Chapter 5: The Vengeful Wench
As the wind began to blow the linen colored main sails of the Vengeful Wench filled with air as the ship glides swiftly and gracefully along the ocean. The Vengeful Wench is a squared-rigged, three-masted warship that it armed with eighteen carronades and two long guns. Watching this ship land in any port would be intimidating on its sheer size alone over eighty feet long and forty feet wide, but add-on top of that the foreboding black flag of the Jolly Roger flying high and proud on the topmost mast and you'd be crazy not to shake in your boots at the sight of the ship.
Gwaine the first mate of the ship was showing Arthur his way around the deck. As they approached the helm of the ship Gwaine introduced Arthur to Leon the ship's helmsman. Leon smiled and greeted Arthur with a friendly nod and Arthur smiled back. Movement was heard high above their heads in the crow's nest and Gwaine took this time to let Daegal the ship lookout say hello to their newest crewmate. Arthur had a strange thought that he would perhaps love to climb to the top just to see the view but he didn't want to push his luck asking to climb up could be seen as him requesting special treatment.
The sound of metal pounding and clanking against metal became louder when Gwaine and Arthur approached the ship's blacksmith Percival the large fellow with the shaved head who looked very menacing. Until he looked up from his work and gave Arthur the warmest smile he had ever seen. Arthur greeted Percival and was surprised when this enormous man put down his tools and shook his hand. Wow I guess you really can't judge a book by its cover. Arthur thought.
Gwaine turned Arthur around by his shoulders to face the direction of three women all standing around a large desk conversing quietly, on the highest deck of the ship. The older woman who was giving the orders had her long red hair pinned back behind her head as she was issuing commands to the two younger women, a dark-haired woman and a blond-haired young woman.
"Yo Annis." Gwaine called loudly the red-haired woman called Annis raised her head in annoyance at Gwaine and he just dragged Arthur over to meet them anyway.
"Arthur this is Annis the ship's quartermaster she keep's everything in tip-top shape, but she's also a shameless hussy so be warned." He nudges Arthur in the stomach as he grins and laughs like and idiot. Arthur is unsure how to react to the insult that Gwaine has charged this woman with never has he heard a gentleman speak to a woman in such a vile way. He is also unnerved by the tension he feels as they await her response.
"Takes on to know one." She replies a sassy smile on her face.
Arthur's mouth drops and hits the deck as they all bust out laughing at each other and most likely his response as well. The dark-haired woman introduces herself as Freya the ship's navigator and the blond woman calls herself Elana she works as the ship's merchant.
After Arthur and Gwaine have toured the entire top deck they head below deck to the berthing deck where the crew sleeping quarters are located along with some small offices, storage room and medium-sized kitchen. Gwaine points out that the men and women have separate sleeping cabins as he opens the door to the women cabins he is struck in the face with a book.
"Don't you ever knock dumb ass." An irritated female voice states from the other side of the door. "And I need my book back." The door opens and reveals a woman with raven black hair in one long braid, behind her head she at first looks angry then surprised at the visitor at the door.
Gwaine is rubbing his head as a red mark appears right in the middle of his forehead as he picks up the hardcover book. "Damn Mithian that really hurt, I would think you should be kinder to the only family you have."
"Then maybe you should learn how to knock brother." She retorts quickly.
Ahh brother and sister. Arthur thinks laughing to himself as Gwaine and his sister continue to argue about absolutely nothing at all. It's funny that they both remind him of how he and Morgana tease and argue with each other all the time. At this moment Arthur begins to slightly miss his annoying older sister and he wonders what she might be up to this very minute.
The siblings stop arguing for a minute and Gwaine is finally able to introduce his little sister Mithian as the ship's scholar. Mithian says hello to Arthur politely and then sends them on their way abruptly as she has research to conduct.
They enter the men sleeping quarters and they find the ship's carpenter Lancelot asleep along with several other crewmates. They quietly exit the sleeping chambers so as not to disturb the other members who have to stay alert during the night watch.
The next stop on their tour is the infirmary luckily there are no patients in need of medical care so the cabin is empty all except for one person who is so involved in his reading that he doesn't even look up when the door opens. The silver-haired man is reading a very larger novel with reading glasses hanging on his nose.
Gwaine clears his throat. "Doctor Gaius we have a new addition to our crew Captain wants you to meet him." Gaius sets down his book and carefully marks his page before closing the book completely.
"Nice to meet you sir." Arthur says respectfully extending his hand out to the ship's doctor. I'm Arthur.
"Nice to meet you Arthur. I hope-
"Pendragon." Gwaine adds with a delightfully wicked smile.
Gaius falters slightly but he regains his composure quickly as the looks around the room nervous and he lowers his voice to a whisper. "Does Captain Elyan know yet?
Gwiane cannot contain the loud laughter that escapes his lips as he covers his mouth laughing even harder in the doctor's confusion.
"What in the world is so funny? You know how the Captain feels about Pendragons. Gwaine I swear if you have tricked this poor boy onto this ship so help me I'll-
Arthur speaks up to diffuse the situation. "Actually I snuck onboard, well me and my cousin but, Captain Leodegrance knows that we're here and he knows who we are. He is going to allow us to stay on board for a while."
"Really is that so?" Gaius is completely shocked by this news. "Okay well welcome aboard Arthur. Now if you will excuse me I have an experiment that I need to tend to."
They leave the infirmary and stop a short distance away from a large black door were hushed voices can be heard in a lively discussion. Neither Gwaine nor Arthur can make out what is being said by the speakers.
"That is the Captain's cabins his sleeping quarters and his office area it connects to the cabin's quarters above deck. I don't think it will be necessary to give you a tour of those rooms."
Arthur breathes a sigh of relief. "No thanks Captain Leodegrance hates me enough already. I promise that I will never do anything to get on his bad side"
"He already hates you how worse can it get? Gwaine asks.
"I don't know but I sure as hell don't won't to find out."
Gwaine laughs again telling Arthur to follow him they reemerge on the top deck and Gwaine explains how the ship works and about the curfew that applies to all crew members. Every night at exactly 11:30pm all members of the crew are to be below deck with the anchors dropped a good ten minutes before curfew. About an hour later Merlin returns from Captain Quarters and they both fill each other in on what happened. The next few days aboard the ship are busy Arthur has never worked so hard in his life but he never complains about the work load given to him.
That night in the men's sleeping quarter's Arthur asks Gwaine a question that's been on his mind for the longest time. Arthur turns over on his cot and looks over at Gwaine sleeping soundly.
"Hey Gwaine you sleep?" He asks.
"Yes." Gwaine replies sleepily. "What is it Arthur?"
"I just wanted to know if you knew why Captain Leodegrance always wears a mask?"
At the voicing of his question Arthur hears several crew members getting up from sleep to get in on the conversation. Apparently Arthur is not the only one intrigued by the Captains ever-changing masks.
Gwaine sits up and yanks the covers off and stands about to tell Arthur off for waking him about such an idiotic question when he sees the entire cabin of men awake and sitting too wanting to know the answer to Arthur's question.
"Well I can't say for sure honestly I've known the Captain for almost two years and there has never been a day that I have seen him without that mask. Everybody knows that Captain Elyan Leodegrance's reputation precedes him so I have been aware of the Masked Captain as they tend to call him, years before I actually met him personally."
Gwaine cleared his throat I can only go on the rumors I've heard. Well I heard a story once that the Captain used to be an Admiral in the service and somehow he was discharged dishonorably or he just refused to obey orders so he started breaking the law instead and he uses the mask to keep his identity safe, that's why he wears the mask."
Daegal speaks up to discuss the group. "Well I heard that the Captain was born with some horrible birth defect that is mighty unsightly to see so he covers it up with the mask."
"No I don't think that's what happened." Chirps in Lancelot. "I heard the Captain got caught in a burning building and barely escapes with his life leaving most of his body burned and scarred forever."
"I heard it was a shark attack."
"No I'm sure I heard mention he took a cannon ball right to the face and it melted all his skin off." The men stayed up talking about the Captain's mask but got nowhere in finding out the truth about why he always keep his face covered Arthur decided it was best to drop the discussion.
Merlin reveals that The Vengeful Wench should arrive at Helios Blackwater estate in about in Spain in about two weeks. Merlin was told that he would be working closely with the ship's navigator Freya to find the quickest route from Blackwater's estate back to Pendragon Manor. Lucky Merlin. Arthur thought to himself a little bitter that the Captain hated him so and over the two few weeks Captain Elyan Leodegrance would definitely show Arthur how much he despised the Pendragons.
As the cabin boy the lowest and least important place on the ship it was Arthur's job to basically aid and serve any of the other crewmates if they needed him. But mostly Arthur spent his days swabbing the deck and polishing the cannon balls for hours only to have the Captain make him start all over again claim they weren't shiny enough. They were bloody cannon balls for fuck's sake how shiny did they need to be.
But Arthur was determined to endure any mistreatment that the Captain threw his wasn't all bad though he had certainly made some friends aboard the ship and Gwaine and Gaius tried to look out for Arthur the best way they could.
Gwaine walked over to stand beside the Captain one lazy afternoon. "Uh Captain May I speak with you about something?" He asked a little uncertain.
"What is it Gwaine?" The Captain replied in a deep gruff voice.
"Well it just seems that maybe you are giving Arthur a hell of a work load and well I was wondering if maybe-"
"Oh you think I should lighten up on Pendragon?" The Captain asks his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Gwaine when I won't or need your opinion I will ask you since I have done no such thing. Mind your own goddamn business." He snaps.
They only had about a week left in their journey to Blackwater Spanish Manor and the Captain was still being increasingly difficult on Arthur he would never address him directly but the Captain's hate was so obvious to everyone that Annis recommended that Gaius who had known the Captain long should speak to him.
Gaius knocks on the Captain's office and asks for permission to speak freely. The Captain grants his request and listens patiently while Gaius goes on and on about the treatment of Arthur Pendragon. About how he's such a good lad and nothing like his father but the Captain refused to hear any of it.
"Gaius we reach Blackwater tomorrow morning, Pendragon will be that much closer to staying out of my hair for good. Don't forget that Pendragon is still his father's son, I want to get in that vault and be rid of both him and Merlin as soon as possible. I don't want to hear another lecture or suggestion from you or Annis or anyone else about how I run my ship is that understood?"
Gaius nods his head he has known this child for such a long time and is quite accustomed to extreme levels of pig-headed stubbornness. "Okay Captain I'll just leave you to it then. If you ever want to talk about you know where to find me." Gaius says as he leaves the Captain's cabin.
Blackwater Manor
While the rest of the crew stocked up on supplies at the local port and markets. Captain Leodegrance asked Percival, Leon and Gwaine to go with him Arthur and Merlin to meet up with Blackwater. Arthur and Merlin followed closely behind the Captain as Gwaine, Leon and Percival carried the supplies.
The Captain approaches the door to the grand mansion and he is greeted by the housekeeper. The Captain informs the maid that Blackwater is expecting them and they are ushered inside. The Captain tells his men to take Blackwater's packages into a room to their right and they comply leaving Arthur and Merlin alone with the Captain. The Captain instructs Arthur and Merlin to wait outside the door so he can speak to Blackwater privately the Captain enters Blackwater room as they wait out in the hall.
Merlin is staring anxiously at Arthur. "So cousin this is it huh? How do you feel are you nervous. I know I'm nervous. All those weeks searching for answers and we are here getting ready to talk to Helios Blackwater."
Arthur is completely silent there are so many questions rolling over in his head so many things he wants to know and ask. He tries to settle his mind but he really doesn't know where to begin. Before he can compose himself the Captain's gruff voice shakes him out of his thoughts.
"Pendragon, Blackwater will see you alone." Merlin stops following Arthur and stands against the wall.
Arthur continues to Blackwater's room alone as the Captain steps out the door he closes it behind him giving Arthur and Blackwater some privacy. Arthur doesn't know what he expected to find when he walked into the large room but it was certainly not this.
Helios Blackwater is lying in bed the covers pulled up tight under his neck and he looks very ill. Arthur takes a few steps closer to Blackwater so that he can see him better. He clears his throat and the sickly looking Blackwater gazes at him.
"I am Arthur son of Uther Pendragon. I'm not really sure what questions I should ask you. Um I found a scrap of parchment with your name on it written by my Uncle Aggravaine in my mother's empty tomb. Is there anything you can tell me about why my mother's body is not in our family's mausoleum and why my uncle thinks she is still alive?
"Because she is alive Arthur. Your mother lives, I was there all those years ago when your father faked his wife's death. He locked your mother in a crate and sold her like a piece of merchandise. So many wrongs were committed that night the your own father sold your mother and murdered of Thomas Leodegrance. Though I did not know what was going on until later when your Uncle Aggravaine contacted me. Uther Pendragon is a ruthless bastard who will kill or dispose of anybody who gets in his way his friends hell even his own wife. "
Arthur feels as though all the air has been knocked out his body at Blackwater's words. Could he be telling the truth? He didn't even know this man how could he be sure he wasn't lying?
"I can tell by the look on your face that you don't believe me." He points to a large desk in the corner of the room. "If you look on that desk you will find a letter addressed to you from your uncle."
Arthur walks over to the desk and finds the letter with his name on it written in his uncle's handwriting with his uncle customized seal on the back of the letter, ensuring that this letter was not a forgery and that, no one would tamper with its contents. Arthur removes the envelope and reads the letter from his uncle.
Dear Arthur, if you are reading this letter then you have tracked down Helios Blackwater. I hope the information he has given you has not shaken you too much but yes your mother my dear sweet sister Igraine is alive. I have located your mother I had to buy her to freedom from that awful slave-owner. She was dehydrated and malnourished but in a few weeks she will be well enough to visit you. She asks about you all the time Arthur she can't wait to meet you.
According to your mother about 20 years ago your father committed heinous crimes against the kingdom. Crimes so awful if he had been found out he would have been put to death for treason. Your mother discovered your father's treacherous plans and letters to enemies that would betray vital military secrets.
Shortly after you were born your mother wandered down to his study and discovered plans Uther had to show military and kingdom information to several of the country's enemies. Igraine was prepared to expose him but caught her in his study, when she questioned him about the information she found he tried to convince her that it wasn't what it looked like. He suggested that she return to bed and the last thing she remembers was Uther bringing her a cup of tea. She believes Uther destroyed all the evidence, drugging her and then had her to a rich Spanish slave-owner and faked her death.
Your father will stop at nothing to rid himself of those who get in his way like Helios and the owner of the ship he used all those years ago to smuggle your mother out of the country. A Captain named Thomas Leodegrance was found shot to death and his ship was never recovered. I have no doubt that your father was behind this innocent's man murder.I will send word when you can come and visit please do not tell your father.
Arthur folds the letter up and places it shakily inside his coat pocket. "If I may ask why didn't my father kill you all those years ago like he killed Thomas Leodegrance?"
A grin tugs at Blackwater's mouth before he answers." It's simple really my place in the Spanish government kept me safe from Uther for a while. He could not just shoot a Spanish diplomat in cold blood he had to be stealthier in attempt to finish me off. So Uther had me poisoned, there is no cure or remedy I am to die a slow and painful death there is nothing that can be done."
Everything he had ever believed about his life about his family was a complete lie. Uther Pendragon his father had really done all of those things people had said. Arthur stood there Blackwater's room completely still he didn't know what to do or say no wonder the Captain hated him look at who his father is.
"Thank you for agreeing to see me I -"
"There is nothing left to say Arthur I am just glad I could shed some light on this situation. Goodbye Arthur."
"Bye and thank you." Arthur walks to the door and leaves Blackwater in the room alone. As he steps out into the corridor he sees Merlin waiting for him, Arthur confides all that he has learned to his cousin including showing him the letter from his Uncle. The captain is nowhere to be found maybe they have headed back to the ship already. The exit Blackwater manor and see the Captain and his men heading towards the docks to board the ship. They follow the Captain and board the ship in silence.
The Captain watches their strange behavior as they board the ship. "I hope you found out what you were looking for?"
"Yes Captain I did. Um I was wondering if I could speak to you in private."
"Okay Pendragon come to my office."
Arthur follows the Captain to his office and the Captain gestures for Arthur to sit down. The Captain closes the door behind them and takes a seat at his massive oak desk. What does he want? Wonders the Captain quietly. I swear if Pendragon is going to start crying about his work load. A little hard work never hurt anybody. Shit I bet Pendragon has never even worked a day in his life. So what if I gave him a little more work than normal he didn't die. Okay here we go.
Arthur is looking down at the floor trying to fix his words to say what he needs to tell the Captain. "I just wanted to say-" He starts the sentence then he falters.
The Captain is losing patience but he refrains from yelling or getting angry at him.
"Captain I'm sorry." He finally blurts out.
The Captain's wide almond colored eyes almost pop out of their sockets. He certainly did not see this coming.
"I'm sorry that Uther killed your father, Uther is every bit of the monster that you say he is and I know that now. Uther Pendragon is a heartless bastard who will get rid of anybody who posed a threat to him including your father and my mother, his wife. And I also know why you hate me so, you believe me to be just like Uther well the only thing I share with that man is the blood in my veins and my namesake and I promise neither of those things make me like him."
" I would like to prove myself to you Captain to make amends for my father's sins. I am truly sorry. But most of all I am sorry because that's all I can give is you is an apology, but that will never be good enough. Sorry won't bring your father back, sorry won't take away the hurt my father caused. I understand what it feels like to have someone dear to you ripped out of your life. Uther ruined both of our lives he stole my mother away from me and stole your father away from your family. I am so deeply sorry for all the heart ache caused by Uther." Arthur coughs trying to clear overwhelming sense of sadness and hurt of how malicious and evil his father is.
Arthur finishes his speech and he looks up at the Captain hopefully. The Captain has turned away from Arthur and is staring at a painting on the wall.
"Is that all Pendragon? He asks in a gruff voice.
"Yes Captain that is all."
"Then you may go and close the door behind you."
Arthur got up from his chair and leaves the Captain's quarters, he actually doesn't think his words will ever change how much the Captain hates him but felt he had to get this off his chest. In his hurry to leave the Captain's office Arthur fails the notice the pools of unshed tears gathering in the Captain's almond eyes.
Perhaps I have misjudged Pendragon. The Captain thinks. Maybe everyone deserves a chance to prove who they are based on their actions not who or where they have come from.
Thanks for reading the Vengeful Wench chapter I hoped you enjoyed it. I know The Masked Captain seems kinda cruel but don't be too harsh everything is not as it seems. Woooooo mysterious! Please leave a review you know I luvs reviews.