Curse

Calaval · Mar 30, 2006, 01:36 PM // 13:36

1062 AE

A disenchanted Prince Rurik, serving as an officer with the Ascalon army sails home to the kingdom of his father, after a long and arduous adventure...

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Three days into the long sea journey, a storm fell upon the waters Prince Rurik’s ship sailed...

The night air roared in Rurik’s ears as the masts of the ship groaned under the wind's weight, Prince Rurik looked to the harsh dark sky and prayed to the goddess Dwayna to bring a calm breeze upon the ocean. Yet the wrath of the Gods was upon he and his crew. That night had been the worst he’d ever experienced on board a ship, one man had been lost overboard, while more lay injured below deck. Prince Rurik cursed as the ocean's anger threatened to overturn his ship at any moment.

The salt wind stung his eyes, as Rurik’s gaze turned to the crow’s nest. Wiping his eyes, Rurik looked into the eye of the storm and no man upon the nest did he see. The empty crow's nest swayed wildly back and forth and Rurik shouted once more. "Man overboard! Man overboard!"

The soldiers of Ascalon around him peered into the sea, each eye searching for their missing shipmate. Yet all were aware he was lost forever to the unforgiving ocean. Rurik looked among them, it was his duty to call another man up to the crow's nest and almost certain death. Prince Rurik was damned if he make another child a bastard before they returned home to Asaclon!

His eye fell upon Ryder Vale. The lad was barely eighteen but had proven himself worthy on numerous occasions. "Are you married Master Vale?" asked Rurik, fully aware he wasn’t. "No my Prince, no wench of Ascalon will have me!" replied the young soldier with a grin.

The ship lurched violently as an angry wave pounded the hull, a groaning sound echoed forlornly up from the decks, the sound of a ship pained and planking shattered. Prince Rurik shouted his order to Ryder Vale but before he could obey, a heavy mast fell upon them both and into the sea they fell.

Rurik sunk slowly into the deep cold water, unaware of his plight, as the knock of the mast had laid him unconscious...

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The cry of gulls awoke him. The morning sky was calm and clear as Rurik opened his eyes. "Huh...where am I?"
On floating wreckage he lay. The ship was lost and his soldiers with it. Tears of woe rolled down Rurik’s cheeks as he felt the corpse of Ryder Vale beside him. The young warrior had undoubtedly saved his life.

Sprawled out across a wooden door, in an empty ocean, Rurik stared up at the hungry gulls and awaited the same fate of his men. He closed his eyes and prayed to his God. "What plight is this for I my Lord, I pray to ye Balthazar, great god of war. I beseech thee, let me die as a warrior should, in battle with sword in hand, anything, I beg of ye but this wretched state I am in!" Rurik cried, as he drifted along the sea and to sleep.

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A ship appeared on the horizon, sailing at full speed, unlike Prince Rurik’s warship, this ship was small and fast, and yet it carried the mark of Ascalon. The black flag that was flapping in the wind carried the insignia of Duke Barradin.

As Barradin’s ship pulled closer to the wreckage a cry came from above "He’s alive! He’s alive!"

The voice of an angel awoke Prince Rurik, and there she was, reaching her hand down to him – it was a face he had not seen in years, not since he took the call to serve with the soldiers of Ascalon and a face he had longed to see again. Lady Althea smiled at him and Rurik took Althea’s hand and onto the sloop she led him.

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Rurik dreamed of her that night, as he awoke Rurik turned to see Althea had appeared at his bedside, "I’m am glad to see you are recovering" smiled Althea. For a moment Rurik felt struck dumb as he looked upon the beauty but he managed a nod. She looked into his eyes, "It must have been difficult alone in the water" "Aye" He felt a fool with his solitary reply. She bowed gracefully and left his cabin.

Rurik watched her go, conscious of his heart thumping against his ribs.

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The following day Rurik felt well enough to walk the deck, he stood gazing at the calm sea and sung a song of lament for his lost comrades. Unbeknown to Rurik, Althea had followed him on deck, the Lady watched him weep. She stood solitary and slim, wrapped in a cloak, listening to his every word. As the song ended, she came towards him, Rurik gazed at Lady Althea as she stood beside him, lightly touching his arm to keep her balance on the swaying deck.

Her eyes met his and she gave a shy smile. "Forgive me my Prince, if I am intruding" "Nay, Althea" smiled Rurik. How could she ever intrude? He thought. "The rhyme you sung, it brought me to you, my heart weeps at the brave soldiers we have lost" she paused and Prince Rurik noticed a solitary tear run down her cheek.

Lady Althea stared out into the sea, fighting back the tears, as a sudden wave heaved the ship and made Lady Althea stagger and Prince Rurik instinctively put a hand out to stop her and the hand encircled the waist and took her weight so she was leaning against him with her face just inches from his. Rurik felt the desire to kiss her and knew she would not object, for the ship steadied and she did not move away. Rurik could feel her slender waist beneath the soft material of her dress. Neither took their eyes away from one another, until a call for Althea came from below deck, without a word she twisted away from Rurik’s arm and headed below deck.

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Thoughts of his lost soldiers lay heavy on his heart and Prince Rurik was in a foul mood the following day and the crew knew it. Extra training was given, as he and Duke Barradins’ warriors suffered upon deck against the burning heat of the mid day sun.

He had seen no sign of Althea upon deck as he trained with the warriors. It was not until that evening did he see her, both Prince Rurik and Lady Althea were guests at Duke Barradins’ table. Apart from polite gestures neither spoke to each other during the meal.

From time to time Lady Althea looked at Rurik and each time, he met her eye. Upon finishing her meal, she pushed her chair back and left the table. Rurik bowed and bade her goodnight, then sunk solace with a bottle of Hunters ale.

Lady Althea had been gone an hour before Prince Rurik took one last drink and left to take a late stroll upon deck.

The moon glistened upon the sea and offered just enough light for Rurik to see Lady Althea, swathed in a dark cloak standing upon the deck, staring out to sea. She was alone. Rurik joined her.

She glanced at him with a shy smile, but neither spoke and together they glanced upon the moonlit ocean. Rurik smiled and felt gladdened to be by her side.

The boat rocked, pushing Rurik close to Althea. He leaned forward and kissed her. She pushed him away and he stepped back, mortified and readying an apology, but she was only extricating her arms that had been trapped between their bodies and once they were free she snaked them around his neck and pulled his face to hers.

The kiss was so passionate, Prince Rurik tasted blood from his lip. Placing her cheek against his, she sighed happily, "I am sorry for any silence between us this day, for you have not been far from my mind." "Shh" he replied and covered her mouth with his.

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The boredom on the ship was palpable. Some of the warriors passed the time by gambling, while others fought mock duels with swords and sabres up and down the main deck until they were running with a sweat. For Prince Rurik the time was far from plain, for he had the company of Lady Althea, in her company hours seemed to pass as if they were minutes and days if they were mere hours.

And when the day came their homeland was in sight, Prince Rurik watched Lady Althea as their ship sailed into harbour. She was standing tall upon the deck, her eyes were bright and there was awe in her face as the ship reached nearer Ascalon.

Rurik could see his father, the King waiting for them, and the Prince’s gaze turned to the skies, he thanked the God Balthazar for heeding his call. Rurik smiled, if he were to die the morrow he would die happy for on that perilous journey, he found the cause he fought for - Lady Althea.