Chapter 19: Farewells

They both turned to their friends and their smiles faded. The moment turned from joy to bittersweet as they realized what goodbye meant. If what Chrysolis said was true then the children of Amiera would never again be able to visit Darrowold or their friends. To do so would be to age rapidly and that was not something they could risk very often if ever.

The others seemed to make the connection as well and now it was like they were both dying all over again.

Nataleigh walked over to Maid Madelyn and Frangen, fell on her knees and hugged them both in turn.

Madelyn’s hug was tentative at first as the maiden tried to maintain her tough exterior, but when the princess wouldn’t let go of her, she finally melted, embracing Nataleigh with all her heart. Tears ran down both cheeks freely giving her the appearance of a little child in her mother’s arms.

“Thank you Madelyn for all your help and friendship through this journey,” said the princess in her ear. “I truly couldn’t have done it without your courage and strength. You’ve always been one of my heroes. I admire you so much.”

At last the warrior maiden pulled away, awkwardly wiping tears from her face. “My courage was too often foolishness, Princess, and my strength was never greater than your own. It is I who admire you for your bravery and determination… and for your compassion. The one quality I have never appreciated was the one quality that saved us all, your love for your brother. It is you who are MY hero.”

They hugged again and Nataleigh turned to Frangen. The inventor was so shocked by her sudden hug that all he could do was stiffen with both hands at his side and stutter, “Your Majesty!”

“Where would this all have ended without you, Frangen?” The princess questioned sincerely as she pulled away from him. “You and your brothers brought me so far and helped me so much, but you most of all. Without you one of us may have been injured fighting among ourselves over that evil eye. Without you I might have been lost in those tunnels forever or worse.”

Finally the frazzled inventor managed to control himself long enough to mumble sheepishly, “It was only our duty, your majesty.”

“And you are a faithful servant, my friend.” The princess confirmed. Then putting a hand on each side of his bristly, blond mustaches, she cupped his face and kissed him on his bald forehead. If one of Heindel’s steam engines had been attached to his ears, it would have rumbled to life as the blood rushed to his head and perspiration fizzled on his reddened skin (or was it the residue of reek roach eggs that wafted into the princess’s nostrils?)

At the same time the prince was saying goodbye to his two companions as well. Vonkar would have nothing to do with more tears or sadness. A brief, manly embrace and a strong clap on the back was enough for the warrior and Nathan would not dishonor his noble friend by expecting anything more.

“Ye turned out to be more the warrior than ever you dreamed, aye laddie?” Vonkar commented, stepping back from the prince to appraise him, a hint of pride in his eyes.

“Yeah, I guess,” Nathan replied, “with a little bit of help from my father.”

Then he smiled. “Of course, I had to be rescued by a girl in the end. I don’t think I’m anywhere near the warrior you are yet, Vonkar.”

“That’s because you haven’t yet learned to sing while ye battle! The strength of a warrior’s arm should always be matched by the spirit of his song! Never forget that, lad.”

“I won’t,” the prince replied, “and don’t you forget to try talking before fighting from now on, no matter how big your opponent is.”

“Oh, don’t you worry about ol’ bellow breaches here,” Flindee suddenly added. “Q and I’ll keep him on the straight and narrow from now on.”

Vonkar scowled at the comment.

“And what is THAT supposed to mean?” he growled at the jester.

“Q and I talked it over and we’ve decided that you need a sidekick. You know, to help you fight all of the villains you meet. Every good hero needs a sidekick and who better to assist the irascible Vonkar the vocational Viking of Clan Ask-to-gripe, then the noble and often underestimated, Quattlebom the Courageous?”

The jester spun around and held his puppet to the sky as he shouted the title like a circus ringmaster.

“And since both of you will be famous across all the lands of Darrowold, you’ll need me to be your herald everywhere you go. Besides, someone has to translate for Q. You sure can’t understand him.”

As the jester continued, Nathan noticed the Viking’s fists begin to tighten on the braids of his own beard until his eyes began to twitch and his lips quiver. It was obvious that the warrior was not going along with the idea of the two entertainers tagging along with him in his wanderings across the length and breadth of Darrowold. But before there was further trouble, the Prince intervened one last time between his two friends.

“But what about your new pet squishy-fish, Flindee?” he said. “Weren’t you just talking to the girls about keeping one in the courtyard pool at Castle Bouldergold?”

“Well, yeah.” Flindee conceded shrugging his shoulders. “But what about Q’s crime-fighting career? I couldn’t stand in the way of his dream.”

“Ah but think of all the joy a giant squishy-fish could bring all the citizens of Bouldergold.” Nathan replied. “But no one else knows how to take care of it…”

“Or how to capture one and train it,” added Anna Monee, realizing that the prince needed some help. “Coralee and I could help you with that, right Cora?”

Coralee rolled her eyes again and agreed with sarcasm dripping from her voice. “Sure. What fun that would be.”

Then Nathan got another idea.

“I’ll bet Frangen, Heindel, and Boz would even help you capture and transport your squishy-fish.” He offered.

This caught Frangen’s attention who was relieved to turn his attention to something other than the princess.

“Ya!” he agreed a little too heartily. “Heindel could even invent an aquarium with a fully automated filtering system and air circulation unit, complete with an underwater observation lounge.”

“There you go!” coaxed the Prince. “See? How can you pass up that opportunity, Flindee? Besides, didn’t you say Quattlebom deserved an award for his acting skill? How’s he going to get what he deserves if he doesn’t go back to his adoring public?”

That gave Flindee something to think about.

“Wow, I guess if you put it like that.” Flindee said thoughtfully. Then he looked at his puppet. “What do you think, Q?”

The puppet seemed to pause in thought for a moment, turning to look from Vonkar to Frangen. Then it bobbed its head up and down, wagging its tongue in agreement.

“Well, Vonkar, ol’ buddy,” said the little dwarf, pulling his floppy hat from his head solemnly. “I don’t want to hurt your feelings, knowing what a softy you are and all, but I’m afraid Q and I are going to have to let you go on without us. Our fans await us! But we’ll miss ya, big fella!”

With that, the jester jumped into the Viking’s arms and planted a big sloppy kiss on his protruding nose. Vonkar sputtered, but before he could react, Flindee sprang away and started jabbering on about his new aquarium and the idea he had for a new comic routine and musical number complete with dancing mermaids and a singing flounder.

“We’ll call it ‘The Little Guppy’. Of course we’ll need to dig up some new talent to make it work, but hey, they don’t call me Flindee the Finder for nothing!” And with that he bobbled down the beach in a world of his own.

“Well, I guess that’s good bye from Flindee.” Nathan said with a grin. “Too bad he said good bye to the wrong person, huh Vonkar? You’re the lucky guy who still gets to ride all the way back to the mainland with him in a crowded little submarine for days.”

“Perhaps I will offer myself as a galley slave on board one of these pirate vessels in exchange for a ride back instead.” Vonkar said with conviction. “It can’t be as torturous as that.”

And with that said, the prince and princess said their final farewells to the group, hugging both of the sea serpent children as well. About this time, Papa and Mama joined them, having secured the area from marauding pirates. Most of the ships had given up the fight after facing first a fire-breathing dragon, and now a two headed sea serpent.

Last of all, Nataleigh apologized to the Sea Serpent family, especially Coralee, for her deception and false friendship while trying to steal from them. Coralee was still hurt, but the little sea serpent bravely forgave the princess and hugged her tightly as she said goodbye.

“We’re just glad you’re ok, sweetheart.” Mama said sweetly as she put a flipper around both of the royal children.

As they both mounted up their flying steeds and prepared to launch skyward, Anna Monee shouted after them. “If you can’t come and see us again, send us autographed posters to show our friends and hang on our cave walls. We love you!”

And then they were away. Nataleigh and Nathan looked back to watch their friends shrinking away below, waving to them as they ascended into the clouds and off toward Ivory Mountain.



The End