"I think you're ready for an actual sword," Ed said one morning, as he and Tilly were getting ready for their lesson.

"Really?" Tilly looked up in surprise from where she's been picking up their training sticks.

Ed nodded as he produced two swords. He held one out to Tilly and she just stared at it. Ed let out a laugh, "You don't need to look so shocked, it's just the next step in your training. Just treat it like you did the sticks."

Tilly slowly reached out and took hold of the offered sword, "Just sharper and more dangerous," she muttered.

Ed smiled, "Exactly!"

Tilly looked down at the sword she was holding and frowned, "Is this sharp?"

"It's a sword,"

"Right." Tilly took up a deep breath and took up her normal stance.

"We'll go more slowly," Ed said, sensing Tilly's nerves, "Don't want you accidently cutting yourself."

Tilly nodded, "Come on then, let's do this."

Ed eyed Tilly up and down before nodding to himself. He swung his sword slowly at Tilly and she raised her sword up to block him.

Ed smiled, "Good. Now attack me."

Tilly swung at Ed with force, going at full speed, unlike Ed had. Even so, Ed easily blocked her attack, "Well done," he said.

Tilly smiled, "Thanks." She relaxed her grip slightly and her sword slid down Ed's, catching him on the shoulder, "Oh my god! I'm so sorry," Tilly cried, instantly dropping her sword and letting it clatter to the floor.

"What? Oh," Ed glanced down at the tear in his shirt and the slight trail of blood on his shoulder, "That's nothing, just a nick. I can barely feel it."

Tilly stepped forward frantically and reached out to Ed, "No, you're bleeding!" She cried,

"It's really nothing, Tilly."

Tilly looked up at Ed with big, worried eyes, "Please let me fix it up," she said desperately,

"It's doesn't need…"

"Please?"

"Okay,"

"Thank you."

Tilly took hold of Ed's hand and lead him below deck and into the kitchen.

"Sit down," Tilly said, as she pulled out a chair for Ed.

Ed raised his eyebrow at Tilly but did as she asked.

Tilly then turned around and set about riffling through the cupboards,

"That draw over there," Ed said, nodding to Tilly's left,

"What?"

"The first aid kit is in that draw over there. That is what you're looking for isn't it?"

"Err, yes." Tilly turned to the draw Ed had nodded at and pulled out a box, "Thank you." She brought the box over to Ed and set it down on the table. She opened it to find a bunch of bandages, a knife, a saw, and a bottle brandy. She raised her eyebrow at Ed,

"What else could you need?" Ed replied.

Tilly sighed and took out a roll of bandages, "Can you…?"

Ed nodded and set about undoing the top few buttons of his shirt before he pulled it down, exposing his shoulder.

"Thank you," Tilly said, before she stated to wrap the bandage around Ed's shoulder.

"This is really unnecessary," Ed said, "It's just a small cut,"

"I know," Tilly said, "But I feel bad. Let me have this."

Just as Tilly finished wrapping Ed's shoulder, Fang poked his head around the door, "Izzy's spotted a merchant ship just a few miles off and Captain's given the order for a raid. With the wind the way it is it won't take us long to get there," he said.

Ed jumped up and did his shirt back up, "I'll be there in a moment,"

"Me too," Tilly said.

Ed turned and frowned at Tilly, "No, you're staying here," he said firmly,

"What? Why?"

"Why? You'll be killed! It's a pirate raid,"

"No, I won't. I just made you bleed, didn't I?"

Ed looked down at his shoulder, then back at Tilly, "You nicked me. That wouldn't stop a proper fight. In a proper fight that wouldn't have happened at all." Ed walked towards the door,

"Excuse me!"

"Tilly, before this morning you hadn't held a sword before. You're staying here,"

"You can't stop me."

Ed narrowed his eyes, "Watch me." Ed stepped out of the room and shut the door behind him.

"I'd like to see you try!" Tilly shouted as she marched over to the door, but when she went to open it, she found that she couldn't. She frowned and threw her full weight against the door, but it still didn't budge. She slammed her hand against the wood, "Edward!" She yelled, "Let me out right now!" But there was only silence in return. She doubted Ed was even by the door anymore. She let out a scream of frustration and collapsed down onto the floor, she pulled her knees up against her chest and started to sob quietly. She could hear people moving about above her and then quiet, she assumed they'd boarded the other ship.

-x-

Tilly didn't know how long she sat there; long enough that her tears had all dried up, but eventually she heard the sound of people returning to the Revenge. However, still nobody came down to free her. She felt the Revenge set off and then finally she heard the sound of somebody's footsteps making their way down from the deck towards her. There came the sound of a key in the kitchen door lock and Ed pushed the door open.

He looked down at Tilly, still curled up on the floor and bit his lip, "Sorry," he said quietly.

Tilly looked up and glared at Ed,

"We're heading to a port so we can off load some cargo," Ed said, "We'll be there very soon."

Tilly got to her feet and stormed past Ed, deliberately bashing into his shoulder as she passed him,

"Tilly!" Ed called after her, "I am sorry, I truly am, but it was the right thing to do."

Tilly spun around to face Ed, "Why?" She snapped, "Why was it the right thing to do?"

Ed frowned in confusion, "I would have thought that was obvious," he said.

The ship came to a stop and Tilly felt them drop anchor.

"I didn't want you to get hurt," Ed said.

Tilly shrugged, "Would you have done that for any of them?" She asked, sweeping her arm at the rest of the crew.

Ed closed his eyes, "No,"

"So why do it for me?"

"Because you're my sister."

Tilly marched forward and stuck her finger in Ed's face, "No," She snapped, "You don't get to suddenly act all big brotherly after all this time. Don't act like you suddenly care,"

"I do care!"

Tilly let out a hollow laugh, "No, you don't! If you cared, you would have come to visit. I'd have met you more than once in my entire life. If you cared you'd reply to Mum's letters. It breaks her heart that you never write her back! How hard would that be if you actually cared?"

Tilly turned on her heals and marched towards the edge of the ship, "Lower the gangplank," she said to Wee John.

Wee John glanced at the Captain, looking for confirmation,

"Now," Tilly shouted, a clear edge of desperation in her voice.

Wee John quickly lowered the gangplank and Tilly jumped up on to it.

"Tilly!" Ed called,

"Leave me alone Edward," Tilly cried.

Tilly heard Ed take a step after her, but Stede caught his arm and whispered, "Let her go, Ed, give her some time."

Tilly didn't turn around, she just stormed straight off the ship.