Winds of Adventure

[Kharmin]

Morgause smiled warmly at Cameron's comment on the condition of the room. It showed a side of the captain that the red-head remembered from a time that seemed lost in a distant past.

When offered the bow and quiver, Morgause took them with perhaps a bit more haste than she had intended. The grip of the bow slipped easily into her hand like an old friend and a brief sensation of relief – of normalcy – washed over her. This was physical, tangible. It was a part of who Morgause was and who she had come to be and without it, she had felt incomplete.

"Thank you for this," she said in her normal, quiet tone. "This ... it .... this really means a lot to me that you trust me with this." Morgause slipped the quiver over her shoulder where it rested with comfortable familiarity. Her green eyes fueled with a life that hadn't shown since her rescue.

Morgause accepted the pouch from Cameron with a quizzical look. She opened the drawstring and gently poured out the contents into her hand. The leaf pendant which the blonde had given her, the same one she vowed never to remove and had been savagely wrenched from her neck by the navy commodore, rested in her palm. Her breath audibly caught as she gazed at the pendant. "Cameron..." she whispered, her tone filled with unbridled emotion.

Without warning, Morgause dropped her bow and clasped her arms around Cameron's neck in as fierce of an embrace as her limited strength would allow. "Thank you!" she whispered in her ear, time and again, as tears that had been earlier denied fell trailed from her eyes. She kissed Cameron's cheek and squeezed one last time before releasing her grip. "I .... I am lost for words," Morgause said at last as she wiped her tears with her sleeve.

[Shura]

Cameron was not surprised by the hug, the pendent had meant a lot to Morgause. The captain smiled a bit as she patted Morgause on the back trying hard not to hug her back just as tightly. “We were lucky to have found it in the captain's quarters.” She replied giving in an giving the woman a small hug before the two parted and pulled back. “I am happy to have returned it to you honestly. I know you treasured it. Honestly I am happy I was able to return it to you… it looks much prettier on you than anyone else.” she chuckled softly before making her way to the table and pouring two tankards of some ale they had managed to steal from the Navy ship. It made her fairly happy that she was able to make Morgause happy.

[Kharmin]

Morgause choked back her sobs as she tried to regain her composure over the returned gift and it's strong, sentimental value. She could only manage to nod at Cameron's words as she wiped the tears from her cheeks and then fell into an extended coughing fit.

When it had finally settled, she took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. "Sorry for all of that," she said softly. "It would seem that the good commodore still has some effect on me."

She looked again at the pendant and studied the chain where it had broken when it was yanked from her neck. With the right tools, Morgause was certain that she would be able to repair it. She placed it in her pocket. "I'll fix the chain later," she said with green eyes that showed renewed life, red-rimmed as they were;

After another quick wipe of her face with her hands, she picked up the dropped longbow, sighed and looked at the captain. "So, there was something you wanted to talk about?"

[Shura]

“Right…” Cameron replied realizing she had mentioned wanting to talk. It was a necessary topic… but one that was also a bit on the difficult side, then again showing weakness was never easy. At least when you are sober. The captain moved to close the doors so their conversation was privet then moved to one of the tables picking up a bottle of rum. There was a brief flash of Morgause forlorn and saddened face from their dinner which flashed before her mind before she took a long drink. With a deep breath she sharply inhaled through her teeth letting the burn take hold and give some sense of courage. She looked to Morgause before speaking again. “I feel… like some sort of explanation is needed… to go from where we were before… to where we are now… especially with how involved we were…” she trailed off scratching the back of her head letting the hat tip forward shading her eyes. “Admittedly I was not in the best of shape after our separation. I felt Awful when I realized that you weren’t on the ship. Well that guilt persisted and mingled with other feelings of regret when reflecting back on the state of the ship and the crew. I may have made a fool of myself once or twice while drowning myself in some rather expensive Rum.” She explained trying to keep her tone light instead of dower and mournful There was no one to blame for her actions but herself.


“Aye… more than a few times.” she grumbled before shaking her head. “I place no blame of what happened on you… I let my own desires rule me and in doing so… didn’t provide the strongest base for a new crew. When I needed to keep my head focus I was distracted and that is my own fault. I lost a lot of my crew while going through my… eh… recovery. But Hannibal snapped me out of my somber stupor and I realized that the past was done and the more I sulked in it the worse things would get. So I’ve spent the past few months rebuilding my crew, keeping my eyes on the sea and my head out of the clouds. And in doing so have put my crew and their safety above my self…” She sighed heavily taking off the captains hat setting it on the table seeing no point in wearing it at that moment. It was just them talking, no one else really needed it nor did she need to keep up the tough mask she gave the crew. Even with the break they had taken for the evening the stress still showed on the young woman's face. Stress lines that were not there before and a sense of weariness which had been absent prior.


“I’ve wanted to be a captain for nearly half my life… but was so focused in having a ship and crew” She motioned around them to the ship which surrounded them before her arms feel to her side. “I gave little thought on how to run it all. I am still new to this and keep miss-stepping. Which is not helped by the constant hounding of the Navy. But still…” she raised her jade gaze to the woman she had regarded as a lover. “I would be lying if I didn’t say I still didn’t have feelings for you. I figured it bet to be honest. But… I am still figuring out how to be a good captain and find the right balance in doing what's best for myself… and what is best for my crew. I want there to be a future for us… but I also have a lot of work to do on myself for that to be possible.” She explained her tone honest and tentative, there was a slight undertone of nervousness despite the captain trying to keep her calm. The last thing she ever wanted was to have other think of her as weak. It was the quickest way to be eaten alive on a pirate ship. The captain's natural talents for shifting made keeping up appearances a breeze. But there were times where even she had trouble figuring out where the persona ended and her true self started. A constantly blurring line which was only made more difficult to find the more masks she had to juggle and personalities she had to keep. It was a great talent but it was also very easy for Cameron to lose herself in a role which made being herself and coming to terms with her own weaknesses one of the most challenging things to she had to face.

[Kharmin]

Morgause stood in place as Cameron moved around her and shut the cabin door. She closed her eyes for a brief moment as past events swirled through her mind in an attempt to stir action but she remained still. She worried over the edges of stress and fatigue that she saw in the captain that others would probably miss. If not for their earlier intimacies, Morgause probably wouldn't have recognized it either.

She stood absolutely still as Cameron spoke. The soft, lazy current at the dock shifted the ship against the moorings and Morgause unconsciously allowed her weight to move with the easy motion to maintain her balance. Voices above deck and along the dock were muffled by the thick, wooden sides of the ship.

Morgause wanted to tell Cameron that no explanation was needed. Not anymore. She understood the choice that was made, but that didn't mean that she had to like it. Although Cameron admitted to drowning her sorrow, it was quiet clear that she had managed to put Morgause behind her until fate conspired during the encounter with the Cordelia-Marie. While Morgause wallowed in filth and disease, and was subject to the commodore's tortures, she never let Cameron fall out of her hopes, dreams or her heart. It seemed to her that Cameron had done otherwise.

She kept a passive expression and disallowed her eyes to betray the turmoil within her. That Cameron allowed herself some feelings for Morgause, it was beyond clear that the woman never loved her. And that realization is what truly hurt the most.

A future for us? Morgause stewed. And what exactly would that mean? What possible future could Cameron envision that did not put her ship and crew before the two of them? Morgause wanted to scream at her with the most vile insults and language that she could muster! Outwardly, the red-head kept her calm demeanor. It wouldn't do either of them any good if she were to blow up at the captain now.

Despite all of the anger, vitriol and fury Morgause shielded within, she still loved Cameron and it was now up to Morgause to figure out how to live with love unrequited. She had laid it all out for Cameron in their conversation in the brig, and the woman barely flinched at her admission other than to ask why.

So, Morgause stood in place, observed her captain and allowed the silence in the room to grow uncomfortable.

[Shura]

The air grew still with only the rhythmic splashing of waves on the the ship to interrupt the stifling silence. She had made a mistake. A gnawing feeling was felt deep in the pit of the captains gut as she watched Morgause wondering what she had said wrong, if being so open and honest was really for the best. Her mind flashed back to the woman's confession in the brig and she whispered a small curse under her breath. Of course she hadn’t said what Moregause wanted to hear. But how could she? The thought of loving someone so deeply you would do anything for them was a terrifying one. With so many horror stories about the fall of fools who let such things rule them was a near constant among the pirate kinds. Stories of lovers quarales ending deadly or love struck fools missing obvious signs that they were being swindled. She never suspected Morgause of any of it but the paranoia and weariness of such a relationship was still there.
Even so... as much as Cameron would love a life of having her ship and Crew with Morgause by her side how long would she really be happy on a ship running from the Navy? Cameron loves this life and chose it above all else but Morgause seemed to fall into it more than anything only recently claiming accept the life of a Pirate instead of a Negotiator. The captains confidence of being able to work everything out and everyone be happy was starting to dwindle. "One thing at a time... we don't even know if we'll be alive tomorrow..." She reminded her self mentally trying to right her own mind before making a further fool of herself. 


A hand came up to the back of the captains short blond locks as she awkwardly realized her folly. She had been so focused on trying to clear things up the waters had just been muddied once more. “Sorry… if any of that wasn’t what you wanted to hear. Perhaps things were better left as they were in the brig...” The captain spoke up in a quiet voice before she reached for her hat and placed it back on her head burying along her own feelings once more along with the sense of weakness and openness she had shared in that moment. There was another swig from the bottle to sober up before a soft sigh left her lips the captains mind trying to reason through the situation and salvage what was left. “I suppose we should focus more on what is in front of us with the Navy… and the blue eyed woman that is still chasing you if my guess is correct.” She looked to Morgause with a more serious expression.

[Kharmin]

Morgause watched Cameron appear to wither under the awkward silence. Regardless of how the captain handled it, the silence was having an effect and that was what Morgause had been looking for. The captain exuded a heaviness that tended toward insecurity and a lack of confidence. The job that Cameron had taken upon herself was arduous at best and Morgause quickly realized that injecting her own wants and needs into the equation was not making things productive.

The anger and frustration ebbed from behind her green eyes. She felt sorry for Cameron, but held her sympathy in check. It wasn't something that the captain needed right now. No, Cameron needed something more ... uplifting.

She crossed the cabin and gently laid her bow on the table. She placed her hand on Cameron's shoulder with a friendly squeeze. "No, it wasn't what I wanted to hear," Morgause admitted in a voice softer and lower than was typical, "but it was what I needed to hear."

Morgause moved her hand from Cameron's shoulder and cupped the back of the captain's neck. She pulled her in for a passionate kiss as she wrapped her other arm around the blonde. Morgause breathed all of her fervor into the kiss and then pulled free.

"You may control every aspect of your ship, my captain," Morgause purred. She gripped Cameron's triceps and held her at arm's length. Renewed life, unseen since her rescue, sparked in her eyes, "But you will never change the way that I feel about you. The tides may change and the winds may shift but my ... affection ... for you will neither waiver nor wane. I will forever be the constant in your life, be it next to you or far and away."

She stepped back, released her hold and added with a grin, "But I would prefer to be by your side."

Morgause retrieved her bow, turned and made her way toward the door. "The world is full of people who would try to get you from behind. Let me handle them." she said. She stopped, opened the door and turned her head back to Cameron. Lush, red hair spilled over the sniper's shoulder. "You just keep your focus on what's ahead."

[Shura]

With the awkward silence passed the captain tried to refocus her mind on getting past the situation and focus on more serious matters. Though her train of thought was cut off as she heard the soft clatter of something being set on the table. Jade eyes shifted to the table where a bow rested then to the approaching woman who seemed to move with much more purpose than before. There was a small bit of reassurance in that moment as Morgause voice some level of acceptance in what had been said but before Cameron could speak the hand resting on her shoulder move sending familiar chills down her spine as in a few short seconds she found herself in a very familiar situation. A warm body pressed against hers in an earnest hug as skin pressed upon skin sending shocks of near forgotten passion that seemed to set the young captains body a blaze. In that moment there was an almost painful need to simply embrace the siren with in reach and throw caution to the wind to embrace at least a brief respite from the stress of the world outside their shared space.

Before the captain could take any action however the entrancing moment was broken and as the siren pulled away. Mind distracted and sense hazed slightly Cameron could barely pay attention to what was even being said. It wasn’t until Morgause moved away that she pulled herself together enough to realize what was trying to be communicated. There was a warmth in her chest in part still lingering for the spark the simple kiss had stirred but also in part from the assurance that Morgause would stick by her side… at least for the foreseeable future. The movement towards the door seemed to stir a sense of yearning and in that moment the carefully constructed Captain person, the mask she had been trying to hastily fix back into place after bearing a small bit of herself to Morgause, was pushed away as impulse took over. The distance between them was closed quickly as the agile captain was upon the woman in seconds. Her hand was placed on the door shutting it just as the rays of light started to enter the light from outside started to invade the little bubble that had been formed. The other hand moved up to Morgause cheek in a gentle caress reminiscent of their time spent together at port.

There was a small pause as Cameron seemed to sober up but instead of pulling back she simply gave a small smile. A warmth in her eyes not seen since all those months ago. “Aye… you make it very difficult to focus.” the blonde murmured gently before leaning in and pressed her lips to Morgause in an equally passionate kiss. The heated seconds seemed to stretch for much longer before Cameron pulled back completely from Morgause taking a breath to compose herself. Though the warm in her jade eyes seemed to dim to embers it was still there as the persona was put back into place “I will be on my best behavior though.” Cameron gave a bit of a playful smile “Your quarters should be the same as you left them… I look forward to having you watch my back as we sail.” She stated pulling back from the door to allow free access to the rest of the ship.

[Kharmin]

Morgause hesitated at Cameron's approach. Her heart leaped at the woman's proximity when the captain closed the door. Cameron's hand, warm but rough from hauling countless lines at sea, gently pressed on Morgause's cheek. She cast her eyes downward, embarrassed by the scar upon which captain's fingers now touched – a blemish to an otherwise angelic face and a cold, stark reminder of the mistakes of her past.

Cameron's soothing voice brought Morgause's green eyes back up to meet hers and the kind smile that radiated from Cameron's face. Time stood still as the captain leaned in for her kiss and Morgause almost swooned at the moment had Cameron's strong arms not held her. Morgause whimpered into the kiss as their tongues dancced as lovers of old that had never forgotten their steps.

When Cameron finally, painfully pulled away, Morgause took in a deep breath. "Why captain," she said invitingly, "kisses like that are like to cause a girl to forget her place around here."

She regained her balance and her eyes showed a rekindled energy. "But let's not lose our focus so soon," she added as she reached for the handle on the door. "There ought to be plenty of time for that."

Morgause exited the captain's quarters and made her way across the deck. The quarter moon frolicked among light wisps of clouds that veiled the dimmest stars from view. A light breeze from the sea carried the scent of salt-spray that tried effortlessly to overwhelm the smells of the quay. Few deck hands remained above who watched her movements with a critical eye and low whispers between them.

She paused at the stairs as anxiety seized her. Memories of imprisonment on the Cordelia-Marie flushed through her and she reached out to steady herself. Her hand clutched onto another's arm. She turned and found Tomas next to her, steadying her.

"Whoa, there," he said. "Calm down; I've got you."

"I ... thanks, Tomas. I just can't go down there. Not now," Morgause said as she regained her senses.

"That's ok," Tomas said. "You don't have to."

Her head swiveled around and saw that her actions had not escaped notice from all of those on deck. At last, she turned toward the aft deck. "I think I'll just sleep up here," she said as she made her way to the steps leading up. "Thank you, Tomas. I can manage it."

The young lad nodded and released his powered grip and Morgause almost immediately stumbled at the return of gravity. She composed herself and made her way to her old position near the rail.

After a few minutes, Tomas appeared with some blankets. "Thought you might want these," he said. "Might get chilly up here tonight."

Morgause smiled and accepted the blankets. With Tomas' help, she spread them out and made as comfortable a space as she was able. She laid her bow and quiver of arrows nearby and settled in for the night.

Tomas sat against the adjacent railing as a silent sentinel. Inwardly, Morgause smiled at the boy's dedication.

[Shura]

Cameron let out a heavy sigh as Morgause left the cabin the cold refreshing breeze acted like a splash of cold water on the captains face as the heated moment was broken completely. It almost felt like steam had been let out of the room leaving only the slightly stale air of the room. “Need to open windows more often…” she muttered glancing around to everyone who lingered on deck catching a few people glaring at Morgause as she past and whispering to one another. An almost sickening feeling twisted in her gut as vague feeling of regret started to swirl but Cameron shook it off and simply went inside. As impulsive as that moment had been… she would not be making the same mistakes twice. She had just needed to get it out of her system now. At least that's what Cameron told herself as she made her way to the table where maps were sprawled across. “Ah boy… what to do… where to even go…” she grumbled as she lazily picked up a bottle from the table and took a long drink of the amber liquid inside. Its contents burning all the way down her throat into her stomach causing the discomfort to settle.
“Don’t tell me you’re already getting your self sloshed.” A deep voice spoke from the doorway as it opened revealing the tall build frame of the first mate. The corners of his lips forever turned into a frown though now the lines seemed to have been etched a little deeper.
“Worry not, the past few days have just been stressful.” Cameron stated setting the bottle down as she tilted her head from side to side as if trying to work out some of the kink. “Honestly the bathhouse was amazing but I could have used massage after fight.”
The first mates eyes never wavered from the captains slender form. His critical gaze always studying. “Aye well… perhaps you have a point.” he reasoned before moving to the table. “Why were ye-”
“I needed to set things straight.” Cameron cut off already knowing what she was going to be asked. Her hands reached to pick up one of the maps which depicted a large swatch of sea bordered by countries and dotted with islands. One several of those islands there were X’s marked upon the ports in different colors while other were circled. “I did not want her to get her hopes up that things would return to how they were… and that I needed to run my ship proper if we want to survive this Navy onslaught we’ve been facing.” She said motioning to the map as if to prove a point. “The commodores maps showed several more ports which have been targeted and we are losing more safe havens every day. Now is not the time to be getting distracted.” She muttered softly already knowing what Hannible was going to say.
“Right.” the first mate grunted picking up one of the maps which hand a Navy emblem etched into the bottom corner. “Cordea… Ixle… even Masspor.” he muttered grimly.
“Aye… but not all is lost. From some letters that have been marked it seems as though many of the Port cities taken months ago have started to see a decrease in Navy activity. With them pushing to so many other times it seems they are also spreading themselves too thin.” Cameron smirked slightly a mischievous glint in her eyes. “They need to start pulling troops if they wish to keep their little crusade. “We’ve already started spending less time in port… and hiding our ships there maybe be ways to cut back towards the north and regroup with any survivors and start making a better system for transporting messages.”
“I doubt there are many left…honestly what we need to do is meet at Tiji.” Hannibal pointed out “The meeting is taking place in two months…”
“Possibly three…and that is if the Navy hasn’t caught wind to that as well…” Cameron grumbled pushing off from the table, boots scuffed against the uneven planks of the room as she moved to one of the windows which overlooked the ocean. A frown curved her face as she stared out at the inky black darkness of the horizon. Stars doting the sky while the moon hung low still making its accent into the sky. Thoughts churned in her mind over and over again as she tried to figure out what what best course of action was. Safe to say their options were limited with how quickly the Navy was spreading their troops. She sighed remembering back to when things were not nearly as chaotic of stressful. When being a pirate meant doing as you pleased and the Navy were a bunch of incompetent fools. Now those days were gone… and there were only memories to give hope that things would turn around.
In reminiscing about the past a small idea perked into her mind. A small glimmer of hope that had been pushed to the back of her mind. “What we need… is a trump card…” she muttered her eyes shifting to the shelves on the walls before she quickly made her way to one of the little boxes nestled in with the other goods and supplies. She opened it up and rummaged through the papers and notes which had been kept inside before pulling out the shard of a crystal. “What we need… is something more if we want to truly rule the seas.”
Hannibal shook his head. “We need real answers not fairytales.”
“This is no fairy tail.” Cameron countered as she moved to set the box back on the table. “Look… we have to make pit stops any way so might as well do a little digging while we are at it. Worst that happens we got for a nice walk and possibly find some other treasures. Best case scenario? We rule the seas and have the power to sink every navy ship possible. We’ll be untouchable!” She grinned.
Hannibled sighed heavily. “You pick the worst things to get invested in, Captin’”
“Aye… but high risk mean high reward. And I I think I can feel a lucky streak coming on.”

The crew stayed in port for a few days as the repairs were made to the ship and their stock was resupplied. They prepared for a long journey and the possibility of very few stops. Cameron seemed determined to make sure everything was in tip top shape as the captain seemed to show a surge of renewed energy and passion to make a difference against the oppressive force which seemed to always be at their heels. The seas were fair and the wind strong as they set a course heading south bound towards a small island with barely and port to speak of. Cameron seemed to be back on her game as she steadied her ship towards its destinations. Though there were times where she would lock herself up in her cabin for entire evenings trying to puzzle together the scraps of notes and clues that were left by the previous owner of the jewels shard.

[Kharmin]

The last days in port did wonders for Morgause's recuperation. Decent meals and not living in squalor returned a more healthy color to her skin and the gauntness of her figure had turned back into a semblance of normalcy. She was still unable to go below deck without suffering from panic attacks, so she staked out a place at the stern and kept out of the way of the crew.

Only on occasion did she manage to lock eyes with the captain during those days. They enjoyed no further intimacies, much to Morgause's severe disappointment. For her part, though, the sniper kept to her word that things would be different and kept a respectful distance.

Tomas kept her entertained when he wasn't laboring under Hannibal's all-seeing eyes. The lad regaled Morgause with the happenings on the Wind's Will in her absence. Tomas didn't talk much about the captain's state during those past months and Morgause felt it best to allow those stories to come on their own so she didn't press.

The mistrust among the balance of the crew continued to be palpable despite Tomas' efforts to win them to her side. Morgause tolerated the looks, sneers and comments (which were no longer whispered outside of Cameron's ear) but it made her heart heavy to know that her forced actions had led her to such dealings.

Morgause regained her strength by climbing all through the rigging, from deck to nest and across the spars. Her balance had returned faster than her physical strength and she constantly tested herself. By the end of the week, Morgause was drawing her bow to full and had begun to feel more like her old self.

It was good to be back at sea and moving once again. Morgause wasn't used to staying in any one place for long as those who sought her might catch up with her. Those threats of old still remained although oddly enough she hadn't sensed the blue-eyed woman since her time on the Cordelia-Marie.

[Shura]

The sun was starting to set on another peaceful day at sea. Everyone seemed to be in fairly good spirits as word spread about that they would be making land fall the next day. It was the first time in weeks that they had a relatively calm and uneventful sail. This was in part because Cameron had plotted a course that would take them out of the way of the Navy over all. They had just gotten their ship fixed the last time the captain wanted was another fight. It would put the small fortune she had spent to get her ship put back together to waste just to have it undone in a few days. That and she had picked up some precious cargo to transport to their next location that would be quite the boon for their coffers. Most of their lower storage space had been filled to the brim with sugars and textiles that the island they were going to seemed to be in desperate need of. There was a small silver line to be seen when posing as a cargo delivery ship to avoid detection.

After what was two evening in her cabin the Captain emerged having figured out, hopefully, what was needed to find the next piece of the puzzle. Her hair was a bit of a tousled mess but she didn't seem to mind her expression also bare one of a better mood than the pensive one worn before. Brows no longer creased with furrowed brows and frowning lips now the good captain looked more at ease. She climbed onto up to the held where Hannibal had lingered the first mate quirking a brow at Cameron as she approached. "I see you finally figured out your puzzle?" He questioned as he kept the ship on course eyes going back to the silvered sea before them. The full moons reflection casting a perfect trail for them to follow as if chasing the celestial body to the ends of the earth with no other land mass to be seen out in the open ocean.

"Aye! Finally figured out what where I need to go to find the next piece." Cameron smirked leaning against the banister relishing the fresh night air. "It might be a little dicey but more so because of how difficult it is to find the cave and how dark it will no doubt be... but the stone should at the very least point me in the right direction. If it's still there..." She sighed softly crossing her arms over her chest. "T'is the issue with all this."

"Ah well let's hope that luck is on your side then." Hannibal stated bluntly.

"Aye... though we will see what awaits us once we reach port tomorrow..." Cameron muttered glancing to be back of the ship seeing a familiar slender form staring off at the trail of wake left by the ship. "Speaking of which..." she muttered before pushing of the railing with a gentle shove. She approached the woman her boots scraping against the deck as she tried to make her presents known instead of spooking the siren who seemed lost in thought in that moment. "Lovely night, right?" she voiced reaching the railing as well eyes fixated on inky sky above spotted with stars. "Any sign of the blue eyes woman?" she asked her voice much softer as her gaze shifted to meet Morgause.

[Kharmin]

Morgause smiled warmly at Cameron's approach. The full moon danced across the sniper's face and stumbled only where it crossed the mocking scar below her right eye – a tacit reminder of more foolish actions of the past. Still, her affection for the captain radiated from her face and she wet her lips in anticipation of kisses that someday would be hers again.

"Any night I may spend with you is a lovely night," she said with a hint of desire playing in her tone. Morgause's voice was low as was typical of her speech and thus unheard by others near to the two of them.

The warm, southern wind that filled the sails and pressed them ever closer to their next port toyed with Morgause's luscious, long red hair that she refused to queue up in defiance to the knots and tangles that would inevitably win the fight. Sea-salt weighed heavily in the evening's humid air.

"I have not sensed her trailing me for some time now," Morgause replied to Cameron's question. "It may be that my gamble to board the Cordelia-Marie paid off in this regard." The rune the back of Morgause's hand slowly brightened until it blazed in a florescent green glow which, in the light of the moon, was also seen in her eyes. She scanned the horizon behind them and, after a few moments, the rune's glow faded out. "There is nothing astern Captain," she sighed, "but that does not mean that the woman has given up her chase. She could simply not be focusing directly on me."

The thought of the blue-eyed woman's lack of attention had been at the forefront of Morgause's mind for several days now. Since they had weighed anchor, she had been watching and waiting for any sign of the woman's pursuit. Morgause was not so naive to believe that the woman would have just given up – too much blood had been spilled for that. No, some other strategy was in play and Morgause was damned if she knew what it was.

Regardless of her worry, the time at sea had done wonders for her physique. Morgause rarely suffered any coughing fits and when she did, they were brief and devoid of the black sludge that she once choked up in result. Her daily regimen had re-toned her slender body to its more proper form such that the shirt given to her by Tomas barely restrained any of her assets. The tightness of her clothes was a constant reminder to Morgause that she was still indebted and had a long way to go yet to clear her sins, if that were even possible. She did notice the furtive glances that her attire and form gained from several of the crew who were a bit less hostile to her presence than they had been when she was first introduced to them.

Morgause hadn't completely overcome her anxiety of going below deck, so she continued to spend as much of her time at her station at the stern as she was able. She had managed to work out a system with the cook where Tomas would bring her the items and ingredients to prepare and she would dutifully do so from her place at the rail.

She dismissed her worry of the blue-eyed woman and placed her hand over Cameron's where it rested. She gave it a soft, inviting squeeze and then released it. "But did my captain really come here to discuss other women?"

[Shura]

Cameron kept a small smile trying not to be effected too much by the tone in the sirens voice. She glanced between the redhead and the sea, the ocean breeze blowing tossing her messy blond hair hair gently. "That is a good sign..." She voiced at the mention of there being no sign of being followed so far. It made her hopeful that thing would work out in the end. The last thing she wanted was a dog nipping at their heals making their already difficult life harder. "You are looking much more healthy." Cameron commented her gaze wandering along Morgause's form, the color in her skin and light of her eyes made Cameron a little more at ease about the woman's conditions. The fact that she had such a terrible cough did make her worry at first but Thomas swore that Morgause was doing better which put her mind to some ease. Seeing her in much better shape than when they first reunited worked to sooth some of the guilt over their separation. Cameron locked eyes with the fair siren before chuckling softly. "Well... I am simply wondering how quickly we have to get our next task done." she replied teasing about their next venture. The captain moved to lean against the railing as she stared out at the sea. "You remember the crystal shard we found in a cave months ago?" Cameron questioned knowing that several very memorable thing had happened that day alone, some of which poked at the embers of lust in Camerons gut but she tried her best to ignore it. "Well... I have gathered a small trove of clues and hints where to look for the other shards... there are six in total... I intend to find all six of them and take back the seas." She looked to Morgause. "Our next stop has a possible location of a shard and I'm going to take some time to find it. I was wondering if you would like to accompany on my venture." She offered with a charming smile. "We were together when finding the first, so I figured it would make sense to seek out the other shards together as well."

[Kharmin]

Morgause kept her gaze on the sea below and behind them as the Wind's Will continued her steady pace to their next port. The wake churned softly in a mesmerizing way which was one reason the sniper maintained her station aft. As Cameron spoke to her, she kept her face turned to profile so that Cameron wouldn't see the scar on her cheek. A kind smile warmed its way across Morgause's lips while she listened.

"Thank you, Captain," she purred when Cameron remarked on her recovery. Her body was the only, true asset Morgause had and she always worked tirelessly to keep it in top form. Now, reunited with her lover, Morgause worked extra hard to return her shape to what it was prior to her capture in the hope that Cameron would notice; unfortunately for Morgause it seemed that the captain's attention had not be swayed by her efforts.

When their eyes locked, Morgause sensed a familiarity that she felt was overshadowed by this new Cameron. Inwardly, Morgause mourned at the loss of their intimacy, even in close conversation as they were now. She was determined not to press the point in order to maintain her promise to Cameron that their relationship would be different than before. Still, there was a small victory every time Cameron came close to her which, during this part of their voyage, was far too infrequent for her liking. Sometimes it was like walking on glass.

Morgause allowed a small moment of silence when Cameron had finished. She reveled in the captain's proximity and was afraid that her answer would prompt the captain to return to her duties. She looked down and plucked absently at the railing as her arms crossed on it and channeled their first encounter which seemed ages ago as she replied, "I will do whatever my captain desires of me. If you would have me accompany you, I would be happy to oblige."

She was concerned about how Hanibal would take the news and almost brought it up, but decided it best to allow the captain to be the captain. Cameron would have to settle that with her first mate.