A/N: This story takes place during the 1800s and it completely AU. I don't know much about the navy, especially the British navy in the 1800s but I tried to make sure to use proper ranks and terms. Hope you guys like it!
Sybil carefully tiptoed out of the hallway and onto the deck. The moon was high and the stars were twinkled in the night sky.
The only people awake were the men on watch, Seamen Thomas and William, and Lieutenant John Bates who was on the helm tonight. They were all used to the Admiral's youngest daughter's antics. Out of Admiral Crawley's three daughters the youngest, Miss Sybil, was the most drawn to the sea. It was as if the sea called to her most nights.
Sybil closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the sea air. She always loved it when Papa took her and her sisters with him on his sea journeys. Mary and Edith hated it but she longed for the days she was able to go to sea. If it was up to her she would never set foot in England ever again.
She walked over to the side of the ship and looked out into the sea. She tried to remember all the places she had been and imagine all the places she had yet to come across.
She was trying to imagine what the continent of Asia looked like, conjuring pictures from books she had read when she was it.
There was something in the water moving. It was bobbing in the harsh waters. She squirted her eyes and leaned over the bannister, trying to see it properly when the moonlight shed its light on it. She gasped, it was a person.
"There's somebody in the water!" She shouted looking up at the helmsmen and then rushing her to the watchmen she then shouted up to them, "Look! There's someone in the water! LOOK!"
Tom had been holding on to the piece of wood for hours. His body was frozen and exhausted but he kept pushing his feet praying that he would not die tonight.
He was beginning to feel drowsy when he finally saw it. A ship, a naval ship. He let out a shaky laugh, right now it could be the Queen's ship and he wouldn't have cared, so long as he could finally stop kicking his feet.
He lifted his arm to wave at the ship, hoping that someone would notice him when he lost his grip.
The men quickly turned trying to find the poor soul that had gotten lost at sea. William was the first to spot him on the telescope. "Miss Sybil's right! There's a poor lad in the water holding on to some driftwood it looks like!"
"I must get the Admiral. Keep your eyes on him Miss Sybil." With that John Bates ran into the ship heading straight for the Admiral's room.
Sybil stared at the man intently holding onto the bannister with clenched hands. The waves were rough and she was both surprised and impressed that the man was still hanging on. The moment she thought this however he seemed to lose his grip.
"Oh no…" She whispered, she watched helplessly as the man tried and failed to grab hold of the bark of wood.
"We have to do something!" Sybil shouted looking at Thomas and William with pleading eyes.
"We can't do anything til the Admiral comes Miss!" Shouted William apologetically.
Thomas snorted and mumbled, "What are we supposed to do anyways? Jump in and get him? Fat chance of me doing that. The water has to be freezing."
William glared at him before returning his head back to Miss Sybil and gasped. "MISS SYBIL DON'T!"
He was too late though, for Sybil had already climbed onto the railing of the ship and jumped off the side of the ship.
The first thing she noticed was how cold the water was. Christ its freezing! This did not stop her though she was determined to save the man. She began swimming over to her man. He was helplessly flailing in the water, trying frantically to keep his head above water.
Sybil was only a few feet away when he began to sink. No! I will not let him drown! She took a deep breath and dived after him.
He was flailing in the water. He tried to grab onto the piece of the wood but every time he tried it would slip out of his fingers.
Tom moved his arms around desperately trying to keep himself above the water. So cold. It's so damn cold!
He realized he couldn't keep this up much longer. His body was exhausted and frozen from all the hours lost at sea. No I can't die like this. I won't! But as much as he protested his body refused to listen. He began to sink the air was being ripped right out of his throat.
Tom's eyes were beginning to close, giving in to his fate when he saw her.
A woman with dark curls spiraling around her head. She had skin as white as snow and lips as red as the most delicious of apples. Her body was wrapped in a flowing white dress that seemed to hug every inch of her body. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
An angel. She must surely be an angel.
Tom smiled as he thought Well if I am to die, thank the gods for sending this goddess to take me there. And with that thought, Captain Tom Branson closed his eyes.
A/N II: Originally this was going to be a one-shot but the story seemed to have a mind of its own and insisted on being a multi-chapter fic.