Author's Note: Hi everyone! This is my first published fic here.
I would love to get some feedback on this if you'd be so kind. I hope you like it! {canon divergence with a tinge of au}
I'm going to try and update as often as I can. I will eventually get a schedule going, I hope!
*I do not own characters or quotes*
Follow me on Twitter! sharafambam :)
Prologue
It's raining hard. The infant Jones is crying in her bassinet, seemingly aware of how tonight will end.
In abandonment.
"Shh, shh," young Killian says. "Don't cry, Madellaina! The sun will come out soon, mummy said so." He hesitates a moment, trying to remember exactly what his mother says about rainstorms. "After every storm the sun will smile, just like this." He grins wide at his sister, earning a high-pitched giggle from the babe.
The woman herself appears, kneeling down by her youngest son. "Every day is a good day to be alive, whether the sun's shining or not." She squeezes his shoulders and pecks his cheek. "My Killian, why don't you prepare for your adventure with papa?"
Killian's eyes twinkle at the thought. Brennan promised to bring Liam and himself to a nearby port's marketplace for business. The trip will take them a few days. He also said that he would teach them how to sail and fish! "Aye, mum! Too bad it's raining. I reckon the ship will be rocky tonight."
His mother hums in agreement and nods for him to go gather his things. Killian obliges, pinching his baby sister's pink, chubby cheeks as he goes.
Alastriona picks up Madellaina and soothes her. She cannot help but smile at her. She's so beautiful and innocent. One day she will make her family proud, just like her brothers will. The name Jones will stand for honor and prosperity.
Brennan comes into the room with a flustered look. He abruptly sits down and huffs, hands rubbing his face.
"Are you alright, darling?" Alastriona asks, taking a seat in the chair adjacent to her husband.
Madellaina coos, grabbing her mother's hair. He smiles at his daughter. "Never better, my love." His tone contradicts his last utterance. He decides to change the subject. "The lads are excited, aren't they? Should be a fine time."
Her heart sinks, knowing his change of subject was intentional. Recently, her husband has been distant. Ever since he has taken up a second job about a year ago, he has been acting odd. Brennan works at the docks at port and he recently became an apprentice to Mr. Flannigan, the town's blacksmith. Alastriona thought the stress was bothering him since he would go to the tavern more often than usual, coming home drunk, to her horror. He says he is feeling stressed, as she thought. Maybe so, but coming home pissed and belligerent in front of their children?
"Brennan, you can tell me anything..." Alastriona reluctantly says, using her free hand to caress his.
"I've told you it's just stress, love. I think it'll be good for the lads to come with me. Some family time to relax, aye?"
"Yeah? Are you going to come home anew? No more frequent tavern visits?" She challenges him, lifting her eyebrow.
Brennan looked puzzled for a moment. "Oh, certainly! I've no need for that once I spend some time with my lads."
As if on cue, their oldest son walks in. "Mum, papa? Have you seen my cloak?"
Alastriona gives Brennan a look that reads "this conversation isn't over" as she diverts her attention to Liam. "Should be on the rack beneath mine, Liam. I just washed it this afternoon."
Liam senses the tension between his parents. Lately things have been so strained. His mum and papa may think he's too young to notice, but he is quite perceptive. He is 11 and nearly a man after all.
"Thanks, mum," he says, walking over to the rack and collecting the garment. "Will we be alright with the storm, papa?"
"Aye, Liam. Everything is fine," Brennan reassures him, standing from his chair. "Why don't you go check on Killian and we can start heading to the dock?"
Liam smiles in response and leaves to find his brother.
Alastriona lets out a heavy sigh. "Brennan, this conversation isn't over."
"Aye, love," he sighs, an uneasy look washing over his smile. "I'm going to help the lads."
"Brennan," she warns with a stern tone. "I mean it. What is going on? Ever since you started helping Mr. Flannigan, you have been acting strange! Is the travelling too much, dear?
Perhaps these trips to Port Phasmatys is taking a toll. Speak with Mr. Flannigan. I am sure he is a reasonable man and understands that-"
"My love, it isn't these trips. Business is good with the shop and the money is great, is it not? I will be fine. I will get better, more relaxed! I Promise," Brennan responds as he walks over to his wife, kissing her softly on the lips. "I love you."
Alastriona exhales. Maybe he is right. He will change for her and their children. "I love you, too."
Her husband smiles a genuine smile. A smile she has not seen since Madellaina was born. "I'm going to prepare the lads, aye? We should be leaving soon."
"Okay, but Brennan? Please be careful. It's a bad storm."
"I always am."
Killian dragged his trunk by the front door, his insides glistening with excitement. His papa never took him on a business trip before! He has never been to any other ports or towns. Sure he has been on a ship, but only once, when Brennan was repairing the mast on one of the merchant ships while Killian was helping him with his tools. Thankfully, this ship will actually be moving on the sea! The storm may cause the vessel more movement to his liking, but it is apparently weather The Ocean's Daughter can handle.
"My Killian, you behave, aye?" His mother says, embracing her youngest son with a kiss on his cheek. "Have fun, my love. Be safe for mummy."
"Aye, mum! I will," he smiles, breathing in her scent. "Papa says we are going to get you and the baby a present, but I won't say what it is!"
Alastriona chuckles, brushing Killian's long hair out of his eyes. "All I ask is for you to return home safe."
Liam comes in with his own trunk, grunting in the process. "Alright I think I will last for the next few days!"
"Liam, you are going on a brief trip, not war!" Killian teases, giving the eldest boy a signature roll of the eyes.
"My Liam, just like your mum. Packing heavily," Brennan quips from behind with his own previsions. "Alright lads, say goodbye to our ladies, alright?"
Alastriona kisses Liam's cheek, telling him to set an example for his brother. The boy gladly obliged. She is so happy that her sons have a close relationship and that Liam was more than happy to look after his brother.
The Jones boys each said their goodbyes to Madellaina in succession and one final goodbye to the lady of the household.
Killian and Liam were quickly out the door. Brennan chuckles at the lads' eagerness as he kisses his wife one final time. "I'll come back a better man. For you, for all of us."
Alastriona hums happily, caressing her husband's cheek. "I can hardly wait."
He smiles at that, turning with his trunk. Brennan stops abruptly and looks back at his wife one last time.
"Be careful, dear," she whispers, her voice barely audible over the strumming of the raindrops on the windows. "Be the man I know you are."
Brennan's eyebrow raises in question. "And what kind of man is that?"
"A survivor."
Pound.
Pound.
Pound.
Alastriona's eyes burst open, her heart beating fast at the sudden banging at the front door.
The rain subsided, at least. Ironically, there was a growl of thunder that perfectly set the solemnness.
She peeks over at the crib and notices Madellaina was unfazed by the interruption.
Getting up from her bed, Alastriona anxiously made her way to the door, shrugging on her cloak in the process.
She feared something happened to her boys. To Brennan.
Maybe this was an animal?
An animal that can knock on doors? How preposterous!
With shaking hands and a deep breath, she opens the front door and her worst fears come to life.
The local constable.
A middle-aged, burly man with concerned features conveyed on his face stood in the doorway, the reason for his midnight visit clearly unpleasant.
"I beg your pardon, Mrs. Jones," he says crisply, obviously doing this many times before.
Alastriona was ready to accept the death of her family. The storm must be strong on the waves. Her family swallowed by the dark waters. Her sons! Oh her poor sons! No chance to make names for themselves! And Brennan? Her Brennan! He was going to change! He was going to…
"Have you seen your husband, ma'am?"
Thoughts interrupted, she was sure she misheard the constable's last utterance. Her husband is alive? "Wh-what?"
Her response to the constable's query was awarded with an impatient huff. "Brennan Jones? He was expected to be arrested at Port Sarim, unbeknownst to him. He heard of the soldiers waiting for him, he fled."
Alastriona blinked, her body in shock.
Arrested?
Soldiers?
"Mrs. Jones, do you know where he is?"
"I d-do not, Constable," she responds meekly. "What were his crimes?"
The man retrieves a document from the satchel he was wearing, showing Alastriona the contents of the parchment. "He's a thief and a disgraceful scoundrel. He stole blades from the Blacksmith he apprentices, amongst other things, and sold them to pirates in port."
Tears welled up in her eyes at the harsh accusations that faced her husband. She cannot believe what she was hearing. Pirates? What the hell was Brennan thinking? Mr. Flannigan was an old, daft drunk, but he did not deserve to be taken advantage of! They were struggling, sure, but conducting business with pirates? That's a serious crime! He can face the noose!
Perhaps that was the reason for the sweets Brennan bought for the children, the fine meat acquired from the neighboring market he conducted business in. Port Sarim, eh? He had told her the neighboring market was Port Phasmatys! What she knew about Port Sarim was that it was rumored to have just as big of a pirate presence as Tortuga! And pirates had lots of rewards for desperate men that catered to their needs.
Why would he expose their sons to pirates? Was he mad?
Was everything he told her a lie? Ever since he came home from the first tavern fight a year ago? He claimed business was fine, yes. But his behavior was strange! That's why! Pirates. Bloody Pirates!
"Mrs. Jones I must warn you of the charges you may face if you are hiding this man's location. Do you understand?"
"Aye, yes, but he told me he was going to his port of business. I thought it to be Phasmatys, sir."
The constable's demeanor became softer, clearly the man had sympathy for the woman. "Ma'am if you hear anything from him, please alert the authorities."
That's it? What about…
"What of my children? Killian and Liam. Where are they?"
"I'm afraid Mr. Jones left them behind on the ship. You see he was fleeing and traded your sons for servitude for a row boat to escape," his look of sympathy changed to pity as he shared this news. "They are gone, Mrs. Jones. They are but servants to the ship's captain. A hefty price would ensure their independence."
Madellaina can sense her mother's distress as she began wailing in the distance. The constable offers the woman a sad smile. "I am sorry. I wish you peace."
And with that he was gone. Another person just gone in the night.
Almost instantaneously with the shut of the front door, the rain started up again.
Alastriona sinks onto the cold, hard floor. Back against the door, sobbing with her head in her lap. Gasping every other second for air in her state of despair, mind plagued with vicious and worried thoughts.
He left!
He lied to me…
That coward!
He's a fugitive?
He left our boys to slavery?
He was going to bring them to Port Sarim?!
I can't get them back.
I won't ever see them again!
They need their family. How will they survive? They will starve!
I thought he loved me?
What will the village see me as?
How will Madellaina and I live?!
How will I support us?
This is not fecking happening!
She verbally expresses her anxiety. Her fears for her boys and her daughter.
"What am I going to do? What are they going to do?"