Darkness again surrounded Prince Nathan. But this time the darkness was not silent. There were echoes and whispers in the dark. They came at him from every side, mocking him, accusing him, haunting his every step. The voices were familiar.
“But your father gave instructions that you were never to go below the cloud cover.” The voice of Chrysolis reminded him over and over.
“Chrysolis!” He shouted into the darkness.
“No, no, little man.” He heard in reply. “No callin’ yer pet dragon!”
It was the slow witted, yet dangerous voice of Gart and Nathan felt the breath squeezed from his chest as he remembered the giant’s massive hand crushing him in his armor.
Then came the mocking laughter of Snagglefang. “Foolish Boy! Have you never been told of me? I’m the enemy!”
And the echo repeated through the darkness…“The enemy!” “The ENEMY!”
“It’s too late, boy!” The voice gloated as before. “Your sister wanted the Serpent’s Eye and I have given it to her! Now she’s mine, heart and soul…”
Out of the darkness, a green light could be seen growing in intensity. It emanated from a glowing ball.
As before, the prince shouted. “Get away from her, you snake!”
“Snake?” The voice repeated with growing satisfaction. “More than a snake, a SERPENT!”
The word cracked like thunder and the glowing green ball blinked! It was no longer a serpent’s eye in name only, but in truth! Suddenly, the light from within the eye was joined by the flickering light of fire that licked out between the sharp teeth of a reptilian jaw. And as the light flickered, the prince could make out the hulking shadow of a second head moving in to strike! He was in the lair of the Great Sea Serpent that guarded the treasure beneath Skull Rock Island and the monster was hungry! But its attention was not on the prince. Before it stood another figure and it flicked it’s forked tongue in anticipation.
“Nataleigh!” he shouted, “get away from…”
He stopped. It was happening again, just as before! There on a pedestal, between his sister and the scaled beast sat the accursed Serpent’s Eye almost within reach of Nataleigh’s outstretched arms. Nathan remembered the last dream; remembered the green mist within the ball crawling up her arms and pulling her in! He couldn’t move. Fear held him in its icy grip and wouldn’t let him. He remembered the emptiness of that mist; the cold as he fell…His attention suddenly returned to the present as he saw one of the heads of the sea serpent rearing back to strike the girl who had dared to enter it’s sacred domain.
Now Nathan moved. Something snapped within him and he moved. Even as the head came down, he dove for his sister… and this time he made it! Just as the jaws of the serpent struck, he shoved Nataleigh aside! He watched with joy as she stumbled to safety. She would live! Then he felt the teeth and all went black…
His shout rang out through the darkness of the guestroom as he bolted up from the bed, panting and clutching his chest. He was soaked with sweat and his heart struck hard at his rib cage. For seconds he just sat there breathing hard and calming himself down. It was only a dream. He was ok. Nataleigh was ok. Or was she? How could he know for sure if it was only a dream? In reality, he had no idea where she was at that moment. He felt so helpless.
After a couple of minutes, he got out of bed and lit a candle. Then, his mind made up; he dressed and left the room. Friar Tub was right! His father was the one who could make everything right and it was time he stopped trying to do everything himself. Silently he crept down the halls of the castle and out into the courtyard to the Chamber of Whispers.
It was even quieter than before as the entire castle was asleep. Prince Nathan entered and walked to the center of the room. The tree stump bowl was now filled with water and glittered in the starlight. No torches burned now, but the moon was up and nearly full, bathing the chamber in soft white. It was peaceful and Nathan felt his hopes rise a bit even as the weight of the world settled upon his heart. Looking toward the eastern sky, he saw his home, still shining like a beacon in the night and his heart broke.
Tears flowed down his face as he fell upon the edge of the stump and began to speak over the still water. “Father, help us! We’ve gotten ourselves into trouble by not obeying you. And I can’t make it right on my own. Please forgive me for not coming to you before all of this happened. Forgive me for trying to take matters into my own hands. Now I’ve lost Chrysolis and I can’t find my way home and Nataleigh is in danger. Father, if you really can hear me in this place, help me!”
The tears continued, dropping hotly into the small pool beneath him, until both tears and words were dried up. Then followed silence. And in the silence of the early morning, a wind stirred from the east and blew gently upon him. It carried with it the faintest of whispers, yet a whisper familiar and full of power.
“Nathan, my son. I forgive you.” It began, and the prince sat up, wiping the tears from his face.
“Father?”
“Do not be afraid, son. I will be with you as you go to your sister. My strength will be yours. Now sleep…”
Nathan rested his head back upon the edge of the stump and listened. Soon he slept, untroubled by fearful dreams.
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