Twenty Nine Part One

Marcus left the King, going back out into the antechamber, he found Katherine pacing with Violet right on her tail.

Marcus could tell from Katherine's relieved face she was glad for the distraction. That Violet had been annoying her with his questions she simply could not answer.

"It is your turn, son, he wants to see you now." Marcus picked up the package he had brought, as Violet hurried over to pick up the wooden case.

Eleanor chose that very moment to return. She blew in the entry door like a breeze, holding it open, until an officer came and relieved her of the duty.

The door was being held open as Brutus and Sam carried in a crate they had just hauled over from the ship.

Marcus smiled widely, it seemed all their ducks were in a row. All they had to do now was present the King with his gifts, hopefully attain Violet and his crew their pardons, and get Elizabeth returned to them.

Marcus addressed Brutus, "We have just been called in, wait here until we need you."

Brutus nodded, he went to Vi and rubbed his shoulder, "I would hate to end up in a cell, my friend. Take care, and keep your wits about you."

"I shall certainly try." Violet was slightly nervous, he sent a prayer up quickly, asking again for the Lord's will, and he followed his father to the door.

Marcus turned back, "Katy girl, you, too. The King said you could come also."

Katherine's eyes grew wide, she fussed with her hair and smoothed her dress, while Marcus admired her long, dark, blonde tresses and her curved, trim figure.

When she lifted her nervous, violet eyes for reassurance, Marcus held his hand out and she came to him, to take his hand with her own.

Eleanor bustled along behind Katy, "I am coming too, Marcus, I have the records."

Marcus made her welcome, "He did say the more, the merrier, my Lady." Marcus chuckled, as he indicated to the man at the door that they were ready.

Marcus allowed Violet to precede him, he then took his hand from Katherine's, sweeping his arm across his body, he gestured to the ladies they should follow Vi, as Marcus then took up the rear.

Violet came to center stage, his audience being the King and his men. Vi stopped a good five meters before the throne.

Vi set down his case as the women came to stand behind him.

Marcus stayed by the closed door, setting down his parcel, crossing one foot over the other, he leaned against the wall.

Violet executed his most respectful bow, his mother dropped into a curtsy, and Ellie bobbed behind him.

Eleanor glared at her cousin to behave, then she faded back with Marcus to watch the opening act.

Katherine looked to either side of herself frantically, realizing they had left her. She quickly moved back next to Marcus, where she hid her face in his sleeve and tried not to embarrass herself in her nervous state.

The King took in the pirate before him.

Violet had worn his Captain's garb, the same he had worn on his wedding day, minus the extra jewels. His wedding ring, and the one that lay next to his heart, being the only adornments he felt he should need.

While Violet executed his bow, the King half smiled over the tall, extraordinarily, good looking man that his Elizabeth was married to.

"This is your son, Baron Shelly?" He addressed Marcus.

"Yes, Sire, my son, in whom I am most proud." Marcus affirmed, as he straightened and bowed slightly.

"And yet you are a pirate," The King addressed Violet, musing, as he tapped his fingers against the hand rest on his throne. "I am interested to know exactly how this came about. But first, introductions, if you please."

"I am Violet Petals, your Majesty."

"Surely you jest."

The King tried not to smile at Violet's colorful name, yet it was extremely difficult when his men were snorting and sniggering beside him.

"Violet Pe......" The King just could not say it. Looking this man in the eye, he asked once more, "Surely, you jest?"

He could understand if the man had adopted the name as his pirate moniker, yet, the King wanted his true name.

" I do not jest, Sire, I am Violet Petals, at your service, my Liege." Violet bowed once more, hoping they could move on.

"Truly?" The King asked.

Violet changed tack and he grinned swarthily at the King.

"Truly, Sire," Violet quirked a brow, "Ask my mother, she stands before you, guilty as charged."

Violet gestured towards Katherine, who stood in some awe of the monarch.

Yet, she was also ready to defend her decision to name her son whatever she wished.

"Ma'am, how could you?" The King asked Katherine, his eyes turned towards her imploringly.

Everyone started laughing, even Violet found the King's humor towards his mother entertaining.

Katherine puffed up in indignation, "I think it is a lovely name!"

She then huffed and crossed her arms, tapping her toe, she stared the King's men down, until they ceased their mirth and adopted a more serious mien.

It galled Katherine that no one else could seem to appreciate the true beauty and originality of Violet's name.

It also served to dispel her fear a bit, as she became a wee bit defensive.

But then she looked upon the King with a sheepish smile, "It is a lovely name." She whispered to Marcus.

"Yes, it is, love." Marcus agreed, whispering back to her.

The King turned his amused expression from the lovely Katherine, back to Violet, the humor fleeing his piercing eyes as they lit upon Vi's person.

"More to the point, Pirate Petals," The King smirked, his own moniker for the pirate amusing him as he gave it, "You are here to seek a pardon?" The King watched Violet closely.

Violet frowned, he did not like being called Pirate Petals. He did not like that at all.

However, personal feelings aside, Violet needed, just as Brutus had said, to keep his wits about him.

"I am, I would seek the pardon for myself and my crew. If you would hear my plea, I would defend my actions." Vi managed to keep his frown to a minimum, but the King had seen that he had gotten under Vi's skin.

"Am I to understand you have pirated my own ships, Pirate Petals?" The royal brow lifted.

"Yes, my Liege, I have." Violet answered humbly, and he wished the King would stop calling him that.

"So, you readily admit you have attacked my ships in your travels?" The King did like the young man's honesty.

"I do," Violet said regretfully, "But I also took from many others, if it pleases you, my Liege." Violet said enthusiastically and informatively.

The King closed his eyes and sighed heavily, this pirate was definitely cheeky. He opened his eyes to find Violet grinning widely at him.

The King himself smirked and joined the game, "You pirated Spanish ships, Petals?"

"Oh yes, my Liege, many, many Spanish ships." Violet's eyes shined with mischief.

He was willing to play the game, as long as the King wanted to play.

"French ships, too?" The King asked hopefully.

"Ahhhh..... 'tis sad I am to say, but only a few of those, your Majesty." Violet shook his head regretfully.

The King was amused, yet he narrowed his eyes.

He was entertaining, this pirate, Violet Petals, but was he worthy of Elizabeth?

This was the question the King had yet to have answered.

The King looked the pirate over more closely, his eyes missed not one detail, as he scrutinized the man.

The King was suddenly curious as to what was in the case at Violet's feet. "What have you there?"

"A gift, for you, my King." Violet smiled broadly, "I had heard of, and have now seen for myself your wall of weapons.....may I?" Violet asked permission to show him.

The king waved his hand in the air, approving Violet's approach.

Taking the case, Violet approached and lay it on the floor a meter in front of the King. Vi noticed that the King's men stepped closer to stand just front of the Monarch on either side.

Violet flipped the latch and opened the case wide, revealing his Scottish Claymore. His gleaming, two handed sword, that spoke boldly of maiming, and certain death.

The King's men stepped forward between the King and the weapon.

One of the guards made to cover the sword with his boot, to keep Violet from retrieving it, thus arming himself.

Violet held up a hand, "Please, do not."

Vi retreated quickly, putting space between himself and the sword.

"Will you two buffoons move so I can see it?" The King rolled his eyes, as his men stepped back to their posts, glaring at Violet.

The King apprised the massive weapon.

Forgetting himself for a moment, the King emitting a single toned, high pitched whistle that he caught himself at, and he quickly glanced around the room.

All occupying the room front of him, looked elsewhere, the floor, the ceiling, the walls, they looked anywhere except at him. All acting as if they had not noticed the King had forgotten himself in his enthusiasm for a moment.

Except the pirate.

Vi grinned widely, appreciating the King's own appreciation of the weapon.

The King smirked slightly, as he rubbed his hands together and stood.

"'Tis sixteenth century, Sire, a true Scottish Claymore, and not easy to come by, by any means." Violet informed him excitedly. "I took it from a true Scottish Laird aboard the Bonny Lass a few years ago. I was lucky to escape with my life, much less with the sword." Violet could still remember the intense fencing his crew had done that day.

The King quirked a brow at the news that he was receiving stolen property.

"Those Scots are are most tenacious, you see. Yet, I won it fairly, in a fight to the surrender. I value it most highly, yet I would like you to have it, if it pleases you, Sire."

This did please the King, very much.

He bent and hefted the wieldy weapon with both fists, swinging it slightly to feel it's weight.

"Were you aware, Pirate Petals, that your father and I fence with one another?" The King thought he did, and mayhap that was why the man did not overly worry about his fate.

Violet looked at him quite surprised.

The King realized Violet had not known about the friendship he and Marcus shared.

Vi chuckled, "You must be the reason for his vast improvement, Sire. He said he had found a most formidable opponent, he did not say who it was." Violet was duly impressed. "I would be most honored to try my own hand against you someday." Violet's enthusiasm for fencing shone in his eyes.

"Mayhap, I shall pull you from your cell for my own entertainment." The King teased Violet to see his reaction, he was not disappointed.

Violet gulped and looked humbly down at the floor.

The King smiled slightly at Marcus, who stood back, grinning at him, knowing him and his teasing ways, as Violet did not. The King came back to the topic of the Claymore, "I accept," The King eyed the sword, "For the wall." He prided himself on his collection.

As of now, he had a ceremonial Claymore that had been a gift also, from the Scottish King, but this was a fine, solid piece that had actually been used in battle.

The King wondered how many heads had rolled at the end of this piece of iron. He would have this sword mounted on his wall with pride.

The king sat again, the sword's point resting on the ground beside him, his hand rested on the hilt.

"You admitted to raiding many ships already, so I am left to believe through your own admission, that you are indeed a pirate." The King adopted a neutral pose, lifting his free hand and inspecting his fingernails, almost appearing bored.

He then raised his gaze again, to question, "And you do not fear the punishment for your crimes, Pirate Petals?"

Violet thought upon this for a moment.

"I fear for my wife, my family, my crew, and the fate of innocent children. I do not fear the punishment for my crimes, nor do I fear any man, my Liege. I fear only God." Violet replied.

His heartfelt answer touched the Monarch, yet, it galled him at the same time. This man should fear, he must be made to pay for his crimes.

The King thought for a moment....how to unbalance this young man?

"And how do you justify stealing with your God, Violet Petals?" He could not wait to hear what the pirate came up with.

"Firstly, I have given God my word to cease taking from others. I have done all in my past for a reason, a reason I still feel very strongly about and will continue to pursue, it is for this reason I plied the seas and plucked things from others." Violet stood ready to defend himself and his motives.

"And your reason for piracy was?"

Violet opened his mouth, but Eleanor ran forward and bowed her head to her cousin, holding out the records, which the King bemusedly took from her hand.

"Thank you, my Lady." The King looked down at the lists in his hands. "And this is?" The King queried.

Marcus then walked forward. Standing next to Violet, he bowed, his facial expression pleading to be allowed to speak.

"Baron Shelly?" The King granted him permission.

Marcus explained what the papers were, also therein explaining Violet's motives.

Violet stood tall next to his father, hoping the King would understand just what it was that had driven him.

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Timothy cried his heart out in Rebecca's soft embrace. He cried out all of his pain, until it physically hurt him to cry any longer. His sobs quieted down, hiccups replacing the sobs, as he sniffled and finally blinked up at his aunt.

Rebecca took her beautiful nephew's face in her hands, wiping his tears away with her thumbs, she ignored her own as she smiled sadly down at him.

"You look so much like your father, Timmy, Pete told me ye looked as me, yet all I see is my lovely brother when I look at you."

Timothy hiccuped and they both laughed. It was that one laugh, the tremulous one that expresses one's intense relief, after a deep pouring out of their soul.

"You remind me of father, too." Timothy told her, his wide, blue eyes taking her in. He sniffled and wiped his face with his sleeve, then he looked back up at her.

She had a hard time letting him go, but she set him back from herself, and looked him up and down. "It seems that Pete has been taking good care of you."

Her eyes looked behind Tim and found the big man. Pete's blonde, longish hair, his strong brow, and clear, deep, blue eyes, giving evidence of Nordic blood somewhere in his past.

They, too had those same origins, she, Timothy, and Jonah. Fair haired with very light skin, their ice, blue eyes stood out brilliantly in their faces.

Pete had only waited as long as necessary, he hauled himself up to join the two at the rail.

"Do ye think she be alright, boy?" Pete ruffled Tim's hair, hooking an arm around Tim's shoulder, as Pete looked over Rebecca appreciatively.

Again the blush rose upon her neck. She smirked at this fine hulk of a man, who was leading her in a fine dance of flirtation, as she followed along to the best of her ability.

Tim looked up at Pete and smiled, then he told his aunt Rebecca, "Pete is the one who saved me from the pirates, Aunt Rebecca, he saved us all."

Pete had needed no further lauding, yet Rebecca's heart was touched mightily by the hero worship in Timothy's eyes.

"I thank the Lord for Pete!" Rebecca laughed, for if she did not, she would cry. She would lie right down upon this deck and kiss Pete's boots if she did not hold herself tightly together.

"Tis' what I do, right, Timothy?" Pete did not mind the appreciation in Rebecca's eyes. He just liked it better when she had been admiring his form, instead of his works.

"Right, Pete!" Timothy answered his hero.

"I think I shall go see how long Jonah has been a napping, you two find somewhere comfortable to sit whilst I check." Pete pointed out the steps he had occupied a bit ago, before whistling his way below decks to see about finding Paulie.

Rebecca and Timothy walked to the helm slowly, taking a seat upon the steps, as Timothy told his aunt the story of how Pete had saved he and the others from the evil Redbeard and his crew.

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Betsy sat in the chair and swung her legs. She played with the ends of her hair, looking for ends that had split, and biting them off.

It was a terrible habit she had, yet it was something she had often done when bored.

Waiting for her Lady at the dressmakers, she used to nibble at the ends of her hair.

Waiting in the carriage for her Lady, as Arianna had slippers fitted, she had done it then, too.

She spit out an end and sighed heavily. This was tedious.

It had started out so fun, and now she had drank all her chocolate, and groomed all her split ends, and there was nothing left to occupy her.

She groaned miserably, as it must have been at least half and hour since the King left her here alone. She allowed herself to sink far into the chair. She slid down until her feet were on the floor out in front of her and she almost lay in the furniture.

He could have at least left her a deck of cards, she thought.

She sighed heavily, and sat back up, looking around for anything with which to occupy herself with.

She could see nowhere that cards or any such things may be, so she got up from her seat to delve deeper into what lay behind her.

Finding nothing there either, she looked to the door, did she dare......?

She did.

She went to the door and stood there listening. She could hear nothing, so she turned the latch and pushed slowly.

The door opened an inch, then it closed back on her.

She looked at the door and frowned, then she tried again.

This time she pushed harder, she gained two inches this time, before it closed upon her once more.

There was something blocking the door, Betsy thought. Or someone.

Betsy wrinkled her nose and tried to come up with a way out of here.

She could always say she needed use of the privy, they would not think to force her to suffer in here, would they?

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:) Pirate Petals, lol