[center][h1] [color=00aeef]Pirates, Pirates everywhere [/color][/h1][/center]

It had been a week, Niesha felt that nothing could subdue what she felt, each day  waking up to Zach. It was...amazing. She had since ceased to fear that her father would find her alive, he hadn't so far, and now he couldn't do anything, truly, about it. So she let herself be happy, enjoying every moment. Living in her offices, she'd finally set about clearing the second level, which was full of supplies that she just hadn't gotten around to sorting. 

She wanted to give them more room, and thought the second level would do that. Originally, the building had been a store, with the second level as the owners living quarters, but when Niesha had come to the offices, it had already been a healing space. So she had merely taken the empty rooms at the back of the building to live in, and hadn't done anything about the second level. 

She stood, finally, in mid-morning to the now empty space, satisfied with what had been done. Downstairs, everything was organised, although it still seemed oddly cluttered and disorganized. She came down the stairs happily, intent on seeking out Zach. 

Zach was across the road busy at his forge. He was whistling while he worked and Sofia was inside the house sewing. Zach had watched over his sister and Kendrick and he was pleased that they seemed to get along well enough. He had noticed that Niesha was going through the upstairs portion of the building when she wasn't busy with patients. 

Zach had found that he had never been happier. He hadn't really figured out how he had survived so long without Niesha. She was the sparkle in his eye and the rise in his step. People who knew him were smiling at how happy he was. 

Some of the townsfolk had begun to speak of the unsavory characters docking off of the ships recently. Some of which had the look and speech of pirates. Zach had started paying more attention now that he was married and Sofia was as well. Niesha rarely made house calls and he would take her if she was in need to make one. Sofia walked back and forth to the castle almost daily. Since the castle was parallel to the water that put her in a decent amount of danger.  He had to remind himself a few times that Kendrick would have to keep a good eye on his wife. he also knew Kendrick couldn't go near the castle or he would be imprisoned so he kept his eyes on his sister too. 

Sofia looked up as she entered the forge closing up the house. [color=f49ac2]"Hi Niesha. How has your morning been? I have to run this up to the castle and sew it to the bottom of the dress now."[/color] She hugged her sister in law and brother. [color=f49ac2] "Kendrick is out and about. So if he shows just tell him where I went."[/color] Zach nodded and smiled at his wife. Sofia grinned and left. Zach kissed his wife deeply, [color=00aeef]"Hello love, did you finish your organizing on the 2nd floor?"[/color]

Niesha hugged Sofia back, she was quite enjoying having a sister, even if by marriage. The only thing she truly missed from her old life, was her brother. She had followed his life somewhat the last two years, and knew that he's married the girl their father had wanted him to and seemed quite happy. She smiled at Zach, returning the kiss, thinking she might never get use to the way such contact made her feel. [color=f7941d]"yes, I truly didn't think it would take so long, but it's done now. Now all we need to do is move everything in there"[/color]

She knew that could be easily done, so she wasn't worried about how long it would take. They'd been okay so far on the back rooms. [color=f7941d]"I was worried about a lack of bandages, but I found a whole lot up there, which is good. The merchant that comes around is late. I hope something hasn't happened to him, with all the talk about pirates"[/color] Niesha had been thrilled to find the box of bandages, the last one she had carried down the stairs, but it had brought about worry. [color=f7941d]"I hope it's just talk"[/color] if there was to be any sort of war, the King would rally his banners, which meant her father. 

While she wasn't afraid he could do anything, she didn't particularly want such a conflict, not when she was so happy, and felt so free for the first time. She knew she'd never allow herself to be taken back, not now that she had everything she wanted, but the conflict would reveal that she was a nobles daughter, and bring trouble for them. 

Zach had hear such rumors as well and had seen a few of these miscreants and he made certain that  they knew he wasn't one to fool with. Zach had a stash of beautiful swords and Sofia carried a beautiful and dangerous short sword that was fitted to her perfectly. She had only needed to pull it out once or twice but he had made her practice with him regularly for years.

[color=00aeef]"I'm going to make a short sword for you. One that will let you feel less a victim if you are put in a bad situation. I'll teach you to swordfight."[/color] Zach said this with a devilishness that made Niesha smile as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. Resting his forehead against hers he nuzzled her neck and kissed it. Hearing her chuckle he sighed happily. 

Niesha debated whether to mention she knew how to use a sword,  even though it had been two years since she has wielded the practice blades that were all that were allowed her. The prospect of an actual sword was both exciting, and terrifying. Perhaps it would be different, training with a real sword. Besides, the training she had begged for had been what any nobles son would learn as a child, she had tried to convince her brother to teach her more, but he hadn't wanted to risk their fathers anger if she got hurt, and by then she was being paraded about for prospective husbands. She didn't want to build herself up only to make a fool of herself. 

[color=f7941d]"That would be geat"[/color] she said, although right then, she didn't want to go anywhere, happy right where she was in his arms. She leaned against him, wanting to be as close as possible. [color=f7941d]"I love you"[/color] Niesha took great joy in saying this, whenever she could.

Zach kissed his wife deeply and pulled the sword out of the fire and carried her across the street kicking the door shut and into their room. Where he then showed her how she made him feel. The townsfolk outside chuckled to themselves as Niesha blushed at her husbands public dispay of affection. After a couple of hours, Zach's voice deepened and he told her he loved her in no uncertain terms as he smoothed her hair back.

Sofia had wrapped the bodice of the dress she was working on and was in a hurry to get to the castle. The baronness was in a hurry to get the dress. It was basically finished except for some details arounf the edges and sewing the two pieces together. If all went well it could be finished today. 

Sofia saw some extra foot traffic up ahead and she was fairly close to the castle. The gates were open and she heard screaming up ahead. Normally this wouldn't have worried her but there was a large tattered looking ship in the bay. She loved looking at the ships but this one looked, menacing. She heard male laughter and fighting. Someone ran into her and she dropped her package. Reaching down for it she was angrily bumped sideways and a disgustingly unkempt man grabbed her around the waist. 

[color=f49ac2]"Let go of me!"[/color] Sofia screamed angrily kicking at the man.

[@dabombjk]