Chapter 15
There are many things one may do to fill the endless time out at sea; sew the rips and tears in a masses, scrub tar into the floor boards, hang recklessly over the stern of the ship washing did them all with the constant guide of the crew followed by the non approval by the Captain. Days filled with duty and nights filled with private one on one training with Carter.
Lucy liked the nightly activities the best, for they would usually start off with some background information about themselves. During the activity Carter would often get behind Lucy, wrapping his arms around her so he coulld take her hands within his to demonstrate how he wanted her to hold the weapon. Later, it would, upon most nights, end in a kiss.
At first, the kisses were shy, with Carter darting to some unknown spot upon the ship leaving Lucy starring in his wake the moment their lips met. Night after night, the ritual grew bolder, the kisses more passionate. Yet Carter always left.
It was during that time, alone on the deck of the ship, that Lucy's thoughts wondered the waves to
Caspian. Was he alright? Did anyone else in the storm get hurt? Was he even looking for her?
Lucy chuckled, "Of course he's looking for you. Don't be stupid. He would rather die then let anything happen to you."
"Yes, I would."
Lucy spun on her heels as Carter approached for their lesson. "I wasn't... I mean... I didn't..."
Carter smiled, "Do not panic, your highness, I was only teasing."
Though there was something in his eyes that told Lucy he wasn't quite telling the truth. "I did not hear you approach."
"Of course not. Someone deep within the depth of their mind often tend to be ignorant to the world outside. Thinking of the Heartbreaker?"
It was Lucy's turn to smile. She had never officially told Carter the name of the King who haunted her mind, thus allowing Carter to dub him, Heartbreaker by name. "Worrying more like it. I know that I should be looking for him as desperately as he is looking for me. But I can't give up my task in finding the missing men. You're closer to them than he is, and my cousin is amongst the lost. So I find my alliance more in your favor than him. Yet, that does not stop my wondering mind." Lucy saw Carter deep in thought. Panicing as to what his mind would come up with she was hurried to distract him. " What training shall we do today?"
Carter with drew his sword, "No more training. Today we battle."
"What shall the prize be?"
A slow cat like grin spread upward from one side of his mouth. "The Queens' heart."
He brought his sword down just as Lucy's hand touched the hilt of her sword. She pun sideways, avoiding the razor like blade as it lodged itself into the wooden floorboards giving Lucy enough time to pull her sword and deflect Carters' next attack. Strike after strike she dogded and deflected trying to calculate his next swing, all while trying not to panic.
"STOP AVOIDING THE CONFLICT," Carter demanded. "FIND YOUR COURAGE AND CHARGE. IF IT MEAN YOUR LIFE, LUCY, THEN YOU WILL HAVE TO DO DAMAGE."
Lucy hesitated for the barest of seconds before she began to deflect and advance upon Carter. There is something in the height of battle, when the adrenaline is pumping fiercely through ones veins, that one may summon up unknown strength. The down fall of it is that at that point, ones mind becomes completely consumed that is it as if one blacks out.
Lucy's leg wrapped around Carters, sending him tumbling to the ground. Lucy was barely able to stop just as the tip of her sword connected with the delicate skin of Carter s' neck, allowing a small trickle of blood to slither down.
"Well," Carter panted, "the Heartbreaker must be a loyal man if you fight so passionately for him."
"Caspian." Lucy corrected as she tried to calm her own breathing. "His name is Caspian."
"Sire, you must rest."
Caspian shook his head. "I feel as that if I should rest my weary eyes that we may miss something. A small sign. A small spot in the distance. A ship..."
Caspian froze, for in the direction his eyes had wondered as small as a toy bobbed a ship. "MilichaƩ!"
The man in question went running as fast as lightning up the beam to the outlook. "Aye, I see her Captain. "
Caspian felt the breath pounding in his lungs even as his heart attempted to beat out of him chest. "Well?!"
"Looks promising, Captian. The Pirate flag flies high upon the mass." MilichaƩ shouted while still holdi g the scope to his eye.
Caspian looked to the crew. Before glancing out at the sunset where the ship slid across the water. He nodded. "Prepare for battle, for upon this night we shall avenge our fallen comrades."
Cheers went up just as the men began to gather weapons.
Lucy dab ed her face dry with the fluffy white towel hanging in her room. Days ago she had given Carter back his rights to the Captains cabbin as long as a cabin was provided for herself. The men were willing to give over their quarters, but it was the second mate, John, who set everything into action making use of him room top priority.
There came a noise on deck, ever so softly but a noise none the less which gave Lucy pause. it came again three more times just as the warning bell sounded the attack. Lucy was running into action, tying her sword around her waist as she climbed the stairs.
The sight of battle shocked Lucy, for there were more of the enemy than there was of their crew. She spotted Carter immediately near the bow of the ship engaged in a one on one combat with a larger man. Lucy wished the fu mon shone bright so that she couldnsee her foe before she attacked. As she surged forward Lucy saw Carter take a blow to his chest as his sword was knocked out of his grasp.
"Carter." She screamed as she raced forward.
The enemy was bringing his sword down in an arched motion just as Lucy thrust her own sword between the two. Savin Carter.
Her arms ached from the vibration of the blow making Lucy wince.
"Lucy?"
Her head jerked up to look into beautiful eyes "Caspian?"
