The soldier pushed Ariadne into the damp and dirty cell. He slammed the iron gate shut and locked it.
"Have a nice night, miss," he sneered with a chuckle. He twirled the key ring around his finger as he walked away.
Ariadne glared at his back as he entered the enclosed, stone staircase. She was furious, How could she be caught and no one else? She hated being locked up and hated not being able to use magic even more. She could easily escape, but then they would find out who she was. Rumors of three pirates being able to use magic spread quickly. Too quickly. Now there was a very large price on their heads.
"Looky wha' we 'ave 'ere boys. A real looker."
Ariadne's face grew from furious to disgusted as she spotted the man who spoke. He was in the cell across from hers. He was grinning, showing crooked, yellow teeth. His skin extremely dirty along with his clothes. She rolled her eyes and stepped up onto the wooden bench that was supposed to be her bed. She looked out the tiny barred window that showed the bay. The Arrow was gone. She let out an angry sigh and plopped down on the bench, dangling one leg over the side and rested her arm on her knee. A hole in the wall enabled her to see the outside at eye level. This was going to be a very long night.
"To the mast nail our flag it is dark as the grave, Or the death which it bears while it sweeps o'er the wave Let our deck clear for action, our guns be prepared-"
"Thas a right dangerous song to be singin' young miss." came the voice of another man.
Ariadne slowly turned her gaze to the voice. The man watching her had one eye and curly, greasy hair and beard. His voice was raspy and his eye a bright blue. "You sing that song," he continued. "horrible things will happen to ye."
"'at's right," came another voice. "Davy Jones will come for you 'imself."
Ariadne almost snorted. "Davy Jones?"
"Don' be takin' Davy Jones lightly, miss," said the man with one eye. "Jes be careful where ye be singin' that song."
Ariadne turned back to the hole in the wall, watching the water as it moved with the wind.
"I thought Davy Jones was just the name for the bottom of the ocean. Davy Jones' Locker."
The man with one eye chuckled. "Thas where yer wrong. Davy Jones is the Devil o' the seas 'imself. He now commands The Flyin' Dutchman. Once 'e comes after ye, there ain't no escapin'"
'Of course,' Ariadne thought. 'This wouldn't be freaking pirate adventure without Davy Jones.'
Suddenly, a thought struck her. "What about the Vixen of the seas?" She turned to face the men. "Do you know of her?"
"How do ye think I lost me eye?" he said with an evil grin.
Just then, gunshots and swords clanging echoed from the stairway. A soldier tumbled down the stairs and came to lay motionless at the bottom. Ariadne stood, ready to use magic if need be. Her face softened as Connor came hurrying down the steps, his blade drawn.
Ariadne called out his name. He spotted her and ran to her cell. He slid his blade into its sheath and took out an iron key ring from his pocket. He unlocked her cell and opened the door. She threw her arms around his neck as whispers erupted among the prisoners.
"It's Connor Black!"
"The captain of The Silver Arrow!"
"So that means…"
Ariadne pulled away from Connor to grin at the prisoners, her eyes flashing white. Connor smirked while keeping an arm around her waist.
"Later boys," she said as Connor bowed to them. They sprinted up the stairs where Emma, and a few members of the crew were waiting for them, sweaty and bloody from battle. They all hurried away from the jail, sneaking around in the shadows, staying as far away from the English navy as possible. They finally arrived at the harbor where a long boat was waiting to take them to the Arrow. It was not long until they reached the ship, which was hiding just around the cliff. Once they boarded, the crew heaved the anchor back onto the ship and set sail.
"We're goin' to 'ave the entire bloody royal navy after us!" a pirate growled at Connor. "Yer puttin' us all in danger for nothin'!"
"It's not for nothing," Connor said calmly, but his hazel eyes flashed with anger. "You'll be rewarded immensely after this is over."
"We betta' be," and with that, he stalked off.
"Captain," Mr. Hodge grabbed Connor's arm. His face was full of fear as he looked at what was following the Arrow.
A very large ship had materialized, giving off an eerie green glow. The wind had stopped. The water was still.
"It's the Flying Dutchman," Skinner said, his voice quivering.
"Who sang The Song?" Connor asked quietly as he stared at the Dutchman.
When no one answered, he repeated the question in a shout. Ariadne's face paled and as soon as Connor met her eyes, he knew.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't know it would lead to this."
***
The crew of the Silver Arrow were crowded into two if the tiny cells in the Vixen's brig. Emma and Ariadne were separated from Connor and Will. The Vixen had made sure of that. Will, who was still quite weak from the Vixen draining his powers, was sitting against the wall with Connor and Limmer at his side. Not once did Emma take her eyes off of him.
Mr. Hodge, who had become rather like a father figure to the two girls, rested a big, calloused hand on her shoulder.
"He'll be all right," he said quietly in his raspy voice. "I can feel it in me bones. We'll get out o' here soon enough. Jes wait n' see."
While Mr. Hodge spoke these words of comfort to Emma, Connor had pressed himself up against the bars separating the two cells.
"Ariadne," he spoke quietly.
She squeezed through the crew to Connor. She closed her fists around the bars as she smiled weakly at him. He took her hands in his and whispered quietly.
"I love you."
Her breath hitched in her throat for he had never heard him speak those words with so much passion and truth.
"I love you too," she whispered.
He gave her a small smile. "Will you marry me?"
"What?" Her eyes widened.
"These may be our last moments together," Connor squeezed her hands in his. "I don't want to spend them without you. I love you, and I always will. If we die here soon, I want to be able to call you my own. Marry me. Please."
Tears slowly fell from her eyes. "Yes," she breathed. "Yes."
Connor grinned and gently ran his fingertips over her cheek. "Then do you, Ariadne Pendragon Evans, take me to be your husband, until death do us part?"
Ariadne smiled. "I do," she said. "And do you, Captain Connor Black, take me to be your wife, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live?"
"A thousand times yes," he answered. "As Captain of The Silver Arrow, I pronounce us man and wife-"
"Kiss the bride!" Mr. Hodge called with a jolly laugh. Connor and Ariadne grinned before gently pressing their lips together through the bars. The crew erupted in cheers but were cut off by a loud gunshot. A small black box blew away from the impact of the bullet.
The crew jumped and fell silent. The Vixen made her way down the stairs, her face livid.
"Keep quiet or I'll kill all o' you right now!" she snarled. She slowly skimmed her piercing gaze over the crew before slowly turning around and making her way back up the stairs.
The crew breathed sighs of relief and Ariadne and Connor turned to each other once more. He covered her right hand with both of his. A warm glow fell over her finger. When he pulled his hands away, a white-gold Celtic wedding band shone brightly on her ring finger. The gem was a sparkling peridot. Her favorite. She placed her hand over the ring and a white light swirled.
"Now it'll never come off," she said when the light faded. She then took Connor's hand and she too gave him a ring. "And neither will yours."
Connor grinned at her, his hazel eyes full of love. More footsteps. The Vixen's quartermaster led a few of the women pirates into the brig.
"The Protectors are wanted," she hissed. "Say your goodbyes now, for you'll never see them again."
"I'll come for you," Connor told Ariadne. "I promise. Keep a weather eye on the horizon."
Ariadne nodded. "I love you," she said before she, Will and Emma were forced out of the cell by the Vixen's crew
Ariadne and Emma were frozen with fear. They couldn't have moved if they tried, even if they weren't being held on their knees by Davy Jones' crew.
Their eyes were locked on The Silver Arrow, anchored a distance away from The Dutchman and The Vixen. Tied to the mast of The Arrow were Will and Connor. A very slow burning flame was making its way around the ship to the barrels of gunpowder gathered at the stern.
Isabella and Jones came to stand on either side of Emma and Ariadne. The Vixen was smirking and Jones' gruff face held a somewhat blank look. It was horrifyingly quiet.
"So this is how it's going to end," Connor said quietly. "Blown up at sea, in a different realm. It's funny, I pictured my death on the battlefield. What's Camelot to do with two great kings dying within two years of each other?" he added somewhat bitterly.
Will was silent a moment before answering, even though Connor had meant it to be rhetorical. "I have faith Camelot will still be victorious. Whether it be next year, or a hundred years. The people will always put up a fight for Camelot. I just hope Emma can find someone who can love her as much as I do. I suppose you wish the same for Ariadne."
"No," came Connor's rough whisper. "There is no one on this earth capable of loving her as much as I do."
Another moment of silence enveloped them.
"I uh," Connor swallowed. "I've done things as a pirate I'm not proud of, Will. I hope you can find it in yourself to forgive me."
"I already have," said his best friend. "but I am not the only you need to ask forgiveness from. I have also sinned. Shall we pray together, my brother?"
A ghost of a smile appeared upon Connor's lips. "We shall." They bowed their heads in silent prayer.
"What is taking so long?" Isabella growled. She paced back and forth with her hands on her hips, tapping her fingers impatiently. She huffed in annoyance and grabbed the back of Ariadne's hair. The only reaction was a quiet sharp intake of breath from the red-head.
"You put a spell on it, didn't you!" she spat.
"You have their magic, Isabella," said Davy Jones, in an almost sad voice. "they are not capable of spells anymore."
Isabella growled and released Ariadne's hair. From across the distance, Emma and Ariadne saw Will and Connor look up. Their eyes locked.
Will gave a sad smile. "I shall die happy knowing I had found her love."
If possible, Connor's face fell even more. "I only wish we could have spent more time together. We're not married an hour."
"She'll never forget," Will voiced Connor's fear. "it's not in her. She loves you too much." Will's eyes caught the flame. "It seems I'll see you in Heaven in a few moments, Connor."
"Godspeed, Will."
BOOM!
Emma screamed as the Silver Arrow exploded. Flaming pieces of the once mighty ship flew everywhere. Ariadne's face drained of all color, and her breathing came in short gasps. Tears streamed down Emma's face as she hung her head, sobbing. The Vixen smirked.
"Take them to the brig," she ordered, and Emma and Ariadne were forced below deck and shoved into the brig where Connor's crew were still being held. Emma immediately fell to the floor, sobs consuming her as the gate slammed shut and locked behind them. Mr. Hodge came to her aid and she cried into his shoulder.
"We-we heard the explosion," Marrow said quietly. "Captain Black was the best captain I ever had."
Murmurs of "Aye," echoed.
"'E was a good man 'e was," Limmer directed his comment toward Ariadne. He carefully placed a hand on her shoulder, aware of her temper. " 'E loved you. 'e really did. More than anything', Mrs. Black."
Ariadne turned her blank gaze toward Limmer, her green eyes slightly shining with tears she could not control. She gave him the smallest of smiles.
He apprehensively opened his arms to her. She stepped into him and broke down.
Marrow removed his hat and placed it over his heart.
"To Captain Connor Black, and his best mate, Will. The best of men. They'll be greatly missed." He bowed his head in respect and the crew followed.
A chuckle sounded. "I didn't know you cared so much."
Ariadne's sobs ceased. She lifted her head from Limmer's shoulder. The crew stared in shock as two male figures stepped into the light, soaking wet.
"Will!" Emma breathed, leaping to her feet, and grabbing the bars. "Will?"
William Pendragon smiled at her, and magically unlocked the cell door. He barely had enough time to open the gate before Emma was in his arms. Her tears of pain were replaced with relief and joy.
"How is it possible?" Mr. Hodge asked as the crew filed out of the brig.
"The only explanation is a complete miracle," said Will, as his hold on her loosened. "The fire never touched us. Once we were free from the mast, we swam here."
Mr. Hodge clapped him on the shoulder. "Thank the Lord."
"We already have," said Will, giving him a smile before kissing Emma on the forehead.
Ariadne walked out of the cell in a daze, not able to take her eyes off Connor.
"You're not dead," she said in a hoarse whisper.
Connor shook his head. "I told you I'd never leave you."
Ariadne breathed and fell into his arms. Tears fell as she clung to him. He stroked her hair, holding her tight. He kissed her temple and breathed in her scent. Emma smiled at them, before looking up to Will and placing a light kiss in his lips.
"I love you," he murmured.
"And I you."
Connor pulled away from his new wife, but kept his arms about her waist as she moved to his side.
"It's high time we rid the seas of The Vixen," he snarled. "What do you say men?"
The crew cheered, and scrambled about, looking for weapons. Will, Connor, Emma and Ariadne each held onto a strong cutlass.
"Let's show them what it means to cross blades with the crew of The Silver Arrow," Connor said, in a warrior like voice. "This ends today!" His crew erupted in cheers and raced up the stairs. Emma took a deep breath and ran hand in hand with Will up the stairs.
Connor grabbed Ariadne, dipped her, and kissed her fully on the mouth. The kiss left her breathless.
"I love you," he said, squeezing her hand as she tried to normalize her breathing.
"I'll always love you," she managed to get out. He winked at her before they too joined in the fighting.