Chapter 16: The Raven

"She did what?!"

Those were the first words Melody heard on her way down to breakfast, still wearing her pink nightgown underneath the white robe. Her hair was hastily brushed, a number of wayward strands refusing to cooperate as she tried to smooth them down. She rounded the corner to the main hall, finding her father talking with the guard captain. He was dressed in his casual black pants and white shirt, his old sailing boots protecting his feet from the cold tile floor. Clearly he was heading to the docks. It was the only time he wore those boots. And he looked very shocked about something.

"You're joking?" sputtered Eric.

"I would never with you, sire," said the captain. "She took him and left."

Melody quickly crossed the floor to the pair, her bare feet tingling at the chill of the tile floor. "Dad? What's going on?"

Eric turned at the sound of her footsteps. "Melody? You're up early."

"I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep," said Melody, rubbing her eyes. "What's *yawn* excuse me. What'sgoing on?"

"It's Lara."

Melody was awake immediately.

After dinner and a discussion between Eric and Isaac over repairs to their home–including a promise to look into funding by the kingdom to ease the financial burden it placed on Isaac, despite the man's initial refusals of such an offer–it was time for the children to go home. There were plenty of tears at the news their favorite storyteller would not be coming back with them, but they were at least lessened by Ariel repeating her promise they could come visit.

Once the goodbyes were said and Jenni pried off Lara's leg, the warrior girl had graciously agreed to spend the night in another room. She still chose one near Melody, not taking chances even on her first night in the palace. Melody kept waking up expecting to see Lara standing over her with knives drawn or that wooden sword of hers ready to attack, only to find herself alone in her room. She must have woken up at least a dozen times throughout the night. She had been surprised to wake up and peek into Lara's room only to find her gone. The bed had not been slept in, and there was a note saying she would be back with all haste.

From the sound of it she did not just leave like her note suggested. "What's she done?"

Eric scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Nothing bad, to be honest. Just something unusual. Very unusual."

Melody felt disappointed at hearing that Lara had not gotten herself fired, and then immediately felt guilty for wishing something bad had happened. "So, what did she do?"

"She, well…captain, would you tell her what you just told me?"

The captain nodded smartly. "It was early this morning, your highness. Miss Ankle…Ancal…Anglo…Lara was prepared to leave right at sunrise. She looked through the stables but didn't pick any of the horses. She even turned down your father's stallion."

Melody's brow arched in surprise. Her father had not been exaggerating when he said Seahaven horses were the finest in the Alliance. Their steeds were renowned for their swiftness and endurance along with their tame but spirited nature. These traits made them highly sought by everyone from simple farmers to illustrious nobility. The royal stables had some of the finest examples, from Melody's own mare Gypsy to her father's stallion Halberd. That horse was known for his speed, almost undefeated in every race.

"She didn't pick any of them of them?" asked Melody.

"None, princess. She was asking if we had any more when Tempest got loose again. You can imagine the panic that caused."

Melody knew the exact level of panic he was talking about. While Halberd was almost undefeated in his races, he still lost once. Tempest was the one who beat him. King Gerrod had given the handsome black stallion to Eric three years ago, when the horse was ready to begin his training. Gerrod hoped Eric would make him his personal steed. He grew into a truly majestic creature. His jet coat positively shone in the sunlight. He moved with an ethereal speed when he ran, and he ran for longer that anyone thought possible. It was as though he floated over the ground instead of treading upon it. There was no horse in the Alliance that could match him for speed or distance.

There was also no man that could stay on him for more than five seconds. He was completely wild. All attempts to train him had been fruitless endeavors. He threw every rider, trainer, and guard that mounted him. He would snap, stomp, kick, and bite anyone who set so much as a leather cord on his back. Even Ariel, whose gentle nature gave her a certain way with animals, could do little more than pet his head before he would snort and run away. He refused to be tamed. The only reason Eric had not sold him was because of their relationship with King Gerrod. That and the fact no one would take him, even for free. In fact, they were suspicious that Tempest's untamable nature was the real reason Gerrod had given him to Eric in the first place.

Eric eventually gave up on the stallion, relegating him to a pasture near the castle grounds. He hoped crossing his hot blood with the tamer temperaments of Seahaven mares would produce calmer and rideable offspring. While he produced some fine and trainable foals this last spring, the new problem had become keeping him contained. Tempest refused to remain captive even in the largest enclosures. He got loose at least once a month and had to be herded back in, but not after going on wild chases around the palace grounds and a few times through town. It was during one of those breakouts that they discovered his superiority in speed over Halberd when Eric tried to chase him down. He came close, but not close enough. Tempest left him in the dust, later herded back to the palace by two dozen members of the cavalry.

"He went tearing through the grounds dragging two of my men by his halter," continued the captain. "He knocked them loose on a wagon and started charging around like he usually does. We all moved to get out of his way and let him calm down, but that Lara woman just stood there watching him. He took notice and charged her. We all hollered at her to get out of the way, but she didn't budge. I thought she was a dead woman until…"

"Until what?" asked Melody, gesturing for the man to continue.

"He stopped."

Melody blinked at the captain. "Stopped? But Tempest never stops!"

"I swear on my armor, princess," said the captain, holding up his hand as though to testify. "Tempest skidded to a dead halt in front of her. He reared and snorted at her, but she just stood there staring at him. We thought she was going to get her head kicked in. This went on for about a minute until he stopped! Then he let her walk right up to him! He let her touch him! I'd even go so far as to say he was docile!"

Melody was dumbfounded. "Are we thinking of the same horse? Because 'docile' and 'Tempest' have never been used in the same sentence before."

"I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it with my own eyes, your highness, but I promise it's the truth. Tempest let Lara run her hands all over him. Not sure why, but he took a liking to her. I asked her how she did it and she just said he needed a partner."

So the untamable stallion had partnered with the golden-eyed rogue? Somehow that irked Melody, and not just because she had never been able to get close to Tempest either. "So what happened after that?"

"She, uh…she took him."

"She did what?!" exclaimed Melody loudly, causing the man to flinch.

The poor captain wondered why the princess was yelling at him. He would have thought he told her he ate one of the town children for breakfast and it was delicious for how she shouted. If he had known this was waiting for him, he never would have gotten out of bed. "Yes, your majesty. She didn't even put a saddle on him. Turned a halter into a rope bridle, mounted him and off they went. Last I saw of they were heading down the road at a full sprint."

Melody was not sure which she felt more, confusion, annoyance, or awe. She was tempted to pinch herself to make sure she was not still asleep. Tempest was threatening to anyone that came near him and dangerous to anyone foolish enough to ride him. How had Lara pacified that creature without lifting a finger? Did she have magic? Or some special ability to communicate with the stallion like she could with sea life?

"Should we not have let her go, sire?" asked the guard nervously, clearly worried there would be consequences for letting Lara take such a valuable animal.

"No, it's fine," said Eric. "Thank you for your report, captain. You can return to your post."

The captain threw a smart salute and marched towards the large doors that would take him back to the main gate. And breakfast. He planned to enjoy two pastries this morning for all he had endured before eight-o'-clock.

Melody looked up to her father. "Dad, are you really sure that's all right? This is Tempest we're talking about. What if he gets away and hurts someone?"

Eric ran a hand through his hair, still trying to shake the cobwebs from his head at this early hour. "Not much we can do about it now. Knowing that horse, they're probably halfway to the mountains by now. We might as well let her have him. No one else can use him." He rubbed his face, scratching the coarse stubble of a night's growth as he yawned. "Since you're up, care to join me for breakfast?" He offered his arm for her.

Melody smiled sleepily and accepted his arm. "Sounds good."

"Think of it this way," said Eric as they set off for the dining hall. "Now we know he can be ridden!"


The ocean breeze fluttered through the open balcony doors of the royal chambers, passing over Ariel's cheek as she slept. She moaned softly and smiled, snuggling into the pillow as her eyes fluttered open. She squinted against the light, but her eyes quickly adjusted. It was still early morning. She heard the distant tumble of waves and the chatter of seabirds. She heard someone walk through the hall outside the door, no doubt one of the servants going about their duties.

A satisfying pop came from her back as she arched like a cat, stretching out her limbs as she blindly reached for the spot her husband always lay in. "G'morning, Eric."

Instead of his shoulder she touched bare sheets. She stretched further over, still finding no Eric. She rolled over, blinking her sleepy eyes awake. Eric's spot was empty. The sheets were cool to the touch, indicating he had been absent for some time. She glanced around the room, seeing no sign of him anywhere.

She was about to hop out of bed and look for him when she noticed a folded note on her nightstand. Her name was scribbled on it in that script only Eric had. She rolled over and took it, flipping the paper open.

Ariel,

I was going to wake you, but you looked like you were having a nice dream so I let you sleep in. I'm meeting with the carpenters and captains at the marina to review the construction plans for the ships. Lunch with Melody later? Your sisters are welcome to join.

Love, Eric

Ariel smiled at the last two words. Twenty years of marriage and they were still leaving notes for each other like a couple of teenagers. Eric was a hopeless romantic, and she adored him for it. He knew how to make her feel like the luckiest woman in the world, and he enjoyed doing it. It was one of the countless reasons she loved the man.

She breathed deep, savoring the smell of the salty ocean air in the morning. It caused her mouth to form a happy smile as she stretched her arms high overhead, groaning as her muscles loosened.

"What a beautiful day," she said out loud, letting her arms flop down.

"Truly."

Ariel startled as though electrocuted. Her head spun about as she searched for the source of the voice. It was not Eric, nor was it Sebastian. It was no one she recognized. Yet that rumbling deep tone was familiar. She heard it before.

Her eyes widened as she remembered. She heard it the night of Melody's party, when the flames came to life and burned William's body away.

One of the candles in the room lit and then roared to life, spitting out a stream of fire. Ariel shrieked and back against the headboard as the fire collected at the foot of the bed. The candle was quickly eaten away, the flame jumping to another candle and then a third, producing three ribbons of flame coalescing into a single burning mass. A dark shape began forming inside the fire.

Suddenly the flames burst apart and vanished. A raven perched on the footboard, and not a conventional raven either. He was large as an eagle, his black feathers covered with orange glowing lines that pulsed with light like a heartbeat. The lines converged on four eyes that glowed like embers, their igneous gaze locked onto her.

"Good morning, your majesty," said the raven, sweeping an arm over his chest as he bowed to her.

Ariel stared at the bird. Did he just talk?

The raven glanced up at her and smirked. "Boo."

Ariel bolted for the door with a terrified scream, throwing her sheets at the raven as she made her escape. The raven calmly hopped aside and dodged the sheets. His eyes flashed as Ariel grabbed the door handle and pulled hard.

She almost hurt her shoulder when the door refused to budge. She pulled again with greater force, but the door was jammed. No, not just jammed. It was as though it were frozen in place. She pulled with desperate frightened strength to no avail. The door did not even jiggle. She might as well have been pulling on a boulder.

"Help!" she screamed, bracing a foot against the wall as she pulled even harder. "Guards! Help!"

Glowing red and orange lines sprang to life on the door. Ariel recoiled and tripped, landing hard and scrambling away from the door as fast as she could. Her heart pounded in her ears as she stumbled to her feet and ran for the balcony. If she could get outside then–!

The raven's eyes flashed again. The balcony doors slammed shut, orange lines spreading across them and onto the walls. Ariel grabbed the handles and yanked as hard as she could. They were just as solid as the door. She jerked and pulled with all her might. When that failed, she banged on the glass with her fists. It did not budge much less break. This was impossible!

No, not impossible. It was magic.

Ariel backed away from the doors. "This…this is sorcery!"

"Calm yourself," said the raven evenly.

Calm was the last thing Ariel was capable of. Not after a talking bird materialized out of candle flames before her eyes and trapped her in her own bedroom. She spun around, seeing the lines rapidly spread across the floor and ceiling. Soon the entire room was covered in threads of fiery light from top to bottom.

"Help!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. "Guards! Help! Somebody help!"

"No one can hear you, your highness," said the raven. Ariel bolted for her closet, flinging the door open and rushing inside. "Hiding will not help you either."

Except Ariel had no intention of hiding. Her instincts were turning from flight to fight. She grabbed the first thing she lay eyes on and threw it at the raven as hard as she could. In this case, a shoe.

The raven's eyes widened at the incoming projectile, ducking as it went flying over his head. Ariel hurled the shoe's partner at him, forcing the raven to dart aside. Sparks spit off his body as he flapped for balance.

"Careful!" he said warningly. "This is not my stoutest creation!"

"Let me out!" yelled Ariel, flinging a boot at him while brandishing the other one. "Open that door right now or I'll turn you into a feather duster!"

The raven cawed as he dodged the boot. "Wait! Put the shoes down and listen!"

"Oh, I'll put them down all right! Right on your head!" Ariel hurled the second boot at the raven, forcing him to dodge again. She grabbed her dresser drawers and flung them open. Before her was an arsenal of shoes, brushes, shells, jewelry, and several thick books in addition to all the finer things a queen possessed.

The raven's eyes widened further as he beheld the arsenal Ariel had unveiled. "Are you–!?"

Ariel made her intentions very clear when she grabbed a pair of black flats and drew her arm back to throw.

The raven spread his wings disarmingly. "Hold, your majesty! I am not—!"

"Let me go!" shouted Ariel as she unleashed a barrage of shoes and other assorted footwear and belongings at the raven. Anything and everything she could get her hands on became a projectile moments later.

The raven ducked, bobbed, flapped, and hopped frantically on the footboard to avoid the assault. "This–!"

A hairbrush went flying past his head.

"Is not–!"

He used his wing to brush aside a pearl necklace, the white beads scattering over the floor.

"Necessary! I–!"

He hopped over a tiara that came hurtling at him like a frisbee.

"Am not—!"

The raven quickly darted away as a rather heavy-looking book sailed through where he had been perched.

"Your enemy!"

Ariel did not believe him and proved it by grabbing a hatbox and throwing it as hard as she could. The raven saw where it was going and remained where he was, letting the hatbox smash into the footboard.

"Ha!" he declared triumphantly. "You missed–!"

WHAP!

The hatbox had missed, but the leather-bound book Ariel threw did not. The raven was clobbered right in chest and sent flying back against the headboard in a shower of sparks, smoke, and black feathers that crumbled to soot. His body left a black bird-shaped imprint on the wood as he flopped onto one of the pillows.

"…Me," he croaked, a puff of smoke coming from his beak.

Ariel saw her chance and ran at the raven. She took a flying leap onto the bed as he took off, snagging a handful of tail feathers. Despite the bird's fiery origin, he was only warm to the touch. She yanked him down and wrapped her hands around his neck. He struggled furiously, amazingly strong for his size. Both bird and queen gave a surprised yelp as they rolled off the bed and onto the floor. The raven wriggled free and started to take off when Ariel grabbed his leg. She quickly got her other hand around his body and pinned him to his back.

"You were at Melody's party! You caused that fire! Who are you!?" she demanded. "What did you do to Melody!?"

"Your daughter is unharmed!" said the raven, clawed feet gripping her wrists as he tried to free himself.

"What do you want!?" Ariel was starting to spiral into hysterics, adrenaline flooding her all at once. "What are you after? Are you looking to get revenge on us too!?"

"My goal is not–!"

"Why Melody!?" demanded Ariel, no longer listening to the bird. "She's done nothing! I don't care what you do to me, but don't you dare hurt my daugh—!"

"Would you shut up!?" bellowed the raven, his eyes flashing so bright they were almost white.

Another candle lit and burst to life. With a wave of the raven's wing the fire came shooting towards him, forming itself into a hand. Ariel barely turned to see what caused the flash in the corner of her eye when the hand slipped into her mouth and down her throat. She immediately released the raven, falling back on the floor. She clutched her neck as she felt a sensation she wished to never feel again.

The hand withdrew from her mouth, clutching the golden ball that was her voice.

Ariel's eyes went wide with fright. She tried to speak but found her voice was indeed gone, held in the hand's fiery clutches. She screamed but made no noise save her breath. She was mute as the day Flounder and Sebastian brought her to shore. She backed into the wall, seeing the fire with her voice become a flaming cage to contain it.

The raven righted himself and ruffled his feathers into place. He flew towards Ariel, making her press hard against the wall. With a flap of his wings he landed just shy of her kicking range. His glowing eyes stared straight into her frightened blue ones. She braced, unsure what this arcane creature was going to do next.

"Listen well, Queen of Seahaven," said the raven. "I am not your enemy, nor an adversary to the Alliance. I mean no harm to you, your daughter, or any of your family. You have my word. And my word is inviolable."

Ariel should have doubted every word this bird was saying. He somehow trapped her in the safety of her own bedroom and then stole her voice from her. She should be looking for more items to defend herself. She should be looking for another way to escape.

And yet, something told her he was telling the truth. If this creature wanted to hurt her he already would have. He drove off Morgana and destroyed William's body in mere seconds. What was a single human woman compared to that? Yet he made no move against her save taking her voice. If anything, she was the aggressor with how she assaulted him with her wardrobe. A little voice in her head was telling her that, whoever or whatever was before her, he was indeed not an enemy.

"I'm going to return your voice now," said the raven. "If you wish, we can continue this circus of you chasing me around and flinging your belongings everywhere. Or you can listen to what I have to say."

The raven's eyes glowed briefly. The fire cage around her voice fell apart, the light immediately floating towards her. Ariel gasped as she felt it return to its rightful place. She breathed in, feeling the air thrum over her vocal cords to produce a melodic hum that was music to her ears. She had her voice back.

She looked to the raven standing before her. She was not sure what to think right now. Reason dictated she should continue calling for the guards and try to escape. But her intuition told her otherwise. It told her she would regret it if she did not listen to him.

The raven blinked slowly. "Well?"

Ariel swallowed nervously. "I'll listen."

"A wise decision." The raven flew back to the footboard, gesturing to the mattress with a wing. "Come. I'll not have you cower on the floor before me. I assure you I do not bite. Not with this form, at least."

Ariel slowly got up and sat on the edge of the bed, not taking her eyes off the raven for a second.

The raven looked around. "Quite the mess you've made."

Ariel quickly glanced over the room. Mess was one word for it. In her panic she just about emptied most of her closet at the raven. Shoes were strewn everywhere. Jewelry was hanging off dressers, paintings, and candlesticks as well as scattered over the floor. There was a large black mark on the headboard where the raven struck it. It looked as though a hurricane had blown through.

The raven smirked. "Nothing I cannot resolve."

The remaining candles in the room lit as the lines and eyes of the raven glowed. Instead of bursting conflagration the fires streamed toward the raven in thin wisps of flame. All around them objects began to come alive. The jewelry floated through the air along with the books and hatboxes, the pearl necklace restringing itself as it snaked over the floor. The shoes marched in file to the closet as though worn by invisible feet. Ariel could only gape in amazement as she watched the contents of her closet quickly and efficiently return to their place. She spooked when she saw a cloud of black flow by her face, the raven's soot returning whatever carbon it held to him as he absorbed the last of the fires.

"Concerning your daughter," the raven said as the glow faded and a pair of slippers pushed the closet door closed before scampering over to the bedside. "I am the one responsible for what you witnessed at the party."

Ariel stiffened, her hands wringing her nightdress. "What did you do to her?"

"I protected her."

"Why?"

"Your daughter's nightmares were not coincidence. Morgana inflicted those terrors in order to weaken her spirit. I attempted to block the witch out before the party, but Melody's fear was too strong and she rejected me. Now, however, neither Morgana nor any of her associates will be able to tread into her mind again."

A few sparks flitted off his eyes as he added, "And if they do, I assure you they will not linger for long."

Ariel relaxed the grip on her clothes a tad, still very wary of her visitor. "What about William? What happened to him?"

"Ah yes, Prince William. What you witnessed was necromancy of the most nefarious kind. Morgana ensnared his soul before it could move into the Otherworld and used it to control his body."

"You mean like a puppet?"

"The comparison does not do justice to the cruelty of such an act. I not only cut Morgana's strings but closed the curtain on her show as well. Had I not intervened the young man's soul would likely have remained in her clutches. Fates know what she had in store for him."

"Where is he now?" asked Ariel.

"He is gone. I made sure of it."

Ariel's face must have betrayed her uneasiness at hearing that, because the raven seemed to smile at her.

"Stay your fears. I did no harm to the prince. Only ensured he is at peace." The raven paused for a moment. "He did love your daughter. His feelings burned true as yours for the human. A shame it was snuffed out so early."

Ariel felt a lump in her throat. She knew the bond between Melody and William was more than simple friendship. The kiss at the party made that evident. To hear confirmation of it only added to her sadness that the two would never have the chance to enjoy it. Who knew how many happy and tender moments Morgana had stolen from her daughter on that fateful night? An entire future had been taken away.

Her hands fidgeted nervously. "Can you help him?"

"I already have," said the raven.

"What I mean is…can you bring him back?"

The raven tensed visibly, making Ariel worry she said something offensive. "There is an axiom among those who study the nobler ways of magic, your highness. Life's first birth is a gift. Its second birth is an affliction. There are powers and beings in this world that can raise the dead. Some defy Death entirely. But there is no power below or beyond the stars that can restore the departed to true life."

"But Morgana and Ursula–," began Ariel.

"Are not alive," interrupted the raven. "Not in the same vein as you or I. They are likely kept in this realm by some form of curse. Those who have tried to bring back the dead have either failed utterly or joined the dead themselves, and sometimes suffered worse than either. I am sorry, but William will never be able to return to as he was. Never."

Ariel felt the lump grow heavy and fall into her stomach. She knew it was pointless to ask that question. She knew death was beyond the reach of magic. But she still had to.

At that moment the lines on the raven began to flicker. The raven's head whipped back in alarm to his tail. Both bird and queen saw the light begin to vanish from his feathers.

"I've used too much," said the raven. He turned back to Ariel. "My time grows short, so you must listen. I've come to bring you a warning. Your life and that of your family will depend on whether you heed it or not."

Ariel leaned forward, as though the lessened distance would allow her to better remember what she was about to hear.

"A war is coming."


"Ha ha! Yahooooooo!"

A dust cloud was left in their wake as Lara and Tempest flew along the dirt road towards the White Iron Mountains. Lara had her goggles on as her hair, cloak, and shemagh billowed behind her with their speed. Her pack was set tight against her spine, retrieved from the orphanage before they departed. Willow and cherry blossom branches stuck out the top, trailing behind her like ribbons. Her fire pendant bounced against her chest, the flame burning strong inside like the feeling in her chest. She moved with the stallion, the two in synchrony as they raced towards the white-capped peaks.

"Come on!" she urged her steed. "Faster! Show me what you've got!"

Tempest met her coaxing in kind, going even faster. Lara responded by letting out a thrilled whoop, as elated by the speed as he was.

She was in heaven. She had loved every moment since she first mounted this magnificent animal. This was more like flying than riding. The wind flowing through her hair and howling in her ears. The trees reduced to blurs of green, gray, and brown as they flew by. The earthy living smell of the forest. All combined with the sounds of hooves pounding against road and her own laughter to send her heart soaring and hair standing on end.

She leaned with Tempest around a wide turn, feeling herself press into his back. They had been going at this pace for over an hour now, and she felt Tempest still had plenty more to give. She could feel his muscles rippling beneath her, as though he pushed the earth away with each stride instead of running over it. She could tell he loved this freedom as much as she did, and she was all too happy to give it to him.

"Whoa! Whoa!" said Lara as "T" in the road came abruptly into view, quickly collecting the reins and pulling firm but politely. Tempest immediately started to slow, his hooves kicking up small stones and dust as he found traction on the packed road surface. He came to a quick stop in the middle of the crossroads, flinging Lara against his neck. She grabbed onto his neck to stay on, remaining there as she felt his chest expand and contract like a bellows, pawing the ground in his eagerness to keep going.

Lara laughed as she straightened up, grinning like a fool as she patted the stallion on his neck. "You, my friend, are amazing! Absolutely astonishing!"

Tempest threw his head and neighed, appreciative of the compliment. Lara reached up and scratched underneath his halter. She moved her goggles onto her head and looked to the sky. The sun was not even at noon and they were already deep in the Emerald Forest. Even at a quarter of this rate they would be in the Howling Forest well before sundown, and at the border of the mountains by the same time tomorrow.

Suddenly Tempest snorted and reared, eyes wide as he whinnied in fright. Lara kept her balance, leaning with him as he fidgeted under her. He planted his feet and turned back the way they came, intent on returning to the safety of Seahaven.

"Whoa! Easy!" she commanded, pulling Tempest back around. His eyes were scanning the forest, nostrils flared as he sniffed. "What's got you worked up? You smell something?"

Tempest threw his head as though answering her question. Lara looked around them. If something was watching them, it picked the ideal place to do it from. The forest lined the roads in all directions like green and brown suits of armor down the halls of a castle. The foliage was dense on all sides, the thick trunks of the oaks reducing her line of sight considerably.

Lara could sense they were being watched. It was a tickle on the back of her neck like a crawling spider. She felt eyes on them, but from where? The roads were clear in all directions. It was near pointless looking into the forest. Their watcher could be anywhere.

"Kodama!" she called to the forest. "It's Lara! I know you're there! Show yourself, oh greateth forestee spiritee!"

The forest was silent. The only sounds were Tempest's snorting breaths as he sniffed the air and his panicky steps mixed with the wind over the trees and a few twittering birds. Lara fought to keep her heart calm and her breathing even. Panic was the worst enemy in a situation like this. Panic corroded reason and thought, which left one vulnerable to deception. Carefully she dismounted from Tempest, keeping the reins in her hand as the other cautiously reached for her knife.

Snap…

Lara's gaze and Tempest's ears twisted to the wall of forest on their left. She strained her ears hard, trying to pick out the sound again.

Snap…Snap…

It was quiet, but Lara could definitely hear feet in the dense leaf litter of the forest. She started to pull her knife out. Tempest whinnied again, snorting and pawing at their approaching watcher.

Then a pair of shadows darted out from the depths of the forest and into the road. Lara was about to draw her knife when she recognized the two very large and very familiar dire wolves running towards them.

"You two!" she exclaimed, a lightness in her heart at the sight of her canine friends. "You almost gave me a heart attack! Come here, you rascals!"

The wolves broke into an eager lope, paws striking up dust as the bounded down the road towards her. Tempest started to back away, clearly afraid of the large carnivores.

"It's all right," said Lara reassuringly. "They're friends."

Tempest snorted and gave her a skeptical look, clacking his teeth together.

"No, they're not gonna eat you."

The wolves raced into the intersection and pounced on Lara, knocking her to the ground where they commenced to lick every inch of her face they could get to, tails wagging and whining happily.

Lara giggled and laughed at their whiskers and rough tongues tickling her skin. "Ah! Pthft! Stop! Ha ha! Wait, hold on! Ack! I can't breathe, you mutts! I'm glad to see you too, but I bathed yesterday! Cut it out!"

The wolves backed off to let Lara pick herself up from the dirt, wiping wolf slobber off her face and dust off her pants. They then turned their attention to the large black stallion. Their ears perked forward in interest, and perhaps slight hunger. The horse snorted at them, backing away warily.

"No. He's not food," said Lara, taking hold of the makeshift reins. "This is Tempest. He was gracious enough to give me a ride here, so you all need to get along." She turned to the horse. "Introduce yourself."

Tempest looked at Lara as though she just asked him to jump over a fire pit. He shook his head, indicating there were not enough sugar cubes or apples in the world to make him do that.

"It's fine," she reassured him. "Now go on."

Hesitantly the stallion lowered his head to the wolves' level. They approached slowly, both sniffing at the air to learn the stallion's scent. The three briefly touched noses before Tempest shook his head, giving one of those lip-fluttering sighs that horses do. He was still nervous around the predators, but his previous panic seemed to be gone.

"Since that's settled…" Lara knelt in front of the wolves. "Did Kodama send you?"

"That I did, Anclagon."

Lara looked around, trying to find the source of the spirit's voice. It seemed to be everywhere at once. "I hear you, but I don't see you!" she called out.

"Thou looks but does not see," came Kodama's voice. "I am all around thee, for I am the forest. Thy partner is of most noble lineage among his race. Steeds of his physical prowess are rare."

Lara could have sworn Tempest got a smug look on his face.

"As is their magnified hubris."

She laughed at how quickly the stallion's look vanished, stomping his hoof angrily at the jab. "I take it you've been watching?"

"My eyes have followed thee since thou first entered the forest. I see thou hast come bearing tribute."

Lara nudged her pack with her elbow. "A little something for you. I need to get my sword back."

"Thou hast need of thy blade for the Princess Melody."

Lara's eyes widened. "How did you know?"

"A little bird did relay this unto me."

She almost laughed, knowing that statement could very well be true. "He told you right. I'll hopefully be at your grotto in three days."

"Thou need not travel thy previous trail, or for so long."

An unearthly howl broke the silence. Horse, wolves, and woman turned to the mountains together. It was not an ordinary sound. It was a deep reverberant call that hung in the air, part wolf howl, part hawk scream, and something else Lara could not place. It sounded as though the mountains were singing. The forest went deathly silent, as though paying its respect to their eternal avatar.

The hairs on Lara's neck stood straight up as a shiver went through her body as she remembered a similar call in the heart of that winter storm. It still stirred some deeply primal instinct in her mind that told her a predator was nearby. She knew Kodama was an ally, but a part of her was always mindful he was not fond of humans. That, and he belonged to a clade of creatures stronger than she could ever hope to be.

The trees in front of her began to shift and groan, coming to life as one. Their roots ripped free of the earth, cascading dirt, sticks and leaves into the air as they moved aside. Their canopies bent inwards to form an arched steeple of branches and leaves. The trees settled to create a long aisle of forest to match the grandest of cathedrals. Their roots swept at the ground, clearing the disturbed earth of debris and rocks to leave an unbroken path of soft dirt. The path grew out in front of them, trailing off towards the mountains.

"Thy road lies before thee now," came Kodama's voice.

Lara and Tempest's mouths dropped open at the same time. Before them was indeed a road. Kodama just made their trip significantly easier. They had a much shorter route now, and with his presence around them there was not a werewolf, bandit, or slaver that would get within twenty miles of them. Not if they wanted to stay alive, that is.

The wolves howled to the sky, their eerie call carrying over the wind and up into the snowy peaks far away. They trotted to the start of the road and stopped, looking back to Lara.

"I'm guessing we should follow?" Lara asked.

"They will lead thee to our place of meeting," said Kodama. "I shall bring thy blade and save thee the long journey to my hold."

"Right then." Lara donned her goggles and hopped onto Tempest's back, being careful to lower her weight instead of dropping it onto him as previous riders had so rudely done. She gathered the reins and settled in. "Let's go!"

Tempest needed no encouragement or kick. He took off down the forest road like an arrow, hooves kicking up dirt as they raced beneath the woodland arches. The wolves followed at the black stallion's heels, keeping pace with the horse where their smaller counterparts would struggle. Lara's hair began to wave out behind her as they gained speed, plunging deep into the forest. She looked back and saw the trees starting to return to their original spots, the groan of ancient wood and moving earth audible under the wind. Within moments the forest had swallowed up the road, leaving no trace that she, Tempest, or their guides had ever passed through.

She turned her attention back to the road before them, their trail disappearing as quickly as it was made as they sped off towards the mountains.


Ariel just stared at the raven. The words repeated again and again in her mind, but they would not sink in. She would not allow them to. She bolted to her feet, eyes wide in alarm and hair standing on end. "A war? What do you mean a war!?"

"A war upon the entire Alliance," said the raven with upsetting evenness. "Upon the four kingdoms. Upon Atlantica. All of it."

"No!" she shouted angrily, shaking her head. "You're lying! It's not true! It can't be! How can you possibly know this!?"

"I cannot see the future," said the raven. "But I see the patterns of cause and effect. Your thread is one entwined with many. As one moves, so do the rest, and thus is woven the pattern of fate. And the patterns I see lead to war."

"I don't believe you!"

The raven looked at her, the lines starting to fade off his tail. "Believe me or do not. That's your choice to make. I hope I am mistaken as much as you. But do not dismiss my warning as nonsense. You and those you hold dear may yet depend on it."

"Help us then!" Ariel pleaded. "You drove off Morgana! Make sure it doesn't happen!"

"That is beyond my ability to do."

"Why!?"

The raven looked out to the ocean. "Were the situation different I would give you my unfettered aid, and help you staunch the bloodshed before any more can be spilled. However, fate had other plans when it brought our paths together. My interference with Morgana was near the limits of my powers at present, and bolder than I should have been. I cannot be found under any circumstance, even if lives must be lost for it."

Ariel clenched her fists and marched up to the raven. "What are we supposed to do then!? Just sit and wait to be destroyed!?" Angry tears welled up in her eyes. Her fingernails dug hard into her palms, threatening to draw blood if she pressed any harder. "You said you're on our side, and you won't harm my family!"

"I am," assured the raven. "And I will not."

"But then you tell me our home is going to be burned down and there's nothing we can do about it? Who do you think you are!? And who or what are you!? How do I know this isn't one of Ursula's tricks and you're really her trying to scare me!?"

When the raven spoke again its voice was thinner. "Because your heart tells you otherwise. Regardless of who or what I am, you know I amyour ally. You feel in your heart this is true. Never doubt your heart, your highness, for yours is a rare and powerful thing. Trust in it and you'll not be led astray. And your kingdom is not as defenseless as you believe. Not anymore."

"What do you mean?" asked Ariel, still as angry as she was confused but a little bit hopeful at the statement.

The raven closed his eyes. "I foresee strife and hardship in your futures. There will be trials to overcome, and there will be further losses." The raven opened his eyes again. "In those times the people will look to you for guidance and safety. And you and your family must look to Lara Anclagon for your own."

Ariel tensed. "Lara? What does she have to do with this?"

"More than you can imagine," said the raven.

Ariel's brow furrowed in confusion. "I don't understand."

The lines began to recede from the raven's wings. "Lara is the one element your enemy did not anticipate. A joker that could turn the deck in your favor. A third die cast into the game. Her intervention will change the course of events for the enemy and yourselves. How it will change, though, depends on you."

"On…me?" said Ariel, not sure what she could do to cause such a consequential shift.

The raven stepped towards her, flickering eyes looking up as they started to fade. "A time will come when you must make a choice. One that will decide the outcome of this war. To trust Lara or not. Depending on your decision, she can be your greatest ally and your foe's deadliest adversary…or your roles can be reversed. Right now, she is someone who needs your help as much as you needs hers. Granted she has her…unique qualities, but you will find she is not as indomitable as she appears. She is haunted by her sins. Some justifiable, perhaps, but sins nonetheless. But do not underestimate her, for she is stronger than you can imagine. Leave that mistake to your foes."

The lines on the raven were barely a hair's width from his eyes when the lines on the wall began to flicker. His body was losing its dark color, turning ash white as he slowly disintegrated. "My time is up. Farewell, your majesty. Till we meet again."

With that the light began to fade from his eyes and the lines disappeared from the walls, the balcony doors gently swinging open.

"Wait!" said Ariel.

A flicker of light returned to the raven as he stalled his departure.

A thousand questions spiraled in Ariel's mind. Who was this enemy Morgana and Ursula were cooperating with? What was their ultimate goal? Why was this raven helping them? What exactly happened to William? Why was Lara so important to their future?

But one question pushed itself to the front of her conscience. "Who is Lara?"

His voice was barely a whisper when the raven spoke, but Ariel was able to make out the words as the light vanished from his eyes. "A survivor."

With that the raven collapsed into a pile of ash, crumbling into nothing until not a trace of him was left.

Ariel stared at the spot where the raven had been. She reached out and felt the warmth lingering on the bed. There was not a speck of it to be seen. A breeze pushed her balcony doors open, playing with her hair. Her eyes looked out to where the sea met the blue sky. She found herself wondering how far off that horizon truly was.

The world had just grown much larger. And that made her feel incredibly small.


A/N: An ominous watcher has brought a prediction of inevitable war and destruction. Is it better to live knowing the end will come? Or to move through life with blissful ignorance, not haunted by the impending darkness? How will Ariel move forward with this knowledge?

As always, your comments/thoughts/constructive criticism is appreciated and welcome.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own "The Little Mermaid," Disney, or any of its associated characters and intellectual property. Everything else, however, is mine =)