Ella awoke in severe pain, her head feeling like it had been sliced in two. She stood up unsteadilly and looked into the full-length mirror. A bandage was wrapped around her forehead. A rock had left a great gash stretching across her forehead. Ella had to sit down for a moment as not to fall, struck by a sudden wave of dizziness and nausea. It wasn't long before she was up again, and she tottered over to the closet, pulling out this time not a fancy dress but a plain, black tunic. That's when she noticed that there was something around her neck.

On a leather cord about her throat was half of a small, crystaline blue stone. Mixed feelings bubbled up inside of her. Mental note: talk to Nate later. He must have done this. C'mon, Ella, get things together.... She sank down on her bed after changing from her rumpled nightdress and put on a pair of soft leather boots. The moment she walked into the hall outside her room she was nearly tackled by B.E.N.

"Ye-ah! You're okay! HUFFAH!"

Ella laughed a little at her friend's enthusiasm. "Hello, B.E.N."

"Oh, and Nate told me he wished to show you something."

"What time is it?"
"Dunno. It's quite a bit after dark, though. You slept a long time, Ellie."

"No crap!" Ella exclaimed, "Well, Nate wants me so I'd better go bye!" she dashed off quickly.

Flint sat at his desk, working with some papers but seeming distracted. He glanced up and smiled in relief when Ella walked in.

"Good, you're awake! You gave me quite a scare, Ella."

"I'm alright," she shrugged, her head throbbing to argue the statement, but she wouldn't confess her pain to Flint. "You wanted to show me something?"

His eyes twinkled. "Yes. Follow me." Flint stood up and walked over, for some reason, to the wall. He pulled that mysterious little metal sphere out of his pocket again.

"What is that thing?" Ella asked curiously.

"It's like a key, only much, much harder to copy. There's not another like it anywhere."

"Oh."

Flint slid the sphere into a discreet hole in the wall near the baseboard and the wall parted. He bowed and gestured for her to go ahead. "Ladies first."

"Well wasn't that classic? A hidden door in a wall of a mannor's office. Tskt." Ella laughed, striding through the doorway. Flint followed.

The soft etherial light beamed down at them from a velvet sky. Ella gasped in delight.

"Nate, it's... it's gorgeous!"

He bowed to her, holding out a hand to her. "Thankyou, Ella," he grinned. "May I have this dance?"

"Yessir," she said haughtilly, smiling, "You may."
He took her hands and swept her to the edge of a balcony. She hesitated, leaning up against him after a moment, then laying her head on his shoulder. She noticed the other half of the blue stone was around his neck.

It's amazing how you

Can speak right to my heart

Without saying a word

You can light up the dark

Try as I may

I could never explain

What I hear

When you don't say a thing


The smile on your face

Let's me know that you need me

There's a truth in your eyes

Saying you'd never leave me

The touch of your hand

Says you'll catch me if ever I fall

You say it best

When you say nothing at all

All alone I can hear
People talkin' about

But when you hold me near

You drown out the crowd

Oh, Mr. Webster

Could never define

What's being said

Between your heart and mine

The smile on your face

Let's me know that you need me

There's a truth in your eyes

Saying you'd never leave me

The touch of your hand

Says you'll catch me if ever I fall

You say it best

When you say nothing at all

The smile on your face

Let's me know that you need me

There's a truth in your eyes

Saying you'd never leave me

The touch of your hand

Says you'll catch me if ever I fall

You say it best

When you say nothing at all

After a long time dancing under the milky bluish-white light, with Ella's head on Flint's shoulder, eyes half-closed, Flint looked down at her with a strange look in his eyes. Boy, have I done it now... Flint, what have you gotten yourself into? There's no falling out of love with her. I'll just have to hide my original plans. I'm so ashamed. I planned to use her, not fall in love with her. What have I done? It was all he could do to finally clear his throat and speak.

"Ella, love..."
"Hm?" she looked up at him, smiling softly.

...That smile, damnit! "What is your choice?"

"....What do you mean?" she looked up at him towering over her, confused.

"Don't tell me you've forgotten," his lips quirked into a small, impish smile, " 'I'll take you away for, say, two months. If you don't like me by then, I'll let you go.', and you agreed. What have you decided, Ella? Will you stay here? Or will I return you to your humble home?"

The naturally rebellious side of her screamed, without a second thought, 'GO HOME'!, but the more reasonable side that listened to her heart was torn. Her family or her true love? Her past or her future? Adventure or domestication? Her heart pounded in her ears. She looked up at him, large blue-purple eyes dancing with descision.

"....I... Want to... Stay with you." she said, almost in a whisper.

He nodded solemnly. "Are you sure? There are a lot of things in a pirate's life no lady should deal with."

"Are you saying I'm not woman enough to handle the sight of blood or steer a ship?" she raised her eyebrows. Way up.

"There's not much for me to offer, love. Not much at all. I have all the treasure, but no family blood runs in my veins. I'm a man who cannot be chained down by a mere family. Are you okay with that?"

"If that's what it takes," she nodded, worried.

"There's danger and death around every corner, Ella. Are you sure you're willing to face that with me?"

"...Yes."

"......I..." There's no use in pretending now, I suppose... "I love you, Ella."

"I love you, too, Nate." she stood on tippy-toes and even then could barely reach up to kiss him.

She's so innocent. Doesn't have a clue. Ignorant. I hate doing this to her. I hate it. I don't know if I can carry out this plan. Not anymore. This wasn't supposed to happen. There's no way I can make myself dislike her. She's really a sweet girl, but if she had half an inkling... He shook his head, clearing the thoughts from his mind. Ella fell into him, her eyes unfocused.
"Nate, may I... please... go to... bed...?" she asked, her words a little slurred.

He gasped in alarm. "Ella, I'm so sorry! I forgot you were wounded!"

"...I uh..." she mumbled.
Flint picked her up, carrying her to her room and laying her down. By then she was already sound asleep. He sat on the edge of her bed, brushing a strand of silvery hair from Ella's peaceful face. He sat there for a long time, then finally stood up and crept out of the room, blowing out the purple candle Ella kept burning all through the day as he walked out. Flint stood in the doorway for a moment.
"Goodnight, Ella," he whispered as not to wake her up, walking off.

He yawned, actually very tired himself, and ran smack into B.E.N.

"Whoa! Cap'n Flint! Sir!"

"Oh, come off it, I know you call me Nate behind my back anyway," he muttered, not unkindly.

"Yeah, yeah, okay, Nate," B.E.N. grinned sheepishly.

"We're going to have get someone to make a dress," he said, forcing calm, "And I want it to be the most beautiful dress on the face of the universe, do you understand me, B.E.N.?"
"Yessir, Nate!" B.E.N. saluted him, then sighed. "When are you going to attack Ella's father?"

Beads of sweat were popping up on Flint's brow. "Eventually. The final batch of loot-- it can wait. For a while, anyway."
"Nate, you've really fallen in love with her, haven't you? That wasn't the plan," he shook his head. "Don't hurt her, Nate."
Flint whirled on him. "Love? This isn't love. There's no such thing as love!" he spat angrilly.

"Then why did you look like that when you were carrying her to her room?"
Flint had obviously gone into a severe state of denial. "I'm just trying to stick to the plan, got it? THE PLAN, damnit!" he went into his office and slammed the door.