Isolde

Chapter 11 - A Swift Ceremony

The voyage was going along fairly pleasantly overall, the wind was on their side and they were making excellent time. Prince Frelian had predicted that it would take them around four days to reach the Inovine coast but by the end of the second day it was in sight, just visible behind a flurry of low clouds. The weather grew colder the closer they went and their vision became more and more impaired by snowdrifts and clouds. The sea had changed colour seemingly instantly as they'd left the clear green waters around Rilia and entered into the murky blue ones of Inovine and it's neighbours. Icebergs of varying sizes bobbed around in the dark waters. Frelian had acted as a passenger for most of the journey but now seeing the weather begin to turn had moved almost permanently to the bridge. He took control of steering the ship and played a large part in navigating the choppy seas. His men didn't seem surprised. They were quite happy to take more background roles or just help with general maintenance of the ship.

One particularly blustery day, Isolde ventured up onto the top deck in pursuit of her secret fiance, she found him alone with one hand on the wheel and the other holding a map onto a table so it didn't blow away. He was soaked through from snow that had covered him and then melted and was shivering but still didn't leave his position.

"Prince Alvaro" she called to him

"Who's there?" he called back, the wind and rain shielding his visitor from sight.

"Isolde, I came to check if you were okay. The crew said you'd been up here since yesterday morning and hadn't had a break."

"The crew are right." he replied bluntly

Isolde now walked towards him, holding her shawl around her with one hand and the side of the ship with the other as it listed to and fro, water splashing up over the sides and all over her. Frelian saw her at once and called "Go back inside, you'll catch a cold, or fall overboard."

"So will you." she retorted, eventually reaching him. She stood beside him, holding onto his waist for support against the elements "Come inside."

"I can't"

"You can. Look at you, you're wet through and there's icicles forming under your nose, if you keep this up you'll get sick as you say I will. Let your men take over, they are happy too."

"But look, we can see the coast of Inovine, it's less than three hours away. I said I'd personally bring Alouette to Callan and that's what i'm doing."

Isolde laughed "You are bringing her to Callan. You're on the ship. It's very sweet that you want to be the one to steer the ship into the port but if you really want to make a good impression on Callan don't you think you should come inside and change before we dock. Let your men steer the last part, as you said yourself it's less than three hours away."

Reluctantly, Frelian agreed. He called over one of his men who was tying the rigging down that was flapping. "I need to have a break."

"Yes sir." was the response and the man came over and took the wheel from him.

Isolde walked Frelian back inside, she hung up her shawl over a beam to dry and told him to take off his cloak and hang it up too. Alouette had at this point just come out of her room and looked at the two of them horrified "What in god's name were you doing?" she demanded "you're both soaked."

"I went out to check on Prince Alvaro who was steering the ship and found him soaked through, I was just helping him get dried off before we reach Inovine."

Alouette ignored what Isolde had said about helping the prince and sought to satisfy her own needs rather than focusing on his "how long until we reach Inovine?"

"About three hours." Frelian replied

"I must get ready. My future begins this afternoon it would seem." Alouette announced then went to turn round to return to her cabin.