That Little Girl

Mirelah;

With a loud splash, I drop into the pool, and I feel blood fill my ears, nose, and mouth as the vicious liquid begins to pull me to its depths.

I try to scream, but the metallic taste of blood fills my mouth and nose. Allowing only brutal gargles to escape. I keep trying to catch on to anything above me as if I could grab the blood and hoist myself up with it, but sure enough, that doesn't work. No matter how much I kick or sway my hands in this thick nightmare, I can't swim.

 It's as if the blood around me is a force of its own. Condemning me to death for daring to walk on it without having what it takes.

Through the chaos, tears begin to pool in my eyes. I can't breathe, I can't see, and I can't swim back to the surface. Is this really how I'm going to die?

I suddenly feel someone grab me, and seeing a chance of survival, I cling to them. I feel myself get pulled out of the alarmingly thick liquid, and I desperately run my palm over my face to get the blood out of my nose, and off my lips. 

I begin to cough violently as I spit out the bits of blood in my mouth and while gasping for air, I manage to open my eyes. I am met with Kealith's face. His face and hair are stained with blood. I stare down at his shirt in shock and realise that he jumped in to save me.

He stares at me with a mix of anger and worry, and my heart picks up another pattern of worried beats. Is he angry at me? Is he upset that I failed…

"Drop her on the ground. I need to be sure none of it got in her lungs. "I hear Queen Velnara say, and Kealith slowly lowers me to the ground. I hear hurried footsteps, and Queen Velnara soon appears above me.

"Oh, Mirelah… "She says as she kneels beside me. On seeing her worried face, shame consumes me whole, and I can't help the horrible feeling that bursts to life inside me.

I feel my lips quiver first, and then the sobs come.

"I'm sorry… "I croak, and she kisses her teeth.

"Forget about that. Are you fine? Any difficulties breathing? "She questions as she begins to hover her hands over my chest and stomach, but this only makes the sobs in my chest build.

The worried look on her face only makes me feel worse. I promised her I won't fail. She had so much faith in me, and I… I failed her. I must be such a disappointment right now.

"I knew Mother was helping her. "Vealor's voice comes, and I look over at him weakly. His dark eyes are watching me with so much hate and disgust and I can't help but wonder what I did to acquire so much hate from him.

Darven suddenly grabs his collar and Vealorturns to him with wide eyes.

"She's about to become a member of the family, Vealor. I'd advise you to keep that horrible attitude of yours in check, or I might have to tame that tongue you're always wagging! "He warns, and Vealor glares back at him in shock.

"It's not my fault she's a little… "He begins, but a yell cuts him off.

"Enough! "

I shudder as Kealith's angry voice bounces off the walls in petrifying rage.

"She is going to be my wife, Vealor. You best not forget that. If you ever try to sabotage her again—if you ever disrespect her again—I will take back every ounce of grace I've given you. "Kealith continues, and I struggle to stifle my sobs. Kealith is defending me? I thought he was mad at me for failing. He isn't…? He isn't disappointed?

"Have you forgotten your manners? I'm your second eldest brother! "Vealor yells, and I shut my eyes as their loud voices are beginning to hurt my ears.

"And I am the Divine King! Your king, Vealor. Has your jealousy still not let you accept that!? "Kealith roars in response, and I swallow.

Vealor doesn't respond, and when I open my eyes to look at Vealor, I see that his face has gone red with rage, and he is glaring at Kealith.

"You're lucky she's not hurt! "Kealith adds, and King Damarion's voice comes next.

"Fighting with your brother doesn't change the fact that she's a weakling, Kealith. This test is just one of many proofs. A few words and she crumbled like a brittle shield. Our kingdom deserves better! Look at your mother. She is graceful and strong. One of the strongest queens the kingdom has ever had. How do we move from her to that?! "He complains bitterly, and I shut my eyes tightly as his words ruin every bit of strength or self-worth I felt a few minutes ago. 

These people hate me, and they are not even trying to be discreet about it.

"How did you move from being a respectable king to joining our mannerless son in taking jabs!? "Queen Velnara demands, and I sniffle as I begin to lose the battle against my sobs.

"I was wondering where I failed as a mother, but I'm beginning to see the example he's following. "She rages further as she stands up, and I keep my eyes shut.

"This test is over. Kealith, take her to her room. The rest of you get out, and Vealor, I better not get to my chambers before you. "She adds, and I listen to footsteps begin to recede. 

Once I'm sure they are all gone, I open my eyes. I slowly sit up, and I can't stop my tears. I know Kealith is behind me, but I can't bring myself to look at him.

I remember the hope and excitement that was in his eyes earlier, and now he must be so disappointed. His dad and brother spoke so harshly to him because of me. I haven't even become a member of the family yet and I'm already causing fights. 

"I'm sorry… "I sniffle, and finally, I hear his footsteps.

He suddenly sits in front of me, and I stare at his blood-soaked clothes, hair, and stained face.

"You may not remember this, but once when we were younger, at one of the meetings the kings of the realms used to have, you, Meadow and I snuck off palace grounds. "He begins as he absent-mindedly begins to channel the blood off his body and out of his clothes.

"I was so confident that it was my kingdom so I would show you around. We were three kids from the royal palace roaming the streets. We attracted the wrong kind of attention. I was going to get kidnapped. Do you know who saved me? "He continues, this time facing me, and I wipe off a teardrop with a shaky hand.

"Who? "I question, and he smiles.

"A certain dragon-born princess. A nine-year-old menace with a log of wood in her hands. A log almost as tall as she was. "He says with a small chuckle, and it feels a bit refreshing to see that speck of happiness on his usually serious face.

"She had no magic, but the determination in her fiery orange eyes was a warning. If anyone tried to hurt her friends, she'd cause them pain. "He continues, and I blink in shock when I realize that he's talking about me. 

"I didn't need the help. But she gave it anyway, and somehow, she scared off two grown men. There was this insanity to her bravery. And she was so unapologetic about it. She wasn't going to let what others thought of her, dictate her life. She was a young girl ready to forge her path with or without magic. "He speaks like he's reliving the memory, and I sniffle as I stare at him.

He suddenly looks at me, and I hold my breath. "Where's that bravery now? What happened to you in all these years? What doused that fire that could consume anything in its path? Where have you hidden that girl? "He questions, and I just stare at him with tears brimming in my eyes. 

My mind scrambles to find this memory he's talking about, and just as I do, I'm welcomed by a sharp pain in my head that causes me to wince. This has become custom now. He reminds me of something, I try to remember it, and this pain stops me.

"I should get you to your room. "Kealith says as he rushes up to me, and I nod in agreement as I cradle my pounding head.

 He wraps me in his cape which he apparently took off before jumping into the lake to save me. After securing his cape properly around me like a cocoon, he carries me in his arms, and I shut my eyes in exhaustion as I rest my head against his chest. 

I listen to his heartbeat, and his words replay in my mind.

Where's that bravery now?

Where have you hidden that girl?

It's beginning to dawn on me that Kealith and I were very close growing up, and the kid I was is very different from the person I am now. But how do I tell him what happened to a girl I can not remember being?

Why?

Why can't I remember?

And if I have truly changed so much, why have I?

Why can't I remember anything from before I turned 12?

More importantly… now that I've failed this test… what's going to happen?