VERY IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTES:

I think I should make it clear to you, readers, that this fic WILL NOT feature plot lines from Dead Man's Chest or At Worlds End. For a complete explanation, please see my profile. In fact, go do it now before you read.

Now, also, for those that don't know, several years ago I wrote a poorly penned second-person PotC fic under the pseudonym IceCubesJunkie. Unfortunately, I forgot my password and decided I'd just get a new account. So, I've decided that I'd take a second stab at writing my fic, this time in the third person and much better details and ideas. This means that it's the same fic, just improved. Cross your fingers and hope for the best.

DISCLAIMER:

I do not own the characters, places, objects, etc. mentioned in this story. They are property of their respective owners designated by their trademarks.

Prologue

Every girl, no matter what age, dreams of her wedding day. She gazes at the clouds for hours, neglecting her lessons, to plan every last aspect of the ceremony. As she gets older, she begins to select candidates who might make her a good husband. She analyzes his family's standing in society, including reputes of scandals, honors given to his father, and the like. How far up can she climb this ladder, and actually make a match within reason? This process takes several years alone, and by the time a girl chooses her match, her father has probably already decided she is of marriageable age. Her daydreams begin to materialize into reality.

During the first stages of courtship, she'll flash her beloved a coy smile in the market square, or pinch her cheeks repeatedly behind his back to make it appear that his polite compliments her to are words woven in silk and sung by the angels to proclaim their desire to be to be with one another until the end of their days. If this ploy is successful, he starts appearing at her house for supper, taking every opportunity to impress her father. Every now and then, there are a few fools who make a mistake and forget their station, and are humiliated beyond recovery. These wretches are forwardly bound to a life of misery. Everyone else makes a happy match, with parents approving on both sides. A day is set.

Then the girl's wedding is everything she hoped it would be. The flowers perfume the surroundings perfectly as she pledges everything she has to her bridegroom, and he to her. The guests sit quietly, and applaud when the ritual is complete. The married couple smile with delight and adjourn to the celebrations, ecstatic to take their first steps in their new life together.

This is not, however, what happened to Kate Carrington.

Kate dreamed this as all girls do. At the age of seventeen, she'd already been given to a man, the man of her dreams. Kate believed that God had smiled down upon her and blessed her with this man, who was kind and compassionate, and worked hard for her. Her father, a general, approved of him wholeheartedly, for he knew that he'd never abandon his priorities and drop the girl back on his doorstep with a handful of children. Thus, the general made preparations for their union. Kate was overjoyed.

Her elation, tragically, was short-lived. Only two evenings away from her wedding day, her fiance was found shot through the heart in his private chambers. His older brother sent for the doctor immediately, but when the doctor arrived, he had perished. Kate was heartbroken. She locked herself in her bedroom and refused to take supper. She felt not the pains of hunger that were jolting within, but only the pain in her bosom that gives one the impression that their heart is imploding. When she could not bear the pain any longer, she fell into bed and wept herself to sleep.

When she woke that morning, her maid was preparing her wedding gown and veil. Kate barked that she never wanted to see the garment again and to dispose of it immediately. The maid hung her head and replied, "I cannot, miss. I've orders from General Carrington to help you into it." Kate furrowed her brows and shook her head.

"No, Ruth, you see...I'm not getting married today. My groom has been murdered. It's rather hard to be joined in matrimony when one's fiance is deceased."

Ruth nodded her head and laid the gown on a chair. "I understand perfectly, miss, but your father's ordered me to prepare you for a wedding." Kate stood confused. She excused herself and donned a dressing robe, and made her way to her father's study. He allowed her entrance and was greeted, by her father...and her lover's older brother. Her father smiled and shook the young man's hand before he left. Kate waited until he was gone to speak to her father.

"Ruth tells me that you instructed her to help me with my dress. You know as well as I that I won't need it, Papa." Kate crossed her arms, drawing her robe closer to her body.

General Carrington sighed and pursed his lips. "Katherine, this ceremony cost me a fortune, a fortune you know we don't have to spare. I was counting on your dowry to pay off our debts and by God, Katherine, I will not rot away in prison only because you failed to marry."

Astounded, Kate hesitated before she spoke again. "Papa, it's not that I failed...the circumstances are now beyond my control. I apologize for any financial distress it caused you--"

Her father raised a hand to cut her off. "No matter. I've solved the problem. I've...made a business deal with James Miller, the brother of your departed betrothed. He's agreed to give me the money intended for your dowry...if I give him you."

Kate's eyes widened in disbelief. "Father, you can't be serious! James Miller is cross and short-tempered and cold-hearted!"

The general shook his head. "I'm sorry it's come to this, Katherine, but the terms have been met and contracted. I'll bear you to the church this afternoon to wed him there." Kate scoffed and slammed her hands down on his desk.

"I won't! I don't love him, Papa! He'll treat me falsely and I'll be unhappy! How could you condemn me to such a life?!"

"Katherine, I can put it to you no simpler or more compassionate that this. Should you choose to ignore your obligation today, consider yourself an outcast amongst our family. You will be discharged from your comfortable home and luxuries and be forced to live on the streets. I shan't have such a selfish fiend living under my roof. You will be dead to me. Don't force yourself into the same fate as your sister." The general stared blankly at the horror-struck girl. "You'd better go and get ready. You're dismissed."

Kate walked in a daze back to her room. In two days, her world had completely gone from perfection to chaos. Heartbreak had once again grasped her, her grief consumed her again. She'd never see her love again. He was dead. And, what's worse, she was being forced to marry his brother, a man she didn't love. Before she knew it, her knees buckled and tears spilled over her eyes. Hysteria followed. Kate never even realized that Ruth had found her and helped her back to her chambers. She stared idly out the window as her limp body was shimmied into the wedding gown. Her head bobbed around as the servants helped her into a carriage and rest her veil on her lap. She was deaf to the speech her father was rattling off to her about proper wifely behavior while they climbed the steps to the church.

Kate remained in a haze until the priest waved his hands in front of her eyes. She focused her eyes on him and blinked several times. "I beg your pardon?" Kate blurts out.

The priest smiles and clears his throat. "I said, 'Do you take James Miller to be your husband?'"

"I--"

Kate bit her lip in hesitation. The words wouldn't form in her mouth, no matter how hard she tried. She opened her mouth and tried, but only managed a small squeak. Sighing, she turned around to meet General Carrington's eyes. He exhaled and angrily fluttered his eyes. "Katherine? Your answer?"

She had no choice. Her father's demeanor confirmed his relentlessness. She choked back a sob before turning back to the priest. "I d-do."

Kate spent the rest of the wedding crying softly behind her veil. After the priest pronounced them, James threw her veil off and crushed his lips to hers. Kate closed her eyes tightly and sniffled, waiting for this most unpleasant experience to be over. James removed himself from her and quickly went to the general, exchanging a handshake and slap on the back. Kate wiped her mouth and her eyes, making allowances for a fresh wave of tears.

After a quick mutter of congratulations from General Carrington, James pulled Kate outside and stuffed her into a carriage. James secured their bags and gave the word to the driver before he got in. Soon they were off, Kate discovered, to a small secluded village where James owned a quaint little cottage. James attempted several times to make conversation with his new wife, but to no avail. She was lost in her thoughts, silently raging within her mind.

They arrived at his cottage shortly after nightfall. James and the driver transported luggage inside and Kate slowly made her way in. The cottage was very small indeed, with only one large room to accommodate all aspects of a home. Directly to the left was a sofa, a fireplace, and a collection of chairs. Across the way was a stove with a few shabby looking cupboards beside it and a pile of logs. Lastly, to the right was a bed and an ancient looking wardrobe. James paid the driver and closed the door, taking Kate into his arms roughly. "Alone at last."

"Get your filthy hands off me."

"Kate, you can't speak to me that way. I'm your husband...your superior." James smirked and released her. "You'll warm up to me eventually. How about a cup of tea?" Without waiting for an answer, James threw some logs in the fireplace and went outside with the kettle. While he drew water from the well outside, Kate began unpacking their bags, and promptly put away all of James' clothes in the wardrobe. She didn't have to work long, for James already had several suits tucked haphazardly away inside. While she was folding a pair of trousers, she noticed a glint of something shiny. She stuffed the trousers hastily in the bottom of the wardrobe and reached for the object. It was a revolver. Kate noticed that some initials were inscribed on the barrel--JHM. Of course. This clearly belonged to James.

At that moment, James heaved back in carrying a full kettle and a bucket of water. James put the kettle over the fire, setting the bucket beside the hearth. Kate looked up from the weapon to him. "James?"

He ignored her.

"James!"

He pulled some tea leaves out of the cupboard. "What?"

Kate quickly hid the revolver behind her back. "Erm...do you come here often?"

James looked over to her. "Yes. At least 4 times weekly. Why do you ask?"

Kate forced an uneasy grin onto her face. "Everything looks lived-in. You had clothes in the wardrobe. Fresh foods are kept." She hung her head and kept a tight grasp on the revolver. "Also...it's just secluded enough to provide a safe haven for a murderer like you." Kate raised her eyes just enough to look into his.

James said nothing for a moment. "Katherine...what inspired you to come to such a heinous assumption?" James placed the tea tin on the cupboard shelf and crossed his arms.

"I've only just realized it. You always hated your brother. You were furious that he was blessed with good fortune." She pulled the gun out and pointed it at him. "So you killed him, then to throw everyone off you sent for the doctor. While everyone else was fretting over his death, you made what looked like a normal trip to your cottage to hide the evidence. This very revolver."

James put a hand up to stop her from continuing. "And that makes you think that I'm responsible for his untimely demise?"

"That, and instead of mourning for your brother you got married. Most people wait until the grief subsides. Unless, of course, the grief isn't there."

"You don't understand, Kate! I wasn't going to let him have you! He didn't deserve to have such a woman! For a long time, he made sure that he got everything I wanted!"

"SO YOU MURDERED HIM JUST SO HE COULDN'T MARRY ME?!"

James inhaled sharply and nodded his head slowly. "I can't deny it, Kate. I didn't wed you because I love you. And I hope that, in time, we can grow to love each other. Because--"

But James Miller never finished his statement. Before Kate realized what was happening, her finger had cocked the hammer on the revolver, her other finger pulling the trigger as hard as she could. The force of the powder being ignited brought her back to reality. She screamed at James to move out of the way, but it was too late. Blood began to saturate his clothes. The pellet hit him square in the heart, and after a few raspy gasps, he fell to his knees and collapsed. He was dead.

Kate gasped and dropped the revolver. She stared in shock for several minutes before sitting down in one of the chairs. She had to run. She had to get away. Kate began to gather clothes, food, and what little money she found, stuffing it in her bag. She took one last remorseful look at James before parting the cottage, wandering into the night. This night, she would begin her new life. She sighed, and followed the road. Tortuga beckoned.