The Wind's Will

[Shura]

Cameron smirked slightly at the Morgause playfulness, but didn't feel much better about having to be restitched she sighed heavily accepting the bottle and took a long drink of from the high proof rum. Wincing slightly at the potent burn on the way down but enjoyed it. "Alright... I'll stay put..." She muttered watching as Morgause took her leave. She was very tempted to try and escape but knew it was pointless. Pluses it was best not to anger the one who was to stick her up. She took another long drink before setting the bottle aside starting to feel the warmth and a bit fuzzy in in her mind. She heard some conversing outside and realized it was Morgaise and Hananibl, most likely worried about her since she wasn't on deck all morning. She sat up slightly ignoring the pain, she could at least reassure him that she was ok right? Before she could even attempt to get up Morgause re entered the room. "Is everything alright?"

[Kharmin]

Morgause slipped through the slight opening of the door, her lithe body gaining her some advantage at the maneuver. She shook her head at Cameron's query. "No, everything is not alright," she said with a hint of anger in her tenor. "The ship is without a captain, which is why you need to sit still and let me get to work."

She crossed the room and handed the bottle back to Cameron. "More," she commanded and then began to set about situating her tools for the arduous task before them. "More," she insisted again, unsatisfied at the amount of rum that still remained in the bottle.

With a gentle, lover's touch, Morgause deftly snipped away the existing sutures. Some of them pulled on puckered skin around the wound and seeped a little blood, but for the most part the wound had set. The need for the new stitches was to keep it that way so that it would properly heal.

"More," Morgause demanded with a calm voice as she kept her attention on her job. With the final few strands removed, the entire affair had taken just a few, tense minutes during which Cameron had barely flinched. That was the easy part, Morgause thought as she blew a few strands out of her eyes with a sigh.

"You'll need to stay as still as you can," she advised the captain, knowing that the rum was starting to hit her fairly hard now. "This is the fun part," Morgause smiled.

She produced the sanitizing salve she had discovered earlier and after a tender patting of the area with fresh water and towel to clean it, she recognized the tell-tale signs of infection around the edge of the wound that had come undone earlier.

Morgause frowned and took a quick swig of rum and handed it back to Cameron with instruction to drink more. She then took one of her arrows from her quiver, made useless now without her longbow, and placed it in between Cameron's teeth.

"Sorry about this, love," Morgause said and with the wet rag, she did her best to wipe and flush the infected area. A fair amount of puss and gunk fell free and with Cameron writhing at the pain of her touch, Morgause decided it best to complete the job correctly the first time.

Her touch became less gentle and she withstood the barrage of swearing and cries from the captain as she dug deeper into the wound, cleaning and flushing it until crimson blood was the only fluid that welled within.

Morgause sighed and pressed a bandage against the area to staunch the bleeding and to give Cameron a chance to catch her breath before the real work began. "It was infected, captain," Morgause chided knowing that her selfless attention had caused it to become so. "However, I think I got it all out now, so all that's left is to sew you up."

She kept her hands pressed on the bandage as she wiped the sweat away from Cameron's forehead and planted a soft, cool kiss there.

[Shura]

Cameron frowned slightly at the response she got which only made her worry more of what was going on. She
Tried to get up but was met with the bottle instead and a very string look for Morgause which made her think twice about actually getting up. She took several long drinks with encouragement from the sniper not really sure it was a good or bad sign. A quarter of the bottle was gone before morgause started her work, which wasn't painful at first. She realized what the red head planned top do and cursed softly her hopes of the stitching being only of the part that was open were dashed. She took another long drink her head starting to swim under the influence of the alcohol. She set the bottle aside not wanting to get too drunk.

She immediately regretted that decision when the infected part of her wound started to be cleaned. The captain cursed loudly as her body went ridged. She bite down on hard on the arrow and dug her fingers into the bedding gripping it tightly. Even half drunk the pain was still intense, she stifled her cries of pain opting for cursing
Since it would no doubt be heard on deck.

Cameron. Was trembling and breathing heavily by the time Morgause was done. The rum wasn't as helpful as she wanted it to be since the pain was fairly so sobering. She groaned lightly opening her eyes and looking up at the woman she loved and, at the moment, hated. "f**king hell... That hurt..." She panted softly. Groaning softly realizing the ordeal wasn't over still.

[Kharmin]

"I know, love," Morgause cooed with a sympathetic whisper. "I know, but the worst part is over. I know that the area is still tender and sensitive, but I'll leave the libations up to you." Morgause nodded toward the rum. "Let me know when you think you're ready."

Given the sign, Morgause bent to her task. She poured a small bit of rum into a cup and dropped the needle into it. As it soaked, she softly, tenderly slathered the salve over, across and around the wound while softly humming a simple tune in the hopes of keeping her captain calm.

Once the dressing was completed, Morgause withdrew the needle and without warning began stitching the wound. The rune on the back of her left hand pulsed and throbbed a dull phosphorescent green as she focused her vision on the wound. With her sight enhanced, her hand became rock steady and she worked quickly and flawlessly. Morgause ignored the pained sounds that emanated from Cameron as she sewed the wound tightly together.

Several minutes passed in this way and Morgause's attention and steady hands never wavered. When she came to the end, and cut away the excess, the glow on her hand faded. Morgause sat back and wiped her brow with her sleeve.

The wound looked professionally stitched. Once healed, Morgause was sure that only the faintest of scars would remain, which even then would be difficult to see unless one were actually looking for it.

Morgause exhaled as the fatigue of such tedious and tenacious work had put her on the edge of her nerves. She was thankful that she had had time to rest and get over her fever, for she wasn't sure that she could have focused as sharply otherwise.

She readied a bandage to cover and bind the wound, but first had Cameron examine her work for her approval.

[Shura]

Cameron refrained from drinking much more not seeing much of a point since it didn't help much. She rested back with her eyes closed catching her breath instead. She flinched as the stitching started the pain not as bad compared to her wound being cleaned out. She tried her best to stay as still as possible but it became increasingly difficult as she neared the part which was previously opened. Cameron hissed and groaned in pain as the last few stitches were done managing to remain mostly still. Pain still pulsed from the wound after the job was done an aching reminder of how her stubbornness put her in that situation. "Next time should just knock my self out...." She muttered lazily opening her eyes to look up at Morgause. Despite she slightly labored breath the captain was otherwise spent, unable or wanting to move after the whole ordeal.

[Kharmin]

Morgause laid her gentle hands on Cameron's shoulders. "Rest easy, now," she whispered. "You need to regain your strength. I'll let Hannibal see you as he has been anxious to check on your status."

She capped the rum bottle and returned it to the cabinet. As she continued to hum her simple song, Morgause cleaned and collected the tools used to stitch Cameron back together. Once done, she placed her cloak over her shoulders and headed for the door.

"I'm going to take these things and put them away," she said as she indicated the rags, cloths and water basin. "Then, I will return and chase your first mate out of here so that you can get your rest. You will not argue with me, captain," Morgause warned with a burning in her green eyes. "The sooner you recover is the sooner you return to your helm which is what you love the most, isn't it?"

Without waiting for an answer, Morgause exited the cabin. She searched and located Hannibal who was taking a crewman to task for a sloppy storage of one of the lines and told him to see his captain.

[Shura]

Cameron didnt offer any argument she wasnt in much of a position to arguem. She laid back trying to collect some of her senses so she could at least talk on some resonable level.

She looked up at her first mate noting his darkened expression, "Its not as bad as it looks she muttered softly.

"The bloody water and rags carried out of here say much different." He crossed his arms. "You are far too stubborn captain."

Cameron frowned "Im only as stuborn as I need to be..." she defended. "This was just a spot of bad luck..."

"Bad luck or foolish pride?" He arked an eyebrow. "Captain... I understand the need to take charge and be strong however... you need to care for your self. Ther isnt much of a crew without a captain."

Cameron frowned and sighed heavily "aye... still... hard to just sit around and do nothing... especially with all that is workibg against us..."

"Because of that damnable woman?"

Cameron didnt really reply already knowing it was a tricky question tk answe, all lf the blame couldnt be placed soley on Morgause.

"Captain..."

"II care about her Hanibal... far more than I should really..." she admited "much deeper than base lust as well..."

Hanibal crossed his arms "I knew something was going on... any fool with eyes coukd see that much" he sighed heavily "still... be wary for many fools fall kn love and it leads them to ruins."

"Love? Whats that have to dl with anything?"

Hanibal shook his head with a slight chuckle. "I belive your the kne who jas to figure that one out, captain. Still... your de isions bust be weighed with more seriousness. Sometimes the risk isnt worth it."

Cameron nodded slightly not really having anything to argue that point. The door opened to the cabin and both looked over.

"Rest and recover captain. Ill be back before night fall to check in again." Hanibal spoke up k owing it would be kicmed out otherwise.

Cameron nodded slightly "alright." She muttered tierdly watching as her firstmate took his leave.

[Kharmin]

Morgause waited with her head and face concealed within her hood for the first mate to leave. Once Hannibal had closed the door behind him, she crossed and sat on the edge of the captain's bed.

"He doesn't like me," she said. "He doesn't trust me either."

Morgause made the pretense of checking the bandages one more time on Cameron's mid-section as an uneasy silence passed between them.

"He needs to know," she finally said. "If you truly trust him as a first mate, and as someone to whom you would give over your ship which you love more than anything."

Morgause leaned in and lightly kissed Cameron on her lips. "Sleep, my captain," she implored. "You've had a busy day."

She covered the captain with the sheets and blankets and then took her leave.

Morgause exited the captain's cabin and sought out the burly first mate. It was time to clear some of the air while the captain rested. She found him next to the helmsman as the Winds Will ran steady on course, tacking against the strong west wind.

"I think it's time we talked," she said in a low, soft voice from within the confines of her deep hood.

[Shura]

Cameron was slightly confused as to what morgause spoke about but didnt question it far too tired to really think on it. Between the alcohol and treating her wound the captain fell asleep quickly.

Hanibal was watching over the crew making sure thing ran smoothly. Most were uneasy over the captains absence deapite his reasurance that the captain would be fine. Then again even he had his concerns. He quirked a brow towards the snipper as she left the captains quarters and up to the helm. "Something wrong with the captain?" He questioned quietly movong towards the back rail of the ship away from prying ears.

[Kharmin]

Morgause kept her voice low to match that of the first mate. "He took a nasty cut here," she said as she mimicked a slice across the abdomen, "which the clinic did a horrendous job of fixing. I have resolved that problem and he is now sleeping comfortably."

"The captain will be relying on you to get us to our next destination while he recovers from this latest injury," Morgause continued. "I know that he is confident in your ability to do so."

She cocked an eyebrow and a sneer which were barely visible beneath the shroud of her hood, "Our captain is a stubborn one, no? I'm sure that you were told that everything was fine; that is to be expected and I respect your candor now as we speak away from the rest of the crew."

With a serious look in her deep, sincere, green eyes Morgause said, "I cannot ask you to trust me without knowing me, but I will never allow anything to happen to the captain as long as I am alive and can do something to prevent it."

[Shura]

Hanibal looked out over the sea watching the wake the ship caused. "Yes she is extremely stubborn. Always has been and I recon even after all of this she will continue to be suborn. I've known her for many years and she's always pushed her self far beyond her limits." He shifted slightly to look upon the red head his stern features softened slightly "Don't take this the wrong way... but I am wary of your presence on this ship, and what trouble brought with you." He nodded slightly "Aye, I know about those who chase you, as well as the deal you made in the last port. I don't know why the Captain cares for you so much, but shes adamant about keeping you aboard. If there is truth to your claims of protecting the captain then I suggest thinking through on actions in the future."

He sighed heavily shifting his gaze back to the sea "Cameron is always trying to prove herself and given a situation will risk life and limb in aid of another. I owe my life to Cameron, but she nearly lost an arm trying to save me. And we were only crew mates at the time."

[Kharmin]

"Well, since we're putting most of our cards on the table," Morgause said, "then I will tell you what I can without divulging things that the captain would better be able to relate to you when he is ready." Morgause regarded Hannibal with her mysterious green eyes from deep within her hood.

"My talent as a sharp-shooter is un-paralleled," she started, "as you saw when we broke from the naval blockade from the first port since I boarded. You know that I am being hunted, and probably know more than is safe for you. However, the captain has weighed the risk and has determined that my presence is worth it."

Morgause turned slightly and looked at the sea as it receded behind the Winds Will. "It is not my intention to bring trouble to this ship or her crew," she said wistfully. "I would welcome any assistance that comes freely to banish this threat from me."

She turned back to the first mate with determination, and said, "I will not be so selfish in the future. I honor and respect your position of authority here on board, Hannibal, if my saying so holds any merit with you. I understand the repercussions of my actions now with regards to the captain and will be cognizant of them going forward."

Morgause crossed her arms and stood firm against Hannibal's watchful gaze. "I won't apologize for who I am," she said. "Anything further, though, I think you should clear with the captain, but not until he's had time to rest."

[Shura]

Hanibal nodded slightly. "No one should have to apologize for who they are, only their actions should other come to harm." She stated before sighing. "As long as our goals about the captain and this ship are the same I see no further conflict be tween us." He stated shifting his gaze to the hooded woman. He wasn't quite sure if she could be trusted but could tell her admit ion for keeping the captain from harm was true.

[Kharmin]

"Then it would seem we have a truce of sorts," Morgause said with a sly grin. Sparkles of mirth glinted in her eyes within the hood. "I will leave you to attend to your duties."

She nodded and retired to the crew's berth where she hung her quiver of arrows on the peg where her cutlass had remained behind on her latest escapade. With small effort, Morgause lifted herself into her hammock and snuggled deep into her cloak. She wished to be with Cameron, but knew that in the captain's state, it would be easy to take advantage of her being so filled with rum. Also, she didn't want to chance adversely affecting the stitching job that she had just performed.

With a sigh, Morgause closed her eyes. With the slow rocking of the ship, and the familiar sounds of the crew managing her cloth and lines, Morgause slowly eased into a dreamless sleep.

[Shura]

Hanibal returned to his post mind a little more at ease. Several hours passed as the ship sailed peacefully towards its destination. Cameron slept dreamlessly starting to actually recover. She groaned softly as she started to wake up her head aching slightly from the amount of alcohol that was in her system. She looked around noting how dim her cabin was lit which meant she had slept nearly the whole day. She shifted her gaze to the chair beside the bed disappointed when she saw that she was alone in the room.

She laid in bed for a minute before cautiously sitting up, being careful with her newly stitched wound. It didn't hurt nearly as bad as before but still ached with residual pain but it wasn't that bad. She took took a long drink from a water skin which helped her feel a bit better. She checked the bandages around her midsection noting they looked much better than before. Despite being extremely painful the treatment was needed she could admit to. Restless and not really knowing what to do with herself alone in the cabin Cameron carefully got to her feet and sneaked out of the cabin not really wanting to be told to go back. She made it to the helm before Hanibal saw her. To the captains surprise she was not told to go back to her quarters.
"Your looking better." He commented
"Feel better... to an extent. Though the process of it wasn't very pleasant..." She muttered. "How's everything been here."
"Well. The winds have been blowing strong. We should reach port by sundown tomorrow."
Cameron nodded slightly "Will arrange a meeting for the next morning then." she sighed. "Give us a chance to settle everything in port before dealing with the traders."
Hanibal nodded slightly. "Hopefully all goes well and there aren't any irksome complications. Cam nodded slightly as she leaned against the railing enjoying the cool sea breeze.