THE ENCHANTED GROVE

Pathfinder

Water rushed into my nose, and I couldn't breathe. It was even worse than when I first entered the kingdom.

" Don't Panic... don't Panic... " I repeated to myself trying to keep my body still.

I was sinking deep into the river and my body felt very light. My eyes were shut tight. I was still pained and annoyed that I had been pushed in.

I had been sinking non-stop for about five minutes, yet I wasn't dead- I was... Breathing?

Fresh air rushed through my nostrils, and I suddenly stopped sinking. My feet gently touched a surface and I opened my eyes for the first time since I fell in.

I was still underwater and everywhere was a serene blue. There were no fish as I expected, and I could walk normally, with the water having no effect on my eyes.

I walked farther hoping to see something or someone. Queen Aquella had mentioned that I would meet some half-women half-fish beings who would grant me magical powers.

I stopped to check if the mirror was still intact and panicked when I couldn't find it, but then I spotted it glowing from where I had started walking.

I rushed to pick it up, clutched it to my chest, and continued walking, this time faster.

***

After walking for a long time, I got exhausted and fell asleep. When I woke up, I was somewhere new.

Why does this keep happening to me? I fall asleep and wake up somewhere else.

Just as the Queen had said, there were mermaid-like beings, -half-women- half fish- standing in two vertical lines, twenty on each side, their heads hung low.

I sat between them, my hands once again tied behind my back. A woman sat on a high throne, looking down at me.
Judging by the respect she commanded, I assumed she was a queen, and I was right.

We remained underwater, yet I could still breathe. Two servants stood beside the queen fanning her with large leaves. She was even more intimidating than Queen Aquella. I could barely see her face- only her piercing eyes and shadowy figure sent shivers down my spine.

" Lyra, my friend brought you here and sent a message to me, saying you were the one who could rescue us from the sea monster. "

" Yes, your Highness. " I was bowing on my knees. If this woman could be of help, I had to give her the respect she demanded.

" Are you worthy of the powers of the magical Pearl? " She asked a question which didn't really need an answer. I had no choice. If I wanted to pass through this place alive, I had to obey her.

" Yes. " I replied to her with the obvious, my head still hung low. I couldn't look at her fearsome gaze.

She laughed sarcastically for a long time and it was getting annoying.

" ' Yes', you say. You don't know what it takes to get the powerful pearl. You'll have to pass some trials to convince me you are worthy. Can you handle it? "

" Yes, I can. I have been through a lot and I am sure this wouldn't be as hard.  " I boasted.

" You seem so proud. Well, since you claim you can pass these trials, I'll let try. If you succeed, the pearl is yours. If you fail, you'll be deemed useless. " She clapped her hand three times and I was transported to a dark, empty room.

The empty room had four doors, each a different color; red, blue, yellow, and green.

" Choose a door," the queen's voice echoed in my ears.

Step by terrified step, I moved towards the blue door, believing red signified danger and that blue was the safest choice.

I opened the door with trembling hands and peeked inside before stepping through.

To my disappointment, it was yet another empty room. I scanned the room and spotted an open window, the only exit so I moved closer to it.

Peering through the window, all I saw was a vast expanse of bright sky blue. Without hesitation, I leapt out, falling endlessly as the blue light intensified, blinding me.

Relief washed over me as my feet finally touched the ground. The blue light gradually dimmed, revealing my surroundings.

I found myself on a riverbank, where an empty boat rested on the river. I stood up, blinking away the dizziness, and noticed a bottle floating in the river.

After a moment's hesitation, I picked it up. Inside was a folded piece of paper and a pen, leaving me to wonder what they were for. I carefully unfolded it, only to find it blank.

I refolded it and stepped onto the boat with the  pen in hand. It was then it dawned on me that I couldn't steer a boat. After several futile attempts, I gave up.

Suddenly, the paper in my hand unfolded on it's own, revealing words that hadn't been there before.

Written on the paper was a riddle:
' I have no wings, but I can fly,
I rest on water, yet I’m not dry.
Without wind, I cannot glide,
But with it, I journey far and wide.
What am I? '

It was a somewhat tricky riddle for me but I knew quite a lot about such things. Back in the village, the wise man used to talk to us in parables and riddles.

He would gather us beneath a tree and teach us so many things about life. It was about the time when my father was alive, and my mother still let out at night.

I eventually understood  the wise man's riddles and didn't realize they'd be useful.
I tried connecting the riddle to my current situation.

" I'm in a boat that can't sail... Wait, of course! " I realized the answer, and quickly put down the words on the piece of paper.

' SAIL'

As soon as I wrote my answer, a sail sprang up on the boat, nearly throwing me off balance with it's speed. The wind rushed against my face, bringing a brief moment of exhilaration--until the boat began to slow down and sink.