Chapter eleven: a mermaid found
Ariel
Groaning softly I shake my head and pick myself up off the sand. What is with my luck lately.? Morgana returning, Melody being kidnapped and non I keep getting rammed into. Speaking of which, what hit me anyways? I look around and almost fall back down again. There standing beside a gawking Flounder is a young mermaid with black hair and a long red tail. She stares at me in shock, as if she wasn't sure I was really there. I start to wonder if maybe I'm the one seeing things.
"Melody?" I ask softly. She lets out a choking sob and rushes at me. I wrap both arms tightly around her and pull her into a hug. For a moment I completely forget that Flounder and Andrina are still floating there, nothing matters except that I have my daughter back.
"Oh Melody, I'm so sorry sweetheart?" I say softly. She doesn't answer; instead she tightens her grip on me; like she's afraid I'll disappear.
"Oh goodness, I forgot, are you alright?" I pull her away from me and examine her. Other than being terrified and bruised, she seems alright. Melody nods slowly, but I feel her shiver. I breathe a sigh of relief.
"Come on let's get her back to Atlantica." Andrina suggests. I nod. Andrina takes the lead. And we head home. All these years I've wanted to show Melody the sea, but not like this. She's been a mermaid for a day and a half and she's had no time to enjoy it.
Melody stays silent for the entire trip back. The only sound she makes is a small gasp as we near the palace of Atlantica. I look over and see her eyes filled with wonder.
"Welcome to Atlantica Melody." I say.
"It's beautiful." She says in awe.
"Are you up to meeting your grandfather, he'll be anxious to see you again? And we all want to know what happened over the past day and a half." She looks at me. I can see a flicker of fear in her eyes. She nods nervously. I squeeze her shoulder.
"Don't worry, you'll be fine." I reassure her. As we enter the throne room, I notice two things. First daddy isn't here and second Sebastian is sitting on the arm of the throne.
"Sebastian where's daddy?" I ask.
"He should be back any time now; he went out with one of the patrols a little while ago. What about you did you have any luck in finding…. Melody child you're back!" Sebastian yells the last part. He swims over and latches onto Melody's arm.
"Oh thank goodness child. Oh I'm so sorry Melody this is all my fault, if only…" he sobs. I smirk. Same old Sebastian. I pry him off of Melody.
"Sebastian it is most certainly not your fault. If anyone's to blame it's me, I should have told you the truth." I direct the last part at my daughter, who's been strangely silent. She hugs my tightly.
"I don't blame you" she whispers quietly. Suddenly there is a loud crash outside the throne room. As though something has been thrown against the wall. Then my father swims in, his face red with anger.
"Morgana, if I ever get my trident on her I'll…" he stops short as his gaze rests on me and Melody. He stares at me, and then at my daughter. "Ariel is this, I mean um, how…. Melody." He stutters in amazement and relief. I swim over to my father, pulling Melody with me.
"Daddy, meet Melody, your granddaughter."