Disclaimer: I do not own the X-men or anything associated with them…
A/N: Thank you to all who reviewed the last chapter and I humbly throw myself at your feet and beg forgiveness for the lateness of this chapter. It has been a crazy summer! I'm back to work now and on a regular schedule, so you can expect the last few chapters to out once per week until the story is completed...which should only take three to four more chapters.
Chapter 20: Return to Orcadia
When Remy returned to Rogue's cabin, his practice done, Rogue couldn't stop gawking at the man. She tore her gaze away, her heart racing, and tried to focus on her work, but when she dropped several rolled maps onto the floor on account of her trembling hands, she could only wonder what in blazes was wrong with her. Why could she not act normally around him all of a sudden? She had not had this problem before. She felt awkward, transparent and smitten. If Remy noticed the change, he gave no sign. Oh, stop it, she ordered herself, clearing her throat.
"How was your practice?" she asked in what she hoped sounded like a nonchalant tone.
"Buon, 'cept Remy believes he strained a hamstring."
She scowled. "Ah told ya ta be careful and rest, sugah! Sit down and Ah'll look at it."
Heading for the storage closet, he sent her a startled glance over his shoulder. "Dat's all right, chere. Bit of a soak in de tub should cure Remy jus' fine."
As he stepped into the closet to retrieve the bathing tub, her face turned scarlet with wildly improper notions. But since he was still in the process of healing, she realized she had better go. Indeed, it suddenly occurred to her that after days of having her underfoot, the man might actually like some time alone. Cringing at the thought of how she had suffocated him, Rogue put down her maps and headed for the door.
Remy looked at her in question.
"Ah'm sure ya'd like ta relax," she explained in a halting tone.
He looked a bit relieved that she did not intend to stay to help him bathe. "Remy'll be topdeck shortly. Look after Chris."
"Aye-aye, Captain." She gave him a jaunty salute in mimic of Christian and then managed to walk into the wall as she realized her feelings for him were probably written all over her face.
"Blast."
Remy furrowed his brow. "Are y' all right?"
"Er, fine, thank ya," she mumbled, flustered. "Well, good-bye, then."
"Adieu, chere," he murmured in a tone of bemusement.
As soon as she pulled the door closed behind her, she cursed herself for acting like a dolt, but at least she managed to compose herself again before stepping out onto the quarterdeck.
On the elevated poop deck at the stern of the ship, John was checking, cleaning, and putting away the array of weapons that he and Remy had used in their practice. Rogue then spotted Christian and Wanda caught up in a chaotic bit of wrangling. One of the young sailors had managed to make a tangle of some ropes, or rather, sheets, as her crew preferred to call them. They were in the midst of getting it all sorted out, so she turned aft and made her way to the helm.
A few short moments later, Rogue heard a man's shout. She turned to see what the commotion was about only to see her cook sprawled out on the poop deck with a wooden sword twisted between his feet. John was bent on one knee over the prostrate man. He slapped the side of the man's face twice in an attempt to waken him.
In a matter of seconds a crowd gathered around their friend. Each immediately offered a suggestion or two as to how John could bring the man around.
"What the hell happened?" Rogue shouted down to her crew.
"I believe he tripped on something, Captain." Wanda replied as she knelt down next to John.
"It weren't something, ma'am," one of the crew announced. He pointed to the deck. "It was the runt's wooden sword that caught up in his legs."
John glared up at the man. "Crickey! It was my fault, not the boy's. Don't be blamin' the lad."
A man with a full orange beard nodded and then looked up to Rogue. "It weren't that bad, Captain. The back of his head broke his fall."
"Christian?" Wanda called out. "Bring me a bucket of water. That ought to bring him around."
"Will Ivan be able to cook up our meal tonight?" One of the crew asked, frowning at John.
John frowned back. "Is your stomach more important to you than your mate's health?" He patted the elderly man's shoulder, but he didn't respond. His mouth was gaping.
"Bloody hell, Wanda, have I killed him?" he whispered.
"No, you didn't kill him," Wanda returned. "You can see he's still breathing. He'll just have a fair head split when he wakes up, that's all love."
Wanda motioned for one of the men to toss the contents of the bucket in Ivan's face. The cook immediately started sputtering and groaning. He was rubbing the back of his head as he glared at John.
John extended his hand to help the man to his feet, but he could tell from the cook's expression that he didn't want John's help. Wanda pulled Ivan up, but as soon as she let go he began to sway. John was kneeling at his side again. He reached out to grab the wooden sword from between the man's feet just as another seaman reached out to steady his friend. Poor Ivan was suddenly caught in a tug-of-war of sorts, for John was pushing against his legs. He ended up sprawled of his backside.
"Get away from me, all of you," he roared. "You won't be getting my soup tonight, men. My head's aching, and now my arse is stinging, too. Damned if I'm not taking to my bed."
"Watch your tongue, Ivan," Rogue ordered.
"Yeah," another man called out. "We got us a kid present."
John lifted Christian's sword and handed it to him. "I'll prepare the bloody soup for the men," he said.
"Have you ever made soup before, love?" Wanda asked him with a doubtful grin.
Since everyone was staring at him, he decided to lie. How difficult could it be to make soup? "Oh…yeah, many times," he boasted. "I'd help our cook on the Lust all the time."
Christian began to open his mouth when John clamped his hand over the boy's face. "It gave me something to do."
The crew looked as if they believed that lie. "I'll just head on down to the galley, mates, and get started. A good soup needs to simmer for a bloody long time," he added, hoping he was right.
Ivan followed him down to the galley. He continued to rub the back of his head with his one hand as he directed John toward the work area with the other. "Slow down, lad," he said in a grumble when he rushed ahead of him. "I'm still seeing two of everything."
He struck two candles, secured them in glass globes, and then sat down on a stool against the wall. There was a giant stove in the center of the room and an open pit on the other side with a spit. Four giant coppers were sunk low in the top.
"You'll need all four coppers to make my beef stew, lad. There's the meat…some went bad. I've already separated the tainted half from the good beef. Most is simmering in the water I added before I went up on deck to have a word with Wanda. It gets a might stifling down here, and I needed a breath of fresh sea air."
Ivan waved a hand toward the pile of bad meat he'd left on the sidebar, thinking to tell John that as soon as he was feeling a little better he'd toss the garbage overboard, but he forgot all about explaining when his head started pounding again.
"There isn't much else to do," he muttered as he regained his feet. "Just chop up those vegetables and add the spices. Of course, you know all that. Do you want me to stay until you learn your way around my galley?"
"No," John answered. "I'll do just fine, mate. You go on up and have the doc take a look at that head of yours."
"Right, lad," Ivan replied. "He'll be giving me a pint full of grog to ease my aches and pains, or I'll be knowing the reason why!"
As soon as the cook took his leave John went to work. He was going to make the finest soup the crew had ever eaten. He added the rest of the meat he found on the sidebar, a little to each copper. He then sprinkled a fair amount of spices he found in the cubbyhole below the coppers into each vat. One bottle was filled with crushed leaves. The aroma was quite pungent, so he only added a little dash of that. John spent the rest of the afternoon in the galley.
It was just before dusk when the first change was summoned to dinner. Rogue, Remy, Christian, and John would eat later with the small number of sailors regulated to the second change. John was eager to find out what Wanda and the men thought of his soup. The aroma had been quite nice when he'd finished stirring in all the spices. It should have a hearty flavor, he thought.
The watch had turned at six that evening. The first group filed into the galley to collect their dinner just a few minutes later. The men had put in a hard day's work. The decks had been scoured, the hammocks scrubbed, netting mended, and half the cannons had been given another thorough cleaning. The seamen were weary, and their hunger was fierce. Most ate two full bowls of the heavily flavored soup before they were appeased.
They didn't start getting sick until the second watch had just eaten their share.
Rogue had no idea the men were ill. She was still working in her day cabin and had yet to go to the galley for dinner. When a hard knock sounded at her door she stood to answer it. Christian stood at the entrance, frowning at her.
"Good evenin', sugah," she began. "Is somethin' wrong? Ya look worried."
"You haven't had any soup yet, have you, ma'am?" he asked.
His obvious concern worried her. She shook her head. "Ah was waitin' ta share my dinner with Remy," she explained. "Chris, what's that sound?"
She looked out the door to see if she could locate the sound.
"The men, Captain."
"The men?"
John and Remy suddenly appeared at Christian's side. The look on Remy's face made her take pause. He was bloody furious. John looked positively sheepish, and refused to look her in the eye.
"What's the matter, Remy?" she asked. "Is somethin' wrong? Are ya all right?"
"Remy's fine, chere." He said as he motioned Christian out of the way. "It's de crew."
"What?"
"Dey believe John tried t' kill 'em."
Rogue placed her hands on her hips and narrowed her gaze on John. "And why would they believe that, John?"
"The soup," John replied in a whisper.
"Twenty of your men are now hanging over the sides of the ship. They're retching up the soup John made. Another ten are writhing in agony in their hammocks. They're not dead yet, but they sure are wishing they were, ma'am," Christian explained.
Rogue's voice was low, controlled, furious. "What did ya do, John?"
"It's not my fault, sheila! I swear! Ivan never told me that meat was bad! How was I to know?" John exclaimed, waving his hands in surrender.
Rogue turned her back to John and looked to Remy. "How many men are well?"
Remy shook his head. "Not many, chere…Jus' John, Chris, Remy, and a few hommes dat were below securin' de hold." He walked up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, mon amour…It'll be jus' fine. Remy has sailed a schooner wit' jus' two men. Dis won't be a problem as long as de weather holds."
John began to sport a mischievous grin. "Ah…right now…I remember that trip, mate." John chuckled and shook his head. "Quite an adventure that…well, I'll jus' be going down below to look after my sheila. Send if you need my help."
Rogue watched John leave her cabin then turned her questioning look to Christian and Remy. "Ah'd like ta hear about this 'adventure' of yours, but we should get ta the helm. Chris, Ah need ya ta round up as many sound men as ya can find and get them on deck, then help in the crow's nest."
Christian rose up straighter and smiled a brilliant smile. Giving an exuberant salute, he said, "Aye-Aye, Captain," and then hurried out the door.
Rogue turned to catch Remy smiling after the boy before he returned her gaze. She smiled and said, "Ah was goin' ta reprimand John, but Ah can't think of any punishment worse than tendin' ta Wanda if she's in a sour mood. He'll be lucky ta come outta the encounter unscathed."
Remy laughed and leaned up against the door frame. "What 'bout Remy, chere? Where do y' want him?"
A speculative gleam appeared in her green eyes as she regarded him with her head to one side. "Unfortunately, sugah, given our present state of affairs, Ah'll have ta say at the helm with meh. Can ya fill in for Wanda?"
Remy pushed himself away from the frame and nodded. "Oui, chere, ever as y' wish."
The weather did hold for the majority of the evening, but shortly after 2 a.m. clouds began to obscure the stars and rain fell gently onto the deck. The skeleton crew was managing quite well, and the rare occurrence of a mild rain shower actually lifted the spirits of those on deck. Many of the men were filthy from days at sea, since water was generally only spared for the officers of a ship, so wasting little time the men divested and cleansed themselves in Nature's shower.
Remy was stretched out on the quarterdeck, barefoot and shirtless, enjoying the feel of the fresh water on his skin, while the doctor slowly made his way up the wooden ladder to the helm, briefly talked to Rogue, then quickly departed.
Rogue looked over her shoulder to Remy and smiled. "The doctor says most of the men will be better by mornin', but we'll be on our own until then. Help keep meh awake, sugah."
Remy quirked an eyebrow and asked, "What y' have in mind, chere?"
Rogue turned to face Remy but kept one hand firmly on the wheel. "Ah really don't know all that much about ya, darlin', and Ah don't believe ya know much more about meh. Ah want ta know everything, so let's play a little game. Ah'll answer any question ya want to know and then ya answer one of mine, alright?"
Remy's face lost a bit of its color and he began to shake his head. "Remy's past isn't somethin' t' be relived. It's better left in de shadows."
"Do ya love meh, Remy?"
"Oui, chere…more dan y' could know."
"Then let meh in, sugah. Nothin' ya say could change mah feelin's for ya…Please?"
Remy dragged his hands through his hair as he cursed under his breath. Standing, he reached out and drew her into his arms. He held her, her back to his chest. Inhaling the sweet scent of her hair, he leaned his cheek against her head and curled his left arm about her.
Rogue closed her eyes at the tenderness of his embrace, praying that this one time he would actually open himself to her. Patiently, she waited.
To her amazement, Remy repaid her patience. "Alright, chere…ask what y' will."
There was one question blazing in her mind, and though part of her didn't want it answered, she felt she needed to know. "How many women have ya loved?"
Remy rubbed his hand over his chin, then brushed the stray tendrils of her hair down her back. "Four," he said simply.
"Four…who?" She asked as she laced her fingers with his.
Remy gave a light squeeze, then brought her hand up to his lips where he placed a gentle kiss on the back of her fingers. "Tante Mattie for one…She's means de world t' Remy.
Rogue smiled and leaned her head back to look up at him. "Ya love Ororo, too?"
"Oui," he confessed with a smile while he caressed her cheek. "And Mercy."
"Mercy?" She gave him an arched look.
Remy tried to suppress his smile. "Dere's no reason t' be jealous, chere. Mercy is married t' mon frère, Henri."
Rogue drew her brows together. "Ah don't remember ever meetin' her. What's she like?"
"De femme has a special talent f'r getting' herself in trouble, mais a face of an ange. Henri's lucky t' have her, and we'd do anyt'ing f'r her."
"And the fourth?" Rogue asked.
"Do y' really need t' ask, chere?" he whispered as he stroked her cheek.
Rogue fell silent. "Ah love ya, too."
Sighing, Remy looked up at the stars. "Where does dis leave us? What happens next?"
"Ah don't know…" Rogue cupped his cheek in her hand. She could feel the tautness of his jaw as he held his emotions in check. He rubbed his stubbly cheek against her palm and she pulled him into a hug. He tensed for a moment, then surrendered himself to her embrace.
His arms came around her, drawing her closer to him and he turned his face to hers. Seeing his desire to kiss her, she opened her lips in invitation and he took it. His kiss was warm and sweet and intoxicating. Remy pulled back slightly and nibbled her bottom lip.
"Mmm…that's nice."
"Captain!" Christian came running up the ladder to the quarterdeck, and Remy stepped away from her as the boy appeared.
"Oui, What's de matter, petite?" Remy asked as the small boy threw himself at his captain.
"I was getting ready for bed and…and I think there's something in my room. Can you come and look…please?"
Remy looked at Rogue from over his shoulder. "Remy'll be back in a few minutes."
Rogue nodded as Remy and Christian disappeared into the lower decks. While she waited, she looked out over the railings to stare out at the sea. Moonlight splashed against the waves. There was such tranquility out here with the ocean sounds to lull her.
She heard the creaking of a gangplank behind her. Turning, she saw Remy watching her. "Was he all right?" she asked.
"Oui…he thought dere was a monster in his room, mais it turned out t' be one of his wooden pirates rollin' around under de bed." Remy held out a small wooden figure in the palm of his hand. Rogue took the pirate from Remy and looked up at him in disbelief. The object was delicately carved, depicting a young woman in a white dress. What shocked Rogue the most was the likeness of the figure. It was clear the boy had meant to depict her…in a wedding dress!
She laughed. "Chris has quite the imagination."
Remy came closer and her laughter died on her tongue. "Y' look good in white, chere."
"Thank ya," she said quietly.
Below deck…
John sat with a bowl of cold water and a cloth, bathing Wanda's forehead. She opened her eyes and pinned him with a bored stare. "I'm not dead, love. I feel like the devil used me for tilting practice, but still I'm sure I'll live. That is, if someone will stop trying to tie my intestines into a knot. Would you please stop!"
John stroked his jaw with his thumb as he eyed her irritably. "Now I can't be doin' that. You just lie there and let ol' Johnny-boy take care of his Wanda."
"Being as I am in pain, the last thing I want is to have you all lovey-dovey. My stomach is quite queasy enough. Please, just let me lie here in my sweet misery all alone."
"Can I get you anything, love?" John asked her.
"No, just promise me the next time you cook, you'll slap me before I take a bite of it." She rolled over. "Now, may I please preserve what little dignity I have left?"
John smiled. "Look to the bright side, Wanda. You didn't empty your stomach on any of the crew."
"Leave!"
John reluctantly moved toward the door, then paused and looked back at Wanda. "If you need anything, call."
Wanda rolled over and gave him a peeved glare.
"All right, love. I'm going," he said, as he shut the door behind him and made his way to the helm.
On the quarterdeck…
John joined Remy and Rogue and the three spent the rest of the evening managing the vessel the best they could. By the time the morning sun began to rise on the horizon, the coast of Orcadia was just coming into view and the rest of the crew were beginning to emerge from their sick beds.
"We're back." Rogue said as she looked over to Remy who was standing at the railing staring off into the distance. "What's wrong?"
"Look at her…she's…"
Rogue frowned and followed Remy's gaze. The Devil's Lust was off the port bow and looked like a skeleton of her former magnificence. She'd almost forgotten the amount of damage inflicted upon the galleon. This would be difficult.
Christian stepped up beside his captain and took Remy's hand in his own. "She's not as bad as she looks, captain. The crew will have her seaworthy in no time. You'll see."
Remy ran a hand through the boy's hair and gave him a small smile, but couldn't help but feel the loss as he looked over the remains of his ship. True, the Lust would sail again, but would never be the same.
Within an hour, the Anna Marie was docked and the crew was greeted by Kitty, Piotr, Kurt and Reeves. While everyone was congratulating Rogue on the success of her rescue, Remy went over to the Lust. As he stood there, staring at his ship he felt a warm hand on his shoulder. Rogue heaved a heavy breath. "Ya've left meh again, haven't ya? Ah can always tell, darlin'. Your eyes turn dull, cold."
He looked over his shoulder to her. "It's gone, chere. Everything."
"What's gone?" Rogue asked, confused.
"Look at de cabin. Everything Jean-Luc left me was in dere…every book, every note…I have nothin' left of him." Tears welled in his eyes before he blinked them back.
The hurt in his voice stung her. Oh, Bella would pay for this! "Ah'm so sorry, sugah."
They were quiet for a little while as they stood there on the beach until an unfamiliar voice rang out from the cliff above. "Mon petite frère!"
Reeves walked up to the couple and shook his head. "I suppose this would be the time to tell you, my boy, your brother arrived a few short days ago. He has been driving Mrs. Danvers crazy ever since."
That succeeded in bringing a smile to Remy's face. "Merci, Reeves." He patted the older man on the back and the shadow disappeared completely from his face.
"Right," Reeves said. "As I always say, sir, a butler's primary duty is to serve his employer thoroughly and discreetly. Valor is the first part of discretion. I find it also helps to possess a large dose of tolerance and a very, very short memory. Unfortunately, Mrs. Danvers has neither."
"Henri!" Remy yelled out as the other man made his way down to the beach. "How long has it been?"
Henri shook Remy's arm and patted his forearm in brotherly affection. "Too long, Rems…too long."
Aye, it had been. The last time Remy had seen Henri was on the day he and John had rescued Mercy. What an adventure that had been! "Mercy?" Remy asked, thinking that she and Henri were attached at the hip ever since that day. "Is she here?"
Henri nodded. "Oui, she's back at de manor wit' Danvers. She's been worried sick 'bout your worthless hide, boy. Let's go show her dere was no need t' worry, hehn?"
"Oui…It's good t' see y'!" Remy hugged Henri then they all made their way back to the manor.
All along the way, Rogue and Wanda were subjected to Kitty's detailed account of the happenings since they departed. She and Danvers were busy planning a wedding celebration for her and Piotr. Kurt had agreed to marry them in accordance with ship law once the Anna Marie returned to Orcadia. By the time they reached the manor, Rogue's ears were ringing.
As they approached the entrance, Rogue saw Danvers standing next to a very beautiful, tall, blonde woman.
"Remy?" The woman stepped forward and reached out for the captain.
"Mercy, y' look belle." Remy took her hand and placed a gentle kiss on her knuckles.
Mercy smiled. "De same t' y'."
Henri came forward and placed a possessive arm around his wife.
"Mercy, Henri…Dis is Rogue. Remy owes his life t' her."
Mercy's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly concealed it. Henri turned to Rogue and said, "My wife, Mercy."
Mercy laughed. "Could we be anymore stilted, gentlemen? Dese femmes would never know de trouble de two of y' once brewed."
Henri laughed at that. "Us? I recall it was y' doin' most of it while we pulled y' from harm's way, amour."
"Lies!" Mercy cried. "I was an innocent led astray by y' demons of Lucifer."
"Innocent?" Remy asked Henri. "Remember dat time she shot de bear with an arrow?"
Henri snorted. "Remember it? I'm still scarred from it. And what of de wolf?"
Remy snorted, then lowered his voice to a child's falsetto. "Look, Henri, Rems, I found a puppy."
"A puppy wit' an angry mother."
"Oh, wonderful," Mercy said sarcastically. "Now, why on earth did I want t' see de two of y' together again? I recant my words."
Rogue smiled at the banter between the LeBeaus. She was glad to see that Remy's mind was being occupied and hoped the presence of his brother would make the loss of his connection to Jean-Luc easier. And there was an open and kind air about Mercy. One that made Rogue feel instantly at home. Though she didn't know the woman at all, she felt a kinship with her.
As John and Christian ran into the manor past Remy, he caught the boy up in his arms and tossed him up over his shoulder to dangle down his back as he walked. Christian squealed with laughter as Remy toted him to where Mrs. Danvers stood in the hall.
"Put me down!" Christian said, his voice broken by laughter.
"Y' need t' eat if you're t' grow t' any size." Remy flipped him over his shoulder and placed him gently on the ground next to Danvers. "Can y' find de boy something t' eat?"
"Of course. Wait here, Christian."
Chris scrambled up, but before he could run again, Remy caught him. "Must Remy tie y' down?"
Christian laughed, then dropped down on the staircase and sat with his legs crossed while Mrs. Danvers returned with a platter of food. While Chris ate, Piotr and Kurt approached Remy.
"Comrade, welcome back. I am only sorry zat I could not be zere with Rogue, but we are glad to have you back."
"Merci, mon ami. Remy understands. Never a good idea t' throw all your eggs in one basket, non?"
Piotr sighed and pulled Remy into a strong embrace. "Nyet…I was wrong, and I am sorry. Zank god Rogue succeeded."
"Oui, Remy owes chere de world. Mais congratulations on de weddin', homme."
"Zank you, comrade. I would be honored if you'd stand by me during the ceremony. Zere is no one I would rather have."
"Of course Remy'll stand by y', mon ami. Merci."
"Someone say my name?" Mercy asked as she came up behind Remy closely followed by Henri.
"Rems, I hear dat no one can beat y' wit' de sword," Henri taunted.
"Remy's heard de same of y', mon frère."
John groaned. "Sweet Jesu, not this again."
"What, John?" Rogue asked.
John shook his head. "Ladies, be prepared. You are about to witness the most horrendous thing on earth."
Rogue frowned. "What?"
"Two LeBeaus at odds."
Mercy laughed, until Remy spoke again.
"Remy could take y'."
Henri snorted. "Non. Only in your dreams. But I, on de other hand, could make y' cry like a fille."
"Ha! Never."
"Y' think not?"
"Remy knows not."
"Den get your sword, petite, and meet me outside."
"Henri!" Mercy gasped. "Remy hasn't been here hardly any length of time and y' wish t' spar with him?"
"I'm not goin' t' spar wit' him, amour, I'm goin' t' sweep de floor wit' him."
Remy scoffed. "Y' wish."
"Remy," Rogue said as he pushed himself away from the wall. "Are ya not too tired?"
"Even half dead, Remy could beat him wit' one arm tied behind his back."
Henri smiled evilly. "Den do it!"
"Remy will!"
John groaned even louder.
Rogue looked up at John. "They're not serious, are they?"
Mercy answered for him. "I have an awful feelin' dey are."
Her awful feeling turned out to be correct when ten minutes later both men came back downstairs with their swords drawn.
"Won't you at least eat first, mates?" John asked.
They shook their heads in unison and headed for the door. Their voices echoed through the room as they clattered down the foyer.
"Lay on, Rems, and taste your first defeat."
"It's your own feet y'll be tastin', mon frère. Dere'll never come a day when y' can beat Remy."
Henri paused at the door and looked back to the group standing in the hall. "Come, John, and watch your captain eat crow."
The men clanged their swords together, then headed outside.
"John," Rogue asked. "Should Ah be worried?"
They heard a scream from outside the door.
"I think we should be worried," Mercy said as she scrambled to her feet and rushed to the door. John grabbed Christian and they followed Mercy to see the men outside in the yard.
"Kitty?" Rogue asked. Kitty stood with her hand over her heart as if she'd suffered a horrendous fright. "Are ya all right?"
"Yeah," Kitty said, "but Remy is dangerous with that sword, captain."
"You have no idea," John muttered as he approached the men.
As soon as the men locked swords, a small crowd of servants and crew members formed to watch them. Mercy and Rogue exchanged a frustrated, weary look, then went to try and break them up.
It didn't work.
Hours went by as Remy and Henri attempted to pummel each other into the ground.
After a time, supper was served, eaten and then grew cold all the while they waited for the two combatants to grow up and join them. Even the crowd outside dispersed as the watchers made their way to their own beds.
Finally, Mercy had a brilliant idea. She and Rogue made platters, then took them outside where their men were still fighting. In spite of the lunacy of their actions, Rogue did have to admire them. They were both extraordinary fighters, especially given the fact they had been at this for many hours.
"Mmmm," Mercy said, taking a whiff of the roasted venison in cherry sauce. "Rogue, you must take a bite of dis. It's delicious."
The men slowed a bit as they craned their necks to see.
Rogue took a bite and moaned in exaggerated bliss. "Ya're right. It's marvelous." She cast a sideways glance to see the men stopping. "The best Ah've ever had."
Remy's stomach rumbled at the thought of the banquet the ladies held. He hadn't eaten much of anything that day. But Satan's throne would freeze before he ceded this battle to Henri.
"Y're lookin' a bit weak," Henri taunted. "I think y' need a bite t' replenish your feeble strength."
"Remy's strength is nowhere near as feeble as your brain."
They began hammering blows again.
Mercy and Rogue exchanged annoyed glares. Men!
They looked to John, whose platter was almost cleared of food. "What?" he asked innocently.
"What can we do now?" Rogue asked.
John shrugged and finished his food.
Henri growled and rushed Remy, catching him about the middle and knocking him back.
Remy roared and attacked full force.
Mercy sighed as they continued their battle. "I think we only made it worse."
They turned to look at John, who was now poking around the other two platters and eating the food from them.
"What?" he asked again as he realized he held their full attention.
Mercy put her hands on her hips. "Is dere truly nothin' y' can do?"
John dropped the food in his hands and straightened. "Should I do this, then I want both of you to promise me you will grab your men before I am gelded, sheilas."
"We will," they promised in unison.
"You had better."
Straightening his shirt with a tug, John moved closer until he stood just a little way from the other two men. "Henri," he said, his voice falsetto. "What a big, strong pirate you are. Why, it makes my heart pound the way you move. You're such a great hero."
Remy laughed out loud.
Henri merely growled again.
John turned his attention away from Henri. "And Remy, such a great, big, tough man you are. Why, I just don't know if I can stand here and watch you. It makes me all jittery."
Remy laughed no longer.
John turned to look at Rogue and Mercy. "Sheilas, while the men play with each other's swords, what say we go inside and have some…"
Before he could finish the sentence, Henri and Remy charged him.
Remy caught him about the neck at the same time Henri caught his waist. Together they lifted him from his feet and tossed him into a water trough. No doubt they would have done more damage had Rogue and Mercy not run forward to grab them.
Henri made a disgusted noise. "I'll go in when Remy cedes defeat."
"Y'll go inside now," his wife said, "or y'll be sleepin' in de stable dis night."
Remy opened his mouth to taunt Henri but was stopped by Rogue's hand on his lips. "One word from ya and ya'll join him."
Everyone laughed as they made their way back into the manor and prepared to retire for the night. It would be a long day tomorrow and who knows what the next few days would bring their way.
