Chapter 2: Part 1: Kip

The morning of our departure is in my memory a blur, nothing more. I remember being whisked onto the ship by a sturdy, muscular sailor by the name of Ambrose. I had my own cabin, all to myself, to my delight. The great thing about me is that I am just as happy surrounded by groups of friends and family as I am alone, thinking, reading, or daydreaming. I remember being fascinated by the ocean. Having seen it only from the shore, and never actually atop it, I was impressed. It seems I was made for the ocean, for I had no problems with seasickness, and my sea legs were acquired the quickest of my family. Ambrose became my companion. He was not very young, in fact I never learned his age. He would tell me the legends of the sea and its inhabitants. A trip to the crowsnest was a highlight of one of my days. At the close of each day, I always fell asleep with a smile on my face.

One morning, about a week into the trip, I noticed the cabin boy for the first time. He was a few years older than I. I was interested at once in his occupation.

"Hullo!" I greeted him cheerily.

"Ahoy, there, lassie! What may I do for you today?" He replied. I had not yet become accustomeed to the sailors' dialogue, and supressed a giggle. The boy was whittling at a bit of wood with a small knife, shaving bit after bit from the chunk at an impressive pace.

"I'm Elwen. You can call me El, if you like," I said. Suddenly shy, I realized that I missed all of my friends at home. I hadn't thought of them until now.

"Elwen. A right fancy name, I say. A nice name. I go by Kip. Right smooth sailing today, El." He experimented with the name.

"The sea is so beautiful. If I were a boy, I would certainly want to be a sailor." I announced.

"Ah, I see. You've been a shore-dweller, have you not? My guess is you'd soon tire of a sailor's life." Kip predicted. I shook my head indignantly, still carving at the wood.

"I'm not like other girls, Kip. I'm not prissy. I'm more interested in swimming and swords and history. Don't you like history, Kip? So many wonderful stories." I seated myself on a nearby barrel.

"Swords and history...hmmm. Never ha' I dared to handle a sword. History I could stomach, though. Right fond of old stories, I am." The legs of a horse were taking form in his hands.

"History is the reason I had to leave the Islands. Have you heard about that?"

" 'Bout the kings an' queens? Yep, right, I did. You're to be a high and mighty lady, now, aren't you? I'd rather be legging it on hard earth the rest of my days than be royalty. That would be a right royal pain, it would," I snickered at the jest. "I doubt you'll be seein' much of your swords in th' future. A right pity, that'll be." Here I sobered. The legs of the horse widened into a rough centaur.

"I'll certainly be handling swords as a princess. Father will let me. I know it." I said, unabashed. At that moment, a shrill whistle rang out on deck. Lunch time had come already, but I wanted to stay and talk.

"Suppose you'll be needin' to get some grits down yer gullet, lassie," He said as he rose. "Here's a tok'n from me. Remember yer history, Elwen. Be seein' you!" He handed me a beautiful carving of a sword wielding centaur. Overjoyed, I threw my arms around the boy.

"Oh, Kip, thank you ever so much! I'll never forget you." Pocketing the treasure, I turned and ran toward the galley (where the food was served).



Enjoy! I had a lot of fun writing this!