Two: Encounters
1022 Words
***500 years ago***
The waves roar and hit the banks, children are playing in the sand with one of them building a sand castle. A young lady in a milkmaid dress walks awkwardly, staring at her surroundings in awe. She sniffs at the air and giggles then twirls her skirt happily.
"Today is a good day to be alive, don't you think so, Wave?" She asked to no one in particular. There was no response so she turned but saw no one.
"Wave?" She called in fear.
"I'm here." A voice said. She looked around, the children casting curious stares at her.
"Down here, I mean." The voice said from below and she looked to see a hermit crab close to her feet. Squatting, she picked it up in her hands and walked along the shore.
"What happened?"
"Put me down will you? It's embarrassing to hold a man like me in your hands."
She giggled.
"You're a crab, Wave. Gender only applies to humans."
He sighed. "We're not doing this again, Kira. I'm a man and you holding me is bruising my ego. Think of what the other sea creatures will think when they see me. And my what would Elsa say? You know how she talks non-stop about- "
A wing brushed her cheek lightly and a blonde haired lady in a white dress appeared by her side, her hair flowing freely in the breeze.
"Did someone call my name?" She said pleasantly. Wave groaned.
"At what point will you let me down, Kira? This is the highest form of humiliation."
"I can't wait to tell everyone that you let Kira carry you in her arms. Why didn't you just change him anyway?" Elsa asked turning to Kira.
She sighed. "I was in a rush because of Father and I had no time so I just pushed him into my shell and swam out to the beach."
She dropped him gently on the sand and he moved slowly then she wiggled her fingers and continued walking away with Elsa.
"We're running late Wave, the party starts real soon." She ordered and a tall, attractive man with silky black hair and sea blue eyes appeared by her side.
"You humiliated me."
"Oh please, Wave. You're a man now, what more could you want?" She asked. Some sailors whistled appreciatively at the two ladies as they walked past with Wave giving them a threatening stare.
"Leave them alone, Wave. They don't mean any harm." Elsa said calmly.
"Easy for you to say since you'll not be following me back to the palace. Kira is betrothed already." Wave confessed and Elsa gasped at the revelation then turned to Kira for answers.
"Right, sorry I forgot to tell you that part the last time we met."
"Oh my Goodness Kira. You shouldn't be here right now, if I had known that; I wouldn't have asked you to come ashore." Elsa said worriedly.
"It doesn't matter, it's not like Father would know anyway. It's fine." She rubbed Elsa's bare arms reassuringly.
"I just hope you don't get us in trouble. You know that you're sacred and no one is supposed to set his eyes on you till after your wedding to Ryan, yes?" Wave added.
"No one excluding humans, darling. It's not like I'll go and fall in love with one of them. My heart is with Ryan already and you know that I can't live without it."
Elsa and Wave exchanged looks.
"You gave him your heart already?" She asked unsure.
"Yup. He's cool, Father likes him, everyone likes him, he's garnered the trust of the council and he'll make a good leader as well as be a formidable support for me when I take my place as the Sea Queen. My heart is the least I could give him."
They came to a pub with a sign "Sea Ale" and went in. Men were drinking and laughing loudly, some were gambling at a table while ladies with aprons over their dress served them more wine. As they stepped in, there was widespread silence, the men gazing at the ladies in awe and amazement. Elsa held onto Kira's arm and whispered into her ear.
"Kira I don't feel good about this place. We should go." She said, nudging at her dress sleeves. Wave glared at the men and they looked away but kept peeking glances at them as they took a table. The whole room smelled of alcohol and a mixture of food wafted into the air. A lady with a pink bonnet over her head came to take their orders. She turned to look at Kira and Elsa.
"What would you be having?" She asked, an empty tray in her hand. Then she turned to look at Wave and her cheeks blushed crimson when he looked back at her.
"Ur...." Kira started to say but then stared at the maid and Wave instead. Elsa cleared her throat and exchanged glances with Kira.
The maid broke eye contact and coughed uneasily, regaining her composure.
"There's Seaweed broth and fish soup and-"
Bang!
The sound ricocheted across the room and the maid shook in fear. The whole hall had turned to see what had made the noise. Three huge men were standing in the middle of the hall, with weapons in their hands.
The first one who was burly and has an eye patch over his right eye spoke in a booming voice.
"We want all your valuables. Place them on the table."
The maid whimpered and turned to leave, facing the kitchen when the second man who had a scar across running from his cheek to his jaw grabbed her by the dress and pushed her on the floor.
"Where do you think you're going you wench?!" He yelled at her, his huge frame towering over her. He was going to step on her when Wave held him back and flung him across the room with such a force that shook the building.
"Leave her alone, you bastard."he warned. The other two men exchanged glances and rushed at him.
And there was a scream.
- Writer
