Hello everyone, Auryn here. Here's just a quick bit of information about this story. The character of Andrew Davieson, my protagonist, DOES in fact exist, for all of two seconds in the middle of the "Savages" musical number (He's the guy playing the drum for the settlers that they show just before "Let's go get a few, men!"). He caught my eye when I was about ten, and I've noticed him ever since. Now that I've begun writing, I decided he needs an actual character story behind him. So here it is.

Enjoy!

Of the Company

By Auryn Rei Evroren

Part 1

My name is Andrew. Andrew Davieson. Writing is not my forte, unfortunately, but I shall attempt to pen my story nonetheless. I don't think it is really worth writing, but Thomas has a most irritating pout face, and it is impossible to deny him anything.

Here I am rambling about nothing. I shall cease at once, and begin with my tale.

I first met Thomas two months or so before we joined the Virginia Company and set sail for the New World. We were apprentices, he for a printer, I for a blacksmith. My master's shop was next door to the pressroom, which made it all the easier for us to become friends. He thought I was crazy for learning the art of smithing, and I thought likewise of him. Who could be happy doing nothing but print newspapers in a stuffy room all day? At least the smithy had air circulation.

The one thing we had in common, Thomas and I, was a desire to learn more of the world. We couldn't wait for the Crown to declare a new voyage to the New World, the land of gold and adventure. We discussed that subject more than anything else.

A month or so after Thomas and I met, a public announcement was posted, stating that the Virginia Company planned a voyage, and was looking for crewmen. We signed on at once.

"Thomas," I asked him, "-are you sure that Mr. Marston will let you go? He only has one other apprentice, and with you gone…" He refused to even hear the end of the sentence. "He'll understand," Thomas told me with a type of fervor in his eyes. "He has to." I didn't dare contradict him. I simply sighed and went back to work. I wouldn't have a problem getting away from work, for my master had several apprentices, and if it came to it, my younger brother William could take over for me. He's been trailing after me for weeks, wanting to learn the craft, and this would be the perfect opportunity for him.

As it turned out, Thomas did have some problems with Mr. Marston. I was listening at the pressroom window when he told Thomas that if he left for the New World, it would mean the end of his career in printing. I suppose he made his choice. He went home to his sister, her husband, and their daughter (Thomas' parents died in an epidemic a few years back) and they weren't happy, but they supported his choice.

A month later, we went to the docks, ready to go. I saw Thomas in the distance, saying goodbye to his family. His niece, Rachel, rode on her father's shoulders, smiling, wearing a pair of Thomas' old breeches. She did love to do that. Thomas and I used to joke that someday, Rachel and my brother William would end up being sweethearts.

Thomas kissed his sister Anna on the head, and shook his brother-in-law James' hand. Rachel laughed and plopped her favorite floppy hat on Thomas' head, and from that day on, I swear I never saw him without it (except once, which I will tell about later). Anyway, Thomas pinched her cheek and went to board. I saw him conversing with some other voyagers and was about to join him when I felt a hand touch my arm. I spun round to find myself face to face with the beautiful Charlotte Wickham.

Let me explain about Charlotte. Had she been allowed by her strict parents, she would have been Thomas' sweetheart. Her father had forbidden her to see him, because he viewed the newspaper as a waste of time, and a terrible and useless career choice. He preferred those who chose something more worthwhile, which, in his opinion, meant me. Smithing was a fine job in his eyes. So, between the three of us, Charlotte, Thomas, and I hatched a plan. We would give Charlotte's father the impression that she was seeing me, and I would earn his respect enough to take her out someplace, where we would meet Thomas and I would make myself scarce until they called for me to take her home. It worked well.

I was a bit surprised that she had been allowed to see "me" off. I had told her parents that I was leaving for the New World, but they hadn't said anything about seeing me off. I had assumed that I would just…leave (my parents weren't the sort to be sentimental about such things).

"Andrew, you will look after him, won't you?" Charlotte asked me breathlessly. I nodded. "Of course I will. You know that." She sighed in relief. "I just wanted to be sure. Promise you won't let him get hurt…or do anything ridiculous." We smiled together- Thomas had a knack for embarrassing himself. Most of the time, however, it was amusing.

A horn blew, signifying that the ship would sail in five minutes. I had to move quickly. "Shall I tell him you said goodbye?" I asked Charlotte, and she nodded, giving me a hug. "I'll miss you both," she said. "Now go, you'll be late." I nodded and ran off, boarding the ship just ahead of our acting governor, Ratcliffe. Thomas waved me over to come stand with him, but I shook my head. I didn't want to meet anyone new just yet. So I just disappeared belowdecks and waited for things to get moving.