Hi guys, this is the first chapter of my new story, A Touch of Destiny. Because I've always felt like there was so much more to the character of James Norrington, and I was always unhappy with his end, this is a Norrington/OC story. I hope you like it!
Disclaimer: All characters you recognize are owned not by me, but by the Disney Cooperation. I'm merely using them to fulfill my own amusement and fantasies and that of like minded others. I hope you enjoy!
Lieutenant Norrington looked over the busy docks, men were loading and unloading their ships, the sounds of animals, people arguing in different languages, someone dropped a crate of something full of glass resulting in a shattering sound, and then a loud shout. He scoffed softly as the harbormaster went over the log of different ships when someone caught his eye. He turned, unsure if he had just seen what he thought he did, and realized his eyes did not deceive him, a young woman was walking steadily down the gangplank to one of the ships, lugging a thick bag after her, not a man from her ship offered her a hand, in fact most of them seemed to make it a point to avoid looking at her as she walked down the gangplank. She did stand out Lieutenant Norrington decided, most of the men on the ship were darker skinned native people of the islands, speaking a dialect he did not understand, though the woman seemed to. She stepped onto the dock with purpose and looked around, her eyes scanning the men who moved around her hurriedly before her eyes landed on him. She seemed to decide he was one to talk to because she stepped forward, men stepping out of her way when they realized she was passing, until she stopped right in front of both the harbor master and Lieutenant Norrington.
"May I inquire as to which of you is the harbor master?" she asked and James looked to the harbormaster who stepped forward.
"That would be me madam." He replied and she nodded.
"Yes I thought so." She replied before turning to him. "I seem to have found myself in need of a place to stay for a night or two, can you recommend an inn with a bar and a bath?" she asked and he looked at Norrington who nodded and then looked back to her.
"If you want to stay close to the docks, I can recommend the Sleepy Siren." He shrugged causing James to frown.
"May I ask if you are traveling unescorted?" James asked and she nodded. "The Sleepy Siren is not a suitable place for a young woman unescorted or otherwise." He replied. "There is an inn further up the road a ways, the Proud Peacock, the matron is a good woman." He told her as she looked him over with eyes that could only be described as a mixture of green and gray.
"Are you offering to escort me, Lieutenant?" she asked, before smirking lightly. "Since you seem so concerned with my unescorted wellbeing." She added and he stared at her for a moment. "It would be only right considering I do not know the way." She smiled.
"Very well," he agreed. "It does seem only right. As soon as I am done with my business here I will escort you to the Proud Peacock, Miss…"
"Hester." She replied. "And you are?"
"Lieutenant Norrington Madame."
"Lieutenant." The harbormaster chuckled.
"Until midday tomorrow." Lieutenant reminded him. "And until midday tomorrow I shall introduce myself as such."
"Are you retiring?" Miss Hester asked and he shook his head as he read over the document the harbormaster had prepared.
"Nah lass, he's being promoted." The harbormaster replied and she looked at Lieutenant Norrington curiously.
"You seem rather young to be a Commodore." She commented and he nodded.
"You are not the first to say so." He told her before signing the bottom of the document. The harbormaster took it and sprinkled some sand onto the signature. "Shall we Miss Hester." He gestured towards town and she nodded before following after him. "May I ask what brought you to Port Royal?" he asked.
"I am here for business." She replied.
"What is your business?" he asked.
"My business is just that," she told him. "My business."
"Perhaps, but it is my business to know what happens in Port Royal." He reminded her and she looked at him for a moment.
"What is your given name?" she asked as they walked.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Your Christian name, what is it?" she asked.
"James." He replied and she thought for a moment, he noticed the way she clung to her necklace as she thought and then nodded.
"I'm looking for someone Commodore." She confided in him. "My master has requested I find a person and return a property which was stolen from them."
"Who is it you look for?" he asked and she shook her head.
"I'm afraid I'm unable to divulge that information sir." She told him as they continued to walk. James looked at his companion with a small frown, she was a head shorter than him, and had unruly red hair that came out from under a leather hat with a wide floppy brim she tried to keep her hair tamed under. She was wearing a long black dress that had obviously seen better days, it looked as though it had once been a truly stunning and remarkable piece, but it had fallen victim to hard wear and tear. On her feet she wore scuffed brown boots, and in her hand she held a cloth bag. The aforementioned necklace around her neck hung from a thick twisted silver chain. The stone was a cloudy blue rounded rectangle surrounded by strings of silver twisted around it to form a tear drop shape. It hung just below her collar bone and just above the swell of her breast, her right hand fingered the necklace occasionally, but she never mentioned it.
"What is your name?" he asked after a moment.
"I'm sorry?" she looked at him, it was obvious she had been caught up in her own thoughts.
"Your name." he repeated. "You have mine I see it only fitting I am returned the favor." For a moment she stared at him blankly, until she smiled widely.
"You must first promise you won't laugh." She instructed him.
"I would never." He looked shocked.
"Many have said that, and many were wrong." She replied. "Promise you will not laugh."
"I give you my word." He promised and she nodded.
"My name is Eudora Hester." She replied.
"That is a very interesting name." he replied with a straight face.
"Is it true no man of the King's navy has a sense of humor?" she asked. "Or is your sense of propriety too high?"
"I beg your pardon?" he let out a surprised chuckle and she grinned.
"Never have I had a man listen when given specific instruction not to laugh at my name." she replied.
"You're surprised because I've done only what you asked me not to do?" he asked with a chuckle and she smiled.
"You are a good man Commodore." She told him.
"But I am not commodore until tomorrow." He reminded her.
"All in all I think I'll help get you used to your future title." She replied. They walked through town together, James found it easier and easier to talk to her, and the two settled into a comfortable banter until they reached their location. "Thank you for escorting me future Commodore, I trust I shall be able to take charge of my own situation from here." She nodded to him.
"Will you be in Port Royal long Miss Hester?" he asked and she thought for a moment, before meeting his eye again.
"I shall be here for three days." She told him. "If you need to find me," she gestured to the front of the building. "Then you know where you will find me."
"Well, I look forward to talking again." He replied before she turned and walked inside. She looked out the window, watching as he walked away before she lightly ran her fingers over the stone in her necklace.
"Yes James Norrington," she muttered to herself. "I do believe we will meet again."
Short beginning, I know, but you find out more about Eudora in the next chapter!
I hope you liked it, please don't forget to review!