Triple Drabble - Death
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James Norrington thought he’d found his redemption in those early days after returning to Port Royal, regaining both his pride and honor as a loyal subject and duly appointed representative of the Crown.
At first he had written off the hangings as just good business. A few less pirates made the waters safe for legitimate traffic of goods to the colonies. And the whores and the destitute? Pestilence that Port Royal was well rid of.
Admiral Norrington watched from his place of privilege, impassive, his face a mask of indifference. He didn’t agree with Lord Beckett’s tactics, but had sworn to uphold the laws. This was the life he had chosen, had returned to. It was not his decision who swung; his responsibility was to see that justice was swiftly carried out
When had it happened then, this shift in his moral center from blind obedience, to questioning his orders? James Norrington found he could no longer hide behind his wall of performance of duty being the foremost priority. Those duties had become distasteful, disturbing, depraved in spirit. He was no stranger to brutality and death but it seemed this had turned to something beyond that, something more base, more primal in nature.
Yet, it wasn’t until he saw her again, saw the contempt in her eyes, heard the accusation in her voice that the veil was lifted from his eyes. As if looking into a mirror, James Norrington saw himself for the first time, not the man he thought he was but the man he had become. He looked into her eyes and knew.
Surrounded by death and despair, cruelty and control, James Norrington finally chose. Chose a side, chose his own destiny. And, knowing the consequences of that choice, chose his own death. He died a free man.
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