“She is totoka, is she not?” Levu asked, knowing what Micah was thinking.
“Yes, she is beautiful. Is Makoa her mate?”
“I do not think so.”
“Good,” said Micah with a wide grin and the two of them headed out to fish.
~~~~~
Chapter 14
ROSE OF THE SEA
The next month seemed to be the hardest for Lana. Titus never wanted her to go to Mer Island and she had to practically beg him to let her. This began to put a strain on both of them. She wasn’t feeling well and she began to wonder if she would be able to live the life of a mer. She remembered what her father had said about her needing sunlight as much as possible and she thought that was the answer.
One day, she talked Titus into allowing her to visit the island without Levu. She knew that it was because of Levu’s friend Micah, that Titus was more guarded. Princess Tarra and Makoa, along with Tempest, went also.
Lana felt like she hadn’t had a place for her private thoughts in so long, all she wanted to do was sit under the shade of the trees and cry. Why did I agree to leave Safe Harbor? She loved Titus, but she missed her father so much and she was beginning to lose her appetite for any of the mer food. Most mornings, she didn’t even want to leave their small home in the city and she thought that maybe that was why she was getting so depressed. Lana cried herself to sleep.
Titus began to worry; Lana did not usually stay so long without coming back to him. He had tried calling for her and he was not sure if she could hear him. For the first time, he was really afraid. He knew that there was nothing that he could do to help her so deep on the island and he wished that he had brought Levu along.
“Do you think she is alright Titus?” Tarra asked.
“I do not know; I wish I had Levu to help me. Lana! Lana! Can you hear me?” Titus called out once more trying to get her to answer.
“Look, there comes a small boat, perhaps it is Levu,” said Makoa as he began to swim towards it. When he reached the boat and surfaced, he realized that it was not Levu, but Micah. He was not sure how Titus would feel about asking for his help.
“Bula Makoa, it is good to see you,” called Micah as he slowed his boat.
“I am not so sure I should do this, but I think we need your help,” said Makoa with a half grin.
“I will do anything I can, what is it?” Micah asked with concern, for he knew that it would take a great deal for the mermen to admit they needed him.
“We have not seen Princess Lana in a while and she is on the island. Prince Titus is worried that she might be in trouble,” said Makoa seriously.
“I will come and help,” said Micah as he began to drive his boat towards the island.
Makoa swam quickly back to Titus to tell him the news. Titus was not particularly happy that Micah was the one coming, but his fear for Lana outweighed his distrust of Micah. Princess Tarra was glad to see him once more and Titus was not happy of that fact, Makoa only laughed at the two of them.
“What part of the island is she on?” Micah asked as he quickly jumped from his small boat into the surf.
“She went into the middle, she likes to sit in the shade,” said Titus with a knot in his stomach.
Micah ran quickly and called out, “Princess Lana! Princess Lana! Where are you?”
Lana woke up to the sound and looked to see Micah coming towards her, “I’m here, what’s wrong?” Lana asked confused.
“I am glad that I found you, Prince Titus is worried that something has happened to you, are you alright?” Micah asked with concern.
“No, I’m not alright. I don’t feel well, I can’t stop crying. I guess I fell asleep, but I’m not ready to see Titus right now. I need more time,” she began to sob.
“I see. Well, let me at least tell him that you are here and that you are safe,” he said compassionately and Lana just shook her head yes.
When Titus saw Micah coming back alone and could not read his thoughts, it was everything he could do to keep from hopping onto the shore.
“She is safe, but she says that she does not feel well and she is crying,” said Micah trying to calm him, seeing the look on his face.
“She is not well, what is wrong? Why is she crying?” Titus asked still concerned.
“In my village, there is a Hawaiian woman that is like a doctor to my people. Her name is Grandmother Nalani and I could bring her here if you like?”
“Do you think it would be safe, can you trust her?” Titus asked with even more concern.
“She is a kind woman and truly my grandmother; she has spoken of the mer for as long as I can remember.” Micah smiled.
“I guess I do not have any choice, I would be grateful if you would do this for me,” said Titus wishing that it were Levu instead.
Micah quickly jumped into the little boat and Makoa gave him several shoves to help him get past the reefs faster.
All Titus could do now was wait; it ripped at his heart to not be able to help Lana.
It was only a little more than an hour when Micah returned with a small white haired native woman. She did have a kind face and Titus was glad. He was thankful for any help she might be able to give. She did not even find Titus strange as she got out of the boat; she gave him a tender smile. “Thank you, I am grateful for your coming to aid us,” said Titus sincerely.
“You are welcome Prince of the mer, I will do what I can,” she said in her island accent as she followed Micah into the trees. When Micah brought her to Princess Lana, Grandmother Nalani smiled to him and asked him to wait with the Prince. Then she looked to Lana with understanding, “Tell me what is the problem child?” she asked in a loving voice.
“I’m sorry if I’ve made my husband worry. I’m not sure? I don’t feel well and I can’t stop crying. I love my husband, but sometimes he makes me so mad,” she couldn’t keep from sobbing.
“There, there now. Is he mean to you?”
“No not really. I used to get along with him just fine, but lately everything he does drives me crazy!” Lana began to sob even louder.
“There, there, tell me how long you have been married?” Grandmother Nalani asked sweetly as she rocked Lana in her arms.
“I don’t know, about three months I guess,” she sniffled.
“How long since he bothers you?”
“I guess about two months now. Why, what do you think is wrong with me?” Lana asked with concern.
“I think maybe you’re gonna have his child.” She smiled to Lana.
“You mean I’m pregnant?” Lana asked with wide eyes.
“I am knowledgeable in this, and I say yes.” She smiled brighter.
“Wow, I didn’t see that coming. Only now it makes so much sense. I stopped paying attention to my cycle. I guess it was because I was living in the water like a fish and we’ve been so busy and I’ve missed my dad...” Lana poured out her heart to Grandmother Nalani and she gave Lana some advice on things she could eat as a mer and a human mother that would help her growing baby. Lana was so glad she had taken the time to come and help her. She was grateful that Titus had trusted Micah enough to allow him to get her. After about an hour or so, Lana walked back to the shore with Grandmother Nalani.
Titus was still barely able to restrain himself at the sight of Lana with her swollen red eyes. Then he saw a smile cross her face and he finally let out the breath he had been holding for so long. Lana didn’t speak at first, she just began running to him and jumped into his arms. He was more confused than ever and then she let her thoughts tell him that they were going to have a baby. “A baby!” Titus yelled and he hugged her and spun her around in the water.
“You are with child?” Princess Tarra asked.
“Yeah, now I know why I’ve been so moody and sick.” She smiled to Titus.
“I was so worried about you Lana. I never want to go through that again, from now on either Levu or Micah will be here too.” He smiled and kissed her.
“I would be more than
happy to come to the island any time you wish,” said Micah sincerely.
“Thank you Micah, thank you Grandmother Nalani.” Lana smiled to them both.
“You are welcome child.” Smiled Grandmother Nalani lovingly.
“Anything I can do to help, just call out,” said Micah as he helped Grandmother Nalani into the little boat once more and began to drive away. He could not help but give one last glance to Princess Tarra and he gave her that bright smile of his and she smiled back with a slight nod of her head. Makoa saw it and just rolled his eyes with a grin and hoped that Titus did not see, but of course, he only had to read both their thoughts to know exactly what was happening. Today he did not care. Today he found out that he was going to be a father and nothing else mattered.
Titus did allow Lana to spend each day on Mer Island with Levu or Micah helping out. He knew that it was important not only for Lana, but also their baby. He knew that part of the baby was human like Lana and that they needed the foods that humans eat to keep them both healthy, as well as the food of the mer.
Princess Tarra spent a lot of that time getting to know Micah as they sat upon the rock where they first met. Micah could not believe how very beautiful she was and that she had not married. One day she did tell him of Kitchi and how he died. He was sorry for her loss and he knew that it would take time for her to love again and he was willing to be patient. He knew that even if they had a chance to be together, they would have to overcome some pretty big obstacles, like Titus for one.
As Lana began to get bigger, her appetite only increased. Levu was able to get her food from other islands which included pineapples, mangos, and all sorts of leafy greens that Grandmother Nalani recommended she eat. He would even bring her some roasted pig and sweet potatoes from his village at least once a week and she was especially grateful for that. Titus teased her and said that his child would not like pig; she disagreed and ate it anyway.
~~~
One night, as Titus and Lana snuggled in their home, he asked, “Do you think that my sister is falling in love with Micah?”
“I think it’s possible.”
“I do not like it. I do not think that it would work for either of them,” Titus said sadly.
“Titus, how can you say that, my father was every bit as human as Micah.”
“At least he was able to understand our thoughts.”
“Yeah, but some of that occurs naturally between a husband and wife.” She smiled and kissed him.
“I worry that he will bring harm to the pod.”
“Titus, he is a very kind man, I can’t believe you think that of him.”
“It is not that I think he personally will, but that he may get careless and allow others to know our secret.”
“I’m sure that if he truly comes to love Princess Tarra, he’ll make the same sacrifice that my father had to make for my mother.”
“That was a great sacrifice, as you know yourself. It would be even harder for Micah to make it.”
“If two people truly love each other, then no sacrifice is too great for them to be together,” she said looking into his eyes.
“Yes, you are right. Perhaps nothing will come of it and I worry needlessly.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure. Time will tell.” She smiled and kissed him and they both fell asleep with their own thoughts of love for each other.
~~~
When the time came near for Lana to give birth, she was amazed at how she could hear the thoughts of her unborn child. At first she thought that she was only dreaming it, but as time went on, she realized that the baby was thinking. They were simple thoughts of comfort and warmth and the love of its mother’s heartbeat. I can’t wait to see what you look like, your daddy and I have waited for you for so long.
A part of Lana wanted her child to be a complete mer like Titus and another part of her thought that the child might enjoy the life of a merwalker. Lana didn’t care which it was; she loved it and would live the life of a mer with it for the rest of her life. Even if the child were a merwalker, she wouldn’t want the same experience for it that she had herself. Her home was now in the ocean and that’s where they all belonged.
Princess Cassandra, Princess Rema and Princess Tarra stayed with Lana when her time came. Prince Titus was not allowed in the small home. Tempest was nearly as upset as Titus by not being allowed in.
It seemed like hours since Lana’s labor began. Prince Terrance and King Titan tried to give Titus comfort. Makoa could only try and lighten the mood by teasing Titus about how strict a father he would be. Uly could barely contain himself for the excitement of getting a new cousin. He hoped it would be a boy.
The labor was hard for Lana. She was glad to have the comfort of the mermaids. She was especially glad that Princess Cassandra was with her. She had grown so close to her and felt like her daughter. She appreciated having the wisdom and experience of her mother-in-law. Nothing had prepared her for the amount of pain that she was having. She could only hold onto Princess Cassandra’s hand as she softly sent loving thoughts to Lana and encouraged her that it would be over soon.
The child was finally delivered and Lana couldn’t believe how beautiful her little daughter was. Prince Titus was brought in and looked at Lana holding their baby mermaid. He was so filled with relief that the ordeal was over and that mother and daughter were doing fine. He was also filled with such a deep love. He went and kissed Lana, “I am so proud of you. I love you both so much,” he said as he also kissed his new baby daughter. “Hello little Rose, it is so good to have you finally with us.” Titus smiled.
“Your daddy and I are so glad to see you. A Rose truly blooms beneath the sea,” said Lana as she kissed the top of her head.
“You are the most beautiful of all mothers,” said Titus as he ran his fingers beneath Lana’s chin and then kissed her once more.
“And you are the proudest of fathers,” Lana laughed to see him swelled with pride.
“Yes, that I am,” he smiled and took his daughter’s tiny hand in his and kissed it. Little Princess Rose had a small tuft of light blonde hair, sparkling silver eyes and a tiny blue and green glistening tail. She was already swishing it in the water. Little Rose even had her father’s ears.
Lana wished that her own father could be here to see his little granddaughter, but she knew that in two year’s time, he would see her and it truly would be a mermaid day.
~~~~~
Chapter 15
THE BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE
It was nearly a month before Lana allowed herself some time on Mer Island without baby Rose. Princess Cassandra was more than willing to watch her and encouraged Lana and Titus to take some time for themselves.
Micah had been at the island nearly every day waiting for the mer to visit. He knew that Princess Lana’s time had to have come and that Princess Tarra must be helping her. He began to wonder if he would ever see her again.
“Hello Micah,” said Princess Tarra as she hopped up out of the water and landed on the rock next to him.
“Bula Princess Tarra, I was beginning to think that I might not see you again.” Micah smiled.
“Would you be sad if I had not returned?” Tarra smiled teasing him.
“You know that I would, I love our time together,” he confessed.
“I know, I do too,” she said softly.
“Hi Micah,” called Lana as she walked up from behind eating a banana.
“Bula Princess Lana, I see that you have finally had your baby.”
“Yeah, she’s a beautiful little mermaid, just like her aunt Tarra.” Lana smiled.
“Then she must be beautiful,” smiled Micah once more to Tarra.
“We named her Princess Rose, after my father’s wife.”
“That is a fine name, where is Prince Titus?”
“He and Makoa are gathering clams for me to make a hot clam chowder. It’s been too long since I ate my fish hot,” Lana laughed.
“I can imagine.” Micah smiled and winked to T
arra.
“I will have you know that I have tried the seafood stew before and I did not find it that bad.”
“It’s true, she even knows how to make it,” said Lana.
“A mermaid who can cook, what more hidden talents do you have?” Micah teased.
“Princess Lana has even taught me how to sew, though I do admit that I am not very good at it,” she said with a half grin.
“Will wonders never cease, a mermaid who can sew!”
At that, Tarra had enough and she jumped into the water and flipped her tail completely drenching Micah.
LEGEND OF THE MER Page 15
