ARIEL Glad you’re enjoying the story but it wouldn’t be half as good as it is if it wasn’t for your help, so thank you so much for all you’re doing to help with Red Rosenberg.
deviantART glad you’re enjoying the story, not sure yet about Willow having some power, but she and Tara are part of a prophecy in the follow up story. Willow just needs to get over her grief for Roberta before she can begin her new relationship, but Tara will help her there. As for Dawn, you’ll see what she’s been up to in this chapter.
Laragh Thank you for your kind remark, I never considered my story to be cool before so I am highly flattered by such praise. Of course you can kick-ass, you’re a kitten, all kittens kick ass, and now there’s two of you as well does that mean double trouble lol
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wolfsbane Hi Wolfsbane, glad you’re enjoying the story. I assure you there’s going to be more sweet moments between the girls and I’m sorry you add to wait so long for this new chapter but I hope it’s worth it.
Promethea128 Tara wasn’t really being weird about the food, but it was a bread called hard tack which was really tough to chew. As for gobbling down the stew, yeah, it was because she had been starved for so long and was grateful for real food for the first time. I couldn’t leave Kat behind as she has a big part to play in this epic adventure and I am planning more Willow Tara time in future chapters.
sapphoselene Thank you so much for your kind words, It is good to know I have a faithful follower, however a lot of that praise should also be given to ARIEL (How I Met Your Mother). She has been a wonderful friend, a great help to me in writing this story and the best beta I could ever hope to find. I am so sorry you had to wait so long for this new chapter but I assure you it will be worth it and I will try not to make you wait as long for future chapters. I promise I will only end this story when I have finished the last chapter, and even then, there’s going to be a follow up story to read
[center]THE ADVENTURES OF CAP’N ‘RED’ WILLOW ROSENBERG
DEAD MANS ISLE[/center]
Author; Willowtaralover
Disclaimer; All Buffy characters are owned by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Fox. I own all original concepts, characters and anything else they can’t lay their dirty hands on.
Rating; PG-13 to R for sex, violence and naughty swearing.
Story; Rough, tough pirate captain ‘Red’ Willow Rosenberg is on the hunt for treasure but gets more than she bargained for in the shape of romance with a blonde beauty, betrayal from a crewmember and danger from a necromancer who is attempting to resurrect an evil goddess and his undead army.
Again, I owe many thanks to my good friend and beta Ariel without whom this story would be nowhere near as good as it is. Thanks Ariel, you’re awesome. I also owe thanks to Alex and Laragh for their help and advice too on their scene.
All thoughts are in italics
Chapter 7
Stowaway
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Willow paced her cabin while Buffy and Xander continued to pore over the map to their present destination, the isle of Verminas as well as a pile of charts and atlases. Willow whirled to face her two mates.
“We’re sailing blind! The Narinian navy will be scouring the seas for us and we missed that translator at the tavern.” She sighed and came to a stop, “and worse than that we lost three fine hands today.” Suddenly she smashed her fist against the table, “and none of this would have happened if it hadn’t been for that stupid bloody bilge rat.” She stood there, her face like thunder while her mates cautiously looked at each other but said nothing.
That’s when the captain’s coat weighs heavy on me, damn it, losing crew mates who were loyal and followed me orders to the last.
Buffy looked thoughtful, “Will, are there any other islands we could go to, maybe find a translator to help with the map.”
Willow was certain, “not after last night. Someone on one of the other islands is bound to have seen the fires from the battle at the entrance to Narina. The Narinian navy were raising the flag to put their fleet to sea as we left,” she looked at her two companions, the ghost of a smile on her face. “And we’re all a little too well known.”
She paused, her face grim, as she considered possible outcomes. “They catch us and we’ll all be tortured and hanged.” She swallowed; every girl on board was like family to her. “These girls deserve better than that, they deserve a fighting chance, not to die at the end of a rope like a dog.” For an instant, the mask of the fiery captain slipped and she dropped her head in despair.
Buffy and Xander looked at one another. They had never seen her this dejected before and they worried for her.
A silence fell amongst the three as they remembered the close escape they had had the night before. Willow finally turned to Buffy.
“I’d still like to know what the chart says, there has to be something there we can use. Look Buffy, you’ve had some schooling, d’ya think you could translate any of it?”
“Dunno Will, I can try but you have to understand, I didn’t do well with languages at the school. I can read and speak a little Nelacan but that’s it. I will do what I can though.”
Willow straightened “Time to heave ho old friends. Get our sharpest-eyed girls aloft to keep a look-out and start daily battle drills. We’re out-numbered and out-gunned; the only way for any of us to get out alive is to stay one step ahead!”
Buffy and Xander left to tend to their new orders while Willow allowed herself one moment alone to feel the tears pricking at her eyes as she mourned the loss of three gallant women.
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Tara woke the following morning, thanks to the gentle rocking of the boat and the slapping of the water against the side of the vessel, to find herself in a strange new world. Waking in a warm and comfortable bed was a totally new experience for her, especially after having spent most of her life sleeping on a cold stone floor in the sewers flowing beneath her father’s tavern.
She snuggled deeper into the bed, enjoying the feeling of security she got from it. She felt so snug in the bed she did not want to rise but stay there all day. Then she saw the tray on the bedside cabinet. It contained a goblet of water, more of the flat bread, slices of ham and cheese and an apple.
After her previous experience eating the flat bread, Tara decided to leave it and ate the rest of the food with relish, washing it down with the water. Then she noticed the note sticking out from under the platter. It informed her to go to the captain’s cabin as soon as she was awake.
She found her dress folded neatly on the foot of the bed and a pair of soft shoes on the floor and the jug and basin on the side. After swiftly slipping on the dress and into the shoes, Tara washed her face removing little spots of grime that Willow had missed the night before. After checking her appearance in the reflective surface of the tray, the girl set off to Willow’s cabin.
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Alex and Laragh had slept through breakfast then spent the last few minutes drilling the gun crew and were now on the hunt for food.
“How could you not hear the breakfast bell Alex,” Laragh grumbled. “I thought you had super hearing, or so ya boast anyways.”
“I do have super hearing oh ye of little faith,” Alex replied snarkily. “But it doesn’t work when the person you’re bunking with is snoring loud enough to wake the dead.”
“Hey ya cheeky bint,” Laragh said laughing and giving her best friend a friendly slap on the arm. “Come on, they should have summat in the stores,” and with that the young pirate and her friend went down to the storeroom where the food that had been purchased the previous day was.
The ships hold was down below, the only light provided came from a single torch on the wall by the door. This torch had been enchanted by Giles so that it never went out but stayed lit constantly.
The two girls made their way over to where several barrels stood with a small platter holding several gold and silver goblets. As Alex picked up two of the goblets, Laragh lifted the lid on one of the barrel’s, took in a good breath through her nose and scrunched her nose up as if in thought.
“Aye, it’s water,” she said and Alex dipped first one, then the other into the water. As Laragh replaced the lid, Alex proffered one of the goblets and the dark haired girl took it gratefully.
“Ah, I needed that,” she said after swigging the water down her throat. “Now let’s see what’s to eat.”
“There should be some apples round here in a barrel,” Alex informed her and went back to the door to get the torch so the duo could read the barrels better.
“Here we are,” Alex said and, handing the flaming torch to her friend, lifted the lid. She placed her hand firmly on top of the fruit and froze. Alex stood like that for several minutes before Laragh said,
“Y’know, ye picked a hell of a time to play statues,” more in puzzlement than annoyance. Why was her friend and bunkmate behaving like this?
“Lar, I think there’s a rat in the apples,” Alex whispered, the fear plain in her voice.
“Alex, you’re a pirate, just kill it. Stick your knife up its asshole and give it a serious case of constipation,” Laragh replied slightly nonplussed at her friends fear. After all, Alex and Laragh were two of the most fearless pirates in Willow’s entire crew.
A squeal from the barrel made Alex leap high and land in her friend’s outstretched arms, only to be dumped unceremoniously on the floor, on her butt. Meanwhile the magic torch burned merrily away without setting fire to anything else, a magical safeguard Giles had set in place.
“What now,” Laragh sighed, hoping she wasn’t going to go all day without food.
“It squealed and went under the apples,” said Alex as she picked herself up off the floor.
“I’ll take a look,” and Laragh picked up the torch and, holding it over the barrel placed her hand inside. She stepped back as a little squeal come from within the barrel.
“Well there’s definitely something in the barrel,” she confirmed while Alex rolled her eyes. “Here Alex, pass us yer knife. I’ll sort the little bastard out.”
“NO,” came the muffled squeal from under the apples. Alex and Laragh exchanged a look before they both placed their hands into the barrel. Within less than a minute Laragh was pulling something or someone up by the hair. When the two girls saw who it was their eyes went wide.
“Oh,” said Laragh.
“Shit,” finished Alex.
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“Girls aloft?”
Buffy nodded, “aye Captain.”
“Battle drills set, powder and balls inventoried?”
Xander nodded “Will, about the girl…Tara.”
Tara hesitated outside the Captain’s door, with her hand poised to knock when she heard her name from inside. She paused to listen, having learned in her life that it was well to gauge the temper of the company before walking in. Her toes were twitching nervously in the soft shoes she wore that were surprisingly comfortable to her feet after the cold stone floor of her ‘bedroom’.
Willow paused, that one word recalling the golden vision of that beautiful mistreated girl. Her voice softened, “so?”
Xander swallowed “Let her stay aboard. Find her some work.”
Willow looked keenly into his eyes. “You’ve a kind heart old friend. Nori is it?”
Xander looked away. Years ago his beloved sister had been stolen away by slavers and he and Willow had gone to sea is search of her. After five long years without hearing so much as a word about his sister, Xander had told Willow he was giving up the search, but Willow knew better. Tara was another Nori, someone in need of protection and he had already reached out to her.
Willow spoke, “She’s been as much a prisoner as any one of the rest of the girl’s and I like the cut of her jib. If she wants to work and earn her keep I’ll not deny her a fair chance.”
“Thanks Will.”
She gave his shoulder a squeeze. Then they continued poring over the charts hoping to find their passage to the Island of Verminas by comparing the various maps.
A moment later, Tara gathered her courage and knocked on the door.
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The two girls were escorting an unexpected guest when trouble intercepted them in the corridor outside Willow’s cabin.
“What’s that little turd burp doing here?” Katarina asked in a contemptuous, mocking tone.
“Summat Wil…,” Laragh began,
“Who the fuck are you calling turd burp, ya rat faced gobshite?” came the angry retort from Laragh and Alex’s escort.
“You’ve got a big mouth on you girl,” Kat sneered at one she supposed was an underling. “Perhaps if I slice it off you won’t have as much to say for yourself.”
The stowaway glared back “Try it, I dare ya. Come on right now!”
Alex stepped in between the arguing twosome before anything really started, however…
“What, are you, her babysitter now?” Kat asked mockingly poking Alex sharply in the chest.
“Who the hell d’ya think you’re poking” Alex replied angrily, poking Kat in the chest just as sharply.
Alex suddenly found herself reeling after a blow to the face courtesy of Kat’s fist and she hit her head against the ships bulkhead. She quickly bounced back and threw herself at the other girl and the two quickly found themselves locked in combat.
Laragh, who was still standing there holding her escort back placed her hand over her face and, shaking her head, moaned “not again.”
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Willow looked up sharply at the gentle knock, which was followed by the approaching roar of Alex and Kat fighting their way down the corridor.
“Come in,” she said quickly.
Tara walked in just as the door was flung wide open behind her, sending her flying across the room and into Willow’s arms.
Willow had approximately an instant to appreciate the soft swell of Tara’s breasts pressed against her own before her cabin door burst open and
Kat and Alex, both bruised, fell in.
Alex was on top and battering the hell out of her opponent. In fact so occupied was she in her attack that Alex didn’t notice the booted feet striding over to where she was beating the crap out of Kat. Currently she was very pleased to see that she had split Kat’s lips, gashed her forehead and was pummelling Kats face black and blue.
Kat, whilst fending off her enemy’s blows realised where she was and quickly formed a plan. As Alex launched herself back on top of Kat, the girl bought her foot up and booted her opponent in the gut. Alex rolled off, winded.
As she lay there gasping for air, Kat quickly got up and ran toward Willow, pushing Tara out of the way. She threw herself onto the redhead, weeping crocodile tears and her voice full of false crying. As Kat tried to wrap her arms tighter round Willow, Tara, having been helped up by Xander, looked at the woman who had rescued her being held by another, the sorrow clear in her eyes.
“Get off me,” Willow said angrily throwing Kat off her who put her head in her hands and made sobbing sounds. Willow gave a look of death at the two women who had come crashing into her cabin.
“What the hell do you both think you’re doing,” the pirate snarled out to the two women while Buffy and Xander looked on with interest grateful to have something that took their minds off their present problems. Only Tara stared at the floor unable to take in the sight of Kat staying close to Willow.
“It was horrible,” sobbed Katarina, partly moving her hands so no one could see her tears were false. “I just said ‘good morning’ to them and Alex attacked me for no reason.” She then started to wail again, even louder than before and Xander rolled his eyes in irritation at what he could tell quite clearly was an act.
Willow switched her attention to the other girl. “Well Alex,” she asked, not entirely trusting all that Kat was saying and knowing how she had pissed off crewmembers. However at the same time, knowing the fierce temper that Alex had and if Kat had annoyed her in any way at all, well…
Alex said nothing but glared murderously at the other girl. There was a sudden ‘ahem’ from the doorway making Willow and Buffy look in that direction.
“Ermm, we found this in the food store room,” Laragh said and she stood to one side to reveal …
“Surprise,” Dawn said weakly to a shocked and amazed Buffy, Willow and Xander.
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After Willow had quickly sent the warring Kat and Alex on their way she turned to Tara. “We can land you at our next stop or give you a berth here on the Slayer.”
Tara’s blue eyes met the Pirate Captains green ones. “H…here please,” she said softly.
“You worked in a tavern, can you cook?”
Tara nodded.
“Tis hard work and long hours. Try it then, you can leave if it doesn’t suit.
I’m not a slaver to bind anyone against their will.”
Tara smiled “So I c…can stay Captain?”
Willow’s voice softened “Yes lass, yes you can,” then her voice regained its commanding style. “Xander, escort our new cook to the galley and show her everything she needs.”
After Xander and Tara left she and Buffy set to work interrogating Dawn.
“What in the hells are ya doing here?” quizzed Willow, still shocked by the appearance of her best friend’s younger sister.
“Aye, I thought Willow said she would take you on the next voyage we took,” said a pissed and alarmed Buffy.
“Well,
I decided
I wanted to come on this voyage because
I think
I’m ready now,” replied Dawn, not caring if she antagonised her sister or her friend. She already knew that they were both pissed at her and she felt the same towards them. Dawn just wished that the two people to whom she felt the closest bond and loved most dearly wouldn’t treat her as if she were a small child.
“When you decided you were ready,” repeated a stunned Willow. She was so astonished at the sight of the young girl turning up on her ship that she was practically dumbstruck.
Buffy, on the other hand was so apoplectic with rage she could barely utter a word. Her face was as red as Willow’s hair.
“What the fuck are you doing here,” Buffy roared.
“I told you, I decided I was ready so I snuck on board the night before we departed.”
“You decided so you snuck aboard?” Buffy was incredulous at her younger sister. “Why in the gods would you do that?”
“You know why, I want to prove to Willow that I’m good enough to sail on the Slayer as a crewmember. This looked like the best way to do it so I did it.” The younger girl turned to the redhead who was her friend and mentor. “Willow, you said yourself how well I did in the fighting contest back on the base and I want to show you how useful I can be on board.”
“Aye, but I’m pretty sure I also said there’s more to it than just fighting. Ya have ta know how ta navigate without sun and stars…”
“You use a compass, that’s what you always taught me. Or was that a lie too, like your promise to take me with you.”
The venom in Dawn’s voice caught Willow off guard and she stood there, slightly stunned for a moment just staring at the girl before her, practically challenging her.
“I didn't lie to you Dawn,” the redhead replied angrily “But I have no idea where this quest will take us, or if any of us will return.” She said this last quietly and her green eyes showed fear for the first time on this voyage.
Buffy turned desperately to her friend. “Will, is there any possibility that we could take her back to the base?”
“No, it would mean going back through Narina waters. If any of their navy sees us they’ll try ta blow us outta the water for sure.”
Willow and Buffy both stood their glaring at Dawn who just glared right back at them, arms folded across her chest.
I’ll give her this, she’s got balls on her, specially staying in the storeroom during last nights attack, the redhead thought but the angry frown stayed on her face.
No sense letting her see I have some admiration for her.Then a thought struck her and an evil smile formed on the captain’s mouth.
“So ya wanna be like me d’ya? Well ye can do it the way I did and start at the bottom. Buffy take her to Tara in the galley.”
Dawn’s face dropped, “the galley, you can’t be serious Willow, I want t’be a pirate like you, not a second rate cook!”
Willow smirked at Dawn’s outrage, “Ya wanna be a pirate, the first rule always do what ya captain tells ya. And I wouldn’t call Tara second rate if I were you or she’ll kick yer ass and put ya back in yer place".
Buffy had also started to smirk as she quickly grasped her friends plan. Make Dawn stay on board and see first hand how hard it was for the Slayer crew. “Come on Dawn, time to get on down to the galley,” her elder sister said.
“This is so unfair,” Dawn ranted, “I wanted to learn to be a pirate, not be a gorramn scullery maid.” That was it for Willow. The smile left her face which became even grimmer than before and a bleakness filled her eyes that quickly turned to rage.
“Dawn,” her voice was quiet but an underlying tremor of rage lay there just waiting to be unleashed. “Dawn, last night we lost three crewmembers. T’gon’Wa, Jessica and Philippa. They were good lasses who worked hard
and were well liked. Now, thanks to the stupidity of another crewmember, they are gone forever.” Willow paused, fighting to regain control of her voice before continuing to speak.
“Those girls will never see another sunrise or sunset, never eat another meal, never do another thing ever Dawn, do you think that’s fair? Do you believe that it’s right that they lost their lives?”
The two sisters stood facing Willow, her voice trembling with quiet rage while she tried to stay calm. Buffy was silent but she remembered the three girls who had died in the escape/battle from Narina the previous night. Dawn, for her part, was cowed by the redhead’s words and she bowed her head in fear.
Willow frowned as she thought she heard something from Dawn.
“What did ya say girl?”
“I’m sorry,” the voice was barely a whisper but somehow Willow heard her and the anger she had for her admirer instantly calmed.
The younger girl was nervous as she heard Willow’s booted feet approach her. That nervousness increased when she felt two hands on her shoulders. She dare not look into Willow’s eyes for fear of the anger she would see there. What did occur, however, she most definitely did not expect.
“Dawn, I understand why you did what you did. Hell, if I were your age again I’d prob’ly do the same,” she said softly. “But ya gotta understand, our life, a pirate’s life, is dangerous. Anyone of us could die at any time. D’ya think that’s a life I want for you? Where ya only have a limited life? When each day could be your last?
“God’s girl, you have so much life ahead of ya and I want ta see ya live that life to the fullest. Dawn, I don’t never see ya as an annoying little girl or as the sister of one of my closest friends but as a good friend in her own right, one with plenty of potential.”
Through all this, Dawn had kept her head facing the floor, tears running silently down her cheeks.
“I’m sorry Willow, I’m so sorry,” she said softly, her voice barely a whisper. The two young women stood there for a long time just holding each other, Willow comforting the younger. Finally, they separated. Dawn looked her friend and hero in the eyes. Willow gave her a small smile and a nod and Dawn gave her a little smile in return before turning and going over to Buffy who lead her out of the room and to the galley.
After the door had closed behind the sisters Willow let out a deep sigh and at last the tears of stress coursed down her face.
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“Tara, we’ve found an assistant for you,” announced Buffy as she entered the galley where already the blonde woman was busy sorting through the utensils and checking the food manifesto.
“Oh, th…thank you,” Tara replied a little taken aback, as she believed she would be working alone in the galley.
“This is my younger sister, Dawn, but don’t let that stop you from making her work. No special privileges, no easy jobs and no slacking off. See that she earns her keep as a scullery maid, Captain’s orders.”
Dawn glared resentfully at Tara and the blonde raised her head and met the younger girl’s resentful eyes and sighed.
This is not going to be an easy journey. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In another cabin aboard the pirate ship, hushed voices were discussing plans.
“We have a new crewmember on board.”
“I know.”
“Do you think she’ll join us?”
“Maybe, I want her watched before we approach her.”
“I’ll put Jules on it. Dawn’s on board too.”
“Is she now, well that little brat ought to keep Cap’n Red out of my hair.”
And provide some useful insurance if things go wrong.
“When are we going to oust the captain?”
“Once we reach wherever it is we’re headed. I’ve already persuaded some of the girls to our way of thinking so it should be easy to take over the ship. We’ll leave Willow and her friends on the island.”
“And then you’ll get the captains cabin, with its much larger bed, much better than this mouldy old hammock.”
“I like the way your mind works.” There was a seductive purr to the voice, however...
Who said you’d be coming with me?
TO BE CONTINUED