(Norrington's POV, H.M.S. Dauntless)
Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away
Now it looks as though they're here to stay
Oh, I believe in yesterday.
Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be,
There's a shadow hanging over me.
Oh, yesterday came suddenly.
Why she had to go I don't know she wouldn't say.
I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday.
Yesterday, love was such an easy game to play.
Now I need a place to hide away.
Oh, I believe in yesterday.
"Yesterday," Paul McCartney and the Beatles
I stood on the quarter deck, staring out to sea, watching the waves roll up against the ship's hull. In my pocket rested Fiona's last letter, and it was a comfort just to have there.
"Commodore, there's smoke comin' from an island. Should we investigate?" said the lieutenant, coming up the stairs. We were off in search of Elizabeth, who had been kidnapped the night Fiona had left. It had been almost a month now.
"Yes, it could be her," I said. "Make for the island, and inform Governor Swann."
"Yes, sir!" The helmsman received his orders, and the anchor was soon down, a boat rowing to shore.
"We cannot go and get him! It is out of the question!" Governor Swann persisted, trying to make Elizabeth understand. "His fate is out of our hands – there is nothing we can do." Elizabeth glared at him, then me.
"Commodore, please, do this for me. I love Will, you know that," she begged. I remained silent, swallowing as Governor Swann wheeled, face questioning and stunned. Lifting my chin, I said stiffly,
"I am in agreement with Governor Swann. Mr. Turner chose to take the path he took, knowing there would no chance for him to come out alive, and that even if he did, he would probably be hung if he returned to Port Royal." Governor Swann nodded, turning back to Elizabeth.
"There, you see, the boy has no hope," he said.
"Sirs, if ye don't mind me sayin' so, ye could single-handedly take out the last threat of pirates if ye were ta go back and rescue Miss Swann's darling William," spoke up Sparrow. I grimaced, turning away slightly.
"Yes, Jack can show you where the island is, he knows where it is!" Elizabeth said, voice rising.
"Naoh, I didn' say that, luv."
"I know you know where it is," she growled. He raised his hands defensively.
"Commodore," Gillete appeared at my elbow. I inclined my head, stepping back. "There's a man in your cabin, who says he knows Miss Fitzgerald. He says he is her uncle." My heart leapt to my throat, and I nearly bolted to my cabin, restraining myself with a great deal of civility.
"We are not to be disturbed," I told Gillete, "unless it is a matter of great importance." I began to close the door behind me. "Oh, and have Sparrow tell the helmsman how to reach Isla de Muerta."
"Yes, sir." Gillete saluted and left. Shutting the door, I found myself facing a man in a blue uniform adorned with medals over his breast, holding a hat under his arm that had a gold front piece to it. He stuck out a hand.
"Commander Henry Amherst," he introduced himself. "Commodore Norrington, I presume?"
"Yes," I said, shaking his hand. "Please sit. Are you Fiona's uncle?"
"Yes, I am," he replied, sitting.
"How is she? When is she returning?" I asked, barely letting him finish. He held up a hand.
"She's fine, she's staying with me. We're in court right now, trying to get her inheritance from her parents as well as trying to make it so they are no longer her parents in the legal sense. I hope I'm clear?"
"Perfectly. When is she coming back?"
"It's hard to say. There is no telling how long the legal process will take, but it could take a few months." He shrugged.
"A few months!" I cried. "She's been gone almost a month! How long has she been in court?"
"Just about a month. She came to me for help after her father beat…." He stopped mid-sentence.
"You were saying?" I pushed, not wanting to hear what I thought, knew he was saying.
"Her father beat her again when she went home. She managed to get out and go to the local police, and called me from there. Don't worry, the police are watching both him and her mother." I sank back into my chair, thinking. I had warned Fiona about this, and now that it had happened, I wanted to be with her, but didn't know if I should leave the ship. "Fiona misses you, Commodore. She wants you, now, needs you now." I looked up at him, fingers arced under my chin.
"Did she tell you that?" I asked. "Tell me truthfully: does she want me with her?"
"Yes. I've known there was a time gap, and I volunteered to find you and bring you back if you were willing and available." His eyes didn't lie.
"Sir, you are a naval officer, so you understand that duty is very important to a commanding officer," I said slowly.
"You're saying you won't come," Amherst stated. I didn't reply, meeting his eyes. "Sir, sometimes those you love come before duty. I think your presence would help speed things along, actually."
"You have come at a bad time, I'm afraid. I'm in the middle of something at present, that cannot be let go of lightly." Then I took it back mentally – who gave a damn about Turner? I had given orders to sail for the Isla de Muerta. Fiona was infinitely more important that Turner, although the pirates…could wait. They were the undead, anyway, and Fiona's father could be dispatched of much more quickly than the undead. Besides, I needed Fiona back with me. I had missed talking to her, speaking things only she would understand. "One moment, sir." I rose, going to the door. "Forsythe!" Captain Forsythe came running up. "Captain, are you capable of taking this ship to the Isla de Muerta and dealing with the pirates there?"
"Yes, sir, of course, sir," he said, face remaining impassive but eyes showing a mix of confusion and excitement.
"Come in here a moment, Captain." He followed me. "Commander, how long will I need to be in this city of yours?"
"Just a day or two, then I can see you're safely delivered back to your ship."
"Fine. Captain Forsythe, you have command of the ship until I return. I hope I am right in trusting you to make the right decision concerning the pirates and Will Turner?"
"Yes, Commodore!" he said, giving a smart salute. I nodded towards the door, and he left quickly.
"All right, what next?" I asked. Amherst rose and opened the door that was supposed to lead into the tiny closet. Instead, I saw what appeared to be city streets and dozens of people.
"After you," he said, motioning through the door. Straightening and bracing myself, I stepped through the door, followed by Amherst. The place stank, and strange vehicles roared past me on paved streets. I was horrified by the condition of the city and the people – so dirty, worse than Port Royal. "From now on, you are a reenactor of American history," instructed Amherst, steering my down a path of some sort. "If people look at you odd, it's because people don't dress like you're dressed any more." I nodded, dumbfounded at my surroundings.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"To the courthouse, of course." We soon came to a large building with columns. Walking up the steps, we entered and went into a room, which I immediately recognized as some form of courtroom. On the desk to the left of us sat a man and another figure who I recognized as Fiona. Amherst pushed me into a seat, and joined me.
"In light of this evidence, the court will adjourn for an hour," said the judge, banging his gavel. Everyone moved, and I pushed forward to the front of the room, finally reaching Fiona. Her eyes, dark sleep lines under them, widened as she saw me.
"Lawrence!" Despite myself, I could not help giving her a brief kiss and holding her tightly to me. She collapsed into my arms, buried her face in my chest, and I touched her hair. It felt so good to see her again. She smelled different, looked different, but she had been here for a month. A few people stared, but I was too focused on holding Fiona to care. As the courthouse emptied, Fiona and I sat on the first bench before the railing. A man who I could only assume was her father stopped in front of us, glaring at Fiona, then staring at me. I stared right back, menacingly, and he stalked out. As I cupped her cheek with my left hand, she turned her face into it with a sigh.
"A few months?" I said.
"For pity's sake, Lawrence," she sighed. There were tears on her eyelashes. "Do you know what the past month has been like for me?" Her lower lip and jaw quivered. "I must seem so self-centered right now. But you know what government courts are like." She slumped forward.
"Fiona?" Amherst appeared beside her, touching her shoulder. "You all right?" She nodded dumbly. He squeezed her shoulder. "I'll be back in an hour."
"All right."
We sat alone in the courtroom, silent. A clock ticked in the corner.
"I don't know how much more of this I can take," Fiona whispered. Rising, she went to one of the tall windows, holding herself and staring outside. Rays of sunlight fell on her, highlighting her face, her hair, the contours of her body.
"You can call off the engagement, if you want," Fiona said. "I don't want to burden you." A spasm of guilt went through me. I went to her, standing right behind her and placing a firm hand on her shoulder.
"No, no one will call off the engagement. I've been somewhat selfish, too. At first I was wary of coming due to my need to perform my duty. But I came anyway – I know how much this means to you. I found it was more important for me to be here than on my ship. I can only stay a few days, but I shall help you in any way I can," I murmured in her ear.
"Will you?" I kissed her neck, something drastically uncharacteristic of me. A small sigh escaped her lips, and she relaxed onto my chest.
"I love you," I told her sincerely, wrapping her gently, but securely, in my arms.
Author's Note: This chapter has driven me nuts. Any suggestions for ways I can change it? I'm not too happy with Norrington's character, or the relationship between him and Fiona at this point. Maybe it's just me. What do my readers think, I wonder?