Pirates, Kings, and Love. Oh my.

Chapter 18

[Hey guys I know that by now I sound like a broken record. But after writing this chapter I know what I'm going to do for at least the next few chapters, which should keep me going and keep ya'll satisfied. I promised a chapter earlier tonight, and now I'm delivering. Hope ya'll like it. I think its one of my best, though it may not be the most exciting. But it's part of the storyline and therefore has to be written. So, as per usual, pwease pwease PWEASE most importantly comment and let me know what you think, and then of course vote. Love ya'll, my dedicated readers who are so very patient with me. This one's for you(: ]

XVIII

My head felt like a cannon had gone off inside of it. As I became conscious my ears rang and my throat clenched. Slowly, I opened my heavy eyelids, one by one. Wincing, my eyes focused on the small room. It was white, with simple wooden furnite placed neatly about it. There was a wardrobe across the room and a table with a mirror and a small basin next to it. Then there was a fireplace, and small table and then bed. The bedposts rose from the bed, allowing white curtains to be drawn down, gently billowing from the open windows.

My tongue felt like my fathers chapped hands. I looked around and found a glass of water position next to my bedside. Gently, I propped myself up on my elbows and reached for the glass.

“Ahh!” I crumbled into myself at the sharp burst of pain. I looked down under the sheet, ignoring that I was bare naked, to see the place where a line of neatly stitched thread ran from my hip bone to my lower ribs. Mesmerized, I ran my hand along the seam, inspecting the swollen edge. The door creaked open and I quickly pulled the sheets back up to my chin in a meager attempt to cover myself.

“No use in propriety dear. I’ve seen worse than you’re pretty figure.” A tall woman walked in carrying a tray. The pungent smell of eggs and pastries made my mouth water. She set the tray down on the table and began to reposition the pillows behind me. As she worked I noticed the moss-green color of her eyes, the faint lines starting to form at the edges. Her hair was dark as a ravens and braided neatly into one long braid down her back. Her hands were nimble and practiced. I knew she was the one who stitched my side. I felt my neck grow warm from the thought that another person has seen my naked body. Not even Jonathan, as much as I loved him, saw less than my cleavage.

“Come now, stop your worrying. You look redder than the blood I cleaned up last night.” Her voice was gentle yet firm and despite my discomfort, I felt myself begin to relax.

“That’s better. Here. I made you something to eat. You’re bound to be starving since you passed out in front of my house.” She helped me to sit up. I winced as my stitches pulled and she gave me a gentle smile. “Go ahead, eat.” She placed the tray in my lap. For the second time since I left home, I found myself being as helpless as a babe. Its no wonder Heath disliked me so much: I was as useful as a boulder.

“Whoa hold on missy! You don’t want it coming back out as fast as your putting it in! Slowly, there, now you got it!” As I continued to eat, at a slower pace, I studied the woman as she walked around the room. She drew back the bed curtains so I could see to the left side of the bed, out the windows. She poured water into a basin and left, coming back with a towel.

“There now, doesn’t that feel better?” She took the tray from my lap, placing it on the table. “Come, let me help bathe you.”

Gently, she place one arm around my shoulder and the other on my arm as she slowly helped lift me out of the bed. As my feet touched the ground my legs gave out and I stumbled to the ground. The woman caught me under my arms as I winced from the movement.

“The stitches look very nice. I can hardly see the cut! I can’t believe how nice it looks, I didn’t know skin healed that fast.”

As I stepped into the water the woman gave me a puzzled look and reached for the soap.