As Blue As The Ocean!

Chapter Twenty

I was to run a kingdom that I did not know. Help others I did not know. I had to live in a whole new world. Not to mention marry a man I did not know. Could I really do this? For my father? He had lost so much. My mother was no longer around. I was the last to run things. He depended on me. Everyone did. I always had hated to let anyone down.

Let alone a kingdom. My mother had to be worried up there. They had to let me go back and see her. Speak to her. Let her know I was safe. She would not understand a single thing that was going on with me. But she would be thrilled to know I had found my real family! I had so much on my plate. All I could do was worry about my mother and worry about Kavan.

Everyone said he was dead. But my heart could not lose hope that he was alive.

“Princess?”

“Mortal hello” I bow as he does when he comes in my room. I was not used to that.

We had a nice long walk the other day. He had been some comfort to me. He brought me around the kingdom. Telling the history of our people. I loved learning about this place. It truly was interesting to learn about. Mortal also told me about himself. And his family. How he came to work for my father to.

“Would you like to go for a morning walk with me princess?” he asks me.

I nod. “Certainly” I agree.

He offers me his arm. I take it. We begin to swim about. “I still kind of miss my legs” I chuckle.

“What is it like having you know…legs? Being on land?” he asks me.

“The food is fantastic on land. And you can run with legs. Sit and dance with legs” I giggle.

He chuckles. “It must be a change to have fins” he jokes.

“That it is. Mortal?” I ask.

He glances at me. “Yes Princess?” he asks me.

“Can you do me a request?” I beg.

He nods. “Anything for you” he offers kindly.

“Can you please kindly take me back to the spot where…. where Kavan died? I need to find my own peace. See if I can see something others have missed” I begin to say.

“But to return to the witch’s cave?” he worries. “I am not sure the king would like that” he says.

“You are so strong. You can protect me, right?” I ask him.

He beams looking proud. “Why yes I can” he offers.

“Then let’s go. Please do not tell father. I do not want to worry him. I need to see for myself. To have peace over losing Kavan” I mention.

“Why do you care for him? I mean he was in love with another. He lied to you. And lead you astray” he reminds me. “How can you still care for him?” he asks again. “I don’t get it” he grumbles. “Kavan can never do wrong around here” he mutters.

“Did you not like Kavan?” I wonder.

“Oh no I liked him. I did. He was an outstanding soldier. One of the finest we had here. Just everyone focused on what he could do, and they paid little attention to what I could do is all” he admits.

“I see” I sigh.

“I can take you to the witch’s cavern” he offers.

I smile. “Thank you so much!” I tell him gratefully.

We swim back to the crumbled cave without anyone seeing me sneak out of the kingdom. The grave brought me sadness back in the soul of me. It made my heart ache. He had died to save my life. He had given up so much to save me. I did not even get to thank him for his kindness. His bravery. I brush back a tear with my hand, so Mortal did not catch me crying over Kavan.

“I just do not get why there was no body found. There should have been” I say softly as I glance my eyes over the rubble.

“I know it is puzzling to us as well Princess. But when the sea witch fell, she took Kavan down with her. We had found her body. We burnt it on the beaches. So, she could never return to harm you again” he adds.

I bend down to the rubble. Tears form in my eyes. It was not fair. I wish Kavan was here. That he was the one looking over me. Showing me my home. Planning a wedding. But he would be back in the arms of Serine if he was back. He did not love me.

“What is it Princess? Where you in love with Kavan?” he asks me softly.

I sigh. I nod. “It was my own fault. Kavan never loved me. I let my heart fall for him. Silly thing to do” I tell Mortal.

“We can not control whom our heart loves” he reminds me gently.

I nod. “Kavan was so amazing. I am sorry to bring that up. I know you do not care to hear it” I laugh. “but when I met him, I never knew merpeople were alive down here. That opened a whole new world for me”

“I bet” says Mortal.

I tell Mortal how I met Kavan. And how when I nearly drowned, he was trying to get me to swim. He knew who I was and how he gave hints and I should have picked up on them along time ago but did not. It felt good to talk about my memories of Kavan to Mortal.

“Kavan was cheating on Serine” he grumbles.

“Did you like her to?” I wonder.

He shakes his head no. “Oh no Princess. But Kavan knew he was promised to you and yet he was going out to break Serein’s heart. He did not care whom he hurt. And yet the whole time he had been drawn to you and kissing on you back when she was home waiting for his return. Some gentlemen” grumbles Mortal. “he strung you both along”

“Oh no never. He had told me he had not meant to kiss me. That he was promised to another. He let me know. I did not know he had someone other than the Princess though” I admit.

“I better take you back before the king misses you” warns Mortal.

“Thank you for taking me back here. I had to see for myself. I did not see any signs of a body” I grumble.

He leads me back home. Later that night we all have a lovely dinner with my father. Then as I was going back to my room I overhear talking. I happen to hear Mortal’s voice. I stop where no one could see me hiding at. Serine was with him. I gasp. He was holding her in his arms.

“But he was cheating on you! He never loved you as I do!” Mortal is telling her. “I heard from the Princess that he had feelings for her. They kissed! He was not thinking of you when he was on land. I have always been here for you” he tells Serine.

“I loved him” Serine is crying. “I still love him”

“Why waist love on him?” he argues.

“You are going to marry that girl anyway” she snaps. “what does it matter whom I love?”

“I love you and you know that my heart belongs to you!” he reminds her.

“Someone might hear you shhhh” she warns him.

“Serine” he argues. “Let Kavan go”

“I do love you. I loved you both. It is not fair to make me chose. You are to wed the Princess. It is what you always have wanted right?” she asks him.

“I want you” he argues.

Tears come to me. Both mermen were in love with her. I was going to marry a man who did not want me. I needed to go home. How could I go through with this?

I have my cry in my room. I wished for my old life. It was so much less confusing. I take a deep breath and dry my eyes. I would have to tell my father I needed to return home. I could not handle this life here. Though I loved him. With all my heart. It was going to hurt him so much.

I feel a hand on my shoulder. I gasp then turn to see who it was.

“Kavan” I whisper. It could not be!