"Once
again one of my daughters has not joined us for dinner. Does anyone know where Skye is?" Queen Daphne addressed her family.
"Afton,
do you know where your sister is?"
"No
Mother. I have not seen her."
"Have
any of you seen her?" Queen Daphne
asked again. "Aegean, have you
seen our daughter?"
He
hated it when she used that tone.
Should he admit what happened?
"No. I do not know where she is." Aegean lied.
Queen
Daphne did not believe him, but she did not know what to do. The Queen went looking for her
daughter. Queen Daphne personally
knocked on doors inquiring about her daughter when Skye did not respond to the
mermaid’s song, but no one had seen the Princess.
Three
weeks went by. Skye seemed to have
vanished without a trace. Each day
different groups of people went looking for the missing Princess but with no
luck. Queen Daphne was at her wits end;
finally she went to the Queen Mother's house to be alone with her grief.
Queen
Daphne had to accept the fact that her youngest daughter was not coming
back. Alone, Queen Daphne went to the
throne room to vent her sorrow.
Something
in the far corner caught her eye.
"What is that? This room
should not have anything in it."
Queen
Daphne walked closer to the mass only to discover it was her missing daughter
lying on the floor in a heap.
"Skye!"
Queen Daphne exclaimed as she rushed over to gather her missing daughter in her
arms.
Skye
did not move.
"What
is all this commotion?" Asked the
Queen Mother as she entered the throne room.
She
stopped when she saw Queen Daphne holding an unconscious Skye, tears streaming
down the Queen's face.
"Mother
she is barely breathing."
"She
has been out of the water too long.
Hurry, we must get her in the pool."
Together
they picked up Skye and lowered her into the pool. Skye did not change.
Queen Daphne and Queen Mother Adolphina looked at each other in
horror. A mermaid without a tail meant
she was dieing. Queen Daphne climbed
into the pool with her daughter.
For
48 hours they stayed in the pool. Queen
Daphne continued to encourage her daughter to come back and not give up. Slowly Skye's legs started to shimmer. Hope poured through her as Queen Daphne
called for the Queen Mother.
Finally,
Skye's legs turned into a tail. Skye
opened her eyes to find her mother in the pool holding her and tears streaming
down her face.
"Mother?"
Skye's voice was weak.
"Shhh
my daughter. Do not try to talk. Just rest." Queen Daphne smiled as she held her daughter close and kissed the
top of her head.
Skye
lay in her mother's arms until her transformation was complete. She was still weak but this was a good
sign.
Queen
Daphne asked, "Daughter, what
happened? Why were you hiding
here?"
Skye
looked at her mother and reluctantly told her about the conversation she had
with her father.
Queen
Daphne was furious. King Aegean had
finally gone too far.
"Mother
we have to take Skye to the island."
Climbing from the pool Queen Daphne headed for the door ready to
confront Aegean.
"What
are you going to do Daphne?" asked Queen Mother with concern.
"He
must be dealt with. I will instruct our
people to go to the island. Aegean can
rule over this kingdom." Queen
Daphne looked straight ahead repressing all emotion.
"They
will not survive long without our people to help provide food." Adolphina reminded Queen Daphne.
"It
cannot be helped." Queen Daphne
sadly replied. Sometimes being queen
meant making difficult decisions.
"Daphne,
your children." Adolphina
whispered.
"They
belong to Aegean. They have proven that
time and time again. They have no
respect for our people. I must think of
our people.”
Daphne's
heart was breaking. No matter what, she
loved all her children, but Aegean had turned them against her. She would have to leave them.
"Mother,
please take Skye to the island. I will
join you later."
Queen
Mother Adolphina kissed Daphne on the cheek and taking Skye with her went to
prepare to leave her home.
**********
Queen
Daphne returned to the castle. Understanding
the seriousness of what she was about to do, she went in search of her regent.
"Adkins,
we must spread the word, all our people must leave now and go to the
island."
"Your
Majesty," Adkins was surprised at this announcement. "some of our people are happy with
their lives here. They will not want to
go."
"Announce
to our people that I am moving my court to the island. Anyone who wishes to
stay is free to do so but we will not be able to help them if there is
trouble. Also, they will not be allowed
on the island to gather food."
"Yes
Majesty."
Word
spread quickly among the Merpeople.
Quietly they began to leave.
Families left together, husbands left their wives, and wives left their
husbands all of them headed to the island at the request of their queen. Some did not want to go but all knew the
consequences of staying and some were willing to risk the danger.
****
"Aegean,"
Queen Daphne began quietly but firmly, "you went too far this time."
"What
are you talking about Daphne?" Aegean was annoyed at his wife's sudden
outburst.
"I
found Skye."
"Was
Skye missing mother?” It was
Afton. Aegean was with the children,
her children, the ones she was going to leave behind. A band constricted around her heart. She had chosen her path and she could not waver.
"Skye
told me what happened. I will not allow
you to treat my daughter or my people like this any longer. You want to rule Aquatica then so be
it." Queen Daphne turned to leave.
"Daphne
what are you talking about?" King
Aegean only half listened to his wife.
"We
are leaving Aegean. You have always
hated my people. Well, you finally get
your wish you will rule Aquatica alone."
Queen
Daphne turned and walked out before the realization of what she was doing could
dawn on Aegean.
"Father,
we can rule as we choose." Afton told his father excitedly.
Aegean
looked from his son to the door his wife had just walked through. Realization dawned on Aegean, it was the
beginning of the end for Aquatica and there was nothing Aegean could do.
Queen
Daphne left her world and did not look back.
She headed for the island and her daughter.
*****************
"Mother,
how is Skye?" Queen Daphne asked the Queen Mother.
"She
is out in the lagoon. I told her she
had to sit out there for two hours every day, no matter how much she
swims."
Queen
Daphne smiled, "I am sure she did not like that."
"She
argued at first but I think she likes setting out there with Marshmallow."
"I
will go check on her."
"Daphne…."
Queen Mother started.
"It
is over. Let us not talk any more about
it." Queen Daphne walked out
headed for the lagoon and her youngest daughter.
She
found Skye sitting on a rock in the middle of the lagoon.
"You
look much better my daughter."
"Mother." Skye swam to the edge of the lagoon and
crawled out. Skye put her arms around
her mother and gave her a hug.
"You are feeling much better." Queen Daphne laughed for the first time since her daughter had disappeared.