Disclaimer: I don't want to write it again!!!
Chapter 5: Idol and Idiot
Elizabeth sat up very straight on the couch in the parlor. The tea things were set out in front of her. She felt awkward. She was dressed so nicely to see a man she despised. The windows were open and she could hear the sea. The sea was so calming. She heard Estrella on the stairs.
"Are you sure you're all right, sir?"
"I'm fine. I can walk down stairs on my own," Norrington's straining voice said quietly.
"You're almost to the bottom, sir."
"Yes, Estrella, I can see that. I'm not blind."
"I'm sorry, sir."
He gave an exasperated sigh. "It's fine. It's nothing."
"Are you sure you can make it on your own, sir?"
"Yes. I'm sure I'll be fine."
Estrella made a helpless noise but her footsteps went away quickly. Norrington entered the parlor with a look of slight pain on his face. For a moment, Elizabeth didn't know what to do. The Commodore always looked rather grand and here he was struggling into the room in nothing but his shirt, britches, and a banyan*. But she stood up and helped him to one of the arm chairs. He sighed largely when he sat down. "Thank you."
Elizabeth let him regain his breath. "Would you like some tea, Commodore?"
"Yes, thank you." She handed him a cup, careful not to touch his hand. He watched her then pour some for herself adding two spoonfuls of sugar and some cream. A slight smile played on his lips as he took in her whole picture. "You look lovely, Elizabeth."
She blushed slightly and took a nervous sip of her tea. "Thank you, Commodore."
"It's a shame that your Mr. Turner had to run like that." The corners of his mouth seemed to curl into a tiny smile.
"He shouldn't have. I mean, he-"
"He's a terrible shot. He was so close and he failed to kill me."
"That's because he wasn't trying to," Elizabeth explained, trying not to sound in any way rude.
"So you realize the man you love is a coward? He fights for you yet he isn't willing to die for your love?"
Elizabeth felt the flames of his words on her cheeks. "Will is no coward. It's Jack Sparrow who shot you! Will would've killed you if he was given the chance!"
For a moment, Norrington looked surprised but then an arrogant smile came to his lips and he laughed. "Not only is he a coward for running but now you say, Mr. Turner can't even fight his own battles?" How could Elizabeth be in love with such a caitiff? After his charm wore off, she would see his true colors. She would be sorry.
Elizabeth stood with a look somewhere between tears and hatred. "No man who tried to save me from Pirates is a coward, Commodore."
"All Pirates are cowards."
Elizabeth swallowed hard and tried to stop herself from hitting Norrington. "Will is a good man. As is Jack."
"Well, the good man shot me and interfered with a duel."
She swallowed and stuck her nose up in the air partly to keep the tears in her eyes from pouring over her cheeks. She never cried before these pirates. Not even when her mother died. "Excuse me, Commodore, but I nothing more to add in this discussion." She left the room after taking a deep breath and Norrington could hear her shoes rushing up the stairs and the loud slam of a door. He looked down at his cup of tea. He wanted to throw it across the parlor. She was so close to him. She sat right there on the couch. She looked beautiful. No doubt, she had taken care to look special for the occasion, though she always looked beautiful. He hated himself. He always spoke so rashly.
In her room, Elizabeth cried into her pillow. She hated him. How could she have wished for him to be spared when he thought so little of Will? If Will had killed him, he wouldn't be on some dreaded Pirate ship. This was all Jack Sparrow's fault. The bloody Pirate. He missed! He could've at least let Will kill the Commodore. She cried all of her hate out until she was tired and her eyelashes felt sticky with tears.
Will could hear the noises of the sea swish and swash. He wasn't sure if it was making him calm or sick. Either way, he couldn't sleep. He couldn't be away from Elizabeth any longer. He wanted to hold her in his arms. Actually, he'd always wanted to hold her in his arms but now she was so close. He pulled his arms around his pillow thinking of how foolish he was, wishing it was Elizabeth. He loosened his grip. This was Jack's fault. Maybe Elizabeth was right…maybe he was just a drunken Pirate. How could he believe that a Pirate was the answer to his prayers? Norrington was planning on wasting his shot all along.
Why didn't he see that?
He felt even more foolish. That was the last straw.
Tomorrow, he would demand that Jack bring him back to shore. But the words 'or what?' echoed tauntingly in his mind.
*banyan: 18th c. robe but more for men than women.
A/N: If you haven't guessed yet, I know far too much about the 18th century. I'm a re-enactor so using the lingo is a bit of a pet peeve! I've used up all I planned for this story. Now I'm playin' it by ear until further notice! Exciting, eh?