ToOH: nope, not really. I wasn't thinking of any HM character while creating the two dolphins. They are, however, meant to fulfil the role of the princess' closest companion (like Flounder in Ariel's case). ^^

Gwen was different.

In the court, the ladies were more than eager to engage him in any sort of conversation, especially after his father's passing and he formally became the heir apparent of his grandfather's throne. Allen kept these conversations superficial; they rarely went beyond the topic of weather and simply passing of the news from the mainland. Besides, not many ladies were well read for current affairs (besides who sleeping with whom, especially out of wedlock), so it has greatly limited the topics he could explore.

That was the reason why talking to Gwen had been a great change for him—a very much welcomed one, if he could say it. However, he was mindful of whether the lady in question was in the mood of talking, which was why he began counting. As a general rule of thumb, he would not pursue the subject further if she stayed silent for eight counts.

As for Gwen, she rarely handed questions about herself as opposed to simply directed at her. Allen asked what she thought as the most trivial things: her favourite food, her most cherished spot in the palace, her childhood memories…. He didn't relent when she turned him down with a simple one word questions; he would ask another one after a polite interval. Only then she realized how she had been missing out:

She did not really have a preference in food.

She loved staying in her chamber because that was where she could be truly alone (perhaps with Viserys), but that's also because she did not really walk around to find that "spot".

She'd rather not talk about the almost non-existent childhood memories.

Finally, she realized that all this time she had been trying to be neutral too hard that she almost lost her touch of personal preference. It was Allen's questions that helped her to realize it and finally, when Allen asked her what was her favourite colour today, instead of her usual dismissive reply, she told him: "I have never really given that a thought."

His response, to her slight surprise since it was spontaneous, was: "Then, do you want to find out?"

It was quickly decided that they spent the day touring the palace and the garden, searching for as many shades of colours as they could find. Gwen had never really paid attention to anything besides her visions; all this time she had thought that her life was meant to be spent on guiding others to the Truth through her visions. When Allen brought her a handful of flowers, all in different colours, she realized how much her physical eyes had been missing in this world.

"On the land, the colours will vary even more," Allen told her, while picking one of the flower. "They range from a very light—almost white—to an almost deep colour."

It was that moment when she realized that his eyes were very bright. They were steel blue, washed in the warmth that could only be found under the sky, but above the waters. His eyes were even brighter than the flowers in his hand although by Atlantean standard, they would already be considered as 'bright'. They still retained that bright warmth even in this deep, cold sea. Basically, they were the brightest thing she could find in the range of her limited vision now.

"So, milady, which colour you find the best?"

Inwardly, Allen began counting again. One… Two…

Still looking into his eyes, she faintly replied: "Your eyes…"

She would never know how much it meant to the prince.

Dinner that day was the first time Gwen really looked at what was being served. She ate them carefully so that she could really taste it. She would then find out that she was pleased with the slightly sweet cake, but not really about the salty preserved side dish. As such, so that the unpleasant passed quickly, Gwen quickly finished her side dish while taking care that the cake would be the last thing she taste.

"I have never seen you picking on your food."

Gwen looked up and saw one of her older sisters, Leighlee. As compared to the other older sisters, Gwen knew that Leighlee tried the hardest to reach out to her despite her status. Her efforts included, not limited to, telling her what was going on in the class (meaning: teaching her, although she didn't ask her to), visiting her during her mealtimes, or accompanying her if they happened to meet outside of her chamber. Gwen knew that Leighlee would forsake Rod's companionship when she was around, and that mattered because Leighlee was really fond of his company.

In silence, Gwen took a bite of her cake, now that she had finished everything else. She slipped a piece of cake under her veil and put it inside her mouth. The mermaid had become so used to wearing the veil at all times that she didn't even remove it while eating, finding her away around it. After she swallowed that piece, she looked up to her sister.

"The cake… deserves to be the last."

Leighlee held her breath. Did Gwen just talk about herself?

"Is there anything that can surprise you?"

Allen came back for another conversation after dinner, and Gwen began to wonder what was so entertaining about her. She then remembered that during their initial days of acquaintanceship, which was not so pleasant, she had warned him to "stay close" if he wanted to survive. Perhaps, this was how he interpreted those words.

"Barely," she replied before Allen counted "Three" in his head. He noted that her response time was getting quicker.

"That is very dull," Allen commented. "Life is great because of its surprises, that's what I believe."

"Hm…"

Allen counted to eight, and when Gwen added nothing to her previous response, he knew that topic was over. However, he didn't want to give up just yet. "Have you ever seen stars?"

This time, she turned her head.

"I bet you haven't," he smirked. "Why don't we go check it out now?"

"Now?"

"Well, stars only come out at night."

Of course Gwen had seen stars when her vision dealt with evening on the land, but they were very rare. Sensing her interest, Allen pursued the matter even further. "Come on, before the clouds hide them!"

He pulled her by her hand, leading her out from her reclusive chamber. They were stopped by the guards, and they almost attacked Allen, thinking he was kidnapping the Princess-Seeress, but Gwen finally stepped in.

"I asked him to show me a place."

The guards relented, and they finally allowed them to go. Viserys offered to go along, but Gwen bade him to rest, for tomorrow would be her 'working' day.

They swam to the surface in a relaxed pace, and during all that time, he held her hand. It was funny to think that he was leading her in the sea, thinking that it should have been the other way round, but she didn't mind at all.

Finally, their heads emerged from the water, and for the first time, Gwen saw for herself the sky that was glittered with distant, yet bright sparkles. She then knew for sure Allen was not lying when he said his world was filled with bright things—for even the nights were brighter than the sea. Gwen couldn't look away from this new sight—it was like the sky was brand new, and the world she had known so far was shifted.

She took a breath, the air was less salty than the brine water. It was cold, but she felt warm at the same time. More than anything else, she knew it was real. That this was no dream—the vision before her could not get any realer than it already was.

"Gwen…?"

It was the first time he had called her by her name. She turned, and saw him floating in front of her. He was so close, and usually, Viserys would keep him away because she was not used to being so close to anyone else. However, she felt perfectly fine with him closing their distance the way he did it; maybe because he had done it gradually through all the efforts he had been putting in into talking to her.

She did not flinch when his hand reached to her veil and undid its lace. She even allowed that protective piece of cloth to fall into the water, and she kept still, looking into his eyes—the colour that she loved.

Her skin was pale under that veil; her lips even paler. She blended so well into this starlit scenery with that delicate paleness of her. The stars shone her up, enveloping without overshadowing her.

She was still looking into his eyes. He looked into hers in return; her eyes were the deep sapphire blue, darker than the summer sky but still brighter than the night's sky. It didn't give off that girlish sparkles like Alicia, but rather a tempered glisten of a lady who had to mature before her age. With him finally able to see her naked face, a significant portion of his impression of her changed. That eerie mystery lurking about her being was now stripped off, replaced with a newfound awe and wonder.

He touched her lips gently and she didn't flinch. He brought his other hand to cup her face, feeling her wet hair occupying the spaces between his fingers as he brought her closer and closed his eyes.

It was wet, obviously. But at the same time, it was magical and real at the same time; a tender touch of flesh in the midst of a cold night that somehow ignited a fire of a newfound passion.

"Were you surprised?" he asked when their lips finally parted.

For the first time, he could hear her chuckling. She then moved forward, and their lips touched again for the briefest moment before she pulled back and offered him a cheeky smile.

Now, that surprised him.

I know it seems that the development of their relationship is very fast, but each break is supposed to represent the time gaps. So, yeah, in real time the relationship does not progress as fast as you think ^^

On another note, this chapter is written while I'm listening to Tangled's soundtrack: I See The Light. I think this song is really the 'soundtrack' of this chapter! ^^

In any case, thanks for reading... please rate and review! ^^