Disclaimer: Pirates of the Caribbean and all related characters belong to Walt Disney, Gore, Jerry, Tony, and Terry
Setting: Takes place right after Curse of the Black Pearl.
Characters: Norrington, Gillette, Groves, Anamaria, Murtogg, Mullroy, Marty, Will, Elizabeth, Jack Sparrow, Tia Dalma.
Parings: Will/Elizabeth, Norrington/Anamaria
Chapter 16: The Prince of the Sea
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James Norrington stared at the map laid out in front of him on the table. He stared at the smudges on blue paper, representing the sea and frowned. He had always kept his maps neat and prim, how could he become careless? The answer appeared in his head almost instantly after he had asked the question. It was because he was a pirate.
After a heavy sigh he picked up his quill and continued to plot the return course back to Bermuda. He would take extra care as to avoid sailing around the northern Bahamas and hopefully avoid Commodore Sparrow’s navy. By figuring in the speed of his ship and the wind currents they would return to Bermuda within a week.
“One more week of this farce,” James muttered as he replaced the quill back into its holder. One more week of living as a pirate and then he would return to his house, his Dauntless, and his crew. He would be in command of several ships and he would order them to seek out Captain Jack Sparrow. Regrettably that would mean he would not be with Anamaria, unless he tried to seek her out while on his mission. Then again there is that other thought that made constant visits to his mind, the thought of his double seeking her out while he was in James’s world.
A knock at the door brought him out of his thoughts.
“Anamaria?”
“It is me, Captain Norrington,” Lenore answered. “Please come outside.”
“You have impeccable timing Miss Lenore,” James opened the door. “I have just finished mapping out the course.”
“The course to your home?” Lenore blinked. She grabbed onto his arm. “Come and see. I want you to come and see.”
“Come and see what?”
“Them,” Lenore skipped out on deck. “Look at them.” She pointed at the sky. Her injured hand was wrapped with a strip of cloth. “There are so many, more than I could ever imagine.”
James stared up at the dark sky. Thousands of stars glittered like diamonds. “There are many of them.” He remembered she spent her life inside, only able to see the stars through windows and even if she had tilted her head just right she wouldn’t have been able to see as many as she were able to on the deck of a ship.
“I know them,” Lenore pointed at a group of stars. “That one is Orion the Hunter, and there is Pegasus, and that star that isn’t twinkling? That is a planet.”
“You are correct,” James was impressed with her knowledge of the constellations. She had mentioned books. There was a difference between just learning by books and learning by both books and being out in the real world.
“Isn’t it time for her to be in bed?” Marty walked past them. He still hasn’t gotten over Lenore’s reaction to him and to his size.
“Please have patience Mr. Small,” James said. “She has led a very sheltered life.”
“More like a trapped life,” Andrew Gillette added. “She is seeing things she has never seen before.”
“She talks too much,” Marty grunted. “Even more than that Swann girl.”
James could understand why Lenore prattled during their trip from the Prince’s home and the docks. Everything was new to her. The second her feet touched the ground and she stopped screaming she had bent down to feel the dirt, the rocks and the plant. She wanted to grab onto and smell every flower, examine each tree and every insect, lizard and bird. She had squealed in delight when the passed by a tree that contained a boa constrictor. When they had reached the ports Anamaria had to restrain the girl to keep her from running off. She wanted to talk to everyone. Whenever they walked past a vendor selling food she wanted to taste their wares.
“She doesn’t talk too much,” Andrew said. When Anamaria was not holding Lenore back, Andrew would escort her in a gentlemanly fashion.
“She should be in her quarters,” Marty spat before he went down below.
“Captain?” Andrew raised his eyebrows. “Where are her quarters?”
“She will have Anamaria’s.”
“She and Anamaria will share a cabin?”
“Unless Anamaria will want to share with someone else,” James smiled ruefully.
“Of course, but what will happen when we reach Bermuda. After you are sent back?”
“I am certain if my double was anything like me he will carry out my plans.” He stared at his hands. “After I have returned I want you to find a way to take her to Port Royal. Elizabeth will educate her on how to act and interact with others. She would receive the proper education that books alone were not able to provide.”
“We may risk being seen,” Andrew bit down on his lower lip. “However we often risk being scene whenever we visit Jamaica.”
“Stealth will be the key,” James placed his hands behind his back. “Miss Lenore.” He wished he had a surname to go by, but Lenore had never provided one.
“Everything is so beautiful out here,” Lenore sighed. “Father should have not kept me inside. I can see the beauty of the world and the dangers, but I know how to avoid them. I will not lean over the edge since I cannot swim, I did not touch the plants and animals that were poisonous and I did not provoke them.”
“You have executed proper caution,” James told her.
“There is still much more for me to see and learn,” Lenore sat down on a full coil of rope. “I want to learn how to dance and to swim and ride horses.”
“I know a few friends who will show you around. They would be delighted to teach you how to do all those things.”
“In this place that will have music?”
“Music,” Damn it. They have yet to provide music for the girl. “Andrew go and fetch your cello, Theodore, your clarinet, anyone else who has a musical instrument please bring them out and play.”
“Cello?” Andrew stared at him strangely before realization returned to him. “The other Andrew, the one who is a lieutenant plays cello?”
“Yes. You are musically inclined?”
“Of course, but not a cello.”
“Then find your instrument and return.”
Andrew returned with a small guitar and Groves had a tin whistle, another crewmember had mandolin and another had a violin, Calvin brought out a wooden recorder. They were uncoordinated at first, all of them playing individual songs before they combined their melodies and played together, creating another song. James wished he had his harpsichord with him and kept the beat by drumming his foot against the top of the deck while Murtogg beat his hands against the top of a barrel.
Lenore watched them, wide eyed and moist lipped. She sat unmoving, staring at the musicians, completely transfixed by the display. The song did not last long, only a couple of minutes, but it was enough for her. When it had ended she stood up and brought her hands together.
“I believe she likes it,” Andrew said.
“Beautiful.” Tears appeared at the corners of her eyes. “I could never imagine it would be this beautiful.”
“I am glad you enjoyed it,” James said. “You must have had enough excitement for one day. Anamaria will show you to your bed.”
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James had wished Anamaria would sleep in his cabin that night, but he understood why she decided to be with Lenore. The girl was still new to the world and she would need someone by her side to answer her questions, and it would be better if it were a woman.
As he laid his head down on his pillow he had thought about Lenore having her eyes opened. James tried to fathom why he would never let the girl out, even if she was frightened of heights he still should have been able to find a way to let her out. The man feared for her safety like any father, or in his case stepfather. Governor Swann worried about Elizabeth’s welfare, but he did not keep her in such a prison. Elizabeth may have felt like a prisoner, but after she meets with Lenore she would realize the freedom she actually had.
“Captain,” Marty’s fists drummed against the door, waking James up.
Something struck the ship before James could even question Marty’s motives. James heard the crash and felt the ship shudder.
“The ship is under attack,” Marty answered.
“I can feel that, Mr. Small,” James jumped out of bed, only grabbing his breeches, waistcoat, and boots. “Do we know what kind of ship?”
“It is The Calypso’s Fury.”
“He is fast,” James grumbled as he dressed as quickly as possible. He grabbed onto his sword and pistol. He did not need to wear his belt or sheath for them. He ran outside as fast as possible, only stumbling when another cannon ball had struck. “All men at the cannons.” James hollered as soon as he had run out on deck. “Blow them out of the water.”
“Aye Captain,” Marty ran past him, to the nearest cannon.
The rest of the crew spilled out on the upper deck and around the gun deck, it didn’t take long for James to hear the familiar blast from the cannons from his own ship being fired.
“Here captain,” Andrew handed him a spyglass in passing. “I await your further orders.”
“Continue to fire,” James called out as he brought the spyglass to his eye. “Aim for their own cannons, try to take them out before they can inflict further damage.” He stared at the ship. Even during the middle of the night he could see the sails had a golden color to them.
“Captain!” Calvin shouted as another shot whizzed through the air.
James threw himself to the ground and watched as the ball missed the main mast by an inch and crashed against the railing on the starboard side of his ship. “Bloody hell.”
“We took out one of their cannons,” Theodore called up from below.
“Keep firing and reporting,” James instructed as he stood up. He felt a pair of hands grab onto his arms to help him get to his feet.
“I had no idea how fast they would be,” Anamaria said.
“Anamaria,” James stared at her. “Where is Lenore?”
“She is still in our room,” Anamaria answered.
“Another cannon has been taken out,” Theodore shouted.
“I told her to remain there.” James’s lover said. “I also told her to be brave.”
“She should not be there alone.”
“I know,” Anamaria grabbed onto his hand. “It hurts me that I cannot decide. I am being torn into two. I want to be with her and with you.”
“Then I order you to go to her,” James said sternly before he turned to face the enemy ship.
“We have two more cannons,” Theodore called up.
“Thank you Lieu-,” He remembered himself. He wanted to address him by his naval rank. It had to be the battle against pirate ship, grasping onto other and older memories and bringing them to surface. “Mister Groves.” He stared at the other ship through his spyglass. The other crew were milling about as same as his men. He could see four of the damaged cannons.
“They have learned what we were doing,” Groves said. “They have taken out one of our own cannons.”
“What cheek,” James grumbled. “Keep firing.” He saw something run past him out of the corner of his eyes.
“Lenore!” Anamaria shouted.
“Father stop,” Lenore shouted and wave her arms.
James heard the familiar whistling of an incoming cannon ball. “Get down!” He tackled both of them to the deck just as the cannonball landed near the railing, tearing out a splintering chunk of his ship.
“Hold your fire!” Lenore shouted at the top of her lungs. She ran to the railing, a few inches away from where the missing section was. “Father stop.”
“Lenore,” James ran to her side.
“We need to get down below deck,” Anamaria grabbed onto the girl’s arm.
“No,” Lenore pulled her arm away. “Father would never hurt me.”
“It is too dangerous for you.”
“I’m saving you.” The girl waved her arms around. “Father cease fire.”
James brought the spyglass to his eye. A few of the men on the enemy ship had paused and were pointing at them. One ran off. Several others had stopped and were pointing at them.
“What do you see?” Anamaria handed Lenore another spyglass.
“I see a few men I have seen with father,” Lenore said. “There is Jacob, and Benjamin, and Mr. Sticks and Toad.” She smiled when another man appeared, a man who carried himself differently than the others. “Father.”
“So this is the Prince,” James studied the other captain. He was taller than most of his men and wore a crimson coat. His hat had once belonged to a Navy Captain. He kept his dark hair tied back and his beard trimmed neatly. The ends of his mustache appeared curled.
The Prince raised his own spyglass to his face and he nearly dropped it. He turned to his men and shouted. Several ran to the main mast and grabbed the ropes.
“He is surrendering,” James stared at the white flag rising on the mast. “Hold your fire!”
The cannons stopped and the ships veered close enough for gangplanks to be set across them.
“You may board, Captain,” James said
“Welcome aboard The Dauntless Spirit father,” Lenore curtsied as the Prince of the Sea stepped onto deck.
“Lenore,” The Prince did not look at James or any of his crew. His eyes were on the girl. “I did not know.”
“You didn’t know?” Anamaria asked.
“We didn’t even pull into port. We have heard about a ship seeking out Eden,” he glared at James. “I knew you would rob me, but I had no idea you stole my greatest treasure.”
“They didn’t steal me. I wanted to leave.” Lenore aid. “They asked and I said yes.”
“That cannot be right,” He grasped onto Lenore’s hands. “They are forcing you to say that.”
“No one forced me. What I say is true.” She tried to slip from his grasp but he held firm.
“I have not known her for long,” James kept a wary eye on the few crewmembers that accompanied the prince. He still held onto his sword. “From what little time I have known her, I have not heard her lie, nor do I believe she can lie.”
“She would not disobey my orders.”
“Your orders kept her as a prisoner.”
“It kept her safe.” He jabbed a finger against James’s chest, despite the fact that Anamaria and several others had unsheathed their swords.
“The question is that what she wants?” James folded his arms across his chest. “She is no longer a child.”
“I will never let any harm come to her.” He stared at her wrists. “What happened to her hand and where is her bracelet?”
“I gave it to Captain Norrington,” Lenore answered. “And a ferret bit my hand.”
“You see?” The Prince raised his eyebrows. “She will return with me at once and you will return our bracelet.”
“No,” Lenore stomped her foot on the ground and crossed her arms. “It was my fault I got bit.”
“You have heard her,” James kept his gaze focused on the prince’s blue eyes. “She is staying.
“I think not, Captain,” The Prince reached for Lenore once again, but this time she jumped back and ran towards Andrew.
“I don’t want to go back,” the girl pouted. “Not now, not when I have seen more since I met Captain Norrington, more than I have seen in my entire life.”
“Lenore, I order you to return,” The Prince pointed to himself.
“No.”
“She doesn’t want to leave,” Andrew reached for her hand.
“Do not touch her,” The Prince aimed his sword at Gillette. The men had had brought over had either unsheathed their swords or pointed their pistols at him.
James brought his own blade against the tip of the Princes, behind him he can hear his own crew removing their weapons from their holsters and pointing them at the Prince’s.
“Do not be foolish,” James warned.
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