Anarion

The beginning

The roar of the waves grew louder, their relentless fury crashing ever closer. Blinking against the dim light, I struggled to focus, searching for anything familiar. But nothing in this place sparked a memory. A cold unease settled in my chest.

Slowly, I pushed myself upright, fingers absentmindedly smoothing my tangled curls—still the same inky black as always—but my clothes... My dress was gone. In its place were fitted brown trousers tucked into sturdy leather boots, a loose sky-blue tunic, and a grayish sash cinched around my waist. Confusion knotted my thoughts. Where had these come from? And more importantly... where was I?

How did I even get here?

My limbs felt as though they had been forged from lead, each movement slow and aching, as if I had been trampled by a beast of legend. I braced against a nearby table, steadying myself while the salty scent of the sea filled my lungs. The ship rocked gently beneath me, but the silence that hung in the air was unnatural. A chill prickled my skin as I stumbled toward the door, reaching for the handle with an unsteady grip.

The moment I pushed it open, the golden light of the sun kissed my face, warm and welcoming—yet it did little to ease the tension coiling within me. My eyes swept across the deck. Cannons lined the rails. Barrels, ropes, and nets lay scattered. And then...

A crimson flag flapped ominously above.

Dread sank its claws deep into my gut. Out of all the ships in the world, why did it have to be this one?

I should turn back. Crawl into whatever quarters I had woken up in and feign sleep until fate decided what to do with me. But the deck was eerily empty. We were docked. The crew... gone.

Now, Onamee, now is your chance.

"Chance for what, exactly?"

The voice, deep and smoky, curled around me like enchanted mist. It came from behind. My breath hitched.

I turned, first my eyes, then my head, then my entire body, each movement slow with trepidation.

Taking a steadying breath, I forced out a response, aiming for confidence. "I was just going to find food in town." But my voice betrayed me, cracking into a whisper.

A shadow moved. A figure dropped from the rigging above, landing effortlessly. Dark hair veiled his face as he straightened, sweeping it aside with a casual grace that sent another shiver through me.

"A lady like you should not roam alone," he said, his voice carrying a weight I couldn't place. "Come now. I will escort you."

He brushed past me, his presence sending an inexplicable tremor down my spine.

I hesitated before following, my mind still reeling. My body, however, was less graceful.

The moment I stepped off the gangplank, I miscalculated the last step, and the world tilted—before I found myself face-first in the sand.

For a moment, I considered staying there, surrendering to the earth to avoid the sheer humiliation. But no. With a deep breath, I pushed myself up, brushing the grains from my face.

Ahead, he had not even turned.

Would it have killed him to be a gentleman?

Pressing a hand to my brow, I checked for injuries—none, thankfully—before calling out, "Hey! Wait for me!"

By some small mercy, he had paused at the entrance to the town. I rushed forward, breathless, placing my hands on my knees as I caught up. My curls tumbled over my face, momentarily shielding him from view.

But when I swept them aside, I was met with a pair of piercing eyes.

They held stories—ones that begged to be unraveled. And gods help me... I wanted to know them.