OMG.

What is this?

A new chapter?

Naaaaaaaaaaaaw, it can't be! You know that girl Sapphire, she never updates!

What?

It is a new chapter?

NO WAI!

Ahem. Sorry. Insanity bubbled over. But yes, this is a new chapter :D Again, my profuse apologies for the lack of updating; a combination of school work (A-LEVELFEAR), a nerdy social life, ill health and University Applications :S Oh, and writers block, TBH. I made some changes to my Big Book Of Plot, as I wanted to story to go in a slightly different direction, and then was just like; how do I get to this point now? Oh God. What have I done? What do I write?! Some inspiration came to me the other night. In a dream. It was an awesome, Ingo themed dream. And it presented me with some plot elements, for which I am most grateful. However, I'm still not very happy with this chapter, damnit! It just felt so awkward to write, and I'm so sorry if it's crap and you all hate it! But if you do hate it, please tell me why and I'll use it to improve :D

In other news, I have recently uploaded a song called 'The OTP Song (I Will Go Down With this Ship)' to my youtube channel (SapphireLovesTheSea), and please know that Saro are in there, if you feel like checking it out :D I would be much obliged :D

So, anyway…ONWARDS!

This chapter is dedicated to I Am Pure Awesomeness, maybei'mdreaming and MortalDarkDevices. Thank you all so much :D

Chapter Sixteen

For some reason, I think of baths.

A bath is a bit like the sea, as in in the fact that both are full of water. When I have the time to take a bath, I like to lie under the water whilst the tap is running, listening to the thrumming sound fill the water around me. It's soothing. I like to let my hair float loose around my face. It always looks much nicer underwater than it does above; less tangled. I can see red and gold streaks when the light shines through it. Right now, I feel like I am underwater in a bath because all I can hear in my head is a pounding noise, which I think might be my own heart. However, although the sea may bear a passing similarity to a bath in that it is full of water, the resemblance stops there. Baths are small, contained, safe. The sea is massive, wild and very, very dangerous. So dangerous that little mer boys can be taken by their own kind.

I meet Faro a little outside the entrance of the cove and we swim together in tense silence. There's a crowd of Mer gathered outside Melina's cave when we arrive. They look up as we approach; some nod in greeting and we nod back. The crowd parts for us and Faro leads me inside, trying to maintain his cool composure, but his fingers are twitching in agitation. I shoot a sideways glance at him and slip my hand into his, squeezing it. They relax slightly, and he squeezes my hand back, shooting me a half smile.

Mellina is maintaining a surprisingly composed demeanour when we enter the cave. She is seated on a rock, her long hair pulled to one side and braided in a business-like manner to keep it out of the way. She has a couple of other people with her, other mer; a woman and two men. They nod to us, as the other mer did, as we arrive.

"What happened?" Faro asks, coming to a halt next to his aunt and resting a hand on her shoulder. "I didn't…didn't hear the exact details from Hagerawl."

"He was playing." Mellina says, with only a slight tremor to her voice. "Just outside the cave. I went inside for a moment, to get some more seagrass –I was weaving whilst I watched him- and when I came back he..." she takes a moment to compose herself, before resuming. "He was gone."

I frown. "How do you know it was Ervy's followers then? Maybe he's just wandered off, and he's fine?"

"Because Talek found us a little while later, when we were searching." She says in a tight voice. "He says that he saw Mortarow. And that he gave him a message for us." She raises her head and meets my eyes, her own a startling green. "If you and Faro don't hand yourselves over to them, then we'll never see Mordowrgi again."

Faro and I stare at her, before looking at each other, wide eyed.

"I'll do it." He says after a moment, his eyes blazing, tossing his head back proudly. "I'll hand myself over; all the worse for them."

"Don't be an idiot!" I say, glaring at him. "You're Saldowr's scolhyk! You're much too important to just hand yourself over!"

"Well what do you suggest then?" he says, folding his arms.

"Well, I could…could hand myself over." I say, trying not to let my voice shake at the thought. Faro is braver than me, much braver. I think of what they might do to me once they have hold of me and have to suppress a shudder. They would hurt me, I'm sure of it. Probably kill me. I'd never see mum again. Conor might think I've just swum off into Ingo without a second glance. And Rowan…Rowan wouldn't even remember me. I'd just be the big sister who died before she ever had the chance to know her. But then I think of Mordowrgi, his sunny little smile, his mother of pearl tale, his shining, happy eyes, and how can I not? Even if I haven't visited him as much as I should- in fact, I've never really even been to his cave before; I only ever get to see him whenever Faro is taking care of him for the day. But he's still my little brother, my broder, and I'll still kill anyone who hurts him. This thought cements my resolve. "Yes. I'll hand myself over."

"Neither of you are listening." One of the men speaks for the first time, and Faro and I both look over at him. I recognise him from Saldowr's cave years ago; Pledyer. "They want both of you, not either one of you."

"But neither of you are to go charging off yet." says the woman, who I don't recognise. "We'll try and get him back by other methods first."

"And when we find Mortarow and the others…well." The second man's smile is full of dangerous promises.

"The mer do not fight amongst themselves." The woman says, her silvery eyes steely. "We are not like humans, with wars and battles and armour and their tanks and bomber planes. But when a few, foolish clopins disrupt what fragile peace we've managed to salvage from the last time they stirred up trouble…well. I'm sure we can make exceptions." Her lips tighten. "Especially when they steal children from behind the backs of their mammow."

"These are true words, Bryntin." The second man nods, before turning to Mellina. "We'll begin to spread the word." He leaves without more ado, followed by Talek, who seems ever so slightly uncomfortable, quite possibly due to his previous allegiance.

Bryntin turns to Faro and I, sweeping her molten gaze over us, her dark hair billowing out around her and making her look like a warrior queen. "You two stay here. They'll be looking for you." She commands, before sweeping out after the two men.

Faro shakes his head slowly, staring after her in admiration. "What a woman." He murmurs, letting out a low whistle.

For some reason, this sends a sharp pang of irritation through me, despite the serious situation. I hastily block my mind from Faro and shove it down; there are much more important matters at hand than whatever mixed up feelings that I have for him. Also, now that Faro and I are alone in the cave with Mellina for the first time and the initial panic has died down somewhat, I'm becoming increasingly aware that I once held the woman on the other side of the cave responsible for ruining my childhood and stealing away my father. I glance at her out of the corner of my eye. It's funny. Sometimes I still forget that she's just a woman…well, a mer woman, but that's not the point. When I was younger, I would build her up in my mind to be this seductress, the kind you see on television, the ones with bright red lipstick and clingy dresses and expensive jewellery, although of course I knew that that was impossible in Ingo. But it's just what I pictured. A home wrecker. A siren. An evil temptress leading my father away from us. It's still almost an anti-climax every time I see her; she's just a normal woman, albeit with a tail, with a sweet, open face and a welcoming smile. The smile is absent now. It's unfair. I know it's unfair to blame her. When I was younger, I would, but now not so much. It's like Saldowr said. Mellina may have sung to Dad, but he chose to listen. I don't hate her, anymore, don't blame her. I actually respect her, especially now when she's managing to remain so calm and collected, when inside she must feel like screaming.
I don't hate Dad, either. How could I? I forgave him long ago.
Melinda gives me a brave, tentative smile and, after a second, I smile back.

"I'd better go and start helping out." She says in her sweet voice. "Both of you stay in here."

Faro makes a noise of protest, but is silenced by the look on her face.

"I'm serious, Faro. I've already lost Matthew and Mordowrgi. I don't want to lose either of you."

She sees the mutinous looks on our faces and sighs. "Please? If the two of you were caught…just please stay here." She turns and leaves before we can argue.

Faro and I glance at each other.

"There will be bloodshed in Ingo once more." He says, his voice shaking with anger. "More of the mer will die. And why? Because a small minority just can't…just can't…what is that human phrase?"

"Let it go?"

"Yes. They just can't let it go."

The look on his face reminds me of the time, years ago, when I told him about Roger and the other divers going near the Bawns. Teeth bared, eyes flashing, rage coursing through every fibre of his body.

"What do we do?" I whisper softly.

"I am Saldowr's scolhyk and his holyer." he replies, looking determined. "I cannot sit back and watch like a helpless child as the mer wage war. I shall go and find a way to end this."

"You know…" I glance up at him. "If Mortarow's forces are occupied with preparing to combat large amounts of mer, it's possible that two teenagers could easily slip past undetected…and perhaps rescue a small mer boy?"

Faro stares at me. "So the large force are a diversion? I like this plan, Sapphire, except for one aspect…"

"Which is?"

"I shall go alone. You stay here."

I stare at him and slowly raise an eyebrow.

"What?"

"You want me to stay here. While you save my brother. And put yourself in danger."

"Urm…yes?"

"On a scale of one to ten, how likely do you think that the outcome of that request is going to be positive?"

"Hmmm…ten?" he smiles hopefully.

"An interesting theory. A very incorrect theory. Come on. Let's go." I go to leave the cave, but he grabs my arm.

"Sapphire, no! I don't want you putting yourself in any more danger."

"That's incredibly sweet, but I can take care of myself."

"That's not true! Remember when the Tide Knot burst, and you were slammed into that house and you cut yourself, and there was all that blood?" he raises his eyebrows.

"And also, that time when…oh yeah, I sent the Kraken back to sleep? And, you know, when I complete the Crossing of Ingo with you? That thing that the mer do? I'm not really such a puny human anymore, Faro. I can look after myself. In fact, I think that you need me with you in order to look after you."

"I do not!"

"Well you would say that, wouldn't you?"

He grits his teeth. "Fine. Fine, you can come. But at the first signs of danger, you get out of there, okay? I don't want you to get hurt. I actually care about you, believe it or not."

I sigh softly. "I care about you too. Which is why I'm coming."

He takes my hand and squeezes it gently. He seems to be about to say something, but then seems to change his mind, looking away. "We should leave." He says. "We need to get Mordowrgi back before the fighting starts."

I nod. "Then what are we waiting for?"

Hands still joined, we turn and leave the cave.

Blegh, sorry if that was awful! Hopefully the next chapter should be an improvement! Feel free to tell me what you thought in a review, even if you hated it – tell me why you hated it and I can learn from my mistakes! XD

Sapphy

xxx