Alden nodded without really looking up. “I’d love to be able to hide in the shadows sometimes.” He mused. “But even with a black tail, I can’t hide from my lineage, so I don’t even try anymore. It’d be nice to do that, though, every now and then.” He narrowed his eyes at the pressed words before him. He heard what Loretti said, and nodded to let her know. The words didn’t really register, however, other than ‘remember. blue... her coloring’.

He paused, when a question was directed right at him. “Hm...” He looked up at last. “Before my mother died, she predicted very bad times for the city, for me as well.” He said. “Something that will come, and change the course of life for Aqaris. I’m just trying to figure out what it could be. My first impression is... humans. They’ve been approaching for some time, getting closer to the city every year. And I’m finding more and more worrisome events having taken place in the land-dwellers’ realm.” He sighed, resting his head in his hand. “I just don’t know what the danger is. I wish she could have told me. I’d be able to do something before someone got hurt.”

Diana suggested, "How about get together a group of counselors and advisers to help you with this matter. Working as a team or delegating is part of running a kingdom, otherwise you would burn out." She wasn't sure where the advice came from, but felt that someone should offer that particular bit. So humans were getting closer huh? That wasn't good. They had been here far longer than their history remembered. It was safe, or had always been, from the greedy creatures of the surface world. Pity they were in existence at all.

Alden thought for a moment, running a hand over the fabric he held. “I don’t see why not.” He said at last. “Since I’ll be on my own otherwise. I suppose after tonight I’ll have to search for some reliable people. Intelligent people. We’d be able to prepare the city for any danger on the horizon.” He paused. “But she did mention it would test me. Me specifically. What if it’s not the city in danger, but I’m being targeted? What if the city’s in danger because of me?”

He made an annoyed sound just as Guai returned and took a seat to Alden’s right. “I don’t think that’s the case.” He said. “I think she meant it’ll test your true resolve as a leader.”

Alden nodded. Guai always seemed to be right, or at least, not far from it.

Diana suggested softly, "Cryptic words. They could mean any number of things. You should just do your best with life as you live it. When the time comes when things seem to be falling apart, for whatever reason, you can remember her words and know that it is something that can be overcome as long as you don't give up." The serving staff approached with trays of the food that Diana and Loretti had ordered.

Alden thought about it. “Maybe.” He said after a while. “But that’s not really the life I’m supposed to live. I dedicate my entire being to the people of the city, and those nomadic merpeoples or those of the outlying villages. It’s not what I’m asked to do, it’s what I’m obligated to do. If something is threatening my city, my people, I have to find out what it is, or at least be ready for it.” He glanced at Guai, whose solemn nod said more than enough. “Luckily,” Alden added, “the threat isn’t supposed to be years off, or months off. It’s most likely several weeks off at the most. My mother’s predictions have never exceeded more than two months’ time.”

Alden rolled the fabric up again. He didn’t have the interest to read about the humans, the land-dweller pollution and out of control multiplication. He moved them aside as two more of the serving staff approached after Diana and Loretti’s had left. Though he didn’t have an appetite, he didn’t want to suffer Guai’s death glare the rest of the night.

Diana shook her head. He had completely missed the point of what she had been trying to say. Oh well, her brainwaves flowed differently than others. She looked in appreciation at the dishes of food that was placed in front of her. Loretti began to explain what the origins of some of the more exotic dishes where. Her love of history apparent.

Alden put his gaze down. He could hardly think straight, even as he tried to push back the worry. He just wanted to crawl away and hide in a cave, where no one could find him or look at him. He could do that when he was young, vanish without a trace. Not many people worried where he was, because around that time, his parents were young. Now, people cared about him. They watched him.

The quiet, broken only by Loretti’s low voice, let return the pain of the morning’s events. With a heavy sigh he picked at the food he’d been brought, while Guai watched him with a knitted brow. It was times like these the old merman didn’t quite know what to say to his young friend, so he stayed quiet.

Diana glanced over and saw that he was having trouble eating. Worry weighed on his very presence. She sighed. She would hate to be in his position, but he had been raised for this day. He needed to keep his chin up. She leaned over and asked, "My Lord, would you care for our company at your table?" She saw Loretti's confused face clear with conspiracy as a knowing look passed between them. Distraction from the pain so that he could focus. He didn't have time to mourn right now.

Alden glanced up, and smiled. It wasn’t forced this time. “I wouldn’t mind.” He said quietly. Guai grinned widely, but was approached by a guardsman who muttered something to him, turning his face stony for an instant.

“I’ll leave the lot of you.” He said, moving away from the table. “I’ve got a few things to take care of.”

Alden nodded, but gave Guai a look that said ’don’t keep anything from me.’ Guai heeded the silent warning with a nod before taking off after the guard.

Diana and Loretti started to rise to move over. Faster than they could blink, serving staff appeared and carried their things with them to Alden's table. Diana settled in and gave a moment of silence for herself to adjust to being at his table and him to adjust with their presence being closer. He was definitely not bad looking despite being older than her by quite a bit. She wondered what had kept him from getting a wife, someone to rule by his side. It would have made this a lot easier for him to get through.

After taking a bit of food and chewing it carefully. She looked over and tilted her head quizzically. You have quite a few scrolls there. What have learned about humans? Maybe this would help get his mind off his parents. She could only hope. The furrows in his forehead and the tired shadows beneath his eyes smoke volumes. His health needed to be protected by others at this rate. Only he could handle the emotional aspect.

Alden had to force himself to remain where he was. It was strange having both Diane and Loretti near. He knew Loretti well, but not quite as well as Guai, who had to leave, and Diane was more or less a stranger to him. He did, however, wonder why a lovely mermaid such as herself would want to simply disappear, rather than show off the talents and beauty she very obviously possessed.

Before Diane spoke, Alden humored Guai’s lack of presence and ate a bit from his own plate. It wouldn’t do anything to help the city of he let himself starve. “Humans... are strange.” He said after a moment. “They reign as superior beings on dry land but take it for granted and take without giving back. Or at least, without giving nearly as much as they take. It’s as though they see their land, their home, as something they’re entitled to, rather than allowed to dwell on.” He shook his head. “No matter how much I observe them, though... I just can’t understand them entirely.”

He ran a finger over the smooth fabric, then rested his head in his hand. “I’ve seen your metalwork.” He said suddenly. “I’ve been to the shop your parents, I believe, own. If Loretti weren’t here you would probably be the single best artisan of the city.” He glanced toward Loretti and managed a smile. “Of course, I hope you don’t mind my saying so.” He said to her.

Diana's mouth dropped open. It would have shocked her enough to hear how little humans cared for their environment. That alone would have been enough to give her a lot to chew on for awhile. Yet to hear that he really liked her talent, she wasn't sure what to think. Stammering, she managed to say out of sheer surprise, "My art all has a small emblem on it." She pulled off an armband and held it out to him. "That starfish with the moon in the center. That is my design." She randomly thought how amusing it would be if she put that design in random places that he might swim past put pushed the thought from her mind.

A genuine smile came forward when Alden took the gold circlet. Hopefully he had brought Diana out of her shyness, which he had still felt a bit of. “I’ve seen it before.” He said, running a thumb over the emblem. “Others tend to wear gold with this pressed into the metal. I’ve even seen it in the palace.” He looked up. It was the truth, but perhaps Diana was too modest to accept that. “With a little more practice in the most delicate aspect of it, you’ll be the master of your family.”

He handed the gold back to Diana. “Perhaps when Loretti retires you can take her place. Despite her looks, she’s actually rather old.” He glanced at the young-looking mermaid, who gave him a pinched look.

((snickers, oh that was funny))

Diana blushed a deep blue hue in her cheeks and accepted the jewelry piece back. Placing it back on to give her mind something to focus on, she wondered why she felt both so at ease with him and still as uncertain as ever. At least his mind was redirected from his parents' deaths, but she had never imagined it would be focused on her. She spoke a bit more bravely, "I am actually the best at delicate gold art in my parents household. My mother is the true artisan as she can do more types of gold work than I, but I am able to work on more delicate tasks than her." She glanced sideways at Loretti. She was old? Really? Turning back to Alden, she asked, "When a new master of a craft is needed in the palace, how is one chosen?" She had no plans of usurping the old girl, but she was curious. She liked it here and she really liked being near Alden.

Alden nodded slowly, running a hand along his chin in thought. “I see. Perhaps with a little honing of those skills you’ll quickly pass your mother. That is, with the right teacher.” He glanced toward Loretti. “Dear, would it be a problem if you actually trained Diana as your replacement? Perhaps, if she would like?”

“That wouldn’t be a problem at all.” Loretti grinned. “It’d be nice to have a little help from more keen eyes now, since mine aren’t doing too well anymore.” She put a finger to her temple, then looked at Diana. “Would your parents care? I mean, if you spent your time here?”

“Palace apprentices tend to stay in the palace itself while being tutored.” Alden said. “That way there isn’t time taken in finding one another from the city, and making the trip to and from the palace.”

He tried to figure out why he was being so generous. His mind raced while he spoke, but couldn’t find a single reason. Perhaps because the blue mermaid reminded him so much of his youth, when he tried to hide, and even now, when he did his best to avoid others and at the same time taking care of his business. Maybe he saw a little of his soul in the young woman.

Diana felt a sense of excitement at the idea of actually becoming the palace apprentice in gold craft. It would give her a more specific direction in life and a purpose for not running off all the time. Eyes sparkling in eager anticipation, she automatically ducked her head. "That would be really nice. All of it. I would love to be your apprentice Loretti and I am sure my parents wouldn't mind me staying here. It would give them more space." She shyly picked at her food. It would also give her a chance to study the art here as well. Both the gold and the living. Her eyes drifted back to Alden.

The prince, it appeared, had brightened a bit, though he was so soon to become the king. “You can come and go as you please throughout the castle,” he said. “I’ll make sure the guards know who you are and don’t bother you.”

As he spoke, Guai returned with a grim look on his face. Alden glanced around as the old merman moved close, shielding his face while he spoke very quietly to Alden. The spark that had been in his eyes was extinguished immediately. “Oh.” He muttered. “Oh my. Really? All right then...”

He went back. “Loretti, perhaps you should accompany Diana back to her home to let her family know of the arrangements. Just so they know it’s the real thing. I have to... take care of something.” He hurried off with a quick wave goodbye to the two mermaids, following the dark red tail of Guai as he took off, fast for an old man.

Diana blinked at their retreating forms. Feeling the water around her swirl, she turned and followed Loretti's lead. They headed through the halls and soon out through one of the entrances. Loretti motioned her to show the way. Both were worried for Alden. It seemed that important things were all happening really quickly. Diana whispered, "I hope he likes my present to him." Loretti nodded, "He will." They worked their way through town and soon reached the low area in which the artisans who required heat lived. Time to explain to her parents why she was not going to live with them anymore.

Alden followed Guai to the topmost balcony of the palace, far above the city itself, and that which Alden tended to vanish to. Mounted on a marble stand was what appeared to be a telescope, but more compact and much more rounded, save the eyepiece. It pointed away from the city and palace and through a deliberate hole in the cage of protective coral. Guai went to the lense and rearranged it. “A few routine rounds showed us some... strange things.” Guai said. “We’ve kept them in sight for several days but it seems they’re getting closer.”

“What are they?” Alden asked. When Guai shook his head, it said enough. No one knew. At least, no one they’d referred to. Alden put his eye to the lense and looked around. Only the blue of afternoon ocean, fish massive and small, some sharks, dolphins, schools of silver fish and the occasional floating jellyfish, moved about. But when he focused he could see something else. Several somethings. They were oddly shaped, oval in a way, decorated with circles. Alden’s heart dropped when he realized he’d seen those things before. Submarines.

But they were small. And it looked like they were attacked to some huge thing not quite as deep as the submarines. Perhaps the ship they were attached to. He explained everything as he discovered it to Guai and a couple other guards who had approached while he looked around. “This might be what my mother was predicting.” Alden said as he turned away. “They seem several miles off, though, so we can’t be sure if it’s just a routine underwater expedition for tourists or something that might threaten the city.”

“What to do?” Guai asked. “Do we do anything?”

“Of course.” Alden turned to the guardsmen. “I want you to gather all the guards, men and women, and until the submarines and ship seem to be gone, post yourselves all over the city. Guai can equip you all with spyglasses strong enough to see the offending area.”

“What about you, sir?” One of the men asked.

“Don’t worry about me. I want the city safe. Whoever it is that organized the state of human invasion I’m seeing here, I’m pretty sure it’s targeting the city more than me. I can take care of myself, anyway. Now go.”

The guards nodded once, and scattered either way. Alden ran a hand through his hair and sighed. His first test.

Loretti floated in Diana's room as she slowly floated around it, double checking for any last minute things she wanted to pack. Finally satisfied, the two set about scrubbing down the stone floors and walls. Making sure every last inch was free of the small grime and plant life that sometimes drifted into homes, they made the place smooth and clean. Then they tackled the bed. Sifting through the sand, they soon had it clean and turned. With everything in place, they swam downstairs to the workshop.

Since hearing her daughter would be moving out, her mother had sent messengers to fetch her father and sister. Her parents were waiting for her in the workshop. She could hear her sister playing a harp in the garden. She swam up to them and hugged them. They gave her a wrapped package as a present, containing the tools of her trade. With a last hug, she swept out to the back garden. Loretti quietly following but staying to the shadows.

Diana saw Athena sitting in the middle on a smooth rock, strumming gently. Her hair floated around her. Swimming up, she said, "I have to go now Athena."

Athena looked over at her, "Alright. Have a good time."

Diana paused, "We'll still be able to see each other. It isn't like I am leaving the city."

Athena glared at her and swam up so that she was extended to her full height in front of her. "And it isn't like your anything special either. Your still you. Just because you got the attention of the heir doesn't change who you. You who sulk in shadows and never apply yourself or take chances. I'm the one who has always worked hard. I'm the one who can float through any social in the city. I'm the one who has faced large audiences bravely and done well. You have always stayed hidden and I have never seen you work hard a day in your life. Yet you, you are the one that gets the highest honor. Just go Diana. Go and enjoy your life there. You won't change. You will still stay to the shadows. If you come out of them, you'll only create whispers and gossip. Stay out of sight." With that, Athena swooped down, grabbed her harp, and swam away.

Diana stayed silent a moment, frozen in shock. Sure, small comments had been made before. But nothing so thunderous. She slowly turned and swam towards the palace. Automatically seeking the shadows and using her speed for her advantage, she soon left Loretti behind without meaning to. There was one room she knew she could fit in. A room beautiful with shades of blue everywhere. She could be in there and not worry about what others thought. And she belonged there. Alden had said it suited her. Just like this city suited him.

She could be hidden there just as, if someone took the time to organize it, the city could be hidden with a garden of fauna covering it. That wouldn't happen though. What sunlight reached these depths was too precious to mermaids. They would never look for an alternative motive to lighting. She thought of the glowing tunnels where the ancient rulers were buried. That rock was a possibility. But again, sunlight was coveted. Who would go against the wishes of seductive mermaids? She reached the palace and slowed only long enough to approach and enter past the guards. As soon as the shadows slipped around her, she fled. Zipping and flying through the halls, she reached the room that alone was hers. Athena and her friends would never be allowed in here. She would see to it personally if she had to.

The guards quickly and efficiently scattered about. They stood watch at every entrance and exit, along their platforms around the coral cage’s top, and patrolled the lip of the crater the city was nestled in. Only four were standing guard around the palace, and that was because Guai had gotten onto Alden for not taking his own safety as seriously as anyone else’s. He was drifting along the first floor, wary of almost everything, when one of the young ones, Tevin, approached. “M’lord,” he said with a bow. “The young artisan apprentice is in distress. She went to her room rather erratically.”

Alden had considered that. Perhaps her family, or at least a few, hadn’t appreciated the young mermaid to be chosen. Perhaps they didn’t see her true ability as he and Loretti did. “It’s all right.” He said. “Just leave her be. If she isn’t out by tonight, at least an hour before... the ceremony... then see if she’ll want to speak with me on the matter.”

“Where can we find you at that time?” Tevin asked.
“In...” Alden narrowed his eyes down the hall. “The throne room. There isn’t anything else to do this evening, anyway.” He moved away when Tevin nodded. As he went through the tall double doors, he found the room to have been altered. Instead of two ornate seats, there was one, and the tapestries of his parents that once billowed in the underwater currents had been moved to the sides of the room, so his, made mainly of black and white and a little gold, hung heavily behind the chair. He sighed at the sight. So efficient were the palace’s many staff. Yet, so empty the dwelling they could have been ghosts.

Diana slowly swam around the room's walls in misery. She hadn't realized her sister's feelings were so strong like that. That hurt the most. The accusations had their own bite, but family was family. You were supposed to be able to depend on family. You were supposed to be able to trust family. She had her mother's support. Her father was always gone working. Still though, Athena was closer in age. So why not have her trust as well. If you couldn't count on your own family, then who could you count on?

Listlessly drifting in a never ending circling, from shadow to shadow, her numbed and angered heart slowly woke up. She blinked and looked around. Time had been passing and she was not presentable at all. She had wasted so much time feeling sorry for herself when she should be making the most of this opportunity that had been given her. Leaving the walls and drapes of the sidelines, she cut across the room to the large mirror and settled on a sandy seating area. Staring at her reflection, she saw that her face was pale. How blue could transform to a point where you could see pale was beyond her. Gritting her teeth, she determined to do her best. She had this chance. She could make something with her life. Not worked a day in her life? Sulking in shadows? She wasn't going to give those accusations any basis. She started working on her hair.

Alden had only ever wondered what it was like to sit from this height. To look down upon the floor, which was lined with the same glowing stones as inside the cove of the dead. They spiraled up the tall columns and made swirling patterns on the domed ceiling. Now he sat where his father had, and before that, where his grandfather had. He could feel the presence of both of those great men where he sat. The doors were far away, it seemed, and closed. Not much natural light could enter the throne room, but it was illuminated enough to see well the most specific areas, including the statues of ancients, including Poseidon, standing tallest of all.

He sighed. Alden felt oddly alone again. He knew he wasn’t, especially not with the support the city seemed to give him and his late parents, but slouched in the throne of his old father, it was as though everyone else in the world, both above and below the waves, might as well have been wiped away from existence. He watched his flat tail fin move up and down, creating ripples in the water. Not long now, and the final stone would be fitted into the largest plate of his necklace. Thinking about it, he took the thing from around his neck and studied it. Perfect blue stones, each a little larger than the last from both the left and right side, went down to meet the largest empty plate. When he was young, he never saw any oddities in the perfectly smooth metal. But after a while, he’d noticed a small indent in the middle of the plate, and realized that was where they would put the jewel right before they hammered it in.

He was busy eyeing the area when the door came open. Tevin again. “Sir.” He said. “There’s three more hours before the transition ceremony.”

“Thank you, Tevin.”

“Do... you want someone to stay outside...?”

Alden rolled his eyes. “If you like. If anyone wants in, let them in.”

Tevin nodded and retreated, letting the door fall closed quietly. Alden stared at the glowing pattern on the ceiling.

Fixing her hair and making sure she was presentable, Diana quietly slipped out of her room. Swimming along the wall where she would make the least disturbance, she made her way to the diningroom and picked up a snack. Nibbling on it, she explored the castle halls on her way to the artisan chambers below. There were so many beautiful things. The borders to the walls. The pillars. The statues. The art on the walls. Finally she reached the chambers below and quietly went to the forge. Looking down at the molten lava, she felt mesmerized by the glowing embers. Turning slowly, she surveyed the room. Come this afternoon, her life as an apprentice would begin. She would become very familiar with this place.

Several hours passed so quickly. Alden had left the throne room to return to his chamber, and sat in front of the mirror in the corner. His hair was wild, a world of white feelers hanging in a forest around his face, and when he smoothed it down, it just went back up. He sighed at it, leaning forward and staring at the tired look in his eyes. He didn’t want to show the entire city a weary leader. It might make them worry for their safety. He shouldn’t be tired anyway. He’d slept a long time.

Alden glanced around when the door opened and Guai entered. “Are you ready?” He asked.

“No.” Alden shook his head as though the word wasn’t enough. “I can’t believe it’s so soon. Or, it seems so soon.” He looked up to Guai. “Do... you have something to wake me up a bit?”

Guai smiled. From the pouch he kept around his waist, he pulled a small round thing. It looked like a stone, but had a clarity reminiscent of a gem. “This’ll wake you up and take away that tired look.” He said. “Just swallow it whole and before the ceremony begins, it’ll take effect. It’ll also ease you out of that low feeling a bit at a time.”

Alden nodded and swallowed the little stone-like gem. Guai patted him reassuringly. “Just don’t get addicted.” Alden shook his head. Guai turned, going back to the door. “If you want to find Diane, she’ll probably be in the artisan chamber. I saw her headed that way earlier. Let her know the ceremony is soon.”

With a sigh, Alden attached the necklace around his neck, the spiraled gold armbands, plated belt whose thin chains hung down and showed off more multi-colored gems that didn’t become too gaudy. He didn’t think about it anymore as he left, headed toward the artisan chambers.