Shoreline

7

The next day came rolling in and Ava was up earlyish, she intended to get to work as she found she could stand, and walked slowly with the pain. She pulled her back pack on and was about to walk out the door but there stood Arthur, he turned in surprise to see her up.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"Work," she answered.

"No you're not, back in!" he demanded.

"Fine!" she whined. "Since when were you my dad?"

"When you found an important piece to a very important trident." he replied. "You're under my protection." Arthur took her coat and bag from her and laid it on the floor and then marched her back upstairs to bed, she lay on top of the duvet and he stood in the door way.

"Arthur, I'm sorry for yesterday. . . " she began but he cut her off.

"It's okay, I know, save your words." he said and sat on the edge of the bed. "A big strong handsome man walks into your life, I know its daunting." he chuckled.

"Watch it!" She exclaimed with a smile on her face.

"You're talking to the prince of the sea," he said.

"Do you really think I'm going to call you that?" Ava teased and gently bumped him in the arm with her fist. 

"No and I don't expect you to," he replied his eyes wandering over her.

"Good," she smiled and laid back on her bed.

Eight days later. . .

Arthur and Ava were sat in the corner of the bar chatting to one another about the fragment she had found, and he couldn't fathom why the trident had been moved in the first place.

"Who would want an old trident?" Ava asked.

"Watch what you say about it, it's an object to be respected." He replied.

"Yes sir," she said mock saluting him. They suddenly paused as they looked at the bar and saw someone glancing their way.

"Perhaps we should discuss this else where?" He proposed.

"Okay," Ava agreed and they headed to Ava's home. She had now prepared the guest bedroom for him as Arthur spent most of his time at Ava's. When they reached her home, she found it destroyed, someone had broken in and she knew immediately that they were after the shard, she ran to her safe in her office and the safe had been cut open and the shard was gone. 

"Arthur!" She yelled. He came running up the stairs and he too saw the empty safe.

"My brother has been here!" he said.

"We're in deep trouble aren't we?" She asked.

"Yes," he said. He walked quickly from the room and to her front door.

"Where are you going?" She asked following him.

"I must return to Atlantis." He said hastily.

"May I accompany you?" She asked.

"My dear Ava," he paused resting his hands on either side of her face. "I would love nothing more but I'm not sure you would be able to dive so deep without the pressure killing you," he continued.

"Let me try, if not I'll return to the surface," she said and rested her hands on his.