Man of War Ch. 03

"Absolutely, lord."

"I'll be sorry to lose her, Captain," her now previous CO stated, "But you will have the perfect person in place should the worst happen."

"Should you return reporting success in find anything to do with the Dunkerque, we have already earmarked her for her own command," the Sea Lord added.

"To be honest, I wouldn't want to lose her that first if our relationship is solid," I admitted freely. No-one wants to lose an effective subordinate that you've established a find working relationship with.

"Well, that is all for later. Lord Uhtred, your opinion?"

"She should be commissioned immediately."

"Lord Kirk?"

"I agree with the High Admiral."

"As do I. Anne?" She popped her head in the doorway again. "Please ask Lieutenant Lawson to return please."

Lawson walked in again as we gathered to stand in the front of the desk. From a seated position, she did appear tall, particularly with those long legs and boots that went to her knees. But when standing, she did stand a few inches short, probably the same height as Jane. She saluted again before standing easy. Now the nerves did show on her face, no doubt praying to the Five that she was successful.

Hackett cleared his throat. "Lieutenant Miranda Lawson, it is the opinion of this board that you be commissioned to the Normandy, effective immediately. May you serve her well."

Lawson allowed the hint of a smile cross her lips as she saluted again. "Thank you, lord. Long live the Emperor."

The five of us returned the salute before we stepped forward, offering our hands. She shared a warm handshake with her previous CO, hearing his warm words and wishes of good luck. After final words with the Lord Admiral, the four left, leaving me alone with one of the final pieces of the puzzle. "Nervous?" I asked, gesturing as I added, "Speak freely."

She released a deep breath. "Honestly, that was the most nerve wracking experiences of my life, sir. The questions were hard but fair, but it was hard to judge if I was saying anything correct. The Lord Admiral is a hard man to judge."

"I remember my interview before being commissioned as captain of the Expedition. It was rather similar, the questions coming harder and faster though. In a way, they're trying break you, make you react negatively. If you can't handle an interview, can you really handle the pressure of command, when the lives of your officers and enlisted men rest in your hands?"

"A lesson learned well for next time. When do we leave, sir?"

"You were the penultimate piece of the puzzle, Lieutenant. As we speak, supplies are still being loaded, and some crew are now boarding. As you know, it is bad luck for a captain to board a vessel before the day of departure."

"Stickler for the old ways, sir?" she asked, a slight joke. I was devout, and I was also a little superstitious, freely admitting both.

I couldn't help grin, immediately feeling both of us were at ease. "Will you join me for prayers to the Five before we depart, Lieutenant? I will invite all officers to join me."

"To Venti, sir? Or to Mars?"

"I'll pray to Venti as always. I'll leave the prayers to Mars for the Imperial Marines."

"I would be honoured to join you, sir."

"Very good," I said, gesturing to the door, "Come, we should sit down and discuss more in my office. There is still much to be done before we go."

*****

Year 2183 of the Empire (since Foundation Year)

Year 979 of the Third Era of Empire (Dragonheart Line)

Martis, the sixteenth day of Morning Star

Early evening

"Captain?" I looked up, Samantha in the doorway. Instead of looking nervous, she looked rather confused. "I have a priestess of the Five waiting to speak to you."

"A priestess?" She nodded her, still confused. I had an idea, that left me surprised rather than confused, but told her to send her in.

Rising to my feet, I stood near the doorway as the priestess walked in. Dressed in the white robes of the Five, the symbol of faith in the middle of her chest. Priests and priestess dressed in simple clothing, a sign of their devotion and faith. The only sign the Five made any sort of coin was in their grand temples, and half of those had been funded by the Imperial family. As she stood before me, I performed the gesture one always does when meeting one of the faith. Right arm across the chest, fingers spread over the heart, a bow of the head. Simple but one I readily performed whenever I spoke with a priest or priestess. The return gesture was the same, without the bow. Only man bows to the representatives of the gods. Gods, or those who represent them, do not bow to men.

"You are Captain Shepard?"

By the Five, the accent nearly made me weak at the knees. She was from Normandy or Trois-Rivieres, that much was certain, but her voice alone was beautiful. Priestesses always wore their hair free, her bright red hair a natural colour that brought light to the room itself. Her eyes were as blue as the ocean I would soon sail. Her nose was perfect, as were her lips, with cheekbones that only accentuated her beauty. She was slim, though the robes were tight, highlighting curves that only the Five could gift to a woman. "I am. May I ask who you are?"

"I am Leliana Donadieu. I am to be your spiritual guide on your ship."

"You are?" I asked, unable to hide the surprise, before I gestured, "Please, take a seat."

She took one as I took the other next to her, not wanting to interrogate her from behind a desk. "Oui," she replied, and just her using that one little word in her language near killed me, "It was the decision of the Grand Cleric. I understand it is unusual for a woman to hold this position."

"You are the first I know of. Are you aware of what your posting entails?"

"I am. I will admit to some excitement at the idea of voyaging beyond the reef. As for my duties, I will perform services on Martis and Veneris evenings, and also the regular service on Solis morning. I will be available as a guide for all who require help during the journey. And I will also assist the surgeon if required."

"You have a medical background?"

"I was planning on being a doctor before answering the call of the call of the gods. Mercury visited me in a dream, instructing me to cast aside my worldly possessions and become one with the Five. I have retained some medical knowledge, though, and during my free time, continue to study the latest journals. I believe I can be both a servant of the Five and also help the sick and injured."

"You have a kind heart, Sister."

She smiled. "In privacy, please may call me Leliana, Captain."

"Then I must ask you call me Shepard."

"Not your first name?"

"No-one calls me by my first name."

"What is it?"

"John. Though my sister calls me Johnny." She burst into a fit of giggles. My heart could only take so much. "Please don't share that with anyone else."

"Your secret is safe with me." She paused, before asking, "Will you visit the temple for final prayers before departing?"

"All officers have been invited to attend. It is not required, but most of those under my command have faith, and I believe they will join me."

"If I may ask, who do you pray to?"

"Venti. I'm a sailor, Leliana. I am always praying for a breeze. If I may ask in return, who do you pray to?"

"Dibella."

"The goddess of love?" I asked, again unable to hide the surprise in my voice. I would have thought a priestess would revere one of the Five above all, not who is considered a minor god.

"I believe we are all looking for love, are we not, Shepard?"

I shrugged. "Most of us are, I guess."

"But not yourself?"

"I'm at sea most of the time. It makes finding love, let alone thinking about a family, quite difficult." I didn't add that I found pleasures of the flesh in other ways, usually in taverns and by the way of coin.

"Do you find it lonely sometimes?"

"At sea, no. I keep busy and my faith helps me find contentment. I'm not home long enough whenever my ship is docked to start thinking of settling down."

"I have been informed this will be a unisex crew. I understand fraternisation will be allowed?" I nodded. "If love was to blossom, would you allow marriage?"

"Can you perform such a ceremony?" She nodded in return. "I'll admit; I hadn't given it much thought. I see no reason why not, but the enlisted man does not have much privacy. Rest assured, you will be given your own quarters. It's not much but..." I trailed off with a slightly helpless shrug. A priest was easy. A priestess? I'd never dealt with the issue before.

"I have lived a frugal life for many years now, Shepard. I assure you I won't be disappointed with whatever I am given." She suddenly went silent and cleared her throat. "Apologies, Shepard, our conversation just got a little personal."

"Never mind. We will probably spend a lot of time talking as we sail. Expect your ear chewed off about many topics regarding our faith. I believe wholeheartedly, but I also question. One should not have blind faith and obedience."

"You are truly devoted to the Five?" she asked, a hint of admiration in her tone.

"My faith in the Five is unshakable, if not unbreakable, Leliana. I serve at the pleasure of the Emperor, his Empire, and the Five."

"Well, if I may, would you like to accompany me to evening prayers? Perhaps we can continue to converse later."

"I would be delighted," I replied, rising to my feet. She did the same, as I escorted her to the door. "I have a bit more paperwork to do but I should be finished in an hour."

"I will wait outside, Shepard. I will walk the halls and take in the artwork. It is most impressive." She turned to face me, and I thought she would only gesture as normal. Instead, she gently grabbed my upper-arms and kissed my cheeks. "That is how we say farewell in Trois-Rivieres, Captain," she said softly, and after leaning back, she added a slight smile, she turned and walked through the antechamber into the hallway. I followed her halfway before she turned and disappeared from view.

I must have stood there, still as a statue, for longer than normal as I heard Samantha clear her throat. "Sir, you are only setting yourself up for heartbreak if you pursue."

"Huh?"

Turning to look at her, she was ready to start giggling. "You know they are meant to be chaste and virtuous." She paused, before adding quietly, "Though that is only through personal choice."

"She is a lovely young woman, Samantha. I am thinking nothing more."

"Uh-huh. And that look on your face is suggesting something else entirely. Rather ungentlemanly, if I may add."

I stood taller, pulling my jacket tighter and tried to project a gentlemanly pose. "I will not have my reputation besmirched in such a manner!" I cried quietly, much to the amusement of Samantha as I strode back into my office. I could still hear her laughing away as I sat at my desk, unable to stop the slight chuckle at my own expense. To be honest, she wasn't entirely in error. But I hadn't lied to Leliana. I was not looking for love. I had a new ship to command and a mystery to solve. But if I could find a companion for bed, I wasn't going to say no.

To be honest, I found doing any more work rather difficult as I could barely concentrate. In the space of only a few days, I'd been introduced to two women who simply took my breath away. It was an unusual feeling. I knew many attractive women, but never looked at them as anything more than colleagues or wives of the few friends I retained not in the naval service. Maybe Leliana was onto something. Maybe, somewhere deep within my heart or mind, I was lonely.

I eventually sat back in my chair, boots on the desk, leaning back with barely a thought about work. Mostly I daydreamed about what was to come. I dreamed of sailing the ocean, through rising waves and spray. Of standing at the bow, water in my face, as we sailed to the gods only knew where. I dreamed of battle against pirates from unknown lands, of lining up my ship for the perfect battle run. Of throwing hooks onto the opposing deck and swinging across, taking my sword from its sabre and cutting down the enemy. Of...

A clear throat broke my train of thoughts. "I'm going home now, sir," Samantha said.

"Okay, Samantha. See you tomorrow morning."

"Have you done any work this afternoon, sir?"

I couldn't help chuckle. Samantha already knew me very well. "Honestly, not a damned thing, and I think it's time I left too."

Standing up, I grabbed and put on my jacket and followed Samantha out. She locked the door behind us, wished me good night, and walked off towards the main doors. I turned and went searching for Leliana, finding her gazing upon a large painting down one of the side corridors. I stood beside her until she sensed I was there, and I think I gave her a slight fright, noticing a small jump as she glanced towards me.

Offering my right arm, she looped her left arm around it and we walked together out into the evening sun. It would be dark in another hour or two at most. As it was a warm evening, I suggested we walk the short distance to the Pantheon. Leliana happily agreed, and we strode along in silence to begin with. Many couples would head to this area of the city of an evening, to stroll along the many parks or along the wide avenues. Cafes and taverns would perform a roaring trade at the end of the working day. I would have offered Leliana a drink, but assumed she would say no.

The Pantheon soon lay ahead, and we could see a few people heading in for evening prayers, but there was not an official prayer service, only those wishing to do so in privacy. "Do you visit a temple daily?" Leliana finally asked.

"No. I always attend a Solis morning service. I will usually try and visit at least once more during the week, depending on how busy I am." I reached under my shirt and grabbed the necklace. "I wear this, of course."

She brought me to a stop so she could look at it. "It's a beautiful piece. The craftsmanship is exquisite."

"My father gave it to me, the day I signed up. He said I would need 'divine wind' once I had my own command."

Handing the necklace back to me, I placed it back under my shirt and we continued walking towards the Pantheon. She took her arm from mine upon entering the grand temple, looking around to see the rotunda was relatively deserted. As always, I took a moment to simply stop and look around, particularly as it was quiet and I would remain undisturbed. Just like the Imperial family, the Five did grandeur tastefully.

Leliana eventually escorted me to the alter of Venti, where we kneeled together, bowed our heads, and prayed. My prayers were always the same. A good breeze. No storms. Preferably no gales unless we require speed. And I'd ask Venti to pass word to the other gods, to give my men courage in battle and to keep them safe, that they would see their loved ones again, that I would not falter and fail in the face of any adversity. And that, if I or any of us were to fall, that we would find ourselves in Elysium, where we would join all the other brave warriors who have fallen in the defence of Empire or Kingdom over the last two millennia.

Rising to my feet, Leliana then escorted me to another alter, and I recognised this one as Dibella. "Will you pray with me here?" she asked softly.

I smiled and joined her on our knees again. Bowing my head and closing my eyes, I felt a soft hand take mine. I didn't react at all, simply giving it a gentle squeeze. I wasn't particularly praying, though I could hear Leliana whispering to herself. Once she was done, she took her hand from mine as we rose to our feet again. "Why did you do that?" I had to ask.

"I was hoping the love I have would flow through me into you, Shepard."

I didn't quite know what she meant by that. I had a million and one questions, though most were... I wouldn't say inappropriate, but I didn't want a misunderstanding. She simply stood in front of me, hands clasped together in front of her, waiting for whatever I had to say next, a slight smile on her face. Gods, she was beautiful. Samantha was right, I was setting myself up for heartache. Which is why my next question was completely stupid. "Would you care to join me for a walk?"

My question was answered by her grabbing my right forearm, and I led us out of the Pantheon. We ended up strolling one of the main thoroughfares, smooth dirt under our feet, a long tree lined path ahead. The sun had nearly disappeared, gas lighting illuminating the area, though it was much darker than during the day.

"You said Mercury spoke to you in a dream?" I asked, hoping the question wasn't too personal.

"Oui. I will be honest, Shepard. At first, I thought I was suffering madness. The gods would speak to me? I was a nobody. But then I sat and thought about what I was told, and I believed the gods spoke to me as I have always had faith. My faith has always been strong. Far stronger than anyone in my family or of friends. And they must have believed I can contribute by becoming a sister and priestess."

"I've heard Mercury will only speak to the worthy, though he does speak in riddles. For Mercury to have spoken to you, Leliana... How many people have you told?"

"You are only the third person I have told. I told the Mother of my local temple in Trois-Rivieres. And I informed the Grand Cleric when I arrived at the Pantheon."

"Did they believe you?"

"Oui, of course. Why would they not?"

The question wasn't accusing; she was generally curious. "I'll be honest, I'm not sure how to ask the question without causing offence."

She laughed lightly to herself. "I know what you wish to ask, Shepard. Did they think I was insane? Or, worse, did they think I was lying? No, they know Mercury and the gods will speak to anyone. Those who are already worthy. Those who will prove worthy. And those who have faith and need guidance. Those who are hurting. Even those who are questioning their faith." She gestured and we turned onto another thoroughfare. "My residence is just down here. Ever the gentleman, Shepard, walking a lady to her door." She paused again. "Have you ever had a crises of faith?"

I thought about that question for a minute. "No. As I said, my faith is unshakable. I have questioned things that have happened in my life at times. But nothing so far as to make me angry at the gods and leaving me wanting to turn my back on them."

"I will share with you the one time, Shepard. Once, only once, have I questioned the wisdom and guidance of the gods."

"When was that?"

"When my mother died. She was still so young, and appeared so full of life. And within six months, she was gone and I had to lower her into the ground next to my father."

"How did you deal with the crisis?"

"I prayed and found comfort in meditation. With her death, my faith was eventually reinvigorated. There was a reason why it happened. I just needed to find understanding." We fell into silence again as we appeared to be approaching her place of residence. It was a simple looking building, which befitted those who served the Five. She let go of my arm as we stood in front of the front door, removing my hat and finding myself at a loss as to what to say. "Thank you for joining me for prayers tonight, Shepard."

"You're welcome. And it was my pleasure." She stepped forward, got on her tiptoes, and again lay a kiss on each cheek, before she simply stood down, looking at me, probably waiting for me to say something. "You will join me for final prayers before we depart?"

"Of course, Shepard."

I thought it best to end the night on this note. "Goodnight, Leliana."