Nadine - The Beginning

20. Raft

I open my eyes and it's morning. I'm in my bed. Not sure how I got here. Last thing I remember was getting in the carriage and Mary telling me to eat something. I sit up and look around. I'm in different clothes. Mary must have changed me when we got back. I don't remember any of it. But I am hungry now.

I throw a veil over my head and walk downstairs. No one is awake yet. It must be really early. I take off the veil and get some food and blood. Clay walks in a few minutes later.

He grabs himself some food. "You were really tired yesterday sister."

"I don't even remember getting back brother."

"You were sleeping so soundly. Dad made the guard carry you to your bed. I think Mary went and changed you."

I just sit there and smile. "Yesterday was so much fun brother. I wish we could live here."

"Maybe someday sister. I would rather they get the castle done first though. These houses are small and they creak so much. I feel like it's going to fall over."

"Yes they do make a lot of noises."

"Oh good children you're up. We're going back to the sea this morning. I told your father how much fun we all had and now he wants to experience it with us. Dracul and his family will be attending as well. Clay you should bring your poles again. We may be there a bit longer than last time. We will return early afternoon before this evenings feast. You may try to trade anything you catch before the feast, if you would like."

Clay starts jumping up and down. "Wow thank you mom."

She smiles at him and then looks at me. "Try not to wear yourself out to much this morning princess."

"It was so much fun momma."

"I could tell you enjoyed it."

Mary walks in looking around.

"Mary I need to get ready for the water again." I start pulling her up the stairs.

Half an hour later we are all back in the carriages going to the sea. Mary and the guard are eating and I'm just watching out the window.

"You ok little miss?"

"Yes, I'm just going to miss this. It's our last day here."

"I'm sure we'll return in time child."

"Yea but how much time?"

The thought makes me sad. I don't know when I'll see my friend again.

This time we all start the things we did the day before backwards. Tre and Clay start fishing and I start picking up shells.

I walk down the beach the picking up the pretty ones. The guard finds a big one and stands there trying to shake it out. "I think this one is empty princess."

We end up finding 8 big ones to take home. I got one for me and dad. I figure the guard and Mary will want one to remember their time here. Tre probably won't want one, since he lives so close. He can get them anytime. I'll give the final 4 to the girls and doctor at the medical clinic. I wonder if they've ever seen such a big shell.

I look around and realize we're actually quite far away. I don't see my family or Tre's anymore.

The guard seems to notice this as well. But his eye gets caught out to sea. He is staring at something in the distance. It's odd shaped and poking out of the water.

"What is that?"

"I don't know. But I don't think I like it."

We both hear a noise behind us at the same time and turn around. Two men are carrying something big to the water. "Pardon me ma'am. Didn't mean to startle you. Just going to do some fishing this morning." The men both tip their hats to gunner and walk by us to the water.

We watch as they put this big thing on the water and it stays afloat. "It doesn't sink sir?"

"No ma'am it does not. We use them to go out into the water and fish. The bigger fish are out there. Which way did you come from?"

I point down the beach. "My family is that way sir."

"Would you two like to ride on this back to your family?"

I stand frozen in place with the biggest smile. "Yes yes yes please yes."

Gunner looks at me and I run for the floating thing. I jump on it and he is right behind me. He never says I'm not allowed to go. He just comes with me. I could hug that man.

"Ok sit down ma'am. It does get a little bouncy at times. We won't go far off the coast. So that will add to the bounciness of the ride. We'll just travel that direction until we get to your family."

I nod and get on my knees. I lean forward and can see the water under me. I put my fingers in it as we start to travel. It feels amazing. I lay down on my stomach and just keep watching the water with my hands in it.

Gunner tries to stay standing but nearly flies off when they hit a big wave. So he drops to one knee as we travel on top of the water. After a few minutes, I make him touch the water. "It's moving so fast Gunner."

"No we are moving so fast princess."

When big waves come by, I can feel the spray of the seawater on me. It's so refreshing.

After a couple more minutes we can see everyone on the beach where we left them. The guards spot the floating floor and run towards it. The drivers somehow slow it down. Me and Gunner stand up. I start waving to everyone.

Clay comes out first to help me down. "Sister what is this thing?"

"It's called a raft. They stay afloat and allow us to travel away from the shore to fish." One of the fishermen says.

"Can I stand on it for a minute?"

"Sure you can. You kids are so polite. We'll take you for a little ride if you like."

Clay gets the biggest smile and jumps on it with me. "Tre come on!"

Tre joins us last. It doesn't look like he really wanted to ride on it. But I don't think he wanted to argue in front of everyone either.

We only travel a short ways down the coast then turn around and come back.

Clay talks the entire time. "You can really take this all the way out there?"

"Yes sir. They go pretty far out. And the fish are huge out there."

"Really?"

"Oh yea. Bigger than anything you can catch up here."

Clay is just in heaven talking to these two fishermen. He has always loved fishing though.

"Ok here you go kids. You all enjoy your day at the beach."

I can't stop smiling either. That was amazing. "Thank you both for everything. It was a magical ride. Almost not to be believed."

I notice we are pretty far out in the water. Not over my head or anything but it'll at least come up to my chest when I jump off. Clay and Tre both jump off and start roaming back to the shore. I hesitate and the guard jumps in. He doesn't say anything but he puts both his hands out for me to jump to him. I look at Tre and he doesn't even know I'm still on the raft.

I close my eyes and jump. He catches me and puts me in the water slow. He keeps his hand on my arm and walks with me.

"I can feel the water pulling me out. It's pulling my dress." I turn and look toward the raft. "Oh no my shells."

He steps in closer and puts his free hand on my lower back. "I have the shells princess." I can't help but smile. "And I have you. You're not going to be lost to the sea."

"Thank you Gunner."

"My pleasure Nadine."

I see my dad staring at us from the shore. He doesn't say anything though. He just watches.

As soon as I'm almost out I lay down. I lay right in the wet sand. I let the water wash over me again and again. It feels so amazing.

Tre comes over and sits by me with his fishing pole after a few minutes.

"You enjoying that princess?"

"This feels amazing Tre."

He lays down beside me. "This does feel nice." After a couple minutes he sits up fast and starts pulling the line in. "I think I got a fish."

He never gets up. He just pulls the fish in sitting there.

"That is such a weird looking fish Tre."

"Yes it is. Maybe it will trade though."

"I forgot you two are going to trade them today."

"30 Minutes children." Asa yells today.

"You want to go to the market with us when we get back?"

"I do believe I should freshen up for the feast. Having wet clothes for a feast does not sound fun."

"Yes you are right."

"If there's time after I change, I will walk to the market though."

"I hope there is time then." He looks down at me and smiles.

The trip back is uneventful and I go straight up to change with Mary. She gets the wet stuff off me and starts to put a gown over me.

"Mary I feel tired again."

"Lay down and take a nap miss. You don't need to go to the market. There's no guarantee you would find the boys anyways."

"You're right. I will just sleep for a bit. Will you wake me up before the feast? And tell gunner I'm just going to sleep for a bit."

"Of course miss."

She grabs a sleeping dress instead and help me with that. "Enjoy your rest."

I wake up a couple hours later. I throw a veil over my head and walk downstairs. Gunner is all cleaned up and sleeping on cushions on the floor. No one else is here.

"Gunner."

He snores.

I kneel down beside him and touch his arm. "Gunner."

He opens his eyes and looks at me. "Yes princess."

"How much longer until the feast?"

"2 hours."

"I'm going to sleep for another hour."

"Good night princess."

"Good night."

The next time I wake up Mary is getting my dress ready. "Did you have a nice nap little miss?"

"Yes thank you." I sit up and stretch. "I feel so much better."

"Good. Let's get you dressed and down in time for the feast."

I walk downstairs and Gunner is sitting on the bench this time. I sit down beside him. "Did you have a nice nap Gunner?"

"Your servant kicked me when she walked by."

Mary walks around the corner laughing. "I was just letting you know the princess was getting up and you should to."

"Yes but it kind of hurt." Then he starts laughing too. "It was a nice nap though. I definitely needed it."

"Me too. Something about the water just wears me out."

Mary walks to the door and looks back at us. "Are you two ready yet? We should leave now."

I sigh and Gunner just stares at her.

Finally I say "Fine" and get up.

Gunner follows me out and just like 2 days ago, there are people everywhere. I turn back and look at him. "I'm not doing that again."

He just smirks at me and fixes his sword. "Alright. We can walk around the houses and come up behind the royal table. Right this way."

After a couple minutes I walk up behind the royal table. I go to Tre and sit down. "I'm sorry I didn't make it. I fell asleep again. I was so tired. The water just wears me out. Did you make any good trades?"

He grabs my hand under the table and just holds it. "A couple trades. And I could tell you were tired. I'm glad you got a nap princess."

"You're not mad?"

"Of course not princess. I'm just sad it's our last day."

"Me too."

"I did hear our dads talking though."

I turn to him and move his hand to my lap. I wonder if I'm going to get yelled at for that? I look at Mary and she's not doing anything. Must be ok. "What about?"

"As soon as the route is secured we will be able to go back and forth a lot more."

"What does secured mean?"

"Guards along the route and there aren't any attacks on it. Stuff like that."

I squeeze his hand. "I can't wait Tre."

"Me either princess."

The end. The next chapter is Chapter 1 of Nadine Book 1. Everything in this book was edited out of the Nadine books. I will probably add more stuff later from different spots.