Inheritance: Threads of Fate

Chapter Twenty Three - Ceremony

You have never been so happy to see a hunk of wood in your life. That big, black, wonderful ship where you learned to fight, nursed Caspian back to health, and only the second place you ever could call home loomed above you like a dark thunder cloud promising rain during a drought. Ominous, but beautiful. The rope ladder was tossed down as you attached the pulleys to the longboat, and up you went.
The breeze tickled your face as you set foot on deck, as if it was welcoming you back, but that split second of peace was short lived as your concerned crewmen all surrounded you, relieved to see you all back safely. You were touched that they cared so much, really, but at this moment, you wanted no part of any welcome home celebration. You just wanted silence. Your brain was buzzing with stimulation, and your nerves were shot. You turned to the first person you saw, who was Raxe, and told him "I just need twenty minutes. No disruptions. Unless it's an emergency." You added at the end, knowing your luck.
He nodded with a genuine smile. "Yes Captain."
Heh. That sounded funny coming from him not sarcastically.

You entered the study, and closed the doors. Then entered your quarters, and closed those behind you as well. As soon as the doors were shut, silence. Wonderful, ear splitting silence. All you could hear was the groan of the ship as the waves pushed it back and forth. You slid down against the door and sat on the floor. You could have fallen asleep like that, being gently rocked. The sea itself was trying to comfort you.
You lit a fire in the fireplace, and heated some water to wash your face.  Then opened the back doors to let the cool night air rush through the room. Firetalon was resting on the bannister, which meant Nightfeather was on his way to the Lone Islands. You startled her when you opened the doors abruptly and she ruffled up. "Sorry girl." You picked her up, and she stared at you as if asking "Where the hell have you been?" You placed her on top of her cage, with the door open, so she could help herself to bed when she wanted.
You heard a knock on your door. "You have GOT to be kidding me." You said out loud. There couldn't possibly be an emergency already...
You flung the door open annoyedly, "WHAT?" You began to shout but there was no one in the study. You looked around, and down. At your feet sat two full cauldrons of water. "What..." You bent down to pick one up, and you could feel the heat radiating from it. Ok...hot water... You felt the other one, cold. "Bath." Your inner voice answered your questions. You had no idea who was responsible for this but they are definitely getting a promotion. You poured the water, grabbed your favorite soap, and didn't even bother grabbing a towel, you just stripped down and sunk yourself into the hot water.
Oh. Sweet. Aslan's. Mercy. This was heaven.
The steam rose from the tub as the air cooled in your cabin from the open doors. The fire flickering whenever the breeze would dance through, stinging your hot, wet skin in the best way. You inspected yourself for the first time in weeks, and were shocked at how thin you looked, and not in a "good" way. You had actually been eating pretty decently since you were rescued from the desert but that week or so really did a number on you. The good news was all that walking and riding made your legs look fantastic, minus of course that hair that had grown out since you took that long bath in the river when you were last able to shave...so you quickly remedied that. (Not that you really minded leg hair, but your legs just felt sooo good when they were freshly shaven.)
You washed every inch of yourself. You didn't want any evidence you were ever in the desert left on you. Finally, clean, and smooth, you allowed yourself to relax in the tub, your loose hair floating around you. You watched the sky outside your doors turn from blue, to orange, to pink, and then dark navy blue as the stars began their nightly service. It had definitely been longer than twenty minutes, so you silently thanked the powers that be for allowing this alone time to have gone on interrupted. Which you shouldn't have...because as soon as the thought passed across your mind a soft knock rapped on your door.
"Mhmm?" You mumbled just loud enough for whoever it was to hear.
"When you're ready, put that green dress on?" Caspian's voice came from the other side of the door.
"The green..." You began to question, then suddenly remembered the dress Sis and Mrs. Genova bought you hanging up, waiting patiently for its moment to shine. "Caspian... that dress? While we're sailing?" You sat up in the tub and called out to him.
"Yes." He offered no further explanation.
"Why?" You argued.
"Don't fight me on this one. Just do it." You could hear a smile in his voice even from the other room.
It went against every instinct to follow a command blindly..."It might not fit me anymore..."
"Oh for Aslan's sake." You swore you could hear his eyes roll.  "I command you to wear it. That is a direct order from your KING."
You opened your mouth to say something sarcastic in retort, but at this moment you were too relaxed to argue any further. "Fine." You answered him and heard his footsteps walk away.
The bath water was cooling down anyway, so you got out. You stood there with the cold air blowing on your soaking wet body, causing goosebumps to form all over, and a shiver ran up your spine, instantly regetting your decision not to grab a towel. You hurried and closed the doors, cutting off the night air, then sat in the armchair in front of the fireplace for your only source of warmth, letting the heat dry you. The cabin warmed up quickly with the doors closed, and once you felt a comfortable temperature you started to get dressed.
This dress was much nicer than any other you had owned, and it took you a minute to figure out how to lace the corset style bodice on your own. Though with the design purposely intended to adjust to the wearer, it ended up fitting you perfectly. You ran your hand down the skirt, feeling the velvet between your fingers. It was almost warm to the touch, in contrast to the inside of the slip against your smooth legs which was cool and silky. You fixed your hair in the mirror, deciding to let it mostly hang loose, (you felt as if your head was sore from having it back in knots for so long). The sweetheart style top was very complimentary of your breasts, and you took advantage of it by scooping them up to fill out the sewn in cups. You straightened your necklace, so the blue Scale was sitting prominently above your cleavage. Looking at yourself, you had no idea who this person was... you dared to say you looked nice, pretty even. If Sis could see you now...
You opened the doors to the study, then as you stood at the doors to the deck, you realized how incredibly nervous you were. Nervous for what exactly, you didn't know but... nervous of what Caspian would think when he saw you? Nervous he would see you dressed like a real lady and then realize how disheveled you looked the majority of the time? You hesitated... "You're the Captain. This is your ship. You can walk around naked for all you care and they still have to respect you." You tried to tell yourself. "Fuck it." You took a deep breath and opened the second set of doors.
The deck was dark, minus a few torches lit around the banisters, and a few candelabras on...a table in the middle of the deck? This was different. You approached the table suspiciously, and as you fully came out around the staircase you saw Caspian, leaning backwards on the table, wearing all black. His dress coat was embroidered with gold, and tailored to hug his body magnificently. He had trimmed his beard, so it was just a light scruff framing his chiseled jaw, and his long thick hair was combed back. He tilted his head to the side, hie eyes running up the length of your body, then smiled mischievously when he saw you emerge.
"Damn woman..." He snarled through gritted teeth.
"Damn yourself..." You ogled him shamelessly. "What is all this?" You raised your eyebrow at him.
"Your ceremony, but...tailored to your tastes." He held his hand out with a little bow, and you took it instinctively.
"Ceremony?"
"For your Scale." Your father spoke from the other side of the table, making you jump.
"Shit, Dad... I didn't see you there."
"How could you when you were looking at this?" He motioned up and down to Caspian chuckling.
You noticed your father was no longer wearing the brown robes of a slave. He donned a brown pair of pants, with a belt, and boots, and his loose white shirt was tucked in neatly. He looked so distinguished with his grey hair combed and pulled back in a low ponytail. He too had trimmed his beard, but not as much as Caspian, still featuring a prominent point at the tip.
"Usually this is done in front of the whole crew, but Caspian and Raxe told me you favor more... subtle gatherings." He smiled. "You look beautiful Ladybug."
"Where is Raxe?" You looked around.
"Right here." He came out of the galley carrying a decanter. "Had to grab the finishing touches." He placed it on the table among the platters of food.
Raxe too had cleaned up. A loose turquoise shirt tucked into his dark grey pants brought out his eyes beautifully. His curly hair which has been caked in sand and was tangled from being windswept had been washed. Each curl seemed to know its proper place on his head, and of course, that distinctive patch that liked to hang in front of his eyes.
"What are you guys up to?" You shifted your eyes between them. Caspian walked you over to the edge of the ship, and let go of your hand. He stood behind you, slightly to your right.
"Ready?" Your dad asked you as he stood opposite of you, Raxe took his place behind him.
"I have no idea." You questioned.
He chuckled warmly. "The Scale, please, King Caspian." He held his hand out as Caspian undid your necklace from behind and passed it to your father.
He held up the Scale ceremoniously in both hands, presenting it out to the sea.
"Great Chief of the Merpeople, it has been my great privilege to stand as Lord of the Scale of the Sea nye these past..." He stopped to think... and looked in horror.. "Gosh has it been twenty years..." He whispered to you, then continued. "Twenty years. Though my time was brief in the span of the power of the Six, it is my duty and honor to choose a successor as my season comes to an end. As such I choose my daughter, the Captain of the Shade of Hope, to pick up the mantle as the new Lord of the Scale of the Sea. May her choices be guided by the strength of the sea, her mind remain as impartial, her spirit as unyielding, her kindness as fluid, and her crew as loyal as your precious daughter was to our ancestor. With these two men as witness, The Scale of the Sea has a new Lord."
Your dad placed the necklace around your neck, "I know that was all a bit dramatic, but it's tradition." He whispered. You giggled.
"Now we celebrate!" He gestured to the table. "This is the fun part." He added more casually. "Congratulations Ladybug." He hugged you.
"That was all very official..." You nervously chuckled.
"You're lucky we didn't do the full dunking you into the water bit." He laughed out loud.
"Excuse me the what?" You stepped back.
"Traditionally this is done in the water itself, and at the end I submerge your entire body in symbolism for the sea claiming you or something..." He explained nonchalantly as he sat down at the table.
"Yea thanks for not doing that..." you shivered thinking of that cold dark water, and went to pull out a chair at the table across from him but Caspian reached around you to pull it out before you could. He held it for you as you sat, and pushed you in. You felt a fluttering in your chest as you looked up at him to thank him, and he smiled down at you. He looked so incredibly handsome.
He took a seat next to you, and poured you something to drink from the decanter Raxe had brought out earlier.
"What is this?" You picked up your chalice and smelled it. The amber liquid had a sweet, woodsy aroma that enticed you to take a sip. It definitely had a kick to it that hit your tongue immediately but it was smooth and warm going down.
"Narnian rum." Caspian swirled his own chalice, inhaling deeply.
"Where was this the whole way here?" Your eyes widened at the deliciousness of it.
"I only brought a small keg." He chuckled at your expression. "Only for special occasions and this absolutely qualifies." He raised his glass to your father, then you and Raxe.
"Here here." Your father raised his glass in agreement.
"Wow. If I was ever going to find a substitute for arak, I think I just did." Raxe commented, staring into his own cup.
"It's only brewed in the cellars at Cair Parival, so good luck getting your hands on more." Caspian laughed.
"How did you all manage to set this up without me knowing?" You helped yourself to a bit of every dish that was on the table.
"We did have three days to plan it." Raxe looked slyly at Caspian and your dad.
"You were planning this the whole time?"
"Well to give credit where it's due," Your dad responded. "Caspian had already planned to do something to celebrate you being Captain." Your dad explained between bites. "But when he found out about the ceremony for the Scale, we thought it was too perfect an opportunity to waste."
You turned to look at Caspian, astounded that he was involved in any of this without your knowledge. His eyes wrinkled at the corners, but he continued eating as if he had no idea what either of them were talking about.
"Is this what you two were talking about that half day you were riding together?" You asked them both.
"Not the whole time... " Caspian raised his glass to his lips trying to hide a smirk.
"The King and I spoke about many different things." Your father winked at Caspian.
"Ok that's not cryptic or concerning in any way..." Your eyes shifted back and forth between them.
Caspian laughed, placed his chalice down, then put his hand over yours. "Your father gave me a lot of advice, about many different topics, one of which was you, another about this dinner."
"Hey, why didn't I get a free life advice discussion with you?" Raxe asked your dad. "Now I'm missing out."
Your dad laughed. "I'll schedule you in."
The dinner was delicious. Ryebiter found some new recipes from Calormen and merged them with traditional Narinan or Talmarine dishes. There were some that didn't quite pair the way you would have thought, and others that seemed like they were meant to be together. Caspian made notes of the ones he liked to make them a staple in Narnia.
Ryebiter surprised you with your favorite dessert, strawberries and cream, which you hadn't had since last summer. You had no idea where he found strawberries in Calormen but you didn't care. Between the warm, spicy, rum and the cool, creamy strawberries your tongue was singing. (And your head was light and floaty).  As you all finished the last few bites, Caspian stood up, "I'll be right back." He walked towards the bow, into the dark, and when he returned he was carrying a sleek mahogany box with a black silk bow. He placed it on the table in front of you, and took his place next to you, a gleam in his eyes.
"What's this?"
"Open it and find out." He couldn't hide the excitement in his voice.
You turned and looked across the table, Raxe and your father were both smiling eagerly, as if they were all in on this big secret.
You unlatched the box, and lifted the lid. Laying on a silk cushion was the black woven leather baldric you were eyeing at the merchant's stall when you first arrived in the village. You gasped. "How...?" You couldn't finish your thought, or refrain from running your fingers over the soft leather, taking your time to finger each of the iron clasps and rings that were symmetrically woven through. You finally looked up to the rest of the table.
"How did you guys know??" You heard your voice crack.
"Not us." Raxe shoot a look, smiling. "Caspian."
Your father also nodded, his eyes were glinting in happiness.
You looked at Caspian. "I never said..."
"I saw you looking at it that morning." He answered your unspoken question softly. "It is the right one isn't it?"
"Caspian... I absolutely love it." You choked. "How did you get it? We didn't have anything to trade..."
"I asked the man if he would set it aside for me until we got a hold of our ship. He delivered it right before we left for Tashbaan."
"Thank you." You looked into his eyes, yours wet with tears threatening to fall.
"It is my genuine pleasure to spoil you with every little thing you desire, My Starlight." He gently held your chin between his index finger and thumb, and kissed you softly.
"I think that's our cue." You heard your father whisper to Raxe as they got up from the table, but it barely processed. No one else was in your world at this moment.