#tyolssen

AN: Mentions one sided Ezekiel/Castiel. 

Virginia was unlike any place Dean had been to before. The vast land was covered in deep green trees and it seemed like there was no one else around for hundreds of miles. Dean had many things on his travels but many of them had gaudy and dramatic. Virginia really was a new world to him.

“It’s incredible.” Breathed out Adam as he took in the view from the deck of the ship. “Can you believe this is all ours?”

“I couldn’t care if it looked like the Governor’s bare arse, I’m getting off this damn ship.” Jo muttered darkly as she stomped past. Being at sea with men for the past few months had done nothing to lighten Jo’s attitude. If anything she was even more cutting than she had been at the start of the journey.

London, England. 1607.

The salty tang of the sea filled Captain Dean Winchester’s nose as he climbed out of the carriage, his younger brother just a step behind him. Past the crowds of people, many sailors and their families, the breath taking sight of Dean’s home for the next several months sat proudly. Dean had grown up around ships but the sight of the masts and rigging still tugged at something within Dean.

“Coming on this voyage are you? Or are you going to stand there all day?” Sam, Dean’s younger brother and first mate on many journeys, said nudging Dean’s shoulder good-humouredly. While most sailors and travellers believed in talismans or prayers as their good luck charms on voyages Dean believed that his was his younger brother. They had been travelling together since Sam was old enough to be aboard a ship apart from the few years when he was sent away to boarding school. Dean didn’t talk about those years very often.

“Just taking her in Sammy, just taking her all in.” Dean replied with a playful grin as he shifted the weight of his bag from one shoulder to the other. “She’s going to be our home after all.” He added.

“It’s a ship Dean, we’ve been on many before.” Sam said, his look one of mockery.

Dean shrugged his broad shoulders. His gaze swept over the whole ship before his eyes settled on the name painted elegantly across the wood. “Susan Constant, the lady has a name.” he pointed out.

“As I said before; it’s a ship Dean, not a woman.”

“You have a lot to learn about both of those things Sammy. Treat a ship like a lady and she’ll never let you down.” Dean quipped.

“And what would you know about treating anyone or anything like a lady, huh brother?” a gruff voice called out over the noise of the sailors and families. A broad smile spread across Dean’s face when he turned to face the owner of the voice. The familiar sight of Lieutenant Benny Lafitte stood before him. Dean dropped his bag and pulled Benny into a hug.

“Benny my man! You joining us on this godforsaken trip too?” Benny had travelled with Dean on several voyages and two had fought side by side on numerous occasions. Benny’s gruff laugh was almost like the sound home to Dean.

“I can’t let you have all the fun my brother. Plundering the New World for her treasures? I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Benny chuckled slinging his arm around Dean’s shoulder. “I wouldn’t miss a chance to sail again with Captain Dean Winchester.” He added almost mocking in a way. Dean scoff loudly as several people turned to stare. He was not a simple man by any means, no matter what Sam said in jest, and Dean knew that many of the people had heard the stories of his adventures. A wide-eyed blonde sailor who barely looked old enough to be aboard a ship was staring at him before being pulled into a strong looking hug by a woman Dean assumed was his mother.

“Careful, flattery will cause his head to become even bigger and he won’t be able to fit on the ship.” Sam said, snickering loudly at his own wit.

“From what I hear it ain’t the captain’s head we got to be worrying about.” Benny said letting go of Dean as they prepared to board the Susan Constant. “This Governor is as slimy as they come from the tales I’ve been told. Journey would be better being led by a rat.”

“Don’t let Governor Crowley hear you say that, he’s well thought of is certain company.” Said a smooth sounding female voice. A young blonde had appeared beside the three men during Benny’s comment towards the Governor.

“That company being?” Dean asked.

“His own, of course.” The blonde said with a wicked grin as she held out her hand to Dean to shake. He took it instantly, not wanting to seem rude towards a woman. “Jo Harvelle.”

“William Harvelle’s kid?” Dean asked with surprise. The last time he had seen William’s daughter she was barely to his waist with her blonde hair pulled off her face, now she stood proudly in front of him with a self-assured smile on her pretty face and long hair tumbling down her back.

“I’m not a child anymore Dean, this is my third expedition.” Jo said proudly as she jutted out her chin. Dean smiled brightly at the proud look on Jo’s face, it was good to see her following in her father’s famous footsteps. William Harvelle was, after all, a famed sailor even after his death. “The treasures of the New World aren’t going to be found if we just stand around talking though are they?” Jo pointed out. The three men agreed and were soon boarding the ship they would be calling home for the several months of the voyage from London to Virginia.

~*~

They were several weeks into the voyage when the first storm hit. Initially Dean believed they could pass it but as the sea became fiercer and the waves grew larger it became clear they were heading into the middle of the storm. The sky violently changed from a pale grey to deep and ferocious blue that looked almost black. As the wind picked up and the rain began everyone’s main priority became securing the rigging and canons.

“Dean! Dean that canons are coming loose!” Jo yelled from her spot on the deck. Dean was high up securing the main mast with Sam, both steadily being drenched from both the rain and the waves. “Dean we can’t hold them much longer!” Jo then cried as she and a young sailor by the name of Adam Milligan tried to keep a hold of the incredibly heavy object. “Dean!” she cried again. Casting Sam one last look Dean reached out for the nearest rope and swung down onto the deck, grabbing onto the canon as Jo and Adam struggled to stop it barrelling down the deck. It crashed against the three of them but Dean kept his hold. He grasped onto the nearest rope and secured the canon to the ship just as another furious wave crashed against them

“Jo!” Dean heard someone yell over the crashing wave. A panicked yell soon followed. Dean had just enough time to spin round and see the young Adam Milligan being carried over the side of the boat by the vicious wave.

“Man overboard!” Someone cried. Thinking fast, or maybe not even thinking at all, Dean looked around wildly until he saw what he needed.

“Jo pull that pin!” he cried as he tied a rope around his waist. Jo ran to the nearest belaying pin and yanked it out the wood. The pin came out the wood, freeing the rope as it did so. “Benny grab the rope”

“Are you crazy?” Benny roared but Dean didn’t give him a chance to say anything else as he took off in a run and leapt off the side of the ship.

The water that greeted him was icy cold, so cold that Dean could barely breathe but he carried on, he felt a tug against the rope around his middle so Benny must have taken hold of it. Good, now he had to get to Adam. He swam against the intense current in a desperate attempt to bring Adam back to the ship. This was the young boy’s first voyage, it could not be cut short by the cruelty of the sea. Salt water stinging his eyes and his lungs gasping air, Dean fought against the currant until he heard his name being called hoarsely. Adam was fighting against the waves just as strongly as dean was.

“Adam! Adam take hold of me!” Dean yelled over the waves. “Adam take hold!” he cried. He felt desperate hands clutching onto his arm and soon his own arms were wrapped around Adam’s waist. A strong tug of the rope around Dean’s middle signalled that others apart from Benny had taken hold of the rope and were trying to bring them back to the ship. “The rope, get the rope!” Dean cried to Adam who swiftly did so. Within moments they were being pulled back to the ship. Dean barely had time to think before his body hit the soaking wet deck and several crew members were yelling both Dean and Adam’s names.

“What in God’s name were you thinking?” Dean heard Sam cry as a fist connected with his arm. “The waves could have carried you off, you stupid man!”

“Is everything secure?” Dean asked. Benny and Jo laughed while Sam cursed loudly.

“Is everything…that is what you’re concerned about?” Sam asked incredulously. “Everything is secured.”

“Everyone get below deck, that’s an order!” Dean called as he and Benny took hold of Adam and helped him down below deck to the crew’s quarters.

“Trouble up on deck?” A cool voice asked once all the crew were safely below deck. Everyone hurried to their feet, bar Adam who was still shaken, as the Governor made his presence known. “Captain? Is there a problem here?”

“No sir, the storm caused Adam to go overboard but I brought him back.” Dean rasped out, the salt water still

“Well it is lucky you were there to retrieve young Milligan here.” Crowley said though there wasn’t an ounce of sincerity in his voice. “As soon as the storm lifts then it’s back to work.” That was that.

Adam came and found Dean a few hours later once the rain had lifted. Dean had quickly left the cabin as soon as it stopped raining and Adam found him at the front of the ship looking out towards the sea.      

“I’ve heard all the stories about you, when I first wanted to become an explorer it was because of you.” Adam said. The boy leant against the wooden railing and, like Dean, stared out towards the slowly calming sea. Dean could feel his face growing heated from the boy’s praise.

“I’ll bet you my last penny that those stories were made up.”

“Never, I asked Lafitte about many of them. Did you really protect an entire campsite from invaders by yourself?” Adam asked in awe. His eyes were wide with wonder and Dean couldn’t help but shake his head. He had seen so much during his times at sea and discovering new places that the wonderment had all but gone from his life. This was Adam’s first long exploration, of course he would still have that sense of curiosity about the world.

“Yeah but…that was just instinct. You’ll get that once you’ve been travelling as long as I have.” Dean explained with a small shrug.

“What do you suppose the New World will look like Dean?”

“Like every other one I’ve helped discover before.” Dean replied shrugging his shoulders. “I’ve hundreds of ‘New Worlds’ in my time Adam, what could possibly be different about this one?”

Virginia

The crashing noise of the waterfall filled his ears as he ran through the forest, his bare feet barely touching the ground and leaves almost dancing out of the way. As the wind picked up and became fiercer he closed his eyes and began to run even faster than before. His legs burnt as he pushed his body forward but he carried on. He knew if anyone else was here to see him they would question why he ran, why he did not just use his wings but they would never understand. They would never understand how his heart soared when he could feel the rippling of leaves around him, the earth under his feet and the air dancing across his skin. He came to a stop just before the ground gave out to the waterfall, the damp air clinging onto his bare chest. The summer’s sun was fierce on his skin even in the late afternoon and Castiel was glad of his lack of layers, only thin material covering from his hips to his knees to reserve his modesty. As he came to a stop Castiel breathed in deeply and smelt the air around him. Trees, leaves, dirt and the forest’s creature all combine together to create a scent more perfect than any other.  

For Castiel the forest, not his village, was his home.

His toes dug into the earth as he took a deep breath. Without a second thought Castiel leapt from the edge of the waterfall. At the very last moment his wings spread out and caught the wind. His fingers grazed the water of the river as he soared. In a perfect world he would spend all his time in the forest or by the river being with nature.

“Castiel! Castiel the feast is starting!” Anael called from the riverside. Castiel hadn’t even seen his best friend appear but it wasn’t too surprising. Anael would know instantly where to find Castiel if he wasn’t in the village.

Castiel landed a few feet away from her with an exhilarated smile. Anael shook her head, her braided red hair tumbling over her shoulders, and returned his smile. “Everyone has been asking for you Castiel, have you been out here all this time?” Castiel nodded. “Castiel the sun is going down soon and you’ve often spoken about your dislike for flying everywhere. It will take us a while to return to the village.”

“I suppose that we should start walking then.” Castiel said. He and Anael walked the few miles back to the village side by side, occasionally talking about their days and their excitement for the feast. The feast was to celebrate the coming summer and it had been the talk of the village for days and days.

“With your father away from the village you’re our chief.” Anael said as they neared the village. “You should have been there all day.” She added with a sharp tone.

“I find the village…I can’t breathe there.” Castiel said. “I know my father wants me to live up to his name and I think I have proved that by being the warrior he needs me to be.” They carried on walking through the forest, Anael expressing her excitement towards the evening’s feast as they did so, until they came to the clearing that led to the village.

The village was busy with people preparing for the feast to celebrate the summer. When many saw Castiel they greeted him with excited smiles or nods of respect. The small children who had been playing nearby stopped and waved at him and Anael as they passed. Anael laughed to herself as the two walked up to the spacious hut Castiel called home.

“The whole village is excited over this evening, I even saw Ezekiel smile over it this morning.” Anael said as she sat down on Castiel’s bed. “He asked about you earlier on.”

“Anael please do not start again. We are nothing more than friends.”

“You fought alongside each other so many times and he is always talking about you.” Anael said. “He’s also very handsome.”

“And the man my father would pick out for me to marry.” Castiel said.

“You speak as if that is a bad thing.” Anael said screwing up her face at Castiel’s tone.

“It is. I just…Anael I feel like there is more…something more.”

“Is that why you were in the forest?” Anael asked. “Have you been having those dreams again?” she then asked with concern. When Castiel didn’t reply Anael sighed. “Was it the same as last time?”

“Yes, I’m in the forest and running as fast as I can. There are strange looking clouds in the sky and just before I wake I hear deafening thunder but it’s not thunder as the sun is shining brightly.” Castiel said frowning as he remembered his dream from the night before. “What do you think it means?” he asked. Confusing dreams were nothing new to Castiel as he’d been having them his whole life but recently they had grown worse. Castiel couldn’t help but feel as though something was going to happen very soon.

“I don’t know Castiel but maybe you should talk to your father when he returns.” Anael said shrugging her shoulders. “Maybe you could-” Anael’s words were drowned out by a loud noise very much like thunder and the booming noise Castiel kept hearing in his dreams. Castiel felt the air around him rippling with a sense of unease. Anael’s wings ruffled in a way that only added to the unease in the air. Anael and Castiel sprinted outside as another booming noise ripped through the air. Outside it seemed that the whole village came to a standstill due to shock. Wings trembled with fear and eyes flashed with panic.

“What is happening?” someone cried as several looked towards the sky. There was not a cloud in the sky so it was not thunder.

“Castiel! Castiel, what was the sound?” another cried out. The villager’s faces were all stricken as yet another boom could be heard.

“Anael, stay here and try to keep the people calm.” Castiel said. “I’m going to the shore to see what is happening.” He explained. Anael nodded her head though Castiel could still see the fear in her eyes. He gave her arm a reassuring squeeze and prayed that his people would be safe. Anael breathed in deeply and gave Castiel a small smile. Castiel returned her smile before he took off in a run, his wings helping as he tore through the forest. The trees were screaming about the noise and intrusion so Castiel pressed on until he was near the shore. The sight before him made him stop in his tracks and take in a sharp intake of breath.

Strange clouds.

What stood before him were strange clouds and even stranger people with bodies that shone in the sun. They climbed out of small wooden boats, bringing wooden barrels with them and laughing loudly. These men looked nothing Castiel’s people. The sun hadn’t coloured their skin to a deep tan and no Enochian sigills inked across their skin and most importantly these men did not have wings. They were not like Castiel’s people at all.