I have heard that your heart can never forget your first love. As I was reading a few fanfics about Norrington, I found myself opening word and writing down something utterly different than before. Often, Norrington has to catch the girl and--as I have seen many times--she is usually a lady or not a lady. I decided to twist things just a bit. I have been known to keep people guessing, but I must write down a few main character descriptions for you.
Caroline Gent--main heroine, odd looking, naive, extremely and heartbreakingly devoted to Admiral Norrington even after a few mishaps which you shall see later, and notorious for telling purely imaginative stories.
Admiral Norrington--successfully returned from his mission in ridding the Atlantic of pirates (Lord Beckett's death was nothing short of shocking), now intends to keep the peace and is in want of a wife and family
Anne Gent--sister to Caroline, the older sister, doting on Caroline and pretty, would never cause anyone harm, bed ridden with an illness
Lady de Gent--A complex female who is both loving and stict, keeps order wherever she travels
Another note, this does not follow any POTC movies and I have kept Norrington alive. If you wish for a romantic tale of devotion, betrayal, sickness, and love then read on. If not, turn back now.
Until that moment of unpleasant crashing, the garden had been peaceful. Not an ill sound or screech could be heard. That is, until I decided to fall out of the damned tree. It wasn't like I had planned on it, but that infernal wretch of men were coming my way and I needed to make a dash. Of course, being me, I forgot that I was in a tree and not on land and so the preceding result was me falling two stories downward onto the grass. Stifling a rippling cry I was able to bolt across the garden bare legged and hair strewn about like some beast come back from the dead. I couldn't bare the thought of Admiral James Norrington seeing me in such a fashion. Not only that but mother would be, how should I put, thrown back into a twelve month illness?
Father Drapes says I shouldn't be such a boy. He says that I should rid my soul of the Devil. Well, if my soul contains the Devil then the rest of this bloody island contains something far worse. Creature, I suppose.
Upon my wasted time in drabbling nonsense thoughts in my head, I found my person to be oddly too close to the party that had caused me to fall from a tree. Swinging back into the jungle of the island I stood to watch the ensemble come to a halt—dead in front of me.
James Norrington spoke first, hands behind his back and looking ever the more frivolous—and deadly to my affections. "Lovely day for walking. Seems a bird must not have agreed." The group rippled with a laugh and grumbles of compliance.
"'Twas no bird." My mother mumbled glaring pointedly into the bushes where I now squatted. "We really are having a splendid summer, are we not?"
"The best I've seen in five years. The first year I was stationed here, the summer was ever so pleasant." James paused and took a slight glance at my mother. "Mrs. Gent, is your daughter ill?"
My heart quickened at the inquiry. Could it be? The cold Admiral finally taking notice in me?
"Anne?"
"Yes."
I slumped down on the forest floor and sighed to myself.
"At present yes. But my other one, Caroline, is quite well. She was out here only a moment ago."
"And how fares the youngest Gent? I hear she is having trouble staying inside the house." Mrs. Tate asked, her sun dress blowing slightly in the breeze. She was a snob of a woman only inclined to ask because she wished to make sure her daughter was one step ahead of me. Her daughter, Miss. Georgiana Tate was pinning after Admiral Norrington ever since she could walk. I would rather burn slowly than see her marry my deepest infatuation.
"Ever since summer, she has not been able to contain herself. The scents and pleasantry of the garden have lured her into a sort of forensic trance."
"What a pity that she cannot be contained."
My mother took a sharp notice of Mrs. Tate as a wicked grin spread across her face. Oh no, here it comes, the trump card of all cards. "Well, my dear Mrs. Tate that may be a pity for now. But in only a week's time she will be traveling to England where her studies and accomplishments may be furthered by my husband's Aunt, Lady de Gent."
Mrs. Tate's expression pinched itself into one of annoyance. I almost belted out laughing.
"And, the Admiral here shall be accompanying her."
Taking a small peek, I noticed that my darling Admiral seemed too interested in the plants to pay attention.
"Anne won't be attending due to her illness."
Mrs. Tate had already recovered by the time my mother's mindless drabble ceased. "Isn't it a bit dangerous, sending your daughter alone with a ship full of men?"
The Admiral was drawn from his reverie instantly always ready to defend his honor and those of his crew. "Miss. Caroline will be in the best of hands. Pirates no longer lurk amongst our shores. Besides, my crew is the finest you shall see this side of the Atlantic."
Mrs. Tate only nodded. The crowd seemed to have dispersed in all different directions. Once alone, my mother and James turned to glare at the spot where I hid. "You can come out now." My mother sighed into the thick air of the island.
I scrambled up from the floor and stumbled out onto the lawn of my parents finely decorated garden. I bowed slightly to James who held the expression of contempt on his features. "Admiral, lovely to see you again."
"Miss. Caroline, if you cannot keep yourself out of trouble for one moment—"
"James," dearest mother chimed in, "I will take care of her. Go enjoy yourself."
Admiral Norrington needn't another excuse to leave. He could barely tolerate my presence while I was dressed without mud caked all over me, why should he now?
"I won't scold you because I don't want another argument. A week and you will be out of my hair. Go and change."
As I traipsed up the steps in my parent's house I thought back on all the lectures I had received since I turned fifteen. Ready to marry and not suitable at all. I was, even at seventeen, gangly and bony, hair that sprung from my head the color of a mouse, and nothing but large blue eyes. There wasn't an amiable thing about me except for my easy nature in entertainment. I had been filled with the idea of running away and joining the theater, but mother put her well styled heel down on that. The conclusion? I was now being shipped off to England in the countryside with country folk and animals and ladies and gentlemen who never get the hint that they should leave. Admiral Norrington would be staying a while, which would be a plus. But then he would leave and visit family at the other side of the island…gone for six months. I'll be eighteen by then and hopefully old enough to marry someone who doesn't ignore me.
"Oh, dear me!" I growled at my own reflection. No wonder he ignored me. I was an unattractive mess. Not a tolerable thing could be said about me.
"Good heavens!" That voice was all too engrained in my mind for me not to know it was my governess. "No wonder I'm loosing my care of you. You look a fright. And tears? You don't usually cry."
"I can't wait to leave this place and become a lady, Charlotte!"
Charlotte, my loving governess, coddled me to her bosom and shushed me. "There, there, Caroline. Never say that. You don't want to be some stuck up lady who only cares about arranged marriages."
"But if I was, then I would be married to the Admiral by now!"
Charlotte beamed down at me, her face clouding over with something of shame. "You've got to learn to hide that love of yours, lamb. Everyone knows that you adore him and that he will not have you. Pretty soon your Aunt is going to put in her say about it and you will no longer have the opportunity to love him. I hear she's already arranging for suitors to line up and attract your attention."
"She can line them up all but I will have none other."
"Bound and determined, I see." Charlotte stood to guide me from my room and into the dressing room where a large tub awaited me. "We must hurry. Dinner is in two hours. Your sister has been calling for you."
"She's awake?"
"Yes, the poor thing. She's been calling for you all day."
I suddenly felt guilty. My own sister and I were not even in the house to call on her. I would have cried had not Charlotte scrubbed me into a sparkling mess and dressed me hurriedly. She was only mindful of one thing, getting me to dinner.
"Anne!" I hissed up at her while she prodded me towards the dinning room. "I must see Anne!"
"After dinner. Everyone is waiting."
Charlotte left me alone to enter on my own terms into the dimly lit dinning room. Our house wasn't as large as the Admiral's nor was it a shack—but it was large enough to house a polite party. I took my seat next to my father on his left. The Admiral was down at the other end being entertained by Mrs. Tate. Probably offering her daughter up for marriage, I presumed.
"Are you alright?" Father whispered gently towards me.
I took a small bite of our dinner and smiled. "Trees don't suit me well, I suppose."
He chuckled and turned away to continue his conversation with Mr. Ferns. I kept my gaze on my plate at all times not wanting to disturb anyone with the largeness of my eyes. Mother once called them tea saucers. Father said they were like his own personal sapphires.
"Miss. Caroline!" My name was being called from down the table. I snapped my head up to see who was calling my name only to find Mrs. Tate waving at me from the end. "Please, dear, come here."
With the help of Mr. Ferns, I removed myself from my chair and glided down towards Mrs. Tate wondering slightly what it was that she wanted.
"Miss. Caroline, I hear you are a remarkable story teller. Please do us the honor of telling one of your tales after dinner."
I stole a glance from James and he slightly shook his head. "I…"
"Yes?"
"I would much rather entertain you with a piano forte, Mrs. Tate. Stories don't come to mind often unless I have thought of them for a quiet while."
"Ah, so it is a gift you have to harness. Gifts for a lady should never have to be done so—they should come to you automatically."
I wasn't looking at her anymore, but at James. His eyes roved mine for a moment before he excused himself. I watched the swishing of his overcoat as he marched down the hall
"A piano forte it is then."
Nodding, I returned to my seat in contemplation of the Admiral's sudden dejection. He was never one to see me, really. I was too odd in appearance.
Father leaned over. "Everything alright, puppet?"
"Yes, quite alright."
I sipped on my wine and sat unseeing as the dinner guests finished their dinner and retired to the sitting room. I was the last to enter but no one took any notice of me. Even as I sang softly in the corner, no one paid me a compliment or polite stare. I was nothing to these people. The only one who took notice in me was my father, Charlotte, and Anne. Though Anne was worse for the weather these days, she was still awake when it came to me.
I burst through her door and jumped on her bed, ignoring the fact that this probably caused her pain. Anne sat up instantly, throwing her arms around me. If she was in pain, she was not one to show it. "My little lamb! How do you fare these days? It's been a while since I've seen you!"
I cuddled down in the pillows next to her, soaking up all I could about her appearance. She was much prettier than I by far. Her hair was a light gold, eyes the color of aquamarines, perfection written all about her features. I wished to be jealous and spiteful of her, buts I just could not. No one had shown me more love than Anne.
"I leave for England in a week."
"Oh, dear. I am quite sure that you will be far happier there than you would be here. It's only for a few years and once you've become an accomplished lady, you can come back."
Anne's lips wavered into a slight smile. Taking a good hard look, I found circles underneath her eyes. Her cheeks were gaunt and her hair was limp. She seemed worse than she had only four days ago.
Anne began to cough into her handkerchief. She waved me off when I tried to help her. It took a few minutes for her body to relax back onto the pillows. "Caroline?"
"Yes, Anne?"
"I have a secret to tell you."
I bent down closer to her to better hear.
"Admiral Norrington came in only an hour half past."
My heart quickened.
"He proposed to me, Anne."
There was a numbing feeling in my hands and toes.
"I told him yes. As soon as I am better and as soon as he returns from his stay in England, we will be wed. Mother and father know of course. Isn't it splendid? To think I shall be the wife of an Admiral." She grabbed my hand. "I had hoped you would be there—but mother was persistent in sending you away."
"It's—it is wonderful. I wish you both the very best of luck."
Anne smiled warmly. She had been bed ridden for two years and in that time she could not have known of my dubious affection for the Admiral. He had only called on her thrice and already they were to be married. I had removed myself to warm up by the fireplace, all the while Anne going on about her plans and hopes, dreams and wishes, fears and expectations. It was an hour before I could make my throat work properly and by that time Anne had already fallen asleep.
Turning to leave, I took my last long look at her. My own sister engaged to the Admiral. If I were purely selfless, I would have offered her more of congratulations. But, as Father Drapes said, I have a Devil in me. And right now, the Devil was writhing to come out.
