Drabble: 'What a Ship Is' (Elizabeth, etc. - G)

[dwgm]

This is for the 'Sail' prompt at potc100, though at blackpearlsails we've already heard from our new Drabble Mate, Ms. pearlseed, so my next one will use the new blackpearlsails prompt, 'Friend'.

In the meantime, exactly 100 words...



~ What a Ship Is ~

White sails on the horizon, billowing wide, catching the wind, drifting in and out of Portsmouth harbor, whispering of adventure: Salt spray, the endless swell; desert sands, fecund jungle; silk, spice, and sloe-eyed maids; cruel swordsmen, wise scholars.

She remembers sipping tea in the bow window of an inn, father conversing with tall officers, masters of those white sails she loved.

She’s no longer a child. The masters were only men, though some were dear enough, and she sips rum, now, more often than tea. As for adventure, she makes her own.

Adventure. Freedom. And black sails on the horizon.


~.~

Comments

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Those black sails haunt dreams so completely.

They do indeed. She's seen a lot over the years, the contrast between the little girl and the pirate king is, in some ways, like black and white.

Thank you so much for reading and commenting!

[pearlseed.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes, that was the other part...I truly adore the stories with all of Lizzie's life shown in clear view the stumbling steps that got her to the point where she...stole the gold, had a swordfight, stabbed a man, killed a man, loved a man...become her true sweet pirate self. Ah, she's a complicated ball of wax with her engaging smile and lord, when her eyes flash in anger. Now that's something!