Hermione Elizabeth Charlotte
If Hermione had been drowning, she probably would have let the water take her. The sun was setting, everything was growing colder. The sound of the water lapping against the sides of the ship and the way it rocked gently back and forth, side to side; the princess could have fallen into a dreamless sleep right there, if she so wished it. The sun was just above the horizon. Right now her sickly sister, her mother and father, were eating their dinner. They were enjoying something well dressed, cooked by adept fingers and seasoned with great care. Hermione could smell dinners from the past, see that across the table her sister was only sipping at broth, her cheeks sunken in along with her beautiful and round eyes falling into black holes. She was so sick. So fragile. It had even begun to affect her will.
âMan HO!â Green eyes, filled with a past she still wasnât sure she could leave behind, looked up past Tok to see men grabbing ropes to bring something aboard the ship. Hermione stayed in her place, knowing when she was of use and when she was a plague. The man brought aboard was disheveled, worn, and had nearly drowned, for sure. At the same moment he was brought on board, Raziah, the wounded woman Tok had brought down to Tiesaâs chambers, was already up and threatening the man behind the helm.
Siegfried? A name she knew, but couldnât place. It was much too familiar. One she heard on many occasions withâŠ
Raziah roared at the crew and began to verbally assault the shipless man. He retorted, his voice coarse and unused. It all happened rather quickly. Hermione followed the conversation well enough, though her mind kept pulling her toward the man named Siegfried, who had moved a bit closer to her. He kept a safe enough distance from the helm that he could still man it while Raziah was otherwise occupied. It was happening quickly and so the escalation was swift and dangerous. Hermione let out something between a gasp and whimper and her thin hands covered her mouth as the blade started to fall toward the stranger. And he simply stood there! The princess moved a booted foot, but Tok was already on top of things and bumped Raziah away in some comical kind of movement. He took the man up in an embrace and spoke loudly and fondly of him. Derek James, the man whoâd just stood there while Raziah threatened his life.
Hermioneâs heart was in her throat, beating madly and one of her hands moved from her mouth to her forehead. These pirates were ruthless and Hermione found herself frightened all over again. Her fingers were shaking and she suddenly felt like she needed to sit down.
âBetcha never thought pirating was a spectator sport, did you, Miss 'Mione?" Siegfried was speaking to her and she let her green eyes fall on his darker ones. Those eyes, that mouth⊠something was much to familiar about him. He shared characteristics intimate to her. Something inside her stirred fear and recognition. Hermione, so lost in trying to figure out who he was, missed his jest about asking Raziah about France. It didnât seem to matter as much as figuring out why Siegfried was so familiarâŠ
It hit her like some kind of brick falling off the palace. Her head swam for a moment and too many thoughts came rushing at once. Sure, her parents had sent out armies and navies to find her; certainly they were still scouring the lands and oceans for her. But one person, one man, would do it on his own. She knew he was⊠passionate enough to do so. Thatâs why Siegfried was so familiar. The sudden realization that Nathaniel was coming to find her, coupled with the shocking truth behind his brotherâs disappearance was only a bit too much for Hermione to handle and she found herself tripping over boots that werenât moving. The fall was less than graceful, but did nothing to disturb the current goings-on. Her bum hit a crate covered in rope and hurt, but she didnât really care. The princess couldnât take her wide, green eyes off his face.
A harsh whisper left her lips, directly to Siegfried. âYour brother will follow meâŠâ There, right there. That was where the fear had entered in with the recognition. Nathaniel frightened her. He was a prison guard in her future and she was scared.