*Amelia*

Over the course of the next few days, I was given duties to accomplish every day. Mostly including cleaning the ship, which I suppose I was grateful for because it gave me something to do. Something to stop the overwhelming fear and pain from completely encompassing me. On the other hand, I made a promise to myself that if I ever made it back home, I will never look down upon the servants ever again. The work was so hard. My arms felt numb, my back hurt from bending over and my knees were red. But I knew that if I stopped working at any time, a gruff, disgruntled pirate would yell at me and threaten to hit me over the head. So I just had to wear it.

Only a week ago, I was that pirate. I told off my maid if my food was too cold, or if I didn't like the dress I was wearing. I treated them like they were some sort of dog. But I suppose we did pay them. But they're people. Just like I am, right now. 

While on the ship, I found it hard to keep track of the days. They seemed to all blend into one. But what felt like the fourth day on 'the Maiden' I found myself scrubbing the deck. The dirty, soapy water kept my hands and arms cool as I scrubbed away. All while the unrelenting sun beat down upon me, burning the back of my neck.

As I scrubbed, out of the corner of my eye I saw Jonathan just near me. He too was scrubbing the floor. His dark, matted hair hung down over his eyes as he worked. Sweat was running down his skinny arms. Or is that just water? 

If I'm honest, I didn't know what to think of him. I mean it was nice to have someone else around my age on the ship, even if he was a bit rough around the edges. He also never talked. It was like he just wanted to be alone and never wanted to talk to anyone. He had some sort of dark, mysterious aura around him. When I tried to start a conversation, he always tried to avoid it. But I was persistent. I soon stung together that he had been orphaned quite young and joined that crew because otherwise, he would be living on the streets. I felt sorry for him. I couldn't imagine living on the streets, not knowing where my next meal was going to come from.

*

The sun was setting on another day stuck on 'the Maiden'. We had been sailing straight for a couple of days now and from my knowledge of sailing and being on the seas, I figured that one day soon we must anchor at a port to gather supplies but instead, we continued to sail south.

As I watched the sun get closer to the horizon, I looked back over my shoulder towards the Captain's quarters. Over the last few days, I had only seen Captain O'Malley a few times. Most of the time he stayed in his quarters. He really only came out to check on the crew and the ship occasionally. I couldn't help comparing him to Father. Father was always on deck. Working with the crew at all times. Where Captain O'Malley did none of that. 

We sailed all night and the sun was only just coming up over the horizon when I saw land. For a second, I thought we had returned to Tanio but as we edged closer, the radiant castle never came into view. In fact, I didn't see a single castle or even a remotely large building. There were only small buildings with the spaces in between them filled with patches of green. Parks. Grass. Plants. It was nothing like Tanio. Which made me think we were a long way from home.

The ship came into a small port. As I looked, I noticed that it was a clean, tidy port. Fishing boats were neatly tied to the other side of the port and the wooden boards that made up the platforms seemed to be new and clean. But the one thing I noticed was that we were the only large ship, the rest were only small fishing boats.

As I was standing looking over the town from the deck of the ship, around me the rest of the crew were preparing to depart. I noticed one trying (but failing) to comb his beard with his hand.

Suddenly, the Captain came out of his quarters. He was dressed in full gear. He wore a heavy coat in which I could see not one, but two swords poking out underneath. The whole crew jumped to attention. Instantly sensing his presence. He came to a stop and scanned the crowd. He laid eyes on me and raised a finger. It pointed directly to me. I froze.

'Tie her up.' He barked 'I don't want her to run.'

I felt a crew member grab me and tie my hand behind my back. Another one then covered my mouth with some dirty cloth. Confused why they were suddenly deciding to treat me like an actual prisoner, I tried to struggle but the pirate who had tied my hands together only held me tighter. Pass the Captain I saw Jonathan off to the side. He was just looking at me. Expressionless.

They then led me off the ship. All while Captain O'Malley didn't take his eyes off me.

I felt panic, confusion and fear all at the same time. My heart was racing, but my eyes were teary. A scream was on my lips. The cloth covering my mouth was dirty and it smelt even worse. I wanted to be sick but my pending scream and the cloth was stopping me. 

Are they leading me to my death? What if my father didn't didn't get here in time so they are going to kill me?

I only noticed that none of the townspeople were trying to attack us when I saw that the surrounding townspeople were actually backing away as we passed. This only added to my confusion. A group of pirates were just walking through this town and no one was attacking us? Yet they didn't seem scared, in fact, their looks reminded me of the people of Tanio looks when the King's carriage passed them. Almost as if they saw Captain O'Malley as their leader.

We continued to march towards the centre of the town. All around us, people were starting their day. Opening shops and other everyday jobs. Yet as we passed, they all continued to stand back. There was one little girl that looked up at us in complete awe as she hid behind her mother's legs.

Captain O'Malley was one of the most feared pirates in history, yet these people treated him like their king. Surely, they would know of the danger he poses? Or the number of lives he has claimed?

Soon we reached one of the biggest buildings in the entire town. It seemed to be a massive dome with a roof completely made out of glass. If I hadn't had a dirty rag across my mouth, I would have gasped.

As we walked up the clean, cobbled road to what seemed like the entrance to this building, The Captain stopped in his tracks and turned to us. He stood tall, with his back straight and his head held high. His fierce eyes jumped from one crew member to the next. My eyes darted around the group. I couldn't see Jonathan.

'Leave me. But meet back at the ship at midday. If you are late, then we will leave without you.' His eyes then landed on me.

'Except you.' She looked up at the pirate holding me. 'I will take her now Grunt'.

The crew left, most seemed to head towards the local tavern and then I was left with Captain O'Malley.

'Follow me' He said, turning and striding towards the entrance 'We need to talk.'

Inside the building was even more beautiful than the outside. The floor was as shiny as the castle's back home. The white walls were so clean that they seemed to glow and as we walked through the front door, I found myself in a large room. When I looked up, I noticed that it was just a plain ceiling. The dome roof must be on another floor.

Lining the room was a series of wooden doors and in the middle of the room, just in front of a grand marble staircase was a dark wooden desk. It was empty except for a pile of papers and a pencil. As we walked closer to the desk, the sound of our shoes hitting the polished floor echoed around the building. Just as we reached the desk, one of the wooden doors opened and a small middle-aged man came out. He had thinning grey hair and seemed to be slightly hunched over. As if he had spent his entire life leaning over a desk. He also hobbled slightly which made his small glasses often fall down his nose. As soon as he saw us his eyes widened and almost run over to us.

'Captain O'Malley' he said in awe as he reached us 'Such a pleasure. Such a pleasure.'

He then bowed to him. Not out of fear but out of complete awe and respect.

'There's no need to bow Gynanand. I am just here on ... business' He quickly glanced over to me.

'Right. Right.' He said, flipping through the papers on the desk. 'I'll give you your usual. 46.'

O'Malley nodded his head towards him and then headed to a door on the opposite to what the man came out of.

We walked down a passageway in silence. Along the walls on either side of us was dark wood panelling. With the occasional door which was made out of the same coloured wood. Each door had a silver number on it. As I looked at them as I passed, the numbers seemed to be going up, 35, 36, 37... and so on.

The captain was walking in front of me. But I noticed that his hand didn't leave his sword. He must know what I was thinking; this would be the perfect time to run away.

My heart was still beating away in my chest. Most of the original panic had been replaced with plain confusion by now. This place was definitely not some sort of prison or slaughter house, it seemed more ... businessy then that. Maybe the Captain just wanted to talk?

Eventually, we reached a door marked '46' and the Captain stopped and opened the door. He followed me in.

Inside looked almost like father's office back home. It was a small square room with bookshelves lining the walls on my left and right. On the back wall was a beautiful bay window that looked over a small courtyard. Sunlight streamed through the window and highlighted the thin coat of dust that hung over the bookshelves and a desk which was placed in the centre of the room.

Suddenly I felt the cloth around my mouth come loose. As it fell to the floor I realised that the Captain must have cut it with a knife. I noticed that the bonds around my hands were still firmly in place. He then walked over the desk and swung himself around it and settled on the chair behind it. He then took his gun out of his pocket and placed it on the desk. A small cloud of dust appeared as he did so. He rested his chin on his hands and looked up at me.

'Sit' he said, nodding his head towards a chair near me, which was facing the desk.

I sat down slowly, looking around the room.

'Describe to me an ideal pirate.' He looked me straight in the eye, I found it hard to look but at him.

'Pardon?' I was confused. Is this another test?

'An ideal pirate. Just do it.'

I took a second to answer. 'In my opinion, I suppose an ideal pirate would be male, strong and confident.' I said it slowly, scared that I will say something wrong.

'Male' the Captain murmured. He was clearly thinking. 'What about a female pirate?'

'A female pirate?' I thought for a second, choosing my words carefully 'I suppose a female pirate would have to be strong and confident as well. Maybe even stronger than a male pirate. Mainly because no one could take them seriously.'

'Good answer.'

I shifted slightly on my chair. 'May I ask, but why are you asking me this?'

He played with his gun on the table. 'You're not the only female on my ship.'

With that he took off his hat and to my utter astonishment, his beard went along with it. Which revealed a bare, hairless chin and small pink lips. A small nose and long eyelashes. Thick, but short hair went falling down the Captain's back.

Captain O'Malley was in fact, a female.