Title: An officer and a maid.
Rating: PG
Pairing: Groves/Estrella, E/W, E/N
Warnings: none
Disclaimer: Disney owns them, I do not.

An officer and a maid

Chapter 10: A Galley Rumage

Miss Lawrence,

Have I a sea story for you! When we arrived at the island, the Black Pearl had arrived before us. The Commodore, Lt. Gillette, and myself discussed our options while we were still aboard the Dauntless. We came to the conclusion that it would be a dangerous engagement regardless. Nevertheless, we rowed several longboats closer to the island to see the situation. I remained aboard the Dauntless. Apparently, these pirates were cursed, for before we knew it, we were being attacked by skeletal pirates who seemed to appear out of the water. I was below decks at the time, inspecting the supplies. To be honest, I didn't want to be within sight of those longboats, for fear we would watch them be slaughtered and not be able to do anything about it without blowing our own boats out of the water.

Well, as soon as I heard the unmistakable sound of gunfire, I scurried back up on deck. Well, I tried to. I couldn't get up because the way below deck was right through the deck, and with the fighting right above me, I couldn't press through. So, you see, I managed to miss the entire battle when I was right by it. Even the Governor saw more of it then I did, it turns out. At some point I became bored and went down to the galley. The pirates must have assumed that all the crew members were on deck or in the long boats, because I was quite undisturbed in my quest for the meat that I knew the cook was hiding. I didn't find that, but I did manage to find some ale, and had to satisfy myself with that. You must think me horribly cowardly for missing such a thing, Miss Lawrence, but I didn't do it on purpose. In the end, we won, in all corners. The curse was broken on the island and so we captured the pirates, we recovered Mr. Turner, and Captain Sparrow was abandoned by his pirate crew, so we have him in custody. He will be hung when we return to Port Royal.

Incidentally, I had a discussion with the Commodore last night. Admittedly, he had had a cup or two of ale, and that is an indulgence he usually does not make. Nevertheless, I am sure you can guess the topic of our discussion. I asked him if he thought that Miss Swann loved him. "Elizabeth?" he said. "Of course not." "What sir?" I responded. "She love Turner, Groves, even a blind man could see that. Why else would she insist on running all over the Caribbean looking for him?" Well, you see, I had no answer for him, because my answer was the one that he gave me. "Then why marry her?" I asked him. "Because I love her." "But if she doesn't love you…" "I cannot lose her, Groves." He sighed. He seemed depressed, though I should have known that. It's the only time James ever drinks, and besides, his violin lay glistening in the candle light. "I cannot lose her." "You cannot keep her." I said. I have no idea what possessed me, to say such a thing. Perhaps it was the ale. In any event, I had said it, and I expected a diatribe from my friend. "No, I probably can't." he said. I was stunned. It isn't like James to admit defeat. "That is why I would release her from her engagement to me, if I could." "Sir?" "You heard me, lieutenant. If I thought she could marry Turner, if I knew Turner wouldn't be hung for piracy, if I knew that he would make her happy, I would give her to him." He had had more ale by this time. "I only want her happiness. She is so young, and so wild, and so… free, in a way I never was, never could be. I wouldn't want her to lose that for anything." So there you have it, Miss Lawrence. He knows and doesn't care. I wonder if he realizes that it is a bit selfish on his part.

I shall post the lot of letters you will be receiving now. We are perhaps two to three days from port, so this shall be my last letter. It will reach Port Royal only a day or two before me, if the winds are favorable. I shall also post your mistress's letters to you. Perhaps she can offer more insight into what happened on that island.

Theodore Groves