Prologue
April, 1705
Raucous shouts of men who had downed far too much rum could be heard on the deck above. He had come down here to seek solace, but got only a reminder of what he could put off no longer. He knocked quickly on the door of the quarters across the hall from his. Without waiting for an answer, he pushed the heavy wooden door open.
"Emileigh," the figure that stood looking out the window, jumped slightly and turned toward the voice.
"Captain." The captain circled around the bed that distanced him from the young woman, and paused looking at the horizon. In the distance you could faintly see the familiar spread of small, glimmering lights. The port was not usually on their route, but this would be a single exception. "Beautiful isn't it?" The woman asked, trying desperately to keep the anxious tone out of her voice. She sighed heavily.
"Emileigh, I came to talk to ye about-"
"We've been over this. I 'ave to leave, it's just somethin' I 'ave to do. I won't be able to 'ave a family on a pirate ship. I thought I wanted the adventure, just to get away from my family, but now I realize I want a family of my own. At every port I see mothers with 'eir children, and I get jealous! I want that! I'm so sorry." Fresh tears streamed down her newly tanned cheeks.
The captain brought a hand up to wipe the tears away, nodding his head in understanding. The captain truly knew how she felt. Having a son of his own, he did not even know him. Ten years was a long while to be without a father.
His hand slowly slid down from her face and into his pocket as he produced one of the most intricately forged pieces of jewelry she had ever seen. It was silver, but the sunbeams and the sparrow laid against the sun had been traced with the faintest hint of gold. He took her hand in his, and after laying the delicate necklace into her palm, closed it gently.
"If I cannot give you a family, let me just give you something to remember me by." She shook her head.
"No, I can't take this, it belongs to your family!" She thrust her open palm toward him, but he pushed it back.
"My son would never accept it. He believes me a traitor and an abuser. He would never accept this from me, let alone speak to me. You are the only one who cares, that is why it must be yours. The one who posses it always passes it along to somebody whom they care about."
He stood slowly, studying her, taking her in. He saw her beauty for what it really was, and hoped that someone would do the same one-day. Without another word he strode (more like staggered) to the door.
"I love you," she whispered after him, but he pretended not to hear. Emotion welled up inside his chest, and a void grew. This is what it felt like when your heart broke. Making his way to the top deck, he leaned against a railing, the only thing separating him from the sea and the shore that would, come tomorrow, claim her. He could only wish for more time. He sighed. Captain Christian Sparrow was convinced that he would never again love a woman at all like her.
April, 1705
Raucous shouts of men who had downed far too much rum could be heard on the deck above. He had come down here to seek solace, but got only a reminder of what he could put off no longer. He knocked quickly on the door of the quarters across the hall from his. Without waiting for an answer, he pushed the heavy wooden door open.
"Emileigh," the figure that stood looking out the window, jumped slightly and turned toward the voice.
"Captain." The captain circled around the bed that distanced him from the young woman, and paused looking at the horizon. In the distance you could faintly see the familiar spread of small, glimmering lights. The port was not usually on their route, but this would be a single exception. "Beautiful isn't it?" The woman asked, trying desperately to keep the anxious tone out of her voice. She sighed heavily.
"Emileigh, I came to talk to ye about-"
"We've been over this. I 'ave to leave, it's just somethin' I 'ave to do. I won't be able to 'ave a family on a pirate ship. I thought I wanted the adventure, just to get away from my family, but now I realize I want a family of my own. At every port I see mothers with 'eir children, and I get jealous! I want that! I'm so sorry." Fresh tears streamed down her newly tanned cheeks.
The captain brought a hand up to wipe the tears away, nodding his head in understanding. The captain truly knew how she felt. Having a son of his own, he did not even know him. Ten years was a long while to be without a father.
His hand slowly slid down from her face and into his pocket as he produced one of the most intricately forged pieces of jewelry she had ever seen. It was silver, but the sunbeams and the sparrow laid against the sun had been traced with the faintest hint of gold. He took her hand in his, and after laying the delicate necklace into her palm, closed it gently.
"If I cannot give you a family, let me just give you something to remember me by." She shook her head.
"No, I can't take this, it belongs to your family!" She thrust her open palm toward him, but he pushed it back.
"My son would never accept it. He believes me a traitor and an abuser. He would never accept this from me, let alone speak to me. You are the only one who cares, that is why it must be yours. The one who posses it always passes it along to somebody whom they care about."
He stood slowly, studying her, taking her in. He saw her beauty for what it really was, and hoped that someone would do the same one-day. Without another word he strode (more like staggered) to the door.
"I love you," she whispered after him, but he pretended not to hear. Emotion welled up inside his chest, and a void grew. This is what it felt like when your heart broke. Making his way to the top deck, he leaned against a railing, the only thing separating him from the sea and the shore that would, come tomorrow, claim her. He could only wish for more time. He sighed. Captain Christian Sparrow was convinced that he would never again love a woman at all like her.