Ellen Fraser

Chapter 6

I had forgotten how peaceful the ocean could be. I stood at the front of the ship as we sailed away, wincing as the salty air brushed against my scraped up cheek. I was trying my best to forget everything that happened up until now. Being kidnapped, the cave, the knife. I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing myself to block it out. 

"Ellen?" 

I said nothing as Da walked up behind me and gently placed his hand on my right shoulder. 

"You haven't said a word since....are ye alright lass?" he asked. I turned my head to the side and gave a small nod of acknowledgement. My throat still hurt from all the screaming and cursing. My lip quivered but only for a moment before I turned back to look out over the horizon and picture home. 

In no time I would be back in Scotland and this whole adventure will seem like a silly dream. 

"Can I hug ye?" Da asked, his voice soft. I slowly turned to face him, and quickly buried my face in his chest so he wouldn't have to see my cheek, or my eyes. I hugged him tightly, cringing as my rope burned wrists rubbed against his shirt. In some ways I felt ridiculous, I wasn't seriously hurt. Only some scrapes, bruises, a couple of cuts but none that were deep. Why was I acting like a scared cat? 

The hug was gentle compared to Da's normal squeezes. He placed a hand to my hair, stroking it.

"Nothing will harm ye now lass, yer safe I swear" he whispered. After the hug he walked away, leaving me to my thoughts.

I kept my gaze to the horizon, trying my best to keep my mind blank, but it kept wandering back to the night of the party....back to him. 

Oh yes, it was much more pleasant to think of Lord Geralt then everything that happened after. His eyes, his hair, the line in his jaw. It brought a smile to my lips to think of him. I was so lost in thought I barely noticed the change in weather. 

"Ellen!" 

I turned, holding onto the side of the swaying ship as the wind picked up. Claire was doing her best to make her way over to me, while I did what I could to go over to her. We stumbled as we made our way to one another. The storm had turned ugly fast, the wind caused the waves to rock the boat mercilessly, the waves were growing larger with each one we came over. 

I watched in horror as a large wave came barreling towards the ship. Claire and I locked eyes, and I watched in horror as a bit of the mast broke off and slammed into her, causing her to fall overboard. I screamed as she went over and was immediately pulled under. Before I could understand what was happening, Da had launched himself over the side of the ship, disappearing into the water after her. 

Jamie's heart couldn't take anything else. He did his best to hold Claire up on the driftwood as they floated about what seemed to be an endless ocean. Claire hadn't woken since he pulled her up, they had been floating for what seemed like days. Jamie thought he would die from worry, that Claire was already gone. That the rest of the ship was lost at sea. Would he die out here? Would he condem him and Claire to a watery grave? 

When he awoke once again, it wasn't adrift in the ocean. He picked up his head, his body aching as he looked around. Claire was laying next to him, and she was sitting up, alive. Jamie grinned and they watched as a couple made their way over to them on the sandy beach. 

"Are you alright?" the man called as he walked over to Jamie and Claire. 

"Where are we?" Claire asked as she looked around.