Hello fellow pirates!

When reading the next chapter, please bear in mind that I stink a fight scenes! That's all. Enjoy!

~ Miss Sofie.

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Chapter Nine

Catherine spent the next couple of days more or less alone at home. Her family was there, of course, but she felt alone. Even Robert's trying to cheer her up wouldn't help, and until recently the two of them had been almost as close as Catherine and Elizabeth. She realized she had neglected her brother terribly the past weeks.

The Commodore's visits were less and shorter than before. He and his men were trying to find out where Captain Sparrow hid. They had an idea that he was still in town, but Catherine never told him the few things she knew about the case. She didn't lie, either. She just kept quiet.

One day, when Commodore Norrington was on one of his short visits, a uniform clad man showed up asking for him. Catherine and the Commodore were sitting in the garden, having their tea, when he arrived.

"Commodore, can I have a word with you?" The soldier asked and the Commodore excused himself and got up to walk a little away with the man.

Catherine pretended not to be listening, but she had always had a good hearing, and so she couldn't help but take in every word that the two men said.

"What is it, Dennis?" The Commodore said.

"We've found him, sir. This time we have him caught up and he can't escape. The men are only waiting for your orders."

"Very well. Tell them not to do anything before I arrive. I want to have the pleasure of taking him to the gallows myself."

"Yes, sir."

"I shall be there in a minute. I just have to…" He looked at Catherine and the latter pretended to be watching the carriage that came up the avenue behind the two men.

"She shouldn't know about it. She seems to be very fond of the pirate, and…" Commodore Norrington stopped in the middle of his sentence. Catherine figured he'd realized his own mistake. It was not his place to talk about whom and what his fiancée was fond of. Least of all to a man who was below him.

"Well, can we expect you at Will Turner's forge, then, Commodore?"

"You can. I shall be right with you. Just see to it that Sparrow doesn't get away this time. The scoundrel seems to be very slippery!"

"I shall. Good day, Commodore!" The soldier said with a nod. He received one from the Commodore in return before he left.

"I'm afraid I shall have to leave you alone again, my dear." Commodore Norrington said when returning to Catherine. "It seems that I'm needed elsewhere. I apologize for my sudden departure, but I promise I shall make it up to you."

Catherine got up from her chair.

"No, please stay!" The Commodore said and kissed her cheek. "I shall be back soon."

"Okay." Catherine said, her mind already at the smithy. She had to go there. She had to get there before the Commodore. "Promise me that!"

She added the last part for the same reason as she had begun calling him 'James'. It was purely ornamental.

"I promise." James Norrington said with a serious look at Catherine. Then he left.

Catherine ran as fast as her small shoes would allow her to. She ran through other people's gardens and she crossed a corn field. A short while before she reached the smithy she slowed down. There were soldiers everywhere outside, and she did her best to breathe normally. She didn't want them to know she had been running. It was hard, though. She breathed heavily and her face felt warm.

The soldier, Dennis, who had come for the Commodore, was already there. Catherine wondered if he had taken the same route as she had.

"Miss Winston?!" He exclaimed. He didn't say, though, why he was surprised to see her there.

"What is going on here?" Catherine asked aware of the fact that Dennis had probably figured out that she had heard his conversation with the Commodore.

"Nothing that's fit for a lady to take part in." Another soldier said. Catherine recognized him as Gillette, the captain that the Commodore spoke very highly of.

"And why is that, Captain Gillette?" Catherine said furiously. It was not his fault, but she was beginning to think it all hopeless. Captain Sparrow would get caught, that was for sure.

"Because…" Gillette began seemingly not knowing whether to tell her or not.

Catherine walked towards the door to the smithy.

"No, don't go in there, Miss!" Gillette said and placed himself between her and the door.

"I have friends in there, Captain Gillette…" Catherine said harshly. "…And if you do not let me in, I shall tell the Commodore that you refused to let me pass!"

"But… But it's for your own safety, Miss!" Gillette said but moved aside. "There's a dangerous pirate in there!"

"I hardly think Captain Sparrow is more dangerous than you and I, Captain!" Catherine said feeling bad for being so patronizing to Gillette. "He's just a man visiting his son. What's so dangerous about that?"

"But Miss!" Gillette said as she opened the door. "I hardly think the Commodore would appreciate you going in there!"

"Then it's good you're not the Commodore!" Catherine replied with a contrived smile before she closed the door behind her.

~

Jack started at the sound of the door being closed. Everyone's eyes turned to look at the intruder. Thank God, it was only Catherine.

"What are you doing here?" Belle's voice revealed that she was very upset.

"Trying to warn you." Catherine replied. She didn't look at Belle, though. She looked at Captain Sparrow.

"Do you know anything that we don't know?" Will asked. He, like everyone else (except for Captain Sparrow), looked very gloomy.

"Only that the Commodore's on his way here. He's told his men not to do anything until he arrives."

"Why don't you just tell him to send his men away?" Jack asked in a very rude tone. He didn't look at Catherine.

"Oh, you know very well that he won't listen to me – a woman – when it comes to catching pirates!" Catherine replied angrily.

Jack didn't reply. He was ashamed of himself, but he couldn't pretend that he was happy to see her, when it hurt so much. Especially as her fiancé tried to kill his father.

"Now, calm down, everyone!" Captain Sparrow said from the corner of the smithy. He was leaning his back against the wall, looking quite laid back. He was the only one who still smiled.

"What makes you so self-confident?" Elizabeth exclaimed. There was a sign of panic in her voice. "You know this place is surrounded, there's no way you can escape, and the gallows are waiting for you! How can you be so calm?"

"Relax, luv!" The Captain said with a smile. "There's no need to worry. I'll get away."

"But how?!" Catherine exclaimed almost in a shriek.

"I'm Captain Jack Sparrow! I'll think of something!"

The door burst open before anyone reached to reply to that.

"Jack Sparrow!" The Commodore exclaimed from the doorway. "I always knew you were not the smartest pirate alive, but I never expected you to…" The Commodore's voice trailed off as he noticed the figure a few feet away from the pirate.

"Catherine!" He exclaimed in astonishment. "How did you…? Why are you…?"

"On first names now, are we?" Captain Sparrow said sarcastically. "Have a thing for the lass?" He stepped over to Catherine drawing his sword. He didn't point it at her, though.

Commodore Norrington's eyes flickered for a moment.

"Put down that sword, Sparrow!" The Commodore commanded.

"What'd ye say to you and me, outside, Commodore?" Captain Sparrow asked emphasizing the last word. "If you have the courage to fight against a pirate, man against man!"

"And how do I know that you'll fight fairly? You're a pirate. Your word would hardly be enough!"

"Ouch! That hurt!" Captain Sparrow said mockingly. "But think about it. If I don't fight fairly, you'll have yer little soldiers to prevent me from killing you! Why would I risk that?"

"Alright, Sparrow!" The Commodore said coldly. "It's just you and me, then!"

Outside a lot of the people from the town had gathered to see what was going on with all the soldiers present.

Jack watched as Catherine tried to persuade the Commodore not to go through with the fight.

"James, please don't do it!" She pleaded. The Commodore looked at her rather sternly, then her face turned mild.

"Catherine, my dear, you won't loose me. I promise you that!"

"Oh, so she's consented to become the future Mrs. Commodore, is it?" Captain Sparrow said cheerfully. "Ye know…that's kind of funny as it was only a few weeks ago she told me that she loved…"

"She told you what, Sparrow?" The Commodore interrupted annoyed.

Jack shot his father a cold stare, but he didn't see it. He looked at Catherine, who was looking menacingly back at him.

"Nothing. She didn't tell me anything." He said still very cheerful. "Let's get started, shall we?"

"Yes, that would be nice!" The Commodore replied with a fake smile at the pirate.

"Oh, by the way…" It was Captain Sparrow again.

"Yes?" The Commodore sounded even more annoyed than before, if possible.

"What's in it for me, if I win?"

"You will not win!"

"Ah, but if I should win, Commodore? I mean, if you win, you'll have me dead and be happy. If I win, I'll have ye dead and yer little soldiers will kill me. Is that what you'd call fair?"

"Alright!" The Commodore sighed. Then he looked at Gillette. "If I should fall and Sparrow win – which is very unlikely – he's to be set free!"

"But Commodore!" Gillette exclaimed and the rest of the soldiers started mumbling something that sounded as if they were not exactly pleased with it.

"No buts, Gillette! It's an order!"

"Yes, sir." Gillette replied and the rest, both the soldiers and the civilians, grew silent again.

The Commodore began the fight by swinging his sword at Captain Sparrow before the latter knew the fight had started. He reached to ward it off, though he looked a little surprised.

"Fighting fairly, eh?" He hissed and made the Commodore go for his head. Again the pirate dodged the attack turning around swiftly and hitting the Commodore's sword with his own. Then he made a quick movement and the Commodore just avoided being hit in the side.

The two men looked intensely at each other for a few seconds, before they thrust their swords at each other at the same time. It resulted in their blades clashing together with a loud metallic sound that made a few people put their hands to their ears.

Jack felt like looking away whenever the Commodore would almost hit his father, but he didn't. He kept watching, so he could rush to his father's aid if necessary.

He felt as if the fight went on for ages. It probably wasn't more than a few minutes, but it felt like a lifetime to Jack. Then, suddenly, the Commodore's blade hit his enemy's neck, cutting a couple of braids off the astounded pirate's head on its way. A loud murmur went through the crowd as blood trickled out from his neck, dripping to the ground.

Catherine and Elizabeth both let out a scream, and Jack and Will drew their swords. Belle froze.

Commodore Norrington, who was distracted by the girls' screaming, turned to look at them for a split second, and it was long enough for Captain Sparrow to regain his full consciousness and thrust his sword deep into the Commodore's chest. When the latter looked back at him blood was coming out his mouth. Captain Sparrow looked almost as surprised and shocked as the people around them, but it didn't prevent a couple of soldiers from grapping his arms and forcing him to let go of his sword as the Commodore fell to the ground.

Catherine rushed to the Commodore's side. Tears were streaming down her cheeks, and Jack felt a strong pain inside. Not because she wanted to be by the Commodore's side, but because she, too, was obviously in a lot of pain.

"I'm sorry, Catherine." The Commodore said slowly. Blood was still emerging from his mouth. Then his eyes seemed to look at something in front of him that wasn't there. "I…I love you…" He whispered loud enough for most people to hear him. "…Elizabeth!" Then he lay still, his eyes wide open.

"Oh my God!" Catherine sobbed and hid her face in her hands. Jack rushed to her side, and so did Elizabeth.

Somewhere far away there was a lot of commotion as the soldiers wouldn't let Captain Sparrow go. Will and Belle were trying to make them let him go, but they refused.

"Let him go!" Catherine suddenly said removing her hands from her face. Her voice was calm and controlled, though tears were still streaming down her cheeks. "It was James' last wish that he should be set free!" She said and got up. "Let him go!"

"Miss Winston is right." Gillette said after a while. "The Commodore gave Sparrow his word. He would've wanted us to keep it for him."

The soldiers holding the pirate let go of him reluctantly, and he shook the last of their hands off with a shake of his shoulder. He didn't pass any frivolous remarks, though. He seemed quite serious and almost sad.

"I almost feel like he didn't deserve it!" He said and bent down to close the Commodore's eyes. Then he straightened up again. "I'm sorry, Catherine!"

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Well, we're almost done here now. We only miss a few things to work out… Please review before you read the New Beginnings chappie! Thanx!