Ballad of a Captain's Heart

by KidHeart4

Heart was seeking out adventure in the stars with her family and their crew. Then upon meeting Captain L'Orange she would find just that and more as together they embark on a journey. They will face creatures of the stars, fellow pirates, and the curse of the enchanting starmaid. Perhaps along the way they will uncover some treasure and something they may been aware seeking out.

17. Freedom and Bound

Chapter Seventeen: Freedom and Bound

The air of Port Slater washed over us in a warm greeting as our ship made contact with the waves. As the fresh mist of the sea sprayed up I would see Heart giving a relieved sigh from beside me. I then wrapped an arm around her and pulled her against me as I assured her, "Should be smooth sailin' from here on out."

"So then, what have you decided from this forth Captain?" Trent then asked from behind us.

At this I knew I didn't have a full answer for any of them. Though I would never regret the life I'd had thus far, the adventures that brought us together, and the skills gained from all of it. I did know something needed to change. Yet just what I could do to prove that change was unclear. For now I gave a light shrug and replied, "Let's jus' get some rest for now an' we'll figure it out soon enough."

"Of course Captain," our medic nodded.

The bigger collection of ships tied to the docks should have been our first warning. Yet with the long voyage and lingering fatigue we just wanted to see land again for a while. We figured we would stick to the usual tavern and side streets to get around as we normally did.

"I'll go secure our rooms with Heart, everyone go and enjoy yourselves and try to stay low for now," I suggested.

"Be careful Captain," Melodia requested before hurrying after Norelle.

With a varied nod of agreement from the others we then parted ways. Heart and I stuck to the side streets as we made our way to the tavern. The market we decided to avoid for now was alive with activity, among the buyers were a few officers we had to slip around. Though with every instant we had to work with this I began to wonder what it was I could do at this point. Ripping one of my own posters down wouldn't help, but it made me feel slightly better as I wripped it apart and tossed it into a bin.

Then Heart took me by the hand and assured me quietly, "It'll be okay."

"You're right sweetheart," I smiled while threading our fingers together to hold her hand tighter.

Minutes later we were slipping into the entrance of the tavern and slinking through the busy crowd. I couldn't see any officers when we stepped inside and thus I lead us over to the bar to speak with the inn keeper or his daughter to ask for rooms that may be available.

The weary eyes of the typically friendly owner should have been my next warning. Along with his daughter slipping beside Heart as she seemingly went to hug her like a long lost friend.

In that instant, as I went to ask if something were wrong, I felt two pairs of rough hands grab me by an arm each.

"Duke!" Heart tried to cry out before the catfolk covered her mouth to stifle it as she pulled her back from the officers now holding me back.

Only in that moment as she solemnly nodded to me did I realize she was protecting Heart from being arrested along with me. For a pair of iron cuffs were suddenly slammed onto my wrists that were now pulled behind my back before I could try to get free. I watched as she pulled Heart behind the counter as she struggled to get to me.

Before the officers around us could begin to look around or suspect her for even a moment I shouted out, "I'm here alone! My crew was gettin' sick of me for my indecision, so don't bother lookin'!"

I then gave up in my struggle to display an act of defeat so they would stop trying to find the others. With the briefest glance to Heart I would find her eyes wide with fear as I could only imagine what was going through her head now as I was dragged off to the vehicle outside and tossed in. A short red haired officer waiting inside yanked me back so I could only just barely catch a glimpse out the window just as Heart darted out of the tavern and watched us drive off.

I could imagine she'd screamed my name again, but the busy street kept me hearing her. Then I lowered my head and sunk down in my forced seat beside the officer who read me what rights I supposedly had. Yet I knew with the bounty on my head there wasn't much hope to be offered to me.

Heart:

Our crew had gathered quickly at the news of Duke's arrest. I had found Marestella and Nosedive as soon as I could after seeing our captain driven away. We would soon after this hear that a trial would be held the next day, and the verdict was all but confirmed before it had begun. With the bounty on his head brought back to my attention I had little hope to cling to for his sake.

Back on our ship hidden in the back among the several others at dock we tried to think of what to do. Avarin took a knife and tossed it into the table, pulled it back out, and then repeated these motions a number of times.

"We could try to disguise ourselves and try to bust him out at the hearing?" Norelle suggested.

"I think that should be a back up plan," Catalina nodded, "as that would be our last shot."

"He was just talking about a change too," Melodia groaned, "He wanted to clear his name somehow."

"He can want that all he wants, with the weight of everything he's done on his shoulders that we would be hard to prove," Marestella sighed with a hand against her chin.

At this point my head was held in my hands as I leaned forward in despair while I listened to them. My heart raced in a maddening panic, and my mind swam from confusion. We had been through so much, just for this to happen?

Then I remembered Maria's final curse she'd sworn to us and a shudder ran down my spine, "We had just gotten free of her, and she still followed us!"

"What can we do?" Nosedive asked the others as I tried to pull myself together.

Without a word I then suddenly got up and went to our cabin. The others followed after with varied looks of concern as I began rummaging through the drawers of the desk. When I couldn't find what I was looking for I then went to the wardrobe and tossed it's contents about in my continued mad rush. Finally I heard the soft thud fall at my feet as I watched a leather pack tumble out of the folds of a shirt.

As I'd hoped I opened the case to find a set of lockpicks and other tools of the trade inside. Then I went about finding the darkest shades of clothing I could to throw on.

"Heart?" Norelle attempted as I stepped out from behind the changing screen.

I had pulled an ebony tunic that was a bit bigger than me and tied a sash around it to make it fit my frame better with the slacks I wore. It didn't take long for Marestella to give a bit of a smirk as she said, "I think we have our answer don't we?"

"I'm not losing him!" was all I could manage as I slipped on a pair of gloves.

Our Atlantian friend then brought over a pair of boots and offered, "These have soft souls to mask your steps."
"Hold on, what are we trying to do here?" Nosedive asked with a bit of concern.

"I'm not letting them take him from me," I said while slipping on the boots, "I'm going to get him out and we'll leave."

"We'll get the ship ready so we can take off when you get back," Melodia assured.

"Heart, if you're caught-" Trent attempted before I looked to him.

"I'm not worried about that," I stated with a deep breath taken and released.

"Duke would be though. He wanted to change to try and give you a better life. If you're caught breaking him out all of that will be thrown out the window," Catalina warned.

"Then we'll run! We're going to stay together!" I insisted while adjusting the ribbon in my hair, "No matter what it takes I will not lose him now!"

Then I tucked the sapphire securely under my tunic and took a quick look in the mirror.

"I guess this is the answer then?" Norelle pondered aloud while looking up at me.

"To what?" I asked.

"To what you would do if this ever happened," she replied thoughtfully.

"I guess so," I attempted a smile while finally taking a deep breath.

Then I turned to face them as most of them nodded in approval.

Once the night sky was cast over the harbor town we all went to our stations about the ship. Except for Nosedive and I.

"Sis, I should go with you," he attempted, "You needed my help last time."

"It'll be harder to slip in with two of us," I mentioned.

"I could help be a lookout though. I know he's your husband and everything, but I was your best friend before him. We always got each other out of trouble didn't we?" he tried to smile.

"We did," I smiled with some comfort, "but I need you here with the others. If something happens the rest of you can get away still."

"I'm not leaving my sister behind!" my twin insisted.

I gave an attempt at a reassuring smirk, "Hopefully you won't have to."

With that I headed off of the ship and onto the docks leading into the town. I only looked over my shoulder briefly to see my brother look over to the right and then vanish as a few sailors stumbled along between us. Not paying much mind to this I then went on through the still rather busy town.

As I stepped through the streets I would hear bits and pieces of news in regards to the arrested pirate captain that had wandered into port.

"So he finally slipped up did he?" one sailor would ask.

"His luck's run out now. They'll enterain him with a trial, but the price on his head has all but promised him a rope to dance from," a merchant scoffed that made me grasp at my own neck with a shudder running up my spine.

Taking another breath I slipped further along until I reached the prison. I paused in my steps and scoped out the area from my hiding place across the street. I took note of the passing guards and their patterns in patrol. Once I had it down in my head I made my move. With the shadows cast over the road to hide my motions I darted across and slipped into a window on the ground floor. In some manner of luck I found a light switch to lower the lights of the hall I'd climbed into, playing with it just enough to seem like it was flickering before finally going out.

As I made my way through the hall I would soon find the cell blocks and begin my true search. My eyes had well adjusted to the dark by this point as I looked behind each barred door.

With a held back gasp I found Duke with his head in his hands as he sat on the floor, his shoulders slumped to hint at the despair that had tried to claim him. In a breath of a voice I attempted to pull him from this state, "Duke?"

He looked up with a start, the red glow of his cybernetic eye giving the only source of light in the shroud of black cast over us. Being careful not to disturb his chains too much he slipped over to the cell door to grip the bars and see me clearly, "Heart? What are ya doin' here?"

"I'm getting you out and we're heading to the ship!" I whispered to him.

"Heart-"

I shook my head at his attempt of a warning and went to work on the door. To this he slid his hand between the bars and held mine still.

"Heart, if they catch ya with me your future an' your freedom will be taken! I can't let ya throw that away for me!" he whispered while I closed my other gloved hand over his feathered one.

I then looked to him, locking eyes with him through the space between those iron bars, and said to him, "You've been worried all this time what would happen if I lost you! Instead I'd rather make sure that doesn't happen again!"

"Heart-"

"Please Duke, don't ask me to leave you here...because I simply can't...!" I begged him in the same soft voiceless breath, "I love you..."

"I love ya too sweetheart..." he then gripped my hand a second before easing up.

With a held back chuckle he then assisted in my movements with the lockpicks I was manuvering. In 5 seconds we heard a soft click and he was able to slide the cell door open to allow me in to get him free of his shackles and chains. I was careful not to let the harsh iron graze his feathers and skin any more than they already had while he worked on the locks. Once released he eased the bloodflow back into his hands and ankles a moment with my assistance before he took me by the hand and we hurried back down the hall.

However it would not take long for them to discover Duke was missing and the alarms were sounded just as we made our climb out the window.

"If we can get to the ship the others will have it ready for launch!" I told him as we hurried down a side street.

"Then what?" he asked.

"We were hoping you would have an idea! Our job was getting you out and away from here!" I tried to laugh with him as we ran.

We would soon hear the shouting from the prison and the sirens seeking us out throughout the city. Officers pushed through the busy crowds in search of the evasive captain, unaware of his accomplice we would learn soon enough.

Duke:

Heart and I continued our run down another side street heading towards the docks. There was barely a moment to pause for a breath or to see what was ahead. All we could do was keep running. Though for me it was less for my own sake at this point than it was to make sure no one saw her with me.

"Come on!" I pushed us on while grabbing a hold of her hand again and taking another turn down an alley with her.

We were almost home free. The ship was in our sights. Behind us the sirens urged on in their search. With a confident smirk, convincing myself they were all deeper into the town we were running out of, we darted out towards the docks.

With barely enough time to register anything I managed to shove Heart back into the alley as I saw the flashes of badges and lights being shone in my eye abruptly.

"Freeze!" the red headed officer shouted with the harsh lights focused on me.

I did as I was told. Behind me I could hear Heart trying to scramble back to her feet after I'd shoved her down back behind me. Before she could get up I managed sharply under their shouting, "You're not goin' to be the price I pay!"

Then for them to hear I shouted, "Jus' thought I'd keep ya on your toes a bit Captain!"

The officer wasn't amused, and made that known by quickly having me cuffed and was about to drag me back off to prison.

"You've just made things a lot harder for yourself L'Orange!" The short human officer assured me as I was hauled away again.

I didn't say a word. I only glanced into the alley briefly to see her stifle the cry that I begged her to silence with the look I gave. I knew she wanted to fight still. I understood she wanted me free with her.

However I was not willing to let her be tossed in with me for a losing battle. As many had warned her, even myself at one point early on as I recalled; no matter where I ran this would be the result one day. I'd only hoped it would be after having that lifetime together we'd wanted so badly to share first.

"I'm sorry love..." I managed before I was pulled from her sight again.

Heart:

"There's always a chance my friend," Grin tried to ease my concerns as we dressed in our disguises that next morning.

"Why is this happening?" I asked knowing the answer before Avarin could reply.

"We are pirates...a good man or not, Duke is still our captain. He's made quite a name for himself," she told me still.

"I can't lose him...not after all we've been through," I stammered while trying to pull myself back together.

I hadn't slept. I hadn't eaten. I'd only now just changed after reaching the ship when Duke was pulled away from my grasp again. I'd known going back to attempt again would lead to a similar, if not a deadly outcome with them being more alert now.

"I failed him..." I struggled to say in shock, "After all we've gone through, I couldn't save him from her final curse! I couldn't get him free!"

"Heart you tried...I think that gave him more hope than he'd ever dreamed of having," Norelle offered gently while patting my knee before I got to my feet.

"We could still attempt something couldn't we?" Melodia offered.

"It would be suicide," Irving sighed.

"Never stopped us before," Trent scoffed dryly.

Yet we all knew for Duke that would be worse somehow.

"Come on sis," Nosedive through an arm around my shoulders and pulled me into a walk beside him.

We had managed to slip through the crowd of overseers and officers and found the seating offered to the crowd. However I wouldn't settle and instead crept towards the front. This was easy enough to do with my small size. At last I found Duke with a guard at each arm and iron cuffs shackled to his wrists that were allowed to at least be in front of him now. He was dressed in his usual attire still, though it did appear he'd been searched and roughed up a bit for any weapons or information he could have given up. Knowing no one else in our crew had been arrested I was able to gather he'd kept to his story of being alone. Though this didn't offer any comfort to me as I watched him facing the judge and officers before him.

Then briefly he glanced over and our eyes met. However he didn't dare make this known as he shifted his focus back to the podium with a brave focus in his eye and a steady stance.

"So Duke L'Orange, it seems you've finally graced the court with your presence?"the generously proportioned judge greeted while looking over the drake standing strong before him.

"It seems so your honor," Duke replied in a respectful tone.

"Even your escape attempt last night only lead you back here?" the judge shook his head while adjusting his brown stranded ponytail that had pulled a bit loose.

"You realize what you're facing don't you? Grand larceny, causing general chaos, commendeering a number of ships, trade in the black market, impeding various expoditions for your own gain, injuries caused by your heists, property damage, engaging in piracy, hopping realms without clearance, the list really goes on," the judge informed Duke of what he knew as his shoulders sank from the weight of it all being piled on, "now we can add an attempt at breaking out of jail and general evading of the law as well."

"I understand your honor," Duke answered in a respectful, but hopeless tone.

"Do you have anything to say in your defense?" the judge asked looking over Duke with a grim concern in his eyes.

"I know it won't convince most, I'm aware of my crimes, an' I can't say I regret the life I've had. Yet at the same time...I also know I wanted to change an' learned this late in my career I'm afraid...Though if there were a way to prove this I would gladly take that chance," Duke attempted.

"I'm afraid there isn't any chance of that. You can say you want to change as much as you want now that you've been caught. It doesn't change everything you've done, does it L'Orange?" the judge shook his head before glancing at the forms in his hand again, "There's too much to look over...and for that your sentence is clear..." he looked to Duke with an attempt at a stern expression in his eyes, "And I think you know what that is don't you?"

"I do know," Duke replied bravely while facing the one deciding his all but sealed fate.

The judge nodded solemnly and began to make his verdict, "For your life of piracry I sentence you to hang-"

I couldn't hold back from leaping over the barricade as my heart leapt to my throat while I cried out, "No!"

The judge and crowd had all jumped at my sudden outburst as I tried to get through the guards blocking me off, pushing me back towards the people erupting with gasps and gossip. Even Duke had jumped and turned to see me trying to reach him. Among the crowd I could see our friends looking on with worry in their eyes.

"Get out of here girl!" one of the guards scoffed at me, "Whatever he told you in your one night stand isn't worth this!"

I knew my face was red hot with an angered flush from these words. However I ignored them and looked to the judge, "Please! Spare his life! I beg you your honor!"

"What is then L'Orange?" the judge raised a curious brow while looking over me.

Duke:

I didn't know how to answer this. For I was afraid for Heart as she still tried to reach me. The guards were barring her way until she used her smaller frame to slip under their crossed weapons and rush over to me.

"Heart, don't!" I attempted to no avail as she managed to reach me.

"Please don't kill him!" Heart pleaded over my voice as she stood between the podium and myself.

The judge looked over her with bewildered, widened eyes to see this outburst playing out before him.

"He's a good drake! I know he's done a lot wrong in the eyes of the law, but he's also helped people! He's saved our friends from situations they wouldn't have had a chance out of otherwise! We met when he saved my life when I would have otherwise been lost out in space!" she said as the guards went to grab for her.

Not wanting them to drag her away I did all that I could and pulled her back against me, "Heart please stop!"

"I won't! I won't give up on you!" she snapped while turning around to face me and clinging to the front of my coat now.

"Who is this woman L'Orange?" the judge asked with vague intrigue.

I wanted to hide her from them, I wanted to lie and say I didn't know who she was to protect her. Yet with her looking up at me I knew that would shatter what hope she had for me along with a bit of her core, and I wasn't willing to watch that happen.

So I replied, "She's my wife...an' part of why I wanted to prove I could change."

"Is this true miss?" the judge inquired in a surprisingly calm manner while looking over the human girl still clinging to me.

She looked over her shoulder and nodded her head, "It is."

"You knew what he was didn't you?" the captain demanded in disbelief.

"I did, but I also know he's a good drake," she reaffirmed while daring them to pry her away from me with the look in her eyes.

"I'm afraid that doesn't change what he's done," the judge apologized, "the law is clear in what must be done."

"Please don't do this!" Heart begged, her voice trembling now as her grip tightened on my coat like a vice, "Spare his life!"

"Heart..."

The judge looked to the officer, almost unsure of what to say it seemed. The redheaded officer gave him a stern look, "Judge Palmfeather you can't let him slip by to some bleeding heart's request. What he's done is wrong! Plain and simple!"

"But...look at them Kleghorn...as strange as this sounds...?" the judge sighed as only now did I recognize the two from our dreams of the past.

"Phil!" Kleghorn half snapped before looking to us with weary eyes, fatigued from his position both in job and from what he was ordering to happen.

For a moment it seemed the officer paused and looked at the two of us a bit closer in return.

Then shaking his head the judge sighed without even looking at Heart, "I'm sorry miss, but his sentence is to be like any other pirate. He is to hang for his crimes after this hearing...!"

He nearly hit his gavel with his decree as Heart screamed out from a breaking in her chest I couldn't stop from occuring as she clung to me, "No!"

As the officers drew near to try and pull us apart I held her as long as I could. She in turn refused to let go as I begged her, "I'm so sorry Heart..."

"This can't be happening...I won't lose you!" she wept into my chest before they grabbed for us both, "No! Please! Please don't take his life! I beg you! Please!"

"Wait!" a strong voice hollered over the commotion, drawing everyone's attention to the back of the room.

There we saw Heart's elder brother with his captain and best friend beside him. With them was the rest of their crew standing alongside my own. In the tan feathered drake's hand was a pile of forms. In the arms of the others were various items and treasures that I vaguely recognized from the palace I'd visited upon meeting Norelle.

"Your honor, I'd like to bring something important to light in regards to this drake and his wife!" Canard requested while he had everyone's attention.

From beside the captain and his brother we could see Nosedive letting out a quick breath of relief, showing how they had just sprinted here it seemed.

"Palmfeather..." the captain warned.

"I'm listening," the judge nodded to Canard with growing intrigue as Heart and I were alotted to stand together at least a bit longer.

Unsure of what would be said or what could happen beyond this point, all I could think to do was hold Heart close to me while I had this chance.

"When I was just a kid playing hockey on the streets with my friends back on Puck World, they introduced me to their adopted sister one day. She had arrived during a rare storm, seemingly dropped at their doorstep. That was none other than the girl that stands defending this drake before you now," Canard started, "And rightfully so I'd say."

"Growing up with her and my friends I grew curious about where this alien girl might be from. So I studied and eventually was given the chance to lead an expedition. Heart was on that ship as a part of my crew, but due to an accident she was lost to us."

"So he saved her life, that doesn't mean he's free of his crimes," the captain of the police raised a brow at all of this.

"There's a bit more Captain," Wildwing supported while stepping forward with a few of the items in the hands.

"We continued on with our expedition, gaining clearancy to another realm that ours was once connected to," Tanya then chimed in while setting down a portrait that was facing her still.

"In our journey we found the ruins of an old castle long abandoned by it's family and time itself. However there were some treasures left behind as well. Including evidence of a family tree," Wildwing explained while turning over the papers in his hands.

The judge looked them over with bewilderment and awe blending in his rounded facial features.

"The last recorded name was of a Heart Cezanni, the daughter of the reigning family that once lived there," Mallory then spoke up, "It seems she left there when her parents were taken from her and she was forced to take refuge elsewhere...at a stadium on Earth."

Heart and I both looked to one another with widened eyes as we then turned to see Tanya turn over the portrait revealing our past selves, or at least an exact copy of the one left to grace the wall of the very stadium they had to have visited. As we listened on our grip on one another never wavered as we stood still rather fearful of what could still happen in an attempt to sever us.

"There we learned that Heart Cezanni," Canard continued, "was adopted by the Flashblade family hundreds of years ago, and was then wed to one Duke L'Orange in his past life."

All the eyes of the crowd were wide with confusion and their mouths agape with gasps and murmurs as they looked over us. Still I held onto Heart, being careful of the chains I remained shackled with so not to catch her with them.

"If that's his past life then what does it matter now?!" the captain started to demand before looking to Heart in his own confusion, that only furthered as he looked around the room to the others defending us. It were as though he vaguely remembered something, but didn't at the same time.

"Well, it turns out that the Cezanni family's daughter was a dragon that held magic to help her hop realms," Wildwing explained, "as well as gifted her and her loved ones in various ways. This included the gift of a long life that made her outlive us in this past we shared...including her beloved there."

"However what was so strange about learning all of this," Nosedive chimed in despite being with us during these discoveries, "Is that we found only six graves where seven should have been. Then when we spoke with their decendants we learned that the body of Heart L'Orange was never left behind when she parted from their home and that past."

"In these papers I hold," Canard offered them now, "Are the last wishes of Heart L'Orange written by her own hands confirmed by her decendants, her wish to be reuinted with everyone in exchange for her magic. Magic that gave it's final gift of reforming her body and delivering it to Puck World again so she could have that wish granted and find us, including the drake standing trial now!"

"This means that the Heart standing with Duke here today is the one and the same, the last survivor of her royal family's direct lineage before it splintered off," Wildwing explained to everyone, "and as such she is protected by the laws between realms."

"It's not her we're trying though," the judge stated apologetically while looking over to Heart and I, before faltering, "but why does it feel wrong to pull them apart?"

I held onto Heart hoping against hope that just maybe he'd seen something while looking at us. Either way I didn't let her go, nor did she release me.

"Perhaps because it is wrong to sever them?" Grin offered.

Norelle now stepped forward with our crew. The gnome spoke clearly before everyone, "In our land the reigning princes and princesses, kings or queens, may offer pardons to those they deem worthy and within reason. Especially if those they gift this to have shown the full capacity to change."

"So it would seem, that if she chose to marry him once again, taking his name after he'd saved her life and proven her trust to be well placed?" Wildwing said with a bit of a laugh in his throat as he looked to his sister.

The judge gave a smile and waved to Heart asking, "I just need to hear it from her."

"I grant Duke L'Orange, and his crew, my full pardon. For I've seen the trust I've put in him and our friends proven right once again," Heart stated firmly, not daring to question any of this.

"Then there's nothing more I can do is there?" he shrugged with a laugh,

By now the captain was shaking his head with a shrug of his own. With that he gave the order and the guards freed me of my shackles and I immediately swept Heart up in my arms once I could. In return she threw her arms around my shoulders and neck as I pulled her close to me, hugging me as tight as she could in return.

"That said L'Orange, you have quite the reputation to mend," the officer warned.

I gave a nod of understanding while still holding Heart up in my arms, "I know, an' I'll do what I can to earn the freedom I've been gifted."

"I think I know how you can do that," Canard then chuckled while approaching me with the others, "Wildwing and Nosedve have told me a great deal of your heroics and skills."

"Is that so?" I asked while glancing at Heart's brothers briefly before facing my fellow captain.

"From what I've heard you're looking to maybe put your skills to better use?" Canard mentioned.

I gave a nod, "I am."

"Then why not join my crew, or better yet why not fly your ship as part of a fleet? We need explorers and adventurers to learn more about worlds out there. We're hoping to reconnect the gateways with time to those lost after our parting long ago. If you think you're up for it that is we'd be happy to have you put those skills to this cause?" Canard explained with a proud smile over his beak, "What do you say Captain?"

As a wave of disbelief and joy washed over me I felt Heart hug me tightly. Looking to my crew, our friends that had remained with us through every step of this as they watched with proud smiles and cheerful laughs even now, I could only bring myself to say in response, "We'd be honored."

I carefully set Heart down, but didn't let her go as she wrapped her arms around my lean frame once more with a sigh of relief. Then I firmly took the hand offered to me and gave a firm shake as Canard assured, "I think you'll be well suited for the journies ahead of you, both of you. From what I've heard you and your crew are quite the team yourselves."

"That we are," I answered proudly while looking up at them with Heart following suit while holding onto me still.

In answer to all of this they were giving their cheers, nods of approval, and relieved sighs.

Amidst all of this Wildwing and Nosedive hurried over and hugged their sister as she released her hold around me briefly. The elder then looked to me and said, "While we're here, before we head to sea again, perhaps you could share your adventure with us? I'd like to hear it?"

"Of course," I replied as Heart slipped back over to me and I pulled her close once again, "Though I guess I should be sorry for takin' your sister from ya. It wasn't my original intent anyway."

The siblings shared a smile and a laugh. Then Wildwing sighed, "I think she's in good hands."

"I am," Heart confirmed while leaning into me.

That night when the crowd had calmed down the crew was able to find rooms at our favorite tavern once again. With our names cleared we could even walk around freely. For some of them this what they did anyway, but others took a bit getting used to this.

"We'll have to be on the straight and narrow now won't we?" Catalina sighed with a light cooled chuckle.

"I'm sure we'll find some fun in all of this," Marestella gave a wink and a nudge against my arm.

"At least I can get be relieved of one thing," Trent commented from his seat at the bar before taking a swig of his cider.

"What's that doc?" Irving asked while scratching his straw hair head.

"I can get proper supplies to take care of everyone properly! Now that it's official danger we'll be getting into it will all be the worse keeping everyone alive!"

I couldn't help but give a laugh at this remark from my long standing friend.

"I think it'll be smoother sailing from here on out though," Melodia chimed in from beside me.

It was only now that I realized Heart had slipped away for the moment.

"Her twin wanted to talk to her I think," Grin offered when I looked around the tavern curiously.

I gave a nod and addressed my mousefolk friend, "What makes ya say that?"

"We don't have to worry about you wandering off now Captain," she smiled with relief, "Unless you think there's another treasure you might be after?"

To this I gave a softer chuckle as I shook my head, "Nah, honestly lost treasure doesn't really interest me anymore. It's nothin' more than rocks an' soft metal."

"That's good to hear," Avarin admitted before giving a grin, "Though reclaiming our treasure from that captainless ship was a nice detour before all of this. Though it seems he lost most of the enchanted items in the process of taking them."

I gave a shrug, "We may find some yet still in our travels."

"Either way, it'll be quite the journey won't it?" Norelle beamed eagerly.

"I wouldn't have it any other way my friends," I smiled.

Then I turned to Marestella and sighed, "I think I want to get some air for a bit back at the ship. After everythin' that's happened I feel I need the sea air."

"I'll tell her where you went L'Orange," Marestella assured with a warm smile.

I gave a thankful nod and headed out into the warm air of the now quite sleepy town.

Soon enough I found the docks and our ship resting after it's exhausting journey. The full moon hung high in the violet and ebony blended sky, casting it's soft light over the gentle waves I watched over from the rail near the helm.

I gave a soft chuckle while watching the moon from the rail of the ship, "You're not lettin' me out of your sight right now are ya?"

I knew she was standing at the wheel of the ship from her light footsteps. Though I'd never guessed when I turned around that she'd be wearing a gently flowing burgundy dress of velvet and lace reaching to her ankles that made my jaw drop as soon as I saw her. Her hair was woven with an ebony ribbon into a loose braid over her shoulder. At her right wrist was the silver heart I'd given her, and around her neck the sapphire rested from the delicate chain clasped around her bare neck. At the sight of her standing before me like this I felt my knees weaken and my heart skip, "Heart?"

As I watched her blush beneath the moonlight cast over us I couldn't help but smile. Then gathering myself I met her at the helm. Once I was standing before her I gave a swift bow with my hand over my pounding heart. I looked just in time to see her blushing deeper from this before I stood while sweeping up her hand in mine and brushed a kiss over her fingers. Holding her left hand still, and feeling the wedding band securely placed on her finger, I tightened my grip a bit to pull her close to me while lovingly looking into those sapphires of hers.

Heart:

With Duke pulling me towards his lean frame I would feel him catch me by slipping his free hand against my back. My heart fluttered as he looked over me with a charming smile curving his beak.

"Ya know, if I'd jus' stayed home...maybe I would have met ya another way an' all of this could have been avoided?" he mentioned.

"Then our friends may still be lost out there...or perhaps I would be if you weren't there to reach out to me?" I replied with a trace of concern washing up my spine before his steady hand eased it away, running up and down my back gently.

"Then I really would have been lost myself," he admitted softly while sliding his hand to the ribbon and pulling it free with a swift, careful motion.

As he then caressed my hair, brushing the strands out of my eyes, he then said, "I won't throw away the chance you've given me Heart. With you an' our crew I'll build a life we can be proud of. I'll use my skills to make sure of it. I swear this to ya."

With a mist in my eyes now I couldn't help but smile as I assured him, "I'm already proud of this life Duke, and of you."

"Proud of a thief?" he asked with a light chuckle escaping his throat before he caught sight of the spark in my eyes.

Looking up at him I nodded my head.

Then he asked while glancing up at the full moon above us, "I've been meanin' to ask about that song of yours? Our song?"

"What about it?" I inquired.

"I was wonderin' where you'd heard it before?"

"I think I remember hearing it here and there on Puck World, it always sounded familiar depsite never knowing why at the time," I admitted, "I always like it though."

Without needing to ask we both knew why.

"Heart..." he started with a sweet smile, "Does my bein' a thief make ya curious?"

I couldn't have hidden how much I was blushing from him at this point if I tried, "I...that is..." I gathered my composure a bit and asked with a deep breath, "Is that wrong?"

The charming smirk on his face was enough to make my knees weak as I leaned further into him. He in turn caught me and said while caressing my cheek with his free hand, "Sweetheart if that's what ya like don't let me discourage ya."

I managed to steady myself while holding onto him now, resting my hands against his chest. He was dressed in finer clothes that still enveloped him in his familiar burgundy and black. His dress shirt was of the deep wine shade I'd come to know as familiar along with an ebony vest over it. Around his lean waist was a gold sash that secured the sheath of his saber to his hip. His slacks were also burgundy and his boots their usual black with a velvet dark trim to match his vest. He'd discarded his coat when stepping out to breathe in the night air.

In a way I couldn't help but be reminded of the image of us wearing similar styles long ago while looking over him now.

Then as he slipped his hand up along my back he requested in a warm breath, "May I hear some of our song again?"

I blushed somehow even more as he pushed gently, "Please? For this humble captain?"

"Humble?" I teased while barely holding back a giggle.

"Please sweetheart?" he asked while closing my hand over his heart under his a moment.

Then I took a breath and released it before giving in.

Take me now, my thief, here as I am

To this he caressed my hair, looking into my eyes as he did this and listened.

Hold me close and try and understand

Desire is hunger is the fire I breathe

He slid that hand to my chin now, tilting my head just enough while brushing my cheek with a kiss.

Love is a banquet in which we feed

My hands clung to his shirt over his firm chest steadily now as he held me tightly.

Come on now, try and understand

The way I feel under your command

I looked up at him, feeling my heart race beneath my breast as he ran his hand through my hair and to the back of my head smoothly.

Take my hand, as the sun decends

He did this, kissing my hand gently, before placing it along my back again.

They can't hurt you now

Can't hurt you now

Can't hurt you now

I promised him as I realized at last I had been able to keep my vow to him. That he was still standing before me, free from her curse in every way and word of it; and we were still bound together by the wish we now knew we'd both wanted. To be together again in the first place.

For he then swore to me, "No one will hurt or steal ya away from me again sweetheart."

With a tearful smile I breathed out in tune for him, bringing a sweet smile of delight to his face.

Because the night belongs to lovers

Because the night belongs to us

Because the night belongs to lovers

I felt him pull me up to him while he in turn leaned forward, holding me with all the strength he had. Nuzzling his head against mine a moment he whispered into my ear, "So it seems I've been able to charm that heart of yours after all?"

"It seems to Captain..." I replied with a skip in my heartbeat.

And everybody says that it belongs to us

With a soft chuckle I heard him request softly, "Heart...please? Ya know me better than anyone one love."

"Love?" I asked softly.

"Of course Heart," he vowed before kissing me, "I'm honored to be your trusted an' devoted thief."

When we pulled away slightly I would hear myself whisper to him, "I love you Duke."

"I love you too," I breathed before he pulled me impossibly closer to him once more.

Then as we stood on the deck of that ship, beneath the full moon light, he smiled to see me blush still as he leaned forward again and stole my breath with yet another kiss.

The End