James Norrington / Reader
It was a gorgeous evening; there was no wind and the sky was clear, the weather was warm but by no means hot which was a very pleasing change since you had been under an intense sunlight for many days. You had been sailing with a crew of merchants, crisscrossing the Caribbean as you had been making trade deals with other vendors and eventually arrived to the harbor this afternoon and after finding a suitable accommodation for yourself you had put on your finest dress and headed to the house of the governor who was hosting a party tonight.
You walked gracefully among the people, bowing as a greeting as you walked past them and behaving like one of them although the truth was that you and the people around you had pretty much nothing in common. You see, you had a secret; yes, you were a daughter of a lord, a pirate lord to be exact, but you had been raised to be a fine lady so you would be able to make deals with the merchants as well as the smugglers of the Caribbean. For the first one you had to be graceful and smooth, for the second, tough and tenacious.
So your father was a pirate lord who commanded a fleet of pirate ships that were specialized not so much in the robbing and wreaking havoc –business, well those as well of course in some extent, but his mind was mostly set on the illegal trading with the Spaniards and smuggling valuable goods, which had brought wealth for your family and provided you a status of a nobility, in the pirate-circles of course. Among the people who did not know you, you represented yourself as a daughter of a wealthy merchant, a fine lady who neither knew how to use a sword nor had anything to do with the pirates or smugglers of the Caribbean.
You walked around mingling with the people as you kept sipping wine from your glass. You were wearing a beautiful dress that was made of silky fabric and decorated with finest embroideries. The color of your dress complimented your skin color and made your eyes sparkle like two precious gemstones in the soft candlelight. You were wearing a corset of course and it gave you a very attractive figure that was complimented by your perfect posture and engaging persona. You were mysterious like a distant observer in the heart of action but then again you engaged yourself into many conversations and impressed with your wit and intellect the people whom you shared brief discussions with.
There was someone that particularly caught your eye; a man in his late twenties, wearing a white wig and decorated blue frockcoat. The coat had golden buttons and it had been lined with gold-colored ribbon. Under the coat he was wearing a white tunic or a long vest that was also decorated with the same ribbon and buttons and around his neck there was a simple white scarf, neatly tied into a loose bow. He had black leather boots and white breeches. The man was very handsome and tall, he carried himself very well, with great honor and discipline, which made you assume that he was either in the royal navy or just a bit stiff person… maybe both.
You chuckled silently at your observations and walked to the balcony to catch some air after finishing a conversation with the host of the evening, the governor. The truth was that even though you blended right in and made the people assume that you were in fact one of them, you still felt like an outsider. It was almost like you had been torn in two, or more accurately, like you had two different persons living in one body; there was a person who was a fine, well-mannered lady, a lady that loved gorgeous dresses and fine jewelry… but there was also the pirate that loved adventures, the open sea in front of her eyes and loved to wear simple clothes that did not trap her like a corset did.
- I believe I haven’t had a pleasure of meeting you before, Mrs… the man said, clearly waiting for you to give him your name and to correct him about your status if he had mistaken. The man bowed as a sign of greeting as soon as you shifted your focus on him from the gorgeous view. You turned around and managed to hide your state of bewilderment and instead of staring at the man with a puzzled look on your face, you just smiled and dropped a curtsy during which you looked down and then shifted your eyes into his.
He had hazel eyes and handsome features that were decorated with a light smile and observant as well as attentive spark in his eyes, like he had been managing the crowd by simply being present… however you had noted even earlier that he kept his feelings hidden and therefore the polite, yet neutral expression never left his face. You had been following the man from the distance for some time now but when you had been engaged into a conversation with the governor you had lost the sight of the man for a moment… however he was now here, talking to you.
- Miss (Y/N). you replied with a smile. “And no, you haven’t since I arrived here this the afternoon” you continued and let out a delightful, light chuckle that was due to the wine and the fact that you had been caught off guard by the handsome man. It was not like you very seldom talked with men of good looks, because you often did and normally you were on the top of the situation, but now however the man had managed to sneak behind you when you had been enjoying a moment of peace on the balcony, buried deep into your thoughts.
- Please, excuse my manners. I am Captain Norrington, Miss (Y/N). he said and smiled politely.
- Does the captain have a first name? you asked curiously and smirked at him now that you were getting back on the top of the situation again. You had heard of Captain Norrington, he was in fact one of the most feared captains among the Royal Navy, feared by the pirates that was, widely known for his hate towards the criminals of the seas and for the ship that he commanded; the HMS Interceptor with which Norrington had chased and captured some of the Caribbean’s most fearsome pirates, some of your father’s friends included.
- James. he said and then stated “James Norrington, at your service” with a polite, yet neutral and somewhat distant tone.
- Well Sir, I am delighted to make your acquaintance. you replied and bowed a little, keeping it hidden that you knew exactly who the man was.
- I assure you, I am equally delighted. he said, clearly deeply impressed by your ladylike manners and eloquent way you expressed yourself, not just by words but with your entire being, expressions and tones included. Besides Norrington had noticed you immediately when he had joined the party.
He had followed you from afar and studied your character… and he had gotten slightly smitten by the graceful way you walked through the crowds and presented yourself; you captured your audience and seized the room like you had been in total control of the situation. That was very uncommon quality for a woman but somehow you possessed it… leadership… and authority. Yes, there was something about you… beneath the surface… something dangerous… something… powerful but instead of making Norrington suspicious or concerned, it made him intrigued, which went against his character.
You both stood on the balcony in silence for a moment, just staring at the beautiful scenery; the harbor and the silhouettes of some ships painted by the moonlight… the starry sky that spread across the horizon as far as your eyes could see and the sea, calm and mysterious, filled with untold stories and secrets. There was a light breeze coming from the sea and it played with a lock of your hair a little and sent unexpected shivers down your spine because your dress revealed your shoulders and had a rather flattering neckline. Suddenly Norrington cleared his throat and asked casually, trying his best to hide the curiosity that you sparked in him
- What brings you to Port Royal?
- Business. you replied and sipped some wine to avoid further questions because generally speaking you did not like lying that much… especially if you were attracted to the person that you were lying to… and Norrington was a very charming man; he was clean and well-dressed, he had no beard and that was something very different compared to the men that you mostly spent your time with, the smugglers and pirates who very rarely even washed themselves with soap… or shaved.
- A daughter of a merchant, I presume. he said although his statement sounded more like a question. Norrington tried to read you but for some reason, whether it was due to his own attraction towards you or the role that you played very skillfully, he was unable to figure you out.
- In the matter of fact, yes. you replied and chuckled as you thought silently to yourself “If only you knew!”
- Hopefully you have not come across pirates. he stated and then added “A fine lady such as yourself would surely get kidnapped instantly” with a tone that made two things quite clear; firstly, it was obvious that Norrington found you attractive and maybe even liked you and secondly, he did not like pirates, although this second point you had known already. Yes, you had indeed heard rumors and stories about Captain Norrington and the Interceptor, the ill news concerning the pirate-trials that had led into multiple hangings and leaving the corpses on plain sight to be a warning to all the pirates about one thing; the Royal Navy always won and there was no escape for outlaws.
Oh no! Norrington did not like pirates at all! In the matter of fact he had forged his career by arresting many pirates, bringing them to justice and causing many of them to hang and through these courageous actions he had climbed in the ranks of the navy and was soon facing the promotion to be a commodore… in a year or two. He did not enjoy killing or hurting anyone but he couldn’t just sit back and watch the pirates terrorizing the Caribbean seas and therefore he had joined the navy, starting as a cadet when he had been a fifteen-year-old boy and then climbing up the naval ladder.
- I appreciate your concern, Captain Norrington, but rest assured since I sail with the finest sailors and therefore there has been no trouble at all. you replied with a light chuckle.
If only he knew that he was actually sharing a conversation with a daughter of a pirate lord, which meant that your fate was to take over your father’s fleet one day… and that would make you his enemy… although you were pretty sure that if, right now, Norrington found out who you were, he would most likely arrest you and try to make you reveal all your father’s secrets even though technically speaking you had never killed anyone or robbed a ship with your own hands. So technically you were not his enemy, per se, but… on the other hand you occasionally commanded a pirate ship that smuggled illegally acquired merchandise… which meant basically that you were a pirate… like your father… and to be honest, you were pretty proud about your inheritance.
- Pirates are such… vile… he said and scoffed “… Animals” with a disgusted tone and then focused his attention to you. You had turned your face away and currently stared at the sea that was glimmering in the pale moonlight.
- My apologies, Miss, I did not mean to upset you. he stated immediately because the smile had left your face and your delicate and beautifully feminine features were covered with something that Norrington couldn’t interpret; you were offended… almost like you had been personally offended-
- You didn’t. you said as you snapped out from your thoughts and smiled politely. “So animals, you say” you commented and leaned to the stone-railing of the balcony. “Tell me, how many of these animals have you hanged?” you asked curiously.
- I… Norrington said as he processed the slight undertone of disapproval in your voice. “I have not hanged anyone, Miss, I have only brought them to face justice and to pay for their crimes” he continued proudly.
- And how about all the souls that you have sent to the Davy Jones’ Locker by firing the cannons at their ships-huh? you asked curiously. “Interceptor sails under your command, does it not?” you added. Norrington straightened his frockcoat and replied with a slightly annoyed tone
- Yes, but Miss, you must understand that I am the defender of the law. The pirates however-
- Ah, so in your opinion, Captain Norrington, the worth of one’s life is determined by his or her capability of following rules. you stated with a somewhat amused tone. You liked to test his character, to examine the way his brain worked, how he thought and formed his thoughts… how far did his hate towards the pirates reach? Was it something in his blood or perhaps learned from the attitudes of the surrounding people?
- Yes, exactly. Norrington responded firmly. He was surprised for such questions, even slightly baffled.
- Let’s say, a pirate saves your life. you stated curiously and before you managed to say anything else Norrington commented “That would never happen” with a voice that was filled with mockery and disrespect towards the pirates. You chuckled as you rolled your eyes because the ignorance of people really amused you sometimes; being a pirate didn’t automatically make anyone a bad person, there were good people among pirates.
- Life might surprise you someday. you stated and emptied your glass. You really needed another drink but you did not want to leave the conversation just now… now that it was getting interesting… It was indeed turning into the most interesting conversation you had had during the entire evening.
- For an argument’s sake, a statement… A pirate saves your life or decides not to take it. Is she a bad person? you asked and focused your entire attention to James Norrington who was standing with a perfect posture next to you, staring at the sea that bathed in the moonlight. He inhaled deeply and then turned to look at you.
- One good deed is not enough to redeem a man of a lifetime of wickedness. he stated firmly after taking his time to think the dilemma through.
- What about love? you asked, or more like blurted. You had not meant to ask that but sometimes you said things before considering the possible outcomes. It was the pirate in you, challenging the royal officer who mistook you as a fine lady when in fact you were his enemy… or not exactly… but you were rather certain that Captain Norrington’s view of the world was pretty black and white and therefore he would surely see you as a person of “lifetime of wickedness”.
- Love? Norrington scoffed and shook his head. “Miss (Y/N), that is the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard!” he exclaimed. Indeed Norrington couldn’t even imagine a situation where he would fall in love with a pirate!
- What if you fell in love with a pirate? you repeated your question anyway, despite the fact that it was clearly upsetting the captain… or maybe you asked it because it made him squirm in his perfectly fitting frockcoat that reminded you all the time about who he was and about the conflict between your lifestyle and his.
- I can assure you, Miss (Y/N), that would never happen. he replied and then continued by saying “If I should be so unlucky to be cursed with such… feelings… I-“ and gasped for air as he clenched his hands into fists and processed the sudden burst of anger, which he struggled to contain. You noticed the sudden burst of rage and disgust and therefore you decided that it was not smart to continue this conversation any further. You had allowed yourself to feel attracted towards the man, Captain James Norrington, and for a brief moment you had forgotten who he really was… He was the enemy and surely, if he ever had a chance, he would hang you and your father. Curiously enough the thought made you sad instead of scared or angry.
- I see. Well… you said and dropped a curtsy as a sign that you were about to leave the scene. “I shall hope that it will never happen” you stated as you walked past him and left Norrington to stand alone on the balcony. Norrington recoiled from his thoughts and cursed half-aloud when he noticed that you were walking away from him.
- Just remember, pirates are not animals. you stated firmly and paused as you inhaled deeply before continuing. “They are husbands, fathers, sons… and daughters” you stated and tucked your personal emotions away as you grabbed a new glass of wine from a tray that a servant was carrying and put your empty glass on the tray to be carried back to the kitchen.
- Miss, please, Stop! Norrington exclaimed with an apologetic tone and when you froze still, he walked swiftly to you and offered you his arm. “A dance perhaps” he said and waited you to take his arm and let him to lead you into the dance floor. You hesitated for a moment, which Norrington noticed and he immediately felt guilty for upsetting… or maybe even terrifying you. Yes, Norrington realized that you had surely heard the suppressed rage in his voice and it was no surprise that it had shocked or offended a fine lady suck as yourself. “Please, let me make amends and right the wrongs-“ he said with a sincere and deeply concerned tone.
- No harm done. you said and interrupted him. Your tone however was not playful or as warm as it had been a moment ago. Your attitude towards Norrington had shifted from curious and friendly to careful and cautious.
- Yet I feel that I offended you, although it was not intended. he said and bowed as a sign of apology and respect. You listened to the music that now stopped and soon the orchestra started to play another song.
- One dance. Norrington pleaded and instead of offering his arm, he offered his hand with a hopeful look on his face. “Let me show you that I am not a monster” he spoke softly and even smiled briefly. The smile was filled with hopefulness and made him look… shy. In fact, even his voice was trembling which made it quite apparent that he was nervous in your presence.
Yes, indeed he was. Captain Norrington stared at you in the soft candlelight, your skin looking so radiant and perfect, your eyes mysterious and filled with untold stories, your lips so full and soft, waiting to be kissed by the right man, your character challenging him and his authority, making his head spin and his confidence to crumble like it had been made of sand. Norrington had always been a firm believer in absolute right and absolute wrong, black and white and nothing in between but here you were, bursting with different colors, luring him to embrace them… and he secretly hoped that you would pull him away from everything he knew… or maybe…
Perhaps he wanted to pull you into the world that he knew and embraced.