The Dauntless closed the distance quickly, her white sails cutting cleanly through the water as she drew level with the Interceptor. Orders rang out across her deck, sharp and practiced.
"Hold her steady!"
Ropes were thrown. Grappling hooks caught, wood groaning as the two ships pulled close enough for men to cross.
Without hesitation, soldiers swung across from the Dauntless, boots hitting the Interceptor's deck in quick succession. Muskets were raised, blades drawn—efficient, disciplined, nothing like pirates.
"Secure the deck!" one of them shouted.
Elizabeth stepped forward at once. "Wait—stop!"
The soldiers froze, startled.
"Miss Swann?" one of them said, disbelief clear in his voice.
More soldiers followed, then Commodore Norrington himself crossed over, his boots landing firmly on the deck. His eyes locked onto Elizabeth first—relief flashing across his face before discipline took over.
"Elizabeth," he said, voice controlled but strained. "Thank God."
Behind him, Governor Swann appeared at the rail of the Dauntless, staring as if afraid she might vanish again.
"Elizabeth!" he called out.
She moved to the edge of the deck. "Father—I'm here."
The tension eased slightly, but not fully.
Norrington's gaze shifted—taking in the state of the ship, the lack of restraints, and finally settling on Daniel who was beside Elizabeth.
His eyes narrowed.
"And you," Norrington said coldly, "are the man we've been searching for."
At once, the soldiers reacted. Muskets came up in a practiced motion, barrels trained squarely on Daniel.
Elizabeth moved before anyone else could speak.
She stepped directly in front of him, arms spread wide.
"Stop it," she said sharply. "Commodore, he didn't do anything wrong."
The soldiers hesitated, startled by her sudden movement.
Norrington frowned. "Elizabeth, step aside. This man—"
"No," she cut in, not turning around. "You don't understand."
From Norrington's view, it looked like she was defending Daniel.
In truth, she was protecting them.
Elizabeth had seen what Daniel could do with a snap of his fingers.
If the soldiers pushed him—if they treated him like an ordinary criminal—this deck could turn into a disaster in seconds.
She lowered her voice slightly, but kept her arms outstretched.
"Please," she said. "Put the guns down."
Governor Swann had crossed over by then, stopping short when he saw the scene.
"Elizabeth?" he said carefully. "Why are you standing in front of him?"
She finally glanced back at Daniel, then returned her gaze forward. "Because if you provoke him," she said honestly, "people are going to get hurt."
Norrington's jaw tightened. "Elizabeth, you may have been deceived," he said sharply. "Or worse—placed under this man's influence. We have reason to believe he is a Filthy warlock. Practicing dark, unlawful magic."
His voice carried more anger than concern now. Seeing the woman he intended to marry standing in front of another man defending him had clearly struck a nerve.
Daniel blinked once.
"Me?" he asked, genuinely puzzled. "Filthy? Warlock?"
Since when had he picked up that title?
Who, exactly, had decided to slap such a low-tier label on him without even informing him first?
Elizabeth exhaled, frustrated. "Commodore, he didn't cast spells, chant, or summon demons. He didn't force me to do anything."
"Soldiers," Norrington ordered coldly, "take Elizabeth away. She is clearly not in the right state of mind."
Two men hesitated, then stepped forward.
"And arrest this criminal," Norrington continued, eyes fixed on Daniel. "He will receive the punishment reserved for those who indulge in dark magic."
There was a brief pause.
"Burned alive."
Daniel blinked.
"…Burning?" he repeated, genuinely taken aback. "Wow. Straight to that?"
It really was seventeenth-century logic—find a witch, light a fire, ask questions never.
Elizabeth's patience snapped. She turned sharply toward the Dauntless, spotting her father on the deck.
"Father!" she shouted. "Tell them to stop!"
Elizabeth didn't stop there. "If they do anything to him now," she added, her voice carrying across the gap between the ships, "there will be consequences."
Governor Swann frowned, confusion tightening his expression. He didn't understand what his daughter was saying—not fully—but something in her voice made him pause.
He raised a hand.
"Norrington—hold!" he commanded.
Norrington's expression darkened. After a tense moment, he gave a sharp gesture.
"Lower your weapons."
The soldiers obeyed, muskets dropping, though none of them relaxed.
Daniel glanced at Elizabeth. "You're good at reading the situation," he said lightly.
She let out a breath. "And thank you for your patience," she replied. "I'll explain everything to my father."
Daniel tilted his head, a faintly amused look on his face. "What will you explain? That you were charmed by me, went on an adventure, and now can't live without me?"
That earned him a sharp tap on the arm.
"Don't say things like that," Elizabeth muttered, clearly embarrassed.
Around them, the soldiers exchanged looks. This was not what they had expected. Whatever story they'd imagined about a helpless captive and a dangerous criminal, it didn't quite fit what they were seeing.
More than a few of them glanced at Norrington.
He noticed.
His jaw tightened, teeth grinding as a vein pulsed at his temple. Watching Elizabeth stand so naturally beside the man he'd accused—and seeing her react that way—only fed his fury. He held it back, barely, but the resentment was written plainly across his face.
*****
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