Disclaimer: I own all. I was advised by a reviewer to include here that I do happen to use elements of the original Little Mermaid story so they do not belong to me no matter how much fun they are to use, but I own everything else.

Author's note: Hey look, I'm not dead. I may be failing a class but I'm not dead. Sorry, this took so long. I'll try to get another one out soon.

Here's chapter fourteen. I'm not sure how much longer this story will go. Maybe until chapter twenty. Tell me what you think.

Thanks to Ashy and Kat for the betas and thanks to everyone who reviewed.

Reminders:

"/Words/" = Common/ English.

"Words" = Melena's home language - Athenian

{Words} = Written words in Athenian

{Words} = Written common/English.

~A new day, a new land~

"I can't leave you behind, Abel. We are leaving the castle." She had figured out his true identity months ago but decided not to acknowledge it.

He said nothing, allowing her to lead. Their escape from the castle was relatively simple. No one paid them any attention as they slipped out the servant's entrance and across the drawbridge.

Once they crossed the huge wooden monstrosity Eloren was convinced they were safe. They made their way to the forest where she was sure the guards couldn't find them.

She was sure that the guards couldn't find them but, she had not counted on the Carthan king hosting a hunting party that morning; he had invited a group of royalty from Sanar. The party had split into two groups and each one included a king. The party that was in the direct path of the mer-people included the young Sanarian king.

The two mer- people walked through the dark, cool, forest along a deer track. Of course they had no idea that it was not a true path at all. 

One man from the king's hunting party saw the two travelers just before they saw him. He cried out and halted the hunt. The hunters quickly surrounded the two travelers easily.

The Sanar king's friend, Wilhelm of Carnie, knew Melena for what she was the moment he got a look at her face and the harp on her back. He summoned the king quickly when she and her companion said nothing. He believed they could not speak the common language and needed the king to translate.

Only royalty were taught the dialects of supernatural beings and so naturally Wilhelm was forced to go through the king to speak with the beautiful mermaid he believed he had discovered.

The king also recognized her for what she was but did not comment. He merely translated for Wilhelm knowing his friend liked to think he was in charge. "You have been captured my beautiful minstrel," he translated.

"Good day to you my king. I am amused that you would think to capture me. I have been captured before and this is not so much a capture as it is merely a man thinking he has found a treasure." She answered letting them think she didn't understand Wilhelm. She heard the king translate her words and knew he hadn't translated all she had said.

Wilhelm smiled evilly at her. He spoke to the king in common, "/I will have her, my king. She will be a wonderful minstrel and I am in need of one./"

The king glared at him for a few minutes before replying. "/Let us ask the girl what she is doing here and then I will decide what to do with her./"

Turning to Melena the king spoke to her. "Ah, my darling mermaid. I do not think you know who you are dealing with."

She smiled slightly, completely unfazed by his comment. "You, my lord, are the king of Sanar; a neighboring country to Carthan. You know this and I know this. I have spent a year in the Carthan court with its princes and I do not think you wish to be on their bad side."

"You are right my lady. I would not want to be on the wrong side of them. Why is it that you are traveling with out them?" he smiled slyly.

"I am running away; but if they catch you with me, they will say you kidnapped me and I will not speak in your favor. You must leave me alone." She winked making her intentions known. She wanted to go to Sanar.

"I will escort you to Sanar if you wish to see it." He offered kindly.

"I would love to see Sanar if you wish to take us there?"

"Us, lady?" The king asked quietly.

"Yes, my companion and I. Abel?" she turned slightly and looked for her librarian companion. She saw him being held by one of the other men in an almost choke hold.

"/My king if you are finished chatting with my prize we should go now before the princes' join us. I am eager to see what she can do./" He wiggled his eyebrows.

"/I am pleased to inform you that I am no one's prize. Unhand him you fools. He can cause you no harm./" She addressed Wilhelm and then the men holding Abel who looked frightened out of his wits.

"My dear king," she turned to the king and pleaded with him, "My escort is blind. He cannot see at all and he is having trouble understanding what is happening to us. Please allow me to speak with him. You may come and listen to the conversation; I will not lie to him."

"He is blind my lady?"

"Oh, yes, my lord. I would not lie to you." She looked at him sadly.

"If he is blind, lady, then, why would you choose him for your escort? I am having trouble seeing your reasons." He frowned at her as they strolled across the clearing to where Abel was being held.

"We have been friends since childhood my king. I could not leave him behind. You understand now do you not?" she cocked her head to the side looking at him expectantly.

"Yes, my dear I do understand. Let us get your friend out of this hold and we will take you to my castle in Sanar. "

"Thank you my lord." They finished the distance to Abel's side and the king ordered his release.

Melena caught him and whispered to him telling him of their new situation. He accepted the news very well and agreed that it was one of the better things that could have happened to the two of them.

The hunting party, which included three other men from Carthan instead of Sanar, agreed to walk to the castle and explain things to the Carthan king. They were still in shock because of her frequent language switches. The king had never met Melena for all the time she had stayed in the castle and so they knew he would not contest their arrangement.

*~

They left Carthan that very night.

Five days later they reached the border of Sanar. It was a beautiful country. They stood on a bluff overlooking the entire country. Dense forests covered most of the land but there were some spectacular hills on the opposite side of the country.

The king whispered a few words and the vision faded. They were looking out into a dense forest. Melena sighed knowing the king's enchantment couldn't last long. He had told her of his ability to use certain amounts of magic to amplify things like the landscape. Usually used for war his ability was rare like her grandmother's for potions.

Melena described everything for Abel as they continued down the bluff and into the forest. They still had a few days to return to the castle and they were going to make a stop at Fife Carnie. Lord Wilhelm still had his eye on Melena though he was married.

He and the king called the girl, for she was only sixteen, Tia. Melena was sure the name was short for something but she refused to ask. She figured she would know when they arrived.

The courtyard was made of stone. Granite if you looked close enough. The horses' hooves made delightful clattering sounds like the waves crashing into the rocks at the bottom of a cliff.

The guests were ushered into a large hall and bade wait for the lady of the house. Melena described every detail to Abel as they waited. From the awfully gaudy and bright yet dull tapestries and rugs to the golden candle sticks set into small lancet arch alcoves.

Finally the sound of heals on stone echoed through the room and the lady of the house came into the room. She first greeted her husband who, for all his advances toward Melena, held her close and it was obvious that he was in love with his wife.

He turned to introduce her to his companions when she caught sight of Melena. Ignoring the other guests she ran to the mermaid and with a cry of, "/Melena!/" The lady of the house flung her arms around the mermaid's neck. Wilhelm amusedly but somewhat angrily admonished her. "Tianine! What is the meaning of this? Attacking one of my guests. Her name is Eloren, not Melena."

~*

I am aware that the king does not have a name right now but he will shortly. Next chapter should be out soon. I hope I haven't kept you all waiting too long and lost all my readers. Livi and Kaio, you were right about his identity. I'm sorry if some of it was confusing in past chapters. If any one needs clarification let me know and I'll clarify some things next update.