A Tearful Departure

She woke to the feel of warm sunlight that came in through the opening in front of her. The ocean waves rolled in toward her, toward the white sandy shore just down a few paces from where she laid. She was in Silas’s hut, in his bed...completely naked. She held up the white sheet to cover herself then turned and saw a tray with a kettle of tea that still felt hot to the touch and a small, square cake of some kind next to it. She stretched and discovered she had slept better than she had in weeks and knew she could sleep even longer if she only laid back down. The sheets smelled like Silas’s scent, a sweet, musky scent that was unique and made her nipples grow hard thinking of what they did last night. Her skin prickled just thinking about that as she brought the tray down to the bedside table. It was good she tasted, and it smelled like flowers. Looking around the hut she saw a water basin, towels and more smocks in different colors laid out for her on his chair. The chair he took her in for the 3rd...no 4th time? The third time she decided and a smile curled onto her face. It was then that she saw him, in among the waves. He was swimming and he glided along as the waves crashed over him. He popped up again and smoothed his long hair back before paddling again.

Emma's eyes slowly fluttered open as she felt the warm sunlight hit her face. She instinctively rolled over and reached for Silas, but found he wasn't there. Sitting up, she looked around to find the hut empty. Outside, the sun was shining and she could see that there was barely a cloud in the sky. She could hear the sound of the waves upon the shore and over head gulls called. She smiled when she saw the tray of tea and cake. Memories of the night before filled her mind and she smiled warmly as she laid back down. She closed her eyes and breathed in Silas' scent on the sheets. It was musky and filled her with desire. She had never known making love to be like that. The things they had done...

Slowly, she sat back up and she brought over the tray of tea and cake. The tea was wonderful and still hot and the cake was sweet. She ate a few more bites before standing up. She looked at the different colored smocks laid out upon the chair and picked up the green one. She put it on with a brown leather belt that she tied around her waist. With her hair down and still slightly mussed she stepped out onto the warm sand. She spotted Silas out in the water. He glided through the waves with long, strong strokes. The sunlight glistened on his wet hair and tanned chest. Their eyes met across the distance and she smiled at him. Today they would be 'married' in a ceremony of their own making. While it would not be legal, it meant something to them and that was all that mattered to her. She was leaving that old life behind and was looking forward to the one she would make with Silas.

Silas smiled at Emma when he saw her. Her long, dark hair fluttered in the wind and she looked like she belonged here in paradise in that green smock. Surprisingly or not as he came out of the water she noticed immediately that he wore no clothes. No one was right there watching but still, no clothes! His khaki capri pants were right near the doorway and she hadn’t seen them until she looked back. Beads of water flowed down his body and he smiled brightly at her as he came up for a kiss. He kept his arms down due to how wet he was but she shooed him away when he tried to get her face wet. He laughed as he went to get dried off and put on his pants and shirt.

With the same cup of tea he came back after a moment and sat next to her. His hair was still wet and it made his shirt wet but he didn’t seem to mind nor notice as he took a sip of tea. “I’m finding it difficult to get you out of my mind Emma,” he told her. “You are an incredible woman,” he said as he looked out over the water. It was a gorgeous day and they had all day to spend it, however they chose. If their bodies could tolerate love-making all day, he’d opt for that but he was sore as well as she and they needed time to heal. “And I’m going to marry you today,” he told her. He hadn’t asked her officially but what they were doing was not like anything done before. Not really. In fact, he thought she had asked him in a way. The thought made him smile. She was a force to contend with for certain sure but he felt he was strong enough to ‘handle’ her. Emma was young, still 17 and the ripest, most perfect blossom on the tree. He loved her, god punish him for it but he did and that was that as far as he was concerned.

“I’m hungry,” he said still not looking at her.

Emma's eyes were not shy about looking Silas over as he emerged wet from the water. She felt her mouth go dry just looking at him. He was incredible! He looked like a God to her...the God of the ocean. He was handsome and strong and she knew that he loved her. She laughed as he came up to kiss her. She wanted to feel his arms around her, but he was soaking wet and she wanted to keep her clothes dry. She smiled and watched as he walked back to the hut to get his clothes. She sat down in the sand and looked out over the water. She contemplated how much her life had changed. She was a completely different woman than she had been several weeks ago. She felt more sure of herself, stronger, and much more resilient. She felt as if she could take on the world as long as Silas was by her side. He had been the missing piece of her life that she hadn't known was missing.

She heard him walk up and she looked over at him and smiled as he sat down next to her with a cup of tea. She smiled at his words and blushed slightly at his compliment. He was the one who made her the woman she was today and she couldn't see herself ever going back to her old life. That Emma was gone forever. She had been buried at sea and the new Emma had emerged stronger than ever. She couldn't wait for what other adventures lay before them. She couldn't wait to marry him, but she wondered what his crew would think...especially Nels. Would she feel as if she had betrayed her? She did not want to make an enemy of Nels. She wanted to be her friend.

When Silas mentioned being hungry she looked at him slightly with a little smile. "And what are you hungry for?"

Silas turned to face her and rested on his hand and saw her look. He leaned in toward her ear. “Is there something you want to offer me? I have a hearty appetite,’ he whispered then looked down at her middle. The smocks didn’t hide much, especially when Emma was concerned but she looked amazing in them though there were no undergarments.They came down to a ‘v’ shape near the shins and hugged over the hips and thighs. They were much looser up above the waist but even then when she moved, parts of her breasts would be pressed up against the fabric. If almost all the women here didn’t wear them he wasn’t certain she would either.

He began to kiss her lips, his tongue coming out to greet hers. She smelled like herbs and flowers and something else that was sweet. “You want to feel my tongue again Emma?” he asked as he set his hand down on her thigh. He had only did that once last night but it seemed to drive her crazy. He liked it when she lost control. Somehow he felt she needed it. Her whole life being raised to bed a nobleman and never a hope for love. Real love that was like lightning and energy between them. He felt her flesh prickle when his hand went inside the hem of her smock then slid up to the inside of her thigh. Her leg was warm but so was his hand. He pulled back from their kiss to look into her eyes when he moved his fingers to lightly touch the very outside of her opening.

Emma shivered slightly with desire at his response. She looked over at him and could see his eyes looking up and down the length of her body. Knowing that Silas desired her like this made her feel incredible. She had never felt as beautiful as she did right now with Silas. As he began to kiss her she closed her eyes and kissed him back, parting her lips to allow his tongue to caress against her own. Slowly, he pulled back and she opened her eyes to look into his.

You want to feel my tongue again Emma?

She felt her face flush with desire and passion as she thought about it. He had only done it once last night, though she had wanted it again. As his hand touched her skin she began to tremble with anticipation. "Yes...I do," she told him softly. Her heartbeat increased as he moved his hand up her thigh. Slowly, her legs parted and she looked into his eyes as she felt him draw closer to her. When he touched her she closed her eyes and laid her head back, completely surrendering to him.

He felt her grow wet as he touched her and he was careful to not pull her soft flesh. She tilted back on her elbows and he shifted to come around below her. He kissed her knee then her inner thigh and the. Slid the smock up far enough so her legs could part further as he lowered himself down to partake in the meal she promised him. He loved how her flesh felt on his tongue. And how her body reacted to him. Though they were outside in the daylight no one gave them a second glance. Nor did he worry about anything but Emma. Pleasuring her was like making an angel smile for him. 

“Mmm ,” he murmured as he kissed and licked and used his fingers to spread her folds apart I order to allow his tongue to touch her sweet fruit he sought.

Emma moaned, softly at first, but then her moans became increasingly louder as Silas' lips moved up her inner thigh. Her heart was beating hard and fast in her chest now and she ran her fingers through the sand, trying to grip it, but found it only slipped through her fingers. She felt hot and cold at the same time and the more he did to her, the more crazy he drove her.

Emma’s orgasm wasn’t as powerful as the first one but he heard her trying desperately not to cry out. His throat worked and sucked out what was there for him as he felt her hand on his shoulder and then his face. He smiled as he rose up and wiped his face. It was very wet and he was still hungry. “Well that was fun,” he said as he stood before her, her eyes looking up at him. Blue eyes, adoring eyes seemed to be on fire. “Come Emma, lets get you cleaned up,” he said and held out his hand to her. He helped her up but her hands went immediately to his pants and she pulled him back into his hut hastily trying to get his pants off and her belt off at the same time. Once his hardness was free of his pants he pulled it toward her center as she sat on the table behind her. Unable and unwilling to stop her he grabbed hold of her hips and pressed into her her. Her gasp and his own gasp melded as he pulled his head down to kiss her. He felt her legs pressing him, urging him and her hands groping for his flesh as if he couldn’t get deep enough inside of her for her liking. He came quickly, she had excited him so much he couldn’t hold it back. He moaned as she kissed his nipples, biting them as passion gripped her. Once sense returned to him he kissed her over and over and then he did have to clean them up.

Later at the pavilion he brought her a bowl of steamed oats with coconut milk, bits of pork, honey and pineapple. It was his favorite and he had made it a bit sweeter for her because he knew she liked sweet things. There was tea too but Emma seemed content to eat languidly and look at Silas as if what was in her bowl paled in comparison to him right then.

Captain stone came up to them, he was a large man, not tall with gray on his head and his thick, curly beard. He tipped his hat to emma. “So, I’ve errd tell there’s a weddin I’m ta perform eh? Well, it’s gunna be a great day lad,” he said as he rubbed his hands together excitedly.

Emma knew that if she and Silas weren't extremely careful that they would end up staying together in the hut all day making love. While that sounded wonderful, Emma also knew that they needed to get cleaned up and dressed so they could have the ceremony performed. The changes that had happened since yesterday morning were incredible to think about. Less than 24 hours ago Emma was still considered a hostage and now she was going to be 'marrying' the very man who was holding her hostage. It was enough to make Emma smile. Fate had strange ways of bringing people together.

When they finally managed to get cleaned up and dressed they walked together to the pavilion to get something to eat. They had both worked up quite the appetite and the smell of the food made Emma's stomach growl. She smiled at Silas when he brought over her bowl of steamed oats. She sipped her tea as well, but couldn't help but continue to look over at Silas as she ate. A few minutes later Captain Stone approached them and she smiled over at him when he mentioned the wedding.

"We both thank you for doing this for us. It won't be legal, but it will mean something to us and that's what matters."

She then thought about something and looked over at Silas. "How do you think Nels is going to react?"

Silas’s happiness faded at her question. Nels was going to be hurt but he felt she’d at least understand. “I’ll talk to her,” he said as he set down his bowl suddenly no longer hungry. Nels was more to him than just a loyal friend, his feelings for her were strong and he knew that she loved him. He smiled at Emma, kissed her then stepped away from her to go find Nels.

He did find her outside of her hut. She had a white shirt and khaki pants on with her belt and belt knife and she was cracking clams open when he arrived. The moment he saw her though she tossed a clam aside and stood up brandishing her knife, her hazel eyes moist and angry and her face in a fury.

Word of Silas and Emma's relationship and 'wedding' had spread like wildfire through the village and it hadn't taken very long for it to reach Nels' ears. She had felt as if Silas himself had plunged a knife deep into her belly. The pain was deep and strong and she couldn't help but feel betrayed by him in some way. She wasn't going to attend the ceremony. She wanted to just be alone. And so when she heard someone approach she looked up quickly. Seeing Silas she told herself she wasn't going to cry, but as she told herself that she felt tears fill her eyes. She stood up, the knife she had been using to crack open clams held tightly in her hand. She glared at him.

"You told me you weren't the marryin' kind...but all it took was one night with Emma to change your mind about that!"

Silas saw her knife and saw how hurt she was, it was painted plainly all over her face. She had been a sailor for years. As tough as nails and had no qualms about sticking her cutlass into an enemy's chest. She had Silas’s back, not sometimes, always no matter what the crew said or did if it went against him she spoke out against them.

“Now that’s not how it is Nels,” he said and held out his hand. “Emma’s…” he tried to say but then she growled and lunged at him, her knife poised to stab into his heart. With his elbow he slammed it into her forearm and the knife fell but she head butted him in his cheek then punched him in his stomach, hard. It hadn’t doubled him over but she followed it up by trying to kick him in the groin. He blocked her with his hands and then they began to grapple.

It was like trying to hold onto to a cougar, if he let go he was afraid she was going to try to hurt him more. She bit his arm and he was forced to let her go and she scratched him in his shoulder. His white shirt began to show blood and he rounded around her on guard for her next attack. “This won’t change anything Nels!” he growled. “I love her and that’s that!” he said.

Nels glared at Silas, prepared to attack him again. She was angry...furious at him and she wanted him to know it. She wanted the entire world to know it! She didn't care if it would change anything or not. She just couldn't understand how that...that...GIRL had gotten Silas wound so tightly around her finger so quickly. She was supposed to be a hostage! And she was married to a Duke!

"Yeah, and this 'marriage' won't change the fact that she's already married Silas! It's going to mean nothing! How can you love her anyway?! She's exactly the type of person you hate! She knows nothing of the sea AND, may I remind you, that she is supposed to be our HOSTAGE!"

She jerked and feinted and Silas moved and jerked with her as she spoke in a furious tone. She was trying to get him off guard to hurt him more and he knew it so he never took his eyes off of her.

“All of that is changed, the Duke used her to get to us, to stop US and she wants no part of that nor him!” he said as she came in then spun to catch him with an elbow on his jaw. He slipped in the sand and before he could right himself she had the knife again and came in at him. As they struggled she ended up straddling him, her shirt open and torn, her small firm breasts quivering as she struggled to push the knife down into his neck.

It was then that he just let go and he felt a prick on his neck as she stopped short. “Go ahead then you cunt!” he growled. He owed her, not his life but he owed her and he didn’t want to fight her anymore. He saw her trying, she wanted to cut him and yet she didn’t. He saw tears roll down her cheeks. “I do love you Nels...just...just not the way you want,” he said being honest and moderated his tone.

Nels glared down at Silas. She was trembling with anger and her eyes were filled with hurt tears. She held the knife at his neck. She wanted to hurt him...to make him feel as she did...but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She stood up suddenly and threw the knife to the side. She then pulled the diamond bracelet off of her wrist and threw it at him.

"I don't want anything to do with you anymore Silas," she told him with a quiver in her voice. "I...I'm not going to go with you on the ship. I can't...not after what you've done to me."

Silas grabbed onto her and as she struggled he ended up straddling her. “So that’s it then? You don’t get what you want so you leave me!?” he said in a growl. He couldn’t keep doing what he did without Nels and he knew he didn’t want to. “I need you you stupid fucker! We’re two parts of a coin!” He said angrily as he loomed down close to her face. And then she did something he hadn’t expected, she leaned up and kissed him. Passionately, very passionately and he ended up kissing her back. It wasn’t a long kiss though and eventually he pulled back. “Nels...I...I can’t be that for you and i’ve tried. I’ve tried to feel more but it’s just not there!” He said. He felt her fumble for his pants and she could feel his hardness up against her leg. He groped for her hands and held them up above her shoulders once more. “Is that what you think love is all about? We fuck and I’m in love with you?” he asked. “Is that what you really want?” he asked. He knew Nels was ‘emotionally’ challenged but she had been there for him and he for her when they needed one another. But it wasn’t the kind of love he felt for Emma, not even close.

Nels was extremely upset and wasn't thinking straight at this point. All she knew was that she didn't want to be around him anymore. However, she also knew that there was no other place for her. She belonged on the Golden Wolf. It was her home...her only home. Perhaps eventually her pain would fade but for now it was searing and she felt as if she would die from it.

"What is it that she has that I don't? I know you. Think of all we've been through together! I would die for you Silas! Would she do that?"

“I don’t know Nels. Don’t you think I don’t know you deserve it...me? Well I do. Would you want me to give you what you want and play at loving you? Would that be enough? You and I live in the real world. And we are what we are and we do what we do,” He told her. “Please...PLEASE don’t go,” he said and sounded like he was almost begging. Silas never begged, for anything, never. He did get off of her and was thankful she lowered her knife.

“She’s not like them you know...Emma is not one of them,” he added. He hadn’t known that Nels herself was attracted to her. Emma was so beautiful, like an angel and her scent made Nels desire her but for so long she felt as if Silas was her domain. Hers alone, could she share him? Would Emma allow that? She didn’t think so as she saw how the woman looked at him. Barely a woman! She reminded herself. Silas was the most beautiful man she had ever known and he fucked her better than any man she had ever known. Her heart only had him inside it and even now he hadn’t ‘really’ betrayed her. She knew his feelings, knew his mind, knew what he was going to do before he did it. She needed to only see Emma once and knew how Silas would react. She should have tossed her over the side when she had the chance!

Silas sat next to her and felt the blood on his neck from her cut. “I think I could deal with anything accept if you hated me. I know I am a selfish bastard Nels...I know it's not fair but I can’t change my heart,” he said softly.

Nels couldn't stop the tears that filled her eyes. She never cried, but today it happened. The tears just flowed freely down her cheeks and she put her head into her hands as she began to sob. She would never leave Silas. She couldn't. She knew it was going to be hard, but she needed Silas as much as he needed her.

"I won't leave you Silas...I can't and I know that things won't be the same between us, but know that my feelings for you will never fade. I was silly to think that you would fall in love with me like you did with Emma. I can't compete with her. Please...I just want to be left alone right now."

With a heavy heart Silas shifted and gave her shoulder a squeeze as he pocketed the bracelet and stood. He sighed heavily then started off back to the pavilion. Reggie was talking to Emma, trying to lighten her mood. He felt a woman so beautiful shouldn’t frown and so he had been telling jokes and secrets about the silly things Silas had did in the past. His story was cut short when Silas returned. His cheek was bruised and he had a small cut on his neck. His shoulder bore deep scratches and his white shirt had dried blood where the scratches had bled.

“Did you leave any for me?” he asked light-heartedly but he saw the concern in Emma’s eyes as she looked at him. Reggie raised his brows then stepped out into the sand. He took her hand in his and then deposited her bracelet there. “She...understands,” was all he would say then picked back up his bowl though he could not keep the frown from his face.

Emma was worried. She knew that Nels loved Silas and she also knew that Silas had deep feelings for her. However, she also knew that Silas didn't love her. She feared that Nels wouldn't understand...that she would end up hating Silas and resenting her and that was not what she wanted. If she was going to 'marry' Silas then she knew that Nels was apart of his life and therefore apart of hers. She wanted to be friends with Nels...or at the very least for them to understand one another. She had never wanted to hurt her and understood if she didn't want anything to do with her.

Reggie was attempting to ease her worry, but it wasn't really working. She gave him a little smile, but then looked over when she heard Silas come back in. It was more than obvious that things had gotten physical between them and she gasped when she saw him. She looked down at her hand when she felt him put something into it and nearly cried when she saw her diamond bracelet. She closed her hand around it and held it tightly.

After Reggie left she looked at Silas and sighed. "I never wanted to cause problems between you two. I know how close you both are. Is she going to stay on the ship?"

Silas sighed and turned back to look where he left Nels. He couldn’t possibly see her from there but felt he had to look anyway. “I don’t know...Nels travels her own path,” he said then turned back. “But nothing changes Emma. Not for me. My heart was yours the moment I saw you on the street,” he told her as he looked at her and put the bowl down. “Lets get married...I want everyone to know that you’re mine,” he said and didn’t wonder if she did want to be his. He knew it by the way she was looking at him and when she flung herself into his arms he held her tightly in an embrace and rubbed her back.

Reggie had also given Emma several rings to choose from. Simple gold bands and another, far more fancier ring for Emma. It had a large, round diamond and 2 others on either side of the first. Not small by any means and not so ornate that it looked gaudy or too busy on her finger. Silas proposed to her right there in the pavilion and though she had tried the ring on once already having him put it on her finger now seemed to make all the difference. He liked how she almost was bouncing up and down until he put it on and she kissed him over and over and hugged him when it was all done. Now it was just the ceremony let and the pleasure of him making sweet love to her after.

Several women wanted to see the ring and congratulated her. Others, mostly the younger girls and women looked...sour and frowned as if seeing their prospects of having him too suddenly die away. Emma was led away to Cherise’s hut and others arrived with their arms heavily laden. She was offered so many dresses and smocks both simple and fancier too and also jewelry, belts, shoes, veils and flowers to put in a bouquet or to wear on her head. She was pampered with the fruit flavored rum and cakes and cookies as the women bathed her and brushed out her hair. They giggled at her modesty and she noticed that they were all different, the women that helped her. Tall, thin, heavy and short. Dark skinned, light skinned, blonde hair and black hair. But all appeared excited about a wedding and wanted to be apart of it.

Silas looked over his coats. He only really had his black one that was very decent. Reggie had sewed on the buttons a few times and he had never fought in it so that was good. It was clean and only had a few wrinkles so he decided he’d wear that over his nicest white shirt and dark green pants bloused in his high, black boots. He touched the rings in his pocket and turned over to Reggie. “Am i doing right by her Reggie?” he asked. Reggie shrugged and knew who he meant. “She’s a tough one lad, teach her how to fight and I could see men following her no different than you. A Captain’s wife, a real Captain’s wife will have the loyalty of the crew. But...such a life ain’t so good if’n ya intend on havin a family,” he said. “The way you two go at one another...might need ta think that through a bit if’n she gets with child eh?” he said. Silas nodded as he did begin to think about that. Think about her having his babies. His mouth curled into a smile too as Reggie brushed off his coat.

When Emma had married Nathan she had felt uneasy and unsure, but today she felt nothing but excitement. The entire world lay before her with Silas and everyday was going to be a new adventure. She hoped that she would be a good wife for him. She knew nothing of being a captain's wife, but she was determined to do the best job she could. She would learn whatever she needed to and she vowed that she would work just as hard as everyone else on that ship. She wanted to work...to feel at the end of the day that she had done a good job...to help Silas. She would not be a burden...she could not be. However, she felt she had already proven to him that she could handle hard work. She knew he would not be doing this if he didn't know that already. This was not going to be an easy life, but it was the one she now wanted. Today she was going to become a Captain's Wife and she couldn't have been happier.

Emma chose a simple, white dress, which she belted to show off her curves. She put on her mother's diamond bracelet and also chose a necklace that had beautiful green beads. She let the women brush out her hair, but decided to leave it down. The women made a crown of flowers for her to wear and looking in a mirror she felt like an ocean goddess. She smiled and felt ready. No matter what happened from now on she and Silas would tackle it together.

Unfortunately she had to wait until nightfall and the women covered the hut’s opening with blankets so there could be no chance viewing of Emma by Silas happening by. Once they told her it was time she tossed back the blanket to reveal long sticks of bamboo that held small oil lanterns that made a trail for her to follow in the sand all the way down into the water. Silas was there with Captain Strongbow next to him along with just about everyone in the island on both sides. Silas wore a long, black coat and his hair was free and feathered back and looked as soft and spun gold. He smiled when he saw her and already several women began to wipe their eyes. There was no music save for the sound of the waves and the light breeze that smelled salty and also sweet like flowers. Silas was standing in the water with Strongbow and the waves came up to his boot tops but he didn’t seem to notice. His full attention was on her, and how beautiful she was. Nels was there too and she looked on silently as Emma made it down to the water.