Shout out to little Miss punk rocker, MiseraleAnon, Phantom Ice, QuintessentiallyEccentric, Mei and Mickey!
To Confused Guest- yep, typo. 'heart' was meant to be 'hurt'. My bad. XP I've gone back over a few of my old chapters and noticed a few mistakes. I do my own editing so I guess a few things tend to slip through the cracks.
Happy Birthday MiserableAnon!
Enjoy!
Madeline was sitting with her back to the wall of the ship, lips pressed into a grim line. They had docked several hours ago, when it was still dark. Now the sun was starting to rise, and she had been re-woken to the clump of boots as Lovina paced the length of her small cell.
It had taken a little while, but she was resigned to her fate, for the moment. No one knew Amelia better than her. Whether she liked it or not her sister's hero complex had reared its, in her opinion, ugly head. Her twin could put a mule to shame when she got her mind set on something, and though Madeline was loath to admit it, it did make sense to get Lovina off the ship.
That was why she didn't understand why Lovina looked so nervous. They'd gotten along, but she didn't think they were close enough for the Italian to be so worried. Considering the two acknowledged themselves to be "Birds of a feather!", as declared by Amelia, she would have thought Lovina would be confidant the American could handle herself.
When the constant pacing was starting to get a little irritating, though, Madeline spoke up. In a soft voice she asked, "What's wrong?"
Lovina glanced at her sharply, as though having forgotten she was there. "I'm worried about the mess that tea bastard got himself into."
Madeline chuckled. "Amelia's not going to always give him a hard time. She can be really sweet-
"No, not with her, with Antonio. If the tea bastard was right about him, then he's going to come looking for me. If he does that, I don't want Amelia caught in the middle."
"You think he'd hurt her?" asked Madeline, sitting up.
"No! Well, I don't think so." Lovina stopped, taking off her head cloth to run he fingers through her hair. "When he gets mad he can be unpredictable, all right? I don't care what happens to Kirkland, but if Amelia cares about him I don't think she'll be happy if Antonio does something to either of them. If I'm not here, there's no telling what he'll do."
Slowly, Madeline got to her feet. "What are you saying? It would be better to stay?"
"No. Yes. I don't know!" snapped Lovina, roughly tying the cloth back into place. "Kirkland can tell Antonio I'm alive and well all he wants, but I don't think he will listen."
Madeline chewed her lip for a moment. "So...make him listen."
Lovina glared at her. "How the hell can I do that if I'm not even here?"
Madeline smiled.
BREAK/BREAK\BREAK
The next morning, Arthur stood by the gangplank, watching as Amelia said her goodbyes to her sister. Having never had a good relationship with his own brothers, he couldn't really sympathize, but he did grasp just how much Madeline meant to Amelia.
The slight Italian stood off to the side, arms folded as she waited. He was surprised she didn't take off the moment it was clear she was free to go, but it seemed the two planned on sticking together. It was just as well. Even in one of the more pleasant ports, there would be dangers to women traveling alone.
Amelia finally pulled away, turning to come back up the gangplank. The Italian darted forward suddenly, and Arthur stiffened as she grabbed Amelia's arm. His eyes narrowed as she turned, Lovina talking rapidly in a lowered voice. Amelia didn't pull away, didn't take off. Rather she listened, and then nodded.
Lovina released her, face grim. Amelia climbed up the gangplank, and Arthur gave the signal to raise it as soon as she was on board. When she came to stand next to him at the bulwark he put an arm around her waist, pulling her to his side. She let him without a single grumble, actually leaning into him a little. Not for the first time he marveled how quickly she'd gone from apparent hatred to this. To be honest he'd given up trying to understand it, simply chalking it up to female oddities and enjoying the results.
The Green Revenge pulled away from the dock, and the Italian dragged Madeline away from the water's edge. Amelia watched, lifting a hand in a final farewell as the vessel slowly turned. When Arthur studied her, he noticed she was biting her lips together so tight they were white, eyes glinting with unshed tears.
Pressing his lips to her cheek in a brief kiss, he told her in a low voice, "They'll be fine, love. I wouldn't have left them here otherwise. There's plenty of decent places where they can find work, and most of them are run by women themselves." With a wry smile, he added, "A rolling pin or frying pan can do wonders to maintain order in the right hands."
Amelia gave a tight smile. "They'll be fine. But I wanna visit Maddy sometime, got it?"
"Mmm, in time. Now tell me, what was that about, with the Italian?"
Smile widening, Amelia said, "She was covering your ass."
When Arthur frowned at her, she just gave his cheek a peck and pulled away. "Come on, you promised me sword lessons, didn't ya?"
"That I did," he agreed, watching her all but dance to the middle of the deck.
Spinning on the balls of her feet to look back at him, skirt twirling around her legs, she said brightly, "So teach me!"
Arthur took his time coming across the deck to join her. He looked her over from top to toe as he did, not minding that she propped her fists on her hips and glared at him when she noticed. Lips twitching upward he mused, "We still have enough to go to one more port before we need to go on another raid. I don't suppose you've heard of Port Bangkok?"
"Nope. Never was very good at geography, Arthur. Besides, I never thought I'd get near this place."
The pirate took a moment to appreciate she'd remembered their agreement on calling him Arthur around the crew. He'd actually grown fond of the names she called him, Artie and Iggy, when they weren't said with intent to mock. Only in privet, though. The moment his crew stopped respecting him was the moment mutiny became a threat, and Amelia was far less concerned with getting rid of him these past few days.
"It's a port three day's sail from here, if the wind is with us. Port Bangkok is larger than New Madrid, and home to the largest and most flexible market I've ever found. We should be able to find the necessities for you there, including boots and a sword."
Amelia's face lit up almost as brightly as when he'd offered her the chance to trade a skirt for pants. "Wait, my own sword? Really? You mean it?"
"I wouldn't have offered it otherwise. I'm not going to let you go around barefoot all the time, it can become very perilous very quickly on a ship. Besides, what would be the point of learning to use a sword if you're unable to readily defend yourself with one?"
Amelia appeared to be attempting to imitate a rabbit, bouncing up and down as she gave a shriek of delight. "Yes, yes, yes! I should have gotten kidnapped by pirates years ago! This. Is. Awesome!"
Arthur watched her turn in a circle, hopping back and forth from one foot to the other excitedly. A faint smile touched his face. It was remarkably easy to make her happy, more so than he'd anticipated. Despite how ridicules she was acting, he found it surprisingly endearing. He liked making her happy. While he was unwilling to say it just yet, he was no fool. He hadn't sent her off the ship with the other two because of one of the most troublesome human emotions. It was just his luck to fall in love with one of the most ridicules, stubborn, temperamental, willful females he had ever met. He wouldn't have loved her otherwise, though. May God help him.
BREAK/BREAK\BREAK
"I'm probably going to regret asking this, but what is it you're looking for?
"An alehouse. Preferably with rooms above it," answered Lovina, eyes moving from one side of the street to the other as she walked briskly along.
"Eh, you do remember we don't have any money, right?" asked Madeline, trailing behind her worriedly.
Lovina snorted. "That's why I'm looking for an alehouse. This is prime sailing and raiding season. That means more ships, which means more sailors, which means better business for alehouses. The sooner we can get the hell off this rock the better, and we need money to do it. Unless you plan on renting yourself out to a bordello this is our best chance of getting money."
Madeline blushed, but gave her a dirty look. "I know that. No need to be rude. I want out of here just as much as you do."
Glancing back at her, Lovina asked, "Where will you go, though? It won't be easy or cheap to find a ship going back up the mainland coast. If you don't mind the delay we could both go back to Port Diego, Nonno wouldn't mind getting you passage on one of his merchant ships."
Madeline pursed her lips. "I...I don't think I'll be going back."
Lovina stopped walking, turning to look at her head on. Propping her hands on her hips she demanded, "Why the hell not?"
"I...I hate to admit it but Amelia was right. If I go home I'll be expected to marry. I might have been better at being a lady but I didn't enjoy it anymore than she did. Patricia can still marry and inherit, she even had her eye on a lord from Hong Kong that didn't treat her horribly. I'll send them a letter when I can, but I'd like to stay in the Caribbean."
Patricia was the twins' cousin. Both her parents had died of yellow fever when she was ten years old, so their father had taken his niece in. She was three years younger, and as she got very seasick had refrained from joining them. From what Lovina heard, she sounded very irritating but very good at being a lady.
"Better her than you, then," she muttered, returning to her search. "You're still welcome at Port Diego."
"I think I'll take you up on that. That way Amelia can visit both of us."
They walked for another block before Madeline asked, "Do you think Amelia will have to use anything you gave her?"
"Depends."
"On what?"
"On whether or not it was just me who was a complete idiota."
BREAK/BREAK\BREAK
Four days later, Amelia stepped out from behind a changing curtain and turned in a circle. This was the third open air shop they'd stopped at, and so far they'd already sent several parcels ahead to the ship. Of course their first stop that day had been the blacksmiths, and then the shoemaker. The well made leather footgear adorned her feet now, and Arthur held her sword for her while she tried on the clothes.
"What do you think? This way if you need to scout out someplace fancy I can go with you."
"I thought you were against raids. It does look quite good on you, though. Blue does wonders for you."
Amelia beamed at him. The latest experiment was a dress that was made of light, airy cloth dyed a blue she had felt matched her eyes perfectly, with tasteful navy blue lace and ribbons stitched on with moderately. From the waist down it flared out, giving her the freedom to move easily enough. Though she'd have to take up the hem a bit if she wanted it to be was short enough she didn't worry about stepping on the hem unless there were stairs involved. From the waist up it fit her snuggly, with short puffy sleeves and a dip in the front. It wasn't scandalous, but Amelia felt a thrill knowing her mother wouldn't have completely approved.
"Actually, if you keep it to people who kinda deserve it I don't mind much. Snooty nobles who aren't nice and really stingy. Like Robin Hood, ya know?"
Arthur arched a brow at that. "It's worth discussing. Do you like the dress?"
Amelia looked down at it, pursing her lips. "Do you like it?"
"I won't be the one wearing it, love."
Amelia giggled at the picture that popped into her head. "Good. I'll take it. Can we call it a day? I think I have enough new clothes now, and I'm starving."
Arthur chuckled as she ducked behind the curtain. "Gladly. I was worried we would spend the entire day here."
Giving an un-ladylike snort from behind the curtain, she said, "No way. What do you take me for?"
Before he could answer, she stuck an arm out and tossed him the dress. Arthur looked first at the still-warm cloth, and then at the lady who ran the shop. The petite Asian woman had an amused look on her face, but said nothing.
"We'll take it," he said, handing the dress to her. Turning back to the curtain he said in a louder voice, "I was under the impression you were some sort of lady. I'd settle for a wench if you feel it's more appropriate."
Amelia dashed aside the curtain a few moments later, stepping out. She had discarded her original dress after the first shop they'd visited, instead wearing what was apparently her favorite of the new clothes. A high crimson corset that served as more of a top than a slimming device was fastened around her middle, synched just enough to be snug but not constricting. It was worn over a man's white tunic, the sleeves rolled up her forearms, the neck reaching almost to the corset. A black sash wrapped around her waist, billowing black breeches that looked similar to a skirt when she stood still flowing down her legs. They tucked into her new boots, which adorned her feet, and the hat she'd requested in her hands. It was a wide brimmed affair, black and slightly smaller than his own, with a blue ribbon around it's band, a cloudy white feather slipped into it.
Once out of the curtain, Amelia secured the hat on her head, marched over to Arthur, grabbed him by the labels of his coat, and not for the first time yanked him down so she could plant a kiss firmly on his mouth. When she pulled away, she flashed him a roguish grin and said, "Amelia F. Jones, pirate wench, at your service."
Turning to the saleswoman, who was now giving them a narrow eyed motherly look, she asked, "Is there a church on this rock?"
Pursing her lips, the woman nodded. "Leave docks, go east. Three blocks from market."
"Why do you want to go to a church, love?" asked Arthur as he paid for the dress.
Amelia belted the sword back around her waist, gripping the sides of her pants and shaking them before grimacing. As much as she liked pants, there were going to be a few old habits to break.
When they left the shop she hooked her arm through his, walking cheerfully along at his side as they made their way back through the crowded street. "As nice as pirate wench sounds, pirate bride has a better ring to it."
Arthur stopped, frowning at her.
"This was your idea, remember?" she protested before he could do more than open his mouth.
"I know, I know. But seeing as nothing else will go to tradition I'd like to do at least part of it right. If you won't mind waiting a bit longer I'd like to find a ring and ask you properly."
Amelia pouted, but not for long. For a ruthless pirate, Artie can be awfully sweet, she thought.
"If you like we could go back to New Madrid for that bit. We do need two witnesses, if nothing else."
"Deal!" she chirped, brightening again.
BREAK/BREAK\BREAK
Antonio watched as a fluffy yellow canary flittered down through the rigging of the Gelbe Klaue, coming to settle on Gilbert's hand. A small roll of paper was wrapped around it's leg. The albino patted the little bird fondly, and it fluttered to settle on his hat once he'd removed the note.
"Well?" asked Antonio stiffly.
The albino scanned the note, and then handed it over. His usual smirk wasn't in place. It hadn't been since he'd caught up to the Spaniard as he'd left Tortuga. Antonio had agreed surprisingly quickly to bring Lovina back for a visit, in exchanged for Gilbert's help once they caught Kirkland. It had been a long time since the Prussian had seen his friend so grim. He didn't like it, it wasn't right.
"Well, we can't attack them in port," he said once he was sure Antonio had read the note. "With the mercenaries gone and the rest of his fleet on raids he should be easy for the two of us to beat."
It was pure luck they'd caught up to him so quickly. Gilbert's cousin, a Hungarian woman who lived in Port Bangkok with her husband, was a very reliable source. Her love for gossip meant her ear was always to the ground, and Gilbert had suggested they see if she had heard anything about Kirkland's latest whereabouts. The note Gilbird had returned only had two words: 'He's here.'
After a long moment Antonio handed the note back, going to stand at the portside bulwark. From there it was a clear shot to the open ocean. They were at a standstill for the moment, having dropped anchor ten miles off the island's coast and behind a small inlet. Out of the main sightline of anyone in the main harbor, but where they had a good view of those coming or going.
"We'll leave the Cuervo de Advertencia here. Leave them Gilbird. When Kirkland leaves they can send us the centre of effort."
"And where is the Awesome me going to be if not waiting here?"
"With me," said Antonio. He reached for his axe, which had been resting against the bulwark. He leaned on the weapon, both hands wrapped around his grip. "It's not a large island, we can go far enough around to stay out of sight. The first night the Green Revenge is in the open, she's ours. Remember, if you get the chance, don't take it, Gil. Kirkland is mine."
Gilbert nodded, remembering that bit of their agreement. It was another reason he was worried for his friend. Even in the worst of times, Antonio was a cheerful fellow at heart. Now, though, he was out for blood. Kirkland's blood.
Patricia- Philippines
Please Review!