I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean, Disney does. I only own the characters that weren't in the movies. You know, the ones I made up. Anyway.
Samuel looked down the barrel of Tom's gun. "Father!" He squeaked, barely above a whisper.
"Don't." Tom scolded in a low voice. "Don't even try it. I'll pull the trigger right now if you do."
Samuel bit his lower lip as his eyes became glassy.
"Now, get out of bed and get yourself dressed, quickly!"
Samuel did as he was told. He crawled out of bed and dressed himself in black pants, a white shirt with long sleeves, leather boots, and brushed his hair so that it was neat. Leaving his shirt untucked he grabbed his navy blue coat and black tricorn. When he was done he looked up at Tom.
"Good. Now, lead me out to the front door. Don't say a word, don't scream, don't try to get help by making any noise. Just walk."
Samuel nodded and led him to the front door, not speaking, not making any noise what-so-ever. As quietly as he could, he opened the door and stepped outside, Tom right behind him, closing the door.
"JAMES!!!" Sarah's shrill scream filled the house.
James was instantly woken from his state of slumber, bolting upright and looking around the room. Sarah was nowhere to be found. Throwing the covers off of his body he grabbed his sword by his bedside, dashing out of the room as quickly as he could.
Upon exiting their room, he could hear sobs coming from Samuel's. Raising his sword, he entered the room only to find his wife laying on the floor sobbing, Misty beside her trying to comfort her. Samuel was nowhere in sight. Squatting down beside his wife, he laid his sword down on the floor and gathered her into his arms.
"He's go-...James they..." Was all she could get out.
"Sarah, Sarah calm down, I can't help unless I can understand what you're saying. Shhhh." He tried soothing.
She was clinging to him so tightly that he knew she was going to leave marks on his still exposed, uncovered and un-protected upper half. He realized then that he wasn't wearing a shirt infront of a female other than his wife, but at this point he didn't exactly care. He wanted to find out what was going on.
He did what he could, stroking her knuckles to try and make her loosen her grip, whispered things into her hair and stroked her back. When none of this worked he turned to Misty, who was squatted down on the ground like him a few feet away.
"Where is Samuel?" He asked, fearing the worst.
Misty said nothing but handed him a crumpled, yellowed piece of paper. It read,
Mr. Norrington,
If you want to see your son, don't run to the authorities. Meet me in the forest on Red Horse Road. I'll be waiting for you somewhere along the path. Come un-armed and alone, for if you bring weapons, I can't guarantee your son's safety. We'll make a bargain, and maybe I'll let him live. It's up to you Mr. Norrington. Meet me at noon, not a minute later, or you'll have to suffer the consequences. Good day, Mr. Norrington.
Anonymous
James looked up at Misty. "What time is it?" His voice sounded almost frantic.
She leapt to her feet and grabbed the pocket watch off of the nightstand. "It's eleven o'clock."
By this time Sarah had stopped crying and was now studying her husband, trying to regain her breath. He looked down at her as well and whispered,
"You know what this means." He stated.
She nodded, knowing he would have to leave his home without anything or any way to protect himself. She tried to stand, but her legs wouldn't support her. She was too weak with worry. He lifted her bridal style and carried her to their room. There, he laid her on the bed.
"I must get ready." He told her softly.
She only nodded. With a final stroke to her hand, he turned and crossed the room to their wardrobe. He stripped himself of his night cloths and dressed himself in his more worn out clothing. Black pants, tattered old white long-sleeved shirt tucked in, old worn brown leather belt. He quickly tucked his pants into his brown leather boots and tied his hair back.
He didn't bother with shaving, just leaving his over-night stump alone and crossed the room to his wife.
"I promise I'll bring him back safely." He whispered, taking her hands in his as he sat on the edge of the bed.
"I know you will." She whispered weakly. "Promise me that you'll come back safely." She lightly squeezed his hands.
"I promise." He leaned down and kissed her lips. He allowed their lips to linger before he pulled away. "I must go." He said as he stood.
She nodded. With that, James exited their room and house without another word, or a weapon. Taking larger strides than usual, he was in the barn in a matter of moments. He found his light bay, Sea Salt, already saddled. Furrowing his brows he looked around Sea Salt to see Misty saddling Lady. Taking quick, long strides he walked up beside Misty.
"What are you doing?" He asked, drawing her attention from the mare to him.
"I'm going with you. Tom is my problem, I want to end this."
He sighed. "I want to end this as much as you do, but I'm not letting you come with me."
"But this is my fight just as much yours!" She tried objecting.
"I know, I know it is. But you've got to stay with Sarah, I fear for her health."
"But..."
"No!" He said firmly. "I don't have time to argue. Stay with Sarah." With these words he led Sea Salt out of the barn and mounted. Taking a second look at his home, he nudged the horse into a gallop.
He was here. He had been running his horse on the Red Horse path in the woods for some time now, and still hadn't seen any sign of any one. He wasn't late, for it was just now noon. A shadow caught his attention and he abruptly stopped his horse. From the left side of the path, a man riding a black horse rode out onto the path.
It was the same man James had seen beating Misty. He still wore the green shirt, the black pants tucked into his brown boots, and black hooded cloak. The hood was pulled up on his head, the shadows hiding the upper half of his face so that James wasn't allowed a good look at him.
"James Norrington?" Came the scruff voice of the man.
James nodded, his eyes dark. "I've come just as you requested. I have no weapons and I'm alone, now where is he?" He demanded, his voice low.
The man smirked. "I don't think you should be making such demands of me." He said as he studied James from under the shadow of his hood. "Dismount."
James dropped the reins and dismounted, his heavy boots sending a loud thud through the quiet forest. The stranger also dismounted, walking over to James in slow, intimidating steps.
"Face the side of your horse and put your hands on the saddle."
He did so.
The stranger walked behind James and began patting him down, feeling for anything hard or out of place. Finding no weapons, the stranger smirked and stepped back.
"You're a smart man." He drew a pistol. "Now if you'll just mount your horse and put your hands behind your back."
Letting out an annoyed sigh, James did as he was told. Shortly after he felt his hands being tied behind his back. The stranger then took the reins of James's horse in his hand and mounted his own horse, leading them down the path.
Lord Beckett sat and studied the young Norrington sitting in the chair infront of him. The boy was quiet, his eyes filled with fear as he quietly allowed tears to stream down his face.
"Now," Lord Beckett said, drawing Samuel's attention. "No need to fret. Tea?" He offered.
A plain white tea kettle sat on the table, along with two tea cups and a plate of finger foods.
"Father said for me to never except food from strangers." He choked out.
"You're father's a smart man. Too bad one moment of guilt and weakness caused him to act stupidly aboard the Dauntless. Surely you've heard that tale?"
Samuel shook his head. His parents had never told him what had happened aboard the Dauntless. How they had been reunited, and how he had allowed Elizabeth and her crew to escape and why his mother had that horrible scar on her right side.
"I never was told that tale." He said softly.
"Well, if you ever get out of this, you should ask him about it."
New fear sprung up into Samuel's chest at the words, 'if you ever get out of this'. His eyes were becoming glassier with new tears and he looked down at the floor. All he wanted right now was to be home, with his mum and dad, sister and Misty. He didn't even know who this man was! So why was he tormenting him so?
New hope sprung up to his chest when he heard the door open. He quickly turned and his eyes brightened at the sight of his father walking in. James's eyes brightened as well at the sight of his son, and he dropped to his knees when his son ran to him.
"Father!" He choked through his tears. Samuel threw his arms around James's neck and held to him as tightly as he could.
James's hands being tied, he couldn't hug him back so he buried his face into his son's shoulder. "You're alright, you're going to be alright." He whispered so that only Samuel could hear.
Lord Beckett stood and watched the scene play out before him, and nodded to Tom.
"Un-tie him."
Tom knelt down on the floor and sliced through the ropes on James's hands, cutting him in the process. No doubt he did it on purpose. James didn't worry about the fresh pain in his wrists, only threw his arms around his son as if to protect him from the world. He looked up to find Lord Beckett not standing very far away. His eyes widened and then darkened.
"Cutler Beckett. I should have known this to be you're planning."
Beckett said nothing but nodded to Tom, who carelessly ripped Samuel out of his father's arms.
"Wait!" He yelled, jumping to his feet.
"Do you want him to live?"
James froze. He nodded.
"Sit. I've a ...proposition to make." He said slowly, using his words carefully.
James walked to the table and sat in the chair across from Lord Beckett.
"Tea?" Beckett offered, as if they were at a social meeting.
James shook his head. Beckett fixed himself a cup.
"What of this proposition?" James asked, defeated.
"As you well remember, you set free some precious cargo of mine? One Captain Elizabeth Turner?"
James furrowed his brows. "Turner? So she did marry him." He said more to himself than to Beckett.
"She did, in fact. On to the subject. As you can imagine you caused me quite a bit of trouble. If the Brethren Court hadn't had their precious Pirate King, pirates would no longer exist. I would have exterminated them all, and I would have complete control over the seven seas."
James smirked. "So you're taking a sweet little revenge out on my family?"
"That's exactly what I'm doing."
"So what of this proposition?" His patients was growing thin.
"Turn yourself in to the King of England." He said simply.
James furrowed his brows. "What?"
"As you know, you're a wanted man Norrington. You've once again assisted in freeing pirates that awaited their punishment. If I was told correctly, your wife murdered one of my Commodores on the island they were able to drop anchor at to tend to the wounded. You and your wife have a nice price on your heads." He stopped with a smirk.
James sat to take all of this in. "And if I refuse?"
"I give the order to my assistant to kill your son, now."
Allowing a sigh to escape his lips, he looked back up at Beckett.
"That won't be necessary."
Uh oh! Beckett's back to his tricks again. Will Samuel live? Will James turn himself in? Wait and see! Please review! I appreciate it! Thanks!