Savior Of The Sea

Chapter 17: What I Didn't See COming

“Ok… Open your eyes.”

When Emilia’s lids fluttered open and revealed her smaragdine orbs, they immedently became round and wide. “Ohmy gosh, Finn… IT’s beautiful.” She breathed as she gazed around the glade in all of its colorful wonder. It was a coral glade with a little sandy clearing in the center, surrounded on all sides by high walls of brightly colored sea plantlift that were almost glowing with how radient and how magical they seemed. It felt like a nenchanted grove. Emilia, lpooking around, could almost hear the enchanting music and bells when she gazed at its immense pulchritude.

“How did you find this place???” Emilia inquired softly, gazing at Finn’s smiling face through her eyelashes. A blush filled his cheeks as he spoke, “I looked for it. Just for you. I know you’d apprecate it…” Her eyes widened at the male merman’s words as he continued: “It’s not my number one choice because’ you know I love the land world and the sky… but I now you adore the sea so I thought this was the perfect place to bring you to make… to make your heart swell with joy.”  Emilia felt a huge blush fill up her cheeks, and started to giggle.  “Finn, you are somehow so romantic and so corny at the same time!”  She then took his hand and brought it close to her face, “But I love you for it.”  Finn’s eyes widened at the word “love,” and his expression seemed to change.  Suddenly, he seemed to come bsck to reality, and led Emilia over to a part of the glade with a few fish that shone brilloiantly in the light.  

He cleared his throat, and guided Emilia’s fingers to point towards two fo the fish, who seemed to be swimming in sync.  “Do you think we could be like them?” he queried to her softly, “Y’know, just be together, always, and not worry about anything else?”  Emilia glanced at him and rested her head lightly on his shoulder as he continued to speak.  He started to speak once again, still grasping her hand.  It felt like his grip got even tighter when his fingers rested on her ring, and his voice dropped to a murmur.  “I mean, I know you’re the chosen one, and you have to save everyone and all…”  He then guided her hands to meet his in the middle of them, and his eyes widened when they met hers.  “And I...I-”  He was clutching her ring tighter now, and he was squinting his eyes, trying to stop tears from forming in them.  

Suddenly, he released his grip on her ring, and her hand lightly fell to her side.  He kept his head down for a second and there was only silence in the once peaceful glade.  Emilia feared she had said something wrong!  She knew she had to do something, and quick!  She tried to once again grasp his hands, to tell him everything was okay, but he pulled away.  This is all my fault.  It’s always my fault.

Emilia’s world seemed to be shrowded in shadows more every second, until Finnn’s form suddenly shifted.  He picked his head up to reveal bright hazel eyes once more and his voice came out in a quiet murmur.  “What I wanted to tell you was..” he then stopped and seemed to reconsider, before he spoke again, with more confidence!  “I-I love you too!”  His words broke through Emilia’s barrier of shame and opened the gates to her heart.  She felt s huge smile glisten under her lips and she swam closer to Finn.  She took his hand, and this time, he let her.  He moved his fingers away from her ring and started to lean in, the light from the glade sparkling in his wavy blonde hair.  Emilia put her other hand on his face, and the space between them no longer seemed to exist.  Emilia closed her eyes and waited to be met with the sweet embrace of Finn’s soft lips…

Suddenly she felt a cold rush of water as Finn pulled away suddenly. “I-I can’t do this.” Emilia ljooked at him in shock! “What do you mean?! What’s wrong? Finn, you can tell me… You’ve always been there for me so don’t wory I’m right here.” She comforted.

Finn shook his head. “I’m sorry, Emilia, I’m REALLY sorry, and you might not believe it, but I truely am. But I have to-” He stuttered as if he was chocking on his words- “I have to put my destiny before my feelings.” She stared at him, confused, and she drew a breath to say something when suddenly her world went black.

Darkness. That was a ll she knew. Just pitch-black, jet darkness, and nothing else. All sound and feeling and preceptions were muted like she had fallen into the deep sea where not even light reached, and there was only pressure all around her…