I Forbid It!

Seeing the plea in the princess's eyes, the Queen of the ocean, Oceania waved her hands and everything became calm again.

But a decision has to be reached by the gods and the princess of the mystic being. Was he going to die or would they listen to her plea? That was the question running when she held the boy tightly… never letting go.

"Let him go, Helena!" Lord Kizia bellowed in anger. This was the second time his daughter was making him angry.

"No, father. I can't let you kill him… He is my mate!" Helena said, holding him tighter.

"I forbid it! You will never mate with a mortal!" Kizia said angrily.

As Kizia was speaking, there was a loud rumbling of lightning and thunder. The immortals and mortals alike were all shivering in fear and trepidation.

Staring at her father defiantly, Helena was not ready to give him up." I am ready to do anything, father. I am willing to do anything to save him"

Queen Oceania stared at her as she shook her head, slowly."Do you know what it would take to save him? Even if you do save him, he has to accept you as his mate too"

"Help me, please. I will do anything! He will accept me" Helena continued pleading.

"You dare trust mortals?" Lord Kizia asked in rage.

"Father, please! He can't die" Helena said.

"Even if he stays alive, that won't make me accept him! Do you know what you want to get yourself into? Are you being brazen because your mother is gone or because you are now a goddess? You dare disobey me?" Lord Kizia said, trying to keep his anger in check.

"Father, you know that's not true. You are my father but… he is my mate. How can I live without him?" Helena asked, her eyes gazing at her father before settling on the little boy.

"This is an exception. Mortals aren't included! You will get another. I will make sure you do" Lord Kizia said, not ready to condone her excuses.

"Father, you want to arrange a marriage for a Princess? That's unheard of!" Helena said, her eyes widened.

"What's unheard of is the princess having a mortal mate! I forbid it!" Lord Kizia said furiously.

"Stop it, you two!" The Queen of the Ocean interfered.

There was silence as Queen Oceania approached Princess Helena. She looked deeply into the girl's eyes before sighing.

"You said you will do anything?" The Queen asked.

"What do you think you are doing, Oceania?" Lord Kizia asked the Queen angrily.

"Including losing your immortality if you fail to make him yours?" Queen Oceania asked again, ignoring Lord Kizia.

"She will not! I forbid it! I won't let my daughter mingle with those mortals! I am her father!" Lord Kizia said, glaring at Oceania.

"You might be her father but she is of age. The realm allows her to make her own decisions without her parent's consent, Kizia" Queen Oceania said, gazing at the girl whose arms were wrapped tightly around the halfling.

Helena was taken aback by the Queen's words but when her gaze fell on the innocent-looking boy in her arms.

"A halfling…" Queen Oceania muttered silently.

Then she looked up at Helena."If you decide to go to the world of mortals, you will live as them till the year of the dragon. You have until then to make him yours or lose your mortality forever. You have to make sure he never mates with anyone too"

"Or you can simply let him die. After all, he is just a mortal. It doesn't count if you reject him even if he is your mate."

"What if he is my soulmate? Do I have to suffer in anguish for ten thousand years just because he is a mortal?" Helena asked, her tone filled with bitterness.

"You will always find a replacement, Helena. It is accepted in the case of rejection as long as he doesn't reject you first" Queen Oceania responded." Helena, I hope you make the right decision."

Helena clenched her fist tightly, unable to shake off the feeling of endearment towards this mortal.

She was determined to do all it takes to save him. Even when she knows the implications.

***

It's been a full circle since the event on the river bank. She was in deep thought as she couldn't stop asking herself questions. How was it possible? Why would she mate to the halfling she saved with the orb?

"My princess, you should have just let them kill him. You know your father would never let you mate with a mortal" Frieda said.

She looked at her caster, biting her lips." I can't let them touch him. He is my mate even if he is a mortal. If I let them kill him, I might lose my power over the orb. The boy is connected to the orb. I can feel it"

"You know that's not certain. Besides, Lord Kizia would prevent it. You won't lose your power. There might be a little connection because you saved him with the orb" Frieda said, feeling frustrated.

Helena wanted to ask why that same halfling. Why would she be mated to him? There must be a reason. She needed to find out too.

"Helena, please. Let's just tell the Queen and your father to take their life. Your father won't let anything happen to you" Frieda pleaded.

Helena smiled at her Caster, Frieda. Ever since she became her caster, Frieda had always stuck to her. She was grateful but she needed to do it. She had to go to the mortal realm.

"You know that is not possible. If anything happens to me or the orb, there would be chaos in the mortal and immortal realm. Not everything can be prevented, Frieda. Even my father has his limitations in the realm" Princess Helena replied.

"So you are going to the mortal realm? For that halfling? Those… things are unpredictable! It would be risky!" Frieda said, her face filled with disgust.

"They are not things, Frieda. They are just people who are not as powerful as us. They are the creatures of the realm too" Princess Helena said.

"And you still want to be bound to a lower creation? There is a reason they are called halflings!" Frieda insisted.

"What year would it be in the mortal realm in the next circle?" Helena suddenly asked, cutting her caster off.

Frieda frowned before she answered."It should be around seven years, I guess"

"Get ready, Frieda. We are leaving here in a circle but don't let anyone know about it, yet. Especially my father," Princess Helena said with a faint smile on her face.

Although she wasn't sure if she made the right decision, her heart was already set on it right from the moment the little boy tucked the pendant into her hand.

"Keep it safe, mortal. I can only visit you in your dreams once I become mortal" Helena said, walking towards her father's chamber.

That day might just be another lightning and thunder day for everyone because Kizia would likely get angry… again.