No time for talking, HERE COMES JACK SPARROW!
Curiosity got the better of James Norrington that evening. Indeed, at the finish of the party he stepped into the night's crisp air and onto the docks so delimited by the moon's clear light. It bounded across the vast sea and shown so brilliantly into the windows of the dark ship he stepped upon. She was beautiful. Her black sails, her mahogany floorboards- they all meshed so terribly well together into a dashing ship who had claimed the hearts of all who had sailed her.
He stopped first in the Captain's quarters, gaping wildly at its beauty. He shallowly leafed through a number of drawers, through endless trinkets and an immense variety of letters. He fumbled through a bookcase and patted the silk sheets of the magnificent bed. He rattled through drawers littered with little clothing and finally finished after what he found to be a rather long period of time.
He stepped outside once more and his palm brushed the railing as his steps furthered across the deck. He deadened at the helm, clutching the wheel with both hands intently. So many times had he watched its Captain lead her into the rich ocean and fail not to guide her through even the roughest of weather. He removed his hat in genuine respect, drew it to his heart, and closed his dark eyes.
"You're holding onto my life there, mate." James reared his back into the helm as he quickly pivoted his body with the sound of a deep voice behind him. The man chuckled softly.
"Captain Sparrow," James mumbled, lowering his head as his stare reached that of the man before him. The eyes which he had caught weren't shining as they more often had; it frightened him subtly. He took a few steps backwards.
Sparrow replaced Norrington's previous position as he grasped the wheel firmly and took his gaze out to sea. It didn't change as he spoke.
"I don't believe I am capable of defending that title to any further extent, Admiral. Ironic in the fact that you gain a new one, a higher one," he paused a moment, "and mine becomes thrown into history itself."
It certainly wasn't the Sparrow James had known. His clothes were worn to a mightier respect than usual, his hair mangled into knots never previously allowed by their wearer. More importantly, his beautiful face was smudged with ancient dirt and his once warm brown eyes shivered in the night. They held no being. Life and heart were torn from this man who stood before him, from this ghost who graced his presence. James opened his mouth to speak and rather the pirate cut him off.
"I know, Norrington, I know. Jack Sparrow stands before you and all callings of loyalty scream to you." He removed himself from his former stance and paced towards the Admiral. His eyes fell upon him and James ignored his glare. "However I ask you, as a man, to allow me to see my crew as they last stand." With the last few words uttered upon the deck, James Norrington raised his eyes and caught sincerity in those that lie just at their level. He nodded and instantaneously jerked his stare once more as he released a finger from his hand's clutched position and motioned for the Sparrow to follow him.
The thick black of night concealed the pair; they walked silently to the prison. Very simply a plan carried out as James removed the guard from his duty and took that man's post for the remainder of the evening. He then called in Jack Sparrow as his men slept uncomfortably upon the floor.
"I wish not for them to see me, Admiral." James tossed him a knowing smile and a quick nod. He leaned against a hard wall and simply marveled as he watched a Captain inhale his crew.
Jack Sparrow shuffled down the hall retaining all that remained of his faithful crewmen. He had stopped at each individual cell, soaking into his soul each one's specific love he had coated into his heart for them. Each individual face read identical to the other- tired, pained, and most failed. Such emotions were visible even in slumber.
He specifically remained longer at a particular face, that of Mr. Gibbs, his former first mate. He clutched onto the cool bars so tightly as so his knuckles faded to a ghostly white. His features shivered and he rested his forehead against the bar. The man contained shifted violently in his slumber and he miserably adjusted his position.
Jack couldn't any longer watch such a scene and tore himself from it as he whispered an apology into the air. He walked towards James and leaned comfortably beside him, pulling his hat to the bottom of his nose and covering his near tear ridden eyes. "Is it so terrible of a man to prefer his life above imprisonment and most certain death?" It was then that James raised his head, noticing an opening to the depths of the Sparrow that stood beside him. It was at that moment that James felt pities for that which he never recognized to be a man- a man very much similar to himself and all others that he was familiar with.
"It is so human, Mr. Sparrow. Life is the most precious of gifts; God would hate for us to surrender a battle for it."
"Ah, yet many say he would equally abhor a lack of loyalty and the abandonment of friendship."
Norrington was at such a loss of words, he trembled in the uncommonly serene prison. With the uncomforting silence that followed, Sparrow raised his hat, grinned at another man's perplexity, and immediately resumed his prior position.
James straightened his body and adjusted his jacket that need not adjustment. He cleared his throat.
"Mr. Sparrow," he coughed again, "I possess much too large a heart to condemn you, yet if I am to toss you into the wild I most certainly will be charged with conspiring to set free a pirate." --