The next morning, Alanna woke up to a knock at her door. She got up and unlocked the door, opening it only slightly to see who it was. Orin's stern face came into view and she let out a sigh of relief as she opened the door more fully. He seemed to be grumpy most of the time but when he looked at her, she saw a kindness in his eyes that made her feel somewhat safe. He handed her a bucket of water, a bar of soap and a clean cloth, "Wash here, it's not safe for a girl like you to be washing out there in a place like this," he grunted and helped her pull the door closed once the bucket and cloth were safely in her hands before she could thank him. Alanna locked the door back up and took off her clothes, washed herself and quickly grabbed a change of clothes from her satchel, replacing them with a neatly folded bundle of the clothes she previously had on. Once she was done she put on her socks and trusted boots and took the bucket and cloth outside, locking her room behind her tucking the key into her front pocket. She found Orin outside the barn conversing with Aimil in hushed tones and set the bucket down, waiting for them to finish. Her heart thumped loudly in her ears, she could feel Aimil's gaze on her as she waited for Orin, looking out into the docks to avoid his gaze. It didn't take long for Orin to finish and go to her. "Where do I clean and put these?" Alanna inquired, gesturing to the bucket of now cloudy water on the ground with the soap and cloth in her hand as Orin strode towards her. "Don't worry about it, I'll take care of that," Orin muttered taking the cloth and soap from her then pausing to look at her before he picked up the bucket. Orin had always wanted to have a family but fate had taken his wife from him before he had the chance. Alanna reminded him of the daughter he never had, he couldn't beat it to have anything happen to her while she was in his town, under his care. He felt a surge of protectiveness over her that he hadn't felt over anyone since his wife died. "Bajolus doesn't arrive for a few more hours, what can I do to help in the meantime?" Alanna's voice broke through his stream of thought. "Oh, uh, wait here, I'll be right back," he said, picking up the bucket and disappearing behind the barn. Aimil was inside the barn, leaning on the doorpost watching her keenly. She stole a quick glance and he waved at her with a lopsided smile. She smiled and waved back and quickly turned her back to him, looking out into the gleaming water beyond the docks.

A few minutes later Orin came back and motioned to her to follow him into the tavern. As they walked in, Alanna noticed how different the tavern looked in the light of day with the absence of a crowd. The tables previously crowded the night before now looked clean and neat with a much smaller group of people scattered, some eating their breakfast while others drank. "Some people like to start their day as they like to end it, at the bottom of a jug of mead," Orin spoke behind her, "You can help me serve the meals and clean the tables once they're vacant," he added handing her a couple of plates and a cloth. Alanna took them and got to work, the place wasn't as busy as she had found it the previous evening but it wasn't idle either. The time passed quickly and in no time, the bells at the dock rang to announce the incoming ship, her ship. Orin called to her and instructed her to gather her belongings so she could be among the first to board the ship and get a decent room and she quickly obliged. Once she had tidied her room and taken her satchel she locked it and went back to find Orin. He handed her another satchel, one that looked similar to her own as she handed him the key to her now former room. "What is this?" She asked, opening the satchel slightly to take a peek. "Just some food and fruits to last you for a few days on your voyage, food on a ship can be unsavoury," he said with a chuckle. "I couldn't possibly take this, you've been more than kind enough," Alanna rasped with emotion, closing the satchel and making a move to hand it back to Orin. He gently pushed her hand back, "You can and you will, now come on," he said walking out towards the docks where Aimil was waiting as the ship docked. The ship was huge, Alanna hadn't been on a ship like this before, she couldn't help but stare.

Once the people who were on the ship had disembarked, Orin told her to wait and went to speak to the captain of the ship. They seemed to know each other from the looks of their warm greeting, Alanna hadn't seen Orin smile at anyone in greeting yet until that moment, she was used to his grunts. She could feel a smile tug on her lips as she watched the two men clasp each other's shoulders, Orin had grown on her just as it seemed she had grown on him. After a few minutes Orin gestured to both her and Aimil to go over, she had kept a safe distance from him until then. Once they got to the edge of the dock, Orin and the captain helped them on board. "Alanna, Aimil, this is Leomaris, the captain of the famous Bajolus. He will take good care of you, won't you? Orin said looking to the captain. "Of course," Leomaris said with a nod and a tip of the hat to both Alanna and Aimil. "Good, best cabin where they'll be safe," Orin told Leomaris quietly. Leomaris took a few steps from them and called over one of the men, speaking quickly. Leomaris and the man gestured for them to join him and he introduced them, "Alanna, Aimil, this is Sergius, my right hand man, he will show you to your cabin and give you a quick tour of the ship before the others come. Once you're settled, you can find Orin and I waiting here," Leomaris said, "Don't doddle," he added looking to Sergius who tipped his hat and led Alanna and Aimil into the ship, showing them the lobby bar, the galley, the deck and finally their cabin, at the end of a long hall with cabins on each side. "We have the same cabin?" Alanna asked glancing between Sergius and Aimil in question. Sergius nodded, ushering them in. The cabin was big enough for both of them with two beds, two chairs and a medium table that could fit two people. They even had a stall with a bathtub for when they needed to wash. "Set your belongings in here so we can go finish with the captain," Sergius said handing them each a key and stepping outside to wait for them. Alanna didn't say a word and neither did Aimil, even though he was still watching her as they each set their luggage under their beds and walked out to meet Sergius, with Aimil locking the door behind them as they went back out to meet the captain. Orin and Leomaris were still conversing as the three approached. Sergio slowed down and stood a few steps behind Alanna and Aimil as if to offer some privacy. "How did you find your accommodations?" Leomaris asked looking at Alanna. "They're more than sufficient, thank you," Alanna answered wondering what Orin could be talking to the captain about and why he had insisted on making sure her accommodation was safe. She wondered if Orin and Aimil had known each other for a long time. Leomaris seemed satisfied with her answer, "If you need anything you come to me or Sergius," he said emphatically and nodded to Sergius as they both stepped away to let Orin talk to Alanna and Aimil.

Orin looked at Alanna for a moment before he clasped her shoulders, "Keep your wits about you, don't trust the people on this ship easily and trust your instincts. If you need anything you can speak to the captain and in case he's busy, Sergius will be at your service. Strange things can happen at sea. Remember that not everyone or everything is as it seems," he spoke with a seriousness that only served to add to the questions she already had. "You've grown on me, lassy, you're a special girl. I need you to be safe and to take very good care of yourself," Orin emphasized as his green eyes searched her brown ones, worry and something else flashing in his eyes. Alanna nodded and took his hands, "I will, I promise," she reassured him, she felt like he needed the reassurance more than she did but also wondered what had him so worried. A strange feeling gnawed at her insides, like there was something about the ship or the sea or her voyage that Orin knew that was unknown to her. She wondered if Orin knew who she was, where she was from and if that's the reason he was so keen on her safety. Or maybe something else was going on unbeknownst to her, either way Orin seemed to know something that she didn't. Orin turned to Aimil and clasped his shoulder, leading him a few steps away from Alanna as they spoke in hushed tones, occasionally glancing towards her. She didn't have to look to feel their eyes on her. "Remember what we spoke about and take very good care of her, protect her, she'll need it even if she doesn't know yet," she overheard Orin emphasize to Aimil as they walked back to her. "Right," Orin said clapping his hands, " You two look out for each other, " he glanced to Aimil, "And I hope to see you again sometime if you ever come by my town again," he said looking at Alanna with a warmth in his eyes and a slight smile. "Alright, let me speak to my friend Leomaris and you two go on and settle in properly," Orin said stepping away from them and towards where Leomaris and Sergius stood, as more people started to come aboard and a few crew members appeared to help Sergius get them settled.

Aimil watched Alanna keenly and she could feel the heat of his gaze at the back of her hood as they walked back to their cabin. "Have you been on this ship before?" Aimil asked. "No, how about you?" Alanna responded. "Well just once a few years back," Aimil answered distractedly. They walked in an eery pregnant silence down a few more doors. She wondered what he knew. "Am I growing another head or something?" Alanna asked without looking back at Aimil. His face flushed even though she couldn't see it under his hood. "I just find you very fascinating, I don't know, feels like I know you from somewhere, but I can't pinpoint it. That and there's just something about you, haven't quite figured it out yet," Aimil said stumbling over his words. He cursed internally, damn it! He wasn't the type to get flustered easily but Alanna seemed to have that effect on him.

Alanna's face flushed as they finally reached arrived at their door. She unlocked the cabin, grateful that he couldn't see her flushed face, letting them both in. So he felt it too. That made her heart thump so hard she could feel it in her throat as she contemplated her response. She moved to sit on one of the chairs near one of the portholes in their cabin, sliding her hood back, "Well if it makes you feel any better, I feel like I know you too, I just don't know from where," she muttered. Somehow, that made Aimil feel better and a little less crazy. Aimil sat on the chair across her on the other side of the table, sliding back his hood as well. He glanced out the porthole at the sea then turned his gaze back to her and this time she looked back at him. It felt like they were truly seeing each other for the first time. She was even more beautiful in the daylight, the dark red hue of her hair was more prominent, her hair was more curly than he thought, her eyes a light shade of brown with a golden ring around her pupil that he hadn't seen before. Her caramel seemed to glow in the light of day, her lips were full and pink, her neck was majestic and strong, not as fragile as he thought. From the curve of her shoulders and her overall demeanor she seemed strong, slightly muscular even though her curves were prominent as he'd noticed the night before. Her bold almond eyes though, they drew him in and drowned him so under her beautiful dark lashes, he would happily drown in them, he thought to himself. Alanna stared at him, taking in his strong rugged features. Just as she thought, his eyes were a stunning grey with specks of green, his lashes were long and dark, his skin a glowing olive tone and his midnight black curly hair stood out with the curls at the front longer than the rest of his trimmed curls, his ears mostly covered by his dark curls, his bottom lip fuller than his top lip that was lightly brushed by his dark mustache. His face and neck were littered with scattered light scars but the scar that seemed to run from above his eye down to his cheek was most prominent. She could tell he had a strong jawline even under his curly well kept beard that wasn't so long that she couldn't see the length of his muscular neck. She let out a slow breath and he did the same, almost as if prompted to breathe, he hadn't noticed he'd been holding his breath as they drank each other in. The loud ringing of the bells of the ship snapped them out of their trance and they both stood to make for the door. Aimil silently opened the door and held his hand out to her to step out, locking the door behind them and they walked out to the deck of the ship. There were many more people on the ship than Alanna thought there would be but she wasn't surprised, it was a huge ship. The feel of her hand in his felt natural, familiar and comforting, he didn't want to let go and neither did she. She hadn't even noticed she was still holding his hand until Orin called to them from the dock, waving his farewell as the ship began to move deeper into the water. Her stomach turned, she was going to miss Orin but at least she wasn't completely alone. This was going to be a long voyage, and more eventful than Alanna knew.