Twilight's Last Gleaming - Chapter 3
Hello again! I don't have much to say this time except for one thing. I won't be able to update this story as often as I have been anymore, because I am going to be starting a new job soon. Just thought I'd warn you. However, don't think that means that I will stop writing! I am getting really into this story!
Arthur took a deep breath and closed his eyes, smelling the ocean's salty smell as he strolled leisurely down the pier. He had just recently arrived by carriage at England's largest harbor, and was walking to Antonio's boat, which was in the distance. It was a large, impressive wooden boat with a deck, sleeping quarters, and plenty of storage space. It had been on many journeys, to many exotic places. Antonio had an adventurous, gypsy spirit and was always wanting to go to interesting places and even to discover new ones. Today, he would be taking Arthur and the Italy brothers to an island known as the Isle of Man, off the coast of England. Arthur had never been there before and was looking forward to it. As Arthur got closer to the boat, he noticed Antonio standing at the stern, waving at him. Arthur smiled and waved back.
"Lovino look it's Arthur! It's Arthur! He's here!" Shouted a voice with an Italian accent. Arthur knew who that was.
Arthur stopped when he reached the boat and looked up at Antonio. He was probably about 30 feet up above him, since the boat was massive.
"Well are you going to put down the steps so I can get up you git?" Arthur said jokingly as he smirked.
"Oh! Yes, yes, sorry!" Antonio replied, as he laughed.
Antonio lowered the steps and Arthur climbed all the way up until he was standing on the deck of the boat.
"Arthur! It's so nice to see you again!"
"Yes it's been far too long." Arthur replied before he was hugged violently from behind by a certain Italian man.
"Ve! Arthur I'm so glad you could join us!"
"Come this way, there is supper ready for us" Said Antonio as he beckoned Arthur to come down the stairs into the kitchen and eating area. Sitting there at the table was Lovino, stuffing his face with tomatoes.
"Hey! I didn't say you could eat yet!" Said Spain with a slightly annoyed tone of voice. Lovino just glared at him and continued filling his cheeks with as much food as possible. Spain sighed. "Anyway, there is plenty of food for everyone. I even have some cooked pheasants which I shot myself yesterday."
Lovino burped and put his feet up on the table. "Actually I shot them, this bastard can't shoot for his life."
"Lovino don't be so rude." Said Feliciano.
Antonio could tell that this would be a long day.
Arthur felt relaxed as he swung gently back and forth in the cotton hammock. He had just had a lovely supper and was lounging about on deck as Antonio steered and Lovino and Feliciano played darts. The end of the ship's deck was fairly close to Arthur. As he lay down, he could look up at the sails, or left out into the brilliant blue ocean water. Arthur closed his eyes and listened to the creaks and groans of the wooden ship, the lapping of the waves, the crying of the seagulls, and the soft laughter of Feliciano as he was beating Lovino at darts. This was the life. Arthur loved going on boat trips with Antonio. It reminded him of his pirate days, and he loved both the quiet and peace of smooth seas, as well as the rowdy atmosphere between crew members. He listened intently as Antonio told his shipmates to put down all of the sails, and to be on the lookout for the island in the distance. He suddenly realized that he hadn't been thinking of Alfred at all. Then he realized that now he was thinking of him. He frowned, realizing that the peace was over.
"Ay, you ok there mate?" Asked a rough-looking crew member with a long beard and lots of missing teeth.
"Yes, I just feel a little seasick." Lied Arthur.
"Oh ok well the waves seem to be dyin' down a bit now that the wind is dyin' down."
Arthur turned his head around and smiled weakly at the man before turning his whole body over to the other side, away from the others and towards the water. He didn't want anyone to see if he were to start crying. Now that Arthur was with Lovino, he was thinking about the advice that he had given him. Lovino had advised Arthur to try to not cry over Alfred, since Alfred wasn't worth it. Arthur clenched his fists and bit his lip as he held in the tears. His old friend had caused him so much pain, and honestly, didn't seem to care or even notice. A good friend would not abandon another friend completely. A good friend would not cause him so much pain either. Also, he realized he should not still have romantic feelings for Alfred after all of this. Suddenly, something within Arthur changed. His fists relaxed, and a gleam of hatred appeared in his eyes, which were now narrowed. The need to cry disappeared. Then Arthur heard footsteps behind him.
"Hey Arthur! I'm going to go fetch a barrel of rum from the hold. I think we should all have a little story-telling session tonight as we drink! It's going to be great! The two of us can share our pirate stories with Feliciano and Lovino. Feliciano has been begging me for ages to tell him about the time that I thought I saw a kraken. I'm going to have one of the men take the wheel until I've sobered up. By the way, we should be reaching the island a bit late tonight, I hope you don't mind. If you get tired before we arrive, feel free to go to sleep in one of the guest chambers."
Arthur rolled back over and put on a normal face. "Sounds great to me, and thank you Antonio, I may take your offer up on that."
"Wonderful!" Antonio said as his tanned face lit up and his green eyes seemed to smile. "Feliciano and Lovino are over there sitting on those crates, waiting."
With that, Antonio left. Arthur stood up slowly and stretched. Then he sauntered over to the brothers.
"Ve! Arthur! Can you make sure to tell me about the time that you came across the cannibal tribe? And also don't forget about the story with the storm that threw half of your crew overboard! Antonio said that you saved a man that night too! And that you steered the boat out of the storm with a broken arm!" Feliciano looked up at Arthur with his eyes open and sparkling.
"Yes of course. Let's wait for Antonio to come back first."
One hour later, the four men were roaring with laughter, with red glows across their cheeks from the rum.
"And then, I said to Antonio "That kraken is more handsome than you are!"" Yelled Lovino as Feliciano and Arthur cracked up.
"I hope you didn't mean that." Said Antonio, looking a bit forlorn.
Lovino looked at Antonio from his seat next to him and smirked. "No I didn't, you're actually a pretty good-looking bastard." Then Lovino leaned over and kissed Antonio quickly on the cheek. Antonio blushed insanely and looked shocked as the other two fell out of their seats with laughter.
"Dear god, now I know why Francis said getting Lovino drunk was amusing." Noted Arthur as he lay on the floor of the boat. "Guys, no one tell Lovino about this later, ok?"
Then as Arthur lay there, he noticed something that fell out of his pocket. It was a small painting of Alfred, done by Feliciano, which he must have left in there ages ago and forgotten about. The alcohol was influencing his mind and making his emotions go wild. In a split second, Arthur had his pocket knife out and had stabbed Alfred's forehead.
"Arthur what are you doing?!" Exclaimed Antonio, with a fearful tone of voice. Feliciano and Antonio rushed over. When Antonio saw the knife and where it was, he grabbed up Arthur. "Alright time for bed Arthur, I'll let you know when we make landfall."
"LET GO OF ME! *hic* YOU IGNORANT TWAT!"
"I can't, it's for your own good."
Arthur woke up with a major headache a few hours later. He sat up and groaned as he held his head in his hands.
"Arthur." Said Feliciano quietly, with a shaky voice. "I am worried about you."
"What did I do?"
Feliciano showed Arthur the painting with the knife sticking out of it. Arthur's eyes widened and then suddenly he put his head down and curled up into a ball.
"I don't really want to hurt him like that. EVER."
"I know. It was the alcohol."
Feliciano came and sat down on the bed next to Arthur to give him a hug. Arthur didn't push him away. Usually he didn't like hugs, but Feliciano's hugs were special. Arthur looked up and sighed as he looked into Feliciano's worried eyes.
"However, I do want to put him in his place. This is war now."