(Disclaimer: I do not own Treasure Planet; just Maryam and any other OC's.)
(Authors Note: Hello again dearest readers and fellow writers! I hope chapter one piqued your interests because I'm just getting started (literally) and have plenty of future chapters in mind. Also, this is just a fun little fact, but I actually based Maryam's last name off a sea shanty called 'The Wellerman' so if you haven't heard of it, treat yourself sometime as it's a jolly little tune :D Anyways, I hope you enjoy this second chapter and feel free to leave a comment (no hate please) if applicable :) Until next time, may the wind be at your back and your path clear.)
"English/Common"
"Sarcasm or Emphasis"
**Dreams**
Chapter 2
-Later-
It was a quarter till five when Edmund's men came to escort Maryam to the ship. Having bathed and dressed back into the ensemble that was gifted to her, she bid her Father goodbye and left with the men in the awaiting carriage. As they rode along, she stared out the window and watched the scenery pass by as the rain continued to fall in heavy streams. Having never been to the spaceport (or off-world in general), she felt butterflies in her stomach at the thought of flying on a ship rather than sailing on one in the water.
Aside from her excitement, Maryam also had a pang of dread looming in the back of her mind; however, her desire to see the stars outweighed the nervousness she felt. Glancing out the window, she noticed that they were approaching the docks, to which a small sigh escaped her lips as the carriage slowly came to a stop, signaling the end of the ride.
Moments later, the door was opened and she was free to exit. Once her feet touched the cobblestone, Maryam was led over to the ship that would take her to the Audra spaceport. From there, she followed the men onto the vessel and down to the galley where Edmund was located:
"Ah, I see you followed my instructions and wore the ensemble I provided for you. Well done."
"Thank you, Mr. Swift. The gown and accessories are lovely."
"Indeed they are. I trust they fit nicely?"
"Yes. No alterations were needed."
"Excellent. Now, while I'd like to continue this conversation, I'm afraid it'll have to wait until we reach the spaceport. In the meantime, I suggest you sit down and brace yourself as we'll be taking off any moment now." He stepped aside and pulled a chair out for her, to which she sat down and was immediately thrown back as the small ship began its ascension.
Seconds later she started floating off the chair and emitted a gasp at the sensation; however, her enthusiasm was short-lived as the artificial gravity was turned on, causing her to plop back into her seat.
XXXXX
Overall, the trip from Audra to the spaceport was roughly an hour. During that time, Maryam remained silent as Edmund and his men spoke of business and political dealings that held little interest to her. She honestly didn't care for such things as it was beneath her social status and understanding. In truth, she was glad Mr. Swift's attention was diverted off of her for the majority of the trip; however, now that they were in port, that would soon change.
Upon stepping off the small vessel, the young hybrid immediately took in her new surroundings and smiled as her senses became overloaded with the various sights, sounds and smells. There were street performers displaying their talents and vendors selling spices, pipe weed, produce, jewelry, fabrics, clothing and drinks from exotic worlds. While spacers went about hauling cargo onto their designated ships, soldiers patrolled the streets as nobles, businessmen and commoners went about their day-to-day affairs.
As she relished in her own excitement, Maryam was pulled back into reality as Edmund placed a claw upon her shoulder, "You seem at a loss for words."
"I am," she admitted. "I've never been off-world before, nor have I seen so many people in one place. Everything is just so amazing."
"I suppose it is for someone like yourself. Regardless, this spaceport pales in comparison to the one we'll be traveling to."
"Pardon? What do you mean by that statement? I thought your intention was just to bring me here for a gathering with your family and associates."
"While you're initially correct, that was only part of my intention," he neutrally replied. "I actually needed you to come here so that we may board the vessel that will take us to our primary destination."
"I never agreed to that," she pointed out, to which he met her gaze and casually answered:
"That's because I never brought it up in prior conversations." He then gently caressed her cheek with his sharp claw, being mindful not to puncture her soft flesh, "But you needn't worry: your Pa will still be on Audra when we return."
"And how long will this voyage take?"
"A week or two, depending on the terms and conditions of my business negotiations," he replied with an arrogant smile as he then led her towards their destined ship: The Eastwind.
"And what am I supposed to wear throughout the duration of this trip? I didn't pack anything and you certainly can't expect me to wear this getup for two weeks," she noted while gesturing to her ensemble.
"You needn't fret, my dear; I've already taken the liberty of acquiring you some clothing and had them delivered and placed in our stateroom."
"Our stateroom," she timidly asked, to which he pulled her against his side and emitted a low chuckle:
"Indeed. You're my bride, which means you'll be staying with me throughout the duration of our voyage. Of course, you're welcome to decline, but I can't guarantee that I'll still uphold my promises if you do," he added, causing her to emit a sigh of defeat as they boarded the grand ship.
Despite Edmund's subtle threat, Maryam couldn't help but stare in awe and wonder at her new surroundings: everything looked so fine and elegant that it was hard to believe this was a ship and not some royal palace. Of course, it might as well have been a palace with how ornate the decor was and how fancy the passengers were dressed:
Everyone looked as though they were attending a gala with how regal and sophisticated they looked. Of course, the same could be said about her own appearance: Never in her life did she look so stunning and receive so many stares from complete strangers. Many of the men looked upon her as if she was a goddess incarnate, while the women regarded her with jealous looks of envy and awe. In truth, it was a bit overwhelming to be ogled like some priceless treasure on display. Of course, it was safe to assume that many of the patrons were also staring at her fiance as he was a well-known/powerful man and rather intimidating-looking.
Of course he was intimidating: he was a mantavor.
Yet, his appearance wasn't what made him frightening to Maryam. It was his reputation and coldness that sent shivers down her spine. If she didn't know any better, she would assume he was a pirate posing as a noble merchant. She mentally shook her head at that while trying to stay optimistic about her current situation. If nothing else, at least she'd finally get to see the stars.
XXXXX
As the crew prepared the ship for launch, many of the passengers gathered along the deck to watch and experience the phenomenon for themselves. Among those partaking in the spectacle was Maryam, who was currently enjoying the sensation of floating, despite it not being 'proper behavior' for a lady. She honestly didn't care. When the artificial gravity was turned on; however, she resumed said 'proper behavior' and casually took in the scenery as other ships passed them by while they flew further away from the port.
Glancing up at the vast cosmos before her, Maryam deeply inhaled and smiled as the stars brightly shone overhead. Clutching her Mother's necklace, she felt tears roll down her cheeks as her home planet faded from view: while she always wanted to get off that seemingly endless ocean, it was bittersweet. As much as she hated the constant rain and moisture, and the storms and dreary fog that always blotched out the sun and stars, it was all she had ever known. That, and her Father was still there. Sure, she'd be back within a week or two, but still, it was her first time off-world.
With a sigh, she pushed all of her negative thoughts aside and turned her attention to her fiance: "Mr. Swift_"
"No need to be so formal, my dear," he cut her off with a smirk as he delicately ran his claw across her cheek, "We're engaged. You may call me Edmund if you desire."
Swallowing thickly, she gave him a slight nod in response, "_Edmund, would you permit me to have a walk about the ship? I'd very much like to explore and see more of the internal designs and decor for myself."
He raised a brow, but gave her a slight tilt of his head, "You may; however, I would advise that you only stay within the passenger areas. Most spacers don't like it when civilians muddle in their affairs and I'd hate to explain to the Captain why you've disrupted his crew."
"I-I'll be sure to keep that in mind."
"Very good. Now, I expect you to meet me in the dining hall in an hour."
"Of course," she politely bowed her head before turning on her heel and heading down to explore the guest areas. With luck, this ship would have a moderately-sized library she could pick through.
(Another Authors Note: So, I hope Chapter 2 was enjoyable :) I'm sure you're starting to understand why she doesn't care for Edmund. His character was partially inspired by Rose's fiance from Titanic...I don't remember his name, but I remember that he was a pompous ass. And of course, the rest of his character was inspired Mr. Scroop (obviously LOL). Anyway's the next chapter will include our favorite navigator, so be on the lookout for his appearance. Until then, keep it classy, make good choices, and stay awesome!)