Chapter Nineteen

Return to the Sea

MELODY

A Crossing Point opened up on a reef, and two figures swam out into the vast blue sea. Melody, who had transformed into a mermaid in the Crossing Zone, had her legs replaced by her salmon pink tail, courtesy of the golden necklace around her neck. She had ditched her jacket back in Arendelle as well as her weapons. Her bow, arrows and other equipment weren't going to do her much good underwater, so there was no point in bringing them along. Beside her was Tracy, who had transformed back into her original form of an octopid, blue tentacles and all. After all, they were now on a mission that took place under the sea, so it made sense for them to return to the one place that would hold the answers to where they needed to go.

"It's been so long." Melody broke into a smile as she looked out from the reef at her home kingdom of Atlantica. The kingdom was truly beautiful, having been restored after the war Major Kane had brought to her home months ago. It was almost as if a fierce battle had never taken place in the waters of Denmark.

"Yeah, well. I visited a few times while you were away in school." Tracy began swimming towards the kingdom.

Melody smiled. She remembered the first time that she brought Tracy to Atlantica. The octopid had been terribly awkward and self conscious, since octopids had been banned from Atlantica for the longest time. However, after she had been granted access to the palace since she was a friend of the King's granddaughter, Atlantica was almost like a second home to her which was a pleasant surprise to Melody. With a flick of her salmon pink tail, she began swimming after Tracy.

"Slow down," She called out to Tracy, careful not to strain herself as she swam. "Cracked ribs, remember?"

"Oh, right." Tracy brought her fast pace to a slow glide through the water. The sea was her natural habitat after all, so it wasn't surprising that she was a fast swimmer by default.

Tracy looked back at Melody. "You really think your grandfather knows about the shipwreck in the Southern Sea?"

"Of course," Melody said confidently as she caught up to Tracy. "My grandfather makes it his business to know everything that happens in the water. He believes that it's part of his job as the King of the Seven Seas."

"Well that's convenient," Tracy grinned. "Saves us a lot of trouble tracking down the Qa'nneth ourselves."

"Don't forget, even though my grandfather might know where the ship is, the Qa'nneth might no longer be there after all these years."

"Right, bandits and raiders." Tracy rolled her eyes. "Always hated those sort. Coming into the Dark Zone and us always having to chase them off."

There was something of an awkward silence between them as they swam towards the kingdom of Atlantica, and both of them could sense it.

"You never wanted to come back to the Warriors, did you?" Tracy suddenly broke the silence, blunt as usual, but this time she was extremely perceptive which completely took Melody by surprise.

"I-" Melody started. That was really out of the blue. "Yes."

"Why?" Tracy asked. "I thought you loved the life of adventure?"

"I guess things changed," Melody admitted. "In the beginning, I would have done anything to leave my life of boredom behind for an adventure, a chance to redeem myself for my mistakes. You know, because of…" she glanced at Tracy, who understood and nodded. "But after we stopped the Major and returned to Denmark, I went back to school."

"And I was stuck as a merchant's assistant in the market."

"My point is, that's when things really began to change for me," Melody continued. "I had my adventure. I found my redemption. I was done. All I wanted was to focus on school. Sure, I felt alive when I was out with the Warriors, but I felt that that part of my life was over and I wanted to keep that door closed. But when I heard about Elsa and returned with the Warriors-"

"You felt like you were home." Tracy said. "Right?"

Melody sighed. "Yeah. Even though I've only known you guys a short time, you all feel like a second family to me. When we went our separate ways, a part of me always felt like-"

"A fish out of water." Tracy grinned.

"Yeah." Melody grinned back. Good old Tracy. "I heard from the others you singlehandedly fought four of the sorcerers by yourself back in Quodrun. You've certainly come into your own with the Warriors."

Tracy blushed. "Actually, I lost."

"We all did, Tracy."

"I don't know, it's just something the Pilgrim said that took the fight outta me." Tracy pursed her lips. "And don't get me wrong, she was pretty deadly with black magic and gave me the fight of my life. But she got inside my head."

"I think she has that effect on people." Melody said.

"No, that's what I mean." Tracy said. "She told me that I reminded her of herself in her younger days and that I would have made a great Pilgrim."

"What?"

"And that stuck with me since Quodrun." Tracy continued. "What if I turn out to be just like her? Or worse still…like my mother?"

Melody stopped swimming, and so did Tracy. "You don't have to worry about that," She placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "The Pilgrim was just trying to unnerve you. But she's wrong. She doesn't know what you've been through."

""But what if I'm not careful and end up going down the wrong path?"

"You made the choice to leave your family's cycle of violence behind and forge your own path. You're not going to turn out like your mother. Or the Pilgrim." Melody said firmly. "You've come so far from when I first found you in the Dark Zone. That girl would have never wanted anything to do with saving the world or risking her neck to fight the League of Sorcerers to save a boy she barely knew. But you now? I think we can all agree that we're proud of who you've become. I know I am." Melody smiled.

"Thanks…I guess." Tracy gave an uncertain smile, which was uncharacteristic of the usually nonchalant teenager.

"Come on, we should go."

The duo swam into the palace and the Atlantican soldiers they passed bowed deeply the moment they saw that the Princess of Atlantica had returned. Melody gave polite smiles and waved lightly as they manoeuvred through the palace. Eventually, they arrived at King Triton's Royal Court, and Melody was elated to see her grandfather sitting on the throne.

"Grandfather!" she shouted and attempted to swim quickly toward him, only to have pain shoot through her body and she remembered that her ribs had been injured back in the battle of Quodrun.

"Melody?" King Triton snapped out of his thoughts to see his granddaughter and her octopid friend before him. "You're hurt!" he exclaimed as he noticed the bruising on her face and the way she was moving. "What happened?"

Melody hugged her grandfather and he was extra cautious to return the embrace as lightly as he could, for fear of aggravating her injuries. "Long story. It's been a while since I last saw you!"

"Ah yes," Triton agreed. "I wished you would have visited more."

"I've been busy in school," Melody said guiltily but truthfully, pulling away from him. "I would have wanted to come more often though."

"Instead, I've seen more of your friend than I have my own granddaughter." Triton nodded in acknowledgment of Tracy, who waved back.

Melody cringed at Tracy's lack of royal etiquette. Tracy wasn't one who cared about the rules, and it certainly showed. She was incredibly fortunate that Triton gave her leeway since she was friends with his granddaughter.

"I'm sorry, Grandfather," Melody said. "I wish this reunion was under better circumstances."

"Then this isn't a social call?"

"We need your help." Tracy chimed in.

"What's wrong?" There was concern in Triton's voice, and Melody felt her heart warm, knowing that her grandfather was always quick and ready to come to her aid when she needed it.

"First of all, I could use a little healing magic," Melody said in embarrassment.

"Of course." Triton reached for the golden trident that was etched in the stand beside his throne, and pointed it at his granddaughter. Soft golden rays were emitted from the trident, and travelled towards Melody. The rays seeped into her body, and she glowed brightly as the magic repaired and tended to her wounds. Then, the glow subsided and Melody's body was once again free of injury.

Melody touched her face and could not find the bruises that Prometheus had left behind as a gift. She then checked her side, and was pleasantly surprised to find that her ribs no longer ached and the sharp pain as a result of the cracked ribs had disappeared.

"Thanks, Grandfather." Melody said gratefully as she tested her agility and flexibility.

Triton stuck the trident back in the stand beside his throne. "What happened? Who did that to you?"

Melody glanced at Tracy who shrugged her shoulders. "It's…" Melody paused. "It's a long story."

"Obviously." Triton said. "Another warlord trying to destroy the world?"

"Believe it or not, it's a lot more complicated than that this time."

"Oh? Like what?"

"Ahh…" Melody glanced at Tracy.

"No thanks, you're doing great." Tracy grinned and Melody rolled her eyes.

Triton stared at the two girls inquisitively.

Melody cleared her throat before continuing. "Do you know about a royal ship that sunk in the Southern Sea three years ago?"

Triton raised an eyebrow.

"It was an Arendellian ship from Norway which belonged to the royal family. Do you know where exactly it sank?"

"I recall reading about it a few years back. Sebastian was telling me about a ship of Norwegian Royalty sinking into the Eiden territory which sparked off a dispute between the various raiding factions." Triton frowned, trying to remember.

"Eiden?" Melody could see that Tracy was visibly surprised, though she didn't offer anything in the way of an explanation.

"Yes. Let me see what I can find in the archives." He swam towards the exit. "Follow me."

Triton led them to his private library where he kept archives of all things beneath the sun-and beneath the surface too. Items ranged from books on various forms of magic, huge volumes on the history of the sea kingdoms, countless archives of successful battle tactics employed in wars from decades past, to maps of places as far as the other side of the ocean.

"So, Your Majesty," Tracy cleared her throat as Triton began searching for the record book he was looking for. "If you could tell us what we're getting ourselves into, that'll be real helpful."

"Eiden territory is a place most merfolk avoid," Triton had his back facing the two girls as he frowned at his numerous shelves of books. "I don't feel comfortable knowing that you two are going there alone."

"Honestly, neither do I." Tracy muttered under her breath.

"We can take care of ourselves," Melody said. "After all, we did play a huge role in the Battle of Atlantica."

Tracy glanced away awkwardly, and Melody noticed. No one knew that the former sea witch had actually gone rogue during the Battle of Atlantica and helped the enemy to escape with the trident, and Melody hadn't told anyone. She didn't see the need to. After all, Tracy had just been confused and hurt, and Melody blamed herself for that. If she had told her grandfather the truth, Tracy wouldn't have been allowed to enter the kingdom at all.

"I have no doubt you two are capable of taking care of yourselves. Still, Eiden is a very dangerous place," Triton removed the book he was looking for from the shelf and turned to face the two girls. "Bandits, raiders, gangs, corrupt merchants, hostile locals…the list goes on."

"We don't really have a choice." Melody said.

"What's so important that you must journey there?" Triton inquired curiously.

"Ah," Melody hesitated. It was a very long story, and telling it would mean that her grandfather would know of her dangerous exploits of late, and she knew he wouldn't be very pleased. For the past few years, she had done her best to keep him in the dark regarding her adventures because she knew her grandfather had a tendency to be worrisome.

"We're…like…in the middle of a war against a bunch of sorcerers." Tracy piped up, and she got an annoyed glance from Melody.

The King arched his eyebrows, but didn't say a word.

"And one of them in a Ha'naeth like me, which means she can be stopped by Qa'nneth."

"The bronze amulet that protects the wielder from a Ha'naeth." Triton said.

"Yeah, exactly." Tracy said.

"Our friend's parents found the Qa'nneth and planned a voyage across the Southern Sea to a mystical river called Ahtohallan for answers about how to wield the amulet." Melody explained.

"Ahtohallan." Triton's face was grim. "Stay away from that place."

"We're not headed there." Melody assured him.

"I know. But all the same, steer clear of it."

"Why?"

"Legend has it," Triton said. "If you go too far into Ahtohallan, you will be drowned."

"I don't really see how that's applicable to us, since we can survive underwater." Tracy shrugged.

"All the same, keep away from it. It is said that only a few who have strong enough wills have ever emerged from Ahtohallan alive."

"Anyway," Melody continued for Tracy. "The ship went down somewhere in the Southern Sea during a freak storm, and so did the Qa'nneth. We're hoping you could tell us where it sank."

"That storm," Triton noted. "I remember hearing of that too, three years ago. It was…unnatural."

"You mean like someone could have been manipulating the weather and the waves?" Melody's eyes grew wide.

"Wouldn't be the first time." Triton said dryly and opened the book. "Anyway, look here." He pointed at one of the pages, and the two girls looked over his shoulder. "It wasn't the Southern Sea. The ship went off course and found itself in the Dark Sea. That's where the ship was caught in the storm and sank a few hundred metres south of the trading post of Eiden. That sparked off a small war between the different raiding factions for the treasures that rested in the ship."

"It was the royal ship of the monarchy after all." Melody glanced at Tracy, who still seemed disturbed.

"You sure the ship's in Eiden?" Tracy asked as if she was hoping for a different answer.

"Yes. And as for the map," Triton placed the book back where he took it, and swam across to the opposite shelves and pulled out a stack of maps. He scanned through them, looking for the region of Eiden, and passed the right one to his granddaughter. "Here," He looked at her anxiously. "Please be careful."

"Don't worry, Grandfather. We will." Melody reassured him.

"Eiden isn't a kind post." The King reinforced his earlier warning. "I could send a couple of guards with you."

"No, no. We'll manage fine on our own. Thanks." Melody said hurriedly.

"Then please," Triton implored. "Watch out for each other."

"We will. Thanks Grandfather." Melody hugged her grandfather tightly, now that her injuries and pain had vanished. "I promise I'll visit again soon. Once this is all over." She pulled away with the map in hand, and Tracy waved goodbye to the King as they both swam out of the library.

###

The two Warriors emerged from a Crossing Point, and Tracy closed it behind her. They hovered out in the open as they looked around for the ship that belonged to Anna and Elsa's parents, surrounded by what appeared to be endless miles of dark murky water. Where they were, the sun was already beginning to set and soon it would be pitch black. They had to hurry if they were going to find the Qa'nneth before they were stuck in a foreign territory without light.

"And I thought the Dark Zone was bad." Melody muttered.

"Maybe this was a mistake." Tracy glanced around nervously.

"Why?" Melody was genuinely confused. "You looked spooked when my grandfather mentioned Eiden."

Tracy avoided eye contact, pretending to scan the horizon for the Arendellian ship.

"What's it about Eiden that gets to you?"

"Nothing." Tracy replied quickly.

"Tracy," Melody said. "If there's something I should know before we go any further, now's the time to spill it. I don't want to end up walking into some trap or something."

"No, no. It's not Eiden. It's just…" Tracy paused. "Never mind. Let's go."

Melody stared at Tracy for a few seconds before turning her attention back to the obscured horizon. "You sure this is the right place?"

"According to the map," Tracy unfolded the crumpled paper. "Unless your grandfather was wrong."

"I see something." Melody squinted, her eyes a slit and her face scrunched up as if she had just chewed something incredibly bitter. "A faint structure…" She swam quickly through the gloomy waters, unimpeded by her previous injuries which had miraculously healed thoroughly, and Tracy followed a short distance behind apprehensively.

As they drew closer to the structure, it became clearer, which was a miracle given the environment they were in. As it was, they could hardly see farther than twenty metres in front of them. However, it was definitely undisputed that the structure was that of a ship which had been battered about in an unnaturally fierce storm, and possibly also in a heated battle for spoils once it had descended into the depths below.

"Scan the different cabins." Melody said as they swam into the wreckage of the ship and opened a cupboard. "Go through everything."

"I'm pretty sure the raiders have already taken everything of value," Tracy called out from another segment of the damaged ship. It was no longer clear what separated the cabins from the galley or the bilge, given the state that the ship was in. "And that includes the Qa'nneth. The raiders aren't idiots. The amulet is made of bronze, which has to have some value out here."

"You're right," Melody joined Tracy after she had scanned the rooms. "There's nothing in there."

"Uh…Melody?" Tracy hissed, and Melody caught her cue to stop making too much noise. The two watched as two long and thick sea serpents glided outside the ship. Their huge dark green scales cast shadows over the already gloomy waters, and the two girls pressed close to a wall of the ship that still stood intact.

"We should get out of here." Tracy gasped after the serpents were a safe distance away from the ship. "This place is a nightmare."

"That's seriously saying something, coming from you." Melody grinned. After all, the former sea witch had lived in the Dark Zone where they first met, and it was without question a slump.

"Look." She pointed at an area where the murky waters seemed to end. A small town, Eiden, was located about two hundred metres from the ship, and though it laid outside the murky waters, it still had an overcast and dreary look which had the opposite effect that a trading post should have had.

"Eiden." Melody could pick up a hint of dread in Tracy's voice.

"You sure you're up for this?"

"Yeah of course."

"Then come on." Melody started swimming toward the small town. "If the Qa'nneth has been taken, that's where it'll most likely be."

"This is not going to end well." Tracy muttered under her breath as she tried to catch up with the mermaid.

Writer's Commentary:

Finally we return to the sea. Honestly, I've always had trouble writing the chapters from the previous book that took place underwater. I can't seem to visualize how things would play out in the ocean. Though it is definitely a completely magical and fun landscape to write.

Anyway, we will be taking some time to explore Tracy's arc. She is wondering if she is headed down the right path, and is worried if she'll turn out like the villainous Pilgrim. We will be exploring more of that in the coming chapters. But first, let's return to Arendelle.

Please take some time to review! I'll really appreciate it!