The Next Morning

As the sun began to peek over the shingled buildings, Maev slipped out of the little cottage and began to walk into town. She glanced back at all the other little houses in a little line, spiraling up around the deep emerald hill. Finley was sound asleep, his snores just audible from the open window. And it was Saturday, so her parents were still deep in dreams. Maev could never sleep terribly late, no matter how late she'd been out the night before.

She shifted her basket to her other hand as she walked quietly down the path. The shops were just beginning to open and their family had not had fresh apples in quite some time. Maev yawned deeply, pushing a lock of hair from her face. A cool breeze wandered between the buildings and tugged at her thick skirt. Her face was still flushed from last night and she patted down the gray fabrics she wore to keep them from flying too much.

"Good morning, Maev!" A bright voice caught her ear and she looked over.

"Ah, good morrow, Alannah!" She smiled as a pretty blonde-haired woman hurried over to her. Her eyes were the same hue of the sky at that moment, a fair periwinkle from the lighted sun rays. "I'm sorry we couldn't make it to your gig last night; Braden was under the weather."
"Oh dear, again? Poor lad..."
"He's doing much better, his father made him a tottie... I think that just about cures anything. But please! Do tell me how it went!"

Maev smiled at her friend as they walked along the little cobbled road now as she recalled the previous evening. The young woman quite enjoyed Alannah's company. She was nearly ten years older and already had a young son, but the two kept good conversation and had been close for many years. Alannah would stop now and again just to look at the fresh breads or to ask for advice on which herbs to pick out, whereas Maev would be infatuated with the little flower vendors. It was customary for all the town to see the young women strolling about slowly for hours on end in the market, never staying still.

"...and by that time, I swear Finley was drunk because he actually wanted to play a solo."
"Hah! That certainly sounds like it. I'll bet--"
"Alannah! Maev!"

The friends paused to let out a stifled groan. Maev was the first to turn and paste on a smile. "Why hallo, Deirdre!"

Deirdre, a particularily slim woman with thick coppery hair sprinted towards them, hoisting her skirts just a little too high. "Darlings!" She crooned, towering over Maev. "I'm so happy I caught you, it's just preposterous to do shopping alone and I figured it would be just grande to do it with you two!"

Alannah and Maev exchanged a knowing look before the oldest spoke: "You know you're always

welcome to join us."

"Delightful!" Deirdre nudged her way between the two and began to go off on her unstopping speech. "Maev, love, I heard you and your brother did divinely last night! I, of course, couldn't make it, I was out with Connor-- you both know him, right? Handsome fellow, really, perfect straight teeth. But he's a little tall for me... anyways, we were out at an inn, watching a duo of fiddlers who came from Scotland-- can you believe it? Foreign music! It was simply exotic!-- Anyways, we were sitting there and-- Oh, good morrow, Daley!" Deirdre paused to smile a flirtacious, dimpled grin at the local butcher, an attractive young man with a narrow jaw. He paused and nodded to the two women, smiling particularly at Maev. The black-haired girl returned his smile before looking down. Alannah nudged her with a grin and she felt a blush growing in her cheeks. "He's so nice, but he smells," The red-head sighed. "Anyways, where was I? Oh yes! Well, after we were leaving-- he walked me home, what a gentleman, you know?-- and a man came running out of nowhere. He was terribly mad, he was yelling something about seeing black sails on the water and--"

"Black sails?" Alannah looked at Deidre, intrigued now. "You mean like--"
"Exactly! He was shouting like a lunatic: 'Pirates! Pirates on our shores!' Of course, we haven't seen any pirates in years, but he insisted!"

Maev felt her mind go back to the previous night and the interesting crowd that had turned up. Most of them looked as if they hadn't bathed in weeks (her mother would have died on the spot), and all were dressed so strangely.

She drifted to the one with the dark, amber-brown eyes and she felt her face burn.

"Maev? You alright, you look flushed," Alannah spoke up suddenly, touching her friend's shoulder. "What?" Maev looked up. "Oh, nothing, I'm--"
"Oh, she must be thinking about that butcher, he seemed to look at you quite nicely!" Deidre said almost sharply.

"No! It's just... pirates, you know, dark subject and-- Oh! Those look like some nice apples!" The young woman quickly broke away from the other two, ignoring the curious look from Alannah and the jealous look from Deidre.

"Good morn, madame, what can I do for you?" The vendor smiled kindly at her, rubbing his hands together. Maev returned the smile, though perplexed that people were calling her madame now. 19 isn't that old, is it? she thought. "I would love to purchase a bushel of apples, sir."
"Certainly! Go right ahead and pick them out," he nodded before turning to the next customer behind her. She faintly heard the voices of Alannah and Deidre calling to her, but she ignored them for a moment as she selected a mix of reds and greens. Her family loved apples and her mother made some of the best apple bread. She handed her money to the vendor and thanked him. With her now full basket, she turned to meet her company.

"MAEV!" Alannah shouted.

Maev glanced at her friend and suddenly ran into the person behind her. Startled from the impact, she tumbled to the ground and her basket went flying.

"Oh God!" She breathed out, shoving her skirts down over her legs. "I am so sorry, I didn't--"
"It's quite alright, miss." The man leaned down and offered her his hand.

Maev looked up and nearly fell back to be greeted by the stare of the amber-eyed man from last night.

He smiled down at her and pushed his hand to her again. "Let me help you up," he spoke in a low, raspy voice. She nodded and took his hand and he pulled her to her feet. "Are you alright, miss? You're not hurt?" She nodded again.

He was still holding her hand and she quickly pulled it back and dusted herself off. "Oh!" She looked down and saw her basket overturned and all of the apple scattered around. All dusty and bruised, no doubt. "My apples..." she whispered stupidly.

"Excuse me," the man peeked up from below his large-brimmed hat to the vendor, "another bushel of apples for the lady." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a few coins and dropped them in the man's hand.

"Oh really, sir, you don't--"
"No, no, it was my fault," he smiled down at her. "And besides, I would feel horrible if you didn't get your apples. They are quite delicious, after all."
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled. "Yes, they are, but really, let me pay you back, it's--"
"I will hear no more of it, miss...?" He gave her a questioning look as he handed her a fresh basket.

She took in, her fingers brushing against his and she breathed in sharply. "Maev," she spoke quietly.

"Maev," he spoke the name to himself, stepping away from the vendor. He touched her arm to have her follow him. She jumped a little, clutching her basket tighter. "I'm Hector. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Maev."
"And you, Hector." She smiled shakily. "You were in the pub last night, weren't--"

"MAEV!" Alannah suddenly ran up to her and took her arm. "Are you alright? We saw you fall!" She cast a wary eye on Hector, looking him up and down. The hat did nothing but caution for her. "Come, I need to go to the fish quarters," she spoke hurriedly, drawing her friend away.

"Thank you, Hector!" Maev called over her shoulder, smiling again. He tipped his hat to her. "Until next, miss," he crooned.

Hector chuckled at the glare the blonde-haired woman cast him as he picked up a fallen apple and bit into it. "Women," he muttered.

"Dear God!" Deirdre gasped, grabbing Maev from Alannah. "Darling, are you alright?"
"Of course I am!" Maev scowled, ripping her arm back. "Why wouldn't I be? It was just a tumble, happens all the--"
"Not that!" Deirdre spoke harshly. "That man! Didn't you think he looked like a--"
"Oh, God's love, you and your pirates!" Maev rolled her eyes. "This town hasn't seen pirates in years, you said so yourself! He's just one of those eccentrics with a big hat! He was quite kind, actually!"
"But, the black sails--"
"You said it yourself, too, he sounded like a madman!"
"Maev," Alannah spoke in a hushed voice, "you can't deny that he... well... LOOKS a little like a pirate..."
"Would a pirate buy me another bushel of apples, Alannah?" Maev raised a dark eyebrow.

"...no."
"Then let's have no more talk of pirates! You said you wanted to buy some fish? Tom told me of a really good fisherman who just came..." Maev trailed off, linking her arm with Alannah, ignoring Deirdre. The two walked down the road, followed closely by the flitting red-head.

Maev glanced over her shoulder at the apple stand. She felt her eyes lighten when she saw Hector nod at her again.