LIVERPOOL ENGLAND JULY 1698
It took them 3 weeks to reach Liverpool.
The Ancients must've been on their side because they had the wind at their backs the whole way, didn't have to tack once.
Even at this frantic pace, Britannia was still weakening.
Exor's splint didn't stop the bleeding and the tourniquet was soon stained ugly tar black.
Exposed to the elements as it was, Britannia's wound became infected and she got blood poisoning. Shocking that her own blood could become poisonous to her.
Her pallor had changed too.
She was lighter, turning whiter and her eyes were more gray than blue.
"You hold on Britannia." Flying Dutchman growled
"I'm trying..." Britannia's voice was strained.
Flying Dutchman whimpered and nuzzled her.
"Please don't leave me." She begged.
"I won't." Britannia promised.
Flying Dutchman held her to her side as the great ship staggered.
"Just a little farther Britannia. Just another ½ km and you can rest" She said.
Britannia moaned, her teeth bared as she panted hard.
"Don't give up, please." Flying Dutchman begged.
"I won't leave you Shadow." Britannia groaned. "Whether I'm with you in body or spirit I'll always be with you." She promised.
"Don't die. I need you here." Flying Dutchman sobbed.
"No promises there." Britannia grunted.
"Britannia, please." Flying Dutchman cried.
Britannia sighed and let her apprentice carry her to her berth.
Flying Dutchman set her down and docked beside her.
"You still there Shadow?" Britannia asked.
"Yes and I'm not going anywhere." Flying Dutchman replied.
"Stay?" Britannia asked.
"I promised you once I'd stay by you till the end and I'll keep that promise." Flying Dutchman replied.
She seemed to be increasingly aware of Britannia's chances.
Britannia sighed.
"I love you." She whispered through the bond.
"And I love you." Flying Dutchman replied back.
Her healing love flowed over the bond, lending Britannia strength.
Britannia leaned back, rolling on her side against the dock.
Flying Dutchman settled down beside her.
"I love you so much..." She whispered.
"I love you more." Britannia murmured, her eye closing.
Flying Dutchman nuzzled her.
"That's it, rest." She whispered.
Britannia sighed and quite happily went to sleep.
Flying Dutchman didn't dare close her eyes.
She didn't dare go to sleep herself, keeping a close eye on dear mentor.
She kept the bond open, continuously yielding her own strength to Britannia.
YOU ARE READING
The Damned: Part 1~ Innocence
Historical FictionIn the late 1600s, a new ship is commissioned into the Dutch Navy and is mysteriously lost on her maiden voyage. Only, she wasn't lost, merely taken and re-purposed to ferry the dead. The story of the Flying Dutchman, as told by the ship herself.
