Chapter Eleven Purpose

We all long for a purpose to our life…our life means nothing without one. Our lives are nothing but an empty; useless existence if we are without purpose to live by. A purpose comes to each person differently and in many different ways, everyone has a planned purpose but most of the time we chose our own purpose instead of letting our pre-planned paths set us to them accordingly. And there are some who never have a purpose at all and their life is a meaningless existence once they leave the world of which we live, it is the truly purposeful people that are remembered for many years. Their names written in books, carved in stone, or placed upon a monument testifying to their accomplishments that came from their purpose.

Cerulean had always longed for a purpose of her own, for years she had dreamed of having her own reason to live and have an impact on someone. So that she would not die forgotten, she would truly be discouraged should that ever happen. Never giving something to someone that would treasure it...never being treasured by a man that would love her, but love was not her first desire to find a purpose in. No she wanted to work and be useful to her Captain now, but how? How could she be of use to him she hardly could give herself credit for anything of accomplishment in her years of being locked up tightly. She wasn't skilled in anything really in her opinion, yes she was educated and loved to read and draw. She was exceptional at playing a harp but who wanted that? Her fingers where graceful and quick would that be something like an asset to her? Possibly maybe the Captain could find something for her.

And speak of the devil...the ever growing familiar scrape...thunk...scrape of the crab leg along the deck. It was coming to the cabin down the hallway that led up onto the deck and the sunlight and bustle of the ship. She looked up from a large book of old charts and maps as he came in. He looked at her for a moment sitting at the end of the table in the middle of the room, the book opened wide to her curious green eyes. He sighed heavily a puff of air escaping his siphone that now served as his nose, it appeared the hardened leather and water stained pages had captured her into them. Maybe this could be used to both their advantage for in the past month she had been there he had been trying to find a constant benificial task for her to carryout daily. Tiresome though it was giving her different things to do his cabin was looking ship-shape after so many decades atleast she was useful. But now there was things that no longer needed it and she was becoming more idle aside from absorbing his books when he didn't have something for her to do.

She stood up straight when he walked in watching him expectantly incase he was in a unpredictable mood. He gave a grunt as he walked past her to continue as she was before sitting down at his desk to study his charts. Thirty minutes passed between them in silence before the bell chimed indicating the half hour of the 6th hour of the day.

"The Cook and his mates will be bring'n supper soon...best ye put yer book away" he said without looking up from his work.

She stood up hearing his instructions "yes sir" she said softly closing the book carefully as leather crumbled from the binding. It was so sad to see these creations falling into dust and ruin. She sighed placing it back where she had gotten it from beside the desk. The ship gave an irregular jolt causing her to loose balance slightly setting her hand on the desk to support herself. In result both of them quickly removed their hands from the location as if they had each been shocked by the others touch. She muttered an apology but it was cut off as there was a commotion outside the door as the sentry stepped in to let the Cook and helpers in with the dinner.

Cerulean excused herself momentarily to go into the coach to tidy up for dinner, it gave her a few moments to herself before dining with the Captain. Sometimes they talked about things of little significance but hardly at all he seemed to like eating in peace then with a woman that seemed to not enjoy talking much herself. She did like talking actaully when given the chance and if she was comfortable with whom she was speaking with but he never cared to listen nor did she feel comfortable in his precence and most of dinner was generally spent in silence.

But tonight was different, quite different actually it turned out and very profitable. While they were in the middle of eating sea bass finely cooked in spices plundered from trading merchants the Captain spoke, after watching her for the past twenty minutes or so.

"So tell me Miss Gibson," his scotish accent was less than noticable tonight he wasnt uptight which seemed promising. "What are yer skills that you have perfected?" he asked curiously.

She looked up at him for a moment finishing her bite before speaking. "Well I'm not sure I'm perfected in any skill-" he gave her an aggrivated look he didn't like how modest she was most of the time...well atleast in this moment he just wanted to know what skills she was good at. "But I am practiced in music, reading, writing, mathematics is one I believe I am quite experienced in, and I am fairly good in drawing." She explained pausing now and then to think on her answer.

When she said mathematics his head perked up a little and drawing got his attention more firmly. "What sort of drawings?"

"Well I liked drawing the port that I could see from my window, the shoreline, and the horizon. I copied maps and illistrations from books to better enhance my skill. But I cannot draw people I do very poorly in my attempts" she replied. She was more than thrilled to speak with him about her skills and intrests he hardly ever spoke to her at meals they were always dreadful silent, but she liked him listening it made her feel more comfortable and at ease around him.

"Maps? You'll have to show me so I might be able to see for myself," he said thoughtfully the wheels in his mind turning. Cerulean noticed that his eyes turned a softer shade of blue when he was in thought...they were very enticing to watch but she refrained.

"I would more than gladly draw for you simply place in front of me what you want drawn and I will draw it to perfection...hopefully" she added weakly.

He nodded pleased a very faint hint of a smile on his lips, he seemed pleased with the plan he was configuring in his mind maybe he'd finally have some new charts instead of ones falling apart and out of date. "Tomorrow then that will be your task, I will provide you with the needed supplies and show where to retrieve them from and place them back when your through. "If I am pleased with your work then I will appoint you to perform and learn what your duties shall intail, but we will cross that bridge when we arrive at it" he said taking a sip of his wine. The rainwater seemed to have put him fairly good spirits and to add to it that he had begun to uncover this womans potential.

The remainder of the meal was spent in silence any possible rifts between the two not present or yet to be considered. Eventually there would come a time that their temperments would clash and an arguement would arise but as some sailors would say 'the calm before the storm'. Cerulean herself was pleased that she had something to offer and that she had a chance to prove she was more than just a woman with a fair face and delicate hands. Behind her face was a brain...a brain that held endless hopes, desires, and intelligance, there was a whole world to be discovered behind her face and it was waiting to be dipped into and used. Her hands where more than just delicate limbs, the held the potiential of doing things...the possibilities where endless she'd never be able to use them to their fullest potientail in her life.

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In a far differing location of the ship than the captains cabin Kate had managed to slip away from the usual commotion and rowdiness of the crews evening festivities. Whether it was the evening rations being passed out and consuemed or the endless games of dice and other forms of gambling years away, Kate had no desire tonight to participate with them. The bowsprits was the perfect peaceful place she could find that allowed her to be alone. She sat back against the ship enjoying the wind and sea spray as she played her fingers over a smooth carved pipe. Her grandfather had personally made it himself when she was not but 5 yet. Oh how she remembered the day he presented to her this finely crafted Y shaped pipe laid in a box of cherry wood that was embelished with vines and flowers on the lid and sides. The box was now locked away in her sea chest the smooth pipe resting in her hands presently as songs from days long gone played through her mind. She hardly ever played anymore if she did it was a few notes before she grew discouraged and locked it away again.

"Ah there ye are" came the familiar and gentle voice of Clanker from above her before he made the small decent to where she sat. The voice had become something she loved hearing in the silence or any other time, it was soothing and calmed her when troubled, and when she was happy it made her smile.

"Yes I am here" she replied smiling to him as he settled beside her and wrapped his arm over her shoulder pulling her into him so he could press a gentle kiss to her temple.

"And tell me then my lil spitfire...why does the solitary bowsprits intrige ye more than the company o' yer mates?" he asked tucking a strand of her hair behind her perfectly sculpted ear. He marvled silently to himself how the moonlight made her look like a masterpiece set aside in a gallery to be admired by all. How had he become so fortunate to win her feelings?

She sighed thoughtfully silent for a moment looking at the quarter moon. "Because my mind and heart feel heavy and the peace and quiet of silence laced with the music of the sea appealed to me more than the loud noise of my mates" she replied "that and I didnt feel like dealing with some of the remarks." she added continueing to caress her pipe

Clanker nodded understandingly watching her fingers on the pipe and then rested his head back against the wall to watch the sky. Kate smiled beside him and looked at him for a moment, she could see that beneath the barnacles and the disformity of the curse his features where strong and bold...but still a trace of being a young man, he wasn't as old as the curse made him appear to be, he couldn't be much older than herself.

"So tell me my love why did you decide that the silence of night was more appealing than the activities in the hold?" she asked smiling.

He was silent as if thinking long and hard scrunching his face and scratching his head and then smiled looking at her seriously "Nay it was not the silence of night that drew me here" he said "but ye. My melted heart only desires to be where only ye are, and that jes so happens te be out 'ere on the silent bowsprits accompanied by only the light of the moon and the music of the sea." He said leaning in to lightly kiss her soft rosy lips.

She smiled returning his kiss softly "my my you could write a ballad with words like that...so beautiful and richly spoken," she murmered as he wrapped her fully in his arms burying his face into her hair.

"No amount of fancy words will ever be able te properly tell ye how i feel my sweet," he said into her red waves.

She inhaled deeply having buried her own nose into his shoulder "nor I you my love...no words can only begin to attempt at scratching the surface of such a profound emotion."

After five minutes or so of simply embracing one another Clanker pulled away looking down at her lap where the pipe still lay gleaming in the moonlight. He had never heard her play and he wished to very much.

"I assume ye play?" he asked indicating the pipe she held.

She nodded looking down "Uh yes...or more I did play...my grandfather taught me when I was very young. I haven't played a song since I was young" she said thoughtfully "I can never get myself to continue anymore" she sighed "my heart doesnt seem to be ready for music...but its starting to feel a little more open to it."

"Would ye play a song fer me?" he asked softly and hopefully "I want te hear ye make yer own music"

She looked at him and down at her pipe her smile reappearing on her face and she nodded "you do not need to ask it of me twice i will do whatever you ask of me" she said kissing his cheek before placing the pipe to her lips and placing her fingers accordingly.

She recalled the notes to her mind, one her grandfather had played many evenings in her childhood, then she let her breathe flow into the pipe. The sound was sweet and low and yet it was high. It lifted the very soul away from the body and into the sky as it portrayed pictures and words of its own. The music had its own voice...no the pipe had its own voice and was using Kate's to sing. Clanker closed his eyes letting himself completly submerse in the sound, he could see the music, he could feel it, it was beautiful. Sweet minutes passed before she let the song slip into the pipe and back into its silent slumber. When she set the pipe back down in her lap he looked at her.

"That was beautiful" he said softly.

She blushed softly shaking her head "Its been a very long time since I have played...it wasnt as my grandfather played. He was a master of this intrument I hardly compare" she said.

"Te me yer music is the sweetest sound on this earth," he said gathering her back into his arms. "Its all I'll ever need."