(Here's the next chapter! Enjoy! Reviews are appreciated!)
"You're welcome." The king replied. "I do believe there is someone you may want to see."
Idunn craned her neck to look at the door. A tall and muscular figure entered the room. His short hair smelt vaguely of the salty sea, but now he was dressed in his best suit.
"Hello, my queen." He smiled.
Idunn straightened up immediately, a large smile spreading across her face. "KARL! Please, do come here! It's so wonderful to see you again!"
Karl bent down to kiss Idunn's right hand and quickly switched hands before he accidently kissed her IV site. "Wrong hand." He chuckled. He placed a small kiss on her left hand. "How are you feeling? You look a lot better. I hope they're taking extra special care of you here, and I hope you're a fan of pralines." Karl set down a small box of chocolates in Idunn's hands.
"Oh! Thank you, you shouldn't have! Better, definitely. They operated yesterday, so no more stuck wood!"
Karl breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm glad. I'm really glad." He said, placing his large hand over Idunn's slender, soft royal hand.
"Thank you for rescuing me. You really saved my life. I would probably have suffered the same fate as my husband if it wasn't for you and your men. I'm so sorry I was too weak to thank you at the time, but I really am very grateful."
"Say no more, I understand. I couldn't just leave you-"
*Flashback*
Karl looked out to the smooth flowing of the Corona sea, holding his net tightly. He had heard a large crash earlier but had suspected it was simply just a whale.
Suddenly, his net felt significantly heavier.
"Finally, a fantastic catch!" He thought, delighted at the thought of taste of his fresh catch. He excitedly looked down towards the net, expecting a large amount of fresh salmon and barramundi caught in his net, making for a delicious meal and of course, many promising customers at the fish market. Suddenly, his heart caught in his throat, for it was not fish caught in his net, but an elegant woman, with a wooden plank stuck in her chest.
"Men! Men! Pull the net aboard! We've caught a woman!" Karl said, worry rapidly seeping into his voice.
"And I thought this day couldn't get any better." Otto muttered.
Rapidly, Karl and Wilhelm pulled the net aboard and Karl lifted up Idunn's unconscious body onto the deck. Her brown hair smelt of the sea and her dress was wet with blood and the water.
"Please be alive, please be alive." Karl prayed as he pressed his fingers firmly to her to her wrist. He breathed a sigh of relief as a weak thumping against his fingers answered his question. He set down her gently down on the deck and placed his hands on her chest, beginning to perform chest compressions.
*End of Flashback*
Karl swallowed. "I just couldn't leave you there to die. I was so worried when you went into the castle. I knew I couldn't follow you, but I've been thinking about you a lot, and the other fishermen send their support. If you need any fish, it will always be on the house for you, Queen Idunn."
"I….I don't know what to say. Thank you. I promise I'll pay a visit to the fish markets as soon as I'm well enough. I really appreciate the support. I really do. Thank you." Idunn replied
"We really are incredibly grateful for your deed, Karl." Arianna said.
"Yes, I do believe a reward is in order." The king smiled.
Karl turned around, surprised. "Y-Your Majesty! It…..it was nothing. It really was a coincidence. She landed in my net."
"And yet you could have assumed she was dead, but you chose to save her life. Consider the empty mansion on Sunshine Street in the village now yours, free of rent and the cost of furniture completely free. I'll also be donating fifty thousand dollars towards your fishing business, so that you may hire more men and buy more new and improved fishing boats and nets." The king slipped a golden medal around Karl's neck. "Thank you for your service. We are eternally gratefully."
Karl stared at the medal, speechless. Idunn gave him a thumbs up. "Your Majesty, I-" Karl stammered.
"Say no more." The king replied. "King's orders."
Idunn hugged Karl tightly. "The medal really suits you."
(That's it for this chapter! Thanks for reading!)
