Truth
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the computer and keyboard that this was written with.
Rating: G
Summary: Norrington chooses a side. Drabble (Well, in theory. In practice, not so much.) for BlackPearlSails challenge.
"You actually were telling the truth."-James Norrington
"I do that quite a lot. Yet people are always surprised."- CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow
Commodore Norrington had always looked down on 'Captain' Sparrow. He had always considered himself much better than him, as a leader, a sailor, and a person. When Sparrow had said those words, he had almost believed him. For half a second, that is, until Turner had appeared and taken all credibility out of the statement. Then James saw Sparrow once again for what he was: a man who would put another in harm's way to save his own hide at the drop of a dime.
The now Admiral Norrington sat in his cabin on the Dutchman. Eliz- no Miss Sw- no CAPTAIN Swann had accused James of choosing the wrong side. That she, and somehow the pirates, was on the side of good and that he and the EITC were the murderers. The sad thing was he couldn't deny it. Even a day ago he would have fought vehemently that he had done the right thing by taking the heart to Beckett, that the world was safer with the heart in Beckett's possession than with the pirates. That had all changed with the revelation of what had really happened to the Governor. Governor Swann had been James' friend. He had never hurt anyone, had never done a thing to deserve death. He had been innocent.
Although Norrington hadn't been involved in his death, hadn't even known of it, he still felt guilty for it. It wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for him. If he hadn't stolen the heart from Sparrow, hadn't given it to Beckett, none of this would have happened. Innocent blood, much more than just the Governor's, would not have been shed.
'That's the truth,' James realized. 'The truth is that, although I've always looked down on Sparrow for his selfishness, I've been no different. I acted exactly like him.' He shuddered at the thought of being remotely similar to Sparrow. He had stolen the heart, tricked them into thinking that Sparrow had still had it, and then abandoned them to a situation they couldn't possibly survive. Horrified, James realized that that was exactly what Sparrow would have done in his place.
Commodore Norrington had once told Sparrow and Miss Swann that one good deed does not redeem a lifetime of wickedness. 'But,' he thought, 'if it can help reverse one bad deed, then it's certainly worth a try.' James had been indirectly responsible for the destruction of the Pearl, which had led Elizabeth to Singapore where she met Sao Feng, who had made her captain, which had put her here. Now her being here, that he could fix. If nothing else, he owned it to Weatherby, her father. James took off at a run for the brig. . .
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PS: Could anyone tell me why my indents/tabs/spaces at the beginnings of paragraphs won't go through? I'd appreciate it!