As her carriage stopped at the gangplank, she exited, hopefully looking as radiant as she felt. She was glad to see the handsome captain there to greet her. She batted her eyes at him. "Did you miss my pretty face?," she teased.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>he smiled at her and bowed to her.<br/><br/>"who wouldn't miss your lovely face, Your Highness."<br/><br/>he said and began to walk up the gangplank to go onto the ship.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>She giggled a bit. "You don't have to keep calling me 'Your Highness'. She followed up the gangplank behind him, her dress flowing around her at the bottom.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>when he got to the end of the gangplank he turned and waited for her. he opened his arms to her and when she got to him he gently took her by the hips and lifted her up and over the gap between the gangplank and the deck. he set her down on her feet and then offered her his arm.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>As Ana reached the end of the gangplank, she squealed a bit as she was lifted over by Altair. Once on the ship, she took his arm to allow him to lead her to where they would have their dinner.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>he smiled at her and led her to a platform on top of the massive lower stern 18 inch gun turret. he lowered her down onto a thick blanket and then brought out a picnic basket. he sat down beside her as the massive ship slowly spun around, giving them a very impressive view of the town and castle lit up for the festival, and began to head out to sea again<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana was a bit stunned by where the had ended up. She didn't expect to be this close to the guns. At least there was nothing they had to shoot at so their eardrums were safe. The blanket Altair had lowered her down upon was soft. But when the ship turned to show the view, she couldn't believe it. There was a magical view, the ship was heading out to sea, & here she was on a blanket with the handsome captain. It was like something straight from a fairy tale.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>he smiled at her and handed her a tall glass of bubbly champagne. he smiled at her and then clinked his glass against hers and then took a sip of the drink.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>As he handed her the glass of champagne, she raised her glass. "A toast... to this wonderful evening & to you, Captain Altair for bringing joy & hope to our kingdom once again. As he clicked his glass to hers, she grinned at him.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>we'll save that for later, now watch"<br/><br/>he said pointing up towards the black sky. as they look up the ship starts setting off fireworks that explode over the water in many many colors and designs.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana looks up to the sky. As the fireworks start, she's amazed. She's never seen anything so colorful or beautiful before.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>a big fire work screamed up into the sky and exploded showing off a red rose with a green thorny stem being crossed by a sword, next to that was an image of the ship over three wavy blue lines. it was the flag of the FFFAF Navy. Altair gave the flag a salute as it faded away.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana covered her mouth to stop a gasp from escaping. The FFFAF Navy flag was so beautiful. She couldn't believe it. How on earth did they create images in the sky like that?<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>once the fireworks display was done the ship accelerates and heads out onto the open waters.<br/><br/>"ok we better go inside, it won't be safe out here once we begin to go to my time.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana looked at Altair curiously. His time? What was he talking about? "I... I don't understand... What do you mean?... Why won't it be safe?"<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>you shall see"<br/><br/>he said and led her down to the library and helped her into a chair. he then handed her a very large ring that was thicker on one side.<br/><br/>"put that on with the thicker side over your eyes"<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana looked at the strange ring curiously. She turned it over. What was it. "O-Okay..." She was still a bit unsure of all this. What was going to happen? All she could do now was trust Altair. He hadn't let her down yet. So, cautiously, she put the ring on as instructed.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>a movie began playing before her eyes. it was a 'sleep learning' vid about the time where Altair came from soon she knew all about his world, the army he was from the ship that she was on and everything she would want to know about the time she was going to.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>She focused on the video in front of her. Her head filled with information as if she'd known it all along. Everything she could possibly have asked, things she didn't even know she would was suddenly all right there.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>he sat beside her and waited for the vid to finish.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>The video finished & the screen in front of Ana's eyes went black. She removed the ring & sighed contently with her new-found knowledge & a grin upon her face.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>we'll be ready for the chrono jump shortly. shall we go to the bridge?"<br/><br/>he asked and held his hand out to her.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana took Altair's hand with a smile. "We shall."<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>your father knows that you are coming to see more of the army that will be coming to help him"<br/><br/>he said as he walked her to the bridge, his strong hand holding hers.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana smiles at Altair sweetly. "Good. I didn't want him to worry." But she can't help but to feel happy as his hand holds hers.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>he smiled as they entered the bridge.<br/><br/>"sir, all systems ready for chrono jump"<br/><br/>a sailor told them as he helped her into the captain's seat.<br/><br/>"very good activate the chrono jump"<br/><br/>he said and a ball of the same blue-white light, that she had noticed a few minuets before they had first met, began forming in front of the ship as it sped up.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>She watched as they sped up towards the light. It was the same strange light that had caught her attention in the first place, the very reason that had led to where she was at now.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>the ship sailed into the big ball of light. when the ship sailed out the ocean had changed. it was a darker, almost grey, color and there were other ships around them on the ocean. everything from tankers to cargo ships, to cruise ships<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana looked on in amazement. Even knowing what was going to happen couldn't have prepared her for actually seeing it. There were so many ships around now of different types. It was all so exciting.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>he smiled and then ordered the ship to slow down and then to stop outside the harbor entrance as he could see on the radar that the shipping lanes were filled with ships. the massive ship slowed and then stopped.<br/><br/>"now we wait for the harbor pilot"<br/><br/>he said and then leaned against the raised section behind him.<br/><br/>"sir we have a ship coming up from the stern. seems to be very heavily loaded."<br/><br/>"do we have a name for it?"<br/><br/>Altair asked as he remained resting.<br/><br/>"one moment sir....... oh shit!"<br/><br/>the sailor said.<br/><br/>"what's wrong?"<br/><br/>Altair asked as he straitened up.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana watched closely as a sailor addressed Altair. But the 'oh shit' sounded bad. "What? What's wrong?"<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>"Sir... it's the Mont Blanc"<br/><br/>suddenly the entire bridge got very quiet as they waited for Altair's orders. in his mind he was quickly thinking of different scenarios all of them having problems.<br/><br/>"get in contact with them and ask for a cargo manifest"<br/><br/>he said.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>At hearing the name of the ship Ana's eyes grew wide. It was in the video. Was there set to be another explosion?<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>when the cargo manifest came in Altair blanched as he saw what was on the other ship.<br/><br/>"send them an order. 'they are to stay 1km behind us at all times. if we stop they must stop at once once they are in the harbor they MUST run up the red flag' "<br/><br/>he said and the orders were sent to the other ship. it was acknowledge and then it was just a matter of nervously waiting for the harbor pilots to come out to them<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana waited nervously like everyone else. She gripped onto Altair's hand. What was going to happen? She didn't want to die her first day in his time.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>the Mont Blanc stopped exactly 1km behind the Bismarck and waited there for it's pilot. finally a small speed boat approached them and requested permission to come alongside and to board. Altair gave them permission and then waited for the pilot to come up to the bridge.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana waited alongside Altair. She let out a sigh of relief that the Mont Blanc had stopped where it was supposed to. She hadn't realized before hand that she had been holding her breath since learning the name of the ship.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>when the pilot came onto the bridge Altair told him about the Mont Blanc and what she was carrying.<br/><br/>"we told her to stay 1km behind us at all times and to run up the red flag as soon as they are in port"<br/><br/>the pilot agreed and then radioed the pilot boat to hurry up with the pilot for the Mont Blanc.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana sat in watched in silence, unaware she was still holding Altair's hand.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>soon both ships were ready and slowly began to move into the harbor itself. as the Bismarck moved forwards the radar was picking up all of the other ships that were moving around them. as they entered the narrowest part of the harbor Altair noticed that a ship was traveling in the wrong shipping lane. he reached across her and hit the button for the ship's horn. the horn blasted out a warning to the other ship to get back into the correct lane. the other ship's horn blasted out back at them and kept coming towards them.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Seeing the other ship coming towards them caused Ana to gasp as her breath caught again. She squeezed Altair's hand. Great, they avoid one collision only to be put in the position of another? She wasn't sure she liked this time. It was trying to kill her!<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>"COME TO PORT NOW!"<br/><br/>Altair yelled as he saw that there would be no way to stop the collision. he knew that by turning to port would allow his ship to take the brunt of the hit on the heavily armored side instead of plowing through the other ship. he also knew that it would save the Mont Blanc from taking the hit.<br/><br/>"ALL HANDS BRACE FOR IMPACT!"<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>"Oh, God!" Brace for impact was not what Ana wanted to hear. She immediately got out of her seat & clung to Altair, burying her face in his chest.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>he held her tight and braced both of them for the impact. they didn't have to wait long as soon the ships collided with a massive crunch and clang as the metal and wooden ship hit the all steel ship bringing both to a dead stop in the water blocking both incoming and outgoing shipping lanes. Altair stood up straight and then let her sit back down in the captain's chair and then went into the elevator. he went down to the main deck level and then raced out onto the bow and then jumped onto the other ship and marched up and into the other ship's bridge to get some answers.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana clung to Altair tight as the two ships collided. When he finally let go, she was shaking a bit as she sat back down in the Captain's chair. "Wait, where are you go-" She started to ask him as he started to leave, but before she could finish the elevator door closed & she whimpered a bit, not wanting him to go. What if this time period tried to kill her again?<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>after a few minuets, the harbor police showed up things were settled. Altair came back to the bridge of the Bismarck and sighed.<br/><br/>"Apparently the captain of the Imo there was in too big of a rush to obey the law."<br/><br/>he said and then ordered the Bismarck to continue straight on to the dock that they had been assigned. once the ship was docked he allowed the ship's crew to go on shore leave but the all had to keep their radios on at all times in case they had to sail in a hurry<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana was relieved when Altair finally came back & glad that all was resolved. As the ship's crew left, she gave Altair a playful grin. "Now what did you have in mind, besides sitting on our butts all day?"<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>"who said anything about sitting on our buts all day?"<br/><br/>Altair said as he smiled at her and then led her off the ship and into a waiting Willis jeep, he helped her in and then showed her how to buckle up. once she was in and buckled he got in the other side and drove her to the small house he had on the navy base.<br/><br/>"welcome to my modest home, Ana"<br/><br/>he said as he helped her out of the jeep.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana took Altair's hand as he led her off the ship. Once in the jeep, she buckled up as was shown.<br/><br/>She looked at his house & grinned. "It's lovely."<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>i usually don't care for throwing my weight around to get bigger than i need"<br/><br/>he said and unlocked the door for her. inside was a nice modest home. he flipped a switch on the wall and the lights came on revealing the place to her.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana stepped inside Altair's home as he unlocked it. It was dark, but he soon turned on the light. It was a quaint, lovely little place. She had been so used to being inside that big castle that this was a refreshing change. There were no servants or bodyguards around. It felt more... personal. She smiled, enjoying the place already.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>"i have to make a quick call, and then I'll take you out to see somethings in the city, OK?"<br/><br/>he said and then went into a room and closed the door. he called the aquarium and asked for a special show to be put on for when he gets there.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Anna smiled at Altair. "OK. Sounds like fun." While he made his call, she looked around the quaint little house<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>he came out and wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned his head over her shoulder.<br/><br/>"what are you thinking of, my princess?"<br/><br/>he asked teasing her, not in a malicious way, more of a loving way.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana jumped a bit as Altair wrapped his arms around her. She hadn't expected him out so soon. She smiled at his question. "Oh, just this & that." What she wasn't telling him was she had been thinking of what it would be like to live here, with him, & maybe a child or two.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>"OK well I'd like to take you to an aquarium, that is if you want to come with me?"<br/><br/>he said as he gently closed the door behind him.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana grinned at him, trying to hide her excitement. "I would be honored to accompany you."<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>he brings her back to his Willis jeep and drove them to the aquarium. the tour went smoothly until they came to a under the water view of the main tank where two divers were feeding the fish.<br/><br/><br/>(see the vid for what happens)<br/><br/>m<a class="postlink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7mokzxxeSo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7mokzxxeSo</a>m<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana had a wonderful time at the aquarium, viewing all the fish, learning all about the undersea life. Back in her own time, this never would have been possible. Finally, they got to a big tank where there were some scuba divers feeding the fish. What she didn't expect was seeing that big sign underwater or Altair purposing to her. She broke down in tears, nearly unable to talk. She grabbed a hold of him. "YES! Yes, yes, & a thousand, no a million times yes!" This was the happiest day of her life! If she wasn't crying so many happy tears & wasn't so overwhelmed with joy, she would have fainted.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>he smiled at her and slipped a ring, that he had had in his pocket, onto her finger and then kissed her on the lips. he smiled at her and kissed her again before guiding her back to their seats for the rest of the show.<br/><br/>( the ringm<a class="postlink" href="http://ringoblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/tsavorite-diamond-ring.jpg">http://ringoblog.com/wp-content/uploads ... d-ring.jpg</a>m)<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Tears streamed down Ana's face as Altair slipped the ring on her finger. The whole thing was unreal to her. She felt sick, but a good kind of sick. By the time he lead her back to their seats, she was visibly trembling. She kissed him again & wiped the tears from her eyes, taking a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>he smiled down at her and once the show was over he led her out and back to his jeep.<br/><br/>"I've loved you since i first saw you, but i knew that i would have to impress your father first so i offered to fight the pirates for him and impress both of you that way"<br/><br/>he said and then kissed her lips again.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana held Altair's hand as the made their way back to the jeep. She blushed a bit at his words. "This is the happiest day of my life. & you never had to fight the pirates to impress me. You did that the moment you walked off the gangplank. Of course, saving me from thugs & a fat prince helped also."<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Altair smiled and stopped at a red light and leaned over and kissed her lips.<br/><br/><br/>"do you have any preferences for the wedding? I'll assume that you'll want it back in your own time so that your father can be there"<br/><br/>he asked as he continued driving towards the base.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana grinned at him. "Yes, it would absolutely have to be in my time so my family & friends could be there. & if it's at all possible, could we have it in the spring? It would be so wonderful with the fresh blooms & the breezy air that's just right." She sighed contently. This was going to be absolutely wonderful. She couldn't believe it. She was getting married!<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>it will be where ever you wish it to be my love"<br/><br/>he said and drove them back to the base.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana was so excited & giddy as Altair drove them back to the base. Altair was her fiancé now. Just thinking about it made her excited! Her fiancé!<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>he smiled at her and drove her to the 'com.shed' and had her fill out a message paper with whatever message she wanted to send to her parents.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana filled out the paper, telling her family of the wondrous news. She was so excited just writing it that she almost wasn't able to do it. Once she got it written, he handed it to the com officer to send out.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>the com officer put her message with Altair's and promised her that it would be delivered as quickly as possible. Altair smiled at her and then led her out of the com shed and along the sidewalk. he smiled at her as he aimlessly guided her around the base.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana had a wide, dreamy smile as Altair led her out. She didn't know where they were going. She didn't care. He could be leading her into the fiery pits of hell for all she cared. She was already in Heaven.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>He led her out to the parade ground and then led her to a shaded seating area like the kinds that she would have sat in at Jousting tournaments back in her on time.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana followed him out to the parade grounds & sat down next to him, holding his hand, as she waited for the parade to start.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Altair smiled and sat with her as many women and children began to fill up the bleachers on either side of them. once the bleachers, and some of the grass in front of them were filled about 50 different groups of bagpipe players began their show. each line of men had a different style of kilt on indicating what group they belonged to.<br/><br/>m<a class="postlink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJgSagkw1TA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJgSagkw1TA</a>m<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>Ana sat with Altair & watched as the parade went through, a smile on her face.<br/><br/>~~~~<br/><br/>he smiled at her and then went back to watching as the actual games began starting with the caber toss.<br/><br/>m<a class="postlink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-A7Owvkmso">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-A7Owvkmso</a>m