Royals & Rogues {Chapter One}
~Pairing: Harrison Osterfield x Reader // Tom Holland x Reader
Royals & Rogues {Chapter One} // @hjosterfield
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Harrison watched from his place at the helm as his men boarded the Camilla Lily, carrying the ships’ riches and trade items onto his own. His first mate, Mr. Sutherland climbed the steps to where he stood, breathing raggedly. Harrison sighed.
“Captain, there are no children aboard. However, there is a woman.” He remarked, gesturing to a young woman that his second mate was bringing onto the ship.
She was thrashing and crying, screaming out her indignation at the man who had hoisted her over his shoulder. Harrison laughed at the sight.
“Bring her to my quarters and keep her there. Have Quentin guard it. She is not to leave or hear of the folly of her ship’s crew until I inform her of her position.”
Mr. Sutherland nodded curtly and left to make his captain’s demands. The girl disappeared below decks as Harrison stepped onto a plank and boarded the other ship.
“Tell me, men, who among you is captain of this fine vessel?” He commanded the attention of the crew of the Camilla Lily. A young cabin boy pointed towards an old man and Harrison turned to face him. “I must commend you on your work, captain. However, your ship is no match for The Rogue. Tell me, do you always have such imbeciles for crew members? I hardly think they know how to handle a vessel such as this. For truly, I was able to overtake your ship in a matter of an hour. It will be a shame to send it to the deep, such a pretty boat as this.”
“Sir, I do not know who you are and I do not care for your petty insults. All I care about is what you plan to do with the girl whom your crew has kidnapped, for she will not be taken without vengeance. Neither shall my crew, you pirates shall be hanged and I hope I am the one on the chopping block, you black hearted cruel—”
“My name is Captain Osterfield, and I assure you that the girl will be treated with the utmost respect and more than likely turned loose when we next make port. You shall never see her again, however. Finish this.” Harrison demanded, and the gunshots rang out as his men executed the crew.
Harrison walked across the plank and back onto his own ship, making his way down to his chambers where the girl was being kept. His men knew their duties. The offending ship’s stock of gun powder and flammables would be strategically placed so as to blow the boat to bits as soon as they were out of range, ensuring no survivors.
Quentin bowed to his captain once Harrison stepped into view outside his quarters.
“Captain,” he started, “the girl is very high-spirited.”
“Mr. Quentin, I do not care for your opinions at the moment. See to your duties above deck. I will take care of our honored guest.” Harrison cut him off. The man bowed again and scuttled back up to the main deck.
Harrison knocked on his door, opening it immediately after and dodging the book thrown at his face. He looked at his feet, finding his copy of Paradise Lost.
“Didn’t anyone ever teach you that trying to hurt people wasn’t polite Miss—”
“Didn’t anyone ever teach you not to kidnap people?” the girl spat, raising another book from Harrison’s small collection. He raised a hand to stop her, his other upon his waist where his sword rested. The girl eyed his attire quickly, sizing him up.
“There is no need for hostility, miss. I mean you no harm.” Harrison took a step closer.
“I know what pirates do with women they capture!” Y/N panicked as she attempted to back away from Harrison. “I refuse to be passed around your crew as if I was a commodity!”
“I assure you that you are quite safe. Nothing of that sort has ever occurred on my ship, and I shall ban it forevermore while any woman is aboard. Now, if you’d like to sit down—”
Y/N slowly lowered the book and stiffly did as he suggested.
“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Harrison Osterfield, captain of The Rogue, and I am by your standards a pirate, I’ll wager. You can call me Harrison, if you like. I would very much like to know your name, miss. I feel that your introduction may be in order.” He offered her a cup of water from his barrel which she took carefully. Harrison noted that she had planned to throw the Bible at him next. “After all, you did plan to kill me with a few books.” He chuckled and replaced his two books on the shelf beside his bed. The girl watched him as he did so.
“I am Lady Y/N of Cordelia, the small province above London in England.” Y/N finally answered quickly. “I must ask you, what have you done with my ship’s crew?”
“You will never see them again if that answered your question.” Harrison looked at her carefully. She gasped, the cup he gave her falling from her shaking hands.
“You, you monster—” she trembled.
“Now, now, careful what names you’ll call a gentleman. I have done nothing to them, only given the orders. I did save you, Miss Y/N. Would you rather I had left you?”
“You cannot possibly believe that you will get away with this.” Y/N glared at the pirate. She couldn’t lie to herself, he was impossibly attractive. She had always imagined pirates to be the sort of men with blackened teeth, ripped up clothes, bad manners, and a bloodthirsty look in their eyes. She had grown up hearing the horror stories from the men at court and from her own fiancé. “My betrothed shall come to fetch me.”
“And your betrothed knows where you are? Tell me, princess, had you ever heard of The Rogue before this day?” His blue eyes met her Y/E/C ones and she blushed.
“I am not a princess. Not yet. But Tom will come for me. I know he shall. He would not leave me at the hands of pirates. He is to be king one day, and he—”
“But had you heard of my ship before?” Harrison insisted with a smirk.
“No,” Y/N admitted reluctantly, “I had not.”
“There then, your love shall not be coming for you. How could he? No one has seen or heard of this ship and lived, except those in my family’s service. He knows nothing of your location, and he will believe you to be lost to the sea.” Harrison stood up, donning his hat. Y/N thought he looked almost regal. He made to bow, but paused as Y/N spoke.
“You are not like the stories I have heard and read about pirates.” Y/N commented.
“I wonder you do not compare me to your prince. Not all pirates are savages. As you can see from my chambers, I am a learned man. I guarantee that I will disappoint you if you assume that I should act like the bastards who have given piracy a bad name. Now, if you would give me leave, I shall return in a few hours time. My crew needs me. I’ll have one of my men bring you a trunk of clothes, for I believe you will stay with us for some time.”
The captain bowed, then left the room. And with a click of the lock, Y/N realized her fate. If Tom did not come for her soon, she was in great danger of never having freedom again.
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Royals & Rogues Masterlist
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