Pirate Princess

Make it count

It was a lazy morning, the amount of rum last night left a lot of the pirates with a hangover. One might think they should've gotten used to it by now but that didn't seem to be the case.

I was sitting in the crow's nest, when I suddenly espied land in the far distance that seemed quite familiar.

I quickly climbed down and joined Orion behind the steering wheel.
„There's land ahead" I reported and he looked at me with a smile: „I know, that's our target"
„What is our duty there?" I asked curiously.

„Well since you don't seem to recognize it on your own. We're taking you home. It might take another 2 or 3 days though"

I felt my stomach twist, I didn't realize my time aboard was so limited.
„Oh" was all I managed to say.
„I thought you'd be happier, luv" he chuckled and kept his gaze on the horizon.
„I thought so too...at least a few weeks ago" I admitted.

I tried to think of all the wonderful things at home that were waiting for me but I couldn't shake the thought of never seeing Orion and the crew again.

I guess I always knew it had to end this way, our worlds are just too different.
I let my eyes wander over the ship until they finally stopped on Orion.

My heart sped up and I felt like I was being torn apart any second.
Then and there, I made a resolution: I was going to make my last few days here count instead of wasting them with self-pity.
Orion snapped me out of my thoughts: „What are you thinking so deeply about?

Should I tell him?

„I was just thinking about how I want to spend my last few days here" I told the truth and for a second a hint of sadness was visible on his features.

„Better make them count, right?" he whispered and I nodded slowly.

„What are you going to miss? I mean, what benefits can a pirate's life have for a princess?" he asked with his brows raised and I fell silent.
He doesn't know, does he?

„Uhm...I guess the freedom" I quickly thought of an excuse. It was definitely not a lie. I have never felt more free than in the last few months, which is funny because it was actually my time in „captivity"

Orion pressed his lips together into a forced smile: „I guess that sounds reasonable"
Was he hoping for a different answer? Did I just blow it completely?

We stood in awkward silence for a moment until I composed myself and returned to my position in the crow's nest.
I continued reading my book that I had taken with me and when I finally looked up again, the sun was already setting.

Great Amelia, so much for making the last few days count. You'll have plenty of time to read at home.
I watched the crew, sitting together, laughing, eating and drinking rum but their Captain was missing.

I carefully climbed the mast down until my feet touched the deck again. I was about to search for Orion when somebody put his hand on my shoulder. I spun around in shock, just to be met with those gorgeous brown eyes.

Did I just say gorgeous? What is wrong with me?

He was flashing me a proud smile, probably happy his plan to scare me had worked out.
„Hey" he breathed and I shot him a questioning look. Something seemed suspicious.

„What is going on?" I asked but he just smiled innocently: „I don't know what you mean, come on I need help uh carrying some plates" he rambled and pulled me along with him towards the bow of the ship.

„But you never even use-" I began but stopped my sentence abruptly when I saw what he had led me to.

In front of me was a blanket spread out on the deck, surrounded by candles and filled with fancy food from yesterday's robbery. The setting sun made this view almost cliché romantic.

„I figured this would be a nice way to spend your last few days here...with me" Orion said and scratched the back of his head, looking not so confident for the first time in a while.
„But we could also like join the crew or-" he continued quickly but I interrupted him: „I love it" and wrapped my arms around him in a coltish hug before pulling away a little embarrassed at my effusiveness.

We got comfortable on the blanket and I let my eyes wander over the wonderful delicacies,my stomach already beginning to growl.

Orion broke the comfortable silence between us: „What do you think will happen when you return home?"
Honestly, I hadn't really thought much about that.

„I guess I will be greeted solemnly at first but after some time my father will remember his plans for me and I will have to get married" I thought out loud and gulped „I try not to think about it"

He sighed and ran his hand through his hair.
„I can't bear the thought of that either" he admitted and moved a little closer to me.
„What will you do? I mean with all the money" I asked, curious to finally find out about his motive.

„The plan is to bring it to an island called the cobalt isle" he began explaining.
„And bury the treasure there?" I asked bit he shook his head.

„No, to give a part of it to an orphanage, located there.

„An orphanage? That is not what I expected.

Why there?" I asked and he grimaced a little.

„Because they are in need and the women running the orphanage are doing their absolute most but sometimes that alone isn't enough and people need...help. Plus, they took me in when I was in need although they didn't have the capacities to, now I want to make it up to them" he explained and let out a deep breath.

„That's very generous of you. I had no idea you were an orphan" I spoke and snuggled up to him, in a comforting way.

He put on arm around me and smiled a little: „Yeah, my parents did not want me, they left me on their porch. The women there raised me and plenty of other children at the same time and although we didn't have much I was happy. I owe them my life"

I sniffled a little at this touching story, I didn't expect Orion to finally open up to me and seeing him so vulnerable made my heart ache.

„Now I feel stupid with my castle problems" I chuckled to relieve the tension.

„You don't have to pity me, I am the happiest I've ever been" he smiled and pulled me even closer.

„And the crew has no problem giving away a big part of their treasure?" I asked.
„No, some of them were raised there as well and most of us are people with a troubled past, they know what it's like for those children. Besides, there will be enough money left to live for us too"

I didn't expect pirates of all people to be the ones helping children. In the last few months my conception of good and bad has shifted completely.

Not all pirates are bad, as I've been told, and not all nobles are fine people. Life sure is interesting sometimes.

A person seen as an enemy can turn out to be the hero and vice versa.
„I'm glad you told me about this" I whispered and lifted my head to look up at him.
„I just wish things would be different" I said quietly but his face showed me that he had heard.

„Me too" he whispered back and let his finger brush my cheek before slowly leaning in. I closed my eyes and felt him plant a soft kiss on my lips that felt so different from the ones we've shared before.

It was not passionate or lustful, simply sweet and tender. Our lips slowly moved together as he pulled me even closer to him, leaving almost no space between our bodies, a small sigh escaping my mouth.

The end.
Kidding!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sooo, let me know what you think!
Orion finally opened up about his past and his and Amelia's feelings towards each other seem hard to ignore? How is their story going to continue? What are our thoughts?
Let me know in the comments❤️
Also please vote if you enjoyed this chapter, it'd mean a lot!🦋
Have a nice day!