The Pirates' Women

[dr_mabeuse]

The Virago, a 16-gun frigate working as an English privateer in Spanish waters, lay offshore the reef of the uncharted Carribean island on an easy swell. The ship was unusually quiet, all eyes on the island's single mountain where their lookout stood watching the Spanish ships as they wended their way through the tricky passage through the reef. The escorting caravel was already through and had made sail to clear the last of it, but the big, slow Spanish galleon, weighed down with its cargo of gold and silver, was still picking its way cautiously through the shoal waters.

"There's the signal!" Mr Flint, the first mate excalimed, but he needn't have bothered. Every eye aboard had seen Bloody Bill on the mountain jumping up and down with excitement waving the green flag that was the signal to attack.. The big lumbering galleon had just cleared the reef and was in deep water, the caravel, already almost a mile ahead of her and leaving a wake in the deep blue sea..

"Make sail! Make sail! Smartly, boys! We've got 'em now!" Captain Indomitable Hawkins of the Virago called out. He was a lean, powerful man with a black beard and bright blue eyes, used to being obeyed, and instantly the sails were dropped and sheeted home and the ship began to move.

"Mr Flint, your glass if you please?" Taking the mate's telescope, Captain Hawkins fairly flew up the shrouds to the crosstrees and then to the very top of the main mast.

Any minute now the Virago would clear the island and be seen by the Spaniards, but a quick look at the big galleon showed him that the Spaniards had suspected nothing. The deck was a mess of supplies and dunnage, and the gun ports weren't even open. "Serve out cutlasses and boarding axes!" he yelled down to the deck. "Come on now, boys! Five minutes warm work and we're all rich men!"

He turned the glass back on the Spanish treasure ship and was surprised to see a party of very pretty women standing by the wheel, chatting and laughing as if on a simple pleasure cruise.

Passengers? That meant ransom! And if his eyes didn't deceive him these were wealthy women indeed, probably titled ladies

"There's ladies aboard!" he howled down to the pirates below. "So watch yourselves! We want 'em all alive! And no cursing! We've got our reputation to think of!"

Just then the Virago rounded the island into full view of the Spanish ships. The caravel, a mile in the offing and with the setting sun in her eyes, took too long to see them. The galleon was paying no attention, Captain and crew captivated by their lovely guests as they enjoyed the glorious tropical sunset, gold, purple and green. The caravel finally fired a gun to warn the galleon, but already it was too late. In a matter of minutes as the galleon's crew rain about in total confusion, the Virago pulled alongside the Juan Carlos, the grappling hooks flew and the crew lashed the two vessels together.

Captain Hawkins, two pistols in his belt and a cutlass in his hand, slid down the mainmast backstay, shouting "Boarders away!" and the pirates went scrambling aboard, cutlasses flashing, pistols firing, and soon the decks of both ships were thick with smoke and the sounds of men fighting.


OOC: We need Pirates and Spanish Ladies, and anyone else who might fit in

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Therese De Quina

Therese smiled as the Captain pointed to the horizon, outlining the journey they would take and how the weather could change suddenly.

”Every effort has been made for your safety and comfort, my Lady,”

He assured her.

”Indeed Captain. We have been pleasantly surprised by our accommodations.
And your men have been most … gallant and welcoming… “

Therese cast an eye over the sailors by her side.
Broad smiles met her gaze. She nodded graciously in return.
Therese's haughty gaze was turned upon her companions in response to the suggestive giggles which her words provoked.

The Captain sensing her mood, hastened to reassure her.

”Your father gave very strict instructions, Ma’am.”

He explained smoothly.

”You have only to say if any of my crew is disrespectful in any way either to you or ..."

Her he paused pointedly,

" ... to your travelling companions … “

The Captain spoke loudly enough to be heard by those around him. The few giggling girls sobered under Therese's quelling gaze. Being surrounded by so many young men was ... exciting for them... but she had been as sheltered as they, yet ... even she realised that provocation and drawing attention was not ... prudent... behaviour.

Her status in itself made her the target of attention, but in many ways the power of her father and his reputation as an unforgiving and at times malicious man did much to ensure her security.

”I am sure I will not have cause for such complaint, Sir,”

Therese countered graciously and walked forward to the rail.

Breathing deeply, she decided that she was going to enjoy this voyage. It was the nearest she would ever get to freedom.
Her father had finally decided that he wanted her by his side.
She had been summoned to the capital.
That could only mean one thing: a suitor had been lined up for her.
How she would evade this match, she had no idea.
At 19 she was considered more than eligible for marriage and it was expected, as only child of an influential political family that she would make an “advised” match.
Which country would this man be from, she wondered in exasperation...

Whether it was the violent rocking of the boat, or the screams of her companions or the sudden flurry of bodies along the deck that caused her alarm, she could not tell.

At once the peaceful evening was a frenzy of activity.

”Saints preserve us!”

The Captain exclaimed.

”Quick! My Lady! You must go below. Hide yourselves.
Let’s pray to God that your presence has not been noticed.
There is no time to explain, you are in great danger!”

So saying she felt herself half bundled, half escorted down the stairs and led into the bowels of the boat.
Her companions were directed to various rooms along the way, but she was led onwards, to the stores.
She raised a querulous eyebrow.

”Surely you do not expect me, a daughter of a Spanish Ambassador to put myself into such a … hole …?”

The noise of fighting was growing above decks, yet down here, all was silent. Her query echoed around the wooden framing of the hold.

”Please my Lady. It is the safest place.
The stores hide this doorway.
If we need to abandon ship, I swear my Lady, I’ll return.
But if blocked by sacks, no man will find you here.”

The man’s earnestness scared her.
For the first time, she missed her entourage, her ladies.
There was real peril, it seemed.

”Very well,”

She demurred and quickly crept behind the doorway, which was more the size of a side-facing trapdoor.
Slipping in place, she heard barrels and sacks moved and then …. nothing …
She held her breath in the darkness.
Quite alone for what seemed like the first time in memory.

”Dear God … what was happening …?
Who was attacking … ?
Surely as a woman she was safe from these sea-faring squabbles ?"

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Therese De Quina

Therese pic :

 

[Thor's Hammer]

Thor (Mr Flint)

Thor, as most called him, had adopted the name of 'Flint' years ago - dropping his unpronouncable Nordic name along with a stretch of undesirable past. Thor was old for a pirate, but his rope-like muscles and cold blue eyes made the crew of cutthroats fear him more that the enemy's steel. Thor and Captain Hawkins had been together for a long time. The Captain was a stone cold killer, but depended on Thor to keep the crew in line. They trusted each other as much as any two men could in their 'line of work.'

.....as the smoke curled about I paused for a moment...my eyes sweeping the deck....

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Captain Indomitable Hawkins

The Captain slid down the backstay and jumped on to the Virago's yardarm where it hung over the Spaniard's deck. The pirates were flooding aboard in the clouds of gunsmoke, the Spaniards too surprised and confused to mount a co-ordinated resistance, though now he saw Spanish soldiers streaming from below decks and trying to form a skirmish line but with little hope.

"Mt Flint!" he called out. "Cut the halyards!" and he saw his trusty first mate climb nimbly up the ratlines and slice through the thick ropes that held the Spaniard's sails up. The sails came crashing down leaving the big galleon immobile in the water with no chance of escape.

He turned his attention to the poop deck where the Spanish opfficers would be, and there he saw total confusion. The mass of fair Spanish beauties ran shreiking this way and that as the officers tried to herd them below decks to safety. In the confusion of bodies no one was able to give any orders to the crew, who themselves seemed reluctant to fight.

Hawkins leapt onto the deck as a Spanish sailor came at him with a pike, but he stopped him with a pistol ball at near point-blank range. Already Mr Flint had taken over the forecastle and they'd trapped the Spanish defenders between the bow and the waist of the galleon.

Everything depended now on taking the galleon as quickly as possible, before the Spanmish caravel could turn and beat back up to help the galleon. The caravel wouldn't dare use her cannons out of fear of kitting and possibly sinking the galleon, with all its gold and silver. The caravel would have to board the Virago in order to rescue the galleon, and if Hawkins' men could finish off the treasure ship first, they should be able to hold them off.

Hawkins worked his way aft, slashing as he went, trying to get to the poop where ethe Spanish flag still flew. The deck was a solid cloud of powder smoke from which fighting or fleeing figures appeared suddenly and without warning. His main concern now was that the women not be hurt by flying lead or a wild swing of a cutlass, and he knew from the Spaniard's half-hearted resistance that if they could make the galleon strike her colors the battle would be over.

Overhead he could hear Mr Flint's blood-curdling pagan battle cry and knew that he must still be in the rigging. A cazed Spaniard came staggering out of the smoke and Hawkins struck him in the face with the steel hilt of his cutlass, knowing the man flat, then he leaped up the stair to the poop just as Mr Flint came sliding down from above.

"Strike their colors, if you please, Mr Flint. I believe it's over."

"Aye, aye, sir!" he answered, and the Spanish colors were hauled down.

"She's struck!" "Look she's struck!" All over the deck men engaged in mortal combat stopped to see the Spanish colors come down, and, aside from a few pairs of men locked in personal struggles, the fighting ceased, just like that. The Spanish defenders threw down their arms with a shrug. The fight was over.

Hawkins and his men knew that they were still outmanned though, and it was essential that they round up and confine the Spaniards before they realaized this too.

"Prisoners below!" Hawkins shouted. "Quick now! Davis, Lester! Pull one of those cannon around and train it on the hatchway and if any Spaniard shows a face, blow it off. Mr Flint! Secure the treasure belowdecks and put some guards on it at once. Harvey and Moore see to those sails and get them drawing again so we can get out of this damned passage. We'll see if we can give that caravel some of the Spaniards's own iron when she gets in range. Now where's the Spanish Captain?"

"Sir." said a voice behind him, and he looked to see the very man emerging from below decks."

"Captain," Hawkins said, "You have struck to me and your ship and crew are now in our hands."

The Captain bowed, looking none to pleased. "Sir," he said, "I should inform you, if you do not already know, that we have women aboard. I trust you will treat them with the proper respect."

"Of course," Hawkins said, "Do we look like savages?" Then he looked over at Bloody Bill and corrected himself. "Never fear, Captain, they will be treated with all the respect due their station. Now, would you have them all assemble on deck? Or must we go down and rouse them out?"

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Therese de Quina

How long Therese remained in the “hole” she never knew.
It seemed like an eternity, yet in reality it was less than half an hour!
She heard muffled cries, a scream, then finally the running of feet.

”My Lady…. Therese? … Please.. we must hasten…”

She crawled stiffly out from her hiding place and stretched, blinking experimentally although, in truth, the hold was still dim and barely lit.

”Is it over? Have they gone?”

She enquired naively.

”No… not exactly… “

The sailor who had escorted her below decks hesitated.
It was the young girl who answered her, finally breaking her silence.

”Ohh.. Therese, we are captured … so many men.. such a fight…we are ordered on deck.”

Therese stared disbelievingly at the man by her side who nodded sadly.

”Come, my Lady, we must hurry!”

Therese pulled her arm away from the guiding hand as he tried to lead her towards the deck.

”Perhaps you forget, Sir.
I am Therese de Quina and I follow the orders of no man.”

She made her statement calmly but could not ignore the nagging voice, which reminded her that she had no choice but to obey her father.

”Tell our captain, or whoever it is who has usurped his place that I will be waiting in my cabin should he wish to speak to me and that if he wishes to summon me, he will do so in a more courteous manner.”

Ignoring the calls of her companion and the pleas of the man beside her, Therese turned and made her way upwards, but turned towards her own cabin, rather than climbing the exit that led to the deck.

”My Lady, please… I beg you … reconsider … “

Therese threw a contemptuous look at both stricken individuals.

”You have my answer, now I must go and freshen up…”

So saying she moved gracefully away from them to the far end of the ship, leaving the two open-mouthed and obliged to make her excuses or pass on her message.

Once in her cabin, Therese’s head spun.
What did this all mean?
What kind of man took over a ship by force?

She sat at her table and ran a brush through her hair, securing it neatly once more.
She looked at her reflection.
She now felt tidy, ready to meet her enemy.
Her eyes glittered with subdued fear, mixed with curiosity and confusion.
Therese had no idea what to expect at the hands of her abductors, but was determined to make them all to aware of her status and importance.

She was a Lady and would be treated as such!

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Captain Hawkins walked up and down the poop, looking over the women who stood in a group, showing various stages of distress, from open hostility to blatant flirtation. Clearly some of them were wealthy women, dressed in fine lace and brocades, second rank nobility possibly. Others were serving girls or outright slaves who had nothing much to lose by throwing in with the pirates and would no doubt do so once they could manage it without appearing too obvious.

As he inspected the ladies, he kept a wary eye on the approaching caravel, which the Spanish Captain had identified for him as the Santa Ana.

It was Hawkin's belief that the caravel would not dare fire on the Virago lashed as she was to the Juan Carlos. The risk of sinking the treasure ship was too great, and no doubt the presence of the ladies on board argued against any bloody heroics.

Sure enough, the Caravel raised a white flag of truce before she was within range and in the negotiations that were quickly carried out, Hawkins agreed to transfer most of his Spanish prisoners to the caravel. He had no need of them. The women, however, would stay with him.

He was anxious to see the treasure, as was the entire crew, and he hurried the prisoners over the rail as quickly as he could. He had no doubt that the Caravel would follow them with the hope of recovering the treasure, buyt the Virago would deal with that. He sent most of the men back to the Virago leaving just a dkeleton crew to sail the heavy galleon in, and once they were underway he turned into the wind, heading for the safety of the islands.

Night had fallen by now, a dark and moonless night, the sky like velvet sprinkled with millions of stars. Once underway, he swung quickly down the companionway and by the light of the gently swaying lanterns he headed for the Captain's cabin at the very stern of the boat. Here numerous passenger cabins had been erected, no doubt for the ladies, and as he passed each he thrust his head in and looked it over briefly. Then he came to a door that was locked.

He knocked.

"Yes?" Came the imperious voice from within. "Who is it?"

He smiled. "Captain Hawkins, my lady. I have taken command of your vessel. I'm afraid I must ask you to open your door."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Therese de Quina

At any minute, Therese had expected a knock on the door.
In reality she had feared that she would be hauled out onto the deck to face her captor, but the summons had never come.

Locking her door, Therese had changed into a midnight blue gown.
The fabric hung to her lithe figure, the scooped neckline accentuated her womanly curves.
She was tall and graceful, but undoubtedly feminine and well formed.
Her dark hair was dressed formal and high.
She hung a large stoned pendant at her throat.
That would test if they were petty crooks, or if they had more honour or a greater intent than small scale robbery.

Dressed formally, she was at her desk when she heard the sound she had been expecting.
A shaking of the handle, then a repetition as the intruder tried to wrench it open.
A pause and then a polite knock.
Therese prayed that her voice would remain steady.

"Yes? Who is it?"

She knew she sounded older. If possible she would try to conceal that she was merely 19 years old.
The reply was reassuringly respectful.

"Captain Hawkins, my lady.
I have taken command of your vessel.
I'm afraid I must ask you to open your door."

Captain indeed! She bristled at the self- appointed title.
She could not let him rile her.
She must be every inch the lady.
She had to ensure that he knew just how she expected to be treated.

"Very well, Captain Hawkins."

She forced the courtesy.

"One moment if you please."

Therese smoothed her skirts, tweaked her immaculate hair and staightened her pendant. She then rose and unlocked the door, stepping away from it to sit on the chaise before announcing.

"Please enter, Captain."

Obligingly the door opened and the "gentleman" walked in.
She saw a look of surprise quickly masked as he looked at the lady sat eyeing him unable to hide the glitter of defiance and contempt as her eyes raked over him.

Just as he masked his surprise, she suppressed her hostility.
She extended her hand as she stood.

"Permit me to introduce myself.
My name is Therese de Quina, you no doubt know of my father, Captain Hawkins?"

She let the reference to her father hang in the air and indicated a seat.

"I am sure we have much to discuss.
But I assure you that my father will be most ... anxious ... to hear how I have been treated as it was intended that I journey to meet him in Spain."

Her tone was conversational, but now the words softly spoken were cold as ice.

"It would be in your ... best interests if you can secure passage for me to be returned to him as soon as possible Mr Hawkins."

She let the final insult lie.

As far as Therese was concerned, this man had no title or legal authority over her. She would recognise only one Captain, the man who had been appointed to oversee her welfare.

She looked up at him with "polite" expectancy.
In her mind he had no choice but to meet her terms and act with civility.

 

[Thor's Hammer]

Thor (Mr Flint)

"Strike their colors, if you please, Mr Flint. I believe it's over."

With one swing of my bloody cutlass, I cut the slender cord that held the Spanish colors aloft. As the flag fluttered slowly toward the deck, the galleon's crew threw down their pikes, muskets, and cutlasses and sullenly herded together, much like cattle in the field. Captain Hawkins quickly neutralized the caravelle...and the Spanish prisoners were sent over in small boats. The captain ordered most of the crew back to the Virago and our skeleton crew made minimum sail to head her to the safety of the islands. With the women on board, the caravelle dared not attack.

I watched the captain glance about and then head below....no doubt to 'talk' to the imperious Spanish noblewoman I had seen earlier. Hawkins brains were frequently below his belt, but our success reminded me that the great treasure would smooth my own path to Nirvana....

 

[dr_mabeuse]

He heard the latch slide open followed by her invitation.

"Please enter, Captain."

She was seated at her desk, her back straight, but with that courtly grace that told him he was indeed among a woman of some blood. He remembered that posture from his own childhood, as he too had spent his early adulthood at Court before he'd been forced to withdraw to a life at sea for "personal" reasons. How well he remembered that certain set of back and head, those regal curves and slow, studied movements.

But he was not prepared for the woman who greeted him. She wore her air of royalty with natural grace, a grace that was accentuated by her exquisite beauty. Her hair was as black as coal, and put up to show off her swanlike neck around which hung a large and ostentatious gem, clearly daring him to to take it from her. Her dark eyes glittered in the candle light, and her simple ghown of a striking deep blue needed no ruffles or adornment to show the perfection of the body beneath. He suspected who she was before she even said her name. Rumours of this beauty had made the rounds of the Spanish Main, and now here she was.

"Permit me to introduce myself." she said, "My name is Therese de Quina, you no doubt know of my father, Captain Hawkins?"

"And I am Captain Hawkins of the Privateer Virago, my Lady. Your most humble and obedient servant." he said, bowing low and kissing her hand. "And yes ideed, I am most aware of your father's illustrious reputation, though I myself have never had the pleasure." She knew as well as he that the only time he would meet her father was at the end of a rope.

"I am sure we have much to discuss. " she said. "But I assure you that my father will be most ... anxious ... to hear how I have been treated as it was intended that I journey to meet him in Spain."

He was entranced. Surely she must be frightened. She could not be so ignorant of the world as not to know what had just happened to her ship and her party and her voyage to Spain.

"It would be in your ... best interests if you can secure passage for me to be returned to him as soon as possible Mr Hawkins."

"Certainly Senorita." He said biting back his smile. "But surely you know that our two nations are at war, and my first obligation is to my king and not to your Papa. I therefore must request that you be my guest for short time while we inform your father of your whereabouts and can secure your speedy release."

At this her eyes suddenly blazed with contempt.

"I assure you, my lady, that you will be shown every deference and courtesy due to one of your station, contingent, of course, upon your behavior. This is, after all, war.

"I shall return your servants to you shortly, and must ask that you confine yourself to your quarters until we have reached port. With any luck, that will be before morning. Until then, my lady, I bid you a very fair good night."

He bowed again, and closed the door. He didn't leave her door however, and in a few minutes he heard her throw throw the latch, and shortly after thatm, the breaking of some glass, thrown in anger if he didn't miss his guess.

He checked the Captain's cabin. As in all these old Galleons, the cabin was high above the water and one end was taken up with row of windows that gave a spectacular view of the sea. He could clearly see the Virago lagging behind him to screen them from the caravelle, which was still lurking in the offing. That was all right. They would soon lose her in the darkness. He threw open the casements and let the warm tropical breeze waft in, smelling of flowers and the land.

He soon found what he was looking for, the bill of lading for the cargo of treasure, gold and silver of the Aztecs, capes of feathers and objects of worked stone. He also found a list of passengers which he looked at with some interest. There she was: Theresa de Quinha

Under the swaying lamp he read that she was going back to Spain for marriage to Prince Cedric of Schlesswig-Holstein.

He looked into the distance wracking his brains. Prince Cedric, Prince Cedric... It had been so long. At one time he had known them all. Prince Cedric: surely not that simple-minded young oaf with the great ears? Was that Cedric or Cedwin? No, it was Cedric. Prince Cedric of Schlesswig-Holstein.

He collapsed onto the bench beneath the windows, biting his lip to keep from laughing. That oaf! Oh, that poor Lady Theresa! Did she know? No, how could she? My God, what a favor he had done her!

He took the bill of lading and baged on the ceiling above him until a voice called down, "Yes sir?"

"Send down my coxswain and have him make up this cabin. I'll sleep here tonight. Then call my officers to meet me on the poop. I want to know about the treasure."

Prince Cedric! Oh no! He looked at her door as he walked past oin his way to the poop.

 

[virgin_rose]

lila

i look around me and i could see that everyone seems to be having such a good time. why on earth did i ever agreed to come to this boring cruise. oh yes, daddy of course. if i didn't go to Spain... he would never leave me be and would bug for days on end about my future. i dont know what's worst, this unending cruise or my father the chatterbox. i remembered what his topic of conversation would be like:
"Lila, don't you think Anthony is just smashing? his business is really doing very well. and he comes from a great family too. i think his father's side is somehow related to the queen herself..." and after i told him i'm not interested in all the anthonys he would go on and talk about all the jonathans and peters and michaels. it's so hard when you're an only child without a mother. no father should be left alone to tend their child. the truth is i myself are not sure of what i'm waiting for, all i know is that, i've just never found anyone whom i would consider to be of marriage materials. all the men i have encounter all my life seems to be common boring gentlemen who finds horses and dogs to be the most enchanting things in their life. if ever i chose to spend my life with either one of them, i would be doom for a lifetime of boredom until the mere essence itself would killed me in my non-existence life.
i gaze towards the other ladies again and they seems to be having quite a grand time of their life. i wonder what brings them onboard. surely not the same reasons as mine. at least i know that one of them was here to meet her future spouse... now, which one is she again... i couldn't quite recall... at least someone is about to get married... not me thats for sure...
i turned toward the blue borderless sea. completely oblivious of what was happening around me. it wasn't until someone roughly pulled and half dragged me to safety did i noticed all the commotion.

 

[virgin_rose]

lila

everything was dark and i have no idea where i am. it all happens so fast. all i know is that everyone seems to be running around and shouting a lot. but everything else was a blurred image that makes no sense to me.

deep inside me, i felt a burn in my heart from anger. i wanted to get out of this uneasiness and dark surroundings. i wanted to know, to satisfy my raging curiousity of the events on board.

am i in danger? am i safe for the time being? being confined to this dark and smelly room. the thought of how the room may look like with some light disgust me. maybe it shouldn't be called a room at all since it seems to be too small to be one.

i tried putting my ear to the wall but it was in vain... the commotion seems to have died down for now. maybe that means i can come out now. but, where is the exit? in the dark, i tried to feel my way around but nothing would suggest the presence of a single door. should i try yelling now? but if i do and someone does heard my call, will that someone hurt me or help me? this is such a dilemma. i wish there is a sign, but only darkness looms around me.
everything was dark and i have no idea where i am. it all happens so fast. all i know is that everyone seems to be running around and shouting a lot. but everything else was a blurred image that makes no sense to me.

deep inside me, i felt a burn in my heart from anger. i wanted to get out of this uneasiness and dark surroundings. i wanted to know, to satisfy my raging curiousity of the events on board.

am i in danger? am i safe for the time being? being confined to this dark and smelly room. the thought of how the room may look like with some light disgust me. maybe it shouldn't be called a room at all since it seems to be too small to be one.

i tried putting my ear to the wall but it was in vain... the commotion seems to have died down for now. maybe that means i can come out now. but, where is the exit? in the dark, i tried to feel my way around but nothing would suggest the presence of a single door. should i try yelling now? but if i do and someone does heard my call, will that someone hurt me or help me? this is such a dilemma. i wish there is a sign, but only darkness looms around me.


/**

hi all
i hope it's still allright for me to join right now?
sorry i didn't post earlier

**/

 

[pneema]

Ren

Ren scurried down to the room the Captain had claimed for himself and started to tidy it up for him.

Someone had passed on the orders that he wanted it and they'd passed the message on with a kick, a kick that barely missed her ass.

Ren was only 19. She'd snuck onboard the last time the Captain's ship was in port, disguised as a boy. That was the only way should would be allowed to go to sea. Since then she'd tried to stay small as possible, hoping to stay out of everyone's way. For if they were to find out, she had no doubt she'd be sent back ... or worse, sent to the galley. As the youngest, at least visibly, on board, she got "elected" to play cabin boy, so here she was ... setting up the captain's cabin, snagging a small blanket to keep for her own bed later that night.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Captain Inigo Hawkins

OOC: I can't come up with any decent nickname for Indomitable Hawkins, so I'm changing his first name to "Inigo". Not much better, I know, but it'll do.

IC: "You're sure, Thor? You've checked the entire ship?" the Captain asked him.

Thor nodded, but Hawkins knew his mate would have already checked the ship from stem to stern. They had found only a tenth of the gold and silver they had expected. The other chests were filled with worthless rock in am intentional effort to deceive.

"Bastards!" Hawkins spat, kicking over a chair in in his fury. "Then they must be sending the rest of the treasure in another vessel, maybe two. And now they'll know where we set upon them, so this island is useless to us now!"

His disappointment quickly gave way to questions about the deception itself. Had the Spanish governor known about the Virago's plans? Was there a spy aboard? Or were the Spaniards just getting clever?

His eyes suddenly blazed. "Get Davies and Bloody Bill and four more of the worst looking. most ferocious men we have and assemble in the waist. Now!"

By the time he got on deck the men were assembled, hairy, unkempt, rough looking characters they were too, though Hawkins knew some of them to be the mildest of creatures unless their blood was up. He explained his plan to them in a whisper and all scuttled below deck, headed for the cabins, where they set up a ferocious banging and howling, screaming bloody murder and scuffling with each other. "Gold! Gold! We want our gold!" they cried

Soon the screams of several of the women could be heard, along with the shattering of cabin doors in a dreadful ruckus. That was the cue for Hawkins to leap below where he found that Davies already had one of the women in a bear hug and was dragging her down the passageway. The door to Theresa's cabin had been kicked in and several pirates stood glowering in, cutlasses in hand as the other women cowered in fright.

"What's the meaning of this?" Hawkins bellowed dramatically.

"Argh!" growled Bloody Bill. "These wenches know where the rest of our treasure is, and we aim to get it if we have to drown the lot of them! Or worse!"

"Get back you villains!" Hawkins cried. "I've promised these ladies safe passage and you shall not harm them!"

"Says you!" said Tattooed Louie. "Thar's only one of you, Cap'n, and thar's a shipload of us! And we say let's show 'em a pirate's hospitality and then feed 'em to the sharks!"

"I'll take this one!" Indian Sam said, grabbing a young girl by the wrist and making her scream.

"Back! Back, all of you!" Hawkins yelled, grabbing the girl from Sam and pushing him back. "You savages! This is mutiny!"

The crowd of pirates stopped and slowly retreated, muttering and shaking their fists, obviously quailed by their Captain.

"Ay, we'll go for now!" Bloody Bill said, "But you've got to sleep cometime, cap'n. And when you do, we know how to make 'em talk!"

The pirates shambled upstairs, trying not to laugh, and the women immediately began to weep and titter.

"Ladies, ladies!" Hawkins said, "I must apologize for my men. But you are all in grave danger. This ship carried only a fraction of the treasure we'd expected, and unless I can tell them where the rest of it is, I'm afraid I shan't be able to hold them back forever. They're a violent and bloody crew, and it's been months since they've even gazed upopn the fairer sex

"Lady de Quinha? Please, may I have a word with you in my cabin? I'm afraid the situation is getting out of control. If there is a mutiny, I cannot guarantee your safety nor indeed your honor!"

As he walked back to his cabin he saw his cabin boy coming out. The lad clasped a spare blanket to his chest and looked down meekly as the Captain passed. "There's something not right about that boy." the Captain thought. "Or else I've been at sea too long, because he's starting to look passably good to me."

 

[Arkontheroof]

Sly Nathan Crowson

"Lads, lads, what do we have here?" Nathan jumped up onto the bale of rope, behind which he'd heard the clatter of dice on the deck, and squatted there looking down on them, like a vulture, his long neck craning to see.

"Dice. Gamblin'." Davies grunted up at him.

"I can see, my lads, I can see - but there's no silver there on the deck, so what's the prize, eh, what's the prize?"

The conspirators looked uneasily at each other, and Davies snarled. "None o'your business."

"Oh I see, I see, you're reckoning that we ain't got no gold from this but we've got soft Spanish flesh, and you can gamble for who gets to fill it, eh?"

"Captain's got one. The other will be... lonely." The others sniggered as he spoke.

"Oh lads, do you even know what it is we've got there, eh? It's not flesh, lads."

"Oh? What then?" Davies was indignant.

"It's silver lads, silver. Each of those ladies could be worth a princess's ransom, for all we know, and that's a lot of silver. But no-one buys spoiled goods now, do they, lads? So no-one goes mollestin' no ladies, not unless the captain says so."

"Says who? You? You ain't the captain, you're the purser, so clear off."

"Maybe I'm only the purser, but I'm thinking with my head, and you're thinking with your bollocks, Davies."

"Go to hell! You just want to keep them for yourself."

"Never thought of it," Nathan lied, "and if that ain't so then my name ain't Honest Nathan Crowson. All I cares about is the money, Davies, as you know. It's all I ever cares about."

"That's what you say. But my dice say that unless Bloody Bill can roll over nine, it's me that gets to go first."

Nathan knew the dice. He'd borrowed them the night before and had made copies. Still, he made a last attempt to persuade them: "We sell them for all the silver they're worth and you'll be able to buy all the cheap whores you can handle, but you spoil them and it all goes to hell."

Bill rolled the bone cubes. "Eleven!"

"Looks like Bill gets his cock wet, then!" Davies told the group.

"Not everyone's rolled yet." Nathan pointed out.

"What, you think we'll let you?"

"I'm not asking. But every sailor should have an equal chance, yes?"

"Alright...." Davies knew, deep down, that Nathan was about to rip him off - he could feel it coming, but couldn't see how.

"What about our young cabin boy? I bet he's never dipped his candle, and the Spaniard would be a great start for him."

The crewmen sniggered and nodded - except for Bill who, seeing his prize slip away, was keen to object: "Well he's not here!"

"Then I'll roll for him." Nathan jumped down and snatched up the dice. The crewmen all watched him - sure, in any case, that he wouldn't roll twelve. So he shook the dice in his left hand in front of his face, blowing on them as a distraction, and all of them watched, none seeing his deft right hand slip into his coat pocket and pull out another set. He threw the dice ostentatiously, both hands together, the weighted set from his right hand flying out across the planks as the real dice stayed safe in his left palm. "Look at that! Twelve!"

The crewmen all stared at each other, but there was no arguing: the dice both read 6.

"So," Nathan scooped up the dice again, and seemingly handed them - in fact, the real ones - back to Davies, "the dice say the cabin boy gets to take the woman, and I say that none of you do. Suppose you ask the captain to settle it, eh lads, eh? After all, he is the captain, if you remember?"

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Therese De Quina

Therese eyed the Captain and begrudgingly admired his smooth gallantry.

"And I am Captain Hawkins of the Privateer Virago, my Lady.
Your most humble and obedient servant.
And yes ideed, I am most aware of your father's illustrious reputation, though I myself have never had the pleasure."

She suffered him to kiss her hand and continued laying down her terms.
His answer however disappointed her.

"Certainly Senorita.
But surely you know that our two nations are at war, and my first obligation is to my king and not to your Papa.
I therefore must request that you be my guest for short time while we inform your father of your whereabouts and can secure your speedy release."

Again the courtesy, that now irked her
Guest indeed!
‘Twas true, their countries were at war, yet …

"I assure you, my lady, that you will be shown every deference and courtesy due to one of your station, contingent, of course, upon your behaviour.
This is, after all, war.”

Therese opened her mouth to retort and tell him that the behaviour of ladies was beyond repute, whilst the behaviour of pirates…
But he continued.

"I shall return your servants to you shortly, and must ask that you confine yourself to your quarters until we have reached port.
With any luck, that will be before morning. Until then, my lady, I bid you a very fair good night."

How dare he confine her to her quarters?
It took all her self-control to nod courteously as he bowed and withdrew.
How dare he act like a gallant, when he was so evidently a scoundrel.
She paced the cabin.
When she had thought herself here by choice, she had welcomed the closed environment, yet now she longed to break free and go above decks.
Therese turned abruptly, her skirts swirling in agitation.
She hated to feel so … powerless!
Even as she admitted it to herself, she took up one of the fine glasses on her cabinet and flung it forceably at the door, giving vent to her frustration.

It took a while for her to calm down.
Deciding that it were better if the servants were not to witness the show of her temper, Therese carefully picked up the glass shards, cursing in a most unladylike fashion as one of the pieces sliced into her finger with a viciousness that belied its harmless appearance. Sucking her finger, until the bleeding stopped, Therese sighed and decided that she would enquire after some ointment, claiming an accident had led to her breaking and cutting her finger. She looked at her timepiece. Surely her servants would have been sent to her by now?

She was sat sucking her finger pensively when the door splintered and fell in.
Unable to maintain a dignified response, Therese jumped and gasped loudly, hardly knowing how she bit back the scream that lodged in her throat.
Two burly sailors stood in the doorway.
Their leers took in her curvaceous young form and rested greedily on the jewel rising and falling on her agitated bosom.

”Wh- what … how dare you Sirs .. ?

She exclaimed, her voice sounding weak and strained even to her own ears.
Beyond the door Therese heard the screams of other women and shouts and curses fo the sailors who seemed to be ransacking every cabin.
She stood, her eyes not wavering from the faces of her would-be attackers.

"What's the meaning of this?"

Therese herself jumped at the aggression in the Captain’s voice.
The men stilled momentarily, though their tempers did not cool.

"Argh!
These wenches know where the rest of our treasure is, and we aim to get it if we have to drown the lot of them! Or worse!"

Therese fought to maintain her composure as she listened to the heated interaction between the men and the Captain.

"Get back you villains!
I've promised these ladies safe passage and you shall not harm them!"

She shuddered as the crew became still more volatile and openly defied the Captain.
She took a step backwards as she saw one of her entourage, a young girl seized by one of the men and immediately feared for her safety!

"Back! Back, all of you!

Therese watched with relief as Captain Hawkins rent the girl from his crew member’s grasp.

”You savages! This is mutiny!"

The words finally had an effect and the men began slowly to move away, though not all were appeased.

"Ay, we'll go for now! But you've got to sleep cometime, cap'n.
And when you do, we know how to make 'em talk!"

She watched the men retreat and walked forward surveying the shattered doorway.
Picking her way carefully over the splintered remnants, Therese looked with concern at the group of weeping women. She herself had been thoroughly frightened and held surreptitiously onto the doorframe for support.

"Ladies, ladies! I must apologize for my men. But you are all in grave danger.
This ship carried only a fraction of the treasure we'd expected, and unless I can tell them where the rest of it is, I'm afraid I shan't be able to hold them back forever. They're a violent and bloody crew, and it's been months since they've even gazed upon the fairer sex.”

These words did nothing to still the fears of the already weeping women.
Therese jumped as the Captain turned to address her.

"Lady de Quinha? Please, may I have a word with you in my cabin?
I'm afraid the situation is getting out of control.
If there is a mutiny, I cannot guarantee your safety nor indeed your honor!"

Therese listened to his word.
Her safety and honour were both in danger.
Her father would not permit it!
Yet even as those thoughts took shape, she knew her father and his reputation were of little use now.

”Of course, Captain,”

She consented, in a voice that was almost steady.
Carefully she followed him and proceeded him into his own cabin.
She did not balk when he shut and locked the door, making it secure against any aggressive advance.
She stood momentarily, her back to him, her eyes gazing unseeingly out onto the ocean.
She could not let him see her fear.
She might be a “great lady” but as a 19 year old on her first journey away from home and now effectively without chaperone, the whole situation was becoming much too frightening.

She was sure he did not see the shaking of her body.
Reassured, she straightened her back and turned to gaze coolly at her host.

”So Captain, just how much danger are we in?”

She enquired, attempting to keep her voice light and dismayed by the tremor, which was clearly audible as she questioned him.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Captain Hawkins

He could see her better in his cabin where there was more light and he surveyed her as he locked the door. He could not for the life of him think of when he had seen such a beautiful young woman. Though the full skirts of her gown concealed her legs--not that he would have looked anyhow, as he still considered himself a gentleman--her bosom was clearly on display and it was magnificent, her flesh a perfect and flawless white. The glow in her cheeks and lips was not due to rouge either, but to the recent excitement in her cabin.

He remembered to put a look of weary concern on his face as he poured some Madeira into two crystal glasses.

"Some wine, my Lady? To help settle your nerves." The wine was admirable, from the Spanish Captain's own stores. He handed a glass to her. He was aware of her scent, more arousing than the smell of the tropical flowers on the land breeze.

The Captain's bedchamber was just tucked into the side of the ship, closed off by curtains. Lady theresa's eyes wandered to it, then she quickly looked away.

"You see how it is, my Lady." he said. "I must rule over this band of cut throats with an iron fist, else no one will be safe, not you, nor your ladies, nor even me myself."

He shook his head with weariness. "Alas, I was not bred to this rough life. I myself was a gentleman of the English court until I was forced into this unsavoury life by intrigues most foul, so I can sympathize with your plight. This must all be so unpleasant to you to fall in among these lowlifes. But there is one thing you could do to help your cause immeasurably."

She looked at him and waited.

"The men are angry over being cheated out of their treasure. No doubt the governor of New Spain is sending it by another ship. If you could but name that ship to me, lady, it would mollify the men most wonderfully, and I'm sure we should set you all ashore in Port Royale with not a hair of your head out of place. Indeed, the men would be so eager to again put to sea that they might very well agree to setting you and your party free to continue your journey to Spain.

"I'm sure that a lady in your position would have heard some talk, some rumors about the method of shipment. No doubt we ourselves shall hear it when we land at Port Royale, but still, to hear it from your own mouth..."

Then he noticed the small bandage on her finger, stained with blood.

"My Lady!" he said with real alarm, "You're injured! Let me send for the surgeon to attend to it! I hope it wasn't in that unseemly scuffle. I'd never forgive myself."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Therese De Quina

"Some wine, my Lady? To help settle your nerves."

Therese moved forward and accepted the proffered wine gratefully.

”Thank you, Sir,”

She murmured as she sipped the amber liquid.
She looked at the man before her and away again.
Her eyes strayed about the cabin and alighted on the curtains behind which, she guessed the captain’s bed was located. She dropped her eyes hastily and sipped at the glass, pleased of the diversion.

"You see how it is, my Lady."

Her eyes flew to his face, wondering if his comment related to her observations.


"I must rule over this band of cut throats with an iron fist, else no one will be safe, not you, nor your ladies, nor even me myself."

She nodded, realising the truth of his words and unable to prevent herself from casting a wary eye on the locked door.

"Alas, I was not bred to this rough life.
I myself was a gentleman of the English court until I was forced into this unsavoury life by intrigues most foul, so I can sympathize with your plight.”

Therese faced the Captain. Her curiosity was piqued.
A gentleman? What could have forced him to take to the seas and in such a capacity?

”This must all be so unpleasant to you to fall in among these lowlifes.
But there is one thing you could do to help your cause immeasurably."

Therese watched him carefully, wondering what he might suggest.
His voice was smooth as he explained.

"The men are angry over being cheated out of their treasure.
No doubt the governor of New Spain is sending it by another ship.
If you could but name that ship to me, lady, it would mollify the men most wonderfully, and I'm sure we should set you all ashore in Port Royale with not a hair of your head out of place.
Indeed, the men would be so eager to again put to sea that they might very well agree to setting you and your party free to continue your journey to Spain.”

Her eyes widened. He was asking her to betray her country!
Surely a man of honour would never put her in such a position?

"I'm sure that a lady in your position would have heard some talk, some rumours about the method of shipment.
No doubt we ourselves shall hear it when we land at Port Royale, but still, to hear it from your own mouth..."

Therese smiled, the iron of the situation was too much to withhold her humour.
Fortunately the Captain noticed her cut and bustled her into a chair, exclaiming in alarm;

"You're injured! Let me send for the surgeon to attend to it!
I hope it wasn't in that unseemly scuffle. I'd never forgive myself."

Remembering her fit of temper, Therese blushed faintly.

”Please, Captain… do not alarm yourself.
‘Tis merely a cut. A crystal glass fell from my grasp earlier.
Such a scratch hardly merits the attentions of the surgeon?”

She sipped at her glass and laid it down upon the cabinet before her.

”But as for what you suggest … “

She watched him carefully, deciding that honesty was by far the easiest path.

”As you point our countries are indeed at war. If I were to have any knowledge relating to the carriage of Spanish treasure, I would be a poor citizen to divulge such information to you, an enemy of our crown..?”

He made to interrupt, but she continued.

”But as it is, Captain, I am spared such dilemma and need for discourtesy.
You are wrong to assume I would know anything about the passage of such treasure-bearing ships. I have seen very little of my father over the past nine months … “

Her eyes clouded, the feeling of hurt at his lack of emotional involvement with her.
Therese felt as if he treated her as a mere chattel: Someone to order around and to sell to the highest bidder on the marriage market. He had attended her 18th birthday celebrations and been hunting for a husband for her ever since.

” .. and I assure you the company I keep is not much taken to political talk, or indeed talk of any import at all … “

Only as she spoke the words did she realise how boring it had become to be so closely closeted. “A gilded cage” was the phrase she recalled from a story she read during her childhood. And now here she was, just as trapped.
She gave a heavy sigh.

”I am sorry. I cannot help you Captain.”

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Captain Inigo Hawkins

"I have seen very little of my father over the past nine months … “ she said, and looking at her, seeing her suddenly lower her eyes as a brief wave of sadness washed over her, he believed her.

She was an extremely handsome woman, and behind her haughtiness, he sensed a lively intelligence and a spirit to match it. But he doubted really that her father, as parsimonious with his affection as he was with his gold, would have really said anything to her about the route of the treasure ships.

So his little ruse had worked, but there was no information to be had, and now he felt slightly guilty for the way he had tricked her, as well as he had laughed over her father's choice of her future husband.

He was suddenly aware of having a woman in what was, for the moment, his own room and bedchamber, and of her being totally at his advantage, for his duty towards her was far from clear. Since was not a combatant, it wasn't really proper to hold her for ransome, not according to civilized conventions. On the other hand, brigands and common criminals often kidnapped women for money, or even sold them into slavery.

He was not happy with any of these choices however, although he did have a fleeting image of the Lady Theresa lying naked in his bed as he pressed his hard body to hers, but he quickly dimissed it.

"Well, my Lady, I suppose there's an end to it, and I'll have to deal with the situation as best I can. But seeing as how we have but a little time before we reach port, I would be grateful if you and your ladies would accept my offer of full liberty aboard ship, so long as you refrain from interfering with my crew. Perhaps the presence of the fairer sex will be a salubrious influence on their behavior. I've known it happen before."

"As for myself, I beg you to accept my offer to dine with me in my cabin? It is the least I can do in return for causing such inconvenience to you. And if you like, I would be happy to escort you on deck for a breath of air. It is so stuffy belowdecks, and it is quite a lovely night." He was quite certain that she hadn't been allowed much out of her cabin by the Spanish captain.

As he led Lady de Quinha up the ladder to the main deck, he was confronted by the astonishing sight of Bloody Bill and Davies coming down. They were both freshly scrubbed and shaved, with their hair slicked down with some sort of ship's grease. They'd even changed their clothes.

"What's this?" he asked them as they met in the corridor. Davies saluted with a knuckle to his forward, both men looking quite embarrassed, and Bloody Bill mumbled something about seeing the ladies, who they were afraid they'd frightened a mite too severely, if it was alright with the Cap'n of course.

With Theresa standing right behind him and they on their way to the upper deck, he could hardly refuse the two pirates, so he just nodded.

He led her out into the warm, fresh air on the main deck, and then up to the poop. The big square sails of the galleon loomed over them, filled with the soft wind, and the stars were like spilled diamonds on a jeweler's velvet cloth, just dazzling. Behind them the wake of the galleon showed ghostly green phosphorescence on the dark sea, and a series of small islands to windward showed white necklaces from the breaking surf.

He was going to tell her that on nights like this he didn't regret leaving Court at all, but perhaps a well-bred lady would look on this scene differently, so he kept his tongue. But it was good being on deck on a night like this. And it was even better being with a woman such as the Lady de Quinha.

 

[pneema]

Ren scurried through the ship ...

sneaking her way back to the Captain's quarters real quick. She stuck her ear to the door. He was talking to the Spanish lady. She listens to the Captain's distress over the scratch and barely refrains from an audible snort of distain.

She quietly scurries back to the crew's quarters to turn in for the night. The cook liked her in the galley bright and early to scrub the pots.

On her way she passed a group of the crew huddled together over something. They turned as they heard her footsetps, and as she felt their eyes on her, she could feel herself blushing.

"S....some haul we got th..this time, eh?" she stopped and stammered.

Sometimes she felt frustrated that she got so tongue-tied around them, but it worked well for her disguise and she knew it ... so she worked with it.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Therese De Quina

"Well, my Lady, I suppose there's an end to it, and I'll have to deal with the situation as best I can. But seeing as how we have but a little time before we reach port, I would be grateful if you and your ladies would accept my offer of full liberty aboard ship, so long as you refrain from interfering with my crew. Perhaps the presence of the fairer sex will be a salubrious influence on their behaviour.
I've known it happen before."

Therese smiled relieved that the Captain had not pressed her further about the name of the ship carrying the rumoured treasure. She could not have told him, but she feared that she may have betrayed something of the relationship she had, or rather didn’t have with her father.
What would he do now, she wondered, when he heard what had happened, that her ship had been captured?
Would it be her he cared for, or his reputation?
She nodded to the captain accepting his offer of “full liberty” then quirked a smile.
… “full liberty” ?
That would be the first time she had been offered such a thing.
She attempted to maintain a sober expression, knowing mirth was unseemly and out of place in her present situation and turned her attention to once more to the Captain’s words.

"As for myself, I beg you to accept my offer to dine with me in my cabin?
It is the least I can do in return for causing such inconvenience to you.
And if you like, I would be happy to escort you on deck for a breath of air.
It is so stuffy belowdecks, and it is quite a lovely night."

Therese smiles before answering demurely.

”A turn about the decks sounds ideal Captain, but please do not feel obligated.
Neither I nor my ladies was harmed, … thanks to you … “

She added, realising that she should be grateful to him.

”However, if it is company you seek, I would be pleased to dine with you this eve … “

She concluded, almost shyly, looking away to pre-empt any blush which might dare to paint her cheek.

The Captain made no comment and merely offered is arm.

”My Lady..?”

Therese found herself bobbing a formal courtesy, realising how out of place it was, yet his attentions had reminded her … she gave herself a mental shake and walked with him through the ship and up on deck.

Looking around, Therese hardly had time to breathe the evening air when she saw two of the would-be assailants striding towards her. This time there were smartly attired, clean and spruced up. She watched in silent amazement as the captain challenged them and heard that they were on the ladies whom

” … they were afraid they'd frightened a mite too severely, if it was alright with the Cap'n of course. “

Therese looked at Captain Hawkins carefully. He did not seem at ease with the idea, but allowed them to continue on their way.
She watched them go, but decided that no trouble would come of it.
Slowly they strolled along the main deck. Therese had never been allowed more than the merest glimpse of the deck at night before. She breathed deeply and looked up in awe at the stars above her. The sea seemed calm now.
The gentle movement of the boat made the sails creak softly, rhythmically.
All was dark or light or shadows.
The beauty of the scene took her breath away.

”It really is impressive … “

Therese whispered, despite herself.

”So majestic, so powerful , yet … so beautiful… “

She didn’t realised that her companion had turned his gaze fully upon her.

”It makes you want to take to sea and sail and sail … and never return … “

She voiced wistfully, still lost in her thoughts.
Perhaps that is what he’d done … when circumstances caused him to flee his court.
She could not ask him, however, curious though she may be.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Captain Inigo Hawkins

They stood on the poop deck under the tropical night sky, garlanded with uncountable brilliant stars, the warm offshore breeze caressing their skin and filling the silent sails as the galleon moved along with an easy, almost sensuous roll upon the swell. The only sounds were the steady creak of mast and rigging, and the low murmuring and laughter of the crew as they entertained some of the more adnevturous ladies of Theresa's party in the forecastle.

”So majestic, so powerful , yet … so beautiful… “ Theresa said, gazing up at the dark sails against the starry night.

He looked at her, surprised that she should give voice to the very things he was feeling about the ship, as if she were reading his mind. Could it be that this woman of the court and of civilized society could be sensitive to the same things that stirred him?

He had never heard a woman express such appreciation for the sea and the beauty of the wind in a sail. Usually ships were noisome things to them at best, another bit of men's folly, and yet he could see the look of real appreciation on her face.
She was almost luminous in the starlight, more erect, more regal and yet far more feminine. He knew too that she felt the call.

”It makes you want to take to sea and sail and sail … and never return … “

"And with one such as you, my Lady, that is an inviting prospect indeed." He said it without thinking, causing an awkward moment.

Lucky for him at that moment the lookout called down, "Ahoy the deck! A ship two points to larboard. I can just make out her lights! Spanish."

"Douse all lights!" Hawkins called. "Drop the mainsail and stand to!"

Instantly the rigging swarmed with pirates as they ran up the ratlines and furled the mainsail.

"Excuse me my lady." Hawkins said as he ran to the mizzen top and scanned the dark horizon. There she was, a good way off, but carrying Spanish lights. He could not make out what she was but from the was she moved she appeared to be another galleon heading in to Port Royale around the poiint.

"Keep a sharp eye on her, Mason, and call out if she changes course or gives any siogn of having seen us>" He shouted to the man in the foretop, then taking hold of a backstay he slid down onto the darkened deck.

The Lady Theresa stood much as he had left her, though now in darkness as the ship's lanterns were put out. His unthinking sentiment had not been forgotten.

"Forgive me, my Lady." he said, "I should not have said that. I was quite out of place. I am not in the habit of keeping my thoughts to myself.

That seemed to mollify her somewhat, and she turned away, but it was as if he could not leave well enough alone. "Although my sentiments were genuine enough." he added. "I have never seen such a beautiful woman respond to the sea as you do. It is beautiful, is it not? And freedom, true freedom, seems so near at hand. You feel it as well."

"Here you see we make our own rules, we set our own course, we are whom we want to be. If that seems a strange and exhilarating notion to you, I must confess it is to us as well. I believe there is no king on the entire globe who enjoys the liberty that we do. It is something that no power can bring, no wealth buy."

The cabin boy stuck his head through the hatchway. "D...Dinner's Up, C...C...Captain." he said.

Theresa took his proffered arm. With the lamps out, the deck was a wash of shadows, and one could hardly see the passageway below, ten feet away.

As he helped her below, the galleon took an unexpected lurch, and he was thrown against the passageway, Theresa a top him, so that her body was pressed to his, and the scent on her breast exveloped him in an intoxicating cloud. It was totally dark a,d no one could see, and he couldn't tell whether she leaned against him deliberatly for a mometn, or whether she just had trouble finding her balance.

"Pardon me, Captain." she said softly.

"No pardon necessary, my Lady. Such are the exigencies of shipboard life. Shall we go below?"

Neither of them was quite hungry, and they only picked at the excellant fish the boy brought them. The cabin lights were allowed to burn, as they could not be detected by any ship ahead of them, and in the light of the swinging lantern, they carried out a politye conversation that pleased neither of them. When he looked at her in cadid moments, Hawkins noticed a deep melancholy that truly touched him. He wondered if perhaps she did know whom she was bethrothed to, and that thsi voyage might be the only taste of freedom she would know her entire life.

 

[Arkontheroof]

Sly Nathan

I left the crewmen to grumble to one another, and went up onto the foredeck to watch the dark waters and to think. Financially the haul had been disappointing. No, it had been appalling, and weeks could pass before another fat treasure-ship passed our way. Better out of these waters with full coffers than skulking through the archaepelagos with dwindling rations. With luck the captain would trick some secret from the prisoner he had picked out; or else he would find that she knew nothing of value, or worse he would let his romantic streek get the better of him and lose sight of the purpose of the voyage - of any voyage. I should see what else we have in the hold, see what other possibilities there might be.

Heading across the deck I pass little Ren, the cabin boy, and I hear him halt by the crewmen I've just duped with a stammering "S....some haul we got th..this time, eh?" I grin, and consider pausing to hear what they say to him - whether they tell him what I've won for him - but I'm sure if anything interesting transpires I'll learn of it in time: it's a small ship.

Below decks I come to the locked door behind which another lady languishes, and taking the key from the nail nearby I unlock the door, letting the door swing wide and raising a lantern to show what's within. Slender and dark, I look her up and down, her firm breasts, small corsetted waist, the skirts full over layers of petticoat: I picture Ren fumbling with the volluminous skirts and I grin. She scowls back. I'd better say something.

"You seem a real Spanish beauty, and so, le hablaré en Español... ou si vous voulez je peux parler Français, o posso parlare Italiano...?" Her ears picked up at the Spanish, alone, and so I continue in that tongue from then onwards. "You will hope, perhaps, for a maid-servant to comb your hair and make you ready for bed...but we're a bit short on maids, though plenty would bed you if you wanted. So the best I can offer is to fetch you some food, and make you comfortable as best we can. If you'd like anything then please ask, but I can't promise to indulge you as you're doubtless accustomed. You seem surprised that I speak Spanish so well? Don't be - I speak eight languages. But if you think, perhaps, that this is a good sign, that you have fallen amongst men who are not all entirely savages, then I'd urge you to think again: there is plenty of savagery here. What is your name, lady?"

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Therese de Quina

"And with one such as you, my Lady, that is an inviting prospect indeed."

Therese all but jumped at his words, unaware that she had voiced the words.
She looked frankly at the Captain and realised what he had said.
Any response was halted by the cry.

"Ahoy the deck! A ship two points to larboard.
I can just make out her lights! Spanish."

A Spanish ship! She should have been pleased, yet for some unknown reason she drew nearer to the Captain. Unaware of her, he issued commands and then excused himself to go and organise his men.

Therese stood immobile watching the man move authoritatively along the deck.

"Keep a sharp eye on her, Mason, and call out if she changes course or gives any siogn of having seen us."

She felt a grudging admiration for him.
Whatever side he was on, however he had captured her ship, he was a man to be reckoned with with much more strength of character and resilience than the Captain who had escorted her onboard originally and so obviously danced to her father’s tune!

Therese smiled as Captain Hawkins issued an apology, assuming he were apologising for leaving her on deck unescorted. Only belatedly did she realise that he was referring to his earlier comment.

"I should not have said that. I was quite out of place.
I am not in the habit of keeping my thoughts to myself. “

Not knowing what to say, Therese nodded in acceptance of the apology offered.

"Although my sentiments were genuine enough.
I have never seen such a beautiful woman respond to the sea as you do.”

Her cheeks pinked in the fortuitous darkness. Never had a man ever dared make such comments about her.

”s beautiful, is it not? And freedom, true freedom, seems so near at hand.
You feel it as well."

Therese eyed Captain Hawkins.
Freedom was not a concept she knew. Duty is all she had ever known.
That and obedience.

”Here we make our own rules, we set our own course, we are whom we want to be. If that seems a strange and exhilarating notion to you, I must confess it is to us as well.
I believe there is no king on the entire globe who enjoys the liberty that we do.
It is something that no power can bring, no wealth buy."

Her eyes held his, as if mesmerised by this words.
Regardless of the issue of Kings and worlds and warring nations, his words were treasonous. They went against all she had been brought up to believe.
Freedom was fancy she knew she could not afford to entertain and yet …

"D...Dinner's Up, C...C...Captain."

Again a blessed interruption!
Again the gentleman, the conversation supposedly forgotten, Therese took his arm and allowed him to help her below decks.
The rocking of the ship took Therese quite by surprise. Before she could gather her wits, she found herself thrown against the Captain as she struggled to regain her footing and even more so her composure. The feeling of his hard masculinity pressed up against her in the confines of the narrow corridor seemed to send her senses reeling! She leaned against him for fleeting moments, almost savouring his closeness, before drawing away.

"Pardon me, Captain."

The apology was soft and unsteady.

"No pardon necessary, my Lady. Such are the exigencies of shipboard life.
Shall we go below?"

Therese merely nodded, not quite trusting her voice.

The meal laid before her was up to the usual standard, in fact it excelled the dishes she had been presented with previously, yet she felt self-conscious in the Captain’s presence and had to concentrate to make conversation. Her mind kept fleeting back to the intimacy of that narrow corridor. She sipped deeply from her wine, impatient with herself and fearing the trauma of capture had quite addled her senses!

Holding back a sigh, Therese pushed the fish around her plate.
What would her father be doing now?
What destiny did he have mapped out for her?
And if … something should befall her, who in fact would he blame?
She bit back a sigh and tried to pay attention to the man who sat opposite her.

Thankful as the plate was at last cleared, she drained her glass once more and grew bolder.

”Captain … you said you fled the English courts … from what were you fleeing?
Or was it merely the call to freedom, which coaxed you to turn your back on your family and heritage?”

She enquired softly, acknowledging that the man she had at first assumed a ruffian, might in fact be as noble as she herself.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

”Captain … you said you fled the English courts … from what were you fleeing? Or was it merely the call to freedom, which coaxed you to turn your back on your family and heritage?”

He looked at her sharply. But then he remembered that she was a lady and a foreigner and could not be expected to know proper behavior. Besides, she was royalty, and accustomed to asking questions. But would she like the answer.

"I killed a man, my Lady." he said. "A swine and a blackguard, but unfortunately also one of the King's favorites. Had I stayed in England, no doubt I would have paid with my life.

"Mine is a respectable family, with a baronetcy in the North, and we have always served the King. But this man--this villain--had designs upon our office and our favor in the King's eyes galled him, so he took to slander and calumny. My father is quite aged, and could not be expected to defend his honor, and I was serving in the Royal Navy when I heard of this final, unconscionable afront. I called the devil out. He fancied himself a swordsman. He was not."

He looked to see how she was taking this, but she did not seem unduly shocked. Certainly the Spaniards were notorious duelists. There should be nothing shocking in a matter of honor such as this.

"Shall you not go back, then?" she asked him.

He shrugged. "Perhaps, some day. With a new King and the restoration of my family's fortune, perhaps. And if I do not grow too fond of this life." He took a sip of his wine.

"I have answered your question, my Lady. It's fair now that you answer one of mine."

"How is it that one of your grace and beauty is destined to end up the wife of a common rakehell idiot of a man, as I assure you your prospective husband most certainly is, just because he has access to some distant title? Does this not give you pause?"

He sat forward, his eyes dancing. "Have you never thought of deciding your own fate, of choosing your own husband?"