Holding Out
Fiona felt sick as she waited in silence for the wizard. She had spent most of her time relentlessly pacing around. Merlin had insisted he take his time about the whole ordeal. For a while the ogress was sure this was part of Shrek's plan, to let her know what was happening, make her think she had a part of it, but wouldn't be able to make it in time. However, after watching Merlin for long enough, she realised that it was just him. She couldn't quite get her head around the fact that he used to be an incredible wizard. Eventually she had sat, exasperated by the ordeal and continued to dumbly watch him in silence. She had waited as patiently as she could as he painstakingly turned every single page of the giant spell book he had open in his crossed legs. The ogress sighed resoundingly in the hopes that it would speed up his search, but it didn't. It hadn't the several times she had tried it before either. The wizard continued to hum quietly to himself, muttering every now and again as he was apparently reminding himself on every single spell the book contained. Instead, her mother placed her hand gently onto Fiona's. She had been avoiding her mother's gaze as much as she could. She didn't want to prompt more questions about how sure she was and more general discouragement. Fiona had made up her mind and nothing was going to change that.
"Ah ha!"
Fiona leapt onto her feet at Merlin's sudden vocalisation. She stared eagerly at him, he didn't move his gaze from the book.
"Oh..." he shook his head, "Never mind."
Fiona sighed again, collapsing back into her seat. She closed her eyes, putting her head in her hands, trying to shut everything out for a second.
"It will be okay," Lillian's steady voice reassured her. Fiona didn't move. They had been sat for hours already, everything had already been said. She felt her mother's hand stroke her hair a little. "You'll get them back. Have some faith, Fiona. Everything will always get better."
"Will it?" Fiona responded listlessly.
"Yes," her mother tugged at her arm. Fiona reluctantly looked at her. "Darling, everyone is doing their best. You are doing your best."
They both briefly glanced to the wizard. As useless as he seemed, she was right. This was doing her very best effort to help. Fiona nodded, she was unsure about her mother's words. She usually had the most faith in anything, but this was different. This was so dangerous. This was her children's lives. She didn't know whether being hopeful would be better or worse.
"Are you done?" Merlin then spoke, peering at them.
"What?" Fiona turned to him, she only then noticed he had stopped humming.
"I found the spell we need, but that was turning into a real heart-warming chat, I didn't want to interrupt, really nice," he grinned at them.
Fiona leapt out of her seat again, "You've got it? You're ready?" She didn't even want to respond to his delayed announcement.
"Yes I do... But we need a few things first," he broke off, mumbling to himself as he leant back down into the book.
"What? I mean, we can get you anything," she glanced back at her mother who gave her a thoroughly unconvincing smile.
"Right... I just need you to fill this..." he leant back, reaching behind a chair, "jar with dirt," Fiona hesitantly took the jar from him, she was pretty sure he had just pulled it from thin air. But she nodded regardless. "Ah, but not just any dirt, you see, the dirt you need needs to be from the roots of the bluebells near the east gate of the gardens." Merlin scrambled up off of the floor. Fiona nodded wordlessly again, she stopped her mind from questioning things, he was a wizard... even if his robe didn't quite cover his... "And!" he announced, pointing a finger into the air, "I'll need a glass of water."
"Anything else?" Fiona tried to bite back her impatience.
"Oh yes, and a teleportation board if anyone has one laying around."
"Shouldn't they be back by now?" Donkey asked... again.
Artie shrugged, "I would've guessed so."
They'd been watching, barely moving their eyes from the water, for the whole time Shrek had been gone. They'd picked their spot very specifically, right next to a bunch of taught ropes, ready to be grabbed hold of when the island decided to come back. Puss and Artie had to find a different rope, tying it and letting it hang within Donkey's reach for the nervous animal. Donkey had made sure of it.
"Man, it's been hours!" the animal walked another small, anxious circle.
"Maybe they're lost?" Puss suggested from Artie's shoulder.
"Oh great! Shrek's lost with the three kids on some mysterious underwater island, I knew we should'a just followed him!" Donkey shook his head, "He needed us with him, I'm an animal and I've got those animal instincts! I'd have led us right out of that place!"
Puss scoffed at him before leaping to the side of the ship and turning to Artie, "SeƱor, you think we can trigger the island to reappear somehow?" He gestured behind him.
"Do you think we can?" he looked hopefully at the spot of water. The cat shrugged at him. "I suppose we triggered it before by sailing right into it." Artie contemplated the situation for a second.
"Wait!" Donkey jumped his front legs onto the side of the boat, looking over to the ocean, "You mean we're gonna sail towards it? We're already as close as we can get! It's just gonna pop right up with us on top of it... and you know what happened to that baby on that tree top! Rockabye no, I say." he shook his head, "Man, they're probably lost in some giant fish's stomach and that's where we'll go too!"
Puss sighed, "What else can we do, burro?"
"Yeah, what if they can't get the island to pop up from the inside, what if they're waiting for us?" Artie frowned.
The trio stared at the waves for a while. Artie so desperately wanted to help but he couldn't stop himself from worrying about all the people aboard the ship. By trying to trigger the island again, it could put everyone else in danger. He was the king on the ship, by extension he was responsible for everything. Elena was right, he should be thinking about the wishes of everyone around him. But he couldn't leave Shrek. Staying and helping was the responsible thing to do, as the King of Far Far Away and as a family member. He was constantly blocking out the complaints of everyone who thought otherwise. They were mainly the people who had joined their crew from Far Out, and most of the other sailors, and a lot of the castle staff that had joined, and especially Elena. Pretty much everyone. Surprisingly though, Edmund was on his side. No one else really cared about the kids' link to the throne, or the tragedy it would put on the royal family. But Edmund knew very well they were the potential heirs. And probably, more importantly to him, how good it would sound if a successful rescue mission was carried out.
"It would be quite the adventure," Puss commented.
"Shrek needs our help..." even Donkey seemed defeated in his worrying.
Artie glanced awkwardly to the cabin Elena had disappeared into long ago. He then took a breath and turned to the group of thoroughly bored sailors, "Captain!" he put on his king voice.
The plump man made his way to the king and bowed deeply, "Your majesty."
"Captain we need to move forward," he spoke confidently, even though he didn't feel confident at all.
"Move... forward?"
"Yes," Artie gestured, with a hand that was definitely not shaking, to the sea.
"Over the island?" the man gulped.
"Yes," Artie repeated himself, "We want to make it resurface." He watched the captain's gaze drift over to the water before it slowly returned to him. He felt the guilt come crashing back as the man frowned. "If we go, we might help speed everything up. I want to get to land as much as anyone," Artie offered a tentative smile.
"Just to clarify," the captain's forehead knitted, "You want me to sail forwards, without abandon."
"Yes," Artie was quickly losing faith.
"But-I-uh... I mean no disrespect to you, Your Majesty, King Arthur," the man stumbled about his words. Artie tried to not let his face fall. "But it nearly knocks my ship clean over. There's no land to be seen. Everyone will... drown."
"I- uh. I'm aware of that Captain," Artie tried to nod with authority. One thing he hated was telling people to do things they clearly didn't want to do. It happened relatively often at the castle, he was always the one having to give the bad news. It was part of the job, but it never got easier. "But I believe this is for the best." The captain opened his mouth to protest. "They are your orders," Artie spoke quickly, cringing as the man reluctantly turned and began shouting the orders at his sailors. It certainly didn't help that he was part of the crew from Far Out, this being one of his ships. The young adult didn't even want to think about what the King of Far Out would think when they returned and relayed everything.
After some reassurance from Puss and Donkey, Artie tried to pull the hope back to prime position. He held onto his rope and tried to look as brave as he could as the boat began moving. Puss was beside him, one paw secured to a rope, the other on the hilt of his sword. Though, Donkey was reduced to unintelligible muttering as his teeth were clamped down on the rope to secure his own place. Slowly and steadily the boat moved forward. The group braced themselves for what was to come. It seemed to drag out forever as they waited, moving closer, and closer and closer... And further forward... Until they were sure they had moved over the spot where the island resided completely. Artie and Puss shared a confused glance.
"Wass goin' onn gusss?" Came the question from the short animal who was unable to see over the side of the ship.
"Um... It's not coming back... I think," Artie stared questioningly to the waves, he looked behind him and back again. Nothing was happening.
"This is not good," Puss shook his head gravely.
Donkey spat out the rope and hopped himself onto his hind legs. "Oh no!" he exclaimed, frantically looking around. "It's not coming back! They're gone! They're all gone! That thing popped up to take its fill and now it's done, it's done with my buddy."
The confused voices called over to Artie from the crew. He looked back out to the water, slumping his shoulders in defeat.
"No!" Donkey shouted at them, "We can't take this! We have to turn around and try again! That creepy place has eaten my best friend and his kids and there's no more Uncle Donkey without those kids! So we're gonna turn around and keep going until we almost die again!"
The sailors stood, unmoving in their positions, staring at the animal.
"You heard him, get going!" Artie took wind of Donkey's enthusiasm and the sailors jumped into action, turning the ship around in a big circle and sailing back... To no end. The trio looked at each other and announced they try again. After several trips back and forth, each time they grew less enthusiastic. Though they clutched onto their ropes and continued to eagerly watch the water. The sky remained clear and blue, and the sea remained calm.
"You know," Elena's voice was suddenly directly behind Artie, he startled a little, "You look very... silly."
He turned to her, he hadn't heard her coming at all... princesses. "What?"
She didn't smile at him, instead she raised her eyebrows and took a breath, "Well, sailing back and forth, with nothing happening... It seems foolish to keep trying."
Sighing, Artie swatted at the rope he was holding and began pacing, "I know." He looked up as the captain asked for his orders, "Leave it," he responded. He glanced to his friends and they didn't protest, both dropping their ropes. "We're still waiting though," Artie added quickly, before Elena got the wrong message.
"I figured that much out myself," she smiled wryly. "But Arthur?"
Artie resisted the urge to correct her again, it appeared to be a lost cause. He looked at her, raising his eyebrows. She seemed troubled, but then again, what else was new?
"Nothing else will happen, will it?" she asked. Artie suddenly realised she wasn't disappointed or reluctant or simply being difficult anymore, she was scared. "Nothing bad will come out of this? I mean, the island will just return with your family and that's all?"
"Um..." he was at a loss for words, "I'm not sure. I think so. Or at least I hope so," he gave her an uneasy smile.
She clasped her hands onto her arms again, "You plan to head straight back to your kingdom, don't you? There's nothing you're not telling me, is there?"
"No, no," he quickly reassured her, "After this, we go straight home."
"...home," she repeated, staring out into the ocean. She sighed quietly.
For a second Artie almost asked her if she wanted to be taken back to her home. But that would just mess up everything. Besides, she was perfect, he continued to tell himself. These circumstances were unnatural, nothing like that would ever come up in a marriage, it's not like their behaviour with each other in that situation would affect the future. He shrugged it off, thinking of points in her favour. Despite everything that had gone on, her appearance remained without a flaw. Her hairbrush had virtually become an extension of her arm after the island had disappeared. Finally she had retied her hair at her shoulder after her ribbon had dried out. It was odd how much she cared about the single ribbon, and she claimed she couldn't sit until her dress had dried without a crease. He had dropped his sodden robes long ago and his tunic was thoroughly crumbled. Artie guessed that's what princesses were supposed to care about, and that was a good thing about her. She was also kind, around those she was comfortable with, and she gave a wonderful speech at her kingdom. Except... she just didn't understand him. And in equal measures, he didn't really understand her. He remembered what Shrek had told him, he just had to get to know her first. He supposed they hadn't really had a chance.
Though, much to his surprise, when Puss and Donkey joined them, she didn't automatically turn away and leave. Clearly she had done some thinking in the cabin by herself. She eyed them with discomfort, but she didn't leave. The king cautiously deemed it a good thing.
Fiona met the two men at the doorway of the room they inhabited. After some discussion they had decided the large shield with the Far Far Away crest from the entrance hall would work as a teleportation board for the wizard. This shield was big, and incredibly heavy. The ogress was surprised the two humans got it so far by themselves. Despite their success, they were clearly struggling.
"Here let me," she offered, making an attempt to grab one side of the wall decoration.
"No no, we've got it," was one's strained reply. They even summoned enough strength to dodge her grasp. "You might strain yourself," the other joined in.
Fiona allowed herself a quick eye roll before she forcibly removed the shield from both of their hands. It was heavier than she would have thought, but it wasn't too much effort for her to cross the room with it, laying it carefully on the ground in front of the wizard. Watching the men glare at her before they left, she allowed a small smile, being an ogre definitely had its perks.
Merlin barely acknowledged the addition to the room as he sifted his fingers through the dirt that had been brought to him a small while ago.
She met her mother's concerned gaze. It almost made her feel like a child again; being excited about something her mother wasn't sure she approved of but was attempting to be supportive anyway. Fiona quickly moved her gaze before her mother felt the urge to ask if she was sure again. She was sure. She'd had the majority of the day to think about it and never once did her determination hinder. She'd have been there from the moment she found out they were in trouble if she could. There was a small part of her, behind the overbearing concern for her children, that really wanted the adventure. All the exciting journeys and adventures Shrek had been on were either rescuing her or working separately from her. It almost excited her to think she'd be adventuring alongside her husband. Of course, that was if her children weren't the ones in immediate danger. Which they were, so the small excitement she felt was squashed.
Everyone's attention was then diverted as the maid girl hurried into the room announcing the final ingredient, the glass of water.
Merlin suddenly sprung to his feet, "Ah! You know, I could have used this first really, but never mind." He shrugged, happily taking it from her. He then threw his head back and gulped the water down. He placed the glass back in Abbey's hands before turning back to his dirt. The maid's confused gaze landed on Fiona.
"Wait," Fiona almost laughed at the situation. "Didn't we need that?"
The wizard faced her, deadpan, "No... I was just thirsty. Goodness, you're all terrible hosts." He shook his head, tutting at her.
Fiona sighed, biting back a few opinions of her own. "So are we getting on with this or not?"
"Oh most definitely," Merlin nodded eagerly at her, "But, you've got bad vibes at this very moment and you don't know what havoc that will bring to the spell."
"W-What?" Fiona stammered, she shook her head in disbelief, "You mean, me worrying for my family is going to screw up your spell?"
"Well, sort of, I guess... I just know that I don't like it," he smiled at the ogress, "How about that serenity circle idea now, hm?" Fiona only stared at him with an eyebrow raised. "We could always try the journey to your soul, but see, your husband wasn't very good at that one, perhaps if he had been better this wouldn't have happened, but hey karma happens," he snorted and laughed, "It's your choice, I'll leave it up to you! So, what do you choose hm?"
Fiona blinked at him, "Merlin," the ogress finally felt herself snap. She took a deep breath, "You want me to waste more time trying to calm down just so you feel better about yourself?"
"I wouldn't put it in those words, perhaps something different like-"
"When in reality," Fiona cut the wizard off, he stared dumbly at her with a finger pointed in the air. "the more time I'm spent here, arguing with you-"
"Not arguing, I-"
"the more worried I'm going to get because my family are in danger," she paused, he stared back at her wide eyed. "Well that's not happening, pal." She took a step closer to him, he cowered away a little. "You will stop avoiding this, and you will perform the spell and get me to my husband!"
Giving a small, frustrated grunt, Merlin turned back to his spell book, angrily muttering about karmic responsibility.
