Please read and review :) (this one is for CeffelGwyn: i thought you should have more written before you read it for me :D )
The next day I was climbing up the rigging, feeling the rope burn on my hands, holding a rope in my mouth. The wind pulled at my clothes but I kept going, used to the heights. I brought the head of the rope to the lower spar; my destination. I straddled the spar pausing as the majority of the officers filed onto the deck. I watched from above as an old man climbed over the aft railings of the lower decks. Whistles blew and the officers saluted. I think I saw Archie down below and I could make out one of the senior lieutenants, Eccelston. To tell the truth I wasn't that good at remembering names, but there were a few more faces that I was unsure of. An old man came onto the deck from a row boat, acknowledging the officers for a moment then continuing as he was to his cabin. I had had the fortune of seeing the good Captain Keen before he had left the Justinian, so the frail form was instantly recognisable.
I waited for the officers to clear before I cut the rope. It fell, swinging off the side of the ship and landing hard in the surf. The rope had already frayed beyond repair, and through some neglect had been allowed to break. The frayed ends had caught in the block and the sail was left loose. I pulled the rope through the block, and then attached it to the sail. I checked my path back down, making sure I had a safe passage way, before I started my decent, far quicker than my climb had been. I jumped down the last metre and a half letting the rope run through my fingers. The rope was taken from me by a fellow sailor who pulled the rope tight and secured it, straightening the sail.
I smiled in satisfaction and pride in my climbing abilities, and had a moments rest to simply enjoy a toss of salt spray that hit my face. Mr Clayton, another Midshipman, told me to finish cleaning the frayed rope from the deck so I saluted and hopped to it. My shift finished at 1400 hours leaving me 2 hours to eat and get to the storeroom so I stopped by the mess to pick up my dinner. The cook gave me a healthy helping of some unidentifiable meat, it's aroma of disguising herbs filling my nose. I smiled my thanks and sat by myself as I often did. I did know far more of the crew, but I had to say that Matthews was the only one I liked.
I started the meal and had to take a swig of diluted ale to swallow the first mouthful. Almost as if to rescue me from eating I saw Archie and the raven haired man cross the room in light conversation. Archie saw me by myself and made his way over, catching the other man by surprise for a moment, "Bell. Are you finished for the day?"
I nodded, smiling, "Yes Mr Kennedy, sir. I had the early shift. I was on the spar when the Captain boarded."
He smiled, "I hope you finish that meal quick now."
The other man looked confused as he glanced at Archie but I smiled, taking the comment as an invitation to go below faster. I did eat the meal faster and headed straight below. Archie was already down there, sitting against the hull of the ship. I walked over sitting down in front of him, "so… who's your friend?"
He laughed, "That's Midshipman Hornblower. I believe there were rumours going around that he was seasick." I nodded, smiling. He continued, "He's quite nice. I believe we could become quite good friends in the next few years. We're around the same age. How old are you Belle."
"17," I answered, "18 just after Christmas."
He had a charming smile as he laughed, "I always thought it unfortunate to have your birthday at Christmas. One must always give way to the other."
I shrugged, "I never really had either of them. My Uncle never did anything for me really."
His eyebrows rose, "Never? You've never had a Christmas?"
I shook my head and he continued, "Have you been educated?"
I smirked, "Did you think I could have been? Never formally; although I have taught myself to read from the bible."
He tilted his head, seemingly fascinated, "Are you religious then? I had a little church near me when I grew up."
I nodded, "Pretty well my real home was in the Anglican church down the road from me. I ran there when my Uncle was angry or drunk. The vicar helped me when my uncle hurt me."
His eyebrows creased to a frown, "He hurt you?"
I shrugged, but this was maybe the only thing about my uncle that still hurt, "yeah. He beat me whenever he lost money gambling or spent too much on alcohol. He always claimed I stole the money."
His eyes searched mine, filled with pain for me, and a care that I had only ever seen in the vicar before, "Is that why you ran?"
I thought hard, staring at the floor "No. It was because I was afraid of what I could fall to if I became desperate enough. That was… no, my uncle pushed me to make the jump, but I wasn't afraid of him anymore. I mean I was afraid that he would abuse me…"
I surprised myself by choking. I felt my face and there were tears streaming. I looked up at him and I could tell he wanted to do anything to stop the tears. He looked like he didn't know what to do, "If you don't want to talk about it-"
I shook my head. I had to do this for myself, "I was afraid of him. He was so much bigger than me, and I knew if he tried he could force me to… I wasn't afraid of death. I've never been afraid of death. I'm afraid that I'll be stuck here, on this earth, and being… violated."
And now the thought was out the tears flew freely. He leant forward and held me, the only action that could have helped. Something that he showed me there, that I could be loved for more than just what I could do for someone meant more than anything he could have said. I finally started to dry my eyes and managed a weak smile for him. I laughed a small giggle as a whispered, "I've only really known you a day."
It seemed like he only thought of that as well because he let go of be and sat back, "I'm sorry. That was inappropriate."
I smiled, "It was, but thank you. I needed that."
He nodded a jerking action and stood, "I'll go get you some water."
He stood and left, quite suddenly, but I couldn't help but like Archie even more for that, wanting to be respectable in every way. I sat there drying my eyes when I heard footsteps. I looked up smiling expecting Archie, but the smile dropped instantly as I saw someone different; a complete stranger. The man had thin brown hair that looked strangled as it fell over his forehead. He had a dangerously curious glint in his eyes, and a face as sharp as a knife. He moved forward into the light when he saw me, "what do we have here?"
I tried to straighten and look him in the eye, but something about him terrified me. He went finished his movement towards the light picking up, but showing me the tattoo of the scull, carved into his hand…`
