The girl's mind was in a whirl as hurried to get the captain some more stew. Careful not to incur the wrath of any drunken men, she slipped past them and headed into the kitchen.<br/><br/>The cook rambled and raved about heaven knows what as she absentmindedly filled the smallest turtle shell, which was still at least three times the size of a normal bowl, to the brim. A single thought popped into her head as she started out.<span style="font-style: italic">Crow</span>. She filled another bowl and headed back up to the forecastle. She delivered the stew to the captain, who didn't look displeased at the sight of more good food, and started her ascent to the Crow's nest.<br/><br/>--------------------------------------------------------------------------<br/><br/>Aris quickly discovered why she saw no one other than Ganelon climb the rat lines to the crow's nest. It was difficult to climb, with all the scratchy rope and billowing winds keeping her from her destination. It wasn't easy for another reason; she did it with one hand, as her other had the bowl of stew. Her skirt whipped around behind her and her hair blew into her face as she climbed. Her arms ached, and she was glad to see the top coming nearer.<br/><br/>She set the bowl carefully on the floor of the Crow's nest and, with a unladylike grunt, she pulled herself up. "Ahoy" she called out to the young man, who sat and scraped a menacing blade against a small grinding stone. She handed him the stew and leaned her back against the side.<br/><br/>It was difficult for her not to notice the crate, regardless of how small it was. The crow's nest was a very small place, it was even smaller with a crate in it. Plus, Ganelon was sitting on it. Difficult to ignore.<br/><br/>"So, that's your haul from that trading ship?" she nodded towards it. "Kinda small, don't ya think?" She looked up at the crystal-clear sky above her.<br/><br/>"Makes me wonder what kind of loot you got from Greenport. You must have gotten one heck of a look at that town from up here. Or, maybe you were walking around the town. Hardly able to take a step without tripping over dead people, with their throats slit, burnt up, and crushed under the rubble. All you can hear is the crackle of fire, and the screams of the townsfolk, simply trying to survive. To no avail. You know that it's just you and the pirates that are alive here, and that there's nothing you can do. You escaped your fate, and for that, you will have to live with the hellish fact that it's your fault. You did nothing to save them and now they are gone. Everything you even knew, everything you've seen during your seventeen years on this earth, up in smoke. And you didn't do anything to stop them-"<br/><br/>She caught herself shouting the last words into the night. Her fingernails loosened their grip inside the flesh of her palms, hot tears streamed down her bruised cheek. The thought of her parents, howling through the town, made her body quiver.<br/><br/>She felt Ganelon's gaze rest on her and she turned. Aris searched his eyes, for what, she did not know. Compassion, understanding maybe, perhaps even pity. She looked away, afraid of being disappointed once again.<br/><br/>She let out a small laugh, her heart aching mercilessly. "You didn't ask me up here just to hear my sob-story of a life. You just wanted me to yourself, right?"<br/><br/>She reached down to her boot and pulled out a long-necked bottle of rum. It was going to be a peace offering of some sort, but she needed it more than he did right now.<br/><br/>"At least you asked to be alone before you went through with it in front of the whole crew, like your good-for-nothing mate down there with the blade in his foot."<br/><br/>She pulled the cork out with her teeth, spat the cork over the edge, and took a swig. It had much more of a kick than the rum in the hold.<br/><br/>"Well, if that was your reason to have me up here alone with you, go on ahead. Might as well give<span style="font-style: italic">someone</span>some pleasure before I get thrown overboard tomorrow."