Chapter 2: The Crimson Savior
Hook, the man that bowed to no king, was currently the errand boy of the Queen of Hearts, Kora...and he hated it. Here he was in this rundown excuse of an encampment, playing the part of a cowardly blacksmith … why because Kora demanded that he play spy, to learn as much as he could...his heart yearned to be free, to sail the sea that he loved so much once more. The ocean was calling to him...as if pleading for him to return home.
Then something unexpected happened… serendipity, a happy accident...a prince walked into camp carrying a crimson haired woman and he immediately felt drawn to her. He hadn't been able to get a proper look at her before she had been whisked away into one of the tents, having apparently been injured whilst saving said Prince.
The gossip mill was buzzing mightily. Two women, a short dark haired one and a long haired blonde, were being held prisoner because of their supposed involvement in the red heads injuries, but the most surprising rumor was that the ginger haired woman was actually a savior, a wielder of light magic.
Instead of being apprehensive about a possible threat to his so called revenge...he was worried...for her. She had been bleeding from her forehead a fair bit and he had seen some bruising on her lower back...he found himself wondering if she was okay. Why did he even care? He didn't know the wench, had never met her or seen her before...yet he cared...why did he care?
The constant gravity of the red head kept pulling at him. It was like she was a siren, a mythical creature that lured many a sailor to their deaths and yet for him, it was the opposite...like she was trying to give him life….or perhaps to make him yearn for life.
He had been rather annoyed when the two women responsible for the ginger's injuries had been released and his blood boiled at how they spoke about her. They said that she shouldn't be trusted, that she wasn't the savior...why would the blonde one be the Savior anyway? What made her so much better than the ginger?
She was clearly an orphan with a rather deep lack of love in her life. She most definitely had trust issues and she didn't exhibit any magic whatsoever. Everyone knew that a true savior wields light magic, that they protect others with an often times reckless abandon...thus the reason why saviors were rather short lived and this gangly blonde idiot looked like she was about to have a hissy fit.
She did not like the fact that the red head was stealing her role as The Savior and that they needed to be extra careful now that they knew she had magic. It took every ounce of his strength to keep the darkness from overtaking him, his bloodlust as Hook surging in response to his rage.
Killian had never been so grateful in his life when they finally left; taking the prince, princess, and Asian warrior woman with them but leaving the ginger haired savior with complete strangers. With their departure, his mental state calmed down significantly but he still felt his lingering bloodlust.
It had been a while since he had gotten that riled up...he wondered why he reacted so harshly. As Hook, he had taken and broken many red heads...as well as all other hair colors...but he seemed to take a great deal more pleasure from making the gingers scream in pain and ecstasy...yet his first love had murky brown hair.
He wrangled with his thoughts as he waited almost an hour before the mysterious woman finally exited the tent, looking far healthier than before, her injuries were gone completely, her magic more than likely being the reason for her expedited recovery, but quite frankly, he could only stare...blindsided by the sudden urge to bed the woman.
The crimson haired savior was utterly gorgeous; she had the perfect figure he wanted in a woman, glorious hips and her breasts appeared to be the perfect size...going by the small amount of cleavage peeking out of her top. His darker urges had him spinning out countless scenarios involving that fantastic figure.
He then became enraptured by those amazing crimson locks. Her hair shined like fire in the sun's light yet whilst in the shade, it shimmered like spilt blood on a full moon night. Her face was soft, fair even, but possessed just enough sharpness to augment her looks and appear as an adult rather than all baby faced. Something he definitely appreciated because child like women were a complete turn off for him.
Her eyes were the next thing he noticed...the bluest blue he had ever seen. It was deeper than sapphire yet lighter than the ocean. They were so vibrant and pure, warm and welcoming. They definitely matched well with her hair and he could see the incredible depth in them, so many layers, so intricate and defined, yet puzzling, enigmatic, open yet complicated.
Moreover, her eyes showed every emotion she felt, every shift in mood, but also intelligence, imagination, and a rather intense curiosity. He loved watching her eyes light up when something caught her attention...her sapphire orbs positively sparkling. He nearly face palmed when his own imagination went berserk, casting the woman's eyes into more erotic variations.
He followed at a distance, observing her every action and reaction. She was kind...yes, so very kind. She didn't hesitate when a woman dropped several items and she immediately scooped them up, insisting that she help carry them to their destination. When one of the injured had difficulty moving about, she would run off and fetch things for them like food, water, and blankets.
He was particularly entranced with the way she interacted with the children. The little tykes were running all around the encampment but as soon as the ginger clapped her hands in an odd rhythm, the children immediately turned to look at her.
She nodded her head for them to follow her and astonishingly, they lined up in a row behind her, giggling away as the red head danced away...the children mimicking her movements. He almost laughed at how silly they looked.
A few moments later, he heard singing. He was too far away to recognize the voice though his gut told him that it was the mysterious and gorgeous savior. He listened to the words and smiled when he heard the children chime in.
Ginger - Earth, Sky, Day, Night
Sound and silence, Dark and light
One alone is not enough, You need both together..
Winter, Summer, Moon and Sun..
Lesson Number one!
The kids were definitely wow'ed because so was he. He could barely hear her but what little he did was amazing.
Ginger - Like a rock, huh-huh.
You must be hard, huh-huh.
Like an oak, mmmuh.
You must stand firm, huh-huh.
Cut quick like my blade.
Think fast, huh-huh
Unafraid.
Kids -Like a rock, huh-huh.
I must be hard, huh-huh.
Like an oak, mmmuh.
I must stand firm, huh-huh.
Cut quick like my blade.
Think fast, huh-huh
Unafraid.
Little girl - Okay I'm ready!
Ginger - Uh-huh. But you're still out of balance. You're only halfway there.
Ginger - Like a cloud.
You are soft.
Like bamboo.
You bend in the wind.
Creeping slow.
You're at peace because you know.
It's okay to be afraid.
Kids - Like a cloud.
I am soft.
Like bamboo.
I bend in the wind.
Creeping slow.
I'm at peace because I know.
It's okay to be afraid.
He was surprised when the kids started up almost immediately after the red head but then understood why. She was quite the little conductress...wrangling a bunch of brats into singing a song rather than wreaking havoc...remarkable.
Ginger - One alone is not enough.
Kids - One alone is not enough.
Ginger - You need both together.
Kids - You need both together.
Ginger - Winter,summer. Moon and sun.
Kids - Winter,summer. Moon and sun.
Ginger - Lesson # 1!
The children's voices separated into two groups, singing different words of the same song. Whoa...how in the world had she managed that?! Forget savior...she was a goddess of miracles.
Group 1-Like a cloud.
Group 2-Like a rock, huh-huh.
Group 1 - I am soft.
Group 2 - I must be hard, huh-huh.
Group 1 - Like bamboo.
Group 2 - Like an oak, mmmuh.
Group 1 -I bend in the wind.
Ginger - You can fly!
Group 2 - I must stand firm, huh-huh.
Group 1 - Creeping slow. I'm at peace because I know.
Group 2 - Cut quick like my blade.Think fast, huh-huh
Group 1 - It's okay to be afraid.
Group 2 - Unafraid.
Ginger -You have begun!
All the kids - Lesson # one, Lesson # one,
Lesson # one, Lesson # one, Lesson # one
Lesson # 1!!
The children all started giggling, chattering away excitedly. There was no getting rid of her now...she had won over the children and as he glanced around...he almost laughed. Most of the adults had similar expressions of relief on their faces and some were looking skyward as if thanking God for the miracle working ginger.
He pulled his attention back over to the kids when they suddenly quieted down. His gaze flickered in their direction to see them sitting around the crimson haired woman, their eyes wide with wonder. Come to find out later, she had started telling them stories about a wanderer, a man unlike any other, about his bigger on the inside blue box of wonders, and his many adventures through time and other realms.
He had heard a few snippets and the rest from some of the adults that had been listening in. He was rather confused...her story...he had heard it before or at least something similar to it because he knew what a Dalek was, the metal men known as Cybermen, the tree people of Cheem, and he vaguely recalled something about a metal dog and a whole lot of running.
Killian couldn't seem to remember where or when he had heard this story. He didn't remember who had told him either. He didn't remember reading it anywhere and it wasn't a play or some other kind of performance.
When one of the adults asked Doctor, Doctor Who? He automatically answered… Dangerous question. Admittedly they looked at him like he had lost his marbles. He wasn't even sure why he said it in the first place but it just felt like the correct response.
It was just one of the many questions that was circulating his mind. The more he observed her, the more confused and confounded he became. So intricate a puzzle in so pleasing a shape, but to solve her, he would need time and information...both were in rather short supply.
The Queen of Hearts was lurking nearby and he needed to tread carefully. He could not risk the witch discovering the crimson haired goddess nor could he risk her learning of his sudden interest in said goddess. Her heart was at stake but who would claim it; The Queen of Hearts or The Scourge of the Sea?
