Chapter Nine: The Truth in her Song
Duke:
For the next day Heart rested on and off, her body taxed from transforming back and forth. Nosedive and I had both kept a close watch over her while tending to our normal tasks.
Though once alone with her sleeping nearby still I looked over at the desk she had worked at for hours upon hours not long ago it seemed. I thought of our adventures as I stood beside the bed. I held back a chuckle as I recalled how flustered she got and how she tried to push back my charms at first. In doing so she had seemed to use her own in return I realized more and more. Shaking my head I stepped away to check over those charts, but staying close by if she awoke.
After a bit however I checked on things below deck with Trent for a while. Irving tended to the crow's nest while Avarin and Marestella kept things in shape above deck for me. Norelle had come up to me at some point with a cheerful request of her own, "I'd like to put on a show like we used to Captain. It may brighten our spirits?"
"You're worried about Heart as well aren't ya?"
"I knew she wasn't from there, but that creep tried to mess with her head!" She grumbled with a fire in her lavender eyes.
"Well he's gone now, for good," I remarked certainly.
"You lost one of your best swords with that stunt," Trent noted from behind me.
"That's a fair price I'd say," I stated.
"I wasn't arguing that," Trent assured, "I just hope you remember what you seem to value now."
I couldn't help but feel a sting from those words. However shaking it off I replied to Norelle, "You can put on a show Norelle, I'm sure Miss Flashblade would love that."
"Should we do a mock trial like we used to? Might be fun?" Marestella mused while coming to check on things in the galley we were in.
"Ya don't think that might be a bit sore from what he said to her in regards to us?" I asked.
"I think it'll ease those fears! Let her laugh at it with us rather than fear it I'd say!" Marestella scoffed, "I didn't pay his words any mind and neither should you L'Orange!"
She knew and cut me to the quick, "Don't you dare try to hide what you are from her, or it will hurt her more than he did!"
"Pirate or not she knows you're a good drake," Grin stated from the stove he was assisting Catalina at.
Nosedive chimed in from the pile of fruit he was helping to prep, "I'm telling you man, I know my twin very well!"
Though I appreciated their support and kind words, one thing remained true, "If I ever did get caught what would happen to her?"
"Why not see for yourself what she would do?" Catalina encouraged with a wink, "She did knowingly choose to stay on this ship, becoming one of us herself."
"That's not-"
"In either case, you need to make a decision and stick to it. Don't worry about the world or cosmos or anything else," Marestella said firmly with her hands on her hips, "I've never seen you doubt yourself before, why start now?"
With that she shoved a piece of fruit into my hand and pushed me up the steps onto the deck. Once up however I could hear them preparing the show they wanted to do, to my growing concern and intrigue.
That is until something else caught my attention. It started out uneasy, the melody drifting down towards me from the mainmast. Though this one did not fill me with dread as the song I had come to know by now. This one, despite beginning with hesitance, picked up in a quiet strength as it continued softly.
Come on...now,...try and understand
The way I... feel under your command...?
Take my hand, as the sun descends
They can't... hurt you now
They can't hurt... you now
I looked up to follow this trail of a voice. Upon the mainmast I found Heart holding onto it from where we had stargazed before. Her voice was shaking as she attempted to practice unheard. None the less I climbed my way up to her as she continued. She was so focused that she didn't seem to notice me.
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to us
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to -
She jumped as I climbed up beside her, for she had turned around just as I balanced myself against the mast. I reached out grabbing her hand to keep her steady. "What was that about sweetheart?" I asked her.
We were well into space by now with countless stars surrounding us with planets in the rotating distance. A stream of stardust flowed along with the ship beside us.
Heart looked at me nervously, as though asking herself the same thing.
"I...I was reading about songs before, when you were hurt. I was trying to figure out a way to counter hers somehow if we couldn't get the necklace in time," she answered, "I figured with the time wasted back there I should try to do something."
"Heart you were already takin' care of me, ya didn't need ta do that," I told her.
"I have to do something," she said while looking up at me.
"You could have drawn? I gave ya that book for that exact purpose," I pointed out before asking her more directly, "Heart why are ya doin' all of this?"
"I made you a promise Captain," She said with determination returning in her tone, "I'm going to keep my word and get you through this."
"Is that really it?" I asked her, "After everythin' we've-?"
"Captain!" Norelle called up, breaking my attention away as she continued, "We're about ready Captain!"
"We'll be right down then!" I replied as Irving above us began to climb down as well to join in.
"What's going on?" Heart asked.
"The others were worried about ya an' wanted to cheer ya up with a show," I explained, "We used to throw them once in a while when we were out in space for longer voyages."
"I see?" Heart replied with a slight smile.
That shy glimpse of relief seemed to tug at my heart. After seeing her so frightened I was more than happy to see this. She seemed to notice this and said with her strengthened voice, "Thank you again Captain, for saving me back there."
"Of course sweetheart, I told ya I'd steal ya from-" she winced as I spoke and I assured her still, "Without ya I'm lost Heart, more than ya know."
I wondered if she knew she were blushing? However instead of asking or teasing her I simply reached out a hand to her and offered, "Shall we head down then?"
She gave a nod, but didn't take my hand as she reminded me, "You'll need to climb down Captain."
I gave a smirk, "I could do that jus' fine with one hand Miss Flashblade."
"You still need to be careful with your shoulder remember?" She teased slightly.
I gave up, but then said, "Well if ya fall I'll be able to catch ya then. An' believe me Heart, I would."
Her face nearly matched her hair and I gave a delighted chuckle in spite of myself. Then we both headed down to meet the others. We soon found that the seats were ready as well as a table of food. I was rather impressed with how quickly everything was set and wondered if Norelle and the others had been planning this well before asking me. We then took our seats with the others and it began. Grin stepped forward first dressed as a thrown together judge. This immediately drew out a shy giggle from the woman sitting beside me, her hand attempting to stifle this and hide her smile. We both knew this would be the last thing our gentle giant of a friend would ever be. Though his size and strong frame would have made him an imposing one to say the least.
"All rise for judge Grinster!" Nosedive tried not to laugh himself as Grin took his position behind the turned upright table to be his podium.
"You may be pleasantly seated," Grin proclaimed while taking up his spatula of a gavel and hitting it against the table.
I allowed my injured leg to cross over the knee as I reclined back in my chair and watched. Heart I noticed sat with her feet tucked under her while she leaned towards my side.
"Court is now in session, and we are here to bring to justice those of the Cezanni Sapphire. Pirates or not they are allowed a fair-ish trial, or at least we can entertain them one as we are entertained ourselves by their excuses of their crimes," Grin tried not to roll his eyes at his read lines.
The 7 foot drake waved a hand towards Melodia, "We shall start with this mischievious mouse, Miss Melodia!"
At that our mousefolk companion scurried to the little prepped stage and stood before everyone.
"Do you know why you are here today?" Grin asked her.
"It's not for stealing cheese I'm sure?" Melodia winked with a hand on her hip.
Heart shook her head with a raised brow. Melodia then said, "I believe I am here for causing quite the ruckus back home?"
Grin raised a brow as instructed, "You call stealing 100 times your weight in food a mere ruckus?"
"How else was I going to feed all my siblings?" Melodia questioned with a hand on her hip, "That fat cat had plenty to share if you ask me."
"He wasn't even a cat,...he was a dog," Grin tried not to laugh.
"All the same to me!" Melodia shot back with a shrug.
"For this crime you have admitted to I have no choice but to grant you the sentence of no food ever again!" Grin said in a stern voice that made everyone laugh at the absurdity.
"Nooo!" Melodia crumbled to her knees holding her stomach as though she were already starving.
Once she was on the ground huddled into a ball of crocidle tears Nosedive scurried with her out of the way. As he did Catalina stepped forth.
"Do you know why you are here?" Grin raised a brow.
Catalina put a finger to her chin as she pondered, "Well I believe it started when I had a really bad...cold?"
She tossed up a snow ball that burst into flakes that she pretended to shiver under. With a mocked sneeze she looked to the judge and said, "It was just a little hay fever, honest!"
"A fever that froze the crops back on Earth in several countries!"
"Did that really happen?" Heart nudged me.
I gave a polite chuckle and said, "Sorta, more like a few acres were frozen...nothin' too bad."
She couldn't help but shake her head and I found myself wrapping an arm around her as we watched on.
"It was just a bit of frost, nothing to sneeze at?" Catalina winked at her own bad joke.
"Plenty to sneeze at if you ask me," Grin folded his arms over his chest still holding the spatula, "To keep you from freezing over again I think the punishment is clear, a trip to the sun is what you need!"
With that Nosedive from the shrouds picked Catalina up and put her on a make shift sun made from some sheets balled up and stuck her on it.
"Next?"
Marestella stepped up with pride behind every step, grinning with her hands on her hips as she stood before everyone.
"Do I even need to ask?"
"My only crime is not doing enough I'd say!" She admitted boldly.
"You've disputed against every authority you've come across. Your own Captain worries one day you'll stage a mutiny just to argue with him!"
"What can I say?" Marestella shrugged with amusement dripping in her voice, "Rules are meant to be broken, especially stupid ones."
"Isn't that how you got here in the first place?" Grin drew out.
Marestella rolled her eyes, "Sorta...I can't help it if my kind wanted to stay hidden. I want to see all that I can whereever I can! So they cast me out and I've been swimming free ever since!"
At this I noticed Heart stiffen slightly when hearing those words, "Was she really outcasted like that?"
I had to give a nod, "That's really the case for a lot of us sweetheart. We didn't see eye to eye with the law one way or another. As long as I've known her though she's never let it bother her."
Confirming this Marestella said with pride while walking up and taking the spatula gavel from Grin's hand sharply, "I love the freedom I have and I refuse to let even you take that from me! Now stand back, I'm in charge now!"
Grin stepped back in mocking shock while Marestella took the podium and announced, "Next?"
The gentle giant simply shrugged his shoulders and stepped away. In Marestella's place stood Avain now, "You called your honor?"
"I did!" Marestella grinned.
Avarin turned to face everyone and said, "My crime then, was simply trying to correct a mistake as old as time itself!"
"What mistake is that?" Marestella pondered aloud.
Avarin took a deep breath and pointed at Nosedive leaning back in his chair, "This! This mistake right here! Why can't men sit corretly! I am being tried for saving men from falling backwards on themselves!"
"You are being charged with assault Miss Avarin!" Marestella laughed with tears in her eyes at the sudden outburst from the raven.
Avarin pointed right at me with Heart wincing playfully in my grasp, "I was only trying to knock some sense into them! Even our Captain can't sit right!"
"Well I'm afraid the only course of action here is to force you to stand for the rest of your days, and at the end of this hearing we will have all chairs burned to prevent further incidents!" Marestella announced while straightening up papers that were some sort of script.
"Fine by me your honor!" Avarin nodded with a hand on her hip before walking off to the side again in a mock stomping stride.
Norelle took center stage now as Marestella raised a brow, "And why are you here?"
"I believe I am being tried for making a scene your honor?" Norelle tilted her head curiously.
"What kind of scene?" Marestella asked.
"The one we're acting out now," Norelle tried her best not to laugh, biting her lip as Marestella slapped a palm to her forehead in a bit of pain.
Again Heart giggled and listened on as I couldn't help but lean my head against hers, only realizing now how she'd pulled herself closer to me with her chair. The chin of my beak rested against her hair as we watched on.
"Get out of my courtroom!" Marestella tried to order.
"But we didn't build one," Norelle protested.
"I take it this is why you're here?" Marestella questioned shaking her head.
"What can I say, I love an audience and you're a great one!" Norelle gave a cheesy grin.
"Just take a bow!" Marestella sighed as Norelle did just that and skipped out.
"So what about Norelle then?" Heart asked while they called Trent over.
While our medic dragged his feet in irritation I had time to answer Heart's inquiry, "I met Norelle in her homeland. We were both explorin' the ruins of an old castle there. I told her I'd grown up on the legends from there an' she had grown up dreamin' about space. I asked if I took her with me if she would simply share what she knew. She's stayed with us ever since."
"So not all of you are here running from a crime silly or not?" Heart asked.
I shook my head, "We've all gathered with a common bond of not fittin' in somehow back in our homes. Along our journies we found each other an' we fit just fine now on this ship."
Then I added, "Heart, when this is all over, you an' your brothers can go back home if ya like. No one knows you're a part of this ship yet."
As I attempted this she rested a hand over mine and looked up at me, "I think I belong better here."
Then we heard Marestella ask Trent, "What do you have to say for yourself doc?"
"My crime is simply sticking to my own code. If one is in need of aid and medical attention I will attend to them without them fearing the iron clad grip of the law," Trent said without a trace of jest in his voice, "Though my punishment for this crime is already being carried out, and has been since I met this troublesome drake we call a Captain."
I winced myself at this, as did Heart before pulling away slightly as she glanced at my leg she'd been nearly brushed against.
"It's fine Heart," I assured her while keeping my arm around her.
We continued to listen as Trent excused himself, "Speaking of whom I'd better continue my self imposed torture and check on him."
He gave a rare smirk of his own before walking off the stage and approaching us, only to veer to the side and check on his notes as usual.
Then Irving was ordered to stand as he came slump stepped over with his clothlike legs dragging. He jumped up into a hearty stance before us as Marestella announced, "Ah yes, Master Irving! How nice to see you again!"
"Again?" Heart asked me.
"Irving loves to perform almost as much as our Norelle," I informed her.
"You know why you are here then?" Marestella encouraged.
"Hmm, could be for a number of reasons. Was it startling a stranger that divulged too much information to a bit of scenery?" He mused with a glove like hand to his burlap chin, "Always fun to give a bit of a scare to a drunk or two!"
"Speaking of drinking," Marestella mused with a wink, "That may very well be why you're here!"
"Not again!" Irving rubbed the back of his straw haired head with a stitched grin over his face.
"Aye, it is possibly the exact reason!" Marestella couldn't help but laugh.
"I didn't leave that much of a mess!" Irving protested.
"There was straw and cider everywhere? You were dancing like a maniac and moshing with any passerby that neared!" Marestella recalled, "You were an absolute menace, and so handsy to the poor tree you found!"
"Oh dear!" Heart stiffled another laugh with a hand over her mouth.
"So what is my sentence then?"Irving shrugged.
"Hmmm, I'd say hung upside until you come your senses, or what's left of them my good man!" Marestella grinned as Grin walked over and picked Irving up by his feet and pulled him up to then carry him off.
"That's about everyone isn't it?" Norelle asked, "Nosedive and Grin are too new."
"I mean I'm sure I have plenty of things to confess, as Heart would tell you if she wasn't such a good accomplice," Nosedive winked at his sister.
"We're not through yet," Avarin remarked while looking straight at me, "Captain? We require your presence before everyone!"
I noticed as Heart glanced up at me with curiosity in her eyes. However I wasn't as keen on possibly admitting some of my crimes before her. None the less I gathered my courage and pulled away from her to step forward. Once in the center I gave a swift bow to my audience with a smirk curving my beak, "As requested?"
"Aye, do you wish to share yourself or should I go on?" Marestella pushed with a grin.
"I think the list of what I haven't done at this point would be shorter," I admitted.
"I'm not so sure about that," she commented with a raised brow, "For instance, until the other day had you killed anyone?"
"No, spillin' blood isn't my style," I replied, "An' the other day was..." I looked to Heart, "Was the only means I had to save what was taken."
"Hurt the innocent?"
"Of course not."
"Then what are you being charged with?"
"Thievery to the highest degree, don't need to spill a drop of blood for that an' it's much more fun. Perhaps seekin' out treasure others would covet an' I beat them to the punch was a part of it?"
"So grand larceny, where at?"
"Whereever I've been I'll admit," I said with slight unease before finding my pride in her eyes as she watched me, "Yes, I am a pirate, rogue, thief, however ya say it."
Was that a spark in those sapphires?
"I've stolen many a gem, a ship here an' there, an' made quite a name for myself," I proclaimed, "One that was heard through space it seems."
We shared a smile.
"So then, are there any crimes you aren't proud of Captain?" Marestella blindsided me.
Looking to Heart still I felt myself falter, "I..."
Before I could finish we both grew more alert as a haunting melody broke us away from the cheer our crew had provided. Instinctively at this point I braced for the the melody while Heart got to her feet as well.
A fig for his riches
His merchandise and gold
True love has grafted my heart
Give me my sailor bold
Looking to one another we both seemed to wonder what she meant. Then we looked to see in the stardust as something gleaming in and out of it caught our attention. In the silver waves of space we could see her swimming after us. Pulling Heart close as she hurried over we then watched from above as my original crew came began to approach us. Had they heard this time?
"She wants you right? A fair trade I'd say for some gold right Captain?" Irving suddenly asked.
In his darker burlap eyes we could see nothing but greed furrow over as he grabbed for us.
"What are ya doin' Irving?!" I questioned as I pushed Heart behind me.
"Like I said, we're taking her up on her offer. She wants her sailor bold, and we want the gold!" He scoffed while lunging at us again.
I slipped my arm back and pulled Heart into a run from the group circling us. From Avarin's hip I managed to swipe one of her blades to defend ourselves with as we heard them draw their own. Grabbing the rope nearby I pulled Heart into a better grip and swung us over to the helm of the ship away from them. Though I winced a bit as I did this, suddenly remembering my shoulder's injury still aching from time to time.
"Duke!" Heart gasped when I released her and gripped my shoulder now.
As she reached for me we heard the others pursuing us. I quickly stepped forward at the head of the stairs to prevent them from coming up, even drawing out the borrowed blade.
"Sorry fellas, but I'm not goin' to her!" I assured as I pushed Melodia carefully back a bit, disarming her in the process.
"Captain," Avarin taunted, "Haven't you always wanted this? Isn't it true love considering how she's chasing you?"
"You've been searching and searching, looking for girl after girl to charm, and now you have one that simply can't resist!" Norelle mentioned with an alien sneer adorning her usually cheerful face, "Aren't you lucky?"
Avarin lunged at me with her blade to try and disarm me. Stepping to the side I twisted hers out of her hand instead. It was knocked behind us at Heart's feet. She quickly picked it up and rushed over to fight beside me.
"You've learned a lot," I commented as she fended off her own brother as carefully as she could.
"Anythin' else I need to know?" I teased her.
The slightly annoyed look she gave me nearly made me laugh as we fought. Together we managed to disarm and hold off our friends. Heart then backed up against my back as we stood by the wheel of the ship.
"Well...remember how Grin joined us as well?" She asked nervously.
Looking over my shoulder I found Grin looming over us with a cold sneer in his darkened eyes. Near the plank Dive whistled out to someone after hurrying over to it. For Grin was reaching for Heart, grasping the curved blade in her hands until it was pried it until it bent. He then yanked her forward with it as he grabbed her wrist and held her up.
"Let her go friend!" I warned as Heart tried to slip free of his iron grip.
His hand tightened around her wrist, threatening to break it. He looked at me as though daring me to attack him. Heart continued her attempts as she looked to me.
"Either you go with the starmaid or this girl dies!" Trent snarled with a deep chuckle emerging at the end, breaking who he was on every front.
I froze in my steps as I looked to Heart. She was still fighting only for Grin to grab her other arm and wrench both together behind her back. He spun her around quickly, gripping both arms with one hand and then grasping her throat with the other. He didn't clamp his fingers around her neck just yet, but was giving me the warning that he soon would.
"Besides, why worry over this girl when you have quite the treasure chasing you? Didn't you ask for this affection?" Marestella asked from behind me.
Looking to my crew I found them each wielding a weapon after taking advantage of Grin's distraction. I backed up from them a bit.
True love has grafted my heart
Give me my sailor bold
The words echoed cruelly this time as I was backed up towards the plank. If I fought back Heart would be the one to take the scars this time. Glancing at her I saw fear in her eyes, and her voice was all but taken as her friend brushed her neck in warning once more. Then glancing behind me I saw the starmaid waiting in the stardust past the plank, her tail splashing the light around her somehow.
"See Captain? We will get our treasure, and you'll get true love," Avarin said in a voice that was and wasn't hers, "Isn't that what you were seeking all this time anyway? Charming girl after girl?"
With a low growl in my voice I said, "I didn't seek it out, an' this isn't love!"
Then I glanced at Heart and her panicked sapphire eyes. Yet there was something else gleaming in them too. Looking at her and how she gazed up at me there were no longer any questions in my head. Not when it came to her at least.
Lowering my blade I then said to admitted, "If there is a crime I would be tried for that I am not proud of," I didn't dare look away, "It's makin' ya think for even a moment that I didn't want ya, or that I would go back to how I was before we met. The crime of chasin' girl after girl tryin' to find the right Heart."
The noose couldn't have felt harsher than my own confession, but I faced her none the less.
I then dropped the sword and stepped up onto the plank and said softly, "I might not have been seekin' love, but that doesn't mean I didn't find it."
Quickly I added, being sure that they heard me, "Let her go free an' safe, an' I'll-"
T-Take me now...darling...here as I am...
H-Hold me close...and try and...u-undertstand
Upon hearing this quivering voice I looked to Heart again in disbelief. Panic had faded from her expression as she had taken a breath and started this song. Yet she still looked to me and no one else.
"Heart?" I breathed.
Grin was about to tighten his grip around her throat just as she continued desperately.
Desire is...hunger...is the fire...I breath
Love is a banquet on which we feed
The crew had frozen in their steps, each of them holding their heads at least with one hand as they had stood around us. Even Grin pulled his hand from Heart's throat, thus allowing her to sing further.
Come on now...tr-try and understand...
The way...the way I feel...under your command!
T-Take my hand, as the sun decends!
They can't hurt you now!
She was able to pull free from Grin, running to me now as I hurried back to her from the plank. Behind me the starmaid's shriek was drowned out by Heart's voice as soft as it was. The starmaid attempted to sing her verse once more to regain control of our friends, still Heart sung.
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to us
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night...
Upon reaching her I swept her up into my arms and pulled her close to me as she breathed the rest of her verse,
Because the night belongs to us
In return I felt her wrap her arms around my lean waist, gripping the fabric of my shirt tightly. She had ceased her melody and was simply holding onto me in this moment, her frame shaking in my hands as she looked up at me, at last breathing out, "I love you."
"I love too sweetheart," I smiled warmly as I embraced her.
She choked out a soft laugh I could barely hear, "You're going to be impossible now!"
At this I swept her up in a spin before sweeping her feet under my arm and holding her up. My shoulder tried to resist, but I refused to let go of her. She in turn wrapped her arms around my neck.
"Please don't leave me..." she urged.
"I won't love...I won't!" I promised.
"It's about time," Trent commented from behind us.
Looking around we saw that our crew had returned to their senses. Thus placing us in the center of them as they shared knowing expressions and teasing comments or laughs. Poor Heart froze in my arms as this occured.
Then from behind us as well we heard the snarling threat of the starmaid glairing right at Heart in my arms and then at me, "Mark my words my sailor bold, you will be mine and mine alone! Enjoy your time with this clever wench while you have the freedom to do so! However, trust me, the longer you stay with her the worse her fate will be!"
I felt Heart take a quick breath before speaking in a strengthened voice, "We will break your curse! You will not steal his freedom, nor his heart! Say what you want, but we'll continue to fight you at every turn no matter what it takes!"
"Bold words for a mere human girl!" The starmaid scoffed as she looked at Heart with contempt, "You've survived thus far with luck, but it won't save you forever! With every verse my song and magic grow stronger!"
With that she dove back into the stream of stars and space, fading from sight as though she'd been a mere spirit before us. Yet we knew better than that.
Only then did I dare set Heart down before me. However my hands remained grasping her shoulders as she looked up at me. Our companions had mercifully parted to give us some time alone, including her brother who had hesitated at first before giving a smile and following Grin to the galley.
Once alone Heart pulled away from me and walked over to the rail trembling slightly. I watched her grip the wood of it as she took a deep breath and released it. While she did this I remained standing where I was at first. Then I walked up beside her and closed a hand over hers. She looked up at me again without a sound between us.
"What's wrong sweetheart?" I finally asked her in a softened tone.
"It's not that something's wrong...I'm just scared..." She said as she looked away.
"Of what Heart?"
"Of...of not being enough, of not being what you were looking for..." she admitted while wiping tears from her face she'd been trying to hide.
"Heart..." I whispered while gripping her hand and pulling her close to me.
"I know you want your freedom. I'm not like her!" She resisted.
"Of course you're not darlin'," I told her while slipping my free hand up along her back, "An' no you're not like the others I came across in my search..."
I then gave a soft chuckle as I thought of how I had tried to break away from her and yet...yet here she was still in my grasp. I thought of how I'd nearly lost her, each time going right after her to steal her back.
Then I realized how familiar she felt in my arms. I noticed how we both knew how to tilt our heads despite how different we seemingly were, or how we'd only known each other for a month or so by now. Her sapphire eyes sparked with a light I'd been seeking without knowing it, eyes I knew from a dream long ago.
When fear flashed in her eyes for a moment I followed these words with, "You have known what I was from day one an' yet...that's never turned ya away has it?"
She shook her head, "No matter how much I told myself to step back."
"Because you're afraid?"
She didn't move or speak. Yet her eyes told me everything. My hand holding hers slipped up to her cheek, caressing it gently before tilting her head just enough.
"You weren't afraid when ya sang your song to me...were ya?"
"I was, but...in the moment that fear didn't matter. What did was making sure you were still here with..."
"With you?"
"With us."
"Heart..." I breathed while only now realizing her hand had slipped to my upper arm, gripping the sleeve to pull me closer. At this I smiled, "Ya know love, I think it's time I stole your first true kiss?"
"Love?"
"Heart..." I whispered as I tilted my head and leaned close to her. adoring the sight of her blushing as I did, "You're the one I was lookin' for all this time."
Her eyes gleamed with hope as though asking further. I smiled as I breathed, "I love ya Heart."
"I love you too," she whispered just before I kissed her.
Hearing this my hand slipped swiftly from her chin to behind her head, pulling her as close as possible. She in turn reached her other hand around my back and clung to me, trusting me to hold her and not slip away this time in any way.
When we did part slighltly I couldn't help but laugh softly, "So it seems I've charmed tht heart of yours after all?"
"It seems so Captain," she blushed softly.
A slight pain tugged at my heart as I begged her quietly once more, "Heart, please use my name darlin'."
"I love you Duke," she whispered while looking up at me with those sapphires.
"I love ya too Heart," I vowed before kissing her again.