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Previous chapter Chapter 1
Disclaimer: Pirates of the Caribbean and all related characters belong to Walt Disney, Gore, Jerry, Ted and Terry.
Rating: T for now.
Characters: Norrington and most of the entire cast
Pairings: Will/Elizabeth
The Chosen
Chapter 2: From the Shadows
-
James Norrington did not have the feathered end of the quill near his mouth, not this time. He kept it resting in its blotter while his hands were placed on the table between his chest and his travel journal. He glanced down at his white fingernails before staring at the half empty page of his journal. His last entry was made a few hours before his encounter with the strange light and ghostly woman. He could not bring himself to write what has happened since.
What should he write about? How he certainly was no longer human, although he had no idea what he had become. Groves had sought out every book that may contain anything on legendary creatures, but the books were lacking of creatures that resembled him.
There were stories of sirens, human like beings that were described as being beautiful with flowing hair, sharp fangs, and enchanting voices that lead sailors to their death before they consumed them. There were no mention of tails, or feathered ears, and James pointed out to Groves, they were all female.
There were some stories of elves and goblins that had long whippy tails, but the elves lacked fangs and both they and the goblins were far too short.
“Perhaps you have been chosen to become a new kind of creature,” Groves had suggested earlier while he helped James cut his hair to a length more suited for a military man.
“Which may mean any woman I become intimate with will also become what I am so that we can continue my species.” James said glumly. It did seem he was destined to be single for life. He certainly could not ask anyone to give up her humanity.
“This means we should come up with a name,” Groves cut through a few more of James’s hairs. “Perhaps the Norrington elf.”
“I do not wish to find a new name for what I am,” James felt his ears twitch. “I am hoping the swamp witch will be able to change me back.”
“She may know what you are, and find a cure,” Groves had said after he snipped away.
The haircut proved to be futile. Less than an hour after James had his hair shortened it had grown back to its extended length, prompting another quip from Groves.
“At least you will never have to worry about becoming bald.”
Norrington had dismissed the remark even quicker than he had dismissed his captain and nearly regretted when he had. Theodore was the only one who knew about his transformation. He had kept it well hidden from his men while he was in their presence. Not a single one seemed to expect something had happened to their admiral.
His hair was the least of his problems. His tail had gradually begun to feel hours after it had reached its full length and had begun to twitch when he retired for the night. James had removed it’s binding when he removed his trousers. He tried to wag it. First like a dog that was happy to see his master had returned and then like a cat watching people pass it by.
His hearing had increased a bit. He could hear his men approaching his cabin from a distance and even hear and understand the conversations outside his door, even when their voices were low enough to almost be a whisper.
The hearing was one of the two non-physical changes. James’s other senses were the same. Food did not taste more enhanced or duller. He could not see further distances or in the dark. Neither touching, nor smell had intensified. He did not crave any type of food, nor did his appetite increase nor decrease.
There was a change in his cleanliness. His body seemed to repel dirt and foul odors. He still washed by his basin, but he could no longer smell a need for it. In fact some of his soldiers had complimented him on whatever fragrance he was using. James had sniffed his arm out of curiosity and could detect a faint scent of talcum powder, sandalwood and citrus.
“Captain Groves,” James could tell by the approaching footsteps who it was. “You may enter.”
“Admiral,” Groves smiled as he stepped inside. “We will be docking at Port Royal within an hour.”
“Good,” James closed his journal. There would be no writing that afternoon. “We will be home in time for supper. We can eat and retire for the night and tomorrow speak with the Turners.”
“It sounds like a solid plan,” Groves said. “Although your plight might not be all that bad.” He grabbed the sleeve of his coat. “Remember that large bruise I had on my arm?”
“The one you received the night before we came into contact with the light?” James nodded at the remembered of the large reddish purple mark. The mark should be smaller and while not as red, still dark and noticeable.
“I still had this morning, but after your hand bumped against my arm it disappeared.” He pulled back the cloth, revealing unmarked skin.
James stared at the area the contusion once was. “Unbelievable,” There should still be a mark. He stared into Groves’s eyes. “Are you saying that I am somehow responsible?”
“You did hold the hand of an angel.”
“I thought she was an angel.” He stared at his fingernails and pointed at his teeth. “I’m still not certain.”
Groves gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “We will figure this out, James.”
“I know,” James rubbed the back of his hand against his forehead. He thought he only had the hearing, and lack of grime but now there is a possibility he could heal?
“Will you be fine, or do you wish the spend the last hour here?”
“I’ll be fine,” James set his admiral hat on his head. “I can command my soldiers.” And not show how much fear he had felt.
-
Word about the arrival of the Naiad must have had reached Port Royal days before she was due. It had given Elizabeth Turner enough time to plan her salon around the time James and Groves would be in town. James had to smile at the way his former fiancé had scheduled the event and the fact that her invitation had extended to both himself and Groves.
“I can not believe she invited me,” Groves said as both men approached the carriages that were waiting for them. “Does this mean she forgives me for sending those letters to Cutler Beckett a year ago?”
“I was the one who betrayed them and I am not surprised.” James said. The salon would be the perfect place to inform both Elizabeth and Will what had happened to him and to ask for their help.
“It was her tear that saved you,” Groves pointed out.
“Mrs. Turner can be quite forgiving,” James nodded towards the captain before he stepped aboard his carriage.
As the many shops and homes of Port Royal passed by his window, James recited the words he was going to use in his mind. He would request the three of them to find some place where they could be alone and tell them the story; from the way the light pulled the Naiad towards it, to the angelic figure, and the fever to explaining his transformation. He would show them his fingernails, his teeth, everything but his tail and then ask for their assistance. After the salon he would meet up with Murtogg and Mullroy and inform the two they would be going on a small mission.
-
“How many people agreed they would attend?” William Turner set the still warm blade into the crimson flames of the forge.
“Everyone agreed they would come,” Elizabeth answered while she continued to fan herself. “I even had word Admiral Norrington and Captain Groves will attend.”
“You invited them?” He turned to stare at his wife in confusion. “After what they had done?”
“They are friends,” Elizabeth stood undaunted in the entrance. The fanning ceased for a few seconds.
“Your bloody friend Norrington is the reason we had to travel to World’s End and we wouldn’t be in that mess if Groves hadn’t sent those letters.”
“Captain Groves had no idea Beckett would have even come to Port Royal,” She stressed out the title of Theodore Groves. “And James has always been a friend. He turned against Beckett when he learned the man planned to control the king like he controlled my father.”
“You forgive people too easily,” Will remembered how Norrington’s motivation had changed after Jack Sparrow had jumped off the water wheel. The look in Norrington’s eyes was of pure murder. It was the same look he had when he along with Beckett and Mercer chased him around the shipyard cove while Elizabeth fought against Groves, Jack against Davy Jones and Barbossa crossed swords with Sao Feng.
“You are not willing to forgive enough,” Elizabeth scowled.
“And if that letter between Beckett and one of his cohorts hadn’t appeared would your friends have a change of heart?” He stressed on the word friends. He was still certain Tia Dalma had something to do with the letter. It had seemed odd that it flew out of Beckett’s window of the Endeavor on a breeze and fluttered in front of Norrington’s face.
“He may have believed me,” Elizabeth remembered the brief moments she slipped away from Groves and shouted the truth about Beckett. “James would have believed me.” She exhaled. “I want this salon to go well. I want to spend time with my friends, our friends.”
“I will be civil to the Navy men,” Will said.
“Thank you,” Elizabeth smiled before she stepped out.
“I may not speak much,” Will said under breath. “But I will be polite.” He glanced over to Mr. Brown who was snoring away on his stool. Some things will never change, even though Mr. Brown had made him partner as a wedding gift. His partner was still a drunkard and did little work. Elizabeth still believed Norrington saw her on the level as a friend. Norrington still had feelings for Elizabeth and disliked Will, and Will did not like the admiral much better.
Will removed the blade from the forge and placed it on the anvil. He remembered the last battle. He could still see both Elizabeth kneeling over a dying Norrington with Groves next to them, offering multiple apologies. Tia Dalma stood over the admiral and after she sprinkled some sort of dust she asked Elizabeth if she had truly cared.
“He’s my friend,” she choked out between sobs. “The closest person I had to a brother.”
“Then cry for him,” Tia pointed to his stab wound.
And Elizabeth shed a tear that fell into the bleeding stab wound and by magic the wound closed.
“She cares for him more than you think,” the flames hissed in the forge hissed out.
“What?” Will dropped the sword and stepped back in time to avoid being burned by the flames. He swore he could hear laughter.
The flames condensed and formed a figure of a woman. Black smoke formed her hair and her eyes glowed with the same red radiance of rubies. More of the smoke formed what appeared to be bat like wings near her back.
“Stay back,” Will raised the glowing hot blade, suddenly aware the smithy had become pitch black.
The flames flickered away, leaving behind a woman with skin the color of ash and dark hair. Horns of ebony were above each temple and Will was certain he saw a snake like form dancing behind her. She wore nothing, save for ashes and bits of coal stuck to her skin. Her age was undetermined but he knew it didn’t matter. A creature like her was more than likely immortal and something he did not want to have to deal with.
“I said to stay back,” Will ignored his fears and forced his legs to remain solid.
The woman took one step out from the forge; her eyes were glowing even brighter than before.
He stepped forward and thrust the blade at her. She caught it in one hand and despite using ever strenght in his body to pull it back he couldn’t budge it. Her grip increased and the blade broke into several pieces.
Will stared at the hilt and the remaining sword fragment before he looked at her. “What are you?”
The creature smiled “You are mine,” she leaped forward and lashed out at him with dark claws, sending Will’s mind to fall into a pool of darkness.
-
Disclaimer: Pirates of the Caribbean and all related characters belong to Walt Disney, Gore, Jerry, Ted and Terry.
Rating: T for now.
Characters: Norrington and most of the entire cast
Pairings: Will/Elizabeth
The Chosen
Chapter 2: From the Shadows
-
James Norrington did not have the feathered end of the quill near his mouth, not this time. He kept it resting in its blotter while his hands were placed on the table between his chest and his travel journal. He glanced down at his white fingernails before staring at the half empty page of his journal. His last entry was made a few hours before his encounter with the strange light and ghostly woman. He could not bring himself to write what has happened since.
What should he write about? How he certainly was no longer human, although he had no idea what he had become. Groves had sought out every book that may contain anything on legendary creatures, but the books were lacking of creatures that resembled him.
There were stories of sirens, human like beings that were described as being beautiful with flowing hair, sharp fangs, and enchanting voices that lead sailors to their death before they consumed them. There were no mention of tails, or feathered ears, and James pointed out to Groves, they were all female.
There were some stories of elves and goblins that had long whippy tails, but the elves lacked fangs and both they and the goblins were far too short.
“Perhaps you have been chosen to become a new kind of creature,” Groves had suggested earlier while he helped James cut his hair to a length more suited for a military man.
“Which may mean any woman I become intimate with will also become what I am so that we can continue my species.” James said glumly. It did seem he was destined to be single for life. He certainly could not ask anyone to give up her humanity.
“This means we should come up with a name,” Groves cut through a few more of James’s hairs. “Perhaps the Norrington elf.”
“I do not wish to find a new name for what I am,” James felt his ears twitch. “I am hoping the swamp witch will be able to change me back.”
“She may know what you are, and find a cure,” Groves had said after he snipped away.
The haircut proved to be futile. Less than an hour after James had his hair shortened it had grown back to its extended length, prompting another quip from Groves.
“At least you will never have to worry about becoming bald.”
Norrington had dismissed the remark even quicker than he had dismissed his captain and nearly regretted when he had. Theodore was the only one who knew about his transformation. He had kept it well hidden from his men while he was in their presence. Not a single one seemed to expect something had happened to their admiral.
His hair was the least of his problems. His tail had gradually begun to feel hours after it had reached its full length and had begun to twitch when he retired for the night. James had removed it’s binding when he removed his trousers. He tried to wag it. First like a dog that was happy to see his master had returned and then like a cat watching people pass it by.
His hearing had increased a bit. He could hear his men approaching his cabin from a distance and even hear and understand the conversations outside his door, even when their voices were low enough to almost be a whisper.
The hearing was one of the two non-physical changes. James’s other senses were the same. Food did not taste more enhanced or duller. He could not see further distances or in the dark. Neither touching, nor smell had intensified. He did not crave any type of food, nor did his appetite increase nor decrease.
There was a change in his cleanliness. His body seemed to repel dirt and foul odors. He still washed by his basin, but he could no longer smell a need for it. In fact some of his soldiers had complimented him on whatever fragrance he was using. James had sniffed his arm out of curiosity and could detect a faint scent of talcum powder, sandalwood and citrus.
“Captain Groves,” James could tell by the approaching footsteps who it was. “You may enter.”
“Admiral,” Groves smiled as he stepped inside. “We will be docking at Port Royal within an hour.”
“Good,” James closed his journal. There would be no writing that afternoon. “We will be home in time for supper. We can eat and retire for the night and tomorrow speak with the Turners.”
“It sounds like a solid plan,” Groves said. “Although your plight might not be all that bad.” He grabbed the sleeve of his coat. “Remember that large bruise I had on my arm?”
“The one you received the night before we came into contact with the light?” James nodded at the remembered of the large reddish purple mark. The mark should be smaller and while not as red, still dark and noticeable.
“I still had this morning, but after your hand bumped against my arm it disappeared.” He pulled back the cloth, revealing unmarked skin.
James stared at the area the contusion once was. “Unbelievable,” There should still be a mark. He stared into Groves’s eyes. “Are you saying that I am somehow responsible?”
“You did hold the hand of an angel.”
“I thought she was an angel.” He stared at his fingernails and pointed at his teeth. “I’m still not certain.”
Groves gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “We will figure this out, James.”
“I know,” James rubbed the back of his hand against his forehead. He thought he only had the hearing, and lack of grime but now there is a possibility he could heal?
“Will you be fine, or do you wish the spend the last hour here?”
“I’ll be fine,” James set his admiral hat on his head. “I can command my soldiers.” And not show how much fear he had felt.
-
Word about the arrival of the Naiad must have had reached Port Royal days before she was due. It had given Elizabeth Turner enough time to plan her salon around the time James and Groves would be in town. James had to smile at the way his former fiancé had scheduled the event and the fact that her invitation had extended to both himself and Groves.
“I can not believe she invited me,” Groves said as both men approached the carriages that were waiting for them. “Does this mean she forgives me for sending those letters to Cutler Beckett a year ago?”
“I was the one who betrayed them and I am not surprised.” James said. The salon would be the perfect place to inform both Elizabeth and Will what had happened to him and to ask for their help.
“It was her tear that saved you,” Groves pointed out.
“Mrs. Turner can be quite forgiving,” James nodded towards the captain before he stepped aboard his carriage.
As the many shops and homes of Port Royal passed by his window, James recited the words he was going to use in his mind. He would request the three of them to find some place where they could be alone and tell them the story; from the way the light pulled the Naiad towards it, to the angelic figure, and the fever to explaining his transformation. He would show them his fingernails, his teeth, everything but his tail and then ask for their assistance. After the salon he would meet up with Murtogg and Mullroy and inform the two they would be going on a small mission.
-
“How many people agreed they would attend?” William Turner set the still warm blade into the crimson flames of the forge.
“Everyone agreed they would come,” Elizabeth answered while she continued to fan herself. “I even had word Admiral Norrington and Captain Groves will attend.”
“You invited them?” He turned to stare at his wife in confusion. “After what they had done?”
“They are friends,” Elizabeth stood undaunted in the entrance. The fanning ceased for a few seconds.
“Your bloody friend Norrington is the reason we had to travel to World’s End and we wouldn’t be in that mess if Groves hadn’t sent those letters.”
“Captain Groves had no idea Beckett would have even come to Port Royal,” She stressed out the title of Theodore Groves. “And James has always been a friend. He turned against Beckett when he learned the man planned to control the king like he controlled my father.”
“You forgive people too easily,” Will remembered how Norrington’s motivation had changed after Jack Sparrow had jumped off the water wheel. The look in Norrington’s eyes was of pure murder. It was the same look he had when he along with Beckett and Mercer chased him around the shipyard cove while Elizabeth fought against Groves, Jack against Davy Jones and Barbossa crossed swords with Sao Feng.
“You are not willing to forgive enough,” Elizabeth scowled.
“And if that letter between Beckett and one of his cohorts hadn’t appeared would your friends have a change of heart?” He stressed on the word friends. He was still certain Tia Dalma had something to do with the letter. It had seemed odd that it flew out of Beckett’s window of the Endeavor on a breeze and fluttered in front of Norrington’s face.
“He may have believed me,” Elizabeth remembered the brief moments she slipped away from Groves and shouted the truth about Beckett. “James would have believed me.” She exhaled. “I want this salon to go well. I want to spend time with my friends, our friends.”
“I will be civil to the Navy men,” Will said.
“Thank you,” Elizabeth smiled before she stepped out.
“I may not speak much,” Will said under breath. “But I will be polite.” He glanced over to Mr. Brown who was snoring away on his stool. Some things will never change, even though Mr. Brown had made him partner as a wedding gift. His partner was still a drunkard and did little work. Elizabeth still believed Norrington saw her on the level as a friend. Norrington still had feelings for Elizabeth and disliked Will, and Will did not like the admiral much better.
Will removed the blade from the forge and placed it on the anvil. He remembered the last battle. He could still see both Elizabeth kneeling over a dying Norrington with Groves next to them, offering multiple apologies. Tia Dalma stood over the admiral and after she sprinkled some sort of dust she asked Elizabeth if she had truly cared.
“He’s my friend,” she choked out between sobs. “The closest person I had to a brother.”
“Then cry for him,” Tia pointed to his stab wound.
And Elizabeth shed a tear that fell into the bleeding stab wound and by magic the wound closed.
“She cares for him more than you think,” the flames hissed in the forge hissed out.
“What?” Will dropped the sword and stepped back in time to avoid being burned by the flames. He swore he could hear laughter.
The flames condensed and formed a figure of a woman. Black smoke formed her hair and her eyes glowed with the same red radiance of rubies. More of the smoke formed what appeared to be bat like wings near her back.
“Stay back,” Will raised the glowing hot blade, suddenly aware the smithy had become pitch black.
The flames flickered away, leaving behind a woman with skin the color of ash and dark hair. Horns of ebony were above each temple and Will was certain he saw a snake like form dancing behind her. She wore nothing, save for ashes and bits of coal stuck to her skin. Her age was undetermined but he knew it didn’t matter. A creature like her was more than likely immortal and something he did not want to have to deal with.
“I said to stay back,” Will ignored his fears and forced his legs to remain solid.
The woman took one step out from the forge; her eyes were glowing even brighter than before.
He stepped forward and thrust the blade at her. She caught it in one hand and despite using ever strenght in his body to pull it back he couldn’t budge it. Her grip increased and the blade broke into several pieces.
Will stared at the hilt and the remaining sword fragment before he looked at her. “What are you?”
The creature smiled “You are mine,” she leaped forward and lashed out at him with dark claws, sending Will’s mind to fall into a pool of darkness.
-
