Portside Love

(Port off the Coast of Spain, 1780)

"Ghenaro, load those spices! We don't have all bloody day!" A short man yells, a graying beard on him as the man, tanned and with a casual grin, nods enthusiastically, lifting two crates and bringing them down to the bilge. This type of work was easy to the man, who had been raised and built strong by his years in his father's forge and upon the sea. Within a matter of minutes, he and the other crew members of the Palace of the Night had finished loading their precious cargo.

"Good, good. You all did fine. Anyways, you are free to go walk around town for a few hours, I have to take care of some docking forms and need to speak to the dockmaster. Be back by 6 tonight, or you will be left behind!" He captain warns, and they all nod, walking down the pier towards the bars and other places of business. 

"So, Ghenaro, the Captain seems to keep giving you the extra work." One man, a thin scoundrel by the name of Alex, went by. Ghenaro chuckled and shrugged. 
"If he does, he does, it doesn't bother me too much~ I earn my money, I am happy, you know?" He grins, and Alex laughs, patting the man on the back.
"What are you going to do with your money anyways, you don't really ever buy anything besides food and water, as well as clothing occasionally." Alex says, and Ghenaro looks down, studying his torn clothing, a set of blue workers pants and a shirt with the sleeves torn off to give more mobility. 

"Alright, I get your point about the new clothes, but no, I don't have an idea. I just will save my moment until my heart tells me it is time~" He says, and the other man snorts.
"Yeah, good luck with that~" He chuckles and walks off, leaving Ghenaro as he keeps walking down the pier. 

Truth be told, Ghenaro didn't really care to buy anything, he didn't need anything. His love of the sea, of his work and the things he saw while travelling made sure he didn't need anything extravagant or lavish. Although, Alex had been right, he was definitely in need of some new clothes. Looking around for the tailors shop, he noticed a crowd of people and music arising from one of the street corners. Curious, he walked his way over to it, wondering what was up.

He didn't realize he'd meet an angel.

There, surrounded by the crowd, was a dancer, her red hair flying through the air as she danced and moved to the sound of the instruments playing. Her skills were impressive, her lips curving into a smile as her red eyes flashed. Ghenaro felt like one glance from her would knock him flat on his ass. 

"Su radience es sorprendente..." He murmurs, mesmerized by her fluid movements and grace. The red-haired dancer just kept it up, never pausing or breaking her stride, even amongst some of the whistles and shouting from others. Spinning and stopping, she bowed to the cheering people who began to leave, her eyes opening and glancing up, only to stop on Ghenaro. 

Both stiffen for a moment, their eyes wide and their bodies not moving an inch. After what seemed like minutes, Ghenaro moved towards her, smiling and clapping. 
"Your movements were superb, señora~ I was truly captivated by your grace. Have you been a dancer all your life~?" He questions, and she chuckles, shaking her head. 
"No, but I have been practicing for a few years. You don't look like one of the residents here, are you a sailor?" She questions, and the man nods, smiling.

"Yes, I came into port this morning. I am Ghenaro Verrall, crewmate aboard the Palace of the Night. And I must ask, what is your name, Miss~? Surely it must be as heavenly as the angel who danced before me~" He laughs a little, and she laughs as well, both knowing it was a rather cheesy line.

"I'm Camila Hidalgo, mi buen señor~" She says, and he grins, bowing before her. 
"It is a pleasure to meet you, señora Camila~" He says, and again the red haired lady chuckles a little, doing her own little bow. Both straighten up some, before Camila looks the man over, and arches a brow.

"It looks like your clothing is in need of repair." She teases, and Ghenaro blinks, looking down before laughing loudly. 
"Ah yes, you aren't the first to point this out. I was actually on my way to the tailors to get some new clothes, or at least this set sown up, when I was captivated by you." he says, making Camila blush a little, before smiling. 
"Well then, to make it up to you, how about I lead you to a good tailor I know of?" She says, and Ghenaro grins, nodding enthusiastically.
" That would be very appreciated, Miss Camila~" He says.

With that, the two are off, walking down the roads, past bars and various merchants, trading of all kinds going on due to the excess of goods and money. As they walked, they chatted, asking one another various questions. Ghenaro was the one who got most of the questions, and he grinned as he told her about his adventures at sea.

The smell of the seawater, the storms, the sights...it was always so fun to the man, and he couldn't resist adventure. It beckoned to him! Camila laughed and smiling, intrigued as he spun his tales of his life. 

"Ghenaro, why did you join in the first place? You know, sailing?" She questions, and he smiles softly. 
"It was my calling. I was set to work in my family forge, but opportunity knocked. I was offered more money than I would normally get from working at the forge, so to help my family I began my life at sea. When I get payed I send them a portion of the money to them, but the rest I save up."

Camila cocks her head, smiling. "Oh? And why is that?" She asks, and the man laughs and grins. 
"For when I truly need it." With that, she grins as well, and they stop in front of the store. Ghenaro bows in thanks. 
"I must thank you again, Miss Camila, for helping me to find this place. Unfortunately I must get my clothes and be on my way, my boat must leave soon." He says, looking a little sad, before Camila chuckles and smiles. 

"When will you be here again? At this port?" She asks, making the man blink, before thinking. 
"Our ship will return here once we gather and trade more of our spices down the coast. I would say a few weeks."

With that, Camila smiles, looking the man in the eyes. "Then we shall continue our conversation in a few weeks. I'll be dancing somewhere around the pier, you know where you can find me." She says, making Ghenaro grin widely, before bowing. 
"I would be honored, senora~" He says, and Camila chuckles, before leaving the man to do his work and then hit the open water.

(Port off the Coast of Spain, 1781)

"Camila, why do you dance on the pier? I am sure you could get a job dancing somewhere?" Ghenaro asks, walking along and holding hands with the red-haired lady, who pushes it out of her eyes and smiles. Ghenaro's work kept him for the most part away from Camila, but every few weeks or once a month the man would stop there, and the two would become unseperable. They talked and spoke, had dinner and food together, their relationship having bloomed into something more meaningful.

"Well, I could, but then I wouldn't have met you, would I? Besides, I like to dance of my own accord, not because I am being forced to for a job. And it's not like I do not earn my own money, so that isn't much of an issue." She says, smiling at the man who chuckles. 
"That is very true, mi reina. I would never have met my glorious angel if you hadn't been dancing out there the first time we met~" Ghenaro muses, grinning and kissing her.

Camila smiled, before frowning, noting the time on the clocktower. "I think you have to hurry and get back to your ship soon, mi principe. Your captain won't be happy if you spend too much time here, he might leave you behind." She muses, and Ghenaro looks up at the time, his emerald orbs saddened, before nodding.

"You are right, I should head back, even though the thought of spending more time with you is enticing." He chuckles, and sighs, turning to look at her directly. He frowns, and kneels some, looking into Camila's eyes. 
"I promise I won't be gone long, someday I shall return and then we won't be apart." He says, and she nods, smiling slightly before kissing his lips.

"I trust you, mi principe. Hurry back, I wish to see you again soon." She says, and he nods, before turning and leaving for his ship, Camila already feeling sad with him gone.
"I hope he remains safe..." She says, frowning and watching the ship until it leaves, heading out to sea.

(Port off the Coast of Spain, 1982)

Camila frowned worriedly, pacing the pier and looking for her principe's ship. Ghenaro last time had said that he would be gone for only a few weeks, but now it had been a month and not one sign of him. She had been at the pier every day, wanting to see if he would arrive, but to no avail.

Sighing as dusk approached, Camila began to turn, when she walked into someone. She stumbled back, and hastily began apologizing, when a laugh, familiar and full of warmth, made her stop and look up into those warm emerald eyes. Ghenaro grinned at her, his beard a little more rugged from his time at sea, before he scooped her up in his arms for an embrace.

"I am sorry I was late, a storm hit us pretty bad, but we are fine, just offset. We also had to see off a few of the crew members." He says, and Camila sighs, pulling back and smiling in relief.
"You had me worried, mi principe~ I thought I would never see those lovely orbs of yours again~" She teases, and he chuckles.
"Like I would ever leave you, mi reina~ besides, I also had to pick something up for you." He says, and she blinks, looking up at him.
"Something for me? You know I don't need anything besides you, Ghenaro~" She says, before he smiles, setting her down and then kneeling on one knee.

Camila arches a brow in confusion, before Ghenaro pulls out a box. Her eyes widen considerably as he opens it, revealing a gold ring inside. 
"I wanted to make sure that we never have to be apart again. I finally found something worth spending what I had on. Camila, mi reina, the angel in my eyes and the only one I shall ever love...will you marry me?" He asks, and Camila can't help but feel tears well up.

She takes the ring, and puts it on, leaning down and kissing the man. "Of course I will, mi principe. I love you just as much, and I don't want us to be apart either." She says, and he grins, hugging her tightly. Both embrace and hug one another as the sun sets, feeling truly happy now that they couldn't be separated, not by miles or ocean.