[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/171213/3a71bbce934e727dcc2ba5aaefd89e91.png[/img][/center] A little while later Anna returned to the tavern and started cleaning up the second she walked in. She didn't see Alex right away. She was lost in her own thinking. Alex watched her clean up, not saying anything. There was obviously something very important on her mind, and Alexander didn't wish to disturb her. After a few minutes he finally decided to say something. [color=0072bc]"So..... what's the plan?" [/color] He did not want to push her into making any choices she would later regret. Anna didn't even look up she just kept wiping the table. What was she supposed to say to him? After a moment she stopped and stood still while not looking at him, [color=bc8dbf]"I know we were together last night but you also know how I feel about Verrick. I'm not sure if you and I- can ever be more than friends. Let's get away from here. I need time to think and going to sea sounds so peaceful and wonderful right now." [/color]She looked up at him and the pleading look in her eyes would have made lesser men cry. [color=bc8dbf]"Please." [/color] Alexander stood up and walked over to where she was. He stopped her cleaning and looked down at her. [color=0072bc]"Go get whatever you want to bring, I will get some people to come clean the tavern while we are gone. You can stay at my estate until you feel comfortable enough to come home. I will have the ship ready to go sailing anytime you like." [/color] Alexander's heart was breaking to see Anna so conflicted. Anna wrapped her arms around him in a hug,[color=bc8dbf] "Thank you Alex."[/color] Her lips brushed his cheek and she stepped past him and went upstairs to get her things. Anna basically packed almost everything she owned into a couple of bags. As she was packing she opened the drawer that held the few baby things she had kept. They were the only reminders she had of that time. Her hand shook as she touched them and she quickly shoved the small blanket and toy into her bag. Maybe eventually she wouldn't need them anymore. A few minutes later she came downstairs and took all of the money out of the cash drawer and she tossed all of her throwing knives in her bag. [color=bc8dbf]"I'm ready, if you are."[/color] She said looking around at the tavern where she had spent most of her life. She felt sorrow and grief. She had a lot of loss happen in this place. She gave Alex a soft smile. When Anna came down stairs Alexander had been writing something on a napkin in the tavern. Alex smiled back at her then went back to writing. When he finished he loomed back up at her and nodded. [color=0072bc]"I have two questions. One, where is the nearest messenger station, and two, where would you like to stay? I have a castle in the woods or a manor in the center of town. Up to you."[/color] Alexander held the writing utensil at the ready. [color=bc8dbf]"If you have anything going out I'd really like to be on the ship and learn how to sail. Treat me like part of the crew. Besides, Verrick said to get out of town. I'm not sure it's wise to stay anywhere around here right now."[/color] Alexander finished up the note and signed the bottom of it. "Come with me and then we will leave. After walking out the door he turned into the stables and began to saddle up his horse. [color=0072bc]"Get your horse ready for a ride, and let me carry your bags. I think I may be able to get us there faster than by land, if my memory serves me correct."[/color] Alexander patted his horse when he finished getting it ready, [color=0072bc]"I may have a friend in town with a boat."[/color] Anna went back out and she jammed the door shut to the tavern behind them. She had a distinct feeling that her life was about to take a major change. Climbing up on her horse she looked out over the city as they rode away. As they rode out of the city Alexander stayed on the path for about an hour then suddenly stopped. He looked around for a bit seemingly looking for something. Out of nowhere Alexander shouted "Aha!!"and took a right off the trail. He waved for Anna to follow then started off into the woods. After about three minutes they came out of the woods following a trail that seemed to run parallel with the road. After riding on this new trail for about 30 min the path opened up to reveal a small harbor. It was only a few docks, with one actual building nearby. The cove itself was more of a hidden inlet, with only a small opening for ships to come and go. Alexander turned back to face Anna with a big grin on his face. [color=0072bc]"May I present the wonders of smuggling."[/color] Anna had been following and wondered why they were going into the woods. Upon seeing the dock she grinned excited to see the ship in the dock. [color=bc8dbf]"Smuggling? Seriously? Why M'lord I never expected you to be an element of the criminal kind."[/color] She teased him a little. [color=bc8dbf]"What have you been smuggling?"[/color] She smirked. Anna slid off her horse and looked up at Alexander. [color=bc8dbf]"What about my horse?" [/color] Alexander slid off his horse and stood next to her looking out at the ships. [color=0072bc]"I am a lawful citizen and have never smuggled anything in my life, at least not while I was captain. That smaller ship out there belongs to one of my oldest friends and one of the most successful smugglers in the business. You don't need to be worried about your horse, these men have snuck everything past the king's navy, including live animals. I think you will like him."[/color] As Alex said that he began to walk down the trail towards the beach leading his horse by his reins. Anna petted her horse and murmured something to the animal before taking her things down to the dock. [color=bc8dbf]"I can at least swim so if the ship sinks I might survive."[/color] She halfheartedly chuckled. She couldnt help but feel heavy hearted. The last twenty four hours had been an emotional roller coaster and she felt relieved to get away from where the stress was centered, her Tavern. She walked across the wooden board that served as a walkway onto the ship. Some of the men on board of the ship looked at her with their jaws dropped and others looked a little hungrier than she liked. [color=bc8dbf]"Alexander? Should I be afraid of these men?"[/color] Alexander looked back at her and saw she was worried. [color=0072bc] "I know the name of every man on this ship, and you all know who I am. You will treat my companion here with the utmost respect. Now where is Gibbs?"[/color] As he said that name a smile came to his face and he looked around. Out of the crowd came an older man with graying hair. He had a belly that spoke of his love for his drink, and an ever constant smile on his face. [color=f7941d]"Now what have I done to deserve the honor of having such an esteemed individual on my poor little sailboat?"[/color] Alexander grinned at him, [color=0072bc]"Last time I saw this tub was back at the race one moon ago, where have you been drifting to since then?"[/color] Gibbs gripped Alexander's shoulders and his smile grew even wider, [color=f7941d]"Last I remember my little tub beat your Folly fair and square. It is good to see you boy."[/color] [color=0072bc]"Me and Anna here need passage to my docks, and we're wondering if you would be enough of a gentleman to take me home. You wouldn't leave me stranded, away from home would you?"[/color] Gibbs looked behind Alexander and studied Anna real quick. After a few seconds the smile was wider than ever and he stepped past Alexander and held out his hand to shake her's. [color=f7941d]"It is nice to meet you Miss Anna, I hope Alexander hasn't caused you too much trouble."[/color] Anna's mind thought [i] You have no idea mister[/i] but she smiled at the friendly man and shook his hand. [color=bc8dbf]"It is truly my pleasure. I'm looking forward to being at sea."[/color] She kept getting the feeling that she was being scrutinized by a pair of eyes. It gave her a distinct feeling to be extra careful when she was in close quarters. [color=f7941d]"Aye, I think you will. Now that that is taken care of let's get your horses up here."[/color] As he turned away he began yelling at his crew to do something about ramps and pens. Alexander turned towards Anna and smiled. [color=0072bc]"I'll show you where you will be sleeping. On this ship there isn't much room, so there are only two rooms isolated from the rest of the beds. The captain gets one and the other is a small room just off the side of it. That second room will be for you. Follow me and I will take you to it." [/color] As he walked to the rear of the ship he opened a small door near the right of the captains door. Having to duck low to not hit his head he entered the room and made way for her to enter. Anna had been following him still nervous about being in such close quarters with so many men. She had almost corrected Alex's introduction. She knew that the word companion typically signalled relations between them and she wasn't sure about anything in her life right now. She was glad she didn't. She was certain she wanted them to think she was with Alex so they would think twice before messing with her. She walked into a tiny room that was about a third the size of her room at home.She put her bags on the floor in the corner and turned around. [color=bc8dbf]"Where are you sleeping?"[/color] She wasn't sure if he could sense her nervousness or not. She didn't want him to think she was incapable but she was just not used to being trapped on a vessel with men who might not be pure of heart. [color=0072bc]"Anywhere there is room for me, that is typically the case when someone is an unexpected passenger."[/color] Alexander could see she wasn't feeling comfortable with this and thought he might know what the problem is. [color=0072bc]"You don't have to worry about the men on board. Most of them are retired sailors from the royal navy. They may look at you weird, but that might be because there are almost never women on ships such as this."[/color] Alexander could tell his assurances might not be enough. [color=0072bc]"If you want me to I can sleep on the floor in here, so no one can get close during the night."[/color] His eyes became sad when he looked at her. He didn't want her to be nervous, he wanted her to enjoy her time on the ship. Anna nodded. She barely knew this man. It was hard to believe it had only been two days since she met him and she had already slept with him. In her sober mind she wondered what had come over her but she knew and she wasn't going to make excuses for herself but she was going to make sure she acted like a lady and not slip again. She could only blame Verrick for so much but her having sex with Alexander had not been his fault that was all on her. [color=bc8dbf]"I would appreciate that. I'm sure the men on board are fine. I'm just not used to such tight quarters."[/color] She smiled and tried to remember that she was the one who asked to go on the ship. She looked around at the room and felt a little claustrophobic. [color=bc8dbf]"Shall we go up?"[/color] [color=0072bc]"Sure" [/color] Right as Alexander said that the ship gave a massive lurch and Alexander's hands shot out to support himself and Anna. After waiting a few seconds not moving Alexander let go and checked on Anna. [color=0072bc]"Are you okay? I believe that was the men bringing up the anchor and pushing off."[/color] As he opened the door for Anna the ship began to rock slightly and the ship began turning towards the exit of the cove. Anna had found herself leaning against Alex quite suddenly as she went to leave the room. After righting herself she nodded.[color=bc8dbf] "Yes, just wasn't prepared for the ship's movement to be so rough. I figured it would be smoother." [/color] Anna smiled awkwardly and she hurried up the stairs worried that she might be tossed off of them if it lurched again. She went to the railing almost as soon as she got topside. Her hair whipped in the wind and the breeze on her face made her feel better than she had in a long while. Looking around the ship she noticed that most of the men were busy and barely paid her any mind at all. She was much more relaxed about the ship once she felt the sun on her face. Anna turned and watched the captain give orders and steer the ship. This was what she needed, she was sure of it. As Alexander stepped out onto the deck he felt at home, the sea was where he truly belonged. Alex watched Anna rush to the railing and smiled, people typically weren't used to the cramped quarters of a ship. Alexander walked up next to Anna and while taking hold of a line in the rigging leaned out over the edge of the ship smiling at her. "[color=0072bc]So do you enjoy it better out here or in there?"[/color] Anna smiled, [color=bc8dbf]"Out here for certain. I just want to be free and smell the fresh breeze."[/color] Her joy was pure and she thought how small her problems seemed from the bow of the ship. She reached up and hugged Alex and kissed his cheek.[color=bc8dbf] "Thank you! This is what I need."[/color] She kept her hand on the rail but didn't move the other one from his waist right away. Alexander put his arm around her and looked out to sea, [color=0072bc]"It really is so much better on the water. You can just forget about all your problems and focus on the task at hand. Whether it is sailing the ship or just enjoying the view. You can really just be yourself, and not have to worry about anyone caring."[/color] As Alexander said those last words he got a bit closer to Anna. Anna was almost giddy and she couldn't ever remember smiling so much. The wind had shifted. She was certain that she would have to re-braid her hair as it had mostly come down and was flying around her face making it difficult to see at the moment. [color=bc8dbf]"Where are we going exactly?"[/color] She said laughing as she pulled her own hair out of her mouth. [color=0072bc]"We will be heading south for a bit, then cut east and from there it is a straight shot to Thrakia. From there we can rest for a few days while my ship prepares, then go where ever you want to. Is there anywhere in specific you wish to go or see?"[/color] Anna shook her head. [color=bc8dbf]"I've never left the surrounding area of the city and my parents first house. Just take me wherever your next trip goes." [/color]Anna paid no mind to how close he was holding her or to how the men were looking at them. She was currently no longer concerned with anything but the view in front of her. [color=bc8dbf]"Is that a shark?"[/color] She asked curiously if not a little excited at the sight of the fin in the water. Her grip around him tightened slightly. [color=0072bc]"It looks like it, wanna get a better look? They are quite amazing beasts, though dangerous." [/color] As Alexander said that he pulled out his knife and waited for her answer. [color=bc8dbf]"How would we get a better look? We can't really get closer without getting in the water and I don't think that would be smart."[/color] Anna looked at the creature wondering what it looked like. [color=0072bc]"The interesting thing is that sharks are drawn to blood. That is one the most dangerous things in a ship wreck, if quite a few people bleed these creatures start coming to it." [/color] As Alexander said that last line he drew a thin line on his palm with his knife. Not enough to do any real damage, but enough to draw blood. He held his hand out over the edge of the boat and squeezed, causing a bit of blood to drop into the water. When the blood hit the water the shark could be seen turning around and swimming towards the spot. Once it reached the spot the shark searched for prey, at one point coming close enough to the surface to see it's entire body. It was about 16 feet long and terrifying. Anna backed up a step. Her heart was thumping so hard in her chest she could hear it in her ears. [color=bc8dbf]"It's definitely ...frightening. I'll be certain not to fall overboard."[/color] She was suddenly aware that there was so much more in this world than she had a clue about and it was humbling. She suddenly realized that she had a death grip on Alex's waist and she eased back her grip but she didn't let him loose. She looked at his hand and pulled a cloth out of her pocket and wrapped it for him. [color=bc8dbf]"You didn't need to cut yourself for me to see that."[/color] Anna shivered as the wind picked up. The sky was getting darker and she realized that a storm was coming in. [color=bc8dbf]"Should we be out here during a storm?"[/color] Alexander looked up at Gibbs and pointed towards the clouds. Gibbs noticed that and nodded then waved him away. [color=0072bc]"Why don't we go back to the room and get some rest. This crew has been through many a storm. Or if you don't want to go back in there you can tie yourself to the mast."[/color] Alexander looked at her with a grin knowing what her answer would be. [color=bc8dbf]"I think I'll opt for the tiny room. Is there food on this ship?"[/color] She asked as her stomach grumbled at her. She felt the wind shift and the ship lurched and she lost her balance and fell against the railing fairly hard. She felt the hard wood slam into her back sending a searing pain across her spine and she grabbed onto it remembering the shark below.[color=bc8dbf] "I think we should go now." [/color] Alexander helped Anna get to her feet and nodded, [color=0072bc]"Aye, we should get going. Watch your step."[/color] Alexander followed right behind Anna making sure she didn't slip and fall. As they got to the door he looked back up at Gibbs and saw him tying himself to the helm. It was one of the most terrifying moments in a captains life, knowing if your ship sank in a storm that you were going down with it. Alexander tried to push his worry for his friend aside and focus on getting Anna indoors. Anna clutched onto the railing on the way down and she held her hand up to the wall to steady her as she walked into their room. When she got inside she almost collapsed onto the bed. Her back was aching something awful. She was a little concerned about the ship sinking and sharks. [color=bc8dbf]"We aren't going to die out here are we?"[/color] She felt her back stiffening up so badly that she started to raise her shirt to get a look at it. It was turning black and blue and she had some splinters in her back where the scraped skin had pulled away from the railing. [color=bc8dbf]"How bad is it?"[/color] she asked Alex. [color=0072bc]"We probably won't die, these men may be idiots at everything else, but they are good sailors."[/color] Alexander looked at the bruise and winced, [color=0072bc]"It looks painful, let me get a few of the larger splinters out now, and we will have to wait to get the rest."[/color] After Alex pulled out some of the larger splinter he handed her a rope that had been piled on the floor and handed it to Anna. [color=0072bc]"Here, tie yourself to something in here that wont move. The ship at times will go almost straight up into the air and we don't want you ending up on a wall."[/color] [color=bc8dbf]"It's gonna do what?"[/color] She said expecting him to say 'bite on this' for the pain. The ship was going to be tossed around? This she hadn't prepared herself for. [color=bc8dbf]"What in this room will not move? I don't really see that happening."[/color] Anna just lay her head on the pillow a moment as he pulled the largest of the splinters out of her back. As she lay there the ship lurched back and forth with the storm. [color=bc8dbf]"You'd better get up on this bed or you might get hit when it slides."[/color] She murmured. It wasn't too bad, she thought. It was kind of soothing, liked being rocked in a cradle that was being shaken by a madman. She patted the bed beside her for Alex to join her. Alex moved to lay on the bed with her, making a point to keep 3 points of contact to the ship at all times. [color=0072bc]"It has been a while since I have been in a storm while not the captain. Normally I don't have to worry about slipping off the ship, just steering the ship."[/color] Alexander laid back on the bed and looked over at Anna. "Just don't fall off the bed and you should be okay." Anna put her head down against his arm and tried not falling off of the bed as it was shifted back and forth. If she had had a weaker stomach she might have been sick. [color=bc8dbf]"Please tell me your ship is easier in storms. I'd hate to think it was this bad on all ships."[/color] Anna watched as he bags fell over and her knives and some of her other things came out and onto the floor. When she saw the baby things fall out of the bag she leaped off of the bed and rescued them. When Anna asked him about his ship he grinned, [color=0072bc]"Well it will break the waves sooner, that is all I can promise." [/color] When her stuff fell out onto the floor Alex hopped down to go help. While she got a blanket and something else he couldn't see he got the knives that were now scattered across the floor. It seemed like a dangerous game, with them sliding across the floor, having to decide to grab a sliding knife or dodge one of the others coming at his feet. He decided this game was not one of his favorites after the fifth time his hand got nicked. Anna tried to hide the baby blanket and toy before Alex asked her about them. She shoved them back into the bag but after repeated attempts to get everything back in and back onto the bed she was getting frustrated. [color=bc8dbf]"There has to be a better way than this."[/color] She said annoyed. Alexander was trying to think of something when he froze, the boat hasn't rocked back yet. [color=0072bc]"Quick get on the bed, feet toward the stern. Now!!!"[/color] As he said that Alexander grabbed the edge of the bed and held on. The boat slowly seemed to be rising upwards and slowing down. [color=bc8dbf]"What's going on?"[/color] Anna did as he demanded and held on tightly. Why wasn't the boat sliding back the other way yet? Panic set in the instant she realized what was happening. [color=bc8dbf]"Are we tipping over?"[/color] [color=0072bc]"No, it's a rogue wave. We were lucky enough to hit it with the bow first, we would tip over if it was any other way." [/color]As the boat kept tilting upwards Alexander could hear the muted sounds of the oarsmen yelling out a count. Their only chance was if they could crest the wave before the wave came back down. The ship kept rising more and more until it was nearly at a 70 degree angle. The ship seemed to freeze in one place then the bow dipped rapidly downward and the ship rushed down the back of the wave. They had made it. Anna felt her stomach threaten to empty itself. She decided she wasn't too sure about ships if the trips were normally like this. Another thought hit her, the captain was outside! [color=bc8dbf]"Alexander? What happened to the captain? He has to have fallen overboard! We are going to die. That shark is going to eat us."[/color] She seemed a little panicked and accepting at the same time. Alexander reached over and took Anna's hand, [color=0072bc]"In the case of a storm the captain has his crew tie his hands to the helm. It is to prevent him from falling off. Gibbs is perfectly fine up there. A little wet admittedly, but just fine."[/color] Anna was relieved to hear that they had not lost Gibbs. It was clear on her face that the thought of being tied to the helm in a storm was terrifying to her. She wiggled his arms around her, hoping that she wouldn' be so scared. For the moment she wasn't going to think about anything other than the ship and what they were going through. Her mind wouldn't even register anything else until she saw the baby blanket sliding across the floor. [i]Verrick.[/i] Alexander held her close to him and was slightly sad. It was disappointing that this had to be Anna's first time sailing with him. Trapped in a little cabin while the sea around them was trying to rip the ship apart. Hopefully when they were on his ship there would be no major storms. Alexander was letting his mind wander when he caught sight of a small blanket. [color=0072bc]"What is that?"[/color] Anna closed her eyes when he asked her about the blanket. [color=bc8dbf]"It's a baby blanket."[/color] She didn't say anything waiting to see if he asked her anything else. Alexander smiled a little when she gave her response. [color=0072bc]"It is adorable." [/color] He decided he might as well try to distract her mind from their current situation. [color=0072bc]"Tell me about your childhood."[/color] Anna started laughing. That was not what she expected to hear next. [color=0072bc]"Seriously? That prompts you to ask me that?" [/color]Her fit of giggles slowed down a minute or two later. [color=0072bc]"What, I saw your baby blanket and my mind went to you as a child. I only ever grew up as a noble's son, tell me what a normal life is like."[/color] Anna smirked.[color=bc8dbf] "I'm not sure I could tell you that. My parents were well off enough to own a tavern. I started serving ale when I was about ten or eleven. My mom taught me how to read, write and do arithmetic. I played with kids and I met Verrick at a young age. After both of my parents were gone I inherited the tavern. There really isn't much to tell. How was yours? Were you spoiled silly?"[/color] [color=0072bc]"For the first five years my life was one of the typical noble's son. Doted on by my mother I got nearly everything I asked for. My father didn't like it, but he loved my mother too much to say no to her. Unfortunately she died when I was five. A plague had been going through the city and she caught it. After that it was parenting the Markos way: you were to be a leader and a soldier."[/color] [color=0072bc]"Every morning it was wake up at dawn for a run. After the run it was a quick breakfast then military studies. After that it was training with the sword, a different style every month. Then lunch in the barracks with the men. After that he would tell me about the politics of the kingdom and make me come up with solutions to the kingdom's problems. After that it was governing the small village he had told me to manage. Once the official business was over it was dinner with whatever guests he happened to be entertaining that night. Finally before going to sleep it was another run."[/color] [color=0072bc]"It was that almost everyday for ten years. It wasn't fun, but it prepared me for my responsibilities as a baron."[/color] Anna grew quiet. [color=bc8dbf]"After my mom died I demanded that I be taught how to fight and Verrick and I both learned knives. He split his focus though and became better on the bow and arrows. I mastered knives and I'm small but I can take anyone within so many pounds of me on and put up a good fight. I also learned how to gamble and after Dad died I learned how to drink." [/color] She quieted as she thought of Chester. [color=bc8dbf]"Chester was like my second father. Even before my parents were gone. He helped teach me everything just as they did and he looked out for me, right til the end."[/color] "[color=0072bc]Chester seemed like a good man, it is sad he had to die that way. I am sure though that he was proud of you. How could he not Be?"[/color] Alexander sat on the bed. [color=0072bc]"You should rest until the storm is over."[/color] Anna nodded and lay her head down and closed her eyes. Saying a quick prayer that she wouldn't die on the ship while sleeping she hugged the small blanket to her and fell asleep.