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"where are we?" I asked

as we came into port and docked the ship then went to dry land

"well" said Rikard with a smile on his face "we're not to far from Allen's Burg" I froze my eyes widening

"were not in cross-well?" I said taking a step back towards the ship

"I think we are" said Rikard "why?"

"it's not safe here at all" I growled I heard a stick snap and my head shot up

'not again' I thought taking a step back

"don't be so edgy" said Rikard

I heard a shing I raised my head again and took another step back

"did you hear that" I said balancing on one foot

"no" said Rikard "your just imagining it" I balled my hands into fists

"I think I'll wait on the ship" I said swallowing the large lump in throat

"okay Angel" said Rikard disappointingly

as I turned away and walked back to the ship I watched them walk further on and out of sight then I heard war cries

"okay" I said to myself "I didn't imagine that as I heard the clink clink of swords against swords

'damn' I thought as I checked my weapons

then I ran up the mast and I jumped opening up the retaining rods I sailed across the sky and aimed for the huge opened patch of space I sailed over and I pulled the rod in I spun a few times before I hit the ground rolling I stood up and sighed just to see a whole heap of people look at me with a look of surprise

"boo" I said

and they ran into the mass of fighting men I sighed then ran into it cutting my enemies down I stood straight my sword spinning side to side as I stood before the critically injured men and the trail of massacre I had left behind me I smiled as I walked back I bumped into who I thought to be Rikard I felt his sword come around and stop on my neck

"Angel?" growled Rikard "I could have skinned you"

"but you didn't" I said

"I might next time" he said striking down the person in front of him

"I told you it wasn't safe here" I chimed he smiled

"I know" he said "next time I might just listen to you if we live through this."

"And that's why I loved being captain" I said cutting down the man in front of me

"why" he asked breathing quickly "because you like bossing people around?"

"No I get to make people listen to me"

"I listen to you?" he said

"that's only because you have too" I pouted

"good point if we do make it through this a coin toss will decide who gets to be captain"

"good" I said

He pushed his back firmly into mine as a sign to stay close I guess it's clear to say I was watching his back and only a few minutes in my arms started to burn

"getting tierd yet?" asked Rikard with what sounded almost like a weak laugh

"kind of" I said taking in a shuddering breath

I looked away for a bleak second then I should have seen this coming I felt a stinging pain as the sword pierced just above my stomach I spluttered as it was pulled out I fell to my knees and then to the ground where I closed my eyes fainting

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I came too a few days later to be in a ridiculosly large room on a queen sized bed I couldn't move yet I was in too much pain to even lift a finger let alone my whole body, but once Rikard was thrown in bruised and bleeding did I budge I slipped off the bed and too where he was left beaten to a pulp on the carpet he opened his eyes

"you should be resting" he could barely say

"I could say the same thing to you" I said running my hand over his forehead

he winced as he tried to get up he lifted himself slowly too his feet he swayed slightly I held him up wincing also on the account of my own wounds I helped him across to the bed where I laid him down slipping in beside him

"what did you do?" I asked as I looked at all his bruising that ran along his arms, nose and brow which were bleeding

"well" said Rikard "I showed 'em a bit of lip and they beat the crap out of me" he winced again as he slowly moved his body around unable to get comfortable

"stay still" I said placing a hand on his shoulder to stop him from moving any more "you'll only make it worse" he lifted a hand and rested it against my face

"how you have changed" he said smiling weakly he breathed deeply and coughed

"I think you should rest" I told him

"your right" he said back to me he held his arms out "only if you would sleep with me?"

I arched an eyebrow and he pouted I smiled as I shifted closer bringing my face closer to his I grabbed his lower lip between my teeth nipping it playfully his body shuddered

"tease" he whispered

I chuckled and kissed him lightly then laid my head down gently on his chest his arm hooked around me as he pulled me closer to him he fell in to a fitful sleep and I soon followed and it felt strangely ... right

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he woke with a start I was in a day dreaming state when he jolted me out of my sleep I sat up and he soon followed looking a lot better I opened my eyes fully and yawned pulling away I stood up slowly holding my hand to my stomach as I looked around the large room

I heard feet down the hall way and the clinking of keys into a lock I looked to the door as it was opened and a young man in his 20's or 30's walked in his face looked familiar did I know him?

"the king wishes to see the captain"

Rikard looked as if he was about to stand up I held a hand out to stop him I looked to Rikard a stern look on my face he seemed to sink down slightly a ghost of a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth

"I think I will go this time"

his smile shone though and he nodded his head in a friendly gesture as I continued to walk forwards walking out of the room and the guard locked the door behind me I held my wrists out and the guard shook his head

"he wishes to see your pirateness" unbarred

"fair enough" I said

I followed after him leaving Rikard to do whatever he does, but we didn't go far when he turned me into a dark corner of the hall

"I thought you were taking me to the king?" I questioned

"now why would I do that?" the man said in a hushed tone "besides I don't think the king or the queen of Allen Burg would be very happy to hear that I took their daughter to the king of Cross-way now would they?"

I lifted an eye brow as the man looked at me then I remembered the face

"Gray?" I said

"the one and only"

"but why are you not--?"

"it's called international swapping they sighed a treaty and in return for it being signed the swap their guards every so often"

"makes sense" I said it sounds a lot like my parents" there was a long silence

"how about I turn you loose" he said

the words brought back old memories and I closed my eyes and sighed holding back tears a few seconds passed between up before I opened my eyes and looked up at him

"you know" he said smuggle "you ou--"

I smiled and shook my head as much as I wanted to escape I did not want to leave the crew or rikard

"I know what you mean grey but I think I should stay with him" I said motioning to Rikard with my head "he and every body else he came with are like family I couldn't abandon him even if I tried" Gray smiled

"well in that case how about a kiss pirate lady?"

"are you using your position for bribery?" I asked he smiled

"fine" I said

he leaned forwards and I met his challenge kissing him softly on the lips he pulled away

"you can do better then that" he said

"don't push the situation" I told him

he smiled as I went to pull away but he pulled me back bringing his lips to mine kissed me hard

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I laid on the bed breathing slowly I winced every so often my wound would bleed and then stop but I would live......... I hope I felt slightly nausea is that a normal symptom of blood loss? I heard a clinking of keys in a lock as I turned slightly

"the king would like to see the captain"

Rikard stood up and walked to the door but the man shook his head

"the girl captain" he said without a hint of emotion

I sighed and rolled off the bed and walked to the door groggily and he motioned me out and locked it behind me I heard Rikard sigh through the thick wood of the door

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the door was opened to reveal the king in his night time robe in his room a glass of wine in his right hand

'this won't end well' thought to myself

I walked in and the door was closed behind me the king offered me a glass

"assuming your a pirate you must drink a lot?" he said I declined the drink

"no I don't drink but you on the other hand" I said distastefully "drink too much"

he smiled and placed the glass down and made his way over to me I stepped back well out of his reach

"well then your highness" I said "what do you want me for?" I slapped his hands away

"oh" he said straightening up "I wanted to talk about your ties"

what do you mean I asked

"oh by tie I mean family ties, yes?" he corrected himself "I hear you are of the royal family in Allen Burg was it" I froze

"excuse me?" I said

"don't try to hide it" he said I sighed

"how did you find out?"

"well" he said "your crew were hysterical when I went to your throat with my sword so they started blurting out all these things about you and than a big tall brown skinned man came out and said you were the princess of Allen Burg and I don't think your parents were to be very pleased if your throat was slit so I spared you"

oh you too kind I muttered mentally plotting the demise of bath him and gallent

he took a sip of the glass he had in his hand and then we stood in silence for a few moments then he walked over to the window and looked out it

"this place" he motioned out the window "is a pig sty and I don't know how I came to rule over it but," he said "Allen Burg is a decent clean place so I was thinking he turned to me "why don't I just marry you?"

"what" I said moving around him as he approached me

"I'm a king your a queen?"

"princess" I corrected him

"yes that" he said dismissing it with a wave of his hand "so it's only natural that a royal marries a royal I bet your parents will be very please"

he came and circled around me slowly I kept eye contact with him until he came forwards quickly and grabbed my wrists I was fast but when it came to brute strength I lucked out

"think about It kid you get the money and a good looking husband" I raised an eye brow "and I get the throne and" he said pulling me closer "a few extras in between"

"ewwwww sleazy" I thought

trying to pull out of his grip he let me go I staggered back banging into the wall knocking the air out of me he took the chance and came forwards pinning my arms above my head with a hand I heard a soft shing noise as his other hand came forwards holding a dagger he held it diagonally across my throat he leaned forwards and I took my chance with the dagger and turned away feeling it cut shallowly into my neck he gasped and dropped the dagger it stung I felt my blood drip down my chest he released me and walked backwards

"guard" the door opened "take her back to her room" he said

the guard nodded and grabbed my arm and gently took me back to my cell of a room Rikard looked me up and down when I walked back to the cell and when I came forwards he lifted my chin and ran a finger along the cut I cringed

"you are a silly girl" he cooed "any deeper and he would have slit your throat"

"tell me something I don't know" I said

he led me to the bed where we both sat down he lifted my head again and I felt something cold against my neck I twitched with pain he pulled my chin down

"done" he said I sighed

"every one here's so violent" I said

"every one?" said Rikard

wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me closer to him he kissed my forehead I looked up at him and raised an eye brow

"yes every one" I said curtly

"well" he said "every one's not me" I smiled