A long week it was, as the crew readjusted to more people being on board, mostly prisoners, though they would not be a hassle. There was another week to go, the coast line of another nation was visible in the far distance, but that was far from Abylonia. I knew that my skills as a captain had been refined at least to the degree of which I needed it to be - there were none of the crew planning mutinies and whatnot. I sighed with content, before Jones knocks at my door. After opening it, she looks rather worried. "Anne, theres a leak below deck - we're taking on water, and if we don't act soon, the ship will sink." A shot of shock went through my system, though I knew I had to stay calm in this situation - much like Madame Mason had done a while ago. With a sigh, I dress myself properly before checking the damage out myself.
"Well, well... It looks like it's been like this for a while now. Why was I not informed sooner? Rather, why was this not the first thing checked?" I frown somewhat, adjusting my hat before making my way up to deck again. "Women! On deck!" I shout at the top of my lungs, and sure enough, the crew of twenty I had were all lined up, ready to go. "I will need you all to drain the lower parts of the hull of water, use the prisoners if you need to. Make sure that the hole is mended, and above all else, no whips on the prisoners!" After giving out my orders, there was no hesitation between my crew - something I admired about them all - and soon I found myself below deck, helping out. The Gaulish prisoners soon drained the hull of any water, and with relative ease and spare materials, we mend the ship to good repair. The feeling was remarkable, being able to lead my crew and even the prisoners to help out. The way I figured it was that they wouldn't want to die as well as us, and as such, it was evident that we could all work together when we could.
Soon, I spot Alexandria, who waves to me with a small smile. She and I both know that we could not contact each other, at least not as present times would allow us. Even so, her venture to my quarters late last night... It was odd now she was able to get out of the hold below deck without being spotted or detected. I let it slide for now, hoping that this good behaviour from everyone would earn us bonuses once we got back to Abylonian soil.
Another week soon passes without incident, before another ship was spotted out in the distance. It was Gaulish - the design and the flag gave that away - and I could see the looks on the Gaulish parts of my crew, who were loyal to me - but who was to say they'd be loyal against another of their own ships? I knew that I couldn't push them that far - at least, if the ship attacked us first, they'd know that they would have to fight to stay on my good side. Ah, how two months could change a person at sea from a mere crew member to the captain of a frigate - with a prize crew no less. The other ship was a sloop - a smaller ship, with less guns, but I knew for a fact they'd have many more people on board, and a greater rate of fire. Even so, I decided to take a risk - to sail toward it, but not near it, with the Abylonian flag flapping proudly in the winds of that day.
The next few minutes were crucial, for my plan could not fail. I order those who weren't of Gaulish descent to man the guns, loading them just as I had a few weeks ago. I knew what it was like - heavy work not suited to fair skinned ladies - but for now, they'd have to take the brunt of it. The Gaulish women were darker in skin, but not so much darker in mindset. We were alike, which is why we could work together.
For this plan to work, I'd have to get close enough to the sloop - before firing off a round of cannon fire - and afterwards, engaging them by boarding. The manoeuvre would be tedious, but with Jones at the helm, I knew she could steer this ship better than me. Once we had subdued them, we would leave them be - as we could not afford to offer a miniature prize crew for the smaller sloop - it may have been smaller, but sailing two ships between a single twenty strong crew was too much, especially for the maintenance required on the frigate. By disabling another offensive ship, I made it so that we did not have to fight to the utter death. With a sigh, I simply wait for what is to come.
Sooner rather than later, the sloop was well in range, though I waited for them to fire - why did they not fire?! The Abylonian flag was still flapping about in the wind - maybe it was the frigate itself? Still, we got closer and closer- before a round of cannon fire hit our ship, doing minimal damage. Even so, I ordered my crew to fire, the guns of the frigate were much heavier and stronger than the sloop, and inflicted much more damage as a result. Sooner rather than later, the side of the frigate bashes against the side of the sloop, which was a bad position considering their numbers. Still, leading my crew, I board the sloop with a war cry. They quickly arm themselves but those too slow for my blade are cut down. Heh, I scream as one is executed, but have no fear when it comes to them damaging my ship.
The fighting continued as I pressed on, they boarded our ship yet were blown away by ready trigger fingers, many pistols loaded and on standby for them to take out Gaulish sailors. The fight was bloody, my sword had not seen so much blood placed upon it within its time, and the blood on me was frightening. I was honestly shaking halfway through - the spray of the sea had dampened me to the point where the blood seeped onto my skin - a sudden change in temperature from the cold I was bearing. At least I was able to deal with it, for now at least, for the good of my crew. I dispatch another two sailors before I make my way to their ship's rudder wheel, and I cut the wooden structure down so that they could not escape. "Let this here be a lesson for you girls! When the enemy thinks they can overpower you with numbers, you strike with your sword rather than your tongue!" My voice... It sounded so evil, yet, after slicing the arm off a Gaulish sailor, I could not feel a thing. The rum I had drunk the night before seemed to numb my senses, though I was still an effective warrior. I didn't know I could change so drastically, in such an opposite way, I almost felt disgusted by myself.
Thoughts running wild had put me off guard, and a knife impaled me in the right chest - a fatal strike if I didn't get help soon. I slide my sword into the assailant, before I drop to the deck, winded instantly and soon my senses dull to the point where I could only see and hear, but not move or speak. Bryce is the one to save me, as she drags me back onto the frigate. The fight soon ends, as the remaining Gaulish sailors surrender, though with three of our own down - two Gaulish, one Abylonian - and several enemy Gaulish sailors had met their end on their own sloop and on the frigate. The sloop was left to its own devices, as the prize sailed away without so much as a hitch.
I awake some time later, the fight for my own life was tedious. The surgeon had managed to patch me up but it was hard to breathe - let alone lead my crew. That night had been a tough one to bear, but at least I could lay in the comfort of the captain's quarters, my raspy breathing was all that was heard. The surgeon stayed with me, her name Mary Orlean, and she made sure I did not die. I knew then, that even though I was a capable warrior, I needed even more to surpass the cruelty of pain and death. I was literally shaking for a while before my bloodied, damp clothing was removed, and once a fresher set was found, bandaging went around my chest, to make sure the hole within it didn't rupture so easily. I had tasted death, but I had been lucky, unlike Davies and Fisher. Both died due to complications, yet I lay here, alive... I decided from then on, that I had to live for them as well as myself.
Later that night, Mary had gone to tend to the others - at least ten of my crew were wounded, and the others simply had battle cuts and scars which were easily tended to. I lay there within the comfortable bed, covers over me, though my chest still aches with a pain that simply wasn't human. The knife that had got me, it didn't even look like a knife, it was more of a sacrificial tool if I was to be honest, but I never got a long enough look at it to make sure. Soon, I hear a knock at the door, and someone enters. I try to sit up even a little bit to see who it was, but my chest simply wouldn't allow it.
"... Anne, it is me, Alexandria..." The Gaulish captain spoke softly, before she sat by my side, sliding her hand under the covers to grasp mine with an unlikely grip. "I heard the battle above, and when I heard of you being injured - I-I... I had to come here again. I apologise, Madam." Alexandria looked down, before she lit a single candle within my quarters, and sighed heavily. When I could see her face, I could see her worry. Here was I, facing death with uncertainty to live on, while she was merely a prisoner who longed to help me. My suspicion was right - maybe she was to be a bigger part in my life, though not as much as this. I saw her in a different light - quite literally - and now, everything seemed so small, as if she and I were the last people in the world.
"It's fine, Alex..." I wince lightly, breathing was big enough of a problem - speaking was simply the next grade of agony. I catch my breath, before sighing lightly, just looking at the one beside me. I grip her hand as best I could, to try and let her know that her presence was appreciated.
"Please don't speak, it'll... Make you hurt even more. I can't have that, Anne. You in pain just... Makes my chest hurt as well..." Though I could understand to a degree why her chest would hurt, I doubted it would hurt as much as mine right now - she didn't have the bandages around her chest now, did she? "I do hope you get well soon, otherwise..." I stared at her, and as I did, she started to tear up. I frown somewhat, watching the former Gaul captain produce tears in her eyes, I honestly thought I would never see such a sight. "... Otherwise I'll never be able to touch your lips again, you know?!" She gasped sharply, before her bottom lip trembled somewhat. Using some kind of otherworldly strength, I get myself upright enough to reach over and pull her onto me, though as much as my chest hurt, Alexandria crying hurt far more. I ignored the pain as much as I could, and eventually resorted to moving across enough so that I could turn her around and hold her from behind, my head buried in her back. Then, then there was a long silence. No tears. Only my raspy breathing.
The night went by, with me sleeping with Alexandria - a woman, for the first time, well, to be frank, it was my first time sleeping with anyone beside myself in a bed - and as morning approached, she snuck out, much to my own half-distress. I woke up with the pang in my chest, it was to be expected, though it felt worse than before. At the hour of six, Jones entered my room.
"Anne, I must ask you something - who has control of this ship?" My first mate asked, and though I wished I could make her captain for now, until we got to Abylonia, I simply could not.
"... I will appoint Bryce as captain... For now." I simply reply, before I see Jones look down somewhat, evidently hurt. "I'm sorry."
"No, it's fine Simmons, you just... Make sure you live, okay?" She too looked worried for me, hell, I was worried for myself. This journey, my first journey, had been a long and precarious one, but it had not been without reward. A kiss on the lips, not one but two naval battles, won by me, and most of all... Alexandria, she was my biggest reward. Had she not been here... Well, who knows what would've happened. Jones soon left my room, and I struggled to even sit up with my legs over the side of my bed. It felt like I was dying, much sooner than I had hoped.
Late morning came by, before I managed to warm myself enough to stand. I had to use one of the long rifles - unloaded - as a walking stick, but it was much better than having the thought of falling over without restraint. Falling now could warrant me a quick death and for Alexandria's sake, I dare not let that happen. With help from Mary, I get myself on deck, where the remaining crew gathered around me. They all looked up to me, little young me, Anne Simmons of Abylonia. Whether they be Gaul or Abylonian, they looked up to me because of my actions. My bravery and my courage to go for the risk had paid off, though not so much for myself. I saw some of the prisoners working on deck, simply cleaning it, and once I saw Alexandria's face, I felt my chest ease even if it was ever so slightly. I thought I was foolish then, but now... I was becoming sure that she was within my future, if I got there...
"Listen, girls... I'm in a bad way. I might not even... Make it to Abylonia..." I mutter, though they were all intently listening. Their faces told stories their vocals could not, and their body language suggested that I shouldn't give up. They looked hurt, broken even, and if I were to go... Their source of inspiration would go with me. I couldn't let that happen. "But know this... I will not go down without a fight! Just you see... JUST YOU SEE-" By then, I felt blood warm my throat, before I coughed it out onto the deck, falling down though Mary grasped my arm. I was doubled over, in pain and in agony, and it would hurt to see Alexandria's face right now. I felt tears form in the corners of my eyes, but even then, they did not fall. I wipe my mouth with a handkerchief, before slowly getting up with help. "A little puncture won't sink this ship..." The crew then one by one, hugged me softly, as if to say, 'Get well soon, Anne. Don't die on us.'. I could hear Jones and Bryce sniffing as they hugged me, suggesting they were finally realising how much of a role model I was to not only them, but everyone on board. When I had helped the prisoners plug the holes below deck, they all looked up to me as if I were their leader - partly true, but their leader as in their true leader, royalty if I wanted to push it. Though, I could not push it much more today, otherwise I would really die.