Under the Sea...

She hugged Ewan, she immediately knew something was wrong. She released him from the hug and looked down to the crown in his hands. Tears swelled in her eyes. "What happened?"

"Lila.. The king said he loves you." It wasn't what he had been struggling to say, but he didn't know what else to tell her.

He waited. he knew someone was searching for him.

A tear formed in Ewan's eye. "He wouldn't tell me where he was going. Only.." He paused again, unable to go further.

The tears forming in her eyes were released. "Tell me." She said as she tugged gently at him. "I need to know." She wish she could read his mind, but she couldn't, and he wouldn't say the words. Tears streamed down her cheeks. "What aren't you telling?" She hugged him, restless, and her emotions scrambled.

gett ((get it out

((pretend i said this in the terminaotr voice: ILL BE BACK!))

"He said.. that I was to be king in his place, for however long he was gone. If he ever came back." He hugged Lila tighter.

She still hugged him, leaning her head against his chest. "What are we going to do?" She asked quietly.

"I don't know, Lila.. I don't want to be king.." A single tear streamed down his face.

Chenelle was swimming another lap acrtoss the palace when she bumped into Lila and Ewan. "Ooops! Sorry!" she said, smiling and swimming on.

"You have to be strong Ewan, I need you to be strong."

She watched Chenelle swim away. She didn't even say 'it's ok' she was too conflicted.

"What should I do?"

She took the crown from him and ran her fingers along it. She studied it in her hands, and she thought for a moment. Slowly she looked up into his eyes.
"You're a good merman Ewan, far better then most." She looked down at the crown again, then back up to him. "If this kingdom is not lead by a noble merman, it will fall." She placed the crown on his head. "Be our king."

Ewan had a look on his face that was a combination of fear and confusion. As he felt Lila place the crown on his head, it changed to a look of determination. "I'll do it, Lila. I don't want to, but I have to, and I will." He placed his hands on the back of her neck and kissed her.

She kissed him back, it was the first real passionate kiss they shared.

Ewan drew back slowly. "I love you," he said softly into her ear.

She felt new tears come to her eyes, but they weren't released. She loved them both, but she couldn't say it. She wanted to, but she just couldn't. "I know." She said quietly and kissed his lips briefly again. She stroked her fingers through his hair.

((IM Back))

King Thay lay in the cave wishing he could take it all back. wishing that he had never falen to the poison, never attacked her. It was too late. He didnt know his way back either, someone would have to find him.

((I have to go after this post))

Ewan ran his hand along the back of her head. All the confusion, anger, fear, and sadness of the past few hours left him.