A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.

Metal hovered in the air. Water surrounded it, forcing the blade to keep its distance. The sphere bounced up and down a little before a hand rested underneath it. (F/n) took a step back, and Tarhuinn pulled her closer. His right hand wrapped around her left wrist tightly, and he began to move back as well.

"Ah, you two look rather frightened. Did you only think that there was one mage here? If so, you miscalculated. My cousin is the mage that is recognized for her talent in fire. I prefer water. It's much more suitable for a kelremm." He let the ball collapse against his hand before his fingers wrapped around the handle. "You should know, though, that this weapon will do nothing against me unless you get close enough to stab me. I won't let that happen, however."

As he had been talking, the two of them had been advancing backwards steadily. If they could get back to the tree, its effects might soothe the mage into not attacking them with magic. They would be affected too, but they would have a better chance at fighting him there if they could.

While they were backing up, though, she felt something hard and cool behind her. She wasn't able to move back anymore. Confused, (f/n) glanced behind herself for a moment. There, an ice wall was blocking their path. "You didn't think that I would let you get back to the tree, did you? Both of you have no right to that water or its calming effects."

Neither feeling obliged to answer him, they remained quiet. She held onto her dagger with a firmer grip while Tarhuinn took a step forward. He had little choice to go elsewhere. That's what it seemed like anyway. With a dagger, he slammed his other hand into the ice wall. Much to her surprise, it shattered upon impact. Instantly, he darted back towards the tree with her.

"Looks like I'll have to make the next one stronger," they heard as they ran. Another wall started to form, but Tarhuinn jumped over it. She was about to do the same, but an ice spike shot out from the water. Instead of letting her go, Tarhuinn tugged her over to him and into his arms. His speed increased, and she clung to him to hold on.

The mage cursed in irritation, and no more ice rose from the water. This gave no reason to celebrate, however. Rather, it was a cause for severe concern. Tarhuinn was about to run into the area of the tree, but a wall of water blocked their path. There was nowhere to turn. They couldn't even run back, for it was coming down upon them too fast.

Pressing her to his chest, he braced them both for the impact. Cold water showered and covered them. It pushed Tarhuinn back for the first moments before he started to swim forward, yet this didn't even work. He tried to swim towards the tree, but he was moving back instead. She peered around his left upper arm and noted that the water was pulling them both back towards the mage.

When the water level began to lower, she glanced back to him worryingly. The dagger was still clutched in her hands, and she wondered if he wished for her to attack him. His lips parted, and he mouthed, 'I'll find a way to get back to you.' (E/c) eyes widening, (f/n) shook her head furiously, but the water continued to tug him back. He said no more on the subject, released her and shoved her through the water. (F/n) was about to swim back to him but the water level would reveal both of them soon. There was no time to think on the decision, and, unfortunately, she would have to agree with his.

Painfully, she turned her back to her husband and swam in the opposite direction as swiftly as she could. As she found deeper water, she lowered herself more so that she would remain hidden. By now, Tarhuinn had probably already been captured, but he couldn't be killed. She kept reassuring herself about that fact.

There was no possibility of her winning against a mage head-on. To make matters worse, the mage was part kelremm. She struggled enough with non-mage kelremm. Her best hope against that male was to attack him by surprise. In order to get back to Tarhuinn, she would have to use stealth. If she were caught, her chances of escape with Tarhuinn would be little if not nonexistent.

Needing air, she carefully rose from the water near a wall. She peeked out from behind it and back towards where she came. The mage was still standing there and had Tarhuinn now wrapped up in water bounds. (F/n) could feel some of the effects of the tree, but they weren't enough to cloud her mind. Rather, they merely eased her racing heart to a steady beat.

"Human, I can just move the water to bring you back to me. There's no point in hiding. Besides, there's no other way out of this room. You have to come back to me eventually. Or, should I torture your husband here and now while I wait for you?"

Tarhuinn was about to speak, but water speedily covered his mouth. The mage's eyes moved over her way, and she moved farther along the wall. Her attention focused on something out in the water. It was heading directly for her and at a fast pace. She needed to find dry land. Eyes searching the room, she found a small ledge several feet away, but she couldn't dart to it, or her location would be given away.

Being as silent and swift as she could, she swam through the water as the thing raced towards her. The dagger was in her right hand, and she hoped that it would be able to stall the thing for a bit if it reached her. About a foot away from the ledge, she felt a tug on both her ankles. An instant replay of the moment back with the tenlites occurred in her mind. This time, she had a blade.

Submerging herself, (f/n) found herself staring at a water-formed fish. It had two arms and hands rather than fins. Both were clasped around her, and it was swimming backwards. She readied the blade and struck at its hands. The dagger cut through both and broke contact for a mere moment. That was enough for her to create the needed distance.

Breaking the surface of the water, she reached for the ledge and gripped it. The fish had her once more, but she held on. Her fingers scraped against the rock, and she knew that they might become bloodied soon. When that happened, her hold would vanish. She almost lost it beforehand, though. A horrid cry rang throughout the space while blood drained from her face. It seemed as though her heart had stopped. Desperately, she wished to dart back towards Tarhuinn. Just what did that mage do to him? Another one followed, and she thought that she might be sick.

Her ankles were tugged on again, and she was nearly pulled under. She bit her lower lip and attempted to get her mind to focus on that rather than the screams as more came. Utilizing her strength, she managed to wrench her ankles free and get up onto the ledge. The fish swam around the land while she pressed herself more towards the wall.

Hands covering her ears, she couldn't listen to them anymore. She had to endure them. Otherwise, she would be caught, and she wouldn't be able to help free him. Still, she hated sitting there. The thought of somehow bringing the mermaids to the authors' home passed through her mind. (F/n) disliked those creatures, but she wouldn't mind them killing the authors, their spies and mages. They could probably fight against them while a group worked on taking out the mage, but they weren't there. There was no one to help but herself.

"You're still not coming out? Well, you're tougher than I thought. Your husband is rather weak, though. I've only begun, and he's already close to passing out. Maybe, my estimation of a week was a little bit too much. Should I tell you what I did to him? Afterwards, I'll draw you out with another wave. I'm surprised that my minion hasn't brought you back yet, but I have enjoyed this extended time with you two. I might even get you both for another extended time period in the future."

"Icniss! What's taking you so long?! Phyon is growing impatient. So, am I. I've already had to deal with your father today, and, now, I have to deal with you! Honestly, I just wanted to sleep in peace." Loud splashes of water continued, and a displeased groan from the mage followed.

"Byda, you need to learn to calm down. What my father does isn't my problem. He's your issue. And, I was about to retrieve the human. You can take her husband back to Phyon to keep him from exploding with fury."

"You can take her husband back with me. The human will have to come out eventually, and you released one of your minions on her already I presume. So, she won't be able to get out of here. We'll place several guards at the entrance as well, but you can't wash her out. She's too far in, and we can't risk damaging the tree."

"Fine," she heard last before footsteps sounded again. A sigh of relief left her lips, but such a feeling didn't last long. She needed to find a way around the fish and get to her husband before anything else was done to him. There would also be the issue of the guards and the fact that she wouldn't be able to see in part of the passage.

Shifting her eyes back to the tree, she looked to the leaves. If she could pick a few, they might light her way through the tunnel. The guards might be placed in the darkness, however, but it would be better for her to see them than to walk blindly into them. Whatever the case, she couldn't stay in the space forever. Tarhuinn needed her, and she wouldn't keep him waiting for too long.