Chapter 4

Arieda's Story

Two days passed, Toren was slowly getting used to the Sparrow's Horizon. He had no idea where they were headed but he had a feeling that it wasn't a good place.

"Stupid, bloody compass! Why won't ye stop spinning!" Cursed Captain Arieda from the wheel of the ship. Toren couldn't help but notice her actions and he slowly walked over to her.

"Arieda...ahem, Captain Sparrow, where did you get that compass?" Toren asked curiously. Arieda grinned and then bragged with a proud attitude,

"Snatched it from a guy in...uh...Tortuga! He was too drunk to notice."

Klepto interrupted quickly with a laugh.

"Too drunk to notice? He noticed the minute ye snuck it from him!"

Luna overheard them and she had to butt on in.

"Yeah, he stands up all angry-like and shouts, 'OI! OI, OI! My compass!' waving his arms in the air like a crazy man."

Marina began to laugh before she started speaking," But, we're forgetting the part where Arieda stands on that table and says..."

"OI! Let me say my own words! Thank ye. So I stand on the table and I says loudly,' This is the day that you will always remember as the day you almost caught Arieda...Marie...Sparrow!' " She strutted around a bit proudly and then Luna, Marina, & Klepto laughed loudly along with Arieda. Toren laughed a tiny bit and then teased playfully, "The taverns aren't too good for all of you! You're way too drunk now! Too much rum for sure!"

Arieda beamed and then said, "Aha! Wonderful idea, Toren! Luna, bring out the rum!"

Luna nodded and soon, there were barrels all around. The entire crew was gathered, drinking rum and laughing. Marina clapped her hands to get attention before announcing, "Alright mates, seems a good story is in order!" Everyone turned to Arieda and gazed anxiously at her. Arieda chuckled then asked, "Ye want me to tell one?"

"AYE!" The crew answered with gleaming faces.

"Oh fine! Hm...let's see...I've told ye all of my stories already!" Arieda said. Someone spoke up and shouted out,

"What 'bout that there pistol of yers, Cap'n?"

Arieda held up the pistol and blinked, looking quite confused. "What about it?"

"How'd ye end up with one shot, Cap'n?" Someone called out.

"Good question! Well, I was searching for me father ten years ago and I ran into this man...er...ah yes, Hector Barbossa! So I had my eyes set on that Black Pearl and he mentioned he was in need for a first mate, 'course I took the job. Well, the crew took quite a liking to my innocently, cute personality and we all mutinied Barbossa. I became captain of the Black Pearl for a short time...until this rat of a man led us into ole' Will Turner. I'm sorry to say we lost quite a lot of the crew and I was mutinied soon after. BUT, they forgot to leave me with only one shot. So, I ended up stranded in...uh...Port Royal as it were, and commandeered me a ship. As soon as I got out of the bay, a drunken man attacked me and caught me at gun point, taking all but one of my bullets. I'm saving my last one for that man, if I ever see him again." Arieda explained. Toren blinked then waited for what the crew would say.

"How'd ye get the Sparrow's Horizon, Cap'n?" Some shouted out randomly. Arieda grinned mischievously and then began,

"Everyone knows this here ship is ancient, aye? Well, when I was sixteen years of age, I became infatuated with this ship from the legends and tales I had heard. So, I set out to find William Turner so he could raise the ships from the depths. Alas, I get meselfs a row boat and I row out to the middle of nowheres and wait. I waited for ten days and no luck. The clouds grew dark and suddenly, the Flying Dutchman shot out of the water and...oh! Look at the time! Story time's over." Arieda said and then smiled as she stood up. Toren frowned and without thinking, he shouted,

"Come on, Arieda! We all want to know the rest!" The crew stared at him Arieda just plain beamed,

"Why can't ye others call me Arieda too?" Arieda complained jokingly. She laughed a bit and then retained her seat.

"Alright then...so there stood William Turner and he shouts, 'What do you want, wench? I don't have time for love now!'And I says back to him in a strong voice, 'I ask for you to raise the Sparrow's Horizon from the depths!' He looked at me as if I were a fool and began to laugh. 'Name your wager, Miss.' He shouts. I stand up and I says, yes I says, 'Twenty-five years as captain and then I return here for two lifetimes of servitude, savvy!' 'Twenty!' He shouts. 'Fifteen!' I shouted on accident. 'Deal!' Comes his snarl. So the Sparrow's Horizon comes floating up and I sail away happily. And here we all are!"

The crew grinned and some of them even clapped with glee. Arieda took a gulp of her rum and then shouted, "Alright, time for a song! What song?"

"Drinks all around!"

"Aye!"

"AYE!"

The crew all begun singing but instead of 'Call the wenches', they sang 'Call the sailors'. Toren hummed along until the song faded and Tai-Tai leaned to Toren.

"Ya haven't drunk!"

"Really, I don't drink rum."

"Aww, take a little swig!" Marina jumped in to the conversation, handing him a bottle of rum. Toren refused and shook his head. He didn't want it, he never would want it.

"Oh go on, Toren! Tis not gonna hurt ye!" Arieda pointed out.

Toren sighed and then warned strictly, "Only one."

Then he took a large gulp. Only ten minutes passed and he had just polished off his fifth bottle of rum. Arieda was leaning against his shoulder with a goofy, dazed smile.

"Toren...Toren, Toren, Toren. Tis a nice name...Toren." Arieda sighed drunkenly, an empty bottle of rum in her hand. Toren chuckled and then pulled her in closer to him with a smile.

"You're such a pretty pirate. A very, very, pretty, perfect pirate." Toren sighed dreamily.

Arieda grinned and then nudged his elbow before speaking.

"Really? Ye're just saying that!"

"Nooooo...I mean it, really!" Toren protested with a starry gaze.

"Prove it!" Arieda challenged him, now feeling proud for she thought she had one. But then, Toren committed the impossible. In seconds, Toren had embraced Arieda in a deep, passionate kiss. Arieda felt a tingly fire erupting within her and she was much too pleased to think of ever kiss him back in return. Smiles crawled across her face after he pulled away.

"Yo ho!" Arieda sighed in a dazed voice. And with that, she pressed her lips firmly against his...never to part!