The people gathered in the quay watching with enchanted eyes a fancy ship decorated with a beautiful goddess on its bow anchoring in the harbor. A starry - eyed child whispered excitedly to his friend next to him:
"This is the Amphitrite, they say next time it travels, it'll be in a tour around the world, it'll go beyond the Wilshire's island!"
"Really?! Is that possible?!"
The two kids stared at the ship then at the captain, who jumped to a boat, leaving the rest to his first mate, a strong tall man with dark hair the kids heard the captain calling him Ms. Howard. The captain was a young man, around twenties, with kind countenance adorned with beautiful brown hair and clam eyes which were finally able to reflect the purity of the new seas they had discovered.
"Captain Albert, don't forget my salutes!"
The first mate remained his captain, the latter smiled assuring he won't.
***
Taking a path through the countryside, the captain stopped to pick up some white flowers on his way to a beautiful simple house surrounded with a little garden filled with all kinds of flowers. The captain knocked the door gently, a young servant opened it and gave the visitor a warm reception.
"I am glad to see you again, Captain Albert."
The servant said inviting him to come in. Albert looked around the tidy neat house, filled with ships models, books and various maps. And old spyglass was lying on a table. A sword and two pistols resting peacefully on the wall. At the quietness and tidiness, there was not much a sign of a vivid lifestyle.
"I guess not many people come here?"
"Apart from you and the crew, only a young woman drop occasionally by. She leaves her regards and gifts without even seeing the former captain."
Albert nodded in understanding. He did not need to think who that woman was. Serena had left the ship after returning and decided to take care of her family's estate as she was now the only heiress. She was not very happy about it, but she had duties to tend to. She was not that heart - broken about it either. Journeying onboard the Amphitrite on that fateful mission was everything she could aspire to. It was on journey that equaled a thousand other sea travels to her, and she had gotten her full share of it.
The mission was successful, both in regard to ending the drought and annihilating the threatening family. Both the king and his people were satisfied. They were welcomed as heroes. Of course, most of the glory went to the royal fleet but the people knew who had saved the spring and defended it as the fleet almost destroyed it. The men who had revealed the truth about the Wilshire's myth that they had dominated the world with were the true heroes in the people's eyes. Their gratitude was enough, no prize or royal titles could outweigh it.
The young entered a small clean room where a man with dark wavy hair lying on his bed was looking through the window at the garden. Hearing the visitor's steps, he turned and welcomed him with a tender smile like a young bud blooming in the spring.
"I hope you've enjoyed your last journey."
"I have indeed. Life in the sea is what suits me most, for real."
Albert replied cheerfully, then regretted his last sentence although there was no sadness in the hazel eyes staring at him before drifting again to the window. Albert could not help but stare with sad eyes at the lying man. He knew that Alex truly wished if he could travel with them but just could not anymore, he would only be a burden and he would never accept that. Albert could still remember how they barely managed to escape death from the burning palace of the once mighty family. The instant he pulled Alex's hand the ceiling and pillars collapsed on them, all at once in one last wail of owe bidding farewell to the glorious days of power and domination of the Wilshire. Albert saw no way to avoid their coming demise as a huge pillar threatened to crush them to pieces, the whole journey flashed in his mind at that moment and he wished sorely to see Alice one last time, to know if she had survived, if she was well but just as the dim thoughts was driving him into giving up, he was protected by Alex, one again for the last time. A huge debt finally repaid erasing any lingering ill feelings. Alex was severely injured, taking the weight of the falling pillar on his back, as it shattered into pieces, leaving a large one in his back as a token of hatred at the man who brought the palace and its inhabitant doom, as if fulfilling the palace mistress's wish of dying alongside that man. But that was not meant to be. Led by Serena, a group of the crew barged in to save the two men who did not leave unscathed. Albert's injuries and burns were superficial but Alex, on the other hand, could never walk again. They were taken back to the Amphitrite which stood like a giant siege intervening between the royal cannons and the sacred spring.
"So, where is your next destination? "
The question pulled him back from his recollection. He answered, excitement flaring his eyes.
"To beyond the Wilshire's island. It's finally time for this."
"You're right."
Albert smiled, he knew Alex was even more eager to unveil the mystery of that place; it was the condition upon which he gave Albert command over the Amphitrite.
"People are excited about this new journey. They will never forget the brave
Captain Alex Walcott who put an end to the head of the Wilshire haughtiness and supremacy."
This tale was what everybody believed; they welcomed the ship returning with the sacred water with acclamation and hailing, cheering for the captain who sealed the fate of that arrogant woman but Albert figured there was much more to the story though he did not ask for the details, leaving the secret burnt along the petals of that hall; the single red rose put on the window's rim telling the young man everything without the need to ask. When his eyes lingered for too long at the familiar rose, Alex remarked in false disinterest.
"The servant saw it blooming all alone, so he felt pity for her."
"I believe you're the best companion she can ask for."
Albert smiled then excused himself, Alex wished him a good luck and bid him farewell.
"Send my regard to Madame Hudgson."
Albert told him that his wife was all healed now. He remembered with a fright how her recovery took a long time, but she was a survivor. It was the reason why he had postponed the journey beyond the Wilshire shores, promised to be waded together since childhood. Also, he was still a poor seaman when he returned and there was so much to be learnt from Howard and Alex. Albert added smiling:
"She's even more energetic now than before the accident!"
Alex wished him a safe journey and Albert thanked sincerely. He had never seem Alex's eyes so calm like today... the dead eyes were finally able to reflect the serenity of the seas they had seen and conquered, the fragrance of that sole rose a reminder of love and hatred then eventually peace.
***
Albert went back to the harbor, his heart beating stronger than ever, it was a moment he did not imagine it would come real. He thought of many people whom he deeply wished they could share with him the overwhelming happiness he was feeling, his father, Alex, Vincent, princess Selene and Serena but as for the latter, he knew she was setting on her own journey trying to find herself.
And there, where crowds of people gathered to wish good luck to the departing ship, and where the hailed crew of the legendary vessel waited their captain, Albert saw her standing in her summer dress and a big straw hat. He walked toward the woman and held Alice's hand and together, with same eyes that witnessed a furious deadly battle being erased by the revival of a kingdom, with same happiness the dry land expressed while receiving life in the shape of the flowing streams and with the same hope that sight spread on the people's faces, they looked at that distant vague new horizon waiting for them.
The End.