Elaina's POV

"Come on sis, it is lunch time and mother will have our heads if we are late. You know how she can get about being punctual." Ethan said as he scooped me in his arms while Eldrich collected my art supplies.

Eldrich froze when he saw my drawing of the ocean palace.

"Wow Laina, you sure are talented. And what's this? Is this a mermaid?" He asked. Ethan looked down at me in his arms.

"So you still have a love for the creatures of the deep, huh?" He asked with a grin.

"And what's wrong with that? Don't you think their might be a small chance that they do really exist?" I asked even though I knew they didn't.

"They do exist," Ethan said and Eldrich and I gave him perplexed looks.

"What? They do exist in Elaina's imagination." He said before he bursted out in laughter.

"Ha-ha. Very funny," I said as I tried to give Ethan my meanest glare ever but this only caused him to laugh further.

"Oh Elaina, you're so cute," he said as he placed a chaste kiss on my temple which I made a great show of rubbing off while pulling a disgusted face. Eldrich laughed at our antics before he collected himself and reminded us that we had to hurry to the dinner hall.

The walk to the dinner hall went by quickly because we laughed most of the way. That was what I loved about my family. They made me feel loved and cherished. They never made me feel like a burden all though I felt like one.

My parents must have heard our laughter a mile away because when we entered the dinning hall they both had smiles adorning their faces.

"Well this sounds jolly, what did you do now?" My father asked.

"Nothing," Eldrich said.

"Oh sure of course. Now are you guys ready for the trip tomorrow?" My mother asked as Ethan helped me into my chair before sitting down next to me.

"I will pack after lunch," I said as I took a small bite from the delicious stew. I wondered if Ida made it and if she did I would have to pass a compliment along to her.

We were all busy finishing our lunch when the doors burst open and a very upset looking Rhixton stepped inside.

"Sire, Elaina is mis-" his words died in his throat when his eyes landed on me. A relieved look crossed his features as his tense shoulders slumped before returning to their rigid form. He must gone to the garden to fetch me only to find me gone. Poor soul. He must've lost track of time while he was visiting his sweet.

"You were saying?" My father inquired.

"Nothing sire, just that I found one of Elaina's pencils and I have come to return it," he said as he strolled over to me and handed me a pencil that must have been left behind by Eldrich.

"Thank you, Sire. Please excuse me," he said before he left the room closing the door behind him.

"Can someone tell me what just happened?" My father asked as my brothers and I burst out in laughter. My poor personal guard almost had a heart attack.

I quickly explained the situation to my parents and they laughed along. My father knew that I was perfectly safe in the hidden garden and he knew how overprotective Rhixton was. He took his job very seriously.

After lunch Ethan took me to my room where Ella and my mother were busy packing my clothes. Ethan placed me on the bed before he went back to his lessons.

I quickly helped to fold some of my clothes. My mother and Ella would show me the clothes and I had to say whether I wanted to take it or not. When we were done my mother and Ella left to get the rest of the things ready for our holiday.

I finished my drawing as my mind reeled with the possibility of merfolk and what they would look like. I've always had a wild imagination which I blamed on all the hundreds of books I've read.

I was just finishing the final touches on my sketch when my brothers barged in.

"Dinner time!" They sang. These boys and their food were something else.

"I don't think I want to go to the dinner hall," I said as a yawn escaped my lips.

"Looks like someone is extra tired tonight." Eldrich said as he helped me to pack away my art supplies.

"I guess I'm just really excited for tomorrow," I said.

"Then you must rest early. Should we bring you food?" They asked.

"No thank you, maybe just water? Maybe you can ask Ella to bring it then she can help me dress as well." I suggested.

"Alright. Goodnight sis," Ethan said as he hugged me and the stepped aside to allow Eldrich to hug me.

"Goodnight Laina," Eldrich said as he gave me a bear hug. They left and a few minutes later Ella came by with a glass of water.

"Are you sure you don't want anything to eat?" She asked and I nodded.

When I was all dressed for bed she bid me goodnight and I was submerged into the land of dreams....

A soft hand caressed my cheek and when I opened my eyes I saw the most handsome man I ever saw. He had blonde hair that reached his shoulders and his eyes were grey, making his eyes stand out more.

'When are you coming, my love?' the man asked.

There was a sadness in his voice that made my heart clench. I wanted to reach out to him, but he was to far away.

'Come to me, my love. Come to me soon,' he said as he came closer and placed his hands on my cheeks. His lips were millimetres away from mine. I could feel his breath on my face. Our lips were almost touching...

"Elaina!" A loud voice startled me awake pulling me from my blissful dream. When I opened my eyes I noticed Ethan and Eldrich standing by my bed.

"What's going on?" I asked as I rubbed my eyes. The dream was still fresh in my mind, but somehow it didn't feel like a dream. The pain I felt when I heard the sadness in the stranger's voice was so real.

I shook my head to rid myself from my thoughts. It was just my imagination which was running wild again.

"It's morning sleepy head and they're preparing our carriage as we speak." Ethan explained and excitement filled me as I remembered our trip to the Ocean palace.

"Why are you still here? Call Ella so that I can get dressed," I said as my brother hurried out the door. Ella must've been waiting outside because she immediately entered my room as my brothers left.

When I was dressed, my brothers and Rhixton came to fetch me and my things. Ethan and Rhixton grabbed my bags as Eldrich quickly picked me up in his arms.

We made our way to the carriage that stood in front of the castle's steps. Tiberius, my father's advisor, was standing on the steps. My bags were placed inside the second carriage before Eldrich took me to the first carriage where my mother was already waiting. He gently placed me down and after making sure I was comfortable he left to help with the last bags.

"Are you excited?" My mother asked.

"You know I am." I said excitedly. After all the bags were loaded and my father gave final orders, he and my brothers joined us in the carriage. My brothers sat on both sides of me and my parents sat across from us. It was an hour ride to the Ocean palace and before long the sway of the carriage rocked me back to sleep and deep inside me I wished that I could see that stranger once more.

I don't know who he is or why I even dreamt about him, but there was this nagging feeling that he was important.

A gently tug on my shoulder pulled me out of my sleep. When I opened my eyes I saw the expansive blue ocean sprawled out before me. A grin made its way to my lips as the salty air filled my nose and I realised how much I missed this place. I forgot how truly enchanting the ocean really was. Somehow I felt like I belonged here. This was where I felt at home.

Ethan climbed out first before he helped me down while my eyes were transfixed on the ocean before me. How I wished I could swim in those crystal blue waters and feel the tug of the waves.

When Ethan placed me down on solid ground I urgently pulled off my shoes, almost falling over in the progress luckily Ethan was there to steady me.

I giggled as I felt the sand between my toes. This was truly a feeling I missed.