Colchis, Zor Empire. As/A: 3084.

Milen Geyr

Amelia remembered kneeling helplessly beside the ship railing, her face aiming for the ocean, and her intestinal struggling to pour forth. She had let out several dozens of vomits in just barely eight hours, so much so that nothing was left in her to force out anymore. And in another three hours, she wasn't only struggling to keep it down, she was battling the weather to keep herself from funneling with the wind's torrents.

The wind was unkind, and so were the waters icy and crude. Their jests and merriment, chugging bear and snide, had ended upon the first strong blow of chills that invaded the ship, and within seconds, it ran off. The keen Geoff understood this genus of wind, and immediately began to shout out commands. Heeding, they had all girded their post, and had ropes binding themselves to any grounded surface they had found.

"Preparations for what is ahead, can never be enough..." As though clairvoyant, Geoff thought as his gaze was lost to the open distance of the sea. "Nobody can be ready for this!" He formed a fist and kissed it, praying deeply they at least survive it and luckily wash up ashore.

Then it came, the wind. It first offered a fistful punch that shook the ship: a slight brush-up in preparation for another pounce.

"Brace yourselves!" Geoff screamed as he watched he wind drive in rage at them. A knee jab, a shoulder dive, and head butt, were a trolley of hits the wind served as it dragged in the ocean as it accomplice.

An attack of wind and water ensued upon the bordering water of Colchis.

Nothing could ease the rocking ship dancing between the bashing waves of the open blue, reeling side to side, drowning their screams and curses in the thunderclaps that rampaged and fought the night sky, as piercing silver lightening struggled for dominance and peace amidst the clouds.

Furious jousting winds tossed about rolling barrels, flipping unanchored men into the air amidst ignoring their firm arms hugging the fixed wooden poles and railings of the ship: they clung to the ship likes kites driven by the wind.

"Just with the snap of a finger, it could get even worse." Hustenut's chin rose to the sky alongside his rampaging mind. "They're just playing around with us... The worse is not too far behind." He tightened his arms and legs wrapped around the midget size helm he had once struggled with: his arms hugging the tilting wheel, and his legs wrapped about the pole the wheel had fused to.

"Run!" Someone screamed.

Within the sights of fear, and stomachs full of despair, another misfortune struck. An angered cobalt lightning decided to grace them with a bolt, striking the crows nest, supporting it with a gluttonous amber flare that stood atop the ship in glory, eating into every part of the mounted pole. Panic birthed eager men, who ran about to end their unsurmountable predicament. It didn't take long before the flames found its way down and over the heavily soaked twine, dancing to its solemn woven twists, aiming for the main mast.

"Find something to put out the fire!" Another called out.

Geoff scoffed and watched his crew and Milen rush buckets of water that jetted at the flames. The reigning salt waters were as useless as they were in their current state. Noticing their own futility, they could only watch the greedy fire carry on it's task.

"Amelia," Milen Shouted. "can you do something about the fire?" Milen's shouts seemed caved by the raging thunderstorm, but maintaining a close proximity to his partner had him an advantage.

"I could, but --" The journey tossing her about within the wraps of the ship, and her guts bouncing on trampolines within, stole balance and focus from her. "But...I cannot concentrate under this condition."

"Well at least try --" The washing waves struck the ship again, forcing everyone within to obey its push, causing another reeling session before the Cinder Barrel caught upon her balance. "Try something before this ship gets any worse."
Others obeyed the waves vigor, but the greedy flames continued its banquet.
"Amelia if you do not put out the fire, this ship might not hold up against the storm." The ship was as frail and tender as a baby, and Milen knew that. Even he was powerless in the current state they were. "Unless you have decided to swim all the way to Colchis?" He had to provoke her to act.

The stubborn wind struggled for a front row seat as he ushered forth striking clashes and gusts of his presence. The nearly faded Amelia grew agitated by the elements toying them about, knowing very well that it was an act of enchantment. Amelia's eyes squinted and her brows ruffled. She let down a heavy gulp, and braced her legs to prepared for a spell. Tilting her head to the sky, her voice began to swell within her stomach, thickening so desperately to leap. But then a like a bomb, something new exploded. Stillness.

There was a stillness, which ushered a sudden pause to everything for a second, and in that second, the sea was still, the wind friendly, the clouds white, and the sun burning. There was a second for joy with the intention of a ruse: a chance of deceit and doubling of effort. There were only sounds for this one second, one from the blazing flame, another crowed from a creaking wood, and so was one birthed from squeaking heels. In that second their eyes began to scatter about: some were in pessimistic anticipation, while other had a beckoning for an eruption of joy.

After that one second, the wind smiled and coughed a breeze that ran through their faces, one they shielded their eyes from.

Amelia's brow clutched upon the understanding of what the tides were playing at. Stealing the chance, she began to chant a spell aimed at eating away the fire. "Alamore gregirre --" Angrily, the wind offered another tidal attack that swept the ship, causing everyone to ground themselves against the forceful impact it served. Amelia couldn't let her plans be altered by mere elements; she closed her eyes, strapped herself, grounded her legs, and pushed further the spell. "--Elemore friost sephïre." The second she leashed off her eyes from within its lid, a shutter yellow glow formed within her almond shaped eye, which birthed a thin cold gush swirling within the ship, wrapping the flames like clamping hands crushing a tiny spec within them. Its power threw a few overboard, and finally settled. Chills lurched from where the flames were, as the fire was locked within a shell of ice and snowflakes strutting.

There was a moment of gape at the hill of ice, but shortly, "Man overboard!"a call rang and everybody's eyes turned to it and shortly into the ocean.

"Pull him up, we are almost out of the storm's eye." Geoff having freed his cowardice embrace, twisted the wheel softly yet hard enough to navigate between the ocean's slaps that began moments after Amelia's fountain of ice. "The wind is getting stronger again, brace yourselves!"

Milen stole a glance at Geoff and smiled. He admired his choice of recruiting the dwarf captain, as much as he trusted the midget's skills. Another tide ran at them, giving them one last soak, while shifting the rear end of the ship-but it didn't steer them off course.

"Are you alright?" Finally a successful contender with the sea, Cinder Barrel leapt off, and unto a steady flow, out of the gale and fistful waters. And so did Milen jump to where Amelia was kneeling, giving the ocean another taste of nearly digested breakfast. "You did great." He flashed her a smile.

Joyful shouts began to ring soon after.

"Ye bloody scallywags, ye have not had the worst yet -" Geoff locked his ten fingers together, pushing his arms forward. He then flipped his palms and had its back facing him, then he began to push the locked fingers forward, to ease his knuckles and release the built up ball of stress within its joints.
"We have yet to meet more deadly foes ahead"

Geoff made sure the ship was steady, before he let loose his grip on the helm, and picked his way to Milen.
"Milady, " ignoring Milen who stood beside Amelia, Geoff took hold of Amelia's right hand, and deepened his gaze on her. "You were spectacular." He added upon giving a glaze to the back of her hands with his twisted lips which moistened the circumference it landed.
"What path do we follow still, my sun goddess."
He now had her hands tucked into both of his.

Amelia clearly had the stench of displeasure swimming over her from Geoff's obnoxious worships.
"We..." She cleared her throat and yanked her hands away. "We... Why don't you let me check my compass."
She stuffed her fingers into a pouch she had on her waist. Swirling between her fingers a tiny brisk chain, which she pulled out, and with it a shimmering golden buttomed veneer coated navigator.
"We go North." She let out "That Way!" She said at the top of her voice, as she pointed to the direction the compass led which was eastward from where the ship was driving towards, before giving the compass a good look to make certain.

"But North is that way?" Geoff arched a brow, while stretching his arm a few inches to the right from the cardinal the ship was sailing towards.
"Not much of a variation, huh?" His eyes twisted while questioning himself upon the direction he had just pointed at, one which was away from Amelia's. Skepticism reigned on his face, and he wondered what compass his princess possessed.

Amelia gave the device a tilt, took a left turn and bent it again to its sides.
"This Compass is not a mere cardinal pointer. Uyedessa, the queen cardinal." Her concentration still remained firmly glued to the compass she studied, trying to make sense of what she sees.

"You what?" Everything Geoff's ears withheld were like gibberish, and they made no sense.

"Uye-de-ssa..." Milen responded, splitting each syllable of the word for Geoff. "It is a legendary compass, two to be precise, which is said to point to only one place in the world." He turned from the Inquisitive dwarf, and gave the item in Amelia's hand a deep look. "But I never knew it existed, let alone with you."

"Both compasses together only points to Mount Eleàd: home of the gods." She closed the compass casings upon hearing both Milen and Geoff scoff when she mentioned "the gods", and dropped it back into her pouch. "But once they are split, they will only point to the location of each other."

"If it is so important, how?" Milen asked. "I mean how did you find such an artifact?"

"I stole one of them before leaving Colchis, knowing that I will return one day, and this," she patted the slightly large purse around her waist. "will point me to the second half on the island."

"I see!" Geoff turned to his crew part satisfied and half skeptical. "Listen chaps, we're changing course: we go east, so let's bring my lovely Barrel around." He left her, hurrying to his station as the captain.

"Aye!" His crew chorused.

Geoff Hustenut, didn't wear the facade of a captain: no leathery knee long jacket, or a feathery tricorne crown. His limbs, fingers and body part maintained its usual count. The midget was as normal and dirty like a casual experienced hobo, never with intimidating or threatening amour worn by every sailor on the open ocean. Amidst his stunted genome, his men accorded him every respect he deserved. He was obviously sheltering these homeless drunks, so they owe him.

Milen was highly seated in the chain of those who respected Geoff, and he looked entranced as he watched the dwarf march off.

Amelia noticing the genuine smile on Milen's face, decided to pry.
"You two obviously have had a nasty history together." Her arms were folded as she inquired, while giving Milen a piercing look, anticipating a reply.

"What?" He asked in a pretentious unawareness.

"The dwarf." She added, and watched Milen kick-start his legs, walking to side of the ship, which she followed. "You are not the nicest person and I won't be --"

"It was a long time ago," He broke her off. "I was younger, wilder, and very insensitive."

"Honey, you still are." The golden haired lady said under breath, but loud enough to be heard.

"I was much worse then." Milen rolled his eyes away from her, and stared into the sea, of which were glinting yellow lights shinning off the deep blue waters, and the calming sound echoing with each ripple's dance. "I had trouble with some powerful people, and I needed help escaping."

"And?"

"I was caught up with, and I had to use Geoff as leverage to escape."

She asked the question, and for some reason, the answered she got did not surprise her at all. "Classic Milen. But still, that's far beyond inhuman and-"

Amelia continued to rant on about Milen's irresponsible act in reprehension, but her frisk voice was gradually becoming dull to another.

"Do you hear something?" Milen shushed her, and ran to the other side of the boat, staring deeply into the settled blue cascades of water. Amelia ran along and stood by his side, equally watching the water.

"I hear sounds, and they are coming from the ocean." He quickly hopped to another location, and continued his study on the depth of the deep blue sea. "And I cannot pin point where."
He added frustratedly.

"What doth thou hear?" The dwarf captain sarcastically questioned the hops and jumps and runs Milen made all about the ship. "Insanity?" He scoffed and others honored with a mocking laughing.

"The ocean is making him crazy." From among the laughing horde, one spoke out.

"You may not be laughing for too long my dear chap." Turning to the one who jested, Milen adviced. "Wait!" he muted them right before the were about to make more jokes. "I recognize that tune. Its a song!"

"A song?" They all chuckled.

"Yes! Someone is singing from under there" Milen said, pointing at the ocean. Making a swift heel spin, his eyes scattered around the ship in search of anything out of place. He stopped upon finding a man: hair wet, with a brown thick coated over him, rocking in one corner of the ship. "And...and its beautiful, a sweet melody."
His eyes narrowed on the man in the corner, causing everyone else to turn to him too.

"Sweet melody? Songs?" Geoff said silently to himself, unraveling the possibilities they could face.
"We are doomed!" His face squeezed out every form of grin it cooked, and fright rode its tides over him.
"We are doomed men!" His shout paused their working minds, causing them to turn to him for more. He ignored their wishing eyes and ran into his cabin, and popped out seconds later with two small slender corks.

Those awaiting a proper understanding of the overreacting little man, stood patiently, and listened, and as they listened, they slowly began to hear it: slowly, solemnly, until it was full of strength.

The ocean was still, and what started were sounds like thumps from rocks dropped into the water, and what followed were splashing sounds. From the sea rose a mist that rode into the ship, coating it in a heavy cloud of fog. And before long, sounds began to rise from the sea.

"The hallow night sings the sweetest tides...
The whispers of the dark called forth the night...
The mother and her daughter say goodbye...."

There was a sound, sounds, a word, words, and a song, ringing in full melody around them. A maiden's graceful chords of silvery pleasure and heavenly splendor.

"I warned them, and they called me crazy!" Geoff ran screaming about the ship.
Milen looked at him, and shook his head in disbelief.
"These are the very sounds that thou best unhear... I was crazy thou said, I be a joke thy words echoed, and now, these beautiful songs thee hear are...are true."
His words became sluggish, as his eyes befell a woman he had never met before in his life: her sleek waist long hair as black as the starless night sky, white smooth silver glowing skin, her perfectly V shaped chin bone, and her blue-green fins she had for legs. Her beauty was immeasurable, and her voice was unquestionably heavenly.

He only had a glance at her as she jetted out the water, and drop back in, and in that split second, Geoff was mesmerized by her beauty.

"What are those?" Milen yanked the drooling midget to himself.

"This be the daughters of Poseidon."

"What?"

"They are freaking Sirens!" He screamed at Milen's unintelligible questions. "Mermaids!" The stuffed the slim corks into his ears, and turned to address his already awe stricken crew.
"Use whatever thou can find to clog thy ears..." He shouted as loud as he could, but some didn't seem to have heard, they were lost in the symphony of glorious music from the fish women. "And no matter what ye do, never ye sing along."
His screams didn't alter the choir of men drunk to the intoxicating music, and lecherous ladies.

"Goodbye to the men ashore..."
They all chorus along, save for Amelia, Geoff, and Milen.

"Take me into thy bosom woman!"
One of the men shouted, and jumped into the arms of his singing angel, submerging deeply with her.

More of her kinds surrounded the ship with the same melody and grace as the first.

The memories of the raging elements which were fresh in Amelia's mind, was overrun by something she wouldn't dare have in her wildest dreams.