I do not own POTC
"Wake up! Its time to meet the Commodore!" said Mrs Woods, throwing open the heavy curtains.
"I told you, I'm not going to see him," groaned Victoria, pulling the covers over her head.
"Don't be silly, he's expecting you, now come on" Mrs Woods replied, throwing the covers off Victoria.
Victoria sat up, rubbing her eyes. Mrs Woods stood in front of her, holding a tray.
"Get this eaten while I get your dress"
Victoria balanced the tray on her knee and ate her porridge quickly, burning her tongue as she did. She then put on the dress Mrs Woods had layed on the bed, opened the door and walked outside. Victoria walked slowly along the corridor with heavy heart. Is this really what had become of her? Yes, she had wanted an adventure but she hadn't expected to get pulled down into the dark, dangerous world of piracy. She neared the stairs and saw the Commodore, standing at the big French windows, looking out at the ocean. Taking a deep breath, she carefully made her way down the red-carpeted stairs.
The Commodore, upon seeing Victoria, made his way across the large hallway and waited patiently for her. When Victoria got to the Commodore, he took her hand and kissed it. Victoria pulled away and the Commodore looked up.
"You needn't worry now, you'll be well looked after here"
Victoria said nothing and looked at the floor.
"Come, talk a walk with me"
Outside, Victoria took in a breath of fresh air and looked around. A well-kept garden stood before her, but she had little time to take it in before the Commodore started talking.
"Such a beautiful morning, don't you agree?" he asked.
Victoria kept quiet and looked straight ahead.
"And you look, radiant" he said.
Again, she said nothing.
"Tell me, how did someone like you get caught up in all of this?"
Victoria frowned and turned to him.
"Someone like me? What the hell is meant that mean? Just because I associated with pirates and I don't act like the girls you know, but Jack didn't mind, he actually…"
Victoria stopped and the Commodore placed a hand on her arm, which was outstretched, pointing towards the Black Pearl.
"Get off me" she growled.
"Look, what Jack did to you was terrible, if I can do anything to help?"
"There is one thing you can do," replied Victoria "go to hell"
The Commodore was taken aback at this.
"Your just as bad as Jack! You're a lying son of a bi…"
"Before you say anymore, I just want to point out that I did you a favour, I could see that you were unhappy with Jack so I merely tricked Jack so that you could have a real life"
"As if I'm going to believe that," replied Victoria.
"Well you should because it's the truth," he answered.
"Do me a favour and stop lying. I know what your like, that's probably why that girl left you, in fact, I'm amazed Mrs Woods has stuck with you for so long, I wouldn't even stay a week" Victoria commented.
Commodore Norrington looked from Victoria to the floor.
"Well, if that's the way you feel then I guess I'll…go" he muttered and walked away.
Victoria stood staring at where the Commodore had just been standing, and then watched him walking away slowly.
"Bloody hell" she muttered "How bloody, buggering fantastic"
Victoria hadn't seen the Commodore for the rest of the day. She imagined he was out somewhere, chasing pirates as usual.
She however had wandered round the gardens, wondering whether to leave and go home. But there were a few problems:
1)She wouldn't be able to find a ship to take her home.
2) If she did, it would just be full of bloody pirates again.
3) Her father would kill her if he ever saw her again.
And 4) She didn't know how to get past the guards on the gate.
Victoria sighed and decided to go inside, she was sick of the garden. She opened the door and stepped inside. It took a few seconds for her eyes to adjust but she carried on walking down the hallway. She was just about to walk up the grand staircase when she heard two voices coming from the Commodores study.
"I just don't know what to do Mary, no matter what I say, she still won't believe me. You should have heard what she said. She hates me"
Victoria heard the clink of glass and the sound of something, probably alcoholic being poured out.
"She doesn't hate you pumpkin, she's just confused and upset, a lot has happened to her lately, she doesn't know who to trust, but you wait, she'll figure it out soon enough" said Mrs Woods.
"You didn't see her Mary, she hates me with a passion. But as from tomorrow I'm writing a letter to the King telling him I'm giving up my position as Commodore"
Victoria gasped and heard Mrs Woods do the same from inside the study.
"You can't do that! You've worked too long and too hard to get where you are now, I'm not about to let you lose it" cried Mrs Woods.
"What have I got here eh? Nothing. I heard they might be replacing me anyway. They think I'm not cut out for this job anymore and frankly, neither do I. I'm a failure at this and I'm a failure with women. There's no point in trying anymore"
"Yes there is!" Mrs Woods replied "you will meet someone and fall in love, just…don't pin all your hopes on one person all the time"
"I told you, that'll never happen"
"And I told you it will"
"WILL YOU STOP SAYING THAT WOMAN!" the Commodore yelled.
Victoria ran up the stairs and hid behind one of the big marble columns, upon hearing someone moving over to the door.
She watched as Mrs Woods came out of the study and shut the door behind her. Mrs Woods stood still for a moment then let out a sob. She put her hand over mouth and hurried off down the corridor.
Victoria leaned back against the column and breathed deeply. Guilt was creeping up on her. All this was her fault and she needed to put it right again.
Later that evening, Victoria was in her room getting ready for tea when Mrs Woods burst in, her eyes red from crying.
"I don't suppose there's much point in asking you, but are you coming to tea tonight?" she sniffed.
"Yes"-answered Victoria.
"I'll bring it up in a…what?"
"I'll come down to tea," Victoria said quietly.
"Oh, well, I better go and tell the Commodore then" Mrs Woods said.
"No, I'll go down, its ok" said Victoria, walking over to the door.
Mrs Woods put her hand on Victoria's arm and Victoria looked at her.
"Thanks" whispered Mrs Woods.
Victoria smiled and walked out of the door.
She made her way down the stairs and across the hall. The door to the dining room was open so Victoria walked in.
The fireplace and the candles on the table were lit and in the light Victoria could see the Commodore, who was pushing a carrot round his plate.
"H…having fun?" she asked.
The Commodore shrugged and carried on pushing it round his plate.
"Mind if I sit down?"
The Commodore said nothing so Victoria sat at the other end of the table.
There was a silence, only the crackling fireplace was heard.
"Listen, I'm really sorry about what I said this morning. There was no need for it" she said.
The Commodore sniffed and said nothing.
"I never got the chance to tell you before, but I do like you and you're a great Commodore"
The Commodore looked up.
"You don't have to lie, I know what you think of me. Now excuse me, I'm going to my room"
He got up and made his way to the door. Victoria stood up so quickly that her chair clattered to the floor.
"Wait!" She cried, "I'm sorry ok?"
"I'm sorry too" replied Norrington "Sorry I wasted my time"
He began to walk out of the door but Victoria grabbed him and kissed him.
The Commodore stepped back.
"What on earth do you think your doing?" he said.
"Proving to you that I'm not lying" Victoria replied.
The Commodore said nothing for a moment.
"You really mean it?"
"Yes, I do" she said.
The Commodore looked at her then put his arms around her, drawing her in closer.
"I'm really happy you feel the same way" he said.
"Yeah, me too" she replied.