Ellis Lake was doing what he loved best: sailing his boat across the ocean. He scratched his scraggly beard as his long, brown, ponytailed hair flapped in the wind. He was smiling in the crow's nest, and, when it began to rain and thunder, he frowned up at the sky. Lightning struck the bow of the boat and the boat started to sink, and Ellis started to curse; his crew all jumped off ship. He noticed an island in the distance, but the crew was swimming away from it. He frowned, confused and he started swimming towards the island.

One of his crew members grabbed his arm and tried pulling him away. "That's Victorien's Island. Nobody - and I mean nobody- has ever returned from that place alive."

Ellis pulled his arm away. "We're going to die if we try to swim anywhere else anyway. It's the closest place."

The crew member bit his lip, but yelled, "Everyone to Victorien's Island! Last resort!" The crew was reluctant, but they all followed Ellis.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They arrived and Ellis stood at the shore, looking around and wringing the water out of his hair. A girl with a silver circlet walked over; she had blood red hair as wavy as the sea and deep sea blue eyes that held a tinge of sorrow in them.

"Hello," Ellis said. "Our ship crashed. Would you know a place my crew and I can stay?"

"The dungeon in the castle sounds suitable," the woman answered with a straight face, without batting her eyes.

He frowned in confusion.

She then chuckled. "Welcome, travelers. I am Princess Addelina."

"You're a princess?"

"What is that supposed to mean?" she demanded, insulted.

"Nothing," he said quickly.

"It is bad to insult a princess, Sailor."

"I wasn't insulting you. I was surprised."

"Come this way," she told him, turning around gracefully and walking with a clip-clop of high heels. He followed her with the uncertain crew. Eventually, she grew tired of the heels she was wobbling in and took them off. "Much better." She lead them to an inn and then put her heels back on before entering.

"Do you have to wear them? They seem to be hurting your feet," Ellis said.

"Yes I do. It is expected of me," Addelina gave her stomach a quick rub and went up to the front desk. "How many crew members do you have?"

"About fifteen."

"I need four free rooms," Addelina told the innkeeper. "They are here under my supervision so they get anything free."

"Y-Yes Princess Addelina."

Addelina took Ellis to the rooms; they each held four to five people.

"Thank you," Ellis said. She sat on his bed and kicked off her shoes. He watched a moment before assigning his crew the rooms. Addelina advised for him to have his own room. "Why?" he asked.

"Oh, no reason," Addelina told him, messing with her hair.

"Okay," he agreed.

"I will be back tomorrow to check on you," she informed him, picking up her shoes. He wanted her to stay.

"Alright," he said, ignoring his want. Biting her lip, she put on her shoes and stood. "Bye," he said.

"Goodbye," she told him, smoothing out her dress, her hand stopping momentarily over her stomach; Ellis now noticed it was swollen.

He tilted his head, but felt that if he asked about it she'd be offended and she left. When she did, he sat on his bed and glanced around.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After about an hour, one of his crew members came in. Ellis looked up. "Yes?"

"I don't trust this so called princess."

"And why is that?"

"I just don't."

"You give me no reason."

"We need to leave," Argus whined.

"No."

"Just because you got the hots for some 'princess'?"

Ellis frowned. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"well, unlike you, the rest of us have a family."

"Leave."

"So you're picking someone you just met over someone you've known for five years?"

"I will trust my own instincts."

"Whatever," Argus left.

Ellis frowned again and remained on his bed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning, Addelina visited. "Good morning," Ellis said.

She only sat on his bed. Yesterday, she had been wearing a formal dress. Today, she was in dark skinny jeans, a tucked in, black spaghetti strap, and hiking boots, and her hair was absent of the circlet, tied back into a ponytail. "Get ready to go swimming."

"Swimming?"

"Swimming."

"I don't usually go swimming."

"You are today."

"Er, okay."

She covered her eyes. He blushed but got into swimming trunks. "Am I allowed to look now?"

"Yes," he said.

She grabbed his hand and lead him out. He followed, and after a bit of walking, she brought him to a secluded lake with a waterfall. Ellis glanced around, half wondering if she had brought him here to kill him, due to Argus's talk. She simply removed her boots and jeans; underneath she had shorts. He looked at the lake. It was crystal clear. She hopped in. He walked in cautiously. She raised her hand. A bubble of water floated above it. He watched. She pushed the bubble over to him. He looked at the bubble curiously. It popped in his face. He smiled a bit. They swam a bit before Addelina splashed him. He splashed back. She jumped onto his back, laughing. He chuckled. She jumped on him and playfully pulled him under. She looked so beautiful under water…

He wanted to kiss her. She watched him, and he looked away. They swam up. He sat at the shore. She sat next to him. He couldn't help but smile a little. She watched. He laid back and looked up at the sky. She looked over at him. "What is it like, being a princess?" he asked.

"Horrid."

He bit his lip. "I'm sorry." She only shrugged. "Are there things you enjoy doing?"

"Not really."

"What about sailing?" Her eyes lit up at the thought but she promptly shook her head. "You looked excited for a moment."

"I wanted to go. I do, but it's not possible."

"How not?"

"Princess."

"That's not very fair." She only shrugged, resting her head on his shoulder. He watched her a bit. "Is it a rule or something?"

"I can't exactly leave Victorien. I need the Queen's permission."

"Will she never give you permission?"

"If you had a pregnant daughter, would you allow her to leave home?" Ellis bit his lip and shook his head. Addelina sat up and hugged her knees.

"I'm sorry."

"I miss him."

"The baby's father?"

"Yes."

"What happened to him?"

"He died at war."

"I'm sorry."

She only shrugged. He looked around, unsure what to do. She watched him with sad eyes. The sun was high above their heads about now. Addelina pulled him to his feet. "You are dancing with me."

"I am?"

"Yes."

"Okay," he agreed. She put her arms around his neck. He awkwardly placed his hands on her waist and she laughed. He looked up. "What?"

"Oh, nothing." He tilted his head a bit but did not question her. They danced a bit. He found himself falling deeper into love with her. He forced himself to look away from her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he said.

"Sure?"

"Positive." She kissed his cheek. He felt his cheek warm up but smiled. She returned the smile. He pulled away after awhile. "I'm hungry."

"I know of a cafe."

"Is it good?"

"I suppose."

He just nodded to himself. "I'll have to change out of these clothes, then."

"Nah."

"Why not?"

"You look fine."

"But we're all wet."

"I'm the princess. They can't judge me."

"Er, alright then."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They arrived at a small little cafe and ate little, foreign pastries from the cafe along with iced tea. The pastries were donut like but smaller and melted in Ellis's mouth with a sweet aftertaste. "This is a nice place," Ellis commented.

Addelina just smiled, sipping her tea. "I will have a ship ready for you by tomorrow."

"Oh," Ellis said, trying not to feel disappointed. "That's great."

"Would you like to delay your leave? Maybe by a week and get supplied?"

"Sure," Ellis agreed. "That would probably help a lot."

"Alright."

He smiled, glad he'd be able to see her for another week.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Most of half the week was spent with friendship bonding. Or, in Ellis's case, growing love. She visited him often, hardly dressed fancy. He prefered her in her casual attire. He smiled and always said she looked very nice, but in his head he was saying beautiful.

"Why thank you. Ready to go hunting?" He nodded. They left after Addelina equipped herself with a bow. Ellis glanced around the forest. They didn't really hunt anything.; they could rarely find much. They mostly just chatted. She shot arrows at targets she had brought out. He asked if he could try. She handed her bow over.

"Could you teach me?"

She put her hands over his and showed him. He tried to ignore the happy feeling he got from her hands over his. She backed away and told him to shoot. He let go of the bowstring. She watched as the arrow hit the target. Addelina clapped and kissed his cheek in congratulations. He smiled. "Again." she commanded.

He aimed the arrow. She watched. He let go and hit the target again. She smiled at him and he lowered the bow and glanced at her.
"What?"

"Thanks," he said, handing the bow and arrow back to her.

"Uh-huh." He sat on a rock and took and apple from the picnic basket they had brought with them. She nibbled on a sandwich. 'Very cutely,' Ellis added in his mental narration. Addelina rested a hand on her stomach.

"How far along are you?" he asked.

"Four months."

"Oh, do you know if it's a boy or girl yet?"

"I'm waiting."

"Oh." He nodded. "Do you have any names decided on?"

"Mason either way."

"Nice name."

"It was the father's name."

"What was the father like?" Ellis wasn't sure he wanted to talk about this; he was partly worried Addelina would get upset.

"He was sweet and loving, and my husband. I dated him for six years before he proposed."

"He sounds nice."

"He was."

"How did he die?"

"War. I told you, dummy."

"Sorry. I'm forgetful sometimes."

She just laughed at him. He glanced at her. They were so close… She smiled. He made himself look away.

She tilted her head. "You don't like looking at me?"

"Oh, no, just the opposite."

"So you do?"

"Do what?" He looked at her.

"Like looking at me."

"I do."

"And I'd suppose you'd like holding my hand?"

He felt his face heat up. "I, uh, suppose."

She laid down, taking his hand. He found himself smiling. Her lips looked so soft… He sat up suddenly, using a small surge of courage, and before Addelina could look up at him questioningly, pressed his lips gently against hers. Addelina seemed stunned for a second, but relaxed instantly and kissed back. He pulled away a few moments later. They caught their breaths. He laid back down, and glanced at her. She rested her head on his chest. He smiled again. She giggled. He put his arm around her, lovingly.

"I've been meaning to tell you… the ship is ready and stocked with supplies."

"Oh," he said, unsure of what to do again. She watched him awkwardly as he watched the sky. She helped him pack later that day. He did everything that would lead up to him leaving reluctantly, not wanting to leave. She wore a black dress when he got on his turned to her. "Goodbye, Ellis."

"Goodbye," Ellis said, hugging her. She hugged back, and he felt her child kick. She felt his hug linger, then he kissed her cheek quickly and turned back to the ship. She watched him leave. It started to rain. They both felt it matched their moods perfectly. She waved a hand in goodbye. He forced himself not to look. The only thing that was on his mind was her and her baby. His crew noticed his mind was elsewhere.

Wesley, the youngest, looked up. He smiled at Ellis. "You should go to her."

"Don't give him false hope," Argus told Wesley. "We need to get out of here anyway."

"You don't see the way she looks at him? Besides, I can navigate us out."

"You're a kid."

"Smarter than you are."

Argus scowled. Ellis wasn't paying much attention. Wesley watched Ellis. Ellis was just watching the island disappear from their sight. Wesley kept trying to urge him to go back. "You might regret it."

"Already do..," Ellis muttered.

"Then go for her."

He just nodded thoughtfully. Wesley watched, waiting for him to act.

Ellis grabbed the wheel and turned the boat around. He saw Addelina, still on the dock. She was turned away from the ship though. He got off the ship first, then he walked up to her. Addelina stiffened at the sound and turned and pounced on him quickly, then smiled brightly. "Ellis!"

He smiled. "Hey."

"Are you staying or am I going?"

"Either, as long as I'm with you."

"I'm going to talk to my mother then. My sister can have this place. I'll be back in an hour." He smiled and nodded happily.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She was back soon, happy. "Let's go!"

He grabbed her hand and they walked to the ship. They set out; together. Argus scowled, but Wesley smiled.

Five months later, Addelina had a girl. She named her Mason like she planned. Mason was a spirited young thing with brown hair and violet eyes, and loved the sea as much as her mother and stepfather.