Chapter Text
Sandokan stood at the railing of the courtyard with Sarkar, drinking and laughing with him. Yanez smoked beside them as always, but not at ease as he usually was. Likely apprehensive due to the ransom exchange they’d been waiting on for days now.
Around them were his sisters and crewmates, friends and neighbors he’d grown up with, all gathered for the Lunar New Year's party. Complete with music, dancing, good food, ale and wine. Everyone dressed in their best and enjoying the celebration. His mother and sisters had outdone themselves this year.
The chatter and gasps suddenly increased around them.
With a quick turn of his head, Sandokan’s gaze snagged on the vision in red and couldn’t look away. The mug he held midway to his mouth lowered.
Marianne floated between his sisters, draped and wrapped in red, golden embroidery sparkling in the lantern light with every step she took. The blue belt accentuated her waist and tall frame in the same way the long blue ribbon had on her birthday.
There was no one else wearing a gown quite like hers. Perhaps the most elaborate he had ever seen.
Golden hair was piled high atop Marianne’s head, with lose strands dripping down past her bare shoulders. Framing her face, her mouth. A crimson rouge matched her dress perfectly.
She paused next to Hasha, who sent her off with a simple task, “Go have fun.”
He moved closer, drawn towards her, watching as she admired the splendor of the party. Yet, he tilted his head as she approached, peering at her. She seemed out of sorts, as if in a daze. Unsure of herself in all her finery.
She finally turned towards him, wide eyes met his for a brief moment, then immediately diverted elsewhere. Up close for the first time since they’d arrived in Singapore. She shifted uncomfortably, swallowed, clutched her hands together.
“You did well,” he praised the tittering and preening young women around them. They with their head tilts and knowing smiles for each other. Like peacocks in a garden.
His appreciative focus returned to Marianne.
“We’re going to have to raise the ransom.”
Her face hardened, “You’re a real bastard.”
Sandokan bowed his head, grimacing. And ignoring the way her nose wrinkled when she was glaring daggers and spitting insults at him. Clearly not taking his compliment, veiled behind the reminder of her situation as it was. He raised his head, voice and eyes softening.
“Let’s lay down our arms for tonight,” he replied, “After tomorrow, you’ll never see me again anyway.”
He offered his hand out, hoping she’d take it.
Marianne glanced at it, but when her hooded eyes lifted, steel remained.
“I never thought I’d see you again after my birthday,” she countered, sweetly sharp.
“This time you’ll be more fortunate,” he assured.
Her harsh unyielding gaze held his in silence until she turned and walked away. Leaving him standing alone as the other ladies likewise turned to take their dancing positions, whispering among themselves.
It was better than her slapping him. Though not much improved, either.
Music swelled and skirts swayed as his friends and sisters filled the courtyard.
Sandokan remained lost in recalling the days in Labuan where he was the merchant and Marianne, his rescuer. Though he had been half distracted with the lies, freeing his men, and avoiding detection, they’d somehow formed a friendship.
Dancing with her on her birthday was where their connection solidified, when he discovered she delighted and reveled in it as much as he did. What he had hoped to repeat with her tonight.
Then it all fell flat in misunderstanding and clashing words, his hand over her mouth in the dark of night to keep her quiet. His lies, his actions, her anger, her hurt. Diminishing the flicker they’d had before.
Perhaps that’s why he was left wanting. To end it with more than hard eyes and cutting words. Not this closed off, resentful and defensive person she felt she still needed to be with him. Not now when she more than likely would be going home and he would not see her again.
He didn’t want to leave her standing on that cliff, still facing the darkness of her future alone.
But her father and her pirate hunting James Brooke were waiting for her, wanted her back for himself. What more could she want?
Personally, he’d rather see her reach for the freedom she claimed she wanted.
Sandokan would give it to her gladly if she’d let him. She’d only need ask.
Some of the crewmen carried the lion head costume around him, swaying the head to and fro, the fabric body waving behind it. Sambigliong at the tail.
He moved slowly out of the way as the courtyard filled with ladies surrounding the cherry blossom tree. Eyes drawn again to Marianne across the way where she stood next to Ibu and Yanez. Hers were transfixed by the smooth movements of the dancers beginning the first set around them.
Just a hostage, eh?
Sandokan shook his head and lowered his chin, yet never let his gaze waiver.
He felt Sarkar’s approach before he arrived but was surprised by the weight of the python around his neck. Non-venomous, thankfully.
Sarkar’s deep laughter met his ear, “You’re not fooling anyone, man,” his hand clasped his shoulder while the snake’s tail circled around his arm like a rope, “You should be thankful she’s as stubborn and blind as you are, otherwise you’d both be in trouble.” Sandokan smiled and elbowed him in the chest to shut him up, which made Sarkar laugh harder.
They watched the ladies flow around them and Sarkar began swaying with the drumbeat. Sandokan joined in step with him, wrapped together as they were by their slithering, massive burden.
“Come and dance,” Sarkar insisted, holding up the python’s head, “or my friend here… will strangle you.”
He rolled his eyes with a smirk. Once his feet started moving, he knew they wouldn’t stop easily. Nearby, Sani dashed past to join the dancers, meeting Emilio in the middle. Even they couldn’t resist.
Sarkar lifted the python up and shoved him forward, and like a shot from a cannon, he too ran to join the dance. He grabbed his sister Yunlei’s hands, spinning beneath her arms. Her laughter lifted his mood instantly.
Sandokan crouched low as Yunlei swirled around him, letting go of his hand so she was just out of reach. Then Miri came into view, arm raised with her hand twisting back and forth above her. Both his sisters drew him around the center tree in smooth, languid steps, their long sleeves arching above and behind them as he followed.
He paused mid lunge with hands in midair to watch Emilio with Suni. Then Yunlei and Miri swayed their arms and hips, and he swiftly spun around, matching their motions and following them again.
Some of the other girls brought long red fabric to distribute around, handing one to Yunlei.
Tall enough that he could spot her over the others, he caught a glimpse of Marianne trying small motions of her own with Luna, drawn into the dance.
Yunlei stepped in front of him, moving side to side until he did the same, raising his arms fluidly.
Then Miri grabbed the edge of Yunlei’s cloth strip to stretch it out. Others behind them did the same. About five or six pairs. Mayapei faced him in between. He readied himself for the new set, arms outstretched.
But as the fabric was drawn away, Mayapei herself stepped aside, and the fabric behind her revealed Marianne.
He halted immediately at the unexpected, yet welcomed partner.
Glancing around, he realized she’d been guided and nudged forward by Luna, with Hasha, Suhasini, Yunlei and Miri all smiling and laughing around them as they fluttered away to their own dancing once more.
He felt his face heat but waited, watching Marianne.
Her eyes were still fierce, unpleased. Her head tilt and expression accusatory. With a minor shake of his head in reply, her mouth closed, reluctantly accepting her fate.
The music shifted, leading him to move his feet, matching those around him. His gaze held a challenge and a question, waiting for her to respond. She watched him and her eyes slowly lost their edge. Side to side, he lifted his knees with each step, arms outstretched for balance and grace.
It didn’t take her long until she mirrored him, learning it herself. Gained confidence.
In a flash, he spun around in a full circle, touching her sleeve before she knew what he was doing, and arched their opposing arms up and around their heads, winning a smile from her lips. He raised his brow, impressed at how quickly it appeared.
That’s what had been missing, he realized.
He repeated the arching motions again then took their crossed arms and twisted so they both had to spin underneath and around together. Her smile remained, and his grew.
He circled to the left as he turned around her with one of her arms outstretched and his bent, still holding onto her sleeve rather than her hand.
When he was halfway back around, he let her sleeve fall, yet she continued moving with him. He swayed to the left and spun around in a figure eight so he would begin circling to her right.
Sandokan let his hand and arm brush hers, their fingers touching loosely as they circled round each other. Their faces closer than before, staring at each other. Her face open, mouth slack, breathing heavy.
The drummers beat a faster rhythm, indicating the quick concluding set would begin. Sandokan broke away, returning to his position facing her.
He shifted his hips and shoulders, spun around into a lunge, and Marianne spun around in the same way. She knew by now to lunge or in her case curtsey from side-to-side, matching him step for step, her smile full and bright.
Sandokan couldn’t resist.
Stepping around to the left, he circled her, catching her by surprise enough that she spun the opposite direction. His hand trailed her red skirts, her long sleeves. His other arm bent and raised up in front of him. The drums began their final intense beats.
He circled her one last time and gracefully lowered his arm.
In one swift fluid motion, he gently tangled his left fingers with hers and raised them up near their faces to draw her close until they were nearly a breath apart.
Marianne gasped lightly. Looked first at their entwined hands, her fingers closing around his own, then up to his eyes.
Sandokan knew he was not hiding anything from her now. Hoped she would see.
His gaze lowered to her mouth.
At the loud searing sound, they both raised their heads in time to see green fireworks explode in the air above them. Explosions and bangs continued one after another, lighting up the night sky, and the crowd around them cheered, awed at the sight.
Sandokan, however, took no pleasure in them.
Turning his face away from the spectacle, he looked down slowly at Marianne, regret seeping in. Yet he still held on to her hand as long as he would have it. He could tell she was curious at his odd expression and change of mood. A few crew mates around them started shouting with excitement.
For a brief moment, he swore he saw her gaze intensify, almost matching what he knew his own had been displaying moments before. Her face tilted ever slightly up.
Sarkar burst upon them, laughing as he put his arm around Sandokan’s shoulder. He let Marianne’s hand slip away as she drew back at the intrusion, blinked the moment away.
“They’re green!” Sarkar exclaimed loudly, “It’s the signal! We are RICH!”
Sandokan patted his arm and smiled at his friend, who went away to find the nearest crew member to congratulate.
Eyes lowering, his disappointment and resignation grew. He was out of time.
Marianne leaned closer, touching his wrist, confused, “What signal?”
He looked at her, “It means Brooke is ready... and you’ll be home soon.”
Her lips parted but she had nothing to say in reply. She stepped back.
Yanez and Ibu each came near them.
“We should clear the courtyard, get things ready,” Sandokan said.
Yanez nodded, glancing between the pair, and went in search of Sambigliong to head toward the meeting spot.
Ibu stepped alongside Marianne, “Come, we have a fresh set of clothes for your journey home. We’ll get you changed and make sure you have something to eat before they arrive.”
“Thank you, Ibu,” he replied for both of them.
His mother touched his arm, “Your dancing was immaculate, my son. And such a lovely partner to join you,” she turned her smile to Marianne, who blushed and looked down.
He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes at Ibu, wondering how much his mother had influenced his sisters’ machinations.
She simply smiled softly up at him and gently took Marianne’s arm, leading her inside.
Sandokan absently rubbed his fingers as the women walked away.
Marianne would return to her life.
He suspected returning to his own wouldn’t be so easy.