The Pirate and the Princess

Chapter 1: Well Met 

Captain Adrian Stormwall looked out the window of his captain's cabin, his heart filled with lonliness. But he did not know why he felt so alone. He had everything a pirate could ask for, didn't he? He had gold coming out his ears, a willing woman in every port, and he was the most notorious and feared pirate in the Caribbean. So, where was the fault?  

Billings looked up from his review of the maps, and glanced up at his captain and friend sadly. Adrian had had a rough life before he became captain of the Goddess. Begging on the streets since he was barely six years old, Billings had took pity on the young scamp, and taught him the way of the pirate. And Billings had regretted dragging him through such a rough life. But it had taught the boy character, and he was the most emotionless man Billings had ever had the privelege of knowing. It ached something terrible in his heart to see him so full of lonliness.  

Adrian shoved his fingers frustratingly through his unruly brown hair, and started pacing around the cabin.  

"What am I missing, Billings?" he asked in a voice that was full of question. 

"I believe you need a woman,Cap'n," Billings replied. 

Adrian scoffed.  

"I can get a warm, willing woman anytime I want to, Bill," he said, using his old pet name for Billings. 

"Ah," replied the witty older man. "But Cap'n, sir, they maybe willing but no one has ever shown you love other than I." 

Adrian sighed. He knew that to be true. With him not knowing who his dad was, and his mom perishing when he was just a small lad of eight. He was stealing and begging in the streets before Billings had found him. Adrian didn't think he would have lasted much longer if the old man hadn't taken him in. He was going to be forever grateful to him, till the end of his days. It was going to be his twenty seventh birthday soon, and he knew that Billimgs was not going to be around much longer. But he was a tough man who would't let go without a fight.  

A racking cough suddenly rippled through the room, startling Adrian out of his thoughts. Billings was clutching his chest, and great coughs seemed to be ripping their way through the older mans chest. 

Adrian lifted the man from the chair, and carried his light body to the bed in the corner.  

Billings forehead was drenched in sweat, and even though the coughs had subsided, he was taking in short shallow gasps. Adrian laid a hand to Billings' forehead, and just as quickly jerked it away again. The man was burning up with fever.  

He quickly went to get a wet rag. He then came back and started to rub it along Billings' face and neck.  

"Billings?" inquired Adrian, but it was clear the other man had faded into unconciousnes.  

Suddenly a call went up from outside.  

"Ship ho! Ship ho!" came the call from the crows nest. 

Adrian rushed outside, but found the cabin boy first so theadore could stay and watch over Billings. He then ran up the stairs leading to the quarter deck. He grasped the spy glass that was handed to him and looked through it.  

He felt a grin slowly spread across his face.  

"Well, well, well," murmured Adrian, mostly to himself. 

"What is it you'd be chuckling about, Cap?" asked the bosun. 

"That would be a royal ship there, my good sir," he replied mysteiviously. "And we are about to take it into our hands."