The Prince and His Maid

9: Boarding the ship

*Finn*

I breathe in deeply, the warm breeze smells like salt, fish and the exotic spices getting unloaded by the ship next to mine. I am watching the people bustling about, there is nowhere you find a more diverse crowd than on the docks.. here are soldiers and sailors, poor people begging and rich ones overseeing their businesses, loose women offering theirs and all kind of people in between.

Standing at the railing I spot a royal carriage make its way down the hill and park close to the docks. The driver and the page jumps down.. The driver goes to unload a big trunk, while the page opens the door.

The diplomat gets out first, looking carefully were he puts his fancy shoes, like he is scared to step in something nasty. Then he extend his hand to someone inside the carriage.

I see a slim hand first and then the most beautiful creature I ever laid my eyes upon slowly emerge. She is wearing a rather simple, for her status, emerald green dress with golden trimmings, very suitable for travelling. Her hair is a waterfall of dark honey coloured curls, her face would make the angels in heaven cry with envy and so would her body. Oh Arion is definitely a lucky man.

She stands there, looking around like she is expecting a welcome committed or something, Well tough luck princess, I guess things are going to be a lot different than you are used too.

But at least she don't look at the people and the things around her with the mild disgust the diplomat is, it’s more of an innocent curiosity the shines on her face, as she takes in the ships, people and docks.

The driver and page bend down, grabbing a handle of the trunk each. The way they are staggering up the wide plank leading aboard tells me that it is rather heavy. So does the bump when they slam it down on my deck.

They give me a quick nod, before getting back on the docks. Here they bow to the diplomat and the princess, wishing them safe travels, before the climb back on the carriage and drive off.

Right now I am all alone on the ship. I have given the crew the day off. They needed a little freedom and to let off some steam before another long month at sea.

The snooty diplomat walks aboard, giving me a curt nod, before disappearing down to his cabin. He has my first mate Ben’s small cabin for the journey, leaving Ben to bank with the men. The diplomat spend almost all his time sailing here in the cabin, apparently we are not fitting company.

First the princess looks a little lost, she has probably never been on a ship before, and I am about to go down and offer her a hand, when she resolutely Holst up in her dress and slowly walk up the plank.

“Welcome aboard your highness”. I do a very courteous bow, sending her a flashing smile. I might as well make the lady feel welcome.

She looks a bit scare for a second, then she straightens her back with the air of royalty. Her Storm grey eyes boring into me. “Thank you.. now don’t just stand there.. get my trunk to my quarters”.

“Aye aye my queen”. I hold back a chuckle. Okay, so she has no way of knowing that I am actually the captain, as I am just wearing pants and a lose shirt, all that long jacket and big hat is only for special occasions and way too hot to wear here. So I let it slide, thinking that her reaction later when she realise is going to be priceless.

“And be careful with it, I have some fragile things in there”. Her request is delivered with a clear concern for something in there.

I nod, then I hoist the trunk up on my shoulder, unable to keep in a groan. I am wondering what the f**k she has brought with her, as it weighs a ton. “Seriously did you pull down the castle brick by brick and pack it in this trunk ?”

“No.. why would I do that ?” She is following me inside the ship, towards my own cabin. “I just bought my most beloved books”.

“Oh.. you read ?” I can’t help being a bit surprised. A princess who not only read, but calls her books beloved.. very interesting.

She huffs. “Yeah I read.. I am well educated. Nothing wrong with women reading”.

“Nothing at all”. I push open the door and sit the trunk down in the middle of the room, stretching my sore back.

Looking around she get that innocent curious look on her face again, like everything she sees is a new adventure to her. “Well, it’s a bit on the small side, but I guess that is to be expected on a ship. But it is clean, so this will do nicely, Thank you”.

I bow deeply to hide my grin, backing out the room. Oh my, the princess is in for a rather big surprise later on, well several actually. But for now I will leave her alone to get acquainted with the cabin and unpack if she wish.