Chapter 15

Diana sat on the floor of the bubble, curled up into a small ball of misery as she waited to hear what fate had in store for her. Harry stood over her, watching with narrowed eyes to see how she would respond. He probably wants me to burst into tears and fling myself against his legs, wailing, Diana thought bitterly to herself. But she wasn't that type of girl and she knew that such actions would be utterly useless. She stared down at the ridges on her hands and just waited.

"Do you think she's taking this well?" Harry asked Tritan.

"She's weak sometimes," Tritan replied. "They all are." Diana wanted to slap him, show him just how weak she was. But angering him would do no good. If there was one thing she had learned from her fath- from Joshua Gilld, it was that you never got angry until it was over. Then you could indulge in all the shouting you wanted to, but not before that.
"So what do we do?" Harry asked.

"You can be surprisingly incompetant where woman are concerned," Tritan said suddenly, trying not to grin.

"I'm not even going to deign that with a reply," Harry said. "Speaking of which, do we tell her?"

"Not yet," Tritan replied after a moment's deliberation. "Look at how badly she's taking this." Diana groaned under her breath. What else could they possibly have to tell her?
"True," Harry replied. "Very well. Let's skip to the important parts."
Tritan straightened up. "Well, Diana?" he inquired in what might have passed for a friendly tone had he not sounded so smug. "Are you feeling better yet?"
"Was that a rhetorical question?" Diana snapped.

Tritan laughed. "Now, now, little girl. Don't shout so. I know quite well how strong you are. I was there, after all, when you were fighting for your pathetic cousin's life."
That made Diana look up. "Excuse me?" she asked, waiting for clarification.
"Who do you think sent the storm?" Tritan retorted.

Diana barely managed not to swear at him. Figures, he also tried to kill her cousin. Diana paused for a moment, trying to figure out what her relationship with Rose actually was. She was actually Rose's aunt, not cousin. Diana shook her head; apart from being heartrending, this new information was becoming extremely confusing.

"And why exactly did you do that?" Diana asked icily.

"Well, it was the easiest way to get her," Tritan answered with a shrug. Seeing Diana's confused features, he explained. "I was going to kidnap her and bring her down here to marry her off to my nephew. You see, my son is not quite the heir I would have dreamed of having. MY nephew, however, has the perfect combination of power, good looks and disillusionment with the world. So, when my son dies, he will be the heir to the throne. Then he would be married to Rose, thus uniting the kingdoms in France with those in Atlantica and, through you, unite England with the other two. We will then have a powerful alliance with some of the most able mages on Earth and can then start to bring the rest of Europe under our dominion."

"Your majesty, with all due respect, that is the most idiotic plan I've heard since my three year old brother decided he would get better food if he pretended to be a dog. The ensuing war will decimate Europe and, in the end, your alliance will be defeated. There are twenty other countries in Europe, all of which have many powerful mages."

"But none so powerful as the English," Harry said proudly.

Diana rolled her eyes, but Tritan continued. "That would be true, if i were talking about arial magic. But if we were to cause the rivers to overflow, the monsoons to come, the seas to rise, how could they stop it? They have no aquatic magic." He grinned at her triumphantly.
Diana put the back of her hand against her forehead and threw her head back. "Oh no!" she cried out, overacting for all it was worth. "How despicable! How could you, you monster!" Harry snickered, but at a look from Tritan, turned it into a cough. "Was that the reaction you were seeking?" Diana asked, glaring at him.

"I don't require a suitable audience to make this work," Tritan replied. "Now kindly shut up, I was talking. Once Europe is in danger of sinking under, they will have no choice but to give into us."

"Are you planning on sinking Britian and France as well?" Diana asked angrily. "Last time I checked, the latter was on the continent."

"Yes, but Anduin has aquatic magic and can protect France and I will teach you such skills so you can save England, if you so choose."

Diana had stopped listening after she had heard Tritan say Anduin. "Excuse me, what was that name?"

"Anduin." Tritan repeated. "My nephew. The one who's going to marry Rose." Diana swore silently but viciously, making Tritan laugh. "Oh yes, you know him. You might even find him attractive, he's quite good looking. And he traded his voice to a sea witch to follow his true love. You see, when you interfered with my kidnapping, although I was very grateful for it gave me a chance to meet you, I had to find another way to bring Anduin and Rose together. Fortunately, the silly boy had followed me and did all the work himself. He saved her life and did me the favor of lusting after her enormously. He thinks its true love but I know there's no such thing and I'm sure you agree, after learning the truth about your parents."

Ouch, Diana thought, why don't you jab the knife in a little deeper, it doesn't hurt enough yet.

"So he got himself turned into a human and showed up on your doorstep a mere week before Harry was coming to set phase two of our plans into motion. It was practically serendipitous."
"Well forgive me for not leaping for joy," Diana drawled, "It's unladylike."
"I think I'm going to enjoy working with her," said Tritan.

"She's my wife, not yours."

"Or will be, by tomorrow night," Tritan corrected.

"Tomorrow!" Diana yelped without even thinking. "Are you serious?"

"My dear Diana, of course I am!" Tritan replied. "Don't you see, it's essential that you be married before someone tries some ill fated attempt to rescue you. It will only hurt you to see them again and, besides, if you decide to go with that person, I'll have to kill them and killing people doesn't make me happy unless they're worthless first."
"No one is worthless," Diana muttered.

"Sure they are," Tritan replied cheerfully, "We just don't tell them that to their faces."
"And what am I worth?" Diana found herself asking.

"You, my darling," said Harry with a smile, "are priceless." Diana gagged.
Tritan grinned as he watched the couple fight. Diana would eventually get used to her husband, he didn't doubt that they were a very good match. He had always gotten along excellently with her father and she had much of his stubborness and sense of humor. So that should be fine when Diana finally forgave him for kidnapping her and marrying her against her will. Tritan sighed and rubbed his temples; why was it that one could never make easy plans to rule the world?

"I choose not to read into that statement," Diana was saying. "So, do I get a lovely gown to be wed in or will this old, torn, mudstained thing suffice?"

"You're taking this surprisingly well," remarked Tritan.

"If you prefer, I could throw a temper tantrum, beat my fists fruitlessly on the glass and shout to the world that I wish you all would perish," Diana replied acerbically.
"How cliche," Harry answered. "I would rather you stayed with the sarcasm, if you don't mind."
"I wasn't aware my feelings about anything were being taken into account," Diana shot back. The truth was, she would love to fling herself down and scream to the world about how ill she was being treated, but there was no point. She knew a hopeless situation when she saw it and, while she could think of few things worse than being married to Harry, being dead at the bottom of the ocean was certainly one of them. She wasn't ordinarily this pragmatic, but when one was staring certain death in the face, it was very easy to remain in control...sort of.

"My dear Diana." said Harry in mock shock, "I assure you, we have given due consideration to your feelings." Diana glowered at him.

"Very well," she said as she looked around her and realized how dark the seas were becoming. "It's late and I would like to sleep before my big day tomorrow, if you don't mind."
"Of course," said Tritan, happy that he was having so few problems with this strange child. He had no doubts that she would be up to something, he just didn't know what. "Let me show you to the human wing of the castle."

Diana looked up in surprise. "There's a human wing!"

"Of course, how do you think I entertained your father during our numerous meetings?" Diana tried not to show her opinions of her father, though she couldn't help but pull a small face. She hated to think of her ignoble birth, hated the thought that Joshua Gilld, the man she admired more than anyone else in the world, was not actually her father and did not care enough to protect his wife from bearing another's child. But she had no doubts that her new husband and her new partner in magic would take every opportunity possible to remind her of what had happened, so she had better toughen her skin now.

"Follow me," continued Tritan and he waved his hand idly. The bubble that Diana and Harry were standing in began to slowly drift off towards the magnificent coral castle located dead ahead. It shone from the lights of a million glowing sea creatures, illuminated like moonlight on a still lake. Diana couldn't help but stare, dumbfounded, at such unexpected beauty. It seemed so strange that such a marvelous building could be constructed under the sea. And yet it stood there, ethereal and not at all sturdy looking. Yet Diana had no doubts that it was safe. After all, she was in the water, where could she fall?

They continued their slow journey forward and Diana took the time to set her thoughts in order. She felt surprisingly calm, after all the terrible things she had just been told. She didn't question their veracity anymore; it was far too late for that. But she thought she should be feeling a little more emotion at the prospect of her entire life coming crashing down around her ears. But she was just numb. She shivered and tried to imagine her fate; married to Prince Harry, no longer having a father, never being able to even talk to Anduin again, never being able to find out if he could love her back, not knowing what her brothers and sister will be like when they grow up. Diana shook her head. It just didn't seem possible; as surreal as the aquatic world that whirled around her. She felt as if she was in a dream and she was, more than anything else, terrified of the moment when she would wake up and realize that the nightmare was real.

"What is it?" Harry asked, noticing the dazed look on his bride-to-be's face.

"Nothing," she replied distractedly, forcing her best fake smile onto her face. "Just admiring the scenery." But her mind was still focused on her plight. She knew her original reaction was pure shock at the news; those tears she had shed had not flowed because of any understanding, they had been as unstoppable as a reflex and just as incomprehensible. But now, now she was just waiting. Waiting for the noose to be placed, not around her neck, but around the fourth finger of her left hand.

"Here we are," said Tritan, making her look up. They stood at the gates to the coral castle, the arching doors swinging majestically open to allow their leige lord and his guests entry. Triton swam in and waved to the numerous lords, ladies and servants milling around. They did nothing in reply, merely stared at the bubble of air following the King. The sight of a human being escorted into their castle was something almost entirely unprecedented and they really had no idea how to deal with these strange mythical creatures with such unsightly legs.

"Ignore them," Harry whispered to Diana, who was visibly shaken by the curious and suspicious looks she was receiving. "Just wait until they truly encounter the human world." Diana shivered.

"Harry, what exactly was the point in involving Tritan in this scheme of yours?" she asked suddenly. "I mean, what's in it for him?"

Harry stroked the stubble on his chin thoughtfully. "A number of things, none of which would matter on their own. But the combination of a viable heir, a new type of magic and the prospect of renewing his treaty with England has led our fishy friend to consider my offer and, ultimately, accept. Besides, he felt outraged when he found out that you had no knowledge of who you truly were."

And we're back to that, Diana thought angrily to herself. Honestly, can't they let me forget for over a minute? But she knew that would never happen, that she would never forget the lie she had lived, the lie in which she had been happy.

"Follow the bubble," Tritan told them airily, though his sharp eyes were fixed on his subjects; whose expressions ran the gamut from confused to downright furious. "It will take you to your suites."

"How many?" Diana found herself asking.

"Two, of course," Tritan replied. Diana sighed with relief. "At least until tomorrow."

"If I demanded to be wed at Westminster Abbey-" Diana began.

"Not a chance," Harry responded. "Do you honestly think I would wed the illegitemate daughter of a whore in-"

He didn't get to finish his sentence; he was caught off by a loud noise and a sharp stab of pain as Diana slapped him.

"Don't you dare say that again," she hissed softly. "Or else I will wait until tomorrow night to castrate you and slit your throat, so help me God." Harry visibly paled and Tritan smirked.

"Save the spats for the marriage," he suggested, winking. Diana didn't even deign him with an angry look though, had she known the location of mer-genitalia, she might have threatened him with the same. "You will be married tomorrow afternoon in front of all my people by a suitable member of the clergy. Does that satisfy you, Diana?"

"Yes," she answered crisply, knowing that there was no other answer.

"Doesn't take much to satisfy you, does it," Harry growled nastily.

"No, it doesn't, but I sincerely doubt that you're capable of providing me with any satisfaction anyway," Diana answered sweetly. "I'm tired, I feel like I haven't slept for a week, can we please leave?" Harry could't reply, he was still in shock from her words. Tritan snickered.

"I can see that Harry will have his hands full with you. Very well, I will direct the bubble to take you to your suite, where I suggest you get a good night's sleep. A week has gone by in the outside world while you were traveling here, so your body needs rest, especially before such a big day." With a casual wave of his hand, the bubble floated up and to the left, into one of the myriad hallways that branched off from the main entryhall.

"A week?" Diana asked incredulously. "Harry, did you know about this?"

"No," he answered sullenly, still upset at being upstaged by a woman. "I was as much in the dark as you were, forgive the pun." They lapsed into silence, Diana wondering if they were doing anything about her absense yet and Harry curious as to what sort of bed partner Diana Gilld would make.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, the bubble came to a rest at the opening to a small hallway and burst. Diana's eyes, heavy with lack of sleep, flew open. They were standing in a perfectly ordinary hallway with six doors, one leading back the way they had came, into the water. Two of the doors had names on them. The one on the left said Diana Gilld

and so, before Harry could pull her back for some sort of goodbye kiss, she strode forward, pulled the door open, slammed it behind her and locked it.

She leaned against the door, sighing, as her gaze wandered around the beautiful room. Lovely though the bed was and comfortable though it looked, it was still a prison. And so, she flung herself down on the bed and allowed the emotional block to break down, sobbing bitterly over the loss of her father.

It would have made a very pretty picture, had the man hiding behind the wardrobe not snuck up and knocked her unconscious with one very well aimed spell.

T.B.C.

A/N – It was almost going to be a chapter with a normal ending, but then the sneaky man decided not to wait until next chapter and had to sneak in now. Oh well.

Thank you to all my wonderful reviewers, you are my food for thought…even when I insult you. I'm going to make this very short, since I need to put my campers to bed now, but I will be back home in five days and hopefully be back to my old two chapters a week method of writing. So, thank you to Anarea Rose, FutureFamousMoveDirector, Shortstef (who had every right to call my nasty) and Soofija (who I'm glad I didn't disappoint, since I would have hated to lose you now). I love you all and I hope you liked this chapter.

Levana (Damian)