VIOLENT TIDES (gxg - editing)

13

Gael's head throbbed for the entire day, but it wasn't enough to stop her from helping her crew as they finished cleaning up the mess Bartholomew and his men had made. Finally, the sun was far below the horizon once more, and the few crew members left on deck were finishing up the last of the work required before they could sleep for the night. Wishing Nathe a good night as she passed, the captain made her way down to the galley, where she found Holman wiping out used flasks and refilling them with ale. As soon as their gazes caught, he nodded faintly in the direction of the heavy table. Gael felt a smile tug at her lips.

"What happened?" She asked, voice a soft murmur.

"I had her tying netting. Taught her a few simple knots and set her to it, since it's easy work. She didn't want to go down to the hold and get some rest for the night, so I let her stay here and keep goin' until... well, until this happened. Didn't think I should try an' move her."

Ainsley was slumped against the table, arms folded lopsidedly across its rough surface. Her head was buried in her arms, and by the gentle rise and fall of her shoulders, it was clear she was asleep. A jumbled mess of netting and rope was spread across the table and her hands, long since forgotten. The events of yesterday had exhausted her, Gael realized. Even if she wouldn't admit it.

"Well, she probably won't be very comfortable spending the night there," Gael decided at last.

"Want me to take her down?"

She gave the man a smile. "You've done plenty, Holman. Thank you for looking out for her; I can take it from here. Go get some sleep."

He nodded, wiped off his hands and set down the rag, then turned to leave the small galley. Gael waited a moment, watching Ainsley. It was dark in the room, but she could tell the princess wasn't sleeping peacefully. The occasional twitch and shudder rippled her exhausted form.

Gael approached quietly and, after a moment of thinking it over, reached out and touched Ainsley's shoulder, just for a moment.

"Princess?" She whispered.

Ainsley came awake with a jerk, pulling herself off of the table's surface and blinking as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. "I- did I fall asleep?"

Gael smiled. "You did."

"Oh. I'm sorry. I'll finish tying this netting tomorrow-"

"Someone else will take care of it," Gael assured her. "You're going to bed."

Ainsley was sitting up by now, arms wrapped loosely around herself. The edges of her soft hair were all that were illuminated as she nodded faintly. She made no move to get up, however. The only sound was the breaking of waves against the hull.

"I'll admit I'm surprised you're still here," Gael stated, tone lighthearted. Ainsley's head tipped up to look at her.

"Oh?"

"Well, you have had many chances to leave at this point. Summon a dragon and fly far away."

"Oh." She heard the faint sound of the princess swallowing. "I'm not.... I won't leave. Not until you finish what you need to do. I won't subject you to my father's anger." Her hands drifted higher, wrapping around her upper arms and hugging herself tighter. Gael sensed there was more to her decision than she let on, but didn't press it.

"Well, princess, I truly do appreciate it."

There was a moment of silence, but for once, it didn't feel stiff or tense. Gael could tell Ainsley was on the verge of dropping back asleep.

"Well, this can't be a very comfortable place to sleep, so I'd suggest you head back down to the hold and get some rest," Gael suggested gently. Ainsley rolled her shoulders, probably stiff already, and nodded mutely. "May I walk you back?"

Gael couldn't quite make out Ainsley's face, but her tone came dangerously close to teasing.

"Why, are you afraid I'll change my mind and leave?"

Gael grinned. "No, but I don't think I'd be able to stop you even if you did." She paused. "And frankly, princess, I'm not sure I'd want to try anymore."

"Oh?"

Gael slowly sat down on the bench next to Ainsley, leaving a generous amount of space between them. "It was wrong of me to accept your father's suggestion, and I haven't been able to be at ease about it since you arrived on the Finch. If you want to leave now that you have the power to, I won't blame or resist you."

"Well, it wasn't all your fault," Ainsley murmured, sounding weary. "My father...." she shook her head. "If the king wants something, he gets it. What he wants is for me to return scared and submissive, and you and your crew were the best way to do so. Had you declined, your ship wouldn't have been safe. You were only looking out for your crew, and I understand that."

The two of them fell silent for what felt like ages. Finally, Ainsley sighed and moved to stand up. "But no, captain, I won't decline an escort."

Gael smiled and got to her feet as well, hand braced on the tabletop against the swaying.

"I'm glad to hear it."

She extended a hand and Ainsley took it, palm warm against her own. The captain helped her up and then dropped her hand again, tucking her own inside the pockets of her coat. The two left the galley, taking a small set of steps further into the bowels of the ship and then proceeding toward the hold. The Finch creaked around them, filling the dark corridors with gentle sound. Gael could faintly hear waves splashing against the hull outside.

Not a word was spoken by the time they reached the hold, the ship cat appearing from seemingly nowhere to rub against Ainsley's ankles. The princess reached down it picked it up. Its rumbling purr hovered in the silence between them.

"Sleep well, Ainsley."

It was too dark to make out much of her features, so Gael couldn't be sure whether or not she was imagining the faint smile on the princess' face.

"You as well, Gael."

Hearing her say her name brought about a jolt of warmth she hadn't expected. Feeling suddenly strange, but not unpleasant, Gael managed a smile back, and then turned to leave once more.

—

Another three days of sailing and recovery passed. Somehow, those days seemed better than any part of the trip before the incident with Bartholomew. Ainsley seemed to become more and more friendly as time went on- something had given recently, and she seemed to have completely accepted their situation and was perhaps even enjoying herself slightly. When she wasn't throwing herself into her work, she was following the crew around, asking questions and trailing after them wherever they went. She and Ed still avoided each other, but Gael wasn't surprised by that. The two hated each other.

"She reminds me of you when you were younger," Nathe commented from his spot beside her, leaning back against the rail. Gael raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

"Can't sit still. Wants to learn everything she can. You were the same way. Even sulked about as long as she did."

Gael laughed. "The difference is that my sulking was not a terrifying rage."

"She is frightening when she's angry, huh?"

There was a moment of silence.

"Are we still making our usual stop?"

"I can't think of any reason why we wouldn't. In fact, I should probably let her know."

Gael's gaze scanned the deck of the ship until she found the princess standing next to one of her crew, intently watching his fingers work the knots of a tangled net. "Ainsley!"

Her head snapped up at the sound of her name and she spoke a few inaudible words to the man she was with, then brushed her hands off on her trousers and approached the two of them.

"Yes?"

"I thought you should know we'll be dropping anchor off the coast of a small island sometime tomorrow. It's a bit of a tradition for the crew and I to spend a night on land and then visit a few of the people there before we move on."

"Oh. That sounds fine." Ainsley's expression was vaguely puzzled. "Who are we seeing?"

Gael smiled. "My mother and father."

The princess blinked. "Your...? Oh?"

"They live in a small town there. I make it a point to visit them whenever the crew and I sail these waters. They like to know that I'm still alive." She smiled ruefully.

"I can understand that. I thought you said your family was nobility, though."

"Oh, yes, they are, they've just chosen not to live within city limits as most nobles do," Gael clarified. "Actually, Ainsley, why don't you join me? Normally I'll spend the first night after landing with the crew and go over to spend the second day with them and leave most of my crew back here, but I'm sure my mother and father would love to meet you."

Ainsley had peeled off her gloves, holding them both in one hand as she folded her arms. Her features were twisted in uncertainty. "I... am not sure that's a good idea."

"Well, you can decide when we get there, I suppose."

She nodded. "Alright. Is that it?"

"That's everything. You may continue your work if you'd like."

When Ainsley had left once more, Gael settled her weight against the ship's warm side, feelings mixed. Recognizing her expression, Nathe gave her a sideways glance.

"Y'do know they'll always be happy to see you, right, Gael?"

She frowned, shifting her weight. "I know that. I'm worried about my mother is all."

"As is the usual."

She managed a smile, turning around to lean on her stomach. The island they were making for was no more than a hazy smudge on the horizon, but it felt foreboding already all the same.