The Ties That Bind Us, By Artic_Cat (PG-13)

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Fandom Category: Pirates of the Caribbean
Pairing: Elizabeth Swann/James Norrington
Fic Title: The Ties That Bind Us
Author: artic_fox
Link: Here
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13, AU that takes place after CotBP
WIP?: No.

Why This Must Be Read:

I realize that this might be difficult to understand given that this is my SECOND REC for this pairing, but I really don't ship them. Except I totally could, because they are both awesome, and this fic really encompasses all the reasons why. Norrington is just so...trapped by his station, and Elizabth is trapped in an entirely different way by hers, and watching the two of them together just kills me most of the time. Also, I'm a sucker for period costume. And creative ways to remove it.

In the commentary for the first movie, Jack Davenport and Kiera Knightly talk about a scene that didn't make it into the film. In it, Norrington confronts Elizabeth on how she doesn't really want to marry him, and she's all "Yeah, you're kind of right" and he's all "But I'll still be the Best Husband Ever" and she's all "Whatever", and you sort of want to cry for them both. This is kind of that fic, in a roundabout way, and I really appreciate it.

So...basically, you should read this because it's telling a story that I am totally a sucker for, and because it's really well done, and because, GOSH DARN IT, someone should really love the pants of James Norrington. Literally. ;)