Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Six years later.
"Wild is the sea, the waves are cold,
death comes to sailors young and old!
Baveras, oh Baveras,
Wild is your soul, cold throbs your heart,
your death reaches all, foolish or smart..."
"Cap'n?" His tiny voice managed to reach my ears over the many dreadful songs that had been going on for a time now outside my door. Try as I might, I'd actually been singing along with each and every one in my head since they started. Scallywags. Though I would be lying if I said it wasn't a fine distraction from empty stomachs. Mind over matter and all.
"Didn't I tell ye not to disturb me until we reached the port?" I grumbled, pulling my newest bandana back over my eyes after peeking out at the intruder. So much for catching up on sleep.
"Aye, but there be talk of a merchant ship broadside and the crew was wonderin-"
"No." Sitting up straight, I then pushed my bandanna skyward until it was on my head properly. "You know these particular waters be off limits." I knew they knew that, but this boy had just recently joined and was always looking for excuses to talk to me. He'd heard certain rumors about me and that only fueled his determination, but it was easily avoidable since he was also afraid of me. Time to get up, then. There was no way I would get anymore privacy anyway.
As I stood up from my lovely new bed to stretch out the stiff muscles of my back, the younger boy seemed to shrink before me, gray eyes widening at the sight of my bare abdomen. Forgetting about it, my eyes followed his until scars and chest bindings came into view. I glared suddenly and pulled on the shirt I'd tossed off that night while he shot his red face to the floor in shame. "Anyway Humps, where's someone older I can yell at? I need someone who doesn't treat me like I be made of ice." Especially since you saw me like this. I made it another point to cover my hands back up with my usual pair of gloves and located my hat while I was at it. "You're their cabin jim, laddie. Not mine."
"Aye." The teen wanderer answered quickly and retreated back out the door in a flash. I followed once all my clothes and gear were back where they were supposed to be. Stepping into the chilly late morning and let out a long awaited yawn, sucking in a fresh breath of crisp air while I was at it. After a near full night of rum and tall stories of our pasts or past victories and battles, I wasn't quite in the mood to play around so early. It didn't help that we'd just gone through a heinous storm three days prior and were now in need of supplies thanks to the slack-jawed bum that forgot to double check the stores below for any damages. Otherwise, we all would be singing and eating to our hearts' content.
A repair was also in store for my poor ship at some point. Hopefully sooner than later.
"Fish are aplenty, your water tastes sweet,
food is provided, you give us to eat.
Baveras, oh Baveras,
Full are your hands, kind your smile
you care for us all, the good and the vile..."
As soon as the merrily raving crew saw me emerge, the singing slowed and my trusty Quartermaster stood up to address me in all her pelt-wearing glory. If you would even call her somewhat skimpy wardrobe a wardrobe. It was fortunate for all of us the men had no problem keeping their hands to themselves around her because the shorter woman packed a wallop. Some had to learn that the hard way.
"Mornin', Captain!" She bellowed with her big blue eyes shinning as bright as the coming day, like she'd never even been drinking. (Then again, we were all pretty good drinkers thanks to years of practice.) Around her, a few others greeted me in nearly the same manner. Apparently I was the only one not up for much fun. Yet. "Care to join in? We be knowin' ye be knowin' the song." Was her taunting goad that had the others smirking as well, but I wouldn't be swayed so easily.
"How much longer 'til we get to port because I be bloody starving." I muttered before noticing a certain leggy beauty wasn't mixed in with the lot. "Actually, where's the Navigator?" Better to ask someone who actually knew how long.
The blue eyes of the girl still offering me a seat beside her then gestured to the office above my quarters. "She's where she's supposed to be, doing what she's supposed to do. Told me to be tellin' ye 61.213625° / 6.072178° if ye just so asked." She grinned crookedly.
"I've no idea what ye're shoutin' about." A knowing smirk lifted the corner of my lips. "And the rest of ye filthy creatures get back to work. Hands to braces!" I barked with enough authority for them all to tense and turned on my heel to make my way up the stairs. But not before abruptly spinning back around to toss my hat at the group and joined in on their forgotten song.
"Sparkling uprises a jet of water clear,
joyfully are screaming the children you hear
Baveras, oh Baveras.
Sweet is your laughter and glitt'ring your face,
waves you're whispering, thanks for your grace!"
Hoyanger.
"And just what's yer purpose here, Missy." The two men responsible for docking boats felt the need to ask me while the majority of my crew caught up in their own boat. If none were ready by the time I was, they were left to their own devices. Luckily, my ship had two longboats on it and that proved rather handy when those filthy men took forever trying to decide who would stay on board to keep watch that time around. Loveable dogs.
As it were, to my left stood my vigilant Navigator and Quartermaster who were each looking in different directions. One discretely watching the crew as they tied their boat and the other observing the docks with a keen eye for any sort of trouble. I, on the other hand, just wanted nothing more than to get on with it and get into the town. A nice long bath was calling my name. Then again, perhaps coming here in disguise was a flop. As it usually was when we hung our white flags instead.
"Don't even think about lying to us either." One with a boyish glint still in his eyes all but snarled like a harmless cub. Fresh meat he be.
The three of us exchanged secretive glances with one another before I ultimately straightened up and adjusted the special twin blades at my left hip, drawing the gents' attention to them for an acknowledging moment. Not many were skilled with dual weapons and if they were, I was fairly certain they weren't too familiar with someone wielding two Katanas. "I have to confess," I began making both sets of eyes dart back to mine, hands subtly reaching for their own weapons too. My other girls weren't bothered at all by the action and even crossed their arms casually like nothing could be wrong in this wide expanse of a world. "It is my-well, our intention," gesturing to those behind me, "to commandeer one of those bigger ships, out there make a stop in Tortuga to pick up a crew, pillage, plunder, and raid."
"In other words, go until we pilfer our wretched black guts out." My blue-eyed Quartermaster had another one of her famous crooked grins in place as she flexed her arms comically. The men's own eyes had trouble focusing on her face as she took on a more casual stance with her hands on her hips, baring her muscular torso and showing off her ample bosom that had been covered by mere animal pelts. She originally hailed from the land of ice and snow so the weather around these parts lead her to shed as much clothing as she could without much thought and having to clobber anyone for staring way too long. I felt sorry for them.
But...
As if she'd heard my thought, "I think the lads said not to lie, girls." My Navigator chimed in then, fixing her own stance so she was that much closer to the Quartermaster. The poor men gawked openly at the raven-haired beauty while the two of us bit back our own snickers. If it wasn't one of us, it was almost always her the men swooned over. My Navigator was tall for a woman, had thick raven-colored hair with these piercing, intelligent emerald-colored irises that would render any fool incapable of speech. She came from Shanghai, but that was all we pretty much knew about her. Either way, she was gorgeous as she was ferocious when it came to the people she cared about and that added wonders to my crew.
There was also the small, tragic fact that she was utterly smitten with the Quartermaster. Much to said Quartermaster's chagrin because the idiot had no idea about it and would get flustered whenever they were alone together. The simple fact that she felt the same way about the Navigator, but didn't exactly know how to go about it, proved mightily hilarious nine times out of ten and could entertain the crew and I for weeks at a time. Stubborn oblivious girl.
"Think that's the truth?" One man said to the other, bringing my mind back to the present and away from a comically doomed relationship between two women who probably would have never even thought to cross paths had I not recruited them. Heh. That's funny. Before I could get caught up in taking credit where it was plainly irrevocable, I witnessed the men in front of us tense up a bit more at the question.
"But if we were telling the truth, would we have really told you?" My blue-eyed right hand fixed her stance again, ready to go all day if they so wished.
Unfortunately, I didn't have all day, considering this was one short stop on the way to another. "Unless you knew you wouldn't believe the truth even if we did tell you." Luckily my Navigator stepped back in to rattle their brains further.
I wondered if it was possible for them to be even more confused than before. "Why don't we just pay you for your troubles and forget this whole thing ever happened?" Pulling a small leather pouch from my waist, I dropped it in one's hand before jerking my chin at the other two and we were off. Behind us, the men were too busy tripping over their own tongues as the rest of the crew came up and offered another. "Well done. Ye both make me proud to be yer Captain." I winked at the giggling girls and in hindsight, snatched another bag of shillings from the desk we passed. What goes around comes around, eh?
Along Sognefjorden.
"Do ye mind if I ask why we can't touch the ships on these particular waters?" The teenager thought his question was quiet enough not to reach my ears as I stood on the quarter deck. I'd been lost in thought, looking out into the horizon as if I could already see the face I hadn't seen in a couple of years. My heart had just begun to ache when I heard the boy ask.
"Quite the curious brat, isn't he?" My Quartermaster snickered behind me, making a grin appear on my lips.
"How many times has he asked that so far?" I pulled my pistol from it's place on my other hip so I could make sure it was properly cleaned and had powder in it. Clockwork.
"Enough that the others ignore him now."
That made me glance over at her, only earning a nonchalant shrug from her as she steadied the wheel in her grasp. "Is that laziness or ignorance I'm hearing?" My eyes narrowed questioningly.
"Bit of both."
"Kor..." I growled when she just smirked.
"So we're using names now?" My Navigator stepped out from her office with something a little bulky looking in her hands. "Best tell her what she wants, Nags."
"You know I hate that nickname." The blue-eyed girl instantly flushed when the tall beauty maneuvered around to brush her fingertips along choppy brown hair before coming to stand beside me. It didn't help that she'd tied her glossy hair up, baring her pretty neck, and was now wearing a more revealing red shirt. That color did things to her body.
Though, I just shook my head when the shorter woman spluttered once she got a better look. The damage mere cleavage could do to a person. "What ye have there, Sam?" Deciding to leave the other woman out of it for the time being.
"Give me your wrist." Sam stepped closer so she could do just that. I tensed on instinct, but relaxed when she made no move to take my glove off and instead strapped the odd looking piece she was holding in place. "I had this idea a few weeks ago after we left Rio Marina." Her entirety was so focused that I felt compelled to stand as still as possible, regardless of the swaying, creaking ship. When she was done, she stepped back. "Not to worry. There's not a blade in there yet so your fingers should be fine."
"My...fingers?" I questioned with a raised brow, bringing the strange contraption closer to find a ring around my ring finger. Attached to it was what appeared to a a single strand of clear string that disappeared into the base below my wrist. Sam knew I was left-handed and chose to test her invention on my right, but the sole thought that I could potentially -what, lose a finger for this experiment?! It didn't sit well with me at all. "Couldn't you test this on someone else?" Funnily enough, with all her navigational prowess, Sam was quite the engineer and wielder of peculiar mechanical contrivances such as this.
And much to my trepidation, the apparent careless woman didn't even blink. "Just flick your wrist, Cap'n. I want to see if it works." Sam's calculating eyes hadn't left my wrist. If one was observant enough when she was like this, I figured they could see numerous calculations racing through her magnificent brain as she concentrated her little heart out. Focus. Without much more thought, I decided to trust her and did what she'd said to do.
I actually wanted to flinch like a coward because I had absolutely no idea what she was trying to do, but when something popped out the tip, I couldn't help the startled curse that slipped through my lips. Before I could say anything else, I was instantly silenced as I watched her whole face light up in nothing but excitement when the finely cut sliver of wood appeared seemingly out of nowhere. That's definitely Uti's handiwork. I chose to ignore the giggling from my Quartermaster for all of two seconds before shooting her a venomous glare for having the audacity to laugh at me. Clearing her throat awkwardly, she continued to do her job while I unclasped the device from my forearm.
"What now?" I brought the pseudo blade up to inspect it further, holding in the huge sigh of relief that wanted out of my lungs.
"Now I need your boot." Sam straightened and shot me a wide smile.
I couldn't help but frown in complete confusion at her. "Huh?"
Nærøyfjord.
I practically had to engage in a sword fight to the death with Sam for my boot when we finally got to our destination. It didn't matter that it was still early enough to be dark outside and even up here, the weather was a lot more colder, I couldn't have felt more awake. It wasn't like we minded the cold. Welcomed it, even. (My Quartermaster, Kenai, and I, that is.)
The rest of the crew hadn't stopped complaining once they got the harsh wake-up call and even a hot breakfast wouldn't make up for the grumpiness. They all put as many layers on as possible, but I was certain they would forget all about it once the sun rose and revealed the beautiful mountains and pristine waters that surrounded the place I referred to as home. Not many knew where I originally hailed from and I wouldn't hesitate to say that even I had no idea.
But this place truly felt right deep in my bones.
We made it.
"Listen up! I don't care who won and didn't win the bets this time," I began after securing my boots and weapons on my person, eyeing my crew. "We're all responsible for getting the Dragon's Boon back to the darlin' luster she was before. Better even! We have a date with our Venezuelan friends soon, do not forget." Acknowledgement came from each and every one of the men, so that was squared away for now.
"How long will we being stayin' Cap? I've never been this far inland before." The teenager looked a lot more awake than the rest and I had to pat his head as I passed.
"We will be here as long as it takes to get our ship repaired." Not a moment longer considering our particular occupation. People would find out sooner or later and we would no doubt have to turn this sweet spot to our rudder for awhile again, but until then, I was prepared to spend all my time in town. Thinking about another curious pair of eyes, I stopped walking and turned around. "Kenai, Copper, and Wilde." When they snapped their heads up, my hand reached out to grab the boy by his collar. "Tell the lad what he wants to know. Everything."
Again they nodded in affirmation, smirking at said boy with smugness.
I made my way through the familiar walkways of the markets, careful not to draw too much attention to myself by avoiding eye-contact. Of course people eyed me anyway. Ignoring the double takes of the weapons around my body, I pushed on through until I came to a certain fruit stand. Behind the fruits stood a woman with graying hair and I couldn't help but think I hadn't seen her before. This stand usually had a man selling fruits and I'd grown accustomed to chatting with him whenever we stopped by. (Then again, that was years ago.)
"God morgen." She noticed my hovering and didn't hesitate to smile at me.
I returned her greeting easily enough with a nod of my head. "Jeg er sulten. Got any peaches?"
"Foreigner, huh?" The older woman's friendly smile hadn't left as she pointed to the end of her stand.
"I prefer traveler." I stated, grabbing two and biting into one before reaching into my pouch to pay her.
"Oh? Been anywhere interesting?" Her pale blue eyes light up curiously while I chewed for a moment.
"Here and there." I smirked. "From the looks of it, so have you, no?" If her accent was anything to go by. Not to mention the firmness of her hands I'd felt when our hands brushed.
"Can't leave all the sailing to the men." A chuckle escaped her mouth, making me nearly choke on the fruit in my own.
"Aye, a tragic day that'd be."My eyes widened suddenly, but instead of trying to cover my slip-up, I simply took another bite. Pirates had a certain way of talking and I'd foolishly let some of my own show. (Which is another reason why I chose to keep a low profile when we hung our white flags.)
The woman didn't seem to mind though and even handed me a few bushels of apples. "Hardly anybody buys these this time of year so feel free to take them off my hands, lest they rot."
"Takk." I grinned just as I spotted Sam and Nags strolling on the opposite side of the stand I was at. "Sam!" When she heard my voice, she stopped walking and instantly waded through the crowd with Nags right on her heels. Seeing there was no immediate danger, they both relaxed a bit until I pushed the bushels into their arms. "Take these back to the boys, won't you? Tell them it's from..." Looking back at the woman, I waited for her name.
"Emily." She answered right away.
"Tell them a kind lady named Emily gave these up." I turned back to her with another easy smile. "I'm Elsa and these two are my traveling partners: Sam and Nags." Feeling more than hearing said girl stiffen behind me.
"I-it's just a nickname!" My Quartermaster futily tried to defend herself while Sam and I snickered at their reactions to the name.
Before I could go on with more teasing or possibly talking to the older woman a little longer, I heard a voice that made my heart stutter for a terrifying moment.
"Dancing in the moonlight
Singing in the rain
Oh, it's good to be back home again..."
Red hair, as fiery as the sun herself greeted me when I turned. Round, freckled cheeks, cute button nose, cheery smile, energy that rivaled Sam's contraptions; these made up the traits of my friend. No. She was so much more, if the way my stomach tumbled over itself at the very sight of her had anything to say about it. Time had nothing on the feelings that stirred in me when I watched her greet her citizens. The warmth she had for them astounded me more than words could describe and I was helpless to not follow after her. I didn't care that I hadn't bid the others Adieu, I just needed to be closer.
The woman before me always had a habit of either talking to herself or singing when the urge called for it, even crashing into people if she was overwhelmed with enough emotion. But I only noticed it during my third visit after our initial first goodbye. (She'd not been in the best of moods that day.) As time went on though, I had the immense pleasure of watching her grow into something more than what I had first awoken to that fateful day on the shore. Her father may have been an austere man who ruled the kingdom with a mighty hand, but that hot blood only contributed to the girl's stubborn attitude. Regardless of her feisty side, she had a more awkward side that I grew to enjoy. Like the times her words ran away from her and she'd get this adorable pout that could conquer whole armies when no one thought to stop her and she ended up embarrassing herself.
Yes, the Princess seemed to transform before my very eyes and I would not have believed she was the same girl that kissed me all those years ago had I not been witness to it. Granted, I hadn't been back, nor seen her lovely face in a while and she would probably think of a lot of unpleasant way to punish me for it, but I would take that any day. As long as she was there with me.
I was home. Definitely.
"Laughing in the sunlight
Running down the lane
Oh, it's good to be back home again."
I sang just over the noise of the crowd, no longer able to only watch her and not touch.
Stopping dead in her tracks at the finished chorus of the song I felt inclined to like, Anna spun on her heel and practically bumped into me. Teal eyes grew wider than I'd ever seen and as she stepped back, her jaw dropped a bit. "E...E-Elsa?" She squeaked. It felt so good to hear my name on those plump lips of hers again. Lips that haunted me since I first laid eyes on them.
"I've returned, your Highness." I couldn't help the wide face-splitting smile that spread across my lips. It was a smile I'd ever only show to her and she knew it.
A/N: I got a serious case of Pirate fever!
This is something I have personally never done before and I'm sure it shows. Bear with me those of you who are reading, this one is treading new territory and it's a little exciting to say the least.
Otherwise, thank you for reading!
~Jane
