United Amidst A Great Divide Ch.14 - Bon Voyage
Chapter 14 - Bon Voyage
If it had not been for the hardwood floor beneath her back, Blair would have entirely forgotten that she was in some deserted plantation in swampy Louisiana. She rubbed the ache out of her shoulder from lying on her side and then thinking a little further about where she was, she suddenly pushed herself onto her elbows.
There was no one else in the room with her; Chuck was nowhere in sight. Her pulse began to quicken with panicked anxiety. He’s gone…he left me.
When Blair moved to stand up her fingertips landed on rough fabric. Chuck’s jacket was pinned beneath her hand and as she stared at it, she was not sure if she was relieved or even more distraught.
After swiftly grasping the jacket and clinging to it as if it were a lifeline, she quickly made her way out onto the veranda. But upon seeing two figures sitting in the weedy grass of the front yard, Blair nearly lost her footing while trying to retreat to the cover of the house once more.
The nearest wall provided a place to remain out of sight and to assess the unexpected situation. Although just as an onslaught of horrible outcomes started to flicker through her head, a snippet of conversation caught her attention. She could hear Chuck’s voice and responding with casualness was another voice. Blair was surprised, to say the least, and she could not help but notice how…alluring the other man sounded. She could not make out all of their words, but there was a definite genuineness in the other voice. It was smooth, but not in the same way that Chuck’s was both smooth and mysterious.
A few moments into her comparison, Blair realized how ridiculous and smitten she was being. Of all the things she could think about, she was finding similarities in Chuck and whoever his acquaintance might be while she should have been figuring out who he was.
Blair had a soft smirk on her face now, and she was not even sure why or if it was appropriate. She tipped her head past the doorway and carefully listened to what they were conversing about; pleased to hear Chuck saying the name of someone who seemed like a friend.
“It really is a long story, Nathaniel…”
“But you say you want her to go to Charleston with you?”
The question wiped the smile off Blair’s face and she held her breath waiting for Chuck’s response.
“Well, she doesn’t really have any family…”
“Chuck, answer the question.”
Blair was worrying the inside of her lower lip between her teeth now. Yes, Chuck, just please, please answer the question!
“I couldn’t forgive myself if I left her alone…and really, I…I don’t think I could bear to part with her anyway.”
Whoever Nathaniel was, he found it quite amusing to hear Chuck’s confession, while Blair could not have heard a more perfect statement. Her lip was still between her teeth, but she felt like she could breathe again.
“Please tell me you’re not just taking advantage of the poor girl, Chuck. It wouldn’t be beyond you.”
Damn him, Blair thought to herself. Why does this Nathaniel character think he needs to fish for information, was he trying to destroy her chances?
“No, not at all. I know this sounds strange coming from me, but there’s something about Blair. Of course she’s temperamental, but she’s also…she’s also very sweet.”
Chuck sounded so thoughtful and sincere that Blair felt like her heart might fall out of her chest and melt all over the dingy floor.
“But only when she wants to be.”
Then her brows screwed up into disgust, she should have expected that from him, but it was all out of adoration she was sure and it still made her smile.
As she listened to the two men laugh together, the bleak thought that had been at the back of her mind started to surface. She knew she should not be fawning over what Chuck had said. It did not seem fair when she already knew that South Carolina would not be where her travels ended. Sliding her hand over her still flat stomach she wondered if it was even right to leave New Orleans with Chuck.
“So when do I get to meet her?”
“Now, but wait here…I should talk to her first.”
Blair took a few steps back into the hallway, not wanting Chuck to find she had been eavesdropping the entire time. She tried to feign being unaware, and acted nonchalant and clueless when he appeared in the doorway.
“You’re awake…” Chuck stated the obvious and attempted to give a forced, half-smile. His hand fidgeted at his side and it was easy to see that words were failing him.
“Yes.” Blair’s answer was nearly monotone, except for the tiny hint of sarcasm that threw itself in out of habit. She would not have cared if she had just heard him say that Nate was a traveling diamond salesman and that he had just spent his father’s fortune on an engagement ring for her; he had still treated her horribly the day before and she was going to be angry. Or at least she was going to pretend to be angry.
“So, it seems like you’re feeling better this morning. Yes?”
They both knew in their minds that he was just trying to keep matters civil. But at the same time, Blair wanted to cock her brow at the absurd question and tell him how fortunate it was that she did feel well, because if not, she might have to throw up all over his boots.
Instead, she mirrored his earlier gesture of a tight, uncomfortable smile. “I suppose.”
“Well, there’s someone here that I want you to meet.” He said hesitantly, waiting for some type of reaction and preferably a good one.
While Blair would not have considered herself in a league of great actresses, she certainly knew how to put on a winning show. She just hoped that Chuck would not notice the lack of enthusiasm for this particular performance.
“Chuck, whoever would be here, in the middle of nowhere that I would possibly need to meet?”
She made his claim seem like a lie and she wanted to laugh at the way Chuck squirmed to correct himself. It was just an unusual sight.
He tried to reason with her. “I’m being serious -”
But then a tall figure blocking the sunlight streaming through the empty doorframe was interrupting his efforts. As he came into focus and the shadows of being inside pushed the glare of light off his face, a delectable image was proving Chuck honest.
“I’m Nathaniel Archibald, Nate if you like,” the sandy blonde haired man announced, not even bothering to wait for a formal introduction from Chuck.
Tied to her manners, Blair found her hand rising of its own accord and soon Nate was carefully holding her fingers within his own.
“May I?” Nate was asking as he bent at the waist, his mouth poised above the backs of her knuckles.
His eyes were just so strikingly blue that it was only natural to be drawn in; they were nearly as navy blue as his…outfit? Blair knew she was staring, but through the unlikely surprise of having two handsome faces surrounding her, her flirty personality began to shine despite the color he was wearing and her previous mood.
“Blair Waldorf, and you may,” Blair smiled invitingly, “but only if I may say that the color of your uniform does nothing for you.”
Nate returned her smile with a humored shake of his head and then he lightly brushed his lips against her soft skin. “You’re words were all too true, Chuck.” He paired his last comment with a sly wink and carefully placed her hand back at her side.
“What words?” Blair giggled, looking at Chuck and then to Nate again.
Chuck had seen enough of the little brunette’s Southern belle act, as well as Nate’s charms of being a perfect gentleman. Grasping her other hand, he brought Blair’s attention back to him.
“Never mind. Now, if you will excuse us, Nathaniel.” Chuck stated with a look of annoyance directed at his friend, which had no effect at all.
“Of course…” laughed Nate, sweeping his arm out.
Blair followed obediently as Chuck led her further into the house, a sinking feeling in her stomach growing deeper with every step they took.
He stopped in the middle of another empty room in which the soft yellow paint peeled from the walls. The scene was just as dismal as they both felt. Nate’s arrival may have distracted them for a few moments, but it could not completely erase the rift that had come between them.
“Blair…” Chuck breathed out. He sounded exhausted, like everything had just become too much.
Biting her tongue and quickly blinking her eyes, she fought the sudden urge to cry. She knew the feeling. “Yes, Chuck?”
“I’m sorry for yesterday. I wanted to tell you sooner, but you were asleep.”
There was so much more to say, but he could not think. Blair looked beyond unhappy as she stood facing him, and he wanted nothing more than to embrace her and beg forgiveness. His pride and better judgment held him back though. And while he was still holding her hand between their bodies, he was not certain if she would even accept such contact.
“I thought you left me.” Blair whispered to keep her voice from slipping.
Slow seconds passed before Chuck realized what she was saying and the guilt weighing on his conscience increased. “I would never do that.” He whispered back while taking her other hand, because somehow he needed her to know he was being sincere.
Blair stayed silent, nodding her head and averting her eyes to the floor below until she had to ask the question on her mind. “Why didn’t you tell me we were here to meet Nate?”
“After what happened I didn’t know how to explain it.”
“Oh…” Blair acknowledged the statement, but her wondering was still getting the better of her. “Is he really a Yankee?”
“He is, but he was my friend first.” A soft smile played on Chuck’s lips; her curiosity was endearing. “Before he left for Boston, he lived in Charleston and we went to school together.”
Blair was following, but she could not imagine the reason why anyone would leave the South in favor of the North. “Why did he leave?”
“It’s where his family is originally from, when the war seemed like it was really going to happen they left the South. His father and grandfather are both captains and it was only right that they fight for the North.” Chuck seemed reminiscent and a bit somber as he explained how he had ties to the enemy.
Furrowing her brow, she quickly figured out where Chuck was taking this conversation. “You’re taking a Union ship home, aren’t you?”
Chuck nodded seriously and before he could say anything more, Blair was filling the silence. “How could you, Chuck!? You could be killed!”
She moved to pull her hands away from his, but Chuck was faster in his movements and held tight to her fingers. “Listen to me, Blair. Nate’s father is the captain, we all know what could happen but there’s no other way. I promise that -”
“No! You keep making these promises, but what if you can’t keep this one!”
Chuck’s palm traveled to Blair’s jaw, trying to calm her down and have her understand. “If you come with me I won’t let anything happen to you,” he whispered and then a painfully hopeful expression took over his features, “you are coming with me, aren’t you?”
Dark eyes ventured to the floor again, and Blair tried to ignore the way Chuck’s thumb was smoothing over her cheek. She had a choice to make, but she did not know how to live with either decision. If she stayed she would be alone and if she left there was a good possibility that she would still end up alone or worse. Maybe if she just told him he would understand, but the thought of doing so made her blood rush with nervous energy.
Finally lifting her head up, she thought she had made a decision. “Chuck, you should know that I…I’m…” But then he was smiling at her and there was no way she could go through with it. “I’m going with you.”
Blair was glad when Chuck pulled her against his chest and wrapped his arms around her because she did not have to hide the look of pure disappointment on her face. Not disappointment with him, but with herself. Twice she had been too frightened to admit that she was carrying their baby and each time she felt more lost. She had to wonder if she would ever work up the courage to tell him.
*****
Blair’s mind was wandering to all sorts of places as she, Chuck, and Nate waited for night to fall. They were all sitting on the porch and while Nate and Chuck talked amongst themselves, she was entertaining herself with different thoughts. Some were depressing, like when she thought of the last time they had to wait until dark to carry out some other grand scheme and the result was awful. Or of how much easier life would be if her pregnancy had been a mistake all along, or if by some chance she quietly lost the baby without anyone finding out. When it became overwhelming to think of such things she found it amusing to imagine an ideal life. One where she and Chuck had met under normal circumstances, she was his wife and they were expecting their first child.
It’s just wishful thinking, Blair thought sadly to herself and tried to force a picture of a proud Chuck holding a small bundle of blankets out of her head.
“What are you thinking of?” Suddenly, Chuck was sitting beside her and hanging his legs over the porch’s edge, mimicking her own position.
“Nothing really…” Blair lied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
A hand covered hers in a comforting manner and it really did make her feel a little better. “We’ll be alright, Blair.”
“I know.” She lied again. It all felt like lies now.
*****
Some hours later Chuck and Blair found themselves in the midst of a Union bound city, being led by Nate to the docks where his father’s ship was held. They strayed only as far as dark alleys and partially lit streets, for if anyone directly witnessed the exchange the consequences would be dire.
Blair recalled a time when her parents had brought her to the seaside city when she was so young that her memories of the trip were hazy and pieced together. She remembered her mother purchasing the latest fashions and the many people that frequented the storefronts, but what she was seeing now did not seem familiar. The air was damp and heavy, and the figures they did come across leered at her through the darkness, making her weave her fingers tighter through Chuck’s.
“Chuck?” Blair tried to be as quiet as possible and still catch his attention by tugging on his hand.
“What’s wrong?” Chuck asked, sounding distracted. His eyes were on Nate’s back, who was just a few paces ahead. It was evident that he was on edge by the way he kept one arm snuggly clutched around Blair’s shoulders and the other linked with her hand.
“Won’t there be soldiers on the ship?” she questioned back.
Chuck squeezed her fingers in reassurance. “Shh, it’s been taken care of, just keep walking.”
They could smell the salty ocean water before the sloshing sound of waves reached their ears, and it sent a shiver of finality along Chuck’s spine. The hardest part was finished and his goal was nearly within reach. Everything was in the Captain’s control now, and he completely trusted him to take them home.
Thinking of being home again made Chuck think not of his family or friends, but of the woman whose hand he was holding. Would she stay? Would she want to be with him any longer? Could they even be together any longer? He was grateful for Nate interrupting him because he only wanted to consider those questions to have one answer.
“Chuck!” Nate’s insistent whisper broke into the night, which was mostly quiet save the rippling water and far off sounds of the inner city. “Take Blair to the end of that dock, I’ll help you up from there.”
After eyeing the area that his friend had pointed out, Chuck nodded his understanding and watched as Nate disappeared to the opposite side of the boat where he knew a single gas lamp illuminated the main gangplank.
Nate remerged on the deck of the ship, his silhouette nearly invisible against the blue black sky behind him. There was a particularly loud shuffle of noise as he kicked out another smaller gangplank and each of them tensed, waiting for someone to realize what they were doing, but thankfully it never came.
“Take my hand,” the figure at the opposite end of the plank urged Blair, outstretching his arm.
Chuck’s fingertips separated with her shoulder blade as she linked hands with Nate, trying not to look down to the inky water below her on either side. She felt secure with her fingers laced between his though, because just like Chuck, she knew that he would not let anything happen to her. And soon she was standing on enemy grounds, Chuck not far behind.
Moments after boarding the ship, Nate was leading them to the quarters where the Captain was waiting to meet them. They also needed to be stowed away before any of the crew members returned from the rare leave they had been given.
Every sound, every click had Blair nearly jumping out of her skin and when she and Chuck were finally ushered through a dimly lit doorway, she had to watch for herself as Nate pulled the door closed behind them. It felt like she could exhale for the time being.
“Chuck, so good to see you again, I -”
Suddenly, the room was bathed in candle light and the stocky man that had turned around to greet Chuck was eyeing the trio strangely. His focus was automatically drawn to the young woman between the two men, one with whom her fingers were tightly laced within.
“Who’s this?” the Captain asked as he stared directly at Blair, his lopsided smile conveying a little more than curiosity. He looked nice enough, as he stood awaiting a response in his impeccable uniform with its gold polished buttons, but there was also an unnerving quality to his persona.
Chuck recognized the subtle lecherousness in the Captain’s voice and his instincts to protect what was his took hold. It was undeniable that Blair warranted attention, he just refused to believe that is should come from anyone beside him. He was trying to formulate some type of acceptable explanation to Blair’s presence without sounding ridiculous, but fortunately, Nate took over for him.
“This is Blair Waldorf, father. She’s just a friend of Chuck’s who needs to get to Charleston.” Nate explained, “We met her in the city.”
As soon as the words left his mouth Chuck was glaring at his lifelong friend with a clenched jaw and it already seemed that Nate himself had realized the blunder he had made. Blair was thankful for the low amount of light because she could feel the hot blush of her skin traveling down her chest, as Nate’s father continued to ogle her with renewed vigor. But none of the three younger individuals could offer up any excuse to the statement.
The Captain casually broke the awkward pause with a humored chuckle and strode towards Blair, taking her hand. “Well, you are the most beautiful friend I’ve ever seen and it is a pleasure to meet you.”
Blair wanted to jerk her fingertips from the grasp of the Captain’s large, clammy hand and she could tell by the way that Chuck’s own hand twitched against hers that he wanted her to do the same. She could not understand how Nate had procured such manners when his father seemed to have none at all.
After he had finished his odd greeting, the Captain clapped Chuck on the back, an action which the younger man could only acknowledge with a strained smile and nod.
“Not to worry, Chuck, I’ll have you two home in no time.” he stated, and then excused himself from the cabin with just as much mystery as he had appeared.
Once his father had left, Nate turned to Chuck with a sheepish grin. “You’ll have this cabin until we arrive. Goodnight, for now.”
“Why, I can’t thank you enough, Nathaniel.” Chuck spat as Nate walked past him to the door, still wearing the same stupid expression. “Charming beyond measure, yet still as clueless as ever.”
The last sentence was spoken clearly, purposely loud enough for Nate to know what Chuck thought of his mindless declaration about Blair. He really was not angry, he had spent his entire childhood alongside Nate and he could only ever voice his disgusted opinion, because it never seemed that the blonde would learn anyway.
Blair released an audible sigh when the door closed and finally left them alone. “The Captain thinks I’m a whore.”
Chuck smiled softly as she turned to look up at him, her pretty face a mixture of cynical humor and pure exhaustion. “Are you?”
Blair’s hand made a sharp cracking noise as she slapped him across the shoulder for his comment and while she crossed her arms over her chest to pout, she struggled not to smile. Despite the circumstances, it felt good to hear Chuck’s joking, which could infuriate and entertain all at once.
He enveloped her in his arms and she did not hesitate in laying her cheek against his chest and gripping her hands over his shoulder blades.
“I’m sorry, Nate didn’t mean anything by it and the Captain is the Captain, he’s always been strange. It’ll only be a few days, and then we’ll be home.”
At the mention of being ‘home,’ Blair pressed herself even closer to Chuck, hoping that she would never have to let go. From where she stood she could see an area of the city lights shimmering off the black water below, through one of the portholes. It was what they had both been anticipating, but now Blair wished she could slow the days while Chuck most likely wished for their swift passing.
Hey! Thanks for the comments on the last chapter, I love hearing what you all think of this story! So, we finally got to meet N and the Captain and yes, I made the Captain a little bit of a creeper because honestly…I think he is one on the show! Haha, anyway, thanks for reading!