Chapter V
My First Taste
Will smiled at me, he wasn't angry with me, and I could never stay angry with him for long either. We knew that we would always have each other, and that if we must die, we would die together, the brother and sister who never were. And as we both almost fell asleep that night, we knew that someday we would find tranquility, peace, together. Then it began.
I had been the first to hear the explosions, the loud bangs against The Aquamarine, only next to my cabin. The worst of all dangers on the high seas had found its way to us. Pirates. How had they found their way here? Oh, it didn't matter, but I needed to inform the guards right away. I ran up onto the deck, still in my nightdress, but I didn't care, as long as I could save the crew from almost certain death. But as I reached the deck I realized that I was too late. The bodies of the eight guards lay on the bloodstained wood, the red liquid oozing across the deck floor, two pirates stood beside them, banging on the Lt. McDonald's cabin door, supposedly trying to take over the ship.
Of course, you know, I would not stand for this, although I also didn't know how I was going to be able to help. The Dauntless. I could swim over to the other ship, (which had gone only half of a mile ahead of us) awaken the soldiers, and send them over. But, they could all be dead by the time that you return. I hated those thoughts in my head; they were never encouraging, and always made the situation more complicated than it needed to be. Like maids. That was when I knew what I must do, I will swim over, but I will take Will and Charlotte with me.
It's a shame they had already noticed me. They turned around suddenly, drawing their crudely made swords, and began to stalk towards me. What to do! What to do! Then Will, who I had not noticed behind me, jumped out, and stepped in front of me.
"Go to The Dauntless, I will be waiting here!" he cried, urging me towards the edge of the boat. Then I remembered my mother's words.
"No! I can't let anything happen to you!"
"Just go!"
That had convinced me, I stepped towards the ship's rail, and through myself over it, landing hard, on my back on the surface of the water. Although a hardly felt the pain, I couldn't pay attention to it now. I noticed that I had this strange determination to complete a task after it was given to me, so I continued on, and for once I was glad that I was not wearing some fancy brocade dress, for that would have weighed me down, causing me to sink. If this had been any other time than this time, I would have felt the excruciating pain circulating through my arms, they were broken nonetheless, but now I only focused on the task at hand. I swam, and kept swimming, blocking everything unimportant out of my mind, they were only distractions, and if I paid any attention to them, I was sure to fail. They're counting on you; you're the hope that will save them.
I swam for what seemed like hours, the voice in my head always repeating to me the final words of my mother, and by the time I felt the chestnut wood of The Dauntless on my wet, cold skin, I thought that the burden of everyone passenger on The Aquamarine was on my weak shoulders. I saw a guard, positioned at just above me at the edge of the ship's rail, and I banged furiously on the base of it with my back, for my arms were completely useless. Eventually the guard took notice of me, and as he struggled to find a rope to pull me up, I wondered what was happening to Will as I waded her, helpless in icy water. Finally, I noticed a coarse woven rope falling to its place beside me from high above, and I, (after much effort) managed to climb up to the deck of The Dauntless, (which I did with only my legs) where I was greeted by some soldiers, who immediately began questioning me about why I had been in the water.
After being cleaned up (blood, along with water had stained my white nightdress, a casting had been placed upon both of my arms, along with a sling), I explained my appearance, and a number of soldiers filed into the lifeboats, taking along with them only a few weapons. "What a brave, young girl," I heard many of them say, and that made me swell with pride, I had done something right, I had completed my task, and hopefully the occupants of The Aquamarine would be saved. But I was still worried for my friends' safety, especially Will's; I knew that if he died, the weight of his life would stay upon me forever.
"Please, I need to go with them, they're my friends, and their safety means much to me," I wailed at the nurse, trying to clot my blood with wet cloths.
"Absolutely not, dear. You've been through enough danger tonight to last an eternity, and you can't risk it with the wounds you've got." And although I wasn't contempt with that response, I decided to just leave it, for suddenly I felt the effect of tranquilizers taking over me.
(The next morning)
It wasn't until the next morning that I was returned to The Aquamarine, and very carefully, the physician complaining the entire time that I should remain on The Dauntless for the rest of the journey. But I would not allow it, and after many pleads they finally obliged and let me return. On my arrival, however, I was greeted by The Lawrences who hadn't been affected by the attack, as well as Will, who had lost a fair amount of blood, but according to Lt. McDonald had fought bravely. The thought that they were all safe (and Will only minorly injured) filled my body with the contempt I had been searching for all night, and the fear that had overflowed my system was finally vanquished, but sadly, it wouldn't be vanquished forever.
"You were so brave last night, the lieutenant has decided to have a feast in honor of you tonight, as well as a ball," Charlotte said, and the thought of roast chicken distracted my mind from my ideas' constant debating. Your first taste of real fear. I thought. But it won't be your last.
Well, that was just the beginning of the torturous events of this story, some that will become rather heart wrenching (I didn't make this a tragedy for nothing), and more reviews would be nice, however. I just wanted to say that I really enjoy writing this story, the character of Charlotte is based on a friend of mine (I can't give away her name, this is the internet, you know), and I don't need reviews, but they are like candy to an author, a sort of privilege to writers. Keep that in mind, and keep reading, I like making people happy. As always, Juliette Handover
My First Taste
Will smiled at me, he wasn't angry with me, and I could never stay angry with him for long either. We knew that we would always have each other, and that if we must die, we would die together, the brother and sister who never were. And as we both almost fell asleep that night, we knew that someday we would find tranquility, peace, together. Then it began.
I had been the first to hear the explosions, the loud bangs against The Aquamarine, only next to my cabin. The worst of all dangers on the high seas had found its way to us. Pirates. How had they found their way here? Oh, it didn't matter, but I needed to inform the guards right away. I ran up onto the deck, still in my nightdress, but I didn't care, as long as I could save the crew from almost certain death. But as I reached the deck I realized that I was too late. The bodies of the eight guards lay on the bloodstained wood, the red liquid oozing across the deck floor, two pirates stood beside them, banging on the Lt. McDonald's cabin door, supposedly trying to take over the ship.
Of course, you know, I would not stand for this, although I also didn't know how I was going to be able to help. The Dauntless. I could swim over to the other ship, (which had gone only half of a mile ahead of us) awaken the soldiers, and send them over. But, they could all be dead by the time that you return. I hated those thoughts in my head; they were never encouraging, and always made the situation more complicated than it needed to be. Like maids. That was when I knew what I must do, I will swim over, but I will take Will and Charlotte with me.
It's a shame they had already noticed me. They turned around suddenly, drawing their crudely made swords, and began to stalk towards me. What to do! What to do! Then Will, who I had not noticed behind me, jumped out, and stepped in front of me.
"Go to The Dauntless, I will be waiting here!" he cried, urging me towards the edge of the boat. Then I remembered my mother's words.
"No! I can't let anything happen to you!"
"Just go!"
That had convinced me, I stepped towards the ship's rail, and through myself over it, landing hard, on my back on the surface of the water. Although a hardly felt the pain, I couldn't pay attention to it now. I noticed that I had this strange determination to complete a task after it was given to me, so I continued on, and for once I was glad that I was not wearing some fancy brocade dress, for that would have weighed me down, causing me to sink. If this had been any other time than this time, I would have felt the excruciating pain circulating through my arms, they were broken nonetheless, but now I only focused on the task at hand. I swam, and kept swimming, blocking everything unimportant out of my mind, they were only distractions, and if I paid any attention to them, I was sure to fail. They're counting on you; you're the hope that will save them.
I swam for what seemed like hours, the voice in my head always repeating to me the final words of my mother, and by the time I felt the chestnut wood of The Dauntless on my wet, cold skin, I thought that the burden of everyone passenger on The Aquamarine was on my weak shoulders. I saw a guard, positioned at just above me at the edge of the ship's rail, and I banged furiously on the base of it with my back, for my arms were completely useless. Eventually the guard took notice of me, and as he struggled to find a rope to pull me up, I wondered what was happening to Will as I waded her, helpless in icy water. Finally, I noticed a coarse woven rope falling to its place beside me from high above, and I, (after much effort) managed to climb up to the deck of The Dauntless, (which I did with only my legs) where I was greeted by some soldiers, who immediately began questioning me about why I had been in the water.
After being cleaned up (blood, along with water had stained my white nightdress, a casting had been placed upon both of my arms, along with a sling), I explained my appearance, and a number of soldiers filed into the lifeboats, taking along with them only a few weapons. "What a brave, young girl," I heard many of them say, and that made me swell with pride, I had done something right, I had completed my task, and hopefully the occupants of The Aquamarine would be saved. But I was still worried for my friends' safety, especially Will's; I knew that if he died, the weight of his life would stay upon me forever.
"Please, I need to go with them, they're my friends, and their safety means much to me," I wailed at the nurse, trying to clot my blood with wet cloths.
"Absolutely not, dear. You've been through enough danger tonight to last an eternity, and you can't risk it with the wounds you've got." And although I wasn't contempt with that response, I decided to just leave it, for suddenly I felt the effect of tranquilizers taking over me.
(The next morning)
It wasn't until the next morning that I was returned to The Aquamarine, and very carefully, the physician complaining the entire time that I should remain on The Dauntless for the rest of the journey. But I would not allow it, and after many pleads they finally obliged and let me return. On my arrival, however, I was greeted by The Lawrences who hadn't been affected by the attack, as well as Will, who had lost a fair amount of blood, but according to Lt. McDonald had fought bravely. The thought that they were all safe (and Will only minorly injured) filled my body with the contempt I had been searching for all night, and the fear that had overflowed my system was finally vanquished, but sadly, it wouldn't be vanquished forever.
"You were so brave last night, the lieutenant has decided to have a feast in honor of you tonight, as well as a ball," Charlotte said, and the thought of roast chicken distracted my mind from my ideas' constant debating. Your first taste of real fear. I thought. But it won't be your last.
Well, that was just the beginning of the torturous events of this story, some that will become rather heart wrenching (I didn't make this a tragedy for nothing), and more reviews would be nice, however. I just wanted to say that I really enjoy writing this story, the character of Charlotte is based on a friend of mine (I can't give away her name, this is the internet, you know), and I don't need reviews, but they are like candy to an author, a sort of privilege to writers. Keep that in mind, and keep reading, I like making people happy. As always, Juliette Handover
