Maiden Voyage

Naomi awoke to her second morning as a married woman significantly more tired than her first. Without the exhaustion of travel to help her sleep, she had lain stiffly in bed, petrified to accidentally touch her husband.

He didn't want to be truly husband and wife, at least not yet, and she didn't want to come across as some kind of vile seductress. She knew of one or two of that kind of woman amongst the Rhone, and it was by far the opposite of what she wanted to be.

As before, she snuck out of bed and got dressed in the main room where she would not be seen.

Caspian had said the voyage would begin in the morning, and her nervous energy was driving her to pace. He'd given no real instructions, so she decided to do a few of the morning's chores until her husband woke. He'd told her about the various daily chores yesterday, so she felt confident in doing them.

She now knew she was entitled to a week off, but that seemed lazy and idle.

She fed the chickens, gave fresh water to the animals, and then gathered the eggs and milked the cow. By the time she came back to the front of the hut, Cora was arriving with the promised breakfast tray, and dawn was peeking over the horizon.

"Good Morning!" Naomi said cheerfully.

"Good Morning! I hear you're going on an adventure today?" Cora said curiously.

"Yes, well… Caspian wanted to go and Haf told him that he couldn't leave me during the post-wedding week. Since he wanted so badly to go, I asked if I could accompany him." Naomi explained sheepishly.

"I see," Cora seemed suspicious of something, but didn't say what. "Are you prepared?"

"I don't know how to prepare," Naomi shrugged. "Is there anything I should be doing?"

"I have only been out once in my life. It is a rare thing. You will need to walk differently, and hold onto something or someone. The day looks like it will be calm, but it is hard to tell, I think." Cora looked side to side, obviously scanning her memory for any other helpful tips she might give the younger woman.

"You may feel ill. Don't eat too much breakfast, in case." Cora finished.

Naomi nodded, and Cora handed her the tray of food.

"I'm sure Caspian will bring you down soon. Haf plans to return this evening, so I will take care of things today, or longer if a delay happens. Don't worry about anything!"

"Thank you so much, Cora," Naomi said, "I could not have imagined a kinder mother-in-law."

Cora put her hand to the younger woman's cheek in a show of affection. "I never had a daughter. My sons left on the voyages as soon as they were old enough. After this one, I will be glad to have someone that stays here to keep me company."

Naomi smiled, and Cora left. She wondered why Caspian's older brother had not married yet and secured grandchildren for his mother to cherish. It was an odd thing.

_______

By the time Caspian emerged from the bedroom, Naomi had already set the table with the prepared breakfast and was waiting patiently beside it. She smiled but said nothing, perhaps a little cautious after his morning grumpiness the day before. 

They sat together and ate in silence which became more comfortable as a few minutes went by.

"We should leave soon," He said when he was close to finishing the meal. "I'll do the outside chores before we go."

"I've cared for the animals already, and Cora said she will take care of everything while we are gone." Naomi said, causing Caspian to raise his eyebrows.

"How early do you wake up, woman?" He asked in amazement.

"In the desert, you must wake very early to get everything done before the heat of the day. It is cold at night, but the cold is easier to endure than the heat." Naomi explained.

"I thought you didn't like taking initiative, but you've already done so much this morning?" Caspian continued his interrogation.

"Once I know that something needs to be done, it is not difficult to do it." She replied. 

Some part of him was looking for inconsistency. Contradiction that would indicate a hole in the acting abilities of some monster.

He didn't seriously believe she was an evil otherworldly creature, but holding that possibility in his mind was the easiest way to keep her emotionally at bay. She was too pretty, and too easy to get along with if he let go of his grumpy nature. It had to be a trick, right?

"Are you ready for today?" He changed the subject.

"I'm not sure. As ready as I can be, I suppose. Your mother said I might get sick." Naomi looked nervous. Was she trying to get his pity?

"That's possible," he said. "Well, no delaying it then. Let's go." He stood up abruptly, barely giving her time to clear the dishes away before they left.

"You're biting your lip again," He accused. "What is it?"

"I have many questions, but I don't want to irritate you by asking them all," She admitted.

"Go ahead," He sighed. It would likely be less irritating having her ask the questions than to watch her struggle not to ask them. He might also save her lower lip from being impaled. How did it withstand her constant abuse?

"How does the ship get to shore? It did not look deep at the edge." She looked thoughtful, and he wondered if she'd even touched the water at all yet. If she had, he hadn't seen it. 

"The larger boats do not come to shore. We will get in a small boat and row out to the ship."

"Does the ocean end?" She asked next.

"All things end," He looked at her from the corner of his eye. She was paying rapt attention. Her wide eyes looked brighter as the dawn shined on them. "The ocean ends far away. It takes many weeks to sail so far, and is rarely done."

"What's there?" Her eyes grew larger.

"Land," Caspian answered. "Islands along the way, but on the other side, cold land."

"Where do the boats usually go?" Naomi's questions continued.

"Fishing," Was the simple reply.

"How is it done?"

"Why don't you wait and see on that question? It will be easier to explain as it's happening since you won't have seen any of the parts of a boat before," Caspian was warming to her interest. She seemed genuine in wanting to know about the sea and things related to it.

Then again, would an otherworldly monster want to know such things for its evil plans? Perhaps.

They came to the beach, and he looked down at the hem of her dress. He hadn't thought about her wardrobe being inappropriate for the trip until this moment.

Ceto men wore loose pants for ease of making their way around the various parts of the ship with ease. They ended at mid-calf but could be secured at the knee in times where wading into water was necessary.

Her ankle-length Klain style gown was impractical for all these purposes, even if it was very pretty on her. He frowned at the unbidden thought.

"What's wrong?" She asked uncertainly, obviously noticing his disapproving expression.

"Your gown is not ideal for being on a ship. Can you tie up the hem? Also, shoes are not typically worn on board."

"Can I what??" She seemed shocked by his words. 

He watched her offended expression and backed off of his suggestions.

"I'm sure it will be fine." He sighed and walked toward a line of rowboats along the beach. A flurry of activity was there, where men loaded the boats with food and supplies, then pushed them off from shore and used the attached oars to make way to a larger ship floating in the harbor.

"Cas!" Edmar called, causing his younger brother to hold back a wince of irritation. "Coming along and bringing your bride, I heard?"

"That's right, Ed," Caspian's voice was strained. His brother could make him angry faster than anyone else in the world. 

"And how is my lovely sister-in-law this fine day? Not too tired, I hope?" He lifted one eyebrow suggestively, and a couple of the men nearest to him chuckled.

Caspian's glare quieted them, and they continued their work. He resented his elder brother's innuendo, both on behalf of himself and Naomi. Luckily, she seemed oblivious to the underlying crude joke he was making. 

"I am well, thank you, Edmar. I trust you are thoroughly rested?" She asked innocently.

Caspian nearly lost his composure. The men who had chuckled before guffawed now, and it was Edmar's turn to glare at them as Caspian put his hand over his mouth to cover a smile.

Naomi seemed confused by their reactions. She'd obviously meant it as an innocent question, and not an insinuation that Edmar lacked the ability to get a woman of his own to keep him awake at night. 

"Come, it's time we boarded," Caspian struggled to keep his voice even through the threatening laughter. His wife might be worth having around, if she continued to take his brother down a peg now and then.