Leaving the Pirate (Book Three)

4. Change of Character

The days drifted off faster than I had expected. There was a growing anxiety alive in my stomach that I couldn't get rid of. I couldn't sleep because of it. I laid in bed, holding myself and staring at the wall in the dark.

I roamed the corridors restless like some deranged ghost. I walked past Olympia's and Cora's doors the most, waiting for them to beckon for me by a cry or a groan. I walked past Christopher and Diane's door waiting for them to grab me into a conversation, and I walked past Tristan and Jack's door with some hope that they would amuse me and comfort me. 

They didn't. None of them did. I was by myself in my restless state. 

By morning, I would be told that I had bags under my eyes and asked if I was alright, to which my usual answer would be, "yes, I'm just fine. Thank you for your concern."

***

Cora had gone mad with her crying. I wasn't allowed in her room by her request. The doctors said that maids should take extra caution in watching her. They feared she would harm herself somehow. When I was informed of this, I was frozen stiff. Diane had to walk me out of the room to calm me down.

When the king heard of this, Jack reported that his lips were glued shut and stretched into one thin line. Even the queen herself had grown anxious. "She was perhaps the most anxious I had ever seen her," Jack said twirling his newly grown facial hair. "She went in with the maids to have a long talk with Cora. Cora even calmed down for a spell to listen."

"Do you know what they said?" Diane asked, at the edge of her seat. 

"Its hard to say. I was kicked out of the room when I was told to stay with her Majesty, but what I can tell, the queen was trying to soothe her with tales of experience of motherhood, and even, reassurance that there was nothing to be afraid of, that she was going to be cared for in the castle."

"But after what happened-"I started

"From what I understand, she spoke nothing of the prince, nothing that could startle Cora anyway. When her Majesty came out, she told me that she was going to be one of the main visiting guests Cora would have for the next few days. Oh, and Diane." Diane perked up. "The queen requests that you join her."

"Whatever for?"

"She requests your help with something."

"My help? What ever could that mean?"

"I'm not quite sure, but she requests you in Cora's room by eight sharp tomorrow morning."

"I see," said Diane, gripping her trousers.

I looked at Jack. "What about me?" Jack clenched his jaw, putting his hand down from his face.

"I don't know about you. Until things settle down, I ask that you keep away. Go to Oli if you must, but I think it would be wise to stay away from Cora for now, alright?"

It was very hard to do, but somehow I managed to detach myself from the situation. I stayed with Oli even more so after that. She and I must have been together for almost the entire day until either Tristan or Christopher had to come fetch me to join for a meal. The maids themselves that cared for Oli even had to dismiss me in order to feed her or give her her evening bath.

I felt bitter whenever anyone came to take my place or forced me to pull apart from her. I felt almost empty. I thought about crying myself hysterical, with hope that that would make the world leave me and the child alone, but I held against it. I bit my tongue; I shuffled my feet. 

I had to remember, though that Oli wasn't my child. She didn't belong to me. She was Cora's, but more importantly, she was the king's.

***

The party would be in three days and it was decided that it would be held on the beach. It would be celebrated in town with parades and other festive activities, but the real celebration would take place on the royal family's private beach. Jack said that the king intended to see if Oli could use her tail.

"Her tail?" Christopher asked curiously while feeding a spoonful of food into Oli's mouth. "You're telling me that by the age of one, you merpeople are able to use your tail?"

"Itz different for everyone, you see. My mother told me that I couldn't use my tail until I was about three. Others may be until their five or perhaps even ten," answered Jack.

"How does this happen? I mean, how do you just transform?"

"Similar to walking. You have legs, you just don't know how to use them until you are held up on them and being held by someone. Once you're placed into water, someone holds you and floats you around the water for some time until it just occurs to you to transform, but again, you must learn to walk before you run; you must learn to transform before you can swim with a tail."

"Do you activate it on your own?"

"We do."

"In that case, why not hide it to live a peaceful life without people wondering about you?"

"For many of us, that is the case. A few, live in normal society, life on legs, but it can be challenging. If you aren't in water for a long period of time, your skin becomes dry and irritated. It can be very annoying and noticeable. The main reason, however, that we have kingdoms such as these are to live a life the way we choose to without any judgment. I was born and raised in France, but I chose to say goodbye to my parents at fifteen and live here. My family had history here previously. I chose to come back to my roots." 

Tristan grabbed Jack's arm. "Aww, my Jackie had to leave his home at fifteen, such a tender age." Jack patted his head.

"I see my family as often as I can. We visit France ever so often, so I suppose I can say I see them more than I would like too."

"You went to France just a few months ago!" Tristan protested, sitting up. "You didn't think to bring me?" Jack smiled something sheepish. 

"Well, you see, honey, my family doesn't care for people like me, not in that perspective, anyway. Surely your family feels the same."

"Yes, my family doesn't know, nor am I ever to be so bold as to tell them, but I thought your family coming from here they would be alright with it."

"I'm afraid not. Though it is allowed here, there are many people that still look toward it as a bad thing. I must admit, I never had many lovers in my life, most being men, but I keep that to myself, as though not to, what do you say? Rock the boat?"

"I can see how that must be hard for you," Christopher said. I turned to look at him as he said so, sounding kind and sympathetic. He was stroking Oli's arm then, tickling her. 

"It ez, but I feel much comfort now that I have a lover." Jack looked at Tristan who smiled widely.

"Damn right ye do."

Jack rolled his eyes and very tenderly said, "Je t'aime de tout mon coeur."

"What did ye say?" Jack, Christopher, and Diane connected eyes. Christopher smiled as he looked dearly at his friend.

"He said you're a jackass with a nice arse."

***

A/N

REAL translation:

"I love you with all my heart."

---Author