Celeste

1.

It was always the same every time I saw him.

Some of the crew shot me looks as they left, tired and bedraggled. The regulars just ignored me as I waited for my father. Women waited too, but not as close to the dock as I was. I could see the men carrying their bags, clapping each other on the back as a way of goodbye.

I turned my glance skyward, peering past the edges of my lacy white parasol to see the crows nest. I could see Eli up there, starting to climb downwards.
He grasped hold of the rope, and climbed down, the sturdy material rocking at the intrusion of his weight. I watched his descent with bated breath.

One time he had fell, breaking his arm on the deck below. I had stayed with him at the hospital, fetching warm pastries from the market, reading him poems as he drifted to sleep.

He was much more skilful now, swinging smoothly to his feet on the deck with a resounding thump. Turning, he caught my eye, and a smile slid upon his face. I smiled back.

He left the ship, and at once came to my side. "Miss Reed, pleasure to see you again." He gave a half bow.

I giggled. "Eli, I thought you knew better." I pouted, fluttering my eyelashes.

"I do, Celeste. I knew you would be waiting for me, knowing I had gotten you a gift."
He kept the smile on his face, digging through his worn satchel. He produced a simple white box, complete with a bow.

"You do know better," I grinned, hooking my parasol over my arm and tucking my fan there too.
I took the box, untying the neat red bow. I opened it gingerly.

My eyes shone at what was inside. Though I objected to jewellery, it was beautiful. Settled in its brown padding, it was simple and meaningful.

A polished black disk, which reflected thousands of stars. They seemed to shine brighter in The summer sun. It fitted neatly in my palm, about the size of a flattened penny.
"It's beautiful." I whispered, looking up at him.

"Shall I?"
"Please do." I said.

His breath was at my neck as he brushed away tendrils of carefully curled hair, lifting the necklace over my bonnet and settling it at my throat. He spoke as he did so.

"I got it from a pirate ship, in a glass case. I thought you'd like it. I got it polished and the clasp fixed at another port." He explained, gently turning me around to see my face.

"I've missed you." We say as one.
It was true. I had counted each day as it added to months of waiting with only matron Newt for company. Her name was matron New, but due to her thin pencil-straight body, and eyes big, pale and wide with disapproval, the name Newt seemed fitting.

Day after day I was roused at dawn, for cold porridge and English lessons, followed by embroidery and baking.
Her lips were always thinned out in frustration as I burnt the cakes, and produced wide, uneven stitches that fell apart at a breath, even more so as my ink smudged and my writing sloped ever downwards.

It wasn't my fault, it was only that I was tired from reading in candlelight, of places far away, blistering with heat or frozen in ice.
It was much better than the books she approved of, lady's guide to manners, and, Mrs Morris's bakes; short bread, to name a few.

I was shaken from my thoughts as Eli's face grew nearer, lips pursed. I held his hands and kissed him back. Eli is a breath of fresh air, in a cold, boring world. We are sweethearts, him packing picnics and me dishing out gossip and jokes to make him laugh.
I could tase salt on his lips, feel the grit in his hands.

A catcall detached us. Fine pink dusted his cheeks, and I quickly snapped open my parasol to hide my face in a swirl of lace.

It was a pirate, in dirty chains, who grinned a gap-tooth grin at our discomfort. They were all chained, dirty, and leering, tethered by gleaming chains at their hands and feet. The generals guards looked at them with distaste.

The last pirate caught my eye. Tall, broad, and handsome, though filthy and bruised. I lifted my parasol to see him looking at me with a curious gaze. He had a black bandana, and empty scabbards hanging uselessly at his side, with a tattoo of a bird taking flight on purple flesh. Dark brown eyes, the colour of strong hot coca. I flushed at his gaze, moving my Lacey shield so I could study his boots.

My father always says, "you can tell a lot about a man judging by the state of his boots."

His are brown leather, buckled with a gleaming silver. I notice dents in the thick material, warping the shoe slightly.

"The names blue, ma'am." He grins, showing clean straight teeth, ear piercing winking in the sun, gleaming alongside his eyes. A guard shoves him forward.

"Don't worry, lad. He'll be at the gallows soon." The last guard says, gesturing to Eli, who stared hard at the pirate, a hand at the dagger in his belt.

"We'll see about that." Laughs the pirate, earning a shove in the back.

They trawled away, the pirates gaze piercing into my back as I turn to the boat, where my father is talking to the general. They walk this way, speaking feverishly.

"-I don't think that the king would be interested in myth, general."

"Remember your place, rumours are spreading, and you know what the king wants."

"The fountain of youth? No such thing. Only one book-"

The general interrupts, "that was written by his father. There is some truth."

The conversation ends with a stiff salute. The general leaves.
My father presses his thumb and forefinger in between his brow.

"Writ, you are dismissed." He says.

Eli nods before bending in front of me, kissing my knuckles with swollen lips. "Until we meet again, my darling Celeste."

I smile as he rises. "I wait with baited breath."

Smiling, he takes his leave. I turn to my father. "The fountain of youth?" I question. He gives a sigh.

"Another time, another place, Celeste. Let's go home."