Tommy nodded at her assurance and ran into the galley. Fortunately, it didn't take long for the boy to find his adoptive mother and tell her the situation.
A few minutes later, Charlie stepped out of her galley and walked up to Ellie. “I have to admit, I'm surprised you made it across the deck in this storm.” she sighed, shaking her head. “But I don't want you to try that again without someone to keep an eye on you until we know you’ll be alright.” she added firmly. “Now, come on, Ellie. I’ve got some hot water already started.” she said gently as she held out her hand for her to take for both balance and guidance.
Ellie looked up at Charlie shyly. "S-Sorry," she whispered, another shiver passing through her. "I-I used the rope. M-Marc fixed it up f-for me." The princess reached for Charlie's hand quickly and used it to help her rise to her feet.
“It's alright, dear.” Charlie assured, pulling the former princess to her side. “It's just that you haven't been on this ship very long but I know how everyone would be if we lost you.” she trailed off. She cleared her throat slightly and gave a small warm smile as she walked the other woman inside. “I’m glad that they set up a rope for you. And that you made it here safely.”
Ellie relaxed against the other woman and closed her eyes. She figured it would be best not to tell Charlie about her white-knuckled grip and that she'd nearly slipped off… "M-Me too," she stammered. "It's so c-cold though…"
“I know, dear.” Charlie nodded, still holding Ellie to her side as she lead the former princess into the galley. The atmosphere was instantly warmer because of the heat from the continuous cooking. “You just sit down and relax. I do have some soup cooking but it's not quite ready yet.”
Ellie immediately sighed with relief as the warm atmosphere enveloped her. "Thank you," she murmured, slipping out of Charlie's grip and lowering herself into a chair by the wall. The blanket Tommy had given her was still tightly wrapped around her shoulders.
"Where's Tommy?" she asked suddenly, realizing that the boy hadn't returned from alerting Charlie of her presence in the galley.
“Right here, Miss Ellie.” Tommy answered, climbing down from a chair near the stove. “I had to help Mama Charlie cook while she got you.” he explained as he brought two steaming cups over to the table. “We made some hot chocolate.”
Charlie chuckled softly. “He’s always such a good helper. I think he likes being in the galley as much as being in the crowsnest.” she smiled as she took over the cooking.
Ellie breathed a sigh of relief as Tommy spoke up. It was silly that she hadn't seen him when she first entered the room, but she was still trying to rid her body of the wetness, and the chill feeling that came with it.
"Oh, of course," she replied quietly, smiling at him, then at the cups in his hands. "Thank you." She took one quickly but carefully and blew gently across the top of it before taking a sip. The warmth of the liquid spread through her body and soothed her. "Thank you," she repeated, sighing again.
Tommy wasn't surprised that Miss Ellie had overlooked him. It was actually a useful skill for him especially when he was helping out on land. He just smiled as she took one of the cups and joined her at the table.
"This was just what I needed," Ellie remarked quietly. She sighed and drank again, smiling back at Tommy once she'd swallowed. "Where are you from, Tommy?" she asked, attempting to strike up a lighthearted conversation.
Tommy smiled at her comment about the drink but quickly looked over at Charlie with wide eyes when the question was directed to him. “Nowhere.” he muttered softly, pulling his cup closer.
“Tommy doesn't talk about his past.” Charlie clarified. “As far as I know, no one on this ship knows where he’s from. Not myself, not the captain… Certainly not the twins or Marcus. I wouldn't be surprised if Drake knows but he’s never hinted at it one way or another.” she explained.
Ellie's smile quickly dropped, and she immediately regretted her question. "I'm sorry," she apologized quickly to the boy. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. Is there something else you'd like to talk about instead? Anything you'd like to know about me?" She smiled again and tilted her head.
“It's ok.” Tommy mumbled again before looking back at her.
Charlie glanced at the two and smiled softly. “Sometimes we all joke that he just appeared in the hold of the ship one day and decided not to leave.” she chuckled.
Tommy smiled a little at the lighter tone his Mama Charlie brought back. “Ok.” he nodded at Ellie’s questions but he wasn't sure what to ask about her.
Ellie smiled and laughed a bit at Charlie's little remark. "Fair enough," she replied. She was glad for the conversation to distract her from the pitching of the ship in the storm's waves and her worry over Lorelei at the helm.
She tilted her head, waiting for a question, but nothing came. "Nothing?" she teased lightly. "There isn't a single question you want to ask me? Not one thing you're curious about?"
Tommy giggled at the teasing and shrugged. “I… I don't know.” he admitted. “I want to know you. I just don't know what to ask.”
Ellie smiled immediately once she heard his giggle. At least she'd recovered from her question about his homeland. "It's alright," she encouraged. "Think of something you want to know. In the meantime, I can just start talking, if you like. I'm not sure what all Lori has told you all about me."
“Ok.” Tommy nodded. “Captain Lori told us a lot. She told us how pretty you are, how much she missed you, how she remembered meeting you, and how she was sent away because you're a princess.” he told her. “She told us about your song and how mad your father was when he caught you both. All kinds of things.”
Ellie blushed shyly. "Um… that's basically everything," she remarked with a laugh. "How often did Lori talk about me?"
“Almost every day for a while from what I heard from Jax.” Charlie chuckled. “Personally, I only heard her talk about you that much when it came to the “anniversary” of her losing you.” she admitted in a softer tone.
Ellie's entire demeanor softened. Her anxiety about the storm faded for the time being as she thought over her days after she and Lori had been forced apart. She'd been forbidden by her parents to speak her beloved's name, but she whispered it every morning when she woke up, every night to the stars, and every time she prayed.
"Oh," the princess whispered quietly, folding her hands in her lap. A wave of chilly terror washed over her as she remembered the sleepless nights and torturous days that had been her existence for the better part of the past ten years.
(I just have to say it… I fucking can't with these April fools friends)
(I know! 🤣🤣🤣 I knew this was coming but I still get caught off guard by which words are replaced!)
Charlie sighed, noticing the former princess’s demeanor change. “I suppose it's not as fair to you that we know so much about you despite never having been to your kingdom before.” she admitted as she served two warm bowls of soup. “But, now that you're here and married to our dear captain, you can ask us anything you want and get to know us just as well.” she smiled assuringly, bringing the light meal over to Ellie and Tommy.
(Heyyyy… sorry I've been an ass with responding. Life has me in a chokehold right now 😭)
Ellie lifted her gaze to the other woman. "No, no. That's not it. I don't mind you knowing so much. It's just that I never had anyone to talk about Lorelei to when I missed her so desperately. But you're right. I don't want to think of those days now that we're reunited and married."
She immediately accepted the soup and took a small sip of it. "Of course!" The former princess thought for a moment before asking a question. "How did you meet Lorelei?"
(I understand. Life gets busy and chaotic. If you need or want to talk/vent, my PMs are open. 🫂)
“Oh. Of course.” Charlie nodded, understanding what she meant. “I’m sorry that you had to go through all that time alone.” she said sincerely as she took an empty seat.
She chuckled at the question. “She just sailed in one day. Her and Jax. That was the whole crew at the time.” she explained. “It was kind of an open secret that I had… talents, beyond just healing. So they came to me for some herbs and stayed in the town for a while to restock.”
(Thank you ❤️)
Ellie smiled sadly. "You have nothing to apologize for. It was not your fault."
She listened intently as Charlie spoke with a genuine smile taking over the former princess's face. "What kingdom did you live in?" she asked curiously. "And how long have you been with Lori?"
(gonna sneak another tie onto your kingdom worldbuilding 😉 hope you don't mind.)
“I lived in Blackstone when we first met.” Charlie smiled back. “Just outside of a little port town. Honestly, we just ran into each other at the market.” she chuckled. “But I’ve only been with the crew for… five years. By then Lori had run into the twins and they refused to leave once they got a taste of pirating.”
(Of course not, go for it!! :))
Ellie wrinkled her nose briefly in distaste. "I never liked Blackstone," she murmured. "Every time we visited, it was awful. But that sounds so sweet! You all just happened to meet? And when Lori told you about me… about wanting to come back. You simply agreed?"
Charlie chuckled and gave a shrug. “I don't blame you. Now that I've traveled a bit myself, I can understand why most people from other kingdoms didn't like it there.” she explained. Though she let out a sigh at the question. “Well… The choice to leave Blackstone and join this crew was easy but there was nothing simple about it. Remember how me and Lori said that my home didn't like women who worked in medicine?”
Ellie smiled plainly, and it didn't spread to her eyes. All she could think about in reference to Blackstone was the slimy king and his son, who her father had tried to get her to accept as one of her suitors. He'd been one that she wasn't prepared to tell Lorelei about yet. But she didn't say anything to Charlie, not wanting to interrupt the more pleasant conversation they were having. Especially with Tommy present.
"Yes," she answered. "I remember."
