Tempest (privat)

Once upon a time there was a king. He was a mighty king, holding a great country in his hands. But he had powerful enemies, mankind was not united, and forces from the sea and magical forests was a constant threat. And it was yet to be discovered that fae and pyrates had been united. For now, like their agenda, in the dark, but in a few years their collaboration would be known, and fear would be in every man's eyes, from the poorest peasant to the greatest king.

The king had few children himself. He relied on his brothers great mass off offsprings to create alliances with countries or other powerful connections. The fourth child, the king's niece was born with ease. But it was no more than a false second of happiness. The mother caught an illness just a few weeks after, presumably caused by the pregnancy. She died, only three weeks after the birth. The castle mourned for some time, and then the prince remarried. He got three more children.

Even though the prince got a new wife, who bore healthy children and suffered no more than others while giving birth, he was protective. He kept her in the castle, always under supervision, often locked in her room. She was not a captive, the court agreed that she was lucky to be so dearly loved, and she could not miss anything. Rumors said that she was a lovely girl. Beautiful and sweet in her manners. At age 16 nothing had changed. Despite her young years spent in her rooms, she was presented into society early. Every single one who met her adored her, until she opened her mouth. Society was baffled at her character, who was so well known to be the kindest from a young age, being so changed. But that was not a problem in any marriage related matters. She was a beauty, and a large dowry was to be expected. And the king was not alone in the search for allies, and the princess could certainly provide a strong connection between two countries.

Her oldest sisters where like her out in society, and were quite content so. The princess younger sister, barely aged fifteen, would soon be out to. Older than her closest older sister when she was presented, but still very young, she did not feel herself that this was the time. Normally she would be right, her time could have waited. But her monthly bleedings had started long ago, and recent events had stressed monarchs all over the world. The union between the pyrates and the fae folks had come to be known, and now the long, half passive war had blown up into a full, terrible war. Fought at land and the seas. It is devastating how humans think they can sort this out. By hosting and attending balls.

Wearing a lavashing, maybe excessive, dress, smiling. Laughing at some joke, waving with a fan, not hiding behind it, no false modesty. Superior countenance, and why not? Women should be humble. But she was not a woman. Temperance Catherine Beatricia Clérisseau Brougham, fourth child of Saewulf Pascoe Brougham, brother to the king and third in line to the throne, stood in the hallway of the castle. And she was certainly not a woman. She was a princess, and tonight she was a queen. Stealing the attention from her half sister to her stepmother's distress she made it certain that she was the catch of the evening.

“Mother says that the king is looking for you Temperance”
She smiled at the sound of her sister's voice. Apparently it was not just the stepmother who was distressed. She turned around and looked at her sister, who looked like she was on the edge of falling in tears.
“Dear Gilot, of course he is. This is supposed to be your ball, and are you presenting yourself to society? No. While you are weeping like a baby I am actually dancing, entertaining guests, and will probably get a few offers of marriage before dawn. In difference to you, who will be the topic of gossip tomorrow. Remind me, what will they say? Oh that weeping girl, she could not be over eight?” Temperance started in a squeaky voice. “Are you sure she could bear children? Anyway, we can only hope that she will not. A whiner like her, what would her children be? A terrifying thought”
Gilot finally burst into tears, running away to Temperance's delight. She strolled into the ballroom, walking in the middle as if there were not a hundred couples dancing. When reaching the stairs, she made sure to walk slowly, letting everyone see her.

The king was waiting for her. He was quite a sight, a large man, with obviously larger power and fortune. His niece has that in common with him. Speaking to the wall, the king loudly declared:
“I hope that at least one of you and your sisters find someone to marry. Tonight. And when I hope…”
“It gets done. I know my king. But dear uncle, I can not imagine why you are talking to me. I am not wed because of one simple reason. We have not wanted me to be wed. We have other problems, as you know sire”
“Yes I know, but your sister is a disaster. She will make a fool out of herself no matter what we do. But you are an uncertain problem. Make sure you do not disappoint me.”

Temperance stood in the ballroom. In the middle, right under the chandelier. Her feets hurted. She had danced all night, the clock had struck midnight a long time ago. She excused herself to her partner, and walked out in the queens garden. Breathed for a second, and then laughed. She was alone, the only ones who were up at this hour would be dancing, frantically looking for more suitors. It had been a good night, but a tempest was beginning to form.

Audrey loathed balls. Frilly ladies and lords from the ton strolling about in their fancy clothes, without any care in the world. She supposed they did have some resemblance to problems, however small compared to her own.
Audrey let out a small sigh. Self pity would not aid her in her current situation.
The ballroom was crowned with a chandelier of what Audrey could only assume was crystals. Of course, the white ornate details on the walls were a bit too much. Or maybe it was the man seated on the ivory throne in the far end of the salon. Seated upon a dias was The King of Ayrith. Audrey could not fathom how a mortal man could have such power. How naive he must be to think he was the ruler over such a natural force such as death.
It did not matter how mortal his flesh was, or how quick he would die if she sent the dagger straddled at her ankle, flying straight into his heart of adamant stone.
A moment passed, in which she realised her scent surely must betray her carefully cold demeanor. Not that she was any good at actually concealing the emotions churning inside her breast like a growing hellfire. She'd be told she’d be wise to lock up those emotions. The anger in particular.
Gideon didn’t say anything, of course.
They were to act as husband and wife. Audrey thought this humiliating indeed. Gideon was surely a century older than her. Of course, his faerie blood kept him from ageing as mortals would. He didn’t look a day over twenty five. He had always striked her as an older brother. Less heartfelt, perhaps. She had never felt the bond of sisters, nor had she had a brother. However she had always thought the bond strong enough to sacrifice oneself for the other. Gideon would always serve the Captain first, and she knew it.
It was no good deed to dream.
Audrey could feel his gaze over her bare shoulders, lingering on the purple bruises there. “I am aware we are married, husband.” She said under her breath, eyes steadily roaming the halls for listeners. With a facade of politeness she nodded to a passing couple, smiling innocently. “However I do not believe it proper to stare at a Lady’s bare skin.”
At least not in public.
His eyes were truly bitter, something dark in them flickered “You should’ve stayed away from him, Audrey.”
She could feel the anger arise in her before he had even finished the sentence. Memories of flying fists and blood flashed before her.
Allowing herself a moment of breath to calm herself, she bit back her retort.
“Sometimes, Gideon,” She said his name with the same tone as he had hers “standing aside isn’t the best option” Although her blue ribs were a painful reminder that everything came with a price. Of course, her dress did nothing to conceal the marks, and so Gideon had glamoured her. Or rather, the others in the room to believe nothing was amiss. A gift for the immortal, she supposed. The same faerie magic concealed the delicate point of his ears.
Ever since an unfortunate day all those years ago, she’d always carried rowan berries around her neck.
“Only a fool interrupts males much stronger than oneself.”
She found herself fuming with rage. Surely, she had done the right thing? Although even Audrey knew the right thing was not always the way of survival aboard The Grace. “Fortunate that I’m no male then”
Faster than she could comprehend he had her arm in an unbreakable grip, sure to leave bruise. That he had the audacity-
“You speak like a fool. You should be laughing yourself grateful they did not force you to entertain them. That the only thing you suffered was pain and not your honor.”
He let her go, making sure no one had seen their harsh exchange of words. A chill went through Audrey that had nothing to do with the open doors. Her usually tan face was pale, almost greyish. The anger that had overtook her had exchanged for dread.
She must focus. The Captain had not sent her for her good looks- or well, she supposed he had- but her wits.
The plan was simple enough not to be a fool's one.
Although the ball was to be for one of the Younger Princesses, all attention was pinned to one woman in particular. The Princess Temperance was known for her beauty- something Audrey could not deny. The universe must truly be unfair to have granted her both power and looks. Although the hideous tent of a dress definitely made Audrey feel better. Had the girl not had ice cold eyes, she could have been mistaken for a doll. A prize to be taken.
Audrey promised herself the Princess’s smile and the swagger in her stance would be gone by dawn.
The Princess’s red hair was like a flame in the midst of dancing pairs. The king seemed to have ordered her presence, and the girl had been late. She had now bowed, not curtsey to him while standing right in front of him. As if the tilt of her head was all she could bring herself to give.
The princess was captured by a fine man upon entering the dance floor. Long into the night the girl danced. Audrey did not for the world know what had made the Princess dance as if her life depended on it. She did not particularly care, as the princess finally stopped. Bidding her partner goodnight, she turned and walked right out into the Queen’s garden.

Gideon took care of the guards. Audrey cared not how, she had no sympathy for the King, nor his men.
The garden bathed in moonlight, and the maze-like hedges sent shadows looming over her. Rose hedges seemed like spindly arms reaching for her, tearing her plum dress. It was the time for darkness and folklore. The time of the night.
A small, sharp sound led Audrey through the hedges, into a small clearing. A fountaine stood in the middle, its dripping water a soft contrast to the music from the open doors.
There she sat, on its very edge. The Princess Temperance held herself as if she was above all else.
Audrey stepped in front of the moonlight. She was nothing but a dark silhouette to the Princess.
“Well this is new” Audrey's voice was low, laced with frozen malice “I’d thought the princess too delicate to risk getting dirt under her nails”
The Princess lifted her chin almost imperceptibly, visibly looking down her nose at me. Not seeming fazed at all. “I had thought your neck too delicate to risk beheading.”
Something deep inside Audrey churned, flickered, tried to rise to the surface. A second later she had shoved the memories far back into her innermost self. She let out a catlike hiss,
“You wench. So what they say truly is not a lie. Her Imperial Highness” Audrey gave the Princess a mocking bow “is a bitch in her fine years.”
“How dare you, you unintelligible fool.” The girl stood abruptly “My guards-”
“Are dead. Yes, well, you probably won’t mourn them, since they were simply lowlifes.”
She didn’t object nor move. Audrey walked in a half circle around her, always staying in the shadows.
The Princess scoffed, “Are you too hideous? Is that why you do not show your face?” Her voice was honed, sharp as a blade. Of course, Audrey had been called far worse thing than that.
“I’d much rather not. What would happen, pray tell, if I would fail my mission to capture you, and you’d run away and squeal all that had happened tonight to your uncle. I wouldn’t want to get caught.”
Audrey was behind the princess, a dagger pressed to her delicate throat. One flicker of her hand and she’d spill royal blood. The Captain would have her flogged and killed for disobeying direct orders.
But how tempting it was.
This time Audrey spoke up, it was in a whisper. It could have been mistaken for a lovers caress. “Careful so you don’t cut yourself, Princess. I’d hate to ruin that pretty face of yours.”
Then she forced a damp cloth upon the girls face, suffocating her.
Moments later, the fate the Princess of Aerith lay in her hands.

Abigail sighed, Madame Paston had been a pain ever since the new taxes came, not that she couldn’t afford to pay them, being one of the Tergaron’s richest people because of her successful brothel. She could easily afford the new taxes, but of course she didn’t want to lose more money she could spend on herself.

“ Moore!” And there it was, the lovely sound of Paston’s voice. Everyone who worked at the Starless Sin said she always sounds like she’s angry and wants to fight with someone, not that everyone would say that to her face.
Abigail certainly wouldn’t, she owed everything to Madame Paston, when her mother died from some disease- no one knew what it was but it didn’t matter. Madame Paston could have easily thrown her out on the street, but instead she let her continue to live at the brothel. In return Abigail had to work, it wasn’t something an eleven year old should have done, but it was better than the streets.

She had seen the people living on the street, wearing rags and begging everyone for money or scraps. And since the Starless Sin was close to the harbor, she saw them everyday, since most people hoped for luck on the ships. The ones without fae, that was the number one rule in the city, never find yourself in the fae’s company.

Of course on her job it was different, every kind of person came there, human, fae it didn’t matter. Madame Paston never turned anyone down unless they couldn’t pay, but the fae of course had to follow rules, didn’t mean they did it. They always used their magic for the simplest things, the worst ones were the ones who brought food or drinks, you couldn’t say no, at least it was easier when you’re out of it.

At least I got lucky, I could have become just like them, she thought as she saw a pair of twin sisters stopping one of the sailors, their clothes barely covering them, she knew what would happen to them but she usually ignores them, with her clothes, she looks like she belongs with the rich. Long blue dresses, sometimes cloaks if it was cold. In the Sin everyone wears a pale pink dress, but thanks to the candles it barely looks pink.
“ MOORE!” Abigail jumped, she had forgotten that Madame Paston called her name before, and she knew she didn’t like asking twice. So she hurried to her office, ignoring the looks from the other girls.
“ Yes Madame?” She says and looks at Madame Paston, she isn’t ugly or so but her days of being seen as pretty was over, but she had respect since she had managed to run the Starless Sin for the past 15 years without any help.
“ What have I said about making me ask twice?”
“ To not do it.”
“ Exactly, but now you’re here, come here,” she has a bunch of papers lying all over the table, and Abigail sits down in the other chair. “ Do you know what this is?” She hands over a paper with some numbers.
“ No I don’t,” she answers and gives back the paper.
“ This is what you owe me after I kept you around after your mother died. It’s also what your mom owes me since she couldn’t work as much when she got you. If she wasn’t one of my best workers, I would have thrown her out on the streets but now her debt is yours.”

Abigail looks at the number again and feels faint, to many numbers, she couldn’t even afford to pay it in her lifetime. She was trapped, to always continue to work here.
“ How am I supposed to pay this off?” she asks
“ That’s your problem, not mine, blame your mother for having you. Now back to work, your debt isn’t gonna disappear any time soon.”
Everyone stares at her when she comes out from Madame Paston’s office, she tries to hold back her tears, never show weakness to anyone. Phoebe, one of the older girls, just look with pity at her and somehow that’s worse than the rest.
“ Gail, I’m so sorry,” But Abigail ignores her, it's one hour until she has to be ready for the night. So she decides to go out, just to breathe, ignore the conversation she had with Madame Paston five minutes ago.

Maybe she could sneak on a ship?
Wait what was I thinking? She thought, she had judged those people all her life and now she was going to do the same thing. But yet she could leave and sneak off in the next harbor, maybe find a new place to work, she has enough money to find a place to live. And yet she knows Madame Paston wouldn’t hesitate to send people after her if she leaves, not because she cares but because she wants money.
Abigail looks around at the harbor, most people ignore her, everyone recognizes the dress that shows that she works in the Starlight Sin and everyone knows that the girls who work there are off limits unless you’ve paid for it- directly to Madame Paston.

Usually the harbor is full of drunk people around this time but now it’s empty and quiet, too quiet, there isn’t even the usual sound of water. She looks around to see if there’s anything suspicious going on but there is no one around, but then she hears the sound of hooves and quickly throws herself behind some barrels. And she sees how two people wearing cloaks are holding a third person between them, they are more or less dragging the third person to a small boat.

Maybe this is my chance to get away, she thought as looks back at the towering building of the Starlight Sin and then at the three unknown people. And then she makes her choice, Madame Paston will always continue to hunt her but at least now she has a small chance of getting a headstart. She manages to hide under some fabrics and then she tries to stay quiet. If she can only stay hidden until the next stop, then she’s at least partly free.

Darkness. She opened her eyes, and darkness was still a fact. Someone whispered in a corner, and she turned around to see two contours moving. As they grew clearer she realised that she was laying on the ground. A match was lit. The shorter one of the silhouettes walked towards her.
“Get dressed,” she tossed a bag at Temperance's feet. Astonished by fear she simply opened the bag. The content was some filthy clothes. Temperance wrinkled her nose.
“Why would I ever listen to a wench?”
The woman gave her sharp look, lips curled.
“Because I’m holding a dagger and I’m not even a second thought from gutting you. Do not tempt me. Get. Dressed.” There was an unmistakable authority in her voice.
Temperance started to untie the front.
“Who are you?” She said with too much courage for a person who had just been threatened with death.
“Get those pretty hands to good use and fucking undress. I have no need for your measly conversations.”
She tore off her dress, and the young woman, deciding that Temperance would probably finish without causing problems, started to take off her dress too. She had worn a plum coloured gown to the ball, and was now changing to clothes suiting a poor merchant. Temperance gazed at her body. Behind the corset and chemise she could catch the glimpse of bruises.
“In a minute, we'll make our way to the harbour. And this,” She gestured around her “Is the town's squalor. Dead bodies are scattered around like flies. You, princess, will be surrounded by more death than you have in your entire life. So, if you do something to anger me, if you scream for help, you’ll find yourself with a dagger in your back. It won't be until weeks, months even,” The woman paused. Scratching Temperances back with the knife, she lowered her voice, “until they find out the dirty body belonged to little Princess. We will be gone before you know it, and you’ll die alone. Not. A. Sound. Don’t cause no scene, and your pretty back will remain just the same.”
The dresses was unceremoniously packed into the dirty satchel, along with Temperance's jewelry. The young woman forced her out into the filthy streets.


They were not like the cobblestone streets outside the caste. Much more like a big pool of dirt and mud. The ground was irregular and slippery. Temperance tripped over her feet in her chaste to keep the knife from cutting into her back. Someone yanked her upright by the hair, the knife now even tighter pressed against her. She was forced against the woman behind her, as she whispered in Temperance's ear.
“Careful so you don’t trip, Princess. Worst case scenario, you’ll wound up with bruises. The best, i'll have a bullet between your eyes”
“As if you cared about wounds. I saw your body. Full off bruises, did you not make yourself worth the money so he decided to hit you? Can you not even be a good whore?”
Temperance could not see the woman's expression, but she could fathom her fuming. She had such a short temper, it felt as if she was a ticking bomb. Temperance would not lie, it sent a thrill of excitement through her at the thought of being in such dangerous territory.
The knife at her back pressed further into her skin. Had it not been for the corset it would surely have sliced her skin.
They walked in silence.

They rowed in the protection of darkness. When finally reaching the dimly lit ship, thick ropes were sent down, raising the row boat above the black water.
Sneering faces swam in the torchlight, looming in the commotion to see the mortal Princess. Her face reeked of authority, high chin as she was forced out onto the deck. To her credit, she didn’t stumble. Although her eyes betrayed her demeanor. Fear swam there along with an unmistakable disgust.

Audrey still wasn't accustomed to the closeness of the faeries. As if they had no sense of privacy. Shoulders straight, she led the Princess by a firm grip of the arm through the old wooden doors. Before diving down the ship, a sharp laugh ranged out, stopping her mid track. It sent chills down her back, her ribs seemed to throb with the pain he’d caused days before. With a deep breath Audrey continued her journey through the ship. She knew it as well as the back of her hand, and had spent many dark nights navigating through it.
Audreys grip on The Princess’s arm hardened. She did not seem disturbed by the darkness, and had not uttered a word.
Upon finally reaching a large double door, Gideon stepped up and knocked.
Heavy steps echoed and the doors were slammed open. A rough built faerie stepped aside with a cruel smile. Cat-like eyes traced my every movement as he urged us inside, later moving on to Temperance. There was the same evident look of hunger there Audrey had seen in many males before. It never stopped unsettling her.

The Captains quarters were indeed lavish. Golden objects hung from the roof or stood placed in heavy shelves. Audrey could not identify half of them. A candle holder hung above the Captains desk, much like a chandelier. And the windows- windows- overlooked the black expanse of water. She could only imagine how the sunset would look from in here. And yet, the thing Audrey relished most whas how the floorboards were not wet. Dry as firewood.
Behind an old wooden desk sat the Captain. He was a large male, or maybe it was the coat of seaweed slung over him. His demeanor was cold, just like the blue hue of his skin. Razor sharp teeth shone in his smile, and his hair floated in the air as if he were under water. He was beautiful beyond compare, the thousands of scales on his skin shimmering in the dim light.
However those white eyes were nothing short of cruel.
Audrey kept her gaze at the floor.

“Well, well, well. What do we have here?”
Taking it as an invitation, she spoke up “The girl, Sir. As you wished”
Temperance huffed beside her, surely not too content with not being properly addressed.
“And I trust you have taken care of her?”
“ ‘Course, sir” Audrey lied smoothly.
He did not seem to care.
His eyes reminded Audrey of that of a cat, the way they looked upon its prey on the streets of Teragon. With a loud thud on the desk he stood up. He was so light on his feet that Audrey was merely alarmed by his nearness as his shadow cast over her.
The Captain grabbed The Princess’s jaw, tugging it up to inspect her. “What a lovely little thing you are.” Her white skin seemed to palen under his grip. “But you’re no mortal, are you?”
The Princess held The Captains stare steadily.
A cruel smile spread over his all too beautiful lips. “Too fascinating to be a simple mortal. The question is, however” He trapped a lock of her hair between his fingers “what you are”
Temperance spat at his face, and growled “What I am is The Princess Temperance Clérisseau Brougham, niece to his majesty The King and your superior”

There was a loud SMACK and the girl was thrown to the floor. Her head crashed down with a thud, but she did not cry out. Her hand cradled her chin, and she looked up at him with a shocked expression. “You, you… how… how dare you.”

Audrey stood still. Punishment was nothing new aboard the Grace. However what was new, was the malice that crept into her heart. The joy of harm done to one of royal blood.
A sharp laugh rang out. Hysteria shone in Princess Temperance’s eyes. “I will have you hanged and burned and beheaded.”
She did not know when to stop, did she?
The Captain bent down, this time holding her by the chin gently. “You certainly will not, poppy. You're a hostage on a ship full of pirates willing to draw your blood. Run that mouth and I’ll have Raine here cut your tongue out.”
Attention still on her he spoke up. “Hewn”
“Yes Captain.”
“She makes one wrong move and you'll take her punishment. She comes to harm and you’ll come to harm. She’ll sleep in your cabin, you’ll feed her and guard the door at day. Clear?”
Audrey had to take a deep breath. She clenched her fists to stop the trembling. There was roaring in the back of her head. “Crystal.”
“Your pay will come within fortnight.”
With a nod she grabbed the princess by the arm and went to open the doors.
“Oh and Darling” She stopped, his next words bringing chills down her back. “Witch or no, I can't have you meddling in my mens business. Next time I’ll have you flogged.”
“Yes, sir.”

The walk to her cabin was quiet. Faeries were up on deck, readying the ship for the journey. Temperance did not say a word, but walked with a high chin.
There was ice and fire in Audreys veins. She was tired, her whole sleep schedule reversed. She’d been up since dawn with watch duty, then at the stupid ball. When she’d sleep between her watches she did not know.

The cabin was a small thing behind one of the lower staircases, and the Princess had to bow her head while entering. The cabin was a redecorated closet, not meant to live in.
Despite Audreys weariness towards her, she still felt shame when she opened the cabin doors. A hammock hung in the corner, a small desk stood to the wall beside the door. The odor of candle wax and incense hung in the air, along with dried herbs and flowers. Quickly, Audrey collected the still spread tarot cards from her desk and shoved them into a small bag in a drawer.
“Oh, I see. So it was witch marks all over your body. Don’t worry, it makes sense. You are not pretty enough to be a dirty little whore.”
Audrey had her pressed against the wall in a matter of seconds. “You will shut up! Do not speak of matters you do not comprehend. I am no whore, nor am I a witch.”
She stepped away, bristling with barely contained frustration. “Sleep in the hammock or I will. Don’t touch no shit.”
Audrey slammed and locked the door behind her.

That spoiled, selfish- brat. Having faeries around her just wasn’t enough, was it? The girls constant threats of beheading, burning- made Audrey fume with rage. That whore calling, witch pointing, absolute bitch. If she kept up acting up towards the crew members Audrey would surely be punished within short.
She stepped into the kitchen, Cook nodding in greeting to her. One of the only respectable mortals aboard, he was. He’d cleaned her wounds many times, and Audrey often found herself sitting in here when she could not sleep. He did not stop her as she slid into the food storage, filled with dried fruit, meat and faerie wine.
With a loaf of bread in hand, she almost stepped out of the cabinet. Then a rolling apple passed her feat. The apples were in a net on the uppermost shelf, and the bag itself did not seem torn. Audrey walked to the innermost corner, apple in hand.
Behind two wine kegs sat a girl.
A mortal girl.