Bondage (formerly Escape from the Obstinate Prince)

Jack and Portia continued to talk well into the day and when it seemed that they had run out of things to talk about, the ship was in port and ready for the Prince to get on, or the Princess to get off.

“I should really go and greet the Princess to the wonderful land of Carenthia.” Jack let Portia’s hand drop from his arm.

Portia nodded. “I don’t suppose that I could - I mean to say, could - oh never mind.”

“If the Princess is feeling like being nice - for once in her life - I will try to persuade her to meet you.” Jack confirmed and looked on the deck of The Valerie. Was he supposed to meet her up there? Or was she supposed to meet him down here? He shook his head. It would be best not to take any chances and make sure she didn’t get lost. Or worse, captured in the shuffle. He would meet her on The Valerie.

“Oh thank you, Jack!” Portia threw her arms around his neck. Jack stiffened. He didn’t necessarily like the feeling of having a woman in his arms, and so he quickly patted her back before backing up.

“You’re quite welcome.” he turned to go, then faced her once more. “Could you be a dear and go tell my guards that I’ve gone to meet the Princess?”

“Yes, of course.” she said breathlessly. “Goodbye! I’ll be waiting at the inn.”

<><><>

Jack sat in the rowboat, which had a few other occupants besides himself, and looked up at The Valerie. It was an intimidating ship to be sure. It peaked his curiosity and he wondered if all of Rhone’s ships were so fascinating.

“Here we are.” one of the boat rowers latched onto the rope which went up the side of the ship to the top of the deck.

“Thank you.” Jack tossed him a couple coins. “I should be fine.”

Jack forgot to notice that he had not cleaned himself up from his journey from the castle, he hadn’t dressed properly, and at that moment, he didn’t even look like the Prince of Carenthia. Or the prince of anywhere. One might have mistaken him for a peasant if it wasn’t for the regal air he had about himself.

He started climbing up the rope ladder. I wonder if the Princess will throw a fit since she can’t walk down the plank onto land and instead has to climb down a rope ladder, he almost snickered to himself and hoisted himself over the side of the ship, landing on the main deck.

“Excuse me!” a sailor called. “Excuse me! You can’t be on this ship unless-”

“I am the Prince of Carenthia and I expect to be treated that way.” Jack had a puzzled, and yet slightly disgusted, look on his face. Didn’t the sailor know the Prince when he saw him?

<><><>

Ami heard a shout outside of her door. She strained her ears, quietly pressing her ear to the door. “I can’t hear a word they’re saying.” she mumbled to herself and opened the door, walking down off of the poop deck and onto the main deck.

She saw a young man arguing with one of the sailors she identified as Robert. “Robert? Is there a problem? Who is that young man you’re arguing with-” Ami’s eyes went wide as the stranger turned in her direction and her eyes inspected his face. It was quite handsome; his dark hair pulled back, she thought she saw a silver streak in his eyes but she couldn’t be sure, and his frame was quite attractive.

“This young man is on board of our ship without-” Robert started.

“I have the papers to prove that I really am who I say I am to be.” the stranger scowled at Robert and digged in one of his pockets. “Here you are.” he handed them to Robert.

Robert took them and the stranger tapped his foot as he waited for Robert to be done.

“I-I-I-” Robert stuttered for a minute before falling on his knees. “Your Majesty.”

Ami’s eyes widened in horror. Surely this handsome creature could not be the man that she hated so much in her imagination. No, no, no, no, and no! She hated the Prince. The Prince had a pug nose. He was quite ugly. And he certainly did not look as good as the man standing in front of her. The very idea! She stared at him. She studied his clothes. The seemed to be traveling clothes, in the style of Carenthia, and she had trouble deciding whether they were peasant’s clothes or a Lord’s. His hands and face were somewhat dirty and he looked as if he hadn’t washed in days. This could not be the Prince.

“Yes, thank you,” the Prince noted dully, “anyway, I must be going. I must find the Princess before she gets lost in this confusing land of strangers.”

“I’m here.” Ami took a deep breath, overcoming her shock and stood defiantly, her chin tilted upward. “I am the Princess of Rhone.”

The Prince looked up, seeming to acknowledge only just then. “You?” he asked incredulously. The little girl of six years old with the violet dress turned out to be this? He shook his head, wondering if it were an illusion or dream. “Is she quite serious?” he asked Robert.

A puff of annoyance coursed through Ami. She didn’t like that tone. It was almost as if he didn’t think her worthy of being a princess. “Yes, me.”

He glanced back up at her. “Well let’s be going then.” he answered in an annoyed voice, just as she had. “No reason to keep the kingdom waiting.”

Ami wished she could roll her eyes without anyone thinking badly of her. She had a reputation she need to keep in tact. “Robert, my trunks are in my room, if you would be so kind as to get them for me.”

“Ami!” Lars came running up from one of the lower decks. “I thought I had missed you, but-” he saw the new passenger standing on deck. “Who’s that?”

“The Prince of Carenthia.” Ami answered caustically, her glare never wavering from the Prince.

Lars’ eyebrows shot up and he bowed immediately. “Your Majesty.”

The Prince rolled his eyes, as if repulsed by all of the formality. “You may rise.”

Ami was absolutely sickened by his attitude towards commoners. Was he always so arrogant?

“Ami,” Lars turned towards her and lowered his voice, “might I have one last word with you before you leave?”

Ami tore her eyes from the Prince and focused on Lars. She smiled. “Of course.”

She walked down the steps, he took her arm and they disappeared through a hall doorway.

<><><>

Jack stood there, tapping the paper against his hand. How long was “one last word” going to take?

Robert came out of the Captain’s Cabin with some of Ami’s trunks.

“You,” Jack called to him, “where do you,” he lowered his voice, “use the - what’s the word you sailors use? - privy? Where are your privies?”

The Prince had downed two cups of coffee before going on a walk with Portia and he was starting to regret his decision.

“Down that-a-way then to your right.” Robert pointed him in the right direction as best he could with his arms full with trunks.

“Thank you.” Jack nodded and headed that way.

As he neared the end of the hall he could hear voices. One male, one female. Both of which he had heard before.

He quickly went flat against the wall and listened intently to what was being said.

“I’ll never forget you, Ami.” presumably, Lars speaking. Jack almost scoffed. Secret lovers before she marries me? How perfectly unexpected. Not.

Jack edged towards the corner, hoping to catch a small glance without them noticing.

“This is it, Lars.” Ami spoke this time. “Thank you for everything you taught me-” a concerned frown took place on Jack’s face, “-I’ll never forget it, or you for that matter.”

“What can’t you just stay here, with me?” Lars, as Jack saw threw a small hole in the wood, held both of her hands in his. “Forget the Prince. He doesn’t care about you anyway.”

Jack had to nod in agreement. It couldn’t be denied, and yet, he felt as if he should go around the corner and punch Lars right in the nose.

“You know I can’t, Lars.” Ami said quietly. “We need this alliance.”

“What does it matter? Let someone else take your place!” Lars persuaded. “Your aunt did the same. She followed her heart and likely led a happy life with her husband and children.”

Jack glared and restrained from scoffing. Followed her heart? Look where that got the countries! Selfish is what she was.

“Lars, don’t ask me to stay. I can’t.” Ami sounded like she was doing her best not to sniff.

“Can I then give you something to remember me by?” Lars resigned, his fight gone. Jack peered through the hole in the wood, more suspicious than ever.

“I suppose.” Ami nodded, looking slightly confused as to what Lars could have to offer.

What happened next was horrible in Jack’s eyes, and utterly disgusting.

Lars bent down, tilting his head slightly. Jack knew what was coming before Lars even did it. Lars quickly placed his lips over Ami’s. He put one of his hands around her waist, drawing her closer.

Jack wanted to look away. He desperately wanted the image out of his head, yet he could not make himself avert his eyes. Many emotions pulsed through Jack. Hatred. Anger. Jealousy. Jack frowned. Jealous of what? That he got to kiss a pretty girl? Hardly. I don’t even like her.

He noticed that Ami made no move to push Lars away and if anything she used her hand around his neck to pull him closer.

Jack glared. This was not acceptable. She was his fiance. Not some blithering sailor’s. He backed up a couple of steps before stomping as loud as he could and rounded the corner.

Lars quickly shoved Ami away and bowed to Jack. “Your Majesty.” he escaped the incriminating scene as quickly as he could, escaping out of the hall.

Jack had a stern look on his face and did his best not to yell at the Princess. Her cheeks were incredibly pink and she at least had the decency to look embarrassed. Jack latched onto her arm and dragged her out into the warm sunlight. “You!” Jack called to a passing sailor. “Is there somewhere where the Princess and I could talk in private?” the word “princess” was intertwined with venom.

“Yes, Your Majesty, right up there.” he pointed to the Captain’s Cabin.

“Thank you.” Jack dragged her into the Cabin and closed the door. He looked around to make sure that no one else was in the room before he faced Ami. “What were you thinking?” he yelled. “Or were you even thinking? Do you not know that you are engaged to be married to me, and not some sailor from Rhone? Did my father not make it quite clear enough? Should I write it out for you? Although I doubt it would help, as you are probably incapable of comprehending letters with such finesse.”

Ami’s face flinched at his harsh words. “I am quite aware, Prince Jacques, that what happened earlier was out of conduct and I-”

“Don’t call me Jacques!” Jack paced the room and flung his arms around for emphasis. “You will call me Your Majesty as does everyone else, and as for your conduct earlier, it was inexcusable.”

“Fine, Your Majesty,” she gritted her teeth, “but in my defense, Lars initiated the action and I assure you it will not happen again.”

“We did not invite you over to Carenthia to go around kissing sailors whenever you please!” Jack berated her. “You are here as my fiancé and I expect you to act like it. No amount of excuses will make up for what you did. Do you see me, going around and kissing a girl if I happen to take a fancy to her? No! I know you’re young, but you are royalty and people will expect more from you.”

Ami took a deep breath to calm herself. “Has anyone told you that you are incredibly bossy? I am not just a common girl you can push around! I am the Princess of Rhone and I refuse to be treated like your slave! If I had control over the situation I wouldn’t have, I wouldn’t have kissed him! But I wasn’t!”

“If I remember correctly, you did nothing to stop him, neither did you look as if you wanted to stop.” Jack crossed his arms, making no effort to lower his voice. “I do not think you’re as incapable as you make yourself out to be.”

“You were spying on us?” Ami glowered at him. “Really Your Majesty, that’s low, even for you. I had expected you would be bad, but not this bad.”

“No, I had to use the privy and so I was walking down the hall when I protruded on a disgusting case such as yours.” he made a disgusted face and started talking in a high-pictched voice. “Oh Lars, how I love you so! No Ami! You will always hold my heart! And then you both had the nerve to,” he grimaced, “to touch!”

“Listen here, Prince,” Ami’s voice was eerily calm, “have you ever loved someone knowing full well that you could never be with them? Have you ever loved someone, and yet they were beyond your reach? No! I don’t think you have! Well it hurts! It hurts knowing that I can’t go off with Lars and instead I have to marry a pig-headed boy who I don’t even know, and last time I saw him he treated me horribly, insulting me any chance he got,” Jack flinched, “and made absolutely no effort to be nice to me! It’s painful! Maybe you don’t have a heart, but you should at least have a brain and know when to pretend you have feelings.”

His jaw clenched, he left the room, slamming the door behind himself.

Ami stayed where she was, wondering if he realized how deeply words could cut and belatedly realizing that a few tears had escaped. She quickly wiped them away and followed the Prince’s tracks.