I FORGOT TO POST THIS TOO i probably shouldve just made it longer but i ran out of motivation so i cut it off lol

Lewis grimaced as the ropes bit into his skin, arms forced into an uncomfortable position as they were bound behind his back around the mast of the Nether's Bane.

"You told me that I could stay near her Ladyship."

"And you can!" Captain Brine replied cheerfully. "As so long as she stays near to you. She will have free rein of the ship, but alas, you must remain bound. Be thankful I gave you such a good vantage point."

"You would force a lady to stay out in the sun? Agh!" Lewis choked out a cry as his arm was wrenched a little too far.

"Don't fret, Lewis, she will be well taken care of." Brine assured him as he tied the ropes in a firm knot. A few feet away, Lewis could see the Lady Alexandria hovering in his peripheral vision, her blue skirts fluttering in the wind. The poor girl must be terrified, and, bound as he was, Lewis could do nothing to help her if Brine should put her in danger. What a situation this was.

"There we are." Brine straightened, walking around in front of him again. "Comfortable?" Lewis glowered at him. "Wonderful." Turning away, he strode off towards the rear of the ship, leaving him alone with Lady Alexandria.

It was a few moments before the lady took a couple small steps towards him and sank down at his side, kneeling beside the mast as she arranged her skirts over her legs. Lewis grimaced, ashamed to have failed her so greatly. His ship had been taken over, his crew soundly defeated, and he had missed with his one shot to take out the Captain Brine - though, if he had killed him, the rest of the pirate's crew would have had far less mercy on them. And now, here he was, tied to the mast with his clothes torn, looking like a common galley slave.

"Do you think he'll hurt me?" Alexandria asked quietly, gazing off at the horizon. Lewis glanced over at her. He wanted to reassure her, but he also didn't want to give her false hope.

"In all honesty, my lady, I do not." He shook his head. "I have not known him to break his word. He is careful with his speech and does not say something he does not mean." Alexandria looked slightly pacified by this. "However," he continued. "I cannot guarantee your comfort. I'm sorry."

"It's alright. I'm sure there was nothing you could do." She shifted, placing her hands in her lap, and neither of them spoke for a few moments. "…are pirates really that powerful?" She asked after a moment, timid. "That once they've chosen you as a target there is nothing you can do?" Lewis looked away again, ashamed.

"Yes, there…" he sighed, trying to shift into a more comfortable position. "…my ship is a galleon, intended for hauling cargo. It is equipped with guns, but I wasn't willing to get into a firefight and risk your safety. This ship," he nodded upwards. "Is a sloop, built for speed. Though, somehow, Brine is the fastest Captain I've ever had the displeasure of knowing."

"Oh."

"And once they were on board, it was only a matter of taking out my crew." Lewis continued. "They are trained to fight, but they do not have the… bloodthirstiness of Brine's crew."

"Talking about me?" A voice from behind them made Alex jump, and she turned, Lewis craning his neck to see as Brine appeared again. "All good things, I hope." When neither of them answered, he sighed, lifting the object in his left hand and showing it off - a parasol. "Let it not be said that I am not attentive to the comfort of my guests." He bowed, offering the parasol, and the princess took it gingerly from his hand.

"And, if you happen to need something," He continued, and a dark-skinned woman dressed in yellow appeared from behind the mast. "Speak to Makena. I've instructed her to attend to your needs." He glanced at Lewis. "Hers, not yours."

"Noted." Was Lewis' flat response. With that, the captain walked away. The woman, Makena, cast a glance at Alex and spoke.

"I am not accustomed to dealing with nobles, so mind your manners." Her tone left no room for argument.

"Of course, miss." Alex gave her a meek nod. The woman scoffed, then walked away, positioning herself against the nearby railing. Alex let out a tiny sigh, then her gaze dropped to the parasol, which she fiddled with awkwardly for a moment before it popped open and she lifted it above her head.

Neither of them spoke for a few moments. Captain Lewis was beginning to feel the effects of the sun, and he was likely to have a sunburn by the time the day was up. Of course, he was under the sun most days, so his skin had accustomed to tanning rather nicely, but spending several hours not moving was a recipe for disaster for anyone. Especially since he was likely to spend the night here… and tomorrow… and the day after…

"Captain?" Lady Alexandria spoke up timidly. "Are you uncomfortable?" Lewis tilted his head back, trying to relieve some of the pressure on his spine.

"Unfortunately so, Lady Sasha." He said nothing more, not wanting to tell her how his shoulders were beginning to go numb. Alexandria was quiet for a moment, then, cautiously, shifted closer, so that her shoulder nearly pressed against his. Then she lifted her parasol so that it shaded the both of them. A small smile crossed over Lewis' face. "Thank you, my lady."

"Of course." Her voice sounded slightly strained, and he hoped she wasn't bothered by being so close to him. Of course it was improper, but, in this situation, propriety had gone out the window. Or, overboard, as it was.

The afternoon went on. The sun continued to beat down on them, but with his face shaded he felt a fair amount better. He started to get drowsy as Brine's crew worked around him, though he was determined not to sleep, and he was probably in too much discomfort to try.

Alexandria barely moved, though she eventually scooted just a little bit closer to hold her parasol more comfortably. She seemed happy enough to be near him, which he was thankful for, though it was likely just because he was the only person she knew in a hostile environment. Lewis was trying not to think about it, but he was desperately hoping that the king did not strip him of his title when he eventually, hopefully, made it back home.

"Cap'ain!" A shout made him lift his head, though he quickly realized that it was Brine who was being addressed. "Ships, four of them, on the horizon!" Lewis turned to look, and so did Alex. Neither of them could make anything out but the faintest shapes of four ships to the east. As they watched, Captain Herobrine made his way to the railing and raised his spyglass to his face. He muttered a curse.

"His Majesty's navy. They must be wondering why The Whitehall is sailing alongside me." The pirate let out a deep, theatrical sigh. "Alright, set a course for the Sea of Scylla." Lewis caught his breath in alarm, and Alexandria looked at him.

"What?"

"The Sea of Scylla is named for a mythological monster." Lewis told her under his breath. "There are… unsavory creatures there." He could see panic rising in the princess's eyes, and he hastened to continue. "I'm sure that Brine is going there to try and lose his pursuers. I'm sure he would not if he didn't think he could make it through unharmed." He wasn't sure he believed his own words, but at least Alexandria seemed slightly pacified. It would do her no good to fear her impending death to sea monsters, even if it was coming.

The sloop began to turn, and Lewis could see rain clouds gathering in the distance. He himself had always avoided this region, for obvious reasons. Brine's ship was fast, obviously, but his was not. Had Brine factored that in when he made this decision?

Lewis craned his neck as far as it would go, managing to catch a glimpse of the ships pursuing them before the ship turned too far away. Even though the sight gave him hope, he knew they would do them little good. Even if they somehow caught up to them, Captain Brine would simply use his and the princess's lives to keep them at bay.

Lewis was helpless. All he could do was hope and pray that Herobrine's foolish plan worked.