Sorry this chapter has taken so long to be updated… I don't really have a good excuse other than I am almost as lazy as Red Skies.
This fic is brought to you by what-is-that, Mango-Lord and Blue Horizon. So if you love it, praise me. If you hate it, blame Red Skies.
As mentioned and (unnecessarily emphasised by my dear friend, Philly) my spelling is terrible. So please, don't kill me.
Don't sue me either… I don't own Hornblower or any of the characters mentioned in this fic. However, I do take credit for the genius storyline… he he he.
As briefly mentioned in the previous chapter, this story will be changing from present to past a lot, especially this chapter. Try to keep up.
Warning: Some strong implications (nothing graphic or explicit) to do with Jack Simpson, so if you don't have the stomach, leave now.
Ok… enough drabble… on with the story!
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It was a warm June morning in London. A twelve year-old Archie Kennedy laid sprawled out on the green lawn out side of Kennedy Manor. His father had agreed to take Archie with him down to the harbour to meet a friend of the family. Then he had promised Archie would meet a real captain of a ship.
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His mother had dressed him in his best breeches and a dark red coat. "It's going to rain later," she told him.
"But it's sunny outside!" Archie said.
"Look at those clouds over the ocean," she said pointing out the window towards the dark clouds over the sea. She adjusted his shirt and kissed him on the head. "Now don't get your clothes dirty before lunch, okay?"
Archie giggled. "Okay, mama."
-
Waiting for his father to finish tacking the horses, Archie almost felt himself drifting off to sleep with the sun warm on his face.
"Archie!" his father called from the cobbled driveway,
Archie stood up quickly and saw the elegant black carriage drawn by two impatient looking horses.
He ran over the lawn excitedly and his father helped him into the passenger seat.
A thirty-six year-old Archie Kennedy woke with a start. He had fallen asleep.
He had heard of people's life flashing before their eyes just before they die, however Archie had been unwilling reminiscing childhood experiences for the past few hours. It had not long ago struck him hard that he would never again see his home. He would never again see his sisters, his brothers, his father or England. The fear of the unknown had brought back painful memories and images. It wasn't so much a fear of death, more the thought of being forgotten. Life would carry on without him, and he would remain, in the eyes of all except for the one person who understood, the disgraced Lieutenant of the Renown.
Archie tried to sit up a little. He did not want to go back to sleep. He didn't want those memories to be the last images of his life. And he was afraid that if he went to sleep he might not wake up.
But as he tried to sit, a burning feeling erupted in his stomach. A sick wave of nausea came over his head and forced him to lie back down.
Many times in his life, Archie had been treated unfairly. Sometimes he prayed that God would take him in his sleep. Or that he would be swiftly killed in battle. But lying on his deathbed, the last thing Archie felt was hate or regret. In fact, he had been blessed.
Horatio Hornblower had saved his life on many occasions. Were it not for him, Archie would have led a short meaningless life. But this day, once and for all, Archie could pay him back. With that which Horatio had given him - life.
The road to the ocean was only a short ride in the carriage. It took Archie and his father ten minutes at the most to reach the dock.
Archie climbed down awkwardly from the tall carriage and landed on a funny angle. For his age, Archie was still fairly short. His knees almost gave way and he fell on the carriage for support. Archie felt eyes on his back.
A young boy, a few years older, with dirty hair and piercing blue eyes, stood with his arms crossed.
As Archie straightened up, James Kennedy stepped elegantly out of the carriage.
"Young Jack!" he said, "Look how you've grown." He shook the boy's hand.
"This is my son Archie," Mr Kennedy said, "Archie, this is Jack Simpson."
Mr James Kennedy and MrJohn Simpson shook hands and greeted each other warmly.
Archie smiled warily at Jack. Feeling his father's eyes on his back, Jack smiled too.
"Mr Kennedy?"
"Wake up, Mr Kennedy…"
Archie opened his eyes. Dr Clive stood over him a bottle of laudanum in hand.
"You drifted off." Clive smiled. He offered the bottle to Archie.
"No," Archie said. "Thank you."
"Suit yourself," Clive shrugged and placed the back of his hand on Archie's forehead. "Just try to stay awake."
Archie remembered the first time Jack had beaten him like it was yesterday. It was a warm spring evening; Archie was only twelve. Mr Simpson, his wife and Jack had come to Kennedy Manor for dinner. They had finished eating, and Mr Kennedy had told the children to go outside and play. Archie was going to show Jack his new pony, when Jack without warning, took a branch from a nearby tree and hit Archie hard on the head, laughing. Archie didn't remember much afterward, except waking up in the dark, too afraid to move. And when he did try to, the cuts and bruises on his back hurt too much. When his sister came out and found him, Archie told her that he had fallen off his horse.
He was confused, frightened, young and easily broken. He had no idea why he was being punished. The first few times had hurt him, but after that he had learned how to shut it out. He was so young and innocent; death threats were enough to keep Archie from telling. So he had learned to cope with it, learned how to hide pain, cuts and bruises. It didn't really matter that much to him anymore. His dignity was all that remained to be taken, although Jack seemed to have no misgivings about that. He said it was more interesting when Archie fought back.
Archie had been asked to run an errand for his father in town. Turning fourteen had meant that Archie was expected to work more. Not that that was much, after all the Kennedy's were one of the wealthiest families in London.
The Kennedy's stables were at the bottom of a steep hill, in a clearing through a thick mass of pine trees. Archie sat on top of his horse and studied the large red building. There were two figures, one tall and imposing, the other small and vulnerable, standing - apparently talking. Curious, Archie began trotting his horse down the hill.
As he came closer the taller figure left and headed down a track, disappearing into the pine trees. Archie saw that the smaller figure was his sister, Victoria.
Archie hurried the horse down the hill, and as he did Victoria came into clearer view – she was crying.
Archie dismounted at the gate. "Victoria?"
She hadn't heard him coming. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve and turned to face her brother. "Hullo Archie."
He hurried to her. "Who was that?" he asked.
"Oh," Victoria took a deep breath and straightened herself up. "Jack… erm… Simpson? One of father's friends' sons…"
Her eyes welled up with tears and she bit her lip.
Archie's expression hardened and his eyes became cold.
While Archie still feared Jack, he would never dream of fighting him. But the one thing that Archie wouldn't take was anybody harming his family.
"What did he do to you, Victoria?" he said, putting his arms around her.
Victoria tried to be strong, but she couldn't stop the tears and they flowed down her soft face and into Archie's shoulder.
"He's a monster, Archie," Victoria sobbed, "He cornered me, then he told me to…" her voice faltered, "You have no idea."
Very close and very loud, the click of a pistol cocking echoed though the pine trees. Jack Simpson stood about a yard away from Archie, pistol in hand.
"Do you remember the part where I said 'If you ever tell a soul I'm going to kill you?'" Jack said to Victoria and laughed cruelly. "Although… I make an exception, I'd hardly call his a soul anyway."
"I'm not going to let you hurt my family," Archie said and took a step closer to Jack and the gun. A surge of rage gave him the courage to look Jack in the eyes. Victoria gripped his hand.
Jack shook his head and smiled. "Don't make me do something you'll regret."
"Go ahead. Shoot me," Archie said through gritted teeth. "At least I'll know then that you will be found out. Then you will pay for what you did to my sister."
Jack faked a surprised look and put the gun to Archie's head. "Well, Archie. I'm impressed. I didn't think you had it in you, you little coward. So I'm going to make you a deal."
Victoria's hand was squeezing his so hard Archie's started shaking violently.
"I won't shoot you. Instead, I will let you both go. But if either of you squeals, I'm going to make your entire family suffer for it. It can be our little secret."
With that he left Archie and Victoria frightened and hopeless.
There you have it! The first chapter I have really committed myself to, Gosh. It was hard work ! Hee hee.
(Red Skies: Now you know how I felt)
Please review... pretty please review, I'm not nearly as tolerant of people who don't review than Red Skies is... but never mind. I hope you liked it!
Next chapter...it's up to you Red Skies. Haa haa, have fun!
(quiet, you)