The Seamen's Secret

Chapter Two

Adela clenched her stomach, she wanted to get on land. She opened her eyes and looked around. Was she in a dream? The room she was in was not at all like her room on board. It was smaller with plain white walls, a wooden crucifix being the only decoration in the room. Beside her bed was a small pitcher of water. Feeling the roughness of her parched throat with her tongue, she reached for the pitcher. There was no goblet so instead she drank from the pitcher directly, such was her thirst. Once her thirst was quenched, confusion swept over her in a massive wave. Then she remembered everything. The storm, the boy, and the icy cold water threatening every second to pull her under. Adela laid back down. Perhaps if I fall asleep, I could wake up and everything would be normal, she thought. But who was she kidding? She knew it was all to real to be a dream. She looked around once more, where was she? But as she tried to sit up she got dizzy and lied down again. She looked down at herself and noticed a bandage around her right leg. She tried to move it but it her to much. I must have cut it on the ship while jumping off with... Oh no! Where was Sebastian?

She tried to cry out his name but no sound came forth. She hoped her voice was just exhausted from lack of use. Sebastian and Adela had no reason to talk while floating for survival. The only communication made was when they shared their biscuits with each other. Thankfully the leather pouches Adela had used to preserved the food remained water proof. The food had come in handy but the fresh water most of all. Adela knew how fast dehydration set in. Two or three days and you were done for. Her mother, who once was a healer's apprentice, had told her so. Adela and Seb (since that was what she affectionately called Sebastian) had been in the water for three weeks. Both had lacked sleep, food, and warmth. Many times there were storms that dashed Adela and her companion to the brink drowning. But thankfully neither her nor Seb had fallen into the icy depths while trying to survive the waves. But then again, Adela didn't know if Sebastian had survived. Within the last week Seb had fallen into a sleep where Adela was unsure if the young boy would awake. She had to hold him to insure he didn't fall into the water and drown. But then as hard as Adela tried, she could not remember how she had gotten where she was now. She did not remember reaching land. All Adela could recall was blindingly hot sunlight and ten nothing. As she studied her memories she barely noticed when a quiet woman walked through the door. She was plump and had a fly away red hair beneath a black and white nun's habit. "Oh deary, you are awake! Ringrazio il Signor e il suo Santa di chi sopra!" The woman exclaimed.  Adela did not understand, but when she tried to tell the woman this, no sound would come. Instead, she furrowed her brows in attempt to convey her confusion. "I am from Italia, I just told the good Lord my thanks for your recovery. My name is Frau Chiara. I am the head healer at Rosenstein Castle." The woman said proudly, though the way she ducked her head she was trying to be humble. Meanwhile excitement bubbled in Adela's chest. Rosenstein was the second best place she could be at the moment, besides Hagenheim. Duke Friedrecton could arrange a voyage home for Adela. Silently, she thanked God herself, for what a good God he was.
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Kurt paced back and forth. Who was the maiden, where did she come from, and would she be all right? He was surprised at his thoughts, never had he cared so much for a woman (excluding his mother and two older sisters). But this maiden looked familiar in some way, her hair a soft chestnut colour, skin pale as moonlight, and a worried look on her face. And the boy... Thankfully he has awaken but he could not remember a thing besides the girl's name. Kurt had hoped perhaps she was his betrothed, but then again, Adela was a very common name. Also, Adela Gertensburg had blond hair and had darker skin. Nevertheless, he hoped. Kurt hoped she would be awake so he could talk to her finally. He went to the healer's home where she was being cared for. As he approached the door he hesitated. "How fairest the maiden in whom I have just met and don't even know?" Of course it was silly. Plus and Lisle would never stop teasing him about the girl. He would never hear the end of it. Why was he acting so strange? It wasn't as if he fancied the girl. Nonsense! He thought. It was his duty to check on her since he had been the one who had rescued her. So he knocked. At first there was no response. Then he heard a scuffling noise inside. And finally he heard Frau Chiara, "Just a minute." He smiled to himself, he always liked Frau Chiara, with her happy plum way it always seemed comforting to him see her. She was like a mother to him. When the sister had first come to them from the Rosenstein Abbey, she had been eighteen. The same age as the mother two year old Kurt was losing to the Plague. When his mother had died, Frau Chiara had become Kurt's nursemaid. Back then, she had been a shy nun. Now she was married, boisterous, and many times she was nosy. Whenever Kurt looked at a girl, Frau Chiara would tease Kurt endlessly. Then she would give him an hour long sermon on being loyal to your spouse. Even though Frau Chiara was no longer a nun, many times she still acted like one. He could only imagine what she would say abut him visiting the girl. Frau Chiara opened the door and had to look up to see Kurt's face, as he was so tall and she was so short. "M'lord, may I help you?" She asked. "Could I speak with the girl?" Kurt asked. He could feel blotches of red blooming on his cheeks when Frau Chiara gave me a look. She winked and replied, "well of course. I leave you two to your 'conversation' ." She finished with a saucy tone, then she waggled her eyebrows and left the small room. Adela lay on the bed, asleep. He had wished she had finally awaken. Though he could not talk to her, he could look at her. He studied her. She had perfect features. A sculptured jaw, a delicately sloped nose, long eyelashes, and full lips. She was a work of art. He reached down and touched her hand. It was warm and small and fit into his perfectly. He reached down and touched her hand. It was warm and small and fit into his perfectly. He sighed. What are you thinking Kurt? He thought. Suddenly the door opened and there stood Frau Chiara. "What was I thinking, I am supposed to chaperone you!" She said distressed. "What was I thinking, I am supposed to chaperone you!" She said distressed. "How could I leave a young girl and a boy with possible intentions together unattended! The scandal!" Kurt laugh inwardly. "If you haven't noticed Frau Chiara, she is unconscious." But when he looked back to the girl, she was in fact no longer sleeping. It was amazing to see her eyes. They were a brilliant forest green with flecks of gold. It was like staring into a scene from summer, when the sunlight pooled through the leaves of the trees. Kurt struggled to find something to say. Something witty. Something flattering. Something funny. He grasped for a conversation starter. Then he remembered a conversation he had with his father once. "Father, how did you woo mother?" I had asked. "Woo her?... I did what my mother always told me to do. Say 'you have nice eyes'. You'll be married in a week." Kurt hoped this would work for him to, so he said in his most charming voice, "I have nice eyes." Then he realized his mistake and blundered, "I mean you... Have, umm... Nice eyes ... Not, umm, me... Uh, my name is Kurt." He tried to smile but it became a grimace as Frau Chiara started to laugh. He averted his eyes from shame and felt the blush of embarrassment creeping up his neck and face. Good job Kurt! You did it again. He never really was good with girls, especially pretty ones. He always tended to mess things up and embarrass himself. When he finally had enough courage to look at Adela, he saw she was shaking with a smile on her face. It was like she was laughing but no sound came forth. When both woman had stopped chuckling, Kurt asked Adela, "how do you feel?" Frau Chiara spoke then, "she cannot speak m'lord."
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Adela watched as pity and disbelief washed over Kurt's face. It, in no way, altered his handsome features. The look made Adela sad. She did not want anyone to feel pity for her. Frau Chiara spoke then, "I believe it is not permanent but it will take time for her vocal chords to heal. There was to much seawater swallowed." Kurt nodded then said, "can you write m'lady?" Adela nodded. "I will fetch a parchment and ink for you so we may know your needs and wants and you may communicate." Then Kurt left. "He is a charming young man, is he not? Even if he is a little clueless sometimes." Said Frau Chiara. Adela nodded again with a smile. Then the healer left Adela to lay on her bed pondering about Kurt. He changed so much in the past year. When she had visited Rosenstein last, Kurt had been tall, skinny, pale and plain. Now he was tall, fit, and handsome. His muscles were visible beneath his billowy shirt. His hair had become darker so it now appeared reddish-brown. He has a long straight nose, almond toned skin and the bluest eyes she had ever seen. While this collection might've looked strange on any other man, they looked perfect on Kurt. But what was she thinking?! She hated Kurt Friedrecton since she had been four years old and she resigned to hate Kurt all her life. No, charming smiles and handsome features did not work on Adela. She loved one man and one man only. Samson Zeiger. But when she compared Samson to Kurt, Samson's hair seemed plain. After all, it was only black. It actually was quite greasy and sweaty. Samson was too tan in comparison to Kurt and his eyes didn't seem as brilliant compared to Kurt either. Adela shook her head. She hated Kurt, she loved Samson and that was that. But when Kurt returned with parchment and ink, she couldn't help but admire that once he got into a comfortable subject, the two of them could talk for hours. If she could talk that is. Instead, she asked Kurt to tell her stories. He told her about the time his sister, Lisle's cat had fallen into a well and Kurt had jumped into the well to save it, only to get trapped into the well himself. Adela laughed when he said this and smiled. Why were his teeth so straight and white? Why was his laugh so nice and deep and rich? Adela couldn't help it. She liked him. And she hated herself for it. She was betraying Samson. But as she went to sleep that night, she realized something. She honestly didn't care.