Song of the Sea

Chapter 8

When I wake, the sun is peeking through the curtains. I struggle to lift my head.
"Hey, hey. Don't try to move. You're really sick." I look over and see Aric sitting next to my bed. I try to form words but all that came out of my mouth was gasps.
"It's almost eleven. The servants are making lunch right now. I'll get you some water." He stands up and exits.
Almost eleven? Cai is about to duel my father and I'm stuck in bed! I need to go to him. Aric returns with a glass. He helps me sit up and tips the water against my throat. I cough, and my airway clears.
"Thank you," I say. My voice still sounds like a frog, but at least I can talk. I push back the blankets and go to get dressed. I start unbuttoning my shirt before I realize Aric is still there. "Are you just going to sit there all day?"
He smiles. "I think I'll stay right here." I roll my eyes and continue undressing. I watch as his face gets redder and redder as I strip. Finally, I'm standing before him in my underclothes.
"Happy?" I ask him with a crooked smile.
"Never been more," he replies, looking anywhere but me. "I think I'll go shower." He stands up and practically runs out of the room.
I smile to myself and finish dressing. I walk out of the room and go to the kitchen. I grab an apple and stride into the parlor. Cai is sitting on the couch, sharpening his sword.
"Looking for your boyfriend?" Cai doesn't look up as I walk in. "He's in the shower. Maybe you can join him."
"Cai-" I start, but he interrupts.
"No, Mira. He is a horrible influence on you. He's a low lying sucker and you can't see past his charming little face. Now, I'm going to go fight your father, and you probably told Aric that, and he's like okay, let's let Cai die so I can get you all to myself. That's it, right? I'm about to die, and you don't care!"
"Cai, that's not true. I didn't tell him that you were battling today. He still thinks it's tomorrow. I swore it to you nobody would know. Do you really think that I'm that low? That I would want you to die so that I can be with Aric? You're my best friend."
"You didn't... tell him?" Cai finally looks at me.
"No!" I exclaim. "Why would you think that? I will always be here for you!"
"Well, there's about half an hour before the duel, and I need to get ready. Can you help me with my armor?" Cai gives me his armor and I help strap it on.
"So, any of the girls here catch your attention?" I tease.
"No!" He pauses. "Actually there is one. She has gorgeous red hair and her eyes are the color of the sea. She's beautiful. I want to talk to her, but I don't know how. She's not one of the girls that are always flocking around me." He smiles. "I really want to know her."
"Well, where do you see her?"
"Her parents work on a crab boat, so she helps make the nets. I think if I win this fight, I'll go down to her and introduce myself." He beams. "Yeah, that's what I'm going to do."
I chuckle. "You mean when you win this fight." The water shuts off in the other room, and I hear Aric humming to himself. "Aric is about to come out, so you should be gone before then."
Cai pecks me on the check. "Okay! See you later, Mira. I've got a date with destiny, and it won't end with a kiss!" He brandishes his sword in the air and walks out into the sun. "So long, my lady!"
I wave to him and close the door. A moment later, Aric walks out wearing only a towel. His skin glistens with water. His eyebrows crinkle in confusion.
"Who's destiny?"
I smile at him. "Do you want to have lunch? I'll make something. What are you in the mood for?"
"Can you make waffles?"
I wrinkle my nose. "Who makes waffles for lunch?"
"You don't? They're the best food ever." He walks to his room. "Can you make them with chocolate chips?"
"Yeah, of course." I go to the kitchen and begin making them. I smile. Who eats waffles for lunch?
By the time I'm done, Aric is sitting at the table, watching me work. I dust them with powdered sugar. I pluck some berries from a bowl and arrange them into a heart. I place them on the table and sit.
Aric digs into the waffle. "You really made these?" I nod. "They're delicious. I love them. And I love you."
"I love you, too," I say and cut it up. I bite into it. A flood of savory, crisp deliciousness covers my tongue. A sigh escapes my mouth.
"I told you they were good. You're an excellent cook," Aric says. He reaches over and rubs my nose. "You have sugar on your face." I giggle.
"Ever the hero. How could I ever stand having stuff in my face?"
"We should go out on the town," Aric says. "I can show you this awesome little cafe that has the best food. Not better than yours though," he adds with a wink.
"Why not?" I say. "Let's go."
Aric leads me through the town. People have placed flowers out in front of the shops, and colors pop out at me. I run over to a stall filled with different plants.
"See any you like?" Aric asks me. I glance around. A spot of blue catches my eye. I make my way to the back of the shop.
"Anything I can help you find?" A woman appears in the rows of flowers. She has a few petals stuck in her flaming hair, and I remember Cai saying something about a red-haired girl who had caught his eye. Sure enough, her eyes were the color of the ocean.
"Um, yeah. I saw some blue flowers back here, and was wondering if I could see them."
"Of course! I'll be right back." She makes her way to the flowers.
"I will buy you whatever you want, okay?" Aric says from behind me. "You deserve it."
I smile at him and kiss his cheek. "You're the best. Thank you so much." He smiles at me and wanders away into the gardens.
"I found them!" The woman materializes again, and in her hands are the prettiest flowers I've ever seen. "These are orchids. They often represent love and strength. The blue color represents rarity. I think the reason you chose this is because you found love and strength in a very rare type of person. If it's him," she nods to Aric, who is sniffing some purple flowers, "I would definitely keep him. He has a good aura."
"Thank you so much. You've been a great help. And yes, it is him." I wink. "He's amazing, whether he likes it or not." I follow her over to the counter. "What's your name?"
"Jac. What's yours?" She checks the price of the flowers. "It'll be 5 silvers."
I motion for Aric to come over. "I'm Mirabel, but you can just call me Mira. And this is Aric." He nods to her as he hands her the coins. "We're staying at the Seven Crow Hotel. You should come by sometime."
She smiles at me. "I would love to. Thank you for this."
"You're very welcome." I take Aric's hand and pull him out of the shop. "Thanks for buying these for me."
He leans down and kisses my forehead. "Anything for my angel." His face lights up. "Can that be your nickname? Angel?"
I giggle. "Anything for you, lover boy. Can I call you that?" He chuckles.
"Why not?" He grabs my waist and pulls me into his side. "Let's see what else this town has to offer."
We stroll down the cobblestone streets for a while while we chat. On the main road, there is a marketplace where we stop to eat. We eat in quiet for a bit before I break the silence.
"So, what are you going to do about your mission?" He thinks for a bit before answering.
"I think that I will have to go back eventually, but not before spending as much time as possible with you." He reaches across the table and holds my hand. "I never want anything bad to happen to you. I will do anything to prevent it."
I blush. "Okay, Mr. Save the World. But you can't die, okay? Anything but that."
"Agreed." He stops a waiter passing by and asks for some champagne. "What do you think Death looks like?"
"I think that Death would be the most beautiful person ever."
"Why do you think that?" Aric looks at me expectantly.
"Well, because death is supposed to be peaceful. Death always catches you off guard, so I would expect that they would try to make it so you're not afraid. Fear makes us cautious, resentful and sometimes dangerous. And if you're afraid of Death, you won't go willingly. Death would want you to come to them, so they would appeal to your heart's desire, so you follow them." I think for a bit. "And Death is supposed to be beautiful."
"But what if you don't love anything?"
"Then I guess they would, I don't know, just steal you. What do you think?"
He swirls his finger in his glass and the ice clinks in response. "I think Death wouldn't have a form. It would be like a gentle caress, waiting to take you from the world. It would feel like being lifted into the sky. I imagine you would get one last look at the world before you go wherever you go after death. You also said Death was supposed to be beautiful, so I would think that you relieve your best memories before never coming back."
"Yeah, that makes sense." I bit my lip. "We all perceive death in a different way. Some are scared, some are accepting. Some think there is something after, and others think it's the end. Some think that it's a gateway to another world, and some think that it's just a way of being reborn. I think it's just a way of how you think of it." I pause. "Are you scared of Death?"
"I'm scared of what I won't get done before I die. I'm scared I'll die at the wrong time. I'm not scared of Death itself, but rather what I don't get to do. Are you?"
"Maybe. When my mother died, it was the worst thing possible. She was in so much pain, and she just wanted to be over. But Death stretched it out. It reminded me that it holds our lives in our hands. And there's nothing we can do about it. So, I guess I am terrified of it." A bell tolls behind me. "Do you know what time it is?"
"It's noon. Why?"
"I have this make-up thing on that wears off after a couple of hours, and I need to go reapply it. I'll be right back."
"Sure thing. Don't run off without me." He smirks.
"Wouldn't dream of it." I scoot out of my chair and make my way to the bathroom. As soon as I lock the bathroom door behind me, I climb out the window and run to the duel. Of course, I feel horrible about leaving Aric behind, but it's best if he doesn't know the duel is happening now.
The streets are deserted as I race through. Everyone must be down at the arena. I sprint as fast as I can, and my thighs scream. I grit my teeth and run faster. I can see the entrance to the arena at the end of the road and I bolt for it. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a shadow dart out in front of me and I screech to a stop. Aric stands before me.
"Hello, angel. I think you forgot something. Me." His eyes darken. "You think I didn't know about what you and Cai were doing behind my back? I knew the duel was today, angel. I just trusted you enough that you would've told me. If you had, I wouldn't have argued. I really wouldn't have. I just wished you trusted me."
I stare at the ground. "Look, Aric, Cai didn't want me to tell you, and he's been my best friend as long as I can remember. Besides, he asked me to not tell you way before I trusted you."
"Oh, yeah? When did he tell you?"
"The day we came into the harbor."
"So, me saying I would do anything for you doesn't warrant trust, does it? You've got some messed up things in your head, Mira."
"Oh, I do?" I snap at him. "What about when you wouldn't tell me your mission, huh? What about that?"
"Believe me, if I could tell you, I would. I am under oath that prevents me from saying it." He shrugs. "Besides, it's not like me telling you what it is is going to change your mind about anything."
"My father told me what your mission is."
Aric startles and his eyes widen. "What?"
"Yeah. It's to kill everyone." To my surprise, he doubled over in laughter. "What?"
"You really believe that? How am I supposed to kill everyone? Why would my Queen order me to kill everyone? That doesn't even make sense. But if you want to believe your father over me, go right ahead."
"Yes! I mean, no, I don't believe my father over you. But if you won't tell me-"
"I can't!" He yells. "Mirabel, listen to me. If you can't get it in your head that you can't know everything in the world, then just leave!"
"Fine!" I yell back. "Maybe I will!"
"Fine!" He points to the arena. "Go save your boyfriend. Maybe they'll leave you some pieces of him to bury." He turns away with one last look. "Goodbye, Mira." He disappears into the shadows.
I collapse in the dirt and sigh. Why does everything go wrong right when it's going well? Aric was going to find out eventually that I lied to him. What better time than now? I pick myself up and continue down the road.