Disclaimer: I do not own Treasure Planet

Diana's Salvation

For crimsonwater5

Diana left the room once Selina had gone to 'check on' Cassandra knowing that a battle was about to ensue. She couldn't understand why Selina couldn't simply forgive her. She knew that it would only be sensible and rather responsible for her to stay in case one didn't chuck the other out of the window however she didn't want to be caught in the crossfire as a result of her staying. She walked down the corridor with the sounds of the crew members above her running across the deck. She could see why Cassandra was so excited by the activity of a ship as well as being able to see all sort of worlds and places. Her heart began to beat a little faster when she walked up the stairs however there was a sudden force which pushed the ship forward but instead made Diana fall backwards. She felt like she was falling helplessly down in the sky. Her arms waving through open air. Thinking that she was going to fall down the stairs she found that she was caught by a young man with fair hair and clear eyes.

"Mr Richardson." She greeted in a startled voice.

"Lady Firestone. Are you alright?" He asked.

Diana held her hand to her chest breath taken by the concern in his eyes. She remembered the day when they first met. She had never told anyone this but she had seen him before they were introduced that day. He looked over in her direction with the same concerned expression.

She nodded. "Yes. Thank you, Mr Richardson. What happened exactly?"

"The ship just launched. I should've been up on deck but I had to check on the controls. But it looks like it's a good thing I went down below..."

She took in a deep breath and couldn't stop herself from smiling. She took the hand he offered her and led her up the stairs.

"So, Lady Firestone. Do you know much of the Duke of Orion?"

She pressed her lips together tightly and shook her head. "No. I mean I have been told about his appearance and his interests but I have only exchanged a few letters with him. Few enough to count how many."

"I'm getting more astounded by the behaviour of this man by the second." He mused. "If I were him I would be writing to you every hour."

She laughed and gripped onto the side of the ship, looking out onto the view. "Mr Richardson I think your compliments may have to be questioned as to whether they are genuine as they are so…...over the top."

"I assure you, Lady Firestone it is all genuine." He replied sternly and with a serious expression painted on his face.

He looked away briefly back out onto the view and was quietly for a long time. Diana had the look on her face as if she was his wife about to place her hand on his shoulder to comfort him.

"I never wanted to tell you but...I think there is something you should know about your husband."

"Is he old? Feeble? Insane?" She joked.

He shook his head. "No. I do not wish to joke but I am surprised that he has paid less attention to you as he always loved to be in the company of beautiful women. If you understand my meaning? I am just wondering whether there is something amiss in this marriage..."

"Have you spoken to your sister?" She asked in a frightened voice.

Her tone suddenly sent alarm bells ringing in his head. Her eyes were startled and alarmed at what his words implied however he knew they had a totally different intention. He could recognise this look after having the childhood and early step into adulthood he had. Now, George Richardson was beginning to speculate whether there really was something amiss in the marriage rather than it simply being one arranged and to some extent against her will. He knew on the day that he first saw her that there was something troubling her to the point of silent distress and now he knew she was more than reluctant to go on this voyage because of it's destination.

She gripped the side of the ship and saw that she was trembling. She couldn't breath from the fear of him finding out her secret. There was something else. He knew it now, that there was something else which she wasn't telling him. Something that she didn't want anyone to know but she had still confided it to someone because it was too terrible a secret to conceal to herself. She didn't want to be suffering by herself so she decided to tell another to ease the pain and the one that she chose was his sister. Cassandra. The one who always believed that she could deal and handle other people's problems as well as her own. However even then he could see from time to time that inside Cassandra was screaming and crying at her own situation. Deep down she needed some to protect her and hold her hand. But she refused to allow anyone to do this because she was too proud.

"What is it-"

"George!" George turned around to find Jim walking up to his eyeing him suspiciously. He grinned at him knowing the game he was playing but knew he would have to have a firm word with him later about this.

"Are you bothering, Lady Firestone here?" He asked in jest.

"Not at all. In fact we're just enjoying the scenery."

"Ah, Lady Firestone." He greeted bowing. She held a hand to where her bodice was and held her skirt with the other as she bowed.

"Captain Hawkins. May I take this opportunity to thank you for accepting the post of captain of this voyage?"

"Of course you can." He laughed. "But still I think there is more need to thank you, my Lady."

Jim, very shamefully, took a moment to examine Lady Firestone and found that he wasn't the least bit surprised that George had taken a liking to her. She was pale but had rosy cheeks and delicate features. When Cassandra Richardson was pale to almost the extent of being almost vampirac who had sharp feature but also had delicate features but didn't look delicate. Lady Firestone looked more like a china doll waiting to smash. She had light red, curly hair which was easily managed over and had bright, kind eyes which was clear as day. Cassandra's eyes were dark and magnetic. She almost wanted to pull you into a spell she was unconscious of casting making her all the more dangerous. Miss Richardson's hair was more wild and uncontrollable, failing to remain in the bun she always tied her hair in. In short she was a beautiful, conventional young woman any man would be lucky to have. Cassandra was beautiful in a dark, wild and natural sense. It would take particular men to be lucky to have her as well as being able to manage her.

She giggled nervously and shook her head. "No sir. I assure you such compliments aren't necessary for Mr Richardson has provided more than enough."

"I see." He replied glancing at his friend with a smile.

"You must forgive her gentleman." Purred a woman's voice. "She is not used to receiving compliments which she has long needed and deserved however have been unjustly hasn't been given until now."

Selina Gondola loitered over to the two gentleman and Diana wrapping an arm around her waist affectionately.

"Miss Gondola. It's a pleasure to see you again." George greeted kissing her hand. Jim also did the same where she gave him a suspicious smile.

"It is. Ah, you have decided to come up after all, Cassandra."

Jim turned to find the young woman cowering in the shadows as she walked up the stairs. She had stopped as if to reconsider coming up on deck but now that she had been spotted she carried on walking. When their eyes met she looked like she might fall back in the darkness. She was shaking and thought she was looking into the face of her greatest fear. She gave him a polite nod and turned to her brother and did the same. Jim had never seen her behave in such a manner, it frightened him. More than she had ever done. She was so distressed and she was determined to hide it better than she had done before and remain silent when really she wanted to scream out to the heavens. She was strangely quiet, her expression abnormally sober. It showed no anger, scorn or hatred. However there was a hint of there being some distress.

Of course their conversation would leave both parties being in some distress especially with her parting words which still echoed in this thoughts and would do so for many years to come. He was shocked and stunned by her words. As soon as she walked out his office he blinked and leaned against his desk. He stood their for many minutes until he got his act together and got back to his duties but his thoughts were still preoccupied with her. As they released the sails he thought of her passionate voice speaking those unspoken, uneasy words. As they readied the engines all he could remember with the distressed, desperate expression in her eyes. He couldn't help it. He couldn't deny it any longer.

"Miss Richardson." He greeted stiffly. "I am sad that you did not see the launch."

"Oh I had things to attend to. Things that I know well about as I was once told that I should keep to things that a woman should and only know and bother herself with." She replied.

These words were as abrupt and startling as throwing ice water on your face. Jim even stepped back slightly and blinked.

"What could a woman not know about a ship launch? Surely she could be taught if she wanted?" He replied, staring at her intently.

"Oh my sister would most definitely agree with you on that account. She has intention of entering the Interstellar Academy." George said.

Diana looked up and stared at Cassandra. "What? Oh Cassandra! That's wonderful! You have been accepted?"

"No, no. I have talked with Mr Wick and he said I would need to go to a college first since the Academy is unlikely to accept me due to my lack in education."

"What are you talking about? Father has taught you all you need to know about how to be a Space Captain." He laughed. "You must forgive, my sister Lady Firestone. She is extremely modest."

"I may be well learned, George but I don't have the qualifications to prove it and the man who knows of it is-" She stopped and looked down not wanting to look at the fallen expression on her brother's face.

"Yes but still it is the first step for our dear friend." Selina said warmly. "And we are happy for her. Most definitely for each others happiness is our happiness."

"As one's sadness is our sadness?" Cassandra shot back thinking of Diana. Selina stared back and nodded.

"Of course." She replied with her smiling face now turned into on of solemn sobriety.

Both the men knew of what they were referring to in their secret language and exchanged a glance. Jim feeling sorry for the lady in question and George fiercely hoping that he could find a way to aid and comfort her in some way.

"Anyway gentleman we must leave you to your work and we must return to ours." Selina said as cheerfully as she could.

"What work, Miss Gondola?"

"Oh you could be surprised, Mr Richardson." Selina purred over her shoulders.

Selina allowed Diana to walk ahead of them and wrapped a waist around Cassandra's waist to support her. She knew from the glance over her shoulder in George Richardson's direction that Diana was in love with him. She had the same enchanted, clouded expression on her face which many heroines gave to the heroes of the novel. Selina didn't indulge in these fantasies, like Cassandra she knew the world was a different place but love wasn't. She knew that even though it might mean ruin for them all, she knew conspiring was the only option to secure their friend's happiness. Even if Cassandra didn't approve.

"We must get them together." She whispered in her ear. "At all costs we must make them husband and wife."

Cassandra gave her a blank, shocked look where Selina was forced to shake her. "Think of her happiness, Cassandra. She is not as free as us."

Cassandra could only submit to giving a nod of consent.