Enchanted

Chapter 14 - Halfway There

CHAPTER 14 - HALFWAY THERE

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They swam for what seemed like ages. Avery was getting tired not just because of the weight of her tail but more of the fact that they'd been swimming for a long time. Dylan continued with grace and hadn't noticed Avery fall behind. Avery stopped and that was when Dylan realised she wasn't swimming anymore. He stopped and came back for her. He had to take her to the underwater kingdom, so her mermaid felt at home. Avery was tired, really tired and her face showed it and Dylan actually sympathised her. So much was going on in their lives, mostly Avery's and this just added more to the pressure she had. Dylan sensed her frustration, not just from the problems in her life but also for the long distant swim they were taking. Dylan looked at her and then took hold of her arms. Avery stared at him with surprise but didn't say anything. He turned around, still holding her arms and placed them loosely around his neck and she knew what he was doing. She tightened her grip slightly and he looked at her one last time before they started to swim again, well at least Dylan did. Avery swam as much as she could to help Dylan but she was too exhausted. She let Dylan do the swimming and he did it effortlessly, its like Avery was a feather on his back as he swam with as much grace as before. 

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After a while, they arrived and Dylan let Avery go as she had regained her energy. Avery's eyes almost popped from their sockets. The underwater kingdom was beautiful. Avery looked all around her and she took in her surroundings. Schools of tropical fish swam everywhere, mermaids and mermen doing their daily work, corals on reefs moved with the rhythm of the water, a big blue whale, swam over them and so did some turtles and seahorses. On each side of her there was caves and out of one came an octopus and Avery got scared. She swam back and banged into Dylan and he held her, assuring her it was harmless after he explained it was a wise octopus that predicted the future. So far, the octopus was very successful. Avery stayed next to Dylan as he swam through the kingdom. The mermaids did the best curtsies they could  in tails and the mermen bowed effortlessly. Avery smiled at them all as they smiled and waved at her. Avery turned her head to see in front of her lay an enormous palace with tall towers and turrets and a grand entrance with mermen guarding it. Avery guessed that this was where the Baron and Selenita lived. Dylan swam into the palace but Avery didn't want to leave the magical, colourful underwater city. Dylan came back for her and dragged her into the palace.

Avery saw that the palace was pretty basic and everything led up. Dylan swam up one of the entrances and Avery followed and they arrived into a cave opening. Reaching the surface, Dylan pulled himself out of the water and lay flat on his back. Avery hadn't noticed before but Dylan was really big. His tail stretched far out but then Avery heard him mutter something and his tale instantly disappeared and he was back in the clothes he wore before they jumped into the lake. Avery could tell he was exhausted now. Dylan looked at her still lying flat on his back and smiled before he sat up.

"Come Avery. Pull yourself up here, take yourself completely out of the water and say 'Undine...Olikay...Yahti'. You'll be a fairy again," Avery obeyed as Dylan moved out of the way for her. Avery lunged herself up and she lay flat on her back like Dylan did moments before. She smiled at him and he repeated the words to her as she said them back to him. Avery felt her body tingle and a cold breeze and when she looked down at her body she saw that she was back in the armour dress she wore before. She sat up and expecting her wings to fly out but they didn't and Avery looked over at Dylan who also didn't have his wings either. He looked normal, like a normal prince and Avery smiled. Dylan came back over to where Avery was and he sat next to her. Avery looked at him, studying every move, to see if she could work out what he was thinking. With no such luck, Avery looked away and the two of them sat in silence for a while before Avery spoke.