Pirate in the City
Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Tamora Peirce's. I just think she is a talented writer. So, most characters and ideas are hers, but quite a few characters are mine! Woo hoo! Okay, here's the story.
"Peter!" the twelve-year girl shouted. "Come down here now! We have to talk!"
Peter sighed. He wasonly a 13-year oldboy that wanted to do his job and not make anybody mad. But it looked like he was going to have to get in the way of quite a few people to get down from the Crows Nest, to the main deck of the ship 'Ladies Luck.' As he swung down the ropes, he wondered, 'Why is she acting this way? It's bull, we get engaged and she suddenly flips out like I'm going to disappear. Why choose to act this way after 8 years?
In a matter of two minutes, he had past a portentous black flag with an intimidating scull and crossbones on it. He stood tall in front of Elizabeth's thin frame. Peter studied her. Her dark brown hair was loosely tied back with little wisps flying about in the wind. Her wide eyes were looking up at him.
Every time he saw those eyes he was reminded of the day they first met. She was only four, but her eyes, green with a clear ring of blue, had popped out. Now, they were even more stunning.
Elizabeth looked like she was about to speak. Then, changing her mind, she glanced around and pulled Peter into a little-used nook, which was out of the way and would be almost impossible for anyone to overhear their conversation. He smiled at her dominant behavior. She could be really strong when she wanted something. Finally, she talked.
"Peter, I've been thinking lately." The statement was met with silence. Then Peter couldn't help but say, "You can think?" Elizabeth stopped and gave him the look. He raised his arms in surrender. "Okay, okay, I'll be good. What have you been thinking about?" Elizabeth studied him. Then she let out a little breath. "Okay, only promise you won't laugh at me." "And why would I do that?" Peter started to think that this isn't just some random thing, she really had thought about this. So he made himself buckle down and really listen. "Okay, I won't laugh, just tell me what's going on. I'll listen." Elizabeth smiled then dove right into it.
"Well, you know how we decided to wait till I'm 18 to get married, right?" Peter nodded. "Right, well, I realized that I don't really know who I am." Peter opened his mouth to protest. Elizabeth cut him off. "Let me finish, okay? It's true, I don't really know who I am. You know me as Liz. Pirates know me as bloody Elizabeth, and if I'm lucky, regular people know me as Peter the Terrible's girlfriend. I've even heard Peter's terrible girlfriend once." At that, Peter burst out laughing. After seeing Elizabeth's face, he tried to cut off his laughter, but had to say something. "I'm sorry, but that was pretty funny. Especially when you kicked him in the nuts. I don't think that he'll forget your name after that." He gave one last chuckle, then settled down and motioned for Elizabeth to continue. After a moment, she did. "Look, it's not that I have to have people know my name or anything I just… I never really knew my family. Okay? I'm sure you remember what happened. They were killed. All I know is from what your father told me. And stuff from my locket, but I have no idea of my history, my ancestors, even my old home. I follow though on what I hope to do, I can find out. And I can marry you without wondering who I was or anything like that. I just have to go!" Elizabeth looked pleadingly at Peter. "Um, it all sounds fine, but what is it, exactly, that you want to do?" Peter asked. Elizabeth blinked. "Oh! I'm sorry!" She gave a sigh. "I want to go to Tortall. Everything is happening there. Prince Roald is finally getting married to that Yamani princess, Shinkokami, Both of the Lady Knights are going to be there, and so I might actually be able to see them, and I hear the shopping's quite good, and…" "Okay, hold up. Elizabeth, you're avoiding something. Why else would you have brought up the date of when we're getting married?" Elizabeth licked her lips. Peter felt exasperated. "Just spit it out, girl! Come on, we've known each other for years, why are you keeping secrets now?" Elizabeth looked chastised. "Peter, I don't know exactly how you'll take this, but… I want to become the next female knight." Peter's jaw dropped.