Sails of Love and Torment

Chapter IX

'I will not leave their side. I don't care. I need them to be safe. I need him to be okay.'

'And I need you to be at your healthiest, sitting here refusing to eat is not how you're going to do it.'

'Dad. I will not leave them to die alone.'

With that I groaned, turning my head to the first voice, 'You really care that much.' I managed to splutter out before coiling up in pain.

Slowly I opened my eyes, being met with Joe's vibrant green ones still damp with tears. 'Ari,' she whispered lightly, holding my cheek in her hand. 'I thought you were gone.'

'Not yet.' Carefully she wraps an arm around my torso, wincing in pain I move my right hand to hers, 'But it hurts like hell.'

'The Doctor recommends you don't do anything for a while.' The other voice piped in, 'the fall caused a lot of damage, you are exceptionally lucky that your arm and shoulder are the only broken things. Though the impact of the fall has also left some scaring.' I slowly turned my head, avoiding as much pain as possible, to Joe's dad. 'You really gave us all a scare there.'

'Wasn't intentional.' I muster all my energy into not passing back out.

Joe, with her arm still across my body, lays her head down next to mine upon the small bed I was upon. 'Your brother helped set up this little section of the tavern for you to rest up and get better in.' I tried to move my hand to her face, not fully registering what was just said, but stopped as the pain became too much. Tears pricked at my eyes as I realized I was not going to be able to move for a while without pain.

Without warning, she planted a brief but soft kiss upon my cheek, 'I love you Ari, my Icarus.'

I froze slightly, 'I-' I couldn't form the words to express how much I loved her and hearing her call me hers, 'I love you too.' My world suddenly felt right. Everything suddenly made sense. My thoughts briefly fell to the dream of my mother and I gave her my silent thanks.

'Now.' Joe said in a stronger and more serious tone as she stood up, 'Don't do that to me again.'

Her dad turned to me, 'It took you two long enough.' I smiled at him, as he began to walk towards Joe, 'You, young lady, still haven't eaten for the last few hours.'

She looks at him, holding defiant eye contact for a few seconds before smiling, defeated. 'Fine. I'll go and eat something.'

'And you' He turned to me. 'Need more rest. Don't worry about the others. We've had enough problems that no one will bother you.'

With that he left, I laid there in silence taking in the surroundings. Light flooded in through a window on the far wall, basic wooden storage containers lined beneath it with what looked like papers littering the top of it. Simple bed linens formed a barrier between me and the nip of cold in the room. It wasn't until I turned my attention to the door that I recognized the room. Upon the door hung my waistcoat, along with a long back woollen coat that had once belonged to my mother. This was the room my mother had first stayed in. This was the room that was never rented out within The Sailors Trunk, due to it being held for the Fur family even when they lost their power. It was held for my mother, who had been believed to be the last heir to the Fur lands. I was held for me.

As these thoughts filled my mind the door opened. Julyan made his way in, carrying a small tray of food. 'I heard you had woken up and was instructed to bring you some food.' He placed the tray on the end of the bed and began helping me into a sitting position. Once I was comfortable he spoke up again, 'I wanted you to know that I'm sorry. If I had known how far he would go with you and your friends I would not have taken you back.'

I stayed silent. Taking in and accepting it.

'Are you aware that I had kept your letters a secret from our father?'

I looked at him mildly stunned, 'really?' I questioned quietly.

'I could see that you and Joesephine truly cared about each other. I. I never knew our mother. I really wish I had. Father built her up as a woman who didn't care and abandoned himself and I for another man.'

'She didn't think she would get away with both of us without being imprisoned for treason, or worse.' I quote the exact words I had read in her diary years ago.

'I, I worked that out later. I.'

'Listen Julyan, I. I don't know what you're getting at.'

'I've found out the truth about our father's power. I'm planning on reporting him to the royal court and giving us, giving you, the freedom you deserve.'

'Thank you. Juls'

'Juls?' He questioned, looking at me sceptically.

'What, I give all my friends nicknames.' I smiled at him, a bright genuine smile that was reflected in him. Together we sat, siblings at last, bonding and sharing two starkly different stories that were also so oddly similar.