The Prince and His Maid

11: Sleep with the captain or bunk with the crew

*Isolde*

When we are out on the open sea and darkness is descending around us. Ben shows up again at the helm, taking over the wheel from Finn. He turns to me. "Your Highness, may I invite you to dinner ?"

"Well thank you captain, you certainly may". I say with a smile. He holds up his hand, for me to place mine on top of it. For a pirate he surely knows about manners.

He lead me down to the cabin were the table has been decked with a delicious dinner, and he pulls out the chair for me. "Unfortunately we can't eat like royalty for the whole journey as the food would spoil, so enjoy while it lasts".

I watch him sit down on the other chair, he has an air to him, a way he carries himself. He doesn't seem like he comes from a poor background, to be honest he has the mannerisms of someone royal.

"Listen princess, it is important that you either stay here in the cabin or close to either myself or Ben. My men accepts you being here on my command, but I honestly don't trust all of them alone with you". He says softly.

I have no desire to be alone with those dirty rugged men, but I am unsure what he means. "But you are their captain, shouldn't they follow you commands even if you aren't there ? I mean what would they do ?"

"Oh believe me your Highness, you don't want to know what men like them will do after 3 weeks out to sea if they find themself alone with a pretty las like you". He say with a sly smirk. "They mostly will, but they are pirates and well men, and men gets lonely when away from shore for weeks on end".

"Oh". I blush violently, and honestly feels scared beyond belief, the mere idea of those men touching me in any way makes me sick. "I think I just lock myself up in here".

He chuckles. "I didn't mean to scare you, just make sure you are cautious. Myself and Ben will do anything to protect you".

I nod and we continue eating in silence for some time, then he look up at me, nodding towards my trunk. "So a princess who reads ?"

"So a pirate who reads ?" I say nodding towards the floor to ceiling bookshelves, I am quite sure that this is his cabin and it's his books.

He grins. "Touche, that might be as much of a curiosity". He makes a motion towards the books. "What can I say, I like reading, I like broadening my horizon".

I walk over to look at his books as someone come to clean of the table. "That is unusual for a pirate, you are unusual for a pirate or at least I think it is".

"Well, you might be right". The monkey Luke, comes running in, climbing to sit on his shoulder and he hands it a piece of fruit. "You are not the first one to tell me that".

"So what is your story ? If I can ask, you don't look much like a pirate, I mean you do, but..". I don't really know how to phrase it.

"I do but I don't ?" He says, and I can hear the mirth in his voice, suddenly I can feel his warm breath on my neck as he steps up behind me. "So much to handsome to be a pirate ehh ?"

I find myself blushing again, why is he so annoying ? "I was just thinking you know.. you bone structure and colours and such".

"Of course you did darling". He says chuckling as he walks over to look out the big window. "Well my mother was a concubine in a high end brothel, my father.. well lets just say he is of a noble family, a very noble family".

I look at him, there seems to be some pain hidden there. "So did you mother bring you up alone ? Was she the one who taught you to read, how to behave".

"All she wanted for me was to become something more, something better". He says, folding his hands on his back. "She told me it was in my blood, even though my father never accepted me".

I don't really know what to say. My parents haven't really been loving and nurturing, but at least they never rejected me. "I am sorry, I can't even imagine. But at least it seems like your mother did a great job, even if you.. well you know, are a pirate".

"Well thank you, my mother was the greatest". He says laughing, I like his laugh, it is free and joyful and it makes him seem younger.

I think it is time to change the subject. "So this is your cabin I take it ?" When he nods I continue. "And I am staying in it. Sleeping in your bed".

"Yup. It is the only real cabin on the ship. Ben has a small room, but the diplomat has locked himself up in that and Ben bunks with the crew. Actually he is not really happy about that". He says.

I look around, something just occurred to me. "So if I am sleeping in your cabin and your bed, where are you sleeping ?"

He looks at me with one eyebrow raised and nods toward the big bed, a smug grin playing on his lips. "Well this is my quarters after all".

"What ? But that is not..". I really struggle to find the right words her, feeling rather shocked. "It's not a proper thing to do".

His smile turn sly and he winks at me. "I'm a pirate darling, I don't have to be proper. My room and my bed, so I am staying".

"Then I am sleeping somewhere else, anywhere else". I am halfway in a panic, I am a princess, I can't share a bed with a man I am not married to, especially not a pirate, no matter how handsome he might be.

He shrugs. "It is all up to you. But there are no other beds aboard. You are welcome to bunk down with the crew. I am sure they would love that darling".

"Nooo". I almost squeal out the word. The idea making me faint. "I.. I guess I have no choice but to stay here".

"Darling, relax". He smiles at me, this time a friendly smile. "I am not going to touch you and I am not going to r**e you. The king would have my head on a stake if I did.. And I do not believe in forcing women".

"I didn't think.. I..". I don't really know what to say, I mean I don't really know why it scares me. Do I think he would force himself upon me ? No, I actually don't. Maybe I am mostly scared what others will think of me.

I can't really read the expression running over his face. "Well, pirate.. so I guess that is what we are supposed to do. I get why you feel that way".

Some part of me want to tell him that it wasn't what I meant, but I don't know where to start. "I'll be at the helm for a while. Just go to bed. Lock the door after me okay ?"

"But how will you get back in ? I am not sure I will hear you if I sleep". I tell him. Not that I want to share bed with him, but I would feel bad about him staying outside all night.

He just smile at me. "Don't worry darling, I have my ways of coming in here even when the door is locked. Sleep well princess".