The Makings of a Pirate, by Hellborne
Pirates of the Caribbean
Copyright: Characters, not mine, See the Mouse. Story, mine, but I make no money. He does, but not on this.
Typing convention. / is used for thoughts.
Summary: Jack Sparrow seems to be waging a personal war on slavery. Elizabeth and Will want to know WHY.
BETA: Pendragginink I love you! You are the greatest!!!!! I really can't say enough wonderful things about you!
A/N: Feed the plot ferrets or they'll bite you in the arse...and I won't write anything else.
- - - - - - -
Chapter 6 - Lessons Learned
Norrington was standing at attention when Will entered the cabin. He saw who it was and automatically stooped to be shorter. Will saw that, and shook his head. "Don't bother with that around me, Commodore. If you're doing that automatically, I don't think this ordeal will last much longer at all. In fact," he walked to a chest and pulled out the carefully folded naval officer's uniform. "Jack told me to have you wear these." He unlocked the shackles. "I'm sorry that you had to go through all this, but it's beyond my control."
Norrington nodded, started to say "Yes, master," and stopped himself. He quickly changed clothes and put the wig on his now-tangled hair. "I believe that I have learned a great deal, Mr. Turner. Not only about slavery, but about the man who taught me about it, and believe it or not, I do appreciate it. And for the record, I shall not attempt escape even though I am out of that collar."
Will smiled sweetly. "Good. Then Lizzy won't shoot you." He headed out the door, followed by Norrington.
- -
As he left the ship, Norrington looked around. /Why would the Black Pearl be in Montego Bay?/ He got into the carriage with Will & Lizzy, and the carriage rolled out, winding through the town and out the south road. He recognized it as the main road that went overland between Montego Bay and Port Royal.
As they rode through the countryside, they passed many plantations with slaves out tending the fields. James watched the slaves as they toiled. He saw one woman being whipped, and he unconsciously flinched as the heavy whip came down on her back, striking her to the ground. He saw children working along side adults /probably not even their own parents/ wearing nothing but a breechcloth, their brands showing clearly. His hand went unbidden to his right thigh, where the inked emblem of his own servitude still shown darkly when he wore the rags he'd been given as Jack's slave.
A couple of hours later, the carriage pulled up to a very large mansion in a sugar plantation, and the driver opened the door. Lizzy and Will left the carriage first, looking amazed, followed by a very confused Norrington. He looked around and saw many people, mostly black. He noticed how they were dressed and how they were walking, and discovered that they were not slaves. He smiled to himself for noticing. Will motioned him inside the mansion. Lizzy pulled at Will's arm and they left Commodore alone in the foyer.
In the entrance hall, he saw a portrait. He knew the man in it. The man in the portrait had come every year for the past eight years to the annual Christmas ball that Governor Swann threw for the local aristocracy. He was foppish to say the least, preferring the conversational company of women, though in Norrington's memory, he never knew of him being interested in them sexually. He wondered why he was in the Earl's mansion. Perhaps Sparrow really was going to free him, and had him brought here to be officially released.
A servant came down the grand staircase. "Commodore Norrington? Lord Raymond Smythe-Douglass bids you welcome, and asks that you accompany me to his office."
Norrington followed the servant to a rather large office. Lord Smythe-Douglass was behind the desk, pouring over a group of account books. The servant left, closing the door. The Earl looked up. "Commodore Norrington. Sit down...sit down. We have much to discuss." Norrington had always found the Earl's poofish voice hilarious, but he kept a straight face, as always.
"My lord? I'm afraid I don't understand."
"How have you been treated since your capture by those dreadful pirates?" He seemed deeply concerned about Norrington's health, looking him up and down with a raised eyebrow.
Norrington's eyebrows raised slightly. "Quite well, actually. All in all, it was a most educational experience."
Lord Smythe-Douglass sniffed his handkerchief and giggled in a foppish manner. "In what way was it educational? Did they show you how they plunder innocent merchants? Or people for that matter." He paused and became serious. "Did they harm you in ANY way?" he said meaningfully.
"No, nothing like that, Milord. They did, however, teach me how to make the most delicious food. It's from the Orient. But they taught also me just how wrong slavery is, and believe it or not, Milord, I hope to see their captain again so that I can thank him for it."
"Really. Then you will no longer be guarding slave ships coming to the Caribbean?" The Earl looked interested.
"I have no choice in that, Milord, as the order comes from the Admiralty, and therefore from the Crown. But I DO have a choice on how well I guard them. I would not wish any of my men to be killed over protecting slaver ships, and THAT I do have control over."
"I see." He sniffed his handkerchief again, apparently thinking.
Just then, a little pink nose with red eyes appeared climbing over the top of the Earl's head. Norrington recognized her as one of his little furry bedmates for the last week. "Kali?" He looked around and saw a white blur running under a couch. "Satan? Milord, is Jack Sparrow here in your mansion?"
"Commodore...COMMODORE Jack Sparrow." His accent had changed, as had his voice. It was definitely Sparrow.
Norrington gaped at him. "What is the meaning of this!" He paused, very confused. "Are you Lord Raymond Smythe-Douglass or are you Commodore Jack Sparrow?"
The man shrugged. "Both, mate." He brought Kali down off of his head, talking to her. "I thought I told you to stay put till I wanted you to come out?" He put her down on the floor, and she ran to join Satan, chittering and dooking playfully all the way. Then he turned to Norrington. "I had to know you had learned the lesson that you needed so desperately to learn. Now, what do you mean by guardin' the slavers but having control over how well you guard them? If ye guard them properly, your men are going to die, I promise you. If ye guard them improperly, the King will think you are incompetent and have you replaced. You don't dare do either. May I make a suggestion, Commodore?"
"Certainly." Norrington was still in shock.
"Stay on board the Pearl. Become a pirate and live a life of freedom, like we help the ex-slaves to do. I need a first mate, and you would fill in just fine till we can pilfer you a good ship of your own to command. And don't worry about Pintel. He can't wait to get back to the galley with Ragetti. They've been partners for so long that I didn't want to separate them except that I needed Pintel to help me against you."
Norrington looked down, looking sorrowful. "I can't. I am an officer in the Royal Navy. How could I turn against the crown?" He looked at Jack.
"Tell you what, mate. Come with me on the Pearl for a month. Ye don't have to do anything that would go against yer grain. There are six slavers out there that need raidin', and they're not bein' guarded. Other than the slavers, we shall stay away from British ships 'n' ports till you have made your decision. Do we have an accord?"
"I'd like to. I really would after what you taught me. But I'm the military leader of the entire area. How could I justify staying on board the Black Pearl? It's a pirate ship. You're a pirate..."
"Since I had planned on keeping you for another month or so for your 'lessons,' I think you might prefer being in a nice, cozy cot in yer own cabin than the hay at the bottom of me bed, eh? What say you to that?"
"When you put it that way, I accept."
"Good then. You shall accompany me to my holdin's in the morning and then we shall set sail. I had thought it would take two more days to look in on me holdings, but I think we can have it done by tomorrow afternoon. Rest up, James Norrington. Ye have a new life ahead of you beginning in the mornin'."
- -
Anna Maria waited in Jack's bedroom. Her hair was down and she was combing it at the vanity. Jack walked in, not noticing her, took off the wig and plopped it on its stand, then started pulling off his clothes. Ana Maria watched him in the mirror for a moment, then cleared her throat.
Jack stopped undressing immediately and looked at her. "Aye?"
"Jack, after sailing the slaver here, I'd like to claim her for meself. Think of it as liberating her from HER slavery. That way you can give Marty the Dauntless. He deserves it, and I would rather have the slaver. I've renamed her already. I'm calling her the Redeemer, and I'd like to have her painted a royal blue with white trim. PLEASE, Jack? I've fallen in love with her as much as you have with the Pearl."
"Ana Maria, my love. Let me think about it. My mind is set against it, but I want to give it a fair thought." He paused. "And you said you love her. I can't just scuttle her without second thoughts if you love her. I'll give you my answer before we leave tomorrow, savvy?"
"Aye Jack. I'll abide by your decision, but I wanted to let you know that I wanted her." She put down the hairbrush and left.
- -
There was a huge breakfast waiting for everyone when they arrived in the dining room. Jack was wearing his "Lord Smythe-Douglass" costume, and was seated at the head of the table with Satan in his hat. Kali was nowhere to be seen, but everyone assumed that she was sleeping in his pocket, as usual. Commodore Norrington, looking like he had enjoyed a nice bath between the previous night and this morning, was seated at the other end of the table in his uniform, but without his sword. Ana Maria, Mutambo, Will, & Lizzy sat between them.
They spoke of all kinds of things during breakfast, with bawdy jokes being the most popular. Commodore Norrington thought that Jack had to be feeling a lot better; he ate like a horse for the first time since the crew of the Dauntless had been dropped off.
Near the end of the meal, Lizzy brought up a question that most of the people at the table had been thinking, but seemed too embarrassed to ask. "Jack, why is Lord Smythe-Douglass a poof?
Jack laughed. "Love, I've never 'eard it put quite that way to me face before. I have done a good job at presenting that look, though, haven't I? I have even 'eard rumors that the Earl was sent away from court because of an indiscretion with a Duke! But yes, I've kept that act up to avoid havin' t' talk to the Commodore, actually."
Norrington started. "Me? Why should you not wish to talk to me? I would think that you could have spied out where all of the naval ships were and could fairly rule the seas that way."
"Because had I spoken with you at any great length, you would quite probably have seen through my disguise, and I could not bear to see the man who owns near half of Jamaica on the gallows." He grinned, which was chilling, since the grin belonged to Jack Sparrow, and the teeth and face belonged to Lord Raymond. "So the Earl became a poof and stayed with the ladies. And Commodore, I managed to get plenty of information about the fleet from them. Your officers are not half as secretive from their wives as you would think."
Jack stood up. "Now. Everybody finished? Good. Pack yer gear: we're headin' back to town. Lizzy, you and Will head straight for the Folly and get sailin' You have a ship to catch in three days." He handed Lizzy a map. "One hundred left Africa on that ship. Women and children, mostly. Bring 'em back here and then meet me here on December 16th.
He turned to Ana Maria. "You're dry-docked, luv." He smiled. "Get the Redeemer painted and set sail. Since we don't know how long ye'll be, set yerself up in my apartments in town." He handed her an envelope and a set of keys. "Tha'll take care of any possible arguments from the groundskeeper there."
Then he turned to Norrington. "When we get into town, you're going to have to get some new clothes...pirate clothes. Let's face facts, mate, PIRATES don't dress like Commodores either." He grinned, as did Norrington. "Oh, and ye've got to have a new name. I don't want anyone recognizing ye. What'll it be?"
"How about Robert James? Robert was my brother's name. I can respond to either name."
"Done. Well, Robert, get yer clothes at the tailor closest to the docks. He usually has extras lyin' about." He tossed Robert a small purse.
- -
TBC
A/N: So am I screwing up? Let me know by hitting the REVIEW button!
Pirates of the Caribbean
Copyright: Characters, not mine, See the Mouse. Story, mine, but I make no money. He does, but not on this.
Typing convention. / is used for thoughts.
Summary: Jack Sparrow seems to be waging a personal war on slavery. Elizabeth and Will want to know WHY.
BETA: Pendragginink I love you! You are the greatest!!!!! I really can't say enough wonderful things about you!
A/N: Feed the plot ferrets or they'll bite you in the arse...and I won't write anything else.
- - - - - - -
Chapter 6 - Lessons Learned
Norrington was standing at attention when Will entered the cabin. He saw who it was and automatically stooped to be shorter. Will saw that, and shook his head. "Don't bother with that around me, Commodore. If you're doing that automatically, I don't think this ordeal will last much longer at all. In fact," he walked to a chest and pulled out the carefully folded naval officer's uniform. "Jack told me to have you wear these." He unlocked the shackles. "I'm sorry that you had to go through all this, but it's beyond my control."
Norrington nodded, started to say "Yes, master," and stopped himself. He quickly changed clothes and put the wig on his now-tangled hair. "I believe that I have learned a great deal, Mr. Turner. Not only about slavery, but about the man who taught me about it, and believe it or not, I do appreciate it. And for the record, I shall not attempt escape even though I am out of that collar."
Will smiled sweetly. "Good. Then Lizzy won't shoot you." He headed out the door, followed by Norrington.
- -
As he left the ship, Norrington looked around. /Why would the Black Pearl be in Montego Bay?/ He got into the carriage with Will & Lizzy, and the carriage rolled out, winding through the town and out the south road. He recognized it as the main road that went overland between Montego Bay and Port Royal.
As they rode through the countryside, they passed many plantations with slaves out tending the fields. James watched the slaves as they toiled. He saw one woman being whipped, and he unconsciously flinched as the heavy whip came down on her back, striking her to the ground. He saw children working along side adults /probably not even their own parents/ wearing nothing but a breechcloth, their brands showing clearly. His hand went unbidden to his right thigh, where the inked emblem of his own servitude still shown darkly when he wore the rags he'd been given as Jack's slave.
A couple of hours later, the carriage pulled up to a very large mansion in a sugar plantation, and the driver opened the door. Lizzy and Will left the carriage first, looking amazed, followed by a very confused Norrington. He looked around and saw many people, mostly black. He noticed how they were dressed and how they were walking, and discovered that they were not slaves. He smiled to himself for noticing. Will motioned him inside the mansion. Lizzy pulled at Will's arm and they left Commodore alone in the foyer.
In the entrance hall, he saw a portrait. He knew the man in it. The man in the portrait had come every year for the past eight years to the annual Christmas ball that Governor Swann threw for the local aristocracy. He was foppish to say the least, preferring the conversational company of women, though in Norrington's memory, he never knew of him being interested in them sexually. He wondered why he was in the Earl's mansion. Perhaps Sparrow really was going to free him, and had him brought here to be officially released.
A servant came down the grand staircase. "Commodore Norrington? Lord Raymond Smythe-Douglass bids you welcome, and asks that you accompany me to his office."
Norrington followed the servant to a rather large office. Lord Smythe-Douglass was behind the desk, pouring over a group of account books. The servant left, closing the door. The Earl looked up. "Commodore Norrington. Sit down...sit down. We have much to discuss." Norrington had always found the Earl's poofish voice hilarious, but he kept a straight face, as always.
"My lord? I'm afraid I don't understand."
"How have you been treated since your capture by those dreadful pirates?" He seemed deeply concerned about Norrington's health, looking him up and down with a raised eyebrow.
Norrington's eyebrows raised slightly. "Quite well, actually. All in all, it was a most educational experience."
Lord Smythe-Douglass sniffed his handkerchief and giggled in a foppish manner. "In what way was it educational? Did they show you how they plunder innocent merchants? Or people for that matter." He paused and became serious. "Did they harm you in ANY way?" he said meaningfully.
"No, nothing like that, Milord. They did, however, teach me how to make the most delicious food. It's from the Orient. But they taught also me just how wrong slavery is, and believe it or not, Milord, I hope to see their captain again so that I can thank him for it."
"Really. Then you will no longer be guarding slave ships coming to the Caribbean?" The Earl looked interested.
"I have no choice in that, Milord, as the order comes from the Admiralty, and therefore from the Crown. But I DO have a choice on how well I guard them. I would not wish any of my men to be killed over protecting slaver ships, and THAT I do have control over."
"I see." He sniffed his handkerchief again, apparently thinking.
Just then, a little pink nose with red eyes appeared climbing over the top of the Earl's head. Norrington recognized her as one of his little furry bedmates for the last week. "Kali?" He looked around and saw a white blur running under a couch. "Satan? Milord, is Jack Sparrow here in your mansion?"
"Commodore...COMMODORE Jack Sparrow." His accent had changed, as had his voice. It was definitely Sparrow.
Norrington gaped at him. "What is the meaning of this!" He paused, very confused. "Are you Lord Raymond Smythe-Douglass or are you Commodore Jack Sparrow?"
The man shrugged. "Both, mate." He brought Kali down off of his head, talking to her. "I thought I told you to stay put till I wanted you to come out?" He put her down on the floor, and she ran to join Satan, chittering and dooking playfully all the way. Then he turned to Norrington. "I had to know you had learned the lesson that you needed so desperately to learn. Now, what do you mean by guardin' the slavers but having control over how well you guard them? If ye guard them properly, your men are going to die, I promise you. If ye guard them improperly, the King will think you are incompetent and have you replaced. You don't dare do either. May I make a suggestion, Commodore?"
"Certainly." Norrington was still in shock.
"Stay on board the Pearl. Become a pirate and live a life of freedom, like we help the ex-slaves to do. I need a first mate, and you would fill in just fine till we can pilfer you a good ship of your own to command. And don't worry about Pintel. He can't wait to get back to the galley with Ragetti. They've been partners for so long that I didn't want to separate them except that I needed Pintel to help me against you."
Norrington looked down, looking sorrowful. "I can't. I am an officer in the Royal Navy. How could I turn against the crown?" He looked at Jack.
"Tell you what, mate. Come with me on the Pearl for a month. Ye don't have to do anything that would go against yer grain. There are six slavers out there that need raidin', and they're not bein' guarded. Other than the slavers, we shall stay away from British ships 'n' ports till you have made your decision. Do we have an accord?"
"I'd like to. I really would after what you taught me. But I'm the military leader of the entire area. How could I justify staying on board the Black Pearl? It's a pirate ship. You're a pirate..."
"Since I had planned on keeping you for another month or so for your 'lessons,' I think you might prefer being in a nice, cozy cot in yer own cabin than the hay at the bottom of me bed, eh? What say you to that?"
"When you put it that way, I accept."
"Good then. You shall accompany me to my holdin's in the morning and then we shall set sail. I had thought it would take two more days to look in on me holdings, but I think we can have it done by tomorrow afternoon. Rest up, James Norrington. Ye have a new life ahead of you beginning in the mornin'."
- -
Anna Maria waited in Jack's bedroom. Her hair was down and she was combing it at the vanity. Jack walked in, not noticing her, took off the wig and plopped it on its stand, then started pulling off his clothes. Ana Maria watched him in the mirror for a moment, then cleared her throat.
Jack stopped undressing immediately and looked at her. "Aye?"
"Jack, after sailing the slaver here, I'd like to claim her for meself. Think of it as liberating her from HER slavery. That way you can give Marty the Dauntless. He deserves it, and I would rather have the slaver. I've renamed her already. I'm calling her the Redeemer, and I'd like to have her painted a royal blue with white trim. PLEASE, Jack? I've fallen in love with her as much as you have with the Pearl."
"Ana Maria, my love. Let me think about it. My mind is set against it, but I want to give it a fair thought." He paused. "And you said you love her. I can't just scuttle her without second thoughts if you love her. I'll give you my answer before we leave tomorrow, savvy?"
"Aye Jack. I'll abide by your decision, but I wanted to let you know that I wanted her." She put down the hairbrush and left.
- -
There was a huge breakfast waiting for everyone when they arrived in the dining room. Jack was wearing his "Lord Smythe-Douglass" costume, and was seated at the head of the table with Satan in his hat. Kali was nowhere to be seen, but everyone assumed that she was sleeping in his pocket, as usual. Commodore Norrington, looking like he had enjoyed a nice bath between the previous night and this morning, was seated at the other end of the table in his uniform, but without his sword. Ana Maria, Mutambo, Will, & Lizzy sat between them.
They spoke of all kinds of things during breakfast, with bawdy jokes being the most popular. Commodore Norrington thought that Jack had to be feeling a lot better; he ate like a horse for the first time since the crew of the Dauntless had been dropped off.
Near the end of the meal, Lizzy brought up a question that most of the people at the table had been thinking, but seemed too embarrassed to ask. "Jack, why is Lord Smythe-Douglass a poof?
Jack laughed. "Love, I've never 'eard it put quite that way to me face before. I have done a good job at presenting that look, though, haven't I? I have even 'eard rumors that the Earl was sent away from court because of an indiscretion with a Duke! But yes, I've kept that act up to avoid havin' t' talk to the Commodore, actually."
Norrington started. "Me? Why should you not wish to talk to me? I would think that you could have spied out where all of the naval ships were and could fairly rule the seas that way."
"Because had I spoken with you at any great length, you would quite probably have seen through my disguise, and I could not bear to see the man who owns near half of Jamaica on the gallows." He grinned, which was chilling, since the grin belonged to Jack Sparrow, and the teeth and face belonged to Lord Raymond. "So the Earl became a poof and stayed with the ladies. And Commodore, I managed to get plenty of information about the fleet from them. Your officers are not half as secretive from their wives as you would think."
Jack stood up. "Now. Everybody finished? Good. Pack yer gear: we're headin' back to town. Lizzy, you and Will head straight for the Folly and get sailin' You have a ship to catch in three days." He handed Lizzy a map. "One hundred left Africa on that ship. Women and children, mostly. Bring 'em back here and then meet me here on December 16th.
He turned to Ana Maria. "You're dry-docked, luv." He smiled. "Get the Redeemer painted and set sail. Since we don't know how long ye'll be, set yerself up in my apartments in town." He handed her an envelope and a set of keys. "Tha'll take care of any possible arguments from the groundskeeper there."
Then he turned to Norrington. "When we get into town, you're going to have to get some new clothes...pirate clothes. Let's face facts, mate, PIRATES don't dress like Commodores either." He grinned, as did Norrington. "Oh, and ye've got to have a new name. I don't want anyone recognizing ye. What'll it be?"
"How about Robert James? Robert was my brother's name. I can respond to either name."
"Done. Well, Robert, get yer clothes at the tailor closest to the docks. He usually has extras lyin' about." He tossed Robert a small purse.
- -
TBC
A/N: So am I screwing up? Let me know by hitting the REVIEW button!
