Kiri: Yees, this is such a crap chapter... it seems like filler crap, but its not. oh well. Hopefully the next chapter, which I will start tonight, finish tomorrow, will be much better. we get another lovely visit from that stranger, and Ravan find what she's looking for... stay tuned!

Ravan: Are you really this bored?

Kiri: Yes, as a matter of fact, i am. Now get back in the story.

Ravan: what if I don't wanna?

Kiri: Oh, you want to. Considering that you get to meet a cute guy in this chapter.

Ravan: Ok, you've convinced me. Enjoy the story, everyone!

Chapter Three

During the few weeks we were at sea, I prodded the crew and Hesam for as much information about the island as I could. Some of them seemed reluctant to speak about it, which was fine with me because I'd just go ask someone else.

"Ravan!" I groaned and rolled over. "Ravan, wake up!" Ugh… voice in the ear… pulled covers over head… "Don't make me drag you out of that bed myself!" Go away… sleeeepyyyy…. Stop shaking me…

"REVA, will you go away and let me sleep in already?" I finally shouted. I heard laughing.

"Ravan, it's Adel. Not Reva. Hurry and get dressed. There's land in sight." I just stared sleepily as the boy no older than me left my small room. Hesam must've sent him to wake me up, because I usually always wake up on my own. Maybe I overslept today… I did stay up a bit later than usual listening to crew members telling stories about their life on the sea and their near death experiences with sea monsters and whatnot. All of it was exaggerated and probably untrue, but interesting and entertaining to say the least.

Anyway, I met Adel the day I boarded Hesam's ship. He was the cabin boy, apparently, and he'd already spent two years on that same ship. He and I clicked almost instantly and by the time we had set sail and the harbor was almost out of sight, we were talking like old friends. Of course, some of the younger men on the ship teased us about 'young love' but it didn't bother me much. So far, he was the only one that knew I was the Princess of Persia.

Still yawning, I pulled some presentable clothes on and headed up to the ships deck. It didn't take me long to spot Adel's dark brown mop of hair. He had very short hair that liked to stick up everywhere, and he liked to wear clothes that were several sized to big. I mean, he has to use a piece of rope to as a belt to keep his pants from falling off, and his shirt practically hangs off of one shoulder. I rubbed my eyes again while I strode over to where he stood, looking through a long spyglass at a small speck of land. He laughed when he saw me standing there yawning with my hair still in a tangled mass.

"You're still half asleep, aren't you?" he asked me. I only nodded groggily. "Here," he handed me the spyglass, "take a look." I held it up to my eye and squinted. Adel snorted out a laugh.

"I can't see anything, Adel, it's too far." I looked at him tiredly.

"Well, princess, you're holding it backwards," he replied, grinning. I looked at the spyglass.

"Oh… I knew that." I turned it around and looked through. A spooky looking island was in sight. Seriously, that place sent shivers down my spine. The place seemed to radiate with danger. "I don't like the looks of that place…"

"The Captain said that's the island you're looking for. Honestly, I don't know why you want to go there."

"It's no wonder sailors won't go near it." I put the glass back in his hand. "But there's something on that island that I want to know about."

"And you're going to do this… alone?" I paused.

"Well… I… I didn't think about that… I guess so… why?" Adel just shook his head and focused his dark eyes on mine.

"You know, you're really indecisive for the one who will take the thrown one day."

"Oh, knock it off," I answered, weakly punching him in the shoulder and turning away, my face a faint shade of pink. We leaned on the rail.

"I'll ask the Captain if he'll let me go with you." I looked at him oddly.

"Adel, you really don't have to. I'm sure I'll do fine on my own." He shook his head.

"Can't risk it. We only met a few weeks ago, and I'm not about to loose a new friend so quickly." I turned away as my cheeks began to feel warm.

"That's… very sweet of you." He just smiled thoughtfully and hurried off to speak with Hesam. Adel really was a sweet guy… handsome, too.

Somehow, the closer we came to the island, the worse the weather seemed to get. Before long, it was raining and the winds were a bit less than friendly. It slowly became worse until it was a full-blown storm and the crew was up on deck trying to steady the ship. The ship rocked back and forth vigorously as the waves created by the harsh winds beat against the sides of the vessel. Hesam had told me to remain below deck with Adel, who had left only a few minutes ago to fetch some things. I was alone for the moment, sitting in the small room, with a dim lantern as my only source of light.

I wasn't used to ships. I'd felt the same way I do now the first day. Having never set foot on a boat of any kind before, I felt very uneasy. The gentle rocking of the tide didn't help, either. Eventually I became accustomed to it, but for all that time, the weather had been wonderful. Now there was a storm going on.

Adel returned after a while, carrying two blankets and some food from the storeroom, one of which he draped over my shoulders over my cloak.

"You look a little pale," he stated, sitting next to me.

"I've never been out at sea before…" I replied quietly.

"That storm is getting pretty nasty out there. I hope the ship can handle it." I shuddered and pulled the scratchy blanket tighter around me. Adel chuckled heartedly. "You remind me of myself during my first voyage. How well I remember the jittering, the queasiness, the restless nights and the seasickness. You've taken things rather well for a girl." I slowly turned my head to looked at him, my eyebrows raised as if to say, 'What is that supposed to mean?' He shrugged. "Well, I mean, you being a royal, accustomed to palace life and all."

"I'm just not used to so much rocking. I miss sturdy ground." I shuddered again.

"Are you still cold?"

"No… Well, a little…" He scooted closer to me and touched my hands.

"My god, Ravan!" he exclaimed, taking both my hands in his own, "you're like ice! Come here." He fiddled with the blanket and pulled me against him, tightly entwining his arms around me.

"What are you doing…?" I started to ask, but he hushed me.

"You are frozen. Spend a few years on the sea and you will learn to keep warm." His words seemed to relieve me a little, so I dropped my head against his chest and let my eyes close. Both of us were silent for a long time. I listened to his heart beating softly in his chest and started to get drowsy.

"Why are you going to that island, anyway, Ravan?" he finally asked me. Since my brain was slowing down, it took a while for his question to register.

"Babylon was destroyed and burned to the ground…I was the only survivor," I explained, "I heard that there was something on this island that could change fate. I have to find out for myself if this is true."

"Good luck, princess."

For a time, we stayed like that, and I admit, it was a little romantic. But sadly it wouldn't last much longer. Just when I was in the early stages of sleep, the ship suddenly jerked hard enough to toss the two of us across the room. Dazed, I glanced around and rubbed the back of my neck.

"What was that?" Adel shrugged.

"I dunno… we must've hit something… I'll go find out what happened. Wait here." He got up and left, leaving me to wonder what happened. Only moments later, he returned, grabbed my wrist and yanked me out the door.

"Adel! What happened?" I yelled as we reached the top of the stairs that lead onto the deck.

"We hit a rock! The ship is about to go under!" He exclaimed and proceeded to pull me out into the storm.

"What?" I yelled through the furry of the winds. The crew was bailing off the ship, most just leaping off the bow into the freezing water. I looked back at Adel, through my bangs, which were matted to my forehead by now. "What do we do!" he stopped at the rail and faced me.

"Jump!" I stared blankly.

"What?"

"JUMP!" Before I could react, he scooped me up and tossed me over the railing and suddenly, I was underwater.

Adel had saved my life and I never got the chance to thank him for it. The entire crew had vanished, and when I woke up on that accursed island, I didn't find any bodies. Only debris from the ship. I know, déjà vu, anyone? Well, their deaths were only more reason to continue my search…

Kiri: There! A crap chapter on a stick! I had some writters block about halfway through, so that didn't help much... This chapter is just busting at the seems with fluff... anyway, stay tuned for chapter 4!