My Treasure (Norman Reedus Pirate)

Eighteen: Stay Strong, My Love

Jack:

I was patrolling the deck, when I heard the heated love in Captain's cabin settle down. I smirked slightly, pleased that he was happy. Captain rarely smiled, and until Isabelle came aboard, he would always glare at us. But now, he would still glare at us, but anyone could see the passion behind his gaze. All because of that hot-headed, bossy woman. I respected Isabelle for standing up to me, and trying to save Captain Reedus.

Suddenly, I heard the sounds of someone leaping onto the ship. I whipped around, and before I could draw my sword, there was a loud bang, and blackness engulfed me.

Isabelle:

A loud bang made me sit up, my heart pounding. Beside me, Norman was groggily stirring. "Norman, did you hear that?" I asked frantically, my heart racing. Before he could respond, there was more gunshots. Norman sat up instantly, and was about to hop out of the bed, when the door was suddenly kicked open. I shrieked, covering my face from whoever was barging in.

"Princess Isabelle!" Oh god. Not him. Anyone but him. I opened my eyes, just in time to see Norman being ripped off the bed by red coated soldiers from my kingdom. I screamed, fearful for Norman. I knew that these soldiers wouldn't dare hurt me, but Norman was a different story. Prince Charles was hustling over to me, his eyes wide. When he was beside me, he wrapped me in a tight, smelly hug. "Oh thank god that you're safe!" He sobbed, holding me tightly. A little too tightly. I didn't respond, just watched helplessly as the soldiers dragged a naked Norman out of the cabin. The whole time struggling against the restraints, casting glances over his shoulder at me.

Prince Charles pulled away from me and inspected my bare body. I covered my breasts instantly. I didn't want anyone to see them except the man I loved. "That monster raped you!" He screamed, before grabbing his flimsy sword out of his belt. I knew he was about to kill Norman, and I couldn't let that happen. I grabbed the sheets just as Charles was leaving the captains quarters. Wrapping the sheets around me as I ran, I saw that they had Norman on his knees, while Charles had his sword above his head.

"How dare you rape my future bride!" He roared, about to bring the sword down onto Norman's neck.

"Stop!" I shrieked. Charles paused, glanced at me. "He must be presented to the queen. If you go back without his living being, the queen won't believe that you killed him."

"That's why we kill him now, and show her the body!" Charles protested, sounding like a child. When Norman sounded childish, it sounded sort of cute. But Charles didn't.

"That is disgusting. And besides, when you kill him, the body'll decompose and rot to the point where you won't be able to recognize it anymore." I felt my heart crack silently at the thought of Norman being killed.

Charles glared at Norman, before slowly sheathing the sword again. "Fine. Someone get some shackles and clothes for this disgrace of a man." He ordered, then, he spat on the back of Norman's neck. He flinched slightly, but continued to glare at the ground. Then, Charles turned to me and wrapped me in a hug. "C'mon, love, let's go get you dressed." He murmured, and started leading me away from my real love. I threw a glance over my shoulder at Norman, who was being yanked to his feet. Norman threw a glance in my direction, and I saw love and sorrow in his eyes. It broke my heart, and I let a tear leak out of my eyes. I let Charles lead me across the ship I've come to love for the last time, away from the crew I had grown to view as my family.

As we were passing by the private quarters, where the crew slept, the English soldiers were bringing bodies out, one by one. It broke my heart when I saw Henry, Russell, Jacob...and Jack. Tears began running down my cheeks, and I glanced back at Norman.

Norman:

I watched, feeling my chest tighten as the bodies of my crew were being taken out of their quarters, being stacked like fish on the deck. I saw Jack being tossed onto the pile, and a tear threatened to spring from my eye.

My family... They're gone...

It never looked like I cared about my crew, but in truth, I loved them like family. And when Maurice, the old man who brought Isabelle in, was already dying of some disease no one could cure. Poor man was going to die any day. I was doing him a favor, and had mourned him that night. Jack had been like a brother to me, especially after he helped me locate Isabelle on Crescent Island. And now, he and many other brothers, were just gone. Forever.

I was ripped to my feet, and a few clothes were thrown at me. "Get dressed." A redcoat ordered. I glared at him, but grabbed the dark grey wool sweater and dark brown pants. Then they shoved me across the deck that I loved, towards a small row boat.

€===||======>

I was in a cell under the ship's deck. Stiff shackles bound both of my wrists together, and kept them in front of me. Rough iron bars kept me from freedom. We were still by my ship, and the sight of my beautiful ship made my heart swell.

Suddenly, I saw a spark of orange flame being flung onto the ship that my father and his father before him owned. I watched in horror as a small fire started, and quickly swept across the deck, roasting my men and treasures. I got up and ran to the barred window, clutching the bars and watching in horror as my beautiful ship was being burnt before my eyes. "No..." I whispered, a tear escaping from my eye. I heard someone come down the stairs into the cell block. I felt my sorrow and grief for my lost ship and crew being replaced by anger. "GET OUT OF HERE!" I roared.

"Norman?" Isabelle murmured. I turned to face her, just as another tear fell out of my opposite eye. She was dressed in a light blue gown with her hair up in a tight, uncomfortable looking bun. Makeup stained her face, to the point where she looked unrecognizable. When she saw the tear fall, she quickly trotted to the barred door. "Norman-"

"Those damn redcoats are burning my ship! And the crew!" I exclaimed, more angry tears dribbling down my cheeks.

"I know." Isabelle whispered, and I saw tears in her eyes. I felt my tense body frame soften slightly, and I walked towards the cage. "I saw Jack." She mumbled.

"I did too, love. I did too." I murmured, grabbing her hands through the bars.

"I can't believe he found me." She mumbled, walking closet until she was leaning against the bars. I gave the top of her head a kiss, inhaling her sweet smell for what could very well be the last time. Suddenly, I heard a deep cracking behind me. I whipped around, just in time to see my ship - my home - being split in two, and slowly sink beneath the waves. I saw the bodies of men falling into the sea, where they would be eaten by sharks. And just like the ship cracked, so did my heart. "Oh my god..." Isabelle mumbled.

"My home..." I whispered, my voice cracking. I felt Isabelle's arms wrap around my waist, pulling me in for a hug. I bowed my head, silently mourning the loss of my men and home.

"Stay strong, my love." Isabelle mumbled, and we watched our ship fall in silence.