The Luna Choosing Game

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Lignored Bridget as best as I could. This wasn't my fault, after all, and I wasn't about to take responsibility for it, just because Bridget seemed set on blaming me.

But I didn't say anything, so she didn't either. The conversation between Nicholas and Queen Sonal continued on without notice of us. Though Julian did look between us with curiosity.

"We thank you and your guests for joining us for this celebration," Queen Sonal said, a clear acceptance of Nicholas's offer to leave. "We hope you will think back on this event fondly." Nicholas placed a hand to his chest. "I assure you that we shall."

Though he said that, and he was likely telling the truth, tension had seemed to sellled over our group and the proceedings themselves. Else we might not have chosen to leave so early.

"I better go get Elva," I whispered to Julian.

Julian nodded, "Go now. These goodbyes and platitudes will likely go on for a while."

"Okay." I slowly backed away as to not draw attention to myself, then turned to go down to where the children had been playing. Most were napping now, all except the little princess who had promised to watch over Elva. She was continuing to honor her duty.

I thanked her as I swam to Elva's shelf.

The little princess waved at me.

I found Elva fast asleep. I hated to wake her, but I feared Nicholas was right. If we stayed much longer, we likely would be overstaying our welcome.

Cently, I shook Elva's shoulder until she blinked awake.

"Mom.. my?" She rubbed her eyes and then yawned. When her eyes were clear, they went wide and looked around at all the sleeping merfolk children around her. "I wasn't drearning? "No, sweetheart," I said, smiling. I held out my hand.

Elva giggled as she swarm closer to me. We took hands.

"Unfortunately, we have to leave now..." I hated to tell her the truth.

"Can we come back?" Elva asked.

"I don't know," I said. Truthfully, it seemed unlikely, but I didn't want to rob a little girl of her dreams. Who knew what the future held for her? Perhaps someday she would come back. Despite my hope to spare her feelings, Elva still seemed disappointed by my response.

I tugged her closer and held her in my arms. "Take a look around," I told her. "Remember everything you see here, because even us being here this one time is special. Very few of our kind will ever know what it is like to breathe water, let alone to rub elbows with the merfolk royalty in their grand banquet hall."

Elva did as I asked, looking around slowly as if to remember as much as she could. I did the same. Someday we'd go back to our small apartment and tell Anna all that we had experienced and seen. She'd likely never believe it. I wasn't even sure Susie would, and she was much more likely to.

When we swam toward where the others were, I was somewhat relieved to find that the niceties were winding down. Much of the merfolk royalty had joined the scene, and even Ambassador Zale was giving Nicholas a hardy handshake.

"Mormy, I want to say goodbye to Zale!" Elva tugged on my hand. She twisted in my grasp.

"Honey, it's really not a good time to -!"

She broke free, despite my words, and swam straight up to Ambassador Zale. Without warning, she rushed toward his chest and threw her arms around his chest for a hug.

Theld my breath. Several people gasped. Even Nicholas and Julian's eyes went wide.

When my initial surprise passed, I hurried forward, ready to apologize and rectify the situation however I could.

However, before I could reach Elva and pull her away, Ambassador Zale began to laugh. As to, did Queen Sonal. After those started it, the laughter spread out among all the merfolk, and then finally, uneasily, to the werewolf group too.