The Gift
Chapter 5: "Violin"
Setting: Post POTC 3
Characters: Norrington/OFC
Plot: A fluffy holiday love story. Who knew that James Norrington played the violin?

Dressed in his regular naval brocade jacket and white breeches, Norrington removed the feathered tricorne from his head as he entered his office on a chilly December morning. Something was amiss….Sitting on his desk was a large box tied with a red bow.

He turned to the redcoat standing guard outside his office.

"Solider, who entered my office this morning?" he questioned, voice stern.

The man tightened his lips momentarily then quickly said, "Captain Groves, sir!…But he wished for me to keep that a secret from you, sir."

"Ahhh," Norrington nodded. "And the package?" he asked, still suspicious.

The soldier's eyes looked away from the Admiral, eyeing the red bow.

"I believe, sir, that is a Christmas gift."

Suddenly, James felt immensely dense.

"That will be all," he commanded and shut the door, thinking to himself that it was a bit early in the month for Christmas gifts. With apprehension, he untied the ribbon and lifted the box lid. Nestled inside the white linen was the violin, her violin. He stroked the strings with pleasure then removed a sealed note from the box.

Dear Admiral Norrington,

Please accept an early Christmas gift from your friends. We are honored and privileged to hold you in our company and good esteem.

Sincerely,

Captain and Mrs. Theodore Groves and Captain Andrew Gillette, R.N.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Permission to enter?"

It was Groves.

"Yes, Captain."

Theodore appeared in the doorway, his face stoic.

"Sir, we've received communication from The Avenger. She is trailing Barbarossa's Golden Bones off the Spanish Main."

"Good," Norrington said, accepting a written communication from the man.

"And I believe I owe you a great deal of thanks."

Theodore finally smiled.

"It's the least your friends could do for you, sir."

"It certainly wasn't necessary."

"Neither was your rescue of us from Beckett, sir."

Norrington humbly lowered his eyes, remembering how he'd nearly gotten killed freeing Gillette and Groves from the brigade of an East India Trading Co. vessel, The Muzzle.

"We wanted to give you a Christmas gift that would remind you how highly your friends think of you, sir. And besides, Jane says that she wishes to hear music on Christmas day, so we had to offer it advance."

Norrington raised a questioning eyebrow.

"So you'll have time to practice!" Theodore laughed.

Norrington smiled. He really did like Jane, even if she had stolen his excuse to see Lucy today.

"Oh and, sir, Jane asks that you join us for dinner Friday night to welcome Captain Gillette's safe return."

"Successful return home, as well, I hope. But yes, of course, I'll come."

"Thank you, sir."

Groves bowed slightly, enjoying the secret knowledge of an even bigger surprise awaiting his friend.

The idea of surprising James with a violin had been Jane Groves', but she was inspired by the wish of Andrew and Theodore to give their leader and friend a very special Christmas gift to show their appreciation for saving their necks just six months prior. Of course, their necks wouldn't have been in danger if they hadn't have been so fiercely loyal to their Commodore to being with, but that being said…

Just a few days past, the plan had unfolded. Theodore playfully lamented, "We should buy him a mistress to warm his bed!"

And over a pint of rum, Andrew shook his head.

"He'll never accept that, but perhaps we should get him a puppy." And the two men had laughed heartily.

It had been Jane that interjected, "Stop teasing the poor man! You want to give him something of quality and yet something useful, perhaps something that will cheer him up?" She mused, almost to herself than to them.

"Yes, but Elizabeth Swann has already married Turner," Andrew quipped.

Rum almost blew out of Theodore's nose as he gasped and laughed.

"I was thinking, Andrew, about replacing James's violin. You said it was lost in the storm."

"That's really an excellent suggestion, dear," Theodore replied, wiping the rum off his chin.

"Yes, that is brilliant," conceded Andrew thoughtfully. "Now I'm no musician, Jane. But we can't just go out and buy him any violin. The man was quite attached to that one, in particular. I think the musician must choose the instrument."

Jane smiled knowingly.

"Don't worry about that. I have an idea."

Jane Groves had had the privilege of meeting Lucy Gagliano at one of Mrs. Gravely's teas. She immediately liked the woman and felt no hesitation discussing her private dilemma with her as they strolled the gardens together, arm in arm.

"You see, Miss Gagliano... Lucy." She corrected herself. "Admiral Norrington is an intensely private man, as his position in Port Royal must, of course, dictate."

"Yes, of course," Lucy replied having seen the Grove family and the Admiral at Governor's musical salon many times. She could tell by watching their mannerisms that the couple were fiercely loyal and protective of the Admiral, rescuing him from pushy mamas and defending his name when it rose in the course of gossip.

"So I can't exactly leave the task of chosing his violin to just anyone."

Jane's hazel eyes were pledging her to secrecy, and Lucy nodded.

"The admiral does not wish everyone to know of his musical talents. It's not uncommon, especially in a military man of his rank."

"Exactly!" Jane exclaimed.

"I am at the shop nearly every day, as my father is always teaching or rehearsing. When the Admiral comes to choose a violin, I shall make sure that we hold it for a few days. I'll offer the excuse that I must clean it and change the strings. In the meantime, I'll send word to you, Mrs. Groves--"

"Jane," she corrected.

"Jane, I shall send word to you on the instrument that he's chosen, and you can retrieve it from the shop before the Admiral."

"Oh, this is a wonderful deception!"

Jane clasped her hands together in excitement. And three months later, she received a note from Lucy.

Dear Mrs. Groves,

The Admiral was at the shop today and has selected a violin. I have delayed him until Monday afternoon. Please come by before him if you wish to continue with your Christmas surprise.

Sincerely,

Miss Lucy Gagliano
Gagliano Violins and Musical Instruments

"Hello? Lucy?" Jane called out as she peeked her head into the shop. She often visited the little music store, as she had taken a liking to the Italian woman; and they would often sip tea and play duets. Jane was an average clavier player but Lucy was happy to indulge her in cello/piano compositions. Lucy entered through the curtains, a large smile on his face

"He was here!"

"And?" Jane asked, her eyes wide.

"He picked this violin." Lucy indicated to the instrument of the front counter. "It's ready for your inspection."

Jane laughed, "Oh Lucy, I meant what did you think of Ja-- I mean, the Admiral."

"He is a fine musician."

Jane sighed.

"That sounds like something Mrs. Gravely would say. Come, Lucy, give me the details of your communication."

Lucy struggled to hide her own excitement, as she told the story of their meeting.

"I came upon him quite accidentally," she said, offering Jane a cup of tea, "He was here in the shop as I'd been out and was playing this violin. Honestly, he is very good."

"Really? I can't imagine. He's so self-contained. I thought his playing might be such, as well."

"It is my experience that when an individual's nature is reserved, music is often their emotional release. I think perhaps this is true in the case of the Admiral."

Lucy sipped at her tea, as Jane contemplated her assessment.

"He stayed on at least two hours, playing duets…It was very enjoyable."

"What?!" Jane smiled, wondering what exactly had transpired between these two handsome individuals.

"Jane, please don't give me that look. We play duets here all the time. It's quite lonely being in the shop alone all day," Lucy admonished, refusing to look the other woman in the eye, lest she gave away her deeper emotions.

"Lucy, I don't think you understand. Theodore tells me that Norrington never takes even an hour off work. The fact that he spent the entire afternoon with you, that's remarkable."

"I'd say that he greatly enjoys playing the violin."

"And the company he was keeping," Jane added knowingly. "But the real question is did you enjoy the company you were keeping?"

Lucy smiled coyly.

"Yes, he is a knowledgeable man, confident in his musical prowess but humble in his ignorance. I would say, without knowing him well, that he is also very kind to those whom he loves."

"I've never heard him described that way by his men, but he certainly has elicited their utmost respect and dedication. And, of course, I agree with the last comment. He can be as fierce as a Norse warrior and as kind an English gentleman as I have ever encountered."

"And have you heard him described by women?" Lucy's dark eyes held so many questions.

"He has no mistress. That much I know." Jane was being bold to speak of his personal relations, but if she was going to persuade Miss Gagliano to take a sincere interest in James, she would have to be curt. After all, mate-matching was one of her many fortes!

"He was harshly burned by Elizabeth Swann, and Theodore has always lead me to believe that the admiral would rather be alone than find temporary comfort in Port Royal's…accommodating ladies."

"Oh!" Lucy raised her eyebrows then took a long sip of tea. This was certainly contradictory to what she imagined the amorous lives of sailors to commonly be. Then again, James Norrington wasn't a common sailor. He was an Admiral, even if he was an exceptionally young one.

"You don't think he's—" she began, but couldn't finish. "I mean to say that I have heard it rumored that some sea-going men practice.…well, sod-"

"No!" Jane defended, stopping Lucy before she said that horrid word. "No, Lucy, trust me! I have seen James eyeing ample bosoms and naked ankles when he doesn't know that he's being watched. He's definitely devoted to our sex! I'd say the Admiral is someone who expends his passion on his work….perhaps driven by the need to suppress his more human needs."

"His work and his music," Lucy added as the women both drew long sips from their teacups in silence.