So thanks to the traffic that I've seen over couple of days, I'm glad to say that I'll continue.. good thing too, I was kind of itching to get back out here… Thanks again guys! Oh and if you want to know what inspired me to get back, check out the James Norrington character tribute "I'm too sexy" clip.. just thinking about him actually singing and (however provocative) dancing pretty much makes me laugh so hard I cry.. anyway.. enjoy! Oh and by the way, this is going along with the movies, but with a twist, so slight AU. And for all intents and purposes, no one for the moment sees through her façade through this chapter. Please try not to get confused, and just hang on! :D
2.
"Are you absolutely sure this will work?" Sophie asked.
Narelle huffed. "Yes, Sophie," she replied. "I did this in London, so this place should be no problem. I start in an hour, so I need my hat."
Night had blanketed Port Royal, and after a week of living in her new home, Narelle finally donned her Royal Navy uniform. Sophie had already bound her chest and pulled her hair back. As she looked in the mirror, she looked about the same in London as she does in Port Royal.
"Voice check," Sophie whispered.
"Captain Michael Ketterling," Narelle said hoarsely. "Ready for patrol, my fair lady." She bowed and playfully took Sophie's hand. They both laughed a little.
"Get out there, Captain," Sophie commanded. "Your patrol won't wait for you."
Narelle grabbed her tri-corn hat and left the room. She descended the stairs of her grand staircase, earning a few "byes" and "see you laters" from the other maidens roaming about the house. She stepped onto the street, and took in the lit streets of Port Royal.
A few torches lit the way to the fort, but the lamps dangling from the overhangs of the taverns gave additional light to not only the streets, but to the people. Men using their days' pay to drink into madness ambled about the streets, some ducking into the alleys to vomit or to pass out, others to shout obscenities at each other until fists flew.
Narelle sighed, and took the most indirect route to the fort, making sure to keep away from the taverns and the drunken shouts of laughter.
This place isn't as bad as London was when I first started, she thought. At least there aren't hordes of people living here.
She reached the fort, and made it past the front gate, before two lieutenants seized her attention. She noticed the pair, and they couldn't have been more opposite. One had a deep tan, and stood tall with grace, while the other was as pale as a ghost with not as much height as the other. The only thing they shared was the dark, flowing brown eyes.
"Sir," the paler one said. "Lieutenant Andrew Gillette at your service." He shook hands with Narelle as the other officer spoke up.
"I'm Lieutenant Theodore Groves, sir," said the other. "Ready for patrol, sir."
Narelle nodded. "Ketterling," she replied hoarsely. She listened to her own voice to make sure it was deep enough. "Why don't one of you take one group and I'll follow with the other as I get to know the streets of this town?"
"Yes, sir," Gillette said. "Theo, how about you take the captain around Port Royal with Murtogg and Mullroy, while I take the others and split up into groups?"
"That works for me," Groves replied. "Is that alright with you, sir?"
Narelle nodded. "That's fine."
Narelle, Groves, Murtogg and Mullroy have been walking around the town for the better part of two hours. Mostly she let Groves talk about the town itself, the weather, the hurricanes that seem to blind-side the settlement, and the occasional pirate threat. Mullroy and Murtogg were mostly silent, except to debate on the rock one of them would step on was really a rock, or a crab in disguise, or to argue over which fish was really bigger.
"Are they always like that?" she asked.
Groves gave a chuckle. "Almost always," he replied. "They don't get much work done, but it's never boring around them."
"I'm telling you," Murtogg said. "That rock moved when I stepped on it."
Mullroy sighed in exasperation. "That's because it's a rock. Rocks move when you step on it weird."
"You're saying I step weird?"
Narelle bowed her head slightly and gave a chuckle.
"Rock crabs do exist you know," she said over her shoulder. "A few might be living here, and none of us would know."
"HA!" Murtogg said. "The captain agrees with me. It was a crab!"
"Rocks move! I'm telling you!"
"Calm yourselves," Groves commanded. "You two are louder than the drunks!"
"Sorry," they whispered.
"What would Norrington say?"
The two stayed silent as Narelle's attention perked up.
"Is he really that terrifying?" she asked.
Groves glanced at her. "Sir, James Norrington's one of the most feared officers of the Royal Navy. He's got numbers that are slightly higher than your own, when it comes to hangings, captures, and destruction of vessels. Sure, you're a legend too, but only in the waters around England, but here? Norrington rules the Caribbean with the Interceptor and the Dauntless. Some of the most notorious pirates were captured, hanged, or slain by his hand, directly or not."
Narelle nodded. "What about off the job?"
"Ha," Groves laughed. "Well, if he's not working, he's a pretty nice guy. He keeps to himself mostly, but the friends he has are close to him."
A silence grew between them, when Groves suddenly cast a look to her.
"Sir, may I ask a question?" he asked.
"Groves, you've been talking almost without filter for the past few minutes," she replied. "And you're choosing now to ask a question? Go ahead!"
"Well, uhm, I was wondering if you knew anything about that Miss Westbrook that recently moved here."
Narelle's eyes widened, but kept her fear suppressed.
"As far as what?" she asked.
"Well, I know she's been trying to get used to the Caribbean climate, and she's been attending the balls and get-togethers with the others from the upper class, but no one really knows her. I mean, Norrington's seen her, but he hasn't talked about her at all. Makes you think, right?"
"I guess," she replied. "But otherwise, no. I haven't heard anything."
"Oh," Groves' face fell slightly. "That's okay, I was just wondering. Thanks."
Narelle breathed a silent sigh of relief, and kept walking.
A flash of lightning, and I was scared into waking from the sudden clash of thunder. The candlelight slowly growing brighter behind my closed bedroom door.
Another flash, and I'm on the ground in the courtyard, my back in searing pain, my nightgown shredded.
Yet another flash, and I see those haunting pair of eyes staring into my own.
Green eyes.
Narelle gasped and sat upright, rubbing her eyes as if she could rub the nightmare away if she tried hard enough. She heard the door close, and she looked up to see Sophie holding a lit candle in the dark room.
"Those eyes," Narelle whispered. "I remember."
"What is it?" Sophie asked.
"It was him," Narelle replied. "It was James Norrington."
Well, what do we have here? Not only does she have a secret double life, but she's got some dark memories as well. Not only that, but Narelle and James have met before! Thanks to the reviewer and to those who have taken a look! I'll give more as to how dark those memories are, and how she even got her commission. Thanks again! ~Emy022
