A Mermaid Bride || James Norrington ||
A/n: Freaking obsessed with Mermaids and Greek Myths right now
The first time you kissed James Norrington, it was to save his life.
A storm had descended upon the Caribbean with a fury that seemed almost unnatural. The sea had risen into towering black waves, and the Dauntless had groaned beneath the punishment of wind and water. Even from the hidden waters of Whitecap Bay, you had heard the storm’s rage.
Then you had heard something else.
A heartbeat. One you had learned to recognize among thousands.
By the time you reached the wreckage, he was already sinking.
His dark hair floated around him like ink, his uniform heavy with seawater as he descended into the deep. His eyes were closed, his face pale, and panic unlike anything you had ever felt seized your chest.
Without hesitation, you caught him.
You held him close, your tail beating furiously through the water as you swam upward. But you knew he had been beneath the sea for too long.
So, with trembling hands, you cupped his face and pressed your lips to his.
Something that so many sailors sought after yet never got.
His chest suddenly convulsed, and he coughed, eyes flying open in confusion.
You had never been so relieved in your life. “Hello, James.”
He blinked once then twice. “You…” he rasped and promptly passed out again.
The second kiss happened several weeks later.
James had been visiting Whitecap Bay more frequently, much to the horror of his crew and the delight of your sisters, who had taken to peeking out from behind rocks to watch the strange human who kept returning.
That afternoon, he had brought you a gift.
You had stared at it with wonder.
“It is for your hair,” he explained.
“......I know you have shells.”
You smiled brightly. “This is my favorite.”
He could not help smiling in return.
The day had ended with both of you sitting upon the rocks as the sunset painted the ocean gold and pink.
You had leaned forward, he had met you halfway.
When you finally pulled away, one of your sisters shrieked from somewhere behind the rocks.
Another let out an excited squeal.
A third immediately dove underwater.
You frowned. “They’re being strange.”
James chuckled. “Perhaps they simply enjoy gossip.”
You shrugged.Mermaids were odd creatures sometimes.
The third kiss happened entirely by accident. You were in Port Royal again.
You had managed to gain legs and walk upon land with only minimal falling.
James considered this a remarkable improvement.
Humans had far too many unnecessary obstacles. Why were stairs a thing?
And why did chairs possess corners sharp enough to bruise?
You had spent the better part of an hour complaining while James tried and failed not to laugh.
“You find my suffering amusing.”
“I’ve been called worse.”
You huffed and folded your arms.
Then, because he looked so pleased with himself, you leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
Except he turned his head at precisely the wrong moment.
Or perhaps the right one.
You both froze.For a long moment, neither of you moved.
Then you pulled away, your breath hitching as you quickly dropped your gaze.
James looked equally stunned.
The sound of splashing interrupted you.
Three mermaids surfaced in the harbor.
Your eldest sister looked positively delighted. “Oh!” she cried. “You did it!”
She looked at James then towards you as she then smiled even wider. “You married him.”
Awkward silence as a gull squawked somewhere overhead.
“Three kisses!” your sister announced happily. “One to save, one of affection, and one of love. Congratulations!”
“Congratulations on what?” you asked.
“Your marriage, obviously.”
Another long awkward moment of silence followed as you both tried to process what as just said.
Then James slowly said, “I beg your pardon?”
Your sister looked confused. “Did no one tell you?”
She tilted her head. “That is how mermaids choose mates.”
“Three kisses bind your souls together. It has been our law for centuries....sister! Did you not tell the human?!"
“How do you forget a binding ritual?”
“It never seemed important!” You stated weakly.
James slowly turned toward you.“What binding ritual?”
You wouldn’t meet his eyes as terrible silence followed.
Then you whispered, “In mermaid custom… if one of our kind gives the same human three kisses, the sea recognizes them as bonded mates.”
James looked as though he had forgotten how to breathe.
Your sister, meanwhile, looked thrilled.
Another mermaid surfaced beside her. “Oh, your children will be beautiful.”
You nearly choked. “Children?!”
“....Eventually.” She trailed off.
“We just accidentally married one another!”
“That is generally how marriage works.”
“It absolutely is not!” James finally exclaimed.
Your sisters exchanged glances.Humans were strange.
That evening, you sat together upon the beach in silence, neither of you had spoken for several minutes.
The waves lapped gently against the shore.
Finally, you sighed. “I am very sorry.”
James looked at you. “For what?”
“I accidentally married you.”
To your surprise, he laughed.A genuine laugh.
You frowned. “Why are you laughing?”
He shook his head. “I spent my entire life believing I would marry for duty. For politics. For expectation.”
He looked out at the sea then closed his eyes as the wind blew through his dark hair. “And instead…” He turned toward you as a soft smile touched his lips.
“I somehow ended up accidentally married to a mermaid.”
You couldn’t help smiling too. "It is rather ridiculous."
Silence settled between you once more.
Then you looked down at your hands. “If… if you do not wish this…” you said quietly, “I can ask my sisters if there is a way to undo it.”
The words hurt to say, more than you expected as your heart tightened in your chest.
James looked at you for a long moment.Then he reached over and gently took your hand.
“Do you wish to undo it?” He asked.
At the man who had seen your true form and never feared you. The man who visited Whitecap Bay simply because he enjoyed your company. The man you had, somewhere along the way, fallen deeply and hopelessly in love with.
“No,” you whispered, tears shinning in your eyes, a few threatening to fall.
His thumb brushed over your knuckles.A smile slowly spread across his face. “Neither do I.”
For a moment, all you could do was stare at him then your entire face lit up. “You mean it?”
You launched yourself at him so suddenly that he nearly toppled backward into the sand.
He laughed as you wrapped your arms around him.
“You are very strange, James Norrington.” Your voice muffled as you hid your face into his neck.
You pulled back just enough to smile at him. “And apparently my husband.”
He smiled in return. “Apparently so.”
Above them, hidden among the rocks, three mermaids watched.
The eldest simply nodded. “Yes,” she said with satisfaction. “Their children are going to be adorable.”
As you two shared a kiss, while the moon shined down on you both, and everything was perfect.
s-u-f-j-a-n-s-t-e-v-e-n-s
theartofmadeline
