May the Wellerman Come

☆Chapter Twelve: Port Royal☆

September 24, 1650 @ 1:32P

Spending the morning with sickness is definitely something I have now gotten used to. I'll wake up, run up to the docks, and vomit into the ocean. Rowan will sometimes wake up for it, and sometimes he sleeps soundly while I am up loosing my gut. This morning was no different. I look out at the vast ocean while swaying side to side and rubbing my belly, I remember back in high school when I would watch movies that shows pregnant women holding their womb and humming. I feel a kick as I giggle "Baby's already active, huh?" I ask as I begin to humming a song I remember. What was the name? Oh! "Salt" by Ava Max. I hum the chorus gently before laughing. "Nobody's gonna know this song for another thousand years, little one, and here you are, the first one to know it." I say, a kick to my other side being the response I get. I look up to the ocean once again and I hear footsteps coming behind me "What be goin' on, Lassie?" Rowan asks as I turn around and smile "The baby's just being super active. It's adorable." I say as he smiles "I heard ya hummin', that is some shanty, neva' heard dat one." He says as I smile awkwardly "And you won't either. The future will love it." I say jokingly as he grabs ahold of my belly gently "So I was gon' talk ta ya, it's 'bout da courtship, er, wedding." He says as I nod "Alright. What is it?" I ask "Well, I would like it ta be in Port Royal. There be a beautiful dock 'round d'ere dat shows the ocean, I know how much ya like lookin' out." He says cheerfully as I smile "Oh, Rowan, that sounds lovely! But do weddings even happen down there?" I ask hesitantly as he nods and smiles "Well, er, not too of'en. We'll make it a first then!" He says as my eyes widen in surprise "Alright. How far are we out from Port Royal?" I ask as we walk up to the Helm "'Bout a couple o' hours. Not too far ta go, Lassie. I'm so excited an' happy." He says cheerfully as I smile and kiss his cheek. He blushes as a couple of our crew snickers at him. I skip away lightly and head down the steps to check on Doc and Reid; I've been keeping watch of their vitals from what little I learned in Health class. I open the door and smile 'Hi-" I cut myself off to see Doc coughing; not just coughing, coughing up blood! I run to him and try to pat his back. "Doc! Doc! Oh my gosh!! Help!!" I shout as Doc continues his choking fit; the whites of his eyes beginning to bloodshot. Abdalla runs up to us and grabs Doc by the head "Doc, breathe!" He commands before moving his hands to Doc's neck and pushing down. Doc eventually vomits up blood onto his clothes and gasps for air. My eyes water as Doc looks up "Thank God, ugh, this is getting to me!" He exclaims before laying back down. I look up at Abdalla "We need to get him to a hospital!" I exclaim as I grab Doc's vest to see the wound with yellow and green discharge "There is no hospital around here, Alice." Abdalla states calmly as I groan "Not even in Port Royal? Look at him, he's dying. We must do something!" I exclaim as Doc begins to cough a few times "Alice, there is nothing we can do for him or the Captain at this time." He says as I shake my head "So we're just going to let them die painful deaths? Abdalla, we need to go find a doctor once we hit Port Royal, I am the Captain's Fiancé and I demand this at once!" I say as Abdalla shifts uncomfortably. Doc's eyes close and I shake my head as Abdalla comes and pats my right shoulder "It will be okay, dear Alice..." He pauses and walks out of the room "I will get help, for the both of you." I say before wiping away a stray tear with my left hand. Rowan was right, we made it to Port Royal. The area isn't at all what I expected; there are so many bars and boats, and a ton of people. I stand at the dock to look at the city and Rowan comes up behind me and wraps his arms around me "D'ere it be, Lassie. Port Royal." He says. I put my hands on his arms "Good. You did it, Row." I say "Row...I like that." He says "See, you're gonna be a great Captain one day, I'm sure of it." I say. Rowan lets go and turns "Lower da Anchor! We be near shore!!" "Aye, aye, Cap'n!" Kerick yells in reply. The ship begins to slow and I feel the wind in my hair. I head down to Doc's cabin to check on both him and Reid "We've made it, guys. Now it's time to get some help." I say. I grab a black sheet hanging by a chair in the room and hang it over my body; they always say black makes you look skinny haha. I watch from the staircase to see Abdalla and Maurice set down the boarding plank; a bright smile on everyone's face. I head up the steps slowly to avoid being seen. I make sure to be the very last person and I head down "Well, well, if it ain't Lil' Bloody Rowan. I remember ya bein' a wee lad the last I saw o' ya!" An Irishman boasts while patting Rowan hard on the back. I smirk at the scene and dash to the opposite of the crew. After catching my breath for a minute I decide to take a walk around the town. The town is wooden with some buildings made from clay. I hear shouting everywhere I turn and see a crowd of men looking at a naked woman. My eyes widen and I turn away quickly. "There has got to be a doctor here." I mutter as I walk past buildings; each one being a bar or full of naked women. I stand still facing the crowd of men and women of every kind and put my hands to my mouth. "Excuse me, does anyone have a doctor?! I need a doctor now!!" I shout. Tons of people begin shouting and I run. I see a woman dressed skimpy by a table and I get beside her "Miss, do you know of a doctor?" I ask "No doctor aboard da seven seas, love!" She exclaims as I roll my eyes "Please, you need to help me. Part of my crew is dying, they are in desperate need!" I exclaim as the woman laughs "Ya seem to do, how'd ya feel about a brothel?" She asks as I take a few steps back and run "What is this place?!" I shout. I hear a gunshot and I scream. I run quickly and in a zig-zag pattern to avoid being shot and I begin realizing; I'm lost. Everywhere looks the same, there are ships everywhere, I don't even see The Night Soul! Tears prick my eyes as I look for a crewmate of mine, why did I do this?! I rub my belly and furrow my brows, I have to find a doctor, and I have to get back to The Night Soul. I storm my way down the road while tons of people either watch or ignore me, I look for any sight of Rowan. "ROWAN!!!" I scream, nobody answers. I'm crying now while searching; feeling my anxiety go up. I feel someone grab me and I turn around to see a man looking at me with blue eyes; he is bald with a nose ring "Excuse me, Miss, I hearr you call forrr the name, RRowan." He says with a French accent "Y...yes, sir, I am looking for my fiancé, he is the Captain of The Night Soul." I answer and his eyes widen "Yes, yes, I talked to him earlierr. I brring you to him." He says and I jerk my right wrist from him "What if you're going to put me in a Brothel?" I ask and he shakes his head "No, no, I no do that. You must get back, woman. Doc is no good." He says while using his hands to speak. I clench my fists "How do you know?!" "Because RRowan tell me. Doc an' the Captain both not doing good!" He exclaims "Yeah, I was searching for a doctor." I state, still unsure if I can trust this guy, although he was talking to Rowan earlier. The man nods "Therre be no doctorrs, just barrs an' brrothels, some fighting an' killing." He says and shakes his head. "I must get you to RRowan." He says and I shake my head "What is wrong with Doc?" I ask "He is coughing up blood an' stomach, Miss. An' Reid can't breathe, he is having hallucinations." The man explains. I start to feel some light cramping and I shake my head "Okay, do you know where he would be? I'll find him my-" "No, Miss," he cuts me off, "this place be dangerrous forr young woman. Not safe, I will take you." He says while offering his hands. Another cramp hits me; more harsh than the last one, I gasp and hold my belly "Is this what I think it is?" I think "Miss, arre you-" "I'm having a baby. Oh no, Rowan!!" I shout, a cramp hits my abdomen and I scream "I'll find him, Miss!" The man exclaims "No, don't leave!!" I shout, I curl up into a ball while a crowd of people begin to stare at me; praying for no more pain. The air begins to whirl around me and my throat goes sore from screaming "ALICE!!!" I hear a familar voice, I look up to see Rowan charging towards me "Rowan!!" I shout helplessly. Rowan slides to his knees "Let's getcha back ta Da Night Soul. It's gon' be alright." He says calmly as he helps me up. Him and the man hold me by my shoulders. We eventually get back on the ship and the men put me on our bed. Sweat beads form on my forehead as I cry out; this pain is awful. Rowan walks in "Ya alright, Lassie?" He asks worryingly as I shake my head "I think the baby's coming, Rowan." I say before yelling, Rowan sits down on the bed "Just take deep breaths. Doc told me ya gotta do dat." He says calmly, taking a deep breath himself. Tears pour down my face "I'm scared, Rowan." I cry, he looks at me with a hesitant look "W-what do ye want me ta do, Lassie?" He asks, I scream feeling an intense cramp "It hurts!!" I shout. I feel an arm rub my belly and a pressure lay next to me "I'm here, Lassie. I'm right here." He says before leaning down to kiss my forehead. After about an hour the cramps seem to leave, I began to relax in Rowan's arms and feel the baby slowly stop kicking. Abdalla opens the door "Rowan, Doc like to speak to you." He says, Rowan nods and stands up. As Rowan leaves Abdalla walks in "Everyone has been worried sick, Alice. How are you?" He asks as I sigh "I've been better, Abdalla. Ugh, I'm glad Rowan was here." I say. Rowan runs back to the door "Lassie! Doc said ya must have been preppin' fer it." He says quickly, I nod and sit up slowly "Braxton Hicks?" I ask, Rowan arches his brow and him and Abdalla exchange looks. "Wait...must not exist yet." I say. I slowly begin to stand up with Abdalla helping me. "Where did the Frenchman go?" I ask "He's 'round, Lassie. I'm gon' take ya ta see Reid an' Doc." He states. I waddle with him back up to the dock where I see some of the crew wave or smile "I feel like a princess." I think as Rowan looks back at me "So, Lassie, I was thinkin' 'bout da weddin'." He said "At a time like this?" I ask as Rowan chuckles "Yeah, maybe we should make things more recent." He said as I arch my brow "How recent?" "Three days, Lassie." He answers, I let go of his hand with my mouth agape "Three days! Wha-I-" "Hey now, Lassie. Think 'bout it. I might not be able ta do it later, an' wit Doc an' Reid outta commission I need ta make dat time ta care fer dem. That aight wit ya?" He asked. I sigh and look down. We are almost to Doc's room and I look at Rowan "Alright. Yes, I suppose so. But, Rowan, we can't keep being this spontaneous with decisions. Plans have to be better if this is going to work." I whisper, Rowan nods "I understand." He says "Alright, good. Glad we're on the same page. Now, we need to figure out what to do for-" Somebody choking cut me off and Rowan into Doc's room "Doc, slow it down! Slow it down!" He exclaims as I look in horror to Doc coughing up blood, I run in and grab a towel rag. "Alice, go back! I don't want you in on dis!" Rowan barks, holding a rag to Doc's mouth. I just watch as Doc struggles to breathe, why did this happen?

~End~

AN: Thank you everyone for being patient! I know this story doesn't get many reads, but for those of you who do read it it really brightens my day to see people reading it. Thank you so much guys! Happy New Year!