“Oh, I dunno. I am a runaway princess. Do you know how many people will be looking for me when I suddenly disappear? I’m their only heir, after all,” she replied. “Plus, there are plenty of people out there who hate me. I can’t imagine what they would do if they discovered that I am— well, was the princess.”
She shuddered at the thought of it. It wasn’t that she was a bad princess; in fact, the people of her country adored her. But she had heard the rumors that circulated about the royal family. She had no doubt there were plenty of people who wanted to see her dead.
She froze at his next question. Oh, if only he knew. She would never tell him the full extent of what happened in the castle, of course, but he deserved to know some of it. Why she ran away, perhaps. He was committing an act of treason by helping her, after all, so she figured the least she could do was give him a glimpse into why she left.
She motioned to the scar that trailed down her face. “I’m mostly blind in one eye, Aedion. Do you think I did this to myself?”
Well, she had him there. If anyone did find out who she was, they would try to grab her and sell her to the highest bidder. Who wouldn't want a missing princess? But it was also just as likely no one would ever find out who she was. Even if he had to take her half way around the world where no one has even heard of her. She would be safer there.
Aedion felt his heart tightened as he stared at the scar down her cheek. He'd assumed that it was a traitor or enemy that had snuck into the palace and caused harm to her. It was what the rumors had said. Though he should know better than anyone that rumors were hardly ever true. He was living proof of it.
"Then I will train you Rose. But don't think I will take it easy on you just because your a princess." In fact, it woukd be quite the opposite. He would be even harder on her because of it.
"We will start training tonight." That way, most of the crew had gone to bed and no one need watch her as they trained. Because she would fail, over and over again. And while his crew would respect her for learning, he didn't want to put her in an uncomfortable position.
She watched him intently, stiffening when she noticed his eyes wander to her scar. She felt what was almost a sense of relief when he didn’t ask her questions about the wound. Many people in her country thought that the injury had been given to her by a rebel group. That was what the royal family had led them to believe.
“I don’t want you to take it easy on me,” she insisted. “Besides, the title of princess means nothing any more. Like you said before. If I change my name and appearance, no one will ever find out who I am.”
Rosemary slipped her hand into his, leading him over to the side of the ship. She watched as waves splashed up against the vessel, spraying them with salty ocean water.
“I’ve been told about the mythical creatures that live in these waters. Sirens, kraken, mermaids…” She glanced over at the captain. “Have you ever seen them before, or are they only myths?”
Aedion didn't point out that she was dead set on the fact that someone would find her, no matter where she hid. He simply nodded his head in agreement with her. He would train her as much as he was capable of doing until they finally departed. He would make sure she was able to protect herself and others by the time he was done with her.
He took her hand and let her guide him this time. Up the stairs and to the side of his ship. The water was relatively smooth and there was little rocking. It was a good day at sea but it wasn't always. He wondered how well she would handle it when a rough day came at sea. Or even a storm or hurricane. It was brutal and he had lost more than one man due to the rough seas.
He slipped his hands in his front pockets, a smirk pulling up on his lips as she mentioned the creatures of the sea. "I've never met a siren or mermaid. I avoid all the waters that they've been rumored to occupy. My men can't seem to put their head on straight when go to port and they find a woman for the night. I can't imagine what would happen if we came into contact with either of those."
He was teasing mostly, about his crew that was. Not about the stories of the sea. There was always truth hidden in the stories, even if it had been exaggerated throughout history.
"Krakens however," he turned, leaning his back against the railing. "You've got to watch the waters for those. They tend to stick to warmer waters. They'll below the surface, just far enough where you can't see them. Then, once you sail over them, they attack."
Rosemary was glad that Addison was the one steering the ship. If she was the captain, she would be tempted to steer the vessel straight for a mermaid lagoon. Mermaids were mostly harmless, but they were curious creatures. They were mischievous, known for stealing items from the humans they came into contact with. Sirens, on the other hand, were much more dangerous. Thousands of people had died at sea from hearing their singing.
“But haven’t you ever wanted to hear a siren song?” she asked. “They say their songs carry prophecies for the ones that listen to them. If you can survive, that is.”
Rosemary secretly wanted to hear the siren song. She didn’t tell Aideon this, of course; he would think she was crazy. After all, many believed that the myth about the siren songs was just that. A myth. But what if was true? Rosemary had nothing else to lose.
Her eyes widened at his mention of krakens. “Have you been attacked by one?”
(I'm sorry, you're autocorrections to Aedion are the funniest thing XD)
Aedion smirked at her excitement. She said all this now, but the moment she came in close vicinity to one, she would likely run the other way. Or she would be entrapped by the siren's song and be lost like thousands of others before her who thought the same thing.
"Many have tried to know their fates and all of them have failed. It's just a tale that's been passed down for generations and has been the result of too many deaths. Everyone thinks they're the exception. They find out too late that they're not."
Her excitement was cute, however, even if misplaced. He shook his head silently. He was content exactly where he was. He didn't want to know the future. He loved the mystery of it all. He loved not knowing, the rush of whether this would be his last day or not. Fortune telling and prophecies were not his thing. He'd even hated it when the traveling circus would come to town as a child and there was always the fake fortune teller with the crystal ball. Crazy, the lot of them.
He pulled up his shirt, revealing a thin, white scar traveling across his torso and up to his chest and around his back. "I didn't get this from just laying around. I lost a few friends that day." It had been before he had become captain. It was hard to tell where they would be. Over the years, the pirates tried to track where the Krakens usually populated so that the others knew where to avoid. But it didn't always work.
(( Autocorrect is the absolute worst xD ))
“So sirens are real.” She laughed. “And everyone used to call me crazy for believing in them. Maybe they were just worried that I was going to take off on a ship and try to find one. Kind of like what I’m doing now.”
She noticed his subtle head shake and raised an eyebrow. How curious. Despite whether a person believed in sirens or not, she had never met someone who didn’t want to hear a prophecy about their fate. Of course, she couldn’t blame him. Sometimes not knowing was better than knowing the truth.
“If I bumped into a siren, heard it’s song, and survived, there’s only one thing I would be scared of,” she said. “Imagine you die a tragic, brutal death, and the siren tells you about your fate through her song. Wouldn’t it be horrible? Living every single day knowing how your life ends?”
She sighed, shaking her head. “But I would still want to hear the song. It’s not like things can get much worse.”
Well, that wasn’t entirely true. Things could get worse. She had seen it happen. But what else did she have to live for.
She whistled, her eyes tracing the scar. “It’s massive,” she replied. “How in the world did you survive a kraken attack?”
"There is always truth hidden behind the stories. It might not be to such an extent, but, there is always some truth. Especially when regarding the sea. There is so much unexplored, only the gods know what creatures roam the sea." While Aedion was generally a carefree man when it came to the mysteries of the sea, he always proceeded with caution. Taking over a vessel and robbing them of their money was done without a second thought, but sailing into uncharted seas was always done with caution and more guns than likely necessary.
Life could be so much worse than she truly realized. It was luck that she boarded his ship and not another. Not all sailors were kind to women. Especially when there were no women aboard already. No one on his ship would even lay a hand on her without consent. She was safe with him, or as relatively as she could be when aboard a pirate ship. If she didn't take care of herself, she might find herself in dangerous situations.
He huffed a chuckle. "Pure luck. I was still so young. About sixteen of age. Someone had been looking over me that day. It's the only explanation. Someone shot it right in the eye and we were able to make our escape. Luckily we found land hours later. And good thing too, otherwise I would have succumbed to my injuries." If the blood loss hadn't taken him, infection likely would have been without the proper cleaning and medications he had needed for a wound so large.
His head tilted as he looked down at her, a gentle smile on his lips at her curiosity. "Anything else you wish to know?
“Maybe one day, you’ll find a new creature. Something no one has discovered yet. You’ll be put down in history books as the greatest pirate to ever roam the seas.” She grinned, winking at him. “I guess I’m lucky to meet you now before you become famous.”
Well, he was already famous. At least in the eyes of her people. He had been a thorn in the royal family’s side ever since he had become a pirate, but the people loved him. Her people longed to be free from the countless rules and burdens of their society, and Aedion was proof that they could achieve it.
“Only sixteen?” She leaned against the railing, looked out over the deep blue sea. “Gods, I don’t even remember what I was doing at sixteen. Roaming around the castle? Attending boring meetings? All while you had encountered a kraken…”
Maybe Rosemary was naive. A little foolish. She, of course, didn’t want to actually see a kraken, but it sounded so exciting. She was sure that Aideon plenty of other stories about his childhood, if only she could drag them out of him.
“Oh… I dunno. Are you truly as dangerous as you are charming?” She laughed, turning towards him. “You’re so young, but you’ve been declared the king of the seas…”
Aedion laughed quietly. "Oh, sweetheart, I already am one of the greatest pirates to have ever sailed." He wasn't sure if he ever did want to discover something new like that. He wanted to explore, travel, and eventually retire as a rich, rich man. What more was there to life?
Yes, he had been sixteen. But he had been out on the sea longer than that. His childhood wasn't one that he liked to remember. However, no one who chose the pirate's life really was. Well, he supposed the pirate life actually chose them, not the other way around. He had been at the bottom of the hierarchy at sixteen. He had been in charge of cleaning the bathrooms and the living quarters and the deck. Not exactly the prime of his life but it had been better than the alternative. And he had cleaned better than anyone else had. He had done it like he had something to prove. Which he had.
He remembered the day clearly. Or at least until he had been injured. Everything was a bit fuzzy once the blood loss had set in. "Well, let's just say I don't recommend it at any age. I've only encountered one once and I hope to never again." Fighting creatures wasn't his forte. Someone with a hero complex was more than welcome to try their luck.
His smile fell slightly. "I ama dangerous man, Rose. Never forget that. There is always truth hidden in the stories. It's just up to you to decipher fact from fiction."
“True, but great for what? Burning villages? Taking the lives of hundreds of innocent people?” She reached up, gently brushing a lock of hair back from his eyes. “Do you really want to be known for that?”
Yes, most of it was rumors, but Rosemary knew that there were kernels of truth mixed in with the lies. He was a pirate. He would lie, steal, cheat, and more. Whatever it took to achieve his goals. Yes, he had helped her escape, but Rosemary didn’t entirely believe that he was getting nothing out of it.
She looked up, furrowing her eyebrows as he emphasized to her that he was a dangerous man. There was her answer.
“I’ve seen first hand what destruction you’ve caused. But I also know what harm my family is caused has caused to you. What I don’t understand is why you would help the daughter of your enemy escape. There are so many ways you could get back at my family. You’ve done much worse to other people for offenses less than this. Why show mercy to me?” She leaned against the side of the ship, shaking her head. “But I guess it’s not my place to question. I should be glad you’re helping me.”
Aedion didn't stop her as she reached up to touch his face. He never really let anyone touch him, not like this. Sure, he had been affectionate with some of his crew when they had needed it. He had offered comfort and solace. But even with the women he romanced for their one and only night, none ever touched him like this. He never let any of them touch him like this. This was a lover's touch, and not one that he sought out. And yet, he didn't stop her as she reached out.
"It is better than the alternative." And he left it at that.
There was much wrong in his history that had led him to behave the way that he did. And while it was slightly exaggerated that he killed hundreds of innocent people, he never claimed to be a good man. He wasn't necessarily bad either. He was just Aedion. And he did what was necessary to survive. It wasn't all in black and white. There was a lot of grey area.
Her question made him pause. Rose was definitely not black and white. This was certainly a grey area in his life. He sighed softly, turning to look out at the ocean. He placed his elbows on the railing and leaned over it.
"Because, many years ago I was you. A lot younger, albeit, but still you. I snuck onto a ship in the middle of the night, not knowing who it was. Or what it was. I discovered almost right away and brought to the captain. Come to find out I had snuck onto The Poisoned North. The pirate ship that belonged to one of the most notorious pirates of all time. But instead of killing me or throwing me overboard, or just taking me back, he took me under his wing and showed me everything I know now. I wouldn't be alive today had it not been for him."
Rosemary was almost as conflicted as Aedion was. Sure, they had flirted plenty within the last few days, but this felt… different. She tried to keep herself from getting too close to him, but still found herself brushing back the hair from his face and running her fingertips down his cheek.
Once her hand returned to her side, she turned back towards the ocean, wanting to look at anything besides him.
What would her family think of this? It wasn’t like she cared what they thought much at all, but she still felt a sense of guilt when thinking back to him. This was enemy of her people. So much destruction had been caused because of him. She knew of all the evil he had caused, and yet, through her acts, she was choosing to ignore it.
What kind of a princess was she?
She listened to Aideon as he spoke, trying to ignore her guilt-ridden thoughts. “So you’re returning the favor to me…”
It was hard to imagine Aideon as the young, naive child he described. She wanted to press more, get him to talk about his past. But she knew that, if they got too deep into this conversation, he would start to ask questions about her history. She didn’t want them to go there.
“Well, while I’m on this ship, I want to help around this ship some. I might be a guest, but I still want to contribute,” she said. “I’ve always been good with maps. I was trained in navigation as a child. Maybe I could assist with that?”
Aedion shrugged his shoulders. "In a sense. But someone took a chance on me, nine, bruised and starving. Who would I be to turn someone away who needed solace? An escape? I am a dangerous man but I am not cruel. If anything, it is where I come from that keeps me from being so. I have offered sanctuary to more than one person aboard my ship. And I will continue to do so for those that seek me out."
His past was something well-guarded and not something he liked to share. But if snippets were enough for her to understand why he was doing what he did, he would share them. And he hoped that one day she would feel comfortable enough to tell him exactly why she was running.
"You are my guest. You needn't do a thing. But if you're so inclined to help, Vera will find a place for you. Our navigation team is well-established. They don't even like it I interrupt them. But we might be able to find something here that is well suited for you." And somewhere there were other women. He didn't think she would be quite comfortable being alone with the men on his ship. Or any man in that case.
“That’s kind of you, Aedion. I thought boarding your ship would be a punishment worst than death, but I was wrong. Maybe the gods do have my back,” she replied. “Honestly, I’m glad it was your ship. You may be a dangerous pirate, but there are worse.”
Most pirates’ crimes had some sort of cause. Sometimes they would burn down a village because the leader of the town had wronged them, or they would execute a man because he stole for them. They were awful, extreme actions, yes, but Rosemary knew of several pirate crews who would commit terrible acts without cause. Almost if they enjoyed watching people suffer.
Rosemary knew that, when she left the palace, she would face the possibility that she would end up on one of their ships. The thought scared her, but the idea of staying at the castle scared her even more.
“I’m a fast learner. I can help wherever you want me to,” she insisted. “Besides, I’ve barely spoken to the rest of the crew. Maybe working with them will help them to grow more comfortable around me.”
Aedion quirked a smile. "Just don't go around advertising that. I do have a reputation to uphold. If you start telling everyone how kind I am, it chips away at that." He didn't think there was anything that could save his reputation. It was broken beyond relief. It was riddled with teuth and lies until it was twisted into a monster. Until he was twisted into a monster. And he perhaps he was, but perhaps he wasn't.
"There is always someone put there who is worse. And not all of them look like you woukd expect. Pirates are not like you have read in your books. I am not the only captian that woukd have taken you in." He reached forward to flick her nose. "However, some of your father's sailors, and other sailors of other kingdoms would not be so kind. It's always the ones that look like they could inflict the least amount of damage that do the most."
He wouldn't deny the reupatiin of pirates. He wouldn't deny the horrible things they had done. That he had done. Because it was what it was. But that did not mean they were all bad. And did not mean that that she wouldn't have been treated with kindness had she stowed away on some of their ships. Still, it was better that she landed on his. He would offer her more than any of the others were able to. It helped that he was rich.
"Give yourself a couples days to acquaint yourself with the crew and then we can talk about this again." He didn't want her to jump the gun before she had ever given herself a chance to settle in.
“I’m not sure if they’d believe me. I’m not sure if you’re aware, but some of the nobles think I’m a bit… well, crazy. Telling them I was rescued by a kind pirate, the same pirate who happens to be their sworn enemy, would give them another reason to send me to an asylum.”
She wouldn’t blame them if they didn’t believe her. If she wasn’t on Aedion’s ship, she wouldn’t have believed her story either. Back in her country, Captain Callistar was known as the most wicked man alive. They told her that there wasn’t an ounce of kindness in his body, and yet, he took her on his ship and treated her like she was apart of his crew.
She grinned as he flicked her nose, batting his hand away. “Oh, I would know. I’ve met the captain of one of my father’s ships. Rudest man alive,” she replied. “But maybe I would’ve rather ended up on one of their ships. I’ve heard some of my father’s sailors are quite handsome. Maybe even better looking than you.”
She was teasing, of course. The men on her father’s ship all looked like they hadn’t bathed in years, and they smelled like it too.
“A couple of days?” She snorted, walking up onto the helm. “What am I supposed to do with all this free time?”
"Well, you did sneak onto my ship without a care in the world so I'd say they're not entirely wrong," Aedion said with a teasing tone and a grin on his face. He did not think she was crazy. She had a wild imagination, yes, and would likely make a great author if she could ever sit down long enough to write. Though he found that unlikely.
He laughed softly as she batted his hand away. An easy smile had returned to his face, their previous conversation pushed away to the back of his mind. It was a storm that was brewing that would likely come back to haunt him in his sleep. Even mentioning such things always brought the memories raging back. But it had been worth it to say, if only it made her realize more about him and why he was doing this. And as long as she didn't ask more questions.
Aedion snorted, rolling his eyes. "Oh please, darling, no one is better looking than I. Now you're just being mean." He reached out and pinched her cheek this time. That was for being smart with him.
He followed behind her, hands in his pockets. "You sleep. You eat. You get to know the crew. Let your mind and body rest for a couple days before the real work begins."
“Oh, I never said they were wrong,” she replied. “With how I used to act in court, I may be the slightest bit crazy. A few of them thought the gods had sent a devil to possess me. I’m surprised they never burned me at the stake.”
She may have been a wild child, but the nobles would’ve never touched her. Not with her parents around. She had no love for her parents anymore, and she was sure they no longer cared for her, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t defend her. She was their only heir, after all. She was the only person who could continue their bloodline.
A smile crossed her face as he reached out to pinch her cheek. Normally, she would’ve despised if someone else attempted to touch her, but he was… different. Whether that was a good or bad thing she had yet to find out.
“I should break your fingers for doing that.” She pulled his hand away from her face, keeping her hand wrapped firmly around his. “Or maybe I’ll settle with breaking your nose instead. Ruin that oh-so-perfect face.”
She smirked and winked at him, pulling away to walk up to the helm. It was only the second day, and he already seemed oddly comfortable around her. It seemed odd for the captain of an elite pirate ship to be acting this way, but she didn’t mention it. She enjoyed his company.
“You should know better than anyone how hard that is for me, my love. I have to do something with all this spare time.”
Aedion snorted, shaking his head at her. He completely believed it. Her imagination was wild but that doesn't mean she needed to be scorned for it, or worst-case scenario, burned for it. He understood at least to some degree. Being stuck in that palace, one had to rely on their imagination not to go crazy. Or at least retain a sane mind and not fall into the trap of scheming and lies and politics. It was a dangerous slope all too easy to get sucked into.
He snorted again, squeezing her fingers as she held on to them tight. "I don't think you could even break my nose or my fingers if you tried. At least not yet." He would teach her how soon enough. The better she was prepared, the better it would be for both of their sakes. "And leave my gorgeous face out of this. It's too pretty to be damaged."
Keeping hold of her hand, he followed her back up to the helm. He gave a nod to the man behind it, steering his ship for him. Aedion took over the helm more than most captains would but less than he would prefer. Unfortunately, being promoted meant he had other things to do than just steering his ship. Tragic.
He smiled softly at her. "You should be taking the time to rest right now. You've had a rough few days. No one here will think you any different if you take a few days to yourself."
Sadly, he was right. She may have acted like she could take out a whole army, when in actuality, her princess training hadn’t taught her how to fight. She likely couldn’t throw a proper punch, much less break a pirate captain’s nose.
“Your face might be pretty, but your vanity definitely is not,” she teased. “I wouldn’t expect a pirate like you to have a big ego, but you really do defy expectations.”
In more ways than one. For the last two days, the captain had never ceased to surprise her. It was one of the many aspects of him that kept her hooked; she never knew what to expect from him next.
She leaned back against him, closing her eyes as she listened to the ocean. She hadn’t seen many people as tall as Aedion, and she hadn’t met anyone who was as short as herself. It was an strange height difference, but one she oddly liked.
“You know, you never told me why you and my parents have such a rocky relationship,” she said. “You used to be the least of their concerns, but in just a day or two, you went straight to the top of their list of enemies. They hate you. Why?”
"How can I not?" He asked cheekily. "With a face and body like mine, I've already got more than enough to fuel it. But with my crew and my ship, there's no putting me down." Honestly, the ego was to make people look elsewhere. Whether it was away from his story or the fact that he was picking his pockets, it wasn't just because he was an asshole.
He placed his hands on her arms as she leaned back into him, giving her a squeeze. His crew was all here because something had happened to them in their lives that forced them to flee. And he had just been lucky enough to pick them up. He had been there for every one of them however they needed. And if Rose needed touch and affection, he would provide. It wouldn't be the first time that he had, though it was the first time he had done it so publicly.
Aedion tensed for a moment at her next question before forcing himself to relax. He eyed the helm where someone had been guiding it. He looked out to the sea. "It is better if some things were left unheard." And he wouldn't explain any more on that.
Suddenly, a select few of his scars began to feel tight, began to hurt. It took everything in him not to scratch of to even whimper. Such memories were not pleasant ones and he did not wish to relive them again.
“Please. Just wait until a woman rejects you because your ego is so huge,” she teased. “I’m sure it wouldn’t be the first time.”
She looked up at him, sending him a smirk. Gods, she hadn’t realized how close they were standing until now. Part of her hoped the rest of the crew wouldn’t see. They would likely get mocked for this, or at least she would. She doubted most of them would dare to tease their captain.
Of course, even with the threat of their teasing, Rosemary didn’t pull away. She needed this. For the first time in her life, she felt somewhat safe with someone, even if that someone was the captain of a notorious pirate ship.
She felt him tense slightly at her next question. She looked up at him, concerned. Whatever had happened between Aedion and her parents must’ve been bad. He had always been good at covering up his emotions; Rosemary figured this was the first time he had let his mask slip.
She placed her hands on top of his, giving them a gentle, reassuring squeeze. “Whatever you did to make them hate you, they’ve done worse,” she said softly. “Trust me.”
Aedion laughed, his shoulders shaking as he did so. "I am not immune to rejection, love, though it doesn't happen often. I am utterly irresistible." He was just teasing her, mostly. He didn't get rejected very often but it still happened to him. Even he wasn't immune to that. It was alright. He rather liked to let the women pursue him first so he didn't get the wrong idea. If it was only for the night, why try so hard?
His hands slowly rubbed up and down her arms, providing a comforting touch. They were mostly hidden from his crew but even the ones that could see went about their business. They may have given them a curious look but kept mostly to themselves and they would continue to do so. They all understood what was happening. it wasn't misinterpreted.
He looked down at her as she tilted her head up to look at him. He gave her a small, reassuring smile that was not all that reassuring. It was better this way. There were things that even she didn't know about her parents. And these were things he didn't want to share, didn't want to taint. He could already imagine her look of horror should she ever find out, and the pity that followed. He didn't want that.
"Thank you darling," he said, just barely above a whisper.
“Utterly irresistible, huh?” She snorted, rolling her eyes. “Keep telling yourself that, love.”
She wanted to say that she could resist his charm, but they both knew that wasn’t the truth. Sure, she wasn’t actively trying to pursue any sort of relationship with him, but they’d both done their fair share of flirting. At this point, she figured that everyone on the ship likely knew of their strange connection.
Of course, she knew he wasn’t entirely immune to her charm either. She saw the way he acted around her.
Her face darkened as they spoke about her parents. It was strange to meet someone who had experienced their cruelty just as she had. They appeared to be good rulers on the outside, but both she and the captain knew what kinds of things happened behind closed doors.
Rosemary turned towards him, talking his hands into hers. Now it was her turn to comfort him.
“I don’t want to end up like them, Aedion,” she whispered. “If I became ruler, they would still control the kingdom behind me. Even in their graves, they would find a way. I would be their puppet. I didn’t want that.”
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