Yet again, usual disclaimers apply throughout this tale. If you recognise it, it probably belongs to the Mouse – else it is mine!

Chapter 75 - The Governor

Governor Spense barged into the Commodore's office. "Commodore! What is that pirate ship doing sitting outside the harbour?" he demanded.

James Norrington rose, sighing heavily. "They are sitting there under a truce flag, Governor. I was just about to row out to see what they want."

"What? You aren't going to fire on them from the fort?" he gasped.

"No Governor. The Sparrows have never violated a truce flag and I am minded to trust them. They look like they've taken some damage and might have some useful information to share." He acknowledged the waiting red coated marine. "My boat is ready. If you will excuse me Governor, I am sure I will have an answer for you shortly."

"Fine! I will await your return!" Thomas Spense sat down in his office, having no intention of moving until James Norrington returned.

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"Commodore Norrington," Catherine smiled. "How lovely to see you again!"

"Mistress Sparrow, Captain Sparrow," he nodded. "I can assume you have a reason for being here?"

"Yeah," Jack drawled. "I seem to have been evicted from m' cabin - an' I'd like it back!" James Norrington frowned, wondering what Jack meant… but then little that he said ever made sense to him.

"What Jack is trying to say Commodore, is that we seem to have picked up the Governor's family," Catherine smiled.

"You have…" he gasped. "May I see them?" He had received a ransom demand two days ago and the Governor had been distraught. Catherine opened the cabin doors, ushering the women and children on deck.

"Somethin' for him, somethin' for us, Commodore?" Jack smiled.

"What do you want?" James Norrington had the feeling he did not want to hear the reply, knowing how much gold the pirates had been asking from the Governor as ransom for the return of his family.

"Just th' return of our privateer status…" Jack said quietly.

"That is all?" He stared at Jack in shock, mouth agape. A pirate not wanting gold? Something was going on here and, although he did not know what it was, he had a sneaking suspicion that Jack Sparrow was up to something.

"Yup!" Jack grinned.

"I will have to confer with the Governor…" Doubt tinged his voice - what was he missing?

"We're not going anywhere mate," Jack smiled assuredly. "We can wait a while."

"Cap'n! Sail ho!" Oran shouted. "It's the Gauntlet!"

"Theo will honour our flag," he assured him. "But open the seaward gun ports to reinforce our message…" As they were across the entrance to the harbour, the Gauntlet could not easily pass and would have to anchor outside it. He turned back to James Norrington. "Commodore?"

"I shall return shortly." He climbed down into the small boat, his men rowing him back ashore as he tried to figure out the reasons behind the request. He found the Governor still waiting for him in his office, as he had feared, when he returned.

"Well," Thomas Spense demanded. "What did they want?"

"The return of their privateer status, that is all." James Norrington paused, his fingers drumming a beat on his desk, still trying to figure it out. "They have your family."

"They are the ones holding them ransom?" Thomas Spense gasped.

"No, Governor. They rescued them, albeit accidentally from the sound of it from Tuscane, and would like to return them. I believe the phrase they used was 'something for you, something for them'," James Norrington ventured, hoping that the Governor would agree and re-grant them the privateer status that he had asked for on their behalf when the Governor had first arrived. Governor Spense was silent. "Although I don't think they are being fully open, they have maintained their accord for nearly a year now. Since you arrived they have attacked no English ship…" he prompted.

"I know of your feelings about this Commodore, but I would like to speak with my wife before granting their request. Do you think they would release her?" he asked cautiously.

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So the Commodore rowed back out to the Black Pearl, climbing up as his men waited below in the small boat. "The Governor wishes to talk with his wife before he grants anything. Will you release her?" he asked Jack hopefully.

Jack Sparrow smiled. James Norrington hated it when he smiled, he was always left wondering what he was missing. "Aye, but just her until he agrees - savvy?" he drawled. "Children an' th' nanny stay!"

James Norrington nodded as Jack walked into his cabin. "Mistress Spense, if you would care t' accompany th' good Commodore, yer husband is waitin' fer you." Gently the Commodore assisted her down to the small boat before climbing in himself, sighing as yet again his men rowed him back ashore. He felt more like the messenger boy than an officer of His Majesty's navy.

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Thomas Spense embraced his wife warmly. He had been quite beside himself with worry when he had heard that they had been taken hostage, fearing that he would never see them again. Although his had been an arranged marriage, he was fond of his wife and adored his children. He listened in shock as his wife related their journey since leaving London.

"And they have treated you well, you say?" Governor Spense could hardly believe her tale of her rescue by the Black Pearl - it went totally against everything he had been told about pirates. For a moment he could almost believe the tales of his servants.

"Yes, Thomas. They rescued us and the captain even gave up his cabin." She paused. "Is what they are asking so unreasonable?"

"No, it is too reasonable - which makes me suspect it." He sighed. "But I will grant them what they want, if only to see the children again."