I'm not sure how well this is going to go considering I'm now writing from Elizabeth's POV, but I'm hoping it won't be too painful. Obviously, this story will end before ASOF, so don't expect a happy ending just yet.

<center>A Series of Steps

Steps Toward a New Life</center>

I sit on the edge of my four-poster devoid of its lace linens swinging my legs against the cherry wood of the bed frame. Charlotte sits on the floor, legs tucked neatly beneath her, packing frocks, petticoats, and stockings into a traveling bag. She glances up at me for the fourth time, swiping at a stray strand of hair swinging in front of her eyes. I stare back almost defiantly as though daring her to ask me to help pack for a voyage that I do not want to make. She sighs and sets back to work.

We, that is to say, Papa and I, are being sent to Jamaica. I refuse to believe that my father would willingly volunteer for such a thing. Surely he would not force his only daughter to give up the only home and friends she has ever known to go live in a jungle. At least that’s what I thought. But here we are, packing up the house and leaving everything we know behind, leaving Mama behind . . .

"James Norrington is decidedly the most handsome man I have met in my very short 12 years of life."

LOL. Two updates in one day, that's a record! To anyone who may feel an inkling of liking toward Elizabeth right now, don't. She's conniving, and I can guarantee you're going to hate her by the end of this story. But that's only so that you can love her by the end of ASOF.

<center>A Series of Steps

Wobbling Steps Across a Deck</center>

The ship rolls slightly, and I vomit into the bucket Charlotte holds in front of me while somehow managing to hold my sweat-dampened hair out of my face. We have been at sea for a week, and the worst of the seasickness has set in. Father and Charlotte seem to be immune to the crashing of the waves against the ship and the rocking those waves set about. I shudder and with a groan of despair fall backward onto the rumpled bed.

"Life on the deck is more exciting than I could have dreamed."

Im loving it so far my chicken! Great job

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And all will turn to silver glass...



By Goldstrike

Ah ha! My first reviewer! *pet pet* Thank you lovey!

I am terribly sorry for all the double posts. It can't seem to be helped. This is mostly a filler chapter.

<center>A Series of Steps

Step Number One: Settling In</center>

“Mademoiselle Swann, what did I just ask?”

I shake my head and tear my eyes away from the ships coming into the harbour through the bay windows of Papa’s study. My tutor, Monsieur Renoir, raps the table with his pointer for emphasis. I look down at the parchment in front of me on which French verbs have been scrawled in his illegible hand. Monsieur tsks loudly.

“You must keep your mind on your studies, Mademoiselle and out of the clouds. Is that clear?”

"This is not over. Someone will rise from the ocean today, dripping wet, but victorious."

Again, sorry for the triple post. I'm just trying to get these updated.

<center>A Series of Steps

Waltz Steps</center>

“Elizabeth, you look positively stunning,” Papa says adoringly, as I descend the stairs, “Your mother would be so proud of you.”

I take the last step slowly and let out my breath in a rush, having held it the entire way down, and blush slightly at Father’s comment. The full skirts and all of the new undergarments will take much getting used to, and I only hope that I will not trip or embarrass myself in some other way tonight.

I wobble on the higher heels and feel more like a goose waddling about than the swan that Charlotte told me to be. As we walk by the mirror in the entrance hall I can’t help glancing at myself. The painted face of a 13-year-old girl stuck somewhere in that limbo between childhood and womanhood stares back with wide awestruck eyes.

"More than ever I am confused about the differences between Will and I and even more confused by the lieutenant’s attitude."

Since it seems this story isn't getting as many readers I'll just edit this post with the links to each new chapter as they come alone.

Chapter 5 - Step, Parry, Lunge
Chapter 6 - Steps in the Opposite Direction
Chapter 7 - How Many Steps in a Day?
Chapter 8 - Steps in the Right Direction
Chapter 9 - Stepping Into Adulthood
Chapter 10 - Stumbling Steps in the Dark
Chapter 11 - Falling Backward, Stepping Away
Chapter 12 - Stepping on the Fragments of Broken Hearts
Chapter 13 - Stepping Off the Path
Chapter 14 - A Circle of Steps
Chapter 15 - Stepping Carefully
Chapter 16 - All the Steps of Life's Journey Has Led to This

_________________
Chase a couple hearts, we could leave 'em in shreds
Meet me in the gutter, make the devil your friend
Just remember what I said, cause it isn't over yet

Get.Lost.In.The.Dark.To.Find.Yourself
-sig by Loafers-

Aww, thanks very much, PD! That's downright lovely of you to say.

I've been reading. I just don't think of coming here and commenting, since I see it on DA.

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going on a journey through my old claims

My fave was one where they get caught Saira enjoys seeing prissy little girls get into trouble.

Im loving it my chicken!

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And all will turn to silver glass...



By Goldstrike

That's all right, Nurr. I completely understand. You do a fantastic job of consistently reviewing on DA. I appreciate it immensely.

@ Saira: LOL! That's my favourite chapter so far as well. I loved the interaction between Elizabeth, Will, and James.

_________________
Chase a couple hearts, we could leave 'em in shreds
Meet me in the gutter, make the devil your friend
Just remember what I said, cause it isn't over yet

Get.Lost.In.The.Dark.To.Find.Yourself
-sig by Loafers-

Thanks for keeping up with this all of you, and thanks for your kind reviews, PD! I did leave the medallion out on purpose. It would pose a bit of a problem if I had included it in the story. I think I've already established that we're in an alternative universe.

There's an update, by the way.