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Pirate Epic (Kolath/butterfly0408)

The next few seconds happened in the blink of an eye. One moment there was shock on Amelia's face. A hint of fear perhaps. Rage still dominate. Her eyes glanced to Conner. Their eyes captured gazes for just a moment. And then... she was gone. The front of her ripped up dress still in Callar's hand. He had grabbed at the clothing that was basically falling off to begin with. His force was the last straw. A few moments later there was a splash as Amelia hit the water below. The force knocking her out on contact.

"WOMAN OVERBOARD!!!" Thea cried out as she tried to struggle from Ralph's grasp to go to the princess's aid.

Gem stood looking with just as much shock on her face as half the crew. Unmoving. All of them, unmoving.
 
All of them except Conner, as soon as he saw his captain lifting her out over the edge he knew something bad was going to happen. He was already moving when she disappeared from sight the only thing that changed was where he was going to end up. With a bit of dexterity he slipped over the side diving head long into the rushing waves knowing the dangers but also being a accomplished swimmer. He searched for the princess knowing that she could easily be far away from him by this point but he also knew where to lookâ?¦back along the ships path and down.

Ralph was the next one into action he hadnâ??t released Thea before Conner was already over the side but when he finally did he was already barking orders to the men in the rigging. Tacting in the sheets and the helmsmen to bring the ship back around as they were already getting a ways from where the two had gone over the side.

Callar was still in a bit of shockâ?¦where had she gone? He had this look of total confusion as to what had happened not even noticing as Conner jumped over the side or Ralph began turning the ship around. He looked around him on deck as though she might have slipped out of his grasp somehow.
 
"MAN OVERBOARD!!" Thea yelled as she ran to the railing and looked over the edge. She couldn't see them. Neither of them! "Find them!" she cried out. It had happened to fast Thea was still processing it all even as she yelled orders herself. "A rope! Someone get a long rope!" They would send it over the moment they spotted one or the other. Hopefully both.

It took the running about the deck to snap Gem into attention as well as Thea's cry. Had that really just happened? Dear lord what had happened! "Get off your asses!" she screamed at the men around her, "FIND THEM DAMN IT!!" Gem was a sudden mix of emotions. The boy she raised as her son was out there somewhere, but she was more concerned over the ransom money that was slipping to the bottom of the sea.

It was so cold in the water. Like ice, filling up her lungs. Squeezing her. Choking her. Open your eyes. But when she did there was only a moment of darkness and then the sting of salt burning her eyes. She shut her eyes tight again and continued to drift. Her heavy skirts dragging her down to death. This was the end, wasn't it?
 
Callar finally realized what had happened and jumped into the same action Ralph was. There was nothing wrong with Callarâ??s ability just he hadnâ??t be giving orders for so long that he was out of practice. However it didnâ??t take him long to catch up to where Ralph was and started off on the other string of orders that should be being given. â??Prepare the long boat we need to get it over the side and in the water quickly before the freeze.â?

Ralph continued his string of orders getting the ship into the right position and seeing that the captain was already on the long boat crew he moved over to Thea, â??Thea you know that if we just drop at rope the rolling of the sea will make us slam them against the side when we try to pull them out. Callar is getting the long boat going you should move over there and help them.â?

Conner was with her in a moment his arm slipping around her waist and trying to pull her up but found that the weight of her skirts were too much. Pulling out his ship knife he slipped the tip under the waist of her skirts and cut out quickly severing the ties the held them on. It may have left her in only a thin underskirt but he didnâ??t notice as he pushed them toward the surface.
 
Thea looked at Ralph with a deep glare from across the deck, "It's not to pull them up you idiot! It's to keep them up! I'm not stupid, Ralph!! They'll need a life line until the long boat can get to them. If we tether them, they won't drift as far that we can't reach them!" Thea was looking up at him from the deck below where he was calling orders. "They stray to far, not even the long boat can save them!"

By the time they finally reached the surface, Amelia's body was like ice. She was limp in his grasp. Her lack of clothing might be keeping them afloat, but now she had no protection for the water's cold. It was chilling her right to the bone, and swiftly. Her skin was already turning pale, her breath shallow. There was water in her throat, though not yet enough to kill her. She needed to be on the ship and wrapped in warmth badly or she'd not make it.

"THERE!" cried Gem as she pointed to where they finally surfaced. "Starboard bow!" Indeed it was about 1,000 feet away, but indeed.... they were drifting away from the ship. "GET MOVING YOU DAMN DIRTY DOGS! DAMN IT! MOVE!"
 
Ralph didnâ??t even hear Thea as orders were being shouted back and forth. The rope was already out in the water so there was no point arguing about it anyway. The long boat was quickly being made ready but in these waters there was more to fear then the cold. Ralph froze for a moment as he noticed the dark silhouette he was suddenly off like a light grabbing one of the men that wasnâ??t sure what to be doing and they were off to the armory.

Callar was already in the long boat being one of the two that would keep it from tipping as it hit the water. Blankets were being lowered in as well as a sealed lantern to provide heat. His mind raced trying to remember the best things for fighting cold but nothing more came to mind. â??Lower away!â?

Conner was controlling his breathing carefully knowing that it wouldnâ??t be long before the chill got to him but until then he wouldnâ??t give into the fear that was trying to hold his body hostage. He checked that Thea was still breathing. It was when he finished that suddenly there was a loud crack from the boat and the water beside him exploded. He looked up at the boat seeing Ralph handing off the musket to someone and taking another.
 
Thea was frustrated with how Ralph completely ignored her. She stood there as everyone basically ran about her, completely ignoring her. What was she invisible? Even when she tried to help with the long boat, she had been pushed aside by the other crew members. What? Did she only matter now when she was dressed up in some frilly outfit pretending to be a lady or up in the rigging where the crew could get a good look up her skirts? Crossing her arms, she sat herself upon a crate and just watched. No one would pay attention to her? Then fine, she'd just sit here and- BANG! With the sound of the gun, Thea flew to the railing and looked over the side. Please... be safe. From this distance, she could see them now. Suddenly, something she could help with none of the others could came to mind. Running from deck, Thea sprang to her cabin, pulling out warm, dry clothing and blankets. One thing Thea could do the MEN couldn't was be a woman. A woman she was certain the princess would soon need. IF she survived of course.
 
Conner blinked as another shot rang out and the musket ball again exploded in the water close to them. What was going on was someone trying to kill them? And if so why wasnâ??t the rest of the crew trying to stop them? It was then that he felt the bump against his leg and nearly froze. Sharks! His heart rate doubled but so how he kept calm enough to keep himself and Amelia afloat. â??Come on guys hurry!â??

Callar and the boat were just hitting the water with the long boat crew. The four strong boat men set their backs to the task of pulling away Callar at the rudder. They were eating up the sea between them and Conner but it had already been so long and the sharks were closing in.

Ralph forced his breathing to slow as he took another shot and it slammed hard into yet another shark. He knew he wasnâ??t going to be able to keep this up much longer and all the dead and dying sharks were releasing a lot of blood around Conner which as making things a lot more dangerous all he could do was keep it up and hope that Callar hurried.
 
With the blood starting to fill the water, the sharks were becoming more and more in number and their boldness. At first it was just one that bumped, then a second bump, and a third, each one with more force. Thankfully, Amelia was still out. Surely if she was aware of all that was going on around her, she would be freaking out and thrashing about. At least there was one blessing.

"RALPH!" Gem yelled at him as she stood next to him so basically it was right into his ear, "You think adding blood to the water is the best way to SAVE them?! Keep shooting and they will be chum, boy before we can reach them!"
 
Ralph cracked off another shot as Gem yelled into his ear striking another shark. His face was red as he turned back to her tossing his spend gun to the man helping him. â??They were already riled up by the two of them jumping into the water in the first place and all the thrashing around that they did at first.â? Grabbing the second musket as the first was reloaded, â??They would already be shark food if I hadnâ??t started this all I can do now is keep the sharks away till the boat is there or there are no more sharks do you mind?!â? he turned back over the railing stopping another shark as it was moving in on them.

Callar saw what was going on and knew that they had just a short amount of time. Grabbing up the rifle that had been placed in the boat he stood aiming down the sights and taking another shark as it moved in. they were less than a hundred feet away and closing fast.

Conner lashed too one side slamming his fist into the nose of one shark that got to close. This wasnâ??t going well he knew that they needed to hurry. The log boat was still a good distance. He started to push toward the boat keeping his movements to steady strokes so as not to thrash about holding on to Ameliaâ??s waist. He looked back seeing a large open jaw moving toward himâ?¦this was bad.
 
Thea returned to deck then and went to the rail to see what was happening. She had no intentions of lifting any more fingers on deck since no on seemed to care anyway. But seeing the shark with it's open mouth bearing down on her brother, instincts kicked in. Pushing her way between Gem and Ralph, Thea quickly picked up one of the loaded rifles sitting by the rail, took aim, and shot the shark right in it's open mouth, even from the distance. A one in a million shot.
 
Conner was panting hard looking into the jaws of death as they suddenly exploded. Covered in the remains of the shark that was about to eat them. He couldnâ??t believe how close he had come to death and yet avoided it. That close of a brush with death was something that could wake a person up and see if their life was what they really wanted. He felt a strong hand grab the back of his shirt then others reaching down to take the princess from him pulling her into the boat and then him as well. He sighed knowing he was safe and he passed out cold.

Callarâ??s hand was the one on the back of his shirt and with the help of the others in the long boat pulled them in. the rowers started back to the ship it didnâ??t seem to take as long to get back as it did yo get to them maybe it was because of the tense nature of the situation they quickly came along side the boat and helpful hands were lowered to bring the two kids aboard.

Ralph took Conner checking his breathing and pulse to make sure he was okay. Thankfully it was just exhaustion that made him pass out. Wrapping a blanket around the chilled young man he shook his head, â??You are one crazy pirate Conner.â?
 
Thea was so relieved when she saw them pulling the unconscious pair onto get. But her relive was soon replaced by a sickening feeling as she watched all the crew fawn over Connor and basically just dump the half naked, unconscious Amelia on the deck. Thea picked up a blanket and was the first to attend to Amelia. The only one really. "You!" She finally said as she grabbed the first crew member she saw and yanking him towards her and Amelia. "Help me carry her to my cabin! NOW!" The crew member looked at Amelia and Thea could see the moment in his face when he realized she needed help too. Helping Thea wrap her in the blanket, he picked Amelia up and with Thea leading the way the two rushed her to Thea's room. "Put her in the bed! Quickly! She's freezing! Pass me another blanket!" The crew member complied and tossed Thea another thick blanket who tossed it over Amelia and started to rub the warm blankets over her cold body. She needed to warm up of she'd not make it.

Amelia was pale and her skin so cold. She shivered and her lips trembled. There was not much more a response from her. If not for Thea's efforts to finish what Connor had started, Amelia would not make it. Now though, she had a fighting chance.
 
Conner was out cold for a long time. Finally when he woke up he was laying in his bed with Callar, Gem and Ralph standing over him. He shook his head clearing the last bit of fog from him mind. They were all still worried about him but only one thing was on his mind. â??how is the princess?â?


((sorry about it being so short just having a hard time thinking.))
 
Gem glanced from side to side at the others, then looked at Connor, "Fine? I suppose? No one has checked on her since we brought you aboard. She's not dead of Thea would have told us. That's all that matters. She's still worth something do us." She was not very motherly, so did not really show any concern for her own son other then, "You okay?"

Thea was the one being motherly as she sat at Amelia's side, checking her temperature with the back of her hand against her forehead. It was finally about normal. First she was freezing then she was suddenly burning up but at last she seemed stable. Not awake, but stable.
 
Conner growled low as Gem showed clear lack of concern of Ameliaâ??s safety. He pushed up off the bed throwing the covers back. He was amazingly resilient and was completely steady on his feet already. He pushed past them all even Ralph that had moved in to stop him. He pushed his way down the hall toward Theaâ??s room.

Ralph was hot on his heels trying to get him to stop and take it at least easy. But the lad was having none of that all he cared about was knowing if he had been successful in saving the princess.
 
Gem watched, unmoving, as Connor rose from his bed and set off down the hall. She only smirked slightly. He was finally getting a backbone. About damn time.

Thea was just placing the cloth she had used to wipe Amelia's face when she heard footsteps approaching, pounding down the hall. Going to the door, she opened it just as Connor was reaching for the knock, "Keep down the-" her voice was stern until she saw it was Connor, then it grew gentle for her brother, "Connor, you're awake and..." her eyes narrowed, "out of bed? What are you doing out of bed?! You just had a traumatic experience and need to be resting." But then she noticed the look of distress on his face and she softened again. "She is fine Connor. She is resting, as you should be. I will come to tell you if anything changes."
 
Callar shook his head as he had watched the whole thing. â??He almost threw his life away for a damn girl, yes Iâ??m glad that she is alive and still can be ransomed but damn that boy he shouldnâ??t have done that.â? The pirate captain slipped his arm around his wifeâ??s waist gently pulling her close. â??Only the woman you love is worth throwing your life away on.â? He kissed her passionately.

Conner sighed heavily looking at his sister nodding feeling a lot better now that he knew Amelia was ok. In fact the instant that he heard that all the adrenaline that had been keeping him going up till now drained away and he just about collapsed but Ralph was right behind him.

Ralph slipped his arms under the younger mans arms hoisting him up a bit as Conner passed back out. Ralph looked at Thea his eyes holding to hers for a moment sighing. â??I better get him back to bedâ?¦can we talk later?â?
 
Thea flinched towards her collapsing brother but was relieved when she saw Ralph catch him. She stood back and suddenly it was just the two of them once again. Her heart raced as he looked her right in the face and made her request to talk later on. But in the next moment, the memories of last night and this morning on the deck all flood to her and her eyes went cold. "No," was all she said as she turned and went back into her room with Amelia, closing the door in Ralph's face.

"Mmmm," Gem nuzzled against her husband and sighed, "And would you throw your life away for me husband?"
 
Ralph was about to say something more when the door closed and he was left standing there holding Conner. â??Well Conner old boy, I think I have a lot of work to do to get your sister to like me again.â? He hoisted the boy up so that he could carry him easier back to his room.

Callar growled softly leaning down biting Gems neck softly, â??Throw my life away? No. but I would give my life for yours.â? He kissed her again growling, â??That doesnâ??t leave this cabin.â?
 
"I will take it with me to the ends of the earth and the bottom of the sea my love," Gem said as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled her into a kiss.

Hours passed before Amelia awoke, but while she told Connor about it she would not let him see her. He was to stay in bed just as she was. It was three days before Connor was permitted to leave his bed by Thea, who took control of both the patients. And yet still he was not aloud in to see Amelia. "Connor," she told him as she stood at the door, "She is traumatized. While she is well yes, seeing any one of the crew right now may upset her. Even you." Finally, another two days after that, a knock came at Connor's door. It was Thea, with a smile on her face, "After the sun sets and the deck has calmed down, will you take a Amelia for a walk on deck? She needs the air and a friend."

Amelia meanwhile was in Thea's cabin. She was washing herself up with the hot water Thea had brought for her. The two girls had really bonded in their time together in the little cabin. Thankfully, the two of them were close in size. After she had washed up, Amelia donned on to the dresses Thea used to disguise herself as a noble. It worked well. And now it was a waiting game. She had not seen Connor in five days now and was not still sure she was ready for it, but the allure of some time on the deck was to much to pass up.
 
Ralph had been brooding these last five days almost not sleeping taking nearly every watch only going to bed when he was ordered to by the captain. He honestly didnâ??t feel the tiredness in his body and the pain from not sleeping. He was just so worried about Thea that he wasnâ??t sure what he should doâ?¦he choose to throw himself into the work and ignore everything.

Conner groaned finally working out some of the kinks in his muscles after having been kept in bed so long. Popping his neck he pulled on his pants and a loose shirt as well as the sword belt that he always wore. Looking at himself in the mirror he wrinkled his nose in disgust and pulled out the razor quickly shaving off the light stubble that had grown over these past days. Looking at his reflection again he nodded finally satisfied he stepped out heading to his sisterâ??s room knocking on the door.
 
It was Thea that answered the door, smiling at her brother and going into the hall with him a few moments before fetching Amelia. "Be good with her tonight Connor. She's been badly traumatized by this whole thing. This is really the only time she can be up on deck, while all the other men are below deck for meal and cards. If the deck starts to fill much more that it is now, bring her back." It was like she was Amelia's guardian. Then again, on this ship, perhaps she was.

The door behind Thea opened and Amelia popped her head out meekly, looking from around Thea to her Connor. Perhaps she should not call him 'her' Connor. He was just a low pirate, she should not get attached to him, but then again he had saved her life. She had had a moment of hate for him right before it all happened, but it was all gone now in the moment he dove in that water to save her. "Hello Connor," she said smiling softly.
 
He nodded listening to Theaâ??s advice knowing that she was right and that he needed to make sure to do all that she said. As Amelia came out he smiled his hand slipping out for hers. â??Hello Amelia shall we go for a walk?â? his grin was charming as a pirates could be and he had been sure to clean up as best he could.
 
Amelia nodded and smiled a little herself as she took his hand, "I would love to. It's been so long since I have had some fresh air." Together they went up onto deck. The sun had just set at that point and indeed the deck seemed to be deserted. There were a few men around, but they didn't seem to want to bother the two at all. "I have not gotten the chance to thank you yet Connor. I owe my life to you. I don't know how to ever thank you enough."
 
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