Disclaimer: Screw a bushel of apples! If I owned this, I'd be spending
three days on a beach drinking rum . . . with Johnny Depp . . . and not
here in the snow.
Note: Thanks for your reviews and death threats . . . I'll try to get this chapter up tonight (1/20/04), but if I can't, please don't kill me . . . that would leave me in a hole and you without a conclusion : ) I'm so glad that you aren't a bunch of Norrington haters because it makes this all so much more fun! Well here goes . . . enjoy!
Here's To Freedom (Chapter 21)
Natalie wrinkled her brow at his vague question, replying, "I don't know. Why do you ask?"
"Well," he began, wanting to phrase it all correctly so it didn't sound as outlandish as he knew it was. "You and I are quite civil with one another. I enjoy your company immensely, and I hope you feel the same." Anxiety caused his voice to speed up slightly.
He was never going to get used to proposing marriage to unwilling women.
Continuing on, he said, "Clark Eaton can't marry you if you are already engaged, correct?" James didn't even await a response, and with a shrug he asked, "So why not marry me instead?"
He had half expected her to jump off a cliff, as her sister had done, but all she did was smile up at him, her brilliant eyes filled with quiet understanding. Pressing his hand within hers, she replied, "Oh, James, I appreciate this more than you will ever know, but. . . "
Crushing set downs: another thing to add to the list of things he had to build up a tolerance for . . .
"I can't let you do this," Natalie finally said, a ghost of a smile illuminating her features in the pale light of the moon.
He stumbled over his words for a moment, unable to believe the incredible woman standing before him. "Natalie, the beauty of all this is that *I* get to decide whether or not I want to sacrifice myself on the matrimonial alter. Nothing would make me happier than to do this for you."
Shaking her head, she raised her eyes to meet his and put her hands on either side of his face to make certain he was listening. "James, you are one of the greatest men I will ever know, but I could never love you the way a wife should love a husband. You deserve every ounce of happiness that life has to offer you, and I won't let you short yourself on my behalf."
"You are unbelievable, do you know that?" he said, acquiescing to her wishes, but still unable to comprehend how selfless she was being. "At least let us pretend then. I can't bear being of no service at all. The public works fiend in me can't ignore suffering."
Natalie grinned, stepping back a bit to look at him. James Norrington was a very fine man, indeed, and this was only further proof of that. "I will accept your offer then, but only until I find the proof I need to get the Eatons out of our lives," she replied.
Linking her arm in his, she mockingly referred to him as "her-faux- husband-to-be" as they continued along the path to the palace, ready to fool the world with their brilliant plan.
* * * *
"Well, I'm afraid that's all the time I can afford to dawdle away this evening, my friends," Jack said, rising up out of the chair and tipping his hat as a farewell gesture. He could see, very clearly, the ideas streaming through Elizabeth's head, and, at the moment, he could think of nothing that scared him more.
Will flew from his chair to his side, grabbing hold of his arm and whispering harshly in his ear, "Good Lord, Jack, just listen to her! She may be able to help you get Natalie back!"
His countenance reflecting his skepticism, Jack crossed his arms over his chest and awaited the fair lady's brilliant plan. "Well then, what is it?"
"Will could lend you some evening attire, we would clean you up a bit, and you can waltz right up to her, in plain sight of all!" Moving closer to him, she toyed with a thick clump of his matted hair and added, "Once these are gone . . ."
Those four words nearly stopped his heart, stone cold. Bounding away from her he shouted, "Are you DAFT, woman! These 'ere dreads took me the better time of my life to grow, an you want to rip 'em out like dandelions!"
Planting her hands firmly on her hips, she glared at him and asked, "Well, do you love Natalie or not?"
"Listen, you mad woman, I don't have to answer to you, or anyone else, for that matter, about my feelings for her, okay?!" he shouted. With a hopeless sigh he added, "Anyway, I didn't come here to get Natalie back. I'll just sneak a peek to see if she is alright, and be on my merry way. She belongs here, not with a pirate crew on the open seas."
Elizabeth lowered her voice, and raised her eyes to his. "Who are you to be making that decision for her, Jack?"
"I'm the man who would do anything for her, Miss Turner. I have to let her go, even if it means sacrificing my own happiness for hers," he replied. Shaking his head, he turned to leave.
Will opened his mouth, just as the captain opened the front door to leave, and called, "Just don't get yourself caught, my friend."
Tossing a grin and a nonchalant shrug over his shoulder, he answered softly, in the usual manner . . .
"You're forgetting one thing, mate: I'm Captain Jack Sparrow!"
* * * *
"Here she comes, lad," Geoffrey whispered, "Work your magic!" And with that, he pushed his son out of the shadows of the doorway and into plain sight of his fiancée, leaving him to tie up any loose ends before the big announcement was made.
All he could do was pray that Clark didn't ruin everything in the last few moments, and go off to do his part in swaying the governor.
Natalie was still quite far off in the distance as he stood there waiting, so he made a few last minute adjustments to his appearance, straightening his posture and adopting a blinding grin to make him damn near irresistible to the girl.
Of course, he hadn't counted on the Commodore being out strolling with her.
Viewing this as a minor setback, he approached them instead, calling, "Why good evening, my dear. Commodore."
James nodded politely, but the two of them just brushed past him, arm in arm, calling an "If you'd excuse us" back to him. This was going to be a lot of fun . . .
Note: Thanks for your reviews and death threats . . . I'll try to get this chapter up tonight (1/20/04), but if I can't, please don't kill me . . . that would leave me in a hole and you without a conclusion : ) I'm so glad that you aren't a bunch of Norrington haters because it makes this all so much more fun! Well here goes . . . enjoy!
Here's To Freedom (Chapter 21)
Natalie wrinkled her brow at his vague question, replying, "I don't know. Why do you ask?"
"Well," he began, wanting to phrase it all correctly so it didn't sound as outlandish as he knew it was. "You and I are quite civil with one another. I enjoy your company immensely, and I hope you feel the same." Anxiety caused his voice to speed up slightly.
He was never going to get used to proposing marriage to unwilling women.
Continuing on, he said, "Clark Eaton can't marry you if you are already engaged, correct?" James didn't even await a response, and with a shrug he asked, "So why not marry me instead?"
He had half expected her to jump off a cliff, as her sister had done, but all she did was smile up at him, her brilliant eyes filled with quiet understanding. Pressing his hand within hers, she replied, "Oh, James, I appreciate this more than you will ever know, but. . . "
Crushing set downs: another thing to add to the list of things he had to build up a tolerance for . . .
"I can't let you do this," Natalie finally said, a ghost of a smile illuminating her features in the pale light of the moon.
He stumbled over his words for a moment, unable to believe the incredible woman standing before him. "Natalie, the beauty of all this is that *I* get to decide whether or not I want to sacrifice myself on the matrimonial alter. Nothing would make me happier than to do this for you."
Shaking her head, she raised her eyes to meet his and put her hands on either side of his face to make certain he was listening. "James, you are one of the greatest men I will ever know, but I could never love you the way a wife should love a husband. You deserve every ounce of happiness that life has to offer you, and I won't let you short yourself on my behalf."
"You are unbelievable, do you know that?" he said, acquiescing to her wishes, but still unable to comprehend how selfless she was being. "At least let us pretend then. I can't bear being of no service at all. The public works fiend in me can't ignore suffering."
Natalie grinned, stepping back a bit to look at him. James Norrington was a very fine man, indeed, and this was only further proof of that. "I will accept your offer then, but only until I find the proof I need to get the Eatons out of our lives," she replied.
Linking her arm in his, she mockingly referred to him as "her-faux- husband-to-be" as they continued along the path to the palace, ready to fool the world with their brilliant plan.
* * * *
"Well, I'm afraid that's all the time I can afford to dawdle away this evening, my friends," Jack said, rising up out of the chair and tipping his hat as a farewell gesture. He could see, very clearly, the ideas streaming through Elizabeth's head, and, at the moment, he could think of nothing that scared him more.
Will flew from his chair to his side, grabbing hold of his arm and whispering harshly in his ear, "Good Lord, Jack, just listen to her! She may be able to help you get Natalie back!"
His countenance reflecting his skepticism, Jack crossed his arms over his chest and awaited the fair lady's brilliant plan. "Well then, what is it?"
"Will could lend you some evening attire, we would clean you up a bit, and you can waltz right up to her, in plain sight of all!" Moving closer to him, she toyed with a thick clump of his matted hair and added, "Once these are gone . . ."
Those four words nearly stopped his heart, stone cold. Bounding away from her he shouted, "Are you DAFT, woman! These 'ere dreads took me the better time of my life to grow, an you want to rip 'em out like dandelions!"
Planting her hands firmly on her hips, she glared at him and asked, "Well, do you love Natalie or not?"
"Listen, you mad woman, I don't have to answer to you, or anyone else, for that matter, about my feelings for her, okay?!" he shouted. With a hopeless sigh he added, "Anyway, I didn't come here to get Natalie back. I'll just sneak a peek to see if she is alright, and be on my merry way. She belongs here, not with a pirate crew on the open seas."
Elizabeth lowered her voice, and raised her eyes to his. "Who are you to be making that decision for her, Jack?"
"I'm the man who would do anything for her, Miss Turner. I have to let her go, even if it means sacrificing my own happiness for hers," he replied. Shaking his head, he turned to leave.
Will opened his mouth, just as the captain opened the front door to leave, and called, "Just don't get yourself caught, my friend."
Tossing a grin and a nonchalant shrug over his shoulder, he answered softly, in the usual manner . . .
"You're forgetting one thing, mate: I'm Captain Jack Sparrow!"
* * * *
"Here she comes, lad," Geoffrey whispered, "Work your magic!" And with that, he pushed his son out of the shadows of the doorway and into plain sight of his fiancée, leaving him to tie up any loose ends before the big announcement was made.
All he could do was pray that Clark didn't ruin everything in the last few moments, and go off to do his part in swaying the governor.
Natalie was still quite far off in the distance as he stood there waiting, so he made a few last minute adjustments to his appearance, straightening his posture and adopting a blinding grin to make him damn near irresistible to the girl.
Of course, he hadn't counted on the Commodore being out strolling with her.
Viewing this as a minor setback, he approached them instead, calling, "Why good evening, my dear. Commodore."
James nodded politely, but the two of them just brushed past him, arm in arm, calling an "If you'd excuse us" back to him. This was going to be a lot of fun . . .