The Prince and His Maid

10: Luke the monkey

*Isolde*

I look around in the cabin, it is spacious for a ships cabin with a table, several big chests and two big bookcases on either side of an opening, inside the opening is a bed. In a corner stands a big wooden tub to bathe in. I had no idea pirates was into being clean.

It is not what I am used to of course, but it will do, especially since it is going to take me to more freedom and to my husband.

Soon I hear a lot of sounds and then distant voices from outside. I decide to walk out on the deck to watch the crew get the ship ready. I notice that quite a lot of them looks at me kind of strangely, but I ignore it, holding my head high like a true princess, not wanting this rugged bunch to scare me.

"Your Highness, you better come with me up here". I turn to see a man, he is a bit older than most of the men and I first assume he is the captain, he is clad in brown leather pants and a white shirt with a colourful scarf tied around his waist. He has bright blue-green eyes with and blond slightly graying hair. "I am Ben, the first mate, by the way".

I follow him up the steps to were the ships wheel is, looking down on the men working from there. "So Ben, do I need to be scared of the crew ? I mean since you wanted me away from them".

"Not as long as you do as myself or the captain tells you". He says, sending me a friendly smile. "But a lot of those men are rough and.. less than gentleman. And a lot of them still believe that it is bad luck having a woman aboard".

"And where is the captain ?" I still haven't seen anyone that looks like a captain aboard the ship. I am expecting some weathered older man, possible with an eye patch or a wooden leg, that is how they usually look in paintings.

Ben call out some commands to the crew before turning to me again. "The captain will be out soon as we are about to leave port, he is just plodding in our course on the map".

I stand for a while, watching the men working in unison, as a well oiled machine. Breathing in the salty sea air and wondering where this trip might take me, how will my new country and life be ?

Then I hear the heavy footfall of booths behind me and I turn to see the captain approach, but no it's not the captain, it can’t be, it's the cabin boy who carried my trunk to the cabin earlier. Only now he is wearing a long leather coat over his white shirt. On his head is a black wide brimmed hat, the brim folded up on one side and adorned with a big black silver tipped feather. Ben straighten up. "The captain, Finn Fitzherbert, also known as 'Finn silver tongue'".

"Why didn't you tell me you are the captain". I say glaring at him, feeling mortified. "I wouldn't have treated you like that if I knew who you where".

"Well maybe you shouldn't treat anyone like that, no matter if they are a captain or a cabin boy". He says smirking at me. "I see you have met my first mate, 'Three legs Ben'".

I don't know much about pirates, but apparently they like nicknames. I get the captains, assuming he got a way with words. But I don't really get Ben's. "Three legs ? But you only have two legs ?"

"Oh no princess, don't ask him to show you the third leg". The captain say grinning and Ben grabs his crotch making an obscene motion with his hips, making me flush beet red in my face. "Ben behave she is a princess and a lady, not a bar wench".

When Ben has left the captain looks at me. "My apologies your Highness. My men isn't to used to women being around, especially not of your class".

A small black and white monkey come running and I almost scream out, seeing it crawl up the captains leg, as he is calling out a lot of captain like things to his men. It sits on his shoulder, it's tail around his neck as it eyes me wearily.

As he grabs the wheel, I ask hesitantly. "You have a monkey ? You have a real monkey as a pet ?" I have never seen a living monkey before.

"More like an assistant. Your Highness this is Luke the monkey. Luke this is her Highness princess Isolde, can you say hi ?"

The monkey holds out its small hand towards me and when I hold out my finger to it, the monkey takes my finger, kisses it and sends me what looks like a smile, making me laugh. "Well hello there Luke". I look at the captain. "He is very polite".

"Of course, I raised him to be a gentleman". He smiles at me, he actually has a very nice smile. He grabs my hand, kissing it softly. "Captain Finn, at your service your Highness".

"Thank you captain". I say, smiling back at him. Actually he don't look like a pirate captain or not what I expected. He has piercing light blue eyes, a strong jaw and sharp cheekbones, his hair is a sandy ginger colour and swept back, showing tendencies to curl.

"So princess, just a months time and you will be safely delivered to your prince and future husband". He says and I nod looking over the vast ocean, hoping our journey will be a safe one.