a new {world} ; a new {life} ~crystal~

[~echo~]

Hannah Abbot stood on the deck of the Katherine's Honor. Her eyes were closed, wisps of hair were blowing around her soft, heart-shaped face that had escaped from her bun. Finally, after a few moments, the young woman opened her eyes and looked forward as the man far above her head yelled, "Land, ho!" Her face fell slightly.

Hannah was an indentured servant, and she was being sent to the New World to be the wife of a farmer in Virginia. She had never expected her life to end up like this. She had been poor, yes, and starving. But she had at least had her life. But one day, she had been kidnapped and sent away to an arranged marriage in Virginia.

She was scared. She didn't even know who this person was. And she was leaving the only country she had ever known, and leaving to a place filled with Indians, criminals, and danger around every corner.

"Land, ho!" came the cry again, bringing Hannah back to reality. She could just see the darker line of land on the horizon, growing ever so slowly into land. The woman took a deep breath and walked off to get her things.

Two hours later, the Katherine's Honor was docked and Hannah stepped onto American soil for the first time. Jamestown was bustling and busy, and Hannah didn't know who she was looking for. She didn't even know what he looked like. Gripping her two bags of clothes and other odds and ends, Hannah set off to find the man she was set to marry. This was where her old life ended, and her new one began.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

(So I'm the man she's marrying? Any personality suggestions?)

[~echo~]

(I was thinking that he could be a not very nice guy. I was thinking you could also play the other person she runs away with )

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"There she is, Master," said a tall man dressed in a simple but immaculate suit. Another man, middle-aged and average height, dressed in a much nicer suit, stood beside him. James Ewing might be a farmer, but he fancied himself a 'high class' farmer. For the most part, slaves did most of the field work, and James did rather well in this New World.

He followed his servant's eyes and spotted the girl who had gotten off the Katherine's Honor. She looked as his correspondent in London had described, young and pretty, though clearly not raised in a wealthy family. You could tell from her posture and absolute lack of composure in the situation. The thing looked lost. He pushed his way through the crowd toward her, putting a somewhat friendly smile on his face. "Hannah Abbot?" he said when he reached her.

[~echo~]

Hannah's wide eyes found the man and blinked before nodding. "Yes. Are you Mr. Ewing?" she asked, trying to hide her timidity. He was older than she had expected, consideravly older. Most of the men in Virginia were young sons of wealthy Englishmen, but it seemed this man had come later in his life.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"The very same," James said. He gestured for his servant to take Hannah's bags from her, then offered her his arm. "I'm sure you'll love the New World," he told her. "The perfect place to start a new life."

[~echo~]

Hanmah gave a faint nod as she took his arm, studying the activity around the busy port. She was not so sure, but she was at least willing to try it. She wondered where James lived.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

With the servant carrying the baggage, James led her to his carriage and helped her inside the cab. The servant placed the luggage on the back and then climbed up to take the reigns. (Really have no idea what kind of transportation they had at this point)

[~echo~]

(You've got it right xD)

Hannah thanked him. "So, how far out from town do you live?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Not far," he said. "Should take us an hour to get there."

[~echo~]

Hannah nodded and sat quietly, still looking at Jamestown. "So," she said conversationally, "this is America."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"This is American," James agreed. "Land of opportunity." He'd certainly grabbed hold of that opportunity and made himself quite wealthy. He'd been the son of a simple scribe back in London, and now he owned a large property and many slaves. Life didn't get much better.

[~echo~]

Hannah fell silent as they rode through the countryside, wondering at how huge it all was. "Everything is so big compared to England."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

He smiled faintly. "You have no idea, darling," he said. "The New World is large beyond comprehension. Just wait and see."

[~echo~]

She tensed when he called her 'darling' but tried to forget about it. Soon enough, they had made it to his house in the countryside. Everywhere around the house were fields, in which you could see little black figures picking the crops. Hannah looked around in amazement. "It's lovely."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"These are the fields, the main source of income. I grow tobacco and wheat," he said. "Tobacco is the most profitable though."

[~echo~]

Hannah looked at the fields. "You have so many slaves," she commented, her eyes narrowing. "What will my duties be as your... wife?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

James raised his eyebrows. "Wifely duties, I suppose?" Such a silly question, he thought.

[~echo~]

"I see. Managing the household, I suppose?" she asked quietly.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

James nodded. Perhaps she was a sensible woman after all. "Of course," he said. "And, someday, the children."