Chapter 7
The next morning dawned bright and clear, but it wasn't bright and clear for Elizabeth. On the next bed, Valiant's snoring filled the room, a sound not unlike a ship's boilers working overtime.
Elizabeth resisted the urge to fling her pillow at her sister. It probably wouldn't have an effect, anyway; it looked like Valiant could sleep through an entire naval engagement.
Grumbling to herself, she rose from her bed and began her morning routine. By the time she emerged from the bathroom, Valiant was still asleep, one slim leg dangling off the edge of the bed, her blanket askew while a stream of drool poured from her mouth.
Who's the queenly one now?
She sighed. It had been sudden and they got no time to prepare, so Valiant had to sleep in her room. Elizabeth wouldn't have mind it—despite their rocky meeting, they were still sisters—but it was that loud snoring that was the problem!
Shaking her head, she left the room and closed the door gently, yawning. They had stayed up quite late last night to finish baking that cake. A strange coincidence, as it had somehow turned into a small celebration at Valiant's arrival. They couldn't eat the cake, though. Elisa said it was best to let it sit in the fridge until the morning.
The smell of breakfast drifted from the kitchen. Yawning again, Elizabeth entered and slipped into a chair, propping her chin on the table with one hand. Elisa was humming a tune by the stove, her frying pan sizzling.
"Had a good sleep?" Warspite asked, sipping her morning tea.
"No. She snores too loudly." Elizabeth frowned and looked around. "Where are Noah and Brian?"
"Oh, they just went to the library. They told us to join them once we've finished eating."
Elizabeth's eyebrows drew closer. "What for?"
Warspite shrugged. "I don't know. But if I have to guess, it has to do with us."
Elizabeth glanced at Elisa, but she hadn't said a word. Is she going to join as well? Especially now that she knew about their real identities, and they were going to be her sisters eventually.
Breakfast was ready within minutes. As they ate, Elizabeth watched Elisa for any reaction. They had barely discussed the events last night, and she was wondering what the younger Dallimore thought of everything she learned. Other than the revelation of their existence as former warships, there was Valiant's arrival. It had to have been overwhelming for her.
Elisa caught her looking. "What is it, Beth?"
"You're taking this far calmer than I expected," Elizabeth said after a moment's hesitation.
Elisa shrugged. "I will admit, I'm still shocked. Reincarnation? Those are just the stuff of fantasies and delusions. I don't believe in it. Or at least, I didn't until Noah told me everything." She paused briefly. "I wouldn't have still believed it, mind you."
"If not for what you saw Warspite did."
"Yes." Elisa glanced at Warspite, who averted her gaze, embarrassed. Elisa chuckled. "It's all right, Warspite… Or would you prefer Edith?"
"Please, just call me Edith," Warspite said. "I'm not a ship anymore. And Noah said we have to get used to being addressed by our human names."
"That's true, I suppose." She paused again. "How does it feel like, being a human?"
Elizabeth and Warspite exchanged glances. "It's complicated," Elizabeth said. "We know what it's like to be a human even though we've never been humans."
Warspite nodded. "And we have memories of our time as ships."
Elisa was regarding them with curiosity now, especially Elizabeth. "Can you tell me more about Grandpa Connor's time aboard you?"
She had a feeling it would be Elisa's next question, so Elizabeth wasn't surprised. She saw the sadness in Elisa's eyes; she must miss him as much as Noah did.
Elizabeth told her everything she could remember about Connor, and more. Her voyages at sea. Her battles. The victories she and her crew had gained, and the defeats they had suffered. It was refreshing to let it all out, and while she had already told most of these at length with Noah and Warspite, there was something different in having another person listen to her stories.
It made her feel old, though.
She had just finished recounting her tours in the Pacific when Valiant's footsteps pounded down the stairs. Yawning, her sister entered, trudging toward an empty seat.
"You're late," Warspite said disapprovingly.
Valiant rolled her sleepy eyes. "We stayed up late last night." She scanned the table, which was almost cleared away. Her sleepiness vanished almost immediately. "Hang on. You didn't leave some for me?"
Elisa smirked. "A lesson for you to wake up early, midget." She stood up, going for the stove. "Luckily for you, I'm not too busy. How do you like your eggs?"
"Poached. Do we have waffles?"
"There's some still left. Anything else? Tea or coffee?"
"Tea, naturally. Oh, and…"
Elizabeth watched as Valiant stuffed her face with the food that Elisa had prepared quickly. From what Noah had told her briefly last night, her sister had been well taken care of by a family in Scotland, and Valiant certainly didn't seem like she had been neglected.
But this… Her brows creased, seeing the unsightly display. It wasn't disgusting by any means, but the way her sister eat lacked finesse and elegance.
"Slow down, would you?" Elizabeth said. "We're not going to run out of food."
Valiant swallowed a bite before speaking. "Let me indulge, would you? I miss eggs and bacon."
Elizabeth frowned at that, glancing at Warspite and Elisa. "You act as if you've never eaten them for a year," Elisa commented.
"A week. Mama was so strict about my diet." A shadow passed over Valiant's face, but it was quickly gone, replaced with a grumble. "She kept feeding me greens. Greens! Can you believe that? And if not greens, we always had fish for lunch and dinner."
They listened quietly to her rants. The more she heard about it, the more Elizabeth was glad that it was Noah who took her in. She certainly wouldn't have stayed if she had been in Valiant's shoes.
Breakfast was soon over. They moved to the library, leaving Warspite and Elisa to wash the dishes. Elizabeth and Valiant entered the library, where they found Noah and Brian conversing around a table strewn with books, notes, and even a map of the United Kingdom.
Noah looked up as Valiant closed the door. "Good morning, Elizabeth, Valiant. Have a seat." He frowned. "Where are Warspite and Eli?"
"Washing the dishes," Valiant answered.
"What are you discussing about?" Elizabeth asked, taking the chair near him. There was a red circle in Glasgow, and another one at Plymouth.
"You and your sisters."
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, glancing at the map again. It didn't take more than a second for her to understand. "These markers. They indicate where you've found us."
Noah nodded. He showed her a piece of paper. It contained her and her sisters' names, scribbled next to lines of dates. "We believe that you are showing up according to your launch dates. We found you on October 16, and Warspite on November 26. Valiant appeared on the banks of Clyde on November 4."
Elizabeth read the notes. Barham and Malaya were also listed, but something wasn't right. "Hang on. Warspite was the second ship of my class, not Valiant. Why did she appear after Valiant did?"
"That's what we're trying to find out." The door opened, and Warspite entered. "Ah good. Where's Eli, Warspite?"
"She's preparing to take us to the bistro," she answered as she sat next to Elizabeth. She looked at the table, then around it. "So, why are we here?"
"He's trying to determine where Barham might appear," Elizabeth said. "And Malaya as well. Am I right, Noah?"
He nodded. Picking up a yellow marker, he drew a circle overlapping Glasgow. "Barham was built by J & G Thompson. Following Valiant's appearance, it's likely she would appear in Glasgow on December 31. Less than a month from now."
Warspite frowned. "But—"
Noah held up a hand, interrupting her. "Valiant was built after you, yes. But considering that she is here now rather than next year, we'd have to assume that Barham will be reborn soon."
"And Malaya afterwards."
"Yes." He drew another red circle around Tyne and Wear.
Elizabeth leaned forward to look, as did her sisters. It was funny how they were all of the same class, but they weren't built at the same place. Then she realized something. "Hang on. I was built at Portsmouth. Why did I appear at Devonport?"
They looked at her, then at each other. Noah sighed. "That's a mystery we can't solve yet, though if I would have to guess, it's because Grandpa Connor was part of your crew, and I'm his only living relative that's closest."
"You make it sound like we were being sent back." Even as she said it, Elizabeth shivered at the chill crawling down her spine. Being sent back…If that was true, what she had seen might indeed come to pass. After all, Valiant was in her dream, even if she hadn't seen her. And not just Valiant. There were others as well.
There would be others.
The thought frightened her, and she did her best to suppress the churning in her stomach. A part of her wished that Valiant was the last, that there would be no more ships returning as humans. It would make her dream just that: a dream. A nightmare that wouldn't come to pass, and must not.
"Is everything all right, Elizabeth?" Noah studied her carefully. He must have noticed something in her expression. Even the others were staring at her curiously.
She smiled, both to calm her heart and to assure them. "Yes. Yes, everything's all right." She cleared her throat. "So, uh, I want to know. What if it doesn't stop with us?"
Noah's eyebrows lowered. "What do you mean?"
"Well, what if… the Queen Elizabeth-class were not the only ships that have been, or would be, reborn?"
For a moment, Noah was silent. He gazed at the map with contemplation, almost as if he was at sea on a ship, forming battle plans for a crucial engagement. Elizabeth could almost see the gears in his mind spinning.
When he spoke again, his voice was firm. "If that happens, then I will do everything in my power to keep you all safe."
###
Elisa opened the see-through double glass doors, ushering them inside. "Well, here we are. Samson's Bistro and Café. It's a tad small, but we make sure everyone is comfortable."
Elizabeth looked around. The establishment was cozy and had the familiarity of a home. To her immediate right was a small bar, the dark red cushioned stools resting on the counter. Glancing left, Elizabeth saw a dozen and a half tables, pure oak wood, polished and spotlessly clean.
There was a door at the far wall, which opened to reveal a heavyset dark-skinned man emerging from the kitchen, wiping his hands with a towel.
"Ah, Samson!" Elisa said. She gestured at Elizabeth and her sisters. "Say hi to Elizabeth and Edith. I told you about them, do you remember? Elizabeth, Edith, this is Samson, my employer."
He nodded, regarding the sisters with silent scrutiny and dark eyes. After a few seconds, he said, "You are inexperienced, yes?"
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "Well, we do know how to wash dishes, and clean floors. And Elisa taught me how to cook simple dishes."
"But do you know how to interact with other people?"
The question caught her off-guard. She had not gone outside frequently ever since she arrived at the manor, Warspite even less so, but they had already met Mr. Talbot and some of the neighbors. She wasn't a recluse.
"Of course, we do," she said. "We're interacting with you, aren't we?"
"Interacting with me will be different from interacting with customers." He moved to the bar, beginning to set up the stools.
Patting Elizabeth on the shoulder, Elisa said, "I'll leave you with Sammy for now. I still have to prepare today's menu." Then she leaned and whispered, "He may look unapproachable, but he's a good chap. You and Edith will be fine."
She strode out of sight, leaving Elizabeth and Warspite standing there awkwardly. Samson continued setting up the bar. A minute passed in silence, then he spoke again. "We'll be opening in an hour. Your roles are to greet customers and usher them to a table, take orders to Lisa, and help me with other tasks. Your uniforms are in the room next to the kitchen."
"Are we hired then?" Elizabeth asked, glancing at an equally confused Warspite. They may have only been a human for several weeks, but Elizabeth was certain job interviews weren't this brief.
"No," Samson replied. "Consider this your training period. If you pass, I'll let you work here."
And with that, Elizabeth and Warspite began their first job.
It was easy at first: all they had to do was smile, scribble on a notepad, and maintain a friendly demeanor throughout the day. Elizabeth was even starting to enjoy it, finding it not too different from the daily routine of the cooks in her mess hall.
By the end of it, Samson was satisfied, though it wasn't exactly obvious from his expression. Stoic he was, with a hint of melancholy, but he was polite and, true enough, a good chap as Elisa had said.
The next day saw a tide of customers, however, but one that they had already anticipated. It seemed Elisa's splendid cooking was the main attraction, something that Elizabeth would attest to. The patrons sometimes asked for seconds, and often Elisa and Samson wouldn't ask for additional payment, though they readily accepted the generous tips.
It went on until the afternoon, when the glass doors never stopped swinging. For every customer that left, another one would replace them. It came to a point that they were already refusing customers. And even with her inhuman endurance, Elizabeth felt it was starting to overwhelm her.
At around 5 o'clock, the last table was completely vacated and the "Closed" sign put up on the door. She slumped on a table, her eyes blurry and her cheeks aching from smiling for the entire day. Warspite didn't look any better.
Elisa sat beside them with a sympathetic gaze. "I told you to leave by 2pm. You didn't listen."
"And leave you two to deal with that?" Elizabeth shook her head. "We'll be all right. We just need some rest."
"Franceska will be back tomorrow."
Elizabeth winced at that. She had almost completely forgotten. "We should be fine. Right, Edith?"
The only response she got was a snore.
Elisa chuckled. "Well, it seems this one won't be talking soon. I'll call for a cab so we can get home." She set two large paper bags, stamped with the bistro's logo, on the table. "Courtesy of Samson. You have the envelope with you?"
"Yes." Elizabeth patted her pocket, making sure the envelope was still there. 120 sterlings, half of which came from tips. And that didn't include her wage yesterday.
Despite the exhaustion she felt, Elizabeth couldn't help but smile.
###
The next morning came, and with it was the full effect of yesterday's shift at the bistro.
Groaning, Elizabeth stumbled out of her bed, feeling as if she had been struck by a full broadside. It wasn't this bad when a steel block fell on her; she was just not used to working yet. In time, she wouldn't feel as exhausted as she was now.
Hopefully.
Franceska was already in the dining room by the time Elizabeth entered, quietly chatting with Noah, who had not left yet to discuss Valiant's education.
"Good morning, Elizabeth!" Franceska greeted her with a broad smile. She seemed excited. Eager.
Elizabeth was immediately suspicious. She glanced briefly at the tutor's hands. She still wore gloves.
Making her way to her seat, Elizabeth smiled back. "Good morning, Miss Franz. I trust your trip to Scotland had been well? How's your relative?"
Franceska's eyes glimmered. "It was. My, ah, niece is doing well."
"Niece, huh?" Elizabeth murmured. Not an uncle or auntie, or even a sibling or nephew. It happened to be a niece. Noah watched the exchange silently, and she wanted to finally confront Franceska. But before she could say another word, Valiant and Warspite entered.
"And I presume she is Valerie?" Franceska asked as her smile broadened just a little bit.
Noah took a sip of his tea before replying, "Yes. I'll increase your wage accordingly, Miss Bridgeman."
"Of course." Her eyes never left Valiant, who frowned at her as she took a seat to Elizabeth's right.
"You're my tutor?" Valiant asked, biting on a steak pie.
"Yes. You may call me Franz. Mr. Dallimore was just telling me about you." Her eyes flicked toward Warspite, then Elizabeth and back to Valiant. "So, you three are sisters?"
Elizabeth nodded. "We didn't know we had another sister until Valerie was brought here."
"Interesting. Any other siblings I should know of?"
The table fell silent. Or rather, Elizabeth, Warspite, and Noah went silent while Valiant kept munching on her pie, seemingly oblivious to the atmosphere. After swallowing a bite, she said, "Well, we won't know until another one shows up, won't we? Regardless, you must focus your teachings on me."
"Focus on you?" Elizabeth repeated, narrowing her gaze.
"Of course! The smartest should obviously get the best education."
"The smartest." Warspite looked doubtful.
Valiant scoffed. "In my previous school, I was always the top of my class."
A high school, but Elizabeth didn't say that out loud. She didn't want to embarrass her sister; she was doing quite a good job at that. Besides, she doubt if Valiant would still be making the same claims once she started Franceska's lessons.
"You must be a genius, then," Franceska commented, smiling. Elizabeth knew that smile; a smile the tutor always wore whenever she had something unique planned for her lessons.
Good luck, Elizabeth thought with a smirk.
###
Elizabeth blinked. Then blinked again as she read the exam results.
Valerie. Elizabeth. Edith. In descending order.
She read it again for the third time, but there was no mistaking it: Valiant was at the top. By a very small margin. No, this was impossible! Preposterous!
The paper shook in her hands. She took a deep breath. Relax. It's just test results. It didn't mean anything. Valiant still looked ridiculous while sleeping, and she couldn't even wash the dishes properly without shattering them. Or that time when—
"Well, you do seem to be telling the truth, Valerie," Franceska said, reading a copy of the test results. "I've never thought you would surpass Elizabeth. Or any of my previous students, really."
"Was there ever any doubt?" Valiant grinned smugly.
"Mmm. But this makes you eligible for enrollment to King's College." She paused. "I'm curious, however." She put the paper down and clasped her hands on the table, staring at Valiant intently.
"About what?"
"If you are as intelligent as Elizabeth, why didn't the Mackenzies hire a tutor for you?"
"Oh that." Valiant waved a hand dismissively. "Mama hired one. But she fired her after a week."
"Why is that?" Warspite asked curiously. Elizabeth was intrigued as well. It came as a shock to her when she learned that Valiant had been enrolled in high school, considering how she and Warspite were being taught subjects only found in colleges.
Valiant's expression soured. "Mama's father died during the Pacific War. My previous tutor is a Japanese. It went all right at first, but Miss Sayaka was, shall we say, intrigued by my superior intellect. She told Mama that I should be studying at a prestigious university. And, well, Mama didn't like that. She, er, called Miss Sayaka a lot of awful names."
"Oh."
Silence filled the room. Elizabeth found it sad how people like Mrs. Mackenzie still clung to the past, rather than moving forward from it. Then again, deep wounds rarely heal easily. She wondered if, when a situation placed her face-to-face with a German, would she hate them?
Probably not, she thought. She had been a weapon, after all; her crew fired her cannons, used her to send those unfortunate souls to the dark depths of the ocean. And the same went for the enemy. She couldn't blame the soldiers whose only choices were to follow orders or risk execution.
Franceska frowned in disapproval. "That's indeed awful, but that didn't mean you had to be put in a school where your talents are wasted." She shook her head. "Well, it doesn't matter. Now I'm here, and I will give you three the proper education you deserve."
The lessons after that were even more brutal than the previous ones, and Elizabeth felt as if Franceska was squeezing every last drop of their brain liquid. Often they had assignments everyday, each one harder and forced them to study even in the evening.
If there was one boon from this, apart from preparing them for enrollment at King's College, it was being together with her sisters. For the first time since she was reborn as a human, Elizabeth could finally spend time with Valiant and Warspite, all three of them, living life as humans rather than steel vessels of war. And Elizabeth treasured every second of it.
Despite the fact that she sometimes feel the urge to wrap Valiant's ridiculous twin tails around her neck.
Christmas was drawing near, and with it was the arrival of snow. It didn't always reach Hampshire, much less Basingstoke, but this year, at least according to weather forecasting, it seemed as if they would be getting a White Christmas.
Two weeks before Christmas, the first snowflakes began to fall. By the 15th, a light sheet of white had already blanketed the town. Elizabeth woke up to an overcast morning, shivering slightly. On the other bed, Valiant was wrapped in a wool blanket, her snores still as loud.
Elizabeth sighed and got ready. Today, Sunday, was special; they were finally going shopping!
Excitement flooded her veins during breakfast. This was a first for her, and she didn't have any clue what she would buy. Clothes? Books? An earplug to grant her blessed silence at night? There were just so many things she wanted to have.
Apparently, Valiant already had a list. "Clothes, of course," she said, lounging on a seat in the dining room while Elizabeth and Warspite washed the dishes. "I'm a gorgeous young woman, and Christmas is for buying the fanciest clothes for a pretty lass like me."
"She actually said gorgeous and pretty in one sentence," Elizabeth muttered. She wasn't jealous; she knew her beauty was far superior, no matter what delusions Valiant may have.
"How about you, Warspite?" Valiant asked.
Warspite thought briefly. "Well, I was thinking of buying a new spatula and a whisk." She glanced at Elizabeth. "And you?"
Elizabeth shrugged. "I still haven't decided. Though I want something for Barham as well."
Valiant pluck a grape from a bowl. "We don't know if she will appear, though."
"Why wouldn't she?" Elizabeth asked, slightly annoyed. They were sisters, after all. There was no reason for Barham not to be reborn as well.
It was around a quarter past ten when everyone was fully dressed. "Everyone ready to go?" Noah asked with a smile.
"Yes!" Valiant cheered. Shaking her head, Elizabeth followed her excited sister to the car, taking a seat between Warspite and Elisa. It was only a short drive to The Malls, and she was already looking forward to it. Even Valiant babbling about the things she would buy and how she had to pick the best ones for her didn't dampen Elizabeth's mood.
They soon arrived, and Elizabeth gasped at the sights. A large crowd had gathered, milling around the shopping center without a care in the world, simply content with enjoying the day with their loved ones.
And the Christmas decorations! They hadn't started decorating the estate yet, on account of everyone's busy schedules, and while she had already seen some at the bistro and the neighborhood, this was a first for her seeing so many decorations in one place.
There were Christmas lights forming arches and stars in a rainbow of colors, mistletoes and hollies in every corner. Amidst the canvas of white were reds and greens, a sea of colors to fill the eyes. There were people dressed as Father Christmas, laughing merrily at passers-by.
Inside the shopping was almost a different world. A giant pine stood in the center of the lobby, hung with trumpeting angels and galloping reindeers. There were even wax figures of the Holy Family under the tree's boughs.
Noah placed a hand on her shoulder while his other held up a camera. Dressed in a red winter coat, it was difficult to imagine that he was a Rear-Admiral. "Come. Let's take a picture in front of the tree."
Elizabeth smiled. "Yes. All of us."
It was a surreal feeling having her picture taken with two of her sisters beside her, and Elizabeth couldn't wipe away the broad smile on her face. Though she had not spent a long time with them, she could finally say that they were a family, and she wished Barham and Malaya were also with them.
They separated after that. While Elisa and Warspite headed to the supermarket, Elizabeth went with Noah and Valiant to the clothing section. The amount of clothes overwhelmed her, however, and she found herself at a complete loss on what to pick.
Valiant didn't seem bothered. Her eyes shone in excitement as she scampered from one aisle to another, taking off the dresses and coats that caught her fancy from the clothes racks. Brian followed her dutifully, and soon his arms were laden.
Elizabeth trailed after them. What would she buy? She had plenty of clothes already, courtesy of Noah's gifts every time he visited on the weekends. Besides, she didn't go out often; her studies, coupled with her weekend job at the bistro, left no room for socializing.
As her mind wandered, she found herself staring at a pristine white dress, trimmed with gold, the skirt billowing wide. Elizabeth looked closer, brushing the fabric with a hand. It flowed smoothly on her skin, soft as silk.
She looked at the price, and nearly fainted. 450 sterlings. Almost as much as what she got.
"How may I help you, ma'am?" a sweet voice drifted from behind her.
Elizabeth whirled around. A saleslady stood before her, smiling politely. "Oh, um…" She glanced at the dress again, her mind at a crossroad. It would exhaust her budget if she bought it, no matter how much she loved the color of it contrasting with her hair.
With a sigh, she faced the woman and smiled back. "No, it's nothing. Just browsing the selections."
She continued searching the store afterwards, and found a nice white scarf for Warspite. For Valiant, a pair of red hair ribbons caught her eyes. It would look good on her sister's hair. And for herself, Elizabeth was content with a blue winter coat and a black skater dress.
By the time they left the store, Brian's arms were loaded with shopping bags, most of which belonged to Valiant. How her sister got so much money, Elizabeth didn't know, but it was probably from the Mackenzies. To Elizabeth's surprise, Noah came out last, carrying a couple of bags in one hand.
Elizabeth frowned. She hadn't seen much of him during her shopping. Those bags were probably for Elisa.
There was still some time before lunch, so they wandered around for a while, visiting what sights they could see. There was a carousel on the first level, the usual horses replaced with reindeers, playing a lively Christmas tune as it spun. Many of the seats were already occupied, children laughing merrily while their parents stood nearby with cameras in hand.
An idea struck Elizabeth, and she smirked. Her sister had been quite annoying ever since she arrived. Perhaps it was time to teach her a lesson. Grabbing Valiant's hand, Elizabeth dragged her along. "Come on, let's ride."
Valiant yelped. "Hang on! What are you doing? That's for children!"
Elizabeth's grin broadened. "What's wrong with that?" They had never been children, and a part of her wanted to know what that felt like, especially with her sister.
She pushed the flailing Valiant onto a reindeer, then climbed aboard the one in front, hooking her feet on the plastic stirrups. At another time, she may have lamented how her form was petite and quite child-like, but today there was none of that feeling as the carousel spun round and round.
"Get me off here!" Valiant yelled.
Elizabeth glanced over her shoulder. Valiant's slim arms were wrapped around the reindeer's neck, hanging on for dear life with her eyes squeezed shut.
Mirth bubbled within Elizabeth. Before she knew it, her laughter was ringing out. On and on the carousel spun, and her heart soared with the joy she felt, for this, she finally understood, was what it meant to be a human.
###
The days leading to Christmas was the best days of Elizabeth's life.
They had finally started decorating the manor. Rolls of ivy were hung at every window, wreaths and hollies at every door, with a small forest nearby providing most of the materials. Christmas lights illuminated the rooms in the evening, their multicolored lights dancing to a rhythm.
But Elizabeth's favorite was the small pine tree that Warspite herself had cut down, which now towered over the living room like a sentinel, its boughs draped with white lintels and golden glass balls, a white star capping the top.
In the evenings, they would often go to the pub, where Noah and Elisa introduced some of their friends. At first, Elizabeth felt awkward, barely speaking unless addressed, watching her own movements so as not to make a fool of herself. But then someone suggested a sing-along, she got encouraged to join, and soon her voice was filling the pub with Yuletide carols.
And wouldn't you know it? She actually got a good voice.
Since then, they would go out every night to visit as many house as they could within an hour. Sometimes it was just Elizabeth and Noah, but most often than not, her sisters would be with her as vocalists while Brian provided the melodies with his guitar.
And it would often turn into an impromptu concern, their audiences cheering for gracing their ears with such wonderful voices, showering them with food or sterlings. The food they would eat when they returned home, while the money was given to an eldercare for war veterans.
One night, after another fruitful Christmas caroling, Elizabeth was enjoying the pie that an old married couple gifted them when Valiant said, "I've been wondering. Why don't we form a group?"
"A group?" Elizabeth raised an eyebrow.
"Indeed. A band."
"A band," Warspite repeated.
"Yes, a band. We are all good with our voices. People will love us, and we can go on world tours and…"
As Valiant rambled abut the things they could do, and how much they would earn using their divine voices, Elizabeth imagined what life it could be. It would be just like her tours during the wars, except one of peace and as a human.
"Of course," Valiant continued, "I will be the lead singer."
Elizabeth looked at her. "You? The lead singer?"
"Why not?"
She refrained from telling her sister that her voice sounded a lot like the shrieks of a howler monkey. She didn't want to be rude. "Because I'm the eldest sister, obviously."
"Well, obviously, being the oldest doesn't mean being the best."
"You call yourself the best? Really?"
"How do you believe we got all these food and money?"
Warspite sighed. "Please don't fight."
And thus, their walk back home was filled with bickering.
###
A day before Christmas, in the evening when everyone should be fast asleep, Elizabeth's stomach growled.
The sound made her grimace. She had not eaten much during dinner, busy as she was with wrapping presents, and only now did she realize how it felt extremely uncomfortable. She could just sleep it off, certainly, but then she would wake up even hungrier than she should be.
She glanced at the clock. 11 PM. Perhaps a light snack would suffice.
Slowly she got up, padding outside her room and descending the stairs quietly on her bare feet. She was halfway through when a strange thought occurred to her.
Valiant was a loud snorer, but she had been silent. Elizabeth frowned. It was odd, and she hurried to the kitchen, hoping to return quickly and check on her sister; for all she knew, Valiant could already be suffocating in her own drool.
Elizabeth froze in the living room. Valiant wasn't in any danger, thankfully. Her head poked just above and behind the couch, where there was the faint sound of scribbling.
A late Christmas letter? For whom? Curious, Elizabeth stalked toward her sister, stepping on the carpet to dampen her footsteps. Peering from the side of the couch, she saw her hunched over a paper, with a wrapped box sitting next to her.
Slowly, Elizabeth extended her arm and poked Valiant in the shoulder. "Hey."
The accompanying shriek nearly shattered Elizabeth's eardrums, and she could have sworn Valiant had leapt so high her feet went past Elizabeth's head.
When her sister had finally calmed down, clutching her heart and the paper, she was glaring. "Why are you here?" Valiant demanded.
"I got hungry." She peered at the letter, which Valiant quickly hid behind her back. Elizabeth smirked. "What's that? A letter for your crush?"
"Of course not, idiot!" Valiant said indignantly. "It's… It's for Mama and Papa."
"Oh."
An awkward silence fell between them. Elizabeth only knew about the Mackenzies through second-hand accounts from Noah and Valiant herself, and she had assumed that her sister's time with them hadn't been the best. "You miss them?" she asked softly.
"Sometimes," Valiant mumbled. "They aren't bad people. Mama was just strict, is all. But I left without talking to her, and, well…" She gestured at the box.
Elizabeth nodded. "And what's inside?"
"An angel figurine. To remind her of myself." She sat down with a sigh. "But finding a gift was the easy part."
Elizabeth looked at the letter in Valiant's hand. She didn't believe Valiant would find it so difficult; she always rambled about herself and her accomplishments. Then again, Elizabeth had her own flaws that would be hard to admit on paper.
"Do you want me to help you?" she asked hesitantly. Annoying or not, they were still sisters.
Valiant stared at her suspiciously, as if sensing for deception. "Why would you?"
"Why not?"
There was a moment's pause, an internal struggle within Valliant. Finally, she handed the letter. "All right," she mumbled.
Elizabeth smiled. "Let me get some pie first."
###
Christmas brought a fine cool morning, perfect for the celebration that was to come later.
Throughout the day, Elizabeth and her sisters helped Elisa prepare the dishes while Noah sent away some last minute presents to his friends. As Elizabeth stuffed the turkey with peas and potatoes, Valiant mumbled to her left, "Thank you for helping me last night."
"You're welcome." Elizabeth patted her on the head, belatedly realizing that her hand was sticky with sauce.
Valiant's yelp echoed in the kitchen.
A few visitors came and stayed shortly as the Queen's Christmas message drew near, bearing presents and pies. Samson arrived with a box for Elisa, though he had to leave soon.
It was in the afternoon, an hour before the message, when the doorbell rang. Elizabeth had just finished helping Elisa and Warspite put the turkey in the oven when she heard it.
"Beth, could you check who it is?" Elisa asked.
"Of course."
Elizabeth scampered to the front door, hoping it would be the last visitor. Not that she minded, and the manor was so big it felt strange celebrating Christmas with just five of them, but she wanted some peace and quiet during dinner and while opening the presents.
She opened the front. Outside the gate, Franceska waved, a bag in hand.
"Happy Christmas!" her tutor greeted cheerfully.
"Happy Christmas, Miss Franz!" Elizabeth smiled, unlocking the gate. "Would you like to come inside? We are just about to have dinner. Oh, hang on. I almost forgot. We have a present for you." She was about to rush back inside the manor when Franceska shook her head.
"I just dropped by to give these presents," she said. "I actually have a flight to catch soon."
"A flight? On Christmas?" Elizabeth frowned.
"Yes. I'll be spending the holidays in Japan," she said with a grin. "Don't worry. I'll bring back something for everyone."
"Thank you," Elizabeth said uncertainly. Something about it nagged at her mind, but it was Christmas, and she really didn't want to think about anything else, at least for today. Her suspicion could wait. "Have a safe trip then, Miss Franz."
"Thank you. And don't forget, you three have an exam when I returned." Her tutor winked, waving goodbye with her bare hand. As she strode away, Elizabeth looked inside the bag. Books, as always. Then she frowned, pulling out one of them.
"A picture book?" she said incredulously. "What am I, a child?" She caught herself quickly, sighing. Valiant was starting to rub off on her.
Upon closer inspection though, she realized it wasn't just an ordinary picture book. Setting the bag down on the porch for a moment, she flipped through the pages.
Each of them depicted a variety of Royal Navy warships, from World War I to World War II. It's rather unimpressive, considering that the manor's library had more extensive collections of the same topic. But a present was a present, and it would be rude to be ungrateful.
She was about to put it back on the bag when her right foot slipped, nudging the bag on its side, spilling the rest of the contents. They were all picture books, she realized, but the rest were different.
They were books about the navies of Japan, Germany, and the United States.
###
The Queen's Christmas message came and went just as quickly. Short but meaningful, it emphasized unity, compassion, and above all, love.
For that was the answer to everything, wasn't it? And as they gathered in the living room for the main event of the day, after a hearty Christmas dinner, Elizabeth couldn't help but smile as she opened her presents. As the lead ship of her class, Noah had decided that she would go first.
Elisa's present was a pair of pretty black high-heeled shoes, adding to her height by at least three inches, which was already a great deal. "For when you have to attend parties," Elisa explained.
Elizabeth gave her a hug, murmuring her thanks. It wasn't the first present she had received and opened, but it was a beautiful present, and one she would cherish.
Valiant was next, a flat box in her hand, secured neatly in golden ribbons and silver wrappings. She was grinning, and looked curiously excited. "We can play this later."
A game? Puzzled, Elizabeth unwrapped it and gasped. It was a chess set, but of the expensive kind, the board exquisite and heavy. Inside, the pieces were crystal, sparkling in the light.
"Isn't that expensive and unnecessary?" Elisa said, sipping her wine. "We have a chess set upstairs."
Valiant sniffed. "It's old. Besides, this is prettier."
Must have cost a lot though, Elizabeth thought.
Then Warspite approached, a sheepish smile on her face as she presented a bag. "I don't know what to give you, but I thought you'd find this useful when we bake."
It was a white apron, of course, but styled with frills. There were also gloves, which fitted snugly into Elizabeth's gloves.
"I've got a matching pair," Warspite added, holding up another bag. Valiant frowned.
"You've got one for me as well?"
"Of course."
Valiant brightened, and began searching the treasure trove under the tree. With a triumphant cry, she found the present with her name on it. As she pulled out the apron, an idea occurred to Elizabeth.
"Hang on. Why don't we have a photo with all three of us wearing them?" she suggested.
"That's a good idea," Elisa said.
As they donned the aprons, Noah soon held a camera in his hand. He directed Elizabeth and her sisters to stand in front of the Christmas tree. Elizabeth stood in the middle, with her sisters on either side.
"I don't have a make-up on," Valiant said, smoothing her hair. Warspite glanced at her incredulously.
"What would you need a make-up for?"
"Well, obviously, this will be our first photo together," Valiant reasoned. "I have to look my best!"
"Ready?" Noah called, interrupting her. He peered through the camera, then at them. "Valiant, Warspite, could you two stand closer to Elizabeth. Yes, that's it." He smiled. "All right. Ready?"
On the count of three, the camera lights flashed.
They opened the rest of the presents after that. Elisa received a new cooking pot, while Warspite was delighted with the scarf Elizabeth had brought for her, wrapping it around her neck after the two shared a brief embrace. And there was Valiant admiring her ribbons in the mirror, twisting her head this way and that, a wide smile on her face.
And there were more presents. Sweaters and mugs and even a new tea set courtesy of Samson. But as the boxes underneath the Christmas tree dwindled, Elizabeth noticed a present right near the back, tucked away as if it was meant to be opened last.
"Elisa, is that for you?" Elizabeth asked, pointing at the box.
The younger Dallimore followed her gaze and smirked, amusement glinting in her eyes. "Maybe. Could you pick it up for me, Beth?"
With a shrug, Elizabeth approached the tree, kneeling in front of it. As her fingers brushed against the wrappings, however, her eyes caught the small card attached with her and Noah's names on it.
She whirled around in confusion, and saw Noah nodding with a smile. "Open it, Elizabeth."
Elizabeth's heart hammered as she unraveled the ribbon with trembling fingers. What could this be? Another dress? She already had three that she had just received. It couldn't be more books, either. A bag, then, for her impending enrollment next year? Or perhaps a winter coat?
When the wrappings were undone and she removed the box's lid, her breath caught. It was a dress. The same white dress she had seen in that store, the one she couldn't buy but had promised herself to save her money for.
She stood, holding it in her trembling hands, and looked at Noah, her eyes misty. But she blinked back the tears. It… It would be embarrassing if she let them fall, especially in front of her sisters!
She tried to speak, but no words came out and she glanced at Elisa for help.
Elisa smiled. "Why don't you try it on?"
"M-May I?"
"Of course! It's yours, dear."
Within minutes, Elizabeth was standing in front of them in her white dress. It fitted her nicely, perfectly, almost as if the dress was tailored just for her—from the way the bodice clung tightly to her lithe frame to the skirt falling just above her feet.
She twirled around once, giggling softly. "Well, how do I look?" she asked, beaming at everyone, but mostly for Noah, whose eyes shone with happiness and unshed tears.
"Queenly," he murmured.
Elizabeth grinned. And then she approached, and without a word, engulfed him in a tight embrace. "Thank you."
Two simple words, but they held all the feelings she had—her gratitude, her love. Two things she could only give for the man who brought her and her sisters together.
For a moment, Noah was silent. Then his arms slowly snaked around her. "You are most welcome, Queen Elizabeth."
She heard a sniffle, and Elizabeth turned to see Elisa wiping her eyes, as did Warspite. Valiant was looking away, her hair hiding her eyes. But her own sniffling was unmistakable.
"Are you three just going to stand there," Noah said with humor, "or are you going to join in?"
Elisa's laughter filled the room, and before long, Elizabeth was engulfed, not with explosions and blowtorches, but with the loving embraces of her family.
And with that, the first act is officially finished! Obviously, this story is far from complete, and the following chapters will be quite different in terms of tone and plot. I do hope you guys are not averse to school drama and romance, as well as bits of political intrigue and thriller.
Anyway, the next chapter should be interesting as more shipgirls will appear, so stay tuned for that!
Thank you for the support. Until next time!