Series - Pirates Of The Carribean
Rating - PG 13
Warnings - None.
Pairing - Elizabeth X Norrington - Because I have a thing for characters that work hard and get swindled out of what they worked for and decide to go to extremes to get back what is rightfully theirs and heaven knows that James Norrington deserves redemption.
Disclaimer - A mouse owns more than I do. How sad is that?
Summary - What if Norrington had upheld the law instead of giving the pirates who took everything from him a head start.
Author's Notes - None.
Word Count - 1458
"You forget your place, Mr. Turner." Norrington said as he looked disdainfully at the wayward blacksmith.
Looking over towards the Commodore's general direction, Will knew just where his place really was. "It's right here, between you and Jack." The evening sun was casting it's rays before his vision making it difficult for him to actually see the Commodore, even with his hat on.
"As is mine." Elizabeth added quickly, moving closer into Will's embrace, much to the disgust of her ex-fiance.
"Lower your weapons! For goodness sake, put them down." Governer Swann yelled as he looked around scornfully at Norrington's men, almost daring any one of them to keep pointing their weapons at his only child. "Elizabeth?" He asked, thoroughly confused at what all had transpired since he had last laid eyes upon his daughter.
Commodore Norrington looked upon the happy couple and couldn't help but feel the familiar pangs of heartache. The love of his life having been torn away from him, clearly having chosen to take up shelter in the arms of the filthy pirate who had taken her away from him. "So, this is where your heart truly lies then?" He said with a voice full of something between sorrow and disappointment, not sure which emotion was the most prevalent in that moment as the familiar twinge of jealousy charted its course through his chest once more at the sight of them together.
A small smile crossing her features as she looked into the eyes of her pirate Elizabeth answered simply. "It is." Closing her eyes as she rested her head upon his chest she began to wonder how the boy she knew as a child had somehow transformed himself magnificently into the man before her.
"I see," Norrington said as he pursed his lips together before turning his back to them. "It is as I feared then. Guards! Seize them all!"
Shocked by the Commodore's sudden lack of honor Elizabeth couldn't hold back her outrage. "On what charges?!" She asked, her surprise by what he had just done to her and her newfound friends made sharper still as she and Will were torn apart by the guardsmen.
"Acts of piracy as well as association with pirates." Norrington said flatly as he looked over at the trio, restrained by his men. "Please escort Mr. Sparrow and Mr. Turner to the Port Royal Jail. Establish a twenty four hour guard upon each of their holding cells, do not permit them to be alone for a single moment. As for Miss Swann, see to it that she is taken to my cabin and locked inside with a standing watch for her own protection."
Her eyes steeled upon her captor Elizabeth had no intention of going peacefully, nor without getting in the last word. "Commodore I ask for no special consideration, for I would rather be in jail, than with you."
"Come now, Elizabeth, darling." Norrington said as he moved to stand before Elizabeth, smiling a smile filled of false pity down upon her. "You've been through such a trying ordeal. Your acts of piracy shall likely be excused, as you are, indeed, delusional and thus, cannot be held accountable for your actions, as of late." He said as he moved next to Will, casting a most reproachful look at him. "No doubt they were made under great duress, dare I even say that your life was at stake should you not have done what these pirates coerced you into doing."
Well beyond the point of arguing logic Elizabeth simply shouted at the man who was smiling as he watched her friends being carted off to some rundown jail cell. "That's not true!" She fumed, as Norrington simply turned his gaze to her father, who was now protesting at the impropriety of his daughter being held in, as far as he knew, her fiance's estate.
Speaking in rather hushed tones, as if he feared his comments would place his daughter further in harms way, Governer Swann began his conversation with the man in charge. "Commodore, although it is well within your rights as an officer I must express my concern as to my daughter being locked up with a man whom, is not yet, her husband."
Looking rather seriously upon the man he had hoped would become his father-in-law Norrington spoke softly. "Governer Swann, I assure you that what I do, I do only for Elizabeth's own protection. Need I remind you that I am bound by the law? The alternative is that Elizabeth is placed in jail, with not only those pirates, but other men of even greater ill reputation and I fear for her safety should that occur. Now, I ask you, Governer, what is more improper? Elizabeth being locked in a cell with dangerous men, or being held under my charge?" He inquired, as they both glanced over at Elizabeth, who was doing her best to twist free from the trained guardsmen who held her steadfast.
Cornered with the truth, Governer Swann could only withdraw his objections as he glanced most concernedly at his daughter. "All I ask is that you take care of her."
"You have my word." Norrington said, taking a step nearer Elizabeth and Will, who had managed to clasp desperate hands with one another, watching as they exchanged words of hope and endless devotion before it became too much for him to bear, gripping Will and dragging him by the arm towards Port Royal's jail.
Thrashing about in a vain attempt to escape Will stopped suddenly and threatened the Commodore in a dangerous voice, realizing this may be his only chance to say something to the man whom had just thrown him, and everyone he ever cared about, to the wolves."You'll regret this Commodore! I swear it!"
"I doubt that highly Mr. Turner as you are well aware the penalty for piracy is death and I plan on seeing to it that your case is expedited." Norrington said, giving the disgraced pirate a turse smile before continuing to drag him along, confident that he would get what was coming to him for the mess he had made of both their lives.
Elizabeth shrieked as the guardsmen carried her off towards a carriage. "No! Will!" Unable to do anything but scream the guards forced her inside and set off towards The Dauntless.
"Can't let you do that mate." Jack said as he was being dragged along limply by Norrington's men, smelling strongly of rum, having consumed much in the expectation that a celebration of sorts would take place at the safe return of the Commodore's beloved.
Raising a wary eyebrow at the notorious pirate, secretly wondering if he did indeed have some sort of plan swirling about in his head Norrington half-jokingly gave his response. "And what, pray tell, do you plan on doing about it?"
"This." Jack said as he hooked the toes of his boots in the loose brick street, using the resistance to slip his wrists free of the guards and stand up straight.
Looking shockingly onward Norrington shouted orders to his men."Don't just stand there! Get him!"
"I don't think so lads." Sparrow said, as his would be captors turned around, giving Jack just enough time to kick over the wall of empty shipping crates that lined the port on top of everyone.
"Don't let him escape!" Norrington commanded a bit breathlessly, as he moved to dodge most of the wooden crates, holding onto Will steadfastly as they looked over towards Sparrow, anxious to see what would come of the situation.
After a few tense moments of tussling and wrestling on the broken crates and wooden planks Norrington's men were finally able to recapture Jack Sparrow.
"Clap that man in irons immediately." Norrington said in a furious voice as he dragged Will over towards Sparrow, wary that the pirate might have managed to achieve something from the ruckus.
After a few minutes of study, Norrington spoke, "I will always remember this day as the day I managed to capture Jack Sparrow, twice." smiling at Jack, satisfied that the pirate had not managed to acquire anything he could use as a weapon.
"That's Captain Jack Sparrow there, mate!" Jack corrected, dusting himself off in a leisurely manner, as much as any man could while being restrained, much to the Commodore's displeasure.
"That's Commodore to you, pirate." Norrington spat, the smirk now gone from his lips. "No matter, your little escapade bought you nothing more than a headache judging from the size of that lump on your head."
Jack simply grinned from ear to ear, unnerving the Commodore before being loaded up with Will into the back of a jail carriage and carted off to await his sentence.