As I sit here and watch the waves roll in, the water so beautiful and calm, I cannot help but recall how this fairytale began...

          My Father, King Roger Clemons of Clemonzia, who had been a great ruler of his land, was in despair.  His land was suffering from lack of trade, as every time a merchant vessel would cross the great waters of the Zamia, the Pirate Sir Henry Morgan would attack the ship, steal the goods, and murder the shipmates.  After sending several ships out to face the same fate, King Roger decided he could not suffer any further loss of his people.  Months passed, but the Kingdom started to suffer in other ways.  Lacking goods such as silk, spices, jewels, and fabrics would surely ruin the Kingdom.  My Father knew he had to do something, so drastic times called for drastic measures.

          I heard the rumor from my lady in waiting, Lady Christina.  She told of the Pirate Captain, Adam Rodgers, whose ship was well known for its merciless attacks.  According to Lady Christina's tale, My Father had called upon this Pirate Captain for a friendly meeting.  Of course, I was intrigued...what was My Father up to?

          Weeks passed, and finally the ship "Heart of Gold" arrived.  Lady Christina and I, dressed out of our stations, snuck down to the docks so that I could see the Pirate Captain with my own eyes.  He was nothing like I expected.  He was a large man, who was handsome and had a kind look about him.  He did not have a mean pirate look about him.  I was in such shock that I kept getting closer and closer to the ship even though Lady Christina did protest.  Until all of a sudden, He and his men stepped off the ship and were right in front of me, and he was telling him men how I was a beautiful wench and he would have to call upon me later.  Well, I was so mad, that I turned all red in the face and raised my hand to smack him until Lady Christina grabbed it and told him that we looked forward to it.  As they walked away laughing, she reminded me of how we were dressed.  Now all I would have to do is make sure we would never run into him again.

My Mother, Queen Brenda, called upon me later that same day to tell me that she was holding a formal dinner that evening and she wanted me to attend.  As Lady Christina was helping me to prepare for the dinner, we were trying to figure out what the dinner was for as she had not heard any rumors.  My Mother, the Queen, often held elaborate dinners, but they were usually for special guests.  As I came down the stairs to dinner, I almost tripped, hoping that my eyes had deceived me.  There he was, standing at the bottom of the stairs, glaring up at me, with a look that could have killed.  I continued to gracefully walk down the stairs, pretending that I had never met this man before and thinking to myself how handsome did he look all dressed up in his formal attire.  As I was reaching the bottom of the stairs and the butler was announcing me, the pirate took my arm and whispered "some wench".  I tried to tell him that I was offended by such talk and that it was no way to talk to a Lady or a Princess but he saw right through my lie.  He told me that I may be a Princess but I was no Lady if I was dressing as a wench and hanging by the docks.  As I tried to protest, the King and Queen were announced.  They were overjoyed to see we had met and were already speaking.  I asked my mother if I could have a word with her as we were walking to the dining hall.  I told her that I refused to have dinner with such a vulgar man, but she insisted.  She said that he had agreed to help our Kingdom with safe passage of our merchant goods in exchange for one thing.  I assumed it was booty.  What does every pirate want?  You have heard the stories of pirates plundering for treasure, so you can imagine my surprise when she said he wanted to spend one week with me.  What?  A week with this despicable, but yet intriguing pirate.  They could not possibly agree to that, could they?  But of course they had, our Kingdom was in despair and this man, this pirate, was our only hope left.  What was our choice...what was my choice?

          My Mother and I continued into the dining Hall, where the King and the Pirate were waiting.  Before I proceeded to my seat, I noticed how happy both men looked and how this time as he looked at me, it was a look of pleasure that came over his face, as though he was happy with what he saw.  I tried to stay calm and went to sit beside him.  As the dinner course continued for hours, the conversation kept us all on the edge of our seats.  Captain Adam began to tell us tale upon tale of stories of the sea.  How he became known as a pirate, how it was quite a mistake, actually, but how he has learned to get by as an outlaw.  After dessert had concluded, my parents retired, and Captain Adam asked me to join him in the gardens for some fresh air.  I hesitantly agreed.  With Lady Christina following several paces behind us, at first, our walk was quite silent and then when I could not stand the tension any longer, I asked him why he was doing this.  He told me that it was because My Father had asked for his help.  I told him he had misunderstood my question and again asked why his terms were to spend a week with me and again there was silence.  Finally, he told me that it was his desire to spend time with a beautiful Princess and I was just that.  And then he asked me what I was doing down at the docks.  I was not prepared for such a question.  I thought that if I lied to him again he would see straight through it, so I decided to tell him the truth.  I told him that I heard of the rumors of him and his ship and I was intrigued.  I had to see for myself.  I could see a look of pleasure on his face. 

          The days past quickly as he called upon me morning till night, having breakfast at the palace, discussing things of my land...having picnic lunches, going for voyages on the sea, and dinner by candlelight.  It was the most romantic week of my life.  And then in came to me, as the week drew near...I loved this man, this Pirate!  I could not imagine him leaving and not coming back.  I could not live another day without this man there.  Not knowing what to do, I called upon My Mother, the Queen.  I cried and cried, telling her of our week together and how I could not bear to go on if the week ended and he left, never to be seen again.  My Mother laughed at me and told me everything would be okay.

          The next day, as I feared, my pirate called upon me to tell me he was leaving.  I was hurt and angry and asked him not to go.  He also laughed at me, which hurt my feelings so.  He told me all would be well and that I would see.  I stood down at the docks, watching the ship "Heart of Gold" sail away and fear came over me that I would never see my Pirate Captain Adam Rodgers again.

          The weeks went by and I found that all I could think about was Captain Adam.  No matter what my parents or Lady Christina tried to do, nothing would change the way I felt.  Until one glorious day...I heard the rumor from Lady Christina and my heart leapt.  The ship "Heart of Gold" was back in port.  I couldn't believe it.  She said that Captain Adam was already at the palace meeting with the King.  Lady Christina hurried to help me prepare, fore I was hoping that I would be called upon next.  As I expected, My Mother called upon me to inform me that Captain Adam had asked to dine with me in the gardens this evening.  I was so excited and could not wait to see him.

          The evening was incredibly romantic...Dinner at sunset by candlelight, Captain Adam seemed as anxious to see me as I was him.  During dinner, he told me that while he was away, he had defeated the Pirate Sir Henry Morgan and he would no longer be a threat to our lands.  After dinner, while we were walking through the gardens, Captain Adam told me that he did not want to spend another minute apart from me and asked me to marry him.  I was overcome with joy and excitement.  I couldn't believe that in this short time, I met a pirate, fell madly in love with this pirate, and would be marrying him.

          And we lived happily ever after...

 Author:  Amy Rodgers

 Amy is an independent writer and founder of Amys Articles.  She writes to help people and for the pure joy of writing.