"Miss, a messenger just reported that the Dauntless has returned." Mr. Decker's words woke Katherine from the trance she had deftly slipped into since her encounter with Elizabeth Turner. She stood, with her arms spread straight out against the glass, as she stared out the large picture window and out over the bay for a moment before turning to acknowledge the servant's words. James is due to return soon, and he will have my head, she thought furiously. I must go to him first and make him understand. Katherine you unspeakable fool…
Her mental assault continued as she went upstairs to freshen her appearance before traveling off to the Fort. She had allowed her powerful emotions to get the best of her, and she feared that this time it would not be brushed under the rug. She had assaulted the daughter of the Governor of Port Royale! How could such an issue be brushed aside? Katherine closed her eyes and leaned against her dresser. If I explain it to James like the adult that I am, he will understand, she reassured herself. He always understands. She drew a long, calming breath and nodded to herself in the mirror before exiting the room and descending the stairs. Darby was saddled and Katherine stroked the big grey's neck as she gazed into the horse's soft brown eyes. "I've really done it this time, Darby," she admitted softly. "And I've run out of clever ideas." She chuckled under her breath as the gelding gently probed her for food. Katherine mounted and headed off to Fort Charles, taking little heed of the deteriorating weather.
"Hands aloft to take in sail, gentlemen!" commanded Norrington from the helm of the HMS Dauntless. The crew scurried in hundreds of different directions as the leviathan began to slow and settle gracefully into her place at the mouth of the harbor, the silent sentinel standing guard over Port Royale. At the Commodore's orders, the prisoners from the pirate sloop were unloaded and escorted under heavy detail to the Fort's brig, and the next shift of sailors and marines took their place aboard the great vessel to stand alert. Norrington personally inspected the Dauntless from the bilges to the weather deck, from the bowsprit to the very aft rail, as he always did after a patrol. His anticipated scrutiny only yielded minor reminders for sailors to tuck in their shirt or to straighten their jackets. Not a weapon or rigging out of place. He strolled about the ship with his hands folded neatly behind his back, a quiet and triumphant air about him. Norrington took in the sweet sea air and let it linger as he gazed out to the open ocean from the quarterdeck of the Dauntless. The sky was grey and threatening, the water grew darker and more menacing. Dreadful weather, the Commodore noted to himself. He sighed before turning slowly to disembark to begin the plethora of reports waiting for him ashore, leaving Lievtenant Gillette to finish up aboard the Dauntless.
Katherine settled uneasily in James's office, waiting for him to return. Her stomach was a mass of knots and tightened unpleasantly at the thought of both the previous events and the discussion yet to come. Unable to keep still, Katherine moved to one side of the office and studied the collection of books lining the wall. The assorted collection included military tactics and strategy, shipbuilding, naval maneuvers and exercises, as well as infantry notes. Amidst the mass of combat material, Katherine found two smaller bound books - Shakespeare's works. They were well hidden amongst the other dry material, but certainly caught her attention. She gingerly removed the two small books. One was a neglected copy of Romeo and Juliet, the other was a well-worn collection of Shakespeare's sonnets. The thought of her brother keeping a copy of Shakespeare's sonnets amused Katherine to no end. Her jitters eased some as she flipped the book open. It naturally opened to a crease, which had developed from repeated use. Katherine studied the contents of the two pages, and her heart nearly leapt into her throat as she read sonnet 116.
Let me not to the marriage of true mindsAdmit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O, no! it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Who's worth's unknown, although his height be taken
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error, an upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
Katherine stood motionless for quite sometime as she pondered those poetic words. "James Norrington," she said to herself. A small smile crossed her lips as she closed the book and held it against her chest. "You never cease to amaze me…" Her quiet moment was soon interrupted with the sounds of voices and footsteps down the corridor. Katherine hastily placed the book back on the shelf and sat in a chair, folding her hands in her lap. The knot in her stomach returned and grew intense as she drew a breath to maintain her composure. She shut her eyes for a moment as she listened to the voices approach. She opened them just in time to see the knob on the door turn slowly.
The Commodore saluted quickly as he watched Lievtenants Pearce and Groves continue on down the corridor. He turned back to his office and was taken by surprise by Katherine's presence. "Katherine," he mustered as he entered and closed the door behind him. "You did not have to come and greet me, the weather is not being very agreeable at the moment."
Katherine waived her hand. "No, it's quite alright. I was feeling rather bored at home, actually. I…just wanted to see how your expedition went," she stammered as she gripped the folds of her dress.
James looked at her skeptically and glanced at her hands before humoring her. "We came across another hit, but luckily all the survivors were taken aboard the scoundrels' sloop and were not harmed. We overtook them easily and they surrendered without a fight."
"Sounds exciting," she muttered as she managed a slightly nervous smile.
"Hardly," James replied. He stepped forward to place his cover on the desk and continued to study her. "Whatever is the matter?"
Katherine looked up and away. "Nothing, I just wanted to be here when you arrived, that is all."
"Yes, well, I'm in one piece this time, so you may desist with the nervous worrying," he quipped. When Katherine did not acknowledge him, James decided to become serious. "Katherine, what is troubling you?"
"Nothing, James, I assure you."
"Bollocks," he said sternly. "You did not come all the way down here, and are not fiddling over your dress for nothing. Out with it."
Katherine glanced up at her brother. He stood square in front of her, the bright lapels of his brilliant uniform standing out against the deep blue. He looked every inch the successful Navy commander – the great Pirate Hunter himself. Yet above the uniform was the face of her brother. Though it was stern, his emerald eyes compromised his growing concern. She always knew what he was feeling when she gazed up into his eyes – they were portals into his mind. Katherine took a breath before opening her mouth to speak. "Mrs. Turner stopped by today while you were gone."
James nodded slowly as he turned to examine the contents of his desktop. "I suspect Mr. Turner wanted to inquire after the last order I placed with him," he noted.
"She came alone, James."
Norrington turned back to Katherine, still holding on to the list he was examining. "Alone? Why on earth did Mrs. Turner come by the estate unescorted?" he asked curiously.
Katherine shook her head. "She said she wanted to speak to you personally."
"Interesting," James remarked as he turned back to sift through more papers. "I'm sure you informed her of the reason for my absence. Did she mention if she would call again later?"
"No, she did not mention a later date," Katherine said softly. She paused for a moment as her dialogue with Elizabeth played over and over in her head. "I don't understand it…" she murmured.
"Don't understand what?" Norrington inquired as he continued to sort through the stack of papers, his attention divided between the two interests.
Katherine looked up at him from her chair. "How you can simply stand aside and allow your heart to be stepped on repeatedly."
James looked up from the papers and sighed before turning toward her. He suddenly had a good impression of what happened between his former fiancée and his emotive sister. He knew now where she was taking the conversation, and he did not agree with the direction. "Enough Katherine, I do not want to speak of it. Mrs. Turner is happily married, and that is satisfactory enough for me," he declared as he moved to turn back to his desk.
"She lied to you," Katherine said, trying to keep her voice stable.
Norrington paused and placed the papers back on the desk as he spread his arms along the fine wood. "It would have been a lie either way, Katherine, only longer and more painful to the both of us if she kept her promise. She loved another, and it is no fault of hers, Turner's, or mine," he stated as he glanced briefly over to Katherine, who was beginning to feel the tears massing within.
"Always the gentleman, eh James?" she asked, staring up at him. "Content to sacrifice yourself for the good of a unappreciative, naïve girl?"
James wheeled around on Katherine. True, Elizabeth had unknowingly stepped on his heart, but he would not see her reputation smeared either, and especially not by his own sister. "I will not stand to hear this, Katherine. I released Elizabeth from her promise – that is it. Do not pain me and shame her simply to satisfy your morbid need for gossip or superiority. She is happy now, which is all I can hope for. It is best for everyone's sanity if we simply move on!"
Katherine stood and looked into her brother's eyes, though hot tears of emotion were gathering behind hers. "Elizabeth and I discussed this, James. She did not seem to understand! It's as if she could not comprehend you were more than just the uniform! I had to knock some sense into her, but even then I regret she failed to see my point…"
Words failed Norrington momentarily as he listened to Katherine. She would not dare. She would. Suddenly his stomach turned to lead and he felt the blood rush to his face. "You struck her!?" he demanded suddenly, taking a quick step toward her.
"I did," she answered steadily. The two stared at each other for what seemed like eternity before James suddenly reached for his cover and started toward the door. "Where are you going!?" Katherine pleaded.
"To apologize to Governor Swann and Mrs. Turner for my sisters atrocious and purely uncivilized actions!" he retorted.
"James, don't! You don't have to apologize for what I did."
"Yes I do. Do you know why?" he asked impatiently as he took two steps toward her, the frustration and disappointment mounting in his tone. "Because I am the Commodore of Fort Charles and responsible for the safety of Port Royale. I am a respected member of society, and you, Katherine, are my sister. I am responsible for what you do and say here, whether or not you concur. Your rash actions and emotions reflect poorly upon me, Katherine, and now I must repair the damage you have just caused!" With that, Norrington turned on his heel and exited his office. Katherine started after him, but stopped at the door.
"James, wait!" she called. But the Commodore was not listening as he drew further and further away. Katherine leaned back against the doorframe and fought back her tears once more. She whispered, even though her brother was no longer there to hear. "She never said so much as a 'thank you'…"
James gritted his teeth as he made his way to the stables and had Darby saddled with the appropriate tack. Insolent girl, he thought. Katherine certainly had a history of following her emotions, but could she allow them to take control of her faculties? This concerned Norrington to no end. He grabbed Darby's reins away from the groom and quickly mounted, hardly settling into the saddle before kicking the big gelding up into a gallop and heading toward the Governor's estate.
Katherine remained up against the doorframe for several minutes. What am I to do now? She berated herself for angering her brother. Why does he not understand? Why does no one understand! Through her mounting confusion and despair, Katherine picked up her head and remembered another shoulder she could cry on. Matthieu, she thought. She flew down the corridor to his office, only to find it empty. After hailing a passing sailor, she learned that he was still aboard the Dauntless and would be finished in due time. Katherine decided to take the air outside on the Fort wall while she waited for him to return.
The weather was bleak. Katherine strolled across the courtyard and ascended the steps on the eastern side of the Fort wall. She found only two soldiers out, and decided to avoid them because of her melancholy mood. They'd probably take me under arrest if they noticed me, and then James would have another thing to fuss over, she thought furiously. His reaction to her words was entirely unplanned and troubled her deeply. Why was he acting this way? Katherine was so engrossed in her musings that she did not even notice the deteriorating stone beneath her feet.
It crumbled beneath her like soft clay. Her startled scream cut through the still air as she fell the 15 feet to the ground, pieces of crumbling stone blocks collapsing on top of her. The breath was knocked from her lungs as she slammed into the ground. She lay stunned and helpless as she watched the falling masonry and felt each impact on her unprotected body. There was a great tearing sensation through her abdomen as she attempted to rise, and she immediately fell back against the dirt. Katherine attempted to draw air into her lungs, but the staggering pain through her ribs prevented her from doing so. She remained there, have encased in fallen masonry, breathless and praying for someone…anyone…
Norrington continued fuming on his way to the Governor's. How could she do this? To the Governor's daughter, no less! Darby's enormous stride ate up the ground as James pushed him ever forward, his Commodore's coat trailing in the wind off behind him. He was in a terrible hurry to set things straight. Finally, the Governor's mansion came into view down the road, and Norrington gave the gelding another stern cue and the horse opened his stride even more as they approached.
Elizabeth had told Will and her father of her encounter with Katherine. Both men seemed quite shocked and annoyed at Miss Norrington's actions. Meanwhile, Elizabeth was seething. She was too angered by Katherine's rash behavior to even consider what she had said.
Governor Weatherby Swann, Elizabeth, and Will Turner had just been preparing to leave to take tea at the Anderton's when they heard the unmistakable sounds of a horse at a hard gallop. They all moved in front of the carriage to get a better view. "It's Commodore Norrington," Will noted as he glanced over to Elizabeth and her father. Governor Swann stepped forward as Norrington reined Darby to a hard halt just in front of the trio and dismounted, flushed and winded from the hard ride. Darby snorted and shifted nervously before one of the footmen took his reins from the Commodore and led him off. Norrington gripped the hilt of his sword and took a moment to catch his breath as Elizabeth waited expectantly for what he had to say.
"Governor Swann, Mrs. Turner, Mr. Turner," he greeted.
"Commodore," replied the Governor coolly.
James's glance darted between the three of them as he chose his words. "I am sure you have heard of my sister's actions, sir. I have come to apologize to you and Elizabeth for what she has done. It was rude and selfish of her."
Elizabeth did not know how to respond. She was still angered, if not slightly embarrassed over the situation. Will gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and she stole a glance at him as her father and the Commodore looked on.
"I am sure you must have been equally appalled at her conduct as I was," Weatherby began as he folded his hands behind his back. "I am rather disappointed with Miss Norrington in this matter, James."
James nodded. "She seems quite content to drive me completely mad and ruin our reputation at the same time, I'm afraid," he lamented. He looked over to Elizabeth and tried to ignore the sound of rapid hoof beats behind him. "Mrs. Turner, I want to apologize specifically to you. Katherine is rather difficult character to control. She lets her emotions take control, and rarely thinks a situation through. Her opinions do not always reflect mine. I am very sorry this happ - "
"Commodore!" a voice called out behind him. Norrington quickly turned around to see a marine mounted on horseback.
"This can wait one moment, Sergeant," he declared as he turned back to Elizabeth.
"No, sir, it cannot," insisted the marine. "You're needed back to the Fort at once, sir. There's been an accident." The marine now had the full attention of not only the Commodore, but also Governor Swann, Elizabeth, and Will.
The Commodore narrowed his eyes as he turned to face the marine. "An accident? Of what kind?"
"It's Miss Norrington, Commodore. She fell off some faulty masonry and she's bad. They need you back at the Fort now, sir!" the marine demanded as he edged closer to the Commodore.
That lead feeling in his stomach that Norrington had experienced earlier had returned, and he suddenly had to remind himself to breathe as he stood motionless, staring up at the marine. The soldier's words hit the Commodore's ears, but he could not quite grasp them. He turned back to the Governor, and then to Elizabeth. Their expressions were filled with confusion and shock. James locked eyes with Elizabeth for a brief moment before he turned and mounted up. "Please excuse me, Governor," he said quickly. "I must make haste."
"Good God, man, is there anything we can do?" the Governor inquired.
"I fear not," James uttered as he looked down at the Governor, Elizabeth, and Will. He then swung Darby around on his haunches and urged the horse into an urgent gallop back to the Fort. Governor Swann motioned for Elizabeth and Will to get in the carriage, and moments later they departed for Fort Charles as well.
It seemed as if a million thoughts were rushing through James's as he charged headlong back to the Fort. He had warned her about the Fort wall, why had she not taken heed? He did not know what happened. He did not know what condition Katherine was in. Nothing could have prepared him for what he was about to find.
