Edward Teach Died on a Beach (OFMD)

Chapter 14

Sorry it's been a week whoops

Okay, so maybe Buttons was right. Luckily Bonny had taken him seriously enough to tell them to prepare for a storm. Stede was the only one who had storm sails for his ship, which Bonny had advised them to put up immediately after Buttons talked to her. Instead of heading toward land, they headed toward the deeper parts of the ocean. Bonny had circled a spot on Ed's map; she said it would be far enough from land that they'd be less likely to ground if the winds got rough.

They'd furled and removed most of the sails at Bonny's insistence. They'd only left the foremost top sail and the headsails. The Willam and Sam's ship, The Whydah, had the same sails up.

The William had taken the lead due to Bonny's insistence that her navigator was the best. Stede's ship sailed behind hers, with Sam's taking the rear. They were a good distance away from each other, leaving room in case the wind was planning on throwing them into each other.

The sky above was dark, almost black, at only noon. Thunder rippled throughout the sky above. The sea was choppy, and as they sailed across the water, waves lapped at the bow of the ship. They hadn't seen lightning yet, but it seemed to be coming soon. The crew was bustling around.

Stede watched as Fang and Ivan stowed the cannons, making sure they were tightly secured. Ed was talking to Jim so quickly that Stede couldn't understand what they were saying. Stede glanced down at the rope that was knotted around his waist. He tested the knot again. Ed had tied it, so he knew it was strong.

As a matter of fact, once the waves had picked up and they'd decided to tie themselves to the ship, tying Stede to the main mast was the first thing Ed did. Stede was overly aware of the fact that Ed still hadn't tied himself in; he was too busy making sure everybody else was safe.

"Ed!" Stede shouted over the thunder.

Ed glanced over, said something to Jim and then hurried over to Stede.

"Don't forget the rope," Stede said with a frown.

Ed touched his hip. "Right. Yeah."

Ed, ironically, seemed a little less anxious than he had been the last few days. Stede wondered if the fact that he was being put to work helped him. Ed crossed to the port side and talked to Jim again. Behind them, Sam Bellamy was tugging roughly at the cannons and making sure they weren't about to crush someone when things got dicey.

Sam had said he'd just come over to check on the ship, but in reality, Bonny had sent him to stay for the storm. They'd argued about whether it was necessary for a while and then decided that Stede's general sailing incompetence and Ed's... weakness for Stede might leave them more at risk. Bonny wanted someone with them in case things went poorly.

Sam had reluctantly agreed to let Mary captain his crew. He was still sort of trying to figure out if it was a trick, but in the end he decided that it didn't matter. Even if Mary decided to take off with his crew, he'd be able to find a new one. There were always more people who needed a fair captain.

"You know, it doesn't really look like Sam's going to be going back to his ship," Lucius said as he exited the captain's quarters.

Stede looked over at him. "You don't think he's here to watch over us, do you?"

Lucius chuckled, raising his arms as Black Pete tied a rope around his waist. "That's exactly why he's here."

Stede pouted slightly. "We can handle a storm."

Lucius smiled as Bellamy wandered over.

"You should be tied down," Stede said. "Wouldn't want you to fly off back to your ship."

Sam flashed him a grin. "I honestly think I'd just land in the water and die. I'd have to be going fairly fast to land all the way back there."

Stede chuckled. "Did Bonny send you over?"

Sam stepped closer, squinting slightly as he laughed. "Indeed she did. I'm afraid she was just worried about you."

"We... Ed knows how to handle a storm," Stede replied.

"That's what I told her, but she wouldn't have it. She said Ed's been too nervous lately," Sam said, lowering his voice.

Stede frowned slightly. "He's actually better now, honestly."

Sam nodded. "I noticed that, yes. I think mainly she's worried Ed will... make a foolish choice if it comes to anything related to your life."

Stede raised a brow.

Sam looked to the side of the ship. "For example, if you were to fall into the water, Ed would jump after you without a second of doubt. And then you'd both die."

Stede crossed his arms.

"Then your ship would be left with no captain that's experienced traveling in storms," Sam replied.

Stede was a little annoyed, but Sam wasn't wrong. He loved his crew, but sometimes it did feel like they lacked some knowledge that normal pirates had.

"Although that one knows what they're doing," Sam said, nodding toward Jim.

Stede chuckled. "That is true."

Sam turned around, frowned slightly. "Rope?"

Stede spun in a circle and then went and picked up a long bit of rope. He returned to Sam and held the rope out to him.

"Thank you, Sir," Sam said.

Stede nodded slightly, watching as Sam tied the rope around himself.

"Where are you from?" Stede asked, too aware of the fact that he'd been snippy to Sam.

"Plymouth," Sam replied, pausing.

"Ah."

"Although, I'd say the sea is more my home."

"Ah?" Stede replied.

Sam slowly began to head to the mast. Stede followed him. Sam looked over at Stede. "I joined the navy when I was young. So for most of my life, I've been a sailor."

Stede nodded.

"I've heard a lot about you, Captain Bonnet," Sam said, smiling mischievously.

Stede curiously raised a brow. "You have?"

"What made you decide to... now, forgive me if I'm wrong, but I've heard that you left a fairly wealthy family in Barbados," Sam said. "Why would you do that?"

Stede shrugged. "I was never happy there. Arranged marriage... you know."

Sam watched him for a moment. "Well, I don't blame you for that. I will say, too, that you impress me a little."

Stede smiled. "How so?"

Sam shrugged. "Mercy is something that more people should have. And I respect your love of fine things."

Stede chuckled. His whole love of fancy things had faded a little. After he'd thought about it while he was trying to sleep one night, he realized that when he thought of fine clothes and expensive objects, it used to remind him of home. But now, he didn't need those things to focus on. He had Ed.

"I've noticed you have a taste in those things," Stede said.

Sam grinned. "It was something just out of reach for a long time, you know? And now I've got my crew, my ship, and I can do whatever I want."

Stede hummed. "That's funny."

"Why's that?"

"It feels the opposite for me. Now I feel like I don't need most of that anymore," Stede replied.

Sam thought for a moment. "Curious!"

Stede paused to let Sam tie himself to the mast. Lucius, who'd trailed slightly behind them, glanced between them with a brow raised. He looked over to where Ed stood. Ed had been talking to Jim, but he'd paused to watch Sam and Stede talking. His eyes flicked over to Lucius. He raised a brow. Lucius shrugged a little.

Ed walked over just as thunder crashed above them. He suddenly seemed much less absorbed in the impending storm.