It was raining. It had started off as a light drizzle that was pleasantly cool after the afternoon's heat, but then it had increased into a steady rain, then to a downpour that had lasted most of the evening and didn't show any signs of stopping.
Wes and Norrington hadn't had time to put together any sort of shelter, so they huddled together underneath some trees. The trees didn't provide much cover, and soon both of them were soaking wet, cold, and shivering, though neither showed it.
"I should have put up a shelter first thing," Norrington said, apparently scolding himself. "But I was more concerned about food and water."
"I'm all right," Wes lied. "I'm sure this'll stop soon."
Norrington glanced up at the sky. Unlikely, he thought. But he didn't want to sound overly negative, so he didn't voice his opinion.
They sat for several minutes longer, then Wes looked out to sea and squinted, then frowned.
"What is it?" Norrington asked.
"I think I see a ship."
Norrington sat up a little straighter and looked out to sea. "A ship? Where?"
Wes pointed. "There. Just to the right of those trees."
Norrington looked hard, and sure enough, there was the faint outline of a ship, growing larger as it drew nearer. "I think you're right," he said, standing up.
Wes and Norrington made their way through the rain to the waters' edge.
"I can't tell what ship it is," Norrington said.
"Could it be the Pearl?" Wes asked hopefully.
"It could be, though it's unlikely."
"Hey!" Wes called, waving his arms and running out into the water until he was waist deep. "Hey! Over here! Hello!"
Norrington followed Wes out into the water, squinting through the rain to make out the ship's markings. The ship drew nearer, and figures came into view standing on its deck. Wes shouted even louder, and even Norrington waved. Then, suddenly, he froze.
It was the Dauntless.
"What is it?" Wes asked.
"My old ship," Norrington replied. "They'll recognize me."
"What should we do?"
"Let me do the talking. I was kidnapped by pirates, that's where I met you, a fellow prisoner. Then we were marooned here after that last storm. Just follow my lead. Got it?"
Wes nodded.
"Hello there!" Norrington called, walking out farther to meet the ship.
"Hello!" a voice called back from the deck of the Dauntless, distant through the rain and wind. "Do you require assistance?"
"Yes!"
Norrington and Wes were hauled aboard the Dauntless, and were met by none other than a recently promoted Commodore Gillette.
"Commodore Norrington!" Gillette exclaimed. He took his coat off and draped it over Norrington's shoulders. "You look awful. Are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Just a little chilled."
"Of course, of course. Come on down below and warm up." Gillette started to lead Norrington away, but then noticed Wes for the first time. "Who's this?"
"Sam West," Norrington replied. "He was captured not long after I was."
"Captured!" Gillette cried. "By who?"
"Those bloody pirates," Norrington said, with such convincing distaste that Wes almost felt nervous.
Gillette scowled. "Yes, those bloody pirates. Sparrow again?"
Norrington nodded.
"I'll not rest until he hangs, then," Gillette promised. "Nobody mistreats an officer of the Royal Navy and gets away with it! Not as long as I'm Commodore!"
A touch dramatic, Norrington thought.
"But never mind that now," Gillette said. "We'd best get you both into dry clothes."
Gillette led Wes and Norrington down below to an empty cabin and provided them with dry clothes and warm blankets. Wes changed his clothes and was surprised at how good the clean, dry ones felt comparted to his wet, dirty ones. He wrapped up in a blanket and sat down on one of the two beds. Norrington sat on the bed across the room, and Wes was surprised that there was actually room to fit two beds into one cabin. This place seemed unreasonably clean and spacious compared to the Black Pearl's less rigorous standards.
There was a knock on the door, and an officer stepped into the room.
"Lieutenant Groves?" Norrington asked.
"Captain now, actually," Groves replied.
"Oh..." Norrington said, suddenly feeling remarkably out of the loop. "Well, congratulations on your promotion."
"Thank you, sir." Groves smiled. "I brought you both some tea."
Norrington nodded, and Groves left the room. Norrington picked up one of the teacups and handed the other to Wes. Wes took a sip of the liquid, and nearly choked on it.
Norrington looked over at him. "Strong, I know. But you should drink it. It'll make you feel better."
Wes took another sip and nearly spat it back out. "How can you stand to drink this stuff?"
Norrington gave a slight smile. "To be honest, I was expecting something a bit stronger, if you know what I mean."
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