65. Recovery and Confession

Finally, after a month of being lost, another crew member is found. We also find out what has our pirate distracted...
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The sound of a shattering bottle caused him to open his sea-green eyes. In the darkness, he recognized the room he was in, a dark, shoddy, rickety sea-planked room with cracks in the wooden walls that allowed the sea air coming from the Bay to enter. He shifted slightly and felt someone press against his right side. Looking down, he noticed light long hair and a woman in a rigid sleeping stance holding on to him as much as she could. He tried to shift his weight away so that she could be more comfortable, but his own wound caused him to grit his teeth. For the time being, Cris and Laerchel were stuck in their current position.

            The idea that she was hurt bothered him, but he was more than glad that he had found her, and by complete accident too. He went out to Northern Stranglethorn Vale to seek Nesingwary and his camp for aide when he noticed smoke rising from a near distance. The trolls would know better than to cause smoke in the jungle. Curious, Cris sought the source only to find the blonde elf. His heart jumped at that very moment knowing that she was alive. They sat for hours and he promised to take her to an inn instead of letting her sleep on the hard ground one more night.

            Normally, the Booty Bay pirates would whistle and catcall any woman who arrived to the port, but she was one of them now and they all knew that Laerchel was not only capable of killing them herself, but she was with Cris, and that in itself earned her a little more respect than others. They rented a room at the inn and they both helped each other change the bandages, bypassing the fact that they were both topless for a moment. Laerchel was too hurt for anything and Cris was simply glad to se her alive. As they helped each other, they continued to speak of what happened to each other during their disappearance. Cris told her about Sarahai and how it broke his heart the moment she died. Laerchel had been the only one he had told about the human girl. He couldn’t get himself to speak with Niela about it. Not yet. However, with Laerchel, he felt comfortable, as if he were speaking to his mother or sister. The blonde simply shrugged and kissed his cheek gently, giving him the comfort he was seeking. She told him that things had to be done and he did the right thing. She then told him more about the scout who had captured him and Cris felt guilty that he was nowhere near to help her.

“We’re leaving tomorrow if you can move, dear,” Cris told her, as she got comfortable in bed. “If not, we can wait a few more days.”

“We’ll see. You know ribs and their lousy way of healing,” she smirked.“We going to Stormwind?”

“Ay. Then we’ll find some merchant ships off their shore. Those jobs aren’t hard.” He placed his right arm around her as they both settled in for the night, falling asleep on the rickety bed, in each other’s arms.

            Now, Cris lay awake, his lips near Laerchel’s warm head. He kissed her once and sighed softly, “I didn’t tell you earlier, but...I gave Davina a ring.” He waited for a moment to see if she was as awake as he was. She shuffled slightly, groaning a bit in pain, before she stopped moving. Cris looked up at the dark ceiling. “I had told Amy that she was my wife. I guess, I gave it to her because if I was going to lie, it had to be believable.” He sighed deeply, “The thing is…I wasn’t lying.” A soft smile spread across his lips, “She wants to make this marriage thing come true one day. I will grant her that wish.”

            Laerchel moved a leg over his and her head closer to him. Cris playfully licked her long ear tip and chuckled, knowing she couldn’t do anything about it. “I love her, Laer. And I know you’re worried, but this is one risk I am more than happy to take.” He closed his eyes and whispered, “Her name is Niela. She’s the one.” With a deep sigh, he fell asleep.
          His deep breaths alerted the blonde and she opened her green eyes, half smiling as she caressed his chest, but still unable to shake off her concern about this Niela and her nefarious connections.