Chapter 16

Twice... Twice I was unconscious. What is wrong with me? Jewel thought as oblivion began to lighten up. It did not take long for her to realize where she was, and what was going on. She was in somebody's cabin on their cot. Everything was very orderly, with a couple lamps to help lighten the room. However, one of her hands was chained to a bed post.

Once she noticed that, she struggled to get free. She pulled at the chain to try getting her hand free. After a couple minutes, she laid herself back down on the mattress.

"I should have stayed on the Pearl." She moaned in defeat. Then something caught her eye on the small table next to the caught. There was a draw and it was open slightly. She reached over and pulled out whatever was inside.

It was a pistol. A loaded pistol.

The door creaked open. Jewel aimed the gun at whoever entered. The anger she felt at the moment, grew when she realized just who walked in and closed the door behind him.

"Ms. Sparrow." Norrington said, nodding his head to her.

"You bloody bastard!" Jewel yelled, shooting. She missed intentionally, just to see Norrington duck in fear. He did so, but regained his composure soon after.

"Tell me why I shouldn't kill you! NOW!" she yelled

"You need to reload." Norrington said, pointing out a fact that Jewel had briefly forgotten. She turned it around in her hand and sat up.

"I could still use it as a club though. I'll beat you senseless after what you've done!" Jewel yelled. Norrington slowly took a few steps closer to her.

"Ms. Sparrow." he said

"Don't come any closer mutineer!" Jewel yelled, raising the pistol higher. Norrington stopped walking.

"You look well." he said softly

"Oh really? After you betrayed us, we had to go to World's End and back just to get my father, and I look well?" Jewel asked, sarcasm laced in her tone, "Pardon me if I'm not all a twitter."

"World's End?" Norrington asked

"Don't say that it's not real. I've been there, I've seen it, it's real!" Jewel said, "And you look like your new life was worth it. What are you now? Back to being a commodore?"

"Lieutenant." Norrington said

"But you want to be Commodore again, don't you? You wanted your bloody life back, isn't that what you said?" Jewel asked, "So let me ask you, James Norrington, was it worth it? Was this worth turning your back on us? Stabbing me in the back? Was it all worth it for your bloody new life?" Regret began to show on Norrington's features.

"I didn't want to hurt you." he said

"Well, you did. It felt like you tore my heart out of my chest, just to watch you stab it repeatedly." Jewel said, sounding close to tears. "I can not believe I was actually starting to love you! But it was all a set up, wasn't it? You planned to get your whole life back from the beginning, right? You used us!"

"I had no intentions of regaining my title once I was allowed on board." Norrington said

"Just... tell me..." Jewel said, calming down, although the pistol was still in her hand, "Did you... feel anything? After the kiss? After I fought my father for you? Did you feel anything for me?"

"I didn't want to hurt you." Norrington repeated

"That is not answering my question! ... Did you love me, or not?" Jewel asked. With each second of his silence, tears began to get stuck in Jewel's eyes. He moved closer to her. She leaned back in response. He moved closer still.

"Stay back man." she said, holding the pistol up, but he still moved closer. "I'm warning y-" She was cut off when he pressed his lips against hers. She was shocked at first, but felt comfort in the notion and closed her eyes. While she was distracted, Norrington gently slid the pistol from her hand. He gently pulled away and she reached for the pistol as he backed away quickly.

"No!" she said, seeing him reload it. He aimed it at her. Tears were streaming down her face now.

"So. This is the new you? You meet an old friend, kiss her, then kill her?" she asked. Norrington knelt down in front of her, took off his hat and gave Jewel the pistol. She looked down at it, then at Norrington's bowed head.

"Do what must be done to help me atone for my actions." he said, closing his eyes, readying himself for death. Jewel held the pistol up. It would be so easy just to kill him, to pull the trigger and be done with one problem. She sighed, finding herself, unable to do the deed. She put the pistol on the table.

"Did you love me?" she asked. Norrington looked at her, his green eye meeting her brown orbs.

"Yes. I've always had since that night." he confessed. She put her hand on his cheek to pull him closer, for them to kiss once more.

"You know what must be done then." she said. Norrington stood up. He reached into one of his pockets and pulled out a key. He used it to unlock the chain around Jewel's wrist, his hands careful not to be rough grabbing Jewel's hands.

"You overpowered me, nearly killed me." Norrington said

"And in your attempt to gain information from me, I said nothing and lured you into a false sense of security." Jewel added. The two smiled at each other briefly.

"I will free the others." Norrington said, his smile vanished.

"Others?" Jewel asked, rubbing her wrist.

"Elizabeth was named captain of the Empress by the crew. We found Sao Feng dead in his cabin. They are all kept in the brig." Norrington explained. Jewel stood up.

"Can you make me a promise?" she asked

"What?" Norrington asked

"When you release them, will you please join them? And join us?" Jewel asked. Norrington looked unsure. "Please, it's looking as if we're heading into war. We could use all the help we can manage. And I want you to help us."

"I will try." Norrington nodded. He moved to leave. Jewel picked up his hat and grabbed his arm to stop him.

"Wait." she said, "Just one more..." For the third time, the two kissed. Afterwards, Jewel put his hat back on and then leaned on his chest. Norrington put his arms around her.

"Please join us James." Jewel whispered. Norrington slowly let go of her and walked out of his cabin. Jewel focused on the Black Pearl and jumped back to her cabin. She lied down on her hammock with a smile on her face. She was thankful to be home, happy being loved, and hopeful for the future. And it was with those thoughts that she did close her eyes and sleep without a care in the world.