The Oldest Story in the Book

Chapter 34

Disclaimer: Some are mine, some are not, but if Disney doesn't make Norrington nice in the next film I will go mad.

Author's Note: And I'm back. I didn't get blown up in London although I was there around that time. These things seem to happen. I apologize that this took so long but I'm desperately looking for a job and being frustrated considering I'm overqualified if anything. Hope to have more soon, but this is hard stuff to write. Be forewarned: hard times lie ahead. Can't have too much happiness.

The moonlight shone on the bed when Norrington awoke. Something was wrong. It wasn't the silk on the bed he was unaccustomed to, or the thin walls around him. He remembered Nikko's cabin easily enough, despite the fact that he had been wholey and painfully focused on his new wife when they entered.

Pearl, that was what was wrong. She was not in the tangled sheets. He sat up quickly. Had she been taken? Kidnapped while he slept? Had she decided he was unworthy?

He found her just as he was about to hunt down his pants. She sat by the window, scarred back to him as the rising sun pained her skin red-orange, the exact color of her hair. "Pearl?"

"I'm fine," she said, but he recognized the stone in her voice that meant she was hiding from something.

"What's happened?"

"Later," she answered, smiling over her shoulder. She stood, moving over to the bed and crawling toward him with a predatory twist of her lips. "How are you feeling?"

"Wonderful," he answered, laying back as she crawled onto him. "I just married the most amazing woman in the world, although she seems troubled."

"Hmm," she answered, planting a kiss on his lips. "She needs her husband to ease her mind."

"Pearl, what's wrong?"

"Later," she whispered, hands burrowing beneath the sheets to distract him from the matter at hand completely.

"Pearl, what is the mater?" Norrington asked yet again, trying to get his erstwhile wife, who now seemed most interested in tying the sash on her outfit than her new husband, to give him a straight answer.
"Nothing is the matter," she snapped. "We're married, we're happy, all is well with the world."
"It obviously isn't," Norrington said. "Something has you totally distracted. We've waited years for this and you look like someone killed your best friend."
"We're married now. Things are bound to change," Pearl answered.
"So being married makes you inherently sad?" Norrington asked.
"It may."
Norrington glared at her. "Would you please just tell me what it is?"
She turned toward the door, pausing as if the door might bite her. "You have to do this sooner or later," she murmured to herself.
"Have to do what?"
"Face them."
"Face whom?"
"Everyone."
He paused. "Pearl, are you ashamed of me? Do you regret marrying me?"
"No."
"Well, that's the only explanation I have," he said, throwing his arms wide. "What else could it be?"
She sighed heavily. "My mother is dead."
He paused, turned to look at her. "How could you possibly know that?"
"She's my mother. It's my job to know." Tears sparkled in her eyes as she turned away from him.
He paused, uncertain what to do. Logic said there was no way Pearl could know if her mother was truly dead, but the gentleman in him saw a woman weeping, and his heart saw his wife in pain.
He moved toward her, wrapping his arms around her. "I'm so sorry."
"It's not as if I didn't know it was coming." Still she held back the tears. "And I'm glad she saw the wedding. I just thought there would be more time. A day or two. I wasn't ready." And just like that the tears let lose. Sobs wracked her body.
Norrington clung to her, uncertain what to do. He'd never seen a moment of weakness in the pirate, had never been able to imagine her crying. And now she was wetting the odd shirt she'd offered him with brine. "I'm sorry, Pearl."
"No you're not!" He blinked at the heat of anger in her voice as she pushed him forcefully away. "She was just a whore to you. You're probably glad she's gone. One less sinner in this world."
"You know that isn't true. I liked Diamond. She was kind."
"She got what she deserved," Pearl shot at him.
"I would never say that."
"But you think it. I can see it."
"Pearl, I loved your mother because she made you what you are. Because she was kind to those around her. I believe that's the true measure of a person. I believe the world is a better place because she was in it. And I think the world is now a little worse for not having her in it."
Pearl shook her head, coming forward to trail a hand down his cheek. "You nobles. So well trained. You know just the way to make me cry."
"Maybe what you need is a good cry."
"No. I need to go see my father, and see to my mother's disposal."
"Will they need someone to help dig?" Norrington asked as she took his hand and led him through the wood. "Because I would be happy to volun-" He stopped when Pearl grinned up at him. "Not going to bury her, are you?"
"My family never do."
"Tell me you're not burning her," Norrington moaned.
"That's the tradition."
Norrington stopped dead, forcing Pearl to come to a sudden stop. "You don't expect me to burn you if-"
"When," she interrupted. "I will die some day. And no, I want no burning. I would like to be cast into the sea. I'll meet Davy Jones on his own terms."
"What about a lovely plot? I could have a beautiful stone made and-"
"That patch of land you potted Maggie in is lovely, but it's not my way. I belong to the sea, and I intend to be returned to it." She tugged at his arm. "Can we go please? I do believe they're waiting on us."

Norrington followed silently as his wife led him into the well-lit field. The trampled grass and bedraggled decorations seemed out of place, mixing the heavy malaise of almost palatable grief that seemed to hang over the place, echoed in the sad faces of those they passed. Many stopped to silently hug Pearl before moving on.
A wooden table stood to one side. Jack sat there with Emmie and Ethan, staring blankly into space, hands oddly still and eyes oddly vacant. Emmie fidgeted, eyes equally empty. Ethan's eyes shifted between the two of them as if totally lost.
Pearl dropped Norrington's hand as they approached, settling herself gently into her father's lap. His arms went around her waist although his eyes remained vacant. "What's left to be done?" she asked, fingering the beads in her father's hair.
"Just taking the body out. They helped me set it up this morning. I thought we should do it soon. Diamond would say she wanted to move on in death as beautiful as she was in life."
"She wasn't all that beautiful any more," Emmie pointed out.
"No reason to let her rot," Pearl said. "He's right. She'd want us to get it over with."
"Should we wait for Tass?" Jack asked. "Surely he'll know."
Pearl nodded, eyes straying across the meadow. "He's here."
Jack looked up at the sailor hurrying across the meadow. Pearl stood and went to meet him.
"Pearl," he greeted her, wrapping his arms immediately around her. "I'm so sorry I didn't make it."
"I don't mind," she assured him. "Mama wouldn't either. She hated messy goodbyes."
"True. I'm sorry I missed the wedding as well. You look good as a married woman."
Pearl laughed. "Can you see a difference already?"

"Of course. You glow as surely as you did when your daughter was born. Long past time you did this. Hello Jack. Emmie, you look beautiful, as always."

"And you, Uncle Tass," she said, going over to hug her uncle.

"How're you doing?" he asked as he hugged her, placing a kiss on her forehead.

"Still standing. It's what Di's progeny was good at, eh?" she asked.

"Aye," he agreed. "Although the Sparrows seem to be rather good at it as well. I'm sorry, Jack."

"I had the easy part. She waited around for me. You kids took care of her when she needed it."

"I appreciate that, Jack," Tass said, hugging the man shortly. "Where is she then?"

"Nikko and the others are working on the body," Jack said.

"She'd want it done quickly," Tass said.

"We know," Jack said. "It's under control."

"Thank you," Tass sighed, collapsing at the table. Emmie leaned forward to put her arms around him. "Pity it's too early to drink."

"It's never too early to drink," Jack objected, waving a nearly-full bottle of rum, although he certainly wasn't swigging from it with his usual enthusiasm.

Tass shook his head, eyes suddenly landing on Norrington. "Ah, here he is. How silly of me, not formally greeting my new brother." He stood, going over to hug him.

"I certainly do wish it were under better circumstances," Norrington greeted him.

"Any excuse to get together can be a good one," Tass said. "At least that's what Mama used to say. Your mother isn't alive, is she?"

"No. She was killed years ago."

"Pirates?" Tass asked.

"So I was told," Norrington said. "But it wasn't these people, so it's hardly fair I hold a grudge."

Tass grinned. "Keep talking like that and I might let you marry my baby sister."

"Let who do what?" Pearl asked.

"I mean, encourage a marriage she obviously already has her heart set on despite the fact that she doesn't need my permission to do anything, least of all marry whom she likes."

"That's what I thought," Pearl said with a grin.

Nikko walked demurely up to the group. "Miss Diamond is prepared for you now."

"Has she been carried out?" Emmie asked.

"It has been placed, all arrangements made. You will each get your time to wish her farewell, although she will travel with you for the rest of your time away from her, until you join her in the next life."

"Thank you, Nikko," Pearl said, wrapping her arms around the woman.

Nikko smiled, an unusual look on her face, and patted Pearl gently on the back. "I could do no less than the best for my sister." She kissed her cheek, taking the tears rolling down Pearl's face. "I wish for peace for you."

"And you," Pearl whispered. "Oh bugger, I'm crying anyway. We may as well get this done with."

Emmie and Pearl joined hands to follow Nikko, Tass close behind. Norrington held back, partially because he didn't feel it was his place and partially to wait for his newfound father.

Jack walked calmly behind them, ignoring the man next to him until they met the tree line. "How did your father die then? Pirates, I supposes?"

"No. The King's Guard. He died defending the king."

Jack shrugged. "Suppose that explains the obsession, then. Men like you aren't connected to their mothers. It's the father's shadow they watch for."

Norrington looked toward Pearl. "And women follow their mothers."

Jack shrugged. "Some more than others. I'd like to think I had some effect on my girl."

Norrington looked over at Jack. "How are you doing? You lost the woman you love today."

"I don't need a shoulder to cry on," Jack said. "We Sparrows watch out for ourselves. Asides, I said my goodbye while she still breathed."

"I'm more worried about Pearl," Norrington sighed.

"That's your providence now, much more than mine."

"Although you're not through just yet," Norrington put in.

"Exactly," Jack said.

"You think Pearl will be okay?"

"Big tough girl. This isn't unexpected. She can handle things, and her family's here so you're off the hook. Hardly fair to expect you to step up on the first day."

"I've already stepped up," he informed Jack, rolling his shoulders. "More than you know."

Jack chuckled, patting him gently. "These girls know how to get their minds from things when they want to. Something she has in common with her mother."

Norrington fought the urge to shutter. "Is this really what Diamond would want?"

"She wouldn't care in the least. She'd want us to do what is easiest. She didn't believe her maker would care what condition she met him in."

They came into another clearing, this one smaller than the one they just left. A pile of logs in the center supported a red-wrapped body. A group of men and women, mostly dark skinned in brilliant colors, stood silently around the pyre, some turning to look at the group with pity in their eyes, others fixed on Diamond's form.

Nikko stepped forward, keeping a careful hold on Pearl. Pearl leaned close and spoke softly to Emmie before turning to follow Nikko to her mother's shrouded form. The group stopped at a fair distance, Norrington and Jack pausing a fair distance behind them. Emmie turned and spoke softly to Ethan, who put his arms around her and pressed her head into his shoulder as she began to weep. Norrington smiled. Those two seemed to have fallen easily into old habits.

"So what is this?" Norrington asked.

"Final goodbye. Each family member gets a few moments to say their final words."

"Isn't a bit late for that?"

"The gypsies believe that the soul is housed in the body until it is released by the eternal flame."

"Do you believe in that?"

"It doesn't matter."

Norrington sighed as Nikko returned with Pearl, switching her out for Emmie's arm. Pearl kissed Ethan on the forehead and whispered something in his ear, to which he smiled and whispered back.

"So do you get a final goodbye?"

"That's up to Nikko. She's Diamond's guide." Norrington raised his eyebrows at him. "Don't look so surprised. She and Diamond were born with a birthmark in the same place. That makes them twinned. Nikko was on the ship all those years ago when you first met her to get a good look at you, to judge you, decide if you were worthy of her daughter."

"Did she feel you were worthy of Diamond?"

Jack chuckled. "She never said, I never asked. I didn't marry her."

Emmie returned to the group, and Nikko came to take Jack's arm. Norrington moved closer to the group as Jack strode up to the woman. Emmie took his hand and smiled sweetly up at him as they watched Jack climb up to lean over the red shroud. He whispered into her ear, grinning his trademark smile, and leaned down to kiss her lips one final time.

Jack swaggered back to them, ignoring Nikko trailing behind to wrap his arms around Pearl. Pearl smiled up at him, rubbing his arms, resting her cheek against his.

Nikko returned to offer Tass her hand. He took it to go to his mother, tears falling onto Diamond's face as he bent close to speak to her. When he was finished Nikko kissed the tears from his cheeks before taking him back to the group.

Instead of returning to Diamond's side the gypsie stepped forward to offer Norrington her hand.

Norrington stared at the offered digits. His eyes cut to Pearl, who grinned and nodded, waving him forward. "Are you certain?" he asked the woman.

She tilted her head to the side, a slight smile playing over her face. "You have taken her daughter as your family, and you as hers. Diamond was present at the ceremony and had no objections. Is there nothing you would say to your mother?"

He nodded. "I suppose it couldn't hurt."

He took her hand, letting her carry him on unsteady legs to the wooden steps leading onto the pyre. He stepped forward to lean close to Diamond.

The woman was still beautiful, if a bit pale. Someone had painted her lips red and brushed color over her cheeks although it did nothing to hide the wasted jut of her cheekbones. A slight smiled played over her lips, and her closed lids made it look, to him, as if she were enjoying her feigned sleep.

"I…don't suppose I know what to say." He turned to look back at Nikko, who placidly returned his stare. "I'd like to think you'd appreciate my coming here. That you approved of my marrying your daughter, and not just because of my rank. I promise to care for her, to help her with this. I wish I had the opportunity to get to know you better. I'm sorry for the wasted time. I hope you knew the respect I had for you. I promise to continue protecting Pearl as long as I may, until it's time to see you again. I hope you won't call me selfish for wanting to keep her from you as long as I can. And I think you for the gift you've given me. You did the best job with her. I can think of no one I owe more to"

He leaned forward to kiss her cheek. It was cold and clammy, sharp contradiction to the beautiful face before him. He wouldn't remember her like this, he silently vowed. He would remember the laughing, jolly, plump woman in the tavern where he had first met her.

"There will be time later, to talk," he promised. "If anything can redeem a life of sin, if you have truly sinned, you have managed it. We'll meet again, some day, under the most glorious of circumstances."

He turned to find Nikko smiling at him. She took his hand, grinning up at him. "That was very well done."

"Do you think so?"

"I know it for a fact. She is very pleased."

Nikko squeezed his hand one final time before went back to the group. Pearl opened her arms, stepping away from her family to wrap her them tightly around him. "Thank you."

"For what?" he asked, smoothing her hair back.

"Being you," she answered with a smile.

Nikko came forward holding a torch. "As her children it is your right ," Nikko said, offering Pearl the torch.

"I'd like to yield my right to my eldest brother," Pearl said.

"Are you certain?" Tass asked.

"It's as she would want it," Pearl said, wrapping her arms more firmly around Norrington.

Tass stepped forward to take the torch. He pressed the fire into the sticks, walking carefully around the pyre to light several places.

They stepped back as the flames grew. Pearl put an arm around her daughter, drawing her close. When Tass returned Emmie drew him into the circle. Norrington offered Ethan his hand. Together with the gypsies gathered behind them they watched the smoke curl around the fire, flames licking at the red cloak.

They only gathered their things before departing, the whole group silent. The gypsies seemed to understand, drawing back and remaining silent. Even Nikko said no goodbye, only kissing their cheeks before they left.

Pearl stood on the bow of the ship, watching the gypsy's island get smaller and smaller on the horizon. She couldn't help but feel that she was moving on, toward something she couldn't put her finger on. An end or a beginning. Perhaps both at once.