Chapter Nineteen

King Eric stepped outside in the morning sun. In his arms was a royal naval uniform. From what Ariel had told him about transferring from a mermaid into a human, the differences in temperature were a little hard to adjust to. Eric had a feeling his father-in-law might have a difficult time asking for help, so he wanted the clothes to be a peace offering of sorts.

Many of the merfolk were already up. Eric assumed there were plenty of them who hadn't been able to sleep at all. They were all crowded around Mr. Andersen on the deck, who was telling another story. From what Eric could tell, they were nearing the end.

"Then the little boy pointed, and said, 'Look! The emperor has no clothes.' And once the little boy spoke the truth, the entire assembly broke out into laughter. But the emperor, who was already halfway through the procession, continued with the parade."

The small crowd laughed and applauded at the tale's end.

"Good morning, your Majesty." Mr. Andersen bowed when he noticed the king.

"Good morning, Mr. Andersen. Another one of your stories?"

"Yes. I think stories can provide a useful distraction during hard times."

"I believe you're right. Thank you for your help."

"I wish there was more I could do. Actually, I do have some ideas, but I would prefer to do some research before I share them. Do you have a library?"

"Of course," Eric's eyes drifted to the shoreline. As he expected, King Triton had waded out a few yards. "I will have Grimsby escort you and give you whatever you require." Prince Eric waved Grimsby over and explained his instructions.

Eric completed his walk, slightly nervous. There never had been many occasions for them to interact, and, truth be told, King Triton was an intimidating figure. Even without the trident.

"Good morning, your Majesty. I thought you might need this," Eric held out the royal navy suit. If the sea king had to wear clothes, Eric thought it would be best there was a royal distinguishment and a sea connection.

King Triton hesitated in taking the offering. "Not now, thank you. I am perfectly fine." The sea king shivered in the breeze.

Eric didn't press the issue. "Were you able to sleep?"

"No."

Eric nodded in understanding. If the roles were reversed, and his people were in trouble, he would not have been able to sleep either. Both of their silent musings were interrupted as the familiar sight of a body emerging from the water came up.

Princess Attina had arrived with the trident.

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

The first sight Attina beheld was her father. It was comforting, to see him alive and looking well. But seeing him with legs, as a human, sent shivers down her spine.

"Attina!" King Eric breathed a sigh of relief. "I'll get Ariel." Before leaving, the king placed something down on a nearby rock.

"Good morning, father," Attina said. "Are you all right?"

Her father, smiling, waded out closer to her so he could give her a hug. "I am fine. Nothing to worry about besides reversing Saleen's spell. Thank you for coming as quickly as you did."

"Of course." Her father's skin felt cold and trembled slightly. Attina's eyes went to the bundle Eric had put on the rocks. "Father, are you cold?"

"No." His body continued to shiver.

Attina didn't press the issue. She knew how stubborn he could be. "Father, what if it doesn't work? What if I'm not…worthy enough to wield the trident."

"Attina, you're my daughter. You are worthy of the trident. Using it is easy; the trident is a tool that extends your will. Perhaps you can do some practicing. Start with something easy; use the trident to lift the waves."

Attina faced away from the shore. She imagined a wall of water in front of her. Then she willed the trident to make it so. The trident glowed and the water in front of her went up and up until it was a towering wall of water. Attina then imagined the water parting, circling, changing into the shape of a dolphin until she lowered the waters back down to where they had come from.

"Well done," Triton encouraged, and his daughter smiled at his praise.

A few shouts came from the beach. Ariel was rushing down, and she was not alone. Attina could recognize Eric, Archimedes and his nephew, Alex. One was a palace servant Attina didn't remember the name for, and then a stranger holding a furry animal.

Ariel dashed into the water to hug her sister. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

"Good morning, sis. I haven't done anything yet."

"But you're here." Ariel turned to her father and gave him his own hug. "Father, you feel like ice!"

"I am perfectly fine."

"Nonsense. You are going to catch your death of cold and we already have enough problems. Eric, I thought you were bringing him something."

"What was I thinking." Eric retrieved the jacket and held it out.

King Triton glanced between the two reproving glares his oldest and youngest daughters were giving him. In a sigh of defeat, he accepted the jacket.

"Now, let's reverse Saleen's spell."

"Wait," Triton held out his hand, "it's possible that if Saleen hears or feels you trying to undo her spell, she could do the same to you. Then who knows what might happen to the trident. I think it would be best if you freed Melody first."

"Very well. Where's the book?"

The servant, Grimsby, had kept it safe on dry land when Ariel went into the water. The three went closer to shore and the book was placed on a nearby rock, high enough so it wasn't in danger of getting wet by the waves.

Free Melody. Free Melody. Attina focused on that thought over and over. The trident glowed and touched the book cover with the tridents tip.

The tridents glow ebbed down.

"Melody?" Ariel looked around, expecting to see her daughter. "Melody!"

"I'll try again."

Get Melody out of the book. Get Melody out of the book.

Ariel grabbed the book and flipped to the illustration page. The outline of her daughter was still there among the waves.

"Daddy?" Ariel looked to Triton with a paled face.

"Did I do it wrong?" Attina asked, twisting the trident in her hands.

"Alex, what were Morgana's exact words when she spelled Melody?"

"Um…I actually wasn't there for that part. Melody was already inside when I got there."

Triton sighed. "I can't say for certain without knowing the exact phrase. As I just told Attina, the trident works through the wielder's will. If Attina is unable to bring Melody out now, it's possible the will behind Morgana's spell was for Melody to entrap herself."

"How would that work?"

"Melody is stuck because she believes she's stuck. Only Melody can free herself now."

"Then someone has to go in." Eric stepped forward. "Attina, can you send me into the book?"

"I'm coming, too," Ariel stood beside her husband.

"Both of you shouldn't go," Attina argued.

"She's our daughter!"

"Yes, but you're also the leaders of this kingdom and there's the current threat of Saleen still out there. Not to mention, Morgana. I hate to say it, but it needs to be someone else."

"Perhaps, a scout is in order," the stranger stepped forward. "I am the author, after all. That could be helpful in this unprecedented situation. Mr. Andersen at your service, Madame." He bowed to Attina.

"We can't ask you to do that."

"I volunteered. Besides, I'm sure if I'm willing and Attina has good intentions, there shouldn't be any problem of getting me out. Oh, and Sixpence would like to join in." He patted the furball, now perched on his shoulder.

"I could spell an item that would permit you to come in and out of the book at will."

"Use this." Triton handed over his left gauntlet.

Attina cast the spell; the gauntlet glowed brightly from the tridents touch. Mr. Andersen put it on his wrist.

"I'm allowing you to take Sixpence and one other person. Hopefully, that will allow you to bring out Melody."

Mr. Andersen held Sixpence in his arms. He closed his eyes and wished himself into the book. The gauntlet glowed again and in a flash he disappeared from the shore. Ariel opened the book again to the illustration and saw another merman was swimming in the waves.