True Love of The Seven Seas Chapter 27

Every person present was all smiles and the volume of the people's unified cheers and clapping were so loud they possibly could be heard for miles.

Chryseis and Marina stood side by side together smiling with happiness and pride for Sinbad's triumphant accomplishment.

King Dymas slowly walked over to Sinbad raising his hand for silence, the representatives from the rest of the Twelve Cities following a few steps behind. The people obediently halted their cheers waiting to see what King Dymas would do next. Sinbad and Proteus met the man halfway in between.

"King Dymas," said Sinbad, bowing his head respectfully to the monarch.

King Dymas copied the gesture and reached out his arms to accept the Book of Peace.

"Uh, whoa, hey," said Sinbad, keeping the Book just out of reach from his fingers. "How much you got on you?"

Chuckling at Sinbad's audacity, King Dymas said "I offer you the gratitude of the Twelve Cities, and the apology of a king."

"No, really. How much," pressed Sinbad.

"Sinbad," sighed King Dymas, smiling in amusement.

This time Sinbad handed the Book of Peace to King Dymas without a hitch, applause rang out for the second time.

Giving Sinbad a congratulatory clap on the shoulder, Proteus said "Come on. This is going to be a heck of a party. Everyone is going to want to hear about the voyage."

"Fair winds, calm sees," drawled Sinbad, shrugging. "Not much to tell."

"What's the matter," jested Proteus. "No fun if you're actually invited?"

Before he answered Sinbad cast a melancholy glance at Marina seeing her staring at him with a woebegone expression. What was passed with them was left unsaid, but for Sinbad it was everything.

"No, it's just, uh…," said Sinbad, absentmindedly, trying to find the right words to explain what was going through his mind, "there's a hammock in Fiji with my name on it.

Grasping hands with Sinbad, nodding, Proteus said "Good sailing, Sinbad."

Sinbad turned to leave, but he wouldn't go without one last word to Proteus.

"Get a hair cut," chided Sinbad, well naturedly, making Proteus roll his eyes. "You're going to be king someday."

Sinbad headed off the pavilion to head back to the ship with his crew falling into step. Most of them appeared quite crestfallen saying their farewells to Marina. Now Kale…Kale was stuck on Chryseis.

Kale and Chryseis shared a very private moment. Not knowing how to say farewell in words Kale did so by kissing Chryseis's hand and softly caressing her cheek with the back of his knuckles. With tears dripping from her devastated eyes Chryseis kept opening her mouth to speak, but nothing ever did. But that was okay, Kale already knew what she wanted to convey since he was facing the same exact dilemma inside his own heart. Shoving aside any sort of second thoughts he may have Kale backed away leaving with the rest of the crew. Not looking back, not once. If he did so then Kale would be lost.

Utterly destroyed a broken-hearted Chryseis fled from the scene racing for the safety of her chambers completely unaware that her brother had witnessed the entire exchange with a contemplative from on his face.

Proteus had been correct in his assumptions. It was a hell of a party. One that lasted all through the night and well into the next morning. The jubilation the kingdom was feeling was infectious, but there were some who were immune to its effects.

Chryseis is one such person.

The whole time Chryseis had barricaded the doors to her rooms isolating herself in them. She always loved a good party, but her shattered heart prevented her from participating in the festivities leaving her miserable and depressed. Chryseis had cried herself to sleep and when the first rays of the morning sun shone from the sky Chryseis went onto the balcony and stayed there looking at the docks. The screeching of seagulls flying overhead being the only source of company she had.

The Chimera was still in the harbor. She suspected Sinbad stayed this long in order to take advantage of the tides. He and his men would probably leave that very night. Even from the vantage point Chryseis had high above she could see the small forms of people moving back and forth in the vessel making preparations for the departure and receiving brand new supplies restoring the ones they'd either lost or consumed.

A couple of instances Chryseis distinctly made out Kale going up and below deck. Seeing him tore at her, but Chryseis found that she couldn't look away. This may be the last time she ever lays eyes on him.

Sorrowfully a crestfallen Chryseis began to sing her heartbreak believing it to be the only thing to ease the suffering of the soul.

.

Do not ask me for a smile

Life is short but love is long

Let me not your heart beguile

Pray content you with a song

Do not ask me for a kiss

Life is short but love is long

You may never know that bliss

So I offer you this song

Do not ask me for my heart

Life is short but love is long

Knowing we are soon to part

Consolation be my song

.

Upon the final note the sound of a gentle applause made Chryseis spin around. She'd been in such a trance that Chryseis hadn't noticed the visitor that had made his way into her rooms.

Proteus was leaning against the open doorframe a compassionate and sympathetic expression on his face.

"Proteus," said Chryseis, shakily.

Proteus shut the doors walking over to his obviously upset sister. He took Chryseis into his arms hugging her close and this heartfelt act brought the grief she was feeling out full force. She clutched tightly at her elder brother sobbing her heart out as he simply stood there taking it all in. Finally when Chryseis seemed to have calmed down enough Proteus placed his hands on both of her shoulders taking some steps back.

"You know, I went sailing on multiple expeditions with woman. Each time she would look over the ocean and she wished she could sail beyond the horizon," broached Proteus, somewhat offhandedly. "She saw…such wonder."

"And what happened to this woman," inquired Chryseis, knowing full well it was her he was referring to but decided to humor him in the subject in order to see what he was all about.

"She got her chance to go again on another real adventure," answered Proteus, smiling. "She sailed the seven seas…and she fell in love."

Chryseis snapped her head upwards in her brother's direction at the declaration her eyes wide. She didn't realize he'd seen her and Kale together. She thought no one was paying any attention towards them.

Chryseis said "Proteus, I-"

"Chryseis," interceded Proteus, firmly, "follow your heart. Mine is here in Syracuse. Yours…yours is sailing with the next tide."

"But, what about Father," asked Chryseis.

"I'll handle, Father," reassured Proteus. "This is your life, Sister. Live it the way you choose, not in the manner others do. Now what is your decision?"

Hours passed and the sun was setting once more on the land. With it came the tide that allowed the Chimera to leave the Syracuse harbor. The ship was ready to go, all that was needed now was a command from the Captain.

Sinbad stood at the rear of the ship staring longingly at Syracuse. He'd stood that way for a while.

Kale climbed up onto the helm with him, saying "Captain?"

"Hmm," said Sinbad.

"We're ready to sail," announced Kale.

"All right, Kale," sighed Sinbad. "Take us out."

"Aye, aye, Captain. Cast off," shouted Kale, taking up his position at the wheel.

The ship them started to move off with the waves and the crew doing their jobs. Sinbad then traveled down to the front of the ship hanging off of the shrouds.

Suddenly a bundle of rope fell from above straight onto his head.

"Rat," shouted Sinbad, incredulously, flinging the rope off of him.

"What," said Rat, lying innocently on a line hanging from the mast.

The crew laughed all bearing conniving smiles showing Sinbad they knew a secret that he hadn't been partial to. He was about to discover what.

From her hiding spot in the crow's nest, Marina called "Excuse me, Captain. You need to replace these rig joints pretty soon. The mizzen ropes need the support."

Sinbad looked at Marina in stunned disbelief shell-shocked to see her there with him.

Grinning, Sinbad said "These joints were from the Jasmine Sea. That's halfway around the world."

"Then we'd better get started," countered Marina.

Sinbad cut the line he was holding onto and the lack of pressure on the rope made it snap up bringing him right to Marina. Sinbad sheathed his blade and circled her.

Sinbad said "Well, you know, that means going through the Hydra's lair."

"Mm-hmm," said Marina.

"The Minotaur's haven," said Sinbad.

"Mm-hmm," said Marina.

"The Cyclops' den," said Sinbad.

"Mm-hmm," said Marina.

"Under the Swansea Bride," listed Sinbad.

"Mm-hmm," hummed Marina, facing him.

"Through the China Seas. That's a very long voyage. And it's very, very dangerous," said Sinbad, leaning in close to her.

"Don't worry," said Marina in a soft voice, sarcastically. "I'll protect you."

Rolling his eyes Sinbad drew Marina to him kissing her deeply.

Down below as Sinbad and Marina were happily reunited another stowaway was making her appearance.

The door to the cargo hold opened and out stepped Chryseis. After her conversation with Proteus had rushed down to the docks meeting Marina along the way. They each explained what was happening and snuck their way onto the ship. While Marina revealed herself to the crew to surprise Sinbad, Chryseis opted to hide under the deck until the right moment to emerge. This is it.

When the crew saw her there they all froze. Chryseis paid the majority of them no attention. She only had eyes for one.

Kale quickly got over his shock in the silence. He had Jed take the helm while he made his way onto the main deck. Their locked eyes didn't get distracted once and soon Kale reached her with an unreadable expression on his face, but the one in his eyes was literally screaming at her.

"Now look," said Chryseis, laughing gently. "A lot of times in relationships people don't say what they feel 'cause they're afraid of being hurt or let down. But I want to take this chance with you. Even though leaving my home and family scares me, I love you. I want to be with you."

Chuckling lightly, cupping her face in his hands, Kale said "That's all you had to say."

Kale's lips met Chryseis's and they kissed. Kale wrapped his warm and strong arms around Chryseis, lifting her from the deck. She in turn wrapped her arms around his neck completely relaxing in his, the two molding together perfectly. Surrounding them the crew hooted and hollered around the pair, but both ignored them.

Right now nothing else mattered except for the other.

Chryseis was partially wrong before. Yes, Syracuse was the place of her birth, but it wasn't really her home. Kale and wherever he went was her home as long as she was with him.

And right now they had their entire lives to spend together in love as one heart.

What an adventure this will be.

Authors Note:

Ha! Bet you guys thought I was going to leave her in Syracuse crying and heartbroken! No way in hell I was going to leave her there! Gotcha! ;D

The song you see Chryseis sing here is called Love Is Long from the Poldark series.

So this is it…we've reached the end. I…I don't know what to day. I came up with this story close to three years ago and now it's come full circle.

Thank you all for your dedication and years of support. It is appreciated more than you'll ever know. But don't be disheartened. I have many more stories of mine for you all to look at and who knows you may like some just as much as you have this one.

Also, if you guys have any sudden story ideas requests you guys think would be a good choice for me to do I will consider them.

So…scale from one to ten, how was it? I know, I know, it was terrible. ;)