Commandeering Commodore

Chapter 7

Mr. Groves and most of the Commodore's men were in the tavern making themselves comfortable. Mr. Gillette had chosen to stay on board with the few men that had been unfortunate enough to draw ship's duty, hoping his devotion to duty would make things go easier when Commodore Norrington decided to go further in the matter of his inexcusable lack of naval discipline on the pirate ship. That's what he was hoping for anyway.

Mr. Groves sat up a little straighter in his chair, his eyes widened a little, and he let out a mumbled "what in the world?" as he saw Commodore Norrington enter the tavern with Mrs. Turner attached tightly to his arm, followed closely by Mr. Turner and Captain Sparrow. He noticed as the group headed for a table that the Commodore did not have a very happy expression on his face, Mrs. Turner had a very determined look on her face, Mr. Turner wore a bewildered expression, and Captain Sparrow looked like he was having the time of his life. He sat back in his chair and watched. He thought it would be prudent to keep his attention on the Commodore, in case things went from what apparently was a bad situation to a worse one, a very likely possibility in his experience whenever the Commodore and the Captain were anywhere within the vicinity of each other.

Elizabeth approached a large round table off in a corner, pulled out a chair and motioned for James to sit, which he did grudgingly. She sat next to him, Will sat next to her, and Jack sat down and immediately kicked his feet up on the vacant chair between himself and William. The barmaid came over and Jack ordered with much waving of arms and pointing of fingers, "Rum for me luv, and I'm sure the Commodore there will want what you pass off as brandy, the young missy and her beloved can order for themselves."

Elizabeth ordered tea, and at Will's hesitation said, "Go ahead Will, order what you want." And as he still hesitated she said, "He'll have ale."

"Elizabeth, I could have ordered for myself." Will said as the barmaid walked off to get their drinks.

Elizabeth's mind was too occupied with her thoughts to be diplomatic with her husband, "Well then I guess you should have." She said a bit snappily.

Jack took the short interval in which Elizabeth and Will were glaring at each other to peruse the room. He noticed quite a few navy tars in the room, including most of the crew of the Commodore's ship, and most of them were either openly or covertly casting glances their way. He recognized quite a few of them including that Lieutenant……….what was his name……..ah Groves, who he had heard from one source or another had proclaimed him to be the best pirate he'd ever seen. The barmaid delivered their drinks and Jack picked his up, tipped his mug in Groves's direction, and saw the smile starting there before the man turned his face away. "Hero worship" Jack thought to himself with a smile, "gotta love it."

As he took a drink his attention was drawn back to Elizabeth as she began to speak, she took Will's hand in her's but was looking intently at the Commodore, who was intently looking at his glass of brandy. "William, you know I love you and I know you will do your best to be understanding of what I am about to say." This statement brought all three men's eyes to her, although James immediately dropped his again. "I have done a great injustice to this fine man." She said with tears in her eyes as she laid her hand on James' arm. "James, I love you like a brother. Ever since the crossing from England when I first met you, and all the time growing up here in Port Royal that's how I always thought of you, as a loving older brother. I did not realize how deep your feelings were for me. I hope you will forgive me for the pain and embarrassment I caused you. I treated you callously, and there is no excuse I can offer that will make up for that. However my heart belongs to Will and always will. I sincerely hope we can continue to be friends, as I would hate to loose you entirely from my life. All I can offer is my apology James. I know that falls far short of being enough."

James swallowed deeply a few times and cleared his throat several times before he was able to speak, even then he did not raise his eyes to meet Elizabeth's. "You can not help your feelings any more than I can help mine." He said quietly, "I would consider it an honor if you and Mr. Turner would consider me among your friends."

Elizabeth smiled and then nudged Will rather sharply in the ribs several times with her elbow before Will got the message, "Commodore it would be our honor to call you friend." and offered his hand to James.

James shook hands with Will, looked him in the eye, and said sincerely. "Thank you Mr. Turner."

"Well now!" Jack said clapping his hands together in front of him, "Seein as we're all in an apologizin mood and said apologizin seems to be havin such a conciliatory effect on everyone this might be the opportune moment for me to be offerin me own apology to the list as it were." Jack stood up, climbed on his chair, and shouting to get everyone's attention, "Oye mates, and especially you navy tars that serve under the fine if a bit stuffy Commodore here," he said as he flourishingly made a gesture towards James with his mug of rum, "I have something to be sayin to him and his crew, or at least that part of his crew that was present aboard me Pearl a short time ago when a certain unfortunate slip of a tongue, and in that slippage of said tongue, a horrendous slip in naval etiquette and or discipline was visited upon said Commodore and his crew completely innocently on the part of another personage that was present at the time, namely me as it were. Seems in me vigorous attempts on that occasion to keep our dear stuffy Commodore here from makin an arse of himself in front of his fine crew, a happenstance that probably takes place regularly without me presence as well if the truth were known, I may have, and this would have been totally unmeant and unintended at all, made a bigger arse of him in the eyes of said crew and sundry, than he was makin of himself. Now anyone that knows me knows that I would never be intendin to do such a thing to a fellow officer, that is makin an arse of him as it were, especially one as fine and upstandin in his men's eyes and considerations as our dear old stick up his arse stiff and stuffily walkin uniformly Commodorely self so to speak. So men do you accept me apology, rememberin that there will be rum provided by certain persons, namely meself, for all who are willin to give said Commodore and in fact his apology that I have in good faith rendered to said Commodore," as he said this Jack climbed up on the table, gracefully walked across said table and landed lightly on the floor beside James, patted him on the shoulder, and then taking his arm and raising him out of his chair continued with his speech, "a loud and certainly sincerely meant Huzzah from all of you as it were for said Commodore and me apology as it were." He finished his speech with grand arm movements towards James, and a glittering smile for all.

The room erupted in Huzzah's from everyone present, mugs raised in the air as the barmaids made the rounds filling said mugs, and said mugs put to mouths and then presented to the barmaids as they were refilled as quickly as they were drained.

James sat down and began to drink his brandy, trying to ignore the ruckus going around him. Jack sat down beside him, leaned over, and said in his ear as he tapped James lightly on the chest with his finger, "Now Commodore, I've upheld me pledge and rendered me apology."

James looked at Jack for a few minutes and then said, "I would suppose that is the best apology I could hope for from a pirate……sorry……..privateer. In fact it was better than I was expecting." and a little smile graced his face as he finished.

"What was all that about?" Elizabeth said to Will as she looked from James to Jack and back.

"Something owed, something paid." Will said simply. "I'll explain it all later."

"Yes you will." Elizabeth said firmly.

To Be Continued

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