Listen To Your Heart

Chapter 7

Following the main road, Elsie and Gilbert could ride side by side without needing to run. They were given enough money to have good comfort on their long journey. This time they would take their time to reach Poisart, only looking out for bandits on the road.

Gilbert was feeling a little better this time, besides everything, especially because they didn’t have to run and he could ride on Elsie’s side, like he couldn’t do the first time. It was easier for him to check on her as she was unusually quiet. He knew her thoughts were still in Nevettia and in her family. Being thrown out by her own father hit her hard, but she was struggling not to show it to him, afraid it would make him feel bad and guilty.

The first night on the road, they camped at a glade they found in the woods not very far from the road. Gilbert was the one to lead them there, trying to ease the weight on Elsie’s shoulders. They tied their horses and he told Elsie to rest while he put up the fire and hunted some rabbits nearby. In no more than an hour, they were both eating together and in silence. Once Elsie finished, she rested her head on Gilbert’s shoulder and he just held her close. He let her cry without saying a word, knowing that all she needed at that moment was for him just to be there for her.

That night she barely talked to him and he let her sleep in his arms without asking her to say anything. The next morning, they both woke up with sun rising. The fire was already out and they ate bread and cheese that was sent for them. Elsie had her eyes puffed and red, but at least she wasn’t crying anymore.

“I’m sorry for this mess,” she said quietly to him. “I’m sorry for being a mess.”

“There is no need to apologize, m’lady,” he replied. “I know how overwhelming this must be, so take the time you need to process it. Just know I’m here for you.”

“Thank you,” she hugged him tight. “Thank you for being you and for staying with me.”

“I’d go till the end of the world with and for you,” he made her look at him and kissed her. “I love you, Elsie, with everything I have. It might not be much, but I mean it from the bottom of my heart.”

“I don’t want to hear you diminishing yourself anymore. I love you for you and nothing else.”

She kissed him again and hugged even tighter, determined to make the best out of their situation, for both of them. Her heart was still aching for her family, but at least she knew she would be happy with Gilbert in Poisart or wherever life would end up leading them, instead of being married to Nycholas.

They took almost a week to arrive at Darkwell, a fishing village that became the gateway of goods and spices in the north. It had been a long week for them. The first few days of riding were calm and even a little dull. They found no trouble down the road until it started to rain non-stop. The last three days, camping was no longer an option and they had to force themselves to find an inn on their way, it didn’t matter how long it would take or how tired they were.

However, Elsie’s mood took the opposite direction of the weather. As the days passed by, she became less sad and more excited. She was focused on the journey ahead of her, the fear and frenzy of the unknown. Gilbert was much more relieved when she started talking again about Poisart and all the places that she wanted to go. He thought she sounded a lot more like herself again, but he still wasn’t sure of how much she really meant it and how much it was her running away from bad thoughts and feelings. He decided not to push her and encouraged her to talk to him. They tried making plans, but the uncertainty of living in a new town across the sea had its weight on their wishes.

The weather in Darkwell wasn’t as bad as the days before, even though it was still drizzling. The big bay town had one of the busiest ports of Mercia. Elsie was sure they would easily find a ship to Poisart and it didn’t take them too long to sell their horses and make some extra money.

Gilbert took Elsie’s hand while he carried their belongings on the other and they walked by the wharf admiring the ships and watching the city’s motion of people working on the docks and selling all kinds of things. They had to ask at least three different sailors where to find a ship to Poisart until one of them could answer them correctly.

“You should look for Captain Halliwell at the Prometheus. He usually follows the route to the continent stopping by Poisart and he might have a cabin for you,” said a bearded old man carrying boxes from his boat to the land. “The ship must be docked near the fish market. Just keep going north and you’ll find it.”

Gilbert thanked the man and the couple left once again looking for the fish market and a ship called Prometheus. This time, they were both focused on their mission and tried not to be distracted from the noises and smells of the city.

The Prometheus wasn’t hard to find after all. When they reached the fish market it was impossible not to notice the biggest vessel they had ever seen. It had its name written in fresh white paint making it easy to identify it. Elsie and Gilbert stood for a moment astonished before the ship’s grandiosity. However, they couldn’t stay still for very long as they were in the sailor’s frenzy way and people had already bumped into them. They followed the docks to the plank that led to the ship where a tall, broad man was yelling orders.

“You two!” He yelled and pointed at Elsie and Gilbert. “Get out of the way. You’re disturbing our work.”

“Excuse me, I’m sorry, but we are looking for Captain Halliwell,” Gilbert shouted back.

The man crossed the plank and walked up to them.

“Who are you? Why are you looking for Captain Halliwell?” he was even taller than Gilbert, which scared him a bit.

“I’m Gilbert and this is my wife Elsie. We are trying to reach Poisart and wondered if Captain Halliwell could take us there,” Gilbert swallowed his fear and spoke.

“Why would the Captain take you there?” the man continued intrigued.

“We would pay, of course!” Elsie intervened.

“I don’t see any silver,” the man still wasn’t sure.

“Faxton! Are you annoying our guests?” A deep voice came from the ship and a short, bearded middle age man came with it. He was wearing a c****d hat, which gave Elsie and Gilbert the clue that he was Halliwell.

The man walked down the plank limping and every crew member got out of the way for their captain to pass. Halliwell approached Elsie and Gilbert greeting them with a bow and taking off his hat.

“Captain,” said Faxton trying to understand. “These two are our guests? I wasn’t aware of that.”

“It’s okay, Faxton. I just got the letter this morning,” the captain answered and looked at the young couple in front of him. “Hello, there. I’m Halliwell. Captain of the almighty Prometheus, the greatest and fastest vessel in all Mercia. You must be Elsie and Gilbert.”

“Yes, but how are we your guests already? I don’t understand,” Elsie was confused.

“Your brother, Theobald, sent me a letter. It arrived this morning with the messenger and he said you and your husband would be around looking for a ship to Poisart. He already paid for your cabin. Your brother is a very generous man,” the captain smiled at them.

“How do you know my brother?” Elsie insisted.

“We all know the future Lord of the North, my lady. But I met him once a while ago when he was just a boy. He came to Darkwell with your father when the Prometheus was docked here. Your father was showing him the city and the importance of this port. My daughter was just a child then and didn’t know how to swim. She fell from the dock to the sea and Theobald was the only one quick enough to see it and save her. I am very grateful for him,” Halliwell explained, but he could notice Elsie’s suspicion still. He reached for the letter on the pocket inside his coat. “Here it is. You can read it if you want. You’ll see I’m telling you the truth.”

Elsie took the parchment from his hand and read the letter. The calligraphy was indeed Theo’s and the text also mentioned that incident with Halliwell’s daughter. Theo must have sent it right after they left and told the messenger it was an urgent business for the letter to arrive before Elsie and Gilbert. After she was done, Elsie folded the paper and gave it back to the captain.

“Alright. I believe you,” she finally said.

“Good,” Halliwell smiled at them again. “Now, if you could, follow me. I’ll show you to your cabin,” he then turned to the other man who just watched the conversation. “Faxton, back to work. I want to set sail before sundown.”

“Aye, Captain,” Faxton answered and went back to his post shouting orders once again.

“I’m sorry for my First Officer. He is second in command and he takes his job very seriously,” the captain explained while they boarded the ship. “Faxton is quite wary with foreigners and strangers, I should’ve told him we were expecting you, but he is a good man.”

“I don’t blame him, really,” said Elsie. “It is hard to tell if people are who they say they are without any proof. But we were willing to pay for the cabin.”

“We were very lucky to reach Darkwell the same day Theo’s letter arrived and for the Prometheus to be here as well,” Gilbert continued.

“Lucky indeed. The tournament in Nevettia had us very busy on the past weeks and we decided to take a break for the men to rest. We made good money so I didn’t see a reason why not,” Halliwell said and stopped in front of a closed door.

Elsie and Gilbert realized that they were above the deck, which could only mean that their cabin had a privileged location and it also meant that Theo had paid a lot of money for it. The captain opened the door and welcomed them in. It was a very spacious room for a ship cabin. There was a double straw and feather bed, a small table with two wooden chairs, a chest for keeping their belongings safe and a stuffed bench underneath the small window.

“This is huge,” Elsie said in amazement.

“This is much more than we ever hoped for,” Gilbert agreed.

“Well, as I told you, Lord Theobald wanted to make sure you had a safe and comfortable voyage to Poisart,” Captain Halliwell was pleased with his guests’ satisfaction. “Here are a few rules you must obey to have a nice journey. To begin with, the key to your room stays with one of you. Don’t lose it because we don’t have a spare one and we don’t want to take the door down in case one of you gets locked in or out,” he handed the key to Gilbert. “You are free to walk the ship from the deck up. Everything below the deck is out of boundaries, because my men will be working and even though we are happy to take you, I don’t want you disturbing their tasks. Our chef serves breakfast at the first light of day and dinner when the sun goes down. So, be aware of those moments otherwise you’ll be hungry. However, you may take your meal to your room as long as you fetch them yourselves and before we leave, I’ll bring you a barrel of wine and two cups. My room is right above yours, but only come after me if it is a real emergency. If the winds are good we’ll reach Poisart in eight days, if not, it will take a fortnight. My men are well mannered so you won’t be bothered. If there is any incident with one of them, communicate it straight to me and I’ll make an example out of him. But I believe this is all. Do you have any questions?”

“No, I think we are alright,” Gilbert said and Elsie agreed.

“Good, we set sail in a few hours,” Captain Halliwell finished. “Now, if you excuse me, I have some business to attend.”

The captain left them closing the door behind him. Elsie took their belongings and kept them in the trunk, locking it right after.

“I’ve never had such luxury,” Gilbert told her sitting in the bed. “Come to bed, feel how soft it is.”

Elsie laughed at his dazzlement and sat next to him.

“It is really amazing for a ship. We’ll be very comfortable the next days,” she said.

“We will, for sure,” Gilbert agreed with her.

They took their time adjusting to their cabin and went to the deck to watch the view of the city from a higher perspective. Elsie was amazed by the movement and the thrill of being on board. It was the first real adventure of her life, even it wasn’t as she imagined. Gilbert was also blown away by everything around them. He had never left Nevettia, so it was the first time he was seeing the sea and the endless horizon made him feel anxious and excited.

There was still daylight when the Prometheus left the harbour. The sailors let the sails loose and the ship took its way into the salty water. Elsie and Gilbert stayed on deck watching the land getting behind them with wind on their faces.

The beginning of the journey passed by without any trouble for the young couple. They spent most of their time in their cabin. Talking or playing cards they got from one of the crew members and sometimes they would come to the deck to watch the waves. It was a bit hard for them to feel comfortable with the ship’s motion. Neither of them was used to sail and things got really tricky after leaving the shore. The Prometheus faced big waves and neither Elsie nor Gilbert could sustain any food in their stomachs for too long. They also avoided the wine those days.

The Prometheus reached Poisart in ten days. On the tenth day, Elsie was feeling better and Gilbert couldn’t wait to get out of the ship. They went to the deck in the morning where they were bathed in sunlight. They approached the edge where they knew if they needed, they could be sick without making a mess on board. It was when Faxton came to them.

“Do you see that tower over there?” the man said pointing at the land far from them. Both Gilbert and Elsie nodded. “That’s the Poisart lighthouse. Its flame burns all day long even though we can’t see it now because of the sun. We use it as a landmark to enter the port and to moor the ship. In just a few hours we’ll be there.”

Gilbert sighed in relief and smiled for the first time since they left Mercia with the news. They stayed on deck watching the ship come near the land so they could observe their new home.

Poisart was the biggest merchant city in the Duchy of Burgundy. It was known as a free city as there were no slaves and there was every type of work to do. However, the thing that was mostly sought after besides trading was a place in the sword fighting academies. They were worldly famous for training the greatest fighters of Europe. Elsie had heard so much about it and the stories of some women being able to apply and train on those academies inflamed her desire to go to Poisart.

From a distance, Gilbert and Elsie were able to see some of those academy buildings on top of the green hills far from the plain shore. If Darkwell seemed agitated to them, they were not prepared for Poisart. The city had its own life. All types of people were on the streets, wearing all types of clothes, doing all types of things. Elsie even forgot about the sick days she had passed on the Prometheus. She looked at Gilbert who also seemed overwhelmed and he smiled at her.

“I think you’ve got the adventure you always wanted. This city seems insane,” he said.

“I know and it’s perfect, don’t you think?” she answered anxiously and he just chuckled at her thought of perfection.

The ship docked a while after noon. The sailors laid down the plank and Faxton started shouting orders to them just like he did in Darkwell. This time, the Prometheus was only staying for the night at Poisart. The very next day it would leave again heading to the Mediterranean ports. Elsie and Gilbert tidied up their cabin and gathered their belongings. When they were about to leave, there was a knock on the door and Captain Halliwell entered their cabin.

“I see you are already packing,” he said with a smile.

“No offense, captain, but I can’t wait to set foot on solid ground,” Gilbert joked.

“Not offended, lad. I heard the past days weren’t easy on you inexperienced sailors,” Halliwell shrugged. “Do you have any idea of where to go?”

“Honestly, no, not really,” Elsie answered. “We have never left Mercia, though I always wanted to visit the continent.”

“Poisart is a frenetic town. If you’re not careful, people will try to take advantage of you. I promised Theobald that I would take you safely to our destination and I am a man of my word. He was so generous with his payment that I’m feeling quite generous as well. I can help you find a place to stay if you want,” Halliwell offered.

“That would be very nice of you, captain, we appreciate it,” Elsie said.

“Follow me, then. I’ve got business in town, so I don’t have much time to waste,” Halliwell said and left the room.

Gilbert and Elsie followed him out of the ship and into the city. The walked through the harbour and they saw a little of everything. Boats and ships, sailors and merchants, a huge open sky market, whores and knights, taverns and brothels. There wasn’t a single thing they couldn’t find on the core of the city.

Halliwell took them into tight streets and stopped at a small stone building, where they were welcomed by a dark haired woman.

“Thomas Halliwell,” she exclaimed. “It took you long enough to come back to Poisart. I had thought the Prometheus has sunk with you in it.”

“Sunk? You underestimate my abilities, Janine,” Halliwell faked being horrified.

“I believe in your recklessness,” she continued.

“If you’re not bold you don’t make good business,” he said. “And that’s why I’m here. Let me introduce you to Lady Elsie and her husband Gilbert.”

Janine smiled at the couple and shook their hands.

“They are new to Poisart and are looking for a place to live. Are you still renting that cottage on the outskirts of town?”

“You finally brought me good business, Thomas,” the woman said. “Indeed I am still renting the house. It’s been weeks since I last rented it.”

“We can pay for a few months in advance if you want,” Elsie said. “We don’t need much, just a place to stay, really.”

“Pay me months ahead? Oh, I like you already. Come inside, dears, let’s make some business,” Janine finally invited them in.

“I believe you’re in good hands from now on,” Halliwell said not entering the building. “I wish you good business and a good life. If you ever need anything, look for the Prometheus at the harbour and I’ll be glad to make business again.”

“Thank you very much, captain,” Gilbert said and shook his hand and Elsie did the same.

Captain Halliwell left the couple with Janine. Elsie and Gilbert ate lunch with the woman while settling their rental deal for the cottage she owned. As they had said, they paid six months in advance and the woman was even in a better mood. She took them to the outskirts of town, near the green hills.

Outside the city, there was a much more residential neighbourhood. There were cottages in many types and shapes, but they weren’t as close as they were in the city. In fact, each house had some kind of front and back yard. The people who lived there were much simpler as well, but they didn’t seem as frenetic as the people in the city. There were children playing on the dirt road and animals passing by. It was very calm, but if any of them missed the heat of the city, they could go to the harbour in about twenty minutes on foot.

Janine gave Elsie the key to their new cottage and showed them around the house. It was a small one floor building, but it was perfect for just the both of them. There was a single bedroom, a small kitchen with a dinner table and a stuffed couch. They thanked Janine and were left alone on their own place.

“Can you believe this?” Elsie asked Gilbert after they settled in.

“It still seems like a dream. I never thought in a million years that we would be living together and married,” Gilbert answered.

“Me neither,” she approached him and threw her arms around his neck. “It’s not perfect, but it is so much better than I expected.”

“I’m glad that you are happy, my lady,” Gilbert replied and kissed her.

“I am, especially because you’re here with me,” she said. “It’s a bit scary, to be honest. But I already feel so free. I love that we don’t have to hide anymore. I love that here we can just be ourselves.”

“It is definitely something to be grateful for,” he smiled. “I guess that now it is you and me against the world.”

“Yes, it is,” she looked at him and kissed him passionately.

That night they slept together on their own bed in each other’s arms, more in peace than ever.