Chapter Twenty
I suddenly gasped, coughed up water, and opened my eyes. "What?"
"You're alive!" Tulio exclaimed, hugging me before holding me at arms length, "What the hell were you thinking?!" I flushed at how close we were and quickly pulled away. He may be the only one from Nesidy possibly telling me the truth, but I still didn't trust him. I mean, come on! What guy just blurts out to a girl he just met that she loves him?!
I turned my attention back to Morgana.
"Fools! I have Excalibur now. And all the creatures of the sea are in my power!" Morgana cackled, causing giant icicles to burst out of the ocean, breaking the ice. "I'm the queen of the sea... and you will bow down before me!" She then used the sword to strike Flounder. "Pathetic fools! Watch and see how utterly powerful I can be! The end begins for all of you with fins!" She struck Sebastian.
I stood up and looked down at my feet for a moment before a determination flowed through me. I then ran across the ice and began climbing up the ice tower.
"Aralyne, stop!" Tulio shouted out, but I ignored him.
I nearly had several heart attacks as I was nearly impaled by some of the giant icicles. The icicles grew in height and I rode them up to the top, sometimes hopping from one to the other. I gasped as I slipped and almost fell to my death. Dammit! My training in the army did not prepare me for ice!
Finally, Morgana struck Triton with Excalibur, "That's it, Triton. Bow down! Bow down before me!"
"No, Your Majesty! You mustn't!" Sebastian begged.
"I'm sorry, Sebastian. I have no choice," Triton said defeated as he bowed.
"Oh! Wishes do come true," said Morgana becoming a bit teary-eyed. Shen then shouted to the sky, "See that, Ma?! Who's your favorite now?!" By then I had reached the top of the tower right behind the sea witch. "It's over, Aralyne! I sentence you to oblivion!" She finally noticed that I was no longer on the ground, and I leapt forward and grabbed Excalibur."You!" Morgana exclaimed in mild surprise.
"Stay back!" I warned pointing the sword at the villain. Now that Morgana no longer had the sword, the spell she cast on the sea creatures faded and they sat up staring.
Morgana laughed and said, "You don't have the nerve, sweetheart. You're nothing like Siren!" She suddenly wrapped a tentacle around my foot and knocked me flat on my back.
"You're right," I said with a smirk, "I'm not like Siren!" I stabbed one of the tentacles. Howling in pain, Morgana released me. "Never again will you threaten me!" I snarled up at the sea witch, "There will be no escape for you... ever!" I pointed Excalibur up at Morgana and froze her in a block of ice. The entire ice tower crumbled into the ocean, and Morgana's form sank below the waves.
I didn't exactly think that through. When the ice tower fell, I went along with it.
"NO!" Tulio shouted, jumping to his feet, and running beneath me.
I landed in his arms, a bit stunned and stiffened. "Put me down," I ordered glaring at him.
"Aralyne, just shut up and let the man carry you," a voice said. I turned to see Flynn had gotten off the ship and was heading for us. "He has been through hell to find you."
I ignored my friend, and punched Tulio in the arm. Again, I didn't think that through. I had struck a nerve, and Tulio dropped me onto my behind. That one hurt! I gingerly got back to my feet.
"Come on, we should get back to Nesidy," said Flynn wrapping an arm around my shoulder. I shrugged it off and stepped away from the men.
"I'm not going back, and certainly not with you," I said coldly.
"What do you mean you're not going back?" said Tulio rubbing the spot where I had punched him, "You have to!"
"No!" I shouted glaring up at him, "Grandpa had my memories erased for whatever stupid reason! And then he orders everyone in Nesidy to keep it from me!" Flynn shuffled his feet uncomfortably. "I will not be lied to anymore! I will not be a pawn in this stupid game any longer!"
I looked down at the sword in my hand and my eye suddenly caught the glint of the ring on my finger. Of course! How could I be such an idiot?! The rings could transport me to any world! Did I want to go back home? No, not really, but I certainly didn't want to be surrounded by a bunch of liars, either! I thought of someone I could possibly trust, someone who I just met, and therefore didn't know me or my past. Someone who wasn't lying to me! Prince Hans!
There was a flash of light and I suddenly found myself on an unknown beach.
Hans and Max were walking down the beach, when he said aloud, "I can't get that girl out of my head. I've looked everywhere, Max - where could she be?"
As Hans and Max continued walking, the prince failed to see Max's nose twitch, and the dog ran off barking excitedly.
"Max? Huh . . . what, Max!" Hans called out to his dog.
Hearing a barking sound, I looked up to see Hans' dog, Max running towards me. Startled, I ran away and he chased me up onto a rock. With a jump, he licked my face, making me giggle. He then ran off when we heard a male voice and Hans came around the corner. I gasped and stared at his handsome face. It worked!
"Max . . . Max - Quiet Max! What's gotten into you fella?" Looking up, he finally spotted me, his green eyes widening slightly. "Oh . . . Oh, I see. Are you okay, miss?" he inquired coming closer, "I'm sorry if this knucklehead scared you. He's harmless, really -" he stopped before me and I smiled, stunning him, ". . . you . . . seem very familiar . . . to me. Have we met?" I nodded eagerly. "We have met? I knew it! You're the one - the one I've been looking for! The one that saved me! What's your name?" Hans inquired grasping my hands.
"Aralyne," I replied quietly, then tried sliding off the boulder. Unfortunately, I slipped and fell off the rock, right into him, but he caught me in his arms. Startled I stared up at him, blushing slightly. "Whoa, whoa, careful - careful - easy. Come with me." He led me off the beach, one arm wrapped around my waist, and took me to a village.
At the village, he rented a carriage and we rent through a ride in the surrounding country side. I was amazed by everything I had seen, truly enjoying myself. The tour of the new country was the most fun I could ever remember having! After the carriage ride, we saw the town and Hans took me dancing! I never wanted this day to end, but unfortunately, time seemed to have sped up and all too soon, it was evening. The last thing we did was rowing out on a still lagoon.
As he worked the oars, I told him about how I came from a different world. Of course, I kept quiet about saving Incantationen from the Horned King. I didn't want any villains in the Southern Isles finding out about that and destroying my fun time here.
"And for some reason Lao Shi - the ruler of Nesidy - had my memories erased. Why and of what, I have no idea. And to make the situation worse, all of my friends were keeping it a secret from me! Including Danny," I said sadly. I still couldn't believe my best friend would do that to me! It hurt down to my core! Blinking back tears and taking a deep breath, I finished with, "And so I left Nesidy and ended up here. By the way, where is here?"
Hans laughed and said, "Welcome to the kingdom of the Southern Isles." He then became serious and stopped rowing to grab my hand. "As for everyone in Nesidy, don't worry about them. You'll never have to see them again if I can help it."
"Thank you," I said smiling and tucking hair behind my ear, "You're a very good listener, Hans." And hot! "I feel like I can trust you."
He smiled once more, his green eyes twinkling.
Then without warning, the boat tipped over and we fell into the water. Thankfully the lagoon was shallow.
"Whoa, hang on - I've gotcha," he said getting to his feet and helping me up. What just happened?
In Ursula's cavern, the sea witch was watching Aralyne's adventures through her magic bubble. Her eels had tipped the boat over to prevent the humans from kissing and were now congratulating each other.
"Nice work, boys," said Ursula with a sneer, "This is working out better than I thought! At this rate, they'll be kissing by the next sunset for sure! And if not, then it's time Ursula took matters into her own tentacles!" She began throwing ingredients into her cauldron to create a potion. "With Aralyne caught up in a love triangle, Excalibur will be mine, and then I'll make her writhe. I'll see her wriggle like a worm on a hook!" Laughing maniacally, a golden light from the cauldron engulfed her and she transformed into an exact replica of Aralyne with short hair and golden brown eyes.
Still soaking wet from our fall in the lagoon, Hans and I trekked through town and to a castle. Well, he was a prince after all. Inside, he handed me to a woman named Carlotta who gave me a bath.
"Tipped into the lagoon," said Carlotta as I played with the excessive amount of bubbles in the tub, "Oh, the poor thing. We'll have you feeling better in no time." She picked up my soaked clothes and said, "I'll just get this washed for you." She walked out of the room with it, and returned later once I had washed my hair and body.
After getting out of the tub, Carlotta had helped me change into a fluffy pink dress and led me to the dining room. When she left to check on something, I remained outside of the room listening to Hans and Grimsby speak.
"Oh, Hans, be reasonable. Nice young ladies just don't - swim around rescuing people in the middle of the ocean and then -"
"I'm tellin' you, Grim, she was the one that saved my life and I'm gonna marry her."
My heartbeat started racing at his announcement. Marry?! Really?! This is going too fast!
Carlotta suddenly returned and seeing me still standing there, she laughed, gently taking hold of my arm and pulling me into the dining room. "Come on, honey. Don't be shy."
The two men turned and stared me. When Carlotta had let me go, I continued forward on my own.
"Oh, Hans, isn't she a vision?" Grimsby asked, making me smile.
"You look - wonderful," Hans said, staring.
I blushed and muttered, "Thanks."
"Come, come, come, you must be famished," said Grimsby taking my arm and leading me to the table and pulling my seat out for me, "Let me help you my dear. There we go - ah - quite comfy? Uh. It's - It's not often that we have such a lovely dinner guest, eh Hans?"
And that's when ten other people entered the dining room: nine men and one woman. The oldest man had auburn hair streaked with gray, and the woman had black hair pulled back into a tight bun with piercing blue eyes. I suspected they must have been Hans's parents, but who were the other men?
The woman's gaze landed upon me and her lip curled as if she smelled something disgusting. "Hans, who is she and what is she doing here?"
"Mother, this is Aralyne," Hans said through gritted teeth, "She saved my life and I invited her to dinner. Aralyne, this is my mother, Queen Morgaine, my father King Eadric, and eight of my brothers: Alcott, Kit, Thomas, Vincent, Luke, Henry, Miles, and Eugene."
I quickly shot to my feet and curtsied. "It's an honour to meet you, Your Majesties."
Morgaine sniffed and walked past me to sit further down the table. I bit my lip and composed myself. She's such a bitch! Eadric followed his wife, but at least had the courtesy to nod in my direction.
"So you're the one that saved my brother's life," said one man sitting to my left. He had neatly combed brown hair and green eyes similar to Hans, "Why would you do such a thing?"
I was startled by the question. "Because it was the right thing to do."
"Thomas," Hans growled out his face becoming red.
"I can't imagine anyone caring about Hans enough to save him," remarked another man taking the seat to my right. He had long auburn hair pulled into a ponytail and piercing blue eyes.
"Enough, Vincent," said Hans, steadily becoming angrier.
A man with black hair and brown eyes inquired of me, "Do you care for Hans?"
I arched an eyebrow at him and replied coolly, "I do. He's kind and caring, unlike some I can mention."
Another man with auburn hair and blue eyes laughed. "Watch out, Luke! This little kitten has a bite!"
"Leave her alone, Henry," Hans snapped.
"Prince Alcott Westerguard of the Southern Isles and future king," said one man with brown hair and blue eyes, "A question, Lady Aralyne."
That was a bit more polite but he had an arrogant air about him. "Yes?"
"Aren't you a little young for Hans?"
I flushed in embarrassment as everyone but Hans, Grimsby, and Carlotta snickered.
"Yeah, how old are you, anyways? Twelve?" asked a man with brown hair and blue eyes.
"Don't be rude, Miles!" Hans snarled.
"I'm nineteen!" I snapped. In all technicality I was twenty in my world, but I would forever be nineteen in Incantationen. More strange unexplainable magic.
"Still a child in my opinion," said a man with brown hair and eyes before taking a sip of wine.
"She's only five years younger than you, Eugene," said Luke rolling his eyes.
Another man with black hair and brown eyes took the seat opposite from me and winked in my direction. "You're too good for my baby brother. How about you and I go have fun in my room?"
I swear my face was a fiery beacon at his sick implication.
"KIT!" Hans roared.
I stood from my seat and said, "Hans, it's okay. And if your parents don't mind, I'll be taking my dinner somewhere else." Morgaine was watching the exchange with amusement and waved me away. Well, there was my answer. Holding my head up high, I turned on my heel and walked out of the dining room.
"Aralyne, wait!" Hans said jogging after me, "I'm going with you."