Chapter Text
“Do you want to do something about it, Captain?”
Alexis’ words lay heavy in the air.
YES.
YES. YES. YES.
There wasn’t a universe in which Caine could just turn her back on Cassandra. She was already dealing with an incomprehensible amount of guilt at leaving her alone in that doctor’s office, finding out Cassandra had not been granted freedom but a prison far worse than Caine would wish on even her most despised of enemies? The guilt was dizzying.
Caine wanted to gather every resource she had and storm the prison straight up.
But a couple of deep breaths had her mind slowing down, forcing herself to think straight.
Storming the prison was risky. If she failed, she’s be hung. She wasn’t wanted alive in Equis. If she was hung, then she’d be of no use to Cassandra. In fact, there would be nobody left to save her. Caine tried to forget about her resources, instead thinking of Cassandra’s. There was no need to risk it all. Cassandra had powerful friends who would surely do anything to keep her safe.
“Set route to Corona.”
“Corona?” Alexis blinked.
“We have a meeting with the princess and Captain.”
“We have a hostage exchange with no hostage,” Alexis frowned.
“But we know where she is… and they don’t.”
“You’re going to… ask the princess of Corona for help?” Now this was something Alexis’ never thought she’d see happen. Not even for Cassandra who everybody on this ship knew held a special place in Caine’s heart at this point.
Caine’s shoulders tensed a bit, this was certainly going against everything she believed in. But she nodded. “She’s Cassandra’s best bet.”
Alexis considered offering up an alternative proposition, she’d had her mind set on a break-out after all. But Alexis adored her Captain, she always wanted what was best for Caine, and this need for vengeance, this fire that every so often grew inside her, was harmful. Working with the princess to help Cassandra? Not only was it the safest way to get Cassandra out of there, it might just help Caine finally put that fire out for good.
“Okay Captain. I’ll get right to it!” She stepped away before pausing. “This means no Challenge of the Brave—”
“Alexis!”
“On it!”
Rapunzel stood pacing at the edge of the old abandoned docks. Eugene stood beside her, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, his eyes narrowed as the silhouette of a ship drew closer.
They’d come alone.
Lance had offered to come, he’d worked with Caine one on one before, he said she was ‘cool’. Eugene didn’t feel like hearing it. He suspected Cassandra wouldn't much want to hear it either.
They were both worried. Cassandra was no stranger to danger or to biting of more than she could chew. Whether she’d sought out a fight she couldn’t win or just taken the wrong path neither knew. But they were worried for what state she’d be in. The initial meeting date had been almost a week ago. They hadn’t been given an explanation for the postponing and were worried.
The ship anchored. A gangplank was lowered to the dock. Caine stepped up onto it, glancing back at her ship almost as though worried before she raised her hands. She was unarmed which was unusual. Nothing about this was what they expected.
Eugene stepped forward. “Where’s Cassandra?”
“Equis.”
“What?” Rapunzel stepped out from behind Eugene, not needing his protection.
“We had an agreement—”
“Some stuff changed.”
“What stuff?” Eugene hissed.
“Cassandra got sick.”
“What?” Rapunzel wasn’t adding much to the conversation.
“I had to take Cassandra to see a doctor. Corona was still too far so I took her to Equis.”
“And left her there?” Eugene glared.
Caine flinched, lowering her hands. “Yeah…” she sounded guilty. “I… I didn’t think that decision through.”
“Clearly. What did you think would happen when you showed up here without her? That we’d just hand you the money?”
Caine rose her eyes. “I don’t want your money.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I need your help.”
“Why would we help you?”
“Because I don’t need your help for me. I need your help for Cassandra.”
“You said she’s at a doctor’s in Equis?”
“No. I said she’s in Equis.” Caine’s shoulders were tense. “I took her to a doctor in Equis. I left her there because I thought she’d be safe and make her own way home. I didn’t want to risk being arrested. I wasn’t going to let her die on my ship.”
Eugene looked confused.
“I didn’t realise Cassandra was wanted in Equis.”
Eugene’s shoulders slumped. “Oh.”
“She was arrested…. she’s… she’s in the Rockhold.”
“Oh,” Eugene repeated, this time sounding a lot more concerned.
“What’s that?” Rapunzel asked.
“A prison,” Eugene answered.
“The cruellest prison on the continent,” Caine specified. “It’s where they send people they can’t justify hanging but want dead. Most people who go in there die from the conditions.”
“That’s terrible!” Rapunzel looked at Eugene. “Why is Cassandra in there? Why would somebody want her dead?!”
“Because the rocks caused a lot of destruction Rapunzel… it’s fine… we’ll get her out of there. Okay? Cassandra may have left Corona but she’s still a citizen of this kingdom. We’ll request she be returned to us. We’ll pay whatever damages need paying… probably more expensive than this here ransom but… fine.”
“How long will that take?” Caine asked, stepping closer.
Eugene’s eyes rose, seeming surprised she was still here. It was surprising she was here at all in fact, having come to tell them Cassandra needs help without wanting something in return? His hand still lay on the hilt of his sword, suspecting something more was at hand. “I don’t know.”
“It has to be quick,” Caine insisted. “She was already sick when I left her. She was dehydrated—”
“Why was she dehydrated?” Rapunzel asked.
Caine ran a hand through her hair, clearly stressed. “Cassandra was in a ship-wreck, a ferry, a storm, the usual. She swam for hours to find help and found me. Me and my crew got the civilians from the ferry to their destination and we kept Cass for ransom. She seemed fine at first but apparently all that salt-water took it’s toll. She collapsed, I took her to the doctor, I foolishly left her there…” Caine looked almost on the verge of tears.
Eugene’s grip on the hilt finally lessened. “You really care about her, huh?”
“Yeah,” Caine answered without missing a beat. “She’s… her.”
Rapunzel smiled, nodding in agreement.
“I’ll get the process started immediately,” Eugene said. “Rest assured Cass will be back here in no time.”
Caine nodded. She glanced back at her ship though she didn’t look like she wanted to leave.
Rapunzel, seeming to have moved on from all of her history with Lady Caine grabbed her hand without warning. “Do you want to come back with us?”
Eugene looked ready to intervene.
“You know better than us what happened and that way you can be there to see Cass get home safely! Right Eugene?”
Eugene didn’t look fond, maybe this was Caine’s plan. Maybe she’d never even had Cassandra. But then again, they’d find out how true her story was very soon after sending a letter to Equis. “She’s a wanted criminal in our territory but… you’re the princess so, your call… I guess.”
Rapunzel waved Eugene’s concerns away. “You’ll come, right?”
Caine glanced back at her ship again before looking into Rapunzel’s bright hopeful green eyes. They weren’t just bright and hopeful. There were a few stray tears in the corners that she was fighting to hold back. Probably fear for her friend. Caine could empathise with that feeling and for once felt nothing negative towards the princess.
Caine nodded. “I’d like that,” she acknowledged softly. “I… I’m at a point where I think I need to see Cass home safely.”
“For your conscious?” Rapunzel asked.
Caine’s brows furrowed. “No.” She answered honestly. “This is selfish. This is for me. This is for me because I care about her.”
“Oh,” Rapunzel looked a bit confused but then smiled. “I care about her too.”