Chapter 14: Bargaining Chip
They made port before dusk, and a carriage was waiting to return them to the mansion. Elizabeth was sent off to her room, but Alice was taken to the small drawing room she sat in the first time she had been brought here. The governor was apologetic about it, but Norrington wanted to speak with each of them still. Alice understood, and she waited in silence, gazing around the room. The flames in the lanterns were completely still, giving the room an even glow, and Alice recalled how the ones aboard the Pearl were always wildly flickering; it seemed symbolically appropriate to her. Her thoughts were broken as the door opened and Norrington entered, his hat in his hands. He thanked the new butler and stood there for a moment after the door was closed, staring at Alice. She just gazed back at him, her eyes heavy with emotional exhaustion. He cleared his throat and walked to the desk, setting down his hat before he took a seat nearby.
"Alice," he nodded and she just looked at him. "H-How are you?" she squinted her eyes at him. "I apologize, for this," he started, seemingly unsure of what to say.
"Is this how you start all of your interrogations?" she asked, trying to conceal her animosity. His eyes were confused and a little sad.
"This isn't an interrogation. It is my duty to take account of any act of piracy," he pleaded and Alice rolled her eyes slightly.
"Of course," she muttered and he sighed, looking down for a moment. Steeling his nerves, he caught her gaze again.
"What happened, the night you and Miss Swann were taken from Port Royal?" he began, trying to maintain a professional appearance. "From the beginning, please."
"Well, let's see," Alice started, the venom building. "I was sitting in my room, wondering why the man who had so tenderly bedded me the night before had neglected to inform me that his intended was none other than the woman I spend most of my days with," she smirked coldly and his eyes looked slightly panicked.
"Alice—" she cut him off.
"Seeing as I could not decipher that with a clear head, I had intended on a night out," she continued. "Gazing outside, I saw smoke in the town. I went to ask Elizabeth and, before we could look into it further, armed men had entered, cornering us. Your 'intended'," she hissed slightly, causing him to wince, "invoked parley with Captain Barbossa, and the men took us captive. Elizabeth negotiated a deal – poorly, I may add – and we were taken to Isla de Muerta. Failing to lift the curse, she managed to escape with Will Turner, who had, you know, actually come to rescue her," she sneered, enjoying herself now as Norrington squirmed a bit in his chair. "I was left behind with the pirates, who chased down the Interceptor, and they took Will into custody, needing him to break the curse. Elizabeth and Jack were marooned on an island. Alone. Together. With nothing but each other, and a whole lot of rum," she smirked cruelly, emphasizing the suggestive nature of her words, and Norrington looked aghast. "We were about to lift said curse when Jack arrived, betraying the position of your men. While you and your crew were fighting the cursed pirates, Jack and Will lifted the curse, and shot and killed Barbossa." She was shaking slightly by the time she finished, her vitriol petering out as she remembered that final moment of Barbossa's life. She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths.
"Alice," he said again and she opened her eyes to glare at him.
"That's the whole story, Commodore," she said. Norrington watched her sadly.
"Alice, please do not be angry with me."
"Why? Why shouldn't I be?" she stared at him. "Did you think that I would have reacted differently if you had told me then that it was Elizabeth?"
"Well, I—"
"I would have been a bit more reluctant at first, but no, it would not have swayed me. If that makes me a bad person, then so be it, but I wasn't alone in your bed that night, James." Norrington swallowed hard, his breathing slightly uneven. "So, then, what will happen to me now?" Norrington stared at her for a long moment, his mouth opening and closing as he thought about what she said. Alice knew he had two options now: Ensure her safety and secure her place at the mansion in exchange for her silence, or send their secret to the grave along with her. Norrington took a deep breath.
"I will speak to the governor on your behalf," he said quietly and she smiled a little smugly. "Please, Alice, do not hold what happened against me. I was terrified that night, but it meant more to me than you even realize; it was not a mistake, so don't ever think that either."
"James, the sorrow that consumed me that night cannot even compare to that which I feel at the present time. I haven't any anger to devote to what happened with you then, nor do I have a reason for such. Your secret is safe with me, but don't ask me to recount the events of this past week ever again."
"Understood… Somewhat," he said and stood slowly.
"What will happen to them?" she asked quietly.
"Turner may receive an appeal, but that remains to be seen. As for the others…" he trailed off and Alice just stared at him for a long moment before looking down. "I'm afraid there is nothing that can be done for the rest of the crew." He cleared his throat. "I shall inform you of the governor's decision," he said with some measure of authority and then took his hat and left the room quickly. Alice squeezed her eyes shut and fought the sobs that wanted to break free. Nothing could compare to the pain of losing Barbossa, but she was saddened that she couldn't help Pintel and Ragetti. She had taken a shine to them both, making fast friends, and she didn't want to lose them. The tears escaped and she didn't have the energy to try and stop them.
Norrington returned a long time after, having spoken to Elizabeth in a separate room, and assured Alice that her place at the mansion was secure. He did warn her that things might be a little stiffer for a time, but to pay it no mind. She thanked him quietly and went to her room. Estrella entered and began to chat excitedly to her, but quickly realized Alice was in no mood for cheery conversation. She was bathed and clothed before being sent down to dinner. The meal was a welcome one, and she ate as much as she could stomach, which wasn't much. It didn't bring her any comfort from her sadness, but it allowed her to sleep a bit more peaceably.
