Chapter two

“Love, you’d be wanting to get up now, you’ll be eatin’ with me” The voice of the captain broke though her thoughts. She looked up at him. Where he was expecting to see tears he saw nothing. Her face was as clear as it hade been the few hours ago when he had first seen her. “What’s that love? No tears?” he raised an eyebrow at her. She said nothing at first and merely pushed herself to her feet and stood before him.

“You may call me Miss Bryan, thank you” she said defiantly, ignoring the question, and stood. However her legs quickly gave out and she clutched to the nearest thing to make sure she wouldn’t fall. Unfortunately for her the nearest thing was the Captain. Smirking he held her up.

“It seems the misses never sailed before ‘as she?” His voice was slightly raspy and he held her. She looked away from him and out towards the ocean. The port city she had been living in was not to be seen, nor had it been able to be seen by the naked eye for nearly 5 hours now.

“Alright, Miss Byran, this way, I ‘spect you’ll be wantin’ to lay down.” He said and started leading her. She stubbornly walked with him, making it evident in her reluctantness that she disdained being here. “Miss, you seem upset to be ‘ere yet there are no tears that stain your pretty little face”

“No, I do not cry” She said hotly. She held her chin up walking slowly beside him. She did not want to be touched by him, nor did she want to touch him unfortunately, her legs were weak and she could not stand on her own. All she wanted was to go home. “How long are you keeping me here?” she asked him.

“That’d be of no importance to ye Love.” He said and opened the door to his cabin. “In ye go Miss Bryan.” He bowed lightly and waited for her to walk in. She hesitated for a moment then slightly wobbly yet elegantly walked past him into the Captain’s cabin. He stood erect and followed her in closing the door behind him. He stared at her, her back facing him as she leaned against a wall for support, and took in her beauty from this angle. “Yes can rest on the bed” He said and gestured to it. She turned and looked at him

“You expected me to lay in a bed which you yourself sleep in also?” she asked slightly shocked. “Sir I am no two pence whore”

“Nay love I don’t suspect you is, not many ‘ors can dress like that” There was a grin evident on his face and a twinkle in his eyes that all but screamed out he would be the one to know. “I shan’t bother ye love, If the missus would like I’ll leave the room” He said. She eyed him slightly and nodded curtly

“You leaving the room would be nice, and don’t touch me while I sleep!” She glared at him. He held his hands in the air to show defeat and slowly backed up to the door. When he got there he turned and walked out, closing to door behind him. He looked about the deck and sighed, this was going to be a long, long voyage.

Ember wobbled over to the bed, she made no attempt to undress or make her self comfortable other than slipping of her shoes. She lay down, covering herself with the blankets and curled up. She stared at the wall, wondering what would happen to her, how she would ever get though this ordeal and still make it out alive. It wasn’t long before sleep over too her and she drifted off into a dream land she visited many times, but only rarely remembered her trips.

Out on deck Captain Tobias walked the quarter deck. He sighed as he relieved his first mate, Meyer, from the wheel and took over. He gazed out into the horizon and took a deep breath. He loved the sea, the smell, the sight, even the rough storms that sometimes overtook his ship. He would never give it up, not even for some woman, although there was no doubt in his mind that that’s what his men thought. No he would not leave them for her; she would leave her world for them. Sooner or later, he knew she would fall in love with him; he just had to get her to get over the fact that he had kidnapped her first.

Thought of similar components were running though many of the crew’s head. The captain, by the end of this voyage, would fall in love with that girl, they could all tell it. She was where he had com from, civilized, clean, and intelligent. They all knew of the captains former life. How he had gone from rich young boy seeking adventure, to rough calloused man, loving his job yet longing for the luxuries of his old life. They all knew he would never admit it to anyone though. So in short when the captain had guessed that then men though he would leave them he was right, however what he hadn’t known was on there mind was how long it would take. Many of the men who weren’t working, if they weren’t asleep, were talking about it in the forecastle.

“Pretty whore she is this time aint she?” One asked

“Aye, don’t let the cap’n ‘ear you” said another

“Awe wots ‘e gonna do ‘bout it? Eh?” Yes another asked

“If ye ask me, I think he just wonts some company rather ‘an us” The first one said “’sides, you know ‘is background, its o‘vious ‘e misses the old days of ‘is.”

And so conversations went on like this for a few days that is until the crew noticed something. The girl, elegant and dainty as she looked, seemed even more fragile than they guessed. Apparently, on only the second day she had thrown up three times. The poor crew was forced to go clean it up, and yet none complained at the sighed of her. She was covered in sweat, perhaps from not getting any fresh air, or perhaps from still being dressed in the many layers she had arrived in, none knew. What they did know is that the captain was spending more and more time in his cabin, and came out only to give important orders, otherwise it was all Meyers doing the ordering. No one really knew what went on in the cabin but they all assumed the same, the poor girl was sick as a dog and the captain was taking care of her.

They were right on the spot with that assumption. Captain Tobias would spend hours on end in his cabin, wiping Ember’s forehead with a damp cloth, and making sure she was okay. He had considered taking of a few layers but decided against it as she might get a bit miffed if he had.

Three more days went passed before she was even able to sit up in the bed, and after that it took two more days before she was able to stand again. It was on the first day she stood up out of the bed that she realized she had even been sick. The captain had been out on the deck, she got up, holding onto a wall and waited for a moment, she let go and wobbled slightly but stood. She took a deep breath and took a few step with her bare feet. She smiled lightly and looked around the cabin and for the first time, really tok in what was decorating it. The bed she had been on for the past seven days, although she did not know it had been that long, was large enough for two people. It was covered in a few sheets, which she assumed used to be white. Covering the walls were a few maps and more maps and instruments, the like of which Ember had never seen before, sat on a table in the corner. There was another small table; possible for eating on, and near it were two armchairs. She was slightly shocked not expecting this.

The door to the cabin opened. Ember turned around to see who is was. She blinked one, twice then three times before she smiled gently, in the doorway stood Captain Tobias. Having woken up a few times while he was helping her, she figured he couldn’t be too bad.

“Awy, Miss Bryan, ye finally awake, an’ up I see” He said grinning and walking over to her. “How you be feelin’ love?” He asked

“Better, much better, I want to thank you for you help.” She said and nodded softly. “I know that the way I had acted before did not give you reason to take care of me, and I would just like to say thank you.”

“Aye miss, it was nothin’” He said “Now, since ye up an walking love, ye might wan’ some fresh air, it’ll do ye wonders” He said and moved towards the door and held it opened for her. She blinked again but headed out all the same.

Her first step out she was hit instantly with the salty air of the sea. She took in a deep breath and smiled. It was a beautiful day out, a nice strong yet gentle wind, clouds scattered though the sky sporadically and the sea, calm as ever. She smiled and looked around the ship. She noticed that most eyes were on her. There was a man in the ratlines who was looking down at her and a few on the forecastle deck also watching her. Ignoring the stares she walked over to the side of the ship. She leaned over gently and looked down past the stern and into the water. She smiled and turned to face the opposite direction. There was another crew member at the wheel. She recognized him as one who had also helped her, even if it was just cleaning the vomit. She slowly walked over to him.

“e-excuse me” She said softly “I do hope im not bothing you but thank you” She said and nodded her head. “I know it was probably only orders and you most likely wanted nothing to do with me, but still thank you for your help” She said. He looked at her slightly shocked.

“Aye missus, ‘twas no problem,” He said as gently as he harsh voice could “don’t want no one dyin’ on the ship, and ones gotta ‘have a clean cabin when ye sick” He said and shrugged “But, ye welcome miss.” Smiling she turned and started down the deck.

She didn’t know how long they had been out to sea, nor did she truly care, but she was curious. However the ship intrigued her more, the only time she had been on a ship was in her dreams. She wondered around running her hands over random surfaces. As she felt her hand go over a smooth piece of wood she realized for the first time she had no gloves on. She blinked and stood there staring at her hand for a moment wondering where they had gone. However it wasn’t long before she gave up on trying to figure out why she didn’t have it and went back to exploring.

Captain Tobias now walked the length of the quarterdeck. His eyes would either be ahead of him or on her. She was doing better and he knew she would be hungry soon. He called up his first mate, Mr. Meyer and gave him so quick instructions

“Mr. Meyer, I want you to relay a message to our pretty little guest” He said grinning.

“Aye sir, and what shall that message be sir?”

“Tell Miss Bryan that tea will be served in my cabin at the end of forenoon watch and that lunch will be accompanied, she is to meet me there.” He said and waved off Mr. Meyer. Nodding Meyer quickly rushed down the step and went in search of Ember. Spotting her near the foremast he walked up to her.

“Miss Bryan,” He called out gruffly “The cap’n wants you in ‘is cabin at the end of forenoon watch” He told her. She stared at him blankly

“Pardon me?” She said softly. There was a sigh from Meyers followed by seven bells.

“Its forenoon watch now miss, next will be eight, which means the end of forenoon watch, you are to go to Cap’n Tobias’ cabin for tea an’ lunch.” He repeated.

“OH!” she cried out lightly “Thank you, I do apologize, I’ve never said before” she said shortly

“Aye miss, we all know that” He said and chuckled. She blinked and looked at him.

“And what’s so funny sir?” she asked slightly upset

“Now, now, don’t go getting your pettie coats in a knot, its jus’ o’vious from your sickness.” He said and shook his head. She glared lightly at him and turned

“Tell the captain I will come to his cabin and eat when I feel like it” She and started off. However she didn’t get very far.

“Miss, I would upset the cap’n, ‘e can get very nasty when he ain’t ‘appy” He said and let her go.

“I will eat when I want to, and that’s final.” She said stubbornly and walked off. He shook his head and walked back to the captain. Said captain was now at the wheel and waiting for the time to pass.

“Cap’n” Meyer said as he walked up the stairs and towards Tobias.

“Yes Mr. Meyer?” He asked “did she have any request?” he asked

“Well sir she says she ain’t coming until she’s ready” He said. Tobias stood there and watched him for a moment, letting the information sink in.

“ She what?” He growled out

“ She says she refuses to come to your cabin and eat until she’s good an ready” He said again. There was a growl from Tobias and he banged on the wheel

“Damn it!” He looked at Meyer “Take the wheel” he rasped out and left. He walked into to his cabin fist clenched. He slammed the door shut and sat in his arm chair and waited. He sat there for some time, eight bells rang and nothing. One bell rang signaling the first half hour past the beginning of afternoon watch and still no one came in. Then, at two bells there was a knock at the door.