Whoa... guys, long time no see :)

Yeah, yeah I'm still alive, which is surprising enough ;)

Here is the second chapter of Mervellya, and I hope it will make it up for you :)

~The Trickster~

Ch. 2

The tweets of the seagulls echoed gently around, altogether with the tender saline breeze, adorning sweetly the scenery that was unfolded before the worried crew.

After the declaration of Caipra, the Nomad crew tensed in alert as they kept watching helplessly yet cautiously enough the approaching of the mermaids' clan.

There were many of them really! At least, they were more than what to be expected.

Charming was definitely how they look, with their adorable smiles and the angelic features that were obviously contradicted with the mischievous twinkles in their large eyes. They were moving gingerly closer to the ship, where the crew just kept staring back at them, not really knowing what they should expect or what's the extent of the danger they might be facing in the coming moments.

Sinbad, however, noticed Caipra's calm demeanor and poised himself a little. He made a mental note to ask her later about their tale for the sake of his irritating curiosity, but forced it in the back of his mind for they didn't have time now for such details.

He turns his gaze in between the little crowd of finned ladies, until he found his target. She caught his gaze instantly when he felt her reeking with arrogance, confidence and seigniory.

She made it even easier for him and the others when she swam closer while the other mermaids stayed close behind her, keeping a good distance from her.

She was their seignior! The Queen of the Mermaids!

Her beauty was breathtaking! And that was not surprising; the beauty was a part of her nature… the mermaid's nature. Long blond hair floated on the water surface like a golden silky sheet, surrounding her for a relative extend making her look like a yellow orchid. Her pearly skin and delicate face were fairly boosted with her dark long eyelashes.

But, her large doe eyes were the most attracting feature of hers; with a gaze that reflected the incompatibility between the innocence coming from their mixed shade of light green and blue specks, and the malice radiating from the deep woody pupil.

True to the word, a real trickster she was!

It only needed a blind man to not figure that out, but again it's obvious she used her magic on her preys to drag them into her charm trap. Sinbad could already feel the pull towards her but he also felt his consciousness supporting him with enough resistance. And he was relieved to see he wasn't the only one among the crew who didn't give in her charms, probably fueled with their caution.

Sinbad watched in wariness as she was approaching; but something caught his attention in the scenery before him. He switched his gaze to the background behind the mermaids' crowd realizing he and the crew never really had the time to discover their new surrounding, solely focusing on the magical creatures who rushed towards the ship.

His gaze instantly fell on a very near shore just in front of him; only the mermaids were the obstacle between Nomad and the new land. Although the land looked very quiet and out of any weirdness, something just didn't feel right about it. Somehow he couldn't feel relief at its sight.

Then, all of sudden a thought came to him. Sinbad looked to his bracelet and sure enough it was glimmering. A tiny gasp escaped him as he returned his gaze to the shore.

That's it! Mervellya!

They really reached it. And soon enough they'd get the egg and save Maeve!

His spirit was pulsed with hope suddenly. If they only could passed through the mermaids either by convincing or even fighting them –though it would be better be the first option- they would be able to get the cure. All he needed now was to focus on the deal in his hands… passing through them.

He returned his focus again to the finned queen who –by then- had reached close enough to be able to address them. Her eyes flickered between him and his bracelet and narrowed at the glimmer; but she quickly recovered as she smirked back at Sinbad as the dark green of mischief clouded her gaze.

"So…" She started elegantly "Here you are sailor, hanged in the middle of nowhere and totally under my mercy." she giggles.

Sinbad ignored her last words and replied reminding himself to be cautious with every word he'll say "I'm Sinbad and this is my crew…"

"I'm Tari." She cut him off arrogantly "The Queen of the Mermaids' clan, Witch of the Amore Sirens first generation, Great Priestess of the Northern Seas, and Guardian of Mervellya realm of the Vordiaks."

Sinbad raised a brow at the prideful rich introduction and her fast switch of mood as the light whisper –probably Firouz'- reached his ear "So, we found it, eventually!"

The captain then noticed her dimpled smile returning and the challenge in her gaze was clear as well.

"Well, it's a real pleasure to get a chance to meet you, your highness." His diplomatic reply earned him an almost shocked glare from her; it was obvious he wasn't affected by her charms. Strong soul, that one! She recovered again as quickly as a flash as he retreated "We didn't have any intention to trespass your territory without permission or bother you in any way. It's just… that we truly need to reach this realm, this land. We were desperate for it, so…"

"So you came here on purpose, you admit." Tari cut him off again as she glanced at him and the crew through her lashes. "Well, that's different. Other sailors just crossed the gate by coincidence when they were lost at the seas, well mostly. However, you know you're not allowed to get any further than this. Passing through my gate and into my territory only leaves you under my mercy, sailor." She repeated her threat again, relishing in their anxiety lacing faces. She smirked maliciously, "Now, tell me the truth. Are you afraid or excited?"

Sinbad ignored the hairs on the back of his neck standing up in alert as he forced a "Neither, should I?" praying that none of his friends loss control and their tension betrayed them. He prayed that none of them interfere just letting him take the lead then.

"Whoa... That's new. Well, yes. Actually I have to warn you then. You should submit to me if you value your life. They say we kill humans, specifically… sailors. What you would say at that?"

Sinbad noticed the venom lacing the word 'sailors' and frowned "No need for the fear. As for the submission, there will not be a problem either. We come here meaning you no harm anyway. We're just simple visitors and you're the land-keeper; and here we're asking permission to let us pass to the shore. I find no reason why I shouldn't trust you."

She burst in hard sweet laughing that echoed in the horizon "You do? Oh… Oh you shouldn't"

"And why is that?" He asked carefully.

"No one should trust mermaids! NO ONE!" she burst suddenly, with anger flashed in her beautiful eyes and disappeared just as quick "However, I have to admit, you also look different from the other sailors who preceded you, pretty captain."

"Why thank you, I'm flattered." he raised his brows in mockery "May I ask what happened to them?"

"Surely they died" she winked

He frowned asking cautiously "What for?"

"Curiosity kills the cat." She giggles again "Are you afraid now?"

"No, as I don't need to repeat their mistakes."

"Ah, smart one! Then I'll tell you they seek the land out there as well." She pointed to the nearby shore "Or they were withdrawn by our charms for sure." She winked again. "But I have to admit it's been a long time that anyone reached our realm, but the rare idiots who came –on purpose or not- were either lost and need shelter or out of curiosity insist to explore it, thinking they would find a treasure or something made up of their stupid fantasies."

"And you are telling me all of this because…?"

"You do not really trust me, now do you? I can't blame you anyway." She smiled and winked again "Well, I can see your case is neither of them too."

"And what make you have such a thought? I'm just an ordinary sailor, just like any of them."

She shook her head lightly splashing water with her silky hair "No, you're not. I can see the real depth of the souls through the eyes. Your eyes are quite different, filled with hurt and pain, anxiety and impatience that you try hard to hide. But there are no traces of curiosity. Alike that one there for an example." she pointed at Firouz "His curiosity is plainly clear in the eyes but with concern and worry too. However, I can tell that the three of you look very different from anyone I have ever seen before…" Pointing to the rainbow bracelets owners, she went on "Aside from the pain, you share everything else. You have an unfamiliar mysterious bond!" She ponders "Weird!"

Sinbad looked to his crew, exchanging a gaze with Bryn and Tetsu. "If you say so." He turned his almost pleading gaze back to her. "Though, as much as I really enjoy our encounter and our little discussion here, we really need to go now. It's urgent and time is running out of our hands. So, now that I'm quite sure you know we intend no harm to you and your clan as you can clearly read the inside of our souls, can we reach the land now, please? "

"Hmm, not before passing the test first." She replied calmly. "You see, my mission here is to guard this realm portal, most specifically this exact land. So, no one should pass this area and reach it except who pass the test I create. Other than that they will face a deadly fate if they don't retreat." The other mermaids came closer and gathered around the ship showing what was lying behind her words.

"So what exactly is your test?" he replied quickly as his patience grew thin, really wanting to get over this encounter already.

"I'll provide you with four riddles and you should solve them all. Giving me the four right answers is your passport to the shore." Tari smirked again in arrogance.

Sinbad exchanged few glances with his friends before Firouz asked her "And if we slipped out one, do we get another try?"

"No, sailor. I do not believe in second chances."

Sinbad sighed "Then, let's not waste any more time. Shoot."

"First riddle: 'It's like the water for a life, what erects your soul, what irrigates your spirit. The essential seed of the man-kind's creation; the sole support to their survival. If you deprive yourself from its gift, your blood becomes meaningless. It's vanishing pushes your life to fade away.' "

The crew frowned as they exchanged their gazes. Firouz looked at the floor in deep concentration as Caipra raised a brow glancing to Sinbad. The latter, however, blinked twice before stating it "Faith. It's the faith."

"Yes, Sinbad. Of course it's! Brilliant!" Firouz exclaimed excitedly.

"The second one: 'True symbol of prosperity, it's the first element which always shows pure loyalty to the man-kind; that always gives generously without taking anything back, that offers its blossom with no returns to be expected. But turning your cold shoulder to it only hurts it badly, and its gloom would be your fatal sufferance.' "

"The Earth." Tetsu shot back without hesitation. "Mother Earth, that is."

If the crew was surprised, no one showed it as only Firouz showed his approval "Again, score, Tetsu."

"The third." Tari responded blankly "'Coming in & going away, rising up & dying down; its swings of moods make it hard to be considered as trustworthy. You can not limit it within your expectations, yet, on it you rely your integrity and your course of life. Symbolizing the most precious value you seek for. As your life's guide, it's the only assurance key to your safety.' "

Caipra caught Bryn's hesitant gaze and gave her a confident nod. The brunette tensed and caught her breath for merely a second as she replied quickly "It's The Wind element of Mother Nature."

"It makes a lot of sense if we look deeper in the words." Exclaimed Firouz again as he pondered it but Tari didn't really give him enough time for it as she shot her last riddle.

"The last one: 'The thing that ignites your spirit, burns your soul and never been quenched. Something that keeps you always ablaze without truly hurting you, haven't you be vigilant enough. You always wish to keep its flames within you but if your prudence cracks it'd char your essence into ash.' "

Sinbad felt a tug in his heart, resisting a little gasp from escaping his throat he glanced at his bracelet and found it radiating brightly with stable red shimmers. He brought it up to his chest and touching it with his other hand "Love!" he stated softly and his eyes glazed a little.

Complete silence took over the presence for a couple of moments before the mermaid queen reacted. "Why exactly do you desperately want to go there? She narrowed her eyes trying to decipher the strong motive behind him.

"We have a soul who needs a rescue. We need to save her and we are running out of time. The only cure lies somewhere out there." Sinbad stated honestly, there was no time for playing around or trying to hide it.

She blankly stared at him for seconds. Then, she surprised the crew with an odd response when she slightly bent forward in their direction, raising her head and shutting her eyes in concentration with a deep frown. Then, she reopened them to look back at each one of them with a stare that pierced inside their souls.

"Sailor, you may pass safely." She decided after few moments of pondering "But I owe you no promises about keeping your safety once you stepped there." With that the other mermaids backed away from the ship to allow them the passage, in a strange easiness like they meant no threat seconds ago.

The whole crew sighed in relief as they let out a breath they weren't aware they kept holding. Before Sinbad started to give his orders to start heading to the island, her voice echoed sweetly in the air again "You should know in normal situation I wouldn't let you go, though."

Firouz exclaimed with a shock "Our answers are wrong! No way! That makes no sense!"

"No, they are right." She coldly responded.

"Now, is that true?" Tetsu replied "If the answers were wrong you allow the sailors to pass and reach the land, and if they gave you the right ones you don't…"

".. Allow them. Yes." She responded "What lies on these lands is a pure danger; I can not dare to say pure evil, though. A fatal fate is definitely waiting for who reaches it. If the sailors answered wrong mostly out of curiosity or other than that, they deserve it as they asked for it."

"You trick them! They believe they win when they actually lose and run directly to their death!" an annoyed Bryn voiced.

"Well, there is a reason why they say you can never trust a mermaid." she sternly said.

"But why… us?" Sinbad was confused at that.

"For one, I know you are here to save your friend. You didn't lie. As I said I can see through you. For two, I believe it's urgent, and you are risking their loss any minute. Three, I can see how you're pure inside and sincere in saving your friends -not only the injured one- even if that costs your life. Then, after all, you passed the test, and I choose to provide you what you seek for, instead of the traditional tactics. Especially that, above all of that, that way I wouldn't be breaking my part of the treaty with the Vordiaks." She gave him a meaningful and knowing gaze.

"Thank you." Sinbad said sincerely, realizing that she discovered a certain Vordiak was in fact his injured friend and was on board too.

"Oh, no. Don't! Because last but not least, that doesn't mean I didn't trick you too." She winked.

Sinbad smiled sadly, "I accept whatever fate is offering me. And it's enough for me that you didn't attack us and swell our burden by losing more time. I owe you in a way."

"Oh yeah you do. And that reminds me; have to tell you this, handsome sailor. We'll have another encounter sooner or later. And you will get from me a really fair treatment then, don't expect any softness from me next time. Trickery and cruelty are my nature."

"I'll remember it." Sinbad promised.

"Though I wish you good luck in what you'll confront right there, you should only remember I'm no friend of you. An enemy may be, but never a friend. Now go on your way, sailor, before I lose control on my nature."

~.~.~

A/n: So, yeah everyone this is my second OC in the series... Tari, the Mermaid queen!

I have to remind you, her role in this adventure or this series is limited to this chapter, but she'll make another appearance in a complete new adventure and story where she'll be one of the main characters along with the crew after Maeve wakes up.

But, if I poked your curiosity enough about her, and you want to know about her background story -why is a mermaid, what's a mermaid, why she hates sailors so much and tends to kill them and why she is the trickster being, the deal between her and the Vordiaks and all- then I'll be glad to provide a little side story about her for you. Only, it'll be posted probably on fictionpress as I find it more suitable seeing it doesn't contain any of the cannon characters!

Once I post it I'll provide you the link here for sure :) it won't be much, just a little prologue as an intro, and the main chapter as the actual story, then a sequel about her deal with the Vordiaks.

it's title will be "Never Trust a Mermaid"... well, obviously :)

**A quick note about the 4 riddles here -though I'm still insecure about them but that was the best I could achieve...

They are closely related to Tari's history, and that'll be revealed in her side story.

How ironic... I started this chapter and wrote half of it in May or June of 2013! during my last final exams, and long before even reaching the end of 'R & R'! And it was the same chapter that blocked me all the past months since I wrote most of 'Mervellya' last September!

This being said, I get to add my good news :) the 3 next chapters are already written, and one more as well... so here we go, you guys will get a weekly update for at least a month from now, may be even more :) :) they just need few editing and revising that's all.

And who knows? may be there will be even more surprises in the coming days... ;)

******* I WANT TO THANK SO MUCH MY LOVELY REVIEWERS & FOLLOWERS. You guys are the best ever *HUGS* I apologize for my lack of response to the reviews for both 'Mervellya' and 'R & R'! I really guys am having one tough time, but promise to reply ASAP :) Wanna hear from you :)