Ch. 9
Emma woke up to the sound of Killian groaning and her cheek was very wet.
"Gods you're burning up. "she said as she hopped from the bed and grabbed the glass of water.
He opened his eyes and they were still glazed.
"Drink this Killian." She said as she pressed the glass to his lips.
She soaked the bandages that Smee brought in earlier into the cool water basin and draped one over his brow and used another to dab his face, neck and chest.
She knew he had a fever and this was not good. It meant that he had an infection. She didn't have the palace physicians to call upon to help her. She bit her lip and tried to concentrate on cooling him down.
He grabbed her wrist to call her attention. She'd been lost in thought. She continued to dab him with the cool bandages. She could fee her heart beating fast. She didn't know what to do.
"Love, I'm going to need the medicine man to come and provide me with something." he said.
"Medicine man?" she asked.
"Call Mr. Smee and ask him to come down he'll know where to go." He said.
She remembered that she told Mr. Smee to go on shore to complete their tasks and she didn't hear anyone above deck.
"Killian, I'm not sure he is here. I let him go to complete the tasks on shore. I told him I would take care of you." She said looking at him sadly.
He grabbed her wrist again and she looked him in the face. His cheeks were flushed and his eyes were glazed.
"Love, you are taking wonderful care of me. This isn't your fault. I got into a stupid fight at the tavern. This is my fault." He said as he tried to sit up.
He groaned in pain. He needed Mr. Smee to come and help. He couldn't allow her to go out alone in Tortuga.
"I'll go, I'll go ashore and find the medicine man and bring him back to you." She said.
"Love, it's not safe for you. We'll wait for Smee to return." he said.
"I have my wits about me, I'm sure I can manage. I've been to sea towns before. I'm not completely helpless." She said as she continued to dab him with the cool water.
"I can't let you go alone. It's too dangerous." He said grabbing her wrist once more to get her to stop.
She patted his arm and then placed a kiss on his burning cheek. "Killian I must go; you could die if I don't get you help." She said.
She got up and walked to the bookshelf and pulled the key to the weapons as he showed her earlier. She grabbed a small dagger from inside and shut the door locking it and stowing the key where it belonged.
"Look, I'll take this dagger with me. If anyone gives me trouble I'll use this and scream as loud as possible." She said as she let out a breath.
"Love, the pirates in Tortuga are not going to be afraid of a little knife." He said.
"Maybe not but I'm not going unprotected and it could help me get away if I need to run." She said.
"Love, you aren't convincing me that this is a good idea." He said.
She grabbed her cloak and wrapped it around herself. She pulled up the hood and stowed the dagger inside her sleeve for easy access if she needed it.
"Captain, I'm not going to let you die because of my stupid mistake. I'm going and I'll be back as soon as I can. Hopefully I'll find Mr. Smee or another crew men if I need help." She said.
"No, Love I can't let you do this." He said as he tried to get up from the bed.
She rushed back to him and eased him back against the pillows. She took his compress and resoaked it in the cool water replacing it on his head.
"I promise to return. I will get the medicine man and I will be back as quickly as I can." She said.
"Love, if you have to go look for the eye. If you find the eye you will know you have found the right place." He said.
"The eye?" she asked with her brow furrowed.
"It's the mark of the medicine man." He said.
"OK, the eye." She said as she pressed a soft kiss to his lips.
He smiled.
She rushed out the door and closed it behind her. She climbed the stairs to the deck. There were no signs of crew men. She took a deep breath. She'd never been on her own before. She'd always had the palace guards to watch over her and protect her. She was capable of doing it herself but she never had to do it. She hoped she didn't have to do it today. She had to remember, she no longer lived in the palace and all of the people she used to rely on were no longer there. She had to rely on herself. She was feeling stronger as time passed but she felt nervous going alone.
She climbed down from the ship to the shore and started walking towards the town. There were many ships flying crimson and black flags in the harbor. She kept her chin up and walked with purpose. She didn't want to raise suspicion. She passed several questionable looking men as she entered the town but they were too busy to notice her. She also found men passed out in the street and others fighting. She just kept moving and looking for the eye.
There were wonderful smells coming from a bakery as she passed. There was also a tavern that seemed to have more patrons than all the other shops. That was when she looked up and spotted the eye. It was carved into a wooden sign and painted with bright and wild colors. She rushed towards the door and pushed inside.
There was a spicy smell permeating the air inside along with a foggy haze of smoke. The counter was in the back of the shop and there were several shelves with interesting trinkets for sale along with herbs and spices. There didn't appear to be anyone in the shop but she heard some clanking in the back.
"Hello is there anyone here could help me find a medicine man?" she called as she reached the counter.
She needed to move quickly. Killian needed her to get back and care for him. She looked up to see a native woman walking around towards the counter. She was dressed in a colorful wrap dress and she had braided hair with beads dangling from the ends.
"Hello milady, or should I say Princess." She said with a grin.
"Ho-ow did you know?" she stammered.
Emma pushed back her hood to reveal herself.
"Oh I can sense these things. I can also sense the power in your aura. You carry quite powerful magic inside of you." She said raising an eyebrow.
"I think you might be mistaken. I have no magic. Look I need your help can you come with me to my ship. A man is hurt and he has been taken with a fever." She said.
Killian was banking on these crazy people with his life. She started to feel frustrated.
"Oh no dear, you certainly have the magic inside of you. I can see its color all around you. There was a darkness blended with it but it's only at the fringes. The color burns brighter as we speak." She said.
"I think I would know if I had magic. I'm a grown woman. I'm nothing but ordinary." She said looking down.
"Oh dear, you are definitely not ordinary, I'd say more like extraordinary. I can see it. I can see it in you and I can see something dark loomed over you for too long. Something must have happened to you recently that freed you of that dark curse." She said as she walked towards her.
She grabbed her hand and forced her to look into her eyes. She could see in the rim of black and brown that there appeared to be more behind her eyes. The woman closed her eyes and appeared to be searching as she waved her head from side to side and up and down.
"Please I don't have time, I need to help him." She pleaded pulling her hand.
The woman held firm and began to mumble a chant. She felt lighter all the sudden and then her hair started to float as if she was caught in the wind.
"What are you doing to me?" she asked.
The woman opened her eyes and smiled.
"There, I can see it now. Your aura is clean. I was just helping the process of clearing the darkness away. Something triggered the counter spell to the curse that was over you, I just helped it along." She said grinning.
"I have no idea what you are talking about but I do feel lighter. My lungs feel clear and my body feels like it's not weighted down any longer." She said.
"Dark Magic has a way of weighing you down dear. Now, come and show me where I can find your sick friend." She said.
"You are the medicine man?" she asked.
"Medicine woman, and yes you have found Me." she said laughing.
The woman grabbed her bag and she followed Emma back out of town towards the Jolly Roger. She had her cloak pulled over her face and she held the dagger in her hand hidden in her sleeve.
The woman beside her was humming and singing all the way back to the ship. She felt relaxed by the melody that she was humming.
"It's just this way." She said as she pointed towards The Jolly Roger.
"Ah, This Hook's ship. Very interesting." She said.
Emma nodded.
The women climbed aboard the ship and it still appeared to be empty. Emma pushed back her hood and picked up her pace down the stairs and into the Captain's Quarters. Killian was coughing when she returned. She rushed to his side and felt his head.
"Love, you're back. Did you find the Medicine man?" he said with a sigh of relief.
"Gods Killian, you are so hot." She said pulling the compress from his forehead and reapplying a cold one.
"Under other circumstances I would take that as a compliment." He said smiling but began to cough.
"Killian, behave and it's not a man it's a Medicine Woman" she said.
It was as if she entered on queue. "Nairobi, fancy meeting you." Said Killian with a grin on his face.
"Captain, I'd hoped the next time I ran into you it would have been under better circumstances. When are you going to learn to keep your pretty mouth shut?" she chuckled.
"Well, you know me. When I'm right, I'm right." He said and then began coughing.
"Killian, you must rest. This is serious you could die and I won't let that happen." Said Emma.
"Hmm, very interesting." Said Nairobi as she approached.
"What's that?" asked Emma.
"We'll talk after. Let me tend to the Captain. Perhaps you can assist me?" asked Nairobi.
"Of course, what can I do?" she asked.
Nairobi opened her bag and pulled the herbs and medicines. She pulled out a mortar and pestle and began to crush them together.
"Hand me that glass of water." She said.
Emma grabbed the glass, refilled it and handed it to her. She watched her put the crushed herbs into the glass and mix it in with the water.
"Captain, I need you to drink this." She said.
He nodded and moved to try to sit up. Emma rushed to him and held him up so that he could drink the liquid. Nairobi handed the glass to Emma.
He wrinkled his nose at the scent.
"Couldn't have mixed these with a bit of rum?" he asked.
Emma glared at him.
"I take it you know each other." said Emma.
"Yes, the Captain and I go way back. I've patched him and his men up on more than one occasion." Said Nairobi.
Emma helped him press the glass to his lips and he swallowed the liquid and herbs.
"Delightful." He said with a grimace on his face.
"Ok Princess, help him back down. I need you to put your hands over the wound on his shoulder." Said Nairobi.
"Like this?" asked Emma as she laid her hands over the wound.
Killian groaned at the touch.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I hurt you." Asked Emma.
"No, Love you just surprised me." he said bringing her hand to his lips for a soft kiss.
"Come now, focus the pair of you. You'll have plenty of time alone when we are done here. Now press your hands on the wound and close your eyes. I want you to think good, warm and healing thoughts." Said Nairobi.
"Good, warm and healing thoughts, I've got it." She said as she looked down into Killian's eyes.
His eyes were glazed but they were looking at her with adoration. She smiled and closed her eyes adhering to the request
Nairobi began to chant again. It was a soothing melody. She felt warmth come over her and it radiated from her skin. It was a prickly sensation that tickled. She held the thought of the night she spent with Killian in her mind. She remembered how his lips felt against her body and she could feel the blush creeping up on her cheeks. She remembered how he made her feel and the release she had.
Nairobi stopped chanting and she opened her eyes to see her looking at her with her jaw dropped open. Emma began to blush; it was as if she could read her mind. Nairobi laughed and started to chant again. Emma closed her eyes. She thought about him catching her when she was being jostled about by the storm, the warmth of his arms around her during her first night on the ship and the first time she kissed his cheek.
Killian began to cough and Nairobi began chanting louder. She kept her eyes screwed tight as she resisted seeing what was happening to him. She felt his hand lay on top of her hands. She felt heat rushing from her hands and warmth running over her body.
"Ok Princess, you can open your eyes. The ceremony is complete." Said Nairobi.
She didn't let go and his hand was still covering hers. When she opened her eyes he was staring up at her with clear, beautiful, blue eyes and a smile on his face. The flush in his cheeks appeared to have cleared as well.
She picked up her hands and held his cheeks. She touched his forehead.
"You are no longer warm. It appears your fever has gone." Said Emma.
She tilted her head in wonder. She peeled back the bandage and it appeared to have been healed. She stepped back holding her hands in front of her and looking down at them.
"Nairobi, what just happened? Was that a magical remedy? What did you do to me?" asked Emma.
"Well for normal folk it would lessen the fever and help them to heal faster. Add a little white magic and it becomes a healing elixir. I didn't do anything to you dear. That is something you were born with." She said.
"White Magic?" asked Emma.
Killian sat up in the bed and swung his feet over the side.
"What are you saying Nairobi?" asked Killian.
"I'm saying the Princess has magic. She was under some sort of curse that suppressed it." She said.
Emma started falling back and Killian rushed towards her grabbing her before she hit the floor and pulled her close into an embrace.
"I've got you Love." he said smiling.
He was mesmerizing her again with his sparkling eyes. She held his gaze and he smiled.
"Whoa, look at you!" said Nairobi.
"What do you mean?" asked Emma.
"It's your aura. When you came to me earlier it was tinged with blackness around the edges. I could see it burning off and I helped that process just a tiny bit. When you are with the Captain it is glowing strong and bright but when he touches you its positively luminous." Said Nairobi.
"I glow?" asked Emma.
"Well to the untrained eye you look as normal as ever. I'm trained in the third eye and I can see your aura, I can sense your magic, and I can read your thoughts." Said Nairobi.
Emma flushed scarlet.
"You can read my thoughts?" asked Emma.
"Just what were those happy thoughts that you had a few moments ago?" said Killian grinning into a kiss he planted on top of her head.
Emma looked down away feeling the blush creeping.
"Ah." he said chuckling.
"Thank you for coming to help us Nairobi." Said Emma.
"Yes, what do I owe you for this visit?" asked Killian.
"Princess would you mind visiting my shop just once more to help me with something? I would call us even." She said.
Emma looked at Killian and he nodded.
"Of course, we'll walk you back. Can we have a moment?" Said Killian.
"Yes, I'll wait for you above on deck." Said Nairobi.
When Nairobi left the room, Killian spun Emma in his arms and kissed her breathless. He held her so close that she thought she might be consumed by him. She nipped his lips and relished in the softness of them against her own. She let her hands roam along his bare back and grabbed onto him so that she wouldn't fall.
He pulled back and smiled. "If we didn't have to go this minute there are several other enjoyable activities I can think of doing at this moment." He said grinning.
"I still think you should take it easy, you could have died." She said with concern in her voice.
"Well Love, it appears you have healing magic within and thanks to you I'm feeling tip top." He said.
She let out a huff. "I have no idea how this magic got into me. I wonder if my parents know about this. No one in my family has ever talked about magic before." She said.
"Love, magic can't be explained. Whatever suppressed your magic was evil. That concerns me. We should be very careful with this and probably keep it a secret." He said.
"Killian grab a shirt, Nairobi is waiting and to be honest. I wouldn't mind some of those other "enjoyable activities" myself." She said raising an eyebrow.
"How did I get so lucky to find such a marvel? You're my savior, Love. " said Killian.
She felt like she had butterflies fluttering in her stomach. She'd never been anyone's savior before. She'd been lucky enough to be Henry's mother but no one saw her as anything else. She smiled.
"I would say you're my savior too Captain." She said softly.
"We better go Love, I don't want you in town when it gets dark. The men are pretty tame during the day but at night once they've had their fill of rum and mead that's another story." Said Killian.
He pulled on his shirt and vest. She helped him button his vest.
"I'd rather hoped we'd be doing the opposite about now." He said kissing her on the cheek.
"Well, the sooner we repay Nairobi, the sooner we can come back. Maybe we'll have the ship to ourselves tonight." Said Emma.
"Yes, and you can tell me about what you were thinking about while the medicine woman was chanting. It must have been very graphic for her to stop." He said waggling his eyebrows.
"If you are on your best behavior, I promise I'll share." She said grinning.
He looped her arm in his and they left to meet Nairobi.