«Chapter One»

(Nine Years Later)

Port Jelica, England June 15th, 1708

Robin raised her head from her bureau where she had fallen asleep the night before. Her eyes were arid with sleep. She stifled a yawn as she sat up straight. She gazed around her room looking to make sure nobody had been in her room already this morning. Just as she'd hoped no one had yet been in her room. She stood up from her seat and grabbed the dress that was laid out on her bed and quickly changed into it. It was a loose, almost wedding like dress, which her father had insisted she wear today.

She paced around her room for a few moments before deciding to go to her balcony. She walked hurriedly toward her white French doors and opened them sending the bright morning light crashing down on her. She had to squint in the sunlight to be able to even be able to see the black iron rail that was only five feet in front of her. Her eyes adjusted to the bright light, she was able to see over the rail clearly.

She peered across the sea with longing in her eyes. There were vessels and boats near the horizon, and some were docking at the harbors. It seemed so discriminating that she would never be able to be aboard one of those ships any time soon.

Robin had always dreamed about being at sea since she was little, about the same time that her mother had died she had also dreamt of revenge on the pirates that took the life of her mother. Her other reasons to get away from land life were to be free of the racket of the docks, and to be free of her father's very rash orders.

"Miss Robin?" a young girl asked from behind Robin.

Robin didn't turn to see who it was, because she already knew who it was. "Yes, Kayley?" Robin asked gently.

"I was wondering what you were doing out here so early in the morning," Kayley said her soft voice soothing to the sound. "The sun's barely even above the horizon."

Robin nodded agreeing with the young girl. "I know, I was just looking out there," Robin said turning to Kayley, her dress flaring outward as she did so. Kayley was dressed in her usual tattered dress, Anne had made it for Robin when she was younger, and Kayley's hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail.

Kayley looked over the black iron rail. "It's beautiful, Miss Robin," Kayley murmured her eyes on the horizon.

"How many times need I tell you? I don't want to be called Miss Robin. Just Robin will be fine," Robin said the corners of her lips rising a little. Her dark tawny brown eyes were dancing with laughter.

"But your father-" Kayley was cut off by Robin.

"Oh, my father is just a man trying to make his way in life, ignore him for your sake," Robin said smiling. "You'd most likely live longer by ignoring him than listening to him."

"If you say so," Kayley mumbled. "But if he comes around, I'll have to call you Miss Robin. Otherwise he'll probably to have me hung."

"Yes, I know," Robin sighed deeply. "Come on, let's get back inside," she murmured walking back into her room scarcely making a noise as her feet touched the heated ground.

Kayley followed Robin back into the room and shut the white French doors behind them. "Have you eaten yet this morning?" she inquired curiously.

"No," Robin replied. "I'm not hungry either," she added quickly.

"Well you must eat something," Kayley insisted. "Here, I'll go get you something to eat, a piece of toast perhaps?" The little girl smiled a little bit.

"Thank you," Robin said dipping her head as the little girl turned to the door and opened it. "But I don't want it," she added quietly to herself.

Robin jumped as Kayley slammed the door behind her. "Why on earth did I have to be born into this life?" she muttered as she sat on the edge of her bed. She grabbed her brush and pulled it through her silky reddish-brown hair. It rarely ever got caught in her hair, and it didn't this time either. Robin hummed a soft tune to herself, one her mother used to sing to her when she was little, though she couldn't quite remember all the words from heart. She sat there for a couple moments humming the melody to herself.

Knock, knock, knock. Robin jumped her heart racing. "Yes?" Robin asked.

"It's Eric, may I come in?" a young man's voice inquired from the other side of the door.

"Yes, of course," Robin replied standing up and un-wrinkling her dress.

Eric opened the door, revealing a handsome young man wearing a Royal Navy soldier's uniform with long, curly dark brown hair. "Good morning, Miss Robin," he said bowing, keeping his amber eyes level with hers. He then stood back up and leaned against the door frame.

Robin looked down at him her eyes glaring in the sunlit room. "You truly don't have to call me Miss Robin," Robin insisted, her eyes now gleaming fiercely.

"It was an order from your father," Eric confirmed, his eyes bright and a friendly smile across his face.

"Really? Why do you even listen to that man sometimes?" Robin asked rolling her eyes. "I mean seriously, he has got to be one of the worst people around here that give orders!"

"I will do so anyways, because it was an order, as I'm not particularly in the mood to be hung right now," Eric said smiling a little, because he knew fully well that he was irritating Robin. Robin sighed irritably. Her deep tawny brown eyes flickered to him then reverted back to the door. "What is it?" he asked.

She ignored him as Kayley opened the door. The door bumped into Eric. "Sorry, Sir Eric," Kayley squeaked apologetically.

"It's alright," Eric murmured. "And please don't call me Sir Eric, soldier or not, we're all the same deep down."

"Yes, Eric," Robin said creasing her eyebrows. "I wish you would make me apply to the same thing. You make me feel like I'm not human."

"Sometimes I don't think you are," Eric murmured his smile growing. "I don't even think you're living half the time, because you hardly ever leave this house."

"You know you're living-"

"If you can still feel the pain," Eric and Robin finished together.

"How long ago did I teach you that?" Eric asked.

"Almost a year ago, when you started teaching me how to sword fight," Robin said taking the piece of toast from Kayley.

"Is there anything else you want me to do, Robin?" Kayley asked.

"No, that's it for now. I'll call you if I need anything," Robin said excusing the young girl.

Kayley nodded then hurried back out of the room.

"You've drilled that into her little head, haven't you?" Eric asked amused. "She's a good person too, you know."

Robin nodded smiling a little, which quickly turned to a frown, "Yes, I know," Robin replied quietly. "That's why I won't tolerate Father getting rid of her."

"He wants to get rid of her?" Eric asked looking at Robin intently. "That's something I find very hard to believe, but then again, it is your father."

Robin nodded her head. "Don't you have to be patrolling today?" Robin inquired curiously.

"Oh yes! I nearly forgot!" Eric said jumping to his feet. "Well, I'll see you later." He hurried out of her room.

"Don't forget your sword!" Robin called after him in the hallway.

He always seemed to be forgetting his sword when he needed it, and then he would come back up stairs and strike up a conversation with Robin, and then end up getting in trouble with Robin's father, Garrett. As punishment, Eric wouldn't be allowed back in the governor's house for the next couple of days.

"I've got it!" Eric shouted over his shoulder from the other end of the hallway.

"Good," Robin murmured softly as she shut her door. She walked back across her room and opened her French doors again. She saw a trio of soldiers crossing the docks. And then she saw Eric racing down the steps that led to the docks, hurrying toward the patrol that was going opposite way of the other group of soldiers.

Robin laughed softly at Eric. Eric was constantly late, no matter how early he left for patrols he always seemed to be late.

"Late? Again? You know what Garrett will have to say about this," Ray spoke loud enough for Robin to hear him on her balcony that was adjacent to her room.

"I'm terribly sorry, I didn't mean to be late, again," Eric said as he leaned his head back and sighed unhappily. "I checked in on Miss Robin this morning as well, to see how she was. She's not as sick as she had been the other day."

"Now you'll really be in for it, whether there was a purpose to it or not," Ray said his voice low. "Garrett won't be pleased." Ray turned to the water and looked down trying to see if there was anything within eyesight.

"Can't you keep anything to yourself?" Robin murmured smiling gently. That was why she liked him; he could never seem to keep anything whatsoever to himself. But there was only one thing holding her back from ever loving him. And that was the fact that no matter what, unless he go promoted very quickly to a much higher position, they could never show any affection for one another. She already knew he showed his fondness for her far too often, and that was by being late consistently.

She turned her attention back to the sea. There was a rather odd looking vessel coming up to harbor. She looked to the flag to see where the ship had come from. And there it was. She dropped the toast in her hand and her mouth was open a little and her eyes widened in disbelief and surprise.


Yep, this is the first chapter, so tell me what cha thought! Yeah it was a cliff-hanger (And abnormally short)! Haha I love doing that.