Disbelief washed over him as her body molded into him, arms wrapped around his torso. The scent of exotic herbs from the ritual mixture she was making in her calabash flowing into his nostrils just from the closeness of her body. Her arms wrapped around him loose yet tight as she broke down in tears. It had been years since he has felt the contact of a woman much less have someone look to him for comfort. Months since he felt compelled to replicate another's concern for him because he trusted it was real. Internally questioning himself as to if it was alright for him to reciprocate the hug and unleash his own desire for her contact and warmness. Months spent on the sea fighting for his survival, he had almost forgotten what it felt to be wanted and to be cared for by another without reservations. He slowly moved the palm of his hands to her upper back to caress not out of pleasure but aiming to take away her pain as she cried in grief. All he wanted at this moment was to allow her to take off the crown and lay her burden on him, to grieve without judgment had she had let him do just days ago. Hearing her cry made his heart hurt and yet he could not understand why in this moment he felt the way he did. All he knew was he wanted to be here with her and needed this light from her. She had been his 'light' since he arrived on the Maroon Island. So he hugged her tightly while he grieved along with her. He had his own reasons besides Mr. Scott to grieve alongside her. Her touch reminded him that he was more than a quartermaster or flint's runner; he was still a man whom she saw as an equal.
As Madi continued to cry at the loss of Mr. Scott, he continued to soothe her, rubbing her back in silence while her tears continued to fall on his shoulders. How do you tell another not to grieve? What do you tell another after an irreplaceable part of their life disappears? In that moment, he realized he wanted to be held by her as long as possible and he wanted to be the one holding her for as long as the new world would allow him.
They stood there wrapped in each other's arms until Madi's tears dried and the fear of the encroaching world pulled them unwillingly apart.
She slowly detangled herself from him. Using her hands to clean her wet eyes. He truly had no idea what to do with himself. He held on to the pole that held the cottage together keeping his eyes on her at times and then staring at the shingle roof unsure of himself.
"I have to finish making my offering for him to take along with him," she said as she turned back towards her calabash on the table. "You can stay if you want" she whispered.
"When a family member dies, you make an offering for them to take to the next world. My father will go to gadu kondee, it's the village where the spirit of our dead ancestor's dwell. The offerings are parting gift from the family for him to take to the ancestors when they welcome him. Then the God's will bring him back from the spirit world to guide us. We are going to celebrate his spirit tonight." She said as she continued to mix different leaves, rice and unknown scented herbs in her calabash. He watched and listened, saying nothing. He knew that's all she needed now. A companion. It was also what he wanted.
"I will have to be strong for my mother. No one can see me cry." She said glancing his direction before returning to her offering.
"Silver listened as she talked about the Maroons customs and her family, noticing that every now and then, teardrops would fall from her face.
" I do not know my father, but I know he is my father and everyone reveres him even your men" he hears Madi whisper. "My father is gone, I will never get to know him truly." She takes in a deep breathe while she says, "You know my father told me there was only me, not me, and Eleanor. But only me, only me to be his daughter. Yet I did not get to know him. I understand why he did and lived the way he did but I still missed out on him being my father. You know?"
"While we were in Nassau, I recalled I was once there when I was little and played with Eleanor, her family I assume owned my family at one point." She said as she raised her head and stared in his direction. "So you see, my father also contributed to raising Eleanor while I was here without a father. I told him he would have two daughters on either side of the battle but he said there was only me."
"I understand," Silver said.
"It is a balancing act to keep the village running and Nassau running. I think he wanted you to know that he did it all because he loved you, you know? In his own way, he kept the village running to keep you and your mother safe. He might have contributed to Eleanor but his love, his goodness, his best virtues are embodied in you, any man can see that." Silver said surprising himself with for finding the words that came from the depth of his being.
"Taken aback by his words, all Madi could say was "Thank you, Mr. Silver"
As she stares at Silver, she told him she knew his feet must hurt so she told him to take a seat on the bench behind her. He slowly walked over taking a seat and stretching the cramps in his legs.
"Why did you come up here?" Madi asked.
"I mean, why come see me? Are you concerned about me?" Madi asked in a rush, curious to see why he came to see her. Her mother had eluded to the possibility that the pirates may deceive her to get an upper hand, though she was sure that's not why Mr. Silver came to see her. She just wanted to be sure since he had witnessed her vulnerability. Another part of her wanted to be sure that she was not alone in the feeling that nature was calling them in this unexplainable forbidden feeling. She recalled her immediate attraction to him when the first arrived in their village. She told herself that she felt attracted to him because he was unassuming yet had compassion. She wanted to know more about pirate life and he seemed the least threatening among Flint's men.
"Taking back into reality by Mr. Silver's voice saying, "Mr. Scott ... I mean your father... just died and I came to offer my support" he said staring directly into her eyes. "Yes, I am concerned about you and not just our alliance." Silver said as he glared directly into her eyes from his seated position. Madi immediately looked away scorched by the hot gaze emanating between both of them. The room felt excruciatingly small and extremely hot. Madi was unsure of what she was feeling but she knew it was not normal, it was the first time she felt 'something' physically and emotionally going on within her.
Silver continued, "I think we are now friends and I can share your grief with you, Madi."
"Madi raised her head at the mention of her name and lost herself in the dilated pupil of Silver's eyes again. Her mind buzzing with hearing him say her name for the first time.
"They both jolted out of their haze as they heard the creaking of the stairs indicating someone was coming to interrupt their brief respite. Kofi walked into the cottage asking "ma'am are you okay?" while turning his head slowly to stare at Silver seating on the bench.
Madi replied, "yes, I am fine. Mr. Silver was just offering his condolences to me on behalf of his Captain and his men. I will be down shortly after I finish making my offering."
Kofi looked at both of them nodding as he proceeded to walk down the stairs unable to shake the feeling that that something was transpiring between the princess and this Mr. Silver.
Their moment of bonding was over with the reality of their present circumstances coming back into the fold. Madi was the first to turn away returning to finishing her offering. In that moment, Silver could only wonder what riddle ran in her mind right now. He did not want this moment to end, he wanted to exist here with her for as long as he could. He felt peace he had not felt in years, she was his tether but it was clear she didn't think so just yet. He got up grimacing and saying in a low whisper "I am so sorry again, if you need anything- let me know."
He turned not waiting for her response because leaving her was painful for him. As he got to the top of the stairs, he heard her say, "Thank you, Silver," Hearing her voice acknowledge him made his heart leap for joy as he hobbled down each flight of stairs.