Savior Of The Sea

Chapter 10: The King's Whereabouts

When Emilia blinked her eyes open, she felt sleepy and oddly warm and comfortable. She shifted in her spot lying down and closed her eyes and sighed, enjoying the cozy feeling that she never got in her home on land. She would always be rudely woke up by her father yelling at her for something or another that she did wrong, but now she could sleep warm and undistubred...

Her emereald orbs snapped open at a voice. "Emilia?" it inquired softly and deeply. Her gaze met the dark eyes of the Prince staring back at her, she gasped! She had fallen asleep with her arm over him, curled up with her face in his chest. "O-Oh I-I'm sorry, I d-didn't realize I-"

She was cut off by the prince's smooth laugh and he smirked at her. "No, it's ok, you dont have to move away." He reassured her, putting his hand on her arm and bringing her closer. "You were sleeping so soundly, I shouldn't of woke you up."

"Oh." Emilia spoke softly, and curled up once more. The Prince put his arm over her back protectively, and it felt comforting to Emilia. She felt she could stay there, in a world without worries or her duties forever. Suddenly, Finn came rushing into the room frantically. "Guys, Marina is back but-" He stopped when he saw them together, and the color drained out of his face. "Emilia, are you ok?" Emilia quickly broke free of the Prince's grasp and jumped up as she felt a blush fill her cheeks, and then her whole face. "Y-yeah, Finn, I'm fine! I-I was just... I-It's not what it looks like, I-"

The Prince let out a low growl, and his massive form rose up from the ground. "Enough," he proclaimed, "What happened with Marina?" Finn's orbs seemed to regain concieusness. "Oh, right! Marina! She's back... and she seems hurt. Come, follow me," he requested. They followed him to the edge of the cave and Emilia's eyes widened as she saw Marina laying starkly still on the floor.

Emilia dashed over. "Are you ok???" she murmured. Marina groaned weakly, "I'm not hurt, I'm just exaughsted, I had to hide from mer-pirates that set up camp for the night around where I was, so I didn't get any sleep, but I overheard them talking about..." her eyes fluttered and she seemed very tired. "About...." her voice trailed off.

"About what??" Emilia begged. "ABout where they were taking Marlin- the-the king," she stammered weakly. "He's at a place called..." she seemed to start to drift off. Emilia shook her. "No, tell me!! Stay awake! What's the place called???" "It's called Coldhammer Keep" Marina verbalized. "but it's ver dangerous, it's past a deep valley that's shaped lyke a labrinth....."

Emilia glanced around and Finn came over. "What did my sister find out??" he queried questioningly. "The king has been taken to a place called Coldhammer Keep," Emilia exclained, "we need to get there before they do something to him!!!" "But marina is very weak," Finn observed quietely. ""We'll wait for her to recover first," Emilia stated proactively, "and then we can go save the king. She needs to sleep."

Emilia gazed into Finn's hazel orbs that were now diseappointed looking because she knew he wanted Marina to recover fast. "Hey," she reassured him kindly softly, "she will be ok. Let's go spend some time together, and take your mind offo f it."

Emilia took Find's hand and pulled him out of the cave. "We're going to the surface," she proclaimed and started to swim up. Finn widened his hazel eues in fear. "B-but, we can't gp there now! It's daybreak! A human could see us, or worse, a mer-pirate!" In response, Emilia grasped his hadn tighter, and comforted "It'll be fine," she giggled "You've got a human guide right here!!"

When they had reached the top layer of gleaming water, Emilia rose up their intertwined palms and their fingers broke through the surface. Finn's face turned a bright red color and tears started to form in his eyes. "Now's our real test," Emilia smirked, "Ok, 1, 2, 3, and..." She pulled their faces up above the surface. Finn's eyes seemed to glow in the warm light of the everlasting sunlight, and they glistened with tears of joy. "The sky..." he breathed.

*******Time Skip********

After the prince heard about what Marina found out, he staretd to proclaim his plan: "Ok, so we need to get through the dangerous Shadowmoon Valley in order to cross to Coldhammer keep. Since its a maze and there are 5 of us, we should split up because we'll find the exit faster that way. And I shoudl be in one group and Marina in the other group because I have my sword and she has her slingshot." He glanced around breifly and his deep blue orbs settled on Emila. "And Emilia has learned how to use a spear very profishently." Emilia felt a rush of pride when he said this. "Any questions??" The Prince shouted.

"Uh, yeah, how long is it gonna take to get there? I don't have all day," Amelia scoffed contemptously. "Plus if it's so dagnerous we'd better not split up cause I don't want to get my hair ruined in a fight or anything"

Marina chuckled under her breath. "Don't worry it won't get ruined. You do thst every morning anyway." Amelia made a sound of disgust and looked to everyone, hoping for support. When nobody spoke up, she just started fiddeling with her bracelet. "In a way, she's right though," Emilia countered. "We shouldn't split up both the fighters. We might be safer with a scouting party and one that backs them up from behind." "Oh!" MArina exhaled loudly, "That would mean I could go with the Prince! Y'know, I've always wanted some quality time with royalty!!! I mean, judging by how they acted this morning, Emilia and him seem to have spent some quality time together-" She was cut off by Amelia. "WHAT?!" She shrieked. Finn also looked away and started fiddeling eith his fingers.

The prince grunted and quickly shot Emilia a look of guilt, before glaring at Marina. "My personal business does not take presidense here. We need to find my fayher before he is killed!" He growled. "I will go with Emilia and Amelia so they will be protected. Marina, you take Finn. You two know each other's movements well." Finn nodded and looked away. As everyone got up and swam away, Emilia almost went after Finn but was stopped by the Prince.

"I didn't mean to... get you involved in that," he growled softly. "I understand if you want to pretend like last night didn't happen." "N-no I would never change what happened," Emilia whispered gratefully and held the Prince's hand. Then, she quickly punched him lightly on his shoulder. "And, hey, I can handle myself. I am the chosen one after all." He grinned at her, "yeah you can!" As he started to swim away, he mumbled to himself, "ow, why did that actually hurt?" His moment of vulnerability was interrupted by the swish of Amelia's tight form to his side. "Oh, I would never hurt you. Anyone who would has NO respect for royalty. I mean, honestly..."

*****Time Skip***

A few hours later, they set off to the valley. Emilia felt confident at the Prince's side, but something lingered in her mind. It wasn't really anything but a little feeling. A little feeling that Shadowmoon Valley would drasticaly alter their course... and their journey as they knew it...