Llyr's POV

I visited Elaina again after my talk with Primbroock, but I didn't see anyone on the beach, only the guards standing outside the palace. I felt a weird feeling when I didn't see Elaina. I felt sad and worried. Sad for not seeing her and worried because I didn't know whether she was alright.

I don't know how long I stayed watching nothing in particular, but when the sun was high in the sky I decided to leave and return tomorrow. Somehow I knew I won't be seeing her today.

***

Elaina's POV

The next morning was a tearful experience as I bid my parents goodbye. It was hard saying goodbye but I knew I would see them again and I was only an hour's carriage ride away.

"We'll be stopping by every two weeks or so," Eldrich said as he hugged me for dear life. Eldrich has always been more protective of me, I never understood why.

"El, I'll be fine, besides Rhixton and Ida are here," I said as I looked over Rhixton who was busy helping the footmen to place the bags in the carriage.

"If you want to come home, you let me know okay?" Eldrich said and I nodded.

"Eldrich, give her some space, brother. I want to hug our sister as well," Ethan said as he came over to hug me as soon as Eldrich stepped aside.

"I'm going to miss you, little sis," Ethan said. I knew it was going to be something to get used to because we were used to being together all the time.

"I'll miss you to, but I think I belong here," I said into his chest.

"Go catch some mermaids," he said as he pulled away giving me a wink.

Once I hugged both of them it was my parents turn.

"Oh my dear, please be careful and take care of yourself," my mother as she crushed me into her.

"I'll be fine Mama," I tried to reassure her. 

"You heard her Freya, she'll be fine. She is our daughter afterall," my father said before I gave him a hug as well.

"Go find your own adventure," my father whispered in my ear and I wondered what he meant, but before I could ask they were on their way home. We watched the carriages ride off and my brothers kept on waving until I could no longer see them in the distance.

I asked Rhixton to take me to my dock where I could draw and be alone for a while.

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay, what if you slip and fall? What if a shark attacks you? What if-" Rhixton started to say but I cut him off.

"Rhixton, for the last few days I was here alone everytime. I'll be fine and I'll shout if something is wrong," I assured him. He didn't look like he was convinced but after I gave him a pouting face he conceded.

"Fine, but the moment you feel unsafe just shout, I'll tell the knights to be on extra alert," he said and I agreed to do that.

I sat down on the dock before Rhixton bid me goodbye once he was gone I stared out at the ocean while taking a big breath and closing my eyes to feel the fine ocean mist on my face.

***

Llyr's POV

The next day I returned to the ocean palace only to see a group of people. It looked like they were greeting each other and when I saw Elaina, my heart skipped a beat at the thought of her leaving. How was I suppose to befriend her if she left?

I watched until the carriage, or what I believed was a carriage, pulled away and when I saw Elaina remaining there with a guard I sighed in relief, luckily she was staying. But why was I so relieved?

I watched them turn around and heading to the dock, I quickly dived under water to avoid detection. I heard their small conversation and then the guard left her alone on the dock. I came back up and hid behind a rock. I stared at her as she closed her eyes and I could see how relaxed she looked. Completely beautiful.

Beautiful?! Since when did I find land creatures beautiful?

I watched as she opened her eyes again. She sighed before she started to lean closer, I saw the puddle of water on the dock and I wanted to shout a warning but it was to late. Her hand slipped and before she could hit the water I grabbed her by the waist, abandoning my hiding place. Our eyes locked for a split second before she gave a short scream that hurt my ears. Was she some sort of siren? I wondered before I hurriedly placed her back on the dock and dived into the water as I heard approaching footsteps.

***
Elaina's POV

I was leaning closer to the ocean when my hand slipped and I fell off the dock, I closed my eyes as I waited to hit the water below, but instead of feeling the icy cold water I felt two hands on my waist. My eyes shot open and it locked with a familiar pair of stormy grey ones, the ones that belonged to the man of my dreams. It felt like time stopped for a few seconds, but then I realised that this a strange man and I couldn't but scream.

He looked pained before he shook his head and he gently placed me back on the dock. A gentleness befitting that of a small baby. I watched as he disappeared under the water before I heard footsteps.

"Elaina! What's wrong? What happened?" I heard Rhixton's anxious voice behind me.

I turned around to look at Rhixton. His eyes darted over my body and I knew he was checking for injuries.

"Ooh sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, I cried out because the water was so cold and I didn't expect it to be so cold," I said with an innocent smile. I felt bad for lying but I couldn't exactly tell him about the stranger  that saved me from falling into the water. If I did he would never allow me to be on my own again and I had to many questions for the stranger.

"Are you sure? Because it sounded like you were in distress," he said.

"Nope, I'm fine, you can go now." I said as I pretended to pick up my art supplies.

"Okay then, call me if you need me," he said before I heard his retracting footsteps.

"Okay," I shouted in reply. I stole a quick glance and once I was sure he was gone I placed my art supplies on the deck before I looked around in search of the stranger. I hoped I didn't scare him off with my screaming, but he just caught me off guard.

"Hello?" I whispered yelled. I leaned to far forward and the hand that was steadying me slipped on a small puddle of water again, before I knew what was happening I was falling of the dock again, but before I could reach the water hands shot out from under the depths and grabbed my waist, stopping my fall. Again.

The stranger looked at me, his hands still on my waist. His grey eyes connected with mine. With slow movements he placed me back on the dock ever so gently.

"You sure are a clumsy one," he said with a small chuckle that sounded like music to my ears.

I lost myself in his beautiful and before I could stop myself I blubered, "it's you."

The stranger gave me a strange look and I realised what I said. I couldn't exactly tell this stranger that I had dreams of him, so I quickly said,"I mean, you're a mermaid...or merman."

"Yes, and you're a human," he said.

"Well technically, a third of human, I'm also part faery and skinchanger but-" my sentence was cut of when he suddenly grabbed my boot encased foot.

"What's this?" He asked as he studied my foot as if it was a new discovery. It probably was for him.

"It's my foot," I said.

"But where are your toes?" He asked in confusion. So he must know something about us "land beings".

I couldn't help but laugh at his confusion.

"It's inside the boot, this boot protects my feet," I explained.

"Extraordinary," he said as he let go off my feet. I giggled at his fascinated look.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Llyr, Prince of Oceania," he said as he gave a small bow.

"Elaina, princess of Etheria," I said.

He was about to say something else, but I heard footsteps and I knew it was Rhixton.

"You need to go," I whispered.

"Why?" He asked.

"Rhixton is coming, please meet me here tomorrow," I said. It looked like he wanted to disagree but he probably saw Rhixton before he dived under the water and I could only hope I saw him again tomorrow.