#apprentice oc

I'm running out of time.

Aldert had no idea how long he had been running. He couldn't afford to. The ship was going to leave any second. This was his last chance to save his daughter.

Despite how fast he was running, Katarina still remained fast asleep in his arms. Her freckled cheeks remained tear stained, from the moment her found her standing just mere centimeters away from the rubble.

The rubble wherein her mother lied.

As Aldert made a sharp turn through an alley, the dock came into view in the full moon's light. A cargo ship floated, and boarding it were two figures.

He made it.

She'd have a chance after all!

Aldert bolted, maneuvering through unsuspecting pedestrians, who simply looked at him confused as they found him weaving through. He was barely able to catch himself before he could fall on the docks, but as soon as he reached his friends, he fell to his knees as his legs acted, his heart raced, his lungs begged for air.

“I thought I wasn't going to catch you before you two left.” He said in between huffs. “I made it. I made it.”

“What the hell are you doing here?” Annike asked, her voice stunned. She knelt down to meet Aldert in the eyes, grippung his shoulders. “Why are you here so late? Why is Katarina with you? Does Ingrid-”

Jacobus walked to Annike, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Give him chance, sister.”

Annike turned her head towards her brother. Aldert could hear a sigh coming from her as she stood up. Aldert followed shortly, but his shoulders stiffened when he felt Katarina squirming in his arms.

“Papa?” She asked groggily.

“It's alright, my darling,” Aldert hugged Katarina a little tighter, stroking the top of her head. “Go back to sleep, it will be alright.”

“Explain yourself, brother.” Jacobus requested.

Aldert was quiet for a long time. Where would he begin. How could he begin?

“The Kercher family,” Aldert began. “One of Ingrid's brothers, he found the hideout. And their soldiers managed tear it down along with the rest of the warehouse.”

Aldert took a moment to pause. The siblings looked at each other with wide eyes. Annike's face in particular seemed bereaved, and Aldert knew her next question.

“Is.. is Ingrid…”

“She managed to get Katarina out, but…”

He let out a choked sob. He had tried to keep his emotions in when learning the fate of Ingrid. He'd never see her again, her beautiful smile and kind eyes. He'd never hear her laugh, smell the scent of dried tulip on her, run his finger through her hair.

“Oh… brother…”

Aldert did not notice the feeling of Jacobus's hand on his shoulder. He didn't want his friend's pity. He didn't deserve it. If she hadn't left her family, joined the rebellion, she'd still be alive.

“If I hadn't courted her…”

He failed Ingrid. But he would not fail their daughter.

“This is no life for a child,” Aldert spoke. He peered down at Katarina's peaceful expression, the way she curled in his arms.

“She can't stay here.” Aldert's voice cracked slightly. “Take her with you. Find a place where she'll be safe. She deserves to grow up like a normal child.”

“We'll have to speak with the captain,” Annike hesitated. She shook her head. “but he wouldn't turn away both of you, not while-"

“No,” Aldert interrupted. “I need to stay. Here.”

Annike blinked. “You're joking."

“All of this is my doing. I lead them both to a life like this.”

“You can't just let her go like this.” Jacobus was next to speak, the disbelief in his voice palpable. “Her mother's gone, now she needs you more than-”

“She needs a life I cannot provide. Please, I need your help. Just this one last time...”

There was no way. He knew Jacobus and Annike since they were children. They always treated him like family. Family wouldn't reject each other, would they?

For a while, neither responded. Aldert's lips trembled. He wouldn't be able to protect her. Not like this. They can't reject her. They had to take her.

“Alright.”

Aldert looked up. Hope filled his heart, the most he had felt for a long, long time.

Jacobus opened his arms, and Aldert slowly shifted Katarina so she would lie comfortably in them.

“I… will send letters where I can. You have no idea how much this means to me.”

Katarina began to stir once more, her eyes- the eyes she shared with her mother- looking at him?

“Papa?”

As selfish and cowardly as it may have felt, Aldert had hoped she wouldn't wake up when he left. He didn't want to see her cry. He didn't want to see her like this as he said goodbye

“Stay strong, my vuurligie.” Aldert spoke softly, stroking his daughter's cheek, planting a kiss on her forehead. “I love you. I love you so much.”

A sudden commotion from behind Aldert caused him to look back. People began to talk, which became frantic screaming. People began to run as the sound of galloping horses echoed through cobblestone.

A sailor peered over the ship, visibly agitated. “Oi! You lot going to stand there or what? Captain would rather have the ship remain in one piece!"

Aldert began backing away, not daring to look behind him. “Go. Now!”

“Papa!” He could still hear her voice. She was calling out to him. She needed him. He couldn't stay. “Where you going? Papa!”