A Fanciful Sea Battle

*Looks to Elizabeth pleading for her interception before he throttles the lad*

*Elizabeth smiled a gentle smile and rested caring hand upon the arm of Sir Nicholas afore a twinkle passed across her eyes and she left him to march across the deck bellowing orders to her company in a most un-ladylike fashion*

*Nicholas smiles beneth his hood* Damn she is good at this *chuckles*

As long as Elizabeth doesn't scroll up and see what I did to Lord Dudley then I am ok...

DON'T HURT ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*With almost the very ears of a bat and the timing of one who must have sold his soul many tmes to the devil, Sir Francis appears up on deck in time to hear the revelation of Lord James. Though any misfortune of Robert Dudley's would usually be music to his ears he knows that his usually level headed Queen would be most unstable and irrational should any harm come to her Sweet Robyn.*

*Afore he has the chance to consider the matter properly his eye catches a most distressing sight. Her Majesty is hot footing it up toward the crow's nest with great vigour. If she falls he could find himself under the command of the Scots Queen.*

Your Majesty! I beseech thee! Get down from there afore thou doth thineself some injury!

*He begins to climb after her, pleading*

*Elizabeth calls down after him*

Oh don't be such an old mother hen Francis, I am perfectly skilled at climbing the rigging!

*she looks down at him and sees that he ist somewhat hampered by the cloak which wraps itself wildly around him thanks to the sea winds*

..though it doth seem thou art not. I suggest thee climb down immediately afore thou doth thineself some injury.

*Sir Nicholas watchs Walsingham with merriment, knowing full well that it wilst most likely be he who falls to injury. He stands ready to catch him if he shuld plumment from above*

Yes, let us set sail.

*Edward peers over the edge of the deck, looking out towards Elizabeth's ship. He rests his hands upon his hips and tut tuts like an old man*

They are making some awful racket over there. Let us go on ahead while they are distracted with their arguing. Just see what happens when a woman ist in charge of a ship! This ist men's work.

*he turns to Juan*

My Admiral, I have heard of thine great victories at sea against the Turks aboard this very fine ship, and I know thou wilt do us proud!

*Sir Francis peers down to the now distant deck and pales. Looking up towards his Queen as she holds on to the rigging with one hand to allow her to remove her dagger from between her teeth long ewnough to yell at him, he goes a most unfetching shade of grey.*

Your Majesty! *he pleads* Just await there one moment, I implore thee.

*He fights for a moment one handed with his cloak, finally dropping it to the deck below. Climbing up further to meet Her Majesty, a small row doth errupt between them. The sailors below are all quite mesmerised at the sight of it but tis hard to understand what goes on when Her Majesty's words are mainly cussing and Sir Francis doth but plead and whisper.*

Get ye all back to work yer filthy sea-rats *Nicholas bellows, disrupting the gawking and sending all hands scattering across the deck*

Batton down those hatches, secure that rigging!


*Nicholas looks up above to the crows nest again, chuckleing beneth his hood*

*some word from Elizabeth is finally understood by the assembled party below. She ist insistent that she spent many hours aboard ship with the Lord High Admiral Seymour in her younger days and is therefore perfectly skilled and able. Tis impossible to hear the response of Sir Francis to this but it hath earnt him what will no doubt be a most gravely black eye on the morrow.*

*Nicholas is most glad no one stands near him to hear his laughter. He doth wish that his beloved Marie were present to see Walsingham socked in the eye*

*Afore long Elizabeth begins to descend from the rigging, calling out after Sir Francis that seeing as he is the Spymaster he had better ascend to the crow's nest and keep his eyes firmly set upon the sea. There is fire burning bright in her eyes and no-one with any love of their life would argue with her now.*

*Pacing fast across the deck she doth descend with speed upon Lord James. Her hand doth touch briefly upon his shoulder, inviting him to turn around and address his Queen. But afore he hath chance to draw breath she has him pinned down upon the deck, her knee upon his chest and her dagger at his throat drawing small droplet of blood*

*Sir Nicholas quickly squelches his mirth and moves with haste across the deck to where Elizabeth has Lord James pinned. He says or does nothing, but is at his Captains ready shuld she have need of him*

*she speaks with great venom but there is a cold calm in her voice which ist most deadly*

Thou wudst take from me the Earl of Leicester, the only pleasure I do ever take for mineself to be in his company and thou wudst deny me that. I canst think of little reason not to slit thine throat here and now. My family already bears it's own blood upon it's hands. One more killing will make no difference to my place upon the throne.

*Increasing the pressure upon James's chest so as to keep him still, Elizabeth moves the blade so that any move in any direction will cause it to sear devastatingly across his flesh. Without looking from him for a second she doth call out to Sir Nicholas, knowing he ist near.*

I wud not ask this of thee Nicholas, but if thou do not drain him to a state where he canst be taken from my hand without chance of escape, I shall have to murder mine own flesh and blood with mine own hand. Right here and now. I would not have him free.

*Grins hungrily beneth his hood*

Of Course *bows* Shall I drain him dry or meerly incapaciate him?

Just to a state where he ist weakened. I wud not have thou responsible for his death Nicholas, do but take him from my hand afore I kill him myself. For if I place any more pressure upon his neck he wilt surely bleed to death.

*bows again*


*Nicholas leans down to firmly grip the lad. He pushes back his hood enough to allow James to see his pierceing green eyes. Instantly the spell is woven and the boy could not fight if he tried. Nicholas pulls the boy near him in an embrace as a father might hold a dear child. Nicholas brings his fangs near the lads neck and pauses but a moment before sinking his teeth into the smooth flesh.

He drinks deeply, heavily, as always vasking in the almost orgasmic feel and taste of it. James himself feels no pain though his heartbeat quickens in Nicholas's ears.

Nicholas finally releases him, laying his prone body on deck. *

What wuldst thou have me do with him now my Captian?

*Though she hath long known of his secret, Elizabeth's breath is quite taken away by having seen the act for the first time.*

I admit my lord, I had not thought that far. I am full used to having guards around to cart people off to the Tower for me.

*she looks up at Sir Francis who ist dutifully looking out to sea, though she suspects he hath witnessed the whole thing.*

I suppose if Sir Francis ist here he hath made usual arrangements... GUARDS!

*instantly some guards who hath been disguised as sailors break from the crowd, saluting Her Majesty and awaiting orders.*

Please take this boy with full care to the royal apartments of The Tower. He is to be heavily guarded but cared for well. Have his health attended to immediately upon his arrival there, and inform my gaolers that none are to question him without my presance. Not even Sir Francis. Oh, and tell them his injuries are full healed and no more blood letting must occur for my physician hath declared him safe.

*when the guards have gone with the boy, Elizabeth turns to Sir Nicholas.*

That was quite... breathtaking my lord. He seemed to feel no pain or fear at all. I would that all who have to undertake my bidding in such dreadful circumstance could do their deeds with such ease and little pain. Oh, and do remind me to buy something fine for my lord Walsingham, he has attended to his job perfectly as always.

*Elizabeth remembers where Sir Walsingham still is*

Sir Nicholas, I would have thee find some safe way of getting Sir Francis down from there and setting a more suited sailor to keep watch. And thank-you my lord for serving me so well in such a delicate matter.

*Elizabeth takes his hand gently, kisses it, and then turns to command her sailors as though naught had taken place.*

*equally chilled and impressed by the dealings of Sir Nicholas and Her Majesty below on deck, Sir Francis returns his eyes to the sea to keep look out.*

I am indeed the spymaster *he mutters* surely I canst do the duty of spying ships out ahead afore anyone else. It canst not be that difficult.

*He glances down again to the deck to see some of his guardsmen departing with young James, then out to sea again. He blinks for a moment.*

They're coming! Raleigh and Drake are coming! *he yells excitedly, pointing across to the cliff around which the Golden Hind ist sailing. He composes himself shortly and yells in a more appropriate manner*

Ahoy! Turkish treasure ships sighted out yonder to starboard!

*Pulls out bow and Arrow. He aims it towards the top of the crow's nest and pulls it back. He releases it and it fired, launching into the air, narrowly avoiding the bottom of Elizabeth's skirt. It also narrowly misses Francis Walsingham*

HEADS UP, YOUR MAJESTY!!!

*Nicholas finds himself blushing at the touch of her lips upon his hand. But he is as quickly distracted by Walsingham’s call. Nicholas grins at Walsingham’s enthusiasm. He then moves to catch up to Elizabeth.*

It seems as if Walsingham has quite taken to his new post. I shall of course see him safely down when he is ready but perhaps thou should let him take part in the fun as well. I can see another sailor doth join him if thou wishes. And I wuldst think he wuldst be safer up there than on deck during the heat of battle.

*His features turn grave as he hesitates to continue. * What of Robyn? I do loathe to miss the fun but none but I can find him and return him to safety as quickly.

I shall go now if thou wishes, but I hath one question upon my lips before I depart. It pains me to ask and perhaps I should not. But if I am to find him alive but beyond all hope … what wuldst thou have me do?

I am the one who called

If you find Robyn take him to the physician's I'll distract Walsingham...

...And I'll tell Elizabeth where you have gone

I Do humby hope your mission goes well

Good Luck, Sir Nickie

Elizabeth Tudor wrote:

*she speaks with great venom but there is a cold calm in her voice which ist most deadly*

Thou wudst take from me the Earl of Leicester, the only pleasure I do ever take for mineself to be in his company and thou wudst deny me that. I canst think of little reason not to slit thine throat here and now. My family already bears it's own blood upon it's hands. One more killing will make no difference to my place upon the throne.

*Increasing the pressure upon James's chest so as to keep him still, Elizabeth moves the blade so that any move in any direction will cause it to sear devastatingly across his flesh. Without looking from him for a second she doth call out to Sir Nicholas, knowing he ist near.*

I wud not ask this of thee Nicholas, but if thou do not drain him to a state where he canst be taken from my hand without chance of escape, I shall have to murder mine own flesh and blood with mine own hand. Right here and now. I would not have him free.

*Sends Elizabeth a letter from his place in the tower*
Elizabeth
I was not the one in charge of hurting Lord Robert: Merely a henchman, I was employed by Nicholas of Rhodes, he planned to remove Lord Robert from your interests so he could marry you himself

I do humbly beseech you to release you illigitimate half brother, or I will set the spirit of Claypso on you while you are at sea

Signed
Lord James of York
Rightful Heir to the throne

Right, then my lad- the Turks have been sighted! You must rally the marines and prepare for the boarding action, should we have to ram their ship! Ready your sword and bow, and prepare to fight!
OARSMAN! MAKE READY FOR RAMMING SPEED!

*peers over at the English ship*
I do say, Edward, your sister is quite a remarkable woman. She appears to have climbed the rigging, for what reason I know not...