Ben and Lucy: The Sunken Kingdom

His head pounded. The sweat flowed down his face and into his eyes. He tried to move but the restraints held him tightly. He closed his eyes. The heat came again. The pain seared through his flesh. Agony filled his senses. Charnac was once again being tortured by his captures.

“Let’s see how the great Charnac handles this.” Chuckled Shamus as he watched his foe slowly being burned alive.

Charnac was tied to a post. His hands tied around the pole and secured behind his back. The guard stood a few feet away. Shamus had a torch in his hands. He leaned forward and place the torch a few inches from Charnac’s back. Again the pain seared his flesh.

“Charnac, why don’t you cry out for your friends? Oh wait, they are not here. Ha ha ha!!” Shamus shook with delight as Charnac remained helpless to the abusive treatment he was now enduring. Charnac receded back into his meditation. The heat soon was not affecting him. His training had prepared him to raise himself out of his body and feel no pain. The fact that his body was being burned was only superficial. His mind drifted through the distance toward the sunken kingdom.

Eloise felt the pain. She closed her eyes. She could sense him. Charnac was reaching out to her. She focused on his thoughts. Where are you? She tried to ask through her thoughts. She began to sweat herself. No one around her noticed the pain she was in, except for one. Ben sensed there was something happening. He placed his hand upon hers. Images shot through his brain. They were in contact for just moments but once she broke the contact he knew at once what was happening. Charnac and Eloise had something special between them and now Ben knew this. He looked into Eloise’s eyes. He smiled gently and comfortingly.

“I know I can trust you like no other” She said quietly to him. He knew she was right. The three of them were now connected in some way. Through Ben, Lucy was always connected so the three were in reality four. Ben looked at Lucy she turned and faced him. The two twins communicated like on one else could. She knew a journey was about to occur that would delay their trip home. Ben looked at Eloise then back at Lucy. She knew Eloise was about to ask for help and the two of them would do whatever they could. They had to free Charnac.

Eloise stood up. The music stopped. All turned their focus on Eloise. She began with all eyes upon her.

“I want to thank you all for being my guests. I now have to relay some unfortunate news.” She grew somber. Her features tightened. She took her time, moving her eyes across the crowd. She wanted to make sure she had everyone’s attention.

“There is a great danger that has been unleashed on the surface. Shamus, King of the North has now begun to move. He has a powerful new weapon that few of us would have ever expected he could control. He has gained the ability to control the Terrordons.” A collective gasp came from the crowd. People began to speak to themselves. The calm was being replaced by a slow murmur. The atmosphere which was just a few moments gay and festive was replaced by fear and gossiping. The murmur grew. Fear spread across the faces of the crowd. Eloise knew she had to step in. As she raised her arms a chime sounded. All stopped and again focused on the Underwater Empress.

“The danger is real and even though it is only on the surface, the evil must be stopped immediately. We have heard news accounts that have come from the villages of the North and the Middle areas. Where Shamus has conquered there have been reports of terrible atrocities. Tortured villagers and even deaths. Shamus is after something and it appears to be heading our way. We are protected now by the water above us, but there is not much time until Shamus finds a way to attack us.” She paused to allow the guests to absorb the message.

The murmur again grew and was even louder. Eloise had to let them digest this news before she went on. The crowd became restless. Once again she held out her arms. The bell chimed. As the voices lowered, she slowly began again.

“There is a way to save us, but one must be liberated and brought here first. Charnac has been captured by Shamus and is being held by him at his castle fortress at Mount Robinsik. We cannot attack this fortress since there is no water surrounding the land. There is another way, but this will be dangerous for a few that must attempt the rescue. The team must be those who can travel above on the ground. So I will be asking some of our guests to volunteer.” Pierre was the first to speak.

“So the Empress has a motive to the feast and it is finally revealed. If Shamus is attacking her then why should we help? It is not our battle.”

Before anyone could think, Ben spoke up.

“We must help Eloise and our brethren here under the water. I do not come from this place and no one knows us here. Eloise has used the festival to lure us here but her motives are of the best. Charnac is my friend and I will gladly volunteer.” Lucy responded immediately,

“As my brother has spoken, he has spoken for both of us. I too will volunteer.” The crowd was silent. The tension grew. Growler looked to Maddie. Maddie nodded her head in agreement.

“I too will join the kids.” Growler boomed.

Soon after Max barked and Baggy growled their agreement. Growler’s eyes fell upon Pierre. Pierre looked away. He did not want to exchange glances with his old friend. His eyes eventually fell upon Lucy. Her eyes reached into his soul. He could not turn away, reluctantly he began to speak.

“My lady I too will join this unlucky lot. I may be foolish but I too will venture to save this Charnac.” Pierre smiled at Lucy, she returned the favor.

“So it is set then. The team of six will head out first thing in the morning.” Eloise spoke cheerfully.

“No, make that seven. I too will join them.” Out of the crowd stepped Joliet. Another murmur went through the crowd.

“Joliet, no.” Yelled Adrianne.

“Yes my sister, I must go. This is what I have looked forward to all my life.”

“It is too dangerous.”

“I cannot allow these strangers to risk their lives for us and not have anyone from our kingdom volunteer.”

“Let the number be eight!” Out steeped a young man from the Kingdom. Roscoe Telestrom stepped out of the crowd. He was the most valiant of the Kingdom men. His father had been one of the elders that fought in the last battle before the Kingdom was sunk.

“Ok, no more volunteers. We must keep this party to eight.” Eloise stepped in before others joined the party.

“The rest of us will need to prepare for the battle that will come as they rescue Charnac.” Eloise closed the topic.

“Now, we must prepare for the journey. Everyone else please continue to enjoy the festivities. The team of eight please follow me to the royal conference room.” At this point Eloise rose and her maidens rose as well gliding to each member of the eight. Each one was led out of the hall. As they did the rest of the crowd began to speak and the music returned. The jovial mode was not returned but replaced by a tense uneasiness. So the crowd dispersed and the great hall was empty.

Eloise made her way down the corridor continuing past all the bedrooms and ascending the staircase at the end of the north hallway. The stairway was less expansive as the main staircase. This one was more private. One for special guests not open to the public. Guards stood on either side leading up the steps. Eloise led the way. As she passed the candles on the wall lit up by themselves. Ben was the first to follow, Lucy came right after. Growler, Baggy, and Max then followed without escort. The others followed, as Pierre was the last. As Pierre passed each candle, the light went out. No one else was invited to follow.

As Pierre stepped into the room at last his view allowed him to see for the first time the vastness of the space. Above his head the arched glass ceiling exposed the bottom of the lake. Plants swayed in the current. Fish floated by adrift in their own world. They were undisturbed by their voyeurs peering into their environment. They did not take notice of the ceiling nor of the people inside staring at them. Pierre continued his observation of the room.

The large wooden table at the center of the room was circular to allow all the place-settings to see each other. The wooden table was ornately carved with sea creatures. Seahorses lined each leg which sliced the table into eight sections. Around the edge of the table fish swam in a never-ending school circling the circumference. The deep honey brown tint appealed to Pierre. This was a table made, no, crafted with skill and care. The details continued with a golden shell in the center inlayed with pearls.

The candles around the table lighted the room with full light as the number provided enough light to read even the smallest details. Each member of the party sat down in their chairs. Amazingly there were nine chairs, one for each of the team and one for Eloise. Each chair matched their personality. Eloise sat in the first one at the head of the table. Her chair was more stately and regal. Ben’s chair was decorated with vibrate dolphins strong and energetic. Lucy’s was delicate and organic. Small confident fish covered her chair with cheerful playfulness. Growler of course had huge whales blowing air into the air. Pierre chuckled to himself at the sight of Growler settling into his huge chair. Each member’s chair continued the perfect matching. Pierre was surprised that his chair was lined with deadly sharks. Dark and menacing. Pierre reveled in the image. Max was not left out either instead of a chair he had a square bench with a cushion and the legs carved with seahorses in 3D. Baggy’s chair had trees covered with fruit and honeycombs hung from the limbs. As the team got settled Eloise waited patiently.

“Now, that we are all settled let’s discuss the situation.” Eloise commanded the room. There was no question of who was in charge. Wise and elegant, Ben marveled at her style.

“Charnac is being held captive by Shamus. Shamus has now full control of the Terrordons. Somehow Shamus has power over them. A most disturbing turn of events. He has begun to utilize the Terrordons to grow his kingdom and destroy villages in his way. We have reports of his progress in the West as well. We have to rescue Charnac while also prepare for the attack upon the Kingdom.” Eloise paused.

“Yes, Shamus will attack the sunken kingdom and we must prepare for his attack. We will utilize his aggression to rescue Charnac.”

“Eloise, if we must protect the kingdom, then I will stay here and fight.” Growler responded.

“No, Growler we need for all of you to rescue Charnac. You will all be needed to rescue Charnac, without him we cannot succeed in fighting off Shamus and the Terrordons.”

Growler stopped his argument. He knew he could not win. Eloise was not only the Empress but also the Matriarch of the inhabitant’s of the land. Even the land people spoke of her and the power she possessed. She was respected throughout the land, except in the regions where Shamus had corrupted the people’s hopes and dreams. Where once there were joyous and peace-loving people and beings, now the ever increasing attitude was that only the Shamus followers were entitled to enjoy the world. All others needed to succumb to the philosophy and laws of the mighty Shamus. The people of the North where Shamus was from had turned vicious and unruly. Eloise began to recount their exploits to the group. She told of stories of whole villages being destroyed where women and children where taken prisoners and the men were killed. Slaves was what had made Shamus successful. Cheap labor where he could build his fortresses and war machines to conquer lands. The North was his now. Until recently the North was surrounded by mountains that kept his hordes at bay. The rest of Zhunanium had been protected against this evil, now Shamus had escaped the mountains and was moving across the land.

Ben noticed that Eloise appeared to be more intense that she had ever been around him. He knew this was serious business.

“Now we must send the party out into the mountain, we do not have time to go around them.”

“How are we to go through solid rock?” Growler spoke up first.

“There is a passage that leads from the sunken Kingdom through the mountain directly to the castle of Shamus.”

Eloise motioned her hands above the map and into the air. As she did the globe above them changed its view from that of the lake to images of the mountain. A map displayed the path that the group would need to follow.

“Eloise, I have a question?” Ben hesitated for Eloise’s approval to continue on.

“Yes, Ben please ask your question?” She was patient with Ben.

“The image there down on the path that is labeled not to follow, what is that?”

“Ah, yes. That is the ancient dragon Miwa. Before you ask let me tell you that Miwa is the ancient dragon that some believe to only be a legend. She is believed by some to be older than any of the Terrodons, where other believe she is the mother of the Terrordons. No one has seen her for centuries. Needless to say no one currently alive has seen her.”

“If she is the mother of the Terrordons then maybe we can use her.” Lucy interrupted.

“How my little one?” Pierre asked.

“Well if we can gain her trust then we can use her to control the Terrordons and change their path of destruction.”

“Oh my. What a dreamer.” Pierre laughed at the possibility of this.

“Lucy, continue.” Eloise firmly asked.

“Well like my mother back home always said to us. Everything has a mother and therefore there is love in all of us.”

“Love?? Hah” Pierre was sarcastic.

“Yes, love.” Lucy responded confidentially.

“Pierre you better not start it with her. You will lose.” Ben added.

“Oh really. Well the Dragon is a fairy tale. The creature is dead. No one has seen the beast for hundreds of years. How would this thing survive without anyone seeing it?” Pierre continued his argument with Lucy.

“Legends have a tendency to be true around here, do they not? I mean the Terrodons were not seen for years and now they are back.” Lucy smiled at Pierre. Pierre paused, realizing the girl was much too stubborn to argue with. Also she had a point.

“The twins are here as well.” Added Roscoe.

Everyone in the room fell silent. Roscoe had finally mentioned the one thing that all of them were thinking.

“Yes, the twins are alive and that has been prophesied.” Eloise spoke first, regaining control.

“We do not have time to go into the details of the legend, but Roscoe is correct. The Legend speaks of the Twins rescuing the world from evil.” Eloise paused for a moment and then continued.

“We must not fall into the trap of legends as Pierre has stated. All is not known for what the legends speak of. We must not allow ourselves the belief that we will be successful just because of this legend. The meaning of the stories are not specific enough.” Eloise smiled at Ben.

“We will succeed, not because of words in a book, but because we are right.” Lucy answered with such conviction no one replied. Again Ben smiled at Pierre. Pierre shifted in his seat.

“Ok, so you must travel through the mountains of Tyrod.” Eloise continued. “

“Once past the Dragon of the Mountain you will come through the Door of Alexor. Through the Door you will find what you are looking for. Be careful here, all of you must be joined as you walk through the threshold or you may be separated. The Door of Alexor will grant the travelers the destination they desire in their hearts, our success depends upon your commitment to save Charnac. Can you all do this?” She looked about the table. Each one nodded in silence.

The thought of going home had not crossed their minds in days. Now as Eloise spoke of being able to travel wherever, the feelings of home came rushing in. Lucy began to cry. Growler comforted her. Ben’s face turned tense and firm. He was now deep in thought. Thinking of home and his parents, an image of his father came to him. Ben’s father was sitting in his chair in the living room watching TV. George always sat in the same chair. A nice leather arm chair where he relaxed after a long day at the office. Ben so wanted to be back home. Eloise read their faces and knew what they were thinking.

“Don’t misunderstand me. The Door of Alexor will take you to places here in Zhunanium, unfortunately Ben and Lucy it will not take you home. For that we need Charnac.” Ben and Lucy stared at Eloise, she smiled back at them but she knew that this did not comfort them at all.

“The Door of Alexor should put you all in this place.” At this moment the ceiling changed and now a dark and menacing castle appeared. “If you are lucky the Door will put you deeper into Shamus’ castle. This is the place that I think will be the safest.”

The ceiling changed again. Now it was showing a dark stone hallway. Candles lined the wall and in the faint light Ben could see chains hanging. As he focused on the images he could see more details. He could make out doors down the hallway. Each one looked like a cell door. Eloise continued her description of the castle.

“These are the prisoners’ chambers. There are also doors down there that you should be weary of. It is said that Shamus has all types of things imprisoned in those cells. Some or harmless and some are very dangerous. Take your time before selecting which ones to open.” Eloise warned the group.

“How are we to open the cells?” Lucy asked.

“With these.” As Eloise spoke she pulled a chain of keys from her pocket. There were just a few, maybe 6-8 from what Ben could see.

“I will give them to Lucy”

“Why her”? Asked Pierre

“She has the magic to control the keys. they would be very dangerous in the hands of others. That is why it is important that Ben and Lucy both go on this quest. They hold special powers that none of the others possess. That is why Shamus is determined to capture them.”

“If he wants them then why send them directly to him.” Pierre questioned.

“Shamus will not expect the two to just walk into his hands, but that is exactly what we will do. Shamus will be mounting his attack upon us here.”

“How can he reach us under the water?” Joliet spoke up. The young girl was brave Pierre thought.

“Shamus is clever as well as evil. Since we have seen the Terrodons this close it can only mean he is approaching himself. He needs to be close to them to make sure they do as he demands.”

“Can we not all escape through the mountains?” Lucy asked.

“No, I have been bound to the lake and the inhabitants are bound to the kingdom. Only those who travel here may leave, the others are tied to the kingdom as well.” Eloise looked at Roscoe and then to Joliet.

“I have only enough magic to allow you two go.”

“If we can break the curse, then you can be free again.” Lucy exclaimed.

“Yes, my child. Easier said then done. We have been under the lake for over twenty years.”

“So if you are bound here, why does Shamus want us?” Ben asked.

“It is the twins that he desires.” Replied Baggy, knowing that she did not answer Ben’s question directly.

“Enough of this talk, we need to get you on your way or you will be able to ask that question directly to Shamus before he destroys the Kingdom.” Eloise decided to stop the talk and get back to the mission.

“So we must find this hallway to the prisoner chambers. What next?” Growler broke in. He too knew the discussion was leading them away from their quest.

“Yes, the chambers. That is where you will find Charnac. Once you have located him you will need to find your way back to the mountain. Once through the Door of Alexor you will not be able to come back. There is only one door at that is under the mountain.”

“Oh, one way traffic.” Ben chimed in.

“Yes, one way traffic.” At this Eloise smiled at Ben. She had confidence in this little one. There was a heart of a lion beating in this child. She could sense it as she did the first day she saw him. Eloise then went into the specifics of the quest. What supplies they needed. A few days at the most will, mostly on the journey back since the Door of Alexor will not be used for the return trip. Pierre and Growler discussed strategy and it was finally decided that Growler would lead the group with Pierre and Roscoe as the scouts moving ahead of the group to make sure they did not met something unexpected. The discussions went on for a few hours. Lucy was falling asleep as the last bit of details were ironed out.

“Ok, thanks for all of your input. Hopefully we have everything covered.”

“We will also be prepared for the unexpected.” Ben responded with a smile.

“It is something our Dad always says to us” Lucy added with sarcasm.

“Very well, good advice.” Growler smiled as well.

“Now, we all need to get some rest before we head out in the morning.” Growler ordered.

“Right” Ben agreed.

Pierre sighed. He was not as confident of the return back. Somehow they needed to find their way through the mountain without this special door. He shook his head in disgust as he stood up. The entire group went back down the stairs and to their individual rooms. Eloise led the pairs off to their rooms. These were not in the same direction as their rooms were the first nights. These were separated into a different wing altogether.

Ben and Lucy had a room together again. Max and Baggy were together. Growler and Maddie shared a room. Pierre was paired up reluctantly with Roscoe. Down the hallway the group went, as they passed fully out of the passageways the hall was sealed behind them.

“You are now cut off from the rest of the castle. For security reasons you will not be able to come back through this way.”

Ben looked to Lucy and smiled. He was getting excited about the upcoming adventure. Something in his blood began to heat up. Ben and Lucy retired into their bedroom. The room was lit by many candles and a huge stone fireplace positioned in the center of the room. Eloise had made the room as comfortable as she could for sleeping. Ben was tingling all over. Something in his blood had been lit.

“Ben, what is up with you? You are bouncing off the walls.” Lucy exclaimed.

“I don’t know but this adventure really excites me.”

“That is not like you, usually you are cynical and are always the last to join.”

“Lucy, this place is magical and something happened to me when we were split up.”

Ben told Lucy about his run in with Sylvester and the Wolves. Lucy responded with her story about the bridge and the White Tiger.

“What are we doing here?” Lucy asked.

“I am not sure but I think we will be ok. Things seemed to be set and we are supposed to win this thing.”

“You mean the prophecy everyone is talking about?”

“Yeah that and how we have adjusted to this place. Seems like we belong here for some reason.”

“I know, this is what is bothering me.” Lucy finally revealed her thoughts about this place. For some time she had been thinking of how all of the events appeared to be planned and that Ben and her were playing out a part in a movie or something.

“Well, I am enjoying this. I can’t wait to get back and go home. I am not going to take any more shit from Ralph Simmons.”

“Was he still bullying you? Dad told you to come to him and let him know.”

“I know Dad said that but I didn’t want my father saving me. It’s embarrassing.”

“I know what you mean. I feel that things have been happening to me as well. I feel special here.”

Ben and Lucy continued for awhile discussing their feelings about Zhunanium and wanting to get back home. Ben was more excited about showing off his new skills and Lucy was looking forward more to just getting back to normal. She missed her parents. The two slowly calmed down and soon they were fell asleep. They were sleeping better after being able to talk to each other alone. They had been separated too long.

Pierre laid in his bed staring at the ceiling. How did he get involved in this? Who was that in the hallway? Is it safe to leave this place knowing a person is inside? Will Shamus know of our arrival? How are we to get back in not through that stupid door? Pierre knew that their success would only be if they were to get through the mountain unnoticed. He tossed and turned on this for an hour or so but eventually he too fell asleep.

Baggy and Max were comfortable and cozy as they slept through the night. Peaceful for a short period at least. Both knew the journey ahead would be difficult and there was no guarantee of their return. Max would protect Lucy with all his might. He knew that Ben would be strong, he had seen the boys strength grow as he fought the wolves and survived the bite of Sylvester. Max was more confident than most of the team.

Growler and Mattie spent the night snuggled together. They both were amazed at how strong the twins were and both hid their opinions about the twins future to themselves. Deep inside Growler did not want them to leave but he knew that after this expedition, if successful, they would return to their homeland forever. His heart dropped at the thought of losing Lucy. He held his wife a little tighter.

Mattie was afraid of the trip. The children should not be going on such dangerous journey. They should be at home with their families playing and being kids. Now more than ever she wished she had kids herself. Secretly she wanted the twins to stay with them. She wondered if she could just gather them up and head home and let everyone else just fight amongst themselves. She knew her husband and knew that that would never happen. He was a man of his word and would never back down from this fight.

Finally everyone fell asleep gently in their beds. The next few days would be hard and dangerous. A little Eloise magic was used to help the team sleep. Eloise herself was awake in her bedroom the longest. She knelt before her bed and prayed to her god. Asking for the safe travels for the twins and the others. She wondered how Charnac was doing and hoped that he was ok. Her fears got the best of her and she began to cry. Her room was the loneliest in the palace. She had to maintain her strength for all and now she let her feelings out. Charnac had been the only person she had ever let in. She knew she was weak in this regard. She turned and stared at her family’s portrait on the opposite wall. She wondered how her father would have handled this. Was she doing the right thing, allowing the twins to expose themselves to a possible attack from Shamus.

“Oh father, why could you not have been alive for this? I need your strength to handle this. We all must be brave for there is only one chance for us to survive. They must return Charnac. That is our only hope against the Terrodons and Shamus.” She pleaded with her father’s image to guide her through Zhunanium’s darkest hour. She had even more information that the team did not have.

There was a traitor inside the palace and she only hoped that Shamus would not get wind of their actions. She would keep the team a secret as long as she could. Eloise knew she was being watched. She had used a new magic over the palace to block any signals getting out. The infiltrator had not gotten any messages out yet but was trying to figure a way as soon as possible. Eloise could sense it. The team did not even suspect anyone yet. At least no one except Pierre.