A Treasured Love

Understanding and Unwanted

Every night, until they reached her kingdom, was a living Hell for Nina. Gerald would rape her every night before bed. Sometimes he would not be alone. Nina now had thick black bruises on her wrists and ankles from being tied down by Gerald. He told her father that the pirates kept her as a slave. She wanted to tell her father it wasn't true, but she knew she had no voice in the castle. She was back to being a pretty face on a pedestal.

Her father through a great party for her return a month after she had been returned home. She was being dressed back in the finest purple dress. The night was very much like the one the night she was taken away. A smile slipped to her lips as she was lost in her memory.

Moria smiled and asked, "Does that smile mean you're ready for the ball tonight?"

"I wish, Moria," Nina went back to her frown. "I was just thinking of someone special to me. I met him while I was away."

"On that slave ship?" Moria spat angrily.

Nina smiled softly and twirled her hair saying, "No. It wasn't a slave ship at all. It was full of pirates, but they were amazing men. They cared for me like family. Rayford, Peter, Jack, Raymond, and most of all, Ja-"

"You will have to tell me more later, your majesty." Moria cut her off sharply.

Her and a few maids fixed her up while sharing gossip from around the neighboring kingdoms.

The youngest of the maids said cheerfully, "Did you ladies here the Prince of Isunticulia came home a few days ago? I heard he has been missing for over nine years now."

Another maid added, "I heard he came back with a child," She paused as the maids gasped by the shock of such news, "and the king and queen were fine with it? can you believe it?"

The youngest one looked at Moria and asked, "Do you think he will be at the ball tonight with his son?"

"Only time will tell, my dears" Moria commented as she put the finishing touches on Nina.

There was a hard knock on the door before Gerald let himself into Nina's room. The maids swoon over him and cleared the way to Nina. He took Nina's hand and kissed the back of it as if he loved her. He looked her over and announced, "Nice work ladies. She looks like a proper wife now?"

"I'm not your wife yet, Gerald." Nina spat as she took her hand away. "Please excuse me. I have a ball to attend to."

Without another word, she left her room and headed to the ballroom. Anger boiled out of her like a river becoming a waterfall. Nobody understood her. Her experience wasn't a bad one. That ship was the best place she had ever been. She wanted so much to go back, but would Jaden let her?

Her mind began to swim with doubtful ideas. Had he found another lover yet? Did Peter forget about her? Would the guys want her back? Was she not good enough? With so many worried in her mind, she could barely see the royal man she was about to run into. By the time she came to her senses, she had ran into the back of a member of the ball.

She bowed politely without looking up at the man.

"So sorry. Please forgive me." She walked away without even looking at the man. She didn't want to see a single man that night. She wanted her brutish pirate captain, and his noisy crew of lovable men.

The ballroom was filled so full with people, Nina thought the room would rip open like a box that is filled to full. There were several men in fancy suits and just as many women in expensive dresses. Nina was clearly the spot of attention, but small talk was boring Nina to no end. Dukes, duchesses, princes, princesses, kings, and queens wanted to hear from Princess Nina.

Gerald was happily talking to Nina's father and neither of them looked pleasant. So, even though Nina didn't want to speak with Gerald, she was too curious. She came over sweetly and asked, "Is something the matter, Father?"

"Oh! Nina," He spoke realizing it was only his daughter, "we were just talking about the prince of Isunticulia being found. Gerald and I were talking about making plans for a treaty with the country."

"I was just explaining to King Cedric how I wished I could help." He took Nina's hand and kissed the back of her hand before continuing, "I would love to raise a family in peace, not war."

Nina took her hand away and looked at her father, "Father? May I speak with you in private?"

"Private? What for, my child?" Her father asked in confusion.

"Yes. Please Father?" Nina bowed politely.

"I suppose. Prince Gerald?" He beckoned to the man standing next to him.

"Yes, your majesty?" Prince Gerald bowed smiling.

"Leave us." The king waved the boy away like a dirty maid. The prince looked shocked at the king before leaving the two of them. "What do you wish to speak about, my dear?"

"I do not wish to marry Prince Gerald." She refused to sugar coat it for her father, "He is a cruel man, and I do not see him being well for our people. Father, I believe I-"

"Enough Nina." Her father spat as he took her arm. "You WILL marry Prince Gerald. His country has good trade and mounds of gold. Your heart will grow to love him in time."

With her Father's "words of love" she watched her father ignore her. She couldn't handle the heartache and walked out to the beach which she hoped would calm her. The sound of the ocean dancing with the sand, was a soothing sound, and a sad one. Her mind began to drift back to the ship that changed this princess into a sea barring maiden. She thought of Rayford, and Peter, and of course Jaden. She thought of the kitten named Plank, her cabin designed just for her, the feel of a group hug, the laughter of her sea family, Jaden's touch on her skin, Peter's warm cuddles, and-

"Excuse me, Miss?" A little boy called to Nina, but she only noticed his cat as is purred against her leg.

"Plank?"