Aiden flopped back down at the table and leaned back, just staring at her. He played with the empty flagon absently. "Good to know your such a priss," he snapped back. She was right, but it wasn't his place to override Lev. Besides, if she really was so princess-like, some time down below might be good for her. He smirked at the idea.

The door slammed open from the top of the rickety stairs and Lev came striding back in, another crew member with one eye following close behind. He went straight over to Amelie and reached down to jerk her to her feet. The other crew member came around to take her other arm. Lev leaned in close to her ear as he steered her toward the door. "I've got a special room for you, miss," he said with a sneer.

-----

Lev kicked open the half rotten door and the smell of rot and decay blew out like a cloud from the dark cargo hold. He shoved her in, making sure to make her stumble and fall on the way with a slight kick. "Hope you enjoy. I'll send a man down later with whatever galley water is left, just in case you'd be thirsty." Lev then slammed the door close, locking it tight from the outside.

Amelie stayed quiet until the door slammed open, she raised her head as if she could see who'd came in. Though she knew who is was before he came to her. His stench alone was almost overwhelming. She growled when he pulled her to her feet, almost lashing out at the man who grabbed her like he did. "Brutes." She muttered angrily to herself. When she was almost dragged to the no doubt cargo hold. The stench from the place made her want to hurl. She did indeed stumble and fall once they kicked her in. She wiggled to a sitting position and spat in their direction before they could close the door. Once they did, she wanted to hurl, but thought it better just to be nauseas, then barf on them later. She drew her knees to her chest and buried her face in them, trying to block out the stench.

A few hours later, as Lev was busy dealing with a cannon that had slammed through the top deck, Aiden made his way down to the cargo hold with a pack of food slung over his shoulder and his flagon of ale in the other. He paused at the door to undo the locks and carefully nudged it open, glancing once more around before stepping in and closing the door again.

He went over to Amelie immediately and crouched down near her, setting down the pack. He reached out to touch her shoulder lightly. "Hey. Hungry?" he asked.

Amelie was trying to stay awake, she was very tense. But the way she was sitting wasn't helping her much. When someone touched her shoulder, she jumped and growled. "Who are you?" She looked queasy and like she was going to pass out at the same time.

"It's me, Aiden, from before. I've brought you some food and ale," he answered. He rubbed her back a little, trying to get her mind off her stomach. To be honest, the place was too familiar to him to have any effect, but he knew well how prisoners reacted to it. Some got better after eating, some not, but he came prepared just in case.

She didn't recognize the name, but the food and ale part made her remember who it was. "I don't think its such a great idea for me to have anything." She looked queasy, just at the thought of food that she wasn't going to keep it down for very long.

Aiden shrugged and shifted to sit beside her, pushing the food away. He took a long gulp from the flagon, then looked back at her. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Seems disgusting now, but you'll get used to it soon. I barely even smell it anymore."

Amelie tensed when he sat beside her. Its not like she trusted him...even if he was a lot nicer than the other man. She shook her head slightly. "It'd take anyone a lifetime to get use to this smell....course, by then their sense of smell would be dead."

Aiden gave a short laugh. "Mine must be dead then. Unless it comes to rum, of course," he added with a grin. He scooted closer to her, leaning in and tilting his head to see her face. "You cold?" he asked.

((I'm soooo sorry for taking so long to reply. My internet's been down since Thursday night and I just got it back. ><))

Amelie grinned slightly at his comment. But as soon as he came closer she stiffened more and the grin disappeared. "I'm fine.." She was freazing, but she wasn't going to say anything.

Aiden raised an eyebrow at her, then got to his feet. "You're a lousy liar," he commented as he went to rummage through a nearby box. From its depths he drew out an old battered sheet, dusty from countless months spent tucked away. He shook it out, beating it with his leg, before bringing it over to drap around her. It was so big and thick that it looked to be swallowing her, but it satisfied Aiden. "There you go. Keep that on so you won't get sick."

Amelie blushed softly and burried her face in her knees. She listened carefully when he got up and went digging through stuff. She stiffened when he came closer, then coughed slightly when he put in over her. "It's not like I could take it off if I wanted to." She referred to her still being tied up.

Aiden nodded in agreement. "I could untie you though. There's no way you'd be able to get out of this room by yourself."

Amelie looked towards him sharply, almost expectently. Then she figured he wasn't really offering to untie her, so she just slumped her shoulders and leaned her head against her knees again.

Aiden gazed at her a moment, then shrugged. "Guess that be a no. I'll be back later. Don't want Lev to start getting suspicious," he added with a smirk. Then tipped an invisible hat in her direction before turning to head for the door.

Amelie looked at him, surprised. She opened her mouth, but no words would come out at first. "Wa-wait!" She would've gotten up, but she couldn't.

Aiden paused and turned around halfway, eyebrow raised. "Yes...?" he asked.

Amelie blushed softly. "I..didn't think you were being serious..." She moved her arms slightly, they were starting to go numb.

Aiden laughed and walked back over to her, crouching behind her to lift up the sheet. "You're an odd one, you are," he commented softly as he found her hands through the old fabric. It took him only a moment to undo the knot and slip the rope off her wrists. He stood again as he coiled the rope in his hand, walking back around her with a smile. "There you go. How does that feel?" he asked.

Amelie blushed softly again and moved her hands in front of her, taking off the blind fold and rubbed her eyes. She blinked and looked around, then stared at him for a moment. "...thank you." She looked down at her hands then and slowly flexed her muscles to see if they still worked.

"Your welcome. Now, don't get to any trouble while I'm gone," Aiden ordered with a smirk, then walked away again toward the door. He laid the rope on a barrel beside it on his way out, locking it up again from the outside.

Amelie smiled at him when he left and rolled her eyes slightly. "What trouble can I get into down here?" She sighed and wrapped the blanket around her tighter.

Lev and Aiden didn't return down below to check on Amelie until after dark. Aiden followed behind Lev into the room, looking a little sheepish. He had forgotten to return before Lev to retie her up. He hoped Lev would just guess that she had done it herself.

Lev kicked at Amelie's bundled form, forcing her to wake up. "Wake up. I have some questions for you," he said in a bitter tone. He wasn't going to be any more patient with her than he had been earlier.

Amelie hadn't fallen asleep, just remained relaxed. The smell would not allow her to sleep. She growled when she was kicked. She looked up at him, but didn't move. "What do you want?"

Lev crouched down, taking Amelie's chin firmly in his hand to force her to look straight at him. "I want no obstinance from you, girl. Now tell me why this father of yours is refusing to pay. Cowardice, or confidence in you? Either way, I can get the money out of him. But I'd rather get to it quickly instead of jumping through hoops."

Behind Lev, Aiden mouthed a message to her. It's a trick. Your father hasn't spoken with him at all. He's trying to get some hint of a weakness out of you about your father. Beside Aiden, another crew member gave him a suspicious sidelong glance, and Aiden reached up as if to pick something nonexistent out of his teeth.