Forever and a Day
a Master and Commander, Far side of the world story
by Hermione Eveningfall
"Eshhhhuh! Blast it all!" Dr. Stephen Maturin cursed to himself as he climbed below decks of the HMS Surprise. The surgeon was soaking wet from head to foot, having peeped through the trapdoor to watch the goings on during the storm. Thankfully, the heavy rains and howling winds slowed down considerably, but the ship still rocked moreso than usual.
"How does she fare, doctor? If you don't mind my asking." Lord Blakeney, a young lad of thirteen, asked with genuine conern. Blakeney had injured his left arm du ring their first encounter with the French warship, the Acheron, and he lay on a hammock, pale and sweating.
Dr. Maturin rubbed his nose with his damp handkerchief, shivering a bit with chill as he walked over to his patient. "She's faring quite well, my boy. Quite w....k'shhhuh! Eh-k'shhhh!" He turned his head to the side, sneezing again and groaning afterwards. The boy smiled weakly.
"Blessings, sir." He spoke, and Dr. Maturin gave him a respectful nod in reply.
"Thank you. Though it is my own fault for being so bloody nosey." He chuckled, before inspecting Blakeney's arm, dark eyes narrowed with concern behind his spectacles.
"My arm is badly off isn't it, sir? I can barely feel it." The boy whimpered, trying very hard not to cry.
"Yes, lad. I am afraid you are correct."
"Are you going to have to amputate it? I overheard you speaking with Captain Aubrey." He kept his voice very low, as though he did not want to face the truth of the situation. It was a lucky thing, however, that his left arm had been injured as he wrote and drew with his right. Still, the idea of missing a limb caused his stomach to churn.
The physician started to answer when he was interrupted by another gut wrenching sneeze, during which he had to stand and move away. "Excuse me!" he ssat back down, wetting his lips. "I believe you are old enough to know the truth, Lord Blakeney." He lowered his head. "I am sorry to say, that an amputation is inevitable."
Blakeney swallowed hard, a single tear rolling down his pale cheek. Stepehn took the child's good hand into his own and squeezed it firmly. "I know you will be a very brave young man. Though you should know that even the bravest souls have a little fear inside."
Blakeney turned, disbelief imminent on his face. "Captain Aubrey is never scared of anything."
Dr. Maturin smirked. "Some are different at showing it. Pardon me a moment...eh K'Tshhhh! Eshhhhh!"
Blakeney nodded towards the door of the cabin, and sighed. "You should rest, doctor. I think you may have caught cold. I'll be all right alone, sir."
The doctor sniffed, clearing his scratchy throat. "Thank you, lad. I will discuss the final details of the operation with the Captain, and first thing in the morning it will occur. However, I do not feel quite right leaving you alone."
Blakeney thought for a moment before replying.
"Could you send Bondon down to watch over me, sir?"
Dr. Maturin patted the boy's shoulder, ruffling the head of scrawny, sunbleached blonde hair. "I will do my best. Sleep well, Lord Blakeney. God bless you." The doctor stood and made his way out of the cabin, stopping to look over his shoulder at the sleeping patient, listening to the sound of the wood creaking and waves smashing up along the sides of the ship. Forever and a day, they would be at sea.
Patrick O'Brian. Yadda.