Hi everyone, here is part two of my second LLL fiction "Love-Struck"...it gets a little scary in this chapter, but don't worry, everything will sort itself out!

Part Two

The canary yellow costumed driver waddled forth, a gold box with inscribed whorls and waves, depictions of mermaids, fish and turtles in his webbed hands. He bowed to the royal company. Lady and the Maidens exchanged excited looks. Lady took the box from the fishy being with a soft ‘thank you’. Strongheart pretended to look disinterested, so her Maidens leaned in front of him, their eyes wide with curiosity as to what could be inside. PixieShine, PixieSparkle and PixieBeauty hovered about their mistress, chattering.
“What-ix could-ix be-ix?” PixieShine whispered excitedly. Lady LovelyLocks smiled up at her curious friend.
“Perhaps we should have a look!”
Her fingertips turned the peculiar barnacle latch and gently, she prised open the box.

As the lid was opened, a watery blue light bathed the faces of all who looked upon the box, a small sparkling orb of light throbbing within it. Strongheart soon abandoned his air of indifference, leaning in to see what the gift could possibly be.
“I do not really see anything in particular…” Maiden FairHair frowned, but trailed off when notes of music wafted from the glowing ball of blue light. Everyone gasped, their eyes becoming glazed and dreamy as a gentle, caressing melody reached their ears. The sound of a harp being stroked whispered a sparkling silver trail of light about the room, then a beautiful voice, as clear as a bell, as soothing as summer rain, drifted from the glowing sphere. There were no words to this precious, calming melody, but a wafting tune that tingled in Lady LovelyLocks’ ears and gave her a sensation of floating pleasure. She smiled dreamily to herself as she basked in this beautiful music, all her worries, everything that surrounded her, was forgotten for these few cherished moments.

Lady opened her eyes when the music suddenly stopped. She looked about, a little dazed to find her friends, her fiancé and her Pixietails in the same state of dreamy confusion. Looking downwards, she found Sir GlistenGill’s webbed hand over the box, having shut the lid. The trout-faced dignitary smiled warmly at the tingling company in front of him, still bathed in the extraordinary sensation of warmth and love that was the gift he presented to the Lady and her Prince.
“We cannot have the box open for too long, Lady LovelyLocks, or the Mermaid’s Song will tire.” He whispered.
“A Mermaid’s Song…?” Lady repeated, her eyes glistening with the rapture the song had instilled within her.
“It was so beautiful…” Maiden CurlyCrown sighed in a faraway voice, her green eyes smiled as she shrugged her shoulders.
“I have never felt anything like it!” Maiden FairHair commented, shaking her brown waves and pushing back her two cascading ringlets, a look of wonderment upon her features.
Lady LovelyLocks’ brow furrowed…somehow this blissful sensation of elation seemed familiar to her. She raised a finger.
“I know this feeling….” She thought hard, her mind still wistful with the lingering ecstasy of the Mermaid’s Song. Then she struck the thought.
“It is the feeling of love!” She announced, turning to Prince Strongheart, who looked as if he was still floating on a cloud. The pair shared a tender smile. GlistenGill smiled and nodded his head.
“That is precisely it, my Lady.”

“Love? How can love be kept in a box?” Maiden FairHair interrupted, her commonsense always having the better of her, no matter how heavenly the situation.
“It is not love, Maiden, but the feeling of love. The Mermaid’s Song is meant to be a delight to the senses. It is very precious to the people of NeptuneWaves. Every time the Mermaid’s Song is sung, it takes a little part of the kingdom with it.”
The trio of Pixietails sighed in unison, lazily drifting through the air as if they, themselves, were swimming. Lady hugged her shoulders, delighting in this tingling, tickly sensation. She shook her shimmering golden locks.
“Thank you ever so much, Sir GlistenGill, it is such a marvelous present!” She sighed.
“You must stay the night, Sir GlistenGill, we can only offer you hospitality for your kingdom’s generosity.” Prince Strongheart offered. It seemed that once the Mermaid’s Song had reached his ears, all his woes and troubles had evaporated!
“I thank you, Prince Strongheart, but I must be departing by sunset. Us fish-folk travel best at night- it is cooler under the moonlight.”
“Well, you must stay for lunch then.” Lady suggested, wishing that there could be a way to repay this kindness. GlistenGill licked his lips, his eyes gleaming.
“Thank you my Lady, I have been meaning to try the seaweed from Mirror Lake for some time! It has a reputation of being the finest weed in the land!”
Everyone exchanged looks, laughing.
“Seaweed! Well, I will see what I can do, Sir GlistenGill!” Lady LovelyLocks caught her breath after laughing. Maiden CurlyCrown discretely made a face to Maiden FairHair.
“Seaweed! That sounds awfully slimy to me!” She whispered to her friend. The pair softly giggled as they followed their mistress and the Prince into the great dining hall.

The sun started to set across the land of LovelyLocks, the village, castle and meadows were awash with the soft bleeding colours of dusky pink and orange. Meanwhile, in TangleLand, the clouds upon sunset changed from a stormy purple to a shade of crimson. High up in a turret of Castle RavenWaves, the Duchess of her tangled land was intently glaring into her spyglass. Failure and humiliation still stung her pride and seeing Lady LovelyLocks’ happiness only infuriated her further. Tinkering the cogs of the golden spyglass, she focused in on the entrance to Castle LovelyLocks, where she could make out figures.
“Hmm…what have we here?” She remarked to herself, raising a dark eyebrow, refocusing her spyglass’ vision in further. RavenWaves intently watched the farewell of Sir GlistenGill, the amphibious official clambering into his barnacle coated carriage. Lady LovelyLocks, Prince Strongheart and the two Maidens congregated upon the LovelyLocks bridge.

RavenWaves listened in on the exchange of conversation.
“Travel safely Sir GlistenGill and good speed!” She heard Lady LovelyLocks sunnily wish her NeptuneWaves’ friend all the best.
“Give Princess AquaCrest our thanks for her gift.” Prince Strongheart added, his arm tenderly about his fiancée’s waist. The fish-like creature chortled in his watery tone.
“I shall spread the news of the kindness of the Lady and her Prince, the beauty of her land, and the excellent quality of their seaweed!”
Everybody laughed in unison as the seaweed-maned horses trotted off.
“Goodbye Sir GlistenGill!” Maiden CurlyCrown piped up, waving.
“Goodbye!”
“Farewell!”
Duchess RavenWaves zoomed in on the waving figure of Lady LovelyLocks, focusing in on the curious golden box she carried. She then let the vision of her spyglass follow the departing carriage. RavenWaves harrumphed, her gaze distracted by a Comb Gnome.

Tanglet mumbled and grunted, bent over the observatory stone floor with a rough block of soap, a leaking bucket and a scratchy bristle brush, scrubbing away at the almost impenetrable grime of the Castle RavenWaves stone floor. Tanglet sat back, exhaling and wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. As soon as Duchess RavenWaves saw this Comb Gnome relax, her violet eyes narrowed.
“Tanglet!” She snapped. Tanglet jumped with fright, his eyes wide, grumbling incoherently. RavenWaves, her ebony hair swimming a threatening halo about her face, stood with her hands on her hips. She pointed a finger.
“You missed a spot.”
Tanglet’s shoulders slumped as he returned to his task, grumbling and grunting. Snag’s voice echoed from the hall.
“We are the most over worked creatures in the land!
How does the Duchess expect us to clean, when she will not give us a hand?”
Another voice came from the hall.
“Snags! What have I said about those stupid, stupid rhymes!?”
RavenWaves, upon hearing this conversation, narrowed her eyes, her lips twisting into a grimace as both Snags and Hairball entered, thoroughly exhausted, lugging buckets full of water, cloths and polish. She tapped her foot, one eyebrow raised.

“All I ask for is a little cleanliness around here, is that too much to ask?”
She tilted her head to the side, her palms facing upwards, her tone carrying a false innocence. Her henchmen’s shoulders sagged. Hairball stroked his moustache, raising a finger.
“Huh, huh, but Duchess, we have been cleaning the castle for two weeks, surely we could have a…” Hairball gulped and trailed off when he saw a livid RavenWaves sweep up to him, grabbing him by the scruff of his neck.
“Silence Hairball!” She shouted into his ear, dropping him. She stalked off to the window, seething.
“Why? Why in all the land do I end up with such incompetents!?” She wondered aloud, slamming her fist on the stone sill of the window, “After the way you four bungled the Royal Engagement Ball, this should be the least of your punishments!”
The Comb Gnomes and Hairball mumbled incoherently, looking away. RavenWaves gave an irate sigh, returning to the spyglass, watching Lady LovelyLocks and her entourage return inside the castle and the NeptuneWaves carriage rumble on.
“And what is the lovely Lady doing?” RavenWaves mused with a tone of dripping sarcasm, “Receiving fish as visitors!”
She refocused again on the box. She could feel a throb of magic come from it. It was powerful magic.
“Hmm…” She pondered to herself, schemes ticking over in her head. Her almond shaped eyes suddenly lit up, her mouth curling into a smile of utmost satisfaction, a chuckle tickling her throat.

“HAIRBALL!”
Hairball jumped with surprise, slipping on a piece of soap and was sent hurtling across the room, crashing into his potions.
“Yes….Duchess…?” He answered, wincing with pain as he rubbed his backside. He glared at the sniggering Comb Gnomes. RavenWaves turned from her spyglass, rubbing her hands together with scheming glee. Hairball raised his eyebrows.
He knew mischief was in the making.

“If you and your lazy Comb Gnomes really are tired of all this cleaning…I have another job for you…”

The crescent moon winked upon the tranquil spring evening, silver beams of moonlight filtering through the flowing tresses of the LovelyLocks trees. The NeptuneWaves carriage rumbled and jolted down the winding road at the edge of the land of LovelyLocks, the moon and the stars their guide. Sir GlistenGill hummed to himself a fish-folk song, taking a sip from his crystal flask. He flexed his webbed fingers, watching his scaly skin re-hydrate. Suddenly, an unfamiliar noise reached his ears. He sat up. It sounded like a baby’s cry. He furrowed his brow and dismissed it. Then he heard the cry again. Alarmed, GlistenGill leaned out of the carriage.
“FrothyFin! Stop the carriage!” He called out to the driver. The carriage halted with a jolt and GlistenGill hurriedly descended onto the moon-washed road. Sir GlistenGill looked about. All he could see were the looming shadows of trees. Then he heard the noise again, a pathetic, whimpering cry. It was coming from down the road.

“Stay here, FrothyFin, I will be back soon.” GlistenGill set off to investigate where this helpless creature could be. His amphibious figure was enveloped by the darkness. The source of the noise grew louder.
“Where are you? Do not worry, I am here to help.” GlistenGill called out, his spine starting to tingle with unease. There was a rustling in the bushes opposite to him, and the cry became a wail.
“Do not worry, GlistenGill is here little one…” The paternal GlistenGill waddled over to the bushes, parting them, thinking he was going to find a defenceless baby…

“Argh!”

RavenWaves paced, her soot-coloured waves bouncing with each step she took.
“Well hurry up Hairball and tie him down!” She demanded, her hands on her hips.
Sir GlistenGill, gagged and pinned down by three Comb Gnomes, writhed and made muffled sounds of protest. Hairball finally secured the last tether about the captive’s wrist.
“All done Duchess, huh, huh!”
“Well done Hairball. It is good to see that you can restrain a fish.”
RavenWaves shoved Hairball aside to lean over this curious amphibious creature, her nose pressed to his. She sniffed. He smelt like fish too. RavenWaves coughed and wrinkled her nose, standing back. She yanked out the cloth that gagged his mouth. She smiled to herself as she assumed the role of interrogator, her hands on her hips.
“Who are you?” She demanded to her captive, “Where are you from?”
Sir GlistenGill kept his mouth shut and shook his head, refusing to answer her questions. RavenWaves huffed, annoyed by his insolence. Her violet eyes narrowed as she leaned over him.
“Why were you visiting the Lady LovelyLocks?”
No response.

“Ugh!” The Duchess exclaimed with frustration, balling her fists up, “Can’t this stupid fish talk, Hairball?”
“Huh, huh, he was talking before, Duchess!”
“Well, do something! Make him talk!”
Snags piped up.
“If this creature does not do want you want him to,
Perhaps we could make ourselves a fishy stew!”
Snags licked his lips at the thought. RavenWaves scoffed, grabbing the pink Comb Gnome by the ear and sending him flying across the room.
“This fish could be useful to us Snags! We are not going to eat him!” She screeched after the Comb Gnome. She swept back upon the restrained GlistenGill, leaning over him, her expression hardened with determination.
“Tell me who you are!”
Silence.
“Fine! I’ll take this ridiculous bottle from you then!” RavenWaves, frustrated to the utmost, yanked the small crystal flask that hung around GlistenGill’s neck, cupping it in her hands.

GlistenGill’s expression morphed into a look of terror.
“No! No! Please, give that back to me!” He suddenly protested. RavenWaves’ lips curled into a sinister smile as she turned back to him, dangling the crystal bottle precariously.
“What…? You want this?” She pretended to drop it, but caught it swiftly. GlistenGill’s eyes widened.
“No! Please, I will tell you anything! Just give me back my Replenishment flask! Please, I beg you!”
Pleasure lit RavenWaves features. She cackled, swinging the flask to and fro, sashaying up to the restrained GlistenGill.
“You will tell me anything, eh?”
“Yes Duchess!” GlistenGill tried to reach for the flask which RavenWaves teasingly dangled out of his reach.
“Why do you need this bottle anyway?” RavenWaves held the bottle up, looking at the bubbling clear liquid inside.
“It is my Replenishment potion- I need it, otherwise my skin will dry out!”
RavenWaves merely chuckled as a response, biting her lower lip with delight.

“Well, it seems that we may be able to strike a bargain here….oh, what is your name again?”
“GlistenGill, Sir GlistenGill.”
“And where are you from?”
“The Kingdom of NeptuneWaves.”
“Hmmm…NeptuneWaves…” The Duchess pondered, remembering hearing about such a faraway kingdom. She tossed the little flask up in the air, terrifying GlistenGill, and caught it in the other hand.
“Well, see here GlistenGill. It seems that I want something from you, and you want something from me…you tell me why you were visiting the Lady LovelyLocks, and I will consider giving you back your little potion. Does that sound fair?”
GlistenGill could only nod dumbly.
“Good.” The Duchess smiled wickedly.
GlistenGill gurgled, he could feel his skin starting to dry out.
“I was visiting the Lady LovelyLocks on the request of my mistress, the Princess AquaCrest…”
RavenWaves folded her arms, listening intently.
“What would a mermaid want with the Lady LovelyLocks?” She demanded.
GlistenGill continued.
“She was unable to attend the Royal Engagement Ball and sent me to offer my apologies and my congratulations on the Lady’s engagement to Prince Strongheart- that was all!”

RavenWaves chewed at her lower lip, not satisfied with this response.
“And what did you give the Lady LovelyLocks?” She asked, her violet eyes narrowing. GlistenGill gulped.
“Nothing!”
“You are lying!” RavenWaves seethed, proceeding to dangle the potion out of the window. It would be a long drop.
“Very well! We gave her a Mermaid’s Song!” GlistenGill choked back tears, so terrified he was of this situation and his helplessness.
RavenWaves furrowed her brow, a stormy expression clouding her features.
“You are lying.”
“No, I am not! It is the truth!”
“A Mermaid’s Song…what good is that?!” RavenWaves huffed, exasperated, “He is no use Hairball! Get back to scrubbing the floors…I suppose we shall have to release him now!”
RavenWaves was surly and disappointed, her arms folded as she gave GlistenGill a withering glare.

“A Mermaid’s Song?” Hairball perked up, tugging at RavenWaves’ skirts.
“Let go of me Hairball! Didn’t you hear what I said?” She dangled the potion over GlistenGill, just in his reach.
“No! No! Duchess, huh, huh! A Mermaid’s Song is very powerful magic!” Hairball blurted out suddenly. RavenWaves froze, yanking the potion just out of reach. She turned to Hairball.
“What did you say…?”
“A Mermaid’s Song! Huh, huh!”
“I know that Hairball! What about it?”
“ShiningGlory once told me that such a form of Sea Magic, once tampered with, is almost irreversible, even for ShiningGlory himself…!”
RavenWaves looked incredulously as the assistant she almost always took for granted suddenly became a fount of very valuable knowledge.
“And what can a Mermaid’s Song do Hairball…?” A sinister curiosity lit her features. Hairball beckoned her to bend down, whispering in her ear. RavenWaves listened intently, her smile widening with each word.

“Hairball! You genius! This will be Lady LovelyLocks’ undoing for sure!”

Six black shrouded figures skulked across the Castle LovelyLocks’ lawns, one figure towering above the rest. Under the cover of darkness they remained undetected…as long as they kept quiet. A gurgling sound of protest broke the pristine silence of the night, followed by grunts and snarls. The taller figure halted, pushing back its hood. The hood feel back, revealing an annoyed looking Duchess RavenWaves.
“Keep him quiet you three!” She hissed, “And hurry up! Dawn is approaching!”
RavenWaves lifted the hood back up to cover her features, her black velvet cape billowing as she trudged on ahead, the cloaked figure of Hairball not far behind. The three Comb Gnomes grumbled as they restrained the writhing GlistenGill, marching him up to underneath Lady LovelyLocks’ balcony. Hairball pushed back his hood, turning to the three surly looking Comb Gnomes.
“Here we are you bums, where’s that rope?”

Tanglet grunted as he handed to Hairball a glowing rope made out of the Comb Gnomes’ own magic. Hairball swung it once, twice and on the third time tossed it over the balustrade of the balcony, tugging and securing the rope.
“Is it secure?” RavenWaves whispered.
“As secure as secure could be!” Hairball chuckled to himself, pulling at it to demonstrate.
“Good!” RavenWaves snatching it from her accomplice and proceeded to hoist herself up the swaying rope, “Hurry up! We haven’t got a moment to waste!”
RavenWaves was followed by Hairball, then GlistenGill forced by the three Comb Gnomes. Clambering upon the balcony, which but weeks ago was the scene of RavenWaves’ most catastrophic failure yet, the sextet tip-toed across the balcony to the closed French doors which looked into Lady LovelyLocks’ bedroom…and upon the sleeping princess herself. The Duchess’ eyes were lit with determination as she rubbed her hands with glee. She spied the golden box on Lady’s vanity. GlistenGill was shoved forwards.
“I-I cannot do this! I cannot harm such a kind person- she has been nothing but good to me!”
RavenWaves rolled her eyes and ground her teeth, irritated by this moralizing. She fished out the potion bottle from her billowing cloak.
“This could easily end up in the LovelyLocks’ moat, you do realize?” She gave a low threatening whisper, “Now, do as I say!”

GlistenGill sniffed, wiping away a tear.
“But, I cannot, the magic is too strong…if I use this Sea Magic, my kingdom will be affected!”
RavenWaves huffed, annoyed, her raven locks starting to bristle and undulate.
“Oh who cares about a bunch of fish anyway? Do this GlistenGill, or you will be sorry!”
The Comb Gnomes’ yellow eyes gleamed menacingly. GlistenGill gulped. All eyes saw Lady LovelyLocks sigh and shifted, nestling further under the covers, her face turned to the window. A slight rose kissed her cheeks as she slept soundly, her golden locks mingled with her pink and lavender streaks rippling across her pillows, kissing her cheeks. GlistenGill’s eyes watered.
“I am so sorry my Lady…but I have no choice…” He whispered softly, taking a breath and closing his eyes. RavenWaves and her accomplices stood back, wide-eyed. GlistenGill raised his webbed hands above his head, summoning something from within him, cupping his hands.

A watery blue light filled Lady LovelyLocks’ bedroom as, slowly, the lid to the golden box was opened on GlistenGill’s command. RavenWaves gasped as the strains of music reached her ears, the Mermaid’s Song. Hairball and the Comb Gnomes’ mouths dropped as they watched the shimmering blue orb levitate from the box and gently drift over to Lady’s sleeping figure. Lady LovelyLocks gave another sleepy sigh, smiling slightly to herself as she turned on her back, her chest rising and falling with each breath. RavenWaves’ violet eyes widened with excitement as she saw the singing ball of light gently drift down to Lady’s slightly parted lips. She balled her fists up with excitement, laughing with delight.
“Yes! Yes!”
She declared triumphantly as in one soft inhaled breath, Lady LovelyLocks breathed in the shimmering magic, her form briefly glowing, before returning to its natural state. Lady’s brows furrowed, she made a small drowsy noise and rolled over, her hands cupping her cheek.

GlistenGill, meanwhile, collapsed, exhausted with the magical exertion.
“I…need…my…potion now.” He rasped, his webbed fingers straining up for the little flask RavenWaves held. RavenWaves glowered at him, annoyed that he was still present.
“Oh, very well! Here you go!” She dropped it down to him, then pressed her nose against the pane of glass, her gaze only for Lady LovelyLocks.
“Has it worked? I do not see anything different about her!” She demanded.
“Wait until the morning Duchess, huh-huh, wait until the morning.” Hairball chuckled. RavenWaves’ brow furrowed, a small frown upon her lips.
“You know I hate waiting Hairball!”
She declared, then sighed. She glanced at her Comb Gnomes, half asleep and lolling all over each other.
“Wake up you fools!” RavenWaves screeched at her Comb Gnomes, towering over them. The squeaked and scattered, pretending to be attentive. The Duchess pointed a finger at the exhausted GlistenGill.
“Tie him up and take him back to the castle! We cannot have him escape!”