The Princess' Scandal (o/o Closed)

(I don't mind either way. If you want to bring in some action, you can go ahead.)

Ellie smiled appreciatively at their acceptance. She parted her lips to say something, but suddenly, there was a loud noise from outside. An explosion. The princess jumped, startled, and clutched her partner's hands tightly. "Lori?" she breathed.

@FanfictionFanatic-The-Elder

“Blast it!” Captain Lorelei growled as the explosion interrupted the moment. “It's alright, Ellie.” she assured before standing. “We know how to handle this. If you want, you can stay here with Charlie and Tommy.” she offered. “The rest of you! Get moving!” she commanded, giving Ellie's hand a strong comforting squeeze.

@emilyevewrites

Ellie panicked, her grip tightening on Lorelei’s hand. “What is it?” she asked worriedly. “Will you be alright?” Around her, everything was erupting in motion as the crewmates followed their captain’s orders, and the whirring of people all around her made Ellie feel anxious. “Lorelei?”

@FanfictionFanatic-The-Elder

Lori knelt back down beside Ellie and kissed her knuckles. “It's an enemy ship, my love.” she admitted honestly. “I'll be fine. My crew will protect me and I’ll protect them.” she assured her. “Just stay here, in the galley with Charlie and Tommy. You'll be safe down here. But I have to join my crew on desk.”

@emilyevewrites

Ellie nodded, but before her captain could leave her, she pulled Lori down into a kiss. “Be careful,” she whispered. “For me.” Her eyes pleaded the same message.

@FanfictionFanatic-The-Elder

Lori returned the kiss, knowing how much Ellie needed the assurance. “I will.” she promised as she kissed her again before heading up the stairs to the deck.

“Don't worry, my dear.” Charlie comforted. “They’ll be fine.”

@emilyevewrites

Ellie clutched her chest as she watched Lorelei go. Her hands were tight around her necklace with the shanty on it. Please, my darling… please come home to me again, she thought as the lyrics ran through her mind.

She was pulled from her thoughts by Charlie, and she offered a small smile in return for the comforting words. “Thank you. I pray you’re right.”

@FanfictionFanatic-The-Elder

Lorelei stood near the helm looking through a spyglass at the attacking ship. “Well, I'm surprised it took him this long.” she sighed, both disappointed and annoyed. “Nic, Niki. Go have some fun. Jax, we need more speed.” she instructed as she took hold of the wheel.

“Aye, Captain.” Jax nodded before shouting orders to the crew while the twins shared mischievous grins as they ran to the cannons.

@emilyevewrites

Ellie heard the orders being shouted, and she winced, needing something to distract her. She turned to Charlie with a solemn expression. “Would it be too inconvenient a time to ask for my first healing lesson?”

@FanfictionFanatic-The-Elder

Charlie smiled softly, assuringly, back and shook her head. “No. It wouldn't be. In fact, now is as good a time as any.” she said, gesturing for Ellie to follow her. “I think we should start you will some herbal salves. You’d be surprised how often everyone gets a scratch and don't remember how it happened.” she chuckled, seemingly completely unfazed by the chaos on the upper decks.

@emilyevewrites

Ellie quickly kept up pace with Charlie and listened to her words with a soft smile on her own features. She gave a laugh and tried to tune out the action above them as best she could.

@FanfictionFanatic-The-Elder

Charlie was a good teacher, most likely because she was so experienced with making all kinds of remedies that telling or showing others how came easily to her. And it was better for Ellie to focus on this rather than worry about the enemy ship.

Captain Lorelei kept a firm hand on the helm, relying on her crew to keep her informed. She knew that the twins were sticking with their favorite strategy of firing several shots close enough to the other ship to scare them off without hitting them… yet. If it went on too long then they wouldn't hesitate. Jax, Marc, and Drake were doing everything they could to balance gaining speed without impeding the twins line of fire.

@emilyevewrites

Ellie did her best to ignore the shouting of orders and blasts of cannon fire from the main deck, but she couldn’t help but feel concerned for her lover and the other crewmates. It was like there was a tether between her and Lorelei that was currently pulled taunt with worry.

She shook her head and tried again to focus on Charlie’s teaching. She was able to understand quickly, thanks to the woman’s impeccable descriptions and fluid preparation of the salves before directing Ellie through as she did it herself. “Like this?” the princess asked, gripping a bowl and grinder to mash down the green herbs Charlie had handed her.

@FanfictionFanatic-The-Elder

“Yes, very good.” Charlie encouraged. “You're doing well.” she smiled as she continued teaching, adding herbs at the right times and explaining what they did in the salve. She wasn't oblivious to the fight or the other woman's concerns. But now wasn't the time to talk about it.

@emilyevewrites

It was easier to pay attention when Ellie was doing it herself. She was more focused on not messing up than she was with the battle, so it was a well-thought distraction.

@FanfictionFanatic-The-Elder

(so… What do we want to happen with the actual fight?)

@emilyevewrites

(…That is a very good question. My plan is eventually to have the royal navy board the Siren Song and the king is with them, and they physically take Eleanor back while maybe also taking Lorelei to throw her in a dungeon or some shit, but it's a bit too early for that, and I was gonna ask you about it before it happened. Ta-da, surprise! So maybe they can just outrun them? Whatever you want to do is good. Ignore my sentences, though, cause I'm super tired XD)

@FanfictionFanatic-The-Elder

(not a bad plan… But I agree that it's too early for that right now. I’m pretty tired myself so I’ll just write them getting away then hit the hay.)

@emilyevewrites

(Cool beans! ;P)

@FanfictionFanatic-The-Elder

Lori let out a sigh of relief as the wind favored her ship, putting them safely out of range of any more cannon fire as the other vessel seemed to give up. But the Captain wasn't a fool. She knew that sooner or later, Ellie’s father would try again. For now, she would cherish every moment with the one she loved. “Jax. Take the wheel. Marc, Drake. It's your turn to deal with the twins.” she said calmly before making her way back to the galley.

@emilyevewrites

Ellie was too hyperfocused on her salve mix that she didn't even notice the cannons stopped firing. She narrowed her eyes as she measured what Charlie had instructed her to. "There we go," she mumbled to herself, mixing the salve together.

@FanfictionFanatic-The-Elder

Charlie nodded, more relaxed now that the fighting had stopped. “Well done. You have a talent.” she encouraged as she tested the consistency of the salve.

Lori leaned against the a wall, a proud smile coming to her face, as she watched Ellie work with Charlie. As much as she wanted to walk over and hug Ellie, she didn't want to interrupt their lesson.

@emilyevewrites

A wide, genuine smile took over Ellie's face. Not the small, restrained, pretty smiles she'd learned for the castle. This one made her cheeks ache and was full of unbridled joy and excitement. "Thank you!" she said excitedly. "I had a good teacher." She hadn't noticed Lorelei come down the steps.

@FanfictionFanatic-The-Elder