25

Norrington was calmly reading the latest news bulletin from the Americas, when Groves burst in, in a state of extreme agitation. The Commodore looked up.

'Is it true, James, what Gillette tells me? You've called out Freddy Armitage?'

'Indeed I have, Groves,' Norrington replied, folding up the report and taking his feet down from his desk. He pulled down a book and began looking a figure up in the extensive index, perfectly aware of his friend's irritation.

'But why, James, for God's sake! You're above squabbling with a little runt like Armitage, aren't you?'

Norrington looked appraisingly at the other. 'On the contrary, Theodore…this is one duel that must be fought…'

'And how so?'

'In defence of a lady's honour,' Norrington stated firmly.

'James, if he's been insulting Elizabeth Swann again, I really don't see the trouble! He never says a good word about that girl, and besides, she's tough enough to handle the rascal for herself, you know that as well as I.'

'But it is not Miss Swann, my dear Groves,' the Commodore replied absently, marking a statistic in his book and putting his pencil behind his ear. 'He had the misfortune of abusing your own sister. I thought it my duty to defend Miss Groves.'

Groves sat down abruptly in shock and thought.

After a while, he came back to life. 'Well then, Commodore, allow me to fight the blackguard! She is my sister, after all…'

'Ah!' Norrington raised a cautionary finger. 'But you were not present, Theodore. No, I am quite prepared to fight and kill him. Do apologise to your sister if her suitor dies.'

Groves stood for several moments, opening and closing his mouth in disbelief and amazement at the cool tone of his friend.

'But…but…but she is not even aware that this affront took place!' he stuttered.

'No? Then perhaps you would be so kind as to inform her of the occasion before Mr Armitage's demise.'

'You could die, James!' Groves exclaimed in exasperation.

'Yes, I suppose I could,' answered the Commodore levelly. 'However…it will be worth my while, if I die defending Miss Groves.'

'James! Be reasonable…I am asking you not to risk your life simply for my sister.'

'And I am telling you, Mr Groves, that there is nothing in my life so important to me as your sister, and to kindly refrain from instructing me as to which risks I may and may not take.' All of the laughter was now absent from his words, and his voice shook slightly with emotion and solemnity. As Groves exited, in shock and wonder, the Commodore called after him, 'Theodore – I would be most obliged if you could avoid mentioning that last to Miss Groves. I would quite like to make her sensible of it myself…should I live, of course,' he added as an afterthought.

The day rolled by too slowly for Norrington's liking, who, despite his assured tone of voice, was beginning to contemplate the possible consequences of his hasty challenge to Armitage, deserved though it was. Nerves began to build up inside his empty stomach, and he stood in his silent office, feeling the weight of his sword as he whirled it about in flawless arcs and energetic parries. Presently, the mindless practise turned to melancholy thoughts of an ignoble death and Alicia marrying Armitage, forever ignorant of the love he, the Commodore, bore her.

With this in mind, he placed his sword to one side and began to write.

Dear Alicia, he wrote, not caring what she thought of the liberty he took with her name,

If you are reading this letter, then it can only mean that I have perished in the act of defending your honour. Your esteemed brother finds me to be rash and hasty in calling Mr Armitage out, but, without detailing the scandalous way in which he insulted you and abused your flawless name, let me assure you that this duel is a very necessary one, for my own peace of mind as much as for your honour.

If I am dead at the hands of this scoundrel, Alicia, please allow me to entreat you, as a friend, to disassociate yourself from him, for he means you nothing but ill. I know too well that you enjoy his company and look upon him in a favourable light, but if I am ever to influence your life for good, then listen to a dead man's final plea now. My wish that you refuse any offers he may make you is a selfish one, Alicia, for I confess it was more than gentlemanly protocol which drove me to rise to your defence yesterday.

Should they be laying out my corpse as you read this, then know this: I die for you, my darling, for the woman I have loved above all others, and I am glad to do so, knowing that you are no longer ignorant of the affection I have long borne you. I know that such an emotional and impulsive declaration can do naught but distress and repulse you, but remember that it is enough for me, as they lay me in the cold ground, to die with the knowledge that I have unburdened myself to you. Be happy, my beautiful Alicia. No one deserves it more than you.

I remain, always and forever,

James xxx

Norrington sealed the letter slowly, thinking deeply. It would be almost worth dying to have the whole matter resolved quickly and with minimum embarrassment to himself. He decided that, either way, he would make his feelings known to Alicia by the end of the day, either verbally, or through the letter he held in his hand. He tucked the parchment under the blotter on his desk and left quickly, his sword swinging heavily at his side.

The sunlight was muted as he strode into the courtyard, which was already crowded with gawping citizens, excited by the impending prospect of bloodshed. He looked around, squinting, and saw Gillette and several other officers talking anxiously to Groves. Of Alicia, there was no sign.

'Gillette,' he said quietly, approaching the group. 'You will be my second, will you? And hold my coat, and hold my head as I die?'

Gillette blanched – it seemed he, too, was finding it difficult to comprehend that his Commodore might die. 'Of course, Commodore Norrington,' he replied nervously. 'It would be an honour.'

'Good,' replied the Commodore briefly, smiling far more cheerfully than he felt.

A roar from the crowd announced the arrival of Frederick Armitage, with his coat already removed, swinging his weapon in wide swathes as he swaggered up to the central platform. The Commodore slowly climbed the steps, trying not to feel as though he were mounting the gallows.

'Ah, Norrington!' Armitage jeered 'Bit hot to be dueling in a fancy coat like that, wouldn't you say?'

Norrington bowed curtly, and removed his coat composedly, handing it to Gillette, who was trying to suppress the way in which his limbs trembled.

'Good afternoon, Mr. Armitage,' he said quietly. 'Your weapon is satisfactory, I presume?'

'Oh, very, very, sir,' replied the other. 'No doubt you'll be finding that out soon enough…' he smiled threateningly, without humour. Norrington declined to respond, and instead opened his shirt a little to cool himself, for a nervous sweat had broken out across his skin.

There was deathly silence in the courtyard as the two opponents bowed to each other and began their fatal dance, lightly tripping about the platform, trying experimental jabs and lunges at the other. Norrington was not at such a disadvantage as he might have been, being the older of the two, for Armitage was stocky and lumbering, and unable to match the Commodore's nimble footwork.

The sunlight intensified as they fought, glinting on the whirring blades. The only sounds in the courtyard were the laboured breaths of the duelers and the metallic clash of their swords. Norrington felt his arms, unused to close individual combat, begin to ache dully, and he began to hope for some resolution or another.

Suddenly, as his pace began to flag and the energy behind his strokes drained gradually, he caught sight, from the corner of his eye, of Alicia's anxious face, as she clutched a handkerchief to her mouth in consternation. Armitage evidently saw her, too, for he summoned enough energy to taunt the Commodore.

'So…come to see you die, has she?' he gasped. 'Ever tell her the truth, Commodore? Tell her how you think about her?' he grinned lecherously as he thrust his sword wildly at Norrington's midriff; the Commodore blocked it easily and danced out of reach.

'I promise you, I will make you tell her your truth, Armitage,' he hissed in reply. 'It is no laughing matter to insult a lady as you have done.'

Armitage smiled disbelievingly. They continued to fight, the parries become ever more desperate and the finely-trained skill of both men dissipating into raw bloodlust and survival instinct.

AN: for some reason, I'm not feeling in a very talkative mood this evening. But anyway, I appreciate you all reading this (and possibly commenting on it)…and hope you enjoy the next chapter, which sees the conclusion of the duel. dd xx