Nan's Jewel

Nan's Jewel~ Chapter 39 <3 Zillah

AN: Cliché?

Chapter 39- Zillah

I couldn't believe it. Edward had declared his love for me, and asked me to marry him, but then he turned around and left. The thought stung, and brought tears to my eyes. There was another feeling, one that said he couldn't have, that it wasn't like him, but I had the proof. It had been three days and no one had seen Edward. I stayed in my room for days not wanting to believe I had been a fool. My mother tried to coax me out of my room, but I didn't want to go. I really didn't know what to do. Shadow and the cat kept me company, but I longed for Edward. I needed to see his clear grey eyes, and hear him say everything was going to be okay.

"Zillah, please come down and eat. You are too frail."My mother pleaded.

"I'm not hungry."I said, because I wasn't.

"Daughter, if you won't eat for yourself, at least eat for your child."

I gave in, and it was only the thought of my child, and the microscopic chance that Edward hadn't left that kept me going. Father sent out a search party, but with no idea where he could be, it was hard to organize. I knew that I was very moody, and was a pain in the neck, so I tried to stay out of the way. Most of the time when I wasn't in my room I was walking around the garden, or down at the beach because, even though the February weather was colder, it felt good to have the waves wash up around me. I was out walking one day when I was reminded of something my mother had said the night Edward didn't come home.

"Aaron's ship left suddenly today..."Mother had said.

"Oh Lord, please keep Edward safe!"I prayed for about the hundredth time today.

I turned and hurried back home, positive that wherever Aaron and the Mary Rose were, Edward would be close by. When I told Mother my thinking, she agreed, and explained it to Father, who also agreed.

"So we are now looking for Aaron and the Mary Rose? I'll go speak with the governor and see if he can tell me where Aaron went."Father said, leaving.

I turned to Mother, hoping she could help.

"Mother, I miss Edward. Why would he just get up and leave like that?"I asked, trying to hold my emotions in.

"Darling, if you want my honest opinion, I don't think he left willingly. That Captain Dalton is a very... has a very shady character."Mother replied, patting my knee.

"What can we do?"I asked.

"Pray for his safety."Mother replied.

"You think he might be in trouble?"The thought had never occurred to me.

"I honestly don't know Zillah. Anything can happen."Mother said, leaving.

I sat staring at the fire for several hours, going over every possibility in my head. I was the first to hear when Father came back.

"Zillah, the governor doesn't know where Aaron went. He just kind of got up and left in the middle of the night. I don't know if this is helpful, but his ship was seen sailing alongside another one, a Captain Shwin's Revenge."Father said.

"Oh Lord!"I breathed.

"Do you know that ship Zillah?"Father asked.

"Just a bit."I answered.

"How?"Father persisted, taking a seat beside me.

"It belongs to Edward's ex- wife, Ashlyn Berlin, or Captain Ash."I answered.

"Ah, is that bad?"Sometimes guys could be so clueless.

"Yeah, Ash is kind of crazy.... And wants a child from Edward."I said quickly.

"Umm..."Father said. An awkward silence descended.

"Point taken."Father finished.

"But what do we do? Where would Aaron and Ash take Edward?"I asked.

"Do you know where Aaron was born?"Father asked.

"Here..." I answered.

"That won't work. Where else would they go?"Father thought aloud.

"Land wouldn't be very safe..."I thought.

"Father, is it possible they could just sail around?"I asked.

"What do you mean?"Father asked, turning back towards me.

"Maybe they wouldn't go anywhere at all. I think Aaron would just sail around in the Mary Rose until he does what ever he's going to do."I explained.

"That seems very likely."Father said, stroking his beard.

"Chandler, Zillah, perhaps this can wait for the morning. Zillah should get some sleep, and you should too."Mother said, coming into the room.

"Of course Mother."I said, gently kissing my parents' cheeks.

"I'll see you in the morning Zillah."Father said.

I left my parents and went up to my room to find the bed turned down and the fire blazing. Abigail was waiting off to one side waiting to put the hot iron between my sheets to keep my bed warm.

"Good night sweetie."Abigail said, pulling the covers up around me.

"Good night Abigail."I replied.

I rolled over onto my side trying to find a comfortable position, and slowly drifted off to sleep.