Helllo there again! Here you have chapter 15 of Harbor of Hearts. See the first chapter for acknowledgements and major canon divergences. Thank you all for your lovely comments.

I want to make one extra acknowledgement for this chapter specifically, since I realized I have based a small part of it almost subconsciously on a fanfic I read like 6-7 years ago. I've done some very long digging and FINALLY managed to find it again. It is a Bagginshield fic with the premise of Thorin, Fili, and Kili surviving the Battle of the Five Armies and Bilbo deciding to take the ring to Mordor himself directly after the battle. I really recommend checking the story out, it's amazing. It's called "to change the course of the future" and it is by the talented authoressjean. Link: h/works/700097/chapters/1289763.

Anyways, happy reading!


Chapter 15

After their arrival at Antarctica, Arthur, Orm, Mera, king Nereus, and a large group of both Atlantean and Xebellian soldiers exited the ship on top of steeds and made their way over to the signal they had been tracking for the past few hours. Only a few minutes later, David Kane's ship came into view. As they approached they could see Black Manta leave in an octopus-like ship towards a crack in an ice-wall, whilst the shark-like ship charged its sonic canon and pointed it towards them.

Arthur quickly dismounted Storm, his steed, and grabbed his trident. He closed his eyes and called forth all the whales and orcas he had summoned before. Soon almost seventy of the mammals were swarming the boat, loudly communicating with each other, like Arthur had asked. The king of Atlantis chuckled when he noticed they were discussing the weather and the best eating spots. The canon finished charging and tried to fire at the group, but the sounds the whales and orcas were producing caused the ultrasonic echo to inverse and make the ship to implode instead. Arthur thanked the whales as he mounted Storm again and the group quickly followed the direction Black Manta had disappeared to.

They entered through the crevice and rode through a lengthy ice tunnel filled with enormous icicles hanging from the ceiling. Eventually the tunnel opened up to reveal the kingdom of Necrus. Black houses and public buildings stood crumbled and abandoned. The city was split into two by a tall bridge which led to a black palace. Torches emitting green flames stood evenly spaced along the bridge and throughout the city.

"This place is immense. Black Manta could be anywhere," Nereus commented.

Arthur turned towards his brother. "Orm, you know and have seen more of this place than any of us. Do you have any idea about where he could be?"

Orm nodded. "The throne of Necrus is in the heart of the city." He pointed towards the black palace. 'It's where Atlan imprisoned Kordax."

"Well, then that's where we should go."

Before they could move, however, a terrible screeching was heard and hundreds of monsters seemed to be swimming and crawling towards them through Necrus' streets. Some looked like octopi, some looked like sharks, looked crustacean, and some looked like a horrid mix in between. Yet one feature shared between all of them were their green glowing eyes. Both kings instructed their men to fire at will and a fight ensued. Arthur and Orm fought back to back, protecting each other and covering each other's blind spots.

At one point Mera made her way over to the two brothers, using her water powers to impale monsters with icicles as she went. "Arthur, Orm! Go! My father and I will distract them." Arthur turned towards her, punching a squid-like creature in the face. "Are you sure?" He send a grateful nod to his brother, who had used his gun to shoot a screaming crustacean monster that had been running towards him. The princess of Xebel and her father nodded. "We can deal with these worms. Go."

While Mera, Nereus and the soldiers distracted the monsters, Arthur and Orm snuck away and made their way to the large bridge leading to the palace. Most of their climb along one of its pillars was uneventful. Once they neared the top, however, one squid-like monster appeared from a crack and curled a tentacle around Arthur's leg. Arthur let out a surprised cry as he was suddenly being pulled down by the monster. He fell a few feet before managing to grab unto a protruding part of the pillar. Orm, who had already reached the top of the bridge, immediately looked down at hearing his cry, lifted his gun and shot the tentacle. The monster screeched and let go of Arthur before losing its balance and plummeting down to its death. Arthur briefly rested his head on the black stone of the pilar and let out a relieved sigh. He then started climbing back up. When he neared the top, Orm held out his hand and helped him over the edge.

They ran across the bridge and through the black entrance gate before starting to make their way through the palace's many halls. Arthur led his brother take the lead, since Orm's vision included memories about the layout. Eventually they arrived at the opened doors of the throne room. It was fairly empty, apart from a large broken altar in its center. The room was illuminated by torches emitting green flames and cracks littered the once smooth black marble floor. At the far end of the hall sat Kordax on his throne, glowing green and encased in ice. David Kane, holding the black trident, stood in front of the Black King with his back turned towards them. He turned around as the two brothers came in.

"I have been waiting for you."


Both Orm and Arthur ran forth and a battle ensued that was similar to the one at Devil's Deep. They managed to land a few hits whilst Black Manta managed to land a few more. At a certain point Kane swiped out with his arm and flung Orm across the room. The blonde Atlantean hit wall and fell to the ground with a groan. As he got up he watched as Arthur and Manta continued to battle with their tridents. After a particularly hard hit Arthur staggered back a bit and lost his footing, giving Kane just enough time to kick the half-Atlantean in the chest with his foot and send him across the hall as well. Arthur landed hard on the floor and accidentally let go of his trident. Black Manta hurled his black trident after the king with a cry.

"Nooo!" Orm ran forward and managed to catch the trident with one hand before it could pierce his brother through. Then, a green glow shot from the trident through his arm and over his entire body. The flashes he had seen the last time he had touched the trident returned.

Necrus. Kordax. Atlan. Battle. Trident against trident. Brother against brother. Brother turned monster.

But this time it was different. It did not simply end with the flashes. Instead, a presence forced itself into him, filling him from limb to limb and penetrating his mind. Orm couldn't move, couldn't speak, couldn't even blink on his own accord. He was forced to watch as his hands readjusted their grip on the Black Trident and his feet started to carry him towards Arthur, who was getting up from the ground. His lips started to speak in a voice he did not recognize. "You wear my brother's armor, and wield his trident, but you're only half the man he was. How pathetic."

Arthur shook his head. "That's not true. Come on now, little brother, I know you're in there." Orm banged on the walls of his mental cage, but Kordax's grip on him was too strong. I am here! he wanted to shout. Instead, his lips curled up into a wicked grin as his feet stopped in front of his brother. "Don't you see?" his strange mangled voice spoke again. "You can't win. Either you kill your brother or you die."

Then, quick as lightning Orm's hands plunged the trident into Arthur's abdomen, lifting the half-Atlantean up before throwing him down unto the broken altar. Orm's hands pulled the trident loose again, allowing blood to pour out of the wounds and unto the altar. At the end of the hall the ice around Kordax's body started to glow green and crack.


Arthur rolled off of the altar where Orm had stabbed him and coughed up blood. He could still hear Kordax speaking through his brother somewhere behind him. "By Atlan's blood this magic is broken. My eternal night is ending." Arthur looked up at the glowing ice that still held the body of the Black King. "I'm done fighting your puppets, Kordax. I'm coming for you." He quickly stood up, turned around, and placed both his hands beside those of his brother on the trident. "Let it go! I can end this!"

Orm simply stared at him with those unnatural cold green eyes. "No! It is time for me to reclaim my destiny. Atlantis deserves its one true king."

Arthur's heart broke a little in his chest. Had he been wrong about his brother? Kill him, Kordax's voice whispered into Arthur's head. Kill him and my power is yours. No! Arthur shouted back internally. He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the thoughts and doubts swirling within him due to the trident. He knew that his brother cared about power, but he also knew that Orm cared for Atlantis even more. When the trident had chosen Arthur instead of him, he had accepted it because that was what Atlantis had wanted. And even if Orm did not care for him back, he was still his brother, and Arthur would always be there for him and protect him.

"Orm," he began, hoping beyond hope that he could somehow reach his brother. He could not bear to lose Orm. The thought physically hurt him. I've been falling for him, Arthur realized. The feelings, the touches, the way his heart beat faster... "Do you remember what I told you back when we first met? I told you that no matter what, you were not alone and that we were in this together. I meant what I said." A very small blue flicker came across Orm's eyes, but it disappeared as quickly as it came. Still, it gave Arthur hope. "Orm, come back to me," he spoke as he lifted one of his hands and putted it on his brother's cheek. Another blue flicker. Distantly he heard ice cracking as Kordax was released from his prison. Arthur stepped closer. "Let it go," he whispered before closing the gap and softly pressing his lips to Orm's.


Orm shouted and shook the bars of the prison he was in, but it was no use. "By Atlan's blood this magic is broken. My eternal night is ending," he heard his mouth speak as Arthur rolled off of the altar, coughing up blood. Orm wanted nothing more than to reach out and make sure the dark-haired half-Atlantean was alright.

Kill him, and you will be Ocean Master. All my power will be yours to wield as you desire, Kordax's voice spoke inside his head. No, Orm thought back. He loved his brother. Arthur was the rightful king of Atlantis, being both the firstborn of their mother and wielder of Atlan's trident.

Arthur got back unto feet, holding a hand against the puncture wounds on his stomach. He turned around and faced Orm, determination visible in his eyes. He reached out as if to grab the trident. Orm panicked. He did not want his brother to be possessed as well, to lose himself. But he still couldn't move his own limbs, so there was nothing he could do when Arthur did indeed grab the Black Trident as well.

"Let it go! I can end this!"

"No!" he heard himself say. "It is time for me to reclaim my destiny. Atlantis deserves its one true king." I can give you more power than you could possibly imagine in your dreams, Kordax offered again. Orm did not reply. Instead he banged harder against the mental cage he was in at seeing Arthur's heartbroken expression at his words. It's not true! he wanted scream.

Arthur looked at him, searching his face for something. "Orm," he spoke again. "Do you remember what I told you back when we first met? I told you that no matter what, you were not alone and that we were in this together. I meant what I said."

Yes, Orm thought. Yes, I remember and you don't have to be alone either. Orm almost broke free, but was quickly pulled back again by Kordax. I can give you anything you desire, the Black King hissed in his ear. Anything you want.

"Orm, come back to me," Arthur whispered whilst putting his hand on Orm's cheek.

Anything? Orm asked. Yes, Kordax's voice replied.

"Let it go," Arthur continued.

Then give me Arthur's love.

Kordax remained quiet. Perhaps it isn't within his power to create love, Orm thought. Or perhaps… No, his brother couldn't possibly be in love with him as well.

But then he felt Arthur's lips against his own. Orm felt happiness fill him whilst something unclenched inside his heart. It was like a missing puzzle piece was being slot into place. Arthur was kissing him. Kissing him! Orm surged forward and broke through the now seemingly weak barriers Kordax had created. His hands let go of the trident and grabbed Arthur's face. Orm kissed him as hard as he could, trying to convey that he was sorry and that he loved him at the same time.

After what seemed like both an eternity and way too short, the pair finally broke up due to a lack of air. Orm leaned his head against his brother's as he tried reregulate his breathing. When he finally leaned back, he saw that Arthur was looking at him with joy in his eyes and a broad smile on his face. Orm thought he looked more beautiful than ever and had to remind himself to keep breathing. A stray tear rolled down Arthur cheeks, but Orm's hands, which still hadn't left his brother's face, caught it and wiped it away.

Their moment was unfortunately interrupted by the Black King standing up and shaking off the remainder of the ice clinging to him. Arthur briefly glanced over at Kordax before looking back at Orm.

"Come on, little brother. Let's end this bastard."


Arthur watched as Kordax kicked away the ice around his legs, rolled his shoulders, and took a deep breath. "I live again." The Black King then noticed the two brothers standing before him and smirked. "I have waited countless centuries in the dark for this moment." Arthur quickly threw the trident he was still holding at its owner, but unfortunately the Black King managed to catch it. "Shit," he muttered.

He glanced around the throne room, noticing his own trident lying on the floor, so close and yet too far. If he would reach for it now, Kordax would kill him without a doubt. Arthur looked at his brother and saw that he had realized the same. Orm's eyes turned determined, he gave Arthur a barely noticeable nod, and started to run in the opposite direction of the trident. Kordax's gaze snapped towards the blonde Atlantean and he threw the Black Trident with a snarl. Orm jumped aside, allowing the weapon to barely graze his side before lodging itself into the wall.

Relief filled Arthur's body at seeing his brother mostly unharmed, but he did not allow himself to falter and waste the distraction Orm was providing him with. Instead, he flung himself at his golden trident, landing next to it and enclosing his hand around the cool smooth metal. He gritted his teeth and ignored the pain in his abdomen as he rolled in order to get back on his feet. He did not hesitate and threw his trident towards Kordax, who had been going after Orm. The Black King barely had time to turn around before the trident pierced him right through. Both Kordax and his trident, which was still lodged in the wall, shattered into pieces.

Arthur looked at his brother, who glanced back. Both were breathing heavily. He let out laugh. They had done it. Atlantis and the world were safe. Then, the adrenaline wore off and the blood loss caught up with the dark-haired half-Atlantean. Arthur sagged through his knees to the ground. A hand caught his head before it could hit the floor and Orm's upper body appeared into his view. He seemed to be shouting something, but Arthur could not hear it. Time seemed to go slower and slower. The last thing he saw before darkness took him was the sheer panic in Orm's beautiful blue eyes.


Kordax opened his eyes and took a breath of fresh air for the first time in thousands of years. He stood in an endless empty space, both dark and light at the same time. A very thin layer of water covered the floor.

He looked down at his hands. The black tendrils which had covered them after he had first grasped the Black Trident were gone. The missing hand which Atlan had cut off was reattached to his arm without any sign of it ever having been gone. His body was whole and free from the corrupting influences of the orichalcum and the black trident, and his mind felt clearer than it had been in ages. Finally, Kordax could see what he had done and become, and he pressed his eyes shut again in shame. He had known what the orichalcum might cause, and yet he kept on using it. He couldn't even remember why exactly. Part of him had wanted his kingdom to flourish, whilst another part had wanted to show his older brother that he also was capable of greatness.

Kordax pressed his eyes together even tighter. Oh Atlan… I am so sorry. He had been so caught up in his quest to prove himself that he had forgotten the most important thing, the only thing that mattered: Atlan loved him, and he loved Atlan. How had he forgotten how the way they used to play hide and seek when they were kids? The way Atlan had held him and told him stories when storms had raged upon the seas and Kordax had been scared? The way Atlan had pushed a lock of hair aside on his face and caressed his cheek before giving him his first kiss? The way Atlan had wanted to marry him? But somehow he had forgotten, the use of the orichalcum clouding his mind. The utterly heartbroken look in the eyes of his brother as he cut off Kordax's arm was ingrained in his brain.

"Hello, little brother."

Kordax couldn't prevent the wounded noise slipping from his mouth as he heard that ever familiar voice. He opened his eyes and turned around to the source of the voice. Atlan stood there, barefoot, a simple tunic and pants covering him. His eyes did not hold any anger, betrayal, sadness, or grudge. A small smile graced his lips instead, a smile Kordax felt he did not deserve.

Atlan held out his hand. "Are you coming?" I forgive you went unspoken. Though he did not deserve it, Kordax could not, would not, stop himself from stepping forth and grasping Atlan's hand. The smile widened and Kordax was tugged along.

"Let's go home."


Annndd that's a wrap for this chapter. I really hope you enjoyed it! Finally some pay-off for you slow-burn fans! Aaand a bit of angst. Still one more chapter and a short epilogue to go for this book. As a treat, I will do the same as with Book I and post both of them next Sunday (22-9-2024). After that, it's on to Book III, the final part of this trilogy.