The Golden Circlet Read online

  With a powerful flip of her own tail she swam across the pool to the broken rock. ‘Karwynna! Queen Karwynna! We’ve come to rescue you!’

  The mermaid did not move, and Lizzy looked at Morvyr in alarm. ‘She’s not… dead?’

  ‘No,’ said Morvyr. ‘I think she’s in a trance.

  Taran must have cast a spell on her, and she won’t wake up unless we can break it.’

  ‘But how? Do you know?’

  Morvyr hesitated. ‘I’m not sure,’ she said at last. ‘But the crown helped us to find her, and now I think it will help us again. We must place it on her head. She’s the true Queen, and I believe the crown has the power to break the spell.’ She looked to right and left, studying the ledge. ‘How can I climb up? The side is sheer, and I don’t have the magic that Taran used …’ Abruptly she turned to the twins. ‘But you can do it. If you change to human shape, you can both climb it easily.’

  Kes said eagerly, ‘Yes, of course!’ But Lizzy hesitated, suddenly afraid. Could she change back to her human form simply by willing it to happen? What if she couldn’t make it work again? And, even if she did, would she be able to become a mermaid once more, or would her new-found ability desert her?

  Kes saw the doubt on her face and understood. ‘You can do it, Lizzy!’ he urged. ‘Once a mermaid, always a mermaid – come on, just try!’

  Lizzy looked nervously from Kes to Morvyr. Then she closed her eyes and thought: I’m human. I’m human …

  ‘Oh!’ Her eyes snapped open and her mouth opened too as a tingling sensation went through her tail. She tried to move it, but suddenly she seemed to have two tails instead of one. Or – no, they weren’t tails, they were legs! And her fins had become feet, with toes that she could flex and wiggle.

  Kes burst out laughing. ‘Your face!’ he said. ‘You look so surprised!’

  Fully restored to human shape, Lizzy glowered at him, then she saw the funny side and laughed too.

  ‘Lizzy, Kes!’ Morvyr tried to sound stern but her own mouth was twitching. ‘This is no time for games! You have a solemn task to do.’

  The twins sobered, though Kes still had to stifle an occasional giggle. He, too, had changed his shape, and together they scrambled up to the rock ledge and stood gazing down at Karwynna.

  ‘She’s so still,’ Lizzy said uneasily.

  Kes nodded. ‘But she’s breathing. Look.’

  Morvyr, still in the pool, stretched out her arms, the circlet grasped in her hands. ‘Take it, children, and give it to its rightful owner.’

  Very carefully Kes reached down and took the circlet from her. He carried it to where Karwynna lay… then, to Lizzy’s surprise, he stopped and held it out to her.

  ‘You do it, Lizzy,’ he said. ‘Without you, none of this would have happened. So you should be the one to give the Queen her crown.’

  A choking sensation clutched at Lizzy’s chest. ‘No,’ she whispered. ‘I don’t deserve it …’

  But Morvyr said, ‘Kes is right, Lizzy. The honour is yours. You’ve earned it.’

  Lizzy was outnumbered and couldn’t argue. With shaking hands she accepted the circlet and moved to stand beside Karwynna. The circlet seemed to tug at her fingers, as though it was eager to be returned to its true place. Slowly and reverently Lizzy lowered it until it touched Karwynna’s hair and settled there. It fitted perfectly. And as Lizzy’s hands drew back, the silver and black pearls began to sing in soft harmony, while the other seven pearls pulsed with their rainbow colours.

  A sigh came from the sleeping mermaid’s throat. Then her eyelids flickered, and Lizzy and Kes found themselves gazing into a pair of exquisite, silver-flecked turquoise eyes.

  Karwynna blinked. ‘I was dreaming …’ she murmured, and then her vision seemed to focus and she saw the eager faces of Lizzy and Kes gazing down at her. In a puzzled voice she asked, ‘Who are you …?’

  ‘They are my children, Your Majesty,’ said Morvyr from the pool. ‘And thanks to them, you can now claim your rightful place as our Queen.’

  Chapter Thirteen

  Jack took Rose to the holiday cottage and tried to persuade her to stay there, but Rose was having none of that. She was perfectly all right, she said. All she needed was to change into dry clothes and leave a note for Mr and Mrs Baxter saying that she and Lizzy had gone for an early walk.

  ‘They won’t wake up for hours yet, anyway,’ she added. ‘And I’ve missed so much of the excitement. I’m not going to miss any more – I’m staying with you till Lizzy and the others come back!’

  Jack gave way. They returned to the little cove, and now the two of them were sitting together on the pebble beach. Time was passing. The moon had disappeared completely now, and soon the first faint glimmer of dawn would lighten the sky behind them. The early morning air was chilly, but Rose took no notice as she stared out over the sea, anxiously scanning for any sign of the returning party. Every fifteen seconds the double flash of the Bishop Rock lighthouse, four miles out to the south-west, swept across the sky and dimmed the stars. She must have counted nearly a hundred flashes but still Lizzy and the others had not come back.

  ‘Do you think everything’s all right?’ Rose asked after a while. ‘If Lizzy was wrong, and they can’t find Karwynna—’

  ‘We’ll just have to wait and see,’ said Jack. ‘But I think Lizzy was right.’ He smiled. ‘She’s a clever girl, your sister.’

  Rose nodded, then frowned. ‘It’s a bit weird to think that she isn’t my sister at all. I mean, I know she isn’t really, because we’re both adopted, but I’ve always thought of us as sisters. Now, though …’ Her voice tailed off helplessly. ‘I don’t know what to think about anything.’

  ‘If I were you,’ said Jack, ‘I wouldn’t. Think about it, I mean. Lizzy’s still Lizzy, even if she can live underwater like Kes and Morvyr.’

  ‘Ye-es. But that’s just it, isn’t it? What’s going to happen to her now? Can she still be happy living on land with us, or – or—’

  ‘Will she want to go back to the sea?’ Jack sighed. ‘I don’t know, Rose. I truly don’t. And I don’t suppose Lizzy does, either.’

  Rose nodded again, biting her lower lip. Then her next question came in a rush. ‘What do you want her to do?’

  Jack had been thinking a lot about that, and had decided that there was only one answer that was fair. ‘I want her to make her own choice,’ he said. ‘Whatever it is.’

  Rose considered that for a moment or two, then gave an odd little laugh. ‘I sort of thought you’d say that. You’re putting Lizzy first, of course. I wish I could be as generous as you, but I can’t. You see, I – I don’t want to lose her.’

  Jack was about to say firmly that in his opinion there was no chance of that, when abruptly Rose tensed. ‘Look!’ she said, pointing at the sea. ‘Out there!’ She scrambled to her feet, slithering on the pebbles. ‘It’s the dolphins!’

  Five curved fins had broken the surface, and as Jack, too, got to his feet, Arhans and her friends burst from under the water and leaped joyfully into the air, whistling shrilly. Then three heads, two blonde and one dark, surfaced behind them.

  Rose let out a joyful shriek. ‘Lizzy!’ She ran into the sea, with Jack right behind her, until the small waves were surging round their knees. Lizzy waved wildly, and as she swam towards the beach they heard her calling, ‘We’ve found her! We’ve found her! She’s alive!’

  She splashed to Rose and hugged her, almost dancing in the shallows. Kes hurried after her, and Morvyr swam as close as she could, her eyes shining. For a while there was complete confusion as Lizzy and Kes breathlessly babbled disjointed bits of their story while Rose bombarded them with questions. At last, though, everyone calmed down a little. And then, her voice almost shaking with excitement, Lizzy said, ‘And there’s something else! Something amazing – an invitation—’ She turned to Morvyr. ‘Mother, you tell them!’

  Morvyr smiled dazzlingly. ‘Jack – Rose – Tomorrow night, Queen Karwynna is to call a gatherin
g of her loyal friends. And she especially wants you both to be there.’

  Rose stared at her, wide-eyed. ‘Me?’ she said incredulously. ‘Why me? Jack, of course; that’s only right! But I haven’t done anything to help Queen Karwynna.’ Her face became unhappy. ‘I did the opposite. I almost wrecked everything!’

  ‘You didn’t, Rose,’ said Jack. ‘If it hadn’t been for you, Taran wouldn’t have been lured from her lair, and we couldn’t have defeated her.’

  ‘Anyway,’ Lizzy added loyally, ‘Taran hypnotized you. You didn’t want to help her. You wanted to help us, and you did!’

  ‘That’s right,’ said Kes, grinning. ‘You were the bait, and Taran snapped it up!’

  Rose looked from one to another of them, bewildered and confused and not knowing what to say. But they were all smiling at her now, and Jack said, ‘Well, Rose? Will you come and meet the new Queen tomorrow?’

  Rose hesitated, but only for a moment before her face lit up with joy. ‘Oh, yes, please!’

  How she and Rose got through the day Lizzy would never know. The strain of pretending everything was normal, so as not to arouse Mr and Mrs Baxter’s suspicions, was almost unbearable. But at last the day was over, and as soon as they were sure Mum and Dad were asleep, the two girls tiptoed out of the holiday cottage and set off for the pebble cove.

  As they hurried over the springy turf of the down Lizzy wanted to tell Rose how happy she was that they were really sharing this adventure at last, but she couldn’t find the words. So instead she caught hold of her sister’s hand and squeezed it. Rose didn’t say anything either, but she looked at Lizzy and smiled, and Lizzy knew she understood.

  Jack had brought the motor launch to the cove, and with him were Morvyr, Kes and Arhans. There was a happy smile on Jack’s face, with something almost enigmatic about it, as though he had some special secret. Lizzy was curious, but everyone else was anxious to be away and there was no time to ask questions. The girls climbed into the boat, and they chugged steadily out to sea with the others swimming beside them.

  The towering lighthouse seemed to grow bigger as they headed towards it, and soon the beam was strong enough to light their faces as it swept by.

  ‘Where are we going?’ Lizzy asked, raising her voice above the noise of the engine and the sea and the wind.

  ‘Not much further,’ said Jack. ‘See that tiny island, between us and the lighthouse? That’s about the right place.’

  ‘But it’s just a rock – there’s nothing there.’ She was mystified.

  Jack’s enigmatic smile came back. ‘Ah, but there is,’ he said. ‘You’ll see when we get there.’

  The boat motored on. The island Jack had pointed out came closer and closer – then suddenly Rose grabbed Lizzy’s arm and cried, ‘Look! Oh, look!’

  The great lighthouse beam was sweeping round again, and as it lit up the sea around the boat, they saw shapes in the water, leaping and surging and gliding effortlessly along with them.

  ‘Dolphins and seals!’ Rose was almost bouncing with delight. ‘Oh, how amazing!’

  ‘They’ve come to welcome Queen Karwynna too!’ Morvyr called. ‘They’re all so happy that Taran has gone!’

  They were nearly at the little island now, and the boat slowed down as Jack throttled back the engine. More dolphins and seals were coming from every direction and gathering around the rocks. The water seemed to be alive with swimming creatures, and the noise of the dolphins’ whistling was like strange sea music.

  Jack turned to Rose and Lizzy and smiled. ‘This,’ he said, ‘is where we get out and swim!’

  ‘What?’ Rose’s jaw dropped. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘This island is very close to the black pearl’s gateway,’ Jack told her. ‘And that’s where we’re going – through the gateway to the rainbow pool. All of us.’

  Rose was horrified. ‘Under the sea? I can’t do that! I won’t be able to breathe!’

  ‘You will, Rose. We both will.’ Jack took something from his pocket. ‘Morvyr gave me these while we were waiting for you. They’re a very special gift from the new Queen.’

  Clasped in his hand were two closed oyster shells. Rose stared uncertainly at them. ‘What are they? I don’t understand.’

  Morvyr had swum to the side of the boat. ‘Queen Karwynna learned the magic from her mother long ago,’ she said. ‘The shells contain a potion that will allow you and Jack to breathe under the sea, just as we can do. The effect will last long enough for you to visit Queen Karwynna in her court.’

  Rose’s eyes opened wide with amazement. She tried to say something but she was speechless.

  Lizzy wasn’t, though. ‘Oh, Jack, this is wonderful!’ Eyes shining, she turned to Rose. ‘You’ll come, won’t you?’ she begged. ‘Please say you will!’

  ‘There’s no danger,’ Jack added, seeing that Rose didn’t know whether to be thrilled or terrified. ‘We’ll all look after you. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance.’

  ‘Yes,’ Rose whispered. ‘Yes, it is, isn’t it?’ She hesitated, then: ‘I’ll come!’

  Lizzy hugged her joyfully, and Kes punched the air in delighted triumph and turned a somersault in the water.

  Jack gave Rose one of the oyster shells. ‘Open it very carefully – like this.’ He laid the other shell in the palm of one hand, and with the other gently prised the two halves open. Inside was a tiny pool of liquid that sparkled with all the colours of the rainbow. Rose, still wide-eyed, opened her own shell and gazed in wonder.

  ‘All you have to do is drink it,’ said Jack. He smiled. ‘Shall we both do it together?’

  She nodded. They put their shells to their lips and drank. Rose swallowed, blinked, and sat very still, as if she was waiting for something to happen. After a few seconds she said, ‘I don’t feel any different …’

  ‘Oh, you will,’ Jack assured her. ‘Come on. I’ll hold one of your hands and Lizzy will hold the other. Ready?’

  ‘W-what about the boat?’ At the last moment Rose looked frantically for an excuse. ‘If we’re not here, it’ll drift away …’

  ‘The dolphins will make sure it doesn’t.’

  It was now or never. Rose looked frantically at Lizzy, but Lizzy only smiled and held out her hand. Rose gripped it as hard as she could… and the three of them plunged into the sea and dived downwards.

  Chapter Fourteen

  At first Rose was too stunned to say anything as they swam towards the black pearl gateway, but Lizzy knew exactly how she must be feeling. She remembered the first time she herself had discovered that she could breathe under the sea; first the fear and bewilderment, then slowly growing confidence as the fear faded and was replaced by wonder. It was just the same for Rose, and once the early terror was gone, she was thrilled and awed by what was happening to her.

  Lizzy could now change her shape simply by willing it to happen, and when she turned into a mermaid Rose gave a cry of delight.

  ‘I don’t believe it!’ she said, and batted, laughing, at the bubbles that streamed from her mouth when she spoke. ‘People talk about swimming with dolphins – but I’m swimming with mermaids, as well! It’s – it’s just so incredible!’

  She was between Lizzy and Kes, arms linked with theirs as they followed Jack and Morvyr, who were clasping each other’s hands. Jack seemed completely at home in the water. Now and then he looked back at the others and Lizzy saw a smile of joy on his face. They had left the dolphins and seals behind, but here in the depths other creatures had gathered too. Fish of every size and kind darted, their scales shining in the dimness. Octopus and squid propelled themselves along, their tentacles waving, followed by a group of blue jellyfish like exotic living jewels. Enchanted, Rose gazed and gazed, trying to take in everything at once.

  Soon the cave mouth appeared below them, and they swam through and into the narrow tunnel to the gateway. Light was already glowing in the portal, and as they approached it a lovely voice, quite unlike Taran’s, spoke from the gateway’s depths and said,
‘Welcome!’

  Rose didn’t know what to expect, and Lizzy heard her scream as they were whirled and tumbled through the gate. She shouted, ‘It’s all right, don’t be frightened!’ but almost before the words were out, the wild ride ended and they surfaced in the pool of the rainbow cave.

  Lizzy gasped aloud – for the cave was transformed. All nine mirrors were shining brilliantly, the coloured light mingling and dancing and sparkling over the roof and walls. All around the ledge at the edge of the pool sat the new Queen’s own people – the merfolk. Old and young, men and women and children, with flowing hair and tails of a dozen different shimmering colours. Some wore cloaks of seaweed, others necklaces and bracelets made from shells of every kind, and some even had sea anemones clinging to their hair like living flowers. They were smiling down at the five newcomers.

  And on a throne fashioned from two giant scallop shells and wonderfully decorated with anemones and corals and jewel-coloured seaweed, sat Queen Karwynna herself.

  She looked even more beautiful than when she had first woken from her magical trance. Her hair and tail shone with all the colours of a sunlit sea, and there was wisdom and kindness and merriment in her turquoise eyes. The golden circlet, now complete with its nine pearls, was set on her head, and in one hand she held a slender sceptre made from mother-of-pearl and carved with the emblem of a leaping dolphin.

  Karwynna, too, smiled down, and in a voice that was gentle and powerful and musical said, ‘Thank you, Morvyr, for bringing your children to me! And Jack – I was very young when we last met, but I remember you well.’ Then her gaze focused on the last of the five. ‘And this is Rose?’

  Rose was shaking so much that Lizzy and Kes had to hang on to her arms to keep her afloat. ‘Y-yes, Your M-m-majesty …’ she managed to stammer.

  ‘Thank you, my dear, for what you did to help me,’ said Karwynna. ‘You are a hundred times welcome.’

  Rose was nearly in tears. ‘But I didn’t help you,’ she said miserably. ‘I almost r-ruined everything …’