-Seven-

Drunken Swords

"Bring that pot over here."

Alice eyed the giant pot that Red had nodded to. She lifted it curiously and brought it over to him. Red immediately loaded it onto a thick spit over the fire. He ordered her to begin to cut up vegetables as she dumped a bucket of water and chunks of meat into the pot. "Soup?"

"Aye. We're goin' to be out at sea, Miss. Prepare to eat plainly, and small. These won' be the lavish feasts that yer so used ter."

Alice slid him a bowl of chopped carrots and began to work on turnips. "Will it take long to repair the... rudder chain?"

"Nah," Red shrugged, taking the next bowl she handed him. "They're fairly easy to fix. It'll jus' delay us a few hours."

She gulped, her heart racing. Delaying them. Two words she knew that no one on the ship would enjoy; enough time for it to be noticed that she was missing. She began on the celery when the door to the galley opened and Groves came down swiftly. Both of the cooks turned and gave him a nod.

"Prepare a meal with fresh meat, nothing too simple."

"Aye? And what would be the cause o' tha'?" Red wiped is hand into a rag, looking annoyed. "I already got a pot o' soup goin'."

"Feed the soup to the crew, see if I care. The meat is for the Governor."

"The Governer?" Alice frowned, turning back to Red in despair. "Governor Swann is on the ship?"

"He's decided to embrace danger and join us. He wants to find his daughter."

"Thas bold o' him. He'll be dinin' with the Commodore then?"

Groves nodded, turning to Alice. "You, Leaf. You'll personally serve the Governor and the Commodore, each meal." He eyed them both. "Back to work." Without another word, Groves strode from the room.

The second the door was shut, Red let out a groan. Alice turned to look at him. "Oh hell, Miss. Yer in it big now."

~0~

Red had been right. The rudder chain was a quick repair, and the ship was sailing within a few hours. The farther they sailed from Port Royal, the more Alice wished she had better thought out her plan.

Night fell quickly on the waters, the stars and moon being the only light besides the candles and lanterns on the ship. The waters below were black as pitch, and quiet. Besides the ship cutting through the night, nothing moved over the expanse. The night was quiet.

Alice knocked on the door to the Captain's quarters nervously. Her heart was pounding in her chest. What if he recognizes me? Red's advice played in her head. They dine by candlelight. Stick to the shadows and keep yer head down.

"Come in."

Alice pushed the door double doors open, making her way in with the silver tray. The Captain's quarters were pleasantly spacious and decorated. The entire rear of the room was a window, in which the dark starry sky could be seen. Candlelight lit the entirety of the area; the Governor and Norrington both seated at a rather large table in the centre.

"About time," Norrington snapped. "Hurry on, boy. We don't have all night."

Alice bowed, keeping her head down as she scurried around the table, placing the meals in front of the gentlemen, pouring their wine, and lighting another set of candles. She put their leftovers on the side some they could serve themselves more and then bowed to exit.

"Leaf, remind yourself to be here presently for lessons once the crew is asleep."

She bowed again. "Yes, sir."

Governor Swann chuckled. "What a light voice. A boy still? You sound like you could be in the choir. Training tonight, are you? Learning to fight? Shouldn't any man on a ship be already trained? Or, are you merely a hand?"

Alice kept her head down, embarrassed and afraid; she had thought she had deepened her voice enough. "Please, my lord. I'm nearly twenty."

"Let's see this face then. No sense hiding it. We're lords, not monsters." The Governor demanded.

Alice lifted her head carefully, still keeping to the shadows. The Governor levelled with her, whereas the Commodore sipped his wine without even a glance in her direction.

Something shone in the Governor's eyes. "What's your name, boy?"

"Henry Leaf," Norrington answered for her, his voice bored. "He was hired to help in the kitchens."

The Governor peered at her a bit longer. Alice was sure he recognized her. Then, he simply shrugged. "Well, hopefully, he can cook. You're dismissed."

Alice left, not realizing she had been holding her breath the entire time she had been inside of the room.

"Oi, you there, deckhand." Alice looked up to see a man descending from the crow's nest. "Dinners below, we don't dine with 'em fancy folk." He led the way. "You knew?"

She nodded slowly. "I'm Red's nephew. Henry Leaf is the name. I'm here to help him with the cooking and cleaning... he's getting to old to handle it all himself."

The sailor shook her hand. "The name's Smith. George Smith. I've been sailing with the Commodore for about four years now, watching him rise up the social ladder, higher and higher still."

They went down to the mess deck, which was just outside of the galley, where the sailors were in full swing. Singing, drinking, and food. The room smelt of body odour and cheap ale. She noted Red, who scooted over on his bench to make room for her, a steaming hot plate of food, heaped and ready. Alice hadn't realized how hungry she was until she saw her plate. She immediately began to dig-in, stuffing herself faster than she knew she could. Red had been right - the food was nowhere near as good as what she was used to, but it hit the spot no doubt. Red seemed to be talented in cooking up whatever means he had.

" 'ere boy, have yerself a swig!" A sailor closeby shoved a mug into her hand, foam seeping down the edges.

Alice looked inside of the mug, eyeing the dark liquid. She took a sniff and cringed, holding it away from her face. "What is it?"

"Rum, beer, mead," Red shrugged, clanking his glass against hers. "Who knows. But it's bloody good stuff."

She took a timid sip, cringing as she did so. Actually. "It's not that bad!"

"Eh!" The room cheered for her, everything thrusting their mugs into the air before gulping down the contents. Alice joined them, someone refilling the cup almost the second it was empty.

"Be careful now miss," Red whispered to her. "You still have yer lessons with the Commodore."

Alice waved him off, diving into her second mug of ale. A yo-ho-ho a sailors life for me.

~0~

Alice staggered up to the doors of the Commodore's quarters. It was pitch black on the waters, and the ship was quiet; the crew had gone to bed, finally giving up their night of festivities.

"Come in," the voice replied after she gave a quick knock.

Alice entered the dimly lit room. Norrington had his back to her, his eyes peering out the windows at the back of the room. "The crew is asleep?"

"Yesssir," she slumped against the wall, eyeing him. "Sssomething on your mind, Commodore?"

Norrington turned to look at her. "No." He went over to a cupboard opening it to reveal several weapons. He took two swords down and handed her one. "Before I teach you how to fight, you must first learn the parts of a sword, and how to handle one well."

He stood back, holding his up. "Do so."

Alice's eyes were slits, as she held up the sword the weight became off balanced and it clattered the floor. She stooped quickly to pick it up. "Ssso ssssorry, Commodore." When she straightened, she saw that Norrington was glowering at her. "What?"

"Are you drunk?"

She suddenly felt very sick. "No?"

Norrington lowered his head in disgust. "Did you come to learn how to handle weapons while drunk?"

"No sssir. I just had a few meads."

Norrington sighed in disappointment. "Tonight, will obviously not be the night that you learn. Go drink some water and get some rest, we'll resume tomorrow."

"I can try sir," she held up the sword.

Norrington strode over to her quickly, snatching the sword from her in disgust. "Go. Leave my presence at once. Do not make me ask again."

Alice handed him back the sword and turned to leave obediently.

Maybe the sailor's life was not suited for her.

~0~

Alice lay on the slowly swaying hammock in the sleeping chambers of the boat... she could not believe that she had blown her first training session with Norrington... so stupid, she chided herself, you'll never make this journey if you keep doing these things.

She thought back to her family, knowing full well the panic that they were in; losing a son, daughter-in-law and then their daughter disappearing into thin air... she hoped that they were intuned enough to suspect where she had gone... a knot grew in her throat and stomach. What if she never went home? What if she didn't survive this journey? She choked on her tears and turned over, hoping that maybe the next day would do her some good. A sailor somewhere in the room passed gas and Alice groaned. This was already turning out so well.