The Star King

England And Home Again

The ship swung violently catapulting her across the cabin. The whole ship dipped but then righted itself. She could hear the roar of the wind and could just make out the shouts of the men on deck as the waves relentlessly battered the vessel.

Her heart thumping she got up unsteadily. The door swung open and the boy came rushing into the cabin followed by a wave of water, it hit her and slammed her back into the wall. The boy wrestled with the door trying to close it after a battle he mag aged to shut it but in the process was drenched.

Elisabeth now drenched and hurting unclasped her cloak, it was midnight blue blue in color and made from the richest velvet with a clasp made out of stone sapphires and silver gems. She had gasped aloud when Hal had given it to her along with his dagger, the hilt was engraved with his coat of arms, the lions had red ruby eyes that seemed to gaze out watchful and almost seemed to be alive.

Thankfully the journey from Agincourt to Calais there had been no trouble and she had found safe passage, it was now the weather that she had to contend with and the dagger definitely wasn't useful for that.

The Ship dipped again she went flying alone with the boy. She grabbed the table but it moved with her slamming her into the wall. Shutting her eyes she preyed to god that she wouldn't die at sea. The boy started to prey with her. Elisabeth opened her yes and pushed the table off her crawling to the boys side she held him close and could feel his heart beating erratically " WE will see England again, I promise" she kissed his head " WE will live through this" she closed her eyes and preyed to god that her words would come true.

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That night the wind eased off the ship and the waves calmed. The black swirling sky had been rep[placed by a sea of stars that shone down on the smooth waters service reflected like little beacons lighting the way back home.

The moon was a huge silvery orb sparkling , glowing against the dark night sky, its silvery light rippling under the vessel as it made its way across the dark glassy sea.

Elisabeth stood on the deck bathed in the silvery light wrapped in the cloak almost not believing the sea could be so changeable. She gave credit to the sailors and merchants who used the sea regularly.

She stared out at the vast expanse seeing the stars everywhere, endlessly twinkling.The sight was mesmerizing and one she would hope never to forget. Elisabeth felt contentment as she thought of home and the tales she could tell her children.

As she lost herself in her thoughts her mind wondered back to France and Henry. He would be meeting his future bride now or maybe he had already met her.

Feeling irritated by her childish behavior she was annoyed that she already missed him and wished that everything could have turned out differently. He was the King of England and now regent of France. Wrapping her cloak closer she felt a chill run across her skin. The cloak still smelt of him and she closed her eyes breathing in the musky scent.

Jumping as she felt a hand on her shoulder she opened her eye quickly to see a man standing by her side. He was the Captain of the ship an old man with silver hair, even though he was old his mind was as sharp as a young mans. His knowledge of the sea was impeccable as soon as they had boarded the ship and left Calais he had looked up at the sky and said a storm was on its way.

Elisabeth had looked up at the blazing cloudless sky, a few fluffy cotton white clouds had been on the glittering horizon but she had thought that the Captain might have gone senile until that is she was proven very wrong.

The Captain looked at her now in the light of the moon his eyes shone a silvery grey matching his white hair. " It's beautiful isn't it, almost magical?" he grinned a toothless grin. Elisabeth nodded " The men say you were in the war" his eyes had widened and his expression was filled with awe " They say you are very brave and some even call you a true warrior, did you know that?"

Elisabeth turned her gaze away from him shocked that people would think that " No I didn't know that" he came closer still so his face was inches from hers in the moonlight his skin almost looked translucent , pure white, almost ghost like.

she felt the strange chill again as he leaned towards her whispering into her ear " Some even call you the Warrior Queen" she gave a small laugh not being able to control herself. He frowned at her " some others say you are a gift sent by god who has been sent to protect our king and without you by his side he will die" Elisabeth flinched and gasped " What you speak of is treason!" the old man grinned again " is it, if it's the truth?" shocked into silence she watched him as he turned walking away across the deck. He stopped for a brief moment turning back to her " heed my words, my Lady" Elisabeth felt a coldness run though her blood even though her cloak was wrapped against her skin she felt like she stood naked " Goodnight my Lady" chucking to himself he dissolved into the darkness leaving her standing alone with a sinking feeling.