Ship Wrecked

Chapter 18: The Warrior

The castaways were on the sand screaming at the ship letting them know that they were there. Jules couldn't believe that someone had come for her so quickly, but yet it was so long. Tears splattered against her lips and her cheeks. She glanced at Nick to see his head drop and to shake. She glided with pure grace towards her once good-friend and fiance to her new-found enemy. He glanced up at her and straightened up. Jules touched the proposal ring on her hand and gently slid it off her hand. She saw Nick's face fall as she walked towards him. She placed the ring in his palm, closed his hand, and looked him in the eyes.

"Nickolas Davis Thandliad, you are hereby taken from your former position as Captain. You are charged with the deaths of Charles Edward William Wakefield Ⅲ and Maribella Alexandra Lexington Wakefield Ⅴ of the royal family. You are also charged for the deaths of Zankari Thandliad, your own son, Noel Abrite Treetum, and the crew plus the maids of the Midnight. These charges will result with either immediate death, torture to death, life behind bars, the gallows, or by the mountains. The council of Minuta will decide your sentence, but you are no longer called Captain Nickolas Davis Thandliad, but Nickolas Davis Thandliad Murderer of the Royal Family. And I will no longer be engaged to you. "

Jules shot her hand to retrieve The Dragon's Mithril Sabre Sword. She touched the intricate handle and the still sharp blade. She faced the bright sun and recognized a small row boat coming towards the shore. She felt her shoulder being squeezed. She touched the rough skin and saw Emrys pull her into a fatherly embrace. She savored this hug because Emrys always was harsh to her and treated her as if everyday she was a failure. She wanted to cry, but she couldn't let them fall. It didn't seem right and there was nothing to shed. She was at peace and was at rest for there was no more war and no more pain for her to go through.

Matthew and Thomas had brought Noel onto the sand. Eila was sitting cross-legged on the sand and motioned for them to lay Noel's head on her lap. Eila stroked her best friend's hair and pointed to the ship and the Sun. Jules could hear a few words, but could translate them into sentences. "Noel, look! We are being saved. You just had to survive for 2 more months and you could be coming with us. Just look at the Dawn. For some reason, it just seems so much brighter. Maybe because it is a new hope and that we are being rescued after a long time since... I don't remember the numbers that well." Eila picked up a piece of Noel's long golden hair to only let fall. She started to shake and tried to hold back the tears that were about to pour out of her eyes. Jae strolled over and knelt down beside her.

"C'mon Eila. Let's go."

"I won't leave Noel here on this island known as hell! I couldn't live with myself! She needs a proper burial and needs to come home. We all promised that we were all coming home together."

Jae wrapped her friend into an embrace and helped pick Eila off of the sand. Jae placed her wounded arm around Eila's waist. "I would place it on your shoulders, but you're a foot taller than me." Eila's laugh filled Jules' soul with laughter. She began to laugh just because she could. Emrys grasped Jules' shoulders and stared at her like she was dying. "What's wrong?" Jules started to laugh harder to cause Nick to look up from his feet at The Queen's laughing face. He started to chuckle too. Emrys glanced at Nick then back at Jules, "Let's go. We are going to go home." The little row boat came onto the sand and men attacked the pure white sandy .

A man in a black trench coat with golden embroidery on it walked like he owned the world towards Jules. He had auburn hair with freckles scattered across his nose. He had fierce green eyes that glowed like emeralds. He wore a black hat with a green feather in it and he had medals on the right side of his brawny chest. Jules knew he was the captain of this magnificent ship.

"Are you Jules Marie Nicomia Wakefield?"

"Yes, sir."

"Are these castaways from the Sunrise?"

"Yes."

"We would most kindly like you and the crew from the Sunrise to come with us to the land of Minuta."

"How did you find us?"

"The King of Alumbus ordered the crew that saw the smoke coming from this island to see if castaways from the Sunrise had survived. He didn't mention anything about you, Your Highness. Or Captain Nickolas?!"

Jules sucked her breath in and placed her delicate hand on the captain's forearm. "He is not a captain anymore. I am now the Queen of Minuta and he has been removed from his position. He is charged with the deaths of my parents and many other people. He is no longer a captain." The captain in black bowed before Jules and so did everyone on the white beach. Jules stumbled backwards for she did not know such a chain reaction could happen so quickly. "Come with us, Your Majesty. We are going to take you and everyone home."

..................

Blankets were wrapped around them as they snuggled into the warmer cloths. A few maids scurried towards the strangers on the ship with hot beverages. Matthew was holding Jae and took the drink for him and her. A maid with raven black hair was blushing when Thomas winked at her. He motioned her to lean down so he could whisper in her ear. He whispered and she turned a deep maroon red. He kissed her cheek and she bolted from the circle of castaways. "What did you tell her?" Sarah raised her eyebrow as she took a sip of the hot drink. "Oh I just said that she was one of the most beautiful girls on this ship. So I am just smooth and can make all the girls melt," Thomas replied as he stretched his back out. "Ouch!" The girls replied in unison. A couple more maids that seemed like they were in their forties brought out clothing for them. "Dresses for the girls, shirts and pants for the men, and for Her Majesty a room for you filled with any dress you desire." The girls nodded their heads, picked up the dresses, and departed. The men did the same.

"This way, Your Highness." Jules smiled and followed the maid that had white hair pinned up into a tight bun. The door was peeled open and it only contained a twin bed with plain white sheets, a dresser, and a nightstand. Dresses were splayed out across the bed of white and it made the room brighter. "Dinner will be at seven, madame." The door was closed behind her. She saw a small mirror on the dresser and peered at herself. She started to smile for she had never seen herself so dirty in all her life. She placed the mirror on the dresser and glided over to the bed. One dress was a coral color with quarter sleeves. One was navy blue with a white sash. The sleeves were... there were no sleeves on this dress. The last one was a yellow that reminded her of the sun and the sleeves were short and they flared out.

She placed the navy blue and the yellow in the drawers of the dress and went to look for undergarments. She took off the dress her father gave her and took off her shredded and disgusting undergarments. Dirt and shrubbery fell to the ground. She walked to the corner and picked up a wash bucket that held water and a washcloth. She wiped down her face and her body. She felt clean and renewed. She placed the clean undergarments on and the new dress. It fit her snug and it was comfortable. She retrieved the brush off of the night stand and started to take over the snarls that had developed over time.

She opened the door and walked back out on deck. She saw Jae, Eila, and Sarah in dresses. She never saw them look so gorgeous in all her life. Jae had let her hair out long and it seemed as if an angel stood before her. She wore a sea-foam blue colored dress that had lace sleeves and on the bodice. Eila also had her down, but half of it was placed in some sort of braid. She wore an indigo gown that had a black floral pattern on the skirt. Sarah had her hair in a single French braid and she wore a faded yellow dress that had short sleeves that had white paisley designs flowing down the intricate dress. "You guys look beautiful," Jules exclaimed as she touched each dress. "I ain't used to this kind of fancy, though." Jae scratched the back of her neck and fiddled with the sleeves. "Well to me you look beautiful," Matthew's voice broke through the awkward silence.

Jae began to blush as Matthew strolled in with Thomas in the rear. The men wore white tops that exposed their brawny chests that glistened against the Sun. Their navy blue pants were rolled up to their mid calves and they wore no shoes; like always. "Guys, I have never been so happy in all of my life."

The End...

Or Is It?