Ariel stood at tiptoe by the palace gates, completely annoyed. It was already the evening on her second day and she had not seen her prince once! She had wandered out of the sea and found clothes hanging between buildings. They were rough, and large, but she was glad she had them whenever the wind blew. It was so different up here than below. Here everywhere there was noise and rough calls and a bustling hurry. She would enjoy it if it wasn't so confusing. She was hungry. Twice now she had slipped down to the sea to find what plant life she could, but it tasted dull and strange when she tried it. She had almost been caught once by some sailors as she came out of the water, and was still a little frightened by having to run so far away. It was such a different world up here in the sun. Perhaps not quite as amazing as she had imagined, and she wished suddenly that she had never followed that stupid ship.
Even as she thought it there was a stirring at the gate and she saw a group come from the palace. There, at last, Prince Philip descended the stair! There were people about, all dressed in dull colors, passing flowers down as he passed. She heard mummers about their king, and thought perhaps these people were mourning something. He came closer, head down, guards on either side and Ariel jostled towards the front of the crowd. He was almost upon her when she shouted his name, desperate to make him stop.
He paused, and she thought perhaps he recognized her voice from when she had sung for him. His gaze swept over the crowd, landing on her for an instant. Her heart leapt, then his gaze moved along, and he walked on. Confused, she tried to follow him, but the crowd jostled against her. She tried calling again, but a clamor had begun and she was drowned out. Instead she watched him mount his steed and ride off, her completely unnoticed.
Belle stood in the library, staring longingly at all of the books that stretched ceiling high. The king had given her leave a few days to explore the castle and decide where she would like to work most. Despite the sentence that hung over her head, it had been days spent in wonder at all she had seen. Tapestries and corridors of polished stone. Gardens that stretched far and wide with fountains and paths to wander. The kitchen was always a bustle of activity, with scents wafting on warm air. She soon learned that though they need only prepare enough food for the king and the servants here, the kitchen also provided meals for several different schools near the castle. Belle was amazed, and had spent most of the morning kneading bread and listen to Betty scold the different dishes for having a mind of their own. She thought the woman a mite strange, but she enjoyed the company.
Now as the afternoon sun warmed the gardens, Belle was pulled from her thoughts as a group of men arrived on horseback. Curious she moved into the hall as Andrew moved to answer the door, part of her thinking perhaps it was her father come to make things right.
It was not. A man strode in without waiting for Andrew, leaving two guards at the door. He was tall and blond with a serious eye. He looked almost handsome if he wasn't so brooding. He passed brusquely by Belle without even looking at her, and she frowned. He was likely royalty so maybe he could afford to be arrogant, but she was glad the ruler of this castle was not like that. Turning, she returned to the library and let the king deal with his visitor.
Marcus met him at the door. "Philip," the pair shook hands, "Good to see you. How are you?" Philip shrugged, giving his friend a tight smile. His usually smiling eyes were dark and his mood seemed distracted.
"Good, fine. Yourself?"
Marcus nodded in response, "How are things at home?"
Philip nodded a little pondering his question, then abruptly he sat down and dropped his head in his hands. "I don't know what I'm doing, Marcus. Him dying, it was so unexpected. His advisers want me to take the throne immediately, but I have some time to decide. His wife and her adviser have been leading in our absence, and I don't have to take control for some months, if it all."
"Do you really not want the throne?" Marcus asked, and Philip dropped his hands in frustration and stood.
"It's not a matter of wanting. I'm not ready Marcus."
Marcus shrugged quietly, "I don't think any of us ever are."
Philip frowned at him, then plopped back in his seat. "But anyway, that's not why I'm here. Have you seen her?"
Marcus spread his hands, "I told you I would wait to tell her, and you know if I saw her she would ask."
"So you aren't sure how she even is?"
Marcus frowned at his friend's unusual short temper, although he could well understand the reasons, "I didn't say that. I've had reports that she is well."
Philip blew at a long breath. "Alright," he said, standing abruptly, "we should go."
Marcus followed him out. They passed Andrew and Belle in the hall. Marcus gave a nod, and would have introduced his friend but Philip was obviously not in the mood. The blond followed him on horseback until Marcus dismounted, "We walk from here."
"I was thinking," Philip said as he dismounted. "I've been cursed now. Shouldn't I be able to enter?"
Marcus rolled his shoulder, debating his answer. He knew Philip would realize eventually, and this was perhaps the perfect test to see if his transference spell had really worked, but Philip would not be happy to hear he still couldn't see his sister after believing he could.
"It's possible," Marcus allowed, leading Philip down a small path.
"But?" Philip prompted, and Marcus paused. Turning to face his friend, he spoke evenly.
"They night after we were cursed, Eric asked me to do a transference spell. To take your heart covenant and put it on him."
Philip gaped at him. "And you did it?"
"I tried." Marcus answered honestly, "Nothing like that has been tried before. I'm not sure if it worked."
"So if I can't enter..."
"That means it worked."
"It means I can't see my sister!" Philip snapped, and Marcus just stood, waiting for his friend to calm. "You should have consulted me." he said after a minute.
"You would have refused." Marcus stated evenly. "Eric swore an oath to protect his king. He felt responsible."
"There's nothing he could have done." Philip protested.
"But there was something he could do for you, and he did it. We did what we could to save a friend."
"By sentencing Eric?" Philip shot back, and Marcus regarded him calmly.
"Eric is not in charge of a country. A life dept of a soldier is far less effective than the life dept of a king. Think of your people."
Philip scowled at him, but Marcus could see his words pushing through. They walked on, and as the glen thickened, Marcus looked over his shoulder, "It's soon."
They had not gone far when Philip suddenly stopped. "I don't want to go further." The words popped out of his mouth, and he looked startled by them. Marcus smiled,
"That's the magic working. There's an aversion border before any physical attempts to stop you. It will be best if you wait here. And Philip?"
The blond looked at him
"This means it worked. Your life is your own."
Philip scowled at him, "Say hello for me," he grumbled, and Marcus nodded.
He passed into the wood, letting it darken around him. It left a comforting coolness on his skin. It had been too long. His magic flowed naturally into him and he reached the clearing and heard the sound of voices. He paused at the edge.
Aurora sat perched on a stone in a little shaft of sunlight. Perched on her finger was a wood nymph, chattering animatedly about something as Aurora nodded along.
"Oh yes, I see, and he would not give it back?"
The nymph shook its head, and brown fur that framed its head ruffled.
"Well did you ask for it?" Aurora questioned. The nymph hopped twice before squeaking out an answer.
"Why don't you go try that?"
It scurried off her finger and down the stone. Marcus watched amazed as she stood and shook out her skirts, several leaf fairie floating harmlessly to the ground, before turning towards the house. She spotted him and froze.
"Lord Marcus!" she started forward almost excitedly, but grew shy before she reached him and paused. "I did not know you had returned." she continued more demurely.
"Only just." he answered simply. She had changed since last he had been here. She looked warmer, perhaps older. He realized it had been over two years since she had been taken from her home.
"How have you been?" he asked simply.
"Well." She smiled, but her eyes dimmed a little. She had been on her own for many months, no doubt she was lonely. "The peds have kept me quite safe and the forest has kept me company." She smiled about as she spoke, and Marcus saw the amulet pressed in her hand.
"I see you've put it to use," he waved a hand at the amulet and for some reason she flushed.
"I have, perhaps more than I should have."
Marcus could imagine, she had been left her for so long she would have sought company, and had obviously formed friendships. He was half amazed by it.
"It would have run out it you over-used it."
Marcus explained it lightly, and Aurora felt herself blushing further. Holding the amulet she could see the magic behind his eyes, knew he had witnessed her talking with the nymph, and she was half afraid of what his reaction would be when she told him.
"Well, Lord Marcus. It did run out..."
How well she remembered that night. Some six months after he had left, she had fallen asleep holding the amulet. How she had cried in terror when she had woken to find it winking feebly with its last light. She had spent precious few moments each night out watching the fairy lights, talking to each one though they never seemed to notice her. How terrified she was facing losing that quiet interaction every day. Then one by one fairy and nymph alike had hopped on her window sill. They had said something to the ped who allowed them to pass. Each tiny glowing creature had gathered around her amulet then.
"…I think the fairies and the nymphs. They recharged it."
Marcus surprised her then by laughing out loud. It was a deep, warm sound and she stared in quiet wonder at it. He shook his head smiling, "That shouldn't surprise me."
He sobered at her look, "I'm glad, Lady Aurora. They must care for you."
She smiled timidly, "I think we may be friends." "Would you like some tea?" she added, turning towards the home. "Runner, the ped, he showed me these leaves and they make wonderful tea."
Marcus followed her into the small hut, surprised by the ease and confidence she moved through this place like it had truly become her home. He saw the leaves she went to prepare and sent the peds in the door a knowing look. It was a bright, pretty leaf that made a light sweet tea used to aide sleep, specifically used to chase away nightmares. Despite her smiles, she was not sleeping well.
He waited for the water to warm, listening to her tell him of the friends she had made. It was obvious she craved conversation, and he spoke willingly of little things. It was nice, in a way, to sit in warmth and speak of nothing, as if the outside world did not exist. But as she filled a cup and placed it before him, she settled across from him with her own.
"So, is there news?"
Aurora watched Marcus carefully. He was a large man, and took up much of her small kitchen, and she was distracted for a moment by how the lines of magic beneath his dark skin played with the firelight. Abruptly she released the stone. He caught the movement but didn't question it.
It had been too long since she had seen a simple human being and talked of normal things.
"I do, Lady Aurora, but I fear it is not all well." He set down his cup and faced her solemnly.
"Philip is here, alive and well. He came as far as he could to see you and is waiting for me to return with news of you. But your father, Aurora, king Aberlese was killed on the battle field by the Enchantress."
She stared, blinking, before stumbling up abruptly from the table.
"Forgive me" she stammered, tears gathering, before stumbling to the door. Marcus made no move to follow her, instead he watched through the window as she ran to the edge of the wood before crumpling at the base of a tree. He did not have to call out the fairie as he may have done.
They came, floating and scampering to comfort their friend, covering them in soft light. She did not look up, and Marcus realized suddenly that the amulet still lay on the table.
He shut his eyes. Without physical touch it was harder, took more energy to share, but he worked to pass a piece of his magic to her. If he could help, in any small way, to ease her grief, he would. He opened his eyes to see her gazing up at the fairy light, the glow reflecting off her tears, before she curled up with the nymphs beside the tree.
He stayed still, passing what magic he could, watching as larger creatures came from the wood, ped and stag and far creatures of the wood came to comfort the girl who had lived among them for so long.
She fell into sleep, and Marcus stayed until it grew cold, and a stag prodded her awake. She pushed herself up, smiling at them all weakly, before returning to the home. She looked surprised to see him there still, and he smiled gently as he stood.
"Get some rest, Lady Aurora, I will return when I can."
She nodded her thanks and Marcus passed from the hut. Outside he paused and took in the creatures gathered there. He thanked them each in their own tongue, and one by one they bowed in response. He knew he could tell Philip with all assurance that his sister was well protected and safe, with every bit of this forest determined to protect her.
He had told Philip he may well be a while, and the blond stood up quickly from where he had been laying against a tree.
"How is she?" he demanded.
As they walked back to their horses Marcus told him all that had transpired as succinctly as he could.
"Atleast she's safe," Philip said when he finished, "I just hate that she's so alone."
"Marcus," he began after they mounted their horses to ride back, "I've been wondering. Aurora's curse, can't you transfer it like you did mine?"
Marcus heard the hope in his friend's voice and hated to dash it, but he shook his head. "I would have to be connected to her curse to be able to act on it. You and I were cursed together, there was enough of a connection for me to act on, but only when I did, a connection that slim would fade quickly. There's nothing to tie me to Aurora's curse."
"She's your friend." Philip insisted, as if that should be enough.
Marcus smiled ruefully, "I'm afraid it doesn't work that way."
No matter how much he may wish that it did.
Ariel stumbled through dirty alley, dank with the stench of dirty water. It turned her stomach. How had she been so foolish? How could she have been so naive. It was the evening of the third day, and she had not seen Philip again, not spoken to him, told him her name, shared any of the things she thought she would have plenty of time to do.
Her time was almost up, and she stumbled toward the harbor, exhausted and alone. She stood on the banks, weeping softly, wishing with all that she was that she was home. Turning, she walked the shoreline, watching the afternoon waste away, the sun lowering slowly towards the horizon.
A thought gripped her. She must find the woman of the water, find the one who had passed this spell and beg for more time. Panicking, she began to run along the bank, headed toward the docks. She stopped every passer byer she saw, but most waved her off, telling her to lay off the drink. It was almost dusk when an old man caught her attention. He was slumped outside of an ale house, looking as if he slept there.
"I seen that woman you want. I'll tell you anything, for a coin."
Ariel dug frantically in the pockets of the oversized garments, knowing full well they were empty, "I have nothing," she cried.
"Ah," the old man sighed, "Figured you'd be worth nothing. She's down there!" he pointed a gnarled finger far down the shore, "I see her sometimes, sneaking that way. Don't know what's down there, but look an maybe you'll find her."
Ariel thanked him repeatedly, running in the direction he sent, desperate to beat a dying sun. She ran far down the shore line, legs and lungs burning, towards a tall cove of rocks. She burst towards it shouting frantically, desperate to find the woman.
A voice came from behind her, and Ariel turned to see her there, standing tall and regal as ever.
"Ah, my child. The third night. Have you found his heart?"
Ariel began weeping bitterly, "Please, I need more time."
The woman waved a hand, "There's nothing I can do. Go. Live what life you can, and remember any lesson you may have learned."
With that the woman turned and vanished into the stones.
"No!" Ariel cried out, scrambling up the stone after her. She rounded a ledge and came to a sudden stop.
There stood the woman who had cast her spell, but she was different. Her gown was the same flowing silk, but her hair, her eyes, everything had changed.
"Please," Ariel panted, and the woman turned sharply, eyes flashing as she caught sight of her, and as the last rays of the sun painted the horizon, pure rage swept over the woman's face.
"How dare you!" she snarled in a voice Ariel had never heard before. She lunged forward, catching Ariel by the collar. The mermaid opened her mouth to speak, but no sound emerged. Panicking she grasped at her throat, mouthing words that would not come, and the woman laughed.
"Just in time, I suppose. You should have left, child, I can't have any one seeing me like this," she waved a hand over herself. Mercilessly she dug her fingers into Ariel's throat, but not a moment later she winced as if in sudden pain.
"Oh that's right," she muttered, "Mermaid." she spit out the word, and Ariel stared, uncomprehending. The woman released her a moment as if to think. Instantly Ariel tried to scramble away.
"Not so fast!" the woman snapped, and Ariel found herself near frozen in place, "I may not be able to kill you, but I have other magic you know." Grabbing the mermaid by the arm the woman hauled her back with unnatural strength and threw her bodily into one of the caves. Ariel collapsed awkwardly on the ground, still unable to move, barely able to breath.
She watched in horror as the woman raised her hands, words flowing from her in an ugly tongue, then she smiled.
"There," she said, looking quite pleased, "You'll be able to move soon, but it won't do any good. I've sealed you in here," she said it so cheerfully, and Ariel felt panic build, "Now be a good little mermaid, and don't make too much noise. Oh that's right!" she laughed as if she had forgotten, "You can't."
And with that the woman flounced away, leaving Ariel cold and alone on the hard stone floor.
