Drowning Kingdom

Written by: Lillie

Word soon got out that the Lady was going up to the surface. The general reaction was one of horrified shock. Many came to her abode begging her not to go. Others bluntly told her she was a fool and was sacrificing herself for nothing. She could not, would not, survive the journey up to the surface. She was sacrificing herself for nothing, and, if she really loved her people, she would not do something so stupid. Still others argued that she should not go, for who would rule in her place? The people firmly believed that only a member of the royal family held the right to rule, and Althea was the only remaining descendent.

But Althea would not listen.

'I must go up to the surface,' she insisted. 'It is imperative that I go. The kingdom is drowning too soon to wait any longer. This is our last chance. I must seek aid from the other kingdoms, and do it in person.' Althea was quite certain that going to the other kingdoms in person would be more useful to sending her ambassadors. For one thing, the other rulers would not find it easy to get rid of her.

She instructed her tutor to govern in her place while she was gone, with the aid of all the advisors. 'If I'm not back in a year,' Althea went on as calmly as she could, although she was shaking inside, 'choose the most suitable person to be the next ruler.'

Seeing that the Lady's mind was made up over the matter, her advisors gave up trying to change it, and tried to find ways to help the Lady survive the journey up to the surface instead. A selected band of healthy, veteran divers began training the Lady Althea in the art of swimming for long periods of time without breathing. Until she was capable of doing this for at least five minutes, any attempt at making the journey was out of the question, so Althea worked hard and improved rapidly.

Although she spent much of her time training for the journey, the Lady did not neglect her duties completely, and continued to govern the kingdom, although many decisions were now given over to her old tutor and court advisors. One of the tasks the young queen continued to fulfil was her weekly visit to the hospital wing. There she went on with her healing work as usual, and there she paid a visit to the young diver whose life she had saved.

He had been lying down and staring listlessly at the roof of the cave when Althea entered, and at first did not seem to notice her. A second or two later, his eyes widened and he sat bolt upright to stare at his unexpected visitor. Althea blinked vaguely, and reached out one pale hand to catch hold of his wrist and take his pulse.

'You seem better,' she remarked. 'You will be able to go home soon.' She put down his hand and patted it. He seemed embarrassed and looked down. He was about to say something, then hesitated and closed his mouth again. Althea took this moment of indecision to study his face. He seemed to be a little healthier than most people Althea had seen, no doubt because of the sunshine and more varied diet he received on his trips up to the ocean. His brown hair lay lank on his head and his brown eyes were staring stubbornly at his hands.

'Your name is Devmond Keith, isn't it?' Althea asked lightly, when it seemed clear that the boy was not going to say anything. He looked up from behind a fringe of hair. She frowned slightly. He seemed very young. 'How old are you exactly?'

'Seventeen.'

Althea was troubled. 'It is too terrible that I should have to ask you to risk your life at such a young age,' she said. 'I am sorry to have asked such a burden of you. Thank you.'

'It - it was nothing,' said Devmond. He scowled, clearly uncomfortable with this sudden apology and thank-you. 'But it's not as if you're very old either. I heard you're going to try and get up to the surface.' He glared at her accusingly.

'I'm not trying,' said Althea. 'I will get there.' Then she smiled so brilliantly that the young man could not think of anything scathing to say.

Instead, he could only ask, 'When are you leaving?'

Althea just continued to smile and said no more.

The Lady progressed much quicker in her swimming than anyone could have expected. It seemed that her desperation drove her to push her limits ever more. As it was, she was ready to leave long before anyone supposed. The actual date of departure was highly confidential and no one but the old tutor and the team of divers was privy to this information. Althea was planning to leave the island in the night, a fortnight after Thoral had returned with his depressing news.

A wetsuit and a small, waterproof bag of the same material had been found for her. Into this lightweight bag she now packed two dresses - one practical cotton one and one royal silk one - and as much money and valuable items as she dared to put in without making the bag too heavy. Money was no use in the primitive environment of this underwater kingdom, and many of her subjects had generously given these things to her in the hope that they would serve her to some purpose.

She was wearing a set of boy's clothes underneath the wetsuit and had already eaten an hour or so before. She was not going to bring food. Food would not keep.

It seemed that she was ready to go. Once again, the Lady allowed herself to think of the letter that Thoral had given her. It, too, was safely tucked into her knapsack, along with her father's watch and her mother's circlet. Thinking about the contents of the letter hardened her resolve to reach the surface. Perhaps she was acting rashly - but even if the letter was a forgery, this really was the last chance to get up to the ocean's surface and find some help for her people.

'May my parents' souls be with me,' she whispered softly.