Disclaimer: Ella Enchanted, all its characters, all its everything, does not belong to me. I also got a couple ideas from the book Wings of the Morning, by Lori Wick. The joke at the end, is not mine, but at the moment I don't remember the comedian's name. However, all characters you have not been introduced to until the beginning of this story belong to me. So, do all the places. Please contact me first if you wish to use my characters, or whatever. Therefore, I can read your story! J

To Melt the Ice by Dying Flames

Chapter 2

Before Aden's thoughts were able to wander much farther, Adie emerged with two thick blankets. She wore a short-sleeved tunic and breeches, except hers were cut above the knee.

Tossing Aden one of the blankets, she asked, "Want to change here or where we're going?"

Not quite sure where they were going would have a dressing room, Aden hastily said, "Here." He stalked into the bedroom she had just come out of to change.

Five minutes later, he came out wearing the makeshift swimming clothes.

With a chuckle Adie said, "Took you long enough, I was beginning to think you might be dead."

What Aden said next took all the laughter out of Adie's eyes. "I should be."

Since there was nothing else to say, "Hum." Was how Adie responded. "Let me check your head before we go." She carefully cut away the bandages she had placed on his forehead about two hours ago. "Much better. Come on, let's go. I found a very distressed stallion as I was picking apples today. Perhaps he's yours."

"Wait, how did you heal my head so fast?"

"The bandages are made by fairies." She said matter of factly.

She led him to a black horse. "Eli." Aden murmured.

Adie whistled through her teeth. A stallion galloped towards her. The beautiful horse had a chestnut coat and mane with glints of red and gold here and there. Adie slipped on easily as she was accustomed to riding bareback, where as Aden took just a bit longer with his saddle.

"Hyah!" cried Adie and they were off, Aden following her closely. The wind was riding through Adie's hair and she became oblivious to the fact that Aden was with her.

*~!~*

Before Adie knew it, they were at the dock. Aden called, "Adie! Wait up!"

She stopped and did as she was asked. Amazingly enough, the pair did not make for out of the ordinary. All girls visible on the dock had tanned dark skin and a sprinkling of freckles. Adie chestnut hair was in a long braid down her back and most girls had opted for the simple garments that she wore. Though Aden was not as tan as Adie, there were so many work boys on the wharf that he was not noticed. "Hurry up!" Called Adie over the din of the mob. The salty air engulfed her, making her somewhat light headed and giddy. She wound her way through the crowd to her father's ship, The Wind catcher.

"Ahoy Adie!" Jarek, Adie's favorite crewmember called.

"Hi Jarek!" She called happily back. She had known the whole crew her whole life. She was born on a ship and sailed with her father until she was 16 years old. Then Peter got this strange idea in his head that she should stay home and find herself a husband. Her attitude on that matter was, "yeah, like that will ever happen."

As Adie and Aden dismounted and tied their horses up, Jarek walked up to them and asked, "Who've ya brought wif ya Adie?"

"This is Aden." She turned to Aden, "How far do you live from here? Depending on where you live, I could probably convince my father to sail you there." She smiled. "This way, I could have an excuse to go sailing again."

"I live in Kyrria."

Adie's eyes widened. "That's a three month's sail from here. Oh well, no matter." With that, she disappeared below deck.

Aden looked around. All the ship hands were at least forty years old, and they were all looking at him strangely.

"What?" he nearly yelled in frustration that he couldn't read the looks on their faces.

"Name's Aden, eh? Live in Kyrria? Must be hard to live where the prince lives and have the same name." Jarek said, revealing to Aden that they knew his identity. "I suggest you tell Adie soon lad," he continued. "You've got something coming if you hurt her." Before Aden had a chance to reply, Adie emerged with a triumphant smile.

"Pa says that our next destination is the Porcelain Islands," Adie said, naming her favorite tropical paradise. "Then, we head straight for Kyrria. For now, though, hoist the anchor and move to deeper waters."

"Are those Cap'ns orders?" Asked one of the men.

"As long as I am on this ship they are." She said with a dignified authority so amusing that laughter erupted from the whole ship. Even Aden had to smile.

"What are you waiting for? Do as I said." Adie commanded. The sailors rushed to do her bidding. Aden had no idea what to do. Then Jarek tossed him a rope, "Make yourself useful lad, we need these sails up, so pull."

Adie watched, entertained by how Jarek was forcing Aden to work. For a few minutes she watched Aden struggle, then walked up to him and said in clear frustration, "Like this." She grabbed some of the rope in front of Aden and pulled, dropping the slack behind her. In no time, the sails were up. "There's not much left to do." Adie said, "But, a bit of advice, don't let them get to you, and leave that guy," pointing towards a sailor now carving something out of wood, "alone while he's carving. Lest all Hell break loose." She ran off and started climbing the rigging with skill only the daughter of ship's captain would have.

*~!~*

Half an hour later Adie's voice was heard over the roaring of the waves. "Lower anchor! This is where we will be swimming today!" She was climbing down from the top of the rigging, which had served as her look out post. Five feet from the bottom Jarek took her by the waist and swung her down the rest of the way. Beginning an old game of theirs, he didn't let go. In a low growl Jarek said, "I've got ya now lass, now tell me where ye father's treasure is hidden."

"Never will I betray my father's trust. I will die before I tell you!" Adie called back, fake horror all over her face.

"So be it! Time to walk the plank, fair maiden. 'Tis a pity we must lose such a lovely face."

In reply, Adie spit at Jarek's feet. Turning back to his normal voice. "Well now, you've just added that. Ya could've warned me. Now you're really going to walk the plank. Bring me a foil!" At once, another 'pirate' appeared with a sword. Jarek took Adie's arm and roughly shoved her onto, 'the plank'. He put the tip of his foil to her back and said, "walk lass."

Adie slowly and dramatically began to walk, stopping now and then for drama purposes. At the end of the plank, she turned to Aden. "This is my favorite part." She turned back to the front and the foil in her back poked her harder. She took one last step forward, and with "Tally Hoe!" She jumped. Jarek turned to Aden, "Now sir, you may join the woman on your own, or by force. Either way you're going to sleep with the fishes."

Aden, having a flare for the dramatic, said, "I die by my own hand and no other." He climbed onto the ledge of the ship and looked down, where Adie was watching him with interest. Aden prepared to dive when a hand came from nowhere and pushed him. He lost his balance and fell, making quite a scene on the way.

Aden felt his body hit the water. It was cold (to state the obviousJ) but refreshing. He felt goosebumps rise across his arm. A splash to his left caused him to look Adie's way. She was beckoning to him. "Look at this Aden." She said handing him a sand dollar.

The next two hours passed in this same way.

Adie sadly told Aden, "It's time to go. Do you want to go up the ladder first, or should I?"

"You go ahead and go first."

Adie nodded in agreement and started up the ladder, a bag of seashells and other such treasures clicking against her thigh. She knelt wrapped in the blanket that served as a towel that she had brought with her as she waited for Aden, and spread out the items the two had foud floating around. For they had been in a natural rock formation. The rock was shaped like a bowl, and it was only about 13 feet in the deepst part.

Aden finally reached the top of the ladder. Adie gave him his towel, and in an attempt to mak ehim laugh she said, "Look at all this stuff, isn't it great?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"I have an even better seashell collection though." She soberly said. "I keep it scatered on all the beaches of the world. Maybe you've seen it."

When Aden smiled and said, "You know, I think I have seen it. Isn't it the one that had this extrordinary conch shell?" Adie knew everything, for the time being, would be allright.

From Me to You:

How was it? I had to rewrite the whole chapter, that's why it took so long. Please review, flames are cool too, and I am new at this, so any suggestions are welcome. Please remember: I just write my thoughts, letting the story take twists and turns not originally in the plot. Then, I hope it doesn't it doesn't stink. (Too much J)