Far From Home

Chapter 1 - Far From Home

 

            Maeve’s eyes fluttered open. Pushing herself from the ground with her hands, she rocked back onto her knees and simply sat, gazing out upon the narrow track of green grass. A slight breeze lazily pushed through, it was warm, yet made her shiver as it brushed up against her bare arms.

 

            Rubbing her eyes, she blinked once and looked outward again. She slowly turned her head around, gazing upward at the tall mountains that rose up on either side of the valley.

 

            “Where’s my house? What’s happened?” her voice whispered, a voice she didn’t recognize. She raised her hands and arms up, turning them over in front of her. She gazed down at the thin cotton dress that clung to her. She felt the wind pickup her long hair that flowed freely down her back. “Oh my!”  Maeve stood up and took a breath, gazing around again. “What happened?” Her thoughts trailed off, as she could now see over a small hill in the grassy rolls, an ocean stretching outward in the distance from white sandy shores.

 

            The hint of salt air now evident as the breeze fully embraced her. She took a quick breath in and looked down, taking her crystal pendant into her hand, turning it over and gazing upon it. It was cool to the touch.

 

            “Nothing else is the same but you,” Maeve whispered as sunlight sparkled from the crystals surface. In the small silver clasp, her reflection looked back at her. A reflection she hadn’t seen since she was eighteen.

 

            Walking slowly in silence she made her way to the top of the grassy hill and stood looking out upon the ocean’s waves. “Where am I?” She asked, her voice only heard by the wind, he mind adrift with a multitude of thoughts and emotions.

 

            Clanging of metal and a horses whinny drew her attention upland towards the higher hills. Turning she saw a lone black horse crest the hill moving fast, its rider low along its back. For a moment she caught the rider’s eyes, intense and blue and focused right at her.

 

            Maeve wasn’t sure what she wanted to do, run or stay. She wanted to know where she was, but could she trust this horseman that was racing down slope towards where she stood bare foot in the soft grass.

 

            Curiosity winning, the young woman stayed put as the powerful black horse and its rider came to a sliding stop a few feet from her. The man’s blue eyes seemed to see right into her.

 

            “I don’t know about you lass, but here is not the place to be.” He spoke quickly in an urgent tone. His hand reached outward.

 

            “Wait!” Maeve took a step back. “Where am I?” Her eyes followed her ears to the new sounds from the top of the hill.

 

            “About to get trampled buy them.” The man spoke glancing backwards at the large number of armed soldiers who were cresting the hill, swords drawn.

 

            Maeve’s eyes went back and forth between the man and the other mounted men.

 

            “Look lass, I don’t have time. Are you coming or not?” He spoke, his eye brow raised in question, his black gloved hand coming back out towards her.

 

             “Okay…” She agreed, deciding he was better than the others.

 

            His strong arm pulled the young woman easily up onto the horse. “Hang on tight!” “Andromeda, let’s go.” The horse beneath them dug in, her hooves kicking clods of dirt and grass into the air.

 

            Maeve’s arms held tight to the stranger’s waist in a death grip.

 

             “Where are we going?” She shouted over the sound of galloping hooves.

 

            “There!” The man pointed.

 

            She suddenly wondered if she had made the right choice. The man’s finger pointing towards the full sails of a ship sliding quickly through the ocean’s waves, it’s flag furling in the wind, a skull and bones, unmistakable.

 

            “You’re a pirate!” Maeve shouted.

 

            “Nay lady!” The man laughed, “The Capt’n is a pirate. I’m a rogue. There is a difference.”

 

            Maeve’s stomach felt ill. Taking a quick glance at the dozens of soldiers not far behind and seeing their snarling expressions made her cling harder to the man whom she now raced across the shoreline with.

 

            She glanced down shore and then outwards the ship, which was quickly drawing closer to land. “Um… Sir?  I don’t see a dock.”

 

            “No worries lass. The shore line ends at a headland just around the bend.”

 

            Maeve didn’t understand what he was trying to explain and just hung on. Soon she saw the headland, a slight uplift in the shore, ending in a small drop off.

 

            “Sir… How are we going to get on the ship?” Maeve spoke, her fears filling her head.

 

            “Just hang on tight and you’ll be fine.”

 

            Maeve glanced back and saw the other horsemen gaining on them. She looked out at the ship, its crew now evident. Focusing on the headland, she decided to just close her eyes and pray that this man knew what he was doing.

 

            “He ain’t gonna make this one Cap’n” A voice cried down from the crow.

 

            “Belay that negative drivel Mr Pims! When Croft wants to fly on that beast of his, he can fly!” The captain’s quick snap quieted any and all thoughts of failure.

 

            “Mr Flynn! Tight’n the main and loosen the mizzen. We’re coming in a piece to slow!”

            “Aye Cap’n” The first mate replied.

 

            “Get up there you lazy fish! Pull the main up close and hold her tight. Mr Towers, Mr. Grue! Get ye up on the mizzen and give her and inch!”

 

            The captain’s blue eyes watched the black horse thunder down the shore. “Look’s like we’ll be hav’n company as well. Hmm.” She felt the slight increase of speed of her ship, the Ramius’ prow cut through the waves.

 

            CRACK! Maeve flinched. “They’re shooting at us! Why are they shooting at us?”

 

            “No lass! They’re shooting at me, not you. I can assure you of that!” The man replied quickly. “Now hang tight. Just a bit more of this bouncing around.”

 

            Maeve peeked over the man’s large shoulder at the headland that now was mere moments afore them.

 

            “Let’s let Rose’s men go back empty handed shall we.” His words were soft to the horse that thundered beneath him. The horse whinnied in response and her hooves dug in quicker.

 

            He glanced up at the ship’s sails a second away from crossing the headland. A glance at the end of the shore line brought a sly smile to his face. “Not today Rose…” “Tippity tap toe…and Fly!”

 

            Maeve let out a restrained squeal and her eyes clamped shut. She could feel for a moment nothing, but the sound of air rushing past her ears.

 

            The black horse sailed through the air for second then came down upon the wooden deck of the ship.

            The man pulled Andromeda in to a stop and glanced back at the other horseman upon the shore, scrambling to come to a stop.

 

            “Ha ha!” The man let out a deep laugh, taking his hat off and giving the soldiers a sweeping bow.

 

            Maeve opened up her eyes and looked around. “Oh my God!” her voice filled with utter awe that they could have jumped that far.

 

            The man turned in the saddle and smiled, “Of course we did. Horses do fly after all.”

 

            “Mr Flynn! Make’m full and let’s fly from these shores!” The captain shouted from where she stood behind the wheel.

 

            “So who be your friend Croft?” The captain asked down upon the deck.

 

            Croft looked down from the captain toward the young girl who still sat behind him on Andromeda. “I’m not sure… What is your name lass.” he asked the girl, giving her a hand to help slide to the deck.

 

            She looked up at the rogue with uncertainty, “Maeve. Maeve Illione.”

 

            Croft nodded, “Good strong name.” His gaze drifted to the pendant she wore at her neck. “Captain Stone!” He shouted. “It looks as if the fates be at work again.”

 

            “I’m not deaf.” The captain spoke from behind the young woman, having come down from the wheel house. Croft grinned. “Illione you say?” The captain’s voice filled with knowing.

 

             Maeve glanced up into the blue eyes of the female captain. “Yes?”

 

            Stone reached out and reverently took the crystal into her gloved hand. Maeve wanted to pull away but felt strange about doing so. The captain looked from the crystal to the girl’s concerned gaze.

 

            “Would you be related to one Raul Illione by chance?”

 

            Maeve’s eyes widened a bit, and stammered out her answer, “Y..yes. He was my great great grandfather.”

 

            Stone smiled, “Best rigger I’ve ever had aloft.” Turning towards where Croft sat in thought upon Andromeda, “Seems the Will of Ahryn is indeed playing the game of fare with us again.”

 

            Maeve pulled the crystal back into her own hand and clutched it. “Why am I here?” her voice quivered.

 

            The air was filled with the sea breeze and voices of the crew for a moment. Croft’s deeper voice broke the sea’s silence, “Only time will make that apparent Lady Maeve.” Slipping off Andromeda’s back he walked around to where the young woman stood. “What was the last thing you remember before I came upon you in the bluffs?”

 

            “I was in my home, putting my coat away.” Maeve’s eyes liquid with part fear and part curiosity.

 

            “Where might that home have been?” The captain’s voice put forward the query.

 

            Maeve looked into the captains sharp blue eyes. “Um..Michigan? Oh my God! The photo! That was you!” The girl’s eyes had grown wide.

 

            Stone quirked a smile and turned away, “Seems that Earth spits out quite a few, eh Croft? Anyway, I’ve got a ship to attend to. I’ll let you figure out what game may be afoot.”  

 

             Croft gently placed his hand upon Maeve’s shoulder. “My dear, you are a long way from home.” Smiling warmly, “No worries though, everything happens for a reason.”

 

            “Mr Flynn!” The captain’s voice called down from the wheel again. “Have the lady find something suitable to wear from my wardrobe and get her something to eat. I’m sure she’s rather hungry.”

 

            “Aye captain,” The first mate replied.

 

            “Go with Mr Flynn, Lady Maeve. He’ll see to your needs.”

 

            Maeve nodded shyly. Croft watched her glance back at him as the first mate guided her under decks and then let his own gaze drift out upon the endless rolling waves. Letting a hand slide down Andromeda’s side, “Seems that dealing with Silverthorn’s issues will have to wait my old friend.”

 

            The horse whinnied and let its left hoof tap the deck two times.

 

            “Yes… I agree and adventure for sure, but to where, remains the question?”

Reviews

[Two Hearted Wolf]

I love the place she lands.. So like the places I've dreamn't of myself. Almost eerily. lol. Again there is so much here.. Key pieces of who she is.. The young woman pleased with her youthful reflection. The crystal that holds such great importance to her and the mysteries of past, present and future.. The black horse was an ah..moment..then him...who wouldn't trust Croft over the mass of men running toward her. I like the way she listens to an inner voice to make quick decisions and even though she may have questioned the whole thing..she held him in trust.. What women wouldn't dream of this moment :) And now the real mystery begins.. they seem to know of her but how or why? She holds the crystal in wonder...xo lol.. Oh and I enjoyed this very much... ;)

[Obscured by the Shadows]

Dude that is wicked cool keep it up ^^

[Wolfwind]

Thanks for reading and showing interest in the story! I'll see what I can do about working on it.

[Obscured by the Shadows]

Haha yeah I hope you will

[Admiral Kirk]

This is awesome!!! It's very mysterious and exciting. Your story definitely has me interested. I love magical time-travel pirate adventures. :D It's my favorite genre.

[Wolfwind]

That's good to know! Perhaps I shall have to put my flowing ink into this story's sails once again and see if I can't continue it. =)

[Admiral Kirk]

Yes! And I must re-edit my story fifty more times so I can finally publish it... I will await chapter 3!

[Lily Mae]

All the mystery.. I know I want to know more now.. ;) lol

[Shy Girl]

Andromeda graces us with her stunning beauty..sure of hoof...shinning ebony mane and coat...and Croft.. :) for some unexplained reason I soooo want to *sigh* when I read about him...able to out wit those menacing soliders with an ease born to only one who has knowledge others fight to gain. His brilliant lover of andventure and trust in his loyal mount are unequal to all those around him and his mare. The fact that he doesn't even know where they are headed and the captain is female just adds a twist to fate. Maeve and Croft were destined to meet and he be the only one with the hands to take her..to guide her gently and lovingly onward...while he rivals and glorys upon the ocean with Andromeda by his side. WOW!!! Lovin this story...all of my favorite things rolled into one. (Horse..ocean bluffs and marvolous scenery...blue eyed gentle rogue...magic pendants...and Croft sounds at tad Scotts ;) Girl has got to not worry so much...and enjoy where she be...and the savior fate sent to find her... :)