasy aboard the swaying ship, he still carried himself as befitted his high status. But, the presence of neither Norrington nor the governor was enough to stop Gibbs from speaking his mind.
"She was singing about pirates," he argued. "Bad luck to sing about pirates, with us mired in this unnatural fog—mark my words."
"Consider them marked," Norrington responded in his clipped British accent. "Now, on your way." He continued to glare at Gibbs, waiting for the sailor to leave.
Finally, Gibbs shrugged and turned to go, but not before muttering, "Bad luck to have a woman onboard. Even a miniature one."
Elizabeth didn't seem to notice the remark. Her mind was still reeling from what Gibbs had said earlier. Cursed pirates roamed these waters!
"I think it would be rather exciting to meet a pirate," she said dreamily.
"Think again, Miss Swann," Norrington replied pointedly. "Vile and dissolute creatures, the lot of them."
From his spot beside the lieutenant, Governor Swann sighed. How was Elizabeth to be a proper member of Port Royal society if she remained obsessed with pirates and legends of the sea? "Elizabeth," he said, "wouldn't it be wonderful if we comport ourselves as befits our class and station?"
"Yes, Father," she replied dutifully. But as she turned back to gaze over the bow's rail and out to sea, she added, "But I still think it would be exciting to meet a pirate… "
Her voice broke off as she imagined what it would be like. Would he be kind? Most undoubtedly not. In all likelihood, he would be mysterious, and threatening, and…
Suddenly, Elizabeth was distracted by a movement through the fog. Something appeared to be floating out on the water. The shadow was faint and seemed to sway back and forth along the top of the waves—almost as if it were dancing on the swells. Slowly, it came closer. Elizabeth noticed a spot of color, and as it finally broke free of the mist, she gasped. It was a parasol ! Elizabeth watched as it slowly came closer and closer, drifting toward the Dauntless before gently bumping into the hull.
Elizabeth could not believe her eyes. A parasol in the middle of the sea? It just did not seem right. As she gazed down at the fragile item, another, much larger, item floated into view. It looked like something heavy and lifeless lying on top of a large piece of flotsam. Elizabeth leaned over the rail and squinted to get a closer look. Then she realized just what it was.
"Look!" she cried. "There's a boy in the water!"
Elizabeth's cries brought Norrington, her father, and most of the crew running to the rail. Murmurs and shouts rose up as they caught sight of the boy lying on his back on a small piece of wreckage. "Fetch a hook—haul him out of there," Norrington ordered.
The sailors, who had been looking overboard, leaped into action. Swinging one of the Dauntless 's hooks out over the rail, they lowered it down and quickly hauled the unconscious boy aboard. When he was safely on deck, Norrington leaned over to examine him. "He's still breathing," the captain declared.
"Where did he come from?" Governor Swann asked.
A gasp from Gibbs prevented Norrington from responding. "Mother of all that's holy… " Gibbs muttered, staring into the fog.
All hands on deck, including young Elizabeth, turned and followed Gibbs's gaze out to the sea. It was no longer empty. Where moments before there had been nothing but rolling waves and endless fog, a burning hull now floated. As the Dauntless sailed past, they could make out the remains of the ship's cargo. Broken crates, splintered wood, and wardrobes' worth of clothing littered the waves.
Gibbs spoke up again, his mind still on Elizabeth's ill-timed song. "Everyone's thinking it! Pirates!"
Norrington shot Gibbs a stern glare. Then, Norrington ordered the crew to search for survivors. If the boy had made it, there was a chance others had as well. While the sailors rushed about, Governor Swann stepped away from the rail and made his way to Elizabeth's side. His daughter was kneeling beside the boy, a concerned look creasing her brow.
"Elizabeth, the boy is in your charge now. You'll watch over him?" Governor Swann asked.
Elizabeth nodded and returned her attention to the boy. Since they had pulled him onto the Dauntless , he had not moved. His breathing was shallow and his skin pale and waterlogged. But it was the look in his eyes when they fluttered open that was the most haunting. He seemed so sad and lost. She brushed a lock of brown hair from his forehead, desperate to find out what had happened.
"My name is Elizabeth Swann," she said, placing his hand in hers.
With a cough, the boy tried to speak, and finally he managed. "Will Turner."
Will slipped back into unconsciousness, but before he did, his body shifted in such a way that the collar of his shirt opened. There, attached to a chain and resting on his bare neck, was a gold medallion. Curious, Elizabeth tugged it free. What she saw made her eyes grow wide. Staring back at her, engraved on the face of the Medallion, was a skull. Elizabeth came to a quick conclusion. Will must be a pirate!
Hastily, Elizabeth hid the Medallion under her coat. She couldn't let the lieutenant and her father see it. If they did, Will's life would most certainly be in danger.
Norrington then appeared at her side again. "Did he speak?"
"His name is Will Turner," Elizabeth replied. "That's all I found out."
Nodding in approval, Norrington moved on and Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief. When she was sure that the lieutenant was not coming back, Elizabeth pulled the Medallion out of her coat. But before she could take a closer look, she caught movement out of the corner of her eye. Looking up, she nearly gasped. There, moving silently through the thick fog, was a tall ship with black sails. At the top of its highest mast flew a flag—a flag that had the same skull as on the Medallion. A pirate ship!
Then, as silently as it had appeared, the ship slipped quickly back into the fog. On the deck of the Dauntless , Elizabeth watched until all she could see was the black-and-white flag billowing in the wind.