LEGEND OF THE MER (11 page)

Prince Titus and Tempest were waiting for her at the dock.  It was a beautiful afternoon as the fog had burned off to a crisp blue sky and bright sunshine.  Lana was so happy to finally swim in the ocean once more. 
Here I come!
 
She ran as fast as she could to the end of the dock throwing down her towel as she jumped head first into the cool water.

“I am so glad you are able to swim with me once more,” the Prince said in
her mind as he swam up next to
her smiling.

“Believe me, so am I,” she smiled back.  Tempest came along on the other side and brushed up against her and it was as though he were also smiling.  Lana saw how many swimmers and surfers there were all
around them. 
Wow, I can’t believe how dangerous it’s
been for Prince Titus to come to the dock each day.

Prince Titus
smiled and let his thoughts ask
her, “Do you trust me?”

“Yeah
, you know I do
.
”

“Then climb on my back and hang onto my neck,” said the Prince as he helped her and brought her arms around his neck.  Then he and Tempest took off like a flash and left a white streak in the water behind them. 

Lana giggled inside at the th
rill of it;
now I know how he’s
managed to get past everyone undetected
.  This reminded her of Tempest taking her on a ride the first time she saw him.

In no time, the Prince slowed his pace as they neared a sunken ship resting on its side.  This was a much older ship than Lana had seen down by the pier.  “This is one of my favorite ships,” s
ai
d the Prince as he swam towards the stern of the ship.  Lana saw the words,
BONNIE SARAH
, deeply carved across the back.  Then the Prince swam over the portside of the ship and Lana saw how big the ship really was.  It had to have carried a large cargo and crew.  Then they swam towards the bow.  Lana could see that there was some sort of carved figure ahead. 

Prince
Titus
stopped right in front of the figure and Lana saw t
hat it was of a mermaid. 
She’s the very likeness of my mother, the way I saw her in my
dream
.
 
“I believe the person who
carve
d this must have real
ly seen a mer
.
”

“Yes, I believe that they did.  Now you know why I like to look at it
.
”
H
e smiled and then he helped her off his back and held her hand as he led her on a tour. 

The ship was nearly intact, except for a small hole in the underbelly and the cabin doors had broken off.  It was easy for the Prince and Lana to enter together.  It was very dark inside, but soon Lana’s eyes adjusted.  There was such beautiful carvings along the inside railing. 
W
hat wonderful craftsmen must have
made
her
.  Prince Titus quickly grabbed Lana and pulled her to his chest and held her against the wall.
 
“What are you doing?” Lana let her thoughts ask him a little nervously.

“I did not think that you would like to be their next meal,” he said as he looked behind him and Lana saw three tiger sharks gently gliding past them.

“Ugh, thanks, no I really wouldn’t.  Why didn’t they bother you?”

“They are generally friendly, and they would not wish to fight a mer.”

“Then I’m sure glad I was with you
.
”
S
he smiled
slightly
, still a little nervous by their closeness.

Prince Titus gently released her and continued showing her the ship.  One of the cabins they came into was filled with tiny seahorses and Lana was amazed at their intricate and delicate features. 
They’re beautiful
!
 

It made the Prince smile to see her enjoying them.  “I know we do n
ot have much time, but there is
one other place that I wish to take you
.
”

“Sure, wherever you want
.
”
S
he realized that he wanted her to ride on his back again so they could get there quicker.  She allowed her thoughts to tell him that it was fine and she climbed on his back once more and held on tight.

They swam even faster this time; he must have felt that she had adjusted to the idea of it.  They neared what looked like a large underwater mountain range with a deep valley at the top.  The Prince let Tempest lead them into the valley.  This made Lana a little scared as it grew so dark.  “Do not be afraid, it will not be dark for long,” he said comfortingly.

“Okay, I’ll try,” said Lana as she kept trying to focus.  They soon came into a cavern that was completely lit up and sparkling all along the walls and ceiling.  Not only were the cavern walls luminous, but even the many plants on the cavern floor.  Everything was a bright blue.  There was hundreds of tiny silver fish swimming all around making the cavern glisten all the more.

“Do you like it?” Prince Titus asked.

“I love it!  It’s so beautiful!” Lana said as she glanced all around. 

The Prince took her hand and swung her off his back and pulled her close.
 
“I do believe that I told you I would show you how the mer dance.”

“Oh yeah, okay,” said Lana a little nervous once again.

“Relax, I am not that boy from your prom
.
”
H
e gave a tender smile.

“I know you’re not, it’s just that I’m not really a good dancer.”

“Just let me do all the work,” said the Prince as he held her hand and placed his other hand around her waist.  He began to swirl them around slowly by moving his tail. 

It made Lana let out a giggle.
 
“This is fun and it’s so much nicer than my prom.”

“I had hoped you would like it.”

They swirled around dancing as Tempest swam around them in the opposite direction.  Lana couldn’t believe h
ow thoughtful the Prince was. 
Wow, he remembered about my
pr
om and kept his word to show me
how the mer dance.

Lana lost track of time.  She hoped this moment would never end.  While they danced, they talked to one another about his family.  He told her that his parents hoped to meet her one day
soon
.  She told him that she planned on asking her father tonight if she could spend one month with the mer.  She knew now that her father must have already read her thoughts a
bout it.  She hoped that he’
d understand that she needed to see for herself where she belonged.

“I suppose that I have to take you back, though I do not wish to,” said Prince Titus as he continued to hold her in his arm
s
and look
ed
into her eyes.

“Yeah, I suppose so
.
”
S
he smi
led as she thought
;
I
’
d very much like to kiss him again
.  He smiled and gently kissed her, only this time, the Prince lingered with his kiss.  It nearly took Lana’s breat
h away and she laughed to think;
I can breathe
underwa
ter, but
still can’t breathe when I’m
this close to him.

He
smiled and said,
“May all our da
ys be as
this one.”  Then
he gently brushed his fingers across her cheek.

“Yeah, I could get used to this,” Lana said as sh
e realized;
I’m really not
afraid of hi
m
anymore
.  N
ow
she
felt comfortable
with
and protected by his strength and size
.  She began to study his face and his crown of shells; she didn’t even find his ear
s strange anymore. 
He really is handsome
,
and with
his white hair floating all around him, he looks like a beautiful dream and I don’t want the dream
to end,
she thought.

“We must leave now or we will not make it before the sun has set
.
”
H
e smiled as he gently pulled her on his back again.  This time, Lana laid her head against his shoulder and allowed herself to enjoy the closeness of him.

Prince Titus and Tempest flew through the water at top speed and in no time, she was near her dock.  The Prince stopped and said, “Your father and Miss Perry are on the dock.”

“Oh, I see their feet in the water.  I didn’t think she’d still be here.  Do you want to meet her?”

“Not this time, perhaps another
,
”
H
e smiled gently pulling Lana around and giving her one last
tender
kiss.  Then he and Tempest quickly swam away.  Lana jumped up onto the dock and grabbed her towel.

“Well, you made it just in time
.
”
H
er father
smiled
.

“Yeah,” she answered as she dried herself off
with her towel
.