Chapter 7: Homesick

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Princess Nataleigh rose from her small bunk on board the dwarven submarine.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Someone was banging on the steel door to the small chamber that had become, as Frangen, Heindel, and Boz called it, her “royal quarters.” The three dwarven inventors had all but driven the poor princess crazy with all of their fawning over her. “Your Majesty” this, and “Your Highness” that, was all she had heard for two days straight as they traveled across the pirate seas to find the Serpent’s Eye!

“Oh, now what?” Nataleigh groaned as she rolled out of bed and moved to the door. She fully expected to open it and find one of the bulky, little fellows bowing at her feet, and asking how he could be of service to her again. Yanking open the door, she was surprised to find herself staring, not at a prostrating inventor, but rather a fellow passenger on this voyage.

“Maid Madelyn!” She stuttered. The dwarf maiden did not look well as she greeted the princess.

“Good morning, Princess. If it is morning.” She grumbled through pale green lips. “How can anyone tell, down here in all of this darkness?”

Princess Nataleigh quickly helped Madelyn step through the door and sit on her bunk. “Madelyn, you look terrible. Can I get you anything that will help?” she inquired with obvious concern in her voice.

“Yes.” Maid Madelyn hissed as the muscles in her face tightened in agony. “You can order these addle-brained inventors to take us to the surface and let me off! I need fresh air and sunshine and you’re the only one they will listen to!”

“Madelyn, we can’t do that! We’re in the middle of the ocean! There’s no place for you to get off.”

“Then stuff me into a torpedo tube and launch me out toward the nearest island! I don’t care how you do it, just get me out of this iron beast!”

Nataleigh was shocked to see the forest maiden so shook up, but she did her best to cheer her under the circumstances. The best she could do was to distract her from thinking about the situation. So before long, they were deep in discussion about the amazing wardrobe of dresses the princess had back at Amiera complete with gowns, shoes and several gem-studded tiaras.

So caught up was she in her descriptions of the beautiful clothing with sparkling sequins and bedazzling jewelry that Princess Nataleigh found herself almost missing her home on Ivory Mountain. She did, in fact, miss her bed and a fresh change of clothes. And the lack of sunshine, fresh air, and room to move was beginning to ruin her sense of adventure. It seemed as though they might never reach their destination and she was beginning to worry that this “saving Darrowold” business might be taking too long. What was supposed to be a short visit below the clouds to warn the good dwarves had somehow turned into a lengthy quest. Surely she had been missed by now. Her brother would be worried.

For the first time since leaving home, the princess found herself considering the consequences of her decision to disobey. What might Nathan do when he discovered that she had left the palace? Would he come searching for her or would he contact Father and seize the opportunity to tattle on her? That last thought was not a pleasant one. What would Father do to her when she returned…?

Maid Madelyn suddenly interrupted her thoughts. “Princess, are you alright?”

Nataleigh realized that she had drifted off in mid-sentence. She had been describing her favorite rose petal and onyx dress trimmed in ermine furs complete with white silk gloves up to her elbows.

“Now you look pale.” Madelyn continued.

The princess glanced at her friend for a moment then composed herself. “Oh uh, I was just thinking about..…Jewel… Um, talking about gems and dresses always makes me think about… her sparkling, amethyst mane of hair!

“Really?” Said Maid Madelyn rather unconvinced. “For a moment there it seemed like an unpleasant thought suddenly hit you, like…”

“The submersible is sinking!” From out of nowhere came the warning shout and Frangen burst through the door. Then, realizing that he had just barged into a young ladies room without knocking, he threw himself to the floor and begged for forgiveness over and over again. He had shuffled backwards halfway out the portal with his face to the floor before the princess could get him to stop and finish his message.

“Forgive me, your Royal Majesty!” He continued at last (after Maid Madelyn finally dragged him to his feet). “What I meant to say was… the submersible is diving!”

“Diving?”

“Yes, your Highness. We are going deeper under water!”

Maid Madelyn groaned.

Princess Nataleigh was curious. “Why are we going deeper?”

“Because we are under attack, your Majesty!”

“Under Attack?” Both ladies exclaimed at the same time.

“By who?” Maid Madelyn continued.

“By the black beard brothers, of course!” Frangen said in exasperation. “We have arrived at Skull Rock Island!”