V
Just Following Orders
Anna's Flashback contd.
The Bannerleys had just sat down to a big diner when there was a sharp knock at the door. Mr. Bannerley gave his daugheter a stern glareHe still hadn't forgiven her for embarrassing him in front of Lord Beckett. Anna stiffly rose from her chair, secretly glad the door had given her an excuse to escape her father's scorn. She was surprised to see Commodore McAllister and Lieutenant Norrington standing outside, as well as a third gentleman she had never met before "Hello, lassie," the commodore greeted her.. "Is your father home?"
Anna nodded. "Father!" she called. "You have visitors!"
The scene that played out was unreal. Lieutenant Norrington wrestled Mr. Bannerley to the ground as he appeared in the doorway and clapped a pair of shiny silver handcuffs to his wrists. Anna screamed. She tried to run to her father, but her mother restrained McAllister unrolled a paper scroll and read, "Lionel Bannerley, by order of His Majesty the King of England, you are under arrest."
"What are the charges, Commodore?" Mrs. Bannerley questioned timidly, still maintaining hold of the fighting Anna..
Commodore McAllister fumbled with his papers. "Consorting with pirates, conspiracy against the Crown, multiple acts of piracy," he recited. His voice dropped. "All of which punishable by the gallows," he added quietly.
"But that's preposterous!" Mr. Bannerley spluttered. "I'm no pirate! You know me, I work for Lord Beckett!"
A bell sounded in Anna's head. Lord Beckett! He and her father had always argued about pirates, and now he was trying to convince everyone that he was one! "Lord Beckett did this!" she shouted. This is his doing!"
The strange man approached her. He had no hair on his head, but he made up for it with a scruffy beard. He gave her a sickly sweet smile, making her recoil in fear. "I wouldn't say such things if I were you, little lady," he threatened, waving a club in front of her face, "or you'll be accompanying your father to my prison."
Anna broke free of her mother's clutches and grabbed the front of Lieutenant Norrington's coat. "Please don't take him!" she pleaded. "He has done nothing wrong!"
His eyes locked on hers for a moment. There was a flicker of emotion in them that she had never seen before, but it left as quickly as it had appeared. The lieutenant turned to Mr. Bannerley and gave him a push toward the door. Anna's heart sank; her words had failed.
Anna and Mrs. Bannerley were led into the prison by the scraggly warden. He prisoners leaned on the bars of their overcrowded cells and leered at them. Anna winced and ran to catch up with her mother. Suddenly, the warden stopped. He hung his torch in the bracket above Mr. Bannerley's cell , and a familiar pair of green eyes pierced the light. The cell was guarded by none other than Lieutenant Norrington!
Prison had changed Lionel Bannerley. He no longer resembled the prominent second-in-command to Lord Beckett that he had once been, but more the ghost he was yet to become. Anna held her father's hand through the iron bars, and Mrs. Bannerley dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief. The lieutenant excused himself. "You were right about Lord Beckett,' said mr. Bannerley, his voice barely more than a whisper "he told me everything."
Lieutenant Norrington returned to show Anna and her mother to the door. Her eyes darted from him to her father. She hadn't given up yet! "Please, Lieutenant Norrington," she begged, taking his hand in both of hers, "Please save my father."
Norrington stared at her but quickly looked away. He pulled away from her touch, and Anna understood. He would do nothing.
A mob had gathered to watch Lionel Bannerley die. Anna had heard terrible stories about hanging, but she had never actually seen it happen. Her father told her that when someone was executed. There was always a big man in a black mask called the executioner. But there was no masked man at the execution of Lionel Bannerley. His executioner wore a blue-and-gold hat, the very same one Anna had not long ago begged to wear.
Anna did not cry when her father died; she was too angry. She had trusted Lieutenant Norrington! How could he betray her? The life of an innocent man - or those of a thousand men- must not matter to him so long as he kept his rank! Annas tiny hands clenched into fists. She wanted to hurt Lieutenant Norrington as he had hurt her!
As if reading her thoughts, someone grabbed her from behind. Anna kicked and screamed, but the grip was too strong. Soon she found herself face-to-face with Lord Beckett. "Rachael Bannerley," he greeted. His lips curled as he turned to Anna. "And Anna. This is a surprise.."
"Such a shame about dear Lionel," he said sarcastically, " but we cannot allow pirates to corrupt us."
Anna opened her mouth to say something, but her mother silenced her with a look. "Nor the families thereof," Beckett continued, "which is why you are banished from Port Royal.. You will board a ship bound for Tortuga immediately and never return."
End Flashback
Anna stared at the man in front of her. His light brown hair, once perfectly coiffed, was now a tangly mess. His vibrant green eyes, one unfeeling and hollow, were now full of sadness. But somewhere he was still the same James Norrington she had always known. "You're the lieutenant from Port Royal!" she gasped.