crack_van | Love, or, The End of Fairytales by ashtonecks (R)

Fandom: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
Pairing: James Norrington/Elizabeth Swann
Author on LJ:

ashtonecks
Author Website: Fanfiction.net (Incomplete)
Why this must be read: “Love, or, The End of Fairytales” could easily be a scene from AWE--if Disney weren’t going for a PG-13 rating, of course.

At the end of the world, James Norrington and Elizabeth Swann unexpectedly discover each other again. Both have been rather screwed over by life and find a respite from their respective loneliness in each other. Neither is in love with anyone anymore, but there is a comfort in being with someone who already knows all your faults and failings.

“I loved you,” he says suddenly, the sentiment seemingly coming from nowhere. “I want you to know that.” Elizabeth sits down upon the bed. “I also” he continues, “want you to know that I don’t love you anymore. I lack the capacity to love anything anymore. Too much has happened, too much carnage, too much pain.”

There are tears in her eyes.

“But when I was capable of loving, Elizabeth, I loved you.”

ashtonecks (who is also writes under the name Wandering Child) weaves a poignant and brutal tale around “what-ifs” and “might-have-beens” and makes you realize that maybe—just maybe--in a world without carved-out hearts or hurricanes or cursed Aztec gold, the Commodore and the Governor’s Daughter could have had their fairytale.

Love, or, The End of Fairytales