The storm had swept in suddenly from the south like a raging demon bent on destruction. Loud cursing could be heard from the sailors as they rushed to secure the sails so they would not be ripped to pieces. The captain shouted out encouragement to the crew as wave after wave crashed with a vengeance against the side of the ship. It was a losing battle and he knew it. Already the ship was listing badly and the rocks that loomed in the night were too close. They had been sailing up the coast when the storm hit and had immediately changed course to try and shelter in a cove that the crow’s nest had spotted. The inlet was narrow, difficult enough to navigate in the best of circumstances, but they’d had no choice. Heavy as they were with cargo and passengers there was no chance on the open ocean.
Below decks a lovely woman cradled her daughter in her arms. The child seemed frightened but made no sound except for an occasional whimper when the thunder rumbled loud enough to shake the timbers of the ship. The woman’s voice was soft when she spoke, "It’s all right little one. Theus will protect us." The child looked up at her, fear evident in her eyes. The woman hesitated a moment then removed a pendant from around her throat and deftly put it on her daughter. "While you wear this, you will be safe." The child reached up with tiny slender fingers and clutched the hourglass pendant for a moment before snuggling once again against her mother.
On deck the crew desperately tried to turn to avoid the rocks, but the angry ocean had other ideas. The ship was lifted high on the waves and for a moment all was still. The captain gazed helplessly at the men he had worked with for so long. "Theus help us all," he whispered, just as the ship was mercilessly dashed against the coast.
Hours later, the Daydream, notorious pirate vessel, sails into sight of the recent shipwreck. Her captain is a striking man, although he could never be considered handsome and goes by the name of Tobias. Seeing the flotsam in the water, and being ever a man of opportunity, he calls to his first mate, "Put into that cove and we’ll see what’s washed up on the beach. That’s a merchant vessel that’s wrecked and we need to make some repairs in any case. If you find any survivors, bring them to me." A nod and an "Aye, Captain," and the man was off. He was a good man, that Garcia. Well suited to be a captain himself. Once again thoughts of retirement surfaced in Tobias' mind. He’d made quite a stash over the years, enough to buy a family name and land, perhaps take a wife. Theus had treated him well.
He glanced at the now calm sea and smiled wryly. Theus would guide him as always. He turned abruptly and went below decks to his cabin, thoughts of retirement rapidly receding as he unrolled various charts and began to decide what course to take once the repairs were finished.
Garcia directed the ship into the cove and then went ashore with five men, to see what might be gleaned from the wreckage. The large blond Vendel that the Captain referred to merely as ‘Fritz’ waved to get his attention from down the beach. Garcia raised an eyebrow and Fritz grinned merrily. "I imagine you should come see what I’ve found," he called. Garcia strode over, figuring he would find some odd trinket that had caught the Vendel’s eye. As he stopped at Fritz’s side he started to speak, but frowned instead.
A small child crouched on the sand. She looked exhausted and frightened, her dark brown hair a mass of tangles coated with sand. She had a welt on her arm, probably struck by some of the debris from the wreck. Even with her clothing ripped to rags, her beauty was evident. Her large brown eyes were red as if she’d been crying and her small fingers clutched a pendant that dangled from a delicate chain. It didn’t look valuable, but it did look quite old. Garcia stepped closer and the child drew back, looking as if she might bolt any moment. Fritz put out a hand to stop him, then knelt down in the sand.
In a voice that seemed far too gentle to come from such a large man, he said, "Well, what do we have here? You look hungry, little one." The child watched him fearfully as he slowly reached inside his vest and drew out some salt beef. He took a bite and chewed noisily before extending it toward the child. "Would you like some?" She hesitated a moment and then snatched the offered food, cramming it into her mouth. He smiled and stepped away, keeping his eyes on her. "Come on then. Can’t stay here." She looked from the pendant to the large blond man, almost as if she were considering, then slowly got to her feet. He nodded approvingly and took another step. She bit her lip and hesitantly stepped forward. "That’s right. This way." Garcia watched in amazement as Fritz slowly walked back toward the boat, the little girl trailing behind him. He shook his head. The Vendel really was quite amazing. He sighed and followed the two of them back. The Captain was not one to trade children on the black market, no matter how much he stood to make, but finding her relatives would be nearly impossible.
He and Fritz rowed back to the ship and the little girl allowed Fritz to lift her onto the deck. With a slight shake of his head to the curious sailors, Garcia went below decks to find the Captain. Tobias frowned slightly upon hearing the news. "A child?" Garcia nodded. The Captain set his quill aside and stood. "Let’s have a look." As he stepped onto the deck, the sun finally broke free of the clouds and shone brightly down upon the little girl seated there. She turned at his approach and her eyes widened. In an instant she was on her feet and hurtling toward him. When she reached him, she threw herself against his legs clinging tightly.
The crew watched silently, almost as if they were holding their breath, waiting for his reaction. As the Captain looked down on the tiny angelic creature clinging to his leg, he remembered his earlier thoughts. Most men wanted strong strapping sons to carry on their name, but his own innermost desire had always been to have a lovely daughter that all men would covet. With gentle hands, he disentangled the girl and knelt upon the deck, gazing into her large brown eyes. In them he saw his own reflection and she did not resist as he pulled her into his arms and stood. She snuggled happily against his chest, her small arms twined around his neck. He was amazed at the warm feeling that seemed to wash over him. "Well, let’s clean you up and see what you look like." He glared over her head at his idle crew. "And you all get back to repairs. We get underway tomorrow with the tide." Immediately, they all began to look busy, but the moment he went back below decks, work stopped again while they talked about the little girl.
Tobias had water brought and carefully bathed the child, washing the sand from her silky dark brown hair and washing the dried salt from her skin. It took two baths and a handful of expensive soap, courtesy of the last merchant ship they had crossed paths with, to get her clean. He dried her off and dressed her in one of his own silk shirts, cutting off the part that trailed below her feet, and belting it with a scarf. She was so tiny and delicate, with perfect eyebrows and a cupid’s bow for a mouth. A small mole on her cheek added to her beauty rather than detracted, and her hair cascaded to her shoulders in thick silky waves. After her bath she had clambered up on his bunk and fell into an exhausted slumber, her tiny fist once again clutched around her pendant. Tobias smiled slightly. Only this morning he had been thinking of retiring. Retire with a ready made family? He and his daughter….he could say his wife died in giving birth. The child was young and would easily forget. Theus did indeed guide him. He stepped to the bunk and gently tucked the covers around her. "Sleep well…," he hesitated for a moment considering, "Melisandre." He leaned down and kissed her forehead. His daughter.
