Little Red for Mr. Rydding Hood: The Lost World of Agartha 1

Chapter 15

― someone who would

understand her

The elders gave Margaret an ultimatum. Stay with them, or marry the merman. She didn't tell Princess Loaisa the details of the merman's world. The latter understood it. Margaret was still hurting, but she didn't regret staying here. But having no regrets means no heartache.

Sometimes, the most hurtful decision was the one we believed we don't regret — or must not regret.

Like how Princess Loaisa didn't regret her decision to run away after reaching the south. But she was sad thinking of her worrying family — and devastated to know the whole truth of how everyone got their freedom in Northumbria. All of which were kept a secret from her. She didn't want to believe her parents were as much as responsible to it. It was sade for her to even think that freedom, as one of the vital means for people to live, could actually had the prize that huge for humans to pay.

"You won't think of chances and choices if you know it would be your last meeting," Princess Loaisa carefully told her after Margaret told of her last meeting with the still-unnamed merman. When the elders found out about it, they were mad and horrified. Thinking the merman's world would cause Margaret's death, they made her choose. They knew Margaret would choose them.

They soon became aware of how Margaret and the merman truly loved each other. But there was no backing down. It was two different worlds. The people here wanted to protect Margaret as to how the merman's family was protective of him. They also know of the Mercian agreement. They don't want to stand in between other creatures and the humans in the south.

"No," Margaret replied solemnly and honestly. "There would be no anything if I had known the first time our hands touched that there would be last." Her face was soft but her wide eyes were filled determination. She knew it all too well. Better than everyone else. Perhaps, the merman thought the same.

Princess Loaisa swallowed hard. "But had you not at least anticipated that? You two are in a different world."

"We are in the same world," Margaret snapped and firmly closed her eyes. When she turned to Princess Loaisa, her eyes were blazing with annoyance, but the latter knew it was not for her. It was not directed at her. "This is the world of Agartha. Creatures live here with the humans, but we still all believed it was a different world for each creature, but can't everyone see? We are in the same world and it is so... so cruel to assume different worlds divided us when we are n-not. We chose to divide ourselves. This world doesn't divide us. We did!" Her voice broke into a sob. "It's so frustrating!"

"I'm sorry!" Princess Loaisa quickly apologized, surprised, and worried for Margaret's sudden outburst. Margaret barely nodded and chuckled to herself.

"Everyone apologizes to me and it's not even you

all's fault." She her hands and gritted her teeth. She wanted to be mad and stay frustrated but she didn't know where else to direct the overwhelming emotion except for herself.

This was the first time Princess Loaisa witnessed someone bursting out in front of her and considering she was alone and there was no one to ask help for. Usually, in the palace, it was the children who were having tantrums. Margaret was a grown-up woman, a hurting grown-up woman, and she could tell it was the first time, for so long she had been keeping the burden, that she finally got to let it out.

She moved closer to her and put a gentle, reassuring hand on her back. She was hesitant at first but she knew she had to do it for they were the only one there. She felt she should help make her feel better after Margaret gave her the trust to her own story.

When Margaret did not move away from her, she slowly leaned her head on her shoulder, feeling the warmth of the thought of having a new friend. Her first very friend, rather, except for her sister.

Silence enveloped them. Princess Loaisa felt the relaxation by the sea air and wondered how it must have felt to Margaret, knowing she had been to the world of sea mermaids.

"Does everyone in the North look like royals?" Margaret broke the silence after the drama between them. She was not used to crying to anyone, especially not someone she just met. But then, they rarely met a stranger. The first was Mr. Hood, and then this young girl, Red. It was such a relief, and she was thankful to have her.

But she hadn't forgotten what she saw in her clothes as she washed them. Royal imprints. But she believed it was only because she was a merchant, and they heard merchants learned to imitate things. That was why the kids first thought her cloak was made of wolf's skin. How the other creature was fine with it was beyond her. But then, there were rogues, who were an outcast to the group, and as destructive to the southern humans, as they were to their old group.

Her eyes were on the coat of Mr. Hood on her lap. When Princess Loaisa noticed, she chuckled. "Mr. Hood lent this to me yesterday..." When she realized Margaret was referring to her clothes, her chuckles became nervous. "This was..."

"They're heavy," Margaret said. Her eyes gleamed with thrill and curiosity. "And must be expensive. What else do traders make?"

"Well," Princess Loaisa was quite satisfied with the change of the subject. "They trade processed foods and medicine. Helpful objects like flashlights, which can help them see in the night without bringing a torch or lamps."

Princess Loaisa told Margaret what she was only familiar with. Most of what she reads in the book. She hadn't realized how exciting it was to share the things she knew with others. Margaret was attentive and eager to know more. Although they both knew they should not be talking about it, especially with their loud voices, they could not help it. They enjoyed sharing stories. But Margaret was careful not to tell anything about the ocean, and Princess Loaisa carefully made sure not to mention it as well.

Princess Loaisa could see herself with the decision Margaret must have had to take. Because if Princess Loaisa hadn't grasped the chance and stopped Magellan the other night, she wouldn't be here. If her family made her choice or enlightened her with her decision, she wouldn’t be here. She doubted the King would even let her decide for herself, knowing how Princess Loaisa desperately longing for the outside.

"They all looked exciting!" Margaret commented with a sigh. Her shoulder slumped as if heavy weighs suddenly draped around her.

"You missed it?" was Princess Loaisa's reply watching the happiness on her new friend's face. Margaret gave her a small smile.

"How can I miss something I have never seen? Or have?"

And Princess Loaisa smiled back at her. Inside, her guilt was slowly killing her. Right. How could these people miss something deprived of them? Their question about Northumbria was a result of their curiosity. As how curious she was to know life outside Northumbria.

When they left the cliff to help prepare lunch, everyone's head turned to them. Especially because they still both had smiles plastered on their faces. The attention brought a shade of red on their cheeks. They both shrugged at each other and continued walking.

Nana Sora and Sir Andres smiled at them. They both knew Margaret spoke to their new guest. They were glad she did. They were thankful Red came here. They believed Margaret, and her were going to be best friends, and that was something they wanted for Margaret. Someone who would understand her. Someone who might share the same feeling and sentiments as her, considering Margaret was only two years older than Red.

Seeing the smile on Margaret, they hope Red stays with them for long. They hope that like Mr. Hood, Red stays with them.

But it was a matter of time before their two guests missed their home. And this was not their home. They belonged somewhere else. Somewhere none of these people wanted to be part of.