Chapter 337
Playing barefoot in the sand was Helena with a large smile. She dug her feet into the sand and began to bury her legs. As the waves pushed up washing it away she laughed and began to kick through the water.
"You ever get concerns about the sea?" Zack gazed past a nearby island.
"It slumbers on the other side thankfully," Elizabeth replied.
"Are you coming?" Helena waved from the shore.
Zack rolled up his pants, and button-up his forearms. Elizabeth kicked off the sandals she was wearing and took his arm. They strolled along the beach together and wandered towards the back end of the kingdom.
"What's that?" Helena pointed into the ocean.
A band of sahuagin hunters was waiting on some nearby rocks for a chance to strike. Along their forearms, and legs were blue scales with webbed extremities. One of the women turned to face them revealing the fins on the side of her face.
They already took note of Zack's presence but didn't consider them to be a threat. They hurled their spears into the water and gave chase. A small band stood onshore taking aim and taking the occasional glance towards Zack.
"Just some locals fishing," Elizabeth replied.
"Why don't you go?" Helena asked Zack.
"Because I wanna be with you two." Zack smiled.
Helena hugged Zack tightly before leading him to the beach. She sat down and patted the ground for them to sit. Once they were on the same level Helena began to play in the sand. She was forming little buildings, and Zack joined in.
Elizabeth took some time to get used to sitting in a dress, but once it was perfected she rested on Zack's shoulder. She watched Zack guiding Helena to manipulating the sand. She quickly learned that it wasn't as easy as manipulating rocks.
Each grain of sand had to be infused and bound together. This was a good test for control, and it allowed them to continue playing in the sand. Once Helena began to adapt they went from making sandcastles to an actual building.
Being able to create a house out of nothing caused Helena to be ecstatic. Elizabeth was inside admiring the work when Zack approached. Helena ran outside to continue building so he used the moment to show his appreciation.
"I've had a great time." Zack declared.
"Me too." Elizabeth looked up as they kissed passionately.
Helena was outside playing when a giant shadow engulfed the area. Before she could look up the shadow's morphed as James and Uther descended. Elizabeth knew from the shadows it had to be her family, and she was reluctant to exit.
"What's wrong?" Zack relayed.
"They're em-embarrassing," Elizabeth replied.
Arriving on the beach to see a child manipulating it was a surprise for both of them. During the coronation, Uther hit the bottle quickly, and Helena's late arrival was a blur. He didn't remember Helena being so big and never expected abilities like this.
"Your papa is here," Helena called out while approaching.
'They're so tall.'
"What's your name little one?" Uther inquired.
"How many times do I have to tell you." Elizabeth scolded from the threshold.
"It's Helena." She smiled.
"What are you hiding for?" James asked.
Helena was gesturing for them to come out, and Elizabeth couldn't refuse. Zack walked out first, and she used him for cover. Both of them were confused to see Elizabeth embarrassed like this. As they drew near their tall statures allowed them to see why.
"Is this a dream?" Uther pinched James' arm.
"You're supposed to pinch yourself." James tail whipped his hand away.
"Th-this is why I didn't wanna go out," Elizabeth mumbled.
"Neither of us mind." Zack walked forward.
Helena was giggling at the way the two acted before swarming them with questions. Zack approached them placing his hand on her shoulder. Watching how they mingled without a worry Elizabeth decided to join them.
"Why did you hide?" Helena asked.
"I like the dress, but it's a little e-embarrassing." Elizabeth began to rub her arm while gazing at the sea.
"I think it's pretty." Helena admired the dress.
"You caught me off guard, but it looks good on you," James reassured.
Uther approached placing his hand delicately on Elizabeth's shoulder.
"You may have picked up my habits, but there's no doubt you inherited your beauty from her." Uther smiled
'It's like I'm looking right at you. Being here without you isn't easy...I still enter the hall thinking I'm gonna see your smile. I wish you could've seen this.' Uther looked into the sky to hide his tear.
Elizabeth was still coming to terms with Uther acting like a father and failed to notice the tear. Helena was too short to see it, but the emotions were detected. She tugged at his side to grab his attention, and when Uther looked down he saw a concerned child.
"What's wrong?" Helena grabbed the large hand.
This broke Elizabeth out of the trance, and she saw her father rubbing his face. The only emotions she's ever witnessed from her father were anger and an occasional happy drunk phase. She was sure it was a misunderstanding.
"The sun is too bright today that's all," Uther replied.
Hearing an obvious lie like that Elizabeth was forced to accept it. Even then she was skeptical about the cause. Only one reason made sense to her.
"You know it's early to be drinking." Elizabeth crossed her arms.
"He hasn't had a drop today," James stated.
"Bull s...Lier." Elizabeth retorted.
Uther pulled Elizabeth in for a hug.
"I'm just a little emotional watching my little girl grow up." Uther tussled her hair.
"Sh-shut up." Elizabeth became flustered.
'Trying to act like a father now.'
Elizabeth wanted to push away, but an embrace like this hasn't happened since childhood. She noticed Helena, and Zack smiling together as they watched. Elizabeth squirmed free and turned around.
"If you wanna s-stick around you can," Elizabeth mumbled before returning to Zack's side.
They returned to their leisure activities along the beach. The usual visitors to Camelot got to experience an unusual sight today. King Uther was behaving recreationally along the ocean, and in front of him was a woman who resembled Princess Elizabeth.
Elizabeth was watching over a child with a man's arm around her hip. They were convinced it was an effect of today's heat and rushed inside to hydrate before a stroke kicked in. Just to be safe they turned around and saw Elizabeth smiling.