The Wind's Will

[Shura]

Cameron forced a small smile. "Well perhaps you should listen to me next time..." she muttered brushing some stray locks out of her face. "Nothing too bad, I'll live in all honesty." She reassured noting how tired she still looked. It would probably be a few days before she would be able to walk around without weakness. She frowned slightly as Morgause started to slip away again worried about her decision to move her from the clinic where there would be someone trained to help in case she took a turn for the worst. Unfortunately time was not on their side and neither was the guarantee of safety with in the town.

[Kharmin]

Morgause woke again. She had not regained any of her strength as with great effort she opened her eyes and turned her head. Cameron sat in the overstuffed chair which had been moved closer so that her feet could rest, elevated on the end of the bed. She marveled at the captain's beauty in slumber and recalled a more intimate time when she had watched her sleep at the camp beside the lagoon.

The wound in her side, although stitched, ached painfully as nothing had been used to numb her from the pain – she was unconscious at the time and rapidly loosing blood, so the physician at the clinic had wasted no time.

She hated to wake Cameron, but she knew that to better heal she had to have some sustenance. With a huge effort, she pushed her foot under the sheets and prodded the sleeping woman's leg.

"Captain," Morgause whispered. "I think I should try to eat something and if you have any water around I would gladly give you my very soul for some." Morgause wasn't certain, but she thought that she might be running a slight fever as the sweat along her brow matted her damp hair to her forehead.

She waved a very weak and limp hand. "Just wake me if I fall asleep again so I can eat. I must start regaining some of my strength or else I will have absolutely no value to you if I remain thus."

[Shura]

Cameron had fallen into a light sleep her bodies need for rest causing her to pass out even though she tried to stay awake. She twitched slightly when she was nudged letting out a groggy sigh as she opened her eyes. She glanced around a bit dazed at first before seeing Morgause awake. A faint smile crossed her lips but it faded when she mentioned fever, possibly the worst thing after such a devastating wound. Still she kept her calm.

The mention of food and water reminded her of the meal the cook had put together earlier. She had managed to eat some of the stew but not finish the whole thing. Mogause meal had been left on the table covered with a lid to in the heat until she woke. "Dinner wasn't too long ago so its still warm." she muttered cautiously pulling herself to her feet cringing slightly. She had many wounds in the past before, some worse than the one she had now. But any along the abdomen was always the worse because in impeded so much on movement.

She moved to carefully helped the red head head so she was propped up by several pillows allowing her to eat properly. She retrieve a small pitcher of water along with the warm soup. Then helped the woman with some water first before helping her eat some of the hearty stew as well. It was one thing she was grateful for was still being in port so food wasn't scarce or needed to be watered down to make last.

[Kharmin]

Morgause sat partially up with Cameron's help and the propped pillows behind her. As she moved, the myriad of cuts and lacerations made themselves known as they burned and stung with her movement. Morgause lightly touched the newly forming scar across her cheek with sad, green eyes. It was a blemish that would never fade.

She was too weak to properly hold the wooden vessel of water that Cameron provided, so she reluctantly allowed her captain to assist her. She drank as if she had an unquenchable thirst. Morgause also accepted Cameron's help with the stew as she simply had no strength. She only ate four or five spoons of the meal before telling her that she couldn't stomach any more.

"Captain," Morgause said in between bites, "you should assign someone else to do this. You have other responsibilities to attend which do not include nursing me to health."

She regarded her torn and blood-soaked shirt and remarked with a weak chuckle, "Guess I need a new shirt now. Pity, I did so like this one."

As Cameron returned the bowl of stew to the table, Morgause said, "I would be much more comfortable without these pants on." The look in her eyes was of sincere fatigue and no spark of lust or desire shined within them. Once removed, she slid back down and exhaled.

"Much better. Thank you, captain," she managed as her eyes again closed and she succumbed to sleep.

[Shura]

Cameron assisted the Morgause comfortable letting her rest once more. She did have a point as much as she would have liked to make sure Morgause was ok her self she couldn't spend days in her cabin racing care of her lover. She sighed heavily and sat back in the chair thinking over who would she trusted. She tried to think it over however exhaustion weighed heavily on her and she was pulled into sleep once more. The night passed with out much fuss Cameron woke up intermitedly to make sure Morgause was alright before falling asleep.

Morning came and the crew was already in motion to set sail. Cameron had gotten up early as well to make use everything was going according to plan. She had pulled aside Tomas, a young teen who was in many respects a younger version of Cameron, hard working and determined to prove himself on the ship. She trusted him to run messages and was probably the best on board to help Morgause when she was on deck.

Cameron took the helm sailing slightly at the familiar sight of dawn rising over the sails of the other ships. She caught the signal from the two other ship and signaled back. "Alright, release sails! Let's get moving!" She called over the crew. The sails were released and the ship pulled away from port

[Kharmin]

Morgause slept the remainder of the day and through the night. By morning, when the ship was well underway, Morgause woke to the gentle rock and pitch of the waves along the hull. Voices and activity echoed from above decks along with the regular creaking of the lines through their blocks and the muted cries of seagulls far astern.

Her fever remained, but didn't seem to elevate and in the morning when she woke she was incredibly thirsty. She opened her green eyes and looked for Cameron. She had not expected the teen-aged lad to be sitting in the captain's chair as he watched over her. His light brown hair was close cropped above his ears and he regarded Morgause with wide, brown eyes. The lad's wiry frame bespoke of little time aboard a ship as his muscles hadn't yet started to develop in his arms. He was dressed in plain, brown cotton pants and a light, linen shirt. Like the rest of the sailors, his feet were bare. The boy's skin had tanned, but didn't yet show the hours under the sun that the rest of the crew wore.

Morgause's brow furrowed in confusion. "Who are you?" she whispered, he voice rough and husky from her fever.

"Name's Tomas," the boy said. His voice was higher pitched but gentle on the ear. "Captain said to take care of you."

Morgause's lips curled in a small smile, "Did he now?" she asked rhetorically. "Well, Tomas, would you be so kind and bring me some water?" Morgause shifted as she slowly eased herself into a more upright position. She still lacked much strength and sitting fully upright was something that just wasn't going to happen at this point.

Tomas retrieved the wooden cup and poured some water from a skin into it. He brought it over to Morgause with his brown eyes drinking in her state.

"Please, Tomas," Morgause chided gently as she handed the cup back and ran her hand through her matted and tangled red hair. "I look a fright."

"No, you don't," he stammered. "I've seen you, standing on the stern castle in your cloak and all, but never knew ..." Tomas left off as his cheeks flushed.

Morgause smiled. Even the scar along her cheek seemed to not dissuade the young boy from her beauty. Perhaps all was not lost after all? she chuckled to herself.

"Thank you, Tomas," Morgause said as her soft voice regained some of its mystery after the drink of water. "I need something else, if you would help me?"

The boy looked up and shook his head. "Whatever you need," he said. "It's what the captain said."

"Well, then," Morgause answered. "Do me a favor and look through the drawers over there and see if you can't find one of his shirts. I would like to discard this torn and bloodied one."

Tomas complied and in a few quick moments of searching, returned with a staple, linen shirt. Morgause tried to sit up a bit higher and motioned for Tomas' assistance. Once done, she said, "I'm going to need your help changing."

Tomas' eyes widened even further as he stepped back shaking his head. "No, I shouldn't," he protested.

Morgause beckoned him closer. "Tomas, I promise I won't bite. Now, come on and help because I simply can't do this on my own."

Reluctantly, the boy returned to the side of the bed. With a tender, and tentative touch, he helped pull the ruined shirt over Morgause's head. Brown eyes stared at her torso, but were drawn mostly to the ugly, puckered wound that was sewn with ragged, dark thread. It still seeped blood, so at Morgause's direction he cut and tore strips from her shirt.

With the offending garment removed, Morgause sighed in pleasure as the sea air caressed her naked chest. She took the captain's shirt and tossed it to the foot of the bed. "Forget the shirt," she said. "Please find me some clean bandages; I don't think using my old shirt would be such a good idea."

"Tomas," she called to him as he headed for the door, "I could also use a little something to eat if you can manage to pull something together for me?"

Tomas stared back at the goddess of a woman, half-naked on the bed across the captain's cabin from him. His teen-aged lust stabbed at his loins and he found it difficult to turn away from the red-haired, green-eyed vixen that would be powerless against his urges in her current state.

But her trust in him overrode any sense of impropriety, for how could he take advantage of someone so lovely? It wouldn't be until later that night, as he had time to digest his encounter with the captain's mysterious sharp-shooter that he would realize he had fallen in love with her.

[Shura]

Cameron steamed the ship carefully calling for the crew to hold fire as Anton and Kingotns ship sailed ahead. The two were more experienced in naval combat so they took the lead on the plan her job was to supply back up should it be needed. She watched as the to ships sailed ahead flanking the Brig on each side. All was still for a brief moment before the first volley of shots was fired from Kingtons ship. The always had last for carnage. The big returned fire not only on Kingons but on Anton's ship as well. Cameron moved the ship around to Anton's side since his ship was less geared for battle than Kingtons. "Load the hot shots and fire at will, take care to only hit the Navy ship!" She called as she pulled along side the big. She ship rocked slightly as the cannons were fired arcing though the air and hitting their mark.

The battle was showing signs of being short lived. With the small group fighting against the larger ship it left little Rome for the Naval ship to maneuver or flee. However that didn't man the winds swill was completely safe from damage. The larger ship did have easily twice the cannons than they did which Menander cannon fire was dived among the ships. Cameron slipped out of the danger zone several times avoiding most of the damage though a few shots did make their mark. 15 minutes stretched on for what felt like an hour before the Brig was sent to the bottom of the sea taking the crew with it. The crew cheated as the sales slip below the waters allowing safe passage once more.

Cameron let out a victorious cry along with the rest before turning the frigate about to head towards open sea. She waved over to to the other two ships as they sailed their separate ways figuring it best to split up incase back up wasn't far behind. Cameron sighed taking in the fresh salt air making the victory all the mor sweater. She knew it wasn't going to be the last of the fights but if pirates could band together there was a good chance the Navy would fail in their endeavor to ride the world of piracy. The sweat taste of victory was sour however as her wound started to ach once more, not very appreciative of the added movement the captain had don't to steal the ship out of harms way.

[Kharmin]

No rest for the weary, Morgause thought as the battle to escape the port commenced. She heard Cameron's orders and the rapid tamping of bare feet that skittered across and throughout the ship as the Winds Will teetered hard against the tack. Cannon fire rang out as Cameron's ship showed her mettle. Each reply shuddered through the stout timbers of the ship, but she held true and the overall damage was negligible.

Morgause itched to be topside where her skills were best put to use. In a brief moment of panic, she tried to sit up and glance around the captain's cabin. Her longbow, always near at hand regardless of her condition, was nowhere to be seen. She sighed and dropped her fevered head back onto the pillows as the realization struck home: her longbow had been left at the meeting room in the tavern.

A lone tear worked its way from the corner of her eye. Weaponless, she was of no use to Cameron now. Sure, they had their clandestine relationship, but now Morgause had no outward reason to be on the Winds Will. The crew would talk and Cameron's secret would eventually come out.

She wrapped her naked and bandaged body in the covers that had long since become drenched in her sweat and turned her face to the wall, buried her face in the captain's pillow and wept.

Silence soon fell as the battle ended and the ship was secured from the fight. Morgause cried bitterly as her weakened body was wracked and violently shaken with fever and despair. Eventually, exhaustion prevailed and she slipped back into unconsciousness.

[Shura]

Cameron leaned heavily on the wheel as the pain persisted, she was determined to push through it. As time passed Hanibal saw the captains leaning more on the helm for support and nudged her slightly. "The battle is over and the coarse has been set, you should go rest and heal while there is a lull."
Cameron waved the man away, "I'll be fine... it just aches a bit..." she muttered.
The first mate frowned and simply nudged her slightly rougher than he had before cause her to have to catch her balance earning more jabs of sharp pain. Cameron growled softly looking up at the man. "Your testing my patients..."
"And your pushing your luck, your lucky if your wound didn't reopen during the battle. You needed to heal as much as possible before we reach port. Any sign of weakness towards the merchants we're dealing with wont end well."
The captain sighed in frustration unable to really argue his logic. "Fine..." She muttered under her breath as she stepped away from the helm allowing Hanibal to take over. "Alert me if anything strange comes about..." she muttered as she made her way down to her quarters. She braced her a wound slightly wondering if the wound had reopened briefly as she reached her quarters. She saw Morgause still asleep and sighed softly letting herself fall into the over sized chair. She lifted her shirt slightly to check the bandages cursing softly when saw saw new spots of blood peeking through the white linen.

[Kharmin]

Without knocking, Tomas entered the captain's cabin. He took two steps before he realized that Cameron was seated in her chair.

"Oh!" he said in a surprised whisper so as not to wake Morgause. "Sorry, captain, I thought you were at the wheel." Tomas fidgeted a moment before asking, "Um, is there anything you need? I was checking on ... um, her ... to see if she needed water, food whatever."

Tomas' speaking increased in speed at his obvious nervousness in both Cameron's and Morgause's proximity. "Sorry about your shirt," he added as he pointed at the one Morgause had discarded at the foot of the bed. "She wanted one, but after we got her shirt off she decided she liked it better without."

Tomas' face turned bright red when he realized what he had said: we got her shirt off. "N-n-no, that's not what happened!" he stammered. "Well, yeah, it happened, but she told me to help, and so I did and then, well, I left to get food and the battle started and.... well... um ... "

[Shura]

Cameron looked up as Tomas entered just watching as he fumbled and rambled nervously. She chuckled softly, she should have figured he wouldn't be immunize to Morgause natural charm and beauty, very few were so it seemed. "Be at ease Tomas." she muttered softly. "So long as she asked for your assistance it's fine." She reassured. "I'm good for now really, possibly need to change my bandages once the bleeding stops..." she thought a loud wondering when the right time to change the bandages would be. the doctor stated ever several hours depending on the bleeding.

[Kharmin]

Tomas paused as he listened to Cameron, then timidly crossed the cabin to Morgause's bed side. With her back turned, her shoulder was left slightly uncovered. With a hint of reverence, Tomas eased the cover back across her smooth, tanned skin. He looked closer and turned back to the captain.

"Her fever is really high, isn't it?" he whispered. Tomas hovered his hand just about Morgause's red, sweat soaked hair. "I can feel it without even touching her." He looked to Cameron for guidance; it was clear that this level of care was outside of his knowledge. His brown eyes were ladened with worry over the sleeping sharp-shooter.

[Shura]

Cameron frowned slightly as she looked over to Morgouse worriedly, she'd hoped the fever would have broken or at least remained a mild once. They were already out at sea which meant getting any additional medicine would have to wait. "Go down to the clinic and see if they have anything for fevers and a basin of water" she requested pulling herself up from her chair too move closer to the feverish woman.

[Kharmin]

Tomas immediately left to do as instructed. His rapid, bare feet could be heard slapping along the wooden deck boards through the closed door as he ran.

Morgause slept. Her complexion had paled since before the fight against the naval blockade and she was shivering even beneath the layers of covers on the captain's bed. Sweat poured from her skin and ran in small rivulets as the drops comingled with the sway of the ship through the ocean's swells.

The sharpshooter looked frail and fragile, as a china doll which when touched would easily shatter into irrecoverable pieces. Mangled and twisted red hair, saturated with her fevered sweat, plastered all over her face and shoulder. The pillow and sheets were similarly drenched as the illness continued to batter the captain's lover.

Tomas returned with the basin and a leather skin of water. He handed them to Cameron and then produced a packet with crushed and ground herbs from the folds of his shirt. "I tried to tell them how bad it was, but they really didn't have much for fevers, captain," he said with his face full of concern and worry. "She'll be alright, won't she?" he asked, fully trusting Cameron's reply.

[Shura]

Cameron carefully moved Morgause into her back and checked over her wounds noting that they were slightly red but did not look infected at least not obviously so, but that didn't mean one wasn't developing.she cursed under her breath unsure of what exactly to do, she'd never dealt with anything more than a cold before. She glanced over at Tomas as he brought the water and forced herself to stay calm, "Aye... I hope so..." She muttered using a cloth and soaking it in the tepid water before using it to bath Morgause face and neck hoping it would do something to help cool her down.