“Be careful!” Felicity called.  It was the day after the Festival, and it looked as if half of Laulao came to Benjamin’s house to help raise it.  Edward waved as he began to work with the men to help raise the house.  The entire clearing was full of people either helping to build, helping the workers, or helping prepare the food.  Felicity stayed very close to where the children who were too young to help the workers and the women were.  Bad things normally happened whenever Felicity was around tools.
“Can I go and help?” Christopher asked eagerly.  He seemed to have forgotten his shyness of the previous days and was running around with Alice and the other children playing games and such as children do.
“I do not think that that is a good idea,” James said as he came and knelt on the ground beside Christopher.  “I have yet to give you a proper lesson in magic, and I do not think that it would be a wise idea to have you around wood.”
“Because I might set it on fire?” Christopher asked seriously.
“Yes.  Your father specialized in fire magic, and it seems that you take after him in that way.  Luckily for you, I also specialize in fire magic.”
“Could Christopher still help?” Felicity asked quickly as she saw Christopher’s face fall.  “You could ask him to get you water and the tools you need, could you not?”
“Yes, that would work.”  James responded in a strained voice that Felicity ignored.
“I shall go and get you a cup right now!” Christopher exclaimed, happy once more.
“Now why did you suggest that?” James asked quietly as Christopher ran off.
“These people are used to random bursts of magic.  You should have seen me when my powers were just starting to emerge.” Felicity sighed at the memory.  “I had a rain cloud over my head for a week.  My point is that everyone here is used to young children’s powers emerging.  Whenever it happened, Uncle Rainford would visit and train them.  They are few and far between, but still occur often enough for people to consider it normality around here.  If something bursts into fire spontaneously, then we will know what to do.  Not only that, but my magic is water.  I shall keep an eye on him and put out any fires fast.”
“I thought your magic was not very powerful.”  James was very annoyed with Felicity for her little speech.  He knew that these people would know how to put out a fire, but that was not the point.  Fire magic was dangerous, and he did not want someone to randomly burst into flames.
“My magic is not.  I have friends.” Felicity said.  “Look, if you want to know more about my magic, go ask Edward.  I am sure that you will have a more pleasant time conversing with him rather than me.  I will see you at lunch.”  Felicity turned and walked away to one of the cooking pots and began to chop some carrots into it.
James knew a dismissal when he saw one, and he was more than happy to walk away from Felicity to where the other men were.  He quickly found his way towards Edward and began to work on nailing the piece of wood together.
“Felicity giving you a piece of her mind?” Edward chuckled.
“Tell me more about your magic,” James responded tersely.
Edward took the hint to not mention the conversation that took place and began to explain as they worked on the frame of the house.  “As you already know, Felicity and I were born with a magic that connects us together with our minds.  Felicity was born with a little more magic than I—basically with water healing magic.”
“That does not explain the friends that she referred to.”
“One of Uncle Rainford’s talents is being able to match a person with the element that suits them best.  When we were born, Uncle Rainford gave Felicity and I, er, alliances is the best word for it.”
“Alliances?” James yelled.  People turned around and looked at them curiously, but then began to work again.
“Do you know how dangerous that spell can be?” James hissed.
“Well, I believe I do now by the look of horror on your face,” Edward said as he shook his head.  “He obviously survived.  Regardless, my alliance is with those of the air.  Felicity’s alliance is with those of the water.”
“That explains much,” James answered wryly.  “She changes constantly, very fluid, though people with water magic normally have some sort of gracefulness.”
“That is a mystery to us all.  However, Felicity already had some water healing magic.  The alliance enhances that ability greatly.  Felicity has been working for years to make her magic stronger without the water elementals.”
“They must like her very much.”
“Very,” Edward said quietly.  James looked at Edward quickly.  He was never that serious.  Edward saw his look and smiled sadly.  “The elementals in the lagoon have often tried to have Felicity become one of them permanently.”
“Mermaids,” James said in quiet horror.  He now understood Edward’s concern.  There were two types of mermaids.  There were those who were kind and good, willing to help out sailors in trouble, and were the essence of goodness.  But then there were the mermaids that helped destroyed the ships that the sailors were on in the first place.  Even so, both types of mermaids were dangerous.
“Yes.  Mermaids,” Edward confirmed.  “They would not harm her for the world, but they are over enthusiastic some times, and forget that she cannot survive in their world for too long.  Sometimes, they even call her from a distance with their singing.  The air elementals do that for me as well sometimes, and they like me, but they certainly have never tried to turn me into one of them.  That is the one thing that I worry about with Felicity.”
“Well, I understand what she meant by saying that she could put out any fires.  There are water elementals all over the place.”
“Yes,” Edward confirmed.  “They follow us around, keeping us company and protecting us.  They do not normally show themselves to us, but we know that they are there.”
“Here is your water,” Christopher said grandly to James.
“Thank you Christopher,” James smiled.  “Now, could you find Edward and I more nails?”
“Yes sir!”  Christopher ran off to look for nails.
“I will keep an eye on the elementals while I am here,” James whispered to Edward.  “I am sure that while your uncle was here, there were no problems like this?  I mean, Felicity becoming a mermaid?”
“No,” Edward shook his head.
“Then perhaps while I am here, they will behave,” James said certainly, feeling a surge of protectiveness for Felicity.  It was an unexpected feeling, and he wasn’t sure if he liked it or not.
The morning passed quickly.  The serious conversation passed, and Edward began to banter as was his norm.  James was struck once again with how easily Edward conversed with his people.  James often found his gaze wandering to where Felicity worked.  Young Alice was there, hindering more than helping James guessed, but Felicity never seemed angry.  She and Edward talked with the people and had fun with them.  Christopher showed up at his side at different intervals during the day.  Sometimes he came with other children, sometimes by himself.  As the morning wore on, James found himself smiling and laughing with the rest of the men.  It was something new for James to laugh with those he was working with.  He definitely liked this feeling.  Eventually, it was time for lunch.  All of the men stopped working and walked over to where the women had already set up tables with food and were preparing to serve it.
“Is it not a beautiful day?” Jerome asked happily as he came up beside Edward.
“Of course it is,” Edward said.  “You won the Trickster Partner award last night, the weather is gorgeous, Anna is here…”
“Hey,” Jerome blushed.
James surprised himself and the others by laughing out loud.  “I think that you have a chance with her.”
“Really?” Jerome asked hopefully.
“Truly,” James affirmed.  “Go over there and give her some food to eat.  She must be as hungry as we are.”  Jerome looked at him suspiciously, but the advice was too good to pass up, and he ran to get Anna some food.
“I forgot.  You are quite the ladies man,” Edward chuckled.
“I will have you know that I have never taken a woman of ill reputation to bed, nor taken any girl’s gift from her.  All of my romances never lead to the bed, regardless.  A wedding night should be something special between a man and woman.  I am a firm believer in that.”
“Well.  I never would have taken you for a man of high morals.”
“And yourself?”
“I have never had any romances.  Even if I did, the only woman I want to bed will be my wife.”
“You are joking.”
“He is not, I promise,” Felicity said as she gave each of them a plate of food.
“You see James, we have no one of our station here in Laulao, and Felicity and I cannot afford to have romances that will end badly if any of our suitors are from Laulao.  Both of us have decided not to begin to look for suitors until we are twenty-one.  Our birthday is in eleven months.  Besides that, both of us agree that it is better to wait for a wedding night than to buy love for a night.”
“Have there been romances that ended badly before?” James asked.
“Now you have done it,” Edward groaned and walked away quickly.
James glanced at Felicity, who was nearly bursting with information.  James vowed that he would be more careful with what he asked about the history of Laulao.  “Go on and tell me.”  Felicity smiled wider than he thought her face would possibly allow and allowed the story to wash over him.  He ate his lunch and smiled at Felicity’s expressions and obvious joy at telling him about something that she loved so much.  Soon, James began to observe Felicity and let the conversation fade into the background.  Her eyes sparkled with fun as she wove her tale about the king who had a falling out with his lover.  Felicity’s hands moved when she talked, making big gestures to help tell her tale.  James noticed her hair glinting in the sunlight and was tempted to push back a piece of hair that was standing out by her ear.
“So he had to marry her in the end,” Felicity finished happily.
“Amazing,” James said, pulling himself back to the present.  He mentally shook himself.  What was he doing thinking about Edward’s sister like that?  He needed to exercise more control over himself.
“How has Christopher been?”
“He has been wonderful,” James admitted as he caught sight of him in the crowd, playing with Alice.  “He has been a help.”
“I see Jerome has finally gotten up the courage to talk to Anna,” Felicity chuckled.  “I am so glad that he finally talked to her.  Anna has liked him for a long time.”
“Has she now,” James asked.  “Jerome is a smart boy.”
“Handsome too,” Felicity chuckled.
A sudden wave of jealousy over took James.  He was surprised by the force of it.
“And such a gentleman,” Felicity smiled fondly.  “He is like a younger brother for Edward and I.  He is one of our orphans.  His parents served my parents for many years.  When they died, Edward and I let him stay on in the castle for work.  He stayed at the orphanage until last year, when we gave him his own room in the castle.”
“You are very kind to your people,” James said.
“They are the feet we stand upon,” Felicity said simply.  “What good is being a princess or prince if there are no people to rule?  As rulers, we have an obligation to make sure that our people are healthy, happy, and taken care of.”
“I wish more rulers were like you,” James said with a sad smile.  “My father is mainly concerned with how much he makes off of the peasants each year.”
“Are you not in line for the throne?”
“I am the third son, and both of my brothers are in perfect health, and I would like to keep it that way.  I am no ruler.”
“And Edward hates to play tricks on people,” Felicity retorted.  “I am sure that you would be a great ruler—given the chance.”
“You are very kind, princess.”
“I speak the truth,” Felicity replied honestly.
“James!  Time to get back to work!” Edward called.
“It was a pleasure speaking with you,” James said as he handed Felicity his plate.
“It was all mine,” Felicity smiled.  “Be careful.”
“I shall,” James said, surprise showing on his face as he turned to begin his work again.
Felicity blushed furiously.  “Now why did I say that?” she asked herself as she began to help the others clear the tables and food.  She fingered the diamond necklace that James gave her while her mind wandered as she helped the other women out.  Marie was not there with them, saying that she would rather be at the castle embroidering rather than helping.  Felicity tried not to be too upset with her.  Marie was not used to working for others, and Felicity was.  She turned her eyes to where the men were working and tried not to gape.  Many of the men had taken off their shirts because of the sun and the intense labor that they were doing.  Felicity had seen the men before like this and was never bothered by them.  She gaped because of James.  With James there, with his shirt off, it was like Felicity had never seen a man before.  James was hammering a nail and laughing at something Edward had told him.  His muscles shimmered with sweat, and his black hair fell in his face.  Felicity could not look away.  She did not know what was wrong with her.
“Princess?”  Felicity felt a tug on her skirt.  It was Alice looking up at her in confusion.  “What are you looking at?”
“Nothing sweetie.  Let us go help Maggie out.”  Felicity picked up Alice and turned around shakily to see what needed doing.  The clean up took no more than an hour, and by that time the walls were ready to be raised.  All of the women gathered around to watch as the men prepared to raise the walls of the house.
“Everyone ready?” Edward yelled.  Shouts of agreement resounded around the area.  Edward gave a signal and the walls began to be raised.  The first three walls were raised without any problems.  The men were getting read to raise the fourth wall when the ropes attached to the frame broke suddenly.  The men beneath the frame cried in horror.  Without missing a beat, James yelled something, and the frame stopped in midair.  James raised his arms and the frame raised by itself.  But he did not stop there.  The wood that would finish the house began to attach themselves to the house.  In a couple of minutes, the entire house was built—inside and out.  James dropped his arms and would have fallen to the ground if Edward and the other men were not there.  Felicity was already next to him with other healers helping James recover his energy.
Felicity?
He will be fine.  He is just exhausted.  Please tell everyone that he will be fine.  We need to get him back to the castle so he can rest.
I’ll get a wagon.
Edward managed to get everyone out of the way so that Felicity and the healers could take charge of the unconscious James.  Felicity was frightened, though she sternly told herself that she had no reason to be so frightened.  He was just exhausted from the magic.  Prince James was clearly a powerful wizard so he would be just fine.
Why did he use so much magic Felicity?
I think the spell overtook him.  It happens sometimes.  The magic is just too strong, and it just flows out without any control.
He is going to be fine.
I know that.
You like him.
He is your friend.  Of course I like him.
No—you  like him as something else.
I have no idea what you are talking about.  And this is really not a proper conversation to have at this moment in time.  Please, be quiet.
Very well.  This conversation is not over.
Says you.  Now go away.  Felicity firmly pushed Edward from her mind as she climbed into the back of the wagon with James while two of the healers took the reigns.  Jerome came along side the wagon.  All of the women put cloths together for a pillow for his head.
“I’ll ride ahead,” he offered.
“Thank you,” Felicity smiled.  Jerome took off on his horse, and Felicity saw that Anna was looking after him anxiously.  “At least some good came out of it.”  Felicity saw James’s eyes fluttering open.  “Prince James?  Can you hear me?”
“Wh-what happened?”
“Your magic.  You completed the entirety of the house less than five minutes.  Quite impressive.”
“Did one of the planks hit my head?  My head hurts.” James groaned as he attempted to sit up.  Felicity firmly pushed him down on the makeshift pillow.  James, being as weakened as he was, could not resist her push.  It irked him.
“You are not moving any where,” Felicity said firmly.  “I may not have the amount of magic that you have, but I am quite certain I know more about healing than you.  Your magic flow was intense and powerful.  You need to rest.  So be still.  Please.”
“I would like to challenge that,” James replied stubbornly.
“You are going to stay still!”
“No.  Your knowledge of healing.”
“When you have slept for a while.”
“I am going to be fine.”
“You are.  After you have slept and have rested,” Felicity said stubbornly.  “We are almost to the castle.  Then I shall put you in your room, and I shall I shall give you instructions that you will not follow, and I shall hold my head high and walk out of that room as if you are going to follow every instruction that I give.”
“You mean you are going to leave the room and just let me do what I want?”
“I did not hear a word of that,” Felicity whispered, not wanting the healers to hear their conversation.  “And yes, that is what I meant.  I am not your mother and I do not have the power to keep you in your bed.  I can only hope that you will listen to reason and rest for the rest of the day.”  They were in the city now, and people were trying to ask Felicity what happened, but the healers were the ones answering.
“And what if I do stay in bed?”  This was getting to be intriguing.  James sat up a little to get a better look at Felicity.  Her hands were on his shoulders, still holding him down.  James saw some cords lazily floating through the air between them.  James ignored them and concentrated on Felicity’s furrowed brow.
“Then I will be immensely shocked and very grateful.”  She looked up to see that the castle gate was very near.  Unfortunately, the wagon chose that moment to go over a bump.  Felicity gave a small yelp of surprise and sprawled on top of James.  Her arms landed on either side of his head with her nose touching his.  Her body covered his upper torso, and her dress was slightly askew.  Felicity and James looked at each other in surprise.  Felicity lost herself in James’s eyes, noticing for the first time that they had a hint of green in them.  She wondered why she had not noticed it before.  It then occurred to Felicity how close she was to James, and she was still outside of the gate.  What a prize for the Laulaons, who gossiped like no others!  She scrambled off of James quickly.
“I am sorry,” Felicity said as she laughed nervously.  “So clumsy of me.”  She made sure she said it loud enough for the rest of the Laulaons to hear.  She heard them mutter disappointment as they moved away from the wagon.  They were finally in the castle courtyard.  “I am afraid that there will be several rumors going around about us now.  I am sorry.”
“Do not apologize.”  James would normally have been furious at a woman falling on top of him with witnesses to start rumors about romance between them.  It had happened before.  With Felicity, it was different.  She was clumsy, and her mind would never even dream about trying to put his and her name together.  She did not even like him!  And he certainly did not like her.  At least, not romantically.  “Really, it is fine,” James added when he saw that Felicity did not quite believe him.  Just then, the healers came to help Felicity, and then James, out of the wagon.  The healers and Felicity had to support James to his rooms, for he was still weak from the magic he had done.  Felicity had just settled James in his bed with strict instructions to not to leave the bed until dinner, “Or at least for a half hour,” Felicity whispered, when Marie burst into the room.
“Oh Prince James!” she cried as she rushed to his side.  “I just heard the horrible news!  Are you so terribly hurt that you cannot even move!  Oh the horrors!”  She collapsed by the side of the bed, weeping.  James looked at Felicity and the healers with a horrified expression.  “I will not leave your side until you are completely well!  I shall be by your side every minute of ever day, attending to your every need.”
“I am afraid that will not be necessary,” Felicity heard herself say, to the surprise of everyone in the room.
“Why not?” Marie asked, her tears drying much to quickly on her face.
“I have already offered my services to him, and he accepted.  I will now request your leave.  Prince James needs his rest.”  The healers winked at Felicity to show their approval and left the room immediately.  Marie hesitated by the bed.
“Did you accept?” Marie demanded of James.
“Yes,” James said quickly.  He did not want Marie to wait on him hand and foot.  It would give her a perfect opportunity to tell everyone what a great service she did for him in Laulao when they went back to Maldaol.
“Very well then,” Marie responded reluctantly as she slowly left the room.
Felicity stared at James uncertainly.  She could not leave the room now, and neither could James.  Marie would surely be prowling the hallways looking for either of them.  She didn’t have a book with her either.  What a mess!
“What now?” James asked as he tried to get out of the bed.  He still had his work clothes on, minus his boots, and Felicity could not even begin to answer his question because her mind, without her permission, was fully occupied his open shirt.  But when he tried to stand, her brain began to work again.
“No you don’t,” she said firmly.  “You will rest for at least a half hour before I take you any where.”  She went over to James and pushed him back onto the bed.  “Despite what you might think, you are exhausted, and you need to regain your strength.”  She saw a soft red light around the door of his room, and realized that he was the type of person that needed to be doing things constantly.  Felicity softened her voice a little.  “I understand.  This is no picnic for me either.  I do not even have a book to—” Felicity stopped suddenly.  She then smiled wickedly at James.  “If you are good, and at least attempt to sleep for a half hour, then I will let you out of the room, and Marie will see neither of us.”
James raised an eyebrow.  This was too good to resist.  “Where will we go?”
“That is for me to know, and for you to find out,” Felicity sang as she began to straighten and clean his room.  “Go to sleep.”  James reluctantly closed his eyes.  Felicity smiled triumphantly and began to occupy herself in James’s room cleaning.



“You are awake,” Felicity said as James opened his eyes.  He turned to see that Felicity was sitting in a chair next to him.  She was holding a piece of embroidery, and had changed her clothing.  James looked down to see that he had also changed clothes, and had apparently had a bath.  He looked at Felicity in shock.
“No, I did not bathe you,” Felicity said sourly.  “Jerome had gotten here and several of the men came in and bathed you while you slept.  I went to my own room and changed and bathed as well.  I nearly ran into Marie twice before I got back here safely.”
“May I get up now?” James asked cautiously.  He did not want Felicity to touch him again.  It made his stomach turn oddly.
“Yes.  You slept for an hour and a half.”  Felicity smiled smugly at James as she got up out of her chair and watched James rise from the bed.
“I believe you do know much about healing,” James muttered as he avoided Felicity’s smug face.
“Now let us not be upset.  You do want to get out of this room, correct?”
“Yes,” James answered sullenly.  “And how are we supposed to do that.”
Felicity just smiled at James and went to take a log from the stack beside the fireplace.  She placed the log in his arms, and then walked over to a painting.
“Please tell me that you are not going to tilt that painting just so and a secret passageway is going to open up.”
“Of course not,” Felicity sniffed.  She stared at the painting for several minutes, and then winked.  A portion of the wall next to the bed slid open.  “Satisfied?”
“A little cliché, do you not think?”
“What would you rather have me do?  A dance with a feather in my hair while I make faces at the wall?”
“That would be fun,” James grinned as he thought of Felicity doing all of that.
“Do you want to leave or not?” Felicity huffed as she took the log out of his arms.  She stood by the wall, not going in, and set the log on the ground inside the passage.  “Nana?  Are you here?”  James looked at her quizzically.  “Nana?”  A small fire salamander appeared by the log.  “Oh there you are!  Will you allow us safe passage?  And except this log for your dinner?”
who is your friend? the salamander asked.
“I am James, Master Fire Wizard of Maldaol.  I am honored to meet Mastertodo Fire Wizard Rainford’s element guide.”  James bowed low, in awe that before him was most likely the most powerful fire salamander alive.
very nice introduction.  I am pleased to meet you as well.  Rainford talked of you often.  this offering is quite acceptable, princess, and I would suggest that you open your uncle’s study as soon as possible.  things are happening that only you can stop.  Nana crawled on top of the log and disappeared.
“Well that was odd,” Felicity said as she stepped into the passage.  “Nana never talks that long.  The only one she talked to, really, was Uncle Rainford.  But, perhaps that is because you are a master of the same element.  I am water after all.”
“Excellent reasoning,” James said as he followed Felicity into the passage.  The torches in the passage were lit, most likely thanks to Nana.  “Why do you call her Nana?”
“When I was little, I would often follow Uncle Rainford around.  Nana would often show up and talk to Uncle Rainford, and I would watch with fascination.  One day, I asked her if she had a name.  She told me that she did not have one, but I could pick out one for her if I wished.  And I chose Nana.  She makes sure that the fires in the castle are the right temperatures for everyone.  Even though Uncle Rainford is not here, she continues in the duties.  She is very loyal.”  James saw Felicity’s hand go to her face and wipe something away.  James stopped Felicity in their walk to wherever they were going and turned her to face him.
“You are going to find him,” James said as he wiped her tears away.  Those cords were back again.  James did not know what to do with them, so he ignored them again.
“Thank you,” Felicity said as she tried to get her emotions under control.  She reached for the diamond to finger to give her hands something to play with.  She then smiled at James to show that she was ok.  She began leading him down the passage again, but found that her hand in his as they walked down the hall.  There was only room for one person at a time, so the hand holding was a tad awkward with Felicity in front and her hand in James’s behind her, but Felicity did not mind.  It felt, nice.  Eventually, they arrived at the end of the hallway.
“Welcome to the only place in the castle where it is absolutely certain that no one can find me,” Felicity said with a smile as she pressed a brick in the wall.  Once again, the wall slid open to reveal a medium sized room whose walls were lined with bookshelves.  Books of every shape, size, and subject filled the shelves.  Felicity smiled wider and dragged James into the room.  “This room I discovered a couple years ago.  It has so many historical documents of all the countries.  I have had so much information in this one room than I could possibly know what to do with!”  Felicity rambled on as she continued to drag James around the room pointing out different books to him.  When she finally finished her tour of the room, she set James down at the table.  “Feel free look around and read whatever you like.  I will be heading back to your room to make sure that Marie does not come in and ruin your rest.”
“You are an angel,” James sighed gratefully.  “This room will occupy my attention quite nicely until dinner.  And I see that you are still trying to keep me from exerting myself.  Impressive work.  I did not think you had a devious bone in your body.”
“Thank you,” Felicity chuckled.  “And now, I shall leave you to your work.”  Felicity released James’s hand and left the room.  She closed the panel to the room to make sure that there would be no draft.  Felicity smiled shyly to herself as she made her way back through the passageway.  Her hand still tingled from his hand in her’s.  Felicity fingered the necklace that James gave her once more.  Felicity felt warm inside at James’s listening to her advice to take it easy while he was resting.  It felt nice.  Felicity went into James’s room, put a log on the fire, a log in the passage, and closed the panel to the passageway.  She then sat down and picked up her embroidery.


James got up from the chair that Felicity left him in and went to look at the books that Felicity had offered her.  There were so many to choose from, he didn’t know where to start!  He finally settled on a red book that had a title of History in Song.  He sat back down and was immediately caught up in the song.  It was the entire history of Laulao and its surrounding countries.  James then understood Felicity’s fascination with the history of Laulao.  Not only that, but James found out quite a few things about his own country as well.  To say that James was interested was an understatement.  In no time, James had finished the book and was ready to look for another book.  Just as James had found another, Edward came into the room.
“Did you enjoy your time in my sister’s hideaway?” Edward asked.  “Felicity is very generous with her room.”
“There are books on every country on the continent,” James said in awe.
“The novelty wore off for me,” Edward shrugged.  “What book did you read?”
“History in Song,” James answered.  “Is it time for dinner?”
“Yes, and that book is my favorite as well,” Edward said as he and James went back into the passage.  “It is so interesting.”
“I agree,” James said.  “Wait, how did you get here?”
“Do you really think that your room is the only one with a passage?  The entire castle is filled with them.  Felicity discovered them when she was little.  It is one of her favorite past times to explore the passageways.  She found this library a year ago.”
“She seems to have a lot of favorite past times.”
“She does.  Felicity enjoys so many things that she is pulled different ways constantly.  But that is the way she likes it best.  Me, I like to take one thing at a time.  Perhaps two or three things at once, but no more.  That is why Felicity and I make a great pair for ruling.  She can focus on many different things to get done at once, but I can take them slower and give them the attention to detail.”
“From what I’ve seen, you and Felicity rule Laulao just fine.  I have heard my father and his council complain about how your rule is ‘unorthodox’.  Now that I have seen it for myself, I think that you two do better than my father has done.  You actually care what happens to your people.”
“Thank you,” Edward said sincerely.
They arrived at James room to find a frightened Christopher.
“Uncle Edward,” Christopher cried.  “There is something wrong with Aunt Felicity!”
Edward and James looked at Felicity.  She had a glazed look in her eyes and was walking towards the door in a daze.
“No!” Edward yelled.  He ran to Felicity and grabbed her from behind to hold her waist.  “Do not leave me,” Edward whispered in her ear.  “Do not leave me like mother and father did, please!  Felicity please do not go!”
“But it is important.  They have never called me when it is still light out,” Felicity told Edward in a monotone voice.  “I must go.”
“No,” Edward said, panic barely controlled in his voice, when he cocked his head to a side.
“The air elements are calling you too.  It must be important.”  Felicity’s words slurred a little as she said this.
“They have never tried to turn me into one,” he hissed.  “They can wait.  I am coming with you.”  He body jerked towards the mountains.
“No you cannot,” Felicity sighed.  “I will be fine.”
“I will go with her,” James said firmly.
“Princess?  Does Prince James feel up to—” Deborah asked as she came into the room, then gasped when she saw Felicity.  “The mermaids are calling her again.  I will tell the rest of the servants.  We shall be ready for her return.”
“I will go with her,” James said once again.  He saw a blue thread from Felicity’s heart going towards the gulf where he knew the mermaids were.  James understood that she had to go—wanted to go.  “I am a Master.  They would not take her if they knew I was near.”
“Thank you,” Edward whispered.  His face was white with fright for his sister.  He slowly released Felicity who began to walk out the door the moment she was free.  James followed behind her quickly while Edward swooped Christopher in his arms.  “Aunt Felicity is going to be fine.  She is going to see the water elementals.  And you and I are going to visit the air elementals.  I just found you, and I am not letting you out of my sight for a moment.
“Will Aunt Felicity be fine?” Christopher asked, tears forming on his face.
“Yes,” Edward said firmly, though he did not quite believe it himself.  Deborah came over and shot Edward a look that reminded him of what his mother looked like when she was mad.
“Princess Felicity will be just fine,” Deborah said with more confidence than Edward.  “You see, the water elementals are her friends, and like her to visit.  But sometimes they are a little too excited and hurt her.  That is why Prince Edward is worried.  But since you are going to be a great wizard like your father, you should go with your Uncle Edward to meet some of the air elementals.  It will be good practice for later.”
“Ok,” Christopher said shyly.  “Are we going to the mountains?”
“Yes,” Edward said softly.  “We are off to the mountains.”  Edward gave Deborah a grateful smile.  “Please tell everyone what has happened.”
“Of course,” Deborah said.  “You should get going.  You do not want to keep Christopher out all night.  It is five o’clock now.”
“Thank you,” Edward told Deborah as he put a hand on her shoulder.  “Are you ready Christopher?”
“Yes,” Christopher said bravely.  Edward gave Deborah a parting smiled and left the room still holding Christopher.  Edward quickly went to the stables to get himself a horse.
“Can you ride a horse?” Edward asked.
“No,” Christopher said sadly.
“Then I shall teach you later,” Edward smiled.  He picked out his mount and set a fast pace towards the mountains.
“Why must we go to the mountains to meet the air elements?” Christopher asked as they cantered through the countryside.  The sun was halfway through its descent and there was plenty of light to see by still, and would be for a while.
“They like high places best,” Edward explained.  “The mountain that we will meet them at is only about two hours away if we push the horses.”
“Ok,” Christopher said as the pace got very fast.  Both were silent for the rest of the trip.


James followed Felicity closely as she got her horse and began to ride towards the gulf.  He followed in suit and kept a close eye on her.  It only took them a half-hour to get to the gulf.  James had a strange feeling that he had to stay on the beach and watch Felicity from afar.  James got off of his horse when Felicity did and took the reigns of both horses.  He watched Felicity go to a collection of rocks that lead out quite a ways into the gulf.  He went to the beach and watched Felicity walk carefully on top of the rocks and sit down.
you came, hissed something below the surface.  Felicity looked down and smiled as two mermaids came above the water.  we were not ssssure thhat you would come after lassst time.
“I trust you,” Felicity smiled.  The last time that they referred too was when they kept her underwater for too long and she had almost drowned.  They were able to get her to the surface in time, but Edward was now very paranoid whenever she went to visit the mermaids.  Now that she was at the lagoon, the song had stopped and she was no longer in a daze.  Her eyes were clearer, and she was genuinely happy to see her mermaid friends.  The one on her right had fiery red hair and bright blue eyes.  Her skin was as pale as the moon, and a smile played on her lips.  The mermaid on Felicity’s left was the exact opposite.  Black hair, violet eyes and skin paler than the other mermaid.  These were the merqueens of the two types of mermaids.  They were the strongest water elementals in Laulao.  There were other, bigger, water elements in the world, but the ones in the gulf were the closest to Felicity.  The red haired mermaid Felicity called Madeline.  The black haired mermaid she dubbed Charlotte.  “You never call me in the day.  Nighttime is when you are the strongest.  It must be terribly urgent to call me now.”
yesss, they whispered.  it isss very urgent.  thhe kraken is ssstirring in the deep, and thhe leviathhan worriesss the hours away.  great magic is happening that will caussse trouble--for humansss and elementalsss alike.  Felicity gasped.  Something that would cause the leviathan to worry was something for all to worry about.  only you can do ssssomethhhing about it.
“Why only me?” Felicity asked.
it isss your uncle’sss magic, Madeline told her as she laid a hand on her friends knee.  we know thhat whatever it isss, it iss againssst hiss will.  thhe magic has an unwillingnesss to it, and it iss undeniably your uncle’sss.  we have known for sssome time now thhat he was taken, but we did not tell you for we did not know where he wasss.  only now do we have a directttion for you to go.
“Where is the magic occurring?” Felicity asked urgently.  “Please tell me, friends, and I shall save Uncle Rainford.”
the sssielkiesss might know more than we, Charlotte said quickly.  She did not understand human emotions, and wasted no time with Felicity’s.  the undercurrentsss we feel come from thhe north countriess.  crosss the Sssere ocean to a port in Baderian, thhen go to Sssielkie Lake to talk to the sssielke.  thhey will tell you where to go nexxt.  go quickly, my pet.  whatever magic Rainford isss being forcced to do, feelsss wrong and horrible.
“To hear that from your lips is troublesome indeed,” Felicity said in perfect agreement.  “Thank you, my queens.  I will open up my uncle’s study tonight to discover his research.  My brother is meeting with the air elements.  I am sure they will have information as well.”  Felicity went to leave, but Charlotte pulled her down for a moment.
thhe massster fire wizzzard.  what isss hisss name?
Felicity looked over to see James on the beach, looking anxiously at her.  “Prince James of Maldaol,” Felicity answered, curiously looking at Charlotte.  “Why?”
The mermaids exchanged a look that Felicity could not decipher.  where ever you go on your journey, take him, Madeline said.
“Huh?” Felicity exclaimed.
he isss important to your journey.  he will help your magic to become ssstronger, they hissed together.
“Very well,” Felicity agreed reluctantly.  “I trust your judgement.”
one more thhing, Madeline said with a secret smile.  remember thhisss during your journey.
thhere are timesss when fire and water do not mixx, Charlotte said, looking directly into Felicity’s eyes, trying to convey something important to her.  however, sssome of the mosst powerful sssubsstancess have come from two oppossite thhingss.  do not ssshy away from the fire.  embraccce it.  when fire and water meet, it can produccce amazing thhhingsss.  Her message delivered, she disappeared beneath the surface.  Felicity stared thoughtfully at the water, then looked at Madeline.
be sssafe, my princessss.  we await your sssafe return.  And she disappeared.  Felicity stared out at the water for some time, not paying attention to anything else, but concentrating on what the mermaids had told her.  When James sat beside her, she nearly fell into the water due to her fright.
“Sorry,” James chuckled as he steadied her.  When Felicity had her composure back, she looked at James in confusion.  “I followed you here so that you would not join the mermaids in the depths,” James explained.  “What did they say?”
“They knew Uncle Rainford was taken, but they did not know where so they did not tell me.  But someone is making Uncle Rainford do magic.  Horrible magic!  Magic that worries the leviathan and stirs the kraken.  They do not know much—they mostly stay in the lagoon due to their loyalty to me, but they said that the sielkie would know more.  And they said that you should go with me.”
“Interesting,” James offered.  Felicity was not going on this quest, James decided firmly.  He felt this incredible urge to keep her here until all of the danger was over.  This time, he would give in to the urge and do everything in his power to keep her here in Laulao.  Edward and he could handle whatever came their way.  But something that could disturb both the kraken and a leviathan needed serious attention.  “It is getting cold.  Let us go back to the castle and wait for your brother there.  He took Christopher with him, saying that he needed to get used to elementals.  I agree with him.”
“As do I,” Felicity smiled.  She fingered the diamond around her neck.  James stood up to help her to begin their ride back to the castle.



Edward and Christopher finally reached the mountain that the air elementals wanted to meet them at.  Edward got off of his horse and helped Christopher off of his.  The place that the air elementals liked best was halfway up the mountain.  A cliff jutted out from the mountain that overlooked Laulao.  It was rather large for both humans and air elementals to move around.  In the side of the mountain was a sort of house—the same kind that was in the town of Gateton.  Edward theorized often that it was probably an earth wizard that had done both.  There had always been some sort of magic in his royal family that had to do with elementals, and there were places in Laulao for each element.  He could only go to Air Peak Palace, however, for his magic was only with the power of air regardless of how limited his power was.  Felicity often used the Calm Water House whenever she needed to have some time alone.  Falling Leaves Room was located in Jarla Forest somewhere.  Uncle Rainford was the first fire wizard in the history of Laulao, so he was able to create his own place.  When Edward and Felicity were little, they dubbed the fire house Smoldering Cinders Home because Uncle Rainford had said that the fires that he had there only smoldered in the cinders.  Edward smiled fondly at the memory.
“What is that?” Christopher asked excitedly as he pointed to Air Peak Palace.
“That was built by an ancestor,” Edward explained.  “This is where anyone with air elemental abilities can come for solitude or to communicate with the air elementals.  Normally, people with other abilities are not welcome, but air and fire are similar elements so I think that it will be fine for you.  Besides, your father was able to come up here because he was the only wizard in Laulao for a long time.  He had to placate all of the elementals.”
“I bet that did not go over well with the water elements,” Christopher chuckled.
“No, it did not,” Edward chuckled.  “After Felicity was born, he normally took her with him whenever he had to meet with them.  He was very glad when Felicity could go on her own to talk with the water elementals.”
Edward, a voice whispered.
“Thomas?” Edward asked.  The air elementals did not have solid bodies that Edward knew of, but over time Edward came to figure out who was talking to him by the amount of air and the temperature of the air around him.  There were three elementals that he had regular contact with.  Elements did not give each other names, but they allowed certain humans to give them names so that humans could understand who was talking.  Edward had named the three air elementals that were his mentors Thomas, Delores, and Jasper.  “Delores?  Jasper?”
here, they whispered.  Felicity once told him that each element had talking quirks.  Water elements hissed.  Fire elements spoke with human correctness while earth elements spoke slowly.  Air elements whispered unless they were angry—then they yelled.
I have missed you, a voice whispered in Edward’s ear.  Edward recognized the sparse air and lukewarm temperature as Delores.
“And I you,” Edward said with a smile.  “This is Rainford’s son, Christopher.”
we know.  we made sure that he had a safe journey through the mountains, explained Jasper with a frigid air and stiff wind.  I traveled with your uncle whenever he went out of Laulao.  the fire salamander that your sister fondly calls “Nana” does not like leaving Laulao, so she asked us to go with Rainford when he leaves.
I am pleased to see that you can see and understand us, Thomas whispered to Christopher with his warm air and full breeze.  He was the only element that Edward had encountered that spoke with an almost full voice without being angry.
“I do not understand,” Christopher said cautiously.  He nervously grabbed Edward’s hand.  “Mother told me that I was fire, like my father.  Why would you watch me?”
let me explain my child, Delores asked as she enveloped Edward and Christopher.  fire and air are similar elements.  did your mother explain this?  Christopher nodded.  your father is a good man and gained the respect of every elemental in Laulao.  even the water elements.  Edward thought he heard something like the sound of a chuckle from the three elements.  your father has much power, and we wanted to make sure that no one would take advantage of him.  since we air elements are not tied to a place as firmly as the other elements, we take it upon ourselves to follow our companions and those they are close too.
“Do you follow me?” Edward asked curiously.
yes, Jasper breezed.  not only that, but also Laulaons who are elsewhere on the continent.  Laulao is the safest place for elementals of any type, and all appreciate this.  we protect those who protect us and pay us respect.
“I did not realize that you loved us so much,” Edward lightly teased.  He knew that elementals of any type did not truly understand human’s complex feelings and it touched him that the elementals were so grateful for a safe place to rest that they would protect Laulaons from harm.  “Thank you very much.  That means very much.”
it is our pleasure, Thomas said as he now took up the narrative.  when you were born, child of Rainford’s, we made sure that you and your mother were safe.  we happily spread the news to other elementals that a child of Rainford’s blood was born.
“Is that why I always saw gnomes and water sprites and fire lizards and air spirits?” Christopher asked excitedly.  “I told mother I could see them, but she never could.”
your mother does not have the gift, Delores explained, but she did believe you.  she always thanked us when you were not around, whether with words or with food for solid elements.  we believe that Rainford told her that you would see elementals and that she should not be afraid.  she is a brave woman.
“Is?” Edward asked quickly.  “You know where she is?”
she has been taken.  we do not know where.  the same magic that hides Rainford hides her.  but that is not why we called you here tonight.  It seemed to Edward that Thomas took a deep breath before he began.  air elements can go almost any place that you can imagine.  except underground.
“That is why you could not find him!” Edward exclaimed.  “Whoever took Uncle Rainford must have taken him underground so that air could not find him, and shielded it from other elementals so they could not either.”
correct, Thomas affirmed.  as the water elementals are surely telling Felicity right now, there is strange magic happening in the north.  however, we do not know where it is coming from.
“Do you know what it is that they are forcing Uncle Rainford to do?” Edward asked hopefully.  There was silence.  Edward picked up Christopher in a sudden bout of fear.  There was no more wind around them at all.  What ever Uncle Rainford’s kidnappers were trying to get him to do must be truly terrifying for his elemental friends to stop blowing their air.  “Thomas?”
the song, Delores spoke in a voice so soft that Edward nearly missed it.  the song your sister sang yesterday evening.  it does not tell the whole story.
“The witch with coal black eyes?” Christopher asked in a small voice.  “Mother used to sing that story to me all the time.  She said it was important to know.”
I remember when she lived, Jasper whispered in a scratchy voice.  she tortured us.  she tortured the elementals.
Those words echoed across the cliff.  To torture an elemental was unforgivable.  “That was what Uncle Rainford was researching,” Edward said in a flat voice.  He did not know why he did not see it earlier.  The song spoke several times about the brilliant green eyes of the wizard, and staring into Christopher’s eyes, Edward did not doubt that it was an ancestor of his that banished the witch into a deep slumber.
please do not let her wake, Thomas whispered.