Chapter II
The Aquamarine
I didn't come out of my room for days after my mother's death, an event that I would never forget, and that would commonly be called to my memory through various other dealings later in my life. I was also faced with a decision I thought would be easy to make, although I hadn't considered it very well.
Should I take Will to this Governor Swann, who I knew was coming to London to gather his daughter, my cousin, Elizabeth, even though I knew the journey to the Caribbean was long and hard? I had promised to. But our, especially his, chances of survival were minimal, and maybe it would be of less risk if we stayed in London, for the rest of our days. But in London there is the epidemic, which could easily dispose of us, like it had our mothers. Many thoughts like these ran through my mind, for I had heard of many people dying on ships, sometimes of scurvy, motion sickness, or even, the most deadly, pirates. But I must take these risks if I want to keep Will safe, and that's final.
I had told Will earlier that day of our departure, only two weeks from now, on the British passenger ship, The Aquamarine, one of the finest. He hadn't given me much of a response, only that he was glad to finally be leaving London to a new life, what many described as the new hope for a new beginning. "But this is your home, doesn't it hold some importance to you?" I asked, for London had always seemed like home to me, a safe place, a refuge, though I hadn't really lived in the same London as Will.
"Not really, I don't see how I will miss it," he replied, looking out from the harbor to the sea with a strange longing I had never seen in him before.
"Did you ever know him, Will, your father?" I asked suddenly understanding his urge to leave England, he was searching for his father, the one I knew in my heart he would never find.
"Not really," Will said again, fingering a small pendant of gold in his hands, "but he did give me this," he said pointing to the pendant.
"Sure is pretty, it must be very precious to you, the only memory of your father," I said, also looking out at the ocean. So much mystery, yet so much wonder encased in one small thing, I knew what his reaction would be if he ever lost it. Then I got up from my place on the wall out looking the ocean.
"Goodnight, Will," I said as I retreated back to the inn where we were staying the night. And as he returned my affection, I thought in my mind, Such a strange boy, so many secrets entwined in his past, so many of them unsolved. But secrets are always waiting for the most un-expecting to solve them.
(Two weeks later)
I woke up early that morning, the morning that we were set to leave, I had been packing the few things I had taken from our estate, along with one of my mother's favorite pearl necklaces (yes, I packed without the help of a maid), and I was almost ready for the journey ahead, but little did I know that my journey would have so many unexpected turns that I don't think anyone could have been prepared for. Will, of course had nothing to take, unless you count that mysterious pendant, so he graciously helped carry my two suitcases out of the inn.
As we neared the harbor, we got our first glimpse of Elizabeth, dressed in a beautiful blue silk dress, and a periwinkle petticoat (I couldn't believe that her father could afford such finery, especially considering that this was a sea-faring journey, and it was bound to get covered in dirt). I, of course, knew that she was better-off than most, and that would make her rather disagreeable, at first glance, but Will seemed to be awe-struck. She wasn't incredibly good-looking, so maybe it was just the sight of someone so rich that made Will look off-kilter, and even out- of-place.
As we entered the dock, a young sailor told us that we would be boarding The Aquamarine, the ship next to the one where the "Governor's daughter" would be sailing in (which was apparently called The Dauntless, or something like that, frankly I don't understand why they name ships after such peculiar things). Will looked rather disappointed at that statement, but he seemed to be able to cope with it. Little did I know how this little girl would get in the way later in my life, but for now she was just the pampered girl in the other ship. And as the anchor was lifted and we set off, I made my final good-byes to London, to my home, and to everything I had always known, the sun rising in the distance, the start of a new life beginning. A new hope rising, and as it did, my mother's final statement came back to me, Take Will, keep him safe from harm. Will you do that for me my daughter? And I had answered, "Yes, mother, I will."
Who am I? I am Alise Stephenson, and I will keep my promise, if I must give my life to.
Well, there's Chapter #2, I hope you liked it. I would also like it if I got reviews! I was very disappointed when none come in for my first chapter. Yes, I will try to update this story every day, and believe me; this is when the PG-13 starts to kick in. Oh, and don't worry, they're kids, I won't do anything too bad to them. Thanks for reading, Juliette Handover
The Aquamarine
I didn't come out of my room for days after my mother's death, an event that I would never forget, and that would commonly be called to my memory through various other dealings later in my life. I was also faced with a decision I thought would be easy to make, although I hadn't considered it very well.
Should I take Will to this Governor Swann, who I knew was coming to London to gather his daughter, my cousin, Elizabeth, even though I knew the journey to the Caribbean was long and hard? I had promised to. But our, especially his, chances of survival were minimal, and maybe it would be of less risk if we stayed in London, for the rest of our days. But in London there is the epidemic, which could easily dispose of us, like it had our mothers. Many thoughts like these ran through my mind, for I had heard of many people dying on ships, sometimes of scurvy, motion sickness, or even, the most deadly, pirates. But I must take these risks if I want to keep Will safe, and that's final.
I had told Will earlier that day of our departure, only two weeks from now, on the British passenger ship, The Aquamarine, one of the finest. He hadn't given me much of a response, only that he was glad to finally be leaving London to a new life, what many described as the new hope for a new beginning. "But this is your home, doesn't it hold some importance to you?" I asked, for London had always seemed like home to me, a safe place, a refuge, though I hadn't really lived in the same London as Will.
"Not really, I don't see how I will miss it," he replied, looking out from the harbor to the sea with a strange longing I had never seen in him before.
"Did you ever know him, Will, your father?" I asked suddenly understanding his urge to leave England, he was searching for his father, the one I knew in my heart he would never find.
"Not really," Will said again, fingering a small pendant of gold in his hands, "but he did give me this," he said pointing to the pendant.
"Sure is pretty, it must be very precious to you, the only memory of your father," I said, also looking out at the ocean. So much mystery, yet so much wonder encased in one small thing, I knew what his reaction would be if he ever lost it. Then I got up from my place on the wall out looking the ocean.
"Goodnight, Will," I said as I retreated back to the inn where we were staying the night. And as he returned my affection, I thought in my mind, Such a strange boy, so many secrets entwined in his past, so many of them unsolved. But secrets are always waiting for the most un-expecting to solve them.
(Two weeks later)
I woke up early that morning, the morning that we were set to leave, I had been packing the few things I had taken from our estate, along with one of my mother's favorite pearl necklaces (yes, I packed without the help of a maid), and I was almost ready for the journey ahead, but little did I know that my journey would have so many unexpected turns that I don't think anyone could have been prepared for. Will, of course had nothing to take, unless you count that mysterious pendant, so he graciously helped carry my two suitcases out of the inn.
As we neared the harbor, we got our first glimpse of Elizabeth, dressed in a beautiful blue silk dress, and a periwinkle petticoat (I couldn't believe that her father could afford such finery, especially considering that this was a sea-faring journey, and it was bound to get covered in dirt). I, of course, knew that she was better-off than most, and that would make her rather disagreeable, at first glance, but Will seemed to be awe-struck. She wasn't incredibly good-looking, so maybe it was just the sight of someone so rich that made Will look off-kilter, and even out- of-place.
As we entered the dock, a young sailor told us that we would be boarding The Aquamarine, the ship next to the one where the "Governor's daughter" would be sailing in (which was apparently called The Dauntless, or something like that, frankly I don't understand why they name ships after such peculiar things). Will looked rather disappointed at that statement, but he seemed to be able to cope with it. Little did I know how this little girl would get in the way later in my life, but for now she was just the pampered girl in the other ship. And as the anchor was lifted and we set off, I made my final good-byes to London, to my home, and to everything I had always known, the sun rising in the distance, the start of a new life beginning. A new hope rising, and as it did, my mother's final statement came back to me, Take Will, keep him safe from harm. Will you do that for me my daughter? And I had answered, "Yes, mother, I will."
Who am I? I am Alise Stephenson, and I will keep my promise, if I must give my life to.
Well, there's Chapter #2, I hope you liked it. I would also like it if I got reviews! I was very disappointed when none come in for my first chapter. Yes, I will try to update this story every day, and believe me; this is when the PG-13 starts to kick in. Oh, and don't worry, they're kids, I won't do anything too bad to them. Thanks for reading, Juliette Handover
