Chapter Forty-Six: Terror

"I think the lamp's been opened," Ensign Lorens announced as my companions and I all stared at him with apprehension.

"How?" Aunt Elsa asked.

Ensign Lorens was shaking but I knew it wasn't from the cold. "I… I… was watching… the lamp through the mirror… just like her majesty instructed I'm… I'm… sorry… I got… distracted. I mean I saw Prince Fredrik… letting out ice and he was me with that… that…" He couldn't seem to express it in words and he pointed in the direction of King Triton. "I'm sorry… I should have been watching the mirror…"

He went on babbling something incoherent that Admiral Westergard had to hold him by the shoulders and shake him to focus. "Lorens! Tell us what you saw!"

"That's just it," he cried. "I missed it! Something must have happened with the lamp while I wasn't looking… while I was watching you all here in the shore. When I… when I checked all I saw was some strange smoke… and lights... I… I'm not sure what it was… something blue next to the mouth of the lamp. I… heard… voices. I couldn't discern who they were… then… the mirror turned into a plain looking glass and refused to show me anything. I don't think it's working anymore."

Oh no, is there no end to the havoc I caused this night? I'm the Prince of Disaster!

Lorens handed the mirror to Admiral Westergard. He tried calling out to it to reveal people. But it did nothing but reflect his face as an ordinary mirror should.

"Something's definitely wrong," Admiral Westergard finally admitted. "It might be Heinrik who has the lamp or it could be somebody else. Let's not panic, but I think it would be better to take precautionary measures."

"What precautionary measures?!" a voice behind him asked. We realized we had forgotten about King Triton who was still standing right there and was privy to all of what we had been talking about for the last few minutes. "What is going on here?! I demand an answer!"

Aunt Elsa faced him a bow. "I apologize Sire, but we are in something of a crisis. There is a being, a powerful magical creature with almost omnipotent powers that may have just been released into the world. It's not yet certain, but… we may all be in danger."

"In danger!" he cried in alarm. "How so?"

Aunt Elsa and Admiral Westergard quickly explained as much as possible about the genie of the lamp. There was some difficulty in getting him to grasp the concept of a lamp as we realized he had never seen one before. They had to describe it to him before he could understand what we were talking about.

"And you're saying that this genie, this slave of this vessel you used to make light could potentially do anything?" King Triton asked.

"Yes," Admiral Westergard confirmed. "According to the stories surrounding it though, there are certain limitations. It can only grant three wishes to its master on anything except for three things: It can't kill, it can't make anyone fall in love and can't bring the dead back to life."

"So in the wrong hands this genie can be a powerful weapon," King Triton said.

"Yes Sire," Admiral Westergard answered. "We will do the best we can to find out who has it. I know, it's too much to ask, but may we request for your assistance in case something untoward occurs."

I never thought Admiral Westergard would be so bold as to ask the King of the Sea this. King Triton did not answer immediately which made me fear he might have taken such a request as an offense. But finally he nodded.

"Well somebody needs to make sure you humans don't end up killing yourselves. However, I only do this out of consideration for my daughter and granddaughter and I shall secure them under my care until this crisis is over." He turned again to the sand and spoke. "Sebastian! Call Ariel and Melody back here now!"

This time I had a better look at his crab servant. The little red crustacean had big beady eyes that matched his equally large pinchers. And was that a huge mouth that showed an expression of annoyance? It scuttled towards the direction of where the Tastris royal family went. For a tiny creature, it was pretty fast even on the sand.

"I should go and get Peter before that ship gets farther," Prince Eugene said as he noted that the ship was now a tiny spec in the sky.

"Of course go," Admiral Westergard said. "Use the same whistle we had to call Carpet to you from the castle. But make sure you're not seen. If that lamp has indeed been opened, the Carpet is one of our few tactical advantages. I'm sorry, I can't go with you. I need to find Heinrik. Lorens, get to Albert and Andersen and update them. We can cover more ground if we split up."

The three men ran back towards the castle while my aunt addressed the crowds to disperse them. I was left to awkwardly face King Triton while comforting a still grieving Queen Rapunzel and her young daughter. But to my surprise the king came before the queen with a sympathetic glance and his next words were astonishingly gentle.

"So you also have a headstrong son who ran away?"

Queen Rapunzel wiped her tears in her sleeve and nodded. "Yes, where did I go wrong? I tried. I tried so hard to make him be the responsible one. He's always been such a difficult child that I had to discipline him so much. Maybe I was too hard on him. I didn't mean for him to run away!"

"Sometimes even our best intentions are not enough," replied King Triton. "And children will have to learn to live with their actions while we learn to let go."

"But's he's only a child!" Queen Rapunzel sobbed. "He's fourteen years old! How can he possibly know he can be happy with this? To be away from us?"

King Triton looked uncomfortable but he patted the queen's hand in a gesture of comfort. "I don't know if he will, but in my experience my Ariel was not much older when she made a decision to run away. I cannot say that it was easy. And over the years, I've had my doubts on her decision to marry that man. Certainly, he wasn't the man I wanted for her and there are times I question his character. But I knew if I held her back, she would have been unhappy and would have hated me for it. That's something I think would have been infinitely worse. But let's just hope your son will come home on his own, alright dear?"

Queen Rapunzel nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Sire. I apologize that I must leave you. I need to go back to the castle. I need to calm things down as I'm sure things are in an uproar."

"Of course, I understand Queen Rapunzel," King Triton said. "Even in the midst of a personal crisis our duties must go on. Please do not let me keep you. I'm sure this young man," he turned to my direction. "Can keep me company."

I gave a little uncomfortable bow. I wanted to just go with Queen Rapunzel and Rampion just to avoid the awkwardness with King Triton, but I fought the urge. It would be impolite to make an exit at this point.

Queen Rapunzel and her daughter went their way. They hadn't gone far when they passed Queen Ariel and King Eric. I noticed the crab perched on the queen's shoulder. The four royals acknowledged each other then proceeded in opposite directions. I couldn't be more grateful for their arrival.

"Daddy what's wrong?" Queen Ariel asked. "We were just in one of the nearby houses warming Melody by the fire when Sebastian said something about us being in danger. I couldn't understand him. He was babbling something about a vessel and a magical being?"

"Yes," King Triton responded before he explained the situation quickly. "It may not be as grim as that but it's best to be careful. I'm taking you and Melody back with me to Atlantica for the time being."

"With all due respect, Sire," King Eric began. "But I think it's best that Ariel and Melody stay with me. I'll take them home to Tastris."

"No, Eric. If this magical being is indeed formidable then Tastris might not be as safe. I can better protect them under the sea," argued King Triton. "So please just bring Melody here so I can change her into a mermaid. I'll send them back to Tastris once everything is safe."

King Eric seemed to ponder that then nodded. "I think he's right Ariel. You and Melody go. I need to stay behind and help them find this lamp and put a stop to it."

"You want to stay behind?" Queen Ariel gasped indignantly. "Why?"

"They're our allies, they need our help. And if this genie can do anything, then we all have a stake in making sure it doesn't wreak havoc in the region."

"Let him Ariel," King Triton said. "This is his responsibility as a king of his country. Just get Melody and we'll go."

"No, Daddy!" Queen Ariel cried like a petulant child. "You can take Melody but I stay with my husband! I'm not going to leave him here when she's here!" she pointed to my aunt who looked taken aback at the bluntness of her language.

"For the last time Ariel, there is nothing between me and Elsa!" King Eric said with irritably though he was careful to keep his voice low. "There are other matters at stake here so please just go with your father."

"I think we should leave…" Aunt Elsa whispered. She took my arm and we backed away from the family argument transpiring out of control in front of us.

There were still a few onlookers that remained despite my aunt's previous efforts to dismiss them and they were re-growing in numbers after Queen Ariel's outburst. I could even hear some of them calling out to their companions to come back and witness the little royal drama unfolding. Unfortunately, they were right for in the next instant, King Triton lost his temper and openly growled at his daughter:

"Ariel we don't have time for this!" He struck her with the light of his trident. She flew up the air where her legs were changed to a fish tail before she fell and dove gracefully into the water. She emerged with a scowl on her face. King Tritonn ignored her and turned instead to his son-in-law. "Eric, son, please get Melody. After I take them to Atlantica, I'll join you…"

He stopped abruptly and I saw his body suddenly clenched as he held tightly to his trident but it flew away from his grasp as if some kind of invisible force yanked it from his grip. It disappeared under the waters of the sea.

"Who dares—" he barely had time to utter the words before what appeared to be gold cuffs of light appeared on his wrists and started pulling him towards the water.

"Daddy, what's wrong?" Queen Ariel gasped fearfully.

"It's my trident!" he uttered. "It's taking me down!"

"DADDY!"

We watched in horror as the mighty King Triton was dragged by an unknown force behind the power of his trident like a helpless ragdoll under the water. Queen Ariel screamed for her father. She dived into the water and emerged screaming again. King Eric jumped in with her and held her before she can dive back down.

"Mother?" Melody's voice called out as she pushed past the thickening crowds of the maliciously curious. She appeared to have run the distance to the shore from where they sent her to keep warm.

"Stay there, Melody!" King Eric ordered as he tried to calm his wife who kept shouting for her father.

Suddenly, Queen Ariel's cries took on even greater panicked tone as similar golden cuffs appeared on her wrists and the same invisible force began dragging her to the sea.

My aunt quickly froze the surrounding water to keep it from taking Queen Ariel. But whatever power the trident possessed was stronger and the mermaid queen was dragged across the expanse of ice. King Eric managed to catch her arms and he struggled to keep her from skidding further.

"ARIEL! HOLD ON!" King Eric shouted desperately.

"MOTHER!" Melody screamed. She tried to run to the frozen shore but my aunt saw her just as I did.

"Fredrik! Stop her! She could be next. Keep Melody away from the sea! Build ice around her if you have to!"

I intercepted her before she could reach the shore line. I used my entire body to block her path but she struggled against me that I had to hold her arms tightly to keep her from hitting me.

"DON'T LET ME GO, ERIC! DON'T LET ME GO!" Queen Ariel begged as she continued to be pulled towards the sea. King Eric tried to hold on as much as he could but he was also beginning to slide with her. Suddenly his hand slipped and without him to stop her movement, Queen Ariel skidded even faster across the ice faster towards the edge that opened to water.

"ARIEL! NO!"

My aunt raced to freeze the water to keep her from falling in. A sudden wave appeared out of nowhere amidst the calm harbor of the Coronan port and collapsed a part of her ice. It left a gap to which Queen Ariel fell through.

"ARIEL!" King Eric cried out as he made his way to jump into the same gap. Aunt Elsa saw through his intent and froze the gap just in time to keep him from being taken as well.

"MOTHER!" Melody cried as well. "Let go of me! Let go of me!" She struggled even harder against me that I was almost knocked down.

I shook her almost roughly and used my hands to send a thin layer of frost on her arms, enough to startle but not freeze her. "It's too late! Please come with me! We have to get you away or you could be taken too."

The cold seemed to jolt her and she stopped fighting. She did not protest when I led her to run away from the shore. It was quite difficult as several dozen people began running alongside us. The crowds that had been so eager to stay to find out what was happening all scampered madly back to the village in a wild frenzy. I knew that it won't be long before the whole population of Corona and all its guests are thrown into panic. But right now, that was not my immediate concern. What was important was to get Melody to safety. Several times I had to pull her in a different direction to prevent her from being crushed by the stampede.

When we reached safe a distance away from the crowds, Melody and I stopped to catch breath.

"What about my Daddy?" she asked. "Please, please help me to get him back. I don't want to lose him too."

I was worried as well for my aunt. From the vantage point we were in, I could still see my aunt standing on the layer of ice she made over the sea under the moonlight. King Eric was on his hands and knees and was attempting to break down the layer of ice with his fists.

"Unfreeze this Elsa! NOW!" King Eric shouted so loudly we could hear it even from this distance. "I need to get to her! Let me get to her!"

"Stop it Eric! She's gone! You can't follow her by diving in there! You won't survive!"

"I have to! I have to! She's my wife and I love her!" he cried desperately. He finally broke through her ice and he jumped into what I knew were freezing waters.

"ERIC!" my aunt screamed as she quickly unfroze the surrounding ice except for a little patch she stood on. "Come back!"

"Daddy?" Melody whimpered as we waited for what seemed a long time. Was King Eric pulled away by the force behind the trident the same as Queen Ariel and King Triton? But he couldn't breathe in there for long. If he didn't surface soon he could die.

To our relief he reappeared in a little distance from my aunt. She created ice steps to get to him and hauled the exhausted king up to her ice patch. He collapsed and sobbed into her arms.

She helped him up and he sagged onto her body as they walked on her layer of ice to the shore. Melody and I approached but I was cautious not to get too close to the water.

"Mother's gone," the little princess beside me said while we waited for my aunt and King Eric to come to us. She too fell on my shoulders and soaked my shirt with her tears.

"She's gone… I couldn't find her… she's gone…" King Eric cried when he faced his daughter. They held each other and cried together.

"We're going to get them back," Aunt Elsa assured them though I know there was little of hope that now. "We're going to get a ship. And we'll find her and King Triton too."

My aunt and I each took one side of the sobbing father and daughter and assisted them back to the castle. We found the village in total chaos. Both peasants and dignitaries alike were packing things into carriages and horses and moving either towards the mainland or to the ports. Those who had no means of transportation took what possessions they can carry on their backs and went on foot.

No one came to greet or help us. No one seemed to care. Everyone was too frightened and keen on getting out of the capital as fast as possible. It seems even Queen Rapunzel could no longer control the news of the catastrophe that had fallen the King of the Sea. Rumors spread like wildfire and the terror it inflicted was devastating.

It took us a while to get to the castle where a few Coronan servants who kept their heads finally gave us assistance. King Eric and Melody were settled into a drawing room with a warm fire and provided with blankets and hot drinks. Queen Rapunzel finally joined us and her face was even more crestfallen than I last saw her.

"The foreign guests have all scrambled to get to the ports to leave. I couldn't stop them anymore. Some of them think we're under attack. I tried to explain but no one wants to listen to reason."

"It's just as well," Aunt Elsa replied. "It would be safer for the moment if they all went home. It's less royal collateral damage if anything else goes wrong. Have you heard from Eugene or Hans?"

The brunette queen shook her head. "Eugene isn't back yet and Hans might be having a difficult time finding Heinrik. The ports are crazy right now. Everyone wants to get out of Corona as soon as they can."

She slumped down in a nearby couch and sobbed on her hands again. Aunt Elsa sat beside her and could do nothing but hold her.

"Fredrik," she whispered. "I need you to find Hans or any of our men. I'll join you later."

I went to do as my aunt asked. Within the corridors of the palace, the last remaining noble guests were dragging their pieces of luggage and rushing out the doors. No one wanted to stop for a moment to tell me what's happening.

Finally, I spied someone familiar. Flynnigan stood in the middle of the courtyard outside the main doors and were directing the Coronan soldiers to secure the castle and escort the royal guests to the ports. I ran to his side.

"Brigitta?" I whispered.

"She's safe back at the Alexandra," he replied. "I suggest you and your people go as well Prince Fredrik. I'll try to have escorts provided for your contingent. Is it true my brother has run away?"

I nodded to him.

His expression betrayed his own apprehension but he swallowed hard and resumed a resolute stance. "I'll worry about Peter later. Somebody has to take care of our people first. Forgive me, Prince Fredrik, I must see to order before people get hurt. I heard there was some looting now in the villages for provisions. Fights might start breaking out if no one's patrolling the streets."

As much as I hated the fact that he was Brigitta's chosen love, I couldn't help but admire the calm way he can step up in the midst of this crisis. I let him go but I remembered my original mission and I called out to him.

"Have you see Admiral Westergard or any of our men from Arendelle?"

He didn't need to answer, for we both saw Admiral Westergard running in from the direction of the docks. Flynnigan gave me a bow and continued on to pursue his tasks.

"Fredrik! Thank heavens, you're safe. Where's your aunt? Is she alright?" Admiral Westergard cried desperately.

"She's fine. She's in the drawing room with King Eric, Queen Rapunzel and Melody."

"There were so many rumors going on in the port I don't know what to believe. Is it true King Triton and Ariel were attacked and taken by forces unseen?"

I nodded and quickly related what happened this night.

"Did you find Heinrik?" I asked.

He shook his head. "He's gone. The entire Southern Isles contingent is gone from the port but so are a lot of other dignitaries. Anyone else could have opened that lamp and this attack on Triton might be a coincidence. But I don't believe so. It's starting, I can feel it. And it would be logical for Heinrik to take out those who have great powers before he strikes next. Triton is the most powerful here and now he is gone. I have a feeling Elsa is next and then you. We have to keep you two safe."

I led him back to the drawing room where I found my aunt the same way I left her. Admiral Westergard related what he knew to everyone else.

"Is Eugene back yet?" Queen Rapunzel asked.

There was an urgent knock and two servants came in bearing a stumbling Prince Eugene with the Carpet. He collapsed into a nearby couch and from his body language alone I knew the news was not good.

"What happened?" his wife knelt before him. He dropped his head on her shoulder and held her to him.

"I lost him Punzie! I lost our boy! The Carpet and I followed the ship for miles in the sky. It looked like it was headed towards this bright star. We went pass a cloud and then suddenly there was an invisible barrier that came before us. The ship went through but we couldn't. We tried to fly above it, below it, around it, but there was no way to get through. The ship disappeared and I can't find it anymore. It's gone! And so is our Peter!"

They wept together so pitifully that we could no longer think of any way to comfort them. We let them be, while we explained the situation to Admiral Westergard on the tragedy that befell the Tastris royal family.

"I'll try to ask her for help later to get Peter," Admiral Westergard whispered to my aunt.

"You think she'll agree to help you? She doesn't exactly like you, Hans," Aunt Elsa replied.

I was puzzled. Who were they were talking about?

"I've got to try for Eugene and Rapunzel's sake," he said. "But first things first: we've got to get you and Fredrik safe. You need to go home to Arendelle. Take Carpet and go. I'll stay and I'll try to organize a search for King Triton and Ariel. Maybe Melody has friends under the sea who can tell where they are and what's happening."

My aunt reached out and put a tender hand on his arm. "Be careful."

"She's got my back Elsa. You don't have to worry about me."

"I know, but even she is powerless against that genie." She leaned forward and whispered in his ear that I couldn't hear but I could read her lips just the same. "Come home to me."

"SCUTTLE!" Melody suddenly shouted. We all looked up and saw the princess pointing to the window where a seagull was flapping its wings wildly as if it was trying to get our attention.

Melody hurriedly opened the glass of the window. The bird flew into the room and dropped a familiar red crab into the floor that Melody identified as "Sebastian." It crawled into Melody's waiting palm. Melody seemed to understand something it was saying.

"Atlantica has fallen!" Melody gasped. "What about Mother? And Grandpa?"

King Eric leaned behind his daughter and the crab slipped a clamshell in his hand. With shaking fingers the king opened the shell. It revealed a bubble that seemed to be created out of light. A bony face appeared inside the bubble. Her hair was white and streaked with bluish gray that matched the bleak color of her skin that stopped short of the low neckline of her dress. Her dress extended to reveal black tentacles like she was part squid. But it was the fierce gaze of her large eyes that stared so menacingly at the King of Tastris that made me shiver.

"Hello Eric, remember me? It's Morgana. I'm back! And Atlantica is now mine. Triton is a bit tied up right now, but I think you'd be more concerned with your little wife."

"Where she is? What have you done to her?!" King Eric shouted.

"Oh calm down Eric, she's safe," the creature called Morgana mocked. "In fact she's home now in Tastris with your faithful subjects and little old me." She stepped back a little to reveal a seaside castle behind her that I guessed was the palace of Tastris. "I suggest you run home and find her before I deal them all in."

"If you hurt her or any of my people, you answer to me!" King Eric threatened.

"Oh I love a challenge, Eric dear. So please do come and see me." She leaned forward and eyed my aunt before she turned back to him. "Oh and by the way, bring the Snow Queen with you when you come. Because if don't, your wife and the poor people of Tastris are all dead."


Author's Note: In this story, Sebastian, Scuttle and other sea creatures can only speak directly to Triton, Melody and Ariel. I noticed that in The Little Mermaid movies, to some extent the animal characters can send messages that are more or less understandable (such as the case of Sebastian to Eric in Kiss the Girl). But I think the message they can send to humans is limited.