Third Chapter: Norrington
Elizabeth and her father stood by the table for a while watching the guests, pointing out some of their observations to the other.
"Mrs. Jankins over there is exspecting again. It will be her and Mr. Jankins third child. I've met their other two children, they are really sweet." She indicated at a blond tiny woman in her mid thirties, standing in a group of chattering women. She and Will had not often spoken about children and marriage before, though she knew he thought about it. As did she. But he wanted to see to it that he could give her a nice live before he asked her about it.
The governor just nodded, smiling, as he looked at his daughter. *Children, huh?*
His gaze fell on the young blacksmith by the door. Their eyes met and both inclined their heads, nodding, greeting each other as they smiled. Jonathan then noticed the long, narrow box Will held under his left arm. The boy lifted one corner of his mouth as he followed the governor's gaze, simultaneously raising one of his dark eyebrows. Now grinning openly he nodded at the older man, indicating that it was, indeed, what he thought it was.
'Later' Will mouthed, pointing at the young woman next to him, while he put down the box , leaning it against the wall next to the door. Nobody would dare to steal something in the house of the governor! The governor recognized that look, open admiration and affection, directed towards his daughter and gave in. But, with a last look at Will, he made sure, to remind him of their appointment later.
"Elizabeth dear, I have to talk with Mr. Nicolson, the head of the East India Trading Company, over there. He mentioned something of repeated attacks on his ships lately. We will have to discuss this. We can't have another bunch of pirates attacking Port Royal. If you will excuse me, my dear." With this he kissed his daughter on the cheek and threw one last look at Will, disappearing in search of the head of the EITC.
Now she stood, all alone by the dessert table, munching glazed pineapples (there weren't any grapes left on this part of the long table) waiting for her beloved blacksmith to make an appearance. She missed Will.and she wanted to dance. With him, naturally... another just wouldn't do. Elizabeth sighed.
Just then she spotted Cait, Hannah and Commodore Norrington as they made their way through the crowd, towards her.
*Oh noooo...* She silently groaned. *Not him, not tonight, ...not again...*
Though, at first, the Commodore did not give the impression, he hadn't taken the fact, that she chose Will over him very well. Well actually, not well at all. He still thought, that she should have, and someday would choose to marry him, though Elizabeth had no clue why he would think that. After her father had granted Will amnesty, and she'd confessed her love for him, Elizabeth had apologized to Norrington for deceiving him and explained that she had only accepted his offer to rescue William, the man she loved.
Since that day the commodore had made it an afford to let her know, that he was still interested in her, although she told him every time that 'she' was definitely not interested in 'him'.
Of course he hadn't been too importunate or pushing, at least not enough to justify a notice to her father, complaining about his behaviour. Norrington was a gentleman, and acted like one, for most of the time.
But sometimes he and Will would clash together, arguing, insulting each other, always on the edge of going for the other and beating him to a bloody pulp. Normally she'd be there, ready to step between them, but she couldn't always be there. And she was afraid, that someday one of them would get killed. And she knew exactly whom, out of the two, she absolutely did not want to see dead,.or even think of him as dead, or injured. She shuddered.
Perhaps she should speak with her father after all.
By now, the threesome had reached her, Norrington bowed before her, taking her hand as he brushed a kiss on the back of her hand.
"Elizabeth you look absolutely breathtaking tonight. Your beauty enlightens the entire room, making the moon and the stars jealous." He complimented her.
"Commodore Norrington it is a pleasure to see you." *...Not...* She silently added, but courtesy dedicated her to be polite. He was a well- know and highly thought of gentleman after all.
"Elizabeth, dear, the Commodore mentioned some awful things about you being kidnapped by a bunch of pirates last year. Whyever didn't you tell us? It must have been terrible! All those drunk, dirty and germicidal men..." Cait looked truly disgusted by now. Elizabeth cut in. "Don't worry about it, Cait. I didn't tell you because father thought it better not to. He didn't want to upset you and grandma." She shot a angry and accusing look at Norrington., as if saying 'Look what you did now!!'
"Anyway it was no harm done. And not 'all' pirates are always drunk, Cait. You're exaggerating a bit, don't you think? They are not so bad people. Well at least some of them aren't, ...the others...well..." Elizabeth thought back to Captain Barbossa and the time she spent on the 'Black Pearl'. *Can you even call them people, or humans? Probably not.* This ship full of skeletons had been the most disgusting sight of her life, but she would not tell her relatives about that in fear of upsetting them even more as they already were.
"Do not talk like that, Elizabeth. Pirates are scroundels, who break the law and murder innocent people. They belong onto the gallow, head in the noose. Every single one of them."
"You know that's not true, Norrington. They rescued me!! You know that."
"But that doesn't make up for all their other crimes"
"You've already said that once. He rescued me twice already. Doesn't that count for anything?"
By now their voices started to grow louder as they argued. Cait and Hannah stood by, looking from one to the other, not really getting, what the two in front of them were talking about.
Seeing that the other guests started to take notice of the voices, hannah interupted the argument by saying: "Well it doesn't really matter now, does it? Elizabeth is safe, and the pirates aren't here anymore. End of story!" Norrington snorted. Of course there was still one in port Royal!!
"I am sorry you two had to hear that, grand ma, Cait. I should have hold my temper in check. Forgive me." With that she hugged both of the woman, purposely ignoring the man beside them, and not appologizing to him either.
"I also have to beg your forgiveness, myladies. And yours also, Elizabeth. I did not know what I said. I appologize." Now it was her turn to snort. '..not knowing what I said...' As if!!! He knew exactly what he said, whom they were talking about. And he'd meant every single word! As had she. Ever since the 'Black Pearl' had attacked Port Royal, Commodore Norrinton had made it his mission to cleanse the carribean of every single pirate. And his efforts weren't futile either. Alone in the last 4 months he had captivated 108 pirates and confiscated 15 ships.
Not the 'Black Pearl'though.
*Of course not. Jack's way too cunning to let Norrington, or anybody for that matter, get his hands on HIS 'Black Pearl'.* Elizabeth thought fondly.
"Would you give me this dance, Elizabeth, as an appology for my truly inappropriate behaviour?" This snapped her out of her thoughts. "Dance?" Norrington NEVER danced with her! Will always made sure of that! *Where are you, love? I could use a rescue now...*
"That's a wonderful idea! Elizabeth, i have not seen you dancing once this evening. You do not want do stand here, lonely, all night, do you?" Cait threw in. "I remember you dancing quite lovely, back in England!"
"Surely you would not deny me the pleasure of dancing with you?" That was Norrington.
The voices all around her, talking to her, made Elizabeth dizzy and she couldn't think properly anymore. *I don't want to dance, with him!* But etiquette demanded from her to accept the offer.
She made a step back and stuttered. "I,...I don't,....not now....waiting for someone...."
"But, Elizabeth..."
"Surely you don't mean..."
"Are you alright, dear?" Her grandmother asked softly.
"I,..I...no.." There were soo many voices, chattering about, asking questions, confusing her tired mind. She took another step back, bumping into someone in the progress. A hand sneaked around her waist, steadying her, as she looked up and met with loving hazel eyes.
"Will..." she breathed, leaning back into the security of his arms.
Sorry guys. Will still (!) hasn't met the family. But in the next chapter he will!! I promise!! Can you see the tension building here? Will and Norrington in one room.. Well, hope you like it. Until the next chapter. NightLight4
Elizabeth and her father stood by the table for a while watching the guests, pointing out some of their observations to the other.
"Mrs. Jankins over there is exspecting again. It will be her and Mr. Jankins third child. I've met their other two children, they are really sweet." She indicated at a blond tiny woman in her mid thirties, standing in a group of chattering women. She and Will had not often spoken about children and marriage before, though she knew he thought about it. As did she. But he wanted to see to it that he could give her a nice live before he asked her about it.
The governor just nodded, smiling, as he looked at his daughter. *Children, huh?*
His gaze fell on the young blacksmith by the door. Their eyes met and both inclined their heads, nodding, greeting each other as they smiled. Jonathan then noticed the long, narrow box Will held under his left arm. The boy lifted one corner of his mouth as he followed the governor's gaze, simultaneously raising one of his dark eyebrows. Now grinning openly he nodded at the older man, indicating that it was, indeed, what he thought it was.
'Later' Will mouthed, pointing at the young woman next to him, while he put down the box , leaning it against the wall next to the door. Nobody would dare to steal something in the house of the governor! The governor recognized that look, open admiration and affection, directed towards his daughter and gave in. But, with a last look at Will, he made sure, to remind him of their appointment later.
"Elizabeth dear, I have to talk with Mr. Nicolson, the head of the East India Trading Company, over there. He mentioned something of repeated attacks on his ships lately. We will have to discuss this. We can't have another bunch of pirates attacking Port Royal. If you will excuse me, my dear." With this he kissed his daughter on the cheek and threw one last look at Will, disappearing in search of the head of the EITC.
Now she stood, all alone by the dessert table, munching glazed pineapples (there weren't any grapes left on this part of the long table) waiting for her beloved blacksmith to make an appearance. She missed Will.and she wanted to dance. With him, naturally... another just wouldn't do. Elizabeth sighed.
Just then she spotted Cait, Hannah and Commodore Norrington as they made their way through the crowd, towards her.
*Oh noooo...* She silently groaned. *Not him, not tonight, ...not again...*
Though, at first, the Commodore did not give the impression, he hadn't taken the fact, that she chose Will over him very well. Well actually, not well at all. He still thought, that she should have, and someday would choose to marry him, though Elizabeth had no clue why he would think that. After her father had granted Will amnesty, and she'd confessed her love for him, Elizabeth had apologized to Norrington for deceiving him and explained that she had only accepted his offer to rescue William, the man she loved.
Since that day the commodore had made it an afford to let her know, that he was still interested in her, although she told him every time that 'she' was definitely not interested in 'him'.
Of course he hadn't been too importunate or pushing, at least not enough to justify a notice to her father, complaining about his behaviour. Norrington was a gentleman, and acted like one, for most of the time.
But sometimes he and Will would clash together, arguing, insulting each other, always on the edge of going for the other and beating him to a bloody pulp. Normally she'd be there, ready to step between them, but she couldn't always be there. And she was afraid, that someday one of them would get killed. And she knew exactly whom, out of the two, she absolutely did not want to see dead,.or even think of him as dead, or injured. She shuddered.
Perhaps she should speak with her father after all.
By now, the threesome had reached her, Norrington bowed before her, taking her hand as he brushed a kiss on the back of her hand.
"Elizabeth you look absolutely breathtaking tonight. Your beauty enlightens the entire room, making the moon and the stars jealous." He complimented her.
"Commodore Norrington it is a pleasure to see you." *...Not...* She silently added, but courtesy dedicated her to be polite. He was a well- know and highly thought of gentleman after all.
"Elizabeth, dear, the Commodore mentioned some awful things about you being kidnapped by a bunch of pirates last year. Whyever didn't you tell us? It must have been terrible! All those drunk, dirty and germicidal men..." Cait looked truly disgusted by now. Elizabeth cut in. "Don't worry about it, Cait. I didn't tell you because father thought it better not to. He didn't want to upset you and grandma." She shot a angry and accusing look at Norrington., as if saying 'Look what you did now!!'
"Anyway it was no harm done. And not 'all' pirates are always drunk, Cait. You're exaggerating a bit, don't you think? They are not so bad people. Well at least some of them aren't, ...the others...well..." Elizabeth thought back to Captain Barbossa and the time she spent on the 'Black Pearl'. *Can you even call them people, or humans? Probably not.* This ship full of skeletons had been the most disgusting sight of her life, but she would not tell her relatives about that in fear of upsetting them even more as they already were.
"Do not talk like that, Elizabeth. Pirates are scroundels, who break the law and murder innocent people. They belong onto the gallow, head in the noose. Every single one of them."
"You know that's not true, Norrington. They rescued me!! You know that."
"But that doesn't make up for all their other crimes"
"You've already said that once. He rescued me twice already. Doesn't that count for anything?"
By now their voices started to grow louder as they argued. Cait and Hannah stood by, looking from one to the other, not really getting, what the two in front of them were talking about.
Seeing that the other guests started to take notice of the voices, hannah interupted the argument by saying: "Well it doesn't really matter now, does it? Elizabeth is safe, and the pirates aren't here anymore. End of story!" Norrington snorted. Of course there was still one in port Royal!!
"I am sorry you two had to hear that, grand ma, Cait. I should have hold my temper in check. Forgive me." With that she hugged both of the woman, purposely ignoring the man beside them, and not appologizing to him either.
"I also have to beg your forgiveness, myladies. And yours also, Elizabeth. I did not know what I said. I appologize." Now it was her turn to snort. '..not knowing what I said...' As if!!! He knew exactly what he said, whom they were talking about. And he'd meant every single word! As had she. Ever since the 'Black Pearl' had attacked Port Royal, Commodore Norrinton had made it his mission to cleanse the carribean of every single pirate. And his efforts weren't futile either. Alone in the last 4 months he had captivated 108 pirates and confiscated 15 ships.
Not the 'Black Pearl'though.
*Of course not. Jack's way too cunning to let Norrington, or anybody for that matter, get his hands on HIS 'Black Pearl'.* Elizabeth thought fondly.
"Would you give me this dance, Elizabeth, as an appology for my truly inappropriate behaviour?" This snapped her out of her thoughts. "Dance?" Norrington NEVER danced with her! Will always made sure of that! *Where are you, love? I could use a rescue now...*
"That's a wonderful idea! Elizabeth, i have not seen you dancing once this evening. You do not want do stand here, lonely, all night, do you?" Cait threw in. "I remember you dancing quite lovely, back in England!"
"Surely you would not deny me the pleasure of dancing with you?" That was Norrington.
The voices all around her, talking to her, made Elizabeth dizzy and she couldn't think properly anymore. *I don't want to dance, with him!* But etiquette demanded from her to accept the offer.
She made a step back and stuttered. "I,...I don't,....not now....waiting for someone...."
"But, Elizabeth..."
"Surely you don't mean..."
"Are you alright, dear?" Her grandmother asked softly.
"I,..I...no.." There were soo many voices, chattering about, asking questions, confusing her tired mind. She took another step back, bumping into someone in the progress. A hand sneaked around her waist, steadying her, as she looked up and met with loving hazel eyes.
"Will..." she breathed, leaning back into the security of his arms.
Sorry guys. Will still (!) hasn't met the family. But in the next chapter he will!! I promise!! Can you see the tension building here? Will and Norrington in one room.. Well, hope you like it. Until the next chapter. NightLight4
