Chap 6
Matthew flew out of his bedroom and tripped on the sleeping Arthur. Arthur let out a "oof" as the air from his lungs was knocked out of him when the ten year old fell on top of him. He slowly sat up as he heard Matthew sniffling. His heart softened, maybe it was because Matthew looked so much like his Alfred that he couldn't help but want to comfort the boy. He wiped the tears from the boys face and smiled comfortingly. This was a rare expression for him to pull, so he had no idea how effective the end result was.
"What's wrong Matthew? Did you have a bad dream?" Arthur asked kindly
" Non, not really. It was just sad. You and papa where both there and you where both crying. You said something about twins and papa said he was sorry but I would have to leave my twin for awhile." Matthew replied
"You have a twin?" Arthur asked in confusion
"No, I don't think so, but you and papa kept acting like I did" The boy said quietly.
Arthur ruffled Matthew's hair and let out a chuckle.
"It was only a dream. None of it was real, you'll be fine, and Francis and I are ok as well." Arthur answered
Just then a lamp flickered into life, the oil lamp spluttering but its light being reflected off of mirrors to shine the light more effectively across the room. Francis looked at the scene in front of him with a frown on his features. Arthur looked at the little boy in his lap and understood how strange all this must seem. He noticed that the boy was gasping at his abdomen which was uncovered due to the fact that Arthur was still not wearing a shirt. Arthur winced knowing that he was looking at the largest of his scars.
"I don't remember how I got it. In fact I don't remember how I got many of these scars, but that one is by far my biggest and most serve. You would think I would remember an injury like that wouldn't you?" Arthur joked humourlessly.
By now Francis had joined the two on the floor of the cabin and had seen the scar that Matthew was gaping at. Francis beckoned for the boy to sit next to him and Matthew obeyed.
" He just had a bad dream." Arthur informed Francis
" And ze artless man who killed a man just to prove a point decided to comfort im?" Francis asked
"I told you, he looks a lot like my Alfred. Just instinct I suppose." Yawned Arthur
Francis looked at Matthew who nodded to confirm Arthur's story. Arthur rolled his eyes, really did he look like a pedophile? The only questionable thing he had done since meeting Francis was murder a man, try and commander his ship, and kiss Francis twice. Arthur gazed at Francis's lips and blushed. The Frenchman smirked a little as he caught him, and sent Matthew back to bed.
"Desole I know that I am your more your type." Teased Francis
Arthur was horrified as he watched Francis get closer to him. It was like watching a car accident, you know what's going to happen but you can't look away. A creak in the floor board however was all that was needed to break the spell and Arthur bolted to his feet and hurried to the door.
"Arthur?"
"I'm going to check that we're still on course." Arthur replied
"On course? Where?" Asked Francis
"You wanted to go to the pirate king didn't you? Well I'm taking you to his ship." Arthur replied turning his back on Francis to grab one of Francis's shirts.
Francis watched as Arthur threw open the door and let in the cold night air. He could see the orange and red hues on the horizon indicating sunrise was to be soon among them. Arthur hurried from the captain's cabin, noting that Francis was following, and arrived at the hull. Feliciano was sleeping curled up in a ball and Arthur's eye twitched in visible irritation. Before Francis could stop him Arthur kicked Feliciano awake. Later Feliciano would announce that he had tried to kill him, but Arthur truthfully had held back most of the force in his kick.
" I surrender!" Feliciano cried out staggering to his feet.
Arthur raised an eyebrow and looked at Francis with an "are you kidding me?" look. Francis shrugged and Arthur let out a sigh.
"You were sleeping weren't you?" Arthur asked
" Ah don't get angry, I'll make pasta for you! Pasta always makes things better!" Feliciano said attempting to make amends
Arthur shut his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. Who knew how far the ship had drifted of course in the hours Feliciano had been sleeping? Well that wasn't true Arthurs friends would. He began to hum the song he had been whistling last time he had taken the wheel. His eyes closed in concentration. Francis shivered and Feliciano whimpered as the sight was eerie.
After a couple of minutes Arthur opened his eyes and stopped his humming. Taking the wheel in one hand he began using the navigational equipment that Feliciano had left out. After he was finished and began steering the ship with both hands he turned back to Francis and Feliciano.
"We are still on course, and will be arriving at the destination this evening or tonight. There are no foreseen storms on our path. " Arthur said to himself out loud
"Ow do you know? Where iz zis location?" Francis asked
Arthur laughed at his companion's confusion. If he told them the truth, which was that the water fae had been guiding the ship all night and had given him the report, then they would probably throw him over board. So he decided to answer the second question instead with as much malice as he could muster.
" The Pirate Kings island." Arthur replied
Francis gaped at him. It was a well known fact that the island was protected by submerged coral reefs that would take down any ship that dared to get to close. There were also sharks in the waters, so if there were any ship wreck survivors the sharks may eat them, and if not they would surely be dashed amongst the reefs by the cruel tides. Therefore even though many knew where the Island was, including the British navy, no one dared get close. Only the Pirate king could navigate those waters, and it was only because the water fae recognized his ship that they had helped his crew get safely to the island without him.
"Who the 'ell are you?" Francis asked
"Just a man looking for his son. " Arthur replied
" I don't want to meet the Pirate King after all. Ee iz said to 'ate ze French anyway. Plus I 'ear ee ez an demon." Francis pouted
" He does hate the French. But there is an exception to every rule." Arthur muttered blushing slightly
Feliciano practically beamed as he looked from Arthur to Francis. Arthur grit his teeth and gripped the wheel in an attempt to not punch the Italian. Francis however had misinterpreted but had got the general gist of what Arthur was saying. He wrapped his arms around Arthurs waist.
"Zat ez sweet of you to say."
"Not really. Now get off of me frog. We would be going there anyway because it's the key to getting my son back." Arthur replied
When the crew came on deck it was to the sight of their captain draped around the "English bastard" and said bastard steering the ship with Feliciano chattering away to him. Francis yelled his orders at them. As the day continued the crew notice that Francis never strayed too far from the "rosbif" . When someone called out that they had spotted land in the evening, Francis stood so close to Arthur that everyone could see Arthurs blush.
However silence filled the ship as the crew rushed to the railings and scrambled up the rigging to view the island. Even little Matthew climbed up the rigging to get a better view. A large fort like manor could be seen on the cliff side, and there in the port as bold as brass stood a jet black ship. The Pirate Kings ship, Arthurs ship.
"Isn't she beautiful?" Arthur asked with a sigh
"You mean 'iz ship? Why is it black?" asked Francis who Arthur noticed was starting to fidget nervously
"Yes, her name is the Black Thorn. She is made out of a dark wood, but it's the staining that makes her black." Arthur replied sounding excited
" Why 'as ee put et in such an open area? Surely ze enemy ships could blow et apart!" Francis said stunned at the boldness
" No it's quite safe we've been weaving through the coral reefs for awhile. The Thorn is very far from an enemy vessels firing range." Arthur said
This was greeted with silence. Arthur had been steering over treacherous terrain without anyone knowing. He had all their lives in the palm of his hand, and he hadn't mentioned a thing. Also exactly how did Arthur know how to steer though these waters anyway?
" You are one of 'iz pirates aren't you?" Francis asked quietly
" Something like that. Now stand back so that they can see me so that they don't use the fort canons to blow us up." Arthur ordered to everyone aboard the vessel.