Hello again all, Im sorry this is sooooo late again but I haven't had
access to a computer for ages :(
Thanks for all the reviews, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Big hugs to Julie for all her help and encouragement and for sticking with me through the delay.. thanks hon.
Pirates of the Caribbean – Chapter 7
Norrington moved into Morris' office and instantly stiffened as soon as he set eyes on his superior. Morris was sat at his desk, a beaming smile on his face. He rose to his feet and nodded politely as the Commodore approached.
"Commodore Norrington, delightful to see you again, my old friend," the Admiral enthused and smiled happily.
Norrington saluted Morris and replied, "Good day to you, Admiral.
"I trust you had a pleasant journey," the Admiral enquired.
"Very pleasant, thank you, sir," Norrington replied.
The Commodore looked Morris up and down quickly. Though the years had been none too kind, he noted the Admiral looked fit. Morris had always been a tall, strong man but as he now displayed several large scars on his face, he had an even tougher, 'not to be messed with' appearance. Feature wise, everything else was still in place, the same piggy eyes and long unkempt hair, which Norrington could see beneath the other mans hat.
It didn't take long to see that one familiar trait surface in the Admiral, the one that set James' teeth on edge; arrogance. In all the years the two men had known one another, that sense of haughtiness Norrington had always detested. It was the air of a man who had achieved what he wanted and was more than happy with his current life. Norrington wondered just how many men had suffered in order for Admiral Morris to achieve his aims. Norrington stole a quick glance at Captain Dawson who was stood beside him. James was sure that this was one of those long-suffering men.
Morris had walked around his desk and now stood in front of Norrington, his hand outstretched.
"Now, now James," the Admiral began silkily, "as I am sure you recall, I have never been a stickler for tradition. It has been a long time, old friend, too long." Morris extended his hand, "Won't you shake my hand and then join me for some refreshments?"
Norrington looked down at Morris' offered hand but didn't raise his own. His gaze lifted and bored into the Admiral's.
"Perhaps you may recall, Admiral, that I do prefer to stick to tradition. It is best to show the correct respect to those in authority, as I am sure you understand." Norrington gave his superior a smile and then stepped back.
Morris' eyes flashed for a moment and Norrington noticed that Dawson also moved away from his Admiral. It was obvious that the Admiral was not used to being refused anything and he had taken great offence to Norrington's decline of his 'friendship'. The uneasy silence in the room continued for a couple more moments until –
The Admiral laughed and clapped the surprised Norrington on the back.
"James," he boomed, "you haven't changed a bit. Aye, still the same old pompous stick you always were. But you're right of course". Morris turned to Dawson and glared at the Captain.
"Fetch the keys to the jail and be quick about it!" he snapped, his eyes flashing dangerously. Dawson saluted and rushed from the room. The Admiral then turned back to Norrington, the sickly sweet smile back on his lips.
"You've come here for a reason, Commodore. It's time for you to visit my favourite prisoner."
Norrington smiled at this, despite himself. At last, he was going to see that damn pirate get what was coming to him. James was looking forward to his opportunity to gloat. How could he resist? He knew that if their positions were reversed, Jack Sparrow would make the most of the situation. Now, Commodore Norrington was determined to enjoy his moment of triumph, even though it was Morris who had brought it about.
Dawson returned and handed some keys over to his Admiral.
"If you would like to come with me, Commodore?" Morris said and then gestured to the door.
"Lead the way, sir," Norrington replied. Then, he, Dawson and their small party followed Morris out of the room.
Morris and Norrington marched across Port Mary, Dawson and his men trailing behind them. During their short journey, Morris described his capture of Sparrow to an unimpressed Norrington. The Commodore had a nagging suspicion that he was exaggerating events a little.
"... So yes, Sparrow and his band of brigands had murdered most of my men, dishonourably I might add, leaving just a few of my most loyal fellows and myself to protect our Port. Cutting a long story short, we fought bravely and, unlike our opponents, gallantly. Sparrow and his men were overcome and tried to flee. Unfortunately, Sparrows men did get away, leaving their Captain to his fate." He smiled, showing yellow teeth. "And I," he finished, "got the one I wanted." He let out a high laugh.
Norrington gave the other man a distrusting glance. Morris' account of the tale just didn't ring true to him. Sparrow was a scoundrel, it was true, but a coward? That just didn't seem right..
The group finally arrived at the jail. Norrington stared at the derelict building with distaste. It made the prison on Port Royal look like a palace, even after the Black Pearl attack! Morris, still smiling happily, unlocked the door and then gestured for Norrington to enter.
James had waited for this moment for a long time. He walked through the door and moved quickly down the steps, closely followed by Dawson and the others, with Morris bringing up the rear.
As Norrington reached the bottom of the steps, the foul stench hit him. He wrinkled his nose and brought his hand up to his mouth in disgust. 'What poor creature died in this room?' He thought to himself. His eyes met Dawson's, who returned the Commodore's stare. Norrington gave himself a little shake and then strode across the room until he reached the last cell.
As he drew closer, he noticed the crumpled figure leaning against the wall. He also noticed that the figure was not moving. He stepped nearer, the uneasy feeling inside him growing ever stronger.
"Jack Sparrow," Norrington began firmly, putting a hand on the jail bars. He stopped suddenly as Jack raised his head wearily and gazed straight at him. Norrington gasped under his breath and gripped the bars for support. He stared at the pirate in disbelieving shock.
There was not a part on Sparrow's face that was untouched. It was covered in large cuts and bruises. His eyes were black and blue and almost closed. His lip was cut and he was missing teeth. Norrington felt a wave of sympathy for the poor man and turned his head away, no longer able to look at him.
Sparrow had always been so full of life. To see him like that, battered and broken was not what the Commodore had expected. James turned and looked into the grinning face of Morris. Norrington was aware that Jack's brown eyes were still upon him and it made him feel uncomfortable.
Morris stepped forward to stand beside Norrington. He had a look of triumph on his face.
"Worth the trip Commodore," he said softly with a smug smile.
TBC
Thanks for all the reviews, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Big hugs to Julie for all her help and encouragement and for sticking with me through the delay.. thanks hon.
Pirates of the Caribbean – Chapter 7
Norrington moved into Morris' office and instantly stiffened as soon as he set eyes on his superior. Morris was sat at his desk, a beaming smile on his face. He rose to his feet and nodded politely as the Commodore approached.
"Commodore Norrington, delightful to see you again, my old friend," the Admiral enthused and smiled happily.
Norrington saluted Morris and replied, "Good day to you, Admiral.
"I trust you had a pleasant journey," the Admiral enquired.
"Very pleasant, thank you, sir," Norrington replied.
The Commodore looked Morris up and down quickly. Though the years had been none too kind, he noted the Admiral looked fit. Morris had always been a tall, strong man but as he now displayed several large scars on his face, he had an even tougher, 'not to be messed with' appearance. Feature wise, everything else was still in place, the same piggy eyes and long unkempt hair, which Norrington could see beneath the other mans hat.
It didn't take long to see that one familiar trait surface in the Admiral, the one that set James' teeth on edge; arrogance. In all the years the two men had known one another, that sense of haughtiness Norrington had always detested. It was the air of a man who had achieved what he wanted and was more than happy with his current life. Norrington wondered just how many men had suffered in order for Admiral Morris to achieve his aims. Norrington stole a quick glance at Captain Dawson who was stood beside him. James was sure that this was one of those long-suffering men.
Morris had walked around his desk and now stood in front of Norrington, his hand outstretched.
"Now, now James," the Admiral began silkily, "as I am sure you recall, I have never been a stickler for tradition. It has been a long time, old friend, too long." Morris extended his hand, "Won't you shake my hand and then join me for some refreshments?"
Norrington looked down at Morris' offered hand but didn't raise his own. His gaze lifted and bored into the Admiral's.
"Perhaps you may recall, Admiral, that I do prefer to stick to tradition. It is best to show the correct respect to those in authority, as I am sure you understand." Norrington gave his superior a smile and then stepped back.
Morris' eyes flashed for a moment and Norrington noticed that Dawson also moved away from his Admiral. It was obvious that the Admiral was not used to being refused anything and he had taken great offence to Norrington's decline of his 'friendship'. The uneasy silence in the room continued for a couple more moments until –
The Admiral laughed and clapped the surprised Norrington on the back.
"James," he boomed, "you haven't changed a bit. Aye, still the same old pompous stick you always were. But you're right of course". Morris turned to Dawson and glared at the Captain.
"Fetch the keys to the jail and be quick about it!" he snapped, his eyes flashing dangerously. Dawson saluted and rushed from the room. The Admiral then turned back to Norrington, the sickly sweet smile back on his lips.
"You've come here for a reason, Commodore. It's time for you to visit my favourite prisoner."
Norrington smiled at this, despite himself. At last, he was going to see that damn pirate get what was coming to him. James was looking forward to his opportunity to gloat. How could he resist? He knew that if their positions were reversed, Jack Sparrow would make the most of the situation. Now, Commodore Norrington was determined to enjoy his moment of triumph, even though it was Morris who had brought it about.
Dawson returned and handed some keys over to his Admiral.
"If you would like to come with me, Commodore?" Morris said and then gestured to the door.
"Lead the way, sir," Norrington replied. Then, he, Dawson and their small party followed Morris out of the room.
Morris and Norrington marched across Port Mary, Dawson and his men trailing behind them. During their short journey, Morris described his capture of Sparrow to an unimpressed Norrington. The Commodore had a nagging suspicion that he was exaggerating events a little.
"... So yes, Sparrow and his band of brigands had murdered most of my men, dishonourably I might add, leaving just a few of my most loyal fellows and myself to protect our Port. Cutting a long story short, we fought bravely and, unlike our opponents, gallantly. Sparrow and his men were overcome and tried to flee. Unfortunately, Sparrows men did get away, leaving their Captain to his fate." He smiled, showing yellow teeth. "And I," he finished, "got the one I wanted." He let out a high laugh.
Norrington gave the other man a distrusting glance. Morris' account of the tale just didn't ring true to him. Sparrow was a scoundrel, it was true, but a coward? That just didn't seem right..
The group finally arrived at the jail. Norrington stared at the derelict building with distaste. It made the prison on Port Royal look like a palace, even after the Black Pearl attack! Morris, still smiling happily, unlocked the door and then gestured for Norrington to enter.
James had waited for this moment for a long time. He walked through the door and moved quickly down the steps, closely followed by Dawson and the others, with Morris bringing up the rear.
As Norrington reached the bottom of the steps, the foul stench hit him. He wrinkled his nose and brought his hand up to his mouth in disgust. 'What poor creature died in this room?' He thought to himself. His eyes met Dawson's, who returned the Commodore's stare. Norrington gave himself a little shake and then strode across the room until he reached the last cell.
As he drew closer, he noticed the crumpled figure leaning against the wall. He also noticed that the figure was not moving. He stepped nearer, the uneasy feeling inside him growing ever stronger.
"Jack Sparrow," Norrington began firmly, putting a hand on the jail bars. He stopped suddenly as Jack raised his head wearily and gazed straight at him. Norrington gasped under his breath and gripped the bars for support. He stared at the pirate in disbelieving shock.
There was not a part on Sparrow's face that was untouched. It was covered in large cuts and bruises. His eyes were black and blue and almost closed. His lip was cut and he was missing teeth. Norrington felt a wave of sympathy for the poor man and turned his head away, no longer able to look at him.
Sparrow had always been so full of life. To see him like that, battered and broken was not what the Commodore had expected. James turned and looked into the grinning face of Morris. Norrington was aware that Jack's brown eyes were still upon him and it made him feel uncomfortable.
Morris stepped forward to stand beside Norrington. He had a look of triumph on his face.
"Worth the trip Commodore," he said softly with a smug smile.
TBC