Prompt: Trouble Lurking

Characters: Sigrun, main crew

Don't think I don't know a mutiny in the making when I see one.

Oh, I know all about you, Mikkel—but I think that you knew that already. At least, I know that you're planning something. The problem is that I don't know what, and I know you're enjoying dangling that in front of my face. I've seen you smiling at odd moments, when there was nothing to smile about, usually after I've given you a well-deserved scolding. I know the look of a man who's plotting his revenge.

Thing is, you won't answer me when I ask what's so funny. Instead, you evade, with all the skill of someone who has things to hide but is bad at straight lying. "Just thinking," you say.

The worst part is that I can't press. Show a mutinist you're suspicious of him? Bad idea. It only gives them an opening. I'll wait.

Oh, don't get me wrong. If it was just you, I could deal—which I suppose is why you dragged the kids into it as well.

I should've known from the moment I saw them out with you that you had Fuzz-Head and Freckles wrapped around your finger. Don't think I don't know how it works: take a couple of kids sneaking around behind their commanding officer's back, the kids remember you as the awesome one and everybody gets to let off some steam with no one the wiser. Been there, done that. Except when I did it, I wasn't taking the kids into life-threatening danger.

Oh, and Stubby? You're not getting off the hook for this either. I don't care how innocent your face looks or how much you act like you worship the ground I walk on. I know you're up to something.

You don't get to hide behind the language barrier with me. Doesn't matter what language you're speaking, I know the sound of my own name. I heard you talking about me to Troll Bait and to your cousin (which probably means he's in on this as well), and don't think I don't notice when you're avoiding looking me in the eye. Seems the only one I can rely on here is my right-hand—

Oh, you made off with my dagger and my gun now, Emil? Well that's just perfect. Must be hard, plotting behind your Captain's back when you can't lie to save your life and don't even have Mikkel's poker face going for you. Well, I'll give you one thing, kid: you've sure got guts. Cause once I'm feeling up to it, I'm gonna—

Wait a minute, what's this now, Mikkel? Getting ready to reveal your plot at last? You went ahead and brought the whole crew in with you, I see. Even the civilian kid who's only good for troll bait. I'm touched. No really, I am. At least you know how to do a mutiny right.

…you're asking what I'm mumbling about? Don't play dumb with me! I know what you've been—

…

You want me to drink something now? Seriously?

Oh yes, and you can stop touching me if you want that hand to stay attached to your arm.

"Still feverish." Mikkel withdrew his hand from Sigrun's forehead with a sigh. "And delirious, from the way she's been going on." Once again, he held out the steaming mug. "What if I told you it would give you a quick and painless death?"

"Ha ha, nice try."

"It'll help." Reynir tugged nervously at his braid. "It's the stuff my mom always gives me whenever I'm sick. Works like a charm." He let out a wistful sigh. "Just glad I thought to bring some with me when I left home."

Tuuri translated most of this, then added, "I had Lalli spell it some, so it'll work even better." She held up her grease-stained hands. "And look, I've been tinkering with the engine so we can turn the heat up more."

"Um… I'm just about finished cleaning your gun out," Emil offered awkwardly. "It ought to be working again by the time you're back on your feet." Under his breath, he added, "I hope."

"Now drink up." Once more, Mikkel proffered the mug. "Besides, undermining your authority is much more fun when you're up and about."

At long last, he coaxed her to drink it. After the mug was empty Sigrun wiped her mouth with an expression of disgust before coughing weakly. "Thought you said it was going to be a painless death."

"I might have lied a bit." He tucked the blankets around her shivering shoulders. "Now get some rest, Captain. That's an order."

"…all a bunch of mutinists," Sigrun muttered as she pulled the blankets tighter around herself.

A/N: I'm still hypothesizing that Sigrun is going to end up sick from all those dunkings in icy water then walking around outside in the cold. Guess we'll find out at the end of this week.