Woah! two in one dayyyyyy

lol anyway! Double digits! :D I'm so happy for all the good that this story is getting! I thank you all for even reading let alone review/follow/favorite etc!

DeathDragon130: Well thank you!

Chapter Ten- The Aquila

Within six months, the ship was fully repaired. Connor and I worked tirelessly to bring the Aquila to her full potential. We trained everyday as well, and I began to perfect the art of throwing knives. Connor was growing stronger and stronger with each week we trained, and I was growing more and more agile. It was nearly impossible to hear me in the trees. I knew where to put my feet each time. No longer could I be outrun by the ordinary man. Even Connor, with all his bulk, was finding it hard to keep up with me. I was becoming better and better at using my hands to disarm, and my skills to bring the enemy to their knees without using a single blade. Of course, I had a knife on me at all times, but I seldom ever used it. Connor taught me how to use a bow and arrow on the side. He said it was in case I needed it, if he couldn't defend us. I sincerely hoped I never needed to.

Not only did we train, but we learned more and more about the Templar order. While Connor was nearly obsessed with ending Charles Lee and his father, I was determined to figure out their motives. I wanted to know what made them tick.

Along with the work came my responsibility of finding my sister. Every once and a while I'd head out to Boston, claiming to go by things, but I was looking for Aggie. She would be fifteen August 5th, a date which was soon approaching. I made it a goal in life to find her. I needed to know if she was alive. But however many times I went out to Boston I'd only catch traces of her. Someone had heard the name Agatha, or vaguely remembered the last name Williams, but no real leads. No real proof that she was alive. With each day I couldn't find her, I grew more and more anxious and upset. At times I was certain she was dead, that my father had killed her that night. And it killed me. I often cried myself asleep, believing that my little sister, my little Aggie, was no longer. That I was only clinging to her ghost. I'd often dream of her, the only image I had of her. As a five year old. I'd find her either dead or dying. Each time I was too late, she died in my arms. My mother would be there, laying dead on the ground or worse, glaring at me, face bloodied. She'd demand to know why I couldn't save her, why I didn't protect my sister that fateful night. I'd awake with a start, my father's manic laughs echoing throughout my head. Sometimes Connor would come in, having heard my cries. He'd ask if I was all right. Usually, he'd stay with me, rubbing my back reassuringly, and wait until the tears ceased. Once, he even pulled me into a comforting embrace, petting my head until I stopped crying. Honestly, without him there, I don't think I could have lived with any happiness.

But I wasn't the only one with nightmares. Dreams of the night his mother died haunted him. At first, it had come as a surprise that someone so strong could cry. But once, only one time, I had awoken to the cries for his mother. As he had for me, I rushed in to comfort him.

I shook him awake. To see him struggle like that, the pain on his face, was ripping my heart out. "Connor! Connor!" No answer. "Ratohnhaké:ton!"

He jerked awake, and if I hadn't moved out of the way, our heads would've collided. He panted, placing his face in his hands as he shook. The sweat beads ran down his face.

"Hey…" I muttered as I placed a gentle hand on his forearm.

His gaze snapped towards me. "I- I—" he began.

I smiled, and wrapped my arms around his shaking form. "It's okay," I cooed. "It was just a dream. A nightmare. Everything's fine. I'm here now."

At first, he was rigid, as though surprised I would actually embrace him. Soon, he relaxed, and I could feel him ball the fabric of my nightgown in his fist. He pressed his face into the crook of my neck, and I could feel his tears wet my shoulder.

Ever since that night, I realized he wasn't as strong as he seemed. He still cried. He still felt. And I reminded myself of that every time someone mocked him for being "green". I felt closer to him, that bridge of our childhood crossed. We became nearly inseparable. Where one went, the other followed. We were officially the closest of friends. He was my confidant. I trusted him with anything. With all of the nine years we've known each other, we had history.

OOOoooOOOooo

We made our way to the harbor, where Robert waited for us. "Come aboard and feast your eyes, kids!" he greeted from the Aquila. Connor took the first steps onto the plank that was our ramp onto the ship. Robert stopped him. "No, no, no, no, not the left foot! Never the left foot! Horrible luck. Step with your right foot first," he instructed. Connor did as told, and I followed, careful to step with my right foot first.

I watched as Connor pulled on the ship. "She is… sold." It was more of a question than a statement.

"She's come along nicely, Mr. Faulkner," I said.

"Thank you lass," he said nodding to me. He turned back to Connor. "Weatherly and sleek. She'll fetch twelve knots in a stiff gale, ne'er a ship from here to Singapore can outrun her on her best day," he said proudly. Whatever "fetching twelve knots in a stiff gale" meant, I assumed it was a praise to the ship. "Wha'dya say we take her out an show you what she can do first hand."

"Where would we go?" Connor asked.

I ventured astray as they talked about guns and whatnot. I looked up to the crow's nest. "Mr. Faulkner?" I called after he instructed the crew to get the ship moving.

"Yes, lass?" he said, coming up to me.

"Might I go up there?" I asked pointing to the high place.

"Of course! Could always use a lookout!" He waved me off. "You'll like it up there, Charlotte, got a nice view."

I took no further initiative to climb up the mast. It took me a while, but when I finally reached the crow's nest I was amazed. The horizon was laced with clouds, and the ocean ahead seemed to stretch forever. I sat, legs dangling over the edge as Connor captained the ship. I'll admit I was nervous at first, but he seemed to be doing just fine. Honestly, I was thankful that my hair was tied up in my green bow. Without it, I would've had a mouthful of hair. And that wouldn't have been fun.

We stopped all too soon. And I was upset when Mr. Faulkner called me down. "Like it up there?" he said, a smirk playing on his lips.

I nodded enthusiastically. "It's amazing!" I chirped.

OOOoooOOOooo

Mr. Faulkner brought us to a sort of tavern. "Oh hullo, Miss Mandy," he called once in. "You're looking every bit as ravishing as I remember." I giggled.

The woman at the bar turned with a grunt. "After all these years you sail all the way to the Vineyard to pay me complements?"

"We're looking for David and Richard Clutterbuck."

"Hn. Nice to see you, too."

We moved to a nearby table, where two men gawked at Mr. Faulkner, who pulled up a chair to sit by them. "Robert Faulkner," the bald one with a few scars said. "Where the hell you been?"

"Sorry for leavin' like I did lads, but where I was going… no one could know. You two working much?"

"Nah… between contracts at the moment," the one with actual hair and a beard said.

"Well, we're looking for gunnery officers. What would you two say to working with me again?"

"We'd be for gettin' into a few more scraps," the black haired one explained.

"Good show!" Mr. Faulkner laughed. "The Aquila is a fine vessel. We're fitting all the guns as we speak…"

I didn't notice when Connor left my side. But the bald man did. "Looks like your friend's about to catch a beatin'," he sneered.

I whirled on my heel to see Connor leering at none other than Benjamin Church. "Where is Charles Lee?" he growled.

Church turned. "I don't much care for your tone, boy." The other man next to him stood. He was an awfully scary man, to say the least… and ugly.

I ran ahead, grabbing Connor's wrist. "You don't want to do this!" I told him.

Bobby came running to our rescue. "Hey… you don't want to be doin' that, Biddle." I assumed Biddle was the scary man.

"Bobby Faulkner turned to wet-nursing? Good you finally realized you're a shite sailor," Biddle jeered. This was not going well. I managed to hold Connor back, but I didn't think I could contain two fully grown men.

Thank god for Mandy. She came right in between the two. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Not in here gentlemen. Better still, not at all. Bobby, take your friends and get out," she barked.

Bobby gestured to the two men still at the table. "Let's go boys. Our guns ought to be ready. Come on."

OOOoooOOOooo

I made my way back up to the crow's nest when we came back to the boat. I let Connor and Mr. Faulkner to their conversations. It was quite entertaining to see Connor order for the cannon release. He mad a natural captain. And when he ordered for the powder barrels to be shot, the explosion was more or less satisfying.

My happiness in the crow's nest was short lived when I saw three ships aiming to shoot at us. "ENEMY SHIPS!" I called.

I was relieved when those were destroyed but crushed when I spotted an English frigate, of which I learned about when Mr. Faulkner pointed the crashed one out. "FRIGATE!" I screamed. I almost didn't hear when Connor called for brace. I flung myself onto my stomach, praying that I wouldn't get hit with a cannon. I was horrified when I heard one whiz past me. Only then did I notice the storm. The rain pelted my body like little pinpricks and the wind nearly nocked me out of the crow's nest. Thinking it safe, I headed back to deck.

"You all right?" Connor asked.

I nodded. "Doing fine," I said. It wasn't until a few short moments did we sink the enemy frigate.

OOOoooOOOooo

"I got 'em! All of 'em! You get what I need and I'll give 'em to ya! Simple! You got a ship! Could find 'em all to boot!" an awfully strange man yelled to the crewmembers as they made their way to shore. He greeted them at the edge of the wooden planks. I eyed him suspiciously.

"Who is that man?" Connor asked Mr. Faulkner.

"Him? Some ol' salt always on about some letters he's got from Captain Kidd. Nonsense really but he doesn't hurt no one so I leave him be. Talk to him if you fancy- but be warned he'll chew your ear off. Anyway, the Aquila's here for you if you should get a pang for the open sea. We'll be waiting. Now, I implore you to head up to head up the hill 'fore the Old Man comes out of retirement just for me."