“Yeah, I guess if my dad could do it, then so can I.” Tempest brushed around both of them forcing them together. “Who taught him that trick?” Lana giggled.
“I think that he taught himself that one, but I do not mind,” said the Prince as he slowly cradled Lana’s face in both of his hands and gently kissed her.
“Titus, I believe that it is time for the Princess to retire to her cavern,” said Titus’ father through the opening.
“Yes, I suppose it is. She had a headache and I brought her here to relieve it,” said Titus with a grin to Lana and then to his father.
“Yes, I am sure you did. However, the hour is late and I believe that you should escort her there with your sister Tarra.” His father smiled.
Princess Tarra was waiting outside the house and she swam with Lana and Titus to the cavern. “I hope everything is to your liking Princess Lana. There is grilled fish and I have made you a bed of seaweed. The coals in the fire will burn all night and I will stay with you this evening so you will not be alone.” The Princess smiled.
“Thanks, but I hate that you won’t be in your own home.”
“It is my pleasure. I would like to get to know you better,” said Tarra genuinely.
“That would be great, like a slumber party.” Lana smiled.
“What is a slumber party?” Titus asked.
“It’s just girls hangin out together for the night,” said Lana.
“Well, I suppose I am not wanted for such a thing.” He smiled to her.
“No, you are not needed,” said Tarra with a half grin, knowing that he was not wanting to leave.
“Goodnight Princess. May you have sweet dreams and know that I will have guards posted outside the cavern. Nothing will harm you here,” he said as he gave her one last tender kiss, ignoring the smile of his sister.
“Goodnight Prince, and thanks for everything,” said Lana as she watched him reluctantly swim away.
“I have not seen my brother this happy since before Tarrock died,” said Tarra.
“I’m glad, he deserves to be happy. He’s so kind,” Lana said with a dreamy smile.
“It cannot be easy for you, leaving your home. Thank you for coming to see your people and allowing us to show you our way of life.”
“It was hard to leave my father, but it wasn’t hard to leave my life on the island. Even though he tried his best, I’ve never been really happy there. It’s been hard for me to be so different. Human’s don’t always treat people that are different very kindly,” said Lana sadly.
“Here we judge one by their heart and not the way they look,” Tarra said with conviction.
“That’s a good way to live and my father’s people would do better if they lived like that. Not all humans are unkind. I know there’ve been many good ones in our history only some have forgotten and choose to be unkind.”
“Your father is a very good man and a great example to his people. He was always kind and very brave. He loved your mother and you and was accepted as one of the mer,” said Tarra encouragingly.
“Yeah, my dad’s a great guy. Enough of all this serious stuff; tell me about yourself Princess Tarra, is there a merman in your life?” Lana smiled.
“No not any longer. My intended was killed over four winters ago and I have not allowed myself to choose another,” she said sadly.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make you sad,” apologized Lana, feeling awkward about it.
“It is alright, I choose rather to remember the good he brought to my life and the lives of others. He was one of Titus’ guards and he was one of the dark ones. His name was Kitchi, which means brave. It was because of his bravery that he, Titus and a few others, went to help a ship that was sinking. There was a terrible storm and we mer had migrated to Tullius, which is our city in the South Pacific. The ship’s crew would have all died if it were not for Kitchi. As the ship was breaking apart on the reefs, he entered the ship and began to throw the men to Titus and the others. Just as he got the last man out, the rest of the ship along with Kitchi, was crushed against the reefs. All of the men were taken safely to a nearby island,” said Princess Tarra as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Princess Tarra, I’m so sorry. He did a wonderful thing,” said Lana trying to encourage her.
“Yes he did. I will never forget him as long as I live.” She wiped her eyes.
“Maybe in time, you’ll let yourself love again,” said Lana sympathetically.
“Perhaps.” She smiled slightly.
“Prince Titus’ friend Makoa seems like a nice guy.”
“Princess Lana, he is much too young for me,” Tarra laughed.
“How old is he? He looks to be Titus’ age.”
“He is not yet thirty-two winters. Remember, our mermen do not age in the same way that humans do. He will not be ready for a union until he is fifty winters. Mermaids usually marry when they are forty winters or as their hair turns completely white. I am now forty-five winters.” Tarra smiled.
“Oh yeah, I forgot about that, well I’m sure there are plenty of others to choose from,” said Lana with a sigh.
“Yes, but I cannot help but compare them all to Kitchi. Enough of this, tell me what you think of our city,” said Tarra changing the subject.
“I love it. I couldn’t believe that there were so many houses and how beautiful…”
The rest of the night, the two girls talked and laughed the time away. They each combed their hair with the whale bone combs that Princess Tarra had brought. They had also been carved by her brother Prince Tarrock. Lana did feel like it was her first slumber party. She knew that Tarra would make a wonderful sister if ever she and Titus were to marry.
~~~~~
Chapter 10
FALLING IN LOVE
Lana woke to the sound of someone stoking the fire. She opened up her eyes and saw that it was not Tarra, but Titus adding a piece of driftwood. He turned to her and smiled and said, “Hello Princess, it is not yet morning. I did not wish to wake you; I just wanted to make sure that you were warm enough.”
“Where is Princess Tarra?” Lana asked sleepily.
“She is sleeping in the pool on the other side of the cavern.”
“What pool?”
“There is a shallow pool, no more than two feet deep. I am certain that it is where you and your mother slept when you lived here once before.”
“Oh, I’m not sure I remember it,” said Lana as she yawned.
“You must sleep Princess, I know you are tired,” he said softly.
“Okay, will you be here when I get up?” Lana asked half closing her eyes.
“Yes, I will be here when you wake,” said Titus with a smile. Then Lana allowed herself to fall asleep once more with the comfort that he was near.
When Lana did wake again, the Prince was true to his word. She looked to the water’s edge just past her feet and saw him there. He was asleep with his head lying on his folded arms on the ledge of the cavern floor. The rest of him was in the water. Lana smiled and had a wicked thought; I should splash him.
Then she heard Tarra in her mind, “Do it! He would do it to you!” Tarra smiled at Lana from beside the fire. Just as Lana was smiling back at Tarra and getting up her nerve, a huge wall of water came crashing down on Lana and she was drenched. She looked up to see Titus with a wide grin on his face.
“So, you were going to splash me were you?” Titus chuckled.
“That’s no fair, you read our thoughts,” laughed Lana.
“Yes, and it is a good thing that I did.” He grinned with one raised brow.
“Makoa, Uly and I are going to gather some lobsters. Do you two want to come?” Princess Tarra asked.
“Only if Princess Lana wishes to,” answered Titus.
“Sure, sounds fun. I love boiled lobster!”
“Yes, I remember that was one of your father’s favorites as well,” answered Titus, but Lana read both he and Tarra’s thoughts that they preferred theirs raw. They laugh
ed to hear her thoughts that it repulsed her. “You will not have to eat yours raw.” Titus grinned.
“Thank you, I prefer mine boiled alive!” Lana laughed; how inhumane my choice must seem to them.
The five of them, along with Tempest, set out to gather the lobsters. Uly could hardly contain his enthusiasm that he was able to join Titus and Lana. He never left Lana’s side and constantly told her of his latest feats. It was clear that he had a young boy’s crush on her. Lana let him ramble on and Titus could tell that she had such patience with him. He liked that about her. “The last lobster that I caught was the biggest anyone had ever seen!” Uly bragged to Lana.
“Really, imagine that.” Lana smiled.
“Uly, race you to lobster grotto!” Makoa said enticing him.
“Alright, let us do it!” Uly shouted and then took off like a flash. Tempest couldn’t help but follow after them.
“I love my nephew, but he can be a bit annoying,” laughed Tarra.
“Yes, I would have to agree.” Titus smiled.
“I don’t mind him. I never had a younger brother or sister,” said Lana.
“He is not as young as you think. Uly is twenty winters,” Titus said with a half grin.
“Well in human years, he seems to be more like the age of ten,” said Lana a little surprised by his age.
“Yes, I suppose he is that,” said Tarra.
It wasn’t long and they reached the grotto where the lobsters were in abundance. Uly and Makoa had already started filling the large net bags that each had brought. Tarra also began filling hers and Lana helped Titus to fill his. He did not want to weigh her down with the heavy load. “Be sure to pick them up from their backs so that they cannot pinch you with their claws,” instructed Titus to Lana.
“Ugh, too late, this one got me,” Lana said as she pulled the lobster loose from her hand.
“Are you alright?” Titus asked with concern.
“Yeah, he’s especially on the menu for tonight,” Lana laughed as she put him in Titus’ bag.
Uly and Makoa tied their bags and set them on the sandy bottom of the ocean floor and began to tear open lobsters and started eating them. It made Lana a little ill to see it and all of the others laughed at her. Then Titus and Tarra began doing the same. Titus handed Tempest some of the meat and he even ate it. “I didn’t realize how strong your hands are,” said Lana as she picked up another lobster and tried to crush its shell like the others had done and couldn’t do it.
“Would you like to try one raw?” Titus asked with a raised brow and a grin.
“Sure, why not. I guess my mother must have eaten it that way,” said Lana bravely.
Titus took the lobster from her hand and tore it open and handed her the meat. She took a bite and was surprised that it really wasn’t as bad as she thought it would be. It still has the sweet taste I love; only I do prefer it hot and without the taste of salt water in my mouth.
“It is alright if you do not like it that way.” Smiled Titus encouragingly.
“You know, I could eat it like that if I had to, but I prefer mine cooked,” she laughed.
“I feel the same, about it being cooked. Your father had me try it that way once.” Titus grinned.
“Cooked, how awful!” Uly yelled.
“Yes, that sounds terrible,” said Makoa wrinkling his nose.
“I am sure that Princess Lana finds our ways strange too,” said Tarra.
“Yeah, no one where I come from just rips right into a lobster and starts eating it.”
“Titus, if you like, I will take the lobsters back to the cavern for you with Uly and Princess Tarra,” said Makoa, knowing that he wished to be alone with Lana.
“Hey, no fair, I want to be with Lana too,” said Uly.
“You have to help me get these back to the city,” said Makoa.
“Are you sure Makoa? That would be nice for us to take our time,” said Prince Titus with a grin.
“Yes, I am sure. If it becomes too heavy, Uly will help me.” Makoa smiled to Lana and Lana couldn’t help but let out a small giggle.
Makoa and Tarra encouraged the reluctant Uly along. Titus took Lana’s hand and they entered the grotto even further. They surfaced into a small cavern much like the one at Gull Island. Tempest stayed below and enjoyed playing with the lobsters. “I can’t believe how many lobsters are here,” said Lana still looking towards the bottom.
“Yes, that is why we call it lobster grotto. There are plenty to be had.”
“This is a beautiful cavern,” said Lana as she looked around at the shimmering green light. It was small, but the underwater entrance was large and let in the sun’s rays which filtered onto the cavern walls.
“Yes it is, but it is not the only thing that is beautiful,” said Titus as he took Lana into his arms and held her close. He looked lovingly into her eyes and smiled that brilliant smile of his that made Lana’s heart melt and then he gently kissed her. “I am sorry. I have wanted to do that since I first saw you sleeping in the cavern this morning,” he said as he brushed her hair back from her face.
“You couldn’t have gotten much sleep.” She grinned.
“No, remember, someone was going to splash me,” he chuckled.
“Seriously Titus, how much sleep did you get?”
“Who needs sleep when I can dream with you while I am awake,” he said kissing the palm of her hand.
“You’re crazy,” she laughed.
“If you mean, am I a fool? Yes, I will be a fool for you.” He smiled.
“Thank you Titus,” said Lana as she looked deep into his eyes.
“Thank me for what? For going against your father’s wishes and keeping you here with me unchaperoned?” He smiled a wide grin.
“No thank you for believing in me. For believing in what we could be one day, and for bringing me here,” said Lana as she put her hands on the back of his neck and for the first time, she allowed herself to pull him towards her and she kissed him tenderly.
“I must say, you are very welcome.” He smiled once more kissing her again.
“I suppose we should go back.” Lana smiled reading his thoughts.
“Yes, I suppose we should.” He grinned letting out a sigh. Then he took her hand and swung her onto his back.
Lana allowed herself once more to rest against his strong shoulder as she clung to his neck. She smiled to know he had just read her thoughts about how much she liked it. It made Titus swim all the faster. He felt that there was nothing he could not do with her being a part of his life. Tempest barely kept up with them.
~~~
Each day was the same; Titus would already be in the cavern when Lana woke each morning. Some days they would join Tarra, Makoa and Uly. Other days they would spend it exploring some of Titus’ favorite places, just the two of them, except for Tempest. Titus even showed Lana some of the other weapons that his brother Tarrock had made.
After two week’s time, Princess Tarra had been sent on an errand from her mother Princess Cassandra. “Hello Princess Lana and Titus.” Tarra smiled at the two of them enjoying the beauty of the coral reef gardens in the city of Torbist.
“Hi Princess Tarra.” Lana smiled.
“Hello Sister, why are you bothering us?” Titus asked with a knowing glance.
“Mother has asked that I bring Princess Lana to the Hall. Many of the mermaids are gathered there and wish to get to know her. You have taken up all of her time since she has arrived and mother said it is her turn.” Smiled Tarra to her brother, knowing it would be hard for him to let her go.
“That is well and good, if Princess Lana wishes to go.” He looked into her eyes and let his thoughts tell her that he would miss her and that he did not wish to share her with anyone.
“Of course I’ll go Titus. We’ve had every day, I can give her this one.” Lana smiled, knowing it was not the answer he was hoping for.
“Alright, if you wish; however, tomorrow I shall have you the entire day,” he said with a half gri
n and raised brows.
“Yeah, you know I can’t refuse you,” Lana laughed and gave him a quick kiss and began to swim away. Titus grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him and he gave her a very generous kiss. He chuckled and then released her. He had read her thoughts that she nearly changed her mind.
LEGEND OF THE MER Page 10
