The Adventures of Melanie - Episode 4

A/N: Welcome back to Trevendin! This week Melanie is on the ship making her way to Maravel - but something mysterious happens on the way. This one is a bit short - but it seemed a natural stopping point, so this is a short chapter :) Enjoy!

Trevendin 2.0

“Your Highness.”

Melanie jumped at the voice that sounded behind her. Captain Benjamin, of course.

She turned toward him with as much disdain as she could muster. “Captain,” she drawled.

Melanie had decided to go on the offensive when it came to Captain Jacob Benjamin. She had spent the first three days of the voyage spluttering and stammering around him, and it was not very regal, nor was it anything like Genevieve. So she had resorted to a shallow disinterest whenever he spoke to her. It seemed to be working so far; he now only approached her for official business.

“Your Highness, we will be arriving at the port of Gilden tomorrow. I suggest you inform your handmaidens of this so they can ready your belongings for transfer to the river boat that will take you the rest of the way to Adria.”

Melanie nodded, not trusting her voice to speak. Though she had feigned scorn for the captain, the truth was that she was not looking forward to being out of his presence. His steady demeanor and confident stride gave her the confidence to keep up this charade day after day; heavens knew Gladys and Minithe were not the most helpful in that department. They kept forgetting that she was supposed to be Princess Genevieve, not their friend Melanie. They would address her informally, accidentally use her real name, forget to curtsy, or otherwise act in a way that would have gotten them a very stern telling-off from Genevieve, if not an actual punishment.

Melanie resolved to have a meeting with her “handmaidens” that evening, after the rest of the crew had gone to sleep. It was difficult to have secret conversations aboard such a small vessel; the risk of being overheard was too great. However, this seemed like a risk Melanie would have to take.

Gladys approached her at the rail. “Your Highness,” she said, curtsying. Good, thought Melanie. Maybe we won’t have to have this conversation after all. “Your luncheon has been prepared.”

Melanie glanced at the sky - high noon. She sighed; she had just had mid-morning tea not two hours ago. She had no idea how Genevieve ate so much and still avoided gaining so much weight she’d have to commission all new gowns.

“Very well,” she said. “I will be in in a moment.” Gladys turned away - without curtsying - and returned to their cabin. Melanie had thrown a customary Genevieve-style tantrum when she found out Gladys and Minithe would have to stay in the same cabin as her - It is not proper! My handmaidens must have their own quarters! What kind of a ship is this that cannot provide for its Princess? Of course, she didn’t really care - but she felt that she may as well play the whole part if she was going to be doing this.

Just as she was about to turn away, a huge, midnight-black raven settled on the railing beside her. It croaked indistinctly at first. Melanie started back. Ravens at noon. It had been almost a fortnight from the time they had left the port in Belgaband - and now the second part of her mother’s prophecy seemed to be coming true.

Resisting the urge to flee in terror, Melanie instead executed a graceful turn and started to walk towards her cabin.

“Fortnights and moons,” the raven croaked.

Melanie froze. She half turned her head back towards the raven.

“Fortnights and moons,” it repeated, flapping its wings slightly and fixing her with a beady glare. “Ravens at noon. Here I am. Ravens at noon.”

Melanie turned fully towards the bird. Ravens that speak with words so bleak, she remembered. “What is it you have come to say?” she asked the bird.

Just like that, the raven cocked its head at her once and then took off, flying away to wherever ravens go when they aren’t terrorizing people.

“Your Highness?” Captain Benjamin’s voice sounded behind her. “What was that?”

Melanie tried to calm her racing heart. “Just a bird. It is none of your concern.”

“It sounded like a prophecy,” Benjamin pressed. “Fortnights and moons, and ravens at noon?”

“I - I have never heard it before,” Melanie lied. “Now, Captain, if you will excuse me -”

She tried to step past him, but he moved to block her path. “Genevieve, have you received a prophecy? This is important.”

Melanie tried to decide on a course of action. On one hand, she wanted to tell him everything. She had told no one of the words her mother had spoken; perhaps if a prophecy was never shared, it would not come true. Perhaps it was not a prophecy at all, but just a madwoman’s ravings. On the other hand, he had addressed her by name only and not her title, and Genevieve would be furious.

She decided on the latter route. “Captain. You will address me as ‘Your Highness’ or ‘Princess.’ Please do not presume to call me by my familiar name.” She tried once again to push past him. He blocked her again. Now she was getting really annoyed.

“Captain, I am about to sit down for my luncheon. Please stand aside.”

“No, Gen - Your Highness. This is important. Did you receive a prophecy?” This last he said with such force that she was compelled to step back.

“How dare you speak to me in this manner?” she demanded. She was now channeling not only Genevieve’s personality, but her own fear and anger. “I owe you no explanation of anything in my life, much less the ravings of a demented bird. Now, stand aside.” She put as much force into her words as she dared, and sweeping past him, held her head high as she stormed into her cabin.