Other Fan Fiction ❯ The Treasure of Oritemp ❯ Part III ( Chapter 3 )

Arianna made it into the smithy before she slipped up and threw one of her swords at a wall, nearly hitting one of the crew members.

That bastard, she thought angrily, I can't wait to make port so I can kick his sorry ass.

After a few hours, Argus comes down to her make shift smithy.

“Is it… alright to try to cheer you up?” he asks.

“Go ahead and try,” she murmurs, “I don't know how much luck you'll have.”

“Would it help if I showed you this?” Argus holds out a hand and opens his palm, the locket falling from it and dangling from his fingers.

Her eyes seemed to light up and her hand shot out as she grabbed it from him.

“How did you… get this?” she asks.

“That boy is twenty years old. I've been a pirate for forty years. Do you think I would have lived this long if I didn't know a few tricks?” Argus gives her a sly smile.

She threw her arms around his neck in a hug.

“Thank you so much!” she exclaimed.

Argus grunts at the sudden hug but hugs her back.

“You are welcome. But Sirius will notice soon. Be prepared for him to come to you,” he warns.

“Alright, I will.”

She releases him from the hug and pulls the sword out of the wall before handing it to him. It was similar to the one Sirius had, yet it was very different. Argus accepts it gracefully with a smile.

“Thank you, and very impressive,” he compliments.

“Thanks again, so… um… you should go before he comes down here.”

Just as she finished saying that, Sirius comes down the stairs, pushing a few men out of the way to get to her.

“Give me the necklace!” he shouts as he approaches her. Just as he went to reach for it, Argus stood in his way.

“Captain, don't touch it. It belongs to her by right. Captain or not, I'll not think twice if you try to take it from her,” Argus says, his hand on his pistol at his belt.

Sirius shouts out and slams a fist on a table.

“Argus, you took it! You are becoming very bold and it is becoming very irritating!” he shouts.

“Please S-Sirius… it's all I have left… I don't know what your problem is but I won't let you keep my locket.”

“Shut up!” Sirius shouts at her. “Give me the locket, and maybe I'll let you eat these next few days.”

“Starve me then!” she shouts back, “I don't care anymore! This was given to me by my mother before she died! I'd at least think you of all people would understand!”

Sirius pulls his pistol out and points it at her.

“I told you you'd get it back after we were done at the Black Island! I'm a man of my word. And then you both go and pull a stunt like this! I grow very tired of you're brashness!” he shouts.

“Then shoot me,” she says, “I don't care!”

Sirius was about to pull the trigger when Argus grabs his gun and moves it as he fires.

“Sirius! You would murder her for your cause?” he says, his tone lecturing.

Sirius growls in frustration and anger before pushing him away and storming out of the room.

“Looks like I'm going to have to find some where else to sleep,” she murmurs, placing the locket around her neck, “Or get shot in my sleep.”

“He won't shoot you. If he really wanted to, he would have shot me to get to you. You will be fine. I know him well enough to say that with confidence,” Argus says, his shoulders sagging with relief.

“I still think it safer if I just sleep by my fire tonight.”

“Do what you wish, though I don't believe he will do anything. I will make sure you have blankets tonight…”

“Thank you.”

She turned back to her work and starts to forge another sword, this one very simple. She was done with five of them before she began to feel tired and the men filed back in. By now, the men ignored her for fear of the captain, though some of them gave her glances, but not to her face. Arianna was too busy dulling down the fire and she set up the blankets Argus gave her before laying down. She was silent as she listened to the men sleep, but found she could not. After all the men had fallen asleep, Sirius comes down to the barrack and grabs her, firmly, by the wrist.

“Come with me, now,” he says, his tone firm and full of authority.

She winces as she is pulled to her feet, but she follows him silently, glancing back at where she had seen Argus before. Sirius brings her to his cabin and pulls her in, closing the door behind him.

“You are, for a captive, very bold. I think I've been far too lenient with you. I've allowed you to wander my ship as you please, eat my food, sleep in my bed, and even gave you the option not to work in the brig. And yet after all of my hospitality, you insult me by compromising my honor,” he says, his tone not harsh, but firm. “I told you that you could have the locket back when we finished at the Black Island. I never go back on my word. Yet you still had Argus steal the locket from me.”

“I didn't have him steal anything from you,” she says, “I didn't expect him to have it considering that I saw you pocket it.”

She was silent for a moment before taking it off and looking down at it.

“It's just… I have nothing left from who I was before I was made an apprentice to a Blacksmith, except for this,” she adds, “But… considering that that probably means nothing… I don't know why I'm telling you.”

She held it out, her hand shaking and her eyes cast downward.

“So just take it.”

Sirius takes a long look at it before turning around and walking off a bit. He pulls out his pistol and taps the back of the barrel to his forehead.

“I don't know why I am letting you live right now… You are always talking about your mother and everyone else who died. You piss me of to no end… and yet I haven't shot you yet.” He turned around and points the gun to her forehead. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn't. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't bury this shot in your head.”

“I have no reason I can give you,” she admits, “So as I said, if you wish to shoot me, then shoot me because I don't care anymore. I'm offering you all that I have and if you still want to shoot me for it; then do it. I didn't mean to compromise your honor and I really don't care if you want to starve me, have me sleep in a puddle in the brig or if you want to shoot me, do whatever the hell you want.”

Sirius rests his finger on the trigger and pressed the gun to her forehead. For what felt like hours, he left it there, an angry yet relaxed look on his face. Eventually, he removed the gun from her head and put it away, going to his desk and leaning on it with his hands.

“Go to sleep. Tomorrow, you can do whatever you want. By the next morning, we'll be at the Black Island. You can jump ship there if you want. I won't stop you. Keep your locket, but all I'm going to ask of you is that you come with me when I try to get the information I want,” he says, not looking at her.

She was silent for a moment before she went up to him and slowly wrapped her arms around him in a gentle hug. As she hugged him, she dropped the locket on his desk and released him from the hug before turning to leave the cabin.

“I'll go back to my make-shift bed,” she says, “And I don't know why you want me to accompany you, but I will.”

Sirius doesn't look at her when he talks.

“You can sleep here if you want… I'll not tell you what to do…” Sirius says. “As for my reasons… they are my own.”

“I don't want to take your bed from you,” she mutters, “I don't like the fact that you sleep at your desk.”

“My desk is my solace,” Sirius almost snaps, but his tone loses it's heat almost instantly. “Just… take my bed if you want it…”

“Why be so kind if- Uh… never mind, you said your reasons are your own… but if you ever want your bed, just… uh… yeah.”

“I'll keep that in mind… just go to sleep.”

After a moment, she went over to the bed and slowly climbed in, pulling the blanket up to her shoulders. She just lays there, still unable to sleep and she just decides to act like she is as she listens to what Sirius is doing. Just like the nights before, papers could be heard rustling on his desk, as well as the sound of the sloshing of rum in it's bottle. Arianna shifted slightly and rolled from her back onto her side, her back facing him as she started to wonder why he drank so much. After a while, the papers were silent and the bottle was empty. Sirius, just like before, had passed out at his desk. She sighs and climbs out of the bed, taking the blanket and covering him before silently leaving the cabin. She went onto the deck and just stared out at the sky, trying to be at ease and relax because she hadn't slept much at all. Arianna smiled slightly to herself as she continued to walk up until she reached the bow of the ship and sits on the rail.

Argus, who was smoking a pipe at the end of the bow, looks over at her.

“A smile, haven't seen you smile at all,” he says, taking a puff out of his pipe.

“Oh, I thought I was the only one awake,” she murmurs, “Well… yeah, I don't smile often because there is really nothing to smile about on this boat much.”

“You're alive, ay? I think that in itself is a good reason to smile.”

She just shrugs.

“He put his pistol to my head… but didn't shoot. I don't know what is up with him and I don't intend to ask at the immediate moment.”

“He didn't intend to shoot you… but then I wasn't there…”

“Yeah, well… he's out cold at his desk and I really wish he would just sleep in his bed.”

“He's rarely in that bed. He spends much of his time at his desk studying his maps. It was something his mother had taught him to do. I think he thinks that if he keeps looking at those maps, the treasure will reveal itself to him.”

“It's unhealthy.”

The ship hit a wave and she let out a startled yelp as she fell back and grabbed the rail with both hands, steadying herself.

“Doesn't he… know that he should get a good night sleep that isn't alcohol induced?” she asks.

Argus walked back to the ship from the bow and went to sit next to her.

“He began drinking quite a few years ago, some time after his mother died. He was about 13 when she was killed. He began drinking at 15 and soon after became captain,” Argus explains.

“Wish there was a way to distract him,” she mumbles.

Argus chuckles.

“These days, it seems he's more interested in his maps and rum than even women. We've had women on the ship before, and quite a few times, he never showed any interest in them.”

“Well… all women are pretty much the same… unless they do something with their life. His mother sounds like she was one hell of a woman.”

Argus looks out to the sea, clearly reminiscing on old memories.

“That she was. She was beautiful in body and in mind. She knew maps and sailing and cooking, as well as many other talents. But perhaps her most memorable quality was her love. She loved everyone, no matter what they may be… especially her son. She taught him everything he knows about sailing and maps… But he got his pure aura of authority from his father…” he explains, as if he had said it a thousand times in his mind.

“So he lacks the love his mother had?” she asks, suddenly interested, “I mean, he seems to, in a way, love his crew, but he hides so much. What made him so intent on getting this treasure?”

“The treasure… The treasure of Oritemp is said to be the treasure of God that no man can touch. Many stories say that it will grant you riches beyond worldly imagination, while other stories say that it gives you one wish. There are many different versions, but all in all, they all say the same thing; it is a treasure that will be beyond what we can even perceive.”

“He wants his mother back… if it really gives you one wish, I bet that is what he wants.”

She slides off the rail and starts to head to the Cabin.

“Thanks for talking to me,” she said with a genuine smile, “But I think it's time for me to get some sleep.”

Argus smiles at her and nods.

“Yes, get some sleep. You look like hell child,” he says.

She laughs and disappears behind the cabin's door as she closes it. As silently as she could, she made her way back to the bed and climbed in.

Suddenly, Sirius woke with a start and pulls his gun out, pointing it around the room.

“Who's there!?” he shouts.

“It's just me,” Arianna says softly, “Sorry that I woke you.”

Sirius, clearly still a little drunk, seemed to smile.

“Oh, the lil' lass. You had me scared. Wha' are y' doin' makin' noise?” he slurs.

“Oh, I just got some air to tire me out a bit before actually going to bed is all,” she admits, “I've been having trouble sleeping.”

“Trouble? Is it the bed? Are ye makin fun of m' bed!?”

“Huh? N-no! Of course not.”

“Don' lie t' me!”

“I'm not! There is nothing wrong with the bed I swear.”

Sirius was on his feet and at the foot of the bed, pistol pointed at her.

“Then why can' you sleep?” he asks.

She scurries back, her back against the wall now.

“I-I don't know…. I just can't,” she says, her tone showing a hint of fear.

Sirius drops the gun and sits on the bed with a thud.

“I'm s'ry… I'm jus'…” before he could finish, he passed out again.

She was a little startled when he passed out, but she managed to move him into a better position so he could sleep. After a moment, she hesitantly laid down next to him, making sure to leave some space between them. She felt nervous, but ended up falling asleep in a few minutes, not feeling as cold anymore.

The next morning, Sirius woke up, his head, once again, throbbing. When he got his bearings, he realized he was in his bed. After looking about a bit, he saw Arianna sleeping next to him. Upon realizing it, he shot to his feet and went to his desk for his rum bottle, which was empty. Arianna shifted and let out a small moan at the loss of warmth. Subconsciously, she started to feel around for him and when she couldn't find him, she woke up with a yawn. Sirius casts a look to her before shaking his head and looking down to his desk.

“What the hell… happened last night,” he mumbles, his speech still a bit off, possibly from his hangover.

“Nothing bad,” she replies as she rubs her eyes, “You scared the shit out of me is all. When you were going to say something, you passed out.”

Sirius goes to his cabinet and opens it, looking for more rum, but to no avail.

“Shit…” he spits.

“That stuff isn't good for you,” she points out as she stretched out.

“Shut up,” Sirius says, almost out of impulse. “Just… sorry…”

“It's alright, you… I don't know… but you really shouldn't use that to put yourself to sleep. It's unhealthy and could kill your liver.”

“Like I care.” Sirius closed the cabinet with more force than necessary. “Where's my pistol?” he asks after feeling around his belt.

“You should care, as for your pistol; I think it fell under the bed… hold on.”

With a sigh, she got down on the floor and reached under the bed. Sirius paced around the room and rubbed his temples.

“We need to make port,” he says more to himself than to her.

“Alright, and don't forget, you promised me a bath,” she said, his pistol dangling from her finger as she smiled.

He took it from her and shoved it in his belt before going to his desk and studying a map for about a minute.

“There will do…” he says before leaving the cabin.

Arianna sighed and leaned against the bed, one leg bent at the knee.

“He has no sense of humor, does he?” she says to herself.

Orders could be heard coming from above and the entire crew was shouting as well as they went about their work. With a sigh, she left the room and headed for the barracks to do her work, hoping to get more swords done for the rest of the crew. Argus was asleep on a hammock not far from her, asleep. She was slightly confused at the thought that the man, so ready for work, was still asleep and not helping the rest of the crew.

“Argus, are you alright?” she asks, slowly walking up to him when she was done with one of the swords.

Argus woke with a bit of a start. Upon seeing her, he relaxed a bit.

“Ah, is the rest of the crew awake?” he asks, drowsy.

“Yes, they are currently at work, I thought you would be as well. Are you okay?”

He was quick to push himself up and pull his boots on.

“I guess these old bones of mine are finally trying to get more rest than they need,” he says.

“You should take it easy,” she says, “If you can anyway…”

She nods before going over to her work station and getting back to her sword making. Argus got to his feet and stretched.

“I'm getting old, but I'm not dead yet. I'll not take it easy as long as there is life in me,” he says giving her a smile.

“Well… be careful then,” she says over the blow of her hammer.

She had picked up the speed she was working and smiled. After a while, the ship made port in a small town. The crew all piled out of the ship and went to the town, save for Argus and Arianna. Arianna hadn't even noticed the ship had stopped as she worked, already on her fifth sword of the day.

“Hard at work still?” Argus says after coming down the stairs.

“Yeah, on my fifth sword,” she replies, fitting a blade to the hilt.

“And you told this old man to relax,” Argus jokes.

“Hey, I don't deserve a good bath until I'm done for the night… did we make port yet?”

“We've been here a good amount of time. I can have water heated and hauled aboard as well as a small tub if you want?”

“You don't have to go through so much trouble… or are we not staying here for the night?”

“We won't be here much longer. The captain more than likely came here to restock on rum…”

“Alright, I would greatly appreciate the water… and see if they can get me a dress… preferably white or blue.”

“A dress? On a ship full of pirates, that hardly seems safe.”

“Just… trust me on this… and I want you to pick it out.”

Argus sighs and nods.

“Very well. I'll have a few men get some heated water and a tub. I'll go get you a dress… though I feel out of place in doing so…” he says kindly.

“Thank you,” she says with a smile, “Now, just lemme know when you get back, I have to make more pistol rounds with the left over metal.”

“Right.” Argus leaves her to herself.

After awhile, she took a break and stretched out, arching her back and letting out a yawn. The crew finally began filing back onto the ship, most carrying gold and other things. Argus was next to last on the ship, right before Sirius. Argus came down to the barracks with a folded blue dress. She ran up to him and thanked him before kissing his cheek and taking the dress. She went up to the cabin where the basin full of hot water was and she washed up, figuring Sirius would have the brains to stay out. Sirius, not knowing she was there, came into his cabin and stopped short. He averts his eyes and sighs.

“What are you doing?” he asks, sounding shocked, and a bit frustrated.

Just as he came in, she was pouring water on herself to rinse off the soap. The moment he spoke, her head snaps around and her eyes went wide, but she kept her voice even.

“I'm taking a bath,” she says, “They put the basin in here.”

“Why is the basin not in the lower decks?” Sirius nearly growls.

“Because of the men.”

He sighs loudly and turns around.

“Hurry up,” he says as he closes the door.

Once she was done with the bath, she smiled at how clean she felt. She got out and dried off before picking up the blue dress and looking at it. It was simple, but at the same time very beautiful. The neck was low and showed some cleavage, but not a lot, and it fanned out slightly at her hips. Once she slipped it on, she found it fit perfectly and she smiled as she brushed out her hair.

“Haven't warn one of these in a while,” she says softly, “Sirius, I'm done.”

Sirius entered again, and once again, stopped short upon seeing her. It was short lived as he walked over to his desk. She held back a sigh before lying back on the bed, her hair fanned around her head like a dark halo.

“Why do you always have to go straight to your desk,” she grumbles.

“I told you, it's my solace,” Sirius says, sitting down.

She sighed in frustration before turning on her side, the dress hiking up her thigh a bit higher. Sirius casts a glance over his shoulder at her. He keeps his eyes on her for a short moment before turning back to his maps. Arianna glanced at him for a moment before stretching out and letting out a small yawn.

“Well, I wish you would at least sleep in your bed,” she murmurs, stretched out on the bed, “Sleeping at a desk is bad for your back.”

“I have yet to find a problem with my back,” he replies, not looking over his shoulder, though he seemed to be a little shaken. “May I ask what you're trying to do?”

“I haven't worn a dress in ages, I forgot how comfortable they are… maybe I should by some nightgowns.”

She looks at him and smiles.

“And how are you feeling?” she asks.

Sirius sighs loudly and sags a bit.

“Tired and annoyed. I'm trying to work here,” he says slowly, clearly trying to keep himself calm.

“But?”

“What do you mean `but?' I'm trying to focus here and you're not helping.”

“Last thing I was told, you aren't interested in women at the moment, so I shouldn't be a distraction.”

“Do not play with me right now. I don't care what someone, and I'm sure I know who, told you. I'm getting closer to what I want, and you trying to distract me is not going to put me in a very good mood.”

She pouted, the effect causing her to look innocent in more than one way.

“Well, you are no fun,” she says.

“If you want fun, I'm sure the men down in the barracks would be more than happy to oblige you. But fun, right now, is not what I want,” Sirius snaps.

She sat up and walked over to him, her bar feet barely making a sound as she went up behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Well… that's sad… because I realized I don't want any of them,” she says before kissing his cheek, then letting him go.

Sirius was shocked and seemed unsure of what to do. He finally glares at her.

“What are you trying to pull? Are you messing with me? After the mercy I showed you last night?” he says darkly.

“No, I am not messing with you,” she replies as she wraps the blanket around her and heads for the door, “But even merciful as you are, you're still cold hearted.”

She left the cabin and closed the door behind her, heading for the bow of the ship. When she got there, the cook from before was there, eating from a small bowl. He looked up as she came to the bow and then went back to his food.

“All prettied up for a reason, missy?” he asks, taking a bite of what looked to be beef.

“Evidently I'm not,” she murmurs, wrapping the blanket around her tighter, “My time is wasted… I should have known.”

She looked a bit heart broken, but she hid it well, at least, the full extent.

“Only a man could make a pretty lady like you dress up. Lemme guess; it's the captain, eh?”

“What does it matter? He isn't interested and I wasted my time, so I won't even try; seeing as he is too wrapped up in that treasure of his.”

The cook dumps what was left in his bowl over the side of the ship and tosses the bowl aside.

“Guys like the captain have a hard time tryin' to be more than who they see themselves as. The captain is in a place in his mind where all he sees is his treasure. Anything that steps in the way of that view, is nothing' to him but a large wave that needs to be rolled over.” The cook laughs a bit. “I guess growin' up the way he did, it's normal for him to have a true goal, eh?”

“… Yeah, at least he has one.”

She leans against the side and stares up at the stars, trying to be calm.

“Hope he finds what he's looking for.”

“We won't find the treasure, missy. Most of us have come to that assumption, but the captain won't see it himself.”

“Considering my locket came from that specific treasure, and I told him where the ship sunk, I wouldn't believe it anymore that you won't find it.”

She was silent for a moment.

“Think he's passed out yet so I can go to sleep?” she asks.

“It's possible. Go get some sleep, missy. We'll be arrivin' at the Black Island tomorrow,” the cooks says.

She nods and goes to the cabin, immediately going for the bed and just ignored the desk where she figured Sirius would be.