The Heir of Depths

The feeling of creasing was drowning her skin. She was stiff, couldn’t feel her back and her mouth was dry. Both her mind and senses were awake, but she didn’t move a muscle. She felt the cozy warmth of the room and the silks and wools that covered her body embracing her in a soft hug. There were some people in the room, but her brain couldn’t put together the voices.

Arline decided it was time to open her eyes and move a little to loosen up her body. When she was slowly lifting her torso from the side, a strong hand gently grabbed her shoulder “Take it easy Arline” it was Merrick and he sounded surprised maybe because she was awake after a long time “Good morning” he pulled away when he was sure she could handle her own weight, then he sat across her.

Arline yawned, rubbed her eyes and stretched her shoulders, she was certainly stiff. Only when her eyes focused the room, she looked at Merrick “Good morning Merrick” her voice was raspy and her throat hurt from how dry it was.

He passed her a cup of water, she nodded in thanks. He was examining her carefully, attentive to anything that might look out of place. Arline felt uncomfortable and started detangling her hair when the heavy door burst open, making her flinch. Only to reveal Pauline getting inside the room with a silver trail filled with food.

“Good morning miss, glad to see you are awake and well” she sang while putting down the trail carefully on the small table in between Arline and Merrick.

“I’m feeling very well Pauline, thank you” Arline had to smile at how relieved she sounded.

“I hope you are hungry” Merrick softly said to her once Pauline made Arline look more presentable.

“I am” her stomach was eating itself if she was being fair, but tried keep it together and not throw herself into the delights placed in front of her.

Merrick’s eyes softened at the view of her eating slowly. Despite him not being verbal about it, he got worried after she passed out, so watching her awake and healthy made him relaxed. Arline had grown on him faster than he would’ve liked. And he was even more intrigued now considering everything she had to go through to get to where she was.

“You can eat too if you want” she offered after sipping from her cup of tea. A small, childish smirk formed on his face.

“Don’t worry about me Arline, I’m all right” he said while pouring himself a cup of tea “But I’ll gladly take one of these” he picked a coal, black cookie and took a small bite, clearly enjoying it.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, accommodating himself in a more straight position.

“Way better than the last time I was awake” she confessed putting the still warm cup in the trail “Which I don’t know when it was”.

“Three days ago, and you look stronger”

Arline was processing the fact that she spent the last three days peacefully and carelessly sleeping. She actually believed everything that had happened until now was a very crazy dream.

“What happened?” her eyes finally met Merrick’s gaze. His eyes were a deep shade of brown, opaque but shiny “And please go straight to the point” she looked away, nervous.

“Don’t worry, it’s quite a short story” he smiled to himself “You were taken over by a water demon, Zeroun and I pulled it out and you fell unconscious”

She touched her neck, trying to remember piece by piece. The scar felt lumpy, that feeling was masked by the soreness and slight pain on that area.

“It’s a foggy memory and embarrassing”

“You shouldn’t be” he looked at her as if she was joking “But you did have a fever and tried cracking a joke” She shut down her eyes at that comment, now for sure she felt embarrassed and her face lit up.

“How did you know?” she tried shifting his attention to something else other than the fact she ridiculed herself in a state of delusion.

“What?” he didn’t understand what she meant.

“How did you know it was a water demon?” she looked at him, her hair gently falling to her right side.

“I saw the pattern in your neck and just by your looks I put the dots together” he explained.

She was really impressed, and just lifted her eyebrows. Her thoughts instantly shifted to Larsin. Had he visit her? Was he worried about her?. She even cringed a little bit at the fact that she was more worried if someone had bother to visit her, than the fact that she could have died.

“He did come Arline, every time he could” Merrick got up from the chair and started pacing around, with no purpose “It will be a surprise for him that you are awake”

She smiled to herself at the thought of Larsin coming to visit her and caring for her.

“Thank you”

“No need to thank me, Arline” he turned around, approached and kissed the back of her hand “I’ll leave now, just call for me if you need anything” he then left, closing the door behind him, leaving his lavender scent all over the room.

Pauline came back shortly after and helped her get ready. She was glad for the hot bath she took. It helped her relax and ease her thoughts.

“The King wants to talk to you after dinner, dear” the maid came back to the bathroom, by her side “They want you to rest for now”

“Oh, alright, of course” she started getting nervous and a heavy sense of embarrassment again flowed all over her.

“Darling, most likely is just to ask how well you are” she started to gently untangle her hair “They got very worried, all of them”

“Really?”

“You sound surprised”

“Well Pauline, they barely know me” she was indeed surprised, scared, nervous and every other emotion she could imagine.

“All of them have a reason to care for you” She turned around, gently furrowing her eyebrows but Pauline didn’t say anything else.

“I heard our little dragon whisperer has woken up” Calix told his friends, while walking through one of the external hallways of the training compound.

“Oh...yes thankfully, I was getting worried” Larsin confessed, fixing his dark, messy locks.

Larsin did get worried when he heard that Arline got taken over a demon. He visited her every morning before breakfast and every night after dinner, before going to sleep. She grew on him faster that he would’ve liked. Calix noticed how much he cared about her and smiled at the thought of his friend liking and caring for someone deeply.

“I’ll pay her a visit later today, you can come too if you want” Larsin offered and the three of them turned left.

“Why not? I already miss her” Calix said “You are very quiet” he was looking at Zeroun.

“Sorry, I just don’t know what your brother might want so desperately” Zeroun sounded troubled.

“Oh please Zeroun, Merrick is so greedy for power and recognition he probably is just planning another expedition” Larsin had an irritated tone.

Lately, he had been feeling more irritated and angry at the mention of Merrick. All because he couldn’t stand the image of him helping Arline. He knew it was a selfish thought but couldn’t wrap his head around it.

Before they could continue trash talking their High Commander, they were in front of the fleet Captain’s War Room. The guards let them in through the black wooden doors that unveiled a luxurious room filled with papyrus maps al around the place, that offered the placing of imaginary battles for the ivory figurines that played the soldiers.

“Good morning you three” Merrick’s voice commanded order from his desk.

“Good morning Captain” the three of them responded in unison.

“Zeroun” he stepped a foot forward “How hard do you think could it be to gather a crew of non-superstitious men for a three week long expedition” Merrick directly said “It is off the Royal Bitacore”

“Well” Zeroun was confused “It’s hard but not impossible” he knew exactly were to go to search for that kind of crew.

“Good, you take care of that. Only the fittest and most experienced Zeroun, please” he turned his back to rest and looked at the big map displayed in front of him. Zeroun left the room to begin his mission.

“Where are we going brother?” Larsin sounded interested and approached his brother. He saw him playing with the pearls he gave him a few days back.

“Both of you? Nowhere, you are staying and continue training” it was an order, and Calix took a turn and left to avoid being involved in the fight that was about to break loose.

“Why?” If there was one thing Larsin didn’t enjoy, that was training, and Merrick wanted him to be at least a decent soldier considering he was going to be named King.

“Because I say so” Merrick went behind his desk.

“Don’t treat me like a child”

“Don’t act like one and then we can negotiate on your terms” Merrick’s voice was calm and he didn’t look up from some papers.

“At least look at me when you insult me Merrick” Larsin on the other hand sounded furious, greeting his teeth. Merrick put the papers down and looked at him with an uninterested expression on his face. Larsin was standing above him but Merrick’s gaze was stronger and more powerful.

“What are you looking for now?” Larsin asked, taking a quick glance at the pearls.

“Nothing for you to worry about” he closed the bag “If everything works out, some questions will be answered” Larsin rolled his eyes.

“It is not as if father won’t comment about it during dinner” he was insisting too much. When Larsin insisted on knowing more than he should he could get angry or hurt, either way he ended up tearing rooms in the palace apart.

“You might not want to be so curious Larsin” his brother stood up to be at his level.

“Try me”

“Fine” Merrick looked unbothered but surrounded the desk and stood in front of him, his hands behind his back “I’ve asked for father’s blessing to take our little guest into a small trip to get to know herself better” Merrick sounded cocky and proud for making his brother mad.

It was that simple for Merrick. The right set of words can cause the worst reactions in people that don’t know how to control their emotions.

Larsin’s expression dropped and his eyes hardened “What is that supposed to mean Merrick?” his tone was low.

“What you heard, and there is nothing you can do to stop me” Merrick was honestly enjoying himself even being a little too childish, but the price that came from putting Larsin in his place was immense.

“You didn’t believe me when I told you”

“After the recent events, I choose to take your word”

“I really want to punch you right now” Larsin was thinking out loud and his brother laughed “You have no right to take her”.

“The same way you have no right over her” Merrick was getting tired of his brother’s childish whining “This wouldn’t happen if you had paid more attention to how she was feeling rather than to her face” he spat this words right into his face.

Larsin said nothing against those accusations and chose to calm himself. He just left the room, leaving his older brother satisfied, but alone with his thoughts. Merrick directed his attention back to the bag of pearls.

Arline had been absent for only three days but felt seriously out of place during dinner, and her head was playing the worst scenarios in her head when she looked at their Majesties. Larsin sitting by her side and Merrick right in front of her.

She did notice how angry Larsin looked and the complete opposite expression on Merrick’s face. She still didn’t know what was happening between these two, and spent more time answering the Queen’s questions. Dinner carried on as usual. After dessert, the Queen said her goodbyes, got up from her seat and headed towards the stairs, leaving Arline in company of the King and the Princes.

“Arline” King Cadel asked for her attention.

“Yes, your Majesty?” she said while turning her head to face him.

“We need to talk about something regarding these water demon” he completely changed his tone and sounded more serious. She looked confused and a little worried.

“You won’t be kicked out of the castle, don’t worry” Larsin reassured her, meeting her sweet eyes.

“Oh no, the gods know we’ve had worst things in here” the King was quick to ease her mind regarding the matter “My son, Merrick, has requested your presence in the next voyage, for you to familiarize with your gift” She nodded slightly frowning her eyebrows.

“My what?” she finally said.

“Your gift” Merrick said.

“Which would be ...” she needed a full answer to this inquiry.

“Water” he was staring at her. She was glowing and looked strong and healthy.

“Allegedly” Larsin quickly interrupted his brother.

“Wait, how?” she questioned Merrick “Water guardians are supposedly one of the rarest kinds” both the King and Crown Prince were smiling at what she said.

“You seem to know a lot about the subject” Merrick was praising her.

“I’ve been reading” she said, not allowing him to.

“Really?” Larsin sounded surprised at what she had said.

“You were not going to expect me to stay in my room all day, right?” Larsin felt wounded at that assumption but Merrick was enjoying Arline’s true personalty shining through her words, with a grin adorning his face.

“I can’t go” she said decided.

“Why not?” Merrick leaned in.

“I don’t do well at sea” she hesitated.

“Do you get sea sickness?”

“No...”

“Then you’ll do well at sea. It sails in three days, and I want you in it” she caught almost a craving tone in his voice. The King chose to leave after saying good night, trusting his eldest son to convince their guest to join him in this expedition.

“I guess it won’t hurt me” she finally gave in “But I’m telling you, nothing special will come out of it”

“I will adventure to disagree with you” he charmingly said

Arline wasn’t exactly bored of the life inside the castle, but was curious to know more about what surrounded her, and that included the mysterious prince that had saved her.

“Have you really considered every option on the list?” Larsin confronted her.

“What do you mean?” Larsin just rolled his eyes “Oh please, if I really have it you won’t be able to help me, right?”

“Good night” Larsin said and just left the room, upset.

Merrick offered his arm to Arline to accompany her to her bedroom, which she gratefully took. She did feel a little bit angry with herself about how she had treated Larsin and she wanted to say sorry to him, she just didn’t know where his room was and wasn’t going to ask the one person that hated him vividly.

“Mother is in disagreement, she thinks you should stay” he said after going up the first set of stairs.

“I really don’t know what you think is going to come out of this”

“You getting to know your power, with my help”

“That means your brother isn’t coming”

“I can’t have him distracting you while you try to have a connection with an element” She stared down at her feet “Don’t think that I haven’t noticed how much you avoid talking about your family” he said turning the conversation entirely. She faced him, trying not to look so shaken about that comment.

“What do you mean?” She stumbled over her words.

“You know what I mean” they were in front of her door “In some point I will find out what you are hiding Arline”

“It’s not a big deal, my life back home is more boring than you think” she tried to sound convincing.

“Good night Arline, I’ll be delighted to have you on board” Merrick leaned forward and kissed the back of her hand and waited for her to get inside.

“Good night Merrick” she quickly shut the door behind her.

She wasn’t going to let that Prince know her secret. No matter what charms or violence he chose to use on her. Since that moment she decided to be as quiet as possible around Merrick Dortamus.