LEGEND OF THE MER (5 page)

“I hope you like your fish,” said the Princess as she handed the stick to Lana.

“So why would your brother want to be married to a, what did you call it, a merwalker like me?” Lana asked as she bit into the hot fish.

“It is true that my brother could have chosen from many of our maidens, but you are a Princess and a merwalker and that makes you all the more special,” s
ai
d Princess Tarra
encouragingly
.

“What do you mean that he could have chosen, wasn’t he practically a baby at the time like myself?” Lana asked curiously.

“No, the mer do not age as humans do.  My brother was thirty-nine winters the day that you were born and he agreed to the wish of King Titan and your parents,” said Princess Tarra not sure if she should have told Lana.

“What!  Why would he ever have waited for so long to choose someone, let alone marry them?” asked Lana in shock.

“You see, the mermen do not usually join in union until they are fifty winters.
  My brother has waited six winter
s past his time for you to come of age
.
”
T
he Princess
smiled proudly
.

“Wow, that was nice, but I didn’t know anything about it,” said Lana as she picked out the bones of her fish.

“We thought that you must not have, my brother only hoped that your father would keep to his agreement,” said Princess Tarra sadly.

“I can’t imagine my dad ever agreeing to such a thing. After my mother drowned, he never allowed me to enter the water.  I just went in the oce
an for the first time yesterday.”

“Your mother did not drown, and now I see what he has been doing,” said
the
Princess in a stern tone.

“My mother didn’t drown?  Then how did she die?”
Lana was even more confused by what the Princess had said.

“I am sorry Princess Lana, I can tell you no more, you must make your father tell you everything that happened the day your mother died and why he took you away from our people.  I must go and speak to King Titan, I will return shortly,” said Princess Tarra as she leapt into the water and disappeared.

It was dark in the cavern.  There were stacks of driftwood along the cavern wall and from what Lana could see in the distance a rain barrel of some sort.  Lana looked to the fire and wondered how the smoke was escaping into the cavern roof above. 
They must have the cavern
vented somehow
, she thought.  Then Lana felt the presence of someone else in the cavern wading in the water.

“Please do not be frightened, I did not wish to leave you alone.  As to the smoke, your father helped to design this cavern.  He drilled several holes into the roof leading to the top.  As you know, the top is nearly covered by fog year round and no one notices the smoke.  This is where you and he lived with your mother for a time,” said the Prince as he came near the ledge where Lana sat.

“How did you know that I was thinking
about the smoke?”

“We m
er have the gift of reading each
other’s
thoughts.  Even your father has the gift,” said the Prince and then he gave a wide grin. 

Just at that moment, Lana had been thinking that he wasn’t that bad looking and she realized that he must have read her thoughts.
 
“I’m not sure I like someone reading my thoughts,” said Lana a little creeped out by it.

“I am sorry, I shall try not to do it, but it will be hard
.
”
H
e smiled once more.

“I’m sorry if my dad was rude to you last night and I’m sorry you’ve been waiting, I mean, your sister said that you’ve been waiting for me,” Lana said as the words spilled out of her mouth and she realized that she was rambling.

“It is alright; Cole and I know each other well, and yes, I have waited for you for seventeen winters.  I am sorry that you did not know about the matter,” he said again with that beautiful smile of his and Lana guessed that he must have read her thoughts again.

“Okay, well this isn’t awkward
.
”
Lana
giggled
.

“I can leave if I make you feel uncomfortable,” he said seriously.

“No, it just takes some getting used to.  Tell me, where are we exactl
y?”

“You call it
Gull
Island
.  The cavern i
s located far below the surface.”

“Now I understand why no one is ever allowed to come here.”

“Yes, your father guards our secret, but it is also a dangerous place for humans to go.  Many have died here,”
t
he
Prince
said somewhat sadly.

“Ye
ah, I’
ve heard that too.  It’
s still so amazing to me that your people have lived here without anyone ever knowing of you.”

“The guardians have kept the oath and kept mine and your people safe, for you are part mer yourself
.
”
H
e smiled slightly at her again.

“Yeah, I keep forgetting that, although now it makes so much sense”
Lana
smiled
.

“I am sorry that you have not known about your people until now.  It must have been hard for you being a merwalker and never being allowed to swim in the ocean,” Prince Titus said with such compassion.

“Did you hear me talking with your sister or did you read our thoughts?” Lana asked with a giggle realizing that he must know all of it.

“I could not help but read your and my sister’s thoughts”
H
e
grinn
ed.

“Can you read thoughts even when you’re under the water?”

“Yes, even then.  I know you find my speech strange as well as my appearance, but I am glad that I no longer frighten you,” he
said with a
chuckle.

“Yeah, you are a little different from the guys I know, but it’s cool.  I kinda like it and no I’m not afraid anymore,” Lana said with a half grin.

Just then, King Titan came up with Princess Tarra and he looked to Lana and said, “I am sorry that you did not know of your people and that your father has kept you from us.  He must have his reasons and I will not question his choice in this matter.  We mer have always tried to live at peace with the guardians, for so much of our way of life depends on their ability to guard us.  We do not wish to anger your father any further and no matter how much we wish to have you home once more, we cannot go against his wishes.  I am sorry Princess Lana, but you must return to your home as soon as possible.  If it is agreed by your father, then we welcome you to return and visit with your people
.
”

“Can she not stay one night?” Prince Titus asked.

“You know she cannot, but I will allow you to escort the Princess home as long as you do not speak with her father
.
”
King Titan
smiled
to the Prince.

“Thank you for this, I will do as you ask,” said Prince Titus
, with a bow of his head
.

“I hope your father will allow you to come back, I have enjoyed getting to know you,” said Princess Tarra.

“Thank you for not only saving me, but also
allowing me to meet you and know
the truth about who I am
.
”
 
Lana
smiled
to all three of them.

“May the great Arius guide and protect you
.
”
King Titan
smiled once more
and then he and Princess Tarra swam away.

“Who is Arius?” Lana asked the Prince.

“He is the God of the air and creator of all living things on the land and under the sea, have you never heard of him?” asked the Prince surprised.

“I think we just call H
im God”

“Are you ready to go home?”
Prince
Titus asked
somewhat sadly.

“Yeah, I guess I’
d like to talk to my dad about all of this,” she said and then they both jumped down into the water.

Lana didn’t feel so ill this time when she swam so deep.  Prince Titus was keeping a slower pace than his dolphin had.
It wasn’t long and the dolphin
Tempest
also
swam
with them and Lana had to smile as she remembered that King Titan told the Prince that he knew that Tempest brought her to him.

Lana surfaced only once and she saw that the sun was setting, she was somewhat sad that she was nearly home.  It had been such a frightening and wonderful day all in one.  How she could imag
ine a life
of freedom such as the mer have.  Then again, it must also be hard for them to stay out of sight and she knew how humans can treat people that are different.  She was suddenly concerned for Prince Titus as they neared her dock. 

He sensed her fear and smiled.  He sent his thoughts to her and told her that he could take care of himself and that he would miss her.  He told her that he would never be too far away if she ever needed him. 

She let her thoughts tell him that she was glad she got to know him and hoped they would be friends and be allowed to see each other in the future.  He smiled once more and stopped at the bottom of the dock.  This was a hard goodbye for Lana; she had loved the water so much.  She saw her father standing above on the dock.  She looked once more to Prince Titus and smiled and then leapt forward and up onto the dock.

“So, they found you at last,” said her father somewhat sadly.

“No, it’
s more like I found them and I’m glad I did, but I’ll speak no more about it this day,” Lana said as she passed her father and headed into the house.
She still hadn’
t forgiven him and wanted him to know what it felt like.