The princess

The princess appeared shortly after their arrival. She came alone and she walked quite fast, one minute she had been a little dot in the distance, the next she stood before the mayor and the captain. The mayor bowed.

"Good to see you again, princess Melody."

Princess Melody smiled at him, then she spoke to Captain Amelia.

"My name is Melody, I am very pleased to meet you."She reached out a hand and Amelia shook it.

"Likewise, I am Captain Amelia. We are very sorry to have cost you trouble. A heavy storm caught us last night."

"Oh not at all. You all survived it, I hope." Replied Melody a bit distressed. Jim blinked with his eyes and stuck his neck out to get a closer look at the princess. She was indeed very small, she had long black hair and a fair face with big blue eyes. 'No wonder men had tried to take her away from this island.' Thought Jim but then the princess suddenly looked at him and gave him a smile. It was a girly giggle sort of smile and Jim swallowed uncomfortable. He gave her an awkward startled look in return and stepped back hastily. From behind he got a teasing punch against his back from Audrey. Jim looked annoyed, but Audrey clearly enjoyed herself.

"Can you offer them 4 of your rooms, princess?" Asked the mayor.

Princess melody turned her eyes away from Jim and nodded to the mayor. "Of course, with pleasure." She smiled to Captain Amelia.

"We are honored by your hospitality, princess." Amelia bowed her head in respect.

"Believe me, it is my pleasure. I am glad you are all save. Welcome to Terschelling." Smiled Melody. "You are welcome to dine with me as well. One of my servants will pick you up at six o'clock at the road to the castle. But who, may I ask, are my guests?"

"Thank you princess. I think it will be justified for my first mate and navigator to receive your kindness, also are my two youngest sailors. These are Milo, Audrey and Jim, I will leave them in your care. Jim's brother Dimitri is my first mate, he stands a little further in the back, but you will meet him soon." Replied Amelia.

Princess Melody bowed and smiled at her future guests. "I will see you all tonight then." She began to walk back to her castle. Jim had the strange impulse to stop her to ask her things. The strange thing was, he didn't know what he wanted to know. Maybe he wanted to know how she could smile so happily when she lived practically alone in that castle. How could she bring so much console to this village when she has lost it all herself. Personally Jim thought the village being selfish. They didn't deserve her help.

Around six o'clock, Jim, Audrey, Milo and Dimitri waited for the servant at the beginning of the road to the castle.

" Never thought I would be dining and sleeping in a castle." Said Milo amazed.

"Something about that castle gives me the creeps."Audrey shivered. "I wonder what."

"Oh come on, the princess is a young girl who prefers to live alone, surrounded by water, it is not really our business to know." Said Dimitri indifferently. He gave Audrey a carefree look and Audrey rolled with her eyes. With a sigh she crossed her arms.

"Someone is coming." Said Jim to get their attention from each other. A young pretty woman with a dark skin came into view. She wore an apron on her yellow, quite well looking dress.

"Hello, my name is Tiana. I am in the service of the princess. You'll can come with me." She said and with that she turned around and motioned them to follow. They did so quietly, something about this woman told them she was not someone you could cross. But the straight road to the castle was long and Audrey began a conversation with the woman.

"Why does the princess still live here, it must be very lonely."

"All she says about that is that she wants to help the people of this village and if she can, all of Terschelling." Replied Tiana.

"Why is that? They seem to leave her to her own fate to me." Wondered Milo aloud. Jim looked at him. Milo had been thinking the same thing!

"I believe she wants the people to remember and acknowledge her. She wants to be part of something."

"Well that's stupid." Growled Jim. "The village will only see her as something superior, they don't see her as one of them."

"You're quite the pessimist, aren't you?" Smiled Tiana. "Well we are here." She stopped in front of the big double wooden door and knocked three times. When the doors opened, a bald cook stuck his head out. He looked frustrated, but when he saw Tiana he calmed down.

"Come in quickly."He said breathlessly. "Oh why did the princess send you? We need you in the kitchen."

"Why?" Wanted Tiana to know. "I gave you all the instructions."

"Well, you see." Began the cook and she started to sweat. "When you tell us, it seems so clear, but the recipes are really difficult to make, especially at your speed."

"Well, alright then, I'm used to do two things at the same time." Sighed Tiana smiling. "Go to the kitchen and tell the others that I will be with them in a few minutes, First I will bring the guests to the princess." The cook nodded and ran off.

"Well." Tiana turned to the guest with a satisfied smile upon her face. "Follow me, I will take you to the dining room."

The dining room was big, way too big for one princess to dine in every day. They were all seated at the left side of the table where plates, goblets and cutlery were already placed. Tiana pointed each of them to their seat, around the head of the table where, no doubt, the princes would take her place. Audrey sat on the princess's left side and Milo on her right. Dimitri sat next to Audrey and Jim sat next to Milo. Tiana just left when princess Melody came into the room. She wore the same pink dress as before and sat herself down like this was just an ordinary house.

"You can relax, I don't like formalities here." She said to them smiling. "So let's begin again. Hi, I'm Melody." She gave them an awkward little wave with her hand and a girlish smile. "Now, I'd like to know who you are."

"I'm Audrey." Audrey reached out a friendly hand and Melody shook it gladly.

"My name is Milo." Milo said with a goofy smile and he too shook hands with the princess.

Then Melody stood up and walked to Dimitri."Then you must be Dimitri, nice to meet you."

"Yes, for me too." Replied Dimitri friendly. At last Melody walked back, around the table, passed Milo where Jim sat. She smiled at him and Jim gave her his hand.

"Hi, I'm Jim." He said while he shook her warm hand. Just when he began to feel a bit awkward, Melody pulled back her hand and walked quickly to her seat. Jim looked at her puzzled. 'What was that all about? '

AN: I know the end is a bit sudden, but it seemed to me the best to end it here. I hope to make the next chapter more spooky, this was a warm up. Please review!