THE SAILS OF THE HIGH SEAS

- Chapter 25 -

Sandokan did not believe in serendipity. Nor did he believe in coincidences. But then, how on green earth and all of the world's oceans could he explain that he was looking at his beloved Marianna holding up a pendant with a blue amber? A blue amber the shades of a deep blue sea. A blue amber that was his and Aruna's mother's favorite gemstone?

While Marianna held the delicate pendant with a small tear of the blue amber, Sandokan looked at Aruna. One look at her, and he knew that Aruna thought of the same exact thing. The blue amber. It represented the last days of bliss their family had experienced. The last days of love, laughter, and happiness their family of four lived through in perfect harmony. He closed his eyes, and saw his mother's beautiful eyes, her endearing smile, and her gasp as his father gifted a ring of blue amber to her. He finally found the gemstone that he searched for ever since Sandokan's mother heard of the very rare and precious stone. It was her birthday. It was a warm and gloriously sunny day. And it was everything that Sandokan wished with all of his heart he could relive over again.

Never, EVER, one to cry, Sandokan bit back his tears, however hard it was. He missed his father, but not even Aruna knew how much he missed his mother Suhana. Rani Suhana, his dearest mother, was the only woman that held authority in his heart. Not even his sister mattered to Sandokan as much as his mother did. That was until... Marianna showed him that love did not have to limit a man or trap him in a cage. Marianna showed him that love could enable a man to reach for horizons he never even considered. And it was because of Marianna's love that he finally understood his father's words that he kept in his heart for so long...

"That is a beautiful pendant," Aruna smiled sincerely and looked at Sandokan.

"It makes me feel like my mother is close by whenever I look at the pendant," Marianna sighed. "My mother had eyes as deep blue as this stone."

"Just as You do," Sandokan reached for Marianna's cheek and caressed it.

"Would You mind putting it on me?" Marianna smiled at him shyly.

"It would mean a lot to me if I could," he replied as his throat almost dried out.

Oh, who was he kidding? His throat dried out, but for a reason that still baffled him as much as it felt so brand new. There was just something indescribably alluring about the sight of Marianna's bare skin. And even more than that, about the sight of her neck as Marianna moved her hair away so that he could lock the pendant's clasp. He almost swore at himself, internally to say the least, because his fingers brushed against Marianna's skin. A bolt of desire shot through him with such intensity that he almost let go of the pendant before locking the clasp. How was it possible that the mere sight of the nape of her neck caused such a reaction from him? Suddenly, he realized he was close to crossing a boundary Marianna would not have been ready for.

"Thank You," Marianna whispered and turned around. She held her breath because of what she saw in his eyes. There was something different in them. Something indescribable, and something unfamiliar to her.

"Right," Sandokan replied and stepped away. "You Ladies take Your time, and come up on deck. Yanez prepared his famous stew in Our honor."

"Alright, we will..." Aruna started to reply to him but Sandokan rushed past her and disappeared around the corner.

"Was it something I said?" Marianna asked with concern.

"I don't believe so," Aruna smiled at her newfound friend. "But I do have to warn You that the sight of that pendant struck a chord in my heart. And from the looks of it, definitely in Sandokan's."

"Oh? Why?" Marianna narrowed her eyebrows.

"Blue amber was Our mother's favorite gemstone. Our father gave a blue amber ring to her for her birthday. And then... just days later... Our palace was stormed and they were killed," Aruna grew quiet.